July 17, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•Man gets life jail for infecting stepdaughter with HIV •Unity Bank board sends MD on compulsory leave •Blackmail can’t save Okonjo-Iweala, says Oshiomhole •Sallah: Borno,Yobe close boundaries to travellers •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3278 FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

P11 P5 P4

Buhari sacks NEWS Page 4 NIMASA boss, others

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Buhari: Nigeria needs sacrifice

N150.00

Dogara accused of blowing N66m on chartered aircraft

Tinubu urges support for APC From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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IGERIA needs sacrifices to overcome its challenges and repair the damage done to it by years of bad governance, the President said yesterday.

The sacrifices, President Muhammadu Buhari said in his Eid-el-Fitr message, are needed to accelerate the pace of national development.

Buhari said: “Although we have come to the end of this year’s month of Ramadan, I believe that a greater acceptance

by Nigerians of its key lessons of self-denial and sacrifice Continued on page 4

P8

H •President Buhari

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara is battling to fend off allegations that he blew N66 million on chartered aircraft.

His aides and associates yesterday said about N3.9million was spent on an 80-minute return trip from Abuja to Delta

•Speaker: I spent only N3.9m From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

State.

They said the money was Dogara’s and not the National Assembly’s.

The Speaker last week char-

tered an aircraft to attend the inauguration of a church.

It was learnt that the Speaker decided not to use any aircraft in the presidential fleet because the trip was “private”.

A few days after the trip, some House members are Continued on page 4

P611 •INSIDE: EQUITIES GAIN N51B P54 50 KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED IN GOMBE BLASTS P6

Seized $15m, others: DSS set to grill ex-NSA Dasuki Operatives lay siege to residence Ex-Service chiefs under watch From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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EPARTMENT of State Security (DSS) operatives yesterday invaded the Abuja home of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to arrest him.

There were speculations last night that Dasuki had been arrested, but The Nation could not confirm it.

It was learnt that the attempt to arrest Dasuki was in connection with the probe of exService Chiefs by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Nation yesterday reported exclusively that a probe of the former chiefs was in the smithy.

A highly-placed source said the movement of the ex-Service Chiefs might be restricted to the country, pending the conclusion of preliminary investigations into how military budgets were run in the last five years.

The DSS operatives stormed Dasuki’s Asokoro Quarters compound at about 7.30pm. He was breaking his Ramadan fast.

They could not surmount the security barricade.

It was gathered that the former NSA was caught unawares because there was no official invitation by the DSS or any communication as required of his status.

His Sokoto home was also under siege, a source said.

WILL THE The source said: CHIBOK GIRLS

?

EVER RETURN?

Continued on page 4

•A T THE SEA T OF PO WER: Chief of Army Staff Maj.- Gen. Tukur Buratai arriving at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to see President Muhammadu •AT SEAT POWER: PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN Buhari...yesterday.

Army chief relocates to Yobe for Sallah

STORY ON PAGE 5

•POLITICS P9 •BRAND P13 •AGRIC P16 •SPORTS P23 •INDUSTRY P48 •FOREIGN P60

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

2

NEWS

Dangote: Telecoms, cement, oil ...and Arsenal •Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (right) being conducted round the Mile 2 Light rail station by the Managing Director, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola (middle) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Paul Bamgbose-Martins (left)... yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Africa has emerged a sure-footed and high yielding region for investment, but its transformative change in investment possibilities is driven, not by foreigners, but by Africans, spearheaded by Nigeria’s industrialist Aliko Dangote. Aside boosting Africa’s cement market with an investment of over $16 billion, he has invested substantially in other critical sectors, such as oil and gas, agriculture and telecoms. Now, he is even trying to acquire Arsenal. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports

F •From left: Chief Wole Olanipekun, Vice Chancellor , Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adebiyi Daramola , Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin and FUTA Registrar Dr Modupe Ajayi at the university’s registry’s 7th annual lecture delivered by Olanipekun...yesterday.

•From left: SHE Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO (FCW), Mr. Olumuyi Olasunkanmi,Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, Operations Director, Mr. Doyin Ashiru and Internal Communication Manager , Mr. James Amusu at the presentation of an ambulance to FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria by the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for the company's PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI exceptional safety culture in the workplace, in Lagos .

OR years—and with good reason—investors around the world perceived Nigeria and indeed, economies of Africa as high-risk investment destinations. The continent’s huge infrastructure gap, unbridled corruption and political instability, among others, combined to make it a nightmare for investors looking to generate high returns on investment.

This was why most investors held back, preferring to look elsewhere for investment opportunities. But things have changed. Like the rejected stone that became the cornerstone of the builder, Nigeria and indeed, economies in Africa are now the toast of investors.

The recent spurt of investment in Africa, The Nation learnt, is not unconnected with the increasing political stability, a rising middle class, and access to better technologies, increased consumption and higher rates of growth in most economies of Africa.

The rapid growth is being spurred by massive investments in critical sectors such as manufacturing, oil & gas, agriculture, telecoms, and the fast moving consumer goods sector, among others.

But it is not the fact that economies in Africa have become beautiful brides to investors that makes the development heart-warming; rather, it is that much of the investments in Africa are made by Africans, not just foreigners.

It is even more exciting considering the fact that the massive investments are being spearheaded almost singlehandedly by Nigeria’s foremost industrialist and President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

In doing so, the Pan-African investor is buoyed by what he sees as the continent’s economies’ bright future and is willing to invest in it. His confidence is exemplified in the growing number of sectors and businesses across Africa where he is investing heavily. “....for me this is no longer just for profit, it is also to make a statement and to teach Africans that there is no limit to what can be achieved through diligence and to tell the world what they are missing for not believing in Africa and trusting it with their investments,” Dangote said, on the sideline of the commissioning of Dangote Cement Plant, Ethiopia some weeks back.

Running a ring round Africa’s cement market

•From left: Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole; France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denya Gaver; head of European studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Babatunde Ayeleru; deputy director, Alliance-Fransaice, Mr Michelland Nicolas during the ambassador’s visit to the university... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

In the cement sub-sector alone, Africa’s largest independent cement producer, Dangote Cement Plc, is investing a staggering $16 billion in new projects and existing cement plants

across Africa in the next three years.

Dangote explained that the investment was in line with the company’s long term vision to become one of the world’s biggest cement producers.

Hear him: “We envisage that by the time we complete all our ongoing African projects, we will be on track to achieving our target.” The target, The Nation learnt, is to develop a 50 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of cement production and terminal capacity before the end of this year. To make that happen, the company is currently simultaneously setting up new cement plants and terminals across 16 African countries, including Ethiopia.

The Ethiopia cement plant located in Mugher Village, about 85 kilometers from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, has 2.5 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) capacity, but plans are afoot to double the capacity of the newly-opened $480 million plant. According to Dangote, expansion work would begin before the end of this year. The cement factory, which lies on 134 hectares of land, was built by Sinoma International Engineering, a Chinese construction firm. Sinoma is a leading cement factory construction contractor.

Dangote said the cement plant is the sixth offshore plant that has commenced operations in Africa outside Nigeria. Other countries where the company’s plants are currently running thus, adding to Dangote’s relentless investment drive across Africa include Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia. His $500 million cement plant in the East African country of Tanzania inaugurated in May 2013 is set for commissioning in few months time. The Nation learnt that baring last minute hitches, the 3 MMTPA gas-fired plant in Mtwara, Tanzania, will roar into life in October this year.

Other plants in other African countries are said to be in various stages of construction, and are scheduled for completion next year. The company’s 1.5 MTPA cement plant located in Pout district of Senegal, about 75 kilometres East of Dakar, the country’s capital, was commissioned earlier this year.

The billionaire businessman invested over $307 million into the project, which elicited so much excitement by the government and its estimated 14 million people over the prospect of providing over 5, 000 direct employments.

The Ethiopia plant alone would create direct employment for about 2, 000 people in the main plant operations and logistics with a fleet of about 600 trucks, as well as over 5, 000 indirect

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

3

NEWS

• The entrance of Dangote Industries in Pout, Senegal

• Dangote

• The Gunners celebrate their FA Cup triumph at Wembley in May

jobs. “The project will, in addition, substantially boost the supply of cement to the Ethiopian market. With the envisaged increase in the availability of cement in the market, the entire construction industry, which creates thousands of jobs, will receive a boost,” Dangote announced.

He noted that with youths constituting about 55 per cent of Ethiopia’s 95 million population, youths will benefit most from the project. “It is also our hope that successful completion of a project of this magnitude will motivate other foreign investors to invest in Ethiopia. Our investment is a sure and solid step in the journey of the transformation of Ethiopia from an agricultural-based economy to an industrial economy,” he added.

Yet, the goodies are not for Ethiopia and its people alone. Since last year when Dangote’s cement plant in Cameroon commenced operations, it has also been spewing thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the locals.

The plant, which churns out the premium 42.5 grade cement, which has extra strength, extra yield and extra life in line with the standard in all its factories across the world, has also been adding immense benefits to the local economy. The company invested over $140 million in the 1.5 MMTPA plant, located within the premises of the country’s largest sea port in Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital.

Dangote has also spread his tentacles to South Africa. His 1.8mt cement plant in Aganang and another 1.5mt plant in Delmas, both in South Africa, have since been operational. Dangote’s acquisition of 64 per cent equity in local company Sephaku Cement is said to have given him a foothold in the Rainbow nation’s cement market. The deal, according to experts, represents the single largest foreign direct investment in South Africa by an African company.

Similarly, the 1.5 MMTPA Dangote Ndola plant in Masaiti, Zambia, is also operational. Although, the 1.0mt cement plant in Tema, Ghana, is operational, there are plans to double the capacity to 1.5mt by 2016. Others are the 1.5 MMTPA grinding plant in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; the 1.5mt facility in Madingou, Republic of Congo; the 0.7mt facility in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and the 0.75mt plant in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital.

For Dangote, charity must begin at home. Before his offshore investments, he had invested substantially in his home country Nigeria, Africa’s largest market. “We are not only self sufficient in cement production in Nigeria, where Dangote Cement accounts for over 60 per cent of the market, but we now export cement,” he told a crowd of appreciative Ethiopians and some members of the Nigerian business community at the commissioning of the Ethiopia cement plant.

The Pan-African investor was right.

The current total production capacity in Nigeria from the company’s three existing cement plants in Nigeria namely, Obajana, Kogi State (13.25 MMTPA), Ibese, Ogun State (12.0MMTPA), and Gboko, Benue State (4.0MMTPA) is 29.25MMTPA. The Obajana Cement Plant is reputed to be one of the single largest cement plants in the world. It is also one of the eight largest manufacturing con-

come a major foreign exchange earner in the export of refined petroleum products.

tons of white sugar this year, cultivating 100,000 hectares in about six states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Taraba, Kogi and Kwara State. He is also said to be investing in tomato paste production in Kano.

Just like his investments in other sectors, Dangote’s intervention in agric has ignited a revolution in the employment market where thousands of jobless youths are now earning their livelihood.

cerns in the world.

Foray into oil and gas... a game changer Interestingly, cement is not the only sector where the savvy investor has sent a strong message to the world that they are missing a lot for not believing in Africa and trusting it with their investments. For instance, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, for which Dangote is committing a whopping $9 billion, about N1.5 trillion, has raised the bar on investment in Africa by Africans.

Construction work on the biggest petroleum oil refinery and petrochemical/ fertilizer plant in Nigeria is expected to commence in 2016. Located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the project said to be the biggest and most ambitious investment by any single African investor, has refining capacity of about 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. By producing a variety of refined fuel products from local crude resources, the refinery will help Nigeria cut its current volumes of imported fuel products by a massive 50 per cent.

According to Dangote, the fertilizer plant, which will produce 2.8 million tonnes of urea, will be channelled into growing the local agriculture sector, which is essential in producing healthy crops and promoting Nigeria and West Africa’s agricultural development. The petrochemical plant, he said, will also produce polypropylene, which is a common component of most plastic and fabric products. ”This plant will further entrench Africa’s role on the global map as not only a valued contributor for natural resources, but also a competent manufacturer of refined products and fertilizer,” he stated.

Vice President of the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, could not agree less. He said Africa’s natural resources should be for the welfare of all Africans, not for the profiting of a few, especially foreign capitalists, adding that the refinery will definitely decrease Nigeria’s scandalous and unacceptable dependence on oil imports.

Comrade Aremu lamented that although Africa is a resource rich continent, it has low level of industrialisation, with materials being exported in their raw form. He said this was why labour is excited that Dangote is changing the narrative of the continent from that of ‘resource curse’ to resource beneficiation, value addition and mass employment through industrialisation and internal articulation of the African economy.

According to him, with a projected daily production output of 400,000 barrels a day, the same capacity of the combined four Nigerian governmentowned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, which operate at less than 30 per cent of their installed capacity, it is hardly surprising why millions of private sector workers, organised in national and global unions in Africa, identify with the investment.

It could not have been otherwise. By the time the project is completed, it would probably dwarf the job creation potential of Dangote’s investments in other sectors, particularly cement. The refinery project is expected to provide jobs in excess of 85,000 for Nigerians.

It will also turn the tide, as it will be-

Revolutionary investments in agric Dangote has never hidden his intention to revolutionalise the agric sector through aggressive investment in agric and food processing business. He has never seized to tell whoever cares to listen that his vision is to help realise the country’s agric potential such that every Nigerian would have food on the table. There is hardly any geopolitical zone in the country where the billionaire businessman does not have either a completed or ongoing agricultural project. He is currently investing in fertiliser, rice, tomato paste and sugar production, among others.

For instance, he recently invested $1 billion (about N165 billion) on rice production and processing in five Nigerian states of Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger after acquiring farmland in those states totalling 150,000 hectares for the project. It is expected to become the largest single investment ever made in rice production in Africa. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has since been signed between DIL and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Under the MoU, the indigenous multinational will also establish two state-of-the-art large-scale rice mills with a capacity to mill 120,000 Metric Tons of rice paddy each. This brings the total capacity to 240,000 Metric Tons, with plans to double the capacity within two years. The rice plant is estimated to produce 960,000 metric tons of milled rice, representing 46 per cent of rice imported into Nigeria.

“Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by this significant investment,” Dangote said, at the MoU signing.

The investment would save Nigeria an estimated N360 billion spent yearly on rice importation, a fact not lost on Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and now, President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. Hear him: “This investment by DIL is transformational for Nigeria and the rest of Africa. The 150,000 hectares of rice farms and the planned 240,000 Metric Tons processing capacity of international quality grade rice is guaranteed to turn Nigeria away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter.

“Through this billion dollar commitment, Dangote has clearly attested to the policies and approach that the Federal Government has undertaken to transform the nation’s agricultural sector.” The Minister noted that the rice self-sufficiency policy of the Federal Government was directed at saving Nigeria N356 billion annually and putting this into the hands of Nigerian rice farmers and rural communities.

Rice is not his only preoccupation in agric. Dangote, in a bid to replicate the success in the cement sub-sector in agric, is also investing massively in sugar cultivation as part of the national sugar master plan that would put Nigeria on the world sugar map and end importation of raw sugar.

Dangote Sugar, a subsidiary of the Group, is a key player in the sugar backward integration policy. The Nation learnt that the company is working towards producing one million

How African economies found their rhythm Experts say that going by the upsurge in investment across Africa, the continent holds the promise for the global economic turn-around. That is not an empty claim. According to World Bank’s recent report, Africa is the second fastest growing region in the world. Nine out of 15 countries in the world with the highest rate of economic growth are in Africa.

The report said despite worldwide economic slowdown, African economies have averaged growth rates of five per cent over the last ten years.

Most of them are said to be aiming for double-digit growth in the next decade. In Rwanda, for instance, President Paul Kagame recently said the country is targeting 11.5 per cent annual growth in the next five years.

Similarly, Ethiopia has seen a period of significant and inclusive economic growth, with official Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates surpassing 10 per cent over the past decade.

The country projects a 10.6 per cent growth rate this year. This explains why today Ethiopia ranks among the fastest growing economies in the world, and has become a driving force for opening the African economic region.

“This makes Ethiopia the largest economy by GDP in East and Central Africa. The government is also investing massively in several large scale infrastructure projects, including construction of the continent’s largest hydro-power dam. All these make Ethiopia a beautiful bride to investors,” Dangote said, while explaining his decision to invest in the east African country.

Minister for Industry, Ethiopia, Mr. Ahmed Abitew, also said government of Ethiopia has put in place the right socio-economic policies and strategies that have created new opportunities for investment. He said the manufacturing sector has been given priority to ensure increase in its share of contribution to the country’s GDP from the current four per cent to 18 per cent.

Other factors driving aggressive investment in Africa include a rising middle class, access to more robust technologies, increasing political stability, unmatched agricultural potential and rapidly growing consumer markets, among others. While countries in East Africa, for instance, are key suppliers of commodities such as flowers, coffee and tea, and other agroallied products, Nigeria has experienced significant growth in her emerging middle class.

Experts say that access to better technologies, for instance, has increased income per capita on the continent by 40 per cent in the past decade. According to recent surveys, 27 African countries have already reached middle-income status and by 2025 that number will rise to 40.

Perhaps, more importantly, there is increasing political stability and better governance across Africa. In Nigeria, for instance, there has been 16 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, a development that has been a shot in the arm of existing and prospective investors in the mould of Dangote.

As Kagame pointed out, many countries in Africa have undertaken reforms that ensure macro-economic stability and create a better climate for businesses to thrive. “In my own country, Rwanda, it takes only six hours to register a business,” he said, adding that countries have also taken deliberate steps to invest in areas that are most sustainable – its people.

According to him, over the past few years there has been significant effort to invest in human capital, specifically education and health. This investment, he said, has resulted in increased human capacity, a growing middle class and rising urbanization, all of which translate into greater and diversified domestic demand that in turn spur economic growth.

Infrastructure still bone in investors’ throat For Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Dangote’s investments underscore the importance of intra-African investment. “It confirms that Africans have the capacity to drive Africa’s economic integration rather than depend on foreign investors,” he said, adding that apart from engendering economic growth and development and creating employments, the investments would spur lots of positive externalities, as well as encourage bilateral economic ties.

But there is a snag: dearth of infrastructure particularly power, which Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance/ Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calls “the single largest constraint on investment.” Although, there are several other challenges such as multiple taxation, policy inconsistency, unfriendly visa and regulatory policies, corruption and insecurity, among others, power appears to be the greatest pain in investors’ neck.

But, using electricity generating sets and power plants, he has been above to rise above this.

The Arsenal bid Dangote’s latest love is the Premier League club Arsenal. The businessman is worth an estimated $18.4billion (£11.69bn), far in excess of current Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke (£4bn) and minority owner Alisher Usmanov (£9.28bn).

Speaking in May, Dangote told Bloomberg that “I still hope, one day at the right price, that I’ll buy the team.”

The 58-year-old said the building of a new oil refinery would give him enough wealth to make a bid for the Gunners.

“When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they are asking for,” said Dangote.

He was close to buying the 15.9 per cent stake that Lady Nina BracewellSmith eventually sold to Kroenke, but pulled out.

For now, the Arsenal bid has to wait for the completion of the refinery at the Lagos Free Trade Zone.

4

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NEWS Dogara accused of blowing N66m on chartered aircraft Continued from page 1

claiming that such “a tasty lifestyle” is not in line with Dogara’s “Legislative Agenda”.

Although House members are on holiday, the matter is being circulated among them.

A pro-Dogara source described the insinuations as “politically motivated” because of the intrigues in the House.

Some lawmakers queried the sources of funding such trips since the movement of the Speaker is bankrolled by the National Assembly.

A member of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “The chartered aircraft palaver is being circulated among House members because of the alleged N66 million cost. We do •From left: Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple; former Anambra State Governor Dr Chris Ngige; ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s wife Bola; former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma at the Night of Tributes and Service of Songs for Chief Chinyere Asika in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Buhari: Nigeria needs greater sacrifice to overcome woes Continued from page 1

will serve our dear country well as we strive to overcome our present challenges, undo the damage done by years of bad governance and accelerate the pace of national development.

“Reviewing our dire circumstances and the many missed opportunities of the past, some commentators and observers have said that this is Nigeria’s last chance to get its act together and finally begin to fulfill its God-given potential for greatness.

“While not going that far, I certainly believe that now,

Tinubu urges support for APC

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday urged Nigerians to brace for change.

In his Eid-el-Fitr message, the former Lagos State Governor urged Nigerians to support the APC to effect the desired change that brought it into office.

The message reads: “The change we (Nigerians) desire as promised by the APC requires our collective effort to make it a realContinued on page 61

more than ever before, our country needs greater self-denial, sacrifice and patriotism from all of its citizens, if we are to quickly recover from our numerous problems and start moving in a positive direc-

tion.”

According to him, this period offers Nigeria a great opportunity to break away from the vicious triangle of insecurity, corruption and under-development.

He said: “We must collectively resolve to seize this opportunity and unite to confront our problems. I remain wholly committed to giving the required leadership towards undoing the wrongs of the past, ensuring that Nigeria truly begins to unlock its great potential and that the benefits of our immense national resources are shared and enjoyed by all, not just by successive cabals of corrupt leaders and their cronies.”

Stressing that he was not unaware of Nigerians’ high expectations when he assumed office Continued on page 61

Sallah: Borno,Yobe close boundaries to travellers

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HE Borno and Yobe Commands of the police yesterday announced the closure of the highway linking the two states.

Their actions followed a directive from Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase that police commissioners must ensure security within their jurisdictions, especially during the Eid-el-Fitri holidays.

The two northeastern states are the hotbeds of Boko Haram insurgency.

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

In Kano, the police have increased security surveillance ahead of tomorrow’s celebration of the Eid-el-fitr by Muslims.

The Borno State government announced the review of the curfew in the state from 5pm to 6am daily, beginning from yesterday till Sunday.

Secretary to the State Gov-

ernment (SSG) Usman Shuwa Jidda said in statement in Maiduguri that “the restriction of vehicular movement is necessitated by the recent attacks

by Boko Haram insurgents and intelligence report that there were plans by suicide bombers to attack some worshipping places during the Eidel-Fitri festival and government cannot fold its arms to allow any threat to security: situation in the state.”

The statement quoted the

SSG as saying that measures had been taken to provide adequate security to lives and property of residents.

It called on the public to be more vigilant as they celebrate the Sallah by notifying security agents in the event of any suspicious movement.

In Yobe State, Commissioner of Police Danladi Marcus announced that there will be no vehicular movement in and out of the state Continued on page 61

not know whether the amount was real or imaginary. But it remains in the realm of allegation.

“The challenge is that he who comes to equity must do so with clean hands. With the robust Legislative Agenda put in place by Dogara, this is no time for such a luxury. The same House of Representatives joined issues with the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources on the charter of a Bombardier aircraft.

“Dogara needs to explain to members what really transpired. No APC member is expected to indulge in this type of luxury because the party came into office with an austere agenda.”

Continued on page 61

Buhari dissolves boards of parastatals, agencies, institutions •NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi fired

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the dissolution of the Governing Boards of federal parastatals, agencies and institutions.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Until the reconstitution of the boards, the statement said, the chief executive officers of the affected parastatals, agencies and institutions are to refer all

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

matters requiring the attention of their boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their supervising ministries.

It also said that the dissolution does not affect Federal Executive Bodies listed in the 1999 Constitution.

The dissolution, it said, covers administrative or technical committees and other similar organs established by the now Continued on page 61

DSS to grill ex-NSA Dasuki Continued from page 1

“The ex-NSA was shocked that he was not contacted or invited for interaction on any issue.

“Dasuki is suspecting that there is a motive to make him to spend the Sallah break in detention. I think they have tracked the ex-NSA’s movement, they knew he was billed for Sokoto on Friday (today) for Sallah.

“As I am talking to you, neither the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Musa Daura, nor any of the operatives in his house has spoken with Dasuki. All they want is for him to surrender.

“But Dasuki remained holed

up in his house. He cannot just surrender to gun-wielding operatives who came to his house at dusk.”

A security source said: “I think the siege to Dasuki’s was part of the first step to probe the immediate past Service chiefs.

“Dasuki was central to counter-insurgency battle against Boko Haram and virtually providing leadership for the Service chiefs”.

The Buhari administration is already looking into how the counter-insurgency initiative was funded. Dasuki is expected to assist substantially in the Continued on page 61

Saraki, Dogara, Yussuf, Mark others harp on national unity, peace

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara stressed the importance of prayer in the development of the country yesterday.

They spoke in their congratulatory messages to Muslims across the world on the successful completion of this year's Ramadan fast and the celebration of Eid-el-Fitri.

Mark, who spoke in a statement by his Media Adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Muslim faithful should intensify prayers for unity, peace and progress in Nigeria.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

He urged Muslims to adhere to one of the injunctions of Allah that formed the basis of sermons delivered in various mosques during the holy month that all citizens should pray for their leaders and their nation for divine guidance.

The statement reads: “At this point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious groups will usher in peace and peace will engender progress and development.

“We therefore need to learn to

live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can threaten the peace of the nation.

“Muslims, in particular, should continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace and therefore we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and tolerate one another.

“We should also remember our fellow citizens in the North eastern part of the country who are being assailed by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram.”

Saraki urged all Nigerians to pray for the military in the war against the insurgents so that by the period of the next Ramadan, peace would have been totally restored to the whole of the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria.”

Also yesterday, Speaker Dogara urged Nigerians to be optimistic of a better tomorrow despite the harsh economic climate in the land.

His deputy, Yussuf, also appealed for understanding as the President Mohammadu Buhari administration and the APC unfold plans on how to move

the nation forward.

Felicitating with Muslim faithful, Dogara called on all Nigerians not to relent in prayers for the peace, unity and development of the country.

In the statement by his Media Adviser Turaki Hassan, the Speaker urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use the Sallah period to pray for the country to overcome the multifaceted challenges facing it.

It reads: “He said that, more than ever before, the present crop of leaders are coming at a very difficult time when the country`s economy is in bad shape, and worsened by dwindling revenues, as leaders, we are ready and prepared to make the necessary sacrifice and lead by example.

“The Speaker maintained that recent happenings in the country, especially the renewed attacks by the Boko Haram in the Northeast are source of concern, nonetheless, he expressed hope that Nigeria will surely over come.”

Dogara described the resurgence of bombings of worship places by the insurgents as “last kicks of a dying horse and that

it will soon be a thing of the past”.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent shake-up in the military high command with the appointment of new Service chiefs, Dogara promised the National Assembly’s support to ensure adequate funding and kitting of the military and other security agencies.

Yussuf’s media aide said the deputy speaker has a strong belief that only unity that can bring about growth and development to the nation.

A statement by Oladimeji reads: “The deputy speaker appealed to Nigerians be patient and allow the present government unfolds its plans on how to move the nation forward.

“No meaningful development and achievement could be made under a hostile atmosphere which leads to instability.”

Senator Mark urged for ceaseless prayer and genuine resolve by all Nigerians in the war against insurgency in the country.

The former Senate President called on all men of good will

to rise to the challenge posed by the unabating terrorism being orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgents.

Noting that the situation was pushing the country to the extreme, Mark said: “There is no hiding place any more. We must face the reality of a war situation. We either confront the monster headlong or get consumed.”

He bemoaned the agonies being unleashed on Nigerians “especially in the Northeast region that has led to millions of avoidable deaths, made our people refugees in their fatherland and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

“I’m convinced that we can overcome our challenges including insecurity if we come together in an honest, sincere and committed manner. In these circumstances, we have no choice but to come together and confront our problem in a holistic way.”

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5

Blackmail won’t help Okonjo-Iweala, says Oshiomhole

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday faulted former Minister of Finance Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala’s claim that he is attacking her for the withdrawal from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) because she refused to approve a loan for the state.

Oshiomhole, in a statement by his media aide, Kassim Afegbua, said Mrs OkonjoIweala was trying to blackmail him.

The statement reads: “ It is instructive at this point in time to state categorically without equivocation that there is nothing “personal” between Okonjo-Iweala and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in terms of the request by the Edo State governor that Okonjo-Iweala should come clean on the issue of revenue that accrued to the Excess Crude Account. As much as her spokesman tries to dramatise his response in defence of his boss, he has shown a manifest uninformed disposition to issues of simple economics of naira and kobo.

Here is a former Minister, who has changed her position four times in the last 40 days; each position exposing her dubiety of facts and inherent contradictions in the concocted tales she

has been weaving on one simple issue: what happened to the $2.1b ECA funds?

“The simple questions which the Comrade Governor asked were: How come those accruals into the Excess Crude Account got depleted without the knowledge of the National Economic Council? How come moneys that were supposed to accrue into the said account cannot be found in it going by the balance sheet provided by the former minister? How come the minister unilaterally dipped her hand into the Excess Crude Account to spend money in defiance of the constitution and the laws of the land? How come that the minister finds it convenient to publish allocations to states and local governments, but refused to publish accruals into the same account for us to know the status of the account at any point in time; how much was left from where she was distributing from?

“What the Comrade Governor stated was that; it was interesting to note that by December 2012, the ECA had a balance of over $10 billion. This depleted to $2.07 billion by May 2015, according to the former Finance minister. Be-

tween January 2013 and May 2015, not more than $4 billion was shared among the three tiers of government. Indeed, the last time any money was shared from the ECA was in May 2013.

“Flowing from the above statement of facts, the Comrade Governor then asked a very pertinent question; how come there was no accretion to the ECA even when crude oil prices averaged between $100 to $108 within the three years period of 2011 to 2014, aware that the National budgets were based on $77 and $79 benchmark? That gives an average of $30 per barrel gains. In fact, based on rough estimates, Nigeria should earn not less than $30 billion accretion based on the official oil exports of 2.3 million barrels per day. The question which Okonjo-Iweala could not answer is; how come Nigeria did not make any savings during those three years of unprecedented oil price boom? Simple question that should ordinarily elicit simple response.

“Without a scintilla of numerical reference, OkonjoIweala went into a voyage of storytelling like an intellectual raconteur, leaving out the real substance of the Comrade

Governor’s salient questions.

First, she responded on May 28, 2015 where she denied the allegations describing them as “baseless”. Among other things she claimed that the 36 governors, who are joint owners of the Excess Crude Account with the Federal Government, were in full picture of how the ECA was managed. She stated inter alia: “How can Governor Oshiomhole claim that governors were not properly briefed on the status of the ECA when his Commissioner of Finance attends all FAAC meetings where decisions are taken and communicated to the nation?”

“On June 29, 2015 exactly a month after, at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice President Professor Yemi Osibanjo, and with 36 states in attendance, we deliberated on the status of the ECA. After a critical scrutiny, it was discovered that indeed Dr. Okonjo-Iweala spent $2.1billion from the ECA without authorisation by the NEC. That money was neither distributed to states nor paid to the three tiers of government.

This was the rationale for the setting up of the four-man panel to look at what accrued, what it was spent for, when and by

whom and who authorised the spending, so that Nigerians will have a full picture of all the transactions as regards the much-talked about Excess Crude Account.”

He accused the former minister of changing her explanations on the ECA withdrawal four times.

Oshiomhole said: “On June 30, 2015, Okonjo-Iweala was once again reported as categorically denying unauthorised expenditure from the ECA under her purview, describing the findings of NEC as ‘false, malicious and without foundation’’. According to her, decisions on such expenditure and sharing were discussed at meetings of FAAC attended by Finance commissioners from the 36 states. In her words, “it is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic Council for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations acted as if the constitutionally-recognised FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, does not exist”. Is FAAC superior to NEC? Does FAAC has the constitutional powers to give approval for withdrawals from ECA?”On July 7, 2015,

barely a week after OkonjoIweala claimed that FAAC was involved in the unauthorised spending from the ECA, members of FAAC, under the aegis of Forum of Finance Commissioners in a public statement, denied approving any withdrawal of the said $2.1 billion.

The 36 Finance commissioners categorically described the former minister’s claim as “misleading, and far from the fact”. Hear them: “The Law setting up FAAC, which pre-dates the ECA did not empower the commissioners to approve such withdrawals, and that there were records of committee’s meetings to show that they had always queried the activities on the ECA, particularly on withdrawals. FAAC did not and could not have approved or took the decision to withdraw $2billion from the Excess Crude Account”.

“On July 8, 2015, OkonjoIweala opened up a bit of the real gist when she admitted that $2 billion was indeed withdrawn from the ECA this time, on the directives of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

She further confirmed that the money was used to pay petroleum subsidies and not shared to the 36 states as she earlier declared.”

New chief of Army staff briefs Buhari at Aso Rock •To spend Sallah with troops in Yobe •Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah (right), handing over to his successor Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai in Abuja... yesterday.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, on Thursday, held his first briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buratai, who was appointed with other Service chiefs on Monday, arrived the Aso Rock Villa for the briefing just after taking command of the Nigerian Army from his predecessor, Lt-General Kenneth Minimah, in a ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

After the meeting with the President, he told reporters he didn’t have much to tell the press as he was new on the job.

But he said he would spend the Eid-el-Fitri celebration in Damaturu, Yobe State, with troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents.

He said: “I don’t have anything to say for now. I am just a few hours on the job. With time, we will be talking some more.

“I am going to Damaturu to spend the Sallah with our troops there”, he said.

Nigeria to continue support for peaceful ‘Stop attacks on Kuku’ nuclear use, says Buhari T P From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria will continue to support the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and human development.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said he welcomes this week’s agreement between Iran and the six world powers on its nuclear programme.

He spoke at a meeting with visiting Iranian Vice President for Executive Af-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

fairs, Mohammed Shariatmadari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Applauding the agreement, he said it was a step toward ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East.

As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, he said Nigeria looks for-

ward to the faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement by all parties.

Buhari, who received an invitation from the Iranian vice president to attend a Summit of Gas Exporting Countries in Tehran, said it was in the interest of developing countries to maximise their natural resources for the improvement of the

living conditions of their people.

Mr. Shariatmadari congratulated President Buhari on his election and assured him of Iran’s support in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

“The government of President Hassan Rouhani of Iran advocates moderation and departure from any form of extremism,’’ he said.

HE National Committee of Yoruba Youths (NCYY) has condemned attacks on the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and the former Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku.

The group, in a statement by its President and Registrar, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi and Oyewole Olurin, said the attacks were a calculated attempt to tarnish Kuku’s image.

The statement reads: “These statements are either concocted, unsubstantiated, pure conjectures or outright falsehood. In this instance, may we reference the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the Amnesty Programme by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

“SERAP premised its call on complaints of corruption within the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, which had come to its notice and sent by some personalities from Patani in Delta State.

It is curious that SERAP had passed a guilty verdict on the PAP in the court of public opinion based on a mere hearsay from six persons, about a scheme that has about 30,000 beneficiaries.”

New law bars police from prosecuting federal offences

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HE Police will no longer prosecute federal offences and conduct prosecution in federal courts when the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) takes effect, Chief Judge of the High Court in Abuja Justice Ishaq Bello has said.

But, however, he said “within the current transition period”, lay police prosecutors handling criminal cases will continue for now.

The Act was signed into

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

law by former President Goodluck Jonathan shortly before he vacated office.

Justice Bello, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at a sensitisation workshop on the ACJA, urged all stakeholders to ensure the success of the Act. The workshop was organsied by the Centre for SocioLegal Studies (CSLS), with support from foreign agencies.

ACJA replaces the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) used in

We consider this phase a transition process. This is why we still allow them (lay prosecutors) to engage in prosecution. Once this transition phase is over, we will close shop for lay prosecutors the North and the Criminal Procedure Act in the South.

He noted that the prohibition of lay prosecutors was not intended to create competition between the police and the Federal Ministry of Justice, but to ensure effective prosecution by trained lawyers.

“The law automatically knocks off lay police prosecutors, who should concentrate on investigation. ‘’Officers should concentrate on investigation to ensure thoroughness. When this is done, prosecution will be quicker and this will be to the

glory of the police also.

“We consider this phase a transition process. This is why we still allow them (lay prosecutors) to engage in prosecution. Once this transition phase is over, we will close shop for lay prosecutors,” the judge said.

He said the friction between the police and the ministry would not serve the interest of the law.

The judge called on the Executive to effectively fund

the implementation of the Act. Justice Bello noted that the fundamental innovations in the law, aimed at ensuring the prompt dispensation of justice, would be defeated if the Executive failed to provide facilities for its application.

“The integrity of the system is likely to be impeached if the key components of the system do not play their roles. It is the responsibility of the Executive to make investment in this regard,” the judge said.

6

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NEWS EID-EL-FITR CELEBRATION

Police strengthen security in Kwara, Kano

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HE police have strengthened security in Kwara and Kano states ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi yesterday said 10,000 personnel have been deployed to maintain peace and security during the period.

Okasanmi said: “The command had sent out what we call an operational order that will cover the period of the Sallah celebration. We, the police, are fully ready to prevent sabotage by any militant, which, of course, we don’t have in Kwara and also to protect Kwarans.

“We are going to make use of all we have in our arsenal; all departments in the command will be working - from information department to anti-robbery and bomb squad. In short, all hand will be on deck.”

He added that all measure at countering terrorism have

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

been put in place to ensure peaceful ceremony.

Also yesterday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it has deployed 5,000 officers to ensure an accident-free Sallah celebration in the state.

The FRSC Head of Operations, Joshua Adekanye, said the corps was fully prepared for the celebration.

Security surveillance has also been increased in Kano ahead of the festivities.

Armed policemen have been deployed in strategic areas and places of worship around the city and other towns.

The Nation observed that police vehicles were stationed at Gyadi Gyadi roundabout, Zoo road, Gadon Kaya, Kabuga, Hadejia Road, Katsina Road and Maiduguri Road.

Others areas were Unguwa Uku flyover, Dawanau, Airport road and Aminu Kano Way

by Tal’udu junction.

Police spokesman Musa Magaji Majia, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), in a statement yesterday, said serious measures had been put in place by security agencies to make the celebration crime-free.

He said the command had put in place proactive strategies to cover the state’s nooks and crannies during the celebrations and beyond.

Worshippers attending Eid grounds, he said, should avoid taking unnecessary

objects other than praying mats.

“Worshippers are advised to cooperate and park their motor vehicles, motorcycles and other means of transportation at the designated parking spaces provided at various praying-grounds at least 200 metres away,” he said.

The police advised people attending recreational centres and places of gatherings during the Sallah celebrations to be extra vigilant.

Senator Tinubu hails citizens

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ENATOR representing Lagos Central Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has congratulated the citizens on the successful completion of Ramadan fast.

In her Sallah message, she hailed Nigerians for the discipline, sacrifice of the Ramadan season and prayed to God to give the nation peace and whatever the citizens prayed for.

Her statement reads: “On behalf of my constituents, I congratulate millions of Nigerians on the completion of the Ramadan period this year. I commend the discipline and sacrifice of the Ramadan season and pray that God will give us peace, good health and all that has been prayed for.

“I further join millions of you to celebrate the end of the

Ramadan period. Praise to Almighty Allah for seeing the end of this year’s fasting period. May our prayers be answered and sins forgiven.

“This season teaches the virtues of purity and closeness to God. May our leaders display these virtues so that they can lead Nigeria aright.

“Once again, Happy EidEl-Fitr.”

•Sen.Tinubu

Atiku, Ladoja, Kalu, Daniel advise adherents to be good

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ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, exAbia State Governor Orji Kalu, Accord Party National Leader and former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja yesterday led other eminent personalities in urging Muslims to embrace the virtues of forgiveness and understanding as they celebrate the end of Ramadan fasting.

Atiku, in a statement by his media office, said: “One of the basic components of Ramadan fasting is to seek the mercy of God to forgive us our sins, and thus it becomes imperative for us as humans to extend the grace of forgiveness and common understanding to other human beings as well.

“Being good Muslims requires that we follow the examples of Prophet Muhammed, who was always quick to forgive those that transgressed against him

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

and lived a life of building common understanding among people.”

The statement added that at a time such as now when Nigeria is at the threshold of a new beginning, it was important that all hands be “on deck and old gaps are closed to support the new political leadership”.

The Turaki Adamawa while congratulating every Muslim for the successful completion of the Ramadan fasting season noted that it was a season of abundant grace from God almighty for the forgiveness of our sins.

Ladoja called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take special interest in the plight of Internally Displaced Persons due to Boko Haram attacks.

He said if they were not properly catered for, they

•Buhari tasked on IDPs would become more vulnerable to exploitation and the youth among them might be recruited by terrorists.

Ladoja, in his message, also urged the Federal Government to ensure that victims in camps were properly catered for so as not to become willing pawn to terrorists.

Asking Nigerians to continue to exercise restraint in accordance with the teachings of the Ramadan fasting, Ladoja said the “main lesson of Ramadan to Nigerians is that when people are committed to change, change is possible”.

“If it is possible for people to restrain themselves from sinful ways during the Ramadan month, it shows commitment and that has implication on our attitude to change. If people are committed to change, they will

change their bad ways. I urge Nigerians to shun bad behaviours, sins and other vices that may hamper growth and development” Kalu congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the compulsory 30-day Ramadan fasting.

The former governor, in a goodwill message by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, said: “I wish to join our Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating this year’s Eid al -Fitr.

“Despite the completion of Ramadan fast, the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians alike need to sustain the virtues of the holy month by maintaining the love, togetherness and peaceful co-existence that characterised of the holy month.

“The discipline and self-re-

straint as exemplified during the holy month is the only way to live a good life and make the society a better place to live.”

The immediate past Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel urged the adherents of the faith to keep up with the virtues gained during the Ramadan period which included piety, patience, tolerance, perseverance, humility, self denial and service to humanity.

Daniel urged Muslims to embrace the spirit of love, forgiveness and brotherhood preached by Islam and other religions.

Congratulating the faithful on the successful observation of the Holy month, he implored the people to celebrate with moderation and in the spirit of Ramadan which encouraged peace and charity.

Dankwambo, Ambode, Ahmed, Ortom, Oshiomhole, Amosun, others preach peace, patriotism

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OVERNORS have implored religious, traditional and community leaders as well as their followers to pray for sustainable peace as Muslim end Ramadan fast.

They urged the citizens to be patriotic and live in peace, irrespective of their religious or ethnic differences.

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, in his goodwill message as part of the celebration, said Nigerians should imbibe tolerance and mutual respect for one another to attain “sustainable peace, which is a catalyst for the development of our dear state and country”.

“As we are aware, no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony. We should, therefore, be tolerant with each other and encourage peaceful coexistence among our diverse people,” he added.

Lagos State Governor

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe, Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti, Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi and Damisi Ojo, Akure

Akinwunmi Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, urged the citizens to rededicate themselves to the cause of a peaceful and prosperous Lagos, where residents, regardless of ethnic, religious or social status, can prosper.

The governor, in the Eid-elFitri message, said it was only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians could put the country back on its leadership pedestal.

He urged them to embrace the tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood, which characterised the period of the holy month.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom felicitated with the state Muslim Community on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-fitr celebration.

He rejoiced over the peaceful co-existence between ad-

herents of the various faith - in the state, especially in the spirit of this year’s joint breaking of fast between Christians and Muslims.

The governor, however, regretted his inability to extend the usual courtesies due for such seasons on account of dwindling finances of the state.

He promised to meet such obligations when the financial fortunes of the state improve.

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan, especially the values of good neghbourliness, patriotism and respect for the sanctity of human life.

Ahmed, in an Eid-el-Fitri message by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, identified greed and selfishness as causes of Nigeria’s socio-political, economic and security problems.

He emphasised that if Nigerians demonstrate the kind of compassion and love for one another as displayed during

Ramadan, Nigeria would surmount its numerous challenges and become a role model to other nations.

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose urged Muslims to rededicate themselves to the service of their country as they mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitri.

The governor, in his Sallah message, enjoined Nigerians not to lose sight of the gains and lessons of the Ramadan fasting as they go about their daily activities.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole asked Muslims to exhibit the true spirit of peace and love in their daily dealings with men of all faith, saying Islam as a religion of peace abhors violence in whatever guise.

The governor, who congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the success of this year’s Ramadan, urged them to inculcate the lessons learnt during the Ramadan fast to positively impact on their neighbours and the society.

To Ogun State Governor

Ibikunle Amosun, the nation will overcome its challenges and emerge a strong, united and prosperous nation.

In a message by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor stated that “the attributes of self-discipline, compassion, brotherliness and patriotism exhibited during the holy month of Ramadan, if sustained, we will attain the dreams of our founding fathers for a united and prosperous nation.”

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko hailed the people of the state for embracing the Residency Card initiative.

Besides, he admonished Muslims not to return to habits they dropped before the Rammadan.

The governor called on Muslims to sustain the lessons of Ramadan by allowing the “God-like characters they lived all through the period of the Ramamdan to become a way of life for them”.

‘Don’t refrain from Ramadan lessons’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, has urged Muslims not to allow the virtues and lessons of the Ramadan fast end with the month.

Oba Odulana, in a statement yesterday by his personal assistant, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, listed the lessons of Ramadan as including humility, selfdiscipline, self-sacrifice, tolerance, purity, honesty, sobriety, and nearness to Almighty Allah.

He implored Muslims to allow the lessons to guide them in their daily activities, conduct and disposition to one another.

“I want to urge all to be patient, tolerant and refrain from all acts that could further jeopardise the fragile peace in the country and ensure maximum cooperation and support for the government at all levels to get rid of the numerous ills that afflict the nation, particularly the on-going threat to its peace, security and stability.

“I am congratulating all the Muslims in Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast. It is my prayer that the Almighty Allah grants every supplication made unto him during this Ramadan fast in the life of everyone and the nation at large,” the Olubadan said.

•Oba Odulana

Conoil urges safe driving

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ONOIL Plc has congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the “rigorous period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and selfdenial”.

In a statement in Lagos, the company enjoined Nigerians to ensure safe driving during the celebrations.

It urged Muslims to take the “maximum benefit from the wisdom and teachings gained in the holy month to restore, revive and regenerate human spirituality and radically modify personality and character to promote peace, harmony and love across all tribes, nations and religions”.

“Nigeria, with its vast natural and human resources, still has a lot to offer the world. We only need to relate with one another with sincerity, compassion and selflessness to harness our full potentials. If we resolve to live, at all times, with the lessons learnt during Ramadan, our country will be the better for it,” the company said.

7

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NEWS Ekiti releases exam result

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HE Ekiti State government has released the result of last week’s examination written by 105 senior civil servants on the directorate grade levels for the appointment of permanent secretaries, general managers and administrative secretaries.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary in the General Administrations Department, Sunday Adebayo, on behalf of the Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, candidates are to check their results at the Office of Establishment and Training as well as on www.ekitistate.gov.ng.

Candidates who scored 65 per cent and above are expected to attend an interview, which will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Governor’s Office at 9.30a.m daily.

I’ll end quackery, says Odusile

Protests over vandalised transformers

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CORES of youths in Afao Quarters, IkereEkiti in Ekiti State, yesterday marched on the streets to protest the destruction of the transformer serving the area.

Also, youths in Mobil area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, besieged the Ajilosun Business Office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to protest the destruction of their transformer.

The aggrieved youths, who stormed the BEDC office at 8.am, demanded to see the business manager.

Theylaid siege to the gate as they engaged the guards in a scuffle.

They initially prevented customers who wanted to pay bills from entering the compound and engaged an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a shouting

•Angry youths accuse BEDC of complicity From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

match.

Residents of Deeper Life Campground area of Ajebamidele also in Ado Ekiti have been in darkness in the last one week, following the theft of some materials in the transformer.

Landlordshave been contributing money to purchase the stolen materials.

The Ikere youths block the major highway passing through the town and held up traffic for some hours.

They said the destruction of the transformer had thrown them into darkness.

Appeals by motorists and commuters fell on deaf ears.

Many motorists diverted to other routes.

The protesters alleged

that BEDC officials were behind the destruction.

A youth, Gbenga Ogidan, said their grouse was that the transformer was vandalised by experts.

He expressed dismay that Afao Quarters had been in darkness for more two years.

He said: “The youth are of the opinion that BEDC officers vandalised the transformer.

“Robbers’ activities have increased. Many residents can no longer sleep with their eyes closed.”

Another protester, who gave his name as Tope, said: “Nobody without good knowledge of electricity can carry out the act. We suspect that BEDC officials are doing this and that is why we came out to protest.

“It is very painful to deliberately throw people into darkness and an ordinary person cannot vandalise the transformer” Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, an indigene of Ikere, appealed to the youth to remain calm.

He urged them to allow free flow of traffic so that economic and social activities won’t be paralysed.

BEDC spokesman Ilori Brown denied his workers’ involvement.

He said the company cannot do anything at present.

Brown said: “We are not culpable of anything in this matter.

“They removed the transformer and the cable from the former location without our knowledge.

“We don’t know who is

From Damisi Ojo, Akure and Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

A

TOP contender for the post of the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Waheed Odusile, yesterday said he would end quackery in the profession.

Addressing reporters in Akure during his campaign tour to Ondo State, Odusile, a managing editor of The Nation, lamented that quacks have infiltrated the profession.

He said the welfare of Journalists would be given priority attention, if he wins the election next week in Abuja.

In Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Odusile said he would pursue a special media salary structure for journalists.

The NUJ presidential candidate vowed to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly to criminalise owing media workers.

He also promised to set up NUJ Radio which, he noted, would provide jobs for members, help in the training of interns and generate income for the union.

Odusile also emphasised on professionalism with emphasis on training and retraining.

He maintained that anybody intending to become a journalist must attend NUJ’s International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) and receive a certificate to qualify to practise.

According to him, journalism would no longer be an all-comers’ affair, if he becomes NUJ President as only qualified persons would be allowed to practise in the country.

He declared his readiness to defend press freedom in Nigeria.

•Salaam (middle) handing over the petition to Adegboye....yesterday. With them is Owoeye.

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HE Osun State House of Assembly yesterday inaugurated a committee to investigate the petition by a judge of the state High Court, Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, seeking the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Justice Oloyede, in her petition, accused Aregbesola of misappropriating public funds.

At the inauguration of the nine-member committee, the Speaker, Najeem Salaam, said the petition would be given a fair treatment.

Deputy Speaker Akintunde Adegboye is the Chairman. The Majority

Osun Assembly inaugurates impeachment panel •PDP rejects composition From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Leader, Timothy Owoeye, is Secretary.

Other members are Oladoyin Olayinka, Afolabi Olalekan, Adeleke Ogunsola, Gbola Adebayo and Akinola Olasunkani.

The House’s Director of Legal Services, Kayode Titiloye and the Director of Legislative Management, Simeon Akinwale Amun-

san, will assist the lawmakers in technical areas.

According to the Speaker, the committee has two weeks to carry out its assignment and summit its final report.

Salaam added that the committee’s recommendations would be subjected to the final deliberation of the lawmakers.

Adegboye assured that the committee would in-

vestigate the matter without any sentiment.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the composition of the committee.

A statement by its Director of Media and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi, said the APC lawmakers were not clever by leaving out the two PDP members of the House.

The PDP accused the lawmakers of acting out the script prepared by the governor.

Lagos to prosecute Synagogue church, contractor

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said his administration would enforce the verdict of the Coroner’s inquest into last September 12 Synagogue building collapse.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said his government would uphold and enforce the sanctity of the law. He urged residents to respect the rule of lw.

The statement said: “Gov-

•Govt’ll uphold and enforce rule of law, says Ambode ernor Ambode hereby reiterates his administration’s commitment to uphold and enforce the sanctity of the law and call on all residents to respect the rule of law.”

To this end, he said the Coroner’s verdict of July 7 made a number of recommendations which the government would act upon accordingly.

The governor said one of the provisions of the Coroner Law 2007 empowered a Coroner to commence an inquest to find out the cause and manner of death in an unusual manner.

He said consequent upon the collapse at the premises of the Synagogue Church building, the government applied that a coroner’s inquest be held into the deaths.

The governor said the government “would prosecute the contractor, Akinbela Fatiregun, of Hardrock Engineering Company Limited and Structural Engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who built and supervised the collapsed building, for professional negligence”.

The governor said the government would also prosecute the Synagogue

Church of All Nations for neglecting to obtain a building approval, contrary to the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010.

The governor appealed to residents to always allow emergency responders perform their duties.

“He enjoins land owners to employ qualified and competent engineers, who must obtain building permit before construction,” the statement said.

working against us. It is pathetic that the youth had to move the transformer without carrying us along. This is a bad thing.”

Speaking on the invasion of Ado Ekiti BEDC office, Brown said the company had received a letter from the elders in the area on the development.

“Their elders brought a letter through their lawyer, which we are just preparing to reply to. We have met with the youth and we told them to defray part of their indebtedness before we can act.

“They promised that they would pay. We have appealed to them and the matter has been resolved”.

Knocks for APC chieftain YOUTH leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo North have condemned the statement by a chieftain of the party in Oke-Ogun, Chief Michael Koleoso, where he described the signatories of an advertorial calling for his suspension as “senseless and jobless”.

A statement yesterday by the youth leader, Salihu Dauda Ajana, said the signatories of the advertorial are people of good character, principle, integrity, , experienced and professionals.

“APC’s landslide victories in the general eelctions in Oke-Ogun show that Koleoso’s exit is insignificant. The victories justified the people as being loyal and appreciative of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

“Koleoso worked against the party. He told residents to vote against the APC but God showed himself strong and gave the party victory.”

Cleric on giving PHILANTHROPISTS and well-meaning Ekiti indigenes have been urged to impact on their communities and the state through investments.

The General Overseer, Hour of Mercy Prayer Ministry, Prophet Moses Muyideen Kasali, said investments in the state would aid its development and transform the people’s lives.

Kasali, who was in Ekiti State for a five-day revival, spoke in Ado-Ekiti during a visit to the Chairman, Prosperous Group of Companies, Cheif Isinkaye.

He praised the industrialist for investing in the state.

The cleric said: “If we have people like him establishing industries in our communities, there will soon be a new Ekiti State and a new Nigeria.

There will be drastic changes in the economy of the people and the state”.

He urged Isinkaye to continue to use his resources for the betterment of humanity and promotion of the gospel.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

8

NEWS

•Graduands of Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially sighted children during their graduation in Lagos…yesterday

DESOPADEC law: Clashes, protests rock public hearing

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HERE was pandemonium yesterday at the Delta State House of Assembly when host communities stormed the venue of the public hearing on an executive bill for the amendment to the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

Proceedings were halted.

Various interest groups insisted on going into the main chamber to express their positions.

There were clashes between the communities and security agents.

The Delta Ijaw Oil Producing Communities threatened to “challenge the law with all the strategies” at their disposal, if the lawmakers passed the amendment bill presented to them

by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Over 350 protesters, carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “Give us our 13 per cent derivation”; “Do not deny us of our rights and entitlement”; “The bill by Governor Okowa is not the best” and “Okowa, do not cause confusion in DESOPADEC”.

Their leader and spokesperson for Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Favour Izoukumor, described the bill as anti-oil producing communities.

He said DESOPADEC was established to cater for oil producing communities and not for the entire state, as proposed by Okowa.

Izoukumor noted that one of the major challenges the commission should revisit is that DESOPADEC should have five commissioners representing Urhobo, Ndokwa, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko.

The spokesman said the earlier eight, where Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko had one each and Urhobo and Ndowka had three and two was not proper.

A fight broke out before the hearing started.

The Chairman of the Host Communities (Hostcom), Delta chapter, Benjamin Eweta, was injured.

Twenty-five groups presented memoranda to the Assembly.

Tempers flared when the Chairman of the House Committee on DESOPADEC, Dennis Omovie, al-

From Shola O’Neil, Aiwerie Okungbowa, Asaba

lowed a member of the factional group to speak.

Angry factional members shouted him down.

Law enforcement agencies restrained youths from opposing camps from confronting one another.

But the police restored peace.

A youth leader, Gabriel Mene Ejegi, from Hostcom, Itsekiri chapter, was ordered out of the gallery.

Security operatives had a hectic time controlling the crowd.

Omovie threatened to jail anyone, who breached the peace.

He said: “Let me say that this committee reserves the right to send anyone to jail.

“We have the full powers of the House. The committee has resolved that it will give everyone the opportunity to speak. Everyone is a member of Hostcom. As such, everyone has a right to contribute.”

Former Speaker Olise Imegwu, representing host community in the Oil and Gas for Ndokwa chapter, noted that the problem with DESOPADEC was insufficient funds.

A leader of the Delta South Oil and Gas nationalities, A. S. Mene, said the agency had been unfair to the Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri.

According to him, the sites of projects and social works should be based on the quantity of oil produced by such communities.

Mene said the infighting among DESOPADEC board members had hampered its effectiveness.

He condemned what he called “the unrealistic salaries of staff of DESOPADEC”.

Izoukumor, representing Delta Ijaw Oil and Gas Producing community, opposed the bill.

He regretted the lack of equity in DESOPADEC’s board representation.

The representative rejected the “overbearing influence” of the government in the agency’s affairs.

The representative of Ndokwa Elders and Leaders’ Council, Oyibosochukwu Nwabueze, supported the amendment to the bill.

PHOTO: NAN

Incest: Ex-soldier jailed for life

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N Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday blasted a retired soldier, Alabi Ibrahim, for being “shameless and undeserving of being in the society” for sleeping with his wife and daughter.

The court, which described Alabi’s conduct as an “abomination”, sentenced him to life imprisonment for not only defiling his 10-year-old stepdaughter, but also for infecting her with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Alabi committed the crime in 2012 in his Abeokuta home, where both the little girl and her mother resided.

The assault drew the attention of the Child Protection Network (CPN), a

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Non-Governmental Organisation, which fights for children’s rights.

A medical report from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, tendered in court by Dr Seyi Adejobi, showed that the convict had sexually assaulted the girl and also infected her with HIV. The convict’s blood sample also tested positive to HIV. The girl, in her oral evidence, told the court that the assault was routine as she had lost count of how often she was raped by her step-father.

According to her, the convict always threatened to kill her, if she ever told anybody about it.

Ibrahim’s counsel Adebola Okudoro argued that the allegation was hearsay and appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.

Okudoro said: “The accused is a first-time offender. His health should be taken into consideration.

“He is infected with HIV, and will need access to medical attention, which is very expensive, and there are no such facilities in prison.

“The accused is the breadwinner of his family. He has several dependants.

We pray the court to temper justice with mercy.”

But Justice Abiodun Akinyemi held that the victim’s testimony during cross examination and the medical report convinced the court that the accused

defiled and infected the girl.

Justice Akinyemi added that the convict’s action has brought a permanent stigma on the girl while medical report does not suggest that she had earlier been sexually assaulted as the convict made the court to believe.

“I am fully convinced that the accused repeatedly defiled the girl. I found the accused guilty as charged. I find it not in my mind to show any mercy.

“The man is shameless, sleeping with mother and child. What an abomination! People like him need not to be in the society.

“I, therefore, sentence him to life imprisonment, he should however be given access to reasonable treatment.”

Scores feared dead as gunmen invade Ogoni

S

CORES of Kira indigenes in Kporghor and Gio villages of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State were killed yesterday when gunmen invaded the area.

Several others fled their homes.

The gunmen were believed to have come from neighbouring Wakama community in Okrika Local Government Area.

Kira residents said the gunmen started shooting indiscriminating immediately they surrounded the villages.

They said the attackers beheaded a young man from Kira. This forced the villagers to flee to nearby communities.

In a telephone message, an eyewitness, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We were caught up in gunfire.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

The police could not contain the situation.

“The East-West Road between Rivers State’s Banana Farm and Nonwa Junction, by the road leading to the police training school, has been shut down.

“Vehicles from Bori, Port Harcourt, Cross River and Akwa Ibom are being held hostage.

“Kira community has been deserted. Many have been killed. About seven vans of mobile policemen from Mopol 56 were spotted driving to the scene of the incident.”

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) condemned the invasion.

A statement by the Media/Public Affairs Advisor to the MOSOP President,

Free train ride on Monday From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Osun State government has declared Monday as the day for the free train service for those returning to Lagos from Osogbo, the state capital, after the Eidel-fitril celebrations.

A statement by the governor’s media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, Monday is the free train return trip day since the Federal Government has declared the day as public holiday.

The state government urged citizens to use this festive period to pray for the unity of Nigeria and the progress of the nation.

Bari-ara Kpalap, alleged that “the invasion was confirmed to have been carried out by combined and sophisticatedly armed attackers from neighbouring Okrika communities, especially Wakama”.

The statement added: “The attack reportedly started early yesterday. The attackers were said to have also invaded Kira and murdered an indigene.

“We recall that on May 6, the attackers invaded Baraobara village and murdered seven indigenes of Kporghor village, who had taken refuge in the village since December 21, last year, when their community was sacked.

“Last December, several residents of Kporghor village were killed; hundreds of houses and other property razed. The village was sacked when Okrika attackers invaded the village.”

MOSOP said it was “concerned and most disappointed that despite our reports and alerts, government and its security outfits have found no answers to the violent campaign by Okrika people against coastal Ogoni communities, especially those in Tai Local Government Area.

“We recall that in May,

we alerted that there were threats of further invasion of the communities, especially Kporghor, by their Okrika neighbours. Yet, no security arrangement was put in place to avert it.

“It is thus our position that this present attack is a function of security lapses on the part of the security forces in the area.”

MOSOP said: “It appears to us that these communities have been abandoned by government, hence these incessant attacks. But if the idea is to provoke these villages into seeking self-help, it would be resisted, no matter the temptation.”

The Ogoni group urged “the Government of Rivers State and its security agencies, especially the police, to investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to book”.

It added: “We would as well entreat the security forces to provide tight security for the people of Kporghor, Gio and other Ogoni communities bordering Okrika communities.”

Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad could not be reached.

His assistant, ASP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a terse response, said: “The police are already there and they have restored sanity.”

9

FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Veteran journalist and former Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Yakubu Mohammed is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE in Lagos on his aspiration and vision for the Northcentral state.

‘Why I want to govern Kogi’ W

HY do you want to become the governor of Kogi State?

First and foremost, I am very passionate about Kogi State. I am one of those who were in the forefront in the agitation for the creation of Kogi State. With all the manpower that we have and when we compare our state with others today, we are basically at the mercy end of development. I know that leadership is at the centre of the major challenge that what we have. Our lack of vision for great things could be at the centre of our setback. We have been at a standstill. Many other states have moved. Even those created along with us in 1991, you will not believe what they have today. If you leave us in our own isolated society here, you will think we have made progress. You say okay, we have governors, commissioners. That is not development. Development is not about giving people boreholes or building roads that will last only three years. There should be human capacity development so that people can be relieved, they can develop themselves. They can build their resources to take care of themselves. I went to one of the best secondary schools, Government Secondary School, Okenne. If you go to these schools now, they have collapsed. People go to school today and pass out empty.

They cannot write their names, they don’t know the history of the locality they schooled. Somebody was questioned on the Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, he said it is a drama programme.

This is where we are today and we don’t deserve to be there. This is part of why I want to be governor of Kogi State. I want to provide leadership that is capable of addressing these problems.

Why did it take you this long before making your intension known?

I am not just making my intension known. I vied in 2009 and I went round the whole state. And everybody believe Mohammed was the best, but somehow, the way things happen in this country mysteriously and apparently they don’t have the heart for good people. And so, I did not emerge to the chagrin of so many people yearning for purposeful development and a leadership that will stand out. To their chagrin I did not emerge, some people who had all sort of questionable character handing over them had their way. The other time they brought people who were not aspirants, who were not in the field with us.

Under which platform did you vie and what is the assurance that the forces that stood against your emergence will not do the same now?

It was under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Under the party there is all sort of impunity. People could do whatever they like and nobody would ask questions.

Is that why you defected to the APC? Somebody has asked me this question in the past. The truth is that the PDP does not need me. So, I had to leave. The APC provides a level playing field for many people. The APC represents change and so, we are going to change from where we are to where we want to be. I want to identify myself with that change.

So, naturally, it is the PDP that pushed me out. To them, what I was looking from them was unpalatable; one way of the other we are not compatible. I was too bad for them. Maybe, my own philosophy does not tally with their philosophy, the philosophy of progress, purposeful development, of equity and justice. Today, people are still complaining of marginalization, victimization and not being carried along.

There are other aspirants in APC, like, Prince Abubakar Audu and Ocholi likely to vie for the same position. What is the assurance that you will beat them at the primaries?

These are all my brothers; I am sure we have common aspirations and so on. I believe that God gives to whoever He wants to give, and takes from whoever He wants to take. God’s way and not human’s way. I believe in the almighty God. God has seen that we have suffered in that state. I am sure He will provide good leader for the state. Out of this group if any person is taken good, then he is our leader. I am not desperate to be governor.

What is the position of the party on zoning?

I don’t know the position of the party on zoning. But, I know that nobody is excluded from aspiring to the position of the governor of the state. No ethnic group is excluded and every ethnic group is free to vie for any position. All the democratic elections contested in the state had had all the three senatorial districts contesting, so nobody was excluded. This is what we actually want to play down. We are talking of one Kogi State, not one in Igbirra land, one in Kabba or Igala land. Kogi state as it is, is one common status.

How are you prepared for the election, given that you need money to finance it?

•Mohammed

Nobody is excluded from aspiring to the position of the governor of the state. No ethnic group is excluded and every ethnic group is free to vie for any position. All the democratic elections contested in the state had all the three senatorial districts contesting. So, nobody was excluded. This is what we actually want to play down When I was contesting the other time, Okada riders were giving me money. For them, I symbolize change and good leadership. There was a time someone sends a recharge card of N1,500 to support my campaign. They equally supported me with prayers that I should emerge. These are not people from my place, when I was touring the local government, which I had to spend money.

My brothers the Central Senatorial District, my Igbirra brothers gave me the money that I will use in their own district. For all the hours that I used there, I did not spend my money. They provided for food, snacks and everything. Our people know what they want, there are people who are not from Kogi state who believe in this project and are supporting it. They are passionately committed to even development across the country. They are encouraging me to go there to help give Kogi State the development stride. In fact, the issue of money politics has be put aside by the President Muhammadu Buhari phenomenon.

The popular feeling is that, without the Igalla, nobody can become the governor of Kogi State. How are you enlisting the support of your people?

First of all, I don’t want to believe that one ethnic group can decide who the governor of Kogi State will be. Nobody has ever emerged without the input of all the ethnic groups in Kogi State.

Even constitutionally, it is not possible. You cannot sit down in your comfort zone without the support of Kabba, Igbirra and Igalla people. But incidentally, I am not saying this is an advantage for me, I am an Igalla man. I am not running for the governor of Igalla people, I am running to be governor of Kogi State. I will need the support of Igbirra people, who have always been supporting me without any condition. I need the support of Kabba people. I know their feelings. They had complained about marginalisation and others. These are the issues we can resolve by dialogue. We can sit together to discuss and I know this is a problem squarely on leadership. Though, if you say that is an advantage, which of course I don’t share with you, I am happy to be Igalla. I did not have a choice of where I was born. I could have been born in Okene or Kabba or Lokoja, but it does not matter.

Like I said earlier, no ethnic group can emerge the governor of Kogi State without the support of the other groups.

The impression we have is that the misunderstanding between Audu and Ocholi has led to crisis in the Kogi APC. What is the real position?

Democracy is about divergent opinions views and conflicts. The reason there is conflict is that, when all of us are looking for something and we all the rush to get it, there will be conflict. If we are to go through this door one after the other, there will be no problem, but when we rush to pass through the door, we are going to jam and there will be conflict. There will be crisis and problem.

Where we have different views about issues, there will be element of conflict. But, it is not the type of crisis we have in other places. These people are brothers; we are all from the same family and our leader is Prince Abubakar Audu and some people are accusing him of wanting to be governor again. And that is unfair because he has not told anybody that he wants to be governor again. What he has said is that people are asking him to be governor. That is because he had done his best when he came there in 1991 as our first democratically elected governor. He had the opportunity of being elected again in 1999 and he ran for four years and did very well. So, people don’t forget him very easily. Today, he is our leader. What people are saying is that, as the leader, you are supposed to be an umpire. You sit down and look at those who are running, and pinpoint those who you think will do better. As a leader, you give room for people to contest in a free and fair manner. And, if you are a leader and also want to be a contestant, you are a player, the referee, it will cause problem and that is what people are pointing out. And you who are not in Kogi State, you think the fight is there. The fight is not there, this is what has been resolved long ago. I am not sure Audu wants to become the governor of Kogi State. I am sure that Audu is qualified to become the President of this country, he is qualified for higher things and for us who have been following him are proud of him, and we are wishing him to aspire to higher things. I think it is false accusation. There are people who are misreading him.

Audu is very brilliant, visionary, more or less larger than life.

Some people are feeling that is being there will create problem for them. So, I don’t think that the man will sit down there as our governor and at the same time wants to be our governor. He has not gone round anywhere telling them that he wants to be governor. There are people who want to worship him, but he does not want to be worshipped because he is not god. We are praying to God to give him long life for higher things. After which Buhari has done his eight years, he should aspire to the position.

What if your party decides to have a consensus candidate?

I am not the custodian of party politics, constitution and aspiration. If the party decide on that, that is what it wants.

If it is suggested for the aspirants to choose, what will you do?

I will tell my fellow aspirants please pick Yakubu Mohammed as your next governor.

Have you discussed with the leaders of your party about your ambition?

I have done that and many people are very supportive. Nobody has denied me what many people have ascribed to me. Nobody has denied it that people say I’m the symbol of integrity, fairness, justice and equity. In all the places I went nobody has accused me of arrogance, lack of transparency and accountability. I have served at higher positions, in fact I was Pro-chancellor of ABU, where they awarded million and millions of naira worth of contracts. During all of these I also got my sitting allowance. I was Associate Editor of New Nigerian at the young age of 26, two month after my national service. They saw the quality in me that endeared me to them. MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election, the publisher of the National Concord, in 1980, heard that I might be leaving the New Nigeria Newspaper for the Voice Newspaper in my the state of Benue. He came to my house at 11 pm, and said I heard you want to leave the New Nigeria Newspaper, if it is true; I want you to come and edit National Concord. So, in 1982, I was in National Concord and became the editor. The paper was doing 99,000 and 100, 000 copies daily, but, between the time and 1984, I took the circulation 420,000 copies. When we interviewed General Muhammadu Buhari, I happened to be the first journalist to interview him when they staged a coup in 1983. When we ran the interview in Concord it took the circulation to 450,000 copies. Sunday Concord and National Concord were running the interview. During my service noboday accused me of stealing a kobo. During the period I was one of the highest paid editors in the country. When I resigned in July 1984, I did not have N1000 in my account and we set up Newswatch and today, I still do not have money in my account. I might become governor of Kogi State and leave office and would still not have N1000 in my account. In fact, people around me are saying that if I become governor, there will be nothing to chop.

But, there will be work to do and our happiness is that we are going to leave a legacy.

The PDD is accusing the APC of relying on the federal might to bounce back in Kogi State and threatening to use the power of incumbency to stop your dream…

There is nothing wrong with that the PDP had relied on the fededal power in the past. Jonathan was the incumbent when he contested election and had all the trapping associated with incumbency, what happened to him? So, somebody who is relying on somebody is boasting that the incumbency will give him victory, let see how the incumbency will work.

10

THE NATION FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015

POLITICS

Most of the committees leave the obvious to pursue shad‘ows just to intimidate their prey to bow to pressure and then look for a way out through unholy “settlement ’

Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly recently attended a three-day retreat at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti, where they were enjoined to be good legislators by experts. ODUAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

‘How to be good legislators’

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HE job of a legislator is to make laws. Legislators are also expected to perform oversight functions. According to experts, they need to hone their legislative skills to perform these functions. That was why members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly converge on the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti recently for a three day retreat. The theme was: “The Place of Legislature in Democracy.” It was organised by the House of Assembly Commission, in conjunction with FEMOT Associates. It was witnessed by the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esanu, and other resource persons.

The House of Assembly has 26 members. Only one of them has previous legislative experience.

At the opening ceremony, Governor Ayo Fayose solicited the cooperation of the lawmakers. He said the onus is on them to support his administration through quality legislations. “I need your support for the implementation of our sixpoint Restoration Agenda,” he said.

Fayose, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, said the retreat became necessary to sharpen their skills in the art of lawmaking.

He said apart from lawmaking, the legislators should give their constituencies quality representation.

He also said that they should be active in their oversight functions.

The governor said many executive bills would be forwarded to the House for passage into laws to aid good governance. Fayose said he looked forward to a harmonious working relationship the lawmakers, urging them to be loyal.

The Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, lamented what he described “the cat and mouse relationship” that existed between the previous House and the executive. He promised that there will be harmony under his leadership.

He promised that the House would be very vibrant in the quality of debates, oversight functions, passage of bills and service delivery to the people.

The retreat facilitator, Dr. Femi Omotoso, described the legislature as a political compromise between the principles of perfect democracy and the realities of indirect representation in modern complex nation-states.

Describing the legislature as an important arm of government, Omotoso said it plays complex roles in socio-economic development.

In his view, loyalty and dedication to duty are of utmost important to legislators, if they are to faithfully perform the assigned roles.

In a paper titled: “The Growth and Development of Legislative Institution,” Omotoso, an Associate Professor of Political Science at the Ekiti State University, (EKSU), advocated teamwork among lawmakers at federal and state levels to ensure effective service delivery to the electorate.

He advised the lawmakers to make laws for good governance in their states; to always work together to achieve the goals of good governance and representing the interests of their constituencies.

The scholar, who noted that the legislature occupies the most important place in democracy, said the pooling of expertise and resources

by legislators would make them fulfil their mandate to the people and make the institution stronger.

In his paper entitled: “Legislature and Democratic Sustainability in Nigeria,”Dr. Ola Abegunde, who teaches Political Science, traced the history of the evolution of legislature in Nigeria to 1861 when the colonial government established the Legislative Council in Lagos.

Abegunde identified the functions of the legislature to include lawmaking, oversight function and representational function. Lamenting that the legislature has not lived up to expectation, he said:”Most of the bills passed to laws are hurriedly passed by the legislators when demands are met on such bills. For example, out of the four hundred and eighty seven (487) bills the Senate received between June 2003 and May 2007, 129 (26.49%) were executive bills, 237 (48.67%) originated with the Senate and 26 (5.34%) were sponsored by members of the House of Representatives.

“Out of the 487 bills, 132 were passed by the Senate out of which 83 (62%) of the passed bills were executive bills and 49 (37.12%) were members’ bills”.

According to Abegunde, the challenges facing the legislature include lack of legislative experience by members, which result in poor performance, low institutional development, lack of autonomy, godfatherism and public misconception of legislative roles.

In his paper entitled “Legislature and Oversight Functions for Good Governance,” a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at EKSU, Dr. Ademola Owolabi, advised legislators to build “an untainted legacy of public service with patriotic enthusiasm.”He decried the misuse of oversight functions by legislators, which has dented the image of parliament before the electorate.

He said: “Most of the committees leave the obvious to pursue shadows just to intimidate their prey to bow to pressure and then look for a way out through unholy “settlement.”

“If you are on a committee to expose corruption and inefficiency in the interest of the entire country, you would do so dispassionately and without exposing your emotion towards the investigated.

“In recent times, we have seen many such investigations and in the end, nothing really comes out for the benefit of the people. The whole investigation sometimes become a conduit pipe for financial waste at the detriment of the people.

“Behind the scene, too many waters pass under the bridge and he investigators go home smiling and congratulating themselves for fooling unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Some committee members now parade around facilities in the various departments and parastatals under their committees only to attract patronage, recognition and to acquire meal or flight tickets to choice countries of the world for personal or family pleasure.”

Professor A. A. Agagu also of the Department of Political Science, EKSU, in his paper titled: “Legislature and Political Communication for Sustainable Development,” described communication as a complex process, which requires some tact and skills. Agagu, who ex-

•Animashau

•Aribisogan

•Mrs. Owolabi

•Akinyele

Some committee members now parade around facilities in the various departments and parastatals under their committees only to attract patronage, recognition and to acquire meal or flight tickets to choice countries of the world for personal or family pleasure plained that political communication plays a vital role in attaining sustainable development by the legislature, noted that not all political communications are effective as a result of some barriers. The barriers, according to him, could come in the use of language, tone recipient, status distance, self protection of initiator, pressure of work and conflicting views from opponents.

Agagu pointed out that the legislature has often lacked a good image since independence, not because they have been blackmailed by the executive, the press or the citizens, but because of their failure in ihe area of political communication.

In his paper titled: “Legislature Accountability and Transparency”, Dr. Olugbenga Daramola, a senior lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance, EKSU told the lawmakers that they are accountable for the use of power at their disposal. He pointed our that almost all accountability lines in a parliamentary democracy are in a hierarchical chain through project directors, program managers, departmental heads, secretaries and ministers to the elected representatives of the people.

He stressed the need for the lawmakers to always approach the assignment of playing watchdog roles on public funds and resources with utmost sense of seriousness so as not to soil their hands and dent the image of the institution they represent.

In a bid to ensure compliance with accountability and transparency, Daramola said the declaration of assets by legislators is compulsory under the constitution. He advised the lawmakers to live within their income.

Former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly Dr. Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa took the new legislators through a mock sitting and conduct of legislative business.

Bolarinwa, who is of the Department of Philosophy, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAU), Ondo State, explained that consideration of motions and bills are the major pre-occupation of legislators. He said motions are meant to advise the Executives or any other persons or bodies within that jurisdiction adding that there can be executive bills, private bills and private member bills.

Speaking on dress code for lawmakers, Bolarinwa said legislators are qualified to sit in the hallowed chamber when they are properly dressed, adding that, when in English dress, it must be complete with tie and suit and when wearing native attire, it must be complete with cap for men and head gear for women.

He emphasised that a seriousminded lwamaker must always come for sittings with copies of the constitution and the House Standing Order for consultation, guidance, protection and direction.

•Akinleye The former Speaker said before the commencement of the legislative business, the legislative staff must have distributed the Order Paper and Votes of Proceeding to members.

Shedding light on how bills become laws, Bolarinwa said: “When a bill is presented for First Reading, the Speaker shall call on the Clerk of the House to read it; just for mentioning. No debate on it until the Second Reading when members shall debate the bill.

“It may later be committed to Committee of the Whole House under Executive Session. It may be referred to a Standing Committee of the House or an Ad-Hoc Committee. This is what is referred to as committee stage.

“It is not all bills that usually undergo committee consideration. It is also at this stage of the Second Reading that the bill may undergo Public Hearing.

“Thereafter, the bill will undergo Third Reading which is just to direct the Clerk of the House to read it. No more debate at this level. The Speaker would have read out the adjustments made to the bill.

“The Leader of the House will be recognized by the Speaker to move for the passage of the bill into law.

Any other member of the House will be recognized by the Speaker to second the motion.

“And it will be put to question and subsequently passed into law”.

With the three-day retreat over, members of the Fifth Assembly in Ekiti State are expected to have learnt the art and intricacies of lawmaking and other assignments connected therewith and are now expected to hit the ground running.

The principal officers are Speaker Oluwawole, (Moba 1); Deputy Speaker, Segun Adewumi, (Ekiti West. 1); Leader of Business, Tunji Akinyele (Oye 2); Deputy Leader, Adeniran Alagbada (Ise/Orun); Chief Whip, Sunday Akinniyi (Ikere 2) and Deputy Whip, Dayo Akinleye (Ijero).

Other members are Afolabi Akanni (Efon), Wale Onigiobi (Ekiti Southwest 1), Tope Fasanmi (Ado 2), Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West 2), Sanya Aladeyelu (Irepodun/ Ifelodun 2), Olanrewaju Olayanju (Emure), Wale Ayeni (Ikere1), Mrs. Titi Owolabi (Ikole 2), Mrs. Cecilia Dada (Ilejemeje) and Ojo-Ade Fajana (Ekiti East 1).

The rest are Olaposi Omodara (Irepodun/Ifelodun 1), Adeniyi Adedeji (Ekiti Southwest 2), Musa Arogundade (Ado 1), Samuel Omotoso (Oye 1), Dare Pelemo (Ekiti East 2), Ayodele Fajemilehin (Gbonyin), Olayode Omotoso (Ido/ Osi 1), Badejo Anifowose (Moba 2), Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1) and Abiola Jeje (Ido/Osi 2).

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘The present challenges we are facing should not deter us from growing our economy. It shouldn’t stop us from investing. It’s just a passing phase. Other countries that we refer to as developed started from somewhere’ •President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Unity Bank board sends MD on compulsory leave

T

•Semeniteri

HE Managing Direc tor of Unity Bank Plc Mr. Henry Semeniteri is fighting the battle of his banking career as he has been placed on compulsory leave by the board of the bank.

The Nation reliably gathered that Semenitari whose 10-day compulsory leave has elapsed has had the leave further extended “to allow for time to investigate allegations against him by some staff of the bank.”

From Nduka Chiejina

Allegations against Semenitari were said to have been levelled by the workers of the bank who took the allegations to a former Nigerian president, who has a large stake in the bank.

The ex -president in turn directed the Chairman of the bank, Mr. Thomas Etuh to engage forensic auditors to investigate the allegations.

At the end of the initial forensic audit of the allega-

tions leveled against Semenitari, “some cases of discrepancies” were discovered in the running of the bank, thus prompting the board of the bank to force him to embark of compulsory leave to allow for more detailed investigation of the allegations.

The Nation gathered that some of the allegations against Semenitari included spending of about N100 million on bullet proof vehicles, payment of

productivity bonus allowances to some workers and indiscriminate sack of workers without recourse to the board of directors.

A source at the bank told The Nation that Semenitari was still entitled to over 30 days official leave but that the board forced him to proceed on an initial 10 days leave which elapsed last week.

The source noted that the bank was being cautious in the way it handled the matter not to damage the fragile

reputation of the bank and that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was paying close attention to the matter.

However, there are strong indications that he might likely resume work at the end of his current compulsory leave but what happens thereafter is for the board to decide.

Aisha Azumi Abraham, has been appointed Acting Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc pending the resolution of the crisis.

12

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Ambode assures of early completion of Mile 2-Badagry road, others F L

Kalu urges Buhari to help reduce media cost

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

AGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday assured Lagosians of his administration’s determination to complete the Mile 2-Badagry Road Expansion project in quick time.

Governor Ambode who gave the assurance when he inspected the Mile 2-Badagry road expansion works, which is being expanded to a 10-lane way, said the contractor working on the project will be mobilised to ensure its completion.

He said: “What we have come here to do is to specifically ensure that the contractor here is mobilised. It’s also important for us that the contractor takes it as a major priority.

“The Mile 2 Badagry Expressway is very important to all of us and like we said, it’s a project that we must finish. It’s a project that I would like to be completed within the shortest possible time, so I’ll like to see greater work done on the road project itself.”

On the Blue Line Light Rail

project, the governor said efforts will be made to ensure that the Mile 2 to the National Theatre Corridor is completed soon.

“We should be able to put to use whatever has been done from Mile 2 to Marina. Immediately they commence work on the road project from Mile 2 towards Badagry, once we pass the aspect of Okokomaiko, we should be able to do the Blue Rail from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko,” he said.

He urged the contractor to increase the pace of work on the project just as he assured them of government’s readiness to address the challenges they might be encountering towards completing the project.

“What we expect is that notwithstanding the rain or whatever, the immediate mobilisation should be done and then the contractor should also increase the pace of work.

That’s what we’ll like to see and wea also wish to let you know that whatever it is that

are encumbrances to completing this project, we’re all going to sit down to make sure that we alleviate the sufferings of our people,” he said.

The governor who later inspected the Badagry Deep Sea Port project assured that the state government will give adequate support to the initiative just as he assured the communities within the location that their interests will be protected.

He said the Sea Port, on completion, will be the biggest in the African continent.

“The land space for the Deep Sea Port is over 1000 hectares of which we have just been told that there’s going to be a free trade zone and then a container terminal that we are going to have here.

“We already know that the investors have done the best they can. We have Mearsk in the bouquet of investors who have signed on to this project and what that means for us is that we are going to have the largest cargo container port in

Africa, situated in Badagry.

“That means a lot of us in terms of employment. It means a lot for us also in terms of new settlement like it has been said, we hope that in the next two months, we’re coming to start this project here,” he said.

He said he personally came to see the project, stating that it is part of his promise to bring development to the communities in the axis.

Harping on the need to complete the project, he said the state government will ensure that the 12 communities expected to be resettled as a result of the project are duly compensated.

He said aside the Deep Sea Port, the state government will utilise the tourism potentials and side attractions notable within the axis.

“Like you have also been told, this project is 500 metres away from the ‘Point Of No Return’ which is also a tourist attraction for us; so we have decided to protect that particu-

lar place to make sure that tourism is also complemented in this project.

“With a Deep Sea Port project like this, it means that there would be new settlements in Badagry, new towns and the standard of living is positively affected by this kind of project.

“That is why we want to appeal to everybody including every Lagosian, before I came here, I inspected the Mile 2 Badagry Expressway Project which is a 10-lane project.

There is no way we want to do the Deep Sea Port project here if we do not finish the Mile 2 Badagry Expressway project.

“I just want to assure you that simultaneously, those two projects will start in earnest and then we will use that to create jobs for our people and also increase the GDP (gross domestic product) of the Lagos economy and strongly within the next four years you will see a dramatic change in this axis of Lagos,” the governor said.

NCAT lauds Bi-Courtney’s training

T

HE management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, has commended BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, for its contribution to human capital development in the aviation sector.

This commendation followed the full sponsorship of four instructors in the institution to a one-week course in ‘Airport Route Development and Commercial Management’, organised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in Lagos, in May this year.

In a ‘letter of appreciation’ signed by the institution’s Head of Aviation Management, Engr. E. O. Onwuka, on behalf of the Rector, Captain Sam Akinyele Caulcrick, NCAT lauded the strategic training initiative being promoted by BASL, promising to strengthen its collaboration with the company widely renowned for its pioneering efforts in the aviation industry.

The letter stated: “With great sense of responsibility, the Rector/Chief Executive and entire management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) wish to express our deepest gratitude and thanks to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) for your magnanimity in providing full sponsorship to four NCAT Instructors in the Airport Route Development and Commercial Management Course organised by IATA, which your company hosted. I wish to assure the Managing Director that NCAT, as a Centre of Excellence, is prepared and willing to strengthen the strategic partnership training initiative with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited especially in human capacity development requirements of the Aviation industry.”

•From left: Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli; a winner at the ‘Reach for the Skye’ promo draw Mr. Adebowale Sulaiman; Area Manager, National Lottery Commission, Ibadan Mr. Tayo Fasuhanmi and a popular actor Mr. Olaniyi Afonja, during the promo’s draw in Ibadan ... yesterday.

‘How to boost small businesses’ performance’

I

N order to boost the effi ciency and performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recommended the introduction of a flexible corporate governance framework.

The group in its report titled Governance for All: the implementation challenge for SMEs, noted that the one-size-fits-all approach to corporate governance will not work for small businesses because their needs are vastly different from bigger corporations.

It stated that corporate governance in larger organisation ensures that management acts as shareholders’ agents, for SMEs , it entails improving business performance and managing risks.

The findings of the report

By Precious Igbonwelundu

include clear reporting lines and clarity on decision making and ?risks control, as well as on other matters that need to be brought to the board’s attention for review or approval.

It added that the framework should promote understanding of roles, responsibilities and limits of each person’s job, and show board the balance of an organisation such as risk and reward.

The report further noted the need for clear communication by board to management and staff about issues such as strategic goals and expected behaviours, adding that any incentives for staff need to be supportive of board strategies.

The Chair, Global Forum for SMES, Rosanna Choi while reacting to the report

said the framework of corporate governance needs to consider the diverse needs of SMEs in order to work for small businesses.

“SMEs need to realise the potential benefits of implementing corporate governance within their businesses.

“But equally, governments, advisors and other stakeholders need to realise the challenge for SMEs is that established corporate governance frameworks have been developed with large, listed companies primarily in mind. Such frameworks and codes may not reflect the realities of running a small business.

“Governance issues are nevertheless of critical concern to small businesses, where owners may often be its managers as well, or where company owner-

ship may be shared across family members.

“Sometimes the line between business and personal interest can be blurred. Corporate governance should establish clear roles and responsibilities for each individual and as such is relevant to businesses of all sizes. ”For corporate governance to work in small businesses the framework needs to take into account the diverse needs for themthey are not all run in the same way.

“Advisers and international institutions such as ACCA, need to also help by campaigning for the cause of why corporate governance matters to SMEs-this is vital for creating a receptive environment and overcoming barriers to action,” the reort quoted her to have said.

ORMER Abia State gov ernor, Dr. Orji Kalu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of the print media owners to avoid job loss due to increasing cost of production in the industry.

Kalu, who spoke yesterday said with the way things are in the print media, the industry is getting closer to the edge of the precipice, warning that it runs the risk of running at a loss because of the rising operational cost that is threatening the existence of most media organisations.

He, therefore, appealed to the president to urgently intervene to prevent job cuts.

‘The operational cost media houses have to contend with is huge and keeps rising daily.

“We are dying from the burden. Our businesses are suffering. From the cost of newsprint to ink, blankets and plates, our consumables in the print media are expensive. The Sun Publishing uses 2,800 tons of newsprint every month, for instance. Add that to the cost of freighting, the dwindling fortunes of the naira and power challenges and it becomes obvious that our business terrain is facing more difficulties by the day. The Federal Government needs to come to our aid. If this bad tide is not stemmed, media owners may resort to downsizing to save cost and that will further worsen the nation’s already bad unemployment figures,” Kalu lamented.

He said all media houses are producing every copy of the newspapers Nigerians read at a loss.

‘The average cost of printing a copy of a newspaper is N500 and we sell for N150 or N200. That means media owners are subsidising every copy our readers get with N300. How long can we go on like that and stay in business? The government has to intervene to ensure journalists keep their jobs and we stay afloat,” he added.

Kalu said the media industry deserves a special intervention fund from government at a reduced interest rate among other palliatives to carry on with the business of publishing.

He urged other members of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) to speak and lend their voice to this appeal to the government.

“All members of NPAN must join this appeal. We all need to work together on this. It is our battle, it is about our survival and if we don’t work together, all our businesses are at risk.

“For as long as our operational costs keep going through the roof, the fortunes of newspaper houses will keep diminishing,” he warned.

•Dr. Kalu

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

13

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

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

Nigerian Breweries PLC appears to have rekindled the hope of many teachers, with its N50 million social marketing investment through Maltina Teacher of the Year Award. But how far can it go in promoting excellence in the educational sector, knowing that Cadbury-Schweppes stopped its cause-marketing investment on Bournvita Teachers’ Awards, which it started in 2002? ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI writes.

T

HE new corporate social investment by Nigerian Breweries Plc, for the promotion of excellence among teachers, is long overdue. The last of such social marketing investment was by Cadbury-Schweppes, which, for over six years, sponored the Bournvita Teachers Award.

The Cadbury, which perhaps Nigerian Breweries is taking a cue from, rewarded many teachers with training abroad, among other prizes, hence, sparking the spirit of competition among teachers across the country. But since the beverage giant suspended the social marketing investment, many teachers wondered why the multinational brand had to stop what marketing experts had described as a case study in the marketing communication industry.

While Cadbury-Schweppes established the Bournvita Teachers’ Awards in 2002, to promote and celebrate excellence in teaching, award-winning teachers received computer, cash prizes, Cadbury products, and an award certificate, among other, motivational materials, to enhance the chain reaction of such excellence on pupils and students.

The awards received great acclaim from teachers while it lasted. With positive media reviews and endorsement, the corporate social investment, no doubt, enhanced the brand reputation of Cadbury and also deepened its penetration among teachers who are influencers in the chain of consumer decision process.

However, since the programme was suspended without any reason from the sponsor of the project, no brand thought of investing their marketing fund on such cause; perhaps, as a result of the huge investment and efforts in enhance a 360 degree marketing campaign for the cause. ”Such project requires so much marketing budget and the effort that goes into enhancing participation across the federation is huge,” a Public Relations expert, who worked with Freddie Scot & Associates, the PR agency that managed the campaign, told The Nation.

However, a new brand in the beverage sector and a top marketing spender, Nigerian Breweries, has announced plans to splash over N50 million corporate social investments on teachers, in a renewed effort to promote excellence among teachers. Using one of its premium Ready-To-Drink (RTD) brand, Maltina, as the platform to deepen the campaign across 36 states, where the Maltina brand is an household name, the initiative, called “The Maltina Teacher-of-theYear,” is being funded under the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.

Established as non-for-profit organisation in 1994, foundation through its pool of social marketing funds has driven some of NB’s corporate social responsibility projects in other sectors for sometime but now finds its appalling that the educational sector is in a dire state, hence taken a step further to assist government in alleviating the problems in the sector by instituting “Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Award” initiative.

Ohiwerei is the first indigenous Chairman of the leading beverage conglomerate which has been op-

• Maltina Teachers’ Award. Inset: Bournvita Teachers’ Awards.

Better days back for teachers? erating in the country since 1946.

The Trust Fund started operation with a seed capital of N100 million, to contribute to the development of educational sector in the country. Over the years, the company has used the fund to assist over 20,000 students, built 250 classrooms and 22 libraries in both primary and secondary schools across 49 communities in the country.

Speaking to reporters in Lagos, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of NB, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, said from the social investment, CSR project estimated at N50million as prizes and incentives yearly to reward innovation, commitment and diligence to duty by outstanding teachers across the country. He added that the award which, the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund is sponsoring on the platform of his company’s premium ready-to-drink (RTD) malt drink brand, Maltina is aimed at restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession.

Ekanem stated further that the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Award initiative is designed to recognie, celebrate and motivate teachers in Nigeria, with a first year focus on secondary schools.

“We hope that through this initiative, we can inspire this nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria,” Ekanem said, adding that the objective of the award is to create an avenue where exceptional teachers will be showcased and rewarded yearly and continuously.

He explained how the Maltina Teacher-of-the-Year Award project will be executed, the qualification for entry requirements, and a little expose on judging criteria. According to him, collection of application forms has since opened on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 when NB kicked off the project.

He disclosed further that collection and submission of entry forms for the award will last till Tuesday, June 30, 2015. He said hard copies of entry forms for the award can be obtained from designated collection and submission points as contained in the Maltina Teacherof-the-Year Award initiative’s flyers, posters and other below-theline (BTL) advertising materials being circulated across the country. For those who are unable to lay their hands on the hard copies, he advised such interested teachers to download the application forms from the Maltina website, www.maltina-nigeria.com, complete the application and upload to the site or return a printed copy of a completed entry form and submit them via the company’s post office mail box.

Ekanem affirmed that all applications will be subjected to an intense selection and judging process by an external and independent panel of judges which has been constituted to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity of the exercise. The five-step evaluation process of the entries received, he noted, will result in 37 state and FCT champions, from among which 37 state champions will emerge from which the Maltina

Teacher- of- the- Year will emerge.

The state champions and national winners will be celebrated at a grand ceremony on Monday, October 5, this year, a day set aside by the United Nations to mark the World Teachers Day. According to Ekanem, while first runners up and winners state levels will be rewarded with N500,000 and N750,000, 10 winners from the states who will be shortlisted for the grand finale will also get addition N750,000 each for advancing to the final stage.

The national winner (who emerged the Maltina Teacher-ofthe-Year Award) will get N1 million while another N1 million will be paid into his/her account yearly for five years. The Teacher of the Year will also be sent abroad for training.

The first runner-up will take home N1 million, while the second runner-up gets N750, 000.

Winners from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) will be given N500,000 each. The school that produces the national winner will also become a beneficiary of infrastructural development projects.

The award has generated an unprecedented interest from teachers across the country. Reports from collation centres across the country indicate that hundreds of secondary school teachers are enthusiastically submitting entries for the coveted award.

The CSR/Sustainability Manager, NB, Emete Tonukari, said the social investment is aimed at promoting excellence in the sector.

‘We hope that through this social marketing investment, we can inspire the nation to accord our teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria’

Beyond the investment on teachers, the yearly teachers’award is expected to also leverage Maltina brand exposure, especially with the endorsement it received from the Federal Ministry of Education.

Speaking during the visit of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s management team to the Ministry in Abuja recently, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala said the Ministry is happy with NB for initiating such social marketing project.

“We commend Nigerian Breweries for introducing Maltina Teacher of Year, a reward programme that seeks to recognise, reward and train teachers. It is our hope that this effort by Nigerian Breweries will encourage other corporate organisations to identify and support the Ministry’s programmes geared towards development of the education sector in Nigeria,” he said.

Nwaobiala, who welcomed the Nigerian Breweries Management team led by Ekanem to the Ministry as part of sensitisation for the Maltina Teacher of the Year project, added: “The Maltina Teacher of the Year programme because it aligns perfectly with our vision to bring back the glory days when teaching was a respectable profession and people took pride in teaching. We all must join hands to bring dignity and prestige to teachers if we want to see improvement in our education system.”

He pledged the Ministry’s support to ensure the success of the programme. He called on teachers nationwide to take advantage of the Maltina Teacher of Year to improve their career.

While the aim of the project is understandable, experts believe Maltina, a premium brand from the staple of Nigerian Breweries will enjoy massive exposure for as long as the brewer sustains the project.

14

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

Brandnews

FirstBank, PayPal partner on summer travels F

IRSTBANK of Nigeria is banking on its new partnership with PayPal to make life easier for its customers who will travel during this summer.

The bank hopes that the travellers through it can pay and get paid globally and seamlessly.

“Now we finally have an online payment solution accepted all over the world, courtesy of a new strategic partnership between First Bank of Nigeria and PayPal,” the bank said.

Banking on PayPal’s over 148 million accounts in 26 currencies spread over 203 markets around the world and its strategic advantage in Nigeria as a leading Nigerian commercial bank with over 750 branches across Nigeria with cards accepted in over 200 countries and on millions of POS terminals and ATMs around the world, the brand managers of the bank believe “the arrival of PayPal in Nigeria allows PayPal connect Nigerians to merchants from Asia, North America, Europe and beyond. So, finally, we can do online transactions on almost every site (since PayPal is a popular global online payment platform anyway), however, PayPal accounts have a transaction limit of about $250 until the account is verified. This is where FirstBank comes in!”

The Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, said at the launch of the Paypal e-commerce Payment Solution, that the bank is driven by the quest to provide the best financial services pos-

Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji

sible to its customers. He is optimistic that this venture with Paypal would make far-reaching impact on the lives of the bank’s customers in particular and the entire people of Nigeria in general.

According to him, it is necessary at this time of accelerating e-commerce evolution in Nigeria and it is equally noteworthy, that it is in sync with FirstBank’s enhanced service solutions for its SME, e-business, mobile banking and online banking customers.

“First Bank is celebrating 120 years of doing business in Nigeria,” explained Onasanya. “Ours has been a continuously exciting journey highlighted by a remarkable and enduring legacy of unparalleled development and sustainability. We are indeed proud to have built a heritage brand easily recognisable for its dependability, dynamism, stability, longevity and innovation.”

He also explained that FirstBank has established diverse operations in the financial services industry, with over 750 widespread service outlets, enabling its emergence as the foremost financial services provider in Nigeria.

“I am, especially, delighted that our subsidiaries, within and outside the country, are making enormous contributions to the growth and development of their national economies, to the delight of all our stakeholders.

“In expanding our scope in the ecommerce and money transfer

subsector, we have carefully identified PayPal due to its pedigree and robust success, achieved since inception 12 years ago, as a major consumer-to-consumer remittance company worthy of our partnership,” he said.

He further said the pedigree of Paypal, one of the world’s leading e-commerce payment platforms, has developed a fast, reliable and secure system, with expansive global operations. In the rapidly globalising world, an e-commerce payment solution requires the energising competitive environment presented by a rapidly growing company like PayPal, with quite impressive growth statistics, enabling its customers to send, receive, and hold funds globally, he added.

Also, PayPal’s Regional Director for Africa and Israel, Efi Dahan, also said: “Millions of Nigerians already shop on websites in the US, UK or China, but many find their cards are rejected or have concerns about entering their credit card details on the website of a seller based overseas. PayPal is used by hundreds of millions of people around the world to make international payments because PayPal payments are trusted by international retailers and we don’t share your financial details with anyone.

“This exclusive partnership with FirstBank is a major milestone in PayPal’s Africa growth story and we hope to make more announcements together in the future as our partnership develops,”Dahan said.

• From left: General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka; Iweanoge and General Manager, Marketing, Coscharis Motors Limited, Mr. Abiona Babatunde, during a briefing on the MTN TECH+ Exhibition Conference in Lagos.

Social influence of angel investors OU do not get the opportunity to meet angels every day. If you meet an angel, and she is ready to invest in your dream, to save you stress of sourcing fund, count your lucky stars.

Angel investors are still at the nascent in Nigeria.

However, in Europe, angel investment is well established and the practice has taken roots. Venture capitalists lurk around; angels are invisible, until recently.

For instance, a start-up in Nigeria, now one of the leading card companies, came to market on the magic carpet of angel seed. Angel seed have sustained its position long before the big money venture capitalists dived-in. Angel seed is like the moist and sunshine a nursery plant required to keep alive before the raining season.

Angels were useful to this particular company at its nascent While the venture capitalists (such as Microsoft, Facebook, Apple etc, which have bought some thriving companies and take them to the next level) are useful, I equally acknowledge the place of the angel investors in the value chain.

Without the angels to incubate the startups, the tier one venture capitalists would have nothing to gain. They would have nothing to build upon.

Dotun Sulaiman, Tomi Davies and Collins Onuegbu, all members of Lagos Angel Network (LAN), are the new face of angel investment in Nigeria. As Onuegbu told me, venture capitalists only go to where the “money can be made”.

Angels build dreams. Venture capitalists reap the harvest. LAN will be at the next Demo Africa in Lagos to help startups realise their dreams at the event.

One other aspect of angels is

Y

that they provide financial backing for startups in exchange for equity. The capital angles offer can be a one-time injection of seed money or ongoing support to carry the startup through difficult times.

If you have a dream and you need an angle for support, attend Demo Africa 2015. If you need funding, one of these angels can introduce you to a colleague or friend. The connections can prove useful.

Besides, at Demo Africa, angels would offer startups contacts of strategic partners, advice and counsel, credibility by being associated with the investor, potential customers, employees, lawyers, banks and accountants. Startups would get contact of investment bankers and knowledge of the marketplace from the angels.

Angels, who are mostly affluent individuals, play an important role in launching the future major companies of the world. Research has shown that every major technology company started with the help of angels.

This means that majority of local companies such as Systemspecs, PFS, Arit of Africa, Upperlink and MTN have all benefitted from angels’ touch. Likewise, the foreign giants such as like Twitter, Square and Alibaba.com have drank water with disposable cups of the angels before drinking with gold goblets.

However, startups have gained sincere handholding from angels at past Demo Africa. This tradition continues at the next edition. For startups and their dreams, it is not about the money. It is not about the equity.

It is about the mentoring, which would prepare them for the next big leap. That is the social influence of angels.

After all, you do not see an angel every day.

MTN, CMS to promote SMEs

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TN Nigeria has unveiled a new partnership with Connect Marketing Services (CMS) to improve access to technology and understanding of how it can enhance business productivity among small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

While the partnership is aimed at taking their businesses to greater heights, MTN said the deal with CMS would enhance business growth as it hosts the maiden edition of Tech+ 2015.

According to the Telco, the Tech+ 2015 is an innovative technology conference and exhibition that will

feature high-tech demonstrations of the latest digital products and services along with hands-on practical workshops facilitated by renowned IT experts.

The two-day event with the theme Leadership in Digital Technology is scheduled to hold at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on July 24 and 25, this year.

Speaking at the press conference, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Richard Iweanoge, said the event would not only showcase the latest technology but would also be an avenue for participating individuals,

businesses and top brands across Nigeria to understand the potential of the emerging digital technologies.

Particularly, businesses would have the opportunity of interacting with business solutions that would drive their businesses whil providing value for their customers, he added.

According to Iweanoge, “Technology is shaping the world of business. Enterprise teams now collaborate face-to-face without the need to travel. With all their business information in the Cloud, SMEs can transact business from anywhere in the world with ease. As a leading telecommunication company, with

great drive for enhancing and empowering business enterprises in Nigeria and across Africa, we are proud to be associated with these developments,” he added.

Further justifying the importance of the conference to brands and businesses across Nigeria, Iweanoge said “Tech+ is providing a platform and an ecosystem that promotes cutting edge technologies through education, practice, and innovation in the African Market. The global impact of technology across all areas of human endeavour has made it more imperative that people stay in touch with the world around

them to be able to identify with technological advancements that could reshape their world” Iweanoge said.

Guests expected at the first-of-itskind-event include: SMEs, IT experts, Manufacturers, Entrepreneurs, and consumers.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer, CMS, Mr. Tunji Adeyinka, said speakers at the event include: Mr. Jim Mckelvey, Cofounder and Director, Square; Nicolas Martin, CEO, Jumia Africa; Wael Fakharany, Regional Business Lead Google X, West Africa; and Mr. Abiola Olaniyan, Chief Executive Officer, Gamsole.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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A new technology known as biogas, which generates methane gas from cow dung and transfers it into cooking fuel, is exciting farmers, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Biogas: Cow dung power for farmers M

R Adewole Zacheus, a small scale farmer in Ibulesoro community in Ondo State has every reason to smile.

Two years, he would simply plant his farm, harvest and wait for better market prices that would give his good returns. With what he got, he bought farm input and sort out other needs.

He had no access to light because the village is not connected to the national grid. But the story is different. He is able to use cow manure to generate a renewable supply of electricity.

He has the Federal College of Agriculture (FCA), Akure, Ondo State and The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPPNigeria) to thank. While FCA, Akure, used her place to demonstrate how to use cow dung to generate power with a modest biogas plant, WAAPP funded the project.

So now, thanks to cow manure and biogas technology, he and his family not only have free, sustainable power all year round. Ibulesoro community now uses animal waste for electricity generation and cooking gas-courtesy, FCA, Akure and WAAPP. However, the cow dung comes various farms close by. One cow can produce over 30 gallons of manure a day. The place houses an anaerobic digester, built to hold waste for days. The biogas plant collects cow dung, mix it with water and channel it into fermentation pits. The resulting gas is fed directly to the farmer’s household to provide energy for cooking.

The process begins when cow dung and poultry waste is put into a sealed tank. A biogas digester is an air-tight chamber or compartment containing bacteria that turn organic waste into biogas and a high quality organic fertiliser. As the biomass digests, it releases methane gas which can be used to generate renewable heat and power. The biogas fuels the engine, which in turn spins an electric generator to create electricity. Waste heat from the engine is used to keep the digester warm and offsets fuel purchase on the farm.

One cow’s waste can produce enough electricity to light two 100watt light bulbs for 24 hours daily.

Traditionally, cow dung is used as a fertiliser, though today dung is collected and used to produce biogas.

Zacheus is happy he can enjoy electricity, courtesy of FCA and WAAPP Nigeria.

Each day, Mrs Zacheus spent several hours collecting wood for cooking and heating water.

The construction of a biogas plant at their home has transformed their lives. She freed from the daily drudgery of firewood collection, now has more time to spend on activities that generate income for the family.

Her husband has become skilled at installing and maintaining the biogas plant, making him crucial for

• Cow dung feed stock flows into a digester at a farmer's biogas plant

• Dr Odedina

• A stove cooking on biogas

the development of other plants in the area.

For farmers like Mr Zacheus, this reliance on biomass fuels could have made a hard life even more difficult. The fuel wood he and his family relied on was becoming increasingly scarce. This was mainly due to the destruction of the forests as a result of the intensive farming practices being employed to meet the demand for food. He was in need of an alternative, appropriate energy source to replace his costly one. The alternative energy source in question was Biogas and it relied on nothing more than cow dung for its operation. The biogas technology he requires to do this is wonderfully simple.

In Africa, biomass has become an important energy source for farmers worldwide.

Yet, the potential of using biogas has so far been unexploited, especially in the form of livestock manure in the agriculture system.

Provost, FCA, Akure, Dr Samson Odedina said sustainable energy is needed for agricultural transformation.

According to him, energy efficiency is also a critical area for improvement of the water-food-energy nexus for sustainable development.

By implementing the cow dung energy project for farmers, the school envisages a transformed agricultural industry that meets the needs of the rural and urban poor, small holder farmers and provides transition to modernis-

ing agriculture.

To revamp the industry, Odedina said energy is needed in all aspects of agricultural and food production, processing, service provision and livelihoods improvement, adding that such sutainable solutions, provide the key to improving energy poverty among the rural poor.

According to him, the college trains farmers and students to use biogas technology to generate methane gas from cow dung and transfers it into cooking fuel.

In this regards, Mr Zacheus, a beneficiary, is able to collect cow manure to power his home.

He said it’s an efficient green solution for areas that are off the grid and that the college trains farmers and students to install, to repair and maintain it.

With support from WAAPP Nigeria, he said FCA is researching biomass solutions for small holder farmers and communities.

This is because biogas from cattle waste makes a lot of sense with farmers using firewood for cooking. With increasing activities of people cutting wood from the forest, fetching firewood is now tedious, time-consuming and risky activity that engages the entire household, including the children.

Therefore switching to biogas provides a cheap and reliable source of energy for rural households.

With biogas, he said farmers who own livestock such as cattle and chickens can collect the waste and load it daily into a biogas system

to generate biogas. However, the choice of system is determined by the available resources. Once set up, he said the system does not need any maintenance apart from regularly adding waste material.

On the whole, he said producing biogas, could also create jobs in the farming communities where it is produced, while youths could be trained to set up and maintain biogas systems in their communities. It reduces waste that would otherwise pollute the environment.

According to him, FCA, Akure is privileged to be in partnership with WAAPP Nigeria, CAVA and other international organisations in developing solutions for agricultural transformation.

He said the college would be ready to receive more partnership with organisations and experts within the renewable energy industry, donors and development partners to bring sustainable energy solutions to the agricultural industry, adding that it will use the knowledge developed to train experts for the renewable energy industry across the country.

So far, farmers are partnering with organisations to implements projects to provide sustainable energy solutions for the agricultural industry. The projects include solar photovoltaic (PV), biomass energy, clean cookstoves, biogas, small hydro energy solutions for irrigation, food processing, agroprocessing, food production.

The Coordinator, WAAPP-Nigeria, FCA, Akure, Dr Adeyemo

Abiodun, extolled the virtues of biogas as a very attractive option for both the economy and for households in terms of renewable energy. The biogas plants, he said, could serve a household for 20 years. There are plants; he disclosed that can last for 100 years.

Abiodun said operators of the gas plants can use either cow dung or poultry droppings. The droppings would be put into a sealed tank called a digester, where they are heated and agitated. In the absence of oxygen, anaerobic bacteria consume the organic matter to multiply and produce gas that can fuel a generator. For Abiodun, it is a win-win situation. While allowing homes to generate power, it helps farmers to monetise waste. On the whole, biogas programmes are profitable even when the overall cost of the programme is taken into account.

According to him, the use of biogas plants to power local households would open up opportunities for rural entrepreneurs.

“Many rural households that do not have access to electricity are going to team up to purchase biogas” he said. “With the efforts made by WAAPP, and FCA, there are possibilities of entrepreneurs exploring the range of possible value-added bio-based products, among which are bio-fuel and bioplastics” he added.

For this reason, many entrepreneurs will experimenting with biogas plants to produce electricity and power for small business units.

Meanwhile, WAAPP-Nigeria has adopted Oriendu Village, a rural Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State for establishing Biogas Digester.

This step, in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, is meant to demonstrate to the adopted community alternative cheap source of energy for cooking and lighting in the rural areas; creation of employment opportunities by training some persons in this respect; and discouraging deforestation, among others.

At the training, the NRCRI Director of Extension Services/ WAAPP, Dr. Godwin Asumugha, said the technology is an alternative and cheap source of energy in rural areas, adding that already, more than 10 youths were undergoing training on how to establish the technology.

According to NRCRI Executive Director, Dr. Julius Okonkwo, the organisation, has since 2011, been collaborating with WAAPP to facilitate the dissemination of improved agricultural technologies, stating that the Adopted Village Concept which was first introduced to the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) in 1996 under the World Bank-assisted programs of the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) was re-activated and consolidated by the WAAPP. According to him, the concept was introduced for developing, disseminating and evaluating technologies emanating from Research Institutes. The institures are to conduct their demonstrations in the identified and adopted villages for adoption and impact, and impress on intending farmers and end users on the viability of technologies being promoted.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

Commodity exchange’ll limit risks, says expert S

TRENGTHENING the nation’s commodity exchange will provide the muchneeded financial assistance to small-holder farmers and limit risks in the agric sector, Programme Coordinator, Farmers Development Union(FADU), Elder Victor Olowe has said.

He said commodity exchanges could help farmers manage cropping decisions which is likely to improve their access to finance.

He called on the government to empower the Abuja Commodity exchange so it cans become a plat-

Stories by Daniel Essiet

form to attract agricultural investments, aside from the provision of a ready market and formalisation of commercial activities.

One of the features of the system, according to him is the warehouse receipt system, whereby farmers will be provided with receipts based on the food crops that they deposit With the warehouse receipt system working, he said farmers can make cropping decisions when the right demand is reflected in price signals, thus reducing inter-sea-

sonal volatility characterising agricultural production, and smoothing producers’ incomes over time.

He noted, however, that commodity prices are quoted in distant places and as such Nigerian farmers who are price-takers are often deprived of higher profit margin by foreign buyers using exchanges.

To make it work, however, he said the sector needs infrastructure to improve grading and certification of commodities traded on the ex-

change to help streamline quality of produce to gain value for international markets.

A Consultant to German International Co-operation (GIZ) Sustainable Cocoa Business programme, Mr Dayo Mejabi Ekundayo, said the commodity is a key part of modernisng the whole agricultural marketing system.

According to him, improving warehousing, storage, logistics, crop quality and farmer financing

are all critical to the success of the venture.

He said promoting the commodity exchange would create an orderly, transparent and efficient marketing system for the nation’s agricultural commodities and encourage market access and fair returns for smallholder farmers.

He said it would facilitate the formalisation of informal agricultural trading activities.

birds, Dr. Adisa Adaramola , urged farmers to urgently seek help from experts if a particular drug fails to give the desired results after administering it on birds. While advising the farmers against self-medication on their birds, the poultry health expert charged the farmers to take precautionary measures at all times.

In another lecture, while the participants were advised to report signs of the disease to the state office, they were also urged to endeavour to keep records and statistics of activities on their farms very well so that it can be easy to deal with the cases.

Mr. Nurudeen Ibrahim of Adeen Farms, Ede and Mr. Oladepo Lawal of Labake Farms, praised the state government for organising the workshops.

On behalf of other participants, they said they have been equipped

to guide against the deadly scourge.

The Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwabukola Aluko, who expressed appreciation to the administration Governor Rauf Arebgesola for the workshops, called on the farmers and other stakeholders to protect themselves and the state from contracting the disease.

Aluko urged the participants to be vigilant and report any strange disease affecting birds to the appropriate quarters for the necessary action. She gave out telephone numbers to the participants in case of emergencies.

Bird flu was first recorded in Sambawa Farm in Kaduna, Kaduna State in August 2006.

It re-emerged in January, last year in Kano and Lagos states. Early this year, about 322 farms in 18 states were affected.

Osun moves to prevent Bird Flu

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HE Osun government is doing everything possible to case of Avian Influenza (otherwise known as bird flu) in the state, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy Olusegun Aduroja has said.

He spoke at a workshop for poultry farmers, farm attendants, agricultural extension workers, agricultural science lecturers.

He said the government was taking preventive measures through the workshops to prepare stakeholders in the poultry farm sub sector to against possible outbreak of the disease in the state. .

The state government partnered with a private poultry giant, Tuns Farm Limited. Its Managing Director, Olalekan Badmus, said the sensitisation was also intended to equip the public with the basic tips on the prevention and control of the disease. However, he allayed the fear about the epidemic, assuring that it had not occurred in Osun.

Badmus said only 15 cases of the disease had been traced to small farms in the affected states.

He said preventive measures had since been taken by the government and experts by destroying the affected birds in the affected farms.

He assured of the government’s efforts to ensure effective management of the control posts to check indiscriminate entry of poultry products into Osun, especially from states where cases of the epidemic had been re-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ported.

Badmus also said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had since assured the public that the situation was under control.

On the level of the awareness programmes so far, Badmus said Tuns Farms had sponsored a handbook on prevention and control of the disease, adding that the book had since been in circulation in all the parts of the state.

Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Osun State Chapter, Chief Oluyemi Olukiran, said: “There are 36 states in the country with hundreds of farms in each state, if AI only affects three farms in Lagos, Rivers and Kano states, the situation can’t be said to be epidemic and should not be blown out of proportion. The signal from where it occurred is a warning to other farms from those states and the remaining 33 states to take preventive measure against the onslaught of the disease. Our farmers are advised to immunise their birds properly, the farm attendants and visitors should make use of disinfectants, the access to the birds by the visitors should be controlled and also exchange of farm implements should be avoided.”

The Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Abosede Olatokun, stressed that

Toyota, Amatheon invest $36b in project

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ERMAN firm Amatheon Agri group entered into a joint venture with Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, to finance agribusiness projects in Africa.

According to a statement, the two companies will invest $10 million (or approximately Shs 36 billion) into commercial farming of cereals, such as maize, wheat and soya in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

The international trading company, Toyota Tsusho, a subsidiary of the Toyota group, is already active in 53 countries in Africa while Amatheon Agri is a German agribusiness and food company that operates sustainable agricultural projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. The group also invests in the food processing sector.

Already, Amatheon has opened up large-scale farms, and is growing maize and sunflower in Nwoya district. The firm recently embarked on plans to start similar

farms in the eastern parts of the country.

The founder/Chief executive officer/ founder of Amatheon group, Carl Heinrich Bruhn, explained in the statement that the joint venture between them and Toyota highlights the increasing importance of the agricultural sector across Africa.

The partnership will culminate into the building of a large-scale agro-project of 2,700 hectares of land for growing maize, wheat and soya, Bruhn said.

The collaboration of the two companies is part of the overall development of Amatheon’s already 40,000 hectares titled farm block and the Amatheon Agri group will act as the majority stakeholder and operating partner of the company.

Bruhn adds that the project represents both companies’ shared understanding of responsible and profitable investment in the growing agricultural sector of Africa.

• Participants at the workshop

the key to adequate bio-security is the maintenance of good hygiene both within and around their poultry farms.

She urged the poultry farmers to always watch and control the entry of people and other animals from other farms into their farms, adding that they should try as much as possible to avoid borrowing materials to be used in their own farms from other farms.

Another speaker, Dr. O. Tanimowo enlightened the participants on early detection and prevention of the disease so as not to allow it spread to other places.

They advised the participants to adhere to the instructions of the lectures so that the presence of the disease will not find way into the state.

Also delivering a lecture on proper medication for poultry

‘Sector needs more support from banks’

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HE agriculture sector needs more support from banks to promote sustainable farming, experts have said.

The Director of Studies, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Olufemi Oladunni, said banks should be encouraged to create more capital for agriculture sector for economic growth.

This would also increase productivity in the sector and ensure food security in future, he said.

Oladunni said the government should encourage the banks to support farmers and traders but also gives banks confidence to lend.

He urged the government to provide more stability to farmers by setting up government-subsidised financing programmes, and that

such products should funds to farmers.

He said banks would shy away if there’s no certainty in terms of guarantees to protect their lending, adding that the banks is still not responding to the call to support farmers citing difficulties to get their money back.

President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola, said the government has a huge responsibility to support agriculture He urged the government to empower Bank of Agriculture and other financial institutions to support agricultural industries and stimulate bank lending.

He called on the government to implement a loan discounting mechanism would encourage

banks to provide short-term, selfliquidating, secured loans to finance agricultural commodities.

He said there was a need to create financial literacy in rural areas and banks were making their efforts.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, BoA, Prof. Danbala Danju, has called for the repositioning and funding of the agriculture sector to boost food production in the country.

He said the Federal Government should inject more funds into the BoA for farmers to access.”We hope that President Muhammadu Buhari would strongly support the agriculture sector, especially by injecting more funds into the Bank of Agriculture (BoA),’’ he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

18

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

NASS crisis: Labour threatens mass action

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RGANISED labour has threatened mass action against the National Assembly (NASS), if it fails to nip in the bud the leadership crisis bedevilling it.

General-Secretary of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aremu, who handed down the threat in Lagos, said labour would compel the lawmakers to do the work they elected to do.

“The crisis seems to be getting out of hand and if the lawmakers fail to address it, labour will take a mass action,” Aremu said.

Aremu, who is also the factional Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), charged President Muhammadu Buhari to deeply look into the crisis, while the lawmakers must also learn to be good leaders.

He implored the Federal Executive and NASS to set a machinery in motion to review the 2010 minimum wage, adding that devaluation of the naira and inflation have eroded the value of the minimum wage.

He said: “Indeed, minimum wage has become a starvation wage. In 2010, minimum wage was

•Seeks prudent mgt of N400b Stories by Toba Agboola

fixed at $120 per month. Today with devaluation, it is $81. 8, meaning that in real terms the minimum wage has fallen by 31.8 per cent’’.

He expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the land and advocated the need for organised labour to partner the Federal Government on ways to tackle it.

He advised Buhari to block all leakages and demand accountability from public officials.

He also urged Buhari to take a second look at his proposed visit to America in the wake of incessant terror attacks in the country.

He said Buhari should not follow the unhelpful roads of his predecessors who spent more time attending wasteful summits abroad while governance at home suffered.

He said: “African leaders must definitely think global, but they must act local. They must implement the wish list of the African electorate not the agenda of foreign powers and donors who put us in mess in the first instance.

“African Union (AU) needs

original initiative in Africa not in Washington and Paris. We must act local and think global, not running around the globe instead of staying at home’’.

Aremu praised Buhari for the intervention funds to states to settle accumulated workers’ salaries, saying that the gesture shows the latter is labour-friendly and sensitive with respect to payment of salaries.

He, however, warned state governors against mismanaging the N400 billion given by the Federal Government to offset the backlog of salaries owed workers.

He said the governors should ensure that they use the money judiciously since this was the first time the Federal Government was giving such an intervention fund.

He said: “The governors should ensure that the money is used for what it is meant for. They should be prudent and live as debtors.

They should live within their means. It is unacceptable that governors live on bail out, yet fly around with chartered aircraft, behaving like kings. “The state governors must partner the Federal Government to re-industrialise

their states. Governors must depend on companies and personal income taxes not oil money bail out. The Governors Forum must declare state of emergency on industrial revival’’.

NLC’s General Secretary, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, said appropriate measure should be taken for the pay back of the bailout, adding that the intervention, no doubt, was a gesture that will go a long way in enabling the states to discharge their obligations to the citizenry.

Also, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, expressed strong reservations about the total liquidation of the excess crude account, stressing that it would have kicked against the bailout but for its mindfulness of the pains of millions of workers and their families who would benefit from it.

“The move is tantamount to eroding and eating up the future of unborn generations. But we shall allow it because of the innocent workers and their dependants and on the condition that sufficient arrangements are made to guar-

Block terrorists funding sources, NUPENG urges

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HE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has implored the Federal Government to block Boko Haram’s sources of financial transactions, fuel supplies, and logistics to forestall further onslaught.

President of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese, who gave the advice in reaction to recent wave of attacks by the group, which left hundreds of people dead in the northern part of the country, also enjoined the government to re-organise the armed forces to make them fit to face the guerrilla warfare, through adequate training, increase in payment of hazard allowances and other welfare packages to boost their morale.

He further advised the govern-

•From left: Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Elvis Daniel; Founder, Eastern Hill Academy, Mrs. Oyenyekwena Adaeze; Administrator of Eastern Hill Academy, Mrs. Chineye Ikenma and Manager TEEN Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Ifeoluwa Oyeyipo, at the Eastern Hill Academy speech and Prize Giving Day, held at the school premises in Enugu.

NLC urges Buhari to wade into FMC crisis

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the over six weeks strike embarked up by workers of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, over corruption allegation against its Medical Director (MD), Dr.Angela Uwakwem.

President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a letter addressed to Buhari, said the situation in the institution has been worsened by the outright refusal of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, to bring to Mr. President’s attention for approval, the Management Board’s resolution which recommended that the MD and the top management proceed on leave to pave the way for a thorough investigation into the matter.

He said: “You might wish to know, Sir, that a prima facie case of gross financial misconduct and embezzlement has already been established against the Medical

Director. This was by way of an illegal withdrawal of personnel costs meant to pay staff promotion arrears for 2013 and 2014, the siphoning of funds meant for the running of the centre through channels of questionable privatisation process of some sections and services rendered by the hospital.

“It was on the strength of the prima facie case established by the board that the FMC Owerri board halted the privatisation process and passed a resolution that the MD and indicted members of her Top Management Committee (TMC) should proceed on compulsory leave to enable full investigation take place as prescribed by law and the public service rules.”

Wabba however, said the MD and the compromised members of the TMC have refused to budge, leveraging on their ally, the Permanent Secretary’s cover for their nefarious acts and an utter disregard to the powers and authority of the board of the institution to make recommendations to Mr.

President on matters of this nature.

Wabba said the perpetuation of illegality and illegitimacy by the MD and her team must not be allowed to continue, while the Permanent Secretary must not be allowed to continue to usurp the powers of the President by holding onto the board’s recommendation to Buhari.

He said: “Our prayer, thus is for you to urgently step into the matter, and consider and approve as necessary the recommendations of the board or give a directive as you may deem fit in the circumstances.

“A decisive action, Your Excellency, shall surely restore our confidence that under your watch, it is zero tolerance to corruption and impunity.”

He urged Buhari to urgently effect the payment of all outstanding entitlements of the affected workers, saying the development would ensure enthronement of greater productivity and better industrial harmony in the Centre.

antee early repayment of the money by the states,” he said, asking, “How can a governor who is also head of a family owe workers up to 10 months salary in a country where there is no price control?’’

He insisted that such laxity is totally unacceptable, and a typical example of man’s inhumanity to man.

Kaigama warned that the Buhari administration must guard against the presence of fifth columnists in its midst so as not to give Nigerians any reason to regret voting it into power.

“It appears some people in the administration are only there for themselves, their families and cronies instead of working for the improvement of the lot of the people. The increasing spate of bomb explosions that have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed property in the once peaceful NorthEastern part of the country, financial waywardness, profligacy, impunity and the awkward belief in business as usual must come to an end,” he said.

ment to devise a medium and long term plan of action to rejuvenate economic activities in the area, create jobs for the restless youths, with basic education put in place for the many uneducated youths that are used for suicide bombings and killings “NUPENG is worried and concerned about the new wave of killings and wanton destruction presently perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents. The union condemns in its entirety the recent attack on the Redeemed Christian Church in Potiskum, where the Pastor and six worshippers were killed.

“The union also kicks against the killing of over 100 innocent souls in Zamfara and Plateau States by the insurgents,’’ Achese said.

ASCSN opposes ceding of Unity Schools to states

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UBLIC servants, under the auspices of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), have expressed concerns over the subtle campaigns by hired analysts urging the present administration to transfer the 104 Federal Unity Colleges to state governments.

Advising President Muhammadu Buhari to reject such a policy, the National President of the association, Mr Bobboi Kaigama and SecretaryGeneral, Mr Alade Bashir, said those making such moves were not interested in the desires of ordinary Nigerians who voted the administration into office The ASCSN stated: “The Union is worried that when we have a new government in place, some Nigerians under the guise of discussing the issue of devolution of power in the country are clamouring for the transfer of Unity Colleges to State Governments.

“The question to ask is what devolution of power has got to do with ownership of Unity Colleges when education is on the concurrent list of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What manner of a country do we want to run when we engage in the habit of approbating

and reprobating on sensitive national issues?”

Kaigama said moving forward and backward would not help anybody.

“Let us take all our institutions as given and service them on a regular basis for the benefit of mankind. You build toll gate today, demolish them tomorrow only for you to come back later and start toying with the idea of rebuilding them,” he stated.

Insisting that there is the need to get serious for once and move the country forward, he noted that the idea of selling the national assets and heritage is only being driven by selfish motive and interest, and that it is not the way to go.

ASCSN recalled that in 2005 when the then Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, acting on official directive, mooted the idea, millions of Nigerians overwhelmingly opposed the move while the union carried out seven-week strike throughout the Federation to forestall the plan.

“Besides, how can anyone in his or her right senses be advising the Federal Government to hand over the 104 Federal Unity Colleges to state governments that cannot pay salaries to their workers and whose primary and secondary schools are in shamble,” the union queried.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

LETTER

Imbibing the Ramadan spirit •This is what genuine Muslims must do even now that fasting is over

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HE annual fasting observed by Muslims across the world ended yesterday. And today, Muslims all over the world mark the end of Ramadan fasting with the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The festivity comes on the first day of the 10th month of Islamic lunar calendar, and has become one of two festivals of Islamic significance; the other being Eidel-Kabir. After a month-long ascetic life and spiritual supplications to the Almighty, Eid is expected to usher in infinite bliss for devotees. Today is an occasion of gleefulness and thanksgiving. All good Muslims should take advantage of the day to vow never to go back to what Allah frowns at, and to show gratitude to Him for sparing their lives.

Despite today’s air of indulgence, we call for modesty in celebration. We expect Muslims to avoid depraved conducts.

Good Muslims should take advantage of the day to be sensitive to and share the feelings of those around them. That is why the lessons of the holy month must reflect in the way they relate with friends, non-Muslims inclusive.

Muslims whose fast is based on imaan, sincerity, should truly expect reward, Ihtisaab, from Allah. Those that have imaan as thrust of their dealings with fellow beings will have their sins forgiven. Others will have to satisfactorily answer questions such as: was their fast performed with true belief and full surrender to Allah? Was it done

because Allah imposed it on Muslims or for other selfish reasons? Have they gained anything from the month of Ramadan Were they positively inclined towards fellow beings? Have they overcome all their prior weaknesses and cruelty?

We have no doubt that obedient Muslims, not killers and terrorists, like Boko Haram insurgents, despoiling the name of Allah, are assured of reward from Almighty Allah. Surprisingly, these fake Islamists hiding under the guise of the ’religion of peace’ to perpetuate evil have shown gross contempt for the holy month. The terrorists destroyed the usual tranquillity of unity and spiritual rebirth of the holy month through senseless bombing of innocent souls and outright destruction of properties.

We wonder what has happened to the pious habit of Qur’an recitation, especially during Ramadan, and imbibing the lessons therein. The Boko Haram insurgents should realise the futility of their actions quickly. All human beings are expected to be their brother’s keeper and should cultivate and indulge in things that would make the community and the entire world one peaceful place for all to live in. We doubt whether the terrorists could, in all conscience, proclaim this. The suicide bombing of fellow beings before, during and after the month of Ramadan is barbaric.

So, in the spirit of Ramadan, we call on the governments, institutions, the people

and especially Boko Haram insurgents to have an attitudinal change that would not negate the commandments of Allah.

What should be done now is to continue to practice and sustain the virtuous preaching learnt during Ramadan for the sake of all. The talk of restoring security in the country must start with adhering to the tenets of Allah by both Muslims and non-Muslims. This is realisable only if stakeholders in the nation’s project are honest with themselves as all Muslims professed during the Ramadan period.

Moving our country forward entails being our brother’s keeper; and desisting from inflicting terror and evil on humanity. That is the greatest lesson that can be learnt from the just ended fasting.

‘Despite today’s air of indulgence, we call for modesty in celebration. We expect Muslims to avoid depraved conducts. Good Muslims should take advantage of the day to be sensitive to and share the feelings of those around them. That is why the lessons of the holy month must reflect in the way they relate with friends, non-Muslims inclusive’

Tompolo’s contract • Another good riddance to bad rubbish!

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XPECTEDLY, the Federal Government has terminated the $103m (about N21billion) maritime security contract awarded by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) believed to be owned by former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpomupolo a.k.a. Tompolo. The Presidency, according to report, had ordered the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to discontinue payment for the provision of platforms for security of the nation’s waterways and this had stopped since last month. The contract was awarded by NIMASA in 2011.

This is the second such unconscionable contract awarded by the Jonathan administration to be terminated by the Muhammadu Buhari government. The

‘However, with the maritime security contract now terminated, the government should channel the money paid to the private firm to strengthen the Navy and marine police whose responsibility it is to secure the nation’s waterways ... If after getting the necessary requirements the security agencies still cannot perform, then it becomes a matter to be handled administratively.

The solution does not lie in funding rag-tag militants and ethnic militias to handle such sensitive duties’

first was the pipeline protection contracts awarded to the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and Niger Delta militia group which was also stopped last month, with the Federal Government giving a marching order to the Nigerian Army and Navy to take over protection of the pipeline.

Nigerians had always opposed the outsourcing of the security of these vital national assets to the militants and ethnic militias. Unfortunately, for reasons best known to it, the Jonathan administration which seemed bent on professionalising militancy, insisted on going ahead with the contracts.

Thus, as those given the contracts were smiling to the banks, the security agencies that have the constitutional mandate to secure these assets were starved of funds. This was evident in the several setbacks the military suffered in the fight against Boko Haram fighters, as the country had to look for help from outside to fight the insurgents.

Although the former president did not hide his proclivity for pandering to parochial interests in his actions and utterances, not a few persons wondered how this could be taken to such ridiculous lows, whereby the president would surrender the security of the country’s maritime domain to his kinsman when there are government security agencies that have the constitutional role to perform such functions? If it was a public-private partnership (PPP) as the Jonathan government called it, it must have been a warped one at that.

Apart from being a serious indictment of our security agencies, the contract awards were also a national disgrace; they

exposed the nation to ridicule because there is no such paradigm anywhere in the civilised world. To worsen matters, the country did not get value for the money it paid to secure the national assets as over 400,000 barrels of crude oil were being stolen daily from our shores under President Jonathan. That this persisted for years made many people to suspect that it was the same people who were given the job of maritime security that were colluding with the international shipping companies to steal the country’s oil.

It is against this background that we commend the Buhari administration for terminating these so-called contracts which represented nothing but “job for the boys” and a veritable avenue to siphon public funds. Any rational Nigerian knew that such contracts could only have been awarded by an administration like Dr Jonathan’s, and that the moment the government was voted out, it was a matter of time for the contract to be terminated.

However, with the maritime security contract now terminated, the government should channel the money paid to the private firm to strengthen the Navy and marine police whose responsibility it is to secure the nation’s waterways.

Where more resources are required for these agencies to perform, the government should not hesitate to provide them.

If after getting the necessary requirements the security agencies still cannot perform, then it becomes a matter to be handled administratively. The solution does not lie in funding rag-tag militants and ethnic militias to handle such sensitive duties.

Restore military checkpoints

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IR: A few weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the removal of all the military checkpoints put in place nationwide in the wake of the onslaught by the Boko Haram sect. The president, who gave the directive during a meeting with the service chiefs, noted that the decision was meant to eradicate the hardships being experienced by commuters and motorists due to the existence of the checkpoints. Since then, Nigerians have received the decision with mixed feelings in view of the increased and recent attacks carried out by suicide bombers in many cities in the North such as those that occurred in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau and Yobe states, thereby fuelling fears that the insurgents might have exploited the opportunity of checkpoint removal to be launching further attacks on the nation.

Honestly, the order by President Buhari that military checkpoints should be dismantled is understandable, sensitive and appreciated, based on the imperative of making the movement of road-users less cumbersome and the premise that the job of internal security actually belongs to the police since the military have enough to cope with in safeguarding sovereignty of the nation. The truth however is that the Nigeria Police, as presently constituted, is incapable of providing adequate internal security for the nation. It is logical to advise that in trying to ameliorate the suffering of the people, though laudable, the government should not be seen as throwing away the baby with the bathwater. On announcing the scrapping of the checkpoints, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, had stressed that the additional 158 patrol vehicles would be deployed across the country to fill any security vacuum that may occur with the removal of military checkpoints. This may not be assuring enough because the issue of fighting terrorism and national security go beyond the acquisition of additional operational vehicles.

The complete disengagement of the military from the responsibility of internal security appears too sudden and dangerous for the country. If this would have to be done, it is better to make it a gradual process. Many vulnerable flash points still remain in several parts of the country that cannot be left unsecured without the military. We should not forget that the reason military operatives were involved in internal security in the first place may not be too far from the fact that the police has to contend with the challenge of adequate personnel and its inability to effectively protect lives and property, especially with the introduction of terrorism into the nation’s security landscape. Hence, no vacuum should be created with the removal of checkpoints such that insurgents would deceptively take advantage of the situation to further launch more deadly attacks.

The police should be better motivated and strengthened. No doubt, there are brilliant and capable officers and men in the Force; With less than 400,000 policemen in a country of about 170 million people, the reality is that the country is grossly under-policed.

Regrettably, a large number of our police personnel are still being attached to private individuals and politicians. There is the need to correct this anomaly that has greatly limited the capability of the police to work optimally.

Until Nigeria has a police force that is formidable and well-decentralized in the true sense of federalism, effective policing would continue to be a mirage. That is why the idea of state police should be revisited.

With the appointment of a new National Security Adviser and other service chiefs, it is hoped that the security situation in the country would improve considerably. For now, to ensure that the nation is not over-run by terrorists, military checkpoints should be restored.

• Adewale Kupoluyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

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

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: As President Muhammadu Buhari settles down to the serious business of governance, one key area that should quickly engage his attention is the petroleum industry. The reason for this is not farfetched. As a major player in the global oil market by the virtue of our natural crude endowment, it is ironical that the country is not only an importer of petroleum products, but also, experiences acute shortage on a constant basis.

Due to the heavy dependence on the importation of petroleum products to augment local production, marketers have exploited the situation to perpetrate massive fraud as the subsidy fraud imbroglio showed. At will, they also hold the nation to ransom by withholding products from the market.

To address the ugly situation, it has been suggested over the years that local refining of the crude oil is the most sustainable option. However, the combined capacity of the four refineries owned by the Federal Government is far below the daily oil requirements.

The involvement of the private investors in establishing refineries becomes imperative. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued a number of licences to various companies who showed interest over the last 10 years. Despite

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

A case for modular refinery operators this, no privately-owned refinery is operational in Nigeria as of today.

A lot of factors are responsible.

Many of the licence holders have accused DPR of shifting the goal post in the middle of the game concerning sourcing of crude, the major raw material. The initial arrangement was that there would be a sovereign guarantee of steady supply of crude

by DPR to Nigeria-based refineries.

A situation where no priority is accorded and operators would have to rely on off-shore crude sourcing is a major worry. Instead of selling crude to foreigners as a matter of priority, operators are demanding that national interest and investors concern should take precedence in arriving at a decision.

The current oil subsidy regime by the Federal Government also constitutes a big headache for intending refinery owners. Except for diesel, all other petroleum products are currently being sold at a highly

Re: Cancer patients suffer as drugs trapped in tariff row

IR: We wish to refer to the above article published in your widely-read newspaper on Tuesday, May 19, which was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is our pleasure to inform you that the article has resulted in significant positive results. We now get our radiopharmaceuticals in time as they are now cleared promptly from the airport.

Please, accept our sincere thanks for that prompt and timely publi-

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cation.

We also wish to use this medium to express our gratitude to our President who has shown compassion to our cancer patients who are all Nigeria citizens.

Please, accept our esteemed regards while wishing you all success in your future endeavours.

• Prof. Bola Osifo, Nuclear Medicine Centre University College Hospital Ibadan.

subsidised rate. With the possibility of private refinery operators production cost being higher than the current subsidized rates, there are fears that they might run into a huge loss if they invest in the refinery business. The operators are waiting to see how the new government addresses this disincentive.

Two options are open for considerations: One, government assures operators of buying their products at the production cost so they could break even. Two, the sector is deregulated and allow market forces to determine pricing.

Another huge concern is that of infrastructural challenge. Setting up a refinery comes with its peculiar challenges. In most cases, refineries

are sited in locations that are far from city centres, where there are deficit in terms of infrastructural provision. Good access roads, constant electricity supply, hospitals, schools, among others are some of the facilities that the operators would expect the government to provide in order to support the social and economic needs of the refineries and their host communities.

Leaving the investors to provide all these facilities aside the huge capital requirement of setting up the refineries would be highly discouraging.

A critical area that government could help the operators is that of financing. The current high interest rate of domestic borrowing will

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change. The tide of change also swept across states that were traditionally regarded as PDP states.

Nigerians openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the poor level of governance under the PDP government.

Nigeria is faced with numerous challenges and everyone looks up to President Buhari and his political party to fix these problems. The APC government needs to live up to the people’s expectations and have a radical departure from what obtained under the PDP. APC should not be tempted to adopt the policies and style of the PDP. Doing things the PDP way is definitely not an option for members of the APC at all levels of government.

APC needs to vigorously pursue its change agenda without any hindrance.

surely have a negative effect on product pricing. The ordinary citizens will bear the brunt of high product price. Like the government did in some critical sectors like entertainment and aviation, operators have suggested an intervention fund would help a great deal.

Government can also provide encouragement by granting generous waivers for the importation of needed materials and equipment for the projects.

For the country to jump start the country’s oil industry and guarantee the availability of petroleum products for the citizens at all times, the establishment of local refineries is crucial. Government needs to support the licensed operators through the provision of conducive environment for them to thrive, bring succour to Nigerians and contribute substantially to the country’s economy by way of job creation, among other benefits.

• Charles Daniel Lagos.

Continuity or change?

IR: APC was formed as a progressive political party. But happenings since the inauguration of the party on May 29, suggest that there may not be a departure from what Nigerians experienced in the hands of PDP which ruled for 16 years.

PDP was voted out at the centre for obvious reasons. Nigerians did not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC because they want the status quo. Nigerians are beginning to doubt whether APC stands for continuity or change.

Happenings in the National Assembly makes one to wonder whether the agenda of the party is continuity or change.

Having discovered that PDP was not offering something new after their 16 years rule, Nigerians took the bull by the horn by voting for

What played out at the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly on June 9, shows that true change may not have come after all despite President Buhari’s avowal in his inaugural speech. The coup d’état in the senate, the emergence of a PDP Senator as Deputy Senate President and the dissenting voices of some disgruntled members of the National Assembly all show what the course of events would be in the next four years.

Nigeria is truly evolving; besides the APC is saddled with the responsibility of bringing about the desired change. It is up to APC to prove to Nigerians that what they voted for during the 2015 general elections is not continuity but change.

• Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

Dorman Long...a national tragedy (1) (Gross exploitation of Nigerians and hazardous work conditions at Dorman Long Protective Coatings, DLPC, Agege, Lagos) Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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IFE is hell at Dorman Long Protective Coatings (DLPC), Agege, Lagos. Wielding corporate power and greed, like prickly edges of a blood-stained sword, the company’s management disembowels its staff, perverting their dreams of survival and leaving them crushed, sapped of hope, just before it discards them like forgotten shea butter in the sun. There is no gainsaying the situation at Dorman Long substantiates Hedges’ assertion about the industrial prison complex. Prisons employ and exploit the ideal worker. So does Dorman Long. Hence workers at the company’s factory could be likened to prisoners. Like prisoners, they do not receive pensions. They are forbidden to protest and organise strike actions. They must be punctual. They cannot make formal complaints about unsafe working conditions; when they do, they are threatened with sack or muzzled to silence by deploying police officers from a nearby police post at the Agege Abattoir, Lagos. The “contract staff” or put precisely, casual labourers at Dorman Long roughly symbolise what corporate Nigeria expect of its workforce.

Led by Group Managing Director (GMD), Orji Nwosu, and Godfrey Ogbolu, Manager of the company’s Agege plant, Dorman Long, according to current staff and ex-members of staff, hardly cares what anyone and even the government thinks about its grotesque administrative practices. The Nation of course, discovered this to be true. In the wake of several allegations of high-handedness and life endangerment leveled against the company, The Nation sought the management’s re-

sponse but the latter continually refused to respond. When The Nation called Godfrey Ogbolu, Manager of DLPC, Agege, a subsidiary of Dorman Long Engineering (DLE) group, he continually deflected claiming he was not in the best position to speak on the company’s behalf. The Nation’s visits to the company’s head office at Idi Oro, Mushin also proved abortive as attempts to speak with the company’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Orji Nwosu, were unsuccessful. Subsequently, The Nation wrote and hand delivered a signed, formal letter, requesting interview with the company’s GMD. Although a senior staff of the company assured that the GMD would get back to The Nation immediately, GMD Nwosu never responded until The Nation published a story, outlining the company’s unfair labour practices.

Predictably, Dorman Long management made repeated phone calls to The Nation correspondent, desperately seeking audience with him, in premeditated bid to prevent any such report in future.

The company had made frantic attempts earlier, to hide telltales of its grotesque work environment and hazardous equipments by painting over severely worn surfaces and machines to hide the rust and dilapidation. Sources within the factory revealed that the company also sold the faulty crane that crushed the hand of its former staff, Ahmed Tella - The Nation however, took pictures of the faulty crane soon after it crushed Tella’s hand and it was condemned and declared unfit for use

by Dorman Long management.

Six years after the crane crushed

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RITING recently in The Guardian newspaper, some insufferable critic, going by the name of Nnana Ezeocha, futilely struggled to besmirch, the character, person, vision, reputation, capacity and public service pedigree of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State. In a sickening stunt, to impress his paymasters, Ezeocha booby trapped himself into a veritable swirl of contradictions formatted in the said piece. His analogy between military coupists and felons, would have been appropriate, if his client-Dr Alex Otti, had not been roundly trounced at the polls. The sophisticated people of Ndi Abia saw through the hocus pocus, of the untested and grapevine-peddled, self-serving achievements of a money market operator and rightly dumped him in preference for Ikpeazu. In Nigeria, every politics is local. Juxtaposing the Abia 2015 dynamics with the shenanigan of Anambra 2003 which are mutually exclusive, is patent chicanery and cannot fly.

What constitutes the core essence of a credible politician is the sum total of his functional public service track records.

Unfortunately for Dr Alex Otti of APGA, his quest was bereft of credibility as the critical mass of the electorate, who massively voted PDP, were not swayed by the mumbojumbo of ’financial engineering’ in some bank which did not impact on the economic fortunes of the average ‘Aria Aria’ market trader. People never ceased to ask, what was the quantum of loans, overdraft, working capital, if any did Diamond Bank under his watch made available to Igbo nay Abia customers? What money market instruments, did his bank package to facilitate enterprises in the state during the period under review?

Just like the pre election campaign hustings, when Dr Alex Otti through his spin doctors made so much heavy weather about his bogus World bank/IMF assisted development template for Aba, Ezeocha regurgitated the same Alex Otti vomit of ‘a man with a burning desire to reinvent their state’

‘A spin-off of this hands-on experience is his blueprint for development- a clear headed, welldefined manifesto that derived its motive force from a bottoms-up allinclusive community based approach with Aba as the centre-piece and hub of enterprise and production’

Tella’s hand and rendered him handicapped, the 43-year old is jobless and unable to provide for his family. But Dorman Long does not give a hoot even if Tella’s life is ruined beyond redemption. Tella sought legal compensation against the company but gave up due to Dorman Long’s deliberate, longdrawn out bid to frustrate him, he said.

“I regret working for Dorman Long,” he said. Tella is a broken man. The father of two is jobless and handicapped even as you read. Having worked as casual labourer for Dorman Long’s Agege division for nine years, tragedy struck Tella, a trained mechanic, in common hours, in his fourth year, while working with a faulty crane in the company’s Agege factory complex. Tella had complained severally to the management about the faulty crane before it maimed him. Now, six years after the tragic incident, the trained mechanic is totally incapacitated. His middle finger, which got crushed in the factory accident, can no longer bend or function like a normal finger. A clinical evaluation cum disability report carried out on the finger by a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, confirmed its handicap.

Of course, Tella was eventually sacked by Dorman Long without compensation, even after disabling him from functioning like a normal human by its negligent and hazardous labour practices. Yet Dorman Long paints life in its factories as intrinsically rich and financially rewarding. Its corporate mission statement reads: “Dorman Long will adopt the highest safety and quality standards and provide rewarding career prospects to its employees” among other pledges. But while the company’s management portrays its

leadership as the quintessential type that inspires glorious acts of self-sacrifice from the lowliest employee, staff of the company laugh off the myth as “arrant nonsense.” Yet most of them are forced to swallow it.

“What is happening at Dorman Long is very wrong. The management forces us to work in hazardous conditions. They do not pay our salaries in due time. It has become a tradition for the management to owe us three months salary and pay just one month’s. And before we get one out of three months’ salary, we have to protest or embark on strike action. At Dorman Long, life is hellish on the factory floor. We are not given appropriate safety kits and most of the equipments and facilities are deteriorating. We work in deplorable conditions and at great peril to our lives,” claimed a welder in the company’s galvanizing department. The welder who pleaded anonymity revealed that the company had been using him as a casual labourer since 2009. “There is no hope that any of us would ever get staffed,” he said.

Corroborating him, another casual labourer who works in the company’s galvanizing section claimed that he had been in the company’s employ for seven years.

He said Dorman Long has established a culture of using workers as casual labourers even though they love to call them “contract staff.” He said: “My employment letter stipulates that I would be fully staffed by the company after six months, seven years on since I received my em-

ployment letter, I am yet to be staffed. The same applies to all of my colleagues working on the factory floor,” he said.

But while his colleagues can still hold on to the false hope that things might get better, Etim Okon Mbanga can no longer afford himself the luxury of such hopeful enterprise. Mbanga was sacked after serving Dorman Long for nine years as a casual labourer. He said he was sacked because he joined his colleagues in a one-day strike action to protest and demand for three months unpaid wages. According to him, “They did not pay us December 2014 and January 2015 salaries.

They made it difficult for us to enjoy the Yuletide. Consequently, most of us were forced to endure very bleak Christmas and New Year celebrations .” Few months ago, Mbanga lost his daughter to an ailment. “At the time she fell ill, I hadn’t any money on me. Dorman Long owed us three months salary; I approached them for help but they refused. I couldn’t pay my daughter’s medical bills because my employer refused to pay my wages.

That was why she died. I had been working with the company for nine years, since 2004. I served as security man, gardener, and I also worked in the galvanizing, and maintenance departments. I don’t deserve the shoddy treatment I have been subjected to by Dorman Long.

God will judge between us,” Mbanga lamented.

• To be continued...

‘Six years after the crane crushed Tella’s hand and rendered him handicapped, the 43-year old is jobless and unable to provide for his family. But Dorman Long does not give a hoot even if Tella’s life is ruined beyond redemption’

The lies against Ikpeazu

By Chinyemike Torti But those lies collapsed like a pack of cards, when the same World Bank publicly denied it had granted him a $100 billion (One hundred billion dollars) loan to develop Aba. That lie presaged Otti’s loss at the polls. His debacle had nothing to do with the then governor, now Senator Theodore Orji, nor with Independent National Electoral Commission. Now that the matter is now being adjudicated in the tribunal, we leave the matter there for now. However we quicken to add that, Alex Otti’s pages with the Abia people had always been blank.

Therefore the issue of nostalgia does not exist even in the realm of imagination.

Some people are miffed at the dazzling speed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu deployed men, materials and resources to commence the fixing of Aba. What economic rookies, bandy about as knee-jerk and hasty initiatives is a product of clear sighted thinking, perspective long-term planning by Ikpeazu who hit the ground running. They e0 asily forgot that long before the April elections, he had been in the trenches, on the drawing board, solely driven by the Abia agenda. His antecedents can be tracked. His background check is in the public domain.

For upward of two decades, he had been a key player in the corridors of politics as a home baked politician who understood the nuances of the average Abian. During this period, his activism and services had been domiciled in the trenches with our people, fighting and battling with the various administrations for the elevation of Abia State.

A spin-off of this hands-on experience is his blueprint for development- a clear headed, well-defined manifesto that derived its motive force from a bottoms-up all-inclusive community based approach with Aba as the centre-piece and hub of enterprise and production. For a proactive and process driven “Aba boy” imbued with a clinical mind, designing and working roads in the middle of the rainy season, and sourcing for funds is a franchise and endowment that belongs to the eclectic few like Ikpeazu.

Fundamental to this is the enactment of policies for planning and housing to facilitate access to land, service and investment codes, realistic, flexible and compatible with local conditions. In the informal sector, Ikpeazu long before the mandate was delivered to him, articulated these clearly in his OKEZUO 2015 website. Professional grumblers and cash

and carry analysts could do themselves a favour by gleaning through the intellectual rigor, intelligence, strategies and competencies that were imputed into the Ikpeazu Doctrine.

It is to his credit, that Ikpeazu has countermanded all the practices, processes of his predecessor. How do you characterize such a person to be a stooge? The first essential element of a blogger, critic, columnist, writer commentator who must show an ultimate allegiance to citizens is an obligation to truth. He or she must strive to put the public interest and the truth above their own self-interest or assumptions. Deploying such uncouth utterances, like “419”, pirate, stolen, on a sitting governor without evidence is mere gossip and evidence of bad breeding.

In the immortal words of Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, of The American Press Institute: This journalistic truth is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, subject to further investigation. Journalists nay bloggers should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, “getting it right” is the foundation upon which everything else is built – context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The larger truth, over time, emerges from this forum. Journalists have an obligation to protect this watchdog freedom by not demeaning it in frivolous use or exploiting it for commercial gain.

At the risk of repetition, Ikpeazu had affirmed at several public fora that there is no governor in Nigeria that is anybody’s stooge. Even if you played a role in canvassing for votes or helped an aspirant to mount the saddle, you do not expect him to be your puppet. Yes you can articulate ideas that are brilliant on the drawing board and if it dovetails into the main frame of a focused administration. The critical mass of Abia people are perceptive, that Ikpeazu, is the only person that is self-effacing, to entertain all shades of opinion, gumption and suggestions. He espouses the view that if your reasoning is superior, we will go and test it but if the reverse is the case, you go with me. To be sure, Ikpeazu is not embarking on a voyage laden with excess baggage of arrogance but is humble enough to realize that the support of the citizenry is a sine qua non.

•Torti is a public policy analyst and management consultant.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right’—— Martin Luther King Jr.

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AHATMA Gandhi, the celebrated Indian statesman with a political philosophy of peaceful emancipation that reverberated round the globe, once reasoned: In matters of rigidity and indifference, the law of the majority has no place.

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB), confirmed the truism in this aphorism when he kept eager-for-good-governance people of this country waiting for nearly a month and half in the saddle before he could change the army service chiefs that he inherited from the inept administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigerians that placed too much hope in PMB cannot be blamed, for the President in all conscience, has been slothful despite the alibi of his being tactical in dealing with the clutter he met on ground. But the reality is that Nigerians that have suffered 16 years of indignity and pilfering of public till under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government will not understand why PMB has become enslaved by his own rigidity and avoidable political indifference to scheming that could help him achieve, in reasonable time, his promise to change the country for good.

Justifiably, Nigerians believed that they voted for a president that had contested and lost the presidency on three occasions and having clinched the presidency the fourth time, he was assumed to have been well fortified with ideas, plan of and policy direction on how to move the country forward without prevarication or delay.

Nigerians naively believe that a president with such Abraham Lincoln-like electoral defeats should have become repository of how every agency of the federal government operates and what to be done to put them aright where necessary by the fourth time that he won. But they are still waiting for the Buhari-Wonder to happen. Nigerians expected that by the time they voted for PMB on March 28 and the time he was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 30 as the winner - one month to his swearing- in - he should by now have known how to handle the legislature in a way that would not stagnate or distract his government; they thought he should by then have known how to handle the issue of fuel scarcity; that PMB would come up with

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PMB: Is the waiting game over? panaceas on how to solve the plummeting price of naira against the dollar and that a direction would have been shown on how he plans to create more jobs, resolve the epileptic power quagmire and mitigate the gorge of corruption that has destroyed the foundation of values system in the country.

The reality today is that most Nigerians, including yours sincerely, were bemused by the politically naive statement of PMB that he was ready to work with anybody that emerged as Senate-President and Speaker in the bi-cameral federal legislature of the land.

The president even said in his inaugural speech that he belongs to nobody but for everybody. Now that the treacherous duo of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara have emerged as Senate-President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, against the ruling party’s position - but with the support of opposition PDP – why is the president reportedly now avoiding the Senate President? Was it not the same president that declared that the constitutional process had run its course with the emergence of Saraki and Dogara that has now belatedly realised his political imprudence?

This column wants to ask: At what point did the president realise that the emergence of the duo ran contrary to the position of APC? What does PMB mean by his latter-day mantra of party supremacy when whether overtly or covertly, he as the leader of the ruling party, undermined its supremacy with his lethargic but deliberate and indifferent rigid-

ITH the identified shortfalls in the oil and gas industry over the years, it has become so obvious that the virtual appointment of people that lack necessary technical know-how to oversee the nation’s oil and gas industry is largely responsible for the abysmal performance recorded in the sector.

Over the years, the oil and gas sector has performed below average, impacting negatively on the economy. According to available statistics, taking a 10-year reading, the sector grew at the rate of 3.3 per cent in 2004; 0.5 per cent in 2005, and then a downturn of -4.5 per cent for 2006 and 2007; -6.2 per cent for 2008 and -1.3 per cent in 2009. The years 2010 through to 2014 did not fair better, either.

Over these same years, comparatively, the growth rate in the nonoil sector is generally and consistently more stable than that of the oil and gas industry.

Furthermore, due to the lack of proper supervision and coordination, foreign trade has continued to play a significant role in the Nigerian economy. The argument that Nigeria is the 10th largest oil producer in the world with proven oil reserve of about 36 billion barrels; and gas reserve of about 185 Trillion Cubit Feet (TCF) among others, is given prominence more on paper and abject environmental degradation than inidentifiable dividends. This is a far cry from what is obtainable in other nations of the worldwith even lesser oil deposits. The reality on ground does not in any way correspond with the nation’s over 50 years of oil exploration vis-à-vis its attendant turnover.

This, no doubt, raises a lot of questions about the competence of those who have at one time or the other called the shots over the sector. Nigeria has witnessed managers of the industry become so powerful with so much over-bearing influence within a short period of appointment, whereas the related institutions are pathetically weak, practically rendered inactive and ineffective. The sector’s statutory obligations are conducted in utmost secrecy akin to what obtains in privately-owned entities.

This development is contrary to the letter and spirit of transparency and accountability as espoused by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Act 2007 also known as The NEITI Act, which (provides for the establishment of NEITI, and is charged (among other things) with the responsibility for the development of a framework for transparency and accountability in the reporting and disclosure by all extractive industry companies of revenue due to or paid to the Federal Government.

From the forgoing, it is imperative that the need to secure the services of experts and technocrats who know their onions, and the nitty-gritty of a highly competitive oil and gas industry is more than justifiable. This is especially so at this crucial moment when dictates from the international market is affecting (negatively) the Nigerian economy. Similarly, the decision by the United States to cut further purchase of Nigerian crude oil is not in any way a good omen for the country. These historic and emerging trends, coupled with the present fall in the international prices of crude oil (albeit heart-breaking and detrimental to development) constitute a blessing somewhat. Nigeria has an opportunity to take decisive steps by looking inward with a view to being pro-active, re-strategize, and

ity to political issues that can make or mar his presidency? This presidency has been quite unstable with its approbation and reprobation on important political and policy issues of state. This is one of the manifest distasteful attributes of the inglorious PDP regime that this presidency must drop.

Sadly, the deliberate but injurious taciturnity of PMB informed the bad solipsism that made some Nigerians to give credit to what they termed as the ‘decisiveness’ of the despot called Olusegun Obasanjo on political/ policy issues of state. What a bad comparism between a man of integrity like PMB that Nigerians reposed so much confidence in and a hypocritical oppressor and anti-democratic element like Obasanjo. PMB should be politically discernible and must know, in case he has forgotten, that without the same party and support of an important national leader of the ruling party in the southwest like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the likes of Abubakar Atiku, Saraki and Dogara among other mischievous political elements are futilely trying to decimate, he will not be president today.

This column is happy that the president, all of a sudden, seemed to have realised his groove and from nowhere, took one belated glorious step that the public had long been yearning for. What did he do? Precisely 43 days after inauguration and 72 days after being declared President by INEC, PMB on July 13, 2015, after keeping Nigerians in needlessly prolonged and embarrassing suspense eventually named his National Security Ad-

viser (NSA) and also effected the longawaited removal of the despondent service chiefs inherited from the inept former President Jonathan administration. And this column could not but ask: Is the waiting game over for the PMB presidency or what he did earlier in the week just a flash in the pan?

Will he henceforth start putting things in the rightful place? Only time can tell.

But, the president needs to move ahead and form a cabinet of very good hands that could think for him. In these past weeks, his government has been indecisive and also not been thinking as it should and this is bad if the desired change promised Nigerians would be achieved. Nigerians want no excuses from the PMB government but positive action that could lift their morale and remove them from the current morass. The president must know that Nigerians are tired of the political harlotry of Abubakar Atiku and his goading of the politically perfidious Saraki and Dogara whose inordinate ambition for power is fast becoming an inexorably impediment (if not nipped in the bud now), to the focus of the PMB administration. PMB needs the steadfast commitment and fidelity to the ruling party by its true pre-registration promoters like a Bola Tinubu and occasional matured intervention of a statesman like Maitama Sule amongst others.

PMB must know that his integrity is on the line except he succeeds in putting in check a society that is on the precipice of irredeemable rot. Despite his wild political acceptance in the north, which indubitably more than anything else, made him the best candidate best suited to achieve the epochal record of sending a sitting government out of power at the federal level, he needs not put this to waste on a platter of political naivety.

He should fear God and listen to only one voice that is his conscience by rewarding the political goodness towards him of benefactors like Tinubu with good which he is not doing by his reticence to the mischief of political opportunists that are out to bring him down without him knowing this. PMB should shed his Fulani pride and embrace political realism without necessarily compromising standards. By now, he should see beyond the dramatics of Saraki/Dogara and realise that beyond the average conscience, there is a still, low voice that should be saying to him that something is out-of-tune with the slow pace and avoidable indifference with which he has so far approached governance.

Oil Sector: Whither the way forward?

By Phil Johnson proffer lasting solutions to the myriads of problems that have stunted the growth of the Nigerian oil industry since inception.

The nation, at this crucial stage, needs independent-minded technocrats (either as an individual or as a team) who need not to be spoon-fed on how best to marry the well-laid out reforms, supported with proper enabling laws and legislations, backed with the right attitude and the willingness to serve the nation meritoriously – being a complete departure from the self- aggrandizements, a major hallmark of past administrations in the country. In line with the proposition to reposition the sector for better performance, the following points should be considered.

Firstly, the pursuit of the local content expansion should be embraced as an important national agenda. Government can achieve over 70 percent total contribution of the oil and gas industry to the GDP in the medium term if square pegs are put in square holes.

There is the need to implement the report of the Oil and Gas Industry Committee (OGIC) on new institutional structures for the sector. This has culminated in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was passed by only the House of Representatives of the 7th National Assembly without a concurrent passage by the Senate.

Hopefully, the 8th National Assembly would do well to pass the bill with gusto and alacrity. When passed, it will repeal previous oil and gas statutes and related legislations, which certain elements (both locally and internationally) have exploited to deprive the nation huge earnings. The bill appropriately delineates roles among the various institutions in the industry and is comprehensively crafted to engender the much touted overall reforms of the oil and gas sector. It also aims at creating operational autonomy and transparency.

There is the need to create a vibrant industry where the private sector plays pivotal roles. It is pertinent to note that, without independent-minded technocrat(s) being saddled with the responsibilities of conducting bidding processes for prospective firms, the very idea a performance-driven industry would be lost on the altar of sentimental profligacy. Unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks should be eliminated, and undue government interference minimized to guarantee effectiveness and result-oriented performance.

The would-be regulators sector must first try to regulate the sector through standardization of all the players and new entrants. It cannot be business as usual. There must be a period of tutelage and cognate experience acquisition. Human capacity training and development should be encouraged, with stipulated transition period for expatriates to hand over to locals, especially in the low and middle cadres.

There is the need to unleash the full potential of the Gas Master Plan on the development of the economy. There is need for appro-

priate assets, policy framework for optimum utilization and value for the vast gas resources. This needs to be done to cater adequately for domestic and international markets. The development of the gas sub-sector in a comprehensive and integrated manner along with its entire value chain can be used as a launch pad to jumpstart the economy.

As a way of curbing the prevalent corruption in the sector, there remains no alternative to outright deregulation of the downstream sector. This, however, unlike the approach of the immediate past administration, should be done systematically in such a way that the resultant impact would not be transferred to the members of the public unnecessarily. Adequate measures should be put in place (before and not after the full-blown deregulation as was done by the out-gone administration) to cushion whatever effect that may arise thereafter. This is one major error committed by the President Jonathan-led administration.

Efforts should be aimed at ensuring that the established high standards are maintained and sustained in NEITI’s interface with oil and solid mineral sectors, particularly in the discharge of its mandates under the NEITI Acts. This, once more, needs experts’ input. Other statutory regulatory bodies should be prodded to be much more responsive and accountable.

There is need for a policy framework to address (aggressively) the infrastructural deficit of the Niger-Delta region; and producing companies should be encouraged to be more socially responsible.

More importantly, regulatory bodies and management companies should be domiciled in the area where the golden egg is laid. NNPC, like the regulatory and management companies should not be working out of Abuja. Environmental protection should be highlighted, and defaulters must be punished with recourse to relevant legislation.

The Nigerian Local Content legislationshould be promoted and implemented to the letter. The estimated cumulative worth of the total businesses in the oil and gas sector is about $18 billion US Dollars (N2.7 Trillion). The government wanted to achieve 45 per cent success in 2009 and 70 per cent in 2010, in respect of its local content drive in the oil and gas sector but recorded a paltry 39 per cent success in 2009 and almost the same in 2010. This lack of success was largely due to absence of technocrats at the helm of affairs in the industry to provide quality direction; the lack of enabling legislation and inadequate monitoring/supervision by the NNPC. This new dawn of change should herald change in attitude and the thought-process, by first seeing the oil and gas sector as a business that must be cultivated and nurtured to grow. It is not an assignment that any serious government would commit to the hands of career politicians or political jobbers. The new administration must be painstaking in appointing a capable team to oversee the oil and gas industry.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Robbers’ haven in Anambra

‘What did Nnamani need all this for?’

•PAGE 38

•PAGE 27

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

PAGE 25

FRSC tackles gridlock in Aba •PAGE 40

Stinking dead fish in polluted waters and farmlands of withered trees are some of the challenges facing residents of 13 oil-bearing communities in Imo State. OKODILI NDIDI reports on the devastation caused by oil spill in OhajiEgbema council of the state

•Imo Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere (second right) and others inspecting the spillage

Horrors of oil spill in Imo H

EALTH and survival top the list of challenges facing residents of Obokofia, Abacheke and Mmahu communities in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. An oil spill has poisoned their waters, leaving foul-smelling fish bobbing up on their rivers and creeks. Their once-lush green farmlands have become lifeless with withered trees.

The people are as worried about their health as they are concerned about their day-to-day survival.

A spill from Agip oil firm has left them breathless and angry.

So massive was the damage that

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

the residents are threatening to take up arms against the AGIP, owners of the exploded hydrocarbon storage tanks that caused the spillage.

A traditional ruler of one of the communities, Eze Justice Okwuodu, explained that the explosion, which took place at Ibeocha location in Rivers State, affected about 13 communities in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of the state.

He said that the pollution affected houses, rivers, aquatic life and food web in the environment, lament-

ing that the oil companies operating in the area, have not shown commitment to the well being of the host communities where they operate.

According to him, “the people have been devastated by the level of the recent pollution and up till now, nothing has been done by the AGIP oil company, the owners of the hydrocarbon tanks. Our source of livelihood has been destroyed by the pollution and if nothing is quickly done to clean up the spillage, it could lead to epidemic”.

He decried the non-implementation of the MoU reached with the oil companies many years ago,

adding that the oil companies neglected the agreement, especially the AGIP oil company.

He appealed to the state government to wade into the matter since they do not want to take the laws into their hands.

But the youths warned that they will no longer fold their arms, while their lands are ravaged by oil pollution, while they wallow in abject poverty.

They insisted that the oil companies responsible for the recent spillage will adequately compensate the affected communities or face the wrath of the youths.

A youth leader from one of the

communities, Kennedy Irona, stated that the youths are waiting for the outcome of the meeting between the concerned companies and leaders of the affected communities, adding that “if nothing tangible is achieved from the meetings, the youths will move into action against the oil companies”.

He stated further that, “we have been marginalised by the oil companies operating in our area. Our youths have been burnt to death several times as a result of fire •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

26

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT Horrors of oil spill in Imo from oil spillages, yet we have nothing to show for it. Our crops have been buildings and fish ponds have been damaged without any form of compensation but this time we are ready for the oil companies and they will hear from us soon”.

It will be recalled that Imo State House of Assembly, which was irked by the neglect of the oil producing communities in the state, had passed a motion, demanding the payment of N40 billion owed the state by the oil companies in the last 38 years.

The House had in the motion demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding ground rates and other statutory payments from Oil companies operating in the State since 1978.

The lawmakers chided the oil companies for dubiously withholding the statutory payments and other benefits accruing to the state.

In a motion sponsored by the member representing Oguta State constituency, Hon Uzoma Ezediaro, the House decried the continued short changing of the State by oil companies, stating that, the companies have capitalised on the peaceful disposition of the people to deny them of their rights and privileges.

The House urged the Governor to direct the Chairman of the Internal Revenue Board to mandate the companies to pay up all outstand-

,

•Continued from page 25

Our youths have been burnt to death several times as a result of fire from oil spillages, yet we have nothing to show for it. Our crops have been destroyed and fish ponds damaged without any form of compensation but this time we are ready for the oil companies and they will hear from us soon

,

ing ground rates and other statutory payments owed the state since 1978.

It also directed the oil companies to comply and henceforth pay all entitlements due the state as at when due.

A nine-man committee headed by Hon Uzoma Ezediaro, with Hon Ikechukwu Amuka, John Ezeruo, Mike Iheanetu, Obinna Eguh and Joy Mbawuike, among others was set up to supervise the debt recovery.

Meanwhile, the State Government has indicated interest in addressing

•The scene of the oil spillage the brewing restiveness occasioned by the pollution.

The State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, who visited the site to ascertain the level of damage, said that the government will partner with the leaders of the affected

communities and bring the AGIP oil firm to a roundtable to ensure that right things are done.

Speaking after inspecting the level of pollution at the Oloshi river, Madumere, appealed to the communities especially the youths

to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands.

He also reminded them of the resolve of the state government to ensure that every community is carried along in the scheme of things.

Scholarship for Anambra youths From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

graduated from several tertiary institutions at the instance of his

organisation, Ugo Ukwu Foundation. That is not all. Primary and secondary school pupils are also said to have been drawing from his scholarship scheme for 11 years.

•The suspects

Three held over suspected stolen crude

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HE Abia State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three men and held a truck suspected to be carrying stolen crude oil.

The state commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Benito Eze urged pipeline vandals, baby factory operators and child traffickers to desist, saying his men will give them more than they bargained for.

Speaking in Umuahia while parading the suspects, Eze who assumed office this month, said that his men arrested the suspects at Ala-Oji along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. to be 33,000 litres of crude oil, adding that unrefined petroleum product is a national asset which

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

the command has the obligation to protect.

He gave the names of the suspects as Godwin Nkadi, 43, from Delta State, Stephen Peter, 28, from Benue State and Dauda Mutari, 31, also from Delta.

The commandant said that in the course of the investigation the suspects said that the product belongs to one Chief Odenigbo who resides in Aba, but that they were taking the suspected substance to Anambra State.

Eze said that one of the suspects revealed that they forged a waste disposal way bill to enable them transport the suspected stolen pe-

troleum product safely to the place the owner wanted them to offload it.

He said that the command was making progress in the investigations and that soon, the suspects will be transferred to the state police command for further questioning and possibly prosecution.

The commandant used to opportunity to advise the public not to sabotage the economy of the country through vandalism, warning that anyone so caught will be punished.

Answering questions from reporters, Nkadi said that they loaded condemned oil from Port Harcourt to Anambra State when they were caught by the men of NSCDC, stressing that they were not carrying crude oil.

Neither is his philanthropy limited to his Igbo Ukwu community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

The Nation gathered that about 250 primary school students and over 200 others in secondary schools across the state are studying under his scholarship scheme.

Last weekend at the Ekwulobia township stadium in Aguata council area, the foundation awarded more scholarships to 40 students from primary to tertiary levels.

Besides, the foundation presented over 10 laptops to some of the students to help them in their academics.

The state governor Willie Obiano was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha.

Obiano described the likes of Nwibe, the financier of the foundation, as success stories.

He noted that the scholarship grants was one way of supporting the gain made by his administration in the education sector.

For Prof. Uchenna Nwosu, who was the chairman of the event, Barth Nwibe is a rare breed, who attained success through hard work.

He told the students and their parents that the key to success is education, which, according to him, is also the basis of progress in any

society.

Apart from the laptops to the students and the scholarship to the new 40 students, textbooks, exercise books in cartons were presented to the students.

Speaking with the Nation, Nwibe, a strong believer in APC and major financier of the party to some of the contestants in different positions in the party, said it was his own way of giving back to the society.

He said the 40 students emerged through a careful, meritorious selection process, adding that the process had been ongoing for the past eleven years which had become a yearly ritual.

Nwibe, therefore, commended the foundation for the progress made so far, adding that it was just the beginning, nothing that there are more to come.

For Nwoye Valentine of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, and Okafor Kosi of Holy Child Secondary School Isuofia in Aguata council Area, two of the beneficiaries, it was a dream come true.

The duo thanked the foundation for giving them opportunity of being like other students, adding that they would put up their best in making sure they come out in flying colours in their different disciplines.

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M

ANY keep their pile of cash to themselves. Not Mr. Barth Nwibe, an engineer. Over 70 students in Anambra State are said to have studied and

Over 70 students in Anambra have studied and graduated from several tertiary institutions at the instance of the Ugo Ukwu Foundation. Primary and secondary school pupils have also been drawing from the engineer’s scholarship scheme for 11 years

,

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

27

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•The protesting staff and students in Umunze

I

N a poorly-worded text message to a woman, the robbers announced: “Lady, we are the big boys in town, you are the next to settle us, we came to your house but we did not get what we wanted.

Just keep N2, 000,000 [N2m] inside your booth from now to Sunday, don’t involve the police or security engent because they are our enemy, remember your life and your daughter is on the line, so be careful and hurry up”.

The woman teaches at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, a border town between Imo and Anambra states, in Orumba South Local Government Area of the latter. If the hoodlums made good their threat, it would be the second time they would rob her. The first time they called, on a Sunday, she was off to church. The

Robbers’ haven in Anambra thieves broke in and helped themselves to her valuables and left.

Two times is insignificant compared to the ordeal of so many other residents of the college town. Some have been attacked six times, some even nine.

Neither the local vigilance team nor the police have halted the rogues in their tracks.

Not too long ago, “the big boys” attacked the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunny Ike’s home, shot and killed him before making away with his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

One strange dimension in the sustained violence is that the robbers seem to target non-indigenous residents of the community, especially the ones in the college.

The sleepy community has become a den of armed robbers as workers of Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze are being robbed on a daily basis.

The activities of the robbers have caused some workers, mostly from other communities, to flee.

No fewer than 57 members of staff of the institution have been robbed without any help from anybody, except some members of the community who come to sympathise with the victims.

The Nation discovered that those being robbed in the area are tenants; especially the workers of the institution and students from outside, meaning the hoodlums know what they are doing.

Some of them are robbed when they go to church on Sundays or when they go to work, while the houses of some of them are invaded at night.

The unions in the institution told the Nation that some of the college staff have been robbed repeatedly, some about six times, some nine.

Last week, a group of such armed robbers forwarded a text message to a female worker in the institution telling her to keep two million naira (N2m) in the trunk of her vehicle for them.

They warned her not to make any contact with the police or any security outfit, describing them as their enemies.

The lady in question had been robbed once in the community by the same people, carting away her property when she attended a church service.

Ike died from the gunshot wound, his corpse in the morgue.

Following the incessant robbery attacks in the community without any solution from the owners of the land, workers of the institution marched round the community early in the week to protest the ugly incident.

The protest was done under the aegis of various trade Unions in the institution namely, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), led by Dr. A.T Nwamaradi, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) led by Alex Okoli

,

After being robbed repeatedly, some up to nine times, staff of a federal college in Umunze, Anambra State, have taken to the streets, crying to just about anybody who will listen.

NWANOSIKE ONU reports

No fewer than 57 members of staff of the institution have been robbed without any help from anybody, except some members of the community who come to sympathise with the victims

,

and Senior Staff Union of College of Education Nigeria (SSUCOEN), led by Eze Joachim among others.

The unions and their leaders protested to the palace of Igwe Promise Eze (the Abilikete II of Umunze), former Deputy Governor of the state under Peter Obi, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu and the lawmaker representing Orumba south state constituency, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu and the local government headquarters.

The traditional ruler of the community, the council chairman and the lawmaker were not around despite letters dispatched to them informing them of the protest, but Sibeudu, who received them in his place, assured them that urgent steps should be taken to address the institution.

Some of the placards carried by

the protesters numbering over 500 read, “stop the killings in Umunze, injury to one is injury to many, fish out thieves in your midst, enough is enough, life and property no longer safe in Umunze,” among others.

One of the text messages to one of the staff reads, “Lady, we are the big boys in town, you are the next to settle us, we came to your house but we did not get what we wanted.”

“Just keep N2, 000,000 inside your booth from now to Sunday, don’t involve the police or security “engent” because they are our enemy, remember your life and your daughter “is” on the line, so be careful and hurry up”.

A lecturer in the institution, •Continued on page 28

Give us SGF, group urges Buhari

P

•Gate of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to appoint an Igbo as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) said their choice for the SGF slot is Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State, arguing that he has the qualities for the office.

They added that Onu’s personality and political exposure makes him not only the most eminently qualified, and will help the president win fight against corruption.

The group also weighed in on the contentious relocation of Boko Haram inmates to the Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra State, which

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

has stirred anxiety in the community and its environs.

In a release signed by the leader of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzo, they expressed their satisfaction on the steps taken by the federal government to recover stolen funds and restore sanity in critical sectors of the economy.

They also called on the President to set up an investigative committee to revisit the mysterious death of some innocent Nigerians at the Ezu River in Anambra State.

OYC wondered why those behind the dastardly act were yet to be nabbed and prosecuted.

Scho

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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•Some of the demolished shops

Traders groan as Imo pulls down shanties Everyone loves a well-planned city, yet when bulldozers started tearing down shanty structures in Owerri, there was a flood of tears, reports OKODILI NDIDI ernor never told them that the demolition was going to affect the shops in his area, but was shocked when the bulldozers started pulling down the shop, without giving the traders the opportunity to explain.

He said, “The governor never directed us to pack our goods and relocate, because if he had told us, I would have packed my goods and left the place to avoid losing them like this now. I was surprised to come out this morning to see all my goods and properties destroyed without even a pin left. So where do they expect me to start from”.

He further condemned the action of the state government, adding that the punishment being “meted to poor people who fought and even died for the governor during the last election to ensure his victory at the pool is unfortunate”.

Another affected trader, Mrs. Ulumma Onyechehe expressed to-

,

OMEN shop owners broke down as the bulldozer blades went to work in a shanty in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Some shouted and threw themselves at task force officials in a bid to stop the demolition. The men looked gravely at the scene, some trying to salvage as much of their wares as possible before everything was gone.

It was like a scene in a James Bond movie. The bulldozers rampaged on, and fierce-looking task force officials leaving no one in any doubt that they meant business. The state government has started demolishing illegal structures and shanties in the state capital.

At the entrance to the city, by the popular Control Junction, traders numbering over 1000 were affected by the demolition exercise, which was supervised by the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim.

Also affected were shops located along the Word Bank Housing Road, which were said to have flouted the capital city master plan.

The adamant traders, were forewarned a week ago by the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who had personal visited the traders and told them the need to clean up the entire city to give it a look befitting of a state capital and to guide against the dangers of flooding, especially as the state has been named among states to witness unusual rainfall this year.

But the warning fell on deaf ears as the traders who had promised the Governor that they will pull down the illegal structures before the demolition tam arrive, carried on in defiance of the Governor’s directive, apparently because previous directives were not enforced.

Meanwhile, some of the affected traders claimed that the state government did not provide any alternative place for the traders, nor were they given enough time to relocate.

Also, the governor had earlier, shortly after being sworn in for his second tenure, said that the state government would no longer tolerate shanties and illegal structures scattered across the state capital.

One of the affected shop owners, Mr. Paulicap Osuala, while recounting his loss, said that he cannot believe that he could lost everything he has labored for all his life under few minutes.

He lamented that he had lost over N8 million to the demolition exercise, adding that “as it is now I don’t know what to do or where to start from”.

Osuala, who said that he was present during the Governor’s visit, last weekend, insisted that the gov-

If we had been told to pack our goods and relocate, I would have packed my goods and left the place to avoid losing them like this. I was surprised to come out this morning to see all my goods and properties destroyed without even a pin left. So where do they expect me to start from

,

tal disappoint at the exercise, stating that, “we never expected this kind of treatment from our governor. I still cannot believe that this is happening”.

She stated herself and the elder brother have been doing business in the place for years and have been

paying for the shop at the sum of N170,000.00 per annum.

She however claimed that they were preparing to relocate their things before the task force team came and destroyed the roof of their shops, crying that, “I don’t intend to do anything other than to pack my things home and wait for what the future has for me.

Meanwhile, the state government

had defended the action, describing it as genuine efforts to clean up the capital city and realize the master plan, which has been abandoned to the detriment of the residents.

The Chief of Staff to the Government House and Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Uche Nwosu, said that the state government embarked on the exercise to clean up the city by removing all illegal structures built without requisite approval from government.

The governor had also in a media chat with journalists, appealed to the traders and other residents to cooperate with the state government over its plan to sanitize the state capital.

In his words, “I am appealing to my people to cooperate with us because if we continue like this we won’t clean up our state capital. It was a painful decision to take, considering my relationship with my people but this has to be done for a better Imo State”.

Robbers’ haven in Anambra •Continued from page 27

•Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (second right), during an inspection tour of Udeagbala Road in Aba. With him from left are Director of Civil Engineering, Mr. Uduma Uduma; Minister of Works, Richard Nwala; Permanent Secretary, Works, Mr. Sunday Okpara, Director Road Maintenance and Chief Joe Umezurike the contractor handling the project.

PHOTO: IBEABUCHI ABARIKWU

Churchill Okonkwo, told the Nation that they want Governor Willie Obiano to respond to the plight of the workers of the institution over the calamity that had befallen them.

He said, “This is not supposed to happen in a modern society, the tenants in this community are not safe and happy anymore.”

Addressing the former Deputy Governor, Dr. A. T. Nwamaradi said that the staff and students of the institution have lost property worth millions of naira as a result of the invasion of armed robbers in their homes.

He said, “Our lives are being threatened on a daily basis by those armed robbers, who are also threatening to kidnap some others; our lives are in danger at Umunze.

We need protection.

“The situation is making learning and teaching impossible in this institution, and if this is not nipped

in the bud, all the workers of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze will vacate this area” Nwamaradi said.

However, Sibeudu, who described the situation as unfortunate and embarrassing, said the Governor Willie Obiano’s administration had made security top priority of his administration and had equally performed well since he assumed office, adding that Umunze would not be an exception.

He said the community’s vigilance group and other security agencies in the area, had done their best also, adding that more efforts should be added to protect life and property.

Sibeudu maintained that some of the armed robbers could be from outside the community, promising that the governor would be notified on the situation.

Another lecture who preferred anonymity, told The Nation that he has been robbed four times, adding that they are living in bondage in Umunze.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

PAGE 29

Warri makes history as Niger Delta’s first ‘Green House’ opens •Clockwise: The frontview of the Green House; the walkway and exterior of the Green House; and the verandah.

INSIDE

SEE PAGE ON 30 - 35

Free medicare excites Ubima community PAGES 31

Bayelsa, libraries partner to save Ijaw language PAGES 32-33

N1.4b processing factory, supermart boost Delta’s economy PAGES 34

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT PERSPECTIVE Electoral violence and issues in Rivers governorship poll

By Tonye Amachree

M

ANY people today fully appreciate the fact that those who perpetrate electoral violence do incalculable harm, not only to the present generation but also to those in the future. But by far the most far-reaching implication of any form of breach during election is the exclusion of many voices, even long before the process of governance begins. This reality, no doubt, remains the cause of political tensions in most developing countries.

Given our proclivity for electoral violence, I had thought that the last 16 years of uninterrupted democratic experience would have significantly addressed this issue. To me, the fact that political contest is still not violentfree in Nigeria diminishes our efforts in building a country of our dream.

Except we are all prepared to live with the long and painful consequences of electoral violence, which is definitely not an option, every government has a duty to renew hope, not just in the electorates but also in the political process. And this is the expectation of many Nigerians at the moment.

Agreed that some states in Nigeria may have over the years, experienced a comparatively better record in terms of conduct of elections, this cannot be said in all sincerity of states in South-South, particularly Rivers and Akwa Ibom where violent occurrences remain an issue of grave concern.

Though violence and intimidation had been part of elections in these states for many years now, brutality was however taken to new heights in 2015 general elections. Rivers State particularly recorded countless cases of politically motivated deaths and cruelty across the length and breadth of the state.

At a personal level, the most upsetting part of electoral violence is that in the final analysis, everyone is a loser: the living, the unborn and even the dead that paid the supreme sacrifice. This is largely so because any political contest that is not violence-free obviously results in the emergence of unpopular and unacceptable contestants.

This correlation between credible elections and quality of governance addresses eloquently, issues of growth and development. Except there is magic, it will be absolutely impossible for purveyors of violence and others against fair political contest to provide any form of leadership that will be purposeful and beneficial to the great number of people.

This is already evident in the flashpoint states under review and the reasons are not far to seek. Anyone who bulldozes his way to any elective position, either for personal aggrandizement or for other vague reasons, clearly has no covenant with the people. Therefore that person is unaccountable and also at liberty to desecrate any political office he or she forcefully occupies. After all, his allegiance remains with the tiny clique rather than the general interest, and this ugly trend has continued unabated.

I think this is the major reason advanced democracies dispatch election monitors to developing countries to serve as independent observers. Over the years and even at the risk of intimidation and harm, these election monitors have effectively braced all odds and served as authentic and fair opinion against all forms of infractions during elections. That is why all over the world, their views are highly respected because they are forcefully unbiased.

What they found in Rivers State and Akwa Ibom, to say the least, was shocking and their damning verdict continues to provide insights on the monumental violence and fraud that occurred in the two states. But the negative report did not come as a surprise to many, especially for some of us who witnessed the elections.

Less than twenty-four hours after the election, international observers had called for outright cancellation of the election due to obvious violations by some actors and the election body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Humphrey Bakaren, leader of African Centre for Leadership Strategies and Development who spoke on behalf of the observers described the election as a sham.

I think it will be pertinent to state here that Bakaren and his colleagues specifically called for utter cancellation because of the level of violence and fraud. According to him, “we request all lovers of democracy to join us in calling for the outright cancellation of the phoney election. Unless this is done, we would have sown the seed that could eventually grow into providing a shade of fear and death over us”. The spokesperson added that INEC could not even meet the electioneering standard it set.

But Civil Society Network Against Corruption went a step further. In its petition to the Inspector-General of Police, the group specifically demanded for the arrest and investigation of Resident Electoral Commissioners in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. The petition of CSNAC entitled “Demand for Urgent Investigation of Fraudulent Manipulations of Elections of April 11, 2015 by the Resident Electoral Commissioners” addressed the brazen contravention and disregard of many portions of the Electoral Act. For good measure, CSNAC cited for instance, the discrepancies in Rivers State where the commissioner had declared 1,228,614 as total votes cast, a figure that is totally different from the number of accredited voters in INEC’s central server in Abuja.

Unsurprisingly, all that is happening in Rivers State today fully vindicates the observers who had warned earlier of the awful consequences of electoral violence. But no society or people can perpetually live in selfdenial, so we cannot afford to if we truly care about our present and the future.

However, Jeffery Hawkins, the outgoing United States ConsularGeneral, like the international election monitors who first drew global attention to the violence and breach in our region, believes that freedom only comes with justice. In a recent interview in a national daily, he shared his thoughts on our state even as he departs Nigeria. “One thing that was of concern to us in Rivers State was that there was a good deal of violence in the lead up to the elections, and by our count, probably several hundred people were killed over a period of several months and that is not conducive to a peaceful polling process. As you recall, Chairman Jega sent a delegation to Rivers to look into the concerns immediately after the elections, so it was clear that issues were being raised that may not have been raised in other states. But again, if that election was less than perfect, it’s now left for the judicial system to decide”, he said.

•Amachree is an NGO activist based in Port Harcourt.

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Warri makes history as Niger Delta’s first ‘Green House’ opens When PIND Foundation, a Chevron Nigeria Limited-funded NGO, disclosed its plan to construct an energy-efficient centre for one of its organs in 2011, its promise to deliver a building that uses75per cent energy elicited suppressed enthusiasm and some doubts. Four years later, the centre opened in Egbokodo-Itsekiri Community in Warri. Southsouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL, who witnessed the ceremony, reports that PIND delivered on its promises.

I

N 2011, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta (PIND) mulled the idea of constructing the Appropriate Technology Enhanced Demonstration Centre in Egbokodo-Itsekiri Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The centre, located within the premises of PIND’s Economic Development Centre in Egbokodo-Itsekiri Warri, was conceived to pioneer a trend in constructing houses using materials that are not only sustainable, but more eco-friendly and reducing the use energy as part of effort to combat global warming.

PIND said the ATED Centre aimed to achieve an energy consumption that is less than 70 percent of existing buildings. To achieve the target, the centre married alternative technologies with shrewd architectural design that takes advantage of its location and available resources.

Four years on, the centre was opened on Wednesday, July 8, much to the delight of guests, environmentalists and members of the local and international communities. And it delivered on all the promises.

PIND’s staff who provided a guided tour of the facility after a brief opening ceremony, explained some unique feature in the construction: Instead of conventional blocks, the centre was built with hydra-form interlocking blocks, which uses laterite, an age-long building materials. Laterite needs minimal cement both in molding and erection of the walls. The use of timber along with the laterite block, double glass window panes etc. reduces heat and eliminates the need for ACs to barest minimum. The building, which has no ceiling board, featured two-layered roof that allows wind to blow in between, keeping the bottom layer cooler due to both the air flow and the protection from direct sun-

light. The use of double glass window pane reduces noise, while an air system improves airflow and circulation and aids the inverter type ACs to function optimally.

One of the standout technologies in the futuristic ATED Centre however is the Bio-digester, a system that converts human and animal wastes to clean cooking gas, fuel to power its standby generator and which byproduct is manure. The contraption not only enhances the concept of waste to wealth, but also helps the environment through cleaner energy.

PIND said, “ATED is also using this new building to pilot an ATED-promoted innovation called the bio-digester. This technology turns waste into fuel that may be used in the canteen to cook, or in a back-up generator to create power, and safe fertilizer. Following testing at ATED, the technology will then be piloted in a Niger Delta community.”

The Executive Director of the Texas, US-based Niger Delta Partnership Initiatives Foundation (NDPI), Mr Denis Flemmi, performed the opening ceremony. NDPI administers PIND’s funds from Chevron Corporation’s and other partners. .

Earlier in his welcome address, PIND Executive Director, Mr Sam Daibo, explained that the choice of materials used in the building was informed by the growing concern about global warming and the need to take action to mitigate its effects, especially in the Niger Delta region.

He remarked that it was conceived to demonstrate appropriate technology in building of houses in the Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria as a whole, adding that it took advantage of strong linkages between the development of appropriate technologies with commercial potential, and the small and medium enterprise support programs of the EDC.

• Ms Gilbert and others at the event

• Inside the house

Daibo explained that the initial challenge with the host communities also provided an opportunity for a peace programme and laid the foundation for a mutually benefiting relationship for PIND and its Itsekiri hosts, whose local contractors supplied most of the materials used in the construction.

In her presentation, Nancy Gilbert, manager of the ATED programme, explained that it is all “appropriate technology” – that makes sense in the Niger Delta.

She noted that the region faces challenges like lack of access to clean water, which informed introduction of biosand filter, a simple, but very effective water purification technology, which is able to purify water up to 99percent. The simple filter comprises of just a bucket, small stones and sand.

“This is the kind of technology we are interested in – ways to make life better, improve incomes, and address important issues faced by the people of the Niger Delta.”

She explained that the demonstration centre project was approached with a focus on building a house that show people how they could experience new, innovative approaches that could improve quality of life in view of the global challenge of climate change.

According to her, climate change is one of the greatest problems facing the world, remarking: “Not only does the nature and extent of climate change hamper human development it also forms a major threat to human security and political stability.”

Nancy said global warming is more daunting in Africa because, along with poverty, it is considered its greatest challenge in the 21st century because they link to aggravate the existing vulnerabilities of the poor and creates new risks.

She said the Niger Delta region is particularly vulnerable to effect of climate change as it causes sea level rise, ocean surges, coastal erosion, and floods among others. She posited that the intrusion of sea-water into fresh

water sources and ecosystems destroy important systems like mangrove, where fish breed and grow.

“It will also affect agriculture, fisheries and general livelihoods. If sea level rises .5 metres, 35% of the Niger Delta land mass will be lost. Of course, all of this will have significant impact on you, your families and your communities.

“Things have always been changing and nature has adapted. So why is this different? The difference is the rate of change – things are changing so quickly that the natural world doesn’t have enough time to adapt. This means we need to find ways to slow down the negative things we are doing, and give the world a chance to adjust – until we can find a way of living that works in balance with nature.

“To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we have to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions which mean find ways to use less car bon intensive energy.”

While conceding that humans cannot undo all the negative things that

have been done to harm the environment and enhance global warning, she said further negative impacts can be mitigated or minimized as the case may.

“How do we improve? We do it through innovation and change. And this will bring new opportunities, new and different jobs. For example solar power is getting cheaper and cheaper.

As a result investments are going up: Globally $3.7 trillion in solar investments are expected between now and 2040.

“Solar alone will account for more than a third of new power capacity worldwide And this revolution will be decentralized. The biggest solar revolution will take place on rooftops – in Paris, Los Angeles and in Warri. High electricity prices and cheap residential battery storage will make small scale rooftop solar very attractive.”

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And I would venture to add – an experience is worth a few thousand more! Being able to see, learn, and experience innovations, will

hopefully lead to interest, knowledge, and change.”

“We hope that this building can in some small way help raise awareness of the challenges we face, and suggest solutions,” she added.

Explaining further to newsmen, Mr. Sylvester Okoh, Field Project Manager, PIND, said beyond the technologies displayed at the centre, Okoh said gains of appropriate technologies range from agriculture to health, that they have helped the method of crop harvesting and food processing, which he said has made life easier for people.

He said has PIND has a very large program on peace building and has partnered with a lot of experts who volunteered to participate in their peace building programs that has helped in reducing violence in the region.

He urged Niger Delta youths to shun violence and embrace peace at all times, saying that their lives are important, and they should be engaged in meaningful ventures that can make

people to support them.

Guests, including Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli, Executive Director Project of the Niger Delta Development Commission, who was represented by Mr Alfred Mulade, commended the initiative and promised that the NDDC would continue to partner with PIND and other similar bodies towards the development of the region.

On his part, Mr. Charles Okereke, while commending the initiative and concept of the centre, remarked that the high cost of materials involved meant that the technologies displayed are still out of the reach of the common man. He urged the Federal and State governments to key into laudable programmes of ATED and provide needed supports and encouragements for the youths.

The ATED Centre has offices for ATED program staff, reference library, classroom and workshop for conduction of AT training programs, research and development room, business incubator, exhibition and training hall reception, boardroom, and plant room.

Ex-militants urge Dickson to host Bayelsa Peace Day B

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has been in the saddle for over three years. Dickson has within the period hosted a few international events in Yenagoa, the state capital. But there is a local event with a global appeal that Dickson has failed to host - the Bayelsa Peace Day. The Bayelsa Peace Day is very important to the historical development of the state. It is celebrated on August 22 to coincide with the day former creek warlords popularly called freedom fighters in the Niger Delta region surrendered their arms and ammunition to embrace the Amnesty Programme offered them by the Federal Government.

Prior to the day of disarmament, the region was a hotbed of militancy. The freedom fighters relocated to the creeks, set up militant camps and engaged federal troops in a prolonged war to protest the marginalisation of the region.

They were angry that despite being the goose that lays the golden eggs, the region was allowed to languish in penury and neglect.

They were aggrieved that in spite of being the economic pillar of the country, the Niger Delta was abandoned to wallow in abject poverty. They protested violently and started satisfying with barrels of gun, demands the government refused to fulfill for them peacefully. Kidnapping became a burgeoning empire and waves of coordinated attacks on oil installations swept across the region.

The militants soon brought oil production to its lowest ebb and brought the Nigerian economy to its knees.

But in his wisdom, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, governors and elders

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

in the region brokered a peace deal. Yar’Adua proclaimed amnesty for the militants and brought them out of the creeks. On August 22, the grand finale of submission of arms and ammunition was held at the Adaka Boro Park, Yenagoa, which was also called the Peace Park to reflect the spirits of the day.

It was fearful sight to behold. Daring and fearless young men were on parade. Also in display, were cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition.

Militant commanders whose names sent jitters into the spines of people came out and revealed their identities. The public for the first time, matched their faces with their names. They all renounced militancy and agreed to promote the peace.

So, the Bayelsa Peace Day was born. It was first celebrated on August 22, 2010 by the former administration of Governor Timipre Sylva. It was repeated in 2011 by Sylva who used the three-day event to remind the ex-militant leaders of their pledge for peace.

Through the occasion, he brought the ex-warlords together and became very popular among them. The eventful period used to be very colorful.

Tompolo, Boyloaf, Africa, Pastor Reuben, Shoot-at-Sight, Ogunboss, Ateke Tom, Farrah and many other former ‘generals’, ‘commanders’ and their foot soldiers graced the event. Bayelsa bubbled as the events started with Peace Walk, concert and ended with the Miss Peace Beauty Pageant.

But since assuming office, Dickson has not hosted a day which the exmilitant leaders and many Bayelsans say is precious to them. Many people believe that the governor is far away from the ex-militants because of his inability to host the Peace Day. In a letter addressed to the governor, one of the foremost ex-militant leaders, Mr. Victor Ben Ebikabowei, popularly called Boyloaf appealed to the governor to consider hosting the Peace Day. The letter which was obtained by the Niger Delta Report reminded the governor the reason for the celebration.

He said: “Most recently the Niger Delta region has been engulfed in hostilities induced by decades of undeserved official neglect, although the base of the nation’s wealth communities in the region still ranks tops in the list of under-developed communities of the country. These and other fundamental issues led us to arms struggle to liberate our people from the injustice done to them by the Nigerian State.

“However, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn to chart new course of peace by granting amnesty to militants in the region, thereby opening a new chapter of intellectual dialogue.

“The Amnesty Programme has succeeded beyond the imaginations of bookmakers and public analysts. August 22nd 2009 at the Peace park Yenagoa saw the return of the highest hull of arms since the commencement of the amnesty programme.

“This is a demonstration of our patriotism and eagerness to resolve the lingering issues amicably. Since the commencement of the amnesty

programme our youths have been provided with non-violence training and sent to different parts of the world to acquire skills and enable them to be selfsustaining and re-integrate them to the society.

“In August 2010 & 2011 we celebrated the Bayelsa Peace Day, despite the meager funds; it was a huge success, the Peace Carnival Walk and Peace Concert.

“Once more, we are prepared to demonstrate to the nation and the International community that the historic disarmament exercise on August 22nd, 2009 at the Peace park Yenagoa was a not a mere charade or funfair. We are committed to a sustainable peace process for accelerated development of the state and the Niger Delta region”.

He told the governor that the event of this year was proposed to last three days with a range of artistic activities aimed at building a culture of peace. He said the proposed activities include symposium/lecture, Peace day carnival walk & concert and Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty Pageant.

He said: “The peace walk/carnival in 2011 saw the participation of 4,000 youths. This year we anticipate over 5,000 youths will participate. The event is aimed at regaining the lost investors confidence and re-assure the international community and the nation that indeed there is peace in Bayelsa State.

“Above it will mark our collective progress towards building a culture of peace, make a stance against crime and violence and serve as a reminder of our permanent commitment to peace.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Medicare excites Ubima community

Y

OUTHS, women, children and the elderly from Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State will not forget in a hurry the benefits of a medical mission, which they recently hosted.

The gesture was courtesy the All Grace Energy Limited and Western Ord Oil and Gas Nig Limited.

The companies came up with this idea as part of their corporate social responsibility after acquiring oil wells deposited in the community. for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will soon be signed.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to our correspondent during the programme held at Ubima Health Centre, said the companies brought great relief to them. They noted that the exercise was timely because of the rainy period when many farmers fall sick.

One of the beneficiaries, Elder Eyidah Louis, said: “ I am very grateful to the organisers of this free medical programme. I was passing by when I saw crowd and I decided to enter and they attended to me. You can see my drugs. I am very happy that I was attended to. We want them to come back again they may not know the good they are doing to us, it is a very big relief to the members of the community.”

Another beneficiary, Mr. James Alikor, said he was sick and had no money to treat himself when he heard of the medical mission. He thanked the companies for initiating the idea.

A member of the community, Innocent Okachi, said the youths have endorsed the oil companies for facilitating the programme when they have not started the business which brought them to the area. He added that they were glad that the companies were com-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

ing to their community with good intention.

Dr Sagbemi Babatope of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), who was among the medical team, said: “Here we have received and treated patients with dental problems, ranging from toothache and poor oral hygiene, which is common to a village that does not have dental services.

So far, we have been able to do some extractions. Like the woman I am treating here, she was having mouth odour but after this treatment she will be okay.

“The facilitators of this programme have tried a lot to ensure the good health of the people of this community. By the time we are done with them, they will see the difference from their previous experience. As for the drugs, it will be enough, I have already attained to 50 patients on the dental department alone.”

Another Medical Practitioner, Dr. Martin Ejire, said: “So far so good, we are impressed with the turn out. The most important thing is that we came to this community and the people appreciated it. You can see that they are happy and willing to appreciate the good gesture. We are treating the disease we called cataract, which always affects some part of the eyes when weak. But it is not a peculiar problem to the people of this community. It also happened to those in township. We came prepared to ensure that the people are healthy; there are a lot of classes to give out. “ Responding on behalf of the companies, Mr. Gafar Yemi Olagunju said: “All Grace Energy Nig. Ltd/Western Ord Oil and Gas Nig Limited are companies with human face. We are coming to the community to carry out our social

•People waiting to be attended to

‘

The facilitators of this programme have tried a lot to ensure the good health of the people of this community. By the time we are done with them, they will see the difference from their previous experience

‘

responsibility. We felt we should let the community know what we have in stock for them. This is the first thing we have done; we are going to do more of this. The idea

•A beneficiary having his blood pressure examined is to ensure that the people we are working with are healthy; we want people to realise that we mean business. The first action also shows

that we have the community in our heart; we will like to say that we are working with the people with the same platform with us.”

Stakeholders discuss new vision for Ijaw nation W ORRIED by several problems including environmental degradation, health hazards and perennial pollution confronting Ijaw ethnic nationality, stakeholders under the aegis of Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) last weekend organised a seminar at the Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, to fashion a new vision for the Ijaw nation.

At the seminar with the theme: Translating the Ijaw Vision into Reality: The Leadership Challenge’, participants deliberated on the possible alternative means of diversifying the economy of the region from over dependency on oil revenue.

The Secretary-General of IPA, Mr Efiye Bribena, explained that the aim of the seminar was to promote professional excellence among Ijaw people. He said the seminar was a follow up to the one earlier held in May, 2015 at Eko Hotel and Suites, which attracted eminent personalities like the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

The President of the association and Executive Secretary, Nigeria Contents Development & Monitoring Board, Arc. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe, flayed the neglect and marginalization of the region by the successive governments but urged the people to take their destiny into their own hands and avoid unnecessary lamentation.

He said: “We need to go beyond the usual complaints, protests and lamentations. We should objectively discuss a new Vision 2025 for Ijawland.”

The chairman of the event, Chief Doukpolagha, commended IPA for its commitment to the course of the Ijaw people. He urged the participants to embark on intensive search for good leadership and new economic agenda for Ijaw nation.

By Kunle Akinrinade

His words: “Hard work is a necessary prerequisite for leadership. Leaders in Abuja should be our ambassadors. To this end, they are to fight for opportunities for the Ijaw man. It is important to look inwards when the question of leadership is raised. It has also become imperative for the people to key into critical areas of oil production to fulfill the destiny of the Ijaw nation as an active player in the Nigerian project.”

The guest speaker, Dr Tom-George, in his presentation entitled: “Rethinking Leadership and Development in the Niger Delta,” challenged Ijaw leaders to harness available human and material resources for the common good of the people.

He said: “A leader is as happy as the least happy person. In sum, a leader should ensure service delivery to the people through self-sacrifice and leadership. A leader must galvanise the best genius of our people; be community minded and be surrounded with people of peculiar interest. An example is John Kennedy who made his brother, Robert Kennedy the Attorney-General when he was President of the United States of America.”

George said the need for capacity building for the youths saying: “There is a dominant negative trend among the Ijaws, which is the wrong notion of thinking that the Ijaw man is defined by the natural resources in his environment. The Ijaws are more than oil and gas and should therefore focus on capacity building. The greatest resource is the human intellect. It is paramount to build the human knowledge economy and invest in the human capital development of the Ijaw man,” he added.

•Discussants at the seminar In a communiqué issued at the end of an interactive session, IPA emphasized the urgent need for an effective and futuristic Ijaw Vision.

The statement reads in part: “The Ijaw nation should develop vision 2025 aimed at building a united, inclusive, prosperous, peaceful and influential nation within the Nigerian and global context; Ijaw vision 2025 should be actionable and serve as a blueprint for all sections of the Ijaw nation to build a united and prosperous entity based on shared values and a common destiny; the vision should be dynamic, acceptable to the majority and adaptable to current realities; It should also incorporate the basic core val-

ues.”

Stakeholders at the seminar included the Chairman, IPA Board of Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (rtd), Dr. Chris Ekiyor, Chief Boma Obuoforibo, Chief (Mrs) Veronica Bamuza-Mutu and Charles Ambaowei.

Others were: Chief Francis Doukpola, former traditional ruler of Agbere community, Lady Anne, Secretary of the Elders Council of Bayelsa State, Lady Meg Agidi, a member of the Ijaw National Congress, Moses Siasia, a member of the Nigerian Young Professionals), Engr Ambaowei, Acting President of the Ijaw National Congress, and Iniruo Wills, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT PERSPECTIVE

Bayelsa, libraries partner to save Ijaw language B

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson and his Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, share among other things, the passion to promote Ijaw Language and rescue it from extinction.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) listed the Ijaw language as one of the 3000 languages that will soon go into extinction.

To reverse the trend, the culture commissioner and his team came up with the Ijaw Bebe Tolumo programme. Ijaw Bebe has the objectives of developing, promoting and encouraging the teaching and learning of Ijaw language in schools and homes. It also aims at training sufficient Ijaw language teachers; producing texts, literature in Ijaw language and producing a composite Ijaw language dictionary.

The Ijaw Bebe is also expected to develop Ijaw language to be taught and examined in junior/secondary schools, diploma, ‘A’ Levels, degree and higher levels and develop a standard or common Ijaw language for all Bayesans.

The Ijaw Bebe programme was launched last year by Dickson himself. The launching created excitement among the language experts and scholars who attended the event.

Tuodolor was aware that before any language could be learnt or taught in schools it must satisfy four criteria of the National Council on Education (NCE). Such language must have approved orthography, curriculum, language books and trained language teachers.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Undoubtedly, Tuodolor has driven the programme to an appreciable height. He has met all the requirements outlined by the NCE. Following the directive of the governor that books in Ijaw language produced under the programme should be made available and accessible to members of the public, Tuodolor is distributing the materials to private libraries in the state.

Recently, he presented the books to the Professor Azaiki Library and Museum, a prestigious private library built by the former Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prof.

Steve Azaiki and his foundation.

The International Director of Azaiki Public Library, Mr. Derevianko Sergii, received the commissioner and his team. The Consultant at the library, Mrs. Ekine Euphemia, took the visitors on a tour of different departments and sections of the library.

Tuodolor expressed the determination of the state government to ensure that all Ijaws become competent speakers of Izon language in the state.

He narrated efforts made by the state government to meet the requirements of the NCE. On orthography, he said the state already has the Nembe, Izon and Epie orthographies adding that the ministry in conjunction with the Niger Delta University (NDU) also developed the Ogbia orthography in 2014.

He said the Ministry of Education got the Izon curriculum which is one of the requirements approved in 2003. He said though the curriculum was left unpublished, his min-

•Tuodolor (5th left) and Sergii (6th left) after presentation of ljaw books istry had published and got it ready for use.

Tuodolor explained that the ministry in collaboration with NDU set up five language committees with the task of planning, writing and translating books to Kolokuma, Epie, Ogbia, Nembe and Mein dialects.

On trained language teachers, the commissioner said NDU was mandated to facilitate the training of teachers. He said so far about many teachers had graduated from the Diploma programme.

“With these efforts we are happy to announce that we have fulfilled

or met all the requirements of NCE for the learning and teaching of Ijaw language in our schools.

“This is a feat for which the restoration government should be applauded for ensuring that it matched words with action. As a government we will continue to promote the speaking of Ijaw language by complementary activities such as inter school debate, quizzes, cultural competition, observing Ijaw-speaking day, Ijaw films, Ijaw music and developing learning centres for adults”, he said.

He, however, said the Ijaw Bebe programme would not achieve its

desired objectives if parents and community failed to play their roles.

He said parents and guardians could complement government’s efforts by speaking the Ijaw language at home and in communities.

He said many books had been written in Ijaw dialects to actualise the government’s determination of saving the Ijaw language from extinction.

Tuodolo said: “A situation where Pidgin English now takes the place of Izon language from individual families is indeed a danger signal which, if not decisively handled now, may lead to the extinction of

the language.

“To reverse this ugly trend, therefore, the ‘Izon bebe tolumo’ books have been presented to the library for the benefit of the general public. We wish to urge parents and wards to take it as a responsibility to ensure that their children and wards are taught the Izon language at home and not Pidgin English.

Receiving the various books from the state government, the International Director of Sergii, commended the government for the laudable initiative.

Sergii said: “The family is the first school every child attends. The im-

portance of its roles to ensure that children become competent users of their mother tongue s cannot be underplayed. To this end, therefore, Pidgin English should not be an option.”

He assured the commissioner and his entourage that the books would be made available to the public.

In her remarks, Consultant at the library, Euphemia, said that language is key and a great unifying factor for a people. She took the commissioner and his entourage on a familiarisation tour of the various sections of the library.

Port Harcourt Refinery to Okrika indigenes: don’t vandalise projects in your communities

T

HE Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), Bafred Enjugu, has appealed to communities in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State to protect projects sited in their areas.

Enjugu spoke when he inaugurated various projects implemented by the company in communities under its Joint Community Relation Committee (JCRC).

Represented in the event by an official of the company, Innocent Nwabueze, the MD said the projects were meant to improve the quality of lives of residents.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

According to him, the cordial relationship between Okrika and the company must be sustained .

The projects commissioned include two 500KVA transformers, three water boreholes, classroom and fencing project of schools in communities in the area as well as inter-locking of hitherto impassable community road in Okochiri community.

Communities which benefited from the gesture are Ogoloma, Okochiri, Okrika Island, Ibuluya-Ama,

Okari-Ama, Aborindende-Ama, Ogbogbo, and Ekerekana.

Chiefs, elders and community representatives at the event expressed gratitude to the company.

Enjugu said: “PHRC as a socially responsible corporate citizen recognizes the vital roles of her host communities in ensuring sustained operations and community development.

“In appreciation of the peaceful disposition of Okrika community and as part of our affirmative duties, we are here to commission some community

projects conceptualised and implemented under the Joint Community Relations (JCRC), platform by PHRC. “PHRC recognises the need for economic empowerment and human capital development for host communities, this informed the reason we have earlier embarked on skill acquisition and poverty alleviation programs, and micro credit scheme for the people of the community.”

The Managing Director also noted that arrangement had been concluded to start a market at Ekerekana-

Ama community.

The Chairman of Okirika Divisional Council of Chiefs , Chief Nemi Adoki, hailed the PHRC and urged the company to embark on more projects to pacify restive youths.

He appealed to PHRC to immediately commence projects captured in its 2015 operational year, adding that the inaugurated projects were captured in 2014.

According to him, the projects when awarded and completed would reduce sufferings of people of the communities.

Niger Delta Anglican Diocese vows to resist same-sex marriage T

HE Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev Ralph Cornelius Ebirien, has vowed that the church would never support same sex marriage or relationship despite the appointment of a Nigerian as the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion worldwide.

Rev Ebirien, who spoke at an event to mark the fifth anniversary of his ordination as the sixth spiritual head of the diocese, said the appointment of Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Communion, Bishop Idowu Fearon as ?the next Secretary General of the Anglican Communion worldwide, has received the blessing from the church but noted that the primate of the Anglican communion had told Fearon the Nigerian church would not accept same sex marriage.

He said, “Same sex marriage is a problem to Anglican Church worldwide; Church of Nigeria is against it and we want to thank the immediate past President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan who said no to it. Our primate said no to it, all of us said no to it. The primate said Bishop Idowu Fearon is on his own, someone has been appointed to oversee his Diocese in Kaduna. Our answers remain ‘No’, according to the bible and we will continue to say No. Rev Ebirien began his journey as a young Deacon in 1982 and was consecrated Bishop on January 10th 2010.

He said his greatest achievement as the Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese was his ability to resolve a very serious crisis affecting the number two church in the Diocese. He said God’s grace was

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

with the members of the church and others who played one role or the other to ensure that peace took the position of the crisis.

He also recounted the contribution of the church during the flood disaster in Niger Delta communities and other humanitarian service rendered by Diocese. He said because of the terrain where most of their churches are planted, the church had always had to do more in the area of social service delivery.

“We are indeed very happy that God is guiding us. It is not easy, but God was on our side with the support of Diocese. Since we came onboard we have made some strides in the area of discipline, we had some challenges in one or two churches. The crisis affected the Diocese badly, that church, St. Cyprian where crisis erupted is the number two church, but God assisted us to solve the matter successfully. And that is one of the greatest achievements of my leadership.

“We have two people on scholarship; we also have plans to increase our temple in the area of training. Before I came here the church hospital was closed down. But now, we have reopened it with modern medical equipment. We have also acquired 20 plots of land; we bought lands for new church buildings and there is also plan to have a new Bishop’s court. These are some of thing we have achieved.

•Bishop Ebirien

“During the flood crisis, especially in the Niger Delta region, we reached out to people; about four communities were assisted with

food items, clothing and other consumable materials. We have always identified with them even when there is no flood we also visit them. More of our churches are along the creek and sea that is another challenges but we don’t allow any of these challenges to deter us from doing the work of God. One of our pastors fell sick and the church sent him to Indian. With the little available to us we have also assisted other members of the society who solicited for our help in one way or the other.”

Rev Ebirien also commended his wife for bringing the women in Anglican Communion together and teaching them in a Godly ways on how to respect their husbands and to take care of their families.

He said the church is devoting interest to training and retraining of the leaders of the church and also establishing a youth church.

He listed another challenge facing the Niger Delta Diocese community as the migration from rural to urban areas, noting, “Everybody today wants to travel out of his or her community and some of these people are so important to their church in the community.

“Some time when you go to the rural area to preach you discover that some of the churches are empty. When you try to find out the reply is always that they travel out because of job or school. So it is our duty to see how we can link with those members of the church who have left the villages to towns.”

Ayade’s signature projects S

INCE Cross-River lost 76 oil wells to her neighboring Akwa Ibom state, her economic condition has remained in near parlous state. The Civil Servants had suffered more over this predicament, as their little emoluments became the only lubricant for the market driven economy of the 40-year-old state.

This loss of oil wells coupled with the dwindling federal allocation can only be imagined, as both the government and people have lost all hopes, relying on divine mercies to redeem the image of the impoverishing economy.

Even with the burden of taxation, not much could be assembled to glitter the hope of a once-vibrant economy. Interestingly, the people persevered and made untold sacrifices for their beloved motherland, as they do not have another state but Cross Rivers.

The emergence of Professor Ben Ayade as the fourth Executive Governor did not only come with a quota of hope but also with lots of inspiration. The passionate environmental scientist in the wake of his campaign, publicized practical and adorable ideas for the development of the local economy. His ideas were at home with Cross Riverians and tenable to even the mitigated minds. The people believed in him.

Ayade had prepared the minds of the people not to depend any more on federal allocation only, for survival as a government and as a people. Rather than blowing the popular whistles of inherited debts like his counterparts in other states of the federation, the Governor has chose to blow the trumpet of a well-endowed Cross Rivers state; full of potentials and capable of taking the state and the nation to a greater height.

Giving insight on his new task, during his inaugural speech, Professor Ayade said; “I am fully aware of the weight of this challenge and fully resolved that by the Grace of Almighty God, we shall build on the great tradition of excellence left by my brother and my leader, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, these past eight years. Fellow Cross Riverians, I am a proud inheritor of an outstanding legacy, which has firmly placed our beloved state on the global map of purposeful leadership; and for this, I am eternally grateful.”

“Fellow Cross Riverians, we have come to that bend in the river where we must all rise to our full height to envision and carve out a better future for ourselves and posterity. True, it seems such a daunting task with the falling oil prices and dwindling revenues, further compounded by the general atmosphere of despondency across the country, with our backs against the wall, we must dig deeper into the wells of our creativity and hew out a new pathway to greatness.”

Taking the words of the African sage, Nelson Mandela with him, that “it always seems impossible until it is done,” the governor reinvigorated that drive to hit the ground running so as to succeed.

“As we climb this imposing mountain of hope, we shall widen our scope, broaden the horizon and sharpen our instincts for fresh and big ideas that will galvanize this great state to achieve its full potential and usher in a prosperous Cross River, where our people will live in peace and harmony with one another and with nature.” He added.

True to his talk, Professor Ayade has speedily embarked on an enterprise with the private sector. The private sector is encouraged to raise 500 million Euros for Calabar Deep Sea Port project.

The Broad Spectrum Industrial Services is the consortium working with the administration towards realizing this project and has become the perfect sign of many good things to come.

For Simon Eyo, a Calabar resident, ‘it is not too early for a man who knows his onions to embark on a project like the Calabar Deep Sea Project, knowing how innovative and transformational it will be for our economy especially in the face of Nigeria trying to look away from oil.’

For the governor, this is the source for his passion. “Our seaport had been dormant because it has no evacuation corridor to permit the passage of mother vessels. Consequently, these mother vessels often berth in Lome while flat vessels are used to convey the shipments in bits to Calabar.”

“Chad and Niger Republic are land-locked so, they rely on Lagos seaport. If Calabar seaport becomes functional, it will serve as the second largest distribution outlet to our neighbouring land-locked countries with the expected distributional consequences. The sea-port is to generate N30 billion every month.”

The Broad Spectrum will also include in their tray of projects; the construction of a dual carriage super highway, a modular refinery, cement factory,etc. as part of their economic blueprint for the Ayade years in Cross River State. Now the ball is rolling.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the consortium, Mr. Michael Havre have said that the figure (500 million Euros) neither represents a loan nor a grant but purely that of project financing as the projects would be executed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement which only requires 25 percent bank guarantee from the state government.

For a passionate Ayade, Bank Guarantee cannot hold down a monumental project as this, as a leading Nigerian bank has already agreed to look into the possibility of issuing the guarantee on behalf of the state.

Havre disclosed that he is in touch with one of the banks that have agreed to issue a guarantee on behalf of the State government.

He made it clear to the government and the people that the involvement of the state is going to be very minimal as it is purely a PPP driven. “I don’t need your money, what I just need you to do is get to your bank and give us a bank guarantee and we are good to go and that is why we are here. We are here to work with you to bring progress to Cross River,” said the Broad Spectrum boss.

•Ayade

By Emmanuel Ulayi

While Ayade is bent on making the state a new economic hub, there are indications that Hydro Power projects to generate 90 Megawatts of Electricity are already on the drawing board following his new deal with some Chinese experts. The Governor plans to generate 30mw from Kwa Falls, 30 mw from Agbokim while the canalization and Channelization from either Ikom, Calabar and Itigidi Rivers will generate 30mw, bringing the total output to 90mw.

From his words of wisdom; “we are happy because we understand the power generation mechanics and how it works. A lot of states that invested in gas turbines today have their hands burnt because it is always very difficult to sustain the turbines. The huge gas supply per day at high running cost makes turbines more expensive to operate.”

“So if we go hydro, the water is free. It is obvious that we are taking the right path and we are lucky to have this (Chinese) team which is tested and proven with long history of successes as experts in the field,” he assured.

Apparently wary of the numerous abandoned projects in many parts of the country, Governor Ayade is not one who has not learnt from history.

“As a people and a state who understands the difficulty of gas powered turbines, we as a state decided to develop a culture that will insist on hydropower.”

“The decision for hydro is specific. In spite of the fact that it has high cost of initial investment, the downstream over time will kneel out the initial operational cost and therefore, from longevity operational efficiency and sustainability, it is imperative that we have to go for hydro, more so we are a coastal state,” he reiterates.

One may also be amazed at his quotient of understanding and passion to take Cross Rivers state into a new economic surprise. “Our thinking is that, since we have opportunity to have about three locations where we can generate hydroelectricity, our requirement as a state is a little below 8mw, so from our projections we shall be generating 90mw at the three locations, utilizing only 30 as a state and selling out the remain 60mw to the Federal Government.”

The governor has been excited over the acknowledgement of the peaceful disposition of his people as observed by the investors who pointed out that Cross Riverians are nice and warm people.

There are other undertakings being incubated for ‘hatchery’ by the governor in Cross River. They include an assembly plant for the production of trucks and mass transit vehicles already being promoted by Steyr Nigeria Limited. The Governor has prepared the grounds for these projects to come on stream.

Ulayi is a media aide to Ayade

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

N1.4b processing factory, supermart boost Delta’s economy

D

ELTA State’s economy received a boost last week when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurated two multibillion naira business ventures pioneered by Executive Chairman of Lee Group of Companies, Chief Leemon Ikpea.

The Lee Group, which is already involved in several oil and gas investments in the state, last Thursday flagged off the Trebet A1 Factory Extension in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area and the Lee Oasis Supermarket in the heart of Warri metropolis.

A visibly excited Okowa said the confidence of Chief Ikpea and Lee Group was an indication that the state remains a favourable destination for investors.

He said: “We are a very friendly and peaceful people, we have a lot of human and natural resources, obviously, Delta State is the place to be when you talk about investment.”

‘

The governor aturged the people of the area to contributed the pretinue to be lawvailing peace and security in the state abiding and to give peace a to the role of tradichance. tional rulers, youths and “We must realwomen, whom he ise that the more we create the said are involved enabling enviin the creation of enabling environronment for investors to come, ment for investthe more job opments to thrive.

He added that portunities that while it was not will be available for our youths, possible for the our women and state government, or any other state opportunities for our people.” of the federation, to create job for all its Chief Ikpea said: “We are teeming youths, the role of the govhere gathered to the glory of God, ernment was to for the twin cerprovide infrastructure, peace and seemonies of the official opening of curity and the enabling environment Lee Oasis Supermarket Limited for businesses to thrive. He reand the groundbreaking marked that if busiceremony of the nesses thrive, youths and ableTrebet A1 factory’s extension. bodied members of the society would “It would interest you to be gainfully employed. know that Trebet A1 factory exOkowa said the pansion project is $16 billion EPZ project in the Warri estimated to cost South West Local about •6million ( a b o u t Government Area N1.4billion). We was on course and are committed to realising an ultra-modern processing factory fitted with state-of-art equipment for the production of various premium juices, carbonated drinks and water.

“I want to assure Your Excellency that as players in the organised private sector; we would continue to partner with your administration for the prosperity of our people and the overall development of Delta State.”

Ikpea hailed Okowa for creating enabling environment for

I want to assure Your Excellency that as players in the organised private sector; we would continue to partner with your administration for the prosperity of our people and the overall development of Delta State

‘

•Okowa performing the groundebreaking of the factory

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

businesses in the state to grow, stressing that Warri and its environs are peaceful for interested investors to do business.

Okowa used the occasion to inform applicants for the state government’s empowerment programmes that the first 6, 000 direct beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes would commence their business within six months. He called on Deltans to be patient with his administration, noting that he would not renege on his campaign promises.

At the ground breaking ceremony, the governor disclosed that in his administration’s quest for conducive environment for traders, contractors have been mobilised to work at the Sapele market while those who would construct the market at Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area would be at the

Akwa Ibom governor’s wife urges teachings on moral values

W

IFE of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, has urged parents and guardians to inculcate good moral values in their wards to secure their future. The governor’s wife spoke when she received a delegation of Beautiful Imagination, organisers of the Little Miss Akwa Ibom beauty pageant at the Government House, Uyo, the state capital.

Mrs. Emmanuel lauded the organisers of the beauty pageant for their insightful and visionary initiative in floating an outfit that is geared towards raising children to becoming assets to their family and the society at large. She also commended the chairman of the group, Mrs. Itoro Etim, for her ingenuity over

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

the years, saying that she was elated by what she was doing to help the girl-child in the society. She urged the little Miss Akwa Ibom, Miss Rachel Ekpo, not to relegate her academic pursuit to the background, but rather stay focused and study hard so as to be a good ambassador of the group and the state.

Miss Rachel Ekpo congratulated Mrs Emmanuel for her husband’s success at the poll and swearing in as the governor, adding that it was divine manifestation of the hand of God. She appreciated the organisers of the beauty pageant for creating a platform to nurture and groom the girl-child, stating that she had been afforded the opportunity of

learning good moral values that would aid her through life. She also solicited for the first lady’s support on her upcoming project slated later this year.

Also speaking, chairman of the group, Mrs. Itoro Etim, highlighted the aims and objectives of the organisation to include; raising the girl-child to become an asset to the society. She said the group established 10 years ago did this through fashion, movie production and pageantry while calling for synergy between government and the group in touching the lives of the youth.

The highpoint of the visit was the award of the ‘Grand Patron’ of the Little Miss Akwa Ibom project on the first lady, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.

project site in the next couple of weeks.

The ceremonies were attended by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and Pere of Seimbiri kingdom, their royal majesties, Emmanuel Sideso Abe I and Charles Ayemi Botu; the Unuevworo of Ekpan, Chief Newton Agbofodoh JP; Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, President General, Okere-Urhobo kingdom and Chief Wilson Oboh as well as delegations from the banking sector, including First Bank, which sent a large contingent of representatives, led by Group Head, Mr. Phillip Madojutimi.

Others were former commissioners of information, finance, Mr Oma Djebah and Bernard Okumagba; and Chief Fidelis Tilije, Commissioner for and Mrs Mary Iyasere, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Godwin Abhulimen and Tony Ikpea of Lee Group, among others.

Former minister advises Eket youths

Y

OUTHS in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have been charged to desist from harassing contractors handling the Urban Renewal Projects within the area.

The Chairman of a committee set up by Eket Conference of Village Heads and the Paramount Ruler, Chief Nduese Essien, gave the advice during a meeting with youth leaders of Eket extraction.

Essien, who was former Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, said there was need for the people of Eket to come together and support the present government in the state.

He said the government means well for Eket people stressing that there is a need for all the youth leaders and elders to rally around all the contractors handling one project or the other.

Essien pleaded with the youths to protect amenities that will be put in place by government and watch out for vandals and report same to the police authority.

He gave the hope to the youths of Eket that they will be accommodated by the state government in the scheme of things.

Major Gen Anthony Etukudoh (rtd), who also spoke at the occasion, urged the youths to be calm and embrace development in their area.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

He promised that the youths would not be left out by the state government.

The elder statesman tasked the youths to watch over infrastructure put in place by the government to the people of Eket local government area.

A youth leader, Godwin Nduaese, eulogised the political leader Chief Essien for calling the meeting, saying that it was timely.

He said the youths would support the present state government.

Nduaese said the youths have resolved to eschew violence and ensure development in Eket.

A member representing Eket Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mrs. Owoidehe Ekpoattai, urged the people of Eket to support the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel as he means well for the people of Eket.

She advised the youths to shun violence act which are inimical to the growth and development of Eket.

She urged the youths to show commitment by protecting the influx of projects that the state government has ear marked for Eket.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HE Governor Emeritus jumps out of his sleep. He looks at his surroundings: the bed is gold-plated; the mattress is extrarelaxing; the table lamp; the chandelier; the curve television set; the crested rug; and all. He could not have asked for anything better. But he is baffled and troubled. The dream he just had still scares him. It is a sharp contrast to the beauty of the room he is in.

The first thing that occurs to him after clearing his head is to walk from the Presidential Lodge to the Governor’s Apartment and challenge His Excellency with the facts just revealed to him in his dream.

It is just 6am. The crowd will soon start trooping in. Since his status changed to governor-emeritus of Abasi Ibom State, the crowd in and outside the Presidential Lodge has increased. They troop in as early as 7am. Of course to seek one favour or the other. To many of these people, they see him as Governor Emeritus rather than the Senator of the Federal Republic that he now is. To them, the fact that he now lives in the Presidential Lodge anytime he is in town is a further confirmation of his hold on the governor, Modu Leunamme.

He drafted Leunamme, a former bank top executive, into politics and made him governor at all cost. In appreciation, Leunamme still allows him call the shot. Almost everybody that matters in the governor’s executive council is there on his say so.

Now, this dream. It has two parts. One part is that the governor will soon start calling his bluff. He will start by instigating people to start complaining about his use of the Presidential Lodge. And two, the tribunal sitting in Abuja will kick out the governor after six months. But before then, Leunamme will cut him to size. He shivers at the possibility of these things happening. It occurs to him that nothing is impossible in politics.

His phone soon rings. It is his wife, who is in Dubai enjoying her life.

“Hi Honey,” he says.

“Good morning my heart,” his wife replies.

Before he says anything else, his wife adds: “You sound down.”

He relays the dream he just had to her.

“This is getting serious,” she says.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Yesterday, my PA called me saying he heard the Chief of Staff saying that the governor cannot continue to be under your shadow and that very soon, he will show you who is in power between them by first ensuring that all the lawmakers switch allegiance to him.”

Governor Emeritus cuts in: “You mean he said that?”

“Honey, he did and even said more. He described you as a greedy bastard who thinks the whole of Abasi Ibom should lick your foot.

He said soon Abuja will be your permanent home and that if you prove stubborn, he will supply EFCC enough evidence to make Kuje your official abode.”

She continues: “Apart from the Chief of Staff, another aide of the governor was overheard saying that the governor will soon meet with members of the National Assembly from the state, especially the senators and the reason for

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Governor Emeritus

‘

My PA called me saying he heard the Chief of Staff saying that the governor cannot continue to be under your shadow and that very soon, he will show you who is in power between them by first ensuring that all the lawmakers switch allegiance to him

the meeting is to use them against your desire to be Minority Leader of the Umbrella Peoples Party in the Senate.”

“Can all these be true?”

“I really don’t know.”

“But, with the kind of revelations in your dream, I am beginning to believe them,” his wife says.

There is a silence of some seconds.

“Honey, just be careful. There are examples abound of men helped into power who less than three months after turned against their benefactor and became their worst enemy. So, if it happens here it will not be strange. Of all

‘

the governors helped into power by their predecessor, only a few did not supplant them.

Some tried but could not.”

“I will be careful dear. Just enjoy yourself. I will be expecting you back next week.”

The conversation ends. He decides to place a call to the Chief of Staff. The phone hardly rings before the man starts to pay obeisance.

“Good morning your Excellency,” the Chief of Staff says, “I remain loyal Sir. To what do I owe this call sir?”

Doubts set in again and he queries himself: Is this man deceiving me? He is confused.

“I want you to see me later in the day. There

LAST WORD

is something I need to discuss with you.”

“Okay sir, I will see you,” the Chief of Staff replies.

He gets off the bed and retires to the bathroom to have his bath. The Jacuzzi is where he thinks he needs and he buries himself in it relishing the soothing feeling of the water.

There his thoughts wonder.

He remembers his search for a successor and how he had to dump two powerful men before settling for the governor, who was a political novice. He remembers the battles he had to fight because of his choice. He remembers the dream he had in which he found himself inbetween heaven and hell. He remembers how after that dream he decided he was not going to foist any candidate on the party. He remembers how he called a meeting of the party top notch and told them he was not going to foist anybody. He also remembers how weeks later his wife told him to discountenance the dream and go ahead with his original plan.

He equally remembers how he had to threaten his estranged political sons with death when they were against his decision to foist Leunamme on the state. He remembers so many things and he shivers inside the warm Jacuzzi.

As he rubs the liquid soap on his body, he thinks of the best way out. Should he confront the governor or should he just siddon look? It is not an easy decision to make. In that instant, a discussion he had with former Governor Ibo of Nambra State came to him. Ibo had advised him against sticking out his neck for anybody.

Ibo had stuck out his neck for a former banker to become his successor and it did not take three months before the man turned against him.

For Governor Emeritus, the deed is done.

Leunamme is governor already and what he needs to fashion out now is how he will not be disgraced. Or, should he just work underground to make sure he loses at the tribunal? No, this is no option, he says. It will only bring in his arch enemy, who will now make it a point of duty to expose him every day. At least, this one will only assert himself but not ridicule him, he agrees.

He gets out of the Jacuzzi, heads for the room, dresses up and looks out of the window.

There are at least 10 people waiting outside already. He recognises four of them. They are men who have begged him to get them one appointment or the other. He sure is in no mood for petty talks this morning.

“Udom,” he calls on the steward.

“Yes sir,” the steward says.

“Tell all of them I am going to be busy with a conference call with the Senate President for the next four hours. They should come back tomorrow.”

“Okay sir,” the steward says and rushes to go and deliver the message.

He grabs the remote control, switches on the television and tries to soak himself in on the newspaper review. It takes less than five minutes into the programme for him to realise than his case is akin to someone who has murdered sleep and peace of mind is going to be a commodity he will find difficult to acquire.

BY SHOLA O'NEIL, WARRI

Okowa and politics of DESOPADEC Law amendment

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HE honeymoon period between Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the people of the state, particularly the Ijaw ethnic nationality, from where he picked his deputy, seems to be over.

Kinsmen of Chief Kingsley Otuaro, who fervently supported the governor, may soon be at daggers drawn with the Ika-born governor.

The bone of contention is the plan by the governor to amend the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). Although infamous for fraud, there is no doubt that the commission has gone a long way to assuage the feeling of neglect, underdevelopment and pervading poverty of oil bearing communities in the state.

Interestingly, Otuaro, a lawyer, who is Okowa's deputy, was the immediate past Commissioner representing the Ijaw ethnic group in DESOPADEC and his above board handling of the group's affairs during his stint endeared him to the people.

The proposed amendment before the House

of Assembly is generating concerns. It seeks, among others, to alter the configuration of the primary beneficiaries which is oil bearing communities to oil bearing ethnic nationalities, a move a section of the state sees as a deliberate ploy by the governor, who hails from the Delta North Senatorial District of the state, to put his mostly non-oil bearing area at par with the oil-bearing communities in the Central and South districts.

In the run-up to the governorship election, opponents of the governor had accused him of planning to scrap DESOPADEC to free up funds for the development of his part of the state. Politicians from other parts of the state said Okowa and aspirants from his district were seeking the highest position in the state as a means of settling scores.

But no issue has upset the other ethnic groups as the DESOPADEC amendment bill.

Ijaws leaders from Diebiri, Egbema, Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh and Ogulagha kingdoms in Warri South, South West and North as well as Burutu Local Government Areas of the state, met at the BB Hotels, Warri on

Monday with a stern warning to the governor and the House to tread softly on DESOPADEC .

The Fie-Owei of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Chief Favour O. Izoukumor, who spent money and stake his reputation to back Okowa, led Sheriff Mulade (Gbaramatu), Dickson Asoki (Egbema), Chief Prefugha Karawei (Ogulagha) and Pastor Samuel Ako (Diebiri) and 20 others to the meeting. They were unequivocal in their plea to the governor that the amendment cannot stand.

While assuring the governor of their readiness to support any efforts aimed at bringing good governance to the impoverished people of oil producing communities and Deltans in general, the Ijaw leaders urge the Rt Hon Monday Igbuya-led House to "reject those proposals that would undermine the interest of oil and gas producing communities", cautioning that those amendments, "may likely provide basis for insurgency in the creeks of Delta State that might impede oil production".

Among the vexing proposal in the amendments, according the ethnic leaders, was a plan

to have a Managing Director and three Executive Directors to run the day-to-day activities of the commission, a move they posited would not only further burden the finances of the commission through increase salaries and emoluments, but would undermine the functions and duties of the Chairman and representatives of the board, who are chosen by members of the oil bearing communities.

Rather than carry out the wholesale change in the organogram of the commission, the Ijaw leaders urged the governor to rather look into the problems of transparency and overbearing influence of government officials who are clog in the wheel of its progress.

To this end, they demanded that the commission's 50per cent share of the derivation fund should go straight to DESOPADEC's coffers rather than through a shady detour through the state government's account as well as reduction of the current commissioners to five (one per oil bearing ethnic nation).

It is difficult to determine who is going to blink first, but the prognoses are not in anybody's favour.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Pulling down Obiano won’t benefit anyone’ Some have portrayed Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano as discriminatory against some segments of the state, and that he has abandoned some projects in Orumba North council. The governor’s Liaison Officer in the area, Chief Emeka Aforka, in this interview with NNEKA NWANERI, debunks the claims, saying there is no gain in distracting the governor. Excerpts:

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HE warning was firm. Cultism is not welcome at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, said the Rector Prof Godwin Onu at the institution’s 31st matriculation ceremony. Anyone interested in the vice should find somewhere else to indulge themselves.

The road from Oko to Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area was blocked as a result of vehicular and human traffic on Matriculation Day. While presenting his address to the students, Prof Onu warned that the school has zero tolerance for cultism and other vices and told them to either shape up or ship out.

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S liaison officer to the governor, do you attract projects to your people?

We do not have the capacity to attract projects; our job is not to attract projects to the people or the area, but to monitor jobs that are initiated by the governor. As a political liaison officer, I have been able to monitor the projects of the governor in the area and I must give credit to the governor because he is a man of vision, who has come with a blueprint to develop the state. He has the mandate and he is accomplishing it with what he calls the 3 Cs, which is continuing the projects of the former governor, completing them, and commencing new ones, and so far he has stuck to that. If you come to my local government, all the Cs are reflected in the area. Okpeze-NdiukwuenuAwa Road, of over 40km, is being constructed by the governor, and I have been visiting the place.

But, recently, because of the rainy season, work has slowed down on the road and some disgruntled elements that are looking for ways to

As for the people who are peddling cheap lies, they must know that it is not in the good interest of the state. I am happy that the majority of the people of the local government are happy with what the governor is doing, attracting several billions of dollars investment into the state and is working religiously with his blueprint to achieve the best for the state

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pull the governor down have gone to town with the false rumour that the road has been abandoned. This is not true, everyone knows that during the rainy season, road construction usually suffers and there is little anyone can do about it.

Why will the governor abandon a project he has committed a lot of funds into?

The governor is still very much interested in the roads, and all other projects in the area that were started by the previous government. That

is why people like me who are the eyes of the governor in the area must speak to correct this impression.

Beyond this, there are several other projects in the area which he have been completed. I don’t know why people will be crying that Orumba North is marginalised.

The local government is not being marginalised. The governor is a fair-minded person and has been giving to the communities in the state various projects without

•Governor Obiano

•Aforka

marginalisation. Each time I see materials that contain blatant lies in the newspapers, I usually dismiss them as sponsored jobs meant to distract the governor.

I am only calling for calm from the people of the state. As for the people who are peddling cheap lies, they must know that it is not in the good interest of the state. I am happy that the majority of the people of the local government are happy with what the governor is doing, attracting several billions of dollars investment into the state and is working religiously with his blueprint to achieve the best for the state.

There are allegations that you used certain projects to embezzle funds during your administration as council chairman?

I will not like to speak for myself, but let the people who know

what we did when we were in the council area do the talking for us. I have read some of the damaging things said about me, including the blatant falsehood that during my tenure we embarked on a bridge project, Arunota Bridge, for the sum of N68million. That is false.

There was no project in the entire administration of mine that was worth N68m, there was also no bridge project to that tune, and we never also paid any contractor that sum for a bridge project or any other project. The bridge project we did was one to connect not just my community (Ndiowu) but three communities, Ndikelionwu, Okpeze Ndiukwuenu and Amaetiti.

That project was my brainchild, and I initiated it because I knew what the people were suffering and

‘Cultists not welcome’ Keeping vice out of the institution was a key point in the speech of the Rector, Oko Polytechnic, Anambra State as it held its 31st matriculation. NWANOSIKE ONU reports Onu said, “Currently, 19 students of the Confucius Institute of our great polytechnic are currently enjoying various scholarships in different disciplines from the Chinese government following their sterling performances in Chinese Language and culture” “One of the most challenging

tasks of a tertiary institution such as ours is to have an amalgam of people from different backgrounds, creeds, orientations, world view and sometimes, culture who are compelled by geography and education to stay together to experience a whole complex learning process for years”.

“Any lecturer or staff of the Polytechnic who fails to reckon with this challenge, no doubt misses the point” “The beauty of it all is that, the ivory tower is a place where we must be oriented to drop our excesses, imbibe greater tolerance for other people’s opinions and world views. It is one place where

•Continued on page 38

you must learn that there is absolutely no one way of doing things right” “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is to this new culture of understanding, patience, tolerance, endurance and learning that I welcome all the new students to our “Polytechnic of the moment”, the Federal Polytechnic Oko” “Our dear students, as you must have already known in your pre-admission inquiry of the Polytechnic, the institution has zero tolerance for vices such as cultism, violence, fake entry certificates, unruliness, academic truancy, gangsterism and indiscipline of every dimension” “However, if you disagree with •Continued on page 40

, •From left: Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Odukwe; Rector, Prof. Onu; Deputy Rector, Admin, Dr. Nwabuona, and Deputy Rector, Academics, Mrs. Anene at the event

One of the most challenging tasks of a tertiary institution such as ours is to have an amalgam of people from different backgrounds, creeds, orientations, worldview and sometimes, cultures who are compelled by geography and education to stay together to experience a whole complex learning process for years

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Pulling down Obiano won’t benefit anyone’

•Continued from page 37 wanted to come to their rescue.

Why do you think people will fight you and the governor?

I don’t know what they stand to gain by battling me, but I know that it is all political and borne out of envy, jealousy, because they are afraid of our popularity. They have written petitions to the governor, concocted baseless lies to the people of the area and all sorts of things.

I am calling on media agencies to tell their correspondents to crosscheck their facts before go-

ing to press; they should also urge them to strive to hear from the other side.

How do you rate the governor’s performance?

The administration of Governor Willie Obiano is focused, purposeful and visionary. This is a man who hit the ground running. In just three months left everyone thinking he had been here for years.

This man came and said people must sleep with their two eyes closed, and this is the basis of any

economic growth for any state. If there is no security, people will not be free to do business, but I can tell you that because of what the governor has done, the state is generally peaceful, and people are free to transact business, just as foreign investors are now trooping into the state.

This is a man who believes that the state must have a facelift, that Awka cannot continue to be the capital of the state and still look so underdeveloped, this is the rea-

son he set up the Awka Capital Development Authority. Projects are everywhere in the state and this is the first time we are seeing capital projects like three flyover bridges being constructed simultaneously, and yet that has not stopped other projects in various local governments of the state.

All this is happening at a time when most state governors cannot even pay workers’ salaries, let alone embark on projects. All this is happening, but the political de-

tractors will still go to town with one rumour or the other, saying that nothing was going on in the state or that the state government has gone broke. Today, Anambra is ranked as number one in states that have never borrowed money and the governor has continually being paying workers’ salaries, including donation of vehicles and also incentives like free transport and the increment in their salaries.

‘What did Nnamani need all this for?’

Not wanting to offend Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was part of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s political structure, many avoided making comments on his fate. Still, some wondered at the vastness of Ebeano’s unwholesome taste, reports CHRIS OJI

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HERE is a sense that majority of Enugu State residents are disappointed that their former governor Chimaroke Nnamani stole as much as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the court have established. There is also relief that the guilty are forfeiting something.

But if you expect the people, especially government officials, to shout hurray at the court’s guilty ruling, you will be disappointed.

Why? Their new govenor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was part of the political structure, which Ebeano, as Nnamani was called, built.

However, a youth leader Johnbull Agbo endorsed the forfeiture, “if actually they were ill-gotten,” as he put it.

What Agbo frowned at is the forfeiture to the federal government instead of the Enugu State. He argued that the stolen money and properties belonged to the state and that they should be returned to it.

But an Enugu based lawyer and commentator on public affairs, Mr. Nana Ogbodo commended the Lagos High Court for “exercising such unparallelled patience with the delay tactics employed by the former governor during the trial”.

The wheel of justice, he said, “may indeed grind slowly but it definitely gets to its far-reaching destination.

“For Chimaroke Nnamani, even though he is still hiding behind his finger, it should now be clear to him that no matter how far one may choose to go in the wrong direction, the only way out is to go back to the point he missed his way.

“If the companies which are the critical witnesses to the charges against him have all pleaded guilty, it is laughable therefore for him to still wish to be playing the ostrich.”

Ogbodo briefly served as an aide to Nnamani and had his house demolished for resigning.

The lawyer said that reading through the judgment of the court, the devil was indeed in the details.

Alarmed at the number of properties being forfeited by Nnamani, he queried: “What for God’s sake did he need all these for?”

Nnamani indeed had his fingers in many pies, among which were 22 duplexes, estates and a raft of other things.

The former governor was in and out of court during this period facing multiple charges involving bil-

Among the assets to be forfeited are the biggest IT company, east of the Niger, Rainbownet Limited and its transmission equipment. Assets of Rainbownet include Central Switch Room, Microwave Radio, Rectifier, Microwave Backhaul Transmission among others at various lacations in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu states

•Forfeited: the Fidelity Housing Estate

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lions of dollars.

The EFCC had over the years tried all it could to bring him to full trial after successfully conducting intensive investigations into the assets of the former governor acquired mostly through proxies.

Nnamani had always hidden under health excuses to forestall his trial. But the court after incessant and prolonged adjournments, decided to separate the governor and the other accused which included a plethora of his companies from the charge sheets.

Nnamani was charged alongside his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu and six companies viz – Rainbownet, Hillgate Nigeria, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

Developed and undeveloped properties of Nnamani in square metres and square miles spread across the Southeast states were ordered by a Federal High Court in Lagos to be forfeited to the Federal Government. Also millions of cash were forfeited.

Among the assets to be forfeited are the biggest IT company, east of the Niger, Rainbownet Limited and its transmission equipment. Assets of Rainbownet include Central Switch Room, Microwave Radio, Rectifier, Microwave Backhaul Transmission among others at various lacations in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu states.

The court ordered also the forfei-

•Rainbownet offices, forfeited too ture of 22 duplexes at the Fidelity Estate formerly Ebeano Estate, property of Hill Gate Investment Limited/Cueno Phones Limited and assets of COSMO 105.5FM. Seven undeveloped plots of Rainbownet at the the choice Independence Layout; 567.96sqm at Abakpa; 574.96sqm at Emene and 2,951.98sqm at Achara layout. In Abia state to be forfeited include thousands of square metres of properties at Ogbor Hill (914.633), Abayi (one and half plots), Port-Harcourt Road (1,856.499), Ariaria (640.32), Unuagari (573.263) and Assanetu (954.396) all in Aba as well as one plot in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.

To be forfeited in Anambra State include 2,200 square miles of land at Okpuno, Awka, 1,088.644sqm at Nkpor, 465.14 at Awada one plot at Fegge, all in Onitsha.

Rainbownet is also to lose

693.636sqm of an undeveloped plot opposite the War Museum in Umuahia. The shares of the company in Zenith Bank and Guarantee Trust Bank with a combined account balance of N4.6millon as well as money in its bank accounts totaling N34.8million were also forfeited.

A Lagos company, Messrs Diya Fatimilehun and Company had been given the fiat to take charge and administration of the companies pending the trial.

Elder sister to the former governor, Mrs. Chinelo Nwigwe, her husband, Davie and 16 of the companies and institutions alleged to belong to Nnamani challenged this in court unsuccesfuully.

Chinelo and Davie were on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly being fronts

of the former governor with regards to the listed companies seized by EFCC and being administered by Diya Fatimilehun and company as directed by the order of a Federal High court sitting in Lagos.

The companies in question include the biggest ICT Company east of the Niger, Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd., COSMO 105 FM, Renaissance University, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Mea Mater Elizabeth High School, Rock City Group PLCand Hillgate Nigeria Ltd. Others are Jefferson LLC, Cookie LLC , Rainbow Associates LLC, Ferguson Group LLC, Jasmine Holdings Corporation LLC, Intercontinental Associates, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Ltd., C & •Continued on page 39

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

N

OT everyone is distracted by reports of unscrupulous characters turning orphanages into hideous money-making ventures. There are groups and individuals who recognise that children without parents need help. A Dublin, Ireland-based group, Old Bende Association, has built recreational facilities for children at the Uzoakoli Motherless Babies Home in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State. The donors, made up of indigenous people of the council, also provided various food items for the orphanage.

The home, established in 1942 by the Methodist Church of Nigeria, is a refuge for orphans and abandoned children. There were about 29 children at the home when The Nation visited, but it was also gathered that some inmates have become professionals in various fields after being educated or trained in skills.

The orphanage, however, still grapples with such challenges as dearth of healthcare facilities and baby foods, and among others.

A staff in the home said that government and private hospitals still charge inmates as they do other patients, not considering the peculiarities of orphanages.

“The way we live here and play with the children, if anyone gets sick and when we take them to the hospital for treatment, even when they know that we are from this motherless babies home, they still charge us like every other person,” the staff said.

The gesture of the Ireland-based group will boost their morale.

The project and the food items donated were estimated to cost the association about N200, 000.

Speaking at the handover of the items, National President of the association, Sunday Obasi Kalu

Free food, facilities for orphanage

•The benefactors with children and their minders at the motherless babies home From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

represented by Mr. James O. Anya, said that the donation was part of the Old Bende Association members in Diaspora to plough a little of their meager resources into the lives of the needy in their midst.

He expressed optimism that the facilities would go a long way in improving the health and social life of the children.

Awa Kalu, the Income Generating Officer of the home who spoke on behalf of the absent matron, Mary Corput, said that they were happy over the group’s gesture.

Kalu said that they were overwhelmed with joy when the group told them they wanted to repair and refurbish their sporting facilities which had been comatose. He ex-

pressed the hope that the coming to life of the facilities would help to improve on the inmates social life.

He called on other indigenes of the area, government, public and spirited individuals to come to the aid of the home, disclosing that the most pressing needs of the home at the moment are baby foods, diapers, access to medical facilities including drugs and among others.

He promised that they were going to ensure that whatever that the group and other individuals were going to donate to the home would be used judiciously.

The group also took out time to play with the children and also watched the children play with the donated sporting equipments.

Improved power supply excites lawmaker

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‘What did Nnamani need all this for?’

•Continued from page 38 C Project LLC and Elizabeth Group LLC. Chinelo, her husband and the companies then asked the Enugu state high court to declare that Diya Fatimilehun and Company cannot exercise the power of attorney granted them by the Federal High court , Lagos on behalf of the EFCC to administer and supervise the companies and the institutions pending the determination of the case being faced by Nnamani and Others.

The suit did not scale through and ever since, Nnamani’s sister and her husband were yet to visit Nigeria from the United States where they are currently taking refuge.

Some of the assets Rainbownet with registration number 385700 had Nnamani’s elder sister Mrs. Chinelo Nwigwe as Managing Director and principal

shareholder. Although, the ownership was once shifted to an Enugubased lawyer and property developer and a very close friend of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the company has since closed its doors to business.

Another is Mea Mater Elizabeth High School, in his hometown, Agbani – an ultra modern co-educational High School worth about N5 billion with Mrs. Chinero Nwaigwe as chairperson of Governing Board.

Renaissance University also in his hometown, Agbani – a state of the art private university said to have gulped billions of naira used to have Mrs. Chinero Nwaigwe as the chairman of the governing council but replaced by a Bishop of one of the first generation churches in Enugu. The two institutions are still in session.

The Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Enugu. This is

situated on a 20 acre expanse of land covering nearly the entire stretch of one wing of Rangers Avenue, Independence Layout, and for which purpose three ministers quarters built by the legendary Okpara administration of the former Eastern region were demolished and converted to private use.

Work was stopped at the site at the heat of the EFCC investigations in the state and nearly N3 billion including the cost of the demolished buildings have been sunk into the project.

Then the Cosmo 105.5 FM digital Radio Station in Enugu worth N400 million and Marble Castle situate at Forest Crescent, GRA, Enugu worth N1 billion as well as some choice estates scattered across Enugu as well as offshore estates.

The Cosmo FM which took Enugu by storm and was becoming the most popular radio station is off the air for more than five years.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

ent. Power doesn’t stay in Abuja for 5 minutes. EEDC has done very well. If you have trasformer problem, they easily replace it. There is this portable transformer they have even introduced. They usually mount them on poles, making it impossible to be vandalised and it’s so helpful,” he said.

The lawmaker further noted that former President Jonathan had good intentions for the country, lamenting, however, that the past administration was seriously sabotaged by unseen forces. He therefore advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be mindful of the people that flock around him in order not to repeat the same mistakes made by the last administration.

“Jonathan was seriously sabotaged in so many aspects; both in power, petroleum and even in the election. PDP sabotaged themselves, we lost the election as a result of that. President Buhari is an action man, he’s a no-nonsense man and we believe that he will change things for the better, very straightforward, Nigerians have to give him time and support in order to effect the much needed change,” he said.

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•Cosmo Fm premises forfeited

HE Senator representing Enugu-East senatorial zone, Gilbert Nnaji has expressed optimism that the perennial problem of epileptic power supply in the country would soon be over.

He spoke to reporters in Enugu, saying the improved power supply in the area would positively impact on businesses in the zone.

“For us in the Southeast, power is a major issue; what it involves is so much, PDP government privatised the sector and that is why we are witnessing uninterrupted power supply today in some parts of the country especially in Enugu and the adjoining states.

“Former President Jonathan started very well, though he didn’t achieve what he intended to achieve...For two weeks now I’ve been in Enugu since we went on recess but I can tell you that power has been stable. I want to commend EEDC and its chairman for what they have done. I’ve called him to commend him for what they have done, the way they’ve transformed power supply and distribution in the Southeast zone.

“Unlike in Abuja, especially at Apo Legislative Quarters where we live, you don’t see power for 24 hours, here in Enugu, it’s differ-

For two weeks now I’ve been in Enugu since we went on recess but I can tell you that power has been stable. I want to commend EEDC and its chairman for what they have done.

I’ve called him to commend him for what they have done, the way they’ve transformed power supply and distribution in the Southeast zone

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40

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

FRSC tackles gridlock in Aba From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

streets in the commercial town.

In a chat with The Nation, the Aba Unit Commander, FRSC, Mrs. Okora Awassam said that the need to keep the roads free from traffic congestion cannot be overemphasised.

Awassam regretting the high level of indiscipline among drivers in Aba said that the agency would to tow vehicles abandoned on the road to their office along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway which would be released to the owner after the payment of fine.

“For weeks now, we have been going round clearing some of the abandoned vehicles on the road with our towing truck that was brought to us some weeks and within the period of time that we are going to be with the truck, it will be used to tow vehicles off the road and will be taken to our command unit where the driver or the

We have been going round clearing some of the abandoned vehicles on the road with our towing truck that was brought to us some weeks ago and within the period of time that we are going to be with the truck, it will be used to tow vehicles off the road and will be taken to our command unit

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owner of the vehicle will pay some fine before he will be allowed to leave with the vehicle.

“What we need the public to do is to let us know where a broken down vehicle is abandoned on the road which is preventing free flow of traffic, we will definitely be

there. We also have our bike person who uses the bike to rove round the streets and where it was spotted that a car is blocking or preventing free-flow of traffic, our towing van will be called upon to come and remove such on the road.

“If you notice very well, you will

‘Cultists not welcome’ •Continued from page 37

us on these points, it is still not late, you have a choice to reject your admission and walk away majestically from this assembly to your village or your father’s house until such a time when you consider yourself fit and mature enough for the demands and discipline of a higher institution” “But for those who have decided to stay, resolving to work hard, adhere to discipline and show respect to constituted authority, we say a big welcome” “To all our new students who have made up their minds to be part of the success story that has become the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, I wish you a happy and fruitful sojourn in the Polytechnic” “I wish to state emphatically that you have nothing to regret.

You have made a great choice.

We have created the right ambience for gainful study”

see that we have started also removing abandoned cars on the expressway too. You will notice that some people after their vehicle breaks down on the road will leave it for a long time which is not in the interest of drivers and other road users because sometimes some drivers unknowingly ram into such stationary car. So, all we need from the public is for them to provide us with the right information and the exact location”.

The FRSC boss who warned drivers especially commercial drivers to avoid drunk driving, disclosed that the agency would continue to engage the drivers from time-totime with various awareness campaign exercises in their respective parks to ensure that the drivers imbibed the road safety consciousness and always have in mind that not only that they need to drive their passengers safely to their destinations, their (drivers family) also need them to come back home alive.

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A

PART from bad roads and poor electricity supply, traffic congestion is another headache of residents of Aba, the commercial hub of the region. The good news: Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is tackling it.

This gridlock usually occurs during the morning and evening rush hours but sometimes even in the afternoon too.

Apart from about 40 per cent of the intra-city roads in the commercial town, other factors that constitute gridlock include broken down and sometimes abandoned vehicles which sometimes stay on the road for up to a month or more before they are removed from the road.

Regular visitors to the commercial city would attest to the frustration of motorists driving in or out of the town. Such motorists are often trapped in traffic especially along the Aba-Owerri Road leading in and out of the city through the Osisioma axis.

Mercifully, the Aba unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has begun evacuation of abandoned vehicles on major roads and

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•FRSC on duty

We now have modern and spacious classrooms with in-built conveniences so that students will not have to walk out of the lecture hall to answer nature’s calls, excellent academic environment, dedicated lecturers and staff, as well as decent student clubs and societies for your socialisation

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•Some of the matriculating students

“You have at your disposal a new and enhanced functional Elibrary, the biggest so far in the south east” “We now have modern and spacious classrooms with inbuilt conveniences so that stu-

dents will not have to walk out of the lecture hall to answer nature calls, excellent academic environment, dedicated lecturers and staff, as well as decent student clubs and societies for your socialisation,” Onu said.

Some of the students, who spoke with The Nation, thanked God for bringing them to the federal polytechnic Oko, describing it as the best the institution in the country.

For Jane Eligwe of Mass Com-

munication Department and Ngozi Chija of Marketing Department, they were grateful to the institution for providing a conducive atmosphere for learning in the place.

According to Eligwe, “I was skeptical of coming to this place, but since I came in, I have noticed a different environment, the place is sweet, I love this institution.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

42

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S •From left: Shina Akinyemi, Oluwaseun Akinyemi, Adejuwon Adesanya, Omotayo Akinde, Ademola Adesanya and Brig–Gen Olawumi

•The widow Mrs Adenike Adesanya (right) and her daughter Kehinde Odukoya

•From left: NYSC Lagos State PRO Mrs Belinda Faniyi, State Cordinator Akhanemhe Cynille and Mrs Esther Atamewan of Benue State NYSC

•From left: Board Directors NYSC Mrs Easther Wogbo, Mrs Bose Okakwu and Mrs Rhoda Kwaki

•From left: Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief Okechukwu Ihejirika and Chairman Governing Board (NYSC) Chief Gordon Bozimo

•From left: Adeola Adesanya; Moninuola Adesanya; Adepeju Akinde; Sade Adesanya and Motunrayo Akinyetun

•From left: Wasiri Adio, Chairman, Editorial Board of Thisday newspaper Olusegun Adeniyi and Brig-Gen MD Onoyiveta PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

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Farewell to a disciplinarian

N outing and thanksgiving service was held last Saturday for the late Prince Michael Aderibigbe Adesanya at The Apostolic Church, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos.

The late Adesanya died on May 8. He was 73.

His children accorded him a befitting burial in IjebuMushin, Ogun State where his remains were interred on July 10.

Last Saturday in Lagos, the

By Nneka Nwaneri

children extolled their father’s virtues, gathering many of their friends and associates to celebrate the life of a man they described as a disciplinarian.

The compact church comprised many top military brass both serving and retired. They were led by former Chief of Army Staff Lt -Gen Azubike Ihejirika.

Others were directors and

coordinators of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from across the country.

The service was officiated by the Ikosi District Pastor of the church, Elijah Famurewa In a tribute, the widow, Adenike, recalled how they began their journey in December 1971, chronicling their ups and downs.

First daughter of the deceased and wife to the Director-General of National Youth

Service Corps (NYSC), BrigGen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, Adejoke, said as a child, she thought her father did not love them, but as she grew older, she realised it was his way of ensuring that his children did not go astray.

A son of the deceased, Adejuwon, said though his father’s body was full of activity and strength, his soul was gentle, endearing him to many.

OME people who are obsessed with the past; they can't take their eyes off their failures or even their successes. Some others only care about now; their philosophy is "live, eat and enjoy all you can today because no one knows tomorrow".

Yet, some live in dread or hope of the future and they waste their present. There's LANRE OLAOLU AMODU got to be a balance somewhere. Interestingly, yester- (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. day, today and tomorrow 07034737394 @lanreamodu have something in commonthey are made up of time. For we can't keep time from passyesterday, time had passed, ing. today, time is passing by and What you do with your time tomorrow, time is going to is what determines whether pass. One way or the other, you are wise or not. Your time is your asset; you will become rich in whatever you invest it into. When you administer your time wisely, you will build your wealth gradually. As time passes without much formality, so will your wealth grow without much publicity. You should have a proper disposition towards time. Let yesterday teach you, let tomorrow motivate you, but don't let today pass you by.

Don't worry unnecessarily about things you can't control, just focus on what is within your reach. Don't worry about yesterday, it is gone. Don't worry about tomorrow, it is out of reach.

Don't worry about today, it's a whole lot of time. Focus your attention on "now" because it is the meeting point between yesterday, today and tomorrow. You never do anything yesterday- by now you must have done it, otherwise, it's too late.

You never do anything tomorrow- it is always a future projection that is constantly ahead. You never do anything todaytoday is just an illusion that makes you think you have a lot of time until it passes you by. You only do things now. Yesterday had a "now" that passed already. Today is full of "now" that are passing as you read this article. Tomorrow's "now" is useless until it comes to the present.

How much of your day do you invest in profitable activities?

I'm not trying to judge you; I've gone through the evaluation myself. Try out these suggestions: •Mind your own business: if you know what people are doing, the time they are doing it, why they do it and probably why they shouldn't be doing it (unless it is your job to know), watch out! You are probably doing nothing yourself! Protect your time as much as you can. Avoid whatever does not help you to achieve your goals. Shut out every distraction and focus. You don't need to know any information that will not add anything to you. Miss the gossip and gain some value.

•Avoid time wasters: there are some people who are gifted in consuming other people's time. If they visit you while you are preparing to attend an event, you may end up going late or not going at all. After making your plans for the day, all you need is to meet them and your plans go out of the window. I'm not being unkind, it is just the fact. Once you identify such people, find a strategy to manage your relationship with them.

•Plan with time: any plan that is not set to time is no plan at all. At the beginning of everyday, make a list of what you want to achieve and assign time to each of them. This will give you a sense of mission. Even if you cannot follow through completely, you will have a sense of accomplishment when you evaluate your activities at the end of the day.

•Trade busyness for productivity: have you ever been so busy that you hardly had a breathing space, yet by the end of the day, you hadn't achieved much? It happens all the time. What happens is that we tend to spend our time on things that are urgent but we ignore things that are important. Why not do an evaluation of your day? Determine the activities that add to you and the ones that drain you? Find out the things you invest most of your time on and they bring little or no dividend?

Try to reduce the time you allot to them. On the other hand, when you discover the activities you spend little time on that end up being productive, increase the time allotted to them. If you do this, you will multiply your success.

•Delegate responsibilities: I know you think no one can measure up to your standards or do things exactly the way you want them done. Nevertheless, unless you desire to wear yourself out quickly, you need help. If a leader feels that subordinates can't perform tasks to his/her taste, it is a clear sign of leadership failure. If you train them well, they will take a lot of burden off you and you will do more productive things with your time.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

43

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

The resurgence of Ebola in Liberia has raised the fear that the deadly disease may find its way back to Nigeria, write WALE ADEPOJU and FARUK HAMZAT.

Averting EVD recurrence in Nigeria T

HERE are fears that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) could recur in the country, following its resurgence in Liberia whose national, the late Patrick Sawyer, was the first index case here last year. The fears are real because the level of precaution is waning. Many people no longer practise hand washing, even in schools and other public places. Sanitiser canisters are no longer refilled at entrances of public utilities and halls. The ports- land, sea and air- are no longer screening for EVD. The resurgence of the dreaded disease in Liberia underscores the need for tightening of security and proper scrutiny at ports and borders.

At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, passengers are being checked in with hand-held temperature monitor devices by officials, but sanitiser canisters have disappeared. Most port officials no longer wear hand gloves.

Nigeria was certified Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on October 20 last year. The disease was brought into the country on July 20, last year, by Sawyer, who died in Nigeria five days after he landed. No fewer, than 19 persons were infected. Seven died.

An expert, Dr Ngozi Murphy-Okpala, said EVD was still a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and, as such, Nigeria should beware. "Nigeria has been declared an Ebola-free country by the WHO. Although, Nigeria is safe today, but we must understand that this safety is only relative because EVD is highly communicable," Murphy-Okpala said.

Dr Murphy-Okpala, who is the Director, Health and Life Africa Healthy-living Initiative (HALA), said the disease is now more complicated with its recurrence in Liberia after the World Health Organisation (WHO) had placed the country on vigilance after declaring it Ebola-Free on May 9, this year.

Liberia, she said, is midway into the 90day vigilance period set up as a preventive measure to test EVD-like feverish illnesses and do post-mortem swab for EVD. "The other two most severely affected countries so far have been its neighbouring coun-

•Murphy-Okpala

tries of Guinea and Sierra Leone because they share land borders," she said Nigeria, she said, got its own share of EVD via air travel the same way the disease got to the United States (US).

She said it took the nation a combination of effort and courage for the disease to be tackled, adding that the country's intensified unity made it possible for it to be contained.

“Preventive measures, especially in the area of hand washing and use of sanitisers were vital in containing EVD. Some companies and schools even used temperature monitors when the rage was on, we should all still be on guard, again," she added.

Personal hygiene, she said, is poor in Nigeria unlike many other developing countries where hand washing is paramount.

This, she said, explains why preventable diseases are turning to highly infectious ones.

She added: "An example is diarrhoea, which is directly caused by using unsafe water and poor sanitation."

She identified hygiene as the number one challenge.

According to her, hygiene as a matter of fact should be people's lifestyle. "Therefore, it is deeply interwoven with the people, educational level and culture. Others are basic health illiteracy and lack of awareness among the public. They all constitute the primary underlying factors here," she said.

Dr Murphy-Okpala urged Nigerians not to ignore the hand-washing habit because Nigeria is EVD free, but increase its tempo.

"I am not aware of any specific research that has been conducted to prove that the rate of hand washing has reduced. It is important to take into consideration that a percentage of people, who developed handwashing as a new habit, may have retained the behavior. But I noticed that not too many people move with sanitisers again, unlike when EVD was on," she noted.

She charged the Federal Government to improve on safety at the nation's airports and

‘Personal hygiene is poor in Nigeria unlike many other developing countries where hand washing is paramount...presently, there is no known cure, drug, or vaccine for EVD’

allocate more equipment to them in order to advance EVD screening.

She said: "Maximising the media with effective behavioural health information was one of our strongest points last year and containing Ebola in Nigeria was a milestone indeed."

She said presently, there is no known cure, drug, or vaccine for EVD. Ebola's treatment, she said, is purely supportive. "It is to alleviate the symptoms of fever and loss of body fluids," she said.

The focus, according to her, should be on prevention, which is better than cure, adding that, it is expensive and difficult to achieve.

Her tips on prevention include avoiding funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who died from the disease, avoid touching items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood, urine, vomit, breast milk, semen, and body fluids in any form.

"Avoid contact with bats too and finally, practice careful hygiene of hand-washing with soap and water and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser," she said.

Her advice to healthcare givers: "In addition to engaging in ideal infection control and sterilisation measures, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and timely notifications of the appropriate health officials of any suspected case of EVD is important."

According to her, there should always be a swift response with health education, adding that Ports Health is of uttermost importance with regards to EVD. "Ultimately, a holistic approach to improving our healthcare systems is imperative.

However, I do not think the government alone is responsible for fixing all our healthcare challenges, but I expect wellthought out policies that clearly articulate a blueprint for a way forward.

"There are several indigenous and international non-profits working in the healthcare sector. These can be harnessed rather than every new government attempting to create a new set of programmes with every new administration," Dr Murphy-Okpala said.

Immunisation 'll ward off diseases, says expert

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ARENTS have been asked to build the immune system of their children to keep away infections.

A paediatrician, Dr Chinenye Ananti said immunisation could boost children's immunity and protect them against diseases.

Mothers, she said, should ensure that their children take all childhood killer diseases vaccines in order to

By Oluoma Omeihe

stay healthy.

The diseases, according to her are preventable.

She identified diseases that affect children under-five and infants to include diarrhoea, measles, tetanus, pertussis, fever, poliomyelitis, pneumonia, diphtheria, chicken pox and small pox. Others are Down's

syndrome, influenza, leukemia, mumps, rickets, tuberculosis and whooping cough, adding that, they can be threats to children's lives.

The paediatrician said Nigeria is at the verge of getting rid of some of the diseases, which include polio, stressing that immunisation has been proven to be a good way to getting rid of them."

Ananti said both Federal and state

governments have been organising immunisation awareness programmes to educate the public on the importance of immunisation.

"They also provided vaccines to hospitals and nurses have been mobilised to do a door-to-door immunisation on children and infants under-five. They distributed mosquito-treated nets to expectant mothers for free at hospitals and creation of health care centres," she said.

Dr Ananti said diseases can be prevented by keeping good hygiene.

"Besides, environmental sanitation should be done regularly to ensure cleanliness," she said.

Nigeria, she said, can reduce the disturbing figures of infant mortality rate by creating awareness on immunisation and the various types of vaccines needed to keep children healthy.

•Dr Ananti

The government, she said, should make all the vaccines available, adding that some of them are quite expensive.

"But they should be made available to the public. Also, ACT drugs should be made accessible," she said.

Pfizer holds cardiovascular summit

•The Joint Chief Medical Director, EKO Hospital, Dr Sonny Kuku (right) presenting the Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year award to the Founder of Healthplus, Bukky George at the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award 2015. With them are Area Manager, Dupe Adebiyi (first left) and Pharmacy Services Manager, Molade Adeniyi.

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HARMACEUTICAL company, Pfizer is holding a cardiovascular summit (CV) on July 22 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theme is “All about Stroke”.

The company said the CV summit is its contribution to the growth of medical knowledge and patient care in Nigeria by keeping healthcare professionals aware of new trends in medicine.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

44

HEALTH HEALTH TALK with You too can be pregnant

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•From left: Fasanmade and Deputy CMAC, Medical, Prof Adetola Daramola, during the inspection of the Independent Power Project (IPP) by LUTH.

Experts lament rising non-communicable diseases E XPERTS have raised the alarm on the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

A don at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Femi Olufemi Fasanmade, said this was so because of the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles.

He said NCDs are non-contagious, which are rising daily.

They include hypertension, asthma, diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer and arthritis, he added.

Fasanmade, a consultant endocrinologist at LUTH, said NCDs are mainly lifestyle-related.

Others, he said, are foreign food, over-eating, sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of soft drinks and alcohol, adding that they are also associated with advancing age and stress.

He advised the Federal Government to promote healthy eating, regular exercises and screening

By Wale Adepoju and Oluoma Omeihe

and education.

Others are regulation of sugary and alcoholic beverages, provision of playing grounds and parks, increased access to healthy food, reduction of pollution and environmental toxins.

Fasanmade urged the people to eat moderately, exercise and stop smoking and taking of alcohol.

Obesity should be discouraged and people should have regular check ups.

A chest physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Cyril Chukwu, said NCDs account for more deaths than communicable diseases (CDs).

He said though there were no statistics, records showed more people visit hospitals for NCDs than CDs these days. He said NCD is the largest cause of mortality in people of working age.

The incidences in younger

adults, he noted, are higher in poor countries, especially in Africa, than in the rich countries.

He listed cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes as some NCDs. Chukwu said the rising cases were due to some behavioural risk factors, such as poor diet, inactivity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

He said NCDs are more prevalent in urban areas, adding that the increasing globalisation of food, tobacco and alcohol industries are also responsible for thedisease.

“NCDs have a major impact on men and women of working age and their elderly dependents.

They result in lost income, lost opportunities for investment, and overall lower levels of economic development,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to raise awareness on prevention rather than cure.

Scientists restate commitment to malaria fight

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CIENTISTS are seeking ways to control malaria - a killer disease.

They spoke at the 50th anniversary of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) in Lagos, titled: Malaria: A neighbour to be conquered.

They reiterated their commitment to the fight against the ailment.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke, described the disease as man’s greatest enemy, adding that it was because of the disease that the sub-Saharan region was called the “white man’s grave” in the colonial era.

“Malaria is the most dangerous disease in the world,” he said.

Oke said the arrival of HIV/ AIDS put malaria to the background, adding that the latter kills more people than the former.

Besides, some people are seen to be resistant to the HIV virus. The same cannot be said of malaria, he added.

Malaria, he said, can be controlled, adding: “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

The anniversary chairman, Prof Oluyemi Akinloye, said the disease places a huge economic burden on the country as over

By Wale Adepoju

N132 billion is lost yearly to it.

This, he said, exists despite science and research on its trail for many years.

He said malaria is a systemic disease, which affects everything else in the body.

A malariologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Wellington Oyibo, said malaria is still at the control stage in Nigeria, adding: “It is endemic in over 50 per cent of the country.”

He said parasitic elimination is important, adding that laboratory scientists have a role to play to ensure that.

The tropical disease specialist said eliminating the parasite would ensure that overcome early and late treatment failure.

Oyibo identified complex parasites and vector issues; poor knowledge and non-compliance with the intervention strategies, such as long lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) and case management, among others as challenges.

He called for better funding for malaria control, adding that the health system should be functional.

Oyibo said 55 countries are on track to reduce malaria burden, adding that 216 clinical cases were reported across the world

last year.

“Last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says 97 countries suffer ongoing malaria transmission: 3.2 billion people were at risk. 19x million cases were reported globally,” he said.

He said no fewer than 90 percent of malaria deaths occurred in Africa The chairman, organising committee, Mr Gbolahan Kabiawu, said malaria control is everybody’s responsibility.

He said AMLSN is training its personnel across three levels on malaria diagnosing.

He said awareness is being created to ensure accurate diagnosis of the disease. “We have been collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and malariologists to conduct research to determine species of mosquitoes causing malaria,” Kabiawu said.

Besides, the Lagos State Government since 2006 constituted a committee on malaria control.

AMLSN Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Olumide Fadipe, people must be sensitised to know the necessary control measure/ precautions.

“The use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) is important in treating the disease,” he said

NTRODUCTION: Being pregnant and the ability to bear children is a biological process which is both time dependent and requires actions on the part of the woman and the man. Yet, the blessing of having no child is a major problem in most societies affecting about 1015 per cent of couples as well as childlessness resulting in major family unhappiness. Natural: Steps: 1. The woman needs a man for this step. Your children will reflect the mother and the father.

The idea of this step, is to get the sperm of the man to meet the egg inside the woman through natural sexual exercise.

2. Determine the time for ovulation. This is the time that the woman’s eggs are released in readiness for fertilisation and pregnancy. The rule is that, ovulation occurs 14 days before the woman’s menstruation (monthly period). In a 28-day cycle, this is 14 days before the woman’s menstrual period. Ovulation may occur, though, between 13-17 days before the menstrual bleeding. The woman’s egg will only survive for 24 hours after ovulation. Therefore, time is of the very essence.

There are signs to tell a woman when ovulation has occurred.

These signs include a rise of about 0.5Celcius in body temperature if ovulation has occurred. There may be a clear gel-like vaginal discharge. Sometimes, there could be abdominal pain called ovulation pain. To get these signs, the woman should have been monitoring her body temperature and putting the figures in her diary for about three months. This record will help predict the ovulation time.

3. The released sperms from the man during sex are still active for three days after the sperm is released into the woman though they may become weakened as time goes on. The more the number of quality, motile sperms—in their millions—that are available for fertilisation, the better the chances of pregnancy occurring.

4. If pregnancy does not happen, on first attempt, try again every time on these occasions that I have advised above (ovulation time) or you can try randomly if you have no time to monitor your ovulation.

Most pregnancies occur on random basis anyway. Artificial Methods To Get Pregnant. There are various methods that can be used to achieve pregnancy these days away from the natural methods. Types: • Artificial Insemination • IVF (In-vitro-fertilisation) and its many variants are available options otherwise called “test tube” babies. How to Know You Are Pregnant To some women, knowing that they are pregnant is a matter of experience.

That is to say, they have been through it before and can tell by the slightest sign, that they are pregnant. Yet to the “new-comers”, the experience and knowledge of being pregnant can sometimes be shocking and often end up in joyful disbelief. In spite of

Dr Joel Akande Infertility Specialist and Consultant 08188343865 managementlease@yahoo.com

the said statement, to some experienced women, it may sometimes be difficult for them to know that they are pregnant especially if they are not expecting to be pregnant. In such occasion, the knowledge of pregnancy may at first be denied.

In the first 12 weeks: In general: 1. The first sign of pregnancy in almost all women is a missing menstrual period. In some women, the monthly bleeding may continue even in the presence of pregnancy. In women who are not having regular periods or in women who are on the contraceptive pill or other medications, this sign/symptom of absence of period may not be reliable.

2. Feeling different, being tired, feeling of nausea, vomiting are earliest signs and symptoms. Appetite may increase: You eat more than usual.

3. The definitive confirmation of pregnancy is to: a) Have a pregnancy test. A positive test is a good indicator. Be mindful of false positive tests which may occur for many reasons. It takes a minute or two to carry out this test and most will pick up ongoing pregnancy of even two to four weeks old. b) Have an ultrasound scan as soon as possible via your doctor or in ante-natal Clinic.

This is perhaps the ultimate evidence apart from the more complex investigations that could be carried out by doctors.

Beyond 12 weeks: 1. Woman’s weight increase as the baby gain weight and the woman eats more.

2. The tummy’s (abdomen) increasing size becomes more obvious. In some women, this may not be so obvious. I have seen women who were nine-month pregnant without being aware of it. They thought their personal weight had merely increased even though the baby was kicking! Yet, there are reports of women who were in full term labour before they realised that they were pregnant!

3. Swelling of legs and possibly hands can happen.

4. Between 18 and 20 weeks and beyond, the woman can begin to feel the kicking of the baby inside her. It’s important that the expectant mother should register for antenatal care as soon as possible.

‘If pregnancy does not happen, on first attempt, try again every time on these occasions that I have advised above (ovulation time) or you can try randomly if you have no time to monitor your ovulation. Most pregnancies occur on random basis anyway’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

45

HEALTH

How to stop inter-border diseases, by institute

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HE policing of Nigeria's vast borders will keep threats and diseases at bay, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Director-General Prof Innocent Ujah has said.

According to him, the heavy human traffic across Nigeria borders, inadequate resources and poor immigration laws have made the country susceptible to a variety of threats and diseases.

He said more funds were needed to address these problems.

Ujah said availability of funds would help the institute perform its statutory roles of preventing interborder transmission of diseases.

The research institute, he said, has the human resources to police the nation's borders, but has not assumed this role because of some constraints "But, poor funding both from Federal and private sectors is really affecting its output, the institute can do with a better funding," he said.

Despite poor funding, the institute, he said, was able to contain Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) by its involvement in capacity building and in serving as an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Ujah said, among other functions.

He said: "An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is a complex fa-

•From left: Former NIMR Director-General, Prof. Oni Idigbe, Prof Ujah, Professor of Public Health, College of Medicine (CMUL) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Prof Kofo Odeyemi and Administrator, ADR Track, Mr Ali Emmanuel at the event.

Stories by Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

cility that serves as a nerve centre during both small emergencies and large disasters. There are five primary considerations for the design

and construction of a new Emergency Operations Centre. "These are survivability, redundancy, communications, flexibility, open architecture and security. These design considerations are important even

if you are remodeling a building to become your EOC, or modifying and improving an existing EOC. "Without adequate funding, NIMR rose to the national need.

With our dilapidated structure, buildings and equipment we did not disappoint. We delivered and won the war against EVD." He said he expected the government to move the institute's Laboratory safety level from 3rd to 4th now, as a result of its experience with EVD. "But that is not the case, and that is a big missed opportunity because such would have helped the institute have capacity for further health research and trainings and retraining. It would have also helped to consider measures for protecting staff from airborne vapor hazards by having systems in place to either filter air intakes, or shut air handling systems down to allow for sheltering in place," Prof Ujah said.

He noted that the cross-border research unit, which he set up at Maiduguru, has gone under because of insurgency and other factors affecting the institute.

The factors, according to him, include the institute's location in Lagos, instead of Abuja, the nation's capital. "Our research cannot be published in notable journals because of sundry issues, including the institute not having its own journal. Political decisions should begin to favour research institutes because health is wealth," he said.

Brewery, NGO unveil community water and sanitation projects

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UINNESS Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo, has partnered a non governmental organisation (NGO), Concern Universal, to pioneer sustainable method of integrating rural sanitation and hygiene promotion with access to safe water. This novel approach, which strengthens the 10 year-old Diageo Water of Life project, is being implemented by Concern Universal in 10 communities across three local government areas of Cross River State.

Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, coupled with poor hygiene practices, are responsible for the spread of deadly, but preventable, diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid.

In Nigeria, where a quarter of the population defecates in the open, over 150,000 children under the age of five die yearly from diarrhoea alone. Together, improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are responsible for preventing up to 90 per cent of diarrhoeal diseases.

Guinness Nigeria Plc Corporate Relations Director, Sesan Sobowale said: “Guinness Nigeria recognises

that millions of people still do not have access to clean and safe water.

One in five persons around the world cannot access safe drinking water; and in Nigeria, 63 million people do not have access to clean water. This is why Guinness Nigeria and the Diageo Foundation teamed up with Concern Universal to provide clean water for rural communities in Cross River State.

Our partnership leverages our collective strengths to help beneficiary communities improve their water, sanitation, and hygiene, and ultimately, their health.”

Guinness Nigeria’s partnership with Concern Universal supports the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme by providing access to safe water in villages that have achieved open defecation-free status in Cross River State.

Committee members are also facilitated to develop their own water management plans, including financing future repairs and conserving water during drier seasons.

Concern Universal’s Country Director, Tim Kellow, explained how “this approach, which carefully se-

•From left: Sobowale, Kellow, Country Director Nigeria, Concern Universal and Osita at the event.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

quences demand-led sanitation and hygiene behaviour change with participatory water management, is creating a model for the WASH sector, in Nigeria and beyond, to ensure that the introduction of water points works in tandem with sanitation and hygiene promotion to prevent killer diseases, such as diarrhoea”.

Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Osita

Abana, while remarking on the project’s impact in Cross River State said: “During my visit to beneficiary communities, I was inspired to see first hand, the positive impact the Guinness/Concern Universal partnership is already making. Families, who used to fetch water from streams, now have easy access to clean water.

Communities have also adopted proper hygiene habits that will

limit the spread of preventable diseases like diarrhoea and cholera.”

Through the partnership’s pilot project, Guinness Nigeria and Concern Universal have helped 6,000 people in 10 communities to access safe drinking water. In addition, 120 community members have been trained in basic borehole maintenance and water resource management.

Zimbabwe hosts ICASA 2015

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•Senior Commissioner, Dr Patrick Orumbe; Chairman St John Ambulance, Nigeria, Folarin Mabadeje, Director of Administration, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Babajide Grillo, a Training officer, and National Training Officer, Emmanuel Ekeoha at the investiture ceremony of St John Ambulance, Nigeria in Lagos.

HE Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), the custodian of International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA) has named Zimbabwe as this year’s host of ICASA. The SAA Board officially announced the host country in Harare. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Pagwesese David Parirenyatwa representing the Government of Zimbabwe and SAA President, Dr. Ihab Ahmed SAA said it was pleased to announce Zimbabwe as the host country for ICASA 2015 and that Harare, its capital, will welcome all delegates of ICASA 2015 at The Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre.

ICASA 2015 will be hosted from November 29 to December 4, this year.

According to Dr. Parirenyatwa the MoU assured that the Government of Zimbabwe is enthusiastic to welcome all delegates to ICASA 2015 in Harare.

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) assured all delegates and stakeholders that ICASA 2015 in Zimbabwe will be staged as planned. All registrations pertaining to ICASA 2015; delegate registration, abstract submission, abstract reviewer registration, registration for marketing items and booking for satellite as well as exhibition are still ongoing via the Conference Website; www.icasa2015zimbabwe.org

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17 2015

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COMMENTARY

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REAMBLE This article was first published in this column in 2012. But despite its detailed analysis and the well researched impute of a prominent Nigerian of Christian faith in it, some religious charlatans who were seemingly sponsoring and benefitting from the Boko Haram carnage continued to insist on painting the truth black just to further enrich their evil benefit from that evil carnage. The exposure last year, of an illegal arms deal in South Africa by one of such foremost charlatans masquerading in the cloak of religion came to attest to the evil machination wrapped in the garb of religion by some Nigerian agents of Satan.

With that landmark exposure and some subsequent revelations about the clandestine backers of the national calamity called Boko Haram, many readers of this column began to call for a repeat of the publication of this article. Thus, to oblige them the right of readership the article is brought back here today as found below: The Article “In the life of every nation, like that of every individual, there must be a time of tribulation. For truly religious people, such a tribulation is a test of faith and that of steadfastness. For an individual, passing or failing it depends very much on the strength of his or her faith and for a nation, the competence or otherwise of the leadership at the helm of affairs. Nigeria as a country is not an exception in this.

For the past six years or thereabout, Nigerians have been forced to grapple with the intensity of an unprecedented insecurity culminating in bomb blasts continually but devastatingly killing and maiming human beings in their scores. This carnage which first began in 2006 with a major threat to the existence of Nigeria by some war mongering South-South youths has come to climax the decades of crises in the country engendered by economic, political, ethnic and religious motivations. And since the crises have constantly been engineered by government’s insensitive policies, it is instructive that the attitude of the same government towards those crises can hardly be suggestive of any serious readiness to proffer a permanent and sincere solution to them. The language that rents the air this time is ‘Boko Haram’. That language has virtually become a spectre putting both the government and the people on the run and giving them a fierce chase of their lives.

Suffocation From whichever angle it may be perceived, Boko Haram is now a huge balloon of smoke oozing out of a protruding chimney and destructively polluting the air which everybody in Nigeria today is forced to inhale willingly or unwillingly. But unfortunately, rather than finding out the fireplace beneath the chimney that gives vent to the oozing smoke, the government just insists on dispelling the smoke even as the fire keeps burning. Granted that Boko Haram was inherited by the current regime just as the South-South militants’ menace was inherited by Yar’Adua regime that preceded this, nevertheless, the late President YarÁdua did not allow it to overwhelm Nigerians before finding a solution to it.

The immediate past government’s idea of Boko Haram seemed to be quite different from what that evil body really was. In Goodluck Jonathan’s regime, Boko Haram became like a huge elephant surrounded by thousands of blind men. One could only describe the part he was able to touch on the body of the mammoth animal and not the whole of it. Without diagnosis, only a quack doctor would proceed to treat an ailment in a patient. But that was what Nigeria’s federal government under Jonathan did in respect of the Boko Haram’s carnage.

Meaningful Research However, some serious-minded and sincere individuals who were convinced that the problem posed by Boko Haram was beyond mere surface scratching began to research deeply into the tap roots of that obnoxious body. One of such individuals was Jean Herskovits a female Professor of History at the State University of New York, USA who had been writing on Nigerian politics since the 1970s. The other was a well known and highly respected Nigerian Catholic Bishop, Mathew Hassah Kukah of Sokoto Diocese. But since both of these intellectuals held similar opinions on the issue, ‘The Message’ decided to bring the latter’s opinion because of Nigerians’ familiarity with his name and person.

Bishop Kukah’s Disclosure Below is the verbatim text of Bishop Ku-

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Beyond Boko Haram kah’s public address on Boko Haram which was entitled ‘AN APPEAL TO NIGERIANS’. It was first published in Nigeria’s Guardian newspaper of January 17, 2012. Please, read: “On the occasion of the Carol of Nine Lessons organized by NTA and Radio Nigeria on December 10th last year (2011), I was invited to deliver the message. I chose to speak on the theme, Do Not Be Afraid as a means of encouraging our people against the backdrop of fear and frustration that was mounting at the time. Since then, it would seem that things have gotten progressively worse in our country.

In the course of my reflections, I sought to encourage my fellow citizens not to be frightened by the events of the time. I insisted that despite these tragic and sad events and the situation of our country, we needed to conquer fear. I argued that the message of Christmas was a message about the good news of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, (Godwith us) and the Saviour of the world. Against the backdrop of other developments in the country at that time, I concluded by calling on the federal government not to carry through its plans for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Since then, things have gradually snowballed well beyond what one had either feared or hoped. On Christmas day, a bomb exploded at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, killing over thirty people and wounding a significant number of other innocent citizens who had come to worship their God as the first part of their Christmas celebrations. Barely two days later, we heard of the tragic and mindless killings within a community in Ebonyi State in which over sixty people lost their lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed and hundreds of families displaced. In the midst of all this, on New Year’s Day, the President (Goodluck Jonathan) announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and threw an already angry and frustrated nation into convulsion.

The Madalla Tragedy Right now, I feel that perhaps like the friends of Job (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar), who came to visit their sick friend and found the burden beyond comprehension, we find ourselves in the same situation. For, as we know, when they came and found Job in his condition, they spent seven days and seven nights, and uttered not a word (Job 2:13). Right now, no one can claim a full understanding of the state we are in. However, even if we cannot understand the issues of the moment, our faith compels us to understand that God’s hand is in all this.

The challenge is for us to have the patience to let His will be done.

The tragedy in Madalla was seen as a direct attack on Christians. When Boko Haram claimed responsibility, this line of argument seemed persuasive to those who believed that these merchants of death could be linked to the religion of Islam. Happily, prominent Muslims rose in unison to condemn this evil act and denounced both the perpetrators and their acts as being un-Islamic. All of this should cause us to pause and ponder about the nature of the force of evil that is in our midst and to appreciate the fact that contrary to popular thinking, we are not faced with a crisis or conflict between Christians and Muslims. Rather, like the friends of Job, we need to humbly appreciate the limits of our human understanding.

In the last few years, with the deepening crises in parts of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau states, thanks to the international and national media, it has become fanciful to argue that we have crises between Christians and Muslims. Sadly, the kneejerk reaction of some very uninformed religious leaders has lent credence to this false belief. To complicate matters, some of these religious leaders have continued to rally their members to defend themselves in a religious war. This has fed the propaganda

of the notorious Boko Haram and hides the fact that this evil has crossed religious barriers. Let us take a few examples which, though still under investigation across the country, should call for restraint on our part.

An Instance Sometime last year, a Christian woman went to her own parish Church in Bauchi and tried to set it ablaze. Again, recently, a man alleged to be a Christian, dressed as a Muslim, went to burn down a Church in Bayelsa. In Plateau State, a man purported to be a Christian was arrested while trying to bomb a Church. Armed men gunned down a group of Christians meeting in a Church and now it turned out that those who have been arrested and are under interrogation are in fact not Muslims and that the story is more of an internal crisis. In Zamfara State, 19 Muslims were killed. After investigation it was discovered that those who killed them were not Christians. Other similar incidents have occurred across the country.

Clearly, these are very troubled times for our country. But they are also very promising times. I say so because amidst this confusing debris of hate, anger and frustration, we have had some very interesting dimensions. Nigeria is changing because Nigerians are taking back their country from the grip of marauders. These stories, few as they may be, are the beginning of our song of freedom.

Christians are now publicly crossing the artificial lines created by falsehood and bigotry. Let us take a few examples of events in the last week alone: Cooperation In Kano, amidst fears and threats of further attacks on Christians, a group of Muslims gathered round to protect Christians as they worshipped. In Minna and recently, in Lagos, the same thing repeated itself as Christians joined hands to protect Muslims as they prayed. In the last week, Christians and Muslims together in solidarity were protesting against bad governance and corruption beyond the falsehood of religion.

Once freed from the grip of these dark forces, religion will be able to play its role as a force for harmony, truth and the common good.

Clearly, drawing from our experiences as Christians, we must note that God has a message for us in all this. To elicit what I consider to be the message, I will make reference to three lessons and I know there are far more.

First, these times call for prayer. At the height of our confusion during the Abacha years, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria composed two sets of prayers; one, Against Bribery and Corruption and second, for Nigeria in Distress. Millions of Catholics have continued to recite these prayers and we must remain relentless in the belief that God hears our prayers and that God’s ways are not our ways. We know that our Muslim brethren and millions of other non-Christians feel the same and are also praying in a similar way for our country.

A Call for Solidarity Two, these times call for solidarity of all people of faith. We are a nation of very strong believers and despite what anyone else may say, millions of our Christians and Muslims do take their religion very seriously. However, you might ask, if that is true, why do we have so many killings in the name of God and of religion? My answer is that we have such killings because we live in an environment of a severely weak architecture of state which allows evil to triumph. It is this poverty that produces

jealousy and hatred which leads to violence.

We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions. Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals as criminals has created the illusion that there is a conflict between Christians and Muslims. In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch Christians against Muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption. As Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, we must stand together to ensure that our resources are well utilized for the common good. This is why, despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the Fuel Subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy.

Condemnation of evil Leadership Three, religious leaders across the faiths must indeed stand up together and face the challenge of the times by offering a leadership that focuses on our common humanity and common good rather than the insignificant issues that divide us. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of our collective survival. Rather than rallying our people, some of our religious leaders have resorted to divisive utterances, wild allegations and insinuations against fellow adherents of other religions. In the last five or so days, text messages have been circulating across the country appealing to some of our worst demons. We are told that many senior clerics either believed or encouraged the circulation of these divisive and false text messages. We must condemn this for what it is; a grand design by enemies within our folds who are determined to destroy our country. Whatever they may call themselves, they are neither true Christians nor Muslims.

For those Christians who have reacted in fear, they require conversion. If we wait for these evil men or women to decide when we shall stand for Christ, then we have surrendered our soul to the devil. If we fear to stand up for Christ now, let us remember that He has already said: Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my father in Heaven, Whoever denies me before others, I will deny him before my father in Heaven(Mt 10: 32). Again, Jesus warns that rather than fear at times of uncertainty, adversity or upheavals, we should be confident. He said: When these things begin to take place, stand erect; hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand (Luke. 21: 28).

Furthermore, St Paul has assured us that; If we die with Him, we shall live with Him. If we endure with Him, we shall reign with him (2 Tim 2: 11-12). Surely, those who are asking us to go under our beds, to flee in the face of persecution must be reading a different Bible.

Difficult Times These are difficult times but they are also times of promise. Our country has turned its back on all forms of dictatorships. Our hands are on the plough and we are resolutely committed to democracy. Like a Catholic marriage, we may not be happy but we cannot contemplate a divorce. God does not make mistakes.

Although the freedom and growth promised by democracy are not here yet, we must remind ourselves that a better tomorrow is possible, a more united and peaceful Nigeria is possible. The challenges of the last few days have shown the resilience of our people and their commitment to democracy and a better life. We believe this is possible. The government must strive to earn the trust of our people. All sides must take lessons from the demonstrations and resolve to build a better and stronger nation. Let us hold on to the words of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI when he told the President, religious, traditional rulers and people of the Republic of Benin in the Presidential Palace on the 19th of November: Do not cut off your peoples from their future by mutilating their present....There are too many scandals and injustices, too much corruption and greed, too many errors and lies, too much violence.

All peoples desire to understand the political and economic choices which are made in their name; they wish to participate in good governance. No economic regime is ideal and no economic choice is neutral. But these must always serve the common good”.

•Address by Rev. Father Mathew Hassah Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese (first published in 2012).

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY Nigeria plans to reclaim her position as a global powerhouse in cocoa production and export.

But, experts say without evolving a vibrant local chocolate industry to benefit from the entire cocoa value chain, and addressing some fundamental issues agitating the minds of cocoa farmers and stakeholders, the road to achieving the feat remains rough. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

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OME people may not have noticed, but a revolution, somewhat silent, is sweep ing through the cocoa segment of the agric sector. The revolution, when completed, would hopefully, return Nigeria to the height of its glory in the global cocoa industry.

Apparently prompted by the economic crisis caused by the crashing oil price in the international market, which has forced the Federal Government to look towards the nonoil sector, the revolution, according to the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, would help Nigeria claim a greater share of the global market for finished goods made from cocoa estimated at $200 billion yearly.

The ex-minister, who spoke at the Nigerian Cocoa Value Addition Summit, in Abuja, said the renewed emphasis on cocoa would create thousands of jobs. According to him, the government was repositioning to extract immense value from the cocoa industry where the global value of exporting raw cocoa is approximately $10 billion a year, while the total value from chocolates is over $100 billion a year. He said government was working on deriving benefits from cocoa for farmers and Nigerians through the implementation of initiatives and expansion projects in cocoa processing and manufacturing.

Part of the initiative that has earned the government the buy-in and support of farmers and key stakeholders in the cocoa subsector, was the distribution of hybrid cocoa pods to farmers across the country to boost production and exports. At the last count, over 1.4 million hybrid cocoa pods, according to the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, have been distributed to farmers across the country.

Adesina, who spoke at the same event, said this translates to about 50 million seedlings, which are enough for farmers to plant 46,000 hectares of new cocoa plantation. This is based on the yield capacity of the distributed hybrids to produce five times the yield of what farmers get today, which is 2.5 tonnes as against 0.5 tonnes. He promised that with the introduction of the Cocoa Corporation of Nigeria (CCON), the government would be able to coordinate the sector and facilitate access to finance.

That is not all. Cocoa farmers are also being provided with critical inputs, such as agrochemicals, to guard against black pod and insects, and fertiliser to enhance yield per hectare. “We have also succeeded, for the first time, to introduce a specifically formulated fertiliser for cocoa. Cocoa farmers are also given agro-chemicals, insecticides, fungicides, in addition to fertiliser and hybrid pods,’’ Team Leader, Cocoa Value Chain Development at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Peter Aikpokpodion, said.

The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State, The Nation learnt, is also carrying out lots of researches on cocoa bread, liquor and cocoa detergent. According

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

•Aganga

•Adhuze

•Adesina

Nigeria’s thorny road to cocoa revival to its Director, Mr. Malachi Akoroda, a few projects were being executed in collaboration with foreign partners to research more into cocoa and see how it can be improved upon by way of partnerships, collaborations and linkages.

Interestingly, some of these efforts appear to be yielding fruit. For instance, in 2014 alone, Nigeria recorded the highest export of cocoa and its products valued at N131b, according to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

“Cocoa and cocoa preparations were the highest exported products in 2014 with the trade volume on cocoa amounting to N131.2 billion,’’ NEPC noted.

Statistics from NEPC show that Nigeria recorded N43.191billion exportation of the products in the first quarter of the year, while more than N18. 558billion was recorded in the second quarter. Over N24. 845 billion was recorded in the third quarter, while N44. 695b was recorded in the fourth quarter. NEPC said the exportation of the products was part of the Federal Government’s plan to develop and enhance market opportunities for non-oil export sector through the National Strategy Export Products (NSEP).

The Federal Government in January marked out 13 NSEP to replace the nation’s over dependence on petroleum products. According to Aganga, tumbling prices of petroleum products at the international markets was threatening the stability of the Nigerian economy hence, this was part of Federal Government’s moves to revive the dwindling national economy with emphasis on rapid growth of the non-oil sector for exports.

Although, 12 products were originally identified under the NSEP, the number increased because the Executive Director of NEPC, Mr. Segun Awolowo, made a case for the inclusion of Cashew on the list. Aganga listed the 13 NSEP in three categories, including agroindustrial-palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and rice. Others are mining-related such as cement, iron ore/metals, auto parts/cars, aluminium, oil and gas industrial products, petroleum

products, fertiliser/urea, petrochemical and methanol.

However, while these efforts may have put Nigeria on the threshold of regaining her lost glory as a leading cocoa producer, there is a snag: lack of a vibrant chocolate industry to process cocoa into chocolate and other finished products. Ninety per cent of chocolate products in the market are imported from Europe and other African countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa.

The Nation learnt that there are few processing companies with the capacity to process cocoa into chocolate in Africa’s largest economy; a situation that has denied Nigeria the opportunity of enjoying the full benefit of the ongoing revolution in the sub-sector. Issues such as regular supply of cocoa, capital to establish local processing plants, and the challenge of marketability viz-a-viz imported chocolate, among others, have been identified as serious obstacles to the emergence of a vibrant local chocolate industry.

This was why Adesina, for instance, has been advocating that Nigeria produce chocolates instead of exporting raw beans. He said cocoa processing factories generate between $90 million and $400 million yearly even at their low capacity rates, urging Nigerians to give more priority to processing instead of exportation of cocoa beans. Adesina, who spoke at the recent 50th anniversary of CRIN, added that a special intervention fund will also be established to support cocoa processors for asset acquisition and working capital.

The Founder, Centre for Cocoa Development Initiative, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr. Robo Adhuze, told The Nation that at the moment the ‘N100billion Cocoa Intervention Fund’ announced by the Federal Government to support cocoa processors remains at the level of a proposal. He, however, said the recent feat achieved by the Ondo State Government’s ‘Cocoa Revolution Project’, particularly in the area of cocoa processing, is an indication that government’s ongoing efforts at revamping cocoa is yielding positive result.

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At present, 90 per cent of chocolate products in the market are imported from Europe and other African countries, such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa. The Nation learnt that there are few processing companies with the capacity to process cocoa into chocolate in Africa’s largest economy; a situation that has denied Nigeria the opportunity of enjoying the full benefit of the ongoing revolution in the sub-sector

‘

Adhuze, whose NGO focuses on promoting the development of cocoa in Nigeria and fostering awareness on the usefulness of cocoa products, said Ondo State won the Chocolate Silver Awards at the recently concluded seventh edition of the yearly Academy of Chocolate Award, at the Fortnum & Mason Piccadilly, London.

At the event, which attracted major cocoa/ chocolate and confectionery industry stakeholders across the globe, cocoa produced in the state, for chocolate production, received world certification and recognition. The state was mentioned at the ceremony as the only chocolate award winner from West Africa that produces 75 per cent of global cocoa bean output.

Chairman of the state Cocoa Revolution Implantation Committee, Jibayo Oyebade, said the product had already been presented to the partnering firm overseas, Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate firm in Netherland. “We taught our cocoa farmers on how to improve the quality of their cocoa through proper fermentation.

Our partners have taken our sample, and are satisfied with it.

“I am proud that our effort has yielded good results. We want to reproduce chocolate from our own cocoa,” Oyebade said, adding that only 300 kilogrammes of the product was sent as sample. He also said the state would increase production and establish a chocolate academy and factory.

The Ondo feat has been a wake-up call of sorts for other cocoa producing states. According to Adhuze, several states are eager to replicate Ondo’s success by riding on the crest of the cocoa transformation programme midwifed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

The Nation learnt that apart from Ondo, a number of state governments have already indicated interest to be listed on the cocoa value chain intervention programme of the FMARD. For instance, only six states were involved in the programme’s implementation in 2012, but that doubled the following year 2013.

Adhuze said what gave Ondo State an edge in exploiting the entire cocoa value chain in terms of marketing, processing and adding value was that out of about 10 cocoa processing factories in the country five are located in the state. He, however, noted that although about 24 states fall under what is described as ‘Nigeria’s Cocoa Belt’ only eight are commercially viable, and they form the hub for the current economic regeneration anchored on cocoa production and export.

“We have enough cocoa processing factories; the only thing is that they are not performing optimally because of high cost of fund and energy,” Adhuze told The Nation, adding that in the next five or seven years, Nigeria would meet its target in cocoa production and export.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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INDUSTRY

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CBN naive about real sector, says LCCI

HE last may not have been heard about the exclusion of 41 items from the foreign exchange (FOREX) markket by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has slammed CBN for what it called the bank‘s “limited understanding of the manufacturing process of many of the sectors affected by the policy”.

While introducing the list, the CBN declared the items invalid for forex from the interbank market and Bureaux de Change (BDC). But the policy did not go down well with members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

LCCI consequently organised a dialogue between CBN officials, business leaders and members of the Chamber to discuss the policy, its rationale and consequences, and to advise on the way forward.

In a communiqué after the meeting signed by its Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, LCCI said it understood CBN’s constraints in fashioning the policy.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

“Many of the restricted items are irreplaceable raw materials in the manufacturing process of many industries and this policy will cause significant damage to the Nigerian manufacturing sector and economy. ‘’We affirm that while there are several items on the list which any patriotic Nigerian will not object to, there are many others that will harm the manufacturing sector,” Yusuf said.

He said given CBN’s dominant role in forex supplies and the fact that all three ‘official’ markets are excluded, the policy means that manufacturers who require any of the restricted items as input and raw materials for their production may have to shut their operations once their stock is exhausted.

He said the items include those which are critical to manufacturing.

He advised CBN to simulate the impact of the policy on employment, inflation and output in the year and

review it. He insisted that the impact of the three areas would be negative.

Yusuf argued that the new CBN policy was ambiguous, to both manufacturers and banks.

“We urge CBN to immediately amend the policy with full product definition and specification of all restricted items, including HS Codes and excluding any items which are non-substitutable industrial raw materials from the list.

The CBN policy should also allow appropriate time frames for items, which require some time interval before local substitutes can be created for imported raw materials,” he said.

The LCCI chief reminded the CBN and the Federal Government that manufacturers had suffered from the recent currency devaluation. Compounding recent devaluation losses with higher cost and inability to source critical raw materials, he argued, might push many firms over the precipice, resulting in business closures, loss of

jobs, declined manufacturing sector production and greater social tension.

Continuing, he said: “We call CBN’s attention to the fact that the fundamental forces the CBN is struggling against are economic and fiscal policy dependent while the bank continues to exert monetary policy tools almost to a point in which economic harm may result. The fundamental factors are diversification of the Nigerian economy in terms of exports and government revenue, issues around downstream oil sector deregulation and upstream oil sector fiscal regimes.

“Others are power sector efficiency and creating alternative economies in solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing and other sectors towards building a productive, export-led local economy.

These matters cannot be resolved through exclusive deployment of monetary policy tools.”

Yusuf suggested a conversation be-

tween the CBN and Federal Government so that a more appropriate regime of economic and fiscal polic initiatives could be designed to address these issues.

He called on the CBN to harmonise its policies with other agencies of government, including Customs, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and Immigration.

“Moreover we urge CBN to be mindful of the economic role and importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and moderatesized manufacturers as it develops policies. The CBN should avoid policies that may produce oligopolistic and even monopolistic outcomes at variance with its mandate of building a sound economy,” he advised.

LCCI also urged increased engagement and consultation between the CBN and manufacturers and other stakeholders so that policies would be based on proper understanding of the real impact on stakeholder groups and the economy.

Nigerian is UN-Habitat’s Director, Africa

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• From left: Vice President, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hamed Olugbenga Babajide Lawal; President Prince Jamiu Adio Saka and Director Prof.Kunle Ade Wahab at the Chamber’s Sixth Business Luncheon in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Manufacturers urged to improve on products

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HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged manufacturers to improve on their products.

In a statement in Lagos, NACCIMA Director-General (DG) Mr. Emmanuel Cobham, said improved products would help the sector.

Cobham said good products would guarantee efficiency of their operations, societal benefit and development of the economy.

“If products can be made to standout, the customers will appreciate it because the customers like good quality products, he said, adding that most customers are willing to pay the difference to get value for their money in the goods they purchase.

According to him, if Nigeria prides herself as being a big economy and a key player in the world, it is expected that products from the country should meet international standards.’

He said almost two million new cars were sold every month in China, despite its economic slowdown and the demand for China cars was also strong in Europe.

“There was a time when the world depended on German and Japanese products, but from this figure, it shows that China has been able to perfect its act. They did it to show others that it is feasible and this is good for their economy.

“What is Dubai trading in? Honesty, top standard production and they make sure that only the best comes in.

Things like religion and sentiment do not interfere in their product quality

By Chikodi Okereocha

specifications,” Cobham said.

The DG urged manufacturers to establish necessary mechanisms that would facilitate growth in the manufacturing sector, as well as the national economy.

He reminded manufacturers that attention had shifted to the patronage of locally-produced goods, as an alternative to imported goods, for job creation, economic development and sectoral? growth.

Cobham argued that if locally produced goods are of good quality, buyers would willingly change their taste preferences for imported goods and embrace made-in-Nigeria products.

The DG alleged that corruption was the bane of the fight against substandard goods, as most producers had shunned standards for quick riches, at the expense of buyers.

He urged the relevant government agencies to ensure substandard goods were removed from circulation.

Issues on global tax system dominate devlt partners’ discussion The United Nations (UN) and other development partners, during the week, took practical steps to discuss “unresolved issue” of a global tax aimed at combating international tax dodging and illicit financial flows.

The discussion was one of the sideline events at the third “Financing for Development Conference (FfD)”, which opened in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

Many of the discussants were representatives of non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups.

One of them, Pooja Rangaprasad of the Financial Transparent Coalition, urged governments to take advantage of the conference to create “an equitable tax body to tackle the problem of tax dodging and corporate opacity”.

“But if the status quo remains, and standards continue to be set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), we will be stuck with an unjust system. The unjust system cannot solve the problem of illicit financial flows. The rest of the world will remain on the outside looking in’’ Rangaprasad said.

The OECD, which is made up of 34 rich countries, said that it was currently setting new standards in multinational profit shifting and cross-border tax dodging.

IGERIA’S most senior diplomat at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, Prof.

Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, has been appointed Acting Director, Regional Office for Africa (ROAF), UN-Habitat.

The ROAf/UN-Habitat is in 24 countries in the Africa. They include Nigeria, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The key focus areas are: urban land, legislation and governance, especially land management, urban basic services including water, sanitation and the energy sector, risk reduction and rehabilitation, urban planning and design - especially preparation of national urban policies, housing and slum upgrading, urban economy and urban youth livelihoods.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka is the first Nigerian professor in Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Technology Management.

An erudite scholar, who strives to translate ideas into practical action, he mixes rigorous scholarship with policy advocacy.

He is a leader in Development Economics and a passionate champion for African development.

He was first appointed a director at the UN-Habitat in 2007, and during the period, he led several housing, infrastructure, urban and social development initiatives at both states and federal levels in Nigeria, including coauthoring Nigeria’s recently formulated: “Nigeria Land, Housing and Urban Development Roadmap” by the Federal Minis-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

try of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Abuja.

He led the design and implementation of “City Structure Plan Programmes” in Osun, Kogi, Ondo, and Zamfara states.

He served as Director Monitoring & Research Division in which capacity he provided intellectual leadership for the UNHabitat flagship reports: “State of the World Cities Report” and the “Global Report on Human Settlements”.

His postings in the UN was as professor at the United Nations University – Institute for New technologies (UNU-INTECH).

He spent six years at this global citadel of research and training in the Netherlands.

Before then, he was Senior Economic Adviser, UN Centre on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva where he coordinated a 10-year review of performance of Least Developed Countries. After serving as Senior Research Fellow, he was nominated a Professorial Fellow in Innovation and Development, United Nations UniversityMERIT, Maastricht, The Netherlands; and Visiting Professor, Innovation and Development, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.

He is the author of “Rich Country Poor People: The Story of Nigeria’s Poverty in the midst of Plenty” (2014) and co-author of “Urban Innovation in China’s Shanty Towns” (2014) among a dozen other books.

He is a board member of several academic journals and programmes as well as a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.

Luminous inverter gets award

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N inverter brand, Luminous Inverter, has received the “Best Quality Inverter in Africa for 2015” award.

Organised by the African Quality Achievement Awards (AQAA) in Lagos, the brand was said to have met the standards and criteria rolled out by the organisers.

Presenting the award, Managing Director, Nigeria Army Small Scale Industrial Unit on manufacturing drugs and other materials, Lt.-Col. Azce Awazie, said the brand earned the award for its high quality compli-

By Chikodi Okereocha

ance, quality awareness drive, quality assurance policies, and innovation.

Others include customer satisfaction, market focus, operational excellence and high level of consumer loyalty.

Marketing Manager, Wandel International Limited, marketers of luminous inverters, Mr. Rajneesh K. Gupta said: “Our desire is to remain the best, to continue to provide high level of satisfaction to our teeming customers.”

Simba Group, a conglomerate op-

erating in Nigeria for over two decades, also represents TVS Motors and Tata Motors for vehicles and Avaya for business communication solutions.

Wandel International Limited is a member of the Simba Group Company, distributors of luminous inverters and power backup solutions.

Simba Group, a conglomerate operating in Nigeria for over two decades, also represents TVS Motors and Tata Motors for vehicles and Avaya for business communication solutions.

50

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms : 07035302326

SHOPPING Sales boom as Ramadan fast ends

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

A

S the Muslim fasting ends today, signalling the end of Ramadan and heralding the beginning of Eid-el–fitri celebrations, traders in major markets across Lagos metropolis are upbeat over prospects of increased patronage.

Having experienced reduced sales because of lull in customer patronage occasioned by the Ramadan fast, traders are hopeful of increased activities in preparation for Eid-El –Fitri celebrations. The event comes up yearly at the end of the Muslim fast.

At Idumota, Mile-12, Oyingbo,Oshodi among other markets in Lagos, traders are pleased with what they call “the Eid-El –Fitri rush” as they get helping hands from their children and relatives so as to cope with the rush.

•Idumota market busy for Eid-el-fitri

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Evron Food launches ‘fastest delivery’ online food store

S

ET to reinvent the online food shopping experience for Nigerians, Evron Food Store has launched its online food store c a l l e d www.evronfoodstore.com.

The online store guarantees deliveries of goods within three hours of order placement and checkout. Customers who do not get their orders delivered to them three hours after placing an order automatically gets compensated with a 10 percent discount.

The online food market offers a wide variety of food products and farm crops us-

ing a highly interactive and innovative platform that allows customers to shop for almost any food item they can think of in the food store.

A customer can simply click on the ‘Afang Soup Bundle’ and all the ingredients for Afang soup will be selected, packaged and dispatched immediately upon checkout.

According to the owners of the store, shopping via Evron Food Store guarantees that valuable time that could be spent bonding with family members, or simply resting after a hectic week, is duly enjoyed. No more need to endure the rigours of navi-

gating dozens of stores at the conventional open market, or after hours of traffic.

As part of its launch, Evron Food Store has also announced its #MyFirstOrder Campaign where customers can simply take a picture of their delivered food items, share, mention and follow@evronfoodstore on twitter, Instagram and Facebook. They can use the # M y 1 s t O r d e r #MarketCameHomefor a chance to win a free shopping voucher. Evron Food Store also has a physical

walk-in store/office which is open to customers situated in Chevron Drive, Lekki Lagos.

Speaking at the formal launch of the store, the Marketing Manager, Ijeoma Olujekun noted: “At Evron Food Store, we are committed to creating a vibrant, convenient way for people to buy food produce online and increasingly turn this into delightful and more satisfying for the customers. We understand the need for Nigerians to purchase food quickly, conveniently and have sought to simplify the process of buying food, mak-

CHI, Tetra collaborate on child malnutrition

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HI Limited, one Nigeria’s leading producer of high quality fruit juice, dairy and snacks products, will join hands with Tetra Pak, a global leading food processing and packaging solutions’ company, to explore opportunities for feasible food & beverage solutions in an effort to fight malnutrition amongst children in Nigeria.

CHI is one of the largest partners of Tetra Pak in Africa employing many of its packaging solutions to serve safe, innovative and environmentally friendly products to her customers across the country.

As part of efforts to alleviate malnutrition among the country’s children, the joint initiative between CHI Limited & Tetra Pak will develop feasible solutions for providing healthy nourishment for Nigerian children.

To achieve this, the companies will undertake an in-depth assessment of the ground realities of the nutritional requirements and the need gaps specific to children in Nigeria. This partnership will provide a platform for the involvement of relevant major stakeholders, institutes, governmental and non-governmental organizations for the delivery of nutrition solutions to the Nigerian children.

Chairman of Chi Limited (the flagship company of the TGI Group), Mr. C G Vink, noted that “Child nutrition is important to our country’s future and being a proudly Nigerian company, we are committed to putting in our best to the building and shaping a healthy and

•Chairman, Chi Limited, Mr. C.G Vink and President / Chief Executive Officer, Tetra Pak, Mr. Dennis Jonsson

brighter Nigeria.”

Mr Dennis Jönsson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tetra Pak, said “Tetra Pak has partnered with governments, customers and other public and private partners to support school feeding programmes around the world for more than 50 years, promoting children’s right to nutrition, health and education as well as helping to build the demand for locally produced and processed products.

We are happy to have formed a strong partnership with Chi in Nigeria.”

According to the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, up to 80 percent of Nigerian children suffer from nutrition deficiencies, particularly

from Iron, Zinc and vitamins. This leads to slower brain development, concentration issues, a weak immune system and underdevelopment of memory, vision and hearing. Investments in education are significantly undermined if children are not nourished properly. According to the same survey, over one third of Nigerian children are malnourished to the extent that their physical growth is measurably reduced compared to children in peer countries. A case in reference, according to various available statistics from UNESCO, EU, FAO etc, as many as 11 million children in Nigeria are suffering from stunted growth occasioned by chronic malnutrition.

N

ing it just a click away”.

In her address, the Managing Director, Funmi Farotimi noted that in seeking to ensure high quality standards for items sold at the store, Evron Food Store wishes to know and influence how the food seed are grown.

Her words, “We are passionate about great tasting food in its purest state. That is why quality standards for food prohibit leafy vegetables grown with chemical fertilizers. We base our decisions not just on food chemistry, but also on ideology, philosophy, proper labelling and critical evalu-

UROFEN, the world’s number one pain relief brand from the stable of RB Nigeria Limited, has been launched into the Nigerian market with its unique proposition of being able to work at the site of pains as well as offer instant relief.

The Nurofen brand formulations are for both children and adults. Nurofen for Children is a liquid suspension that works for child’s pain and fever. It comes in two flavours; Orange and Strawberry, reduces fever in 15 minutes and provides continuous relief for up to eight hours after. This is more superior than Paracetamol’s efficacy.

For adults, Nurofen is in caplets of 200mg that provides relief from fever as well as work for several types of pains by targeting pain at its source.

Nurofen is more effective than Paracetamol for treatment of headache, back pain, dental pain, sore throat and so.

Nurofen for adults is an over-thecounter (OTC) drug targeted at providing relief from pains, helping with fever and reducing inflammation; while that for children is formulated to provide effective relief from pains and fever for babies as young as three months (and weighing over 5kg) to 12 years old.

The new product launch, enjoyed the presence of a large number of international and national health experts alongside key leaders of various medical associations in Nigeria; all affirming the efficacy of the Nurofen brand.

Speaking at the launch, General Manager, RB West Africa, Mr. Rahul

ation of the promise we’ve made to our customers, which is freshness, always. We take our responsibility seriously, knowing that our standards not only determine what goes on our shelves, but they also influence the way that food is grown and processed”.

“Evron food store is making life easier for the everyday shopper without looting or exploiting them.

Our intention is that our prices must never be higher than what can be obtained from any of the local market around.”

Nurofen painkiller launched in Nigeria Murgai, said the development of Nurofen speaks to the positioning of the company as one that puts priority on providing innovative solutions to Nigerians to make life easier and healthier for them.

“Our vision is a world where people are healthier and happier; our purpose is to make a difference by providing Nigerians with innovation solutions to ensure they lead healthier lives in happier homes”, he said.

While stressing the significance of Nurofen’s launch into the Nigerian market, he stated that the product was intended to help Nigerians overcome body pains, fever and flu .

While comparing Ibuprofen with Paracetamol, , Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Eastern Finland, Prof. HannuKokki noted that Ibuprofen the active agent of Nurofen is superior to paracetamol while it is equally mild on the stomach” Category Manager, Nurofen, Qaiser Rashid said the launch of Nurofen is to empower Nigerians to continue to live active lives, stating that the product has been acclaimed to be the number one pain killer in every market where it has been launched, and that it works twice faster than the regular analgesic.

51

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17 , 2015

SHOPPING

Startimes to reward customers

S

TARTIMES Nigeria has concluded arrangements to celebrate its fifth year in the country with ‘Win a Trip’ promo where 10 lucky customers will travel to Germany to watch German league matches, as the grand prize winners.

Subsequently, the pay TV station, to further provide contents to their viewers, has signed a five-year deal for the exclusive right to air German Bundesliga matches in Nigeria for the next five seasons.

The public relations and communication manager, Startimes, Mr Isreal Bolaji disclosed this at a press parley where he said “overall, 360 winners across the country would be picked and rewarded at the raffle draws”.

Bolaji said the promo is a way to reward their custom-

ers for their loyalty to the brand and would start on July 18 through to September 30 as there would be four draws during the duration of the promo.

“StarTimes is not just satisfying and bringing affordable digital entertainment to every household in Nigeria, but also ensuring they get rewarded for their patronage over the years”, he said.

To qualify for the raffle draws, the Marketing Manager, Mr Habeed Somoye said “all our customers need do is to recharge for two months on any bouquet they are and the interesting thing is that all customers will get 50 per cent discount on the second month’s recharge, thereby all customers are winners”.

Explaining the process, Somoye said “for a customer on basic bouquet which is

N1, 200, two months subscription should be N2, 400, but it will be N1,800 as the 50 per cent discount on the second month has been effected”.

He said customers on all the four plans are eligible to participate in the promo as the minimum recharge of N1,800 qualifies any subscriber into the draws.

He said customers on Nova bouquet which is N600, can also participate as the minimum recharge of N1,800,which should be three months on the bouquet and that will last for four months, allowing them to benefit from the promo.

“Inevitably, not only the 360 lucky customers are winners but all our customers are, as each subscriber gets something in return upon recharging”, he added.

Somoye said “350 cus-

tomers will get consolation prizes, 100 will go home with 2.5 kva generators,200 will win Startimes Solar phones and 50 others will get Startimes 40 inches LED TV, making it 360 major winners in total”.

The content Manager, Mr Ayokunle Idowu said more sports channels will be added to the existing ones in lieu of the partnership with the German league to satisfy their customers.

On the issue of poor quality in terms of service delivery, Idowu said “external cables are now included in any purchase with the internal cable that was formerly included stopped, as research reveals that some customers do not explain how they want to setup to get advice on the modalities involved so that viewers on either DTT or DSH can get value for their money”.

Why traders hold exhibition

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RADERS have taken it upon themselves to hold exhibitions quarterly or half yearly in order to enhance and promote sales. Their reasons are based on the believe that when exhibitions are held, there is an opportunity for them to experience more training apart from the fact they would be together under one roof to enhance cordial relationship amongst themselves.

They also believed that exhibition can be likened to a bridge between the petty traders and the international ones, creating a symbiotic business relationship. Trader’s locations will easily be known to buyers, bringing them closer to trad-

•Scene from the last Lagos International Trade Fair

ers to create more awareness on product.

The Nation Shopping met with a mattress retailer, Mr. Rotimi Akinshola in an exhibition in Lagos. He thinks exhibition helps the traders to elevate their businesses. “Exhibitions are held to make more customers, create a buyer and seller relationship as well as bring customers close to the product for further enlighten-

ment.

He added: “I have been invited to different exhibitions and found the experience profitable and enjoyable. The good thing about exhibition is that some customers come to know your product and through it we meet different people selling other things.

We also get new connections and friends. And the reason why some traders don’t see it

as being important and necessary is because of the way the organizers present it to them. I think organizers of exhibitions should give orientation to sellers on how important exhibitions are to their products and the market. Most businesses look at the money involved in the process as a reason for not wanting to take part in an exhibition”.

Food vendors:‘our ordeal during the ramadan fast’

A

S Ramadan fast ends, the experiences of food vendors over the last one month has been bad. According to them, there haven’t been sales since Ramadan fast began. Ramadan which is a blessed month for the Muslims to fast and get closer to their God, by abstaining from food, drinks and some other activities, happened to be of disadvantage to food vendors across the Lagos metropolis.

For Mrs Merian Biodun who owns a restaurant at Makinde Bus stop in Ayobo area of Lagos, she doesn’t make sales whenever Muslims were fasting “I do not sell much when Ramadan is on. I prepare half of what I used to prepare on a normal day and when it was time to break their fast, some of them wouldn’t come around instead they prefered to go home to break their fast with their families “.

Mrs Muniratu Olushola, another restaurant owner at Idera, in Ipaja said sales are always low during Ramadan. “It is not that we did not make sales at all, but if we used to have twenty people buying from us on a normal day, during fasting period, we have less than twelve. And the painful thing is that, this would go on

for a whole month. It was indeed a great loss to us. If I should prepare the amount of food I normally use to prepare more than half will waste”.

F o r Madam Joy of God’s Glorious restaurant, her major patronage comes from Okada riders who are mainly Muslims and have their park in front of her res- •A food vendor taurant. “My main customers are Muslim okada riders and they eat a lot. But while they fast, I cook my food in small quantity so that it doesn’t waste. Some of them patronise me when they break their fast in the evenings, but they bought little quantity of food”.

TRUE VALUE 360 What is Consumer Strategy?

T

HIS is a column that promises to discuss,

By Kemi Otegbade mould and shape truevalue360@gmail.com societal values, seeks to protect the interests of of educational systems, consumers, citizens and unemployable job seekother broader relevant ers, trading ethics et al topics, such as decadence under the column, 'TRUE VALUE 360'. It is an interactive column as suggestions, complaints; day to day experiences are welcome.

This week's edition is Consumer Strategy: It is the psychology of why customers would select one brand over another. Consumer strategy looks at the consumer's environment and how that may be an influence. It also looks at how customers behave when shopping and making shopping decisions. In our environment where consumers have not been protected in the past decades; and the drive to make sales override consumers satisfaction, consumer behavior will likely be influenced by other factors such as scale of preference and product positioning. For example, storeowners, just by changing where a product is positioned in the store will attract more sales.

Consumer strategy uses market research tools. The goal is to give consumers what they want, not what brands think they want, this is where research comes in.

Research is distinguished between primary and secondary research. Primary research is research that the marketing team designs and conducts. The Pepsi Challenge was an example of primary research. Marketers were trying to find out if consumers preferred sweeter drinks like Pepsi to tarter drinks like Coke.

Secondary research is using research what already exists, such as how many elderly people live in a certain area. That information is available already; a serious research marketer just needs to gain access to it.

As consumers, what will make us stick to a brand more than its competitors? What will make us loyal to a brand?

Good Quality Accessibility Reward for loyalty Compensation for damage or poor quality Affordability as in value for money Incentives, such as regular promos Unfortunately, our local brands never compensate for damage or poor quality and we still get charged for it. What can we do? Ideally, reports with evidence should be made to the appropriate regulatory body, but like we know, the regulatory bodies have been slack so far.

But with the new wind of change, it's time to challenge even the regulatory bodies to task and demand performance and citizen's protection.

Are we helpless? Only if we want to be. What to do? Avoid misleading brands, keep evidence and spread the word to friends and family till we perceive a positive change. You may go further by sending a mail of your complaint to us with evidence. Let us tackle brands who trample on us together. See you next week.

By Ochu Ohunene Latifah

The story is same with Mrs Fatimat Adebola. “Ramadan period is not always a profitable period for my business because most of my customers are Muslims just like i am. Sometimes I won’t bother to open my restaurant at all for a day

or two because after waking up very early in the morning to cook for my family, I would go back to bed. Business was dull throughout the fast period and it is a major challenge we have always had to cope with when the fasting period comes.” she said.

‘Unfortunately, our local brands never compensate for damage or poor quality and we still get charged for it. What can we do?

Ideally, reports with evidence should be made to the appropriate regulatory body, but like we know, the regulatory bodies have been slack so far’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

52

SHOWBIZ

DIFF: Anti-apartheid film to screen on Mandela Day

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S part of this year’s Durban International Film Festival which started on Thursday, award-winning and world-renowned French filmmaker Euzhan Palcy, will showcase her most celebrated work, A Dry White Season (1989), in honour of the late South African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.

The screening is also in commemoration of the film’s 25th anniversary, which was adapted from a book by the acclaimed South African writer Andre Brink who died earlier this year. Palcy will be honouring Brink on July 18; Mandela Day. Additionally, in a tribute to her contribution to the South African film industry, Palcy will be honoured at the Simon Sabela Awards on July 19. Karina Brink, Dame Janet Suzman and Thoko Ntshinga will attend both the screening and the awards.

At the time the film was produced, Ms. Palcy was distinguished for being the first black female director to be hired by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and to direct

Rexy Brown looks to more collabo

G

OING acapella for the press that afternoon, it was evident that up and coming RnB singer, Rexy Brown has the niche to excel. But the light-skinned artiste says he his hoping that collaboration with established stars will help quicken his steps to stardom.

Rexy Brown has no doubt that his recent collaboration with J. Martins on Hello My Baby has given a boost to his burgeoning career, even as he prepares for his next work titled Give it To Me. Not only did the singer record success with his previous single and shooting a video in South Africa,

an anti-apartheid film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence.

She is also the only woman to have directed Marlon Brando and the first black person to win a French Oscar.

Andre Brink’s book, a narrative about the social movements of South Africa and the 1976 Soweto riots inspired Palcy’s impassioned response to illustrate an accurate account of the reality of apartheid.

Palcy made the film in 1989 after doing extensive research undercover in Soweto. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Marlon Brando, Zakes Mokae, Susan Sarandon, John Kani, Winston Ntshona and Jürgen Prochnow amongst others.

“We are pleased to be able to present an important work created by a black woman, which highlights and even represents the lost voices of the people of this continent; the unspoken narratives and the untold stories,” says Pedro Pimenta, Director of DIFF. “Her courage to create a work which could stand out and give three dimensional life to Brink’s book, and by association the voiceless at the time, required an • Rexy Brown

enormous amount of bravery. We are proud to be able to salute her at the DIFF this year.”

A Dry White Season will be screened at Suncoast at 20:00. This will be followed by a question and answer session with Ms. Palcy. Her first classic award winning film, Sugar Cane Alley, which Brink apparently screened in secret to his students, celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be screened as a South African premiere at Suncoast on Monday, 20 July at 19:30, in which she will also be in attendance.

According to Patrick Aglae, director of communications for Euzhan Palcy and producer of A Dry White Season, “It has been a long journey since we decided to officially screen A Dry White Season in South Africa on the big stage. Euzhan Palcy had made the promise to Nelson Mandela to comeback one day to officially screen the film. In March at the Andre Brink’s Memorial at the University of Cape Town she said “Let’s make it happen”. So to do it on the Mandela Day is magnificent. I’d like to thank DIFF’s

• A Dry White Season

new leadership to make this dream a reality alongside MGM and Park Circus, its worldwide distribution partner which played a key role to

Healed of fibroid, Kemi Adetiba encourages others

By Ovwe Medeme

A

he is spotting for bigger challenges, noting that he is sufficiently equipped to face the odds.

He is optimistic that apart from being able to sing diverse genres of music, his ability to speak in Yoruba, English and his native language, Igbo is an added advantage to his career.

He said: “I’m into Rhythm and Blues, as well as Dancehall. I can switch to different genres of music at will. Besides, I sing in English, Yoruba and Igbo. I think this is my selling point. I recently worked with J Martins on a track titled Hello My Baby. The video of the song is currently in progress.”

FTER surviving her long battle with uterine fibroid, celebrated music video director, Kemi Adetiba has urged her fans and followers who have one issue or another to “hang in there.”

She was responding to reactions she got from people after revealing she had battled the malady.

“I battled with an extreme case of Fibroids in secret for many years. When I say extreme, I mean EXTREME. From being rushed to the ER where the intense PAIN wouldn’t even allow me cry, to being dangerously close to death because of anaemia, to the physical changes, the mental and emotional roller coaster it takes not only YOU, but your loved ones privy to the information.

“I alluded to my battle in a recent interview while speaking on something else, and since then I have had an avalanche of messages from every avenue possible,” Adetiba said on her Instagram last week.

Still overwhelmed by the volley of massages from her followers, Adetiba posted details of her personal physician while thanking her followers for what she called the “lovely and positive energy” directed to her since talking a little about her battle with uterine fibroid.

“I am now healed and I feel AMAZING!! Thanks to all that reached out to ask,” she said, while urging “those still suffering” to “hang in there” as “there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

International Emmy Awards slated for Cannes, France on October 5, EbonyLife TV has successfully hosted the Semi-Final Round of judging of the Awards.

The judging event which held recently at the Eko Hotel and Suites in conjunction with the Academy, attracted some of the best minds in the TV and Film industry who participated as jurors.

Judges included Academy member, Executive Chairman and CEO, EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu; CEO of Mainframe Productions, Tunde Kelani; Director of Scripted Programming, EbonyLife TV, Quinty Pillay; Managing Director of Brickwall Communications, Mahmood Ali-Balogun; Managing Partner, Biola Alabi Consulting, Biola Alabi; and Programme Advisor, BFI London Film Festival, Keith Shiri.

Also included were Executive Producer and CEO, DV Worx, Femi Odugbemi; Director, Producer, Casting Director at Sunbow Productions

By Joe Agbro Jr.

P

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Limited, Tope Oshin-Ogun. Managing Director, Golden Effects Productions, Kunle Afolayan; Managing Director, Royal Roots Productions, Gregory Odutayo; CEO, Unique Sisi Ologe Productions Ltd, Ireti Doyle; and Managing Director, Mindworks CDC, Yinka Ogun.

According to Mo Abudu, “We are excited to be contributing to the Academy’s mission of recognizing excellence in the global television industry.”

Speaking for the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Mr. Nathaniel Brendel, Emmy Judging Director, said, “We thank our member, Mo Abudu and her wonderful team for hosting a Semi-Final Judging event for the first time this year, in Lagos. The support of our members is an integral part of the success of the competition worldwide and we are delighted to have included Nigeria as one of the host countries this year.”

• Kemi Adetiba

Plans to hold 60th Havana on course

EbonyLife TV hosts Emmy Awards HEAD of the final announcejudging event ment of nominees for the 2015

A

restore this film and make the DCP on time. To make it so fast speaks volume about their respect for the film.”

• Olamide, a previous performer at Havana

REPARATIONS are in top gear for the 60th edition of Havana, the prestigious annual carnival hosted by the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan. Towards this end, G’ENNIE Leisure Inc, the event organisers, are plotting on selling the Havana brand to corporate sponsors.

Mr Akin Olaiya, the CEO of Ambitus, one of Havana’s marketing partners told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday that they are considering how sponsors can gain economically as publicity alone does not bring in sponsors these days.

After a meeting in Surulere, Lagos, which had six agency representatives and the CEO of a popular musical network present, it was agreed that a shot be taken at activating an event that could allow sponsors six weeks of exclusive marketing opportunity pre-Havana finale so that products and services would be successfully marketed by intending sponsors.

“We know that it will be a grand event once we are able to get sponsors,” said Sigma Chief, Loyalist Damilola Oyebayo, expressing confidence in holding a landmark Havana sometime this year.

“For the companies that have showed interest in sponsoring Havana, we thank them. We shall hold a successful event when it eventually happens.”

Though the venue and date of the carnival as well as the expected artistes are yet to be disclosed, Corporate Affairs Manager of G’ENNIE Leisure Inc, Ms Kemi Onojobi, said that only six musicians will be featured at this 60th edition of Havana for six hours of non-stop music.

Sigma Club was founded by six undergraduates in 1950, two years after the University of Ibadan came into existence. In order to fund the charitable causes of the club, it birthed the Havana Musical Carnival in 1955.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

52

SHOWBIZ

DIFF: Anti-apartheid film to screen on Mandela Day

A

S part of this year’s Durban International Film Festival which started on Thursday, award-winning and world-renowned French filmmaker Euzhan Palcy, will showcase her most celebrated work, A Dry White Season (1989), in honour of the late South African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela.

The screening is also in commemoration of the film’s 25th anniversary, which was adapted from a book by the acclaimed South African writer Andre Brink who died earlier this year. Palcy will be honouring Brink on July 18; Mandela Day. Additionally, in a tribute to her contribution to the South African film industry, Palcy will be honoured at the Simon Sabela Awards on July 19. Karina Brink, Dame Janet Suzman and Thoko Ntshinga will attend both the screening and the awards.

At the time the film was produced, Ms. Palcy was distinguished for being the first black female director to be hired by a major Hollywood studio (MGM) and to direct

Rexy Brown looks to more collabo

G

OING acapella for the press that afternoon, it was evident that up and coming RnB singer, Rexy Brown has the niche to excel. But the light-skinned artiste says he his hoping that collaboration with established stars will help quicken his steps to stardom.

Rexy Brown has no doubt that his recent collaboration with J. Martins on Hello My Baby has given a boost to his burgeoning career, even as he prepares for his next work titled Give it To Me. Not only did the singer record success with his previous single and shooting a video in South Africa,

an anti-apartheid film during Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence.

She is also the only woman to have directed Marlon Brando and the first black person to win a French Oscar.

Andre Brink’s book, a narrative about the social movements of South Africa and the 1976 Soweto riots inspired Palcy’s impassioned response to illustrate an accurate account of the reality of apartheid.

Palcy made the film in 1989 after doing extensive research undercover in Soweto. The film stars Donald Sutherland, Janet Suzman, Marlon Brando, Zakes Mokae, Susan Sarandon, John Kani, Winston Ntshona and Jürgen Prochnow amongst others.

“We are pleased to be able to present an important work created by a black woman, which highlights and even represents the lost voices of the people of this continent; the unspoken narratives and the untold stories,” says Pedro Pimenta, Director of DIFF. “Her courage to create a work which could stand out and give three dimensional life to Brink’s book, and by association the voiceless at the time, required an • Rexy Brown

enormous amount of bravery. We are proud to be able to salute her at the DIFF this year.”

A Dry White Season will be screened at Suncoast at 20:00. This will be followed by a question and answer session with Ms. Palcy. Her first classic award winning film, Sugar Cane Alley, which Brink apparently screened in secret to his students, celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be screened as a South African premiere at Suncoast on Monday, 20 July at 19:30, in which she will also be in attendance.

According to Patrick Aglae, director of communications for Euzhan Palcy and producer of A Dry White Season, “It has been a long journey since we decided to officially screen A Dry White Season in South Africa on the big stage. Euzhan Palcy had made the promise to Nelson Mandela to comeback one day to officially screen the film. In March at the Andre Brink’s Memorial at the University of Cape Town she said “Let’s make it happen”. So to do it on the Mandela Day is magnificent. I’d like to thank DIFF’s

• A Dry White Season

new leadership to make this dream a reality alongside MGM and Park Circus, its worldwide distribution partner which played a key role to

Healed of fibroid, Kemi Adetiba encourages others

By Ovwe Medeme

A

he is spotting for bigger challenges, noting that he is sufficiently equipped to face the odds.

He is optimistic that apart from being able to sing diverse genres of music, his ability to speak in Yoruba, English and his native language, Igbo is an added advantage to his career.

He said: “I’m into Rhythm and Blues, as well as Dancehall. I can switch to different genres of music at will. Besides, I sing in English, Yoruba and Igbo. I think this is my selling point. I recently worked with J Martins on a track titled Hello My Baby. The video of the song is currently in progress.”

FTER surviving her long battle with uterine fibroid, celebrated music video director, Kemi Adetiba has urged her fans and followers who have one issue or another to “hang in there.”

She was responding to reactions she got from people after revealing she had battled the malady.

“I battled with an extreme case of Fibroids in secret for many years. When I say extreme, I mean EXTREME. From being rushed to the ER where the intense PAIN wouldn’t even allow me cry, to being dangerously close to death because of anaemia, to the physical changes, the mental and emotional roller coaster it takes not only YOU, but your loved ones privy to the information.

“I alluded to my battle in a recent interview while speaking on something else, and since then I have had an avalanche of messages from every avenue possible,” Adetiba said on her Instagram last week.

Still overwhelmed by the volley of massages from her followers, Adetiba posted details of her personal physician while thanking her followers for what she called the “lovely and positive energy” directed to her since talking a little about her battle with uterine fibroid.

“I am now healed and I feel AMAZING!! Thanks to all that reached out to ask,” she said, while urging “those still suffering” to “hang in there” as “there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

International Emmy Awards slated for Cannes, France on October 5, EbonyLife TV has successfully hosted the Semi-Final Round of judging of the Awards.

The judging event which held recently at the Eko Hotel and Suites in conjunction with the Academy, attracted some of the best minds in the TV and Film industry who participated as jurors.

Judges included Academy member, Executive Chairman and CEO, EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu; CEO of Mainframe Productions, Tunde Kelani; Director of Scripted Programming, EbonyLife TV, Quinty Pillay; Managing Director of Brickwall Communications, Mahmood Ali-Balogun; Managing Partner, Biola Alabi Consulting, Biola Alabi; and Programme Advisor, BFI London Film Festival, Keith Shiri.

Also included were Executive Producer and CEO, DV Worx, Femi Odugbemi; Director, Producer, Casting Director at Sunbow Productions

By Joe Agbro Jr.

P

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Limited, Tope Oshin-Ogun. Managing Director, Golden Effects Productions, Kunle Afolayan; Managing Director, Royal Roots Productions, Gregory Odutayo; CEO, Unique Sisi Ologe Productions Ltd, Ireti Doyle; and Managing Director, Mindworks CDC, Yinka Ogun.

According to Mo Abudu, “We are excited to be contributing to the Academy’s mission of recognizing excellence in the global television industry.”

Speaking for the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Mr. Nathaniel Brendel, Emmy Judging Director, said, “We thank our member, Mo Abudu and her wonderful team for hosting a Semi-Final Judging event for the first time this year, in Lagos. The support of our members is an integral part of the success of the competition worldwide and we are delighted to have included Nigeria as one of the host countries this year.”

• Kemi Adetiba

Plans to hold 60th Havana on course

EbonyLife TV hosts Emmy Awards HEAD of the final announcejudging event ment of nominees for the 2015

A

restore this film and make the DCP on time. To make it so fast speaks volume about their respect for the film.”

• Olamide, a previous performer at Havana

REPARATIONS are in top gear for the 60th edition of Havana, the prestigious annual carnival hosted by the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan. Towards this end, G’ENNIE Leisure Inc, the event organisers, are plotting on selling the Havana brand to corporate sponsors.

Mr Akin Olaiya, the CEO of Ambitus, one of Havana’s marketing partners told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday that they are considering how sponsors can gain economically as publicity alone does not bring in sponsors these days.

After a meeting in Surulere, Lagos, which had six agency representatives and the CEO of a popular musical network present, it was agreed that a shot be taken at activating an event that could allow sponsors six weeks of exclusive marketing opportunity pre-Havana finale so that products and services would be successfully marketed by intending sponsors.

“We know that it will be a grand event once we are able to get sponsors,” said Sigma Chief, Loyalist Damilola Oyebayo, expressing confidence in holding a landmark Havana sometime this year.

“For the companies that have showed interest in sponsoring Havana, we thank them. We shall hold a successful event when it eventually happens.”

Though the venue and date of the carnival as well as the expected artistes are yet to be disclosed, Corporate Affairs Manager of G’ENNIE Leisure Inc, Ms Kemi Onojobi, said that only six musicians will be featured at this 60th edition of Havana for six hours of non-stop music.

Sigma Club was founded by six undergraduates in 1950, two years after the University of Ibadan came into existence. In order to fund the charitable causes of the club, it birthed the Havana Musical Carnival in 1955.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

53

MONEYLINK

CBN mandates BDCs to provide customers’ BVN

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed Bureau De Change operators (BDCs) to ensure that their customers obtain their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN).

The direcive which takes effect from August 1, 2015, is to ensure greater transparency in transactions of licensed BDCs In a circular released yesterday, the said the provision of customers’ BVN “must be included in the Returns to the CBN.” The circular, signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Departmeny, CBN, Kevin Amugo, noted that “in the case of corporate customers, the BVN of a Director or an Authorized signatory of the entity must be provided.”

The CBN also mandated “all licensed BDCs to provide the BVN of all their Directors before 15th Au-

Skye Bank’s customers get N5m prize money

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From Nduka Chiejina and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

gust 2015, as failure to meet this requirement may affect their continued participation in the foreign exchange market.”

Kevin Amugo further threatened a fine of One million Naira (N1,000,000) as penalty for first offenders while subsequent violation may lead to revocation of license.

According to circular, “BDC operators should please note that any BDCs that fails to provide the required information in its returns, or provides a wrong BVN, would be penalized. First offenders will be required to pay a fine of One Million Naira (N1,000,000), while any subsequent violation of the requirement may lead to the revocation of the operating license of the BDCS.”

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

According to the CBN, “the list of all licensed BDCs would be provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to the Nigerian Interbank System (NIBBS), to enable the country provide the necessary hardware token that would be used by the BDCs in accessing the NIBSS website”.

Ecobank launches MoneyGram outbound transfer

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COBANK Nigeria has com menced MoneyGram Out bound Money Transfer Service.

The newly launched ‘MoneyGram Naija Sends’ service allows Nigerians to send money abroad through any of about 500 branches of Ecobank Nigeria, while the funds are received in the specified currency in the receiving country.

A customer, who wishes to use the service, would pay the naira equivalent (plus applicable charges) to Ecobank as an agent of MoneyGram for the foreign currency that would be paid to the specified beneficiary in the destination country.

The initiative is in line with the recent introduction of the revised guidelines for International Money Transfer Services by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which allows provi-

President, Business Development and Global Product, MoneyGram said, “At MoneyGram, we believe in movement, we believe in progress.

We believe in never being satisfied with the status quo, we believe in pushing the boundaries to give more to our customers the ability to send out of Nigeria, what we in Nigeria call Naija Sends. This represents our commitment to Movement.”

He explained that customers of Ecobank can now walk into any of the bank’s branches and send money to the world on MoneyGram. “I will like to express my confidence that Ecobank shall deploy its characteristic excellence in marketing, operations and compliance to this product, and I am sure by December- Ecobank will be the number one MoneyGram send agent in Nigeria, “he said.

By Collins Nweze

sion of Outbound Money Transfer services in Nigeria.

Kingsley Umadia , Executive Director, Ecobank Nigeria, lauded the partnership with MoneyGram, saying, it represents a significant milestone as customers can now send funds to family and friends around the globe in naira which can then be picked up in the currency of the receiving country where available.

According to him, “this innovative, customer-centric initiative is another way of delivery of excellent service to our customers. As a bank, we will continue to deliver and raise the bar of customers’ satisfaction,” adding that, it would also boost trade across the continent.

Alex Hoffman, Executive Vice

HREE customers of Skye Bank Plc were lifted up as they won N1 million each at the bank’s ‘Reach for the Skye’ promotional draw which took place in Ibadan, Oyo State on Thursday. The lucky winners were selected in an electronic draw conducted in the presence of officials of the National Lottery Commission.

The winners are Damie Morrison of Garki Junction branch, Port Harcourt; Innocent Oguabi of Katako, Abuja Branch; and Donatus Okoro of Badagry branch.

In addition, four other customers won N250,000 each, while another 10 won N100,000 each in the transparent draws. The total prize money redeemed by the bank was N5 million.

Speaking on the ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaires promo, Skye Bank’s Head of Retail Banking Group, Nkolika Okoli, said the bank would continue to encourage the adoption of the savings culture by the members of the public.

According to her, the qualification

criterion for the promo is for a customer to open a Skye Save Plus account with a minimum of N2000, with each additional N2000 increasing the customer’s chance to win the N1 million prize.

Okoli said the draws would hold every month and the bank’s customers would win N60 million in all before the promo is concluded. She therefore enjoined the members of the public to open a Skye Save Plus account with bank with a minimum balance of N2000 in order to benefit from the ongoing promotion.

The Area Manager, Oyo State, of the National Lottery Commission, Mr. Tayo Fasuhanmi, described the electronic draw conducted as open, transparent and clear, saying it conformed to the commission’s requirements of a credible draw. He advised members of the public to take advantage of the bank’s promotion to transform their businesses by opening accounts with it so as to be able to take part in future draws.

Stanbic IBTC rewards promo winners with cash prizes

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TANBIC IBTC Bank has given out a total sum of N4.22 million in prize money to 16 lucky winners of its Visa Gold Credit card promo titled Spend-and-Win. The promo, which was in conjunction with Visa, ran between May and June 2015. To ensure transparency, the draws were done electronically and in batches, with eight winners each picked for May and June.

Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Obinnia Abajue, explained that the lender has high regards for its customers and is using the promo to appreciate their patronage and loyalty over time.

“The Visa Gold Credit card promo is our way to say thank you to our faithful customers who continue to add to our bottom line through their patronage and loyalty. It is also part of the bank’s effort to encourage usage of cards as a preferred method of payment for goods and services,” Abajue said.

Head, Cards, Stanbic IBTC, Ademola Adeniran, said only Stanbic IBTC Bank Visa Gold credit cardholders with credit limits of N750,000 and below are qualified to participate in the promo. “Participating cardholders must spend over 50 percent of their credit limit in the calendar month in Nigeria or abroad to stand a chance of winning back the entire spend,” Adeniran stated.

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 1.2399 1.3035 0.7543 1.1801

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2337 1.3035 0.7424 1.1801

ETI ACCESS UNITYBNK IKEJAHOTEL OANDO VITAFOAM DIAMONDBNK CONTINSURE SKYEBANK NASCON

O/PRICE 20.31 4.80 2.33 3.83 12.10 5.60 3.96 1.00 2.09 6.73

C/PRICE 22.00 5.03 2.44 3.99 12.60 5.70 4.08 1.03 2.15 6.90

CHANGE 1.66 0.23 0.11 0.16 0.50 0.10 0.12 0.03 0.06 0.17

LOSERS AS AT 16-07-15

SYMBOL CCNN TRANSEXPR FCMB MAYBAKER UNILEVER CWG FIDSON CHAMPION ETERNA AGLEVENT COSTAIN

O/PRICE 11.50 1.22 3.00 1.60 39.90 3.43 3.48 5.58 2.30 1.27 0.67

C/PRICE 10.42 1.11 2.85 1.52 37.91 3.26 3.31 5.31 2.19 1.21 0.61

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -1.08 -0.11 -0.15 -0.08 -1.99 -0.17 -0.17 -0.27 -0.11 -0.06 -0.03

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 16-07-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

Tenor

N16.42 trillion.

16.5%

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

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

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

May 27

.

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

54

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

EQUITIES

Equities break 11-day downturn with N51b gain

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HE Nigerian stock market heaved a sigh of relief yesterday as bargain-hunting transactions rallied the market against the downers that had dominated the market all through the early days of the second half. After 11 days of recession, investors looking for undervalued stocks helped the market to a modest recovery, although the lingering selling sentiments remained.

The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based common index that tracks all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), rose by 0.25 per cent to close at 31,047.99 points as against its opening index of 30,970.51 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities also rose by 51 billion from N10.577 trillion to close at N10.628 trillion.

The modest recovery moderated the negative average year-to-date return at the stock market to -10.41 per cent. With 20 gainers to 29 losers, the market recovery was boosted by gains recorded by several highly capitalised stocks, especially in the banking, breweries and oil and gas sectors.

Guinness Nigeria led the gainers’ list with a gain of N2 to close at N142.

Ecobank Transnational

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Incorporated followed with a gain of N1.66 to close at N22. Total Nigeria rose by N1.30 to close at N160.90. Oando added 50 kobo to close at N12.60.

Guaranty Trust Bank rallied 44 kobo to close at N26. Stanbic IBTC Holdings gathered 40 kobo to close at N23.95. Access Bank gained 23 kobo to close at N5.03. Vitafoam Nigeria rose by 18 kobo to close at N5.78 while Nascon Industries and Ikeja Hotel chalked up 17 kobo and 16 kobo to close at N6.90 and N3.99 respectively.

On the downside, Forte Oil led the losers with a loss of N8.77 to close at N188.10. Mobil Oil Nigeria dropped by N4.35 to close at N150. Unilever Nigeria declined by N1.99 to close at N37.91. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria depreciated by N1.08 to close at N10.42. Nigerian Breweries and UACN Property Development Company dropped by 40 kobo each to close at N128.20 and N9.80 respectively. Champion Breweries declined by 27 kobo to close at N5.31. Dangote Sugar Refinery and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company dropped by 21 kobo each to close at N5.71 and N4.76 respectively

while Okomu Oil Palm lost 19 kobo to close at N25.82 per share.

Total Turnover stood at 222.22 million shares worth N2.83 billion in 3,701 deals. Financial services sector remained the most active with a turnover of 159.49 million shares worth N1.11 billion in 2,084 deals. Fidelity Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 23.25 million shares worth N36.17 million in 112 deals. Guaranty Trust Bank followed with a turnover of 20.53 million shares worth N525.23 million in 265 deals. AXA Mansard Insurance placed third with a turnover of 20.30 million shares worth N55.83 million in 16 deals.

The overall market situation remained cautious as investors continued to weigh macroeconomic outlook and corporate earnings.

“Given the market reversal witnessed today, we anticipate a mixed trading pattern next week as the unfolding weak macroeconomic dynamics have slowed investment decisions. The unimpressive half-year 2015 results released so far have also not excited the market,” said analysts at SCM Capital, formerly Sterling Capital Markets, after the trading session yesterday.

United Capital, Lion’s Head to manage German’s African bond fund

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NITED Capital Plc, an investment bank ing group quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and Lion’s Head, been appointed as the fund managers for the Africa Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCB Fund).

ALCB Fund was established by KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, KfW has so far invested $32 million for the initial capitalization of the Fund, out of which $18.4 million has been invested in seven non-sovereign local currency bond issuances.

As fund managers, United Capital and Lion’s Head will be expected to implement an institutional upgrade and grow the Fund to a size beyond $100 million in the medium term.

The ALCB Fund’s mission is to support local African banks, financial institutions, agribusiness, and renewable energy companies to issue bonds and similar instruments in local currency. The Fund aims to improve and diversify access to long term funding in domestic capital markets for the benefit of Micro, Small and Medium-sized

Enterprises (MSMEs) United Capital will be represented by its asset management arm, United capital Asset Management.

United Capital, one of Africa’s leading investment banks, has extensive experience in high profile financial executions. In 2014 the company executed the largest corporate bond issue in the Nigerian market, which was simultaneously listed on both the NSE and the Financial Market Dealers Quotation (FMDQ) OTC platform.

Other pioneering achievements recorded by United Capital include, completion of the first mortgage securitization for a mortgage backed bond in 2007; the first Tier 2 subordinated debt issuance through the bond market; and the largest corporate bond issuance in West Africa in 2010.

Lion’s Head, a merchant bank based in London and Nairobi brings capital markets expertise to development finance initiatives for frontier markets. Lion’s Head advises across a broad range of capital markets and corporate finance initiatives across Africa, working with both the public and the private sector.

Group chief executive officer, Oluwatoyin Sanni, said the selection further validates the company’s

capability and service proficiency as a leading investment banking group.

“It is an honour to be selected as Fund Managers alongside Lion’s Head in the management of the ALCB Fund,” Sanni said.

Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Investment Banking at United Capital, Wale Shonibare added said the company would bring its African market expertise to bear in providing the necessary tailored solutions to significantly grow the Fund, and to meet KfW’s development objectives.

Chairman, Lion’s Head, Bim Hundal, said the company was excited to add the ALCB Fund to its portfolio of asset management.

A member of the board of directors of the ALCB Fund, Karl von Klitzing, said the fund managers would help to consolidate the growth of the fund.

“Having proven the concept of an African non-sovereign local currency bond fund by sourcing and implementing the first investments and managing the fund by ourselves, we are very happy to now hand over a high impact and good credit quality portfolio to experienced fund managers, to bring the fund to a truly sizable scale,” Karl von Klitzing said.

55

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-07-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-07-15

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

56

CITYBEATS Lekki bank robbery O NE of the four Lekki bank robbery suspects has taken the police to court, asking for N1million damages for alleged unlawful detention.

In a suit at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, Ebi Tosan prayed that the police be directed to release him on bail.

Respondents in the suit are Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Officer-inCharge of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) in Ikeja.

Tosan, 20, was paraded by the police with Duke Odogbo, 38, Lawrence Kingsley, 31, and Ekelemo Kuete, 30, in connection with the March 12 robbery of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Lekki, Lagos.

The applicant, who was arrested on April 5, claimed that it was unlawful for the police to keep him in detention without bail.

The matter could not be heard yesterday when it

A

A

N Igando Customary Court in Lagos yesterday dissolved the 16-year marriage of Mr and Mrs Muri Oderinde on the grounds of adultery. Mr Oderinde, a businessman, had sought the dissolution of the marriage, accusing his wife, Banke of adultery.

Delivering judgment, the court’s Presidnent, Mr Hakeem Oyekan, said it appeared the estranged couple were tired of the marriage, adding that all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

“Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The couple can no longer stay together because the marriage has broken down totally; both parties are no longer husband and wife, they are free to go their separate ways,’’ Oyekan ruled.

Oderinde, 50, accused, his wife, of having extra-marital affairs and was using her sister’s house as a cover-up.

Lagos APC chieftain shot dead N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Mr Shalewa Daramola, was yesterday shot dead in Festac Town, Lagos, by gunmen.

The incident occurred at K close, 3 rd Avenue, Festac Town, about 1.12pm. The late Daramola was an APC member in Ward B, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to eyewitnesses, the late Daramola, who was in his 40s, was shot four times at close range.

He was rushed to the Local Government Primary Health Centre, but was referred to another hospital in Festac Town where he was confirmed dead.

suspect sues police for N1m A •’I’m being unlawfully detained’

By Adebisi Onanuga

came before Justice Lateefa Okunnu because the police did not bring the applicant to court.

But his counsel, Chief S.W. Baidi, complained that his continued detention without bail was an “infringement and curtailment of the applicant’s constitutional right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and presumption of innocence.”

He prayed the court to declare that Tosan’s arrest, torture and continued detention violated the applicant’s rights under Sections 34(1)(a), 35(1)(4) and 41 of the

1999 constitution.

In a 26-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons, Tamuno Amos, who claimed to be the applicant’s uncle, said his nephew’s continued detention was a deliberate act by the police to “extract a confessional statement from him on the alleged offence.”

Amos averred that he had not been allowed to see his nephew since his arrest on April 5.

The deponent said: “The applicant is suffering on daily basis without access to food, bath and other conveniences and he may die in custody unless granted

bail.”

Last July 9, Justice Okunnu directed the police to produce the applicant in court yesterday. But, he was not brought, thereby stalling the hearing of his application .

Justice Okunnu has ordered that Lagos State Attorney-General be joined in the suit.

She adjourned the matter till October 22.

The judge said if there was any urgency, the applicant could appear before October 22 before another judge who will be sitting during the court’s yearly vacation, which begins next week.

Court frees guard of armed robbery N Ikeja High Court in Lagos yesterday freed a 30-year-old security guard, Donald Oche, of armed robbery.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya said his order followed the prosecution’s failure to prove its case against Oche.

Oche was arraigned before Justice Ogunsanya on December 20, 2013 on a two-

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

By Adebisi Onanuga

count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

During the trial, the prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Haroun, claimed that Oche committed the offence with other accomplices, who are now at large at 3a.m on February 24, 2011 at 551, Ikorodu Road, Ketu, Lagos.

He alleged that the defendant and his accomplices robbed Mr Falayi Olabusuyi, a partner in Auto World Venture, of 28 laptop computers, armed with a cutlass and other dangerous weapons.

“Oche and his accomplices, who were armed with a cutlass and other dangerous weapons, made away with

28 laptop computers during the robbery”, the prosecutor said.

He said the offence contravened sections 402(2)(a) and 403(a) of the Criminal Law. Acquitting the defendant, Justice Ogunsanya held that the prosecution witnesses, who were police officers, gave inconsistent testimonies.

Man divorces ‘adulterous’ wife • ‘I’m not an adulteress’ “My wife is unfaithful; she always lied to me that she wanted to go and visit her sister, but went somewhere else.

“She took permission that she wanted to visit her sister, as usual. I allowed her, the next day when she did not return, I called her sister who told me that she did not see her.

“I later caught her with a man whom she claimed was just a friend,’’ he said.

He described his wife as troublesome, who fought and rained abuses on him.

“My wife is troublesome, anytime I return late from work, she will lock the door; if I called her to open the door, she will refuse and I will go to a hotel to sleep.’’

According to him, Banke refuse to accommodate his children from another

‘

She took permission that she wanted to visit her sister, as usual, I allowed her, the next day when she did not return, I called her sister who told me that she did not see her

’

woman and did not welcome his friends and relatives to his house.

He begged the court to dissolve the marriage, since he was no longer interested and did not love her.

Banke, a 35-year-old trader, who refuted the alle-

gations, denied committing adultery, saying the man her husband saw her with was a friend.

“I am not adulterous, the man he claimed he saw was just a friend, no strings attached”.

She described her husband as an ingrate, adding that she paid his house rent and furnished his apartment.

“My husband is ungrateful; I rented the apartment he was staying, bought mattress, television and other household items.

“He has five children from different women, I still accommodated them, feeding them with my money. “ Muri goes out at will and comes back at will, and could leave the house for six to eight days without telling me of his whereabouts,” the respondent said.

•The late Daramola

The incident has been reported at Festac Police Station, 2nd Avenue, Festac town.

Two men charged with defiling girl

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WO men, Kazeem Lawal, 21, and Shakiru Ibisode,18, yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Lawal, a welder, who resides on Otta Road in Orile-Agege and Ibisode, a trader of 32 Ogundare Street, Ile Epo, AbuleEgba Road, in Lagos, were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and sexual assault.

Prosecutor Rachael Williams said the offence was committed on July 13 at Ile-Epo Market, Abule Egba Road.

Williams said the accused ambushed the victim on her way home and assaulted her by fingering her vagina.

“They were still on it when the police on patrol sighted them and apprehended them,’’ Williams said.

Williams said the offence contravened Sections 259 and 409 of the Criminal Law. The accused pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias granted the accused N100, 000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.

He adjourned the case till July 29.

Man, 75, ‘rapes’ girl, 13

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75-YEAR-OLD man, Gabriel Nwakama, who allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl, was yesterday charged before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court 4 in Lagos.

The accused, who lives at 4, Oloosa-Oke Street, Ogundimu in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and defilement.

Prosecuting police officer Racheal Williams said the offence was committed on July 12 in the defendant’s apartment.

According to Williams, the accused lured the girl, who went to fetch water in his compound, into his room and raped her.

“The accused covered her mouth and raped her. He told the innocent girl not to tell anyone or else he would kill her.

“Out of fear, the girl kept quiet when she got home but the mother who suspected a foul play threatened to beat her if she did not tell her what happened,” she said.

“The girl finally opened up three days after and the accused was arrested.’’

The offence contravenes Sections 135 and 137 of the Criminal Law. The accused pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias granted the accused N500, 000 bail with two sureties in like the sum. He adjourned the case till July 22.

Magistrate cautions tricyclists

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WO commercial tricycle riders popularly known as Keke Marwa were yesterday cautioned and discharged by an Ikorodu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos after spending weeks in prison custody for traffic offences.

Akinola Olarinde and Sorinmola Sunday were brought before Mrs. A.B. Olagbegi-Adelabu for alleged traffic obstruction and riding without a driver’s card.

They pleaded guilty.

Olarinde, the first to be

By Robert Egbe

tried, was in police custody after his arrest on June 30.

He was arraigned in court on July 10 and remanded in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos, until yesterday.

Sunday was arrested by officers of the Owutu Police Station, Ikorodu, at 9:30pm on June 27, when he rode in an unregistered Keke Marwa.

In his allocutus (plea for mitigation of sentence), their counsel, J.O. Odumosu, urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants

were young men “looking for what to eat.”

He added that they had spent weeks in detention.

In her ruling, Mrs. Olagbegi-Adelabu observed that the defendants appeared to have learnt their lessons. Their prosecution, she said, had sent a signal to commercial tricycle riders that the police were ready to try them if they broke the law.

She said they might have been asked to do community service, but for the fact that they had already spent time in prison.

•Chief Medical Director, Gbagada General Hospital Dr Tayo Lawal; President Rotary Club of Gbagada Sola Adenuga-Taiwo; Rotary 9110 District Governor Bola Onabadejo and Chief Matron Carol Nwokolo when Gbagada Rotary donated items to Gbagada General Hospital PHOTO:NNEKA NWANERI

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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Edo APC, PDP bicker over N1.5b election fund

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DO State All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for a probe into how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spent N1.5 billion on the last March and April general elections.

The party said the call became necessary because the money belongs to Nigerians.

It said there were reports on how the PDP squandered huge funds during the elections.

The Edo APC urged PDP’s Chairman Dan Orbih to re-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

sign for allegedly misappropriating the funds.

APC’s Publicity Secretary Godwin Erhahon, who addressed reporters yesterday in Benin, the state capital, said Orbih was being investigated by the party’s national leadership.

He said: “It is obvious today that the money was pocketed. That is why some PDP members are today calling for Orbih’s removal. It is be-

cause they lost the elections, despite the funds given to the state.

“We are calling for his resignation because he has no morals to criticise the Adams Oshiomhole administration, which has been prudent in the management of the state’s resources.”

Orbih, who reacted through the party’s spokesman Chris Nehikhare, described the allegation as frivolous.

He said: “The APC is just cooking up lies because we

called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the finances of the local governments, which the APC-led government in the state misappropriated. That led to local government workers not being paid.

“If they have any evidence, they should show it. It is also not true that Orbih is being probed by the national leadership of the party. As a matter of fact, Orbih, right now, is being praised by the na-

tional leadership of the party for winning two senatorial seats, five House of Representatives seats and the presidential election in Edo. So, those allegations are untrue.

“Orbih was not the chairman of the Presidential Campaign Committee in the state; it was Pastor Ize-Iyamu. So, if there is any fund given to PDP, they should ask Ize-Iyamu and not Orbih. And there is nothing like a N10 million given to our House of Assembly candidates.”

Confusion as ‘deaf’ pupils protest From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HERE was confusion yesterday at Ihogbe College, Benin, the Edo State capital.

Audio-impaired pupils locked out physically fit pupils and officials of the school.

The “deaf” pupils were protesting the dearth of special teachers and interpreters.

It was difficult getting the complaints of the aggrieved pupils.

There was nobody to interpret their sign language.

But they later wrote down the reason for locking out their colleagues.

They demanded a school bus and well-equipped classrooms.

The head teachers of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and the Senior Secondary School (SSS) locked their classes.

They ordered the pupils to return home and resume next Tuesday.

The aggrieved pupils said there were only 19 teachers in their school.

When our reporter visited the school yesterday, the pupils had left.

A security man told our reporter to return next Tuesday.

Ashafa greets Muslims

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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ENATOR Gbenga Ashafa representing Lagos East Senatorial District has prayed for all Muslim faithful who participated in the just concluded Ramadan fasting season, saying their devotion to Allah will not be a waste.

Ashafa in a statement to his constituents, said the peaceful end of this year’s fast lends credence to the perseverance and discipline of Muslims and Nigerians as a whole.

He urged them to allow the lessons of Ramadan permeate their souls. “Let the lessons of this fast permeate your souls and I pray that your show of devotion to Allah would not be a waste.”

Wishing everyone a peaceful celebration, he thanked Lagosians for their cooperation and support so far for the new Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and restated his commitment to the ideals of change as espoused in the blueprint of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He added: “I humbly ask my well-wishers and the good people of my constituents to perform random acts of kindness to people in need, to their neighbours and fellow citizens.?

And for all these goodwill messages and kind words I have been receiving in commemoration of my 60th birthday anniversary coming up on July 22, I say thank you to everyone”.

Man remanded for stealing From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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N Oredo Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday remanded a 22year-old man, Osarunmwense Iredia, in prison custody for stealing phones.

Iredia was said to have stolen the items from phone shops at the Oba Ovoramwen Square.

He was arraigned on a twocount charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

Police Prosecutor, Sylvester Omor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the suspect, who has no permanent address, conspired with others on the run, to commit the offences on December 13, 2014.

He said items recovered from the victim included a gun, cutlasses and sticks.

Omor said Iredia’s offence is punishable under Section1 (2) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap. II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Magistrate, M. Adebanjo, remanded the accused in Oko Prison and adjourned the matter still September 21, 2015 for mention.

Wike: I have cleared backlog of salaries •Governor swears in HOS •Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun exchanging pleasantries with a market woman when he visited Itoku Market in Abeokuta...yesterday.

Pipeline explosion: Bayelsa seeks forensic probe

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HE Bayelsa State Government has called for a forensic investigation into the explosion that rocked a Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Thirteen persons, including an employee of the Ministry of Environment and security personnel, died in the incident.

Four other persons were injured.

Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday summoned NAOC’s officials to Yenagoa, the state capital, for an emergency meeting. But NAOC’s managing director was absent.

The governor expressed displeasure at reports that accused the company of non-

•Govt criticises Agip From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

compliance with environmental standards in its operations.

He vowed to seek redress on the incident and other environmental abuses, if the outcome of the report indicted NAOC. Dickson said the team comprised experts from relevant agencies.

The governor urged oil companies and other corporate organisations to operate within international standards.

He expressed dismay at the absence of NAOC’s managing director at the meeting, adding that he would henceforth wish to relate directly with the

chief executive officer when discussing weighty issues.

Dickson consoled the families of the explosion’s victims.

The governor restated his administration’s commitment to protecting the environment against further destruction by oil companies and pipeline vandals.

He said: “In this government, we are concerned about the environment. The statistics that have been read out are alarming, to say the least.

I can’t imagine in this state how, from your facilities alone, 656 spills occurred in one year.

“That means almost three spills at three different sites occur everyday of the year.

That is very troubling, even though I know that the activities of some of our people

also contribute to these.

“In view of the litany of complaints against most of the oil companies here, and in particular about AGIP from all stakeholders - security, communal and government the government of Bayelsa State is interested in a full forensic investigation. Like I said earlier, I don’t want to prejudge the final report that will come.

“But if the investigation concludes that your company has not done or is not doing enough, in terms of observing environmentally accepted standards, the government of Bayelsa State will not hesitate in taking legal measures to ensure that you are brought to account, including moving for a revocation of your licence to operate here.”

Eid-el-Fitr: ACF, Sultan greet Muslims

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S muslims all over the world celebrates Eid-elFitr today, the Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III yesterday appealed to the dreaded Boko Haram sect to lay down their arms and stop killings of innocent souls. He said Islam forbids the killing of innocent soul without any justifiable cause as prescribed by Sharia.

ACF, in its Eid-el-fitr felicitation message signed by it National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday, equally called on the security agencies to intensify their efforts in combating the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast region and other terrorists activities nationwide.

According to the statement, ACF congratulates the new

•Beg Boko Haram to stop killings From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

National Security Adviser and the Service Chiefs as it believes that President Buhari has made the best choice and we expect them to bring their experiences to bear and work together fast and tackle the renewed upsurge of the Boko Haram. The states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa deserve some respite please.

“Nigeria needs peace for the Buhari administration to effect the change Nigerians voted for. As Mr. President leaves for state visit to USA on Monday, ACF wishes him and his entourage a fruitful deliberations with President Obama.

“ACF urges our leaders at all levels to consider themselves as servants of the people, demonstrate love, fairness and equity in all their

dealings while the followers should constantly pray for God to guide the leaders towards good governance.

“The Holy month of Ramadan of 1436 AH (2015 AD) will come to an end with the sighting of Shawwal moon.

The period of Ramadan was an opportunity for Muslims all over world who fasted, prayed, reflected and devoted themselves to the reading and teachings of the Holy Quran, practices and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“It was also an occasion when Muslims reaffirmed their belief in the oneness of Almighty Allah and commitment to the ideals of Islam.

Muslims also prayed fervently for peace, unity and understanding among Nigerians, they also helped the less fortunate and the poor in our

midst in view of the prevailing economic hardships and inequality nationwide.

“ACF therefore wishes the Muslim Ummah nationwide a peaceful and Happy Eid Fitr SALLAH celebration and equally urges Muslims to continue to devote themselves to prayers for unity and peaceful coexistence in view of the insecurity and many other challenges confronting Nigeria. ACF equally appeals to the perpetrators of insurgency and terrorism to lay down their arms and stop killing innocent people as Islam forbids the killing of innocent soul without any justifiable cause as prescribed by Sharia,” the statement read.

Sultan, in a statement by the The Secretary General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu said giving to the down trodden will assist them to celebrate the Sallah happily with the rest of the Muslims.

R

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike said yesterday his administration had settled the outstanding salary it inherited from the former administration.

The governor said civil servants’ salaries had been paid up-to-date.

He said the time had come for fresh blood to be injected into the civil service to make it more productive and contribute effectively to the development of the state.

At the swearing-in of the Head of Service (HOS), Mr Rufus Godwins, the governor said the time had come for the civil servants to key into the mission and vision of his administration.

He said his administration would diligently pursue civil servants’ welfare in exchange for quality service delivery from government employees.

Wike regretted that despite the present trying times, most of the permanent secretaries were still not committed to service. The governor said he appointed a new HOS to ensure that the civil service joined the administration’s development programmes.

He told the permanent secretaries that beginning from July, his administration would pay monthly overheads to ministries, which he said the last administration stopped.

Wike said: “So many things have gone wrong in the state’s civil service. This needs to be corrected. The new Head of Service now has the job of ensuring that civil servants key into the mission and vision of the administration.

“Many of the permanent secretaries are supposed to have retired, based on their records of service. These are some of the issues that need to be addressed. The new Head of Service has the mandate to inject fresh blood into the system.”

The governor urged Godwins to improve the condition of the secretariat by making the lifts and conveniences functional and repair key facilities.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

58

NEWS Youths hold Night of Praise today

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HE Able Youth Fellowship of The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Jehovah Christ Prayer House, Ti Oluwa Ni, is holding its Annual Praise Night today.

The programme, with the theme: ‘Joy Unspeakable’, which has Senior Superintendent Apostle O. I. Solomon

(JP) as chief host, will also feature Aduke Gold and Segun Nabi as special guest artistes.

According to the church’s spokesperson, Mr. Ade Aina, the annual fiesta will be hosted at the parish cathedral at Oluwaseyi B/Stop, on Isashi Road, Isashi, off Badagry Expressway, Lagos. Time is 9pm prompt.

•President Buhari (right) and Governor Emmanuel shaking hands when Udom visited the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ...yesterday.

Dogara replies Oyegun •Zones Majority Leader to Northwest

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OUSE of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has replied a letter addressed to him on June 23 by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

In the letter, the APC chair urged the lower legislative chamber to share the remaining four principal offices as follows: Chief Whip (Northeast); House Leader (Southwest); Deputy House Leader (Northwest) and Deputy Chief Whip (Southsouth.)

But in his dated yesterday, Dogara said the House would have negated the federal character principle if it obeyed the party’s directive.

He restated his earlier claim that a court case instituted by some members on the matter, made it impossible for him to make all necessary consultation on the chairman’s letter.

Dogara also informed the APC leader of the need to respect Federal Character even as he enumerated the tradition of the House of Representatives regarding how principal officers are elected.

He then proposed to the Odigie-Oyegun his own a list of zoning of principal offices that would best reflect the spirit of federal character. He suggested that the Northeast and Southwest having produced his as the Speaker and Lasun Yussuf as his deputy, should not be given an principal officer’s slot.

Dogara proposed that the House Leader should come from the Northwest (with 86 APC members) Deputy House Leader from the Northcentral (with 33 APC members) and the Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip should come from the Southsouth and Southeast respectively.

Alleged interference with election tribunals: PDP lied, says APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of engaging in brazen lies by alleging interference by the security agencies with cases before election petition tribunals. The APC described the allegation as a futile attempt by the PDP to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said not only did the PDP lie shamelessly in making the allegation, the party is also trying to muddle the waters on the true situation concerning the case before the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal - which precipitated the PDP’s frivolous accusation in the first instance.

It said that in truth, the invitation of some officials from the Rivers State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was prompted by a petition to the IG and the DG, DSS, by the APC that the officials were colluding with the PDP to deny the APC access to key documents used for the last Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

Also contained in the petition, APC said, is the fact that some directors at the INEC head office in Abuja have been working strenuously to deny the APC access to some documents used for the said elections but domiciled at the Commission’s head office, even when the INEC Chairman has promptly attended to the issue and directed the said officials to furnish the needed documents.

The party said that as a matter of fact, the IG had directed, upon the receipt of the APC petition, that the matter be investigated and that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State should be invited.

Those who were named in the APC petition to the security

agencies include the Rivers REC, Mrs Gesila Khan; the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Obijuru C. Royson; Head of Operations Department Bocco Ekong and Legal Officer Fumi Nancy Odihir Gaffar who, along with other INEC officials in Rivers, are colluding with the PDP to frustrate all attempts by the APC to access the vital documents. ‘’Therefore, the PDP’s wolf crying over a conspiracy it orchestrated with the Rivers INEC to deny the APC access to documents used for the said elections amounts to barefaced lies and a clear attempt at distorting facts. ‘’These persistent refusal to release the documents is happening despite a valid order from the Tribunal and in a clear violation of Section 77 (1) and (2) and other provisions of the Electoral Act. ‘’In addition, there is also a deliberate effort by the conspirators (Rivers INEC and the PDP) to destroy the documents so as not to allow the APC to have access to them, and then report their loss to the police. One of such cases was filed on June 29th at the Akinima Police Station in the Ahoada West Council Area,’’ APC said The party said it is now clearer than ever that the PDP, knowing fully well that it has something to hide in the Rivers election, is doing everything possible to sabotage the search for the truth, while at the same time engaging in impudent finger pointing as a strategy to deceive the unsuspecting public. ‘’Having willfully used the security agencies as a tool to rig elections, harass the opposition and tamper with evidence in all its 16 years of shame in office, the PDP now believes the APC will do the same. That is wrong, because the APC is a party founded on the rule of law. As far as we in the APC are concerned, let the necessary lawful procedures be followed and let the truth prevail in the cases before the various election petition tribunals across the country,’’ it said.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Emmanuel: PDP governors will back Buhari

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KWA Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have no option but to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed.

Udom spoke with reporters after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He expressed delight at Buhari’s relationship with governors, irrespective of political affiliations.

Emmanuel said: “The day you are elected, you are no more a PDP governor; you are

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

a governor of a state in Nigeria. There is nothing like PDP or APC again.

“People elected you, party is just a platform on which you get to serve your people. The day you are elected and sworn in, you are sworn in as the governor of the state, the day you are sworn in, you are sworn in as the President of Nigeria.

“The President welcomes us as the father of the country, it has nothing to do with partisanship here, it has to do with

the people; the nation is about the people”.

The governor said he was at the villa to discuss the gully erosion facing the state with the President, stressing that the state government had intervened and is expecting a refund from the Federal Government.

According to him, commercial activities almost came to a halt on a few occasions because a major federal road linking the Southsouth and the Southeast collapsed due to gully erosion.

“We have the problem of gully erosion. If you watch the

news in recent time, you will see the devastating effect on some federal assets and how the state government has intervened.

“Commercial activities were almost grounded because a major federal road linking the Southsouth and the Southeast collapsed due to gully erosion. The state government had to intervene and these things cost money.

“Even with that, you still need to carry on your own duty because those things exist within your state and as a governor, you can’t just ignore them”, Udom said.

Service chiefs, others get suggestions on insecurity

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HE newly appointed Service chiefs have been urged to approach their assignments with utmost commitment to justify their choice as managers of the country’s security agencies.

National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Dickson Akoh, who gave this advice in Abuja yesterday, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the changes in the leadership of

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

He said the changes were overdue and that Nigerians anticipated the development, considering the increase in Boko Haram attacks, robbery, kidnapping and other security challenges.

Akoh said the new Service chiefs deserve their appointment.

“We are optimistic that

these appointments will spur them to bring their wealth of experience and expertise to bear in tackling the current security challenges facing the country.

“My advice is that they study and conduct an in-depth analysis of the factors that contributed to the inability of their predecessors to address the insurgency.

“With new leaders at the helm of affairs, it is our view that there is urgent need for a

holistic overhaul of the security architecture and a change in their operational strategies.

“They should avoid interagency rivalry but form an effective synergy with relevant security establishments for effective performance.

“The exchange of intelligence among the security operatives, to a large extent, could help in arresting the terrorists. Of importance is the need to acquire necessary equipment,” Akoh said.

PDP vows to reject elections conducted by new INEC boss

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to reject any election conducted under the watch of the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari.

The party has also urged

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

the international community to call President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) “to order” over what it described as the draconian and authoritarian tendencies

of the government.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh stated this yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Abuja.

The PDP is making the move ahead of President Buhari’s scheduled visit to the United States this weekend to confer with President Barack Obama on ways to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency and corruption.

Court sacks Ogun monarch

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HE sun set on the troubled reign of a prominent monarch in Ogun State, the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo, Oba Olatunji Kalejaiye.

He was deposed yesterday by a State High Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun East Senatorial District.

Justice Gbenga Ogunfowora, in the judgment that ended the legal action challenging the enthronement of Kalejaiye, declared his ascendancy to the throne as illegal, ultra vires, null and void and asked him to vacate the stool immediately.

The judge also ordered the Ogun State Government, the Attorney-General, Remo North Local Government and chiefs of the town, to stop

By Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

recognizsing Kalejaiye as the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo town in Remo North Local Government Area of the state.

Directing the kingmakers to immediately convene a meeting to consider nominees for the throne from the Sugbada ruling house, which is the rightful of the ruling households in the town, to produce the next king, the Judge averred that their is no mention of any Sugbodo ruling house in the gazette that empowers the selection of the Nloku of Iraye-Ode Remo.

Mr. Kalejaiye was installed the Nloku in 2009 by the Ogun State Government amidst

protracted protests by members of the rightful ruling house after the last Nloku, the late Oba Salau Adesanya, passed on a couple of years earlier. Although his nomination and selection by the kingmakers were challenged by the Sugbada ruing house, which argued that he was not a member of the ruling arm, the state government went ahead to inaugurate him, prompting the legal action.

Those who challenged the authenticity of Adegbola’s claims to the throne are elders and members of the Sugbada royal family of Iraye-Ode Remo. Joined in the suit besides Kalejaiye are: the Governor of Ogun State, the Attorney General, Remo North Local Gov-

ernment and the Kingmakers.

The plaintiffs, represented by the lawyer, Tunji Onabawo, sought reliefs in their statement of claims which were all granted by the court.

Having summarized all the submissions of the counsel to both sides, Justice Ogunfowora resolved all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs.

Adressing the court after the judgement, Onabawo lauded the judge for “a brilliant, comprehensive and incisive judgement,” which, he said had confirmed the saying that although the machinery of justice grinds slowly, it grinds surely and fine, considering how long the struggle had lasted. He thanked the judge for his patience and industry.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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Kwara council workers begin strike

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EMBERS of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Kwara State yesterday began an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries.

The association Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Afolabi, confirmed the development, saying “local government workers in the 16 local governments have embarked on a strike, which started today (yesterday).

“It is related to the nonpayment of salaries for

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

months. Some are owed five months. Those owed the least are owed two months.

We have joined our colleagues in other states, who embarked on the strike a long time ago.”

Afolabi denied the allegation that members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned to protest at the Government House, Ilorin during Eid-il-Fitr.

He said: “We are not plan-

ning to embark on protest during Sallah. Although most of us are not celebrating because there is no money. Our salaries have not been paid for months.”

The Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Lateef Okandeji, said: “The payment of our salary arrears began yesterday.

“I saw a copy of their communiqué detailing the strike.

We began the payment of June salary on Wednesday.

Those who did not get theirs

will do so. Because of the stress of going to banks to collect money, some workers demanded getting their salary by hand.

“So, it will not be surprising or out of place to see some local governments paying their workers by hand.”

He said a tripartite meeting of the association, the workers and the supervisory Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was scheduled to hold yesterday.

Lamido: I bear no grudge against anyone

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ORMER Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said yesterday in Kano that he bore no grudges against anybody following his travails and those of his sons.

Lamido, addressing reporters in his home after returning from Abuja where they were released on bail, said every human being had his or her shortcomings, “but this is an experience, which you cannot share with another person.”

He said: “It is disheartening that a situation where your family is dragged into an issue in order to humiliate and destroy what you must have built for many years, is uncalled for, which should be discouraged.

“If you are dealing with human institutions, you don’t look for perfection, because human institutions are never perfect, whether media, cultural, labour or political. In human institutions, there can be perfection or some imperfection. In the process to improve democracy, there must be some mistakes.

“Now, there is this scenario where they now bring your own family into it. The purpose is to humiliate, to reconstruct and to destroy. This is part of the hazard, this must be discouraged. I am a human being, I have my own

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

shortcomings. What I’m saying is that if you want to serve your own people, or you want to serve your own country, you might face some consequences.

“They know I am Sule and they know who Sule is. They know Sule in the outside world, they know in the whole country who Sule is.

This new revolution that who is Sule is very fascinating.

Wherever you are of this divide, whether you are for or against, whether you believe I am innocent or you believe I am corrupt. Where you fulfil your own political interest in your own interpretation.

“This is not the first time I’ve been persecuted and imprisoned. More ex-governors should expect to pass through these travails because they can be framed up.

“In my own case, in the last 30 years, I have been very loud. It can be offensive, it can be too irritating. I bear no grudge against anybody. Those who see me as a thief, they have their own opinion. Those who see me as innocent, they have their own opinion. This is part of the hazards. To me, the bail is more important. The bail was based on my personal recognition.”

Senator defects to APC Bishop David Oyedepo (left) and Vice-President, Living Faith Foundation, Pastor David Abioye, at the news conference PHOTO: NAN ...yesterday

Oyedepo bemoans poor education funding

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OUNDER of Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) Bishop David Oyedepo has bemoaned poor funding of education by the nation’s successive governments.

Dr Oyedepo, who is the chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Council, Kwara State, regretted that the bulk of the nation’s financial resources goes to politicking and election matters.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Omu-Aran at a news conference heralding the university’s second convocation ceremony, Bishop Oyedepo said any nation without quality education has no foundation.

He called for increased budgetary allocation as well as sustained efforts to improve learning.

“If not for efforts of owners and management of privately owned universities in the country, we would almost have

•Landmark varsity graduates 59 First Class From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

nothing to show as a nation due to dilapidated or lack of infrastructure, lack of equipment and standard,” he said.

Reacting to calls in some quarters that the Federal Government should extend financial assistance to private universities, Dr Oyedepo said there was nothing wrong in the request.

But he queried: “How do you expect Federal Government that has not funded its school well to assist private ones?”

He said 59 of the 573 graduating students of the institution had first class degrees.

He added that 226 made second class upper degrees, 276 (second class lower honours) and 12 (third class).

The chancellor said that the university, which is five years old, has continued to exhibit

remarkable progress in all areas.

He added that the 23 programmes being run by the university have been accredited by the National Universities Commission(NUC) “having met the prescribed human, material and other academic resources requirements”.

“Consequently, all of the 23 programmes so accredited will be graduating students on Friday (today). This is a great improvement when compared with the 13 programmes in the first graduation year,” Dr Oyedepo stated.

He added: “In an amazingly matchless pace, Landmark University, in just four years of existence, has ascended into the prestigious category of the top 10 universities in Nigeria.

In the January 2015 edition of the Webometrics, Landmark University took second position among private universities and ranked ninth among

13 private and public universities in Nigeria. The Institute of Democratic Governance had earlier awarded an honour to the university for being the second best private university in Nigeria.”

Dr Oyedepo announced plans by the institution to run new courses in Food Science and Nutrition, Aquaculture and Fishery Management, Forest Resources and Wildlife Management and Veterinary Services among others.

This, he said, would enable the institution provide relevant educational services to its host communities.

The chancellor announced that the university’s academic workers had been attaining global prominence through their quality research contributions in high impact journals, both locally and internationally.

“The Google scholar citation of recognition was given two months ago to three of our lecturers out of 600 researchers recognised in Nigeria,” he added.

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HE former lawmaker representing Borno Central, Senator Abba Aji, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aji, who served as the special adviser on National Assembly Matters during the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua administration, told reporters yesterday in his home in Maiduguri after his defection that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan caused PDP’s failure at the polls.

The former PDP stalwart with many supporters and loyalists on Tuesday left for APC. They were received by

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ing of morphine yesterday evening in Abuja, said the drug will reduce the scarcity of pain relievers.

Her words: “In the past, opioid pain relievers were not widely used in Nigeria, and as a result, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have suffered unnecessarily. Their unrelieved pain affected not only themselves. Their suffering traumatised their families, their communities, and the health workers who took care of them.”

According to her, that expe-

rience in more developed countries had shown that pain relievers, like morphine, could be used in conjunction with simple treatment algorithms developed by the World Health Organisation to effectively treat 80-90 per cent of people with moderate or severe pain.

“These medicines are plentiful, inexpensive, safe, and easy to use. They are considered essential medicines by WHO and are on the essential medicines list here in Nigeria”, O’Brien stressed.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Li-

nus Awute, said the introduction of morphine was aimed at avoiding deaths associated with acute pain from certain ailments and would equip health workers to assess pain and provide high-quality firstline treatment.

Four hospitals: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin; University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; and National Hospital, Abuja, were selected and presented with a large box filled with the drug.

Awute said the hospitals

the party’s Secretary, Bello Ayuba.

Aji said PDP was dead in Borno State.

He said the party under Jonathan was characterised by indiscipline, corruption and lack of patriotism.

Aji, who announced his intention to contest the vacant senatorial seat, following the death of Senator Zanna this year, said “he has all it takes to fill the vacuum.”

He prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul.

Aji attributed the Boko Haram insurgency to unemployment and poverty.

INEC releases timetable for by-election

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a timetable for by-election into the Katsina Federal Constituency.

The Director of Election and Party Monitoring, Bala Shittu, said the poll would hold on August 8.

A meeting with stakehold-

Succour for cancer, HIV patients, others as Fed Govt introduces pain relieving drug C ANCER, HIV patients and others can now heave a sigh of relief.

The Federal Government said it has introduced a pain-relieving drug for the killer-diseases. The pill is called morphine.

The drug, which had been in use in very low quantity in health facilities in the country will now be supplied by the Federal Government and the American Cancer Society (ACS) in the next one year.

The programme is being implemented under the auspices of Pain-Free Hospital Initiative.

Managing Director of Global Cancer Treatment Dr. Megan O’Brien who spoke on behalf of ACS, during the unveil-

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

were chosen “based on utilization of Oral Morphine Solution in pain treatment”.

He said: “Pain relief is a core component of cancer and HIV treatment. It is estimated that approximately 80 per cent of people with advanced cancer and 50 per cent of HIV require narcotic medicines to treat moderate or severe pain.

“In 2012, about 177,000 people were estimated to have died in moderate or severe pain from HIV or cancer. In the same year, the utilization of narcotic medicines such as morphine was enough to treat only 266 people, representing mere 0.2 per cent coverage of pain treatment need.”

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ers in preparation for the election was held on Wednesday.

Party primaries and collection of forms, according to INEC’s timetable, were slated for July 25 to August 7. The last day for the submission of forms is July 27.

INEC is expected to publish the list of nominated candidates between July 29 and 30.

Campaign is to end on August 7, according to the commission’s daily bulletin.

INEC has registered a new party, the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), bringing the number of parties to 29.

The registration, according to the commission’s in-house bulletin, came at the end of its meeting on June 19.

According to a letter to the National Chairman of the party, signed by INEC’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, DPC’s constitution, manifesto, logo/flag and the list of the national executive officers were also approved.

The letter said the certificate of registration would be issued in due course.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

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Eurozone backs Greek bridge loan

UROZONE ministers have agreed to give Greece a •7bn (£5bn) “bridge” loan from an EUwide fund to keep its finances afloat until a bailout is approved.

They agreed in a conference call to tap the EU’s EFSM emergency fund.

The loan is expected to be confirmed by the European Commission on Friday, when it will be voted on in the EU Council.

Talks on emergency funding started after the Greek parliament passed tough austerity reforms in a vote late on Wednesday evening.

Correspondents say this should open the way for emergency funding for Greek banks, allowing them to reopen after being closed for almost three weeks.

Separately, the European

Central Bank (ECB) is to consider easing a funding squeeze on Greek banks but correspondents say a decision may not be imminent.

Eurozone leaders agreed on the bailout in principle in Brussels on Monday, on the condition that the Greek parliament passed reforms on taxation increases and pension curbs by Wednesday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won the parliamentary vote by 229 votes to 64, but needed the support of opposition MPs to do so.

His left-wing Syriza-led government is expected to survive, despite losing its majority after 38 Syriza MPs rejected the reforms.

It paves the way for eurozone finance ministers to open detailed talks on the bailout, worth up to •86bn.

Finland’s parliament yesterday approved the bailout talks - one of a number of eurozone states which require a mandate from their own parliament for Greece to secure new funds.

Germany’s parliament is due to vote on the deal today.

By 22 July, Greece must also commit to a major overhaul of the civil justice system. It has to agree to more privatisation, to review collective bargaining and industrial action, and make market reforms, including Sunday trading.

George Bush breaks neck bone

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ORMER President George H.W. Bush fell Wednesday while at his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, breaking a vertebrae in his neck, but “it was not life threatening,” his spokesman Jim McGrath has said.

Bush was taken to a hospital in nearby Portland where he is “very stable,” McGrath said.

The former president was never disoriented.

“We are not expecting a long stay,” McGrath said, though he added Bush would be treated with a neck brace.

Bush last month just turned 91. He revealed several years ago he suffers from a form of Parkinson’s disease, which has left him unable to walk, so he gets around either in a wheelchair or a scooter.

He was hospitalized in 2014 after suffering a shortness of breath. In 2012, he was in the hospital for several months after he contracted bronchitis.

Bush and his wife last week appeared at several events in Maine with hundreds of his son Jeb’s top donors to his presidential campaign.

Bush spokesman McGrath tweeted on Wednesday evening, “41 fell at home in Maine today and broke a bone in his neck. His condition is stable — he is fine — but he’ll be in a neck brace.”

41 fell at home in Maine today and broke a bone in his neck. His condition is stable — he is fine — but he’ll be in a neck brace.

The Bush family tweeted their thanks and thoughts yesterday morning.

Jenna Bush Hager wrote: “Always touched by kindness: thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers for our dear Gamps. We are optimistic that he will heal well.”

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HE lower house of Japan’s parliament has approved two controversial bills that change the country’s security laws, despite protests in Tokyo.

The changes would allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. The bills still need approval from the upper house, but many expect them to eventually be passed into law.

The changes are unpopular and thousands demonstrated outside parliament on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pushed for the two bills, arguing it is necessary to expand the role of the military in a doctrine called collective

• Tsipras

Nuclear watchdog backs Iran HE UN’s nuclear nuclear deal

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watchdog, the IAEA, has a crucial role in policing the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

It has to verify whether Iran cuts back its nuclear infrastructure and by the end of the year, the agency is expected to deliver a report on its investigation into suspi-

cions that Iran carried out weapons design work charges Tehran denies.

The head of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, told the BBC’s Bethany Bell that Iran has agreed to the agency’s Additional Protocol, which gives his inspectors much more access to Iranian sites.

As PMB visits PBO: 10 points to ponder •Continued

• Bush after the fall

self-defence.

But polls show more than half of Japanese citizens oppose them.

Reacting to the passing of the bills, China’s foreign affairs ministry spokesman Hua Chunying questioned if Japan was “abandoning its pacifist policies”, and urged Japan to “stick to the path of peaceful development” and avoid harming the region’s stability.

South Korea has similarly in the past urged Japan to “contribute to regional peace and security” and called for transparency in Japan’s defence policy discussions.

Japan’s post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-

defence.

Most of the opposition lawmakers walked out of the lower house chamber in protest before the vote took place on Thursday, with only members of the small Japan Restoration Party voting against the bills.

Mr Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partners hold a twothirds majority in the lower house, which is needed to approve bills.

The upper house, where the LDP and partners also hold a majority, now has 60 days to rule on the bills. Even if it rejects them, the bills would be sent back to the lower house which can then pass them into law.

chased the gunman from the recruiting centre to the Centre, where the killings took place.

The names of the Marines who were reportedly shot were not immediately released pending notification of their families. The Navy Operational Support Centre and Marine Corps Reserve Centre lies along a bend in the Tennessee River, northeast of downtown Chattanooga.

The gunman was killed, but authorities did not comment on his identity, motivation or the circumstances of his death. Authorities said the gunman did

not work at either military facility.

President Obama was briefed by his national security team on the shooting involving two military sites, according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz.

In the first incident, the gunman, in a silver Mustang, drove up to the Armed Forces Career Centre in a strip mall on Lee's Highway and sprayed the facade with gunfire before driving off, officials said. An unidentified police officer was shot in the ankle, but not seriously injured, according to reports.

Four Marines dead in shooting attack at Tennessee Navy facility OUR Marines were killed yesterday at a Chattanooga, Tenn., Navy training centre, in what authorities called a possible "act of domestic terrorism" that consisted of two attacks carried out by a lone gunman at military facilities just seven miles apart, officials said.

The unidentified gunman shot up a recruiting centre before driving to the Navy Operational Support Centre and Marine Corps Reserve Centre and killing four Marines before he was shot, authorities said.

Sources told Fox News police

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EVERAL ministers from Yemen's exiled government have returned to the country for the first time since being forced to flee by Houthi rebels in March.

The ministers, accompanied by senior intelligence officials, flew by helicopter to a military base on the outskirts of the southern city of Aden.

They were to make preparations for the government's return, officials said.

Southern militiamen backed

by Saudi-led air strikes have driven the rebels out of much of Aden in the past three days.

On Wednesday, they retook the main seaport and neighbouring district of Mualla.

A government official told the Reuters news agency the delegation that flew into Aden yesterday included the ministers of interior and transport, a former interior minister, the intelligence chief and deputy speaker of parliament.

The Saudi-led coalition has reportedly shipped armoured vehicles to Aden President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi had told them to "prepare the security situation and ensure stability ahead of a revival of the institutions of state in Aden", the official added.

Expresso

Japanese troops set to fight overseas

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Yemen exiled ministers return to Aden

from back page

Three: arms policy and superpower diplomacy The biggest black nation in the world cannot mould even enough small arms to defend herself from hoodlums without having to scurry all over the world even to smaller and far less endowed countries to acquire rifles.

We all saw how easy it was for the West to frustrate the purchase of medium range arms to fight even our smalltime terrorists. Imagine for a moment what happens if we have to confront another nation! How are we ever going to join the league of arms producing nations if we do not forge the right alliances now?

Four: international border management and operations Nigeria must rank among the countries with the most porous borders in the world.

Everyday dozens of long, laden trailers drive in and out through most of our land borders. Our border security is as compromised as a harlot on the highway.

This has gone on for decades.

No country functions like this. We need modern border technology and infrastructure. We need help.

Five: border (nations) diplomacy Is it by chance that all the countries bordering Nigeria are from the Francophone zone? What are the implications for our security and socio-economic well-being? Though these countries: Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon (not overlooking Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe and even Gabon down the Atlantic) are minions comparatively, how has Nigeria brought them under her strategic sphere of

influence for the larger objective of making the requisite economic and security capital? There is a vacuum there begging to be filled if only we can get our bearing right. We need quality alliances.

Six: prisoners’ management How many Boko Haram prisoners are under the custody of the Nigerian state today? The other day, an obviously distraught Federal Government was apparently shopping for facility to keep about 47 prisoners. One would have thought that a special purpose penitentiary (SPP) would have been created somewhere in the Northeast in the last five years. We need help.

Seven: judiciary and terrorism trials Just like the point above, how many Boko Haram terrorists have been tried successfully in the last five years? For a country that is almost prostrate, it seems nigh impossible to try any terrorists in this land.

Nigeria simply lacks the capacity. In fact, until a few days ago, trying moneyed and influential Nigerians had almost become impossible.

We need special courts, specialised security and of course, impregnable detention facilities. We saw the trial and jailing of former Egyptian president, Morsi and his murderous gang recently. He and about 500 of his men have been sentenced to die. That is the mark of a state that is alive and functional and got her world politics right.

Eight: IDP management If any element in the skirmishes against Boko Haram exposed the weak underbelly of the Nigerian

state, it is the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) crisis. A situation where a large chunk of the citizens are in ordinarily times, psychologically and economically displaced would give a pointer as to why the IDPs are doomed.

Again, it is the capacity thing. Both funds and knowhow are acutely lacking. We need help quick.

Nine: the global economics of terrorism Why is Nigeria’s war against terror different from the wars going on in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen?

Why is America and her allies spending huge defence funds in these countries; sending men and arms and ammunition to these places, yet have virtually shunned Nigeria? This is the question we must ask the people in White House and insist on honest answers.

Ten: where there is no economy The reality for those who can see, is that there is little business left here now except petty merchandising.

With enormous petro-dollars we had lacked the will and leadership to build a decent state girded by basic institutions, not to think of a modern state. Today, we have no bargaining chips anymore; we have no goods to bring to the market any longer. All we have is a horde of largely impoverished and half-baked population.

What we need now is a smart leadership that appreciates our precarious condition and can create a platform for a massive Marshall Plan for Nigeria.

None of such tokens as Power up Africa, AGOA or MDGs; only a Marshall Plan will do now.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

NEWS Tinubu urges support for APC Continued from page 4

ity. We must, individually and collectively, make sacrifices where necessary to help the APC leadership move Nigeria on the right path of development and growth.”

Asiwaju Tinubu called on all Muslim faithful, who recently completed the 30-day fast not to depart from the attitude of prayer, supplication and sacrifice for the country.

Lauding them for the discipline and purity of the past 30 days, the APC leader expressed his belief that Allah has recognised their devotion and will bless Nigeria and bring solutions to its problems.

He said: “God has given us another opportunity at greatness and at getting things right. Not many nations have this same chance Nigeria has and we must all work to make the change we so desire.

“The APC government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari is set on an irrevocable path to reverse Nigeria’s decline and determined to be meticulous, consistent and people oriented in its approach.”

•Workers of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, protest against non-payment of promotion arrears since 2013 in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Sallah: Borno,Yobe close boundaries to travellers Continued from page 4

between 6pm yesterday and 2pm today.

A statement from police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), quoted the commissioner as saying: “There shall be no movement of all classes of vehicles into and out of Yobe State from all directions or gateways between the hours of 6pm on Thursday 16th of July to 2pm on Friday 17th of July when sallah shall have been successful concluded.

“No vehicles or any means of conveyance shall be allowed beyond 500 meters to the prayer grounds. Dressing to the prayer ground should be

simple and moderate (including hijab) as no bags shall be allowed into the prayer grounds.

“All women should surrender themselves to female security operatives for searching while men should surrender to be searched by male security operatives.

“Members of the public should note that scanning and searching will take place side by side before entering the prayer ground or mosque.

“Members of the public are advised to cooperate with the security operatives in carrying out this onerous task of ensuring a peaceful sallah celebration.

“Therefore, we enjoin all

Muslim faithful to arrive early enough for prayers so that prayers can start and end at the same time, as praying on the main road may not be permitted.”

Armed policemen have been deployed in strategic areas and places of worship in Kano and other major towns.

Police vehicles are stationed at Gyadi Gyadi Roundabout, Zoo Road, Gadon Kaya, Kabuga, Hadejia, Katsina Road and Maiduguri Road.

Police were also deployed in Unguwa uku flyover, Dawanau, Airport Road and Aminu Kano Way

by Tal’udu junction.

Kano police spokesman ASP Musa Magaji Majia said mea-

sures had been put in place by security agencies to ensure a violence-free and crime-free celebration.

He said worshippers attending Eid Grounds should avoid taking unnecessary objects other than praying mats to the eid ground.

Majia explained: “Worshippers are advised to cooperate and park their motor vehicles, motorcycles and other means of transportation at the designated parking spaces provided at various eid grounds at least 200 meters away.”

Majia advised residents attending recreational centres and places of gatherings during the Sallah celebrations to be extra-vigilant.

Dogara accused of blowing N66m on chartered aircraft Continued from page 4

Dogara, who is said to cherish Christian ethics, is reportedly weighed down by the allegation .

The row over the chartered aircraft was said to have disturbed Dogara who felt there was a deliberate attempt to rubbish his image by some “political detractors”.

The Speaker was said to have reached out to as many members as possible to explain that he did not dip his hands into the National Assembly’s coffers.

Dogara’s aide said: “I am under instruction not to comment because it appears that those behind the allegation of N66million have another motive.

“As at the time the Speaker made the trip to Delta State, there was no commercial flight at all.

“It became necessary for him to use a chartered aircraft. The cost of the service was only N3.9million for a 40-minute flight to and from Delta State.

Altogether, it was 80 minutes.

And the aircraft only dropped the Speaker and returned to pick him and his entourage after his church assignment.

Let me also clarify that the Speaker does not own a private jet.”

A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Credible Alternative Alliance (CAA), under the national leadership of former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa has cautioned “political merchants and enemies of good governance” against joining issues with Dogara “in their desperation to pull him down”.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, the spokesman of the organisation, Mallam Sanusi

Muhammad, said the recent financial allegation against Dogara was “meant to ridicule his personality and portray him as a scandalous leader that should not be trusted”.

Sanusi added that the allegation that the Speaker blew N66 million on a chartered aircraft was an imagination of the social media and sponsors of the story to achieve a hidden agenda against Dogara.

He said: “We investigated the allegation from the airline operators and found it to be false and malicious. No airline charges such a colosal amount on chartered aircraft anywhere in Nigeria and the case of Dogara cannot be different.

“The aircraft was chartered from his personal savings not as mischievously reported. He deserves the right to make a judicious use of his personal resources for his comfort. Political detractors and agents of

doom were behind the news story that should be ignored.

We should learn to say the truth no matter what.”

Muhammad said although Dogara is yet to be fully recognised as the duly elected Speaker of the Honorable House by a select few within the ruling party who have their reason (s), but an attempt to ridicule his reputation through baseless allegations is not the solution to the leadership crisis threatening the unity of the ruling party and the Honorable House.

“APC leaders should strive to bury their imaginary differences to forge ahead as the formidable party it is. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other leaders should act fast to arrest the situation in the interest of democracy of good governance while planning for future encounter”, he added.

Seized $15m, others: DSS to grill ex-NSA Dasuki Continued from page 4

probe, The Nation learnt.

“You know Dasuki had planned to resign immediately there was a change of government but President Muhammadu Buhari refused to accept because he wanted to clear the Augean Stable in the defence sector.

“Buhari’s position is that all the former Service Chiefs must account for every budget for operations in the last five years. He has been disturbed about reports of corrupt practices by some Service Chiefs.”

The security source confirmed that Dasuki might be investigated on the following issues: •all sources of funding of the campaign against Boko Haram;

•HURIWA condemns siege •purchase of arms from Russia and its cost; •training of the members of the Special Force; •why the seized $15m was hauled in cash to South Africa to the embarrassment of the nation; •what informed the recruitment of South African mercenaries as fighters in Sambisa Forest, Gwoza and some parts of Adamawa and Yobe states; and •why Nigeria rejected military assistance from the US and the UK against Boko Haram.

As at press time, the fate of the former Service Chiefs was unknown, but a source said “they have been placed on close monitoring”.

They are former Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, ex-Chief of Army Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman, and exChief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

The security source added: “They are all under close watch and their movement will be restricted to the country. In any case, by military rules, they are already on the Reserve List. Technically, they are still in service and can be recalled to answer questions on their tenure.”

A pro-Democracy Non-governmental organisation -HUman Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the reported inva-

sion and gestapo operations at the homes of the immediate past National Security Adviser.

HURIWA called on President Muhammadu Buhari to follow due process and constitutional format in seeking to redress any alleged abuse of authority by any top government officials in the immediate past administration.

Buhari: Nigeria needs sacrifice Continued from page 4

on May 29, Buhari said he had been working with utmost dedication to meticulously plan and tackle the many national challenges which have been identified and to be resolve.

But to succeed, he said, he needs the continued support, understanding and patience of Nigerians.

Buhari said: “I fully understand and share the thirst of my long-suffering compatriots for corruption-free government institutions that work efficiently to deliver visible development for the benefit of all citizens. ”I also share the feelings of those who think that we should be moving faster. But I urge them and all Nigerians to trust

that my commitment to real and positive change in our nation is as firm as ever.

“There is indeed much work to be done, but we must do it well and carefully to ensure that the great opportunity which we now have is not lost to the ‘business as usual’ group who selfishly or shortsightedly prefer a status quo that panders to their personal or group interests.”

Noting that the adverse effects of years of rot, corruption, inept and bad governance on Nigeria are immense, he, however, said that they are not insurmountable if Nigerians resolve to place the country above all other considerations and work wholeheartedly with the present administration.

50 killed, several injured in Gombe blasts

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TWIN explosion rocked the city of Gombe, the Gombe capital killing at least 50 people and injuring several others.

The victims were doing their last-minute shopping for today's sallah celebration.

Police commissioner Kudu Nma Abdullahi confirmed the incident at the State Specialist Hospital where some of the victims were receiving treatment.

He said the explosions occurred around 5:20 pm somewhere at Gombe Main Market.

Abdulahi said: "We had information of a twin blast. That means there is a bomb blast. It either was a suicide mission or an I.E.D. (Improvised explosive device) kept somewhere where they sell slippers and wears.

According to him, the area was immediately cordoned off to avoid looting of people's shops by hoodlums, adding that the situation had been brought under control.

He called on residence to continue to maintain vigilance, reiterating the need for people to continually remain suspicious of the movement of people they do not know.

"Anything they suspect, they should quickly raise an alarm or inform the security agents so that we can come in immediately," he said.

An eyewitness said he saw

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

and counted about 46 dead bodies besides the mangle bodies that he could not ascertain.

He said he was one of the first to arrive at the scene with the intention to help, hence he had enough time to do the counting The eyewitness said: "There were other bodies blasted into pieces and you know I cannot count and ascertain how many bodies they were."

Another source, Musa Mohammed, who has an orange stand near the market said his son, who is an apprentice at a nearby shoe shop, sustained injuries but that two of his colleagues died.

Mohammaed said the blast went off at a kitchen utensils shop and everyone in the shop died; "both the shop owner and his boys as well their customers, but I don't how many people were in the shop by that time".

The Police Commissioner had as part of his sallah message called on the people of the state to be security conscious.

Yesterday's death toll was the highest to be recorded since the incidences of bomb blasts and terrorists attacks cept in Gombe.

Following repeated attacks

by Boko haram insurgents, especially by veil-wearing sui-

Buhari dissolves boards of parastatals, agencies, institutions Continued from page 4

dissolved boards.

Also yesterday, the President terminated the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

No reason was given for Mr.

Akpobolokemi’s sack.

But a statement signed by Mr. Adesina said that the termination takes immediate effect.

According to the statement, Akpobolokemi has been directed to hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior

officer in the agency.

The officer will remain in charge pending the appointment of Akpobolokemi’s replacement.

The former NIMASA chief was reappointed for another four-year after the expiration of his first mandate in October 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3278

‘Six years after the crane crushed Tella’s hand and rendered him handicapped, the 43-year old is jobless and unable to provide for his family. But Dorman Long does not give a hoot even if Tella’s life is ruined beyond redemption’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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S my readers know by now, whenever Opalaba feels that he has had it, he makes sure that he vents until he satisfies himself. And when I miscalculate such that our paths cross at close range, I am almost always assured of his savage attack. It happened just two days ago.

I thought I was going to pleasantly surprise my good friend by showing up at his door when he least expected. And like a wounded lion, he pounced on me. “What do you people think you’re doing?” He let his frustration take the better part of him. “I cannot believe that I have been fooled again at 70. Why did I even bother, after so many disappointments from politricksters that you shamelessly associate with?” They told us to expect change. And what did we get? Same old manafiki. A plague on all your houses.”

Opalaba went on ranting and raging. I hadn’t even been offered a seat. It was only when I turned back to leave that he stopped and I can see heavy sweat raining down his face. My friend was truly enraged.

He regained his cool and apologised. Then he went on in a more somber mood. “APC advertised itself as the party of change. A people in desperate need of change, including my poor old self, believed and jumped for change. No questions asked, because the status quo had become unbearable and therefore unacceptable.

Looking back now, we should have asked probing questions.”

“Such as what?” I asked. “At least as a nonparty independent minded citizen, I should have asked if the party had thoroughly screened its candidates for electoral offices. How many of them bought into the philosophy of change? What do they understand by change? Is their view of change limited to change of personnel or office holders? Or does it include as it reasonably should, attitudinal change? If it doesn’t, why not? And wouldn’t the electorate then have been deceitfully sold a dummy? If it does, how come the party is now faced with challenges of ego, greed and gross indiscipline from the so-called leaders who ought to be the leading lights of attitudinal change?

Opalaba went on without letting. On my part, I was aware that no response can be adequate for my friend. Seriously, however, I knew that he had a point, and I couldn’t this time dismiss his vituperations as the barking of a crazy dog as I used to.

Change is the movement from one state to another. As such, every living thing undergoes changes. The only unchangeable is God, who is acknowledged as remaining the same through

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Change and the unchangeable Change is the‘movement from one state to another.

the ages. Change, for living things, however, may be from a desirable state to an undesirable one.

We talk of moving from frying pan to fire as a fitting metaphor for such a change.

In another form, change may be from an undesirable state to another undesirable state.

Neither of such changes is worthy of human endeavour. To deliberately move from one undesirable state to another or from a desirable to an undesirable state is to behave irrationally.

Therefore if an effort towards change is intentionally and voluntarily undertaken by individuals or groups, it is to be reasonably expected that the outcome must be a desirable state that is better than the preceding state.

Many, like Opalaba, invested their hope, without pulling back anything; in the change idea which they expected will be actualised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Of course, it is too early to dismiss the party and its agenda. And it bears pointing out that Nigerians still express confidence in the President’s sincerity of purpose and strong determination to carry out his agenda. Where Opalaba and his likes are understandably concerned is with regard to the depth of the commitment of other stakeholders in the corridors of power. They are sorely worried about those that Opalaba referred to as the “unchangeable.” “How do you change the unchangeable?” He asked.

“But who are the unchangeable?” I asked.

“And how can anyone or thing be unchangeable?

Even nature undergoes change. Mountains are denuded; rivers form tributaries, and when changes don’t follow the path of nature, humans step in to impose such changes to their satisfaction.

Individuals who refuse to change when there is need for change will find out that they are passed

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HIS visit: Is it sight-seeing or strategic? If our leaders are seeing what we are seeing from our obscure corner, then President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB’s) visit to his American counterpart, President Barack Obama (PBO) next week ought to be the most significant visit any Nigerian leader made to the US since independence in 1960. Hitherto, most Nigerian helmsmen have viewed it as some profound achievement to be granted audience in the White House. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua epitomised this in one moment of extreme awe as he sat before Obama when he noted that it was the greatest day of his life. Yar’Adua’s now famous faux pas only points to the undeniable power of the United States of America in world affairs since the end of World War II. Why must this visit be different and indeed historic if previous ones by nearly all Nigeria’s leaders had been mere exercise in vacuous ceremonies and photo opportunities? This column wagers that hardly any of our former heads of state had any remarkable strategic reason for visiting the White House.; they were no better than an average tourist to America gawking at that whited bastion of U.S power and essence.

This house is falling still: This column expects PMB’s visit to be special for two reasons. One, Nigeria as the most important nation in Sub-Saharan Africa has come full circle after over five decades of so-called independence and utter folly. Today, the world’s 7th most populous nation has become a real and present danger to the civilised world. It has been roiled and brought to her knees both by her post independence leaders and currently by a silly band of local terrorists that have comprehensively exposed her ugly rump and hollowness.

As such, every living thing undergoes changes. The only unchangeable is God, who is acknowledged as remaining the same through the ages. Change, for living things, however, may be from a desirable state to an undesirable one

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by and soon become relics of history. So what is your point, Mr. Know-All?” “Your memory loss as you age is my point”, Opalaba fired back in visible anger. “President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is older than you, but he went down memory lane the other day at the APC NEC meeting. He apparently is one that doesn’t forget his beginning; he remembers those who helped him through the various challenges; he recalled the origins and foundation of the party; he named names and he reminded all officers and rank and file of the promise the new party made to Nigerian people.

“PMB made it clear that the pioneers or foundation members and leaders who sacrificed their time and mental and material resources for

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

As PMB visits PBO: 10 points to ponder Security Council: Ndigbo diminution

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HOSE who warned during electioneering that PMB was never enamoured of the Igbo nation would be laughing now as the Buhari canvass unfurls. Sixteen appointments so far and not one single Igbo man is good enough. No matter. But in picking the rump of Nigeria’s military and intelligence team for his government last Monday, not one Igbo man was found worthy of any of the positions.

Consider the checklist: Chief of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; Chief of Air Staff; Chief of Naval Staff; Chief of Defence Intelligence; Director of State Security and National Security Adviser. Not one Igbo man made it. If you add to those, Inspector General of Police; head of Customs and head of Immigration, you have an entire National Security Council with the Igbo nation excluded.

This is clearly not an error and it is difficult to believe no Igbo man merits any of these strategic national appointments. In a situation that the Northeast has three of these positions; Northwest two; Northcentral two; Southwest two; Southsouth two and Southeast zero, speaks volumes about the mindset of our President. Where is federal character? Calculated injustice and inequity of this nature can only diminish a country.

Two, crude oil which rent has sustained and contained the Nigerian madness since independence has become less valuable and a non-essential commodity in world’s energy market today; therefore this behemoth is broke - perhaps irretrievably so. These two factors: the petty insurgency and loss of cheap oil revenue will and should drive PMB’s visit to PBO. The journalist, Karl

Maier, wrote over a decade ago about Nigeria that “This House Has Fallen”. Well it has not come down crashing but it remains a cracked and tottering edifice.

Though not many of our so-called leaders seem to have seen the futility and unsustainability of this precarious house, in which case they would be going on a sightseeing (as usual) to the White House, the

the party in the midst of campaigns of hatred, calumny and name-calling thought seriously about the change that they wanted to invest in and the legacy of progressive governance they wanted to bequeath to the next generation of Nigerians. They were serious about change of attitude and outcome and they put their energy into working it out. And he made it clear that this sacrifice by the pioneers and founding fathers and mothers of the party ought to be the guiding light to all, including the late comers.”

“The question is”, Opalaba added in an emotion-laden voice, “did the late comers to, and second-tier founders of the party also understood what change connoted for the firsttier founders? And if they didn’t, why are we now surprised that some of them appear adverse to change and may indeed be unchangeable?

Doesn’t it appear now that they had a different idea of what change means?”

My friend argued that the challenges the party has with the National Assembly election of principal officers is just a symptom of a fundamental issue, which is that there is a disconnect between the understanding and mentality of some about what power means and the message that the party has caused to be delivered to the electorate. This fundamental issue reflects the extant challenges that have been integral to the Nigerian post-independence state, but which the post-military era has simply multiplied exponentially. It is unfortunate, but the truth is that the majority of those who go into party politics choose this path for reasons other than the virtue of public service.

The political drama that was the NASS leadership elections has all the characteristics of a soap opera that is cast in the hellish kingdom of ego, greed, crass ambition, religious zealotry, ethnic jingoism, corruption and corruptibility, and an aristocratic mentality in a populist party.

The actors in the sordid drama are no agents of change, at least not the change that the party sold to the electorate. They are for change in their material conditions and their spiritual poverty simply facilitated the diabolic plan that they fashioned and delivered with perfection.

What option is there for the party in the face of this tragic development? It must stick to change and pursue it. It must call out the unchangeable for what they are and let Nigerians know them and be their judge. Otherwise the party cannot deliver change that Nigerians overwhelmingly desire. To capitulate and succumb to the position of the unchangeable is to commit party suicide because it assures it of an undesirable result in 48 months.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 Americans should reveal the harsh reality to them as much as possible. If our delegation understands the deal, there is no doubt that they will be armed with some tough agenda and also be open to pragmatic and radical alternatives for the years ahead.

Ten points to ponder One: complete overhaul of the armed

forces Nigeria must at this point determine that she is ready to join the rest of the world in which case she must anchor appropriately and build the right alliances. A major defence pact will necessarily preface the requisite economic boost Nigeria needs sorely now. In clear terms, a US military base in the Gulf of Guinea needs be considered as part of a major package.

While that is going on, we can then set about building a proper modern military infrastructure. Anyone who knows anything would agree that the entire architecture of our military cannot support a modern boys’ scout. We need a total overhaul and we neither have the funds nor the gumption to do it by ourselves. We either elect to revamp now with the aid of the Yankees or we forever live in the muck.

Today Cameroon and Chad are fighting to rescue us; tomorrow they would fight to conquer our territories if we do not act now.

Two: revamping our policing and intelligence systems: The same principle as in number one above applies here. Modern policing and intelligence gathering have long eluded us. We are actually cave people in this regard. Worse, we lack the capacity – both financial and intellectual – to begin to help our situation. In one word, we need help and we must bear this in mind while in the White House.

•Continued

on page 60

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