June 19, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•DHQ disagrees with Chad over bombings in Borno P4 •Nine killed in South Carolina black church shooting P60 •’Money laundering’: Fani-Kayode to get verdict July 1 P6 •Gunmen assassinate Egba Chief Oyebade in Abeokuta P8 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3250 FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

EFCC quizzes Ohakim, Lamido NEWS

Page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Controversy hits sale of Delta Steel Plc •Presidency gets petition seeking deal’s probe A MAJOR crisis has broken out over the purported sale of Delta Steel Plc, Aladja.

Premium Steel and Mines, a company owned by frontline businessman Sunil Vaswani, says it has bought the troubled steel giant, promising to inject N70 bil-

•President Buhari

By Olukorede Yishau, Asst. Editor (News)

lion in the first phase and N300 billion in the subsequent phases.

But a lawyer, Chief Ajibola Aribisala (SAN), who was

appointed the receiver/manager of the company by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the deal which, he said, was at a great loss to the

country.

Aribisala said AMCON sold the company for N28billion as against the N33billion offered by a Chinese company, China Polaris Technologies Company Ltd, which was ready to pay the

total sum at once.

Vaswani, said the lawyer, offered to pay 10 per cent of the sale before 30 days after offer’s acceptance and spread the balance over eight years, with a moratorium of one year. He added that it was his refusal to Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: FOREIGN CORE INVESTOR DIVESTS FROM JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA P11

DSS grills refineries MDs in multi-billion dollar oil deals Questions over crude allocations

By Our Reporter

A

NOTHER chapter was yesterday opened in the probe of the multi-billion dollar crude swap that cost Nigeria so much cash and delivered little fuel — in some cases.

The probe of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) contracts has extended to the managing directors of the four troubled refineries.

They are being quizzed in Abuja by security agents, who are eager to get an insight into the allocation of crude to the refineries and how crude was swapped, it was learnt last night.

Those being questioned to ascertain how they have been managing the crude allocated to the refineries and what they processed are: Warri Refinery Managing Director Paul Obelley, Port Harcourt Refinery Managing Director Fred Enjugu and Kaduna Refinery chief Saidu Mohammed. They could not be reached for comments last night.

The investigation, which began last month, was sparked by the need to arrest the huge cash lost through opaque contracts in which crude oil worth billions of dollars is given to traders in exchange for refined imports, mainly gasoline.

The Economic and Financial Crimes ComContinued on page 4

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS EVER RETURN?

•ALL FOR SMOOTH TRAFFIC: Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode pointing at something of interest during the inspection of traffic points at Oworoshoki…yesterday. With him are Secretary to the State Government Tunji Bello (second right), State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) General Manager Babatunde Edu (right) and former Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD) Folarin Coker (left).

APC accuses Fayose of drawing N720m first term salary arrears Allegation ridiculous and illogical, says governor

STORY ON PAGE 8

•BRAND P13 •AGRIC P14 •SPORTS P15 •SOCIETY P41 •MONEYLINK P54 •FOREIGN P60

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NEWS

Battle against ‘Bad debts’ •Chancellor, Covenant University, Bishop David Oyedepo (second right), Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Charles Ayo (right); Prof Pat Utomi (second left) and Managing Partner, Softcom Ltd, Mr. Yomi Adedeji at "The Future Ready University Conference" at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s directive to all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to publish the names of chronic debtors, beginning from August 1, is creating anxiety in the banking industry and among depositors, writes Assistant Editor NDUKA CHIEJINA.

I

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher; one of the judges of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, Molara Wood; Patron, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Kole Omotoso and Head, Events & Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani at a news conference in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

•From left: Relationship Officer, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Christian Essandoh; Founder, Futuresoft Consulting, Nkemdilim Begho; Founder, Obidisocial.com, Mr. John Obidi; Co-founder, Innovation Factory, Mr. Emeka Okocha and Founder/Managing Director, LostInLagos, Mrs. Tannaz Bahnam, at a business forum on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Lagos

•Airtel Nigeria Managing Director Segun Ogunsanya (second right); Chief Commercial Officer Maurice Newa (left); Brand/ Media Director, Airtel Africa, Dia Ezzaoudi (right) and African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure at the unveiling of Airtel Rising Star Season 5 in Lagos...on Wednesday.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

N the build up to the general elections on March 28 and April 11, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) threatened to publish the names of those it classified as chronic, serial and bad debtors.

Shortly after the polls, the apex bank renewed its threat, all in an effort to forestall Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the banking industry. There is no going back in the plan to unmask the debtors, the CBN said.

Last week, it (CBN) gave an August 1 deadline for the banks to begin the publication of the names of chronic bank debtors.

Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, who gave the deadline, lamented the rising trend of NPLs in the banks and instructed them to publish the list of debtors in at least, three national newspapers and the companies they represent, their directors, subsidiaries and associates.

Besides naming to shame such “serial debtors” as the CBN described them, Mrs. Martins spoke of a plan by the CBN to bar the defaulters from accessing foreign exchange through the interbank foreign exchange market.

At the 322nd Bankers’ Committee meeting in Abuja, Mrs. Martins put the total credit from the DMBs at between N13 and N14 trillion. Three per cent of the figure (about N390 billion) stand as NPLs. According to her, the banks are already compiling the names of the chronic debtors for publication. The maximum limit of NPLs statutorily allowed is five per cent of the total credit.

Mrs. Martins told her audience that the disclosure of the debtors’ identities will check “another banking crisis, since the CBN has managed to keep the banking industry healthy in collaboration with all members of the Bankers’ Committee.”

Her audienece included: the managing directors of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. (Phillip Oduoza), Unity Bank Plc. (Henry Semenitary) and Ecobank Plc. (Jubril Aku).

She suggested that the incidences of NPLs were trending upwards and stated that “there was a time we had NPLs at 2.5 per cent, then three per cent and now 3.3 per cent and so, it is important that we take action and not wait till it is too late.”

The CBN was further spooked by what she described as “some data showing that it is increasingly becoming difficult for some debtors to pay up their loans. So, it was decided that

to going forward, one thing we must do is to stop them from having access to foreign exchange, publish the names of the borrowers who refuse to pay up and ensure the continuous safety and soundness of the banking industry.”

The action, she explained, was not directed at all borrowers, but at “the bad and chronic debtors, those ones that have deliberately refused to pay; those are the ones we are talking about.”

The bank has no control over any bad debtor, who chooses to bypass the banking system to source for foreign exchange.

Mrs. Martins said: “There is no way we can stop bank debtors from purchasing forex at the parallel market. But, that will come to them at a cost because it is more expensive there. The concern of the CBN is with the official market.”

There may not be legal action taken against the debtors as was the case in the past.

Referring to past experiences and the consequences of the menace of debtors, Mrs. Martins said Nigerians should “recall how much was spent by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to clear up toxic loans and so, we just want to make sure we are proactive and that we don’t go back to a situation like that.”

The credit bureau The credit bureau idea was initiated by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to warehouse basic information about all bank customers and determine their eligibility or otherwise to access credit facility from the financial system. But, more than eight years after Obasanjo’s tenure, the bureau has not taken off fully.

The CBN and the commercials banks have been foot-dragging, making weak appeals to customers to be captured in the bureau’s data base.

Nigerians have been subscribing to the Know Your Customer (KYC) initiated under the Sanusi Lamido Sanusi leadership of the CBN and the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Both attempts, aimed at capturing bank customers’ information over the years, have not eliminated the incidence of bad debts.

Those classified as serial, chronic and bad debtors can refuse to repay their loans from one bank and proceed to another for more facilities.

Such practices can be effectively checked with a functional credit bureau.

With all bank customers’ data ef-

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NEWS

‘

What will CBN do to the government that refuses to pay the contractors? The names of such government agency must be published too •The CBN Headquarters, Abuja

fectively and efficiently captured, no borrower, with a bad repayment record, can access loans from any financial institution again.

The absence of such data base, it was learnt, contributed to the capital market crash that eventually affected commercial banks.

The Nation learnt that the CBN’s directive to commercial banks to list their debtors has unsettled the financial institutions. Some of the debtors are the banks’ biggest depositors.

Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, an active shareholder said: “The information we got is that the banks do not want carry out the CBN directive. But, when Sanusi did a similar thing, instead of the government to support him, it did not. Time has changed and that is corruption. How can you collect other people’s money and you are spending it and anybody who wants to talk about it, you shut them down because of the power you wield.”

Who are these debtors It is not the first time that the list of bad debtors will be made public.

Ironically. It is generally acclaimed and applauded that the poor (especially women) have a near-perfect laon repayment tradition, the most guilty are the wealthy politicians, industrialists and even banks owing other banks.

In 2009, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairperson Mrs. Farida Waziri led the agency’s operatives to Lagos on a mission to recover NPLs granted by four banks. The affected banks that fell under the CBN hammer for noncompliance to banking principles were: PHB Plc., Spring Bank Plc., Equitorial Trust Bank Ltd and Wema Bank Plc. Following the release of the debtors’ list by the apex bank in 2009, the anti-graft agency’s chief had no choice than to lead the team herself because on the list were the high and the mighty in the society.

Mrs. Waziri’s primary concern was the recovery of the toxic loans and to re-inject the recovered funds into the system, rather than the arrest, detention and eventual prosecution of the guilty.

On the list of debtors were: former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, onetime Lagos State governor and former High Commissioner to South Africa, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih and other influential Nigerians.

Alhaji Atiku admitted owing “some money to a bank and pledged to immediately liquidate the debt.”

A statement by his media aide gave an insight on what led to inclusion of the former vice president among bad debtors.

The statement blamed it on an “old dormant account”, on which he was not updated by his staff.

“I have since resumed talks with the bank on the issue and the matter will be resolved. We will pay the outstanding sum as soon as it is agreed upon,” Atiku said in the statement. and threw his weight behind the banking sector reform.

On his part, former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, petitioned the EFCC, alleging a N2 billion fraud under his name which he claimed was unknown to him.

In a statement issued concerning the inclusion of his name, Anenih disclosed that he discovered that some yet-to-be identified elements linked him as a director and shareholder of Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd, a platform he supposedly obtained a N2.065 billion loan from Spring Bank Nigeria Plc. Chief Anenih denied any linkage with the company, claiming he had never stepped into any branch of Spring Bank in his life.

The Edo-State politician said in the statement: “As early as 7 O’clock, telephone calls from friends and members of my family drew my attention to the list of bank debtors published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in most of the national dailies and on the CBN website.

“I read most of the newspapers and I was deeply embarrassed that my name appeared as owing Spring Bank N2.065 billion. The CBN in the same publication stated that I am a director in a company called Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd. “In the last eight hours, I have carried out investigations and I can firmly say that records in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) show that I am neither a shareholder, nor a director in Mettle Energy and Gas Ltd. “Spring Bank records, including the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Form CO7 and Board Resolutions with the bank do not have my name in any of the documents.”

In his defence, former Yobe Senator Alhaji Usman Al-Bashir, lamented the inclusion of his name in the list of debtors and said it was politically motivated.

He was quoted on the debtors’ list, as the Chairman of Savannah Airlines that owed Unity Bank N574 million.

But Al-Bashir said: “I do not owe anybody anything anywhere in the country.”

The senator disclosed it was the second time his name would be dragged into the debtor controversy without evidence.

“The first time was in 2007 - on the eve of my gubernatorial ambition when someone alleged to owe Bank of the North N14 million and the EFCC went after him,” he recalled.

Addressing reporters in Abuja over the controversy, the Group Managing Director of Savannah Airline Ltd, Abdul Ringim, affirmed that, though Al-Bashir was the chairman of the Savannah Airlines, “the airline was a limited liability company.”

Shareholders’ react Expectedly, shareholders have pitched tents with the CBN and the banks on the plans to disclose the identities of bad debtors.

Alhaji Olatokunbo advised the CBN management against wasting time before going public with the list even as he appealed to debtors to begin the repayment of their debts to avoid embarrassment.

“Because we can’t afford not to collect our money, since they’ve refused to follow the line of honour in-order to restore our banks back to the riskfree-bracket, while we call on CBN to extend the recovery exercise to the attention of the almighty AMCON, master of bad debts collector,” he said.

According to him, the CBN and the banks should go a step further by including the names of the bad debtors’ companies.

He said: “The last time, those big wigs said they will go to court because the CBN published their names.

All they eventually did was to negotiate with the banks and began gradual repayment to AMCON.” But Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), urged the regulators to apply caution.

He said: “There is a relationship between a bank and its client and therefore, they must employ all available opportunities within the relationship to know why the customer is defaulting in repaying whatever he/ she has taken.

“If it is a deliberate thing, there is nothing wrong in publishing it, so that shareholders and customers will know who is deliberately owing and weigh the value of such debts and

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why they are unwilling to pay.”

However, if a customer is defaulting because of some economic problems, Nwosu believes that “this same bank that has a relationship with the client should go in and advise the customer on the way out.

“In some cases, the bank will have to put in additional money to save the company, depending on the discussion that they are going to have and depending on what the outcome of the discussion is.”

National Chairman of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) Boniface Okezie, argued that NPLs in Nigerian banks have adverse effects on shareholders. He urged the CBN to go the extra mile in publishing the names of the defaulters.

Okezie noted that shareholders always suffer and bear the brunt of the chronic debtors in the banking industry because the NPLs affect the returns on investments.

He said: “If the names of the chronic debtors are published today, heaven will not fall because they are the people causing problems for the banks. The fact is, the names should be made known so that they can quickly pay. They shouldn’t stop them from doing business with those banks.

“In all the banks, ghosts never borrow money. It is human beings that do so for their businesses. So, it is up to them to repay the monies because they are owned by shareholders.

“Otherwise, shareholders will continue to bear the sins that they do not commit. And at the end of the day, the government will nationalise the banks and take over them through the NDIC or AMCON.” However, a senior banker said that publishing the names of bad debtors will definitely have adverse effect on most banks because “the names, when eventually published, will definitely include big names in the country who may likely withdraw their savings with the banks which might not be too good for the banking industry.”

In the same vein, two managing directors/chief executive officers, Mr. Yemi Adeola (Sterling Bank Plc.)and Mr. Semenitari (Unity Bank), recently declared the readiness of banks to fight debtors.

They assured that the names of debtors will be published is doing so will to make them to pay their debts.

Already those indebted to Unity Bank have been served notices on the bank’s intention to publish the list of bad debtors, beginning from the middle of this month.

Semenitari, said his bank has re-

solved to start publishing as a measure to compel the customers to pay back the loans and that the timing was within the approval limit.

The Bank of Industry (BoI) attested to the efficacy of the publication of debtors’ names. It said it recovered huge non-performing loans in the last quarter of 2014 after the establishment of its Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame for customers.

The BoI Hall of Fame was inaugurated in October 2014 to reward customers who did not default on loans repayment and a Hall of Shame was also established to punish loan defaulters.

No crime in owing Speaking on the development, Mr. Peter Amah, Head of Research and Corporate services, DEAP Capital, who reacted on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Ugbo, Managing Director, DEAP Capital and Trust Plc, said “there is nothing wrong with owing money and there is no law that states somebody should not owe.”

He commended the CBN, for its effort at recovering debts owed to banks but cautioned the apex bank to “do a thorough job on the list of debtors by ensuring that people who borrow money by following due process are not treated in the same way as those who acquire loans through fraudulent means, because no economy can survive without credit facilities from the banks. The banks are in existence to lend money to people or corporate entity that needs it.”

Corporate debtors Members of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) expressed serious concern over the threat by the CBN to publish names of chronic debtors to banks in the country.

Speaking at a news briefing, President of FOCI, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, a builder, expressed discontentment over the CBN’s threat.

He said the inability of his members to repay their loans was due to governments’ indebtedness to them.

Ogunbusola lamented that his members have spent the facilities they on projects like as roads and construction with the hope of getting reimbursement from the government, which he claimed has not lived to expectation.

FOCI members are made up of big construction companies, including Julius Berger Plc, C&C Construction, Costain West Africa, Hitech, Brunelli Construction, Jagal Nigeria, G. Cappa Plc, PW Nigeria Limited, Dantata and Sawoe and RCC, among others.

According to Ogunbusola, the Federal Ministry of Works alone presently owes its members over N500 billion, while one of the firms is being owed N70 billion by the Federal Government.

He added that both the state and local governments are also involved in what he described as a “show of shame.”

The FOCI President urged the CBN to equally publish the names of government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that are indebted to FOCI members.

He said: “We are indebted to banks and CBN is threatening our members, saying that it will publish their names as chronic debtors. How can you explain it that someone borrowed money from the bank for two to three years and government refuses to pay for the contract done with the money?

“What will CBN do to the government that refuses to pay the contractors? The names of such government agency must be published too.”

The FOCI chief raised the alarm that construction companies in the country are currently working below 30 per cent capacity, as they have been incapacitated by lack of payment for jobs already executed.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

NEWS DSS grills refineries MDs in multi-billion dollar oil deals Continued from page 1 •FA CE OF A •FACE ‘KILLER’ ‘KILLER’: Suspect Dylann Storm Roof (right) being escorted from the Police Department in Shelby after the Charleston shooting, in which nine people were killed in South Carolina, United States ...yesterday.

STORY ON PAGE 60

EFCC quizzes ex-governors Ohakim, Sule Lamido

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ORMER Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim was arrested yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The agency quizzed former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

Ohakim was arrested about 8am at his 60, Kwame Nkrumah Crescent home in Asokoro District, Abuja.

But Lamido reported to the EFCC based on invitation.

The former governors were grilled for more than eight hours by a team of senior investigators.

It was learnt that the EFCC arrested Ohakim after he allegedly failed to honour the invitation to conclude an

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ongoing probe of his tenure.

Ohakim was governor from 2007 to 2011.

An EFCC source said: “We have been inviting Ohakim for the conclusion of the investigation of the allegations against him but he always gave excuses.

“So, we decided to arrest him at his Abuja residence.

He is undergoing interrogation in our Operations Unit.

“The first leg of the probe of Ohakim’s tenure began with the invitation of some of his commissioners and government officials for alleged mismanagement of state funds.

“We need to present some

of the statements and evidence at our disposal to Ohakim to respond to.

“The allegation against Ohakim borders on some property in Abuja allegedly traced to him having been bought while in office.”

Concerning Lamido, it was gathered that he was quizzed on a N1.3b contract awarded while he was in office and the favouring of some of his children with mouth-watering projects.

He was also questioned on the money laundering allegations against some of his children.

“Allegations against Lamido have to do with alleged mismanagement of funds, money laundering and abuse

of office.

“We are looking into the accounts of all the companies where Lamido has some stake.”

EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren said: “I confirm the arrest of Ohakim and the appearance of Lamido before our team.”

But in a statement by his Special Assistant Emmanuel Dike yesterday, Ohakim denied evading arrest.

The statement said: “The attention of His Excellency, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has been drawn to media reports to the effect that he was evading an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in connecContinued on page 61

Chad bombs Boko Haram camps in retaliatory attack

C

HADIAN warplanes bombed Boko Haram positions in Nigeria to avenge Monday’s twin suicide bombings in its capital N’Djamena, which it blamed on the Islamist sect.

More than 50 people are believed to have been killed in the attack.

Chad’s military vowed it would continue its “merciless” pursuit of the armed group “so that no drop of spilt Chadian blood goes unpunished”.

“In response to the cowardly and barbaric acts perpetrat-

•DHQ denies bombing in Nigerian territory ed by Boko Haram terrorists... the armed forces carried out reprisal air strikes on the terrorists’ positions in Nigerian territory on Wednesday,” the military said in a statement yesterday.

Six Boko Haram bases were destroyed in the air raids, which caused “considerable human and material losses”, it said, without giving further details.

But the Nigerian military said there was no such attack on the country’s territory.

Monday’s attacks on the police headquarters and a police academy in N’Djamena were the first in the capital of the central African country, which has taken a lead role in a regional offensive against the Nigeriabased Boko Haram.

No group has claimed responsibility but Chad and its allies immediately blamed the Boko Haram, which have carried out a series of bloody attacks in border areas of countries that share a frontier

with northeastern Nigeria.

Chad has also banned the full-face veil and ordered security forces to seize burqas from markets and burn them.

“Wearing the burqa must stop immediately from today, not only in public places and schools but throughout the whole of the country,” Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet told religious leaders the day before the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Continued on page 61

mission (EFCC) and the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) launched the investigation last month.

A security source said the DSS wanted to find out how the value of the crude and products was computed.

“It appears that the value of the crude was more than the value of the refined imported,” a security source said.

The contracts, known as offshore processing agreements (OPAs) are between Pipelines and Product Marketing Co (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC and companies.

The NNPC last week admitted that some of its officials were invited by security agencies “to shed light” on the contracts.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has said there was a revenue loss of at least $600 million due to a discrepancy be-

tween the value of the crude and the products delivered.

The figure was taken from its 2009-2011 and 2012 audits of the oil and gas industry. The latest was released this year.

Some contract-holders have said that the discrepancies in value were reconciled.

Product exchange (swap) and offshore processing agreement (OPA) are transactions in which the NNPC supplies the other party with crude oil in return for refined products for sale locally on a value-for-value basis.

Under the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA), the NNPC provides crude oil to another party who would refine the crude oil on behalf of the NNPC and return the refined products to the Corporation based on the yield slate of the refinery. The NNPC provides the crude oil and pays the refining and other incidenContinued on page 61

Jega disowns anti-card reader directive in Rivers, others

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not change its directive on the use of card reader for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday..

Jega, who spoke during a post 2015 general election assessment retreat for resident electoral commissioners in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, said it was only during the Presidential election that the commission instructed states that wherever there was evidence of card readers failure they should revert to manual accreditation.

The retreat’s theme: “2015 General Elections: Lessons and way forward.”

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

There was manual accreditation in some states, including Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

The chairman, who said no elections had ever been perfect, insisted that the last general elections were highly successful.

Jega said: “If you recall there was at least an interval of two weeks between the presidential and governorship elections; we studied everything that was a problem with the card readers within those two weeks and rectified them.

“We were absolutely sure that for the governorship election card readers would not be a problem. That was Continued on page 61

Sect kills 40 in attack on Niger Republic villages

B

OKO Haram attacked and killed about 40 people in two villages in Niger Republic , Governor of that country’s Diffa Region Yakouba Soumana Goah has said.

According to him, the attackers pillaged stores and burned homes before withdrawing from the villages located near the border with Nigeria.

He added that the army went after the attackers.

Boko Haram last attacked Niger in April and killed no fewer than 58 people.

Boko Haram took control of a large swath of northeast Nigeria until a multinational force this year forced them out of towns and villages but it still engages in cross-border hit and run attacks

Row over controversial sale of Delta Steel Plc Continued from page 1

accept the Vaswani offer that led AMCON to announce the termination of his company’s appointment as receiver/manager.

A legal battle case is ongoing over AMCON’s termination of the SAN’s contract, The Nation learnt.

Vaswani initially offered to buy the company with West African Mines and Steel Limited before eventually buying it with Premium Steel and Mines Limited. The receiver/ manager at the time Premium Steel bought the company was Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN. Premium Steel and Mines Ltd was incorporated on December 15, last year. West African Mines & Steel Ltd was incorporated on May 3, 2013.

Aribisala added: "It is also interesting to note that the

said Premium Steel & Mines Ltd was only incorporated, for the above purpose, on December 14, 2014, when the bidding was already in full progress, thus, the company did not submit any bid on the sale of the assets, yet it was the same company that the assets of Delta Steel Company Plc were purportedly sold to .

“The essence of AMCON’s acquisition of bad debts from commercial banks, along with the collateral securities, is to confer on AMCON the assurance that in the event of failure of the borrower, in the case Delta Steel Company Plc, to discharge the indebtedness, AMCON can fall back on the pledged securities to recover the indebtedness by virtue of section 34 of the Asset Management Corporation Act. “By virtue of Section 35 AMCON Act, the Corporation is vested with the same right

to creditors (i.e. the banks from which the loans were acquired) over the pledged securities and can release any security that eligible financial institution could have realised and can exercise any power conferred by any document that forms part of the eligible bank assets.

“By virtue of Section 4(b) and (c) of the AMCON Act, the Corporation is statutorily mandated to: “(b) efficiently manage and dispose of eligible bank assets acquired by the corporation in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and “(c) Obtain the best achievable financial returns on eligible bank assets of other assets required by it in pursuance of the provision of this Act having regard to – the nee to protect or otherwise enhance the long-term economic value of the assets,

The cost of acquiring and dealing with those assets The corporation’s cost of capital and other costs Any other factor which the Corporation considers relevant to the achievement of its objects.”

“Also, by Section 43(3) of the AMCON Act, all officers of AMCON, including the managing Director – Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, are obligated to act in good faith, in the execution of the duties, power and obligations imposed on AMCON or any of its directors.

“Furthermore, by Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, AMCON being an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria , is obligated to avoid corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

AMCON’s sale of the company to Premium Steel and

Mines, which is to be made instalmentally when there is a buyer willing to pay N33billion at once, Aribisala said, did not only deviate from the provisions of Section 15(5) of the Constitution, but also violated Section 4(9b) and (c) of the AMCON Act. He said the sale “amounts to an economic sabotage or economic crime since the proceeds of sale, which is quite below the sum of N33billion which China Polaris Technologies Company Ltd, the highest bidder would have paid, belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria by virtue of AMCON being a Federal Government agency.”

“The sum of N33billion , which was the best offer received on the disposal of the assets of the company, would have been more than enough to discharge the debts owed to AMCON and several unse-

cured creditors, being owed to staff and ex-staff of Delta Steel Company Plc as pensions and gratuities,” Aribisala claimed.

The Presidency, The Nation learnt, is already looking into the petition on the sale.

Premium Steel and Mines pledged to expand the company’s capacity and establish industries for other value added products.

It said the product range at the complex is aimed at optimal utilisation of the country’s mining and gas resources and producing import substitution products.

Premium Steel also said it would provide employment.

The investor pledged to assist the communities in their education and healthcare.

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08023006969, 08052592524

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

NEWS

Case goes on despite Gbajabiamila’s loss

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HE suit instituted against the bid of former House of Representatives Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila to be Speaker will go on despite his loss on June 9 to Hon. Yakubu Dogara, it emerged yesterday.

The group, Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness (SJCRA), through its lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) hinged is suit on the grounds that Gbajabiamila, a lawyer, was not eligible to contest the election because of his alleged “conviction” for professional misconduct by the Supreme Court of Goergia, United States in 2007.

Although Gbajabiamila lost

•Rep urges court to dismiss suit From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the election to Dogara, Ozekhome told the court yesterday that his client was willing to proceed to challenge Gbajabiamila’s eligibility to remain in the House of Representatives.

But, in a counter-affidavit dated June 18, sworn to by Gbajabiamila’s Senior Legislative Assistant, Osaze Ogunditie and filed in opposition to a motion by the plaintiff seeking a restraining order against Gbajabiamila, he denied the conviction

record.

Ogunditie stated that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the suit.

He referred to the judgment of the Georgia Supreme Court, a copy of which the plaintiff attached to its court processes, and stated that “the 1st (Gbajbiamila) was not convicted by any court of law in the state of Georgia for any criminal offence.”

“That the 1st defendant is currently an active member in good standing of the state Bar of Georgia.

“ I know as a fact that the election to the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on June 9, 2015.

“The 1st defendant lost the election to Honourable Yakubu Dogara a member of the House of Representatives representing Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa/Dass Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.”

Gbajabiamila denied that he was once convicted in Georgia, United States.

His denial is contained in a document he filed before the

•From left: Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Kabiru Gaya and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, at a seminar organised by The Gusau Institute in Kaduna ... yesterday.

Federal High Court, Abuja in reaction to a suit by a group, challenging among others, his competence to be a member of the House of Reps. It also sought to prevent Gbajabiamila from contesting the last Speakership election in the House of Reps.

Although the proceedings of yesterday were conducted in the chambers of the judge, Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati, as was the case on June 8 when the case first came up, Ozekhome told reporters that his client would continue to pursue the case despite the fact that Gbajabiamila lost the speakership election.

On June 8, Ozekhome’s bid to stop Gbajabiamila from contesting the Speakership election, scheduled for the following day, failed as Justice

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•Tribunal to rule June 25 in similar request by Akpabio From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the territorial jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the petition in Abuja, stating as part of the grounds of the application that, “The Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election, the subject matter of this petition was held in Akwa Ibom State in Uyo, the original and acceptable venue for the tribunal’s business is the capital of Akwa Ibom State.”

He requested the court to declare that the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja was “in breach of the provisions of Section 285(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and paragraph 20(2) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)”.

Awomolo is also seeking the following prayers: •An order setting aside the decision relocating the governorship election tribunal from Uyo , Akwa Ibom to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for the hearing and determination of the

petition.

•An order consequentially directing that the governorship election tribunal be relocated back to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the hearing and determination of the petition.”

Yesterday, petitioners’ lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) urged the tribunal to hear his application seeking leave for the inspection of electoral materials.

INEC’s delay in filing it’s response prevented the hearing of the petitioners’ application.

The Justice Sadiq Umarled three-man tribunal directed INEC to file its response before June 22. It adjourned to June 22 for its pre-sitting hearing and hearing of pending applications.

Meanwhile, the state’s National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, equally sitting in Abuja has fixed June 25 for ruling on a similar application by former governor Godswill Akpabio.

The tribunal took arguments from parties yester-

day on the application by Akpabio, challenging the relocation of the tribunal from Uyo to Abuja and the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

Akpabio declaration as the winner of the March 28, 2015 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial seat is being challenged by Chief Inibehe Okori of the APC. In a counter argument yesterday, Okori’s lawyer, Assam Assam (SAN ) prayed the tribunal to dismiss the application.

He urged the tribunal to direct that the proceedings in the petition proceed to pre- hearing and ultimately the hearing and determination of the petition within the time allowed by law.

He cited Paragraph 12(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 and urged the tribunal not to allow Akpabio’s application delay the hearing of the substantive petition.

Paragraph 12(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 provides: “A respondent who has an objection to the hearing of the Petition shall file his

The Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election, ‘the subject matter of this petition was held in Akwa Ibom State in Uyo, the original and acceptable venue for the tribunal’s business is the capital of Akwa Ibom State

’

Abdulkafarati declined to grant his ex parte motion for an order restraining Gbajabiamila from contesting the speakership election.

Justice Abdulkafarati has adjourned the hearing till September 21.

Nigerian economy, unmitigated disaster, says Dogara

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OUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has said Nigerian leaders must redouble their efforts if the country is to be rescued from its current state of economic woes.

Dogara, who spoke yesterday while receiving a delegation of government officials, traditional institutions, business executives and politicians from Bauchi State refereed that the country’s economy is in a state of ‘unmitigated disaster’.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Speaker Nuhu Gidado.

Akwa Ibom governor seeks tribunal’s relocation to Uyo KWA IBOM S tate Governor Udom Emmanuel has requested that the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja be relocated to the state capital, Uyo. His request is contained in a motion he filed before the tribunal, challenging among others, the movement of the tribunal to Abuja from Uyo where it had sat before it was moved on ground of insecurity.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate at the last governorship election, Umana Umana, and the party are challenging Emmanuel’s victory at the election. Emmanuel, his party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Police are listed as respondents to the petition.

In the motion filed on June 7, the governor argued that the decision to relocate the tribunal from Uyo after its inaugural sitting on May 19, 2015, was “in excess of its jurisdiction”.

His lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), stated that lawyers in the case were “inexplicably and without any prior hearing on the matter” informed of the relocation of the tribunal on May 30, 2015.

Awomolo contended that his motion was challenging

•Gbajabiamila

reply and state the objection therein and the objection shall be heard along with the substantive petition”.

Assam also drew the tribunal’s attention to Paragraph 53(5) of the same schedule to the Electoral Act which states that: “An objection challenging the irregularity or competence of an election petition shall be heard and determined after the close of pleadings”.

Assam urged the tribunal to be guided by the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola vs Senator Iyiola Omisore and others (2014) LPELR- CA/AK/ EPT/GOV/05/237/2014.

It was the appellate court’s opinion in the case that paragraph 53(5) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act having been amended by paragraph 12(5) of the same schedule, all objections to the hearing of a petition shall be raised as a defence to be heard and determined with the petition.

He argued that the Court of Appeal, in considering the two provisions, were of the view that election petitions being sui generis (in a class of its own) are governed by different rules.

Assam added that an election petition is, by its nature, a very peculiar proceeding which distinguishes it from an ordinary civil proceeding.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

According to the Speaker, the challenges confronting the country have been well identified but finding solution remains the major challenge.

“The Nigeria economy is in a state of unmitigated disaster, so we have to redouble our energy and dig further so that we can provide the services required by our people.

“We need to develop new tools to solve our problems and reach beyond ourselves.

If we leave this position and do nothing for Nigerians, then we have failed.

“But if we hope to achieve anything, we must lay a solid foundation of credible service, so that those behind us will be defined by the nature of the that we offered.

He also reiterated his resolve to lead a summit for the reconstruction of Northeast ravaged by religious violence, saying, “Leaders should set out for the needed peace in the Northeast.

“I have started a discourse and I’m ready to lead a donor summit for the reconstruction of Northeast because with the dwindling government revenue, it is practically impossible for the government to attend to all our requests”.

He also assured the delegation that the advise given that he (Dogara) should not be vindictive as a result of the build up to his victory would be well taken.

In addition, he assured that though as a Speaker, his responsibilities are to the entire country but that his home State, Bauchi would reap the benefit of the sacrifices the State has made for the country since the first Republic.

Earlier, Deputy Governor Gidado expressed optimism about the capacity of the Speaker to excel in the charge of his new legislative responsibilities, the Emir of Dass.

Alh Bilaminu Uaman urged him to forget the disagreements and acrimony that may have occurred during the contest for the post of Speaker.

“I implore you to learn to forgive and forget and see everyone as brothers and sisters, that is how you can carry every one along,” he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NEWS Sam Omatseye is NAL Fellow

Boko Haram: EU pledges •21m for victims, IDPs M

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NFLUENTIAL columnist and Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Mr. Sam Omatseye has been admitted as Honorary Fellow of the prestigious Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).

In a letter signed by the NAL Secretary, Prof. Olutayo C. Adesina, the Academy stated that the multiple award columnist received the honour “in recognition of the contributions you made in your field of specialization”.

“I feel honoured for this rare recognition,” said Omatseye at the news. “I will try my best to always live up to the highest ideals that inspired this laurel,” he added.

The decision was reached by the NAL Executive Council in a meeting on May 27.

“The decision carries with it the responsibilities of full participation in the activities of the

•Omatseye

Academy,” said Prof. Adesina.

The investiture will take place on August 13, in the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos.

Omatseye writes a weekly column and has won several awards, including the Nigerian Media Merit Award for columnist of the year three times as well as the Diamond Award for Media Excellence also three times. He has also won laurels in journalism in the United States (U.S.) and Canada.

Illegal crude oil dealing: EFCC arraigns Filipinos, others

By Joseph Jibueze

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned nine Filipinos and Bangladeshis for allegedly attempting to export crude oil out of Nigeria without licence.

They pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

They are Axel Jabone, Zahirul Islam, Juanito Infantado, Suarin Alave, Gatila Gadayan, Islam Shahinul, Islam Rafiqul, Shaikh Nomany and Rolando Comendador. They were charged along with a vessel, MT Asteris.

EFCC said the accused persons on March 27 conspired among themselves to deal in 3,423.097 metric tonnes of crude oil without lawful authority.

They were alleged to have stored the crude oil in MT Asteris cargo tanks marked 1C, 3C and 4C without licence, and had attempted to export the crude from Nigeria.

The alleged offences contravene sections 1 (17) (a), 1 (19)(6) and 1 (17) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under sections 17 and 1(19)(a) of the Act. By storing the crude oil without licence, the commission said they committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Justice Buba granted them bail for N50 million each with two sureties in like sum, who must be Nigerians and must swear to an affidavit of means.

If the sureties are not Nigerians, they must produce bank guarantees worth the bail amount, and the defendants must deposit their international passports.

Their trial will begin on June 23.

ORE help is coming the way of victims of Boko Haram’s attacks in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries, as the European Commission pledged •21 million.

The EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, in a statement yesterday by the commission, said •12.5 million of the fund will be used to tackle humanitarian challenges in Nigeria.

Also, •8.5 million will go into supporting the refugees in Niger, Cameroon and Chad.

The new aid followed assistance the commission is providing to the most vulnerable people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition in Ni-

J

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

geria and the neighbouring countries.

In 2015 and 2014, the European Commission allocated more than •123 million and •107 million to provide humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

But the new EU funding is expected to provide immediate support, including clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and protection to the displaced and the host communities in the Northeast as well as to Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries.

Stylianides, who is visiting Nigeria to assess the humanitarian situation, said: “More than 1.7 million people have been displaced by the terror of Boko Haram. Many of them live in precarious conditions in other parts of Nigeria or the neighbouring countries, where they have fled.

“Meeting some of them today, I saw with my own eyes the immense needs that the conflict is causing among civilians. We are stepping up our humanitarian response to the call of those in the greatest need”.

He expressed concern over

the lack of humanitarian access to the people who need help.

“There are restrictions of access in many areas, in particular along Lake Chad. All possible efforts should be made to ensure that humanitarian organisations can be there for those who need their help,” he said.

Stylianides is in the country to assess the humanitarian consequences of insurgency.

He will be meeting the displaced persons and relief organisations to discuss how EU aid can be put to the best use.

The commissioner is expected to hold meetings with government representatives and civil society organisations.

Money laundering: Judgment in suit against Fani-Kayode July 1

UDGMENT in the trial of a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi FaniKayode for alleged money laundering was stalled yesterday due to the absence of prosecuting counsel Mr. Festus Keyamo. hief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) urged the judge to go on and deliver the judgment since it was ready.

He said the law did not make it mandatory that a prosecuting counsel must be present before a judgment is delivered in a criminal trial.

The senior advocate said even if someone is holding a watching brief for the prosecuting counsel, the judgment could still be delivered.

But Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia insisted that she was more comfortable reading the judgment in Keyamo’s presence.

She stood the case down for 10 minutes to enable the

By Joseph Jibueze

lawyer from Keyamo’s chambers, Mr. Festus Afeiyodion, to confirm from his principal the day he would be available.

About an hour later, Afeiyodion told the judge that Keyamo requested for a short stand-down to enable him come, as he was handling another matter elsewhere.

“Mr. Keyamo asked that the matter be stood down till 1.30pm. By then, he would be through and be here personally. In the alternative, he suggested that any other day could be chosen and he will be here,” Afeiyodion said.

Adedipe, after briefly conferring with Fani-Kayode, said they would not mind waiting till 1.30pm.

However, the judge said she would prefer not to deliver the judgment under pressure as the day would

have been far gone by that time.

Apparently to prove that the judgment was indeed ready, she displayed a typewritten material on her tablet, saying she prefers to read it out at a convenient time.

Fani-Kayode was accused of making a transaction exceeding N500,000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a financial institution.

He was alleged to have accepted N2.1 million in cash, which was paid into his personal bank account by his aide, Supo Agbaje, while he served as Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said contravenes the Money Laundering Act. The judge, last November

•Fani-Kayode

17, directed Fani-Kayode to defend two of 40-count money laundering charges initially brought against him.

Holding that the commission did not prove the other counts sufficiently, she partially upheld Fani-Kayode’s no-case submission.

She discharged and acquitted him of the 38 counts on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove “elements” of the allegations.

The judgment has been adjourned till July 1.

MTN wins ‘Investors In People’ award

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ELECOMMUNICATIONS giant MTN has been honoured with Investors in People (IIP) Gold Certification by the governing board of the United Kingdom (UK)-based organisation.

The Investors in People Standard is a UK quality standard introduced in 1991.

The gold certification followed an earlier accreditation of MTN Nigeria as an Investor in People organisation in 2013, making it the first company in all of West Africa to receive such recognition.

The company got the award after an assessment by a team of IIP assessors from the UK. Organisations accredited by the IIP go through a series of precise assessments, with particular reference to the company’s people management practices in line with the IIP Framework.

Studies into the impact of the IIP standards on performance in companies accredited by the body revealed that abiding by the IIP standards improved organisational performance regardless of organisational size, emphasising improvements in customer service, productivity and employees turnover.

“For us, achieving the IIP Gold Standard is a validation of the strength of our Employee Value Proposition, also known as the MTN Deal,” said Amina Oyagbola, Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria..

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); former Special Adviser to the Governor on Federal Matters Mrs. Idiat Babalola (second right); Executive Secretary, Partnership for Child Development (PCD) Dr. Lesley Drake (second left); PDC Country Manager Adesanmi Abinbola (left); and PDC Executive Director Dr. Esiet Owen (right) when the PCD delegation visited the governor at Awolowo House, Osun Lodge, Abuja...on Tuesday.

Gang-up won’t diminish Tinubu’s political stature, says coalition

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HE emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of House of Representatives has not diminished the political stature of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, which said this in Lagos yesterday, added that any attempt by the leadership of the National Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members

By Leke Salaudeen

to diminish Tinubu’s political relevance would fail.

Its Deputy Convener, Declan Ihekaire, who spoke at a news conference, explained that Tinubu’s insistence on adherence to party’s decision on election of National Assembly principal officers was geared towards advancing APC’s interest.

He described Tinubu as a towering political icon that wrote the scripts of the change in Nigeria to-

day and likened the struggle by “political lightweight to ridicule him as the vain efforts of defeated dwarfs that see the rise of their political fortunes in an endless chase of Tinubu’s shadow”.

“We see their claim that the present conspiracy by the negative forces to take the leadership of National Assembly has reduced the stature of Tinubu as the vain gloating of defeated and conquered political vassals,” Ihekaire said.

The activist noted that the gangup by lawmakers should serve as

a warning to the APC that the task of neutralising the nauseous effects of the PDP on Nigerian polity in the past 16 years is not yet over.

He warned that nothing should be done to reward the PDP. He said the manner in which Saraki and Dogara betrayed the party by aligning with the opposition that decimated Nigeria for 16 years is morally reprehensible.

“They undermined party loyalty, discipline and cohesion and left no one in doubt that they put their personal ambitions above the party’s

will and the national interest.

“Since the party was the vehicle through which individuals won elections into offices, and as long as there is no provision for independent candidacy, all party members must subject themselves to party discipline.

“We call on the APC to henceforth invoke its disciplinary processes against any party member who conducts himself or herself in any manner that violates party discipline or undermines the collective interest of the party,” Ihekaire said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NEWS

Education college seeks justice over student’s alleged rape by officer The Ogun State Police Command is battling to unravel the truth in the allegations of multiple rape against one of its senior officers, writes ERNEST NWOKOLO.

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ID an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr John Mafoya, rape a student of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Abeokuta, Ogun State?

This is the question the Ogun State Police Command is battling to unravel.

The Command said the police cherished its image and would not condone any unruly act from its officers.

It said it was looking into the matter and would take appropriate action upon conclusion of investigation.

Mafoya serves as the Divisional Police Post Officer at Osiele, a few metres from the bustling FCE campus.

There has been over five years of mutual trust and harmony between the Osiele Police Post and students of the FCE but that trust ruptured, following an allegation of multiple rape of a Primary Education Studies (PES) student of the College by Mafoya.

It was not the first time the officer would be accused of rape. He was earlier said to have had sex with another student without her consent. The girl’s father petitioned the police, and he is still awaiting the outcome of the investigation.

The latest case began last April 30 when the victim was first detained at the Osiele Police Post for participating in a group assault on

a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr. Kareem Alaba.

Alaba was said to have made advances at the girl during her visit to his house at Arokoje village in Abule Obantoko area of Abeokuta.

The corps member, it was alleged, attempted to rape her when she would not “play ball”.

It was gathered that the girl whose dress was torn while struggling to free herself returned to campus and reported the incident to her male friends.

Alaba was invited to the campus by the girl, and was beaten up by her male friends.

Mafoya was said to have ordered the arrest and detention of the girl even as he also personally took over the case.

He allegedly drove her to his residence at Alanco, raped her before bringing her back to the police post by 10.30 pm, where he raped her again.

It was gathered that students raised N3,000 the following day to effect their colleague’s release.

Although, the traumatised victim, it was learnt, could not recount the rape encounter at the FCE’s security unit, she managed to record what transpired on her cell phone.

It was also gathered that some officers, appalled by the alleged act, reported the incident to the Commissioner of Police, Val Ntomchukwu, who ordered an investigation.

A female student told our correspondent that the sexual harrassment was triggered by Facebook relationship that turned sour.

“The girl lives on campus. She

met someone online and decided to visit him in town and the person happened to be a corps member.

“In the town, the guy attempted to rape her and in the struggle to free herself, her dress was torn and she ran to the campus and reported to her male friends.

“The guy was asked to come to the campus and was beaten up when he came. The assault led to the girl’s arrest and she was taken to the station where she was allegedly raped by the DPO of Osiele Police Post,” she said.

Efforts to reach to the victim was unsuccessful.

The school’s Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Mr Bola Adesina, said the alleged rape occurred outside the campus, adding that details were still sketchy.

“The victim is our student but the incident happened outside the campus. It is a pure civil case. The truth is, I don’t know much about it save what was reported in the paper.

“We learnt that a corps member was wooing her but the girl did not consent and that one argument led to another and then there was a fight and the police angle crept into it.

“So, I can’t tell if the allegation is true or false. If is true, it means the police officer took advantage of the girl’s predicament to assault her.

“But as an institution, we have been counselling our female students on how to conduct themselves within and outside the campus to avoid being sexually harrassed.

“For example, they are told not to move alone, walk alone in dark areas or dress in manners that

would attract male sex abusers and to be security conscious always.”

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the allegation against Mafoya has been brought to the command’s attention, adding that the matter was being investigated.

He said: “The case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department, the parties involved were invited and questioned to get the facts of the matter but I don’t know the outcome yet.

“Even if the report is ready, I’m not the person to let it out because the issue is also disciplinary. Whatever be the case, if the accused officer is found guilty, he won’t go unpunished.

“We cherish the image of the police, the Inspector General of Police will not condone it and the Commissioner of Police, Val Ntomchukwu, will also not tolerate it.

“The officer, if found to have erred, will be dealt with according to the law and police rules.

“We have never had such case in the past, this is the first time and it is strange to the Command.”

The college has called for justice.

A letter to the Commissioner of Police, signed by the Registrar, Mr R. A. Akinola, called for Mafoya’s redeployment.

The school acknowledged that Mafoya was detained on the commissioner’s orders, but said it was awaiting the outcome of the investigation.

“Mafoya has been released and is now boasting that there is nothing anybody can do to him.

“He has been harassing and threatening the victim to either

withdraw the matter or be dealt with.

“He was quoted to be saying that his posting to police Headquarters at Eleweran was promotion and routine rather than disciplinary,” the school said.

FCE added that Mafoya had been claiming to be untouchable.

“Permit me to remind your good office that the same ASP John Mafoya who has been boasting that he is untouchable was alleged to have also abducted and had canal knowledge of another student of the college a short while ago.

“We are still awaiting the outcome of the petition the father wrote on this other matter.

“In the face of the foregoing and without prejudice to the outcome of your handling of these two matters, I wish to on behalf of the college appeal that you kindly post this interesting officer away from the vicinity of the college.

“If ASP John Mafoya believes he is above the law, we don’t begrudge him.

“But we humbly appeal that in the interest of public peace in the community, almighty ASP John Mafoya should be requested to stop coming to parade himself in the college in a manner that could incite the students.

“Students of FCE Abeokuta are known to be law abiding and peaceful. But in the face of reckless and unbridled provocation human nature could be unpredictable.

“Please accept the assurances of the provost’s highest regards and consideration.”

Accreditation for EKSUTH From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

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HE West African College of Surgeons (WACS) has granted full accreditation to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

The full accreditation, which is expected to run for five years in the first instance, is to train a maximum of 20 resident-doctors up to Part II (Fellowship Level).

This was contained in the report of an accreditation visit to the Department on February 18.

According to a letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, the hospital is expected to apply for re-accreditation six months before the expiry date on February 28, 2020.

The senior residents are to spend at least three months in another teaching hospital with full accreditation before applying for the Part 2 examination.

WACS, however, recommended the need for more consulting rooms at the antenatal and gynaecological clinics and increase in the bed capacity in the gynaecological ward.

The Surgeons’ College also recommended an improvement on the number of major gynaecological surgeries and improvement on record keeping, especially at the ultrasound room and MVA theatre.

The visiting team equally recommended the need to commence laparoscopic and hysteroscopic services and to separate the seminar room from the waiting room of the family planning clinic.

•From left: Fomer Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun, Babatunde Aiku, Akeredolu and a counsel in court...yesterday.

PHOTO: TAYO JOHNSON

Our ruling shall be based on merit, says Oyo Tribunal

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EMBERS of the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ibadan, the state capital, have said they will deliver their judgment based on merit and not on sentiment or influence.

Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord, has challenged the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He has asked the tribunal to declare him the winner of the April 11 election, having polled the highest number of lawful votes.

The Accord candidate averred that Ajimobi was wrongfully returned as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The petitioner was represented by Richard Ogunwole. The four respondents- APC, Ajimobi, Rufus Akeju

•Pre-hearing begins on Tuesday From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

and INEC- were represented by Wole Olanipekun, Rotimi Akeredolu and Adeboye Shobanjo for the third and fourth respondents.

Court 21 in the High Court Complex, Iyaganku, was filled with party leaders, chieftains and supporters of both parties. The tribunal began sitting at 10:05am.

The Chairman, Justice F.C Okezie, decried the time lost by the tribunal as a result of lateness in serving the petitioner and the respondents.

He said:” We have lost so much time already. Anybody who will win this tribunal shall emerge through merit. All the parties must be active, keep to time and file all motions

within the stipulated time frame.

“Some parties are still yet to file their pre-trial petition information sheet which is to give us an idea on how to schedule our pre-hearing sittings.

“We need to start pre-hearing on Monday, which will last for 14 days.

Let us all agree on a fixed time without waiting for anybody. Sitting for a tribunal is different from a normal court session.”

Ogunwole urged the tribunal to pick a permanent time for the beginning of sitting, break and closing time.

But Justice Okezie urged the counsel to select the starting time for the tribunal and break time, but Olani-

pekun, who Bayo Ojo was holding brief for, and Shobanjo urged the chairman to pick any time he wished.

Akeredolu objected, urging the tribunal to begin its sitting by 10am and go on break from 2pm to 3pm to allow Muslims observe their prayers.

At the end of the 30 minute-argument, Justice Okezie and members of the panel- Justices I. M Muhammad Karaye and J.E Ikede- admitted that the tribunal’s sitting should begin by 10am.

There will be a break at 2:30pm to 3:30pm, except on Fridays when it will be from 1:30pm to 2:30pm to allow Muslims observe Jumat.

Justice Okezie said pre-hearing will begin on Monday. He adjourned sitting till Tuesday.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NEWS Ibadan suspected ritualists get bail From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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No one can replace Arisekola-Alao, say Ajimobi, Aregbesola From left: An industrialist, Oba Otudeko; Aregbesola; Ajimobi and Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Oyelade, at the event…yesterday

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OVERNORS Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) have said no one can match the generosity of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao.

The duo spoke yesterday at the first year Fidau for Arisekola-Alao, which took place at the palatial residence of the late business mogul at Oluwo-kekere, Basorun, Ibadan.

Arisekola died on June 18, last year, in his London home.

Ajimobi said he missed Arisekola-Alao’s advice, adding that he was consoled by the fact that he lived a good life.

From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

He urged wealthy Nigerians to assist the needy.

The governor said: “We should know that life is ephemeral; we will all die one day.

“The funniest part is that we behave as if we are going to live forever. Some people fight each other; others are angry at each other.

“Some people are stingy.

They have but they can’t give.

Some people are not easily satisfied. If you give them a certain amount, they will still complain.”

He added: “None of us can act like the deceased. Even, some of us who are governors have offended some people since Aare

died because some of them see us as not being able to satisfy their needs.

“If you are in dire need of help, Aare was ready to help.

Those who didn’t know his worth are now facing the reality.”

Aregbesola said there are many rich individuals but none is as generous as the late philanthropist.

He explained that the late Arisekola-Alao helped people without discrimination.

Disclosing that the late business mogul was his confidant, he said he hurriedly left Abuja for Ibadan, when somebody informed him of the Fidau.

He said: “The Seriki Hausawa

of Sasa community, Ibadan came to visit me in Osogbo and when we talked about Aare, he broke down in tears.

“That was when I knew that Arisekola-Alao was Godsent. For a Hausa man to talk about a Yoruba man like that showed what Aare meant to many people.”

One of the deceased’s sons, Umar-Farouk, said he would continue to miss his father.

He said despite efforts to help the needy, he cannot match his father.

The chairman of the organising committee, Oloye Lekan Alabi, described ArisekolaAlao as a detribalised Nigerian.

APC: Fayose got N720m salary arrears

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of awarding N720millon to himself as salary arrears of his unfinished first term.

It said such conduct is selfish and callous for a governor who calls himself a friend of the masses.

Its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the governor had not paid last September salary and pensioners.

The statement reads: “Though he admitted he owes only May salary as if he has any excuse to owe workers, as we write, over 10,000 Ekiti workers are yet to receive April salary.

“This is because not all workers he claimed to have paid have actually received their salaries.

“What he has been doing is to pay 10 out of 300 workers in a ministry and then go to town with his propagandists.

Governor: It’s a lie From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has denied the allegation that he awarded himself N720 million as allowances from his unfinished first term.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said the allegation is ridiculous and illogical.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of promoting falsehood.

The governor said: “From all indications, the APC has promoted falsehood to the level of a trade.

“Governor Fayose left office on October 16, 2006, eight months to the end of his tenure and Ekiti State had three governors within that period. Does it then make any sense that the same Fayose would come back eight years after to approve payment already made to three governors after him for himself?

“Let’s even assume that the eight months salary is to be paid, is the monthly salary of a governor not more than N1million? How then does N1million per month equal N720million in eight months?

“Again, Severance Allowance is 300 per cent of annual basic salary and the basic salary of a governor is not more than N2million. So can N2million in three places be equal to N720million?’’

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

“We are asking Fayose

once again what he is doing with all the monies he saved from the empowerment pro-

grammes he cancelled.

“We also want to know where election contract deductions of N650 million monthly are going. Who are the beneficiaries? Are they more important than Ekiti workers?

“Who are his friends among the masses?”

Olatubosun said the purported 1,000 ghost workers discovered during the verification was a ploy to sack workers.

“His claim that 250 workers died after Fayemi left office is baffling.

“If this were so, then all Nigerian pastors must relocate to Ekiti to intercede on behalf of workers to stop mass deaths in the civil service,” he said.

Olatubosun also criticised the governor for his alleged frequent unofficial Dubai trips, saying his latest unofficial trip to South Africa where he was pictured at the departure lounge of the airport drinking beer was an all-time low for a governor.

N Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday granted bail to five suspected ritualists.

The accused were arrested at Oloya village, Asejire, Ibadan by the police anti-kidnapping squad for allegedly stealing and obtaining N30million under false pretense.

When the case came up before Magistrate O.I Uthman, they pleaded not guilty. They were accused of allegedly defrauding Ade Adeniran of N30million. They claimed to be herbalists, who would cure him of diabetes.

The accused are Akeem Azeez Olayode (syndicate leader ); Ayankunle Ayanlowo (syndicate fake herbalist) ; Samsondeen Abiola (photographer), whose role is to lure rich victims and Sherifat Gbadamosi, a syndicate member who played the role of witch.

The fifth person, Oriyomi Adebayo, who was alleged to be the syndicate’s spy, was rraigned separately in Court 3, where he was charged with breach of peace.

Magistrate Uthman adjourned the case till July 30 and granted the accused bail of N1million and two sureties each.

The judge directed the prosecution to assemble all witnesses on the adjourned date to expedite trial.

Adebayo was granted bail of N20,000 with one surety by Magistrate A. A. Adebisi, who fixed July 8 for commencement of his trial.

Woman remanded for ‘fraud’

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N Akure Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded a 60-year-old woman, Kate Njoku, in prison custody for allegedly defrauding a bank.

Ms Njoku, who was charged for forgery, impersonation and fraud, was said to have defrauded the bank between May 19 and June 9.

Police prosecutor Adejuwon Akinpelumi said the offences were contrary to Sections 464(C) and punishable under section 467(2)(G) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The prosecutor also told

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the court that the offence was committed at various times at the Akure branch of the bank.

Akinpelumi said the accused person falsely presented herself as Iroha M.A before the cashiers with a forged bank withdrawal slip with intent to defraud the bank.

The prosecutor added that Njoku was arrested when she fraudulently withdrew N1,678,000 from the bank.

Magistrate Sunday Adedapo ordered her to be remanded in Olokuta prison.

He adjourned the matter till Monday.

Gunmen assassinate Egba chief Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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N Egba Chief, Moses Oyebade, has been killed in his home at Ikanna compound, Ago-Oba , Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Oyebade, who was the Oluwo of Ikanna, was shot by gunmen, who stormed his home at midnight on Wednesday.

It was gathered that they broke the window of his bedroom and shot the victim at close range.

The late Oyebade marked his 75th birthday in Lagos recently.

It was gathered that the slain chief was the lone occupant of the building.

The police evacuated his remains after the incident was reported at the Ibara Police Station.

The victim’s first son, Oluyemi, told reporters that there had been several assassination attempts on his father.

“My father was sleeping in his bedroom. The bed is close to the window. The first gunshot hit his hand. Maybe when he was struggling, they shot him again. I guess they shot him three times,” he said.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the killers left a note.

“We have a murder case at hand concerning Chief Moses Oyebade.

“Some men went to his residence, broke his window and shot him at 12am.

“We have examined the place and recovered a note, which contained a message in both English and Yoruba.

“It could be a case of assassination. We will invite some people for interrogation.

“The Commissioner, Valentine Ntomchukwu, has directed that the case be transfered to the Department of Criminal Investigation.”

Court orders DSS to release Islamic cleric, tender public apology

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FEDERAL High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday told the operatives of the Department of the State Security Service(DSS) that it does not have power to detain a terrorism suspect, Ganiyu Ibrahim-Jimoh, indefinitely.

The court said the arrest and continued detention of Ibrahim-Jimoh is not only “illegal and unconstitutional”, but also an “abuse of his rights”.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Prisoners Right Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), Justice F. O. Ogunbanjo held that the detention of Ibrahim - Jimoh in perpetuity since July 5, last year, without trial, violated certain provisions of the constitution.

The judge, therefore, ordered his immediate release, payment of N1million damages and tendering of public apology to him by DSS.

The cleric and his expectant wife, Muinat, were abducted at their Ijoko-Ota home by unknown persons last year.

In September, Muinat was set free when her Expected Due Date (EDD) drew close.

On getting home, she told family members that she and her husband were in DSS custody.

Following the disclosure, Counsel Hammed AdetolaKazeem filed an application, seeking a declaration that the

arrest and detention was illegal, release of the suspect and payment of N300 million damages.

The Director-General of DSS and the Attorney General of the Federation were joined as respondents.

During the trial, the DSS argued that the suspects were being held for suspicious terrorism-related activities.

But Justice Ogunbanjo held that the DSS could not convince the court that the

law empowering it to detain suspects also granted it unlimited power to detain beyond what was permissible in the constitution.

“The DSS didn’t deny the arrest of the applicant and his wife but denied all other allegations in the motion.

“The right of citizen is enshrined in the constitution and also the power to arrest and investigate suspects, however, I am yet to see which law gave the DSS the wide power to arrest and de-

tain suspects for 64 days without charging them to court.

“The DSS failed to show the law which gives it power to detain anyone beyond what is in the constitution,” the court submitted.

However, the judge maintained that the position of the court doesn’t constitute a shield on the applicants should the DSS and the Attorney General of Federation resolve to charge them.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

9

NEWS UNICEM refutes report on relocation to Lagos From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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HE United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (UniCem) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has denied a local newspaper’s report that the company intends to relocate to Lagos because of crisis.

The company’s Corporate Affairs Director, Mr. Ayi Ita Ayi, stressed that “the report is false, misleading and lacking in truth”.

He said UniCem had no reason to relocate from Calabar, where it operated for years.

The spokesman wondered why anyone should contemplate that the company, with such a huge investment in Cross River State, could relocate its assets elsewhere.

Ayi said the newspaper did not crosscheck its facts before going to press.

He urged the public to ignore the publication, adding that the report did not reflect the truth about the company.

Arsonists torch Bayelsa oil field From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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NKNOWN persons, suspected to be arsonists, have razed a fresh oil spill at Ossiama, Ogboinbiri, Okpotuwari and other neighbouring communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The spill was said to have occurred from a pipeline operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

The cause of the spill could not be ascertained.

The residents reportedly discovered the fire on June 16.

“The spill site is very close to another spill site that was clamped on April 23. This is happening when the former spill site in April has not been attended to for a cleanup,” a source, who pleaded not to be named, said yesterday.

He said a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) conducted on the site indicated that the April 23 incident was caused by equipment failure.

The source noted that since the JIV investigation on the site was conducted, Agip officials and other regulatory agencies, such as the Ministry of Environment, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), had not revisited the site.

He said remediation had also not been carried out on the affected environment of the impacted communities.

According to the source, the crude oil slick could spread into the surrounding swamps, farmlands, creeks and rivulets in a few days because of the rains.

There were fears yesterday of a cholera outbreak and other diseases.

The acting paramount ruler of Okpotuwari, Moses Tiger, confirmed the incident.

He said the community had notified Agip on “this fresh spill but it has not visited the site”.

•Lagos State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (second left) with the Controller of Prisons, Lagos State Command, Vincent Ubi (middle) during her inaugural visit to Ikoyi Prisons...yesterday. With them from left are: Justice Toyin Ipaye; Justice Aisha Opesanwo and Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ikoyi Prisons, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele...yesterday

Jonathan’s kinsmen move against Dickson’s second term bid

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OLITICIANS in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s council, have resolved to work against Governor Seriake Dickson’s second term bid.

The elders took the decision yesterday after a crucial meeting.

The former President’s kinsmen, who met under the aegis of Ogbia Joint Initiative (ODJI), also disagreed with a statement which said Jonathan had endorsed Dickson.

Jonathan, at a meeting in his Otuoke country home, resolved the crisis rocking the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He urged party members to support Dickson.

But the former President’s kinsmen, in a communique after the meeting, said: “The ODJI commends Dr. Jonath-

•Disagree with Jonathan’s endorsement From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

an for being a statesman but advised him not to involve himself with the politics of endorsing failed politicians.”

They urged the residents to see the forthcoming election as a “common sense revolution”.

The communique by the group’s President Godstime Godson and Secretary David Inengite, accused Dickson of neglecting some areas.

It claimed that his administration sited no project in their area.

The communique advised the people to vote out the Dickson administration, adding that they would no longer vote for a candidate without performance record.

The barriers the group listed against Dickson’s re-election include abandoned projects, high level of deception by state officials, lack of developmental ideas and inability to create jobs.

Others are: the anti-student stance of the governor, nonfriendly policies against civil servants and the alienation of the masses from governance.

The communiqué rads: “ODJI also sympathises with the students on the delay of their bursary payment. It urges them to prepare their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) against the forthcoming election and ensure that they vote out bad leaders.

“The ODJI resolved that Ogbia people will vote out non-performing administrations. It decries that since the inception of the current gov-

ernment, no tangible project has been sited in the area.

“It expresses pain that even the Imiringi Gas Turbine Station, which Ogbia once enjoyed under the past government, has also been grounded for over three years.

“Finally, the ODJI said the level of disrespect for elders of the state is becoming alarming and call on the elders to unite forces in ensuring the delivery of a credible candidate for the sake if posterity. It advises the elders to put the interest of the state first and engrave their names in the annals of history “The ODJI also congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari on his successful election and swearingin.

Police foil attempt to kidnap Allison-Madueke’s brother

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HE Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday foiled an attempt by a four-man gang to abduct Mr. Egedegu Agama, a brother to former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke.

The gunmen were reportedly heading to Yenaka, Allison-Madueke’s community, to carry out their mission.

But the police were said to have gathered intelligence report on the abduction and

•Four suspects arrested From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

moved in.

Police spokesman Butswat Asinim, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

He said the police got a tipoff at 3:30pm that some hoodlums wanted to kidnap Agama.

The spokesman said po-

licemen ambushed the hoodlums at the Marine Police Waterside, Yenaka community of Yenagoa and arrested the suspects.

He said Bethel Alasuo, 37 and Jackson Ofolo, 28, from Odewari in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, were among the suspects.

Asinim said Ezibor Ibilo, 33, from Gbarain and Fun-

pere Kpou, 28, from Gbarantoru, were the other suspects.

He said: “The police recovered one Makarov Para Pistol, two T-shirts with the inscription ‘SECURITY’ at the back and two Bandanas that can be used as face masks. The suspects have been detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.

The investigation is ongoing.”

Dickson’s ex-Chief of Staff dumps PDP for APC From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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FORMER Chief of Staff to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson’s Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ikiogha, a founding member of the PDP, was Dickson’s dependable ally.

He was one of the brains behind the emergence of the governor in 2012 through his group, the New Nigerian Initiative (NNI).

Their relationship became frosty when the governor, in controversial circumstances, removed him from the Government House and redeployed him to the Liaison Office in Abuja.

Ikiogha’s supporters said the redeployment was aimed at taking him away from mainstream politics.

But the former Chief of Staff, who addressed reporters yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, said he left the PDP with thousands of his supporters.

Ikiogha said he found a home in the APC since the day he joined the progressives.

He said: “My constituents, the masses, for whom I have lived and to whom I dedicate all my political victories, have agreed that I should leave the PDP. “I recall in one of the meetings that led to the final decision to quit, how my supporters reminded me that the PDP I helped to form and nurture was no more the same.

Military alone can’t end Boko Haram, says Akinrinade

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ORMER Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) has said military alone cannot end the Boko Haram insurgency.

He spoke yesterday in Kaduna when he chaired the maiden seminar of a security resource centre, Gusau Institute, founded by the former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau Mohammed.

Gen. Akinrinade said: “Nigerians are looking unto the military to end insurgency, but military alone cannot be a solution to the perennial and bloody Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast.”

Urging the management of Gusau Institute to direct its

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

expertise in security issues towards solving the Boko Haram insurgency, the retired General said politicians and economist have the magic wand to end the problem.

His words: “Let me say a word or two again about Boko Haram. I’ve heard a lot of discussions about Boko Haram from many people. I must say that I am lost about the causes of Boko Haram, and I’m sure most Nigerians are also confused. I want to enjoin this institute to take the matter seriously.

“But I am not aware of any military doctrine that has been put down that has addressed effectively guerrilla warfare, which is easier. But this kind

of insurgency we are now having in our hands has never been addressed by any military doctrine successfully.

“I am aware that military solution is not going to be the end of Boko Haram.

“The ball is in the court of politicians, economists and those that have human sympathy that can bring solution to this crisis.

“We have all agreed to treat constitutional issues and maintain federal character, but it has been bastardised with corruption that has taken over the constitution.

“We fought the civil war to keep this country and we must honour our founding fathers because they bestowed a befitting country to us. We did what we did because the situ-

ation at that time dictated it so.”

The former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who responded to a keynote address by Dr. Jakkie Cilliers from South Africa, attributed Nigeria’s and Africa’s problems to bad leadership.

He said: “Something is wrong with the leadership of the continent. This is why we are facing difficulties. Fiftyfive years after our independence we are still talking about the basics of living for our people.

“Report has it that over 100 million Nigerians live below poverty line. So, GDP, which is the major indicator

used in measuring development, does not make any sense anymore, because you can have growth without development.

“Studies have also shown that less than three per cent of Nigerians control the country’s resources. How can we now say Nigeria’s GDP is growing by six, seven per cent when people in my village don’t feel any impact?

“The budget with which the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, governed Northern Region in 1966 is equivalent to the budget of Kaduna North Local Government today.”

Prof. Abdullahi ascribed Africa’s underdevelopment to colonialism.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

10

NEWS

RAMADAN KAREEM

Ramadan 2, 1436AH

Lagos committed to peaceful co-existence, says Deputy Governor

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

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HE Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule has said the state government is committed to promotion of peaceful co-existence.

Dr Adebule made the call at the Tarawiy Prayer organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture. ‘’When there is unity and peace, development is attained and freedom becomes a commodity for all. ‘’The State Government will continue to promote peaceful coexistence and uphold freedom of religious practice in the state,’’ she said.

Adebule said the major lesson of Ramadan was equality of mankind before God. She assured residents that the present administration would give equal opportunity to everyone and respect the rights of individuals under the law.

The Deputy Governor also called on Muslim ummah to pray God to guide Governor Akunwunmi Ambode’s administration to live up to the people’s expectations.

In his lecture, the Chief Imam of the Lagos House of Assembly, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, said fasting taught mankind six major lessons.

Dr AbdulLateef said the lessons were self-restraint, compassion for others, equality, patience, endurance, tolerance and enjoying good health by avoiding excess foods.

He called on government to give more roles to Muslim and Christian clerics in the political affairs of the country than merely inviting them for prayers.

O ye who believe! fasting is prescribe to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restrant.

Qu’ran 2 vs 183 Sponsored by ALHAJI KHAMIS TUNDE BADMUS Asiwaju, Musulumi Adinni of Yorubaland

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

Tarawih

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HENEVER the month of Ramadan comes around, its first point of call is Tarawih the famous supererogatory prayer that hosts Muslim congregations across nations. Tarawih is a special prayer observed only in the month of Ramadan. It contains many rakats ranging from six to ten or to twenty depending on the choice of its observers. When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) first introduced Tarawih as an attribute of Ramadan, he was the only one observing it every night after Salatul ‘Isha’.

But at a stage, some of his companions decided to join him in observing it. First, the Prophet did not react to those companions’ action. However, when the congregation began to grow larger, he observed that Tarawih was gradually being turned into another obligatory Salat. He therefore stopped observing it in the Mosque to avoid giving the impression that Tarawih was another prayer of obligatory status.

And when his companions asked for his reason to stop observing the supererogatory Salat in the Mosque, he told his them that he did not want it to be misconceived as another obligatory Salat. Thus the congregational observance of Tarawih came to an end. Hence it became a Salat for individuals.

However, when Umar Bn Khattab became the Caliph after the demise of Abubakar, he walked into the Mosque one evening and met a crowd of people observing Tarawih with each reciting the verses of the Qur’an aloud to the disturbance of others. Umar then asked all of them to stop reciting aloud and ordered them to queue up asking the most knowledgeable one among them to lead the rest in observing the Salat while he watched with interest.

After the completion of the Salat, Umar said with satisfaction that he had created a beautiful tradition (Sunnah). From thence, congregational observance of Tarawih became a tradition. And today, it is a tradition enthusiastically observed throughout the Muslim world. Tarawih being a supererogatory prayer has no definite number of rakats. Some people observe six rakats. Some observe ten while others observe twenty depending on the school of jurisprudence to which individuals belong. Tarawih is one of the two attributes preceding the fast of Ramada. The second is Sahur. But the latter is weightier than the earlier. More about these later.

•President Muhammadu Buhari meeting some scholars at his Kaduna residence.

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NSCIA urges Nigerians to shun materialism, corruption

HE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has enjoined Nigerians to shun materialism and corruption.

A statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged Nigerians to be inspired by the spirit of self-discipline Oloyede said: “They should live modest lives of honour and integrity, drawing appropriate lessons from some of our leaders. They need to demonstrate competence and sense of mission. The campaign period of sloganeering has expired and only exemplary performance can retain and sustain the massive goodwill and support of the abused masses.

“We enjoin Muslims to make good use of Ramadan through increased productivity. This productivity will be achieved through watching less Television, avoiding overeating, keeping offline except

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

as demanded by duty and virtuous acts and reading much of the Qur’an, observing nawaafil and remembering Allah all the time.”

The statement further reads: “Incidentally, the holy month this year coincides with a period Muslims and indeed Nigerians, have every reason to thank Allah for His abundant blessings. The peaceful elections and the dramatic transition of power from one government to the other are a testimony to the fact that Allah answers prayers.

“All right-thinking Nigerians appreciate that what Nigeria witnessed this year, despite the frightening predictions and scary projections before the 2015 elections, was simply the grace of divine intervention.

“The month of Ramadan as a period of forgiveness offers Nigerians an opportunity to forgive the unprecedented abuse unleashed on their collective humanity in the recent past and to forge ahead as one nation united by one destiny. It is an ample opportunity to foster the ideals of brotherhood and togetherness after some years of crude and institutionalised divide-and-rule tactics which resulted in unprecedented divisiveness, losses, of lives, property and reputation.

“The council maintained that Ramadan offers a great moment for rejuvenation and renewal, of faith, of friendship, of relationships, of cooperation and of national unity regardless of religious, ethnic and political affiliations, urging Muslims to take advantage of the moment in advancing the cause of God

Atiku, Tambuwal, Ahmed sue for peace

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ORMER Vice President Abubakar Atiku, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Sokoto State counterpart Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have called on Muslims to pray for peace being threatened by the Boko Haram insurgent in some parts of the country.

Atiku said he was saddened by the frequent explosion of conflicts and violence.

He called on political leaders to show extra vigilance to stem the growth of extremism.

The Turaki Adamawa expressed sadness that people have been turned to captives of fear because of the spectre of terrorism.

He called for urgent action to attack the roots of terrorism.

To attack the ideology, he explained that, innocent Muslims should be shielded from the influences of extremist teachers, who might exploit their ignorance and push them into criminal atrocities.

Atiku expressed sadness at how a minority group of misguided bigots are giving innocent Muslims a baggage of negative image.

Dogara said the present crop of leaders in Nigeria came in at a very critical time, saying that the promise of change by the new government can only be realised if Nigerians

By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

rededicate themselves to the service of God and humanity.

“As mere mortals, we cannot achieve anything of our own wisdom and strength but with prayers, and determination, we can collectively overcome our challenges as a country,” he said.

Governor Ahmed said the country seems to be experiencing unusual economic and security challenges that require concerted efforts and prayers from everyone to get it back on track.

“At a time like this when

our state, and indeed our country is passing through dire economic challenges due to the slump in national earnings, national rebirth through good governance, Allah’s intervention in guiding our leaders in rejuvenating the economy and rebirth is crucial”, the governor said.

Tambuwal appealed to the citizenry to prioritise the plight of the needy by spending from their wealth to ease the pains of the people.

According to the governor, “by taking care of the poor, the vulnerable and the lessprivileged, the society is doing itself lots of favours.”

Borno reviews curfew

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ORNO state government yesterday reviewed the curfew imposed on Maiduguri.

The curfew was reviewed following the meeting with the service chiefs and Governor Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri.

The curfew which was initially from 6am to 7pm is now reviewed to 6am to 9.30pm.

Governor Kashim Shettima who personally addressed newsmen in a live broadcast said, “The curfew is only applicable to the residents of Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government area, while those

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

wishing to enter the town outside the metropolis will be restricted on or before 7pm.

He noted that the 6am- 7pm curfew still stand especially for motorists and passengers that will be coming outside Maiduguri metropolis, while residents of the city are allowed to go about their normal businesses within the extended curfew period during the Ramadan season.

The governor called on the public to be vigilante and be law abiding.

and our common humanity.

“It was Shaykh Uthman dan Fodiyo who said he could live with Kufr (unbeliever) but not with injustice. Though the Ummah might have suffered injustice of unimaginable proportions, the period of Ramadan is meant to re-commit ourselves to the Almighty Allah by showcasing the beauty of Islam to all through justice, forgiveness, kindness and love.

“Meanwhile, for those who Allah Has entrusted with leadership, we urge them to remember the favours of Allah on them when He answered the prayers of the oppressed, the maligned and the persecuted by granting them success.

They should complement the prayers by being good and justify the expectations of Nigerians by being fair and just to all.”

Shield against vices, says Fayose

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KITI State Governor Mr Ayodele Fayose described Ramadan fasting as a shield against vices.

Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, called on Muslims, especially those in Ekiti State to open their minds to sermons by Islamic Scholars during the period, saying; “During this period, the Holy Quran will be read, Hadith (Actions and sayings of the Holy Prophet) and Tasfir (Sermons of knowledgeable scholars) will be listened to, it is my plea to our Muslim brothers and sister to open their hearts and minds to the lectures and allow themselves to be guided by them.”

Fayose congratulated Muslims for witnessing another Ramadan.

“It is my prayer to the almighty Allah (SWT) that all the supplications that will be made for our state and country during the fasting period will be acceptable to Allah,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘We must explore the off-grid system.

Power generated mustn’t go to Osogbo before it gets distributed. We lose 37% of generated power anytime we do this. Why don’t we remove Egbin and Afam power plants from the national grid and let them serve Lagos or Southwest and Southeast respectively? If this is done, there will be great improvement’ - MD/CEO, Mayok Engineering Works Limited, Chief Abayomi Awodipe

‘Cassava can fetch Nigeria N5tr yearly’

Dogara vows to block revenue leakages

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

•Says economy’s distressed

C

ASSAVA production and export is capable of generating N5 trillion yearly in foreign exchange for the Nigerian economy if the sub-sector is fully explored, National President, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Segun Adewumi, has said.

He expressed optimism that with the increase in cassava growers in the country, the sub-sector will boost the nation’s economy and create wealth for the country.

In a statement in Abuja, he said said the membership of the Association has grown from 10,000 to over one million over the last four years.

He thanked the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for the drastic change he brought to the sector.

He added that the former minister has laid a solid foundation that would return the nation’s economy to the path of prosperity and progress.

BlackBerry Leap launched in Nigeria

By Lucas Ajanaku

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LOBAL player in mo bile devices manufac turing, BlackBerry Limited, has launched its latest device, the BlackBerry Leap, in the country. It said by the launch in the country, consumers who want to get things done and companies looking for enterprise fleet renewals can now purchase the device.

According to the firm, BlackBerry Leap features the latest BlackBerry 10.3.1 operating system (OS), a brilliant edge-to-edge five-inch HD display and more than a full day’s battery power.

Other top features of the BlackBerry Leap include: Security to maintain privacy, where customers can feel safe in the knowledge that BlackBerry Leap was designed with the highest standards of security in mind to protect privacy. It is equipped with support for encryption, plus built-in malware protection and backup, wipe and restore.

Its battery, which powers through a full day, has a sustainable capacity of 25 hours of heavy use. The impressive 2800 mAh battery and optimization of power consumption of the mobile phone, also known as BlackBerry 10, gives users more than a full day of productive usage.

It also has best-in-class BlackBerry keyboard, which enables faster typing and more accurately on a touchscreen keyboard that learns how users write. With superior error correction, multi-language support, customized adaption and flow, BlackBerry’s touchscreen keyboard helps to reduce the mistakes and missteps that can hold users back.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

•From left: Company Secretary, CAP Plc, Mrs. Rose Hamis; its Chairman, Mr. Larry Ettah and Managing Director, Mrs. Omolara Elemide, during the company’s Annual General Meeting at Golden Tullip Hotel, Festac, Lagos...yesterday.

Foreign investor divests from Julius Berger Nigeria B

ILFINGER SE, the ma jority core investor in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, would sell its entire equity stake in the Nigerian company this month, it was learnt yesterday.

A regulatory filing obtained yesterday by The Nation indicated that Bilfinger SE, which holds 33.4 per cent in Julius Berger Nigeria, has decided to sell its equity stake and exit the company.

Bilfinger SE has already informed the Nigerian directors of Julius Berger Nigeria of the decision to dispose the equity stake on or before the end of this month.

The equity sale, according to the emerging details, will be offered to long-term Nigerian investors and will lead to the exit of the representative of Bilfinger SE from the

By Taofik Salako

board of Julius Berger Nigeria.

The equity sale might not be unconnected with Bilfinger’s strategic realignment from a construction company to an engineering and services group in the last decade which saw Bilfinger SE divesting totally from its construction activities.

Julius Berger Nigeria, in a confirmation, the board and management of Julius Berger Nigeria yesterday said they strongly believed that the exit of Bilfinger SE will not impact negatively on the company.

According to the company, ongoing strategic business directions being undertaken by the board and management would sustain and in-

crease Julius Berger Nigeria’s efficiency and responsiveness as well as set basis for a future of long lasting success.

In 2011, Bilfinger, which then held 49.87 per cent equity stake in Julius Berger Nigeria, had sold down its equity stake. Julius Berger Nigeria then had 1.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each with market capitalisation of N56.59 billion out of which Bilfinger Berger held 598.4 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Other substantial shareholders in Julius Berger Nigeria included the Lagos State and Benue State, which hold 6.99 per cent and 5.27 per cent respectively through their investment companies.

In order to strengthen its corporate independence, Julius Berger Nigeria had en-

hanced its on shore and off shore technical and logistic capacities by the establishment of a newly incorporated subsidiary, Prime Technology Design and Engineering Nigeria Limited for the provisions of design and engineering support services to the company.

The company also acquired a controlling majority share of the technical and logistic business and operations of Bilfinger Berger Nigeria GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany, which assures Julius Berger Nigeria Plc of total control of all required services such as planning, procurement, recruitment and capacity building.

The share price of Julius Berger Nigeria remained unchanged at N52.39 per share.

Buhari ‘ll implement NEITI audit reports From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

•President Buhari

T

HE Federal Govern ment under President Muhammadu Buhari will take all necessary steps to implement the findings and recommendations contained in the Audit Reports of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo gave the assurance yesterday while receiving the

Chair of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Clare Short and her delegation at the Defence House, Abuja.

NEITI Director of Communications, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji in a statement yesterday, said the VP reaffirmed Federal Governments’ commitment to the implementation of EITI principles as part of plans to reform the oil and gas sector.

Prof. Osinbajo commended NEITI for its courage, diligence and commitment to corporate governance of the oil, gas and mining industries. He said the Federal Government will carefully study the reports with a view to ensuring that the findings and recommendations guide government actions on the reforms.

Short advised the government to consider a major

shakeup in the oil and gas industry if the benefits from Nigeria’s abundant resources are to be felt by all Nigerians. “The NEITI Reports have all the information and data that will guide the government to reform the industry. It is also important that the government integrates the NEITI into its overall economic policy team.”

The Chairman of NEITI, Ledum Mitee appealed to the government to overhaul the Inter Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) set up to implement NEITI reports, arguing that the Team has recorded very little progress.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed urged the government to take urgent steps to divest Nigeria’s interest in the joint ventures operations to free the country from huge burden imposed by Joint Venture obligations.

Mrs Ahmed also advised the government to critically examine the management of domestic crude allocations, consider the removal of oil subsidy, abrogation of oil swap arrangement and take urgent steps to recover huge sums that are outstanding in the hands of companies as a result of underpayments, underassessment of taxes, rents and royalties.

HE Speaker of the House of Representa tives Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has vowed to block revenue leakages from Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

Dogara who spoke while he received the draft 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda from the Committee of Members and Experts he commissioned for the task some days ago, decried the situation whereby revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government hide under laws establishing them to withhold monies they generate.

He said the House would debate the new legislative agenda next week and that the issue of revenue leakages would feature prominently.

Dogara said even MDAs to retain certain percentage of the revenue they generate, there is need to review those laws in order to plug the leakages as most of them underdeclare their earnings.

He urged prudent management of the nation’s foreign reserve in such a manner that interest accrued are declared by the foreign fund managers which may be running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to him, another key aspect that would be debated is the issue of donor funding with some of the committee members noting that between 10 and 17 percent of some ministries’ budgets are funded through foreign aids.

The members said in most cases, the funds are neither reflected in the annual Appropriation Bill nor declared by the affected MDAs. Meanwhile, he said leaders must redouble their efforts if the country is to be rescued from its current state of economic woes.

Dogara, who spoke yesterday while receiving a delegation of government officials, traditional institutions, business executives and politicians from Bauchi State lamented that the country’s economy is in a state of ‘unmitigated disaster’.

The delegation was led by the state House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Nuhu Gidado.

According to the Speaker, the challenges confronting the country have been well identified but finding solution remains the major challenge.

12

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS EU to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%

T

THE European Union (EU) promised to re duce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

The Ambassador/ Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Michel Arrion, made the declaration at the European Climate Change Diplomacy Day in Abuja yesterday.

He said the EU is not viewing climate change as just a problem for Europe but a global challenge.

He said: “ The actions that different countries can take to tackle the problem, and how to increase public awareness. As representatives of different European countries present in Nigeria, this is also a chance for us to consider how Nigeria can respond to that threat. “ The EU has itself already made a strong commitment, promising that by 2030 we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent based

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

on 1990 levels.

“There is wide spread international agreement that action needs to be taken to limit the ruse in global temperatures to less than two degrees. “At its simplest Africa has many areas that are low-lying close to the sea – many of which you know are in Nigeria. These are areas that over decades will be certainly adversely affected. So as climate change slowly takes effect with a steady rise in sea levels this is certainly a problem that is going to affect Africa and Nigeria.

“In sum, if we recognise that we have a problem; we know it is going to affect us all; we know that we can grow and cut greenhouse emissions; then with this knowledge we know we all need to act. And today is a day to encourage that action; and to remind us that we have the tools to act.”

•From left: Chairman, Export Committee, Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Chief Fola Osibo; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Nigeria High Commission, London, Mr. Hassan Mohammed Hassan; Deputy President NBCC/ Mission Leader Prince Dapo Adelegan, and Chairman, NBCC-UK Network, Mr. James Houston, at the Nigeria House during ongoing Export Trade Mission to the UK.

Saraki seeks more foreign investors

S

ENATE President, Bukola Saraki yester day said Nigeria’s doors would continue to be open to foreign investors.

Saraki who spoke when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, visited him at the National Assembly in Abuja also said the coountry’s future is bright.

He reiterated the commitment of the Senate to the enactment of appropriate legislations to sustain an investment-friendly atmosphere with a view to bringing the country out of the

•As U.S. envoy expresses optimism about Nigeria From Onyedi Ojiabor Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

woods.

He said with the abundant resources in the country, the government is confident that it will meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians from all walks of life.

Saraki extolled the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the U.S. saying that Entwistle’s visit was prompt coming at a time the country is preparing to confront most

of the challenges standing in the way of its developmental goals.

He listed the challenges impeding the progress of the country to include epileptic power supply, insecurity, unemployment and revenue leakages.

He said the present administration is concerned about the well-being of Nigerians.

Saraki said: “This 8th Senate has the mandate to give Nigerians the dividends of democracy. We

will put in place comprehensive systems to make sure that our revenues meet our needs.

“Our oversight functions will be strengthened to ensure that there will be no room for loopholes in implementing government plans and projects.

“I can assure you that Nigeria will continue to be attractive to investment opportunities. We have the human capital and with our younger generation’s steadfastness, training and development, our much needed goals will be achieved.”

LaFarge Africa partners PINE to rebuild Northeast • Operates accident-free 1, 237 working days

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AFARGE Africa has ex pressed its desire to as sist in rebuilding the Northeast region of the country, following the devastating effects of insurgency.

To this end, the cement manufacturer is set to partner with the Federal Government, through the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), by contributing to drive the economic turn around and pave the way for long term economic prosperity of the area.

Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Guillaume Roux, who spoke after a meeting with the PINE Committee led by its Chairman, Prof. Soji Adelaja, on yesterday, said the partnership was a step in the right direction for LaFarge Africa as it would ginger the firm to complete its ongoing N100 billion expansion project in AshakaCem in record

By Muyiwa Lucas and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

time.

“PINE has contributed to our objective of staying in business in all circumstance since the beginning of the insurgence.

We are inclined to work more closely with the Committee at a time like this because we view sustainability as a core part of our business. Lafarge is not only a producer of building materials, but solutions provider for building better cities,” he said.

Roux further the firm is a long term investor in the Northeast in particular, and Nigeria as a whole. This, he said, is evident by its continued presence and increasing investment in the region, in spite of the security challenges.

Prof Adelaja said the partnership is imperative as it steps up the leadership role of Lafarge as a corporate entity that identifies with the region and strives to accelerate its redevelopment.

He urged other operators in the

private sector to “follow suit in such noble ventures, bearing in mind that the security of a nation is the bedrock for investment.”

Meanwhile, Ogun State Comtroller, Federal Ministry Labour and Productivity, Mr Clement Fatoki, has urged industries operating in the state to commit themselves to “safety culture and standards” in their work setting.

Fatoki said strict adherence to occupational safety and health would reduce accidents in work environments among workers and even management.

He spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, at the 2015 Health and Safety Month of the Lafarge plant said industrial accidents are preventable if people commit themselves to health and safety culture.

He lauded Lafarge for its safety standard, saying the cement manufacturing firm “has operated the Sagamu plant for 1, 237 days running with zero accident while Ewekoro plant also recorded 506 working days without accident.”

Arik Air introduces summer timings on Lagos-Jo’burg route

A

RIK Air has intro duced new summer timings on the Lagos- Johannesburg route, its spokesman, Mr Ola Banji said yesterday.

He said baggage allowance on the route has been increased for both Premier and Economy Class passengers.

With the new timings which came into effect on June 15 this year, outbound daily flights now depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and arrive into the OR Tambo Inter-

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

national Airport, Johannesburg.

Inbound flights will leave Johannesburg and arrive into Lagos at next day.

He said new baggage allowance, Premier and Economy class passengers from Lagos to Johannesburg can now carry three pieces of luggage each with Premier passengers allowed a maximum weight of 32kg per piece and Economy passengers 23kg per piece.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

13

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

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

Nigeria’s CASERS Advertising group goes bullish • Acquires nine agencies across African markets

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LEADING marketing communications outfit, Casers Group, has acquired Mawal, the leading marketing communications network in French West and Central Africa.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Casers Group, Mr. Enyi Odigbo, who spoke in Lagos, said the acquisition is a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to deploy resources that will add value to the industry.

Accordingly, the merger agreement, which was jointly unveiled

by Mawal Group’s Chairperson, Mrs. Mareme Malong, is developed out of the successful DDB-led partnership of Casers Group, Mawal Group and INNOVA DDB in partnering MTN, the largest mobile telecoms operator in the Middle East and Africa.

DDB manages MTN in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Benin, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Congo Brazzaville.

Odigbo said: “The acquisition of Mawal demonstrates our commitment to prudently deploy resources that will deliver unassailable value to existing and prospective local and multinational clients.”

With this development, Casers Group becomes an unmatched solution for any multinational brand looking for world-class service delivery throughout West and Central Africa – to either launch or extend within the region. “This stra-

• From left: Managing Director/CEO, Capital Media, Tony Udenze; Malong; Odigbo and Nettey, at a press conference to announce the acquisition of Marwal Group West Africa and Innova DDB Group by Casers Group in Lagos.

Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji

tegic combination eliminates the need for businesses that require a regional marketing communications solution to seek partners on a country by country basis, which often results in disparate service levels, in terms of quality and resource deployment,” said Odigbo.

The Managing Director of INNOVA DDB and President of the Advertising Association of Ghana

Joel Nettey, said: “The opportunity to partner on MTN for the past four years throughout the region provided the learning curve needed to drastically reduce the teething problems associated with deals of this nature.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Bayo Adekanbi, reacting to the new merger by its brand’s creative handlers, said: “This is a commendable feat in Casers’ quest to deliver so-

lutions to the increasing market opportunities, in West and Central Africa. Casers’ experience with MTN will be an added advantage and significant leverage in leapfrogging the challenges of the region, with speed, precision and effectiveness.”

Also, Mrs. Malong said she and her team were excited at the development because “it is the coming together of like-minded Africans to form a more formidable entity

that will outperform our individual operations. I cannot wish for a better retirement confident that I have left Mawal in the hands of partners I have come to trust”.

This development is coming few weeks after Dentsu Aegies broke the news of its acquisition of Nigeria Media Fuse Limited.

Casers Group is a parent company of the DDB Lagos, a creative agency handling MTN and other blue-chip account.

New pay TV banks on low-end market for growth T HE windows of opportunity in the Pay TV market have continued to attract new brides despite that it operates on an imperfect competition mode.

With StarTimes, Consat, Montage making efforts to slice the share of the market from a dominant pay TV brand, a new entrant, Actv has unveiled new strategic move to attract the low-end market whose population according to the brand handlers is a good bargain for growth.

However, with the growing market size luring players into the industry, content creation appears and quality audio-visual experience that comes with a pocketfriendly subscription fee has become an innovative approach to get greater market share.

Also, against a general perception that a Pay TV market without sports content such as European Football live matches would lose its ground, an indication has emerged that only a small population-mostly men- in the market TV market watch pay TV. Experts believe a larger proportion of the pay TV consumers are women and children whose interest lie in entertainment and other TV contents.

As a result, the new entrant, Actv is banking on this notion to position its brand as an indigenous Direct To Home (DTH) cable television service provider with a moderate subscription cost enhanced consumer TV experience, providing an easy access to high definition channels ACTV-6000 HD decoder which is offered as an exclusive offer by some other Pay TV

brands.

Launched last year, the station is carving a rapidly growing share of the Nigerian cable television market with its affordable worldclass TV bouquets that address the needs and expectations of many customers in Nigeria. The company said it is concerned about what it considered the high fee charge rate in the industry and is already offering Nigerians some contents in low prices compared to competition.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer ACTV, Godfrey Orkeh, said during the launch of the brand last year: “With the launch of ACTV, we are saying to Nigeria that we are committed to ensuring that we provide value to everyone and we keep delivering value now and in the future.”

The brand handlers said the ACTV-6000 HD decoder is un-

doubtedly a customer’s delight with its exceptional video clarity, enhanced sound quality, TV programme guide, recording, picture browsing and pause-TV features.

The Director of Content, Jide Laurence, told The Nation that ACTV is primed to give Nigerians the opportunity to choose their television experience with its unique offerings. “Their advanced HD decoder that easily fits into one’s pocket and is highly portable is one of the decoder features many customers have been going out for”.

He said that is why the pay TV is creating its own content to suit the taste of the Nigerian subscribers across ethnic barriers. “The company is also blazing a trail as the first truly Nigerian cable television service provider offering unique indigenous content. It delivers OJI, the first ever Igbo channel, ‘AREA!’ the first-ever Pidgin English Channel and ‘GATTV’ the first-ever Ni-

gerian gospel music programme.

It also offers ‘IBILE’ the Yoruba movie and entertainment channel, ‘RANA’ the Hausa channel showcasing the best of kannywood and ‘e nolly’ representing Nollywood movies, series and entertainment with lots of Nigerian content already being produced for the delight of its customers,” he said.

To target the low-end market, he said, ACTV offers four bouquets with over 56 local and international channels for a paltry “N1,999 subscription fee, customers enjoy its world-class content available through the ACTV Prime bouquet with 18+ channels, ACTV Family bouquet with 24+ channels for N2,499, ACTV Family Max bouquet with 36+ channels for N3,299 and ACTV Premium bouquet with over 56+ channels for N4,999 monthly. Furthermore, the company is currently running a

promo that gives customers free subscription for three months when they buy its decoder and dish for just N10,000.”

ACTV offers over 45 international TV channels providing news, movies, general entertainment, children, sports, religion, lifestyle content genres to mention, but a few. The ACTV channel lineup includes BBC World, Sky News, Aljazeera, France 24, Russia Today, Fox News, FOX Business News, VH1, MTV Base, BET, FOX Movies, B4U Movies, FOX Sports 1 & 2, Nickelodeon, Baby TV, NatGeo Gold, Investigation Discovery, Fine Living Network and many more.

Since it was launched last year, Laurence said the market is already responding positively and strongly to the ACTV offerings as shown by its growing subscriptions record which he refused to disclose as a result of competition.

UEFA final match delights MasterCard sponsored player mascots

A

FTER being named winners of the MasterCard Goal Celebration Contest, two football-loving children from Nigeria were part of a MasterCard Priceless Experience penultimate weekend as official player mascots for the UEFA Champions League Final in Berlin at the Olympia Stadion.

The two winners - Abba Ahmed and Jordan Ubah –walked through the tunnel and onto the pitch, escorting star players from FC Barcelona and Juventus.

The player mascots, according to

MasterCard in a statement, also experienced the buzz and excitement of the pre-match build up, which included access to the tunnel, a practice run out and collection of their official match day uniform.

The Vice President and Area Business Head, MasterCard, West Africa, Omokehinde Ojomuyide, who selected the two finalists, said the player mascots enjoyed an absolutely priceless experience on the pitch during the final.

The contest saw parents, teachers and football coaches share videos

of their children and students performing a goal celebration on social media to stand a chance to win a MasterCard Priceless Experience, which also included the all-expense paid trip with their families to watch the UEFA Champions League Final.

The panel of judges consisting of former international footballer Nwankwo Kanu, Tunji Adeyinka, Managing Director, Connect Marketing and Ojomuyide, selected the two finalists from hundreds of entries.

When notifying these two chil-

dren that they had won the contest, MasterCard created two Priceless Surprises to make the experience even more special.

Ahmed’s Priceless Surprise included being invited to attend a movie with his family. The movie was interrupted by a video message from Kanu, who pronounced Ahmed one of the contest’s winners. Kanu then walked into the movie theatre and presented Ahmed with his player escort jersey, after which they performed a goal celebration.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

14

• A farm estate.

In a new push to revive agriculture, private operators have established farming estates where they sell and lease land to new farmers. It is an effort to lay a stronger foundation for growth in the agric sector, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

I

BADAN is now a valley of gold for farmers. As a result good rainfall the area has seen in decades fields of cassava, yams and maize, tomatoes, yam tubers, bunches of plantain, mango, cashew, banana, and palm heavy with grain that will sustain communities.

In few places, farmers use irrigation farming using banks of existing water sources during the dry season for crops such as tomato, pepper, garden eggs, cucumber, watermelon, teferia (ugwu), okra.

The Oyo State government is doing everything to preserve agricultural land, particularly that close to the city.

This led to the development of a food system that supports sustainable production of safe, healthy food that is available to all.

Within this context, an economic model, known as farm estates has emerged. Under the arrangement, transfer of land to investors is a core component. Benefitting farmers are given land to grow food for themselves, their families and local communities.

To boost food production, governments in the Southwest, have embraced farm estates strategy giving out fertile land with good transport links to farmers at low cost for many years.

To attract investors to fish farming, Lagos State government has unveiled opportunities in its fish farm estates which investors could tap into and make millions of naira.

The fish farm estate targets the low income groups, such as artisan and fishermen, school leavers as well as high income groups and corporate bodies.

For instance, Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate established on a 34-hectare parcel of land at Odogunyan, Ikorodu, had 262 production plots which had been allocated to 176 allottees, making the estate fully subscribed.

The estate is producing an average of 10,000 tonnes of fresh fish per annum. This project has created jobs directly and indirectly to hundreds of young school leavers and

The rise of private farm estates

• Akindipe

• Adeniyi

undergraduates of fisheries. It has a technology demonstration centre comprising 50,000 juvenile/cycle fish hatchery and 300 kg fish capacity processing unit constructed by government to serve as a demonstration centre.

While the government is promoting investment opportunities using farming estates models, private organisations and individuals have jumped at this opportunity and have been active at all levels of the market. Private promoters involved are those who demand a new paradigm for agriculture.

One of the entrepreneurs involved in the private farm estate project is the Chief Executive, Natural Nutrient Limited,Mr Sola Adeniyi.

He has over 220-acre farm estate in Ewekoro Local Government area, Ogun State. He gives at least a plot to start-up farmers to plant plantain. Sales so far, showed the strength of demand across the country. Since there is competition for farmland, he is getting good returns on his investment.

He has been getting many enquiries from expanding farmers looking for land to farm.

The farm includes pasture, arable

land and woodland. His main enterprises include arable cropping, In addition, there is an arrangement for a number of residential farm houses to help support the estate.

Adeniyi said his company is ready to welcome visitors to the farm to find out more about what they do. This includes other farmers, customers and the local community.

What he envisions is a new generation of Nigerians who want to generate income through absentee agriculture.

For civil servants and business people who live in Lagos, he wants see them make money through farms in the estate that will be manage for them in their absence.

Nigerians living away from the estate location will be able to reap thousands of naira yearly in profits from cash crops grown with the help of workers employed to run their farms by the estate management.

What is required is the capital to buy the land and monthly management costs.

Adeniyi stressed that his organisation wants to support Nigerians to increase their incomes through absentee agriculture. With prices

for basic foodstuffs at their highest levels, many Nigerians would be well rewarded by farming.

Adeniyi has a huge diversified farm and wants to help absentee farmers prosper.

Before going into private farm estate business, he had established a thriving Moringa tree plantain.

Through training provision, he has helped new farmers to deliver better quality produce while increasing outputs and decreasing costs, as well as spoilage. This had led to higher incomes for the farmers, who are mostly smallholders.

He trains local farmers in areas such as cultivation methods, postharvest handling and food processing to improve their entire process according to international quality standards such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), which is one of the most widely trusted standards for food safety.

For him, the benefits for farmers operating through farm estates are quite obvious: enhanced product quality and productivity, reduced post-harvest loss through proper product handling and faster delivery to the market, more stable income on a regular basis thanks to larger, demand-driven orders in the setting of an up-todate distribution system and reduced third-party costs and enhanced efficiency in the supply chain.

Most of the farmers who have brought into the project are local small and medium farmers and food processors from different areas of Ogun and Lagos states.

They are going to produce fruits and vegetables, some will run aquaculture businesses.

Another promoter of a private farm estate is Mr. Sanmi Akindipe, chief executive, Set Group. He believes for more farmers to escape poverty, higher yields and greater revenues are needed.

According to him, they can only achieve this under a low-cost location with, natural farming poten-

tial, nice weather and plenty of opportunities. He has acquired a 500 hectares farm estate that will be given out to farmers and retirees thinking of farming. The farm is to be organised into reasonable sized blocks. Few metres away from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, the facility provides for residential farm apartments.

Akindipe is eager to see the estate help to build a healthier ecosystem for locally grown food.

Investors buying into his farm estate project can also use the presence of agricultural institutions and related agencies such as Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP), Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), National Institute for Horticulture (NIHORT), Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), (IITA), Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Oyo State School of Agriculture, Igboora, University of Ibadan, Lagoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

With the location near Ibadan, producers and urban consumers will now be connected at a regional scale, bring together the demand from consumers and, on the other, aggregate products from local and producers in surrounding areas.

For him, farming estates is one of the best examples of a successful farming system, providing real income to producers. Consumers, particularly the new middle class, are hungry not only for new foods, but also for new food systems. In the estate, each farmer is a free to acquire enough equipment to run an independent operation.

He said farmers would seek out new production methods, new marketing approaches and new technologies.

17

FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Correspondent YUSUFU IDEGU examines the challenges before the new All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Plateau State and how Governor Simon Lalong intends to tackle them.

Can Lalong restore peace in Plateau?

F

OR almost a decade, Plateau State has not known peace. Thus, elections in the state have always been rough.

When the All Progressive Congress (APC) was introduced to states across the country, it was laughable to predict that the relatively unknown political party will form the government in a state like Plateau. Even soothsayers were not ready to stake a fortune on this. As a matter of fact, no one gave the ruling party a chance; it was unthinkable that the new party will form the government in the state two years after it was formed.

“The APC came to Plateau like a notorious armed robber to snatch the state out of the grips of the PDP,” said a political analyst, Mr. Cletus Matawal. “Plateau State has been in the firm grips of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999. Until April 11, 2015, the PDP had made it difficult for any party to make inroads into Plateau political terrain.” When the APC was introduced into Plateau during the build- up to the general elections, many were reluctant to join the party. One of the founding fathers of the party, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, said: “A lot of our people never gave the party a chance when we started. During the state congresses of the party for the election of its state officials, I was begging people to come and contest.” However, the rejected party has become the ruling party at the federal and the state level, to the consternation of many PDP chieftains.

Also, the emergence of Simon Lalong as the governor was a surprise. However, the emergence of Lalong as the governor on the platform of the APC signified three major political realities in Plateau State: The emergence of two main political blocs led by Senator Joshua Dariye and Senator Jonah Jonah.

When Dariye was governor, Jang was the leader of the opposition that made Dariye uncomfortable in Government House for eight years, with his style of opposition.

When Jang emerged as the governor in 2007, he pushed Dariye out of the PDP. Jang also made futile attempts to probe Dariye.

During the rivalry, Dariye defected to the Labour Party (LP) and became a senator in 2011. In the build- up to the 2015 governorship election, Dariye led the crusade for the defeat of the Jang- anointed governorship candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok of the PDP. Efforts by Dariye and other opposition politicians paved the way for the emergence of Lalong as the governor. The emergence of the APC-led government also means that Jang has been pushed back into the opposition again as he was in 1999.

Lalong was the Speaker of the Plateau State House of assembly when Dariye was the governor between 1999-2007 and they never fell apart since then. The government of Lalong is therefore seen as the return of Dariye government. So, political developments in the state have been a rotation of power between the Dariye camp and the Jang political camp.

Jang had the opportunity of becoming the political godfather. He, however, abused the opportunity by refusing to implement the zoning agreement. He insisted on handing over power to his Berom kinsman, Senator Pwajok. With that single attempt, Jang lost grip of the state and paved the way for the APC to take over power. With this political development, Plateau is today without a formidable political leader as it was when its first civilian governor, late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, was alive. Lar was the political icon who was a rallying point. But, since his demise, the vacuum created created by his absence has not been filled. It was widely expected that Jang will step into the shoes of the late Lar. But, it’s now obvious that the shoes are too big for him. So, the state now revolves between two political figures; Dariye and Jang.

Dariye has an overwhelming influence on the government of Lalong. This has prompted

•Governor Lalong greeting well-wishers during his inauguration.

the return of all former commissioners and special advisers who served in Dariye administration; they are now surrounding the new governor as political jobbers.

Gov Lalong has many challenges to tackle.

One of the challenges is restoring unity. The state with its multi-lingual and multi-ethnic disposition need to do more to unite the people. The diversity of the people obviously played out during the build-up to the 2015 general elections. The three geo-political zones of the state made claims to the number one seat in the state. The original zoning arrangement ended with the tenure of Jonah Jang. It started in 1979 with the late Chief Solomon Lar and Sir Fidelis Tapgun from Plateau South. After that, Plateau Central had their turn during Dariye’s tenure. The final slot was that of Jonah Jang, which represented the turn of Plateau North.

So, if the zoning arrangement was to commence again, the slot rightly belonged to Plateau South. But, the three zones were fighting over the governorship. This was why the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the governorship ticket to Lalong from that zone.

On the contrary, the PDP picked their own governorship candidate from Plateau North.

Hence a lot of differences were created among the people during the build-up to the election, especially among the political class.

So, Gov. Lalong has a duty to bring the people back as one so to ensure political stability within the next four years of his administration.

How Gov. Lalong hopes to go about this will be seen in his policies and programmes. but, at the moment, no one expects him to take off soon even though he has taken over the reins of power. The delay in the take-off of the new administration can be seen in the kind of state handed over to the administration. First, there is the issue of empty treasury. Gov. Lalong has announced to citizens of the state that he inherited empty treasury from his predecessor. The governor said: “I inherited empty treasury and a debt of N104b.” Gov Lalong while addressing judiciary workers led by the chief Judge of the state Justice Pius Damulak at the Presidential Lodge, old Government House, Rayfield, Jos, said: “I found no kobo in the state treasury; I only received a total debt of 104billion, including the non-payment seven month workers salaries, as well as unpaid pension arrears. This debt profile is con-

Lalong has a duty to bring the people back as one ‘soGov.to ensure political stability within the next four years of his administration. How Gov. Lalong hopes to go about this will be seen in his policies and programmes ’

tained in the handing over note I received.

“I want the judiciary to know that the past administration left 104billion naira documented in the handing over note to me and there is also no kobo left in the treasury of the state and we will have to battle again with the seven months unpaid salaries of workers, including pensioners in the state.”

The implication can only be imagined, said Mr. Santos Ayuba Larab of the History Department a University of Jos. He said: “For such a new government you can’t expect it will take off smoothly. As a matter of fact, the debt profile of the state could be far more that quoted in the handing over note, with a careful investigation, more hidden debt will be discovered. So, whoever expect too much from Gov. Lalong so soon may be ignorant of the rotten state of our dear state at the moment” With or without fund, the APC-led government cannot overlook some immediate challenges which requires immediate attention. One of such is the poor condition of the state workforce. No doubt, Gov. Lalong inherited a demoralised civil service. As at May 29, 2015 when he took over mantle of leadership, the state civil servants were on strike; they were owed salaries for upward of five months. It took a written agreement between Gov Lalong administration and the labor union for the workers to suspend the strike. Gov Lalong promised to seek credit facilities from bank to settle his workers so as to ginger them up.

Another issue that requires immediate attention is the prolonged insecurity in some parts of the state, especially in Plateau North and Plateau South. The insecurity predates the Jonah Jang administration, but it was not effectively managed. It has been handed over to the new government and everyone expect a different approach by Gov. Lalong to bring the violence to an end.

One of the immediate challenges before the new government is the issue of uncompleted projects. One could count up to 50 of them.

But, the most challenging among them all is the intra-city road project in Jos, the Plateau state capital. At the moment, the situation of Jos city is pathetic. The uncompleted state of the road is causing pains to residents. The new government is battling tooth and nail to get the contractors back to site to ensure the roads are completed. The governor is at the moment appealing to residents of the city to bear the situation with promises to get the contractors back soon.

Besides, some close associates of Gov. Lalong believed that the new administration has a lot to do to unbundle it from groups of political jobbers that are already suffocating the new governor. One of Gov. Lalong’s close aides who will prefer to remain anonymous said: “The governor is already overburdened with pressure from people seeking political appointments; some are looking for appointments as commissioners, while other are seeking to become Special Advisers etc. I have noticed that the pressure on the governor was becoming unbearable.”

Governor Lalong is being by pressure from those who served in Dariye’s administration eight years ago. They see the emergence of Lalong as a golden opportunity to return to powerand they are doing everything possible to lobby their way in.

Above all, Gov. Lalong has an immediate task to dispense the litigation over his election at the tribunal. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Gov. Lalong and until the case is successfully dispensed with, the governor will remain distracted.

Against tgis background, it remains to be seen how Gov. Lalong will tackle the immediate challenges facing the state. Are the people ready to exercise patience and for how long? The APC is new in the state and needs to make impact fast, if it must retain power in the state beyond a single term.

18

THE NATION FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2015

If by any means he is parading himself as one, he should be ‘regarded as an impostor and the public should disregard him’

POLITICS

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Elder Femi Olaore is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State. In this interview with BISI OLADELE, he speaks about people’s expectations about the Buhari Administration.

Buhari ’ll not allow corrupt officials to go scot-free

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Do you see the APC government making any difference at the federal and state levels?

First, let me start from the state level. For the first time in the history of Oyo State, we have a phlegmatic active governor, who has shown that hard work is the magic to achievement. What you are seeing now is not occasioned by the inability to pay salaries, but we are all aware that in last six months allocation to most of the states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dwindled.

Imagine a state that used to receive over N6 billion now getting a meagre N1.3billion. This has caused a cumulative setback for the past six months and they cannot pay their workers. That is what they are facing now. When allocation is returned to normal, all these arrears will be paid. I don’t see that much as a challenge to someone who has been able to manage public finances in the past.

Buhari’s Administration is inheriting debt. States are broke, the power sector is going moribund, the economy is shrinking and the labour unions are complaining. What is the way out?

The problems you have defined are not mountains. Now that we have somebody who prides himself as ‘Mr. Integrity’ as the Nigerian President: a man that keep to his word, a man who is concerned about the people, who shares the pains of the masses and who has offered himself to address this problems, we should be rest assured that Nigeria is on the verge of greatness. I believe that one of the major issues that President Buhari will be bringing on to pilot the affairs of our country is high level of personal discipline.

For someone who has been Head of State and can only boast of a million naira in his bank account and just two houses, there is no more for us to know that we are in for a good time. He is incomparable to others who have held similar positions.This is the kind of man the country needs at this stage. Nothing can distract him.

Those who are going to work with him, I am sure, are going to be persons of impeccable character.

That is why I am very convinced that surrounding himself with the right people will be the first thing we should expect. He is such a principled person that he is unlikely to be intimidated by names that are not backed by achievements. He is not likely to recycle those who have been in power for long. He will not be persuaded by religious or ethnic sentiments. He stated clearly that confidence, uprightness and steadfastness in party affairs are some of the cardinal criteria anybody who would work with him must possess apart from the fact that they are going to be properly screened for him to know those who truly have the interest of the people at heart.

Nigerians forsee a crisis in the APC between Buhari and other party leaders. Do you share this belief?

I do not subscribe to that because I am aware of the many sacrifices

that the majority of the so-called politicians made before we had this change of affairs. They contributed greatly to Buhari’s emergence as president. That must be clear. To President Buhari, he must be fair to everybody, no matter their financial contributions.

Buhari has learnt over time to adjust himself to the dictates of the people so that the hopes of people will not be dashed. What Buhari will do is using his rich broad nature to cut across those various groups that have good materials or that may not be able to be at the forefront of putting the campaign materials resources together. He is not likely to fetch those who are likely to work with him on the basis of those who come around or donated resources for his election. I remember as a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 when Buhari gave an instruction not to take anything above a million naira donation from anybody so as to not be tied to them in discharging our duties. So far, so good, he has made it clear to most of those who surrounded him that they have done it for the goodwill of Nigeria; that they have done to show that, yes, this country matters to them. So he owes them nothing in terms of payback by giving them any post that is juicy.

No, he has made it clear to them right from the onset. If you want to help, do it as your contribution.

People like the former governor of Adamawa, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha have done so much. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also done so much.

Yes, they even had to forgo their personal ambitions. So they know what it takes; they will not want to truncate their efforts because they know that people see them as a coperative team. So there is no likelihood of crisis that cannot be solved. Though there will be challenges of working together for the first time, but because they share common identity, it is going to bring them together to move Nigeria forward.

There is fear among the people, especially from the Southsouth and Southeastern that Buhari will exclude them. Is the fear misplaced?

I want to reassure my brothers from the South East and South South that Buhari will not exclude them. He must not forget his background and anyone who has come close to all the forces would not do that. As they come they merge everybody together. And as somebody who rose to the rank of general before leaving the army, no section that offers itself for good use will be left out. But even if

‘

This is the kind of man the country needs at this stage. Nothing can distract him. Those who are going to work with him, I am sure, are going to be persons of impeccable character. That is why I am very convinced that surrounding himself with the right people will be the first thing we should expect

’

•Olaore

you come from his doorsteps to sabotage efforts to revive the country, he is not going to take it lighty. He is not going to give position or engage the person that will affect the turnaround of the economy. Despite all these, he is not likely going to do what you call a revenge mission on them.

No! In fact he was the first to reassure the Catholic Bishop of South South and South East that anyone who is confident enough is welcome despite the fact that they did not vote for him. Like I said earlier, he is a man of few words. Every bit of the word he says echoes deep down inside of him. So he can never renege on them. He will include them. They will have good positions but they must be prepared to deliver, they must be prepared to subscribe to service integrity.

This is not a situation where you will get a ministerial slot with money. It will not be business as usual this time around. So even if they have so much, you have to put in so much in order to perform

as expected. He will be waiting to see them deliver as Nigerians and not just as somebody from the East or from any minority group, wherever they find themselves.

The APC has promised not to focus on probing outdone leaders. But many Nigerians believe that such a decision would not help President Buhari’s anti-corruption image. Do you share this view?

I want to come from the standpoint from the work involved in all these probes and resources.

President Buhari is not known for wastages. In fact, he is a very conservative leader. The average probe takes about four to six weeks to complete and it involves so many investigations with volumes of books produced. By the time you now spend N200 million on probe, what would be left to address the infrastructural decay?

He will take his time and start from the problem at hand. When people are being probed, they start causing a lot of questions and to the system it will add to the problem. So what he will focus on will be centred around what has been done in the past. Let’s see the recommendations; let’s see if we can actualize them so that the money that has been spent is not spent again the second or third time. Any area that has been touched in the past and has made significant impact may not need to be touched soon but later?. This is to suggest that no area of the economy is forgotten and that corruption is not tolerated in any area. But he will not go out and start this from day one. ?It will be not be good to begin his administration with probe. He should rather look at the reports of the probes done since the last 16 years and set up a panel and reinvite those involved for clarifications.

But I don’t see Buhari closing his eyes on corrupt officials who have milked the nation dry.

Thugs disrupt Bauchi House of Assembly

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• Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa (right) and Chairman of the state chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede during Agbede's visit to the speaker in his office.

OLITICAL thugs compelled members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) to adjourn abruptly on Monday.

The thugs literally poured into the chambers, disrupting the the swearing-in of other principal officers of the house.

The forced adjournment came few mimutes after the the Speaker of the 8th Bauchi House of Assembly, Hon. Kasuwar Shehu Damina, was sworn-in by Clerk of the House, Abdulkadir Jafar.

Also sworn-in was Abdulmuminin Bala Fatti Pali from Alkaleri Local Government Area.

However, it took the timely intervention of the police to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. The police dispersed the thugs with the aid of tear-gas.

Besides disrupting the proclamation ceremony, the thugs who were said to be supporters of some of the state lawmakers, also picked pockets of some guests.

Among those who were victims of the thugs was the Majority Leader Hon Aminu Mohammed Tukur representing Burra/Lere in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA), whose expensive cellphone was forcefully snatched from his hand.

Accepting to lead the state lawmak-

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

ers Damina, an experienced administrator and a two-term chairman of Darazo LGA in the 1980s, assured “I will be just and fair.”

He also said: “I will ensure that we make laws that will improve the living conditions of Bauchi people.

I will work for the welfare of everybody, including honourable members and the staff of the assembly.”

The 31-member Bauchi State House of Assembly has one member from Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM) and two from Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), while the remaining 28 seats were won by the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC ).

Among those present at the swearing-in ceremony include: Senators Suleman Naxif Gamawa (Bauchi North), Ali Wakili (Bauchi South) and Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central).

Others are: former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Gadi, who was elected alongside former Governor Isa Yuguda, but was impeached, when Yuguda decamped to the PDP. Some members of the House of Representatives from the state, as well as the state APC chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana and other party chieftains were also present.

19

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

LETTER

Continuity or change?

Ekong’s way •A Nigerian student not only solves a 30-year math puzzle but accuses us of neglecting our education at home.

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NE of the laments that cast a gloom on the state of the nation during the recent election campaign season in Nigeria was the abysmal low to which our education system has dropped.

But the news coming from Japan, and specifically Tokai University in Tokyo, lifts the mood. Ufot Ekong has so far capped his storied run of accomplishments in that far-eastern country by solving a mathematical puzzle that eluded everyone for 30 years. And he pulled off the feat in just his first semester in the university.

This is a cut away from the usual Nigerian tales of turpitude and vanity ranging from financial crimes to drug trafficking to footloose spending. This is a Nigerian contributing in sublime ways to advance

‘The eminence of men like Ekong only reminds us of the glittering potential buried in the inefficiencies, corruption and general poor governance in the country. Ekong did not bloom like this in Nigeria.

He had to struggle to a foreign soil, work to pay his fees and excel’

civilisation.

In a picture that displays his Nigerian fervour, Ekong decked out in flowing bright Nigerian attire with a dark cap as he bowed to receive his award from the university chancellor. He also obtained a first class degree in electrical engineering with the best marks in the university since 1965.

Prior to the latest laurel, he had won six awards for academic excellence. Yet he does not fit into the picture of the peacock class of Nigerians whose parents are rich and pay the fees and plant them in the luxury of the foreign society. Rather, Ekong had to work two jobs in order to pay his fees. He combined physical deprivation with mental exertion to soar over his mates onto the high perch of history.

Even now that he is working for the top automobile brand Nissan, he is studying for his PhD. For his project, he has designed an electric car that travels as fast as 128 kilometres per hour and changes batteries on the go, according to news reports. For Nissan, he is a proud owner of two patents, which shows that he is not just a bookish warrior but one who bends the straitjacket of the classroom to meet the exigency of everyday needs.

Ekong is not just the sort of engineer locked away from the humanities. He is endowed with the renaissance elan as he is a polyglot fluent in English, French, Japanese and Yoruba. He won a Japanese language award for foreigners.

The eminence of men like Ekong only reminds us of the glittering potential buried in the inefficiencies, corruption and general poor governance in the country.

Ekong did not bloom like this in Nigeria.

He had to struggle to a foreign soil, work to pay his fees and excel.

His story only underpins the tragedy of our system. Our gold is dross at home.

Our dross is the gold of the world only when burnished for us by foreigners.

This newspaper has written a number of editorials on people of coruscating minds like Ekong, and we seem to just celebrate them and move on to the next big story from outside our shores.

Not long ago, we had the story of Emmanuel Ohuabunwa who made history at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in the United States. The Arochukwu-born prodigy became the first black student to earn a grade point average of 3.98 out of 4.0 for a degree in neurosciences. He also bagged the highest honours in his graduating year.

No less fascinating is the story of 21year-old Gabrielle Oluwanifemi Akinluyi who earned a first class degree in petroleum engineering at the University of Tulsa, also in the United States.

It is high time we asked of ourselves the efforts that would light the candle of genius from our own schools. We should not always celebrate the potential of our students and our environment.

It is time that we had our home-grown genius, and many of them.

Uncle Sam at 80 •The Vanguard publisher has contributed immensely to national development and deserves the encomiums on him by Nigerians impressed by his unique style

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ODAY, his address and identity come together in the Vanguard newspaper. The success of the newspaper founded in 1984 sums up the years of struggle and triumph of Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu who chose the ostensibly dreary world of journalism as his passion when it held little prospect for young educated Nigerians. Then, it attracted those who saw it as the only profession available for them after trying others, and those who felt sufficiently challenged by colonial domination of their country. Uncle Sam joined those who applied themselves to the urge to use the media to champion the attainment of independence.

It now seems he has been the publisher and proprietor of the newspaper forever.

This is not so. Mr. Amuka-Pemu is today the most outstanding professional media manager. He has been at it for more than five decades and keeps waxing strong.

He has been a journalist of repute, an editor of distinction, a celebrated columnist and a media entrepreneur. In all the roles, he excelled and deserves the encomiums being poured on him by members of the media constituency, the government and the general public.

What are those things that stand out Uncle Sam, as he is fondly addressed? First is his simplicity. Uncle Sam has no airs around him. Anyone, even in his Vanguard empire, could stop him along the staircase for a hearty discussion. He is also a mentor of note. When he notices potential in any of his staff, many have attested to the detailed attention he begins to pay to him or her. He is said to invite even junior reporters for lunch in the

company’s canteen and the senior editors and managers are periodically treated to dinner at his guest house.

As a publisher, the Vanguard brand has come to stay largely because of its unique, breezy style and liberal approach to issues. Uncle Sam may have positions on national issues, but he is not known to force them on his editors. As a successful businessman and influential newsman, he has friends in high quarters. Many of today’s politicians were fans of his column in the Daily Times and Punch. But, he is not renowned for pushing for contracts that could compromise the newspaper. This has made him, in person, a darling of the reading public, and his newspaper a respected brand.

Uncle Sam represents the values that Nigerians want in their leaders. Although an Itsekiri, he stayed out of the fray during the Urhobo-Itsekiri communal strife.

His paper was not turned into a tool for prosecuting the war. In Delta State where the newspaper records its largest sales, the Vanguard publisher is not known to have teamed up with any political party or tendency.

At 80, Uncle Sam has paid his dues. He is a social celebrity who, in addition to being at home with plebians, is comfortable when clinking glasses with the social elite. This has made him a role model for upcoming leaders.

The legacy of this simple and unassuming man should be preserved. His admirers and protégés owe the society a duty to get a quality biography of his published as a guide for others and imperishable

record of his contribution to the growth and development of the Nigerian nation.

He also owes the society a duty of documenting his life history in book form.

What motivated him to go into journalism? What characterised those wars he fought and how did they turn out? As one who covered the socio-political circuit in the First and Second Republics, was a publisher during the Third and Fourth Republics, he should tell the story of the various administrations as he saw them, and publish his diary of events that gripped and shaped the Nigerian state at various points in history.

We join millions of Nigerians who wish this icon well in his endeavour. This is one of those occasions when a sweet tale could be told by an octogenarian.

Realising that his mother just died last year, we look forward to more years of fruitful contributions to national progress by this veteran journalist.

‘We join millions of Nigerians who wish this icon well in his endeavour. This is one of those occasions when a sweet tale could be told by an octogenarian. Realising that his mother just died last year, we look forward to more years of fruitful contributions to national progress by this veteran journalist’

S

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 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.

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.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

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

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

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, once revealed that the Federal Government spent N98 trillion on the importation of food in the last five years. According to Adeshina, in 2010 alone, the nation spent a staggering N635 billion on wheat importation while another N35 trillion was spent on rice importation as well as N217billion on sugar importation and another N97billion spent on fish importation. This is surely a sad reflection on the nation’s dying agriculture sector.

Over the years, the export potential of cash crops such as cocoa, groundnuts, cashew among others, has seriously diminished. It is sad that Nigeria is no longer a key exporter of cocoa, groundnuts, rubber and palm oil. Ironically, these were the produce that the nation’s founding fathers built the prosperity of the country upon. It is incredible how a nation that was once the biggest poultry producer in Africa now has its total output reduced from 40 million birds annually to about 18 million. Agriculture has suffered from years of ne-

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

Agric sector and dwindling oil revenue glect, poorly conceived government’s policies as well as lack of basic infrastructure.

The issues involved in the sorry state of agriculture in Nigeria are multifaceted. First, over the years, budgetary allocation for the sector has seriously nose-dived as against the United Nations specified 10% of annual budgetary allocation, what we budget for agriculture in recent time is just around 3 %. When one considers the fact that we have not been able to achieve full budget implementation, in recent years, the precarious state of agriculture will better be appreciated.

Second, there seems to be a communication gap between the farmers and policy implementers. In most cases, the policy implementers don’t really carry the farmers along

Re: Cancer patients suffer as drugs trapped in tariff row

S

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-

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.

in the process of policy implementation. This, perhaps, is responsible for the inability of subsidized fertilizers and loans from the government and its agencies to get to the reach of the real farmers who are in dire need of it.

Third, the mass departure of the young ones from the rural areas to the cities in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece has created a vacuum thus leaving agriculture to the old and weak ones. Consequently, the best form of farming we have now, where it exists at all, is subsistence farming. Equally, lack of necessary infrastructure to encourage mechanized farming is another bane of agriculture in the country.

To reverse the drift, government needs to really appreciate the potentials of the sector as a catalyst for economic and industrial transformation. There is a need to rec-

reate a modernized professional and commercial farming sector, supported by improved infrastructure and research into high performance seeds and livestock. To encourage the teeming army of unemployed youths in the country to take to agriculture, government should make access to loans meant for agriculture much more easier while large scale farming powered by mechanized infrastructures should be the central goal.

Equally, local food production needs to be encouraged by making inputs available, giving farmers access to more farm land, providing micro credit at subsidized cost, supporting adequate processing and storage, providing market facilities, and discouraging import of produce with local substitutes through tariffs. It is also important that a significant portion of the country’s annual budget be set aside for the de-

velopment of the sector. This can be achieved if government reduces its expenses on ventures that are grossly un-productive.

Similarly, there is an urgent need for the country to put in place an agricultural investment code that could guide and enable foreign investors to make informed choice on their areas of interest in the agriculture sector. This is presently lacking in the country and if we are to maximize the potentials of the sector, it is imperative that we develop one.

Now that the federal government and various states in the country are groaning under severe economic burden is the exact time to pay adequate attention to the agriculture sector as it offers unlimited opportunities for job and wealth creation as well as accelerated economic and industrial growth. The nation of Israel is not as fortunate as we are in this perspective. Yet, it is renowned for her rich agro-economy. We could draw lessons from China which bounced back from a great famine that took millions of lives between 1958 and 1961 to become the world numero uno in food production.

• Tayo Ogunbiyi Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

The log in Ben Bruce’s eyes

S

IR: I wish to comment on the recent statement credited to Ben Bruce that he will donate his wardrobe allowance to Osun workers. I used to hold the Senator in high esteem but this statement of his has diminished my respect for him. Bruce is only courting controversy for the governing party.

Bayelsa State, a PDP-controlled state that produced the immediate past president is also listed among states owing workers. This is in spite of its status as an oil produc-

ing state that receives 13 percent extra federal allocation. Why not donate the allowance to his home state of Bayelsa instead?

Charity begins at home; let him remove the stone that is in his eyes before attempting to remove the sand in other people’s eyes.

I expect him to sponsor a motion on the floor of the Senate to stop the dubious furniture, wardrobe and car allowances in addition to the greedy, fat and gluttonous salaries they receive and ask the gov-

ernment to factor it into the various state allocations so that they can use it to clear the backlog of salaries. Had he sponsored a motion like this, he would have launched himself well into Nigerian politics; he was elected into the Senate to help in making good laws and not in courting and inciting needless controversies.

• Okorie Uchechukwu, Makurdi.

Emmanuel

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COMMENTS

Nigeria’s scapegoats Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

T

HE journalistic cult of poverty has a supreme theme; the morally-deficient journalist.

This theme is pitifully projected by journalism’s highly celebrated ambassadors in the corridors of power and the public space. Rather than evolve as heroic shiners of light and provenders of truth, speaking to keep all savagery in straits, in the true tradition of modern, high-cultivated men of letters, they choose to manifest like an accident to society.

Picture a severely skewed news story bearing the newspaper Daily Editor’s byline and the curious tag: “With political intelligence unit reports.” Picture how ridiculous it must be to witness the metamorphosis of presumed intellect into dimwittedness. At first glance, his touted investigation rankles an ominous note, at closer read, his heartfelt truths wander in logic and polemic like an untamed gypsy, burnishing a world in which he ought to serve as a bastion of love with hate, urging it into bitterness and everlasting darkness. Severely compromised by greed and lack of pride, he served former President Goodluck Jonathan’s propaganda train like a junkyard dog with neither tact nor freewill. His brief was to impugn the name of Muhammadu Buhari now President Muhammadu Buhari. Today, that desperate editor is shamelessly courting camp Buhari, in frantic bid to reclaim his slavish role to the ruling class.

As you read many more newspaper editors and their reporters are manifesting at the ruling class’ bidding and your bidding, into the stamen that lets down the azalea, the

I

comforters that bring grief, the emissaries of needless orchestrated in the interest of the ruling class.

Today, tyranny attains ultimate refinement in the news columns; this brings to mind that memorable jest by Norman Mailer that “Once a newspaper touches a story, the facts are lost forever, even to the protagonists.” Journalists are still the butt of the most demeaning jokes and premeditated put-downs in the social arena. Nobody thinks much of a journalist; in the eyes of big business and the ruling class, the journalist whatever his designation or job title, is the manipulable pawn and necessary evil that has to be courted and tolerated. The descent and humiliation of the journalist still persists in the hands of his employer; salaries still range from N15, 000 per month at entry level to N70, 000 per month at managerial level in most media houses. Just three media houses endeavour to pay fairly and this has led to the metamorphosis of the journalist into an aberration of the watchdog he ought to be to society.

This resonates badly for the Nigerian mob; the nation’s critical mob to be precise. Mob culture requires that he who would adorn the cloak of defender of the masses’ rights should be upright and flawless in character, work and personal ethics.

Such admirable traits are rarely attributable to the Nigerian journalist manager and the press in general.

The Nigerian mob, like every other rabble, seeks fulfillment of tyrant fantasies; such fantasies often vary between the destruction of an unpopular government, despot or worn-out civilization. Reality how-

N the politics of the Fourth Republic, especially in the South-west, some characters have eminently distinguished themselves as politicians who should not to be taken seriously. They don’t represent anything that is believable. They are agents of retrogression who stand for nothing and as such are ready to go for anything. Their sole aim in politics, and in any endeavour, for that matter, is to promote parochial and self-seeking interests. Though, their names might ring a bell, it is often for the wrong reason.

Senator Iyiola Omisore, a serial gubernatorial contender in Osun State belongs to this class of personalities. One of the glorious eras in the history of Osun State was between 1999 and 2003 when Chief Bisi Akande was at the helm of affairs at the state. Akande ran one of the most prudent and transparent governments in the Fourth Republic. It was his administration that constructed the present Osun State Government Secretariat, a project it embarked upon through stringent financial engineering. Unfortunately for Chief Akande, his albatross was his deputy.

Unknowingly to him, while he was busy cutting cost of governance and blocking loopholes to wastage of government resources, his deputy, Iyiola Omisore, was not on the same page with him. His purpose in government ran at a crosspurpose with that of his principal, and like it is often the case, Omisore rebelled against Chief Akande. Thus, began a calculated campaign of defamation against Chief Akande with Omisore as the hatchet man. Like they say, the rest of Omisore’s dastardly acts during that period are now history.

However, in the ensuing political row between Omisore and Akande, the late Chief Bola Ige, who was then the leader of the Alliance for Democracy in Osun State, and a revered political figure in the country, was ridiculed by Omisore. The height of it was when one of Omisore’s thugs humiliated Ige right at the palace of the Ooni of Ife by removing his cap. One thing led to the other and Chief Ige was eventually brutally assassinated by unknown gunmen at his home in Ibadan. Naturally, Omisore became one of the chief suspects at Ige’s death. He was arrested and detained for some time. However, like most assassination cases in the country, nothing has come out of police investigations. Hopefully, the Chief Ige’s murder case file would be reopened.

Ever since, Omisore had tried in vain to govern Osun State.

The last attempt being the decisive electoral humiliation he suffered in the hands of the incumbent governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Not satisfied with his rejection by the Osun electorates at the polls, Omisore took his case to the election tribunal where he was further humiliated for lack of merit in his case. Insisting that he must ‘reclaim his (phoney) stolen mandate’, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were his next ports of call. But, again he lost barefacedly on these platforms. Since then, Omisore had been relatively quiet

ever, affirms the impotence of the Nigerian mob. The latter is continually tamed and kept on a leash by a ruling class that capitalizes on its obvious handicaps: its impulsiveness, insensibility to reason and judgment and overt sentimentality.

Despites it handicaps, the Nigerian mob conveniently picks on a scapegoat for its infinite timidity and cluelessness: the press. The journalist is expected to serve as the conscience and moral compass of the society, challenging the government and checking the excesses of the ruling class, uncompromisingly and selflessly.

As utopian fantasies go, these are noble expectations of the journalist but the Nigerian mob ignores the cultural shift of the society from conventional morality to unbridled hedonism. It assumes, hypocritically, that the press will continually give it honest and developmental news even as every segment of the society strive to unmoor the journalist from his role as a crucial appendage of the nation’s critical mob. The public, comprising big business, the government, and civil societies among other mob segments, vilify any journalist or news medium that seeks to educate and engage rather than entertain and perpetuate their biased definitions of reality.

Contemporary Nigeria embraces the emotional pageant that has turned news into paid publicity and mindless entertainment and the journalist in response kowtows to lusts and vanities of modern society. Beneath the mindless glamour and cultural decline however, an insidious reality festers in the death of hope and incandescence of tragedy. Prevalent socioeconomic tragedies necessitate the emergence and elevation among the citizenry of the bungling and sadistic, and the beginning of a differentiation cum tyranny of social grades.

At the centre of the turmoil is the journalist whose fate is so critically

bound with the country’s but he obviously does not know that hence the cluelessness, treachery and brazen recklessness that characterizes his work. Consequently, the Nigerian journalist manifests as an accident to society. He perpetually loses his grasp of the issues at stake; fundamentally hollow and benumbed to valor, he shamelessly resigns to the powers that be, blaming the tyranny of the ruling class and the proverbial ‘system’ for his inability to fulfill his professional and moral obligations to the society.

Rather than pose a challenge to the system that domesticates and enslaves him, he chooses the easiest way out and plays junkyard dog to tyrant cabals and the predatory bunch constituting the nation’s ruling class. He assumes the role of a poseur and pretends to fight for the interest of the public. This sad charade is continually perpetuated across esteemed leader-writers’ polemics in foremost newspapers’ columns.

The contemporary journalist trades in all manners of truths, deploying sophistry and shades of impressive fallacies in the interest of whatever social divide fulfills his lust for relevance and economic survival. I am a journalist and I shamefully acknowledge that my clan and I hardly epitomize hope to our world. Not yet. Rarely do we signify hope, self-sacrifice or a promise of future honesty and gallantry in the interest of all. We can blame the society and advance all forms of isms and ostentatious arguments to

justify our descent the steep slope of amorality and socioeconomic expediency; it wouldn’t excuse our treachery to our calling and the Nigerian citizenry.

If Nigeria chooses to exist as a land of savages, it’s our responsibility to nudge her back on to the path of humanity and progress – for only in such clime can we positively evolve and prosper. Our failure as journalists indicates severance from a progressive and moral culture while we institutionalize bigotry, lies, depravity, base sentimentality and pitiful fantasies.

The traditional, conscientious journalist is going extinct today along with true, dependable news culture because Nigeria obsesses and migrates to the pseudo-reality of the internet and reality shows. It is no doubt ironical that the masses would turn around to blame the press for not fulfilling its roles to the society.

It’s about time we stopped narrowing the debates and spotlight to the shenanigans and petty differences of the ruling class and instead aspire to serve as a true voice to the voiceless.

There is no magical antidote to our decline and death as a crucial part of the nation’s critical mob.

Real progress will manifest in the country when we start demanding that the ruling class march in virtual lockstep with promises they make.

Whatever the tone and dialect of intellectualization that characterizes our news culture, posterity will judge us by how truthfully we fulfill our roles as conscience and watchdog of the society.

‘Rather than pose a challenge to the system that domesticates and enslaves him, he chooses the easiest way out and plays junkyard dog to tyrant cabals and the predatory bunch constituting the nation’s ruling class. He assumes the role of a poseur and pretends to fight for the interest of the public. This sad charade is continually perpetuated across esteemed leader-writers’ polemics in foremost newspapers’ columns’

Omisore: Mischief as way of life

By Lateef Raji on the political scene. Who wouldn’t, given the enormity of the loss he suffered? His whereabouts suddenly became a subject of intense controversy as some claimed that he had relocated to neighbouring Ghana.

But like a bolt from the blue, Omisore suddenly found his voice again. And he is not just talking; he is actually singing like a Red-eyed Vireo bird which sings more than 20,000 songs a day. One particular subject that Omisore has suddenly found fascinating to sing about is the current workers’ salary imbroglio in Osun State. In his characteristic ‘talk is cheap’ fashion, Omisore claimed that Osun State Government under Aregbesola has borrowed more than N480 billion since he assumed office in 2010. According to him, the loan burden and the alleged continuous wasteful spending by the governor are some of the reasons the administration has been unable to pay workers for the past five months. He equally claimed that the governor also wasted the state’s resources on political campaigns during the last governorship poll and the just-concluded general election. Though, Omisore did not state what the governor’s security vote is, he, nevertheless, advised him to reduce his security votes as well as spending at the Government House while also advising him to stop giving Osun money to his Lagos visitors.

Like it is with dubious politicians who love to play to the gallery, it is not surprising that Omisore is attempting to bounce to relevance on the wing of the current Osun workers’ salary issue. And, it tastes sour. No responsible person would cash-in on the misfortune of a group of people to score cheap political points. In the past four years, when the Aregbesola administration was transforming the state through several capital and human capital development projects, Omisore’s voice was never heard. What is, perhaps, quite absurd is his penchant for rumour mongering and peddling of falsehood.

Where on earth did he get the N480 billion debt profile figure he mischievously branded from when the total debt profile is not up to N70 billion? What exactly does he want to achieve by trying to hang Aregbesola based on the workers’ salary imbroglio when it is a common knowledge that about 24 other states are facing similar problem? Like the mischief maker that he is, Omisore did not tell his audience which of the People Democratic Party, PDP states has not borrowed to execute capital projects.

The fact of the matter is that Osun State, just like many others in the country, is currently facing economic challenges whose

nature transcends local rationalization. Prior to the dawn of this present national economic predicament, the state had faithfully discharged its responsibilities to its workers. For a period of not less than 30 months, there was no record of rancorous moment with its workers. Indeed, the state, despite its lean purse, is one of the few states in the country that paid its workforce a 13th-month salary every December.

Things actually become complicated when dwindling national revenue began to affect monthly allocations to states.

For instance, in February 2013, Osun State got a total sum of N5 billion as allocation from the federal government. But, by April, the state’s monthly allocation dropped sharply to a mere N466 million. This is a verifiable fact that is in public domain. Between November 2010 and December 2014, Osun State got a total statutory allocation of N108.3 billion with a wage bill of N120.4 billion and a total deficit of N12 billion. This, to any rational mind, aptly captures the dire financial strait of the state and, indeed, the country as a whole. Indeed, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had publicly given reasons why states of the federation could not pay salaries citing the same reasons Aregbesola offered to the workers and people of Osun.

What Osun State needs at the moment is not the idle meddlesomeness of crass opportunists like Omisore. The state can do without Omisore’s opportunistic rabble rousing for it leads to nowhere and adds no value. No matter, how far lies travel, truth would definitely catch up with it somehow, some day. Osun workers are not in the dark concerning the financial position of the state. Very soon, they will smile again. And very soon, Omisore and his ilk would not be able to find their voice again. Like before, there would be nothing for them to howler about.

•Raji is former Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Lagos State.

‘What Osun State needs at the moment is not the idle meddlesomeness of crass opportunists like Omisore. The state can do without Omisore’s opportunistic rabble rousing for it leads to nowhere and adds no value. No matter, how far lies travel, truth would definitely catch up with it somehow, some day’

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COMMENTS

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OLA Ahmed Tinubu has already gone done in history as a trailblazer. Nothing showcases the steady, reliable, fuss-free Asiwaju brand better than adversity. His life has been marked with authenticity, reliability and trustworthiness. Those who think that the election that took place recently at the National Assembly is the beginning of the end of his political career will be shocked. Asiwaju may have lost the battle but we have to keep in mind that he won the war. People are now scrambling for the spoils of war. History will always remember him for his contribution towards the enrichment of our political culture. Tinubu is a fixed thing, a person with actual successes and failures. He means many things to many people. You can find people who know him as a saviour, an intellectual or six other things in between. But one thing you cannot take away from him is his love and passion for Nigeria.

According to Ganiyu Solomon, “Asiwaju is our longsought after quintessential Nigerian leader whose vision, dreams and aspiration tower above non-progressive sectionalism, myopic tribalism and ethnic jingoism”. “His philosophy, orientation and socialist background have no doubt prepared him for what the future has begun to throw up. He has his eyes on the future and this is evident in his choice of people for leadership positions because he sure wants to look back in his old age and be complacent that posterity has a good place in stock for him.” In the words of a political commentator, Tinubu’s intellectual efforts and personal sacrifices of his time and resources for noble ends have become a lodestar for others to follow. “To talk of Tinubu, that seemingly fragile looking easygoing man is to talk of quintessential largeheartedness. His indefatigability, and undaunted courage in the face of intimidating fear coupled with his powerful ambidexterity in the mobilization of men and resources make the man a political icon.”

What happened at the National Assembly recently is only a surprise to those who are still struggling to adapt to the shifting terrain of Nigerian politics - the quirks, betrayal, eccentricities and passion of our political culture. Asiwaju is used to political battles and cannot be intimidated at what played out in the National Assembly. But Bukola Saraki has done himself, and the party, great and unnecessary harm. His ride back to credibility and respect will be extremely difficult. He has willingly jumped into a bear trap of his own creation. Further events

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E are all glad that the power-topower political transition has been safely completed without bloodshed or terror unleashed, and we can now settle down to rebuild our life-giving institutions with hope and purpose. We, as good citizens, are obligated to call attention of the new people in power and submit advice on where to direct their fresh powers in such a manner that will benefit the vast majority of the Nigerian people.

When we say a government accords an “industry” status to loosely connected groups of people identifiable by one broad profession, we mean that the government actually ‘means’ business. It recognises the vital importance of that profession to the development of the economy and the stability of the nation. It understands that such a profession can add value to the system by exporting, in massive consignments, its products, general merchandise, services, culture, traditions, tourism destinations, and countless distinctly Nigerian items, articles and paraphernalia, through scenic representations in our movies which become handy worldwide. Such a government desires that national artefacts like the crest, flag, stamps, buildings, games, protocols, etc are seen, recognised and patronised all across the world. Such a government appreciates that dominating Africa economically and politically is underlined by a vibrant, adept and professional motion pictures (and similar entertainment products) which are the sure and deliberate steps before ‘conquering’ the world. Therefore, such a government will seek means and measures to protect and nurture the new “industry” by spearheading the building of physical and intellectual structures; designing and drafting pragmatic, comprehensive laws and regulations to midwife and safeguard the operations and procedures of the industry. So, to build a world-class country and man-power, the world must first see the class and carriage of her visions and dreams via the win-

‘There is an urgent need to deregulate and decentralize the business of collecting societies and the administration of royalty distribution. A strong function of the NEDC is to act as keen regulators of these independent membership-driven associations - and provide adequate and perpetual safety nets for creators of self-generating works of arts’

NASS saga: Tinubu is doggedness personified

By Ikechukwu Orji will determine who will be the loser. The Chinese believe that the strongest person in the room says the least. A strong man does not have to broadcast his intentions.

Asiwaju stands for restrained moral power, power that is absolutely lethal and purposeful when it is unleashed, but never unleashed wantonly, without precise plan or purpose.

It is morally wrong to encourage disloyalty in the party. Members should always abide by party decision so as to instill discipline in the party. Yakabu Dogara and Saraki betrayed the party and their actions have been condemned by well-meaning Nigerians. Sani Zorro, who represents Gumel/Maigatari/Sule Tankarkar/Gagarawa Federal Constituency, of Jigawa State called it an act of desperation. ”As for those who went for an unholy marriage with another rival of the APC, well, apparently, they have done it out of desperation,” he said. “It is also clear that any of them put their self-interest first before that of the party. We have decided to remain loyal to the party because we have seen this kind of situation before.”

A renowned Professor of law, Itse Sagay, is of the opinion that the election that enthroned Saraki as Senate President is fraudulent. “If you look at the moral point of view, that purported election was fraudulent. When you purport to hold an election deliberately in the absence of your opponent, knowing that he is absent, and intending to win at any cost unopposed by ensuring that absence, that constitutes fraud. Not only that, I think it’s an act of gross indiscipline, not just against his party, but against the whole country because we are all stakeholders in the electoral process, in who becomes the Senate President and we all felt cheated because there was no proper election.

Again it’s also an act of gross impunity. In effect, he was saying ‘I know my opponent is keenly interested in contesting, I know my opponent is not here yet, and there-

fore, I will rush an election in his absence in order to be certain of victory at any cost.’ It’s absolutely unacceptable in a decent democracy.”

Asiwaju works hard to make the right tactical decisions and support the right policies and people. His support for Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila is a support for progress and unity of the country. Some people have chosen to misunderstand him and impute motives.

A leader engaged in trying to bring about change will find himself living in an environment hostile to his intentions. The signature trait that has distinguished him from most politicians is his doggedness. He is a man that provides real leadership under pressure. His unique combination of intelligence, toughness and startling humanity makes him a master of the game. But Asiwaju will not do anything to scuttle our democratic experience because he believes that democracy is the highest civic good. He has been preaching the ideals of freedom and pluralism and this has been resolutely affirmed by his actions.

• Orji is a media consultant and journalist

‘A leader engaged in trying to bring about change will find himself living in an environment hostile to his intentions. The signature trait that has distinguished him from most politicians is his doggedness. He is a man that provides real leadership under pressure. His unique combination of intelligence, toughness and startling humanity makes him a master of the game’

Buhari, Nollywood and change we need

By Femi AkintundeJohnson dows of her arts and culture - her enduring civilisation!

Once upon a time it was fashionable for government officials to throw force and power at the restiveness and criminality in the Niger Delta. When that didn’t work, they started throwing money at it: cash-for-gun, bounties on wanted notorious warlords, etc.

It later dawned on the powers-that-be the obvious weaknesses of those strategies. They realised the sane and result-oriented way was to deal with age-long infrastructural deficiencies and assuage developmental iniquities of past vagabond governments. And that brought the omnibus NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) in 2000 by the troublesome Chief Olusegun Obasanjo government.

We are not here to review the efficacy of NDDC, but is it any wonder that modest peace and some sort of order have pervaded the region since the policy mindset was persuaded by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration to offer carrot-and-stick approach (obviously more carrots than stick); and even quieter still since 2008 when he conjured a NigerDelta Ministry with NDDC as a major parastatal?

It does not take much brain-work to know that the issues the core-objectives of NDDC/ Niger-Delta Ministry confronted are also staring at us in the creative community of Nigeria. Here is a short list: Resource Control.

Environmental Degradation. Pollution. Unemployable Restive Youth. Proliferation of Ammunition. For all these Niger Delta “devils”, their creative equivalences are: Dearth of Resources. Economic Degradation. Piracy.

Unemployable Restless Youth. Proliferation of Unimagination. And more of course.

With the strides of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan in his beloved Nollywood, the Buhari government has a surly but eager community (however sharply divided and suspicious). The larger creative communities have long-standing capacity for supportive and eager collaboration with any government policies geared towards elevating the prospects of their art forms. Unlike Jonathan that threw money at Nollywood in an at-

tempt to palliate highlighted inadequacies (professional training, seed capital for shooting projects, erecting cinema houses, etc), let President Buhari go round the current funding nets and mop up outstanding capitals from Bank of Industry, NEXIM and such financial initiatives still lying fallow. A N3billion pledge was made in March 2013 by the Jonathan government for “the development of the film industry”, and whatever remained of the N200m loan scheme of 2010.

With remnants of these schemes and other the aggregated funds/grants, a fresh input and dedicated liaisons with art-loving nations and foundations worldwide, we should have enough stimulus to legislate into being the Nigerian Entertainment Development Commission, NEDC. Look into the archives, there have been many papers and colloquy on this sort of issue; so drawing up a draft bill should be a swing. The objectives of the NEDC are direct and actionable: To protect, promote, preserve and permit activities, regulations, practices and procedures that shall produce and provide conducive conditions for the attainment of high productivity, excellence in production standards, training and development; To act as arrowhead and driving force in the capitalization and establishment of critical infrastructures; and the mobilisation of corporate financial institutions towards deepening and expanding professionalism and investment super-highways; To encourage and stimulate the positive, clear-sighted promotion and preservation of our sundry cultural and traditional mores, diverse lifestyles and customs, etc. In the pursuit of the foregoing, to activate a strong sense of patriotism and deep appreciation of the potentials of our inherent diversity - in culture, practices and customs and its sensitive and responsible presentation to the larger world.

Some of the major organs of the NEDC shall include the following: A new National Copyright Administration (the NCC Act shall be amended to subsume this effete body under the NEDC) will act as the intellectual, orientational, documentation and informational arm of the NEDC, especially in the critical forth-coming anti-piracy war.

War Against Piracy (WAP) unit (with adequate and well-remunerated enforcement and prosecutorial personnel and

competences). The crack-force units of armed forces, police and paramilitary corps shall be in action across the states/LGs/major urban centres (like a “Piracy Police”). The units shall include lawyers proficient in criminal litigation of intellectual property infringers; PR/ Information officers (reverse propaganda is essential), etc. We have to win the war on piracy, as the statistics is worse than distressing - a recent international media report blatantly revealed on this scourge that “Nigeria accounts for 80% of internationally pirated music CDs! A corollary of the above is the establishment of counterpart judicial units - for example, the much vaunted Special Tribunals in every geopolitical sub-zone (senatorial district). A spin-off from that is the urgent need to review the Copyright Act where punishments are now outdated and are no longer commensurate to the gravity of criminality.

As we speak, punitive fines range from N10,000 to N100,000 for individual infringers - and N50,000 to N500,000 for “body corporate”! The longest jail time is 12 months... with that sort of kid-glove knocks, it is no wonder piracy is quite lucrative here.

Another critical arm of the NEDC is the Arts Endowment Fund. This is what gives the commission its spunk as a semi-autonomous body with inherent abilities to access funds and grants all over the world; and a welldesigned accountable system of supporting, funding, subventing and generally provoking creative or artistic excellence in productions, trainings, festivals, exhibitions, concerts, scholarship, curricular, etc. We can borrow a leaf from the Iroko that America’s National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has become. Surely with an annual budget of $146m (about N28b in 2015) the NEA boasts of a chest to wink at entire budgets of several Nigerian states’ ministries of culture combined. It was set up in 1965 as an independent agency by the US government. Our own giant document on the endowment fund has been gathering dusts since the 1990’s.

There is an urgent need to deregulate and decentralize the business of collecting societies and the administration of royalty distribution. A strong function of the NEDC is to act as keen regulators of these independent membership-driven associations - and provide adequate and perpetual safety nets for creators of self-generating works of arts.

Note that even as we promote our culture, give jobs to our youth and project a worthy legacy for the promises of this great nation, the surrounding activities of NEDC are catalysts for grater and qualitative job opportunities for large spectrum of professionals and allied industries. It is a win-win scenario for all Nigerians.

THE NATION FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2015

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SHOWBIZ

Iyanya, Tiwa Savage, other celebs endorse Gbémisókè also not left out as they also gave out pairs of Gbémisókè shoes to their fans on social media.

The shoes, which are from Gbemi’s eponymous line are specially designed for women whose shoe size is larger than 41. The OAP launched the shoe line with a promise to take care of the market segment of women who wish to wear shoes that are comfortable without breaking the bank. Gbémisókè shoes are currently available on online stores Konga and Jumia range from fashionable flats to pumps and mules and they currently retail for between N7000 and N9000.

“Truly, I didn’t want to make a luxury line,” said Gbemi recently, while speaking on why the shoes are very affordable.

“There are many brands doing that already.

I know a lot of Nigerians who cannot afford luxury items. So I wanted something that solves the big feet problem, something very fashionable, and something very affordable.

I’m happy we’re able to achieve all three with Gbémisókè.”

Gbemi, a princess from Owo kingdom in Ondo state becomes the first Nigerian OAP to have her own shoe line. She earlier revealed that the name Gbémisókè means “Lift

• Tiwa Savage

• Iyanya

me up’ in her native Yoruba language.

“It’s quite tough for women like me who wear UK size 9 and up, to find nice shoes.

Most stores don’t carry such big sizes, and

when they do, they sell out quickly. After complaining for years, I decided to create a line to make life easier for women like me who have bigger feet.”

Sunny Neji, DJ Cuppy, others storm Afropolitan Vibes tonight

T

HIS month’s edition of Afropolitan Vibes which holds today by 7pm at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

Among those that will join BANTU on the stage tonight include Highlife singer Sunny Neji, Afro-Electro group Kahli Abdi and VHS Safari. Others are Afro-pop vocalist Geoffrey and dancehall artiste Oge Kimono.

DJ Cuppy will be the special guest at the after-party which follows immediately after the show.

Afropolitan Vibes which is in its 26 edition is a monthly gig founded by Ade BANTU to promote Afrocentric music and musicians in a relaxing atmosphere.

EbonyLife TV to host Professor Jega

• Jega

F

Following in its tradition of celebrating the best of Africa and indeed, Nigeria, as well as an extension of the nation building role it played towards the 2015 General Elections, Cable TV channel, EbonyLife TV, will on Saturday host Prof.

Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The celebratory event, titled ‘Afternoon Tea With Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega’ will hold in Lagos.

The afternoon, which will be televised, is planned mainly as a Question and Answer panel with young professionals and Professor Jega, is in acknowledgment of the respected Professor’s widely celebrated leadership prowess in the running the recently concluded 2015 Nigerian general elections, which many have adjudged as largely free, fair and violence-free.

The event which is, however, strictly by

I

W

INNER of the 2015 Nigeria Idols, K-Peace, has said he never thought he would win.

Speaking shortly after emerging winner last Saturday at Dream Studios in Lagos, KPeace, 32, said he was initially dazzled by the amazing talents on the show.

“I wasn’t expecting to win,” he said. “I saw a lot of singers. I was thinking, how am I going to scale through? This is going to be so hard for me. But here I am, the winner. I’m so excited.

“One thing I see all the time is that I will never forget my roots. I think I was chosen because of the originality. This is Nigeria Idol and America Idol. So, I think I was chosen

‘I wasn’t expecting to win Idols’ - K-peace because I do Ibile (traditional). I represent Nigeria with everything I do. Even when I am doing the western music, I try to infuse the thing (Ibile) into it.”

He was noted for infusing Fuji rhythm in his rendition of the R&B song, All of Me by John Legend during the competition, a technique K-Peace said he started about three years ago.

The singer was also thankful that telecommunication giant, Etisalat has empowered him. “If I wasn’t on Nigeria Idols, maybe, I would be somewhere still trying to beg for show to let me just perform.”

As winner, he carted home N7.5m, a Hyundai SUV and also a recording contract with Universal Music.

His closest rival, Dolu, also commended K-Peace. Speaking after the winner, she agreed K-Peace deserved to win but said he didn’t have an edge over her.

“I think he is a great performer,” she said.

“And we’ve been together. We’re like friends now. He is a great person. He has an awesome personality and he is a great performer.

You have to give him that.”

Nigeria Idol which is sponsored by Etisalat is in its fifth season.

The FunnyWhiteman Show debuts

By Joe Agbro Jr.

invitation will be attended by young and futuristic professionals, for whom the channel, is designed, and who are arguably the major beneficiaries of the good governance, peace, stability, national growth and development usually derived from rancour-free elections.

Ediz, others launch South-South party brand N a bid to shake up Port-Harcourt’s hospitality circuit, Ediz Lifestyle, Groundup Media and Mesmerize Production have collaborated to develop Redcups and Chili, an urban industry lifestyle party that will cater to fun lovers in the Garden City.

The event which took place recently at Ediz Wine Bar, GRA, Port-Harcourt, was a night of sipping cocktails from red cups and nibbling barbeque. It also had guests wearing a touch of red or white.

Magnito killed the night as he thrilled the crowd in a freestyle session that lasted almost 30 minutes while DJ Chizzy was on the wheels of steel as the industry cheered.

Ezim Odili actress looked ravishing as she posed for pictures on the red carpet. Other artistes that performed at the event included Soty the Malaria superstar and PH’s fast-rising songstress, Fortune, who was also present with her management.

According to Ediz, who owns Ediz Wine

• K-peace

By Joe Agbro Jr.

Bar, Red Cups and Chili is “a party to bring people out and have a good time.”

C

OMEDY is about to get a new twist as TV360Nigeria, a Nigeria-based online TV station is set to air a new comedy programme, The FunnyWhiteman Show. Anchored by Agbro Omovigho Richard who is popularly known as the FunnyWhiteman, the show is a blend of Lifestyle and Comedy TV Talk show.

Recorded episodes of the show have already been broadcast online at www.tv360nigeria.com, which is owned by Nigerian broadcaster Deji Bademosi.

According to FunnyWhiteman, the show will have top comedians, celebrities and individuals who have made a name for themselves in their areas of specialisation being interviewed. The guests then thrash out trending news in a comic manner.

“The show is inspired by the single passion of inspiring and entertaining our audience while making them laugh out their challenges,” he said. “We understand there

• FunnyWhiteman

B

EAT FM On-Air-Personality Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi is definitely getting major support as some top Nigerian celebrities have teamed up with her to give out Gbémisókè shoes to her fans on Social Media.

Celebrities that have identified with Gbemi’s shoe line include Tiwa Savage, TeeA, Gideon Okeke, Dee Tunes and Lami Philips.

Reacting to the launch on Twitter, pop Diva, Tiwa Savage, joked about the impact of the new shoe line.

“So I used to feel cool with my small sized feet,” she tweeted, “till Gbemi put salt in my garri and launched and launched her shoe line catering to bigger sizes and the annoying part is that they are adorable cute and classy.”

R&B singer Iyanya thrilled his followers on social media with a surprise giveaway of brand new pairs of Gbémisókè shoes.

Comedian and TV host Tee-A then added his voice to the chorus, sponsoring his own giveaway of Gbémisókè shoes to his Twitter followers soon after.

Actor, Gideon Okeke, Music producer, Dee Tunes and Song writer, Lami Philips were

are many Talk Shows around already but only a handful has a tip of what we intend bringing to the table. Viewers would get to see the funny sides of their favourite celebrities.”

PMAN Alimosho set to hold anniversary

T

• Ediz

HE Alimosho Zone, Lagos State Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), will hold its 22 nd World Music Day anniversary on Sunday, June 21, at Esthybam Hotel, Egbe, Lagos.

The event, according to its Chairman,

Mr Omosebi Abiodun, is to enhance the unity among its members and would enable them to deliberate on the issues to that will move the association forward.

Artistes from Lagos and its environs are expected to perform at the event.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Consult inducts new members

PAGE 25

The queen and her love for orphanage homes

Abia lawmaker promises better representation

•PAGE 27

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

•PAGE 40

•PAGE 38

Who killed Akpanika Frampton? ,

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HE serene and friendly atmosphere that ordinarily prevails at Ezuhu Umuhu Okwuato autonomous community in Aboh Mbaise Council of Imo state recently gave way to fear and apprehension after the murder of Akpanika Hope Frampton, a National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) member, by a yet to be identified assailants.

Following the gruesome murder and fear of arrest by the police, the community has been deserted as residents, especially the youths fled into the forest and neighboring villages. Economic activities had also grounded to a halt as the few commercial stores in the village have been locked up.

The elderly and community leaders are yet to come to terms with the manner of the murder and the consequence of such a heinous crime in their community. The victim who was a teacher at the Christ the Saviour Secondary School, a private School in the community, according to neighbors who pleaded for anonymity, was a quiet and easy going gentle man until his death.

According to Nze George Onwere, a member of the community, the peace of the community was shattered by the news of the murder of the NYSC member who was stabbed to death in his apartment after being tied up .

He said: “Since then nobody has slept in this community. The people are afraid of what will hap-

When the neighbours entered the apartment, they found the lifeless body of Apkan in a pool of his own blood with his legs tied and his face covered with his shirt, they promptly raised an alarm which attracted the attention of the members of the community who reported the matter to the Police

,

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

pen next. We have never seen anything like this in the history of this community; we are a peace loving and hospitable people. We are yet to know where this came from but we will continue to assist security agents to unravel those behind the dastardly act.”

The victim, a graduate of Physics from Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), with NYSC state code IM/14C/1114 under Batch C of the scheme was last seen by neighbours while fetching water after closing from school.

Narrating the incident, an eye witness who does not want his name mentioned stated that, neighbours of the deceased became curious when they discovered that his door was open even though he has not been seen around the pre-

mises.

The source said: “When the neighbours entered the apartment, they found the lifeless body of Apkan in a pool of his own blood with his legs tied and his face covered with his shirt, they promptly raised an alarm which attracted the attention of the members of the community who reported the matter to the Police.”

However, further investigations at the Christ the Saviour Secondary School where the deceased worked revealed that his death may not be unconnected with an alleged amorous affair with a young lady in the school which apparently had not gone well with another rival who was said to have been dating the said young lady before the de•Continued on page 26

Abia House of Assembly averts bloodshed T HE immediate past Abia State House of Assembly has directed Pioneer Sino Chino Investment Company to commence the quarrying of granite stone activities at Aguokeakpu Amaubiri site in Umunneochi council area of the state.

The directive was contained in a resolution passed by the house during its winding down iplenary session in Umuahia and asked Asphalt Unity Construction and Allied Bond companies to stop further work there.

This resolution has averted bloodshed that would have happened in that community at Umunneochi, as the three companies having causing tension capable of exploding in a clash

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

between them and community.

The resolution which was signed by the clerk/permanent secretary of the house, JohnPedro Irokansi said that any work being carried out at the quarry site by the two companies earlier mentioned will amount to illegality.

The resolution said that Pioneer Sino Chino has the legal right to carry out quarrying of granite stone at Aguokeakpu Amaubiri, Lokpaukwu in Umunneochi of Abia state.

The Abia House of assembly said that the legal right obtained by the authorized company which is Pioneer Sino Chino must be protected at all time and that the two other companies being barred from working there, should stop fanning the embers of confusion”.

The legislators said that they have looked at both the oral and documentary evidences, which points to the fact that, Pioneer Sino Chino is the rightful owner of the lease right to the quarry site.

The resolution then resolved as follows,”The Company called Pio•Continued on page 26 •Frampton, while alive

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

26

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT Clergy visits Abia for crusade

A

S part of her contribution towards meeting the spiritual needs of residents of Abia State, Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM), said arrangements have been concluded for a 5day religious visit of its General Superintendent, Pastor Williams Kumuyi in the state.

According to the organisers of the state wide crusade, it was expected that Kumuyi would visit Arochukwu Township Stadium, Ebem Ohafia Local Government field, Uturu secondary school, Methodist High School, Ikwuano, Event Center,Umuahia, Ovuokwu Secondary School, Isiala Ngwa, Obehie Central School, Obehie Asa and Deeper Life Camp ground, near flyover, Umugo Aba; respective venues of the crusade.

Pastor Damian Umeh, Abia State Overseer DCLM told reporters during a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters in Aba that they were spurred to hold the state wide crusade this year because of the successes recorded when a similar programme was organised last year, adding that this year’s event would be a better experience as he boasted that a lot of lost souls would saved, healings and that peoples’ lives was going to change for good.

Umeh who gave the theme of the event as “The Great Day of His Power to Remember” disclosed that the event which was originally scheduled to hold in April this year

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

was rescheduled for convenience sake.

“Since the postponement, we as a church did not waiver in our commitment to the success of the programme. Pastor Kumuyi is a man God has used in many parts of the world and Nigeria in particular to bless multitudes in various aspect of life. It is the turn of Abia people to receive their own from God. Spectacular testimonies that result from the uncommon manifestation of God’s power during Pastor W. F Kumuyi’s ministrations is common knowledge and Abia State will have more”, he said While reiterating the three cardinal pillars (preaching, teaching and healing) upon the church had based its practice, the state overseer of DCLM said “as Christ’s ambassadors, the church is committed to reconnecting people with their Creator, losing the bands of wickedness and helping humanity to regain her lost peace, joy, health and prosperity.

“We are also aware that the judgment of God is imminent, so we bring the love of God to estranged humanity so they can be reconciled to Him and escape the fierce judgment” and urged the sick and those that are heavy laden with challenges of life to see the crusade as their opportunity of getting healed

•Continued from page 25 neer Sino Chino has the legal right over the quarry site located at Aguokeakpu Amaubiri.

That the Pioneer Sino Chino presented before them the Lease No. 19738 QLS from the federal Ministry of Mines and Steel development and that the documents presented to them were acknowledged by the zonal representative of the relevant ministry.

That the representative of the federal ministry of Mines and Steel Development has delisted Allied Bond Standard Company as such, it has no operating power to be at the quarry site in Umunneochi”.

The house then asked the two companies to desist from interfering in any way impeding the legal rights of Pioneer Sino Chino to carry out quarry activities at the quarry site at Umunneochi.

ceased was posted to the community.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi, had sent a three man delegation, including Director of Corp Welfare and Inspectorate, Mr. Mike Ahile, as head of the delegation, Head of Legal Unit, Bar. Ahmed Tijani Ibrahim and Representative of the Director of Public Relations, Mr. Eddy Megwa to the state.

Lucky escape for 25 as truck runs into shop

•Continued on page 28

Abia House of Assembly averts bloodshed

•Continued from page 25

•The accident scene

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ORE than 25 persons escaped death when a 911 truck skidded off the busy Aba-Owerri road, opposite MCC junction and crashed into one of the shops located within the area.

Though no life was lost, The Nation reliably gathered that a passenger in a commercial tricycle sustained serious injury when the truck rammed into it before skidding off the road.

MCC junction is one of the populous newspaper stands in Aba where free readers and other members of the public gather to read papers from vendor’s stand, to dis-

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

cuss and debate national and local issues as it affects the country and the state in particular.

Sources have it that the truck which was coming from the Osisioma axis into the commercial city lost control and destroyed a commercial tricycle before it finally ran into the fashion shop.

“When we saw the truck coming towards towards this direction, people started shouting that the truck may have lost brakes. There were over 25 people at the newspaper stand. Even though, they all fled

Who killed Akpanika Frampton?

Shortly after a meeting with security Chiefs in the state, Ahile said that the Director General was shocked by the incident and had to send the delegation to ensure that the state security operatives are doing everything possible to bring those behind the heinous crime to book.

He said, “We received news of the

murder of a Corps member serving here in Imo State and the Director General sent this high power delegation to come to the state and see the heads of security agencies and to charge them to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.

As you all know, NYSC members are on national assignment and it

is the responsibility of the state security agencies, community leaders and indeed the public to ensure their welfare, safety and security,” he said.

He also warned that the NYSC would not tolerate a situation where young men and women serving their country are murdered in cold blood by mindless criminals.

“Already some arrests have been made, the NYSC is satisfied with the way and manner investigation is going on and we are sure that the criminals very soon will be caught and brought to face the full wrath of the law.”

He also urged the State government to do all within its powers to arrest the assailants so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Meanwhile, the state government has vowed to track down those be-

,

•From left: Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; his wife, Mrs. Nwanneka Ekweremadu; member the House of Reps, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Ecclesiastical Archbishop Anglican Communion Enugu, Most.

Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma and the Chairman, Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Nnanna Nze at the reception for the deputy senate president PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

to safety, it is only by the grace of God that it didn’t hit the newspaper stand, not less than twenty people would have lost their lives. The people in the tricycle only sustained minor injuries and were rescued, a source narrated.”

In a telephone interview, the Aba Unit Commander FRSC, Awassam attributed the cause of the accident to over speeding.

She also confirmed that no life was lost and that the injured person who The Nation later identified as a policeman and the driver of the tricycle were receiving treatment in a nearby clinic. hind the gruesome act. It promised to do all within its powers in collaboration with security agencies to hunt down the culprits.

The Deputy Governor of the state, who received the NYSC delegation, Prince Eze Madumere, described the incident as regrettable and unfortunate. He enumerated the state government’s efforts to curb crime, which he said has earned the state the status of the safest state in Nigeria.

According to him, the state government shall partner with the security agencies to ensure that the masterminds of the dastardly act are arrested and brought to book.

Meanwhile, the state Police Command said it has made some useful arrests in connection with the murder. The Command’s spokesperson, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, disclosed that arrests were made from the first day of the incident while the investigation continues.

The state government shall partner with the security agencies to ensure that the masterminds of the dastardly act are arrested and brought to book

,

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

27

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia road reconstruction: the pain before the gain From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

proval before erecting their shops.

Some of the shop owners who spoke to journalists also accused Osisioma local government of misleading them into building on a land earmarked for road construction. They described the demolition as an economic waste and called for an investigation and prosecution of anyone found involved in such act of sabotage and illegality.

A shop owner, Mrs. Ngozi Nwokeke told reporters that the officials Osisioma local council gave consent for them to erect such structure.

Nwokeke said: “The local government staff even wanted to put in a third building on that lane but I shouted and called on the leaders of the line whose intervention stopped the move by the local government staff. I blame those workers in Osisioma local councils who knowing that the spaces were for road and drainage still took money and permitted the building of the shops. They are the people we are expecting to compensate us for de-

,

W

HEN Abia State governor, Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu promised the reconstruction of about seven roads in Aba as part of his administration’s commitment to address the challenges of bad road network in the commercial city, not many people factored in the pains that would accompany such venture. But less than a month into the implementation of the project, some residents and shop owners in some of the affected areas filled with mixed feelings.

Recently, over 50 shops built along Old Expressway were demolished in order to give way for the reconstruction of a road in the area.

The shop owners who said that they were happy over the determination of the state governor to ease the problem of access currently faced in the area are however calling on the government to pay them compensation.

They accused the state government of failing to dialogue with them especially as they followed due process of government ap-

The local government staff even wanted to put in a third building on that lane but I shouted and called on the leaders of the line whose intervention stopped the move by the local government staff. I blame those workers in Osisioma local councils who knowing that the spaces were for road and drainage still took money and permitted the building of the shops

,

ceiving us,” she said.

Another shop owner, Okafor Enyeribe, corroborating Nwokeke stated that he lost two shops in the demolition and claimed that he was unaware the shops were built on a part of the road.

Enyeribe said if he had been aware, he would not have bought some shops in those buildings and would have saved himself from incurring such economic loss. “The

Consult inducts new members

,

T

HE Dignity Consult, an independent organisation within the faculty of Business Administration at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus has inducted its new members. It has bid farewell to its final year members at the university. The grand patron of the Consult, Apostle Peter Odoemena said the consult was aimed at producing “employable graduates” from the university.

According to Odoemena, who joined the Consult in 2010, “Whatever the consult is today was not what I met it when I came on board.

I met students who were craving for success and at the same time, they were desiring to acquire skills.

They didn’t want to stop with university degrees. So when they came to me, we decided to restructure the organisation. And we re-organised the whole structure and gave it a real sense of what it supposed to be,” the grand patron explained.

He said the consult was able to motivating the students to take professionalism very serious as wel as helping some of them to acquire skills that would help them become independent if the job is farfetched.

To achieve these, the consult embarked on so many seminars, workshops and intensive lectures, some of which led to the award of diplomas. “Products of the consult as you can see are entirely different breeds of graduates. They are employable and have entrepreneurial skills,” said Odoemana. He wished that theUniversiy of Nigeria (UNN) would completely take over the consult, just like the Yaba College of Technology did and took over the Dignity Consult there.

The president of the consult students, Miss Blessing Otomewo in her valedictory speech, said that the Dignity consult over the years, was committed to the course of improving and enhancing the academic excellence of members, adding that it had produced men and women of proven intelligence and character.

She gave a rundown of some of

Whatever the consult is today was not what I met it when I came on board. I met students who were craving for success and at the same time, they were desiring to acquire skills. They didn’t want to stop with university degrees. So when they came to me, we decided to restructure the organisation.

And we re-organised the whole structure and gave it a real sense of what it supposed to be

•Presentation of certificates

,

From Chris Oji, Enugu

the achievements of some of their members with a claim that “none of any of members has had any case relating to examination malpractice or cases relating to secret cults or other social vices.”

But Otomewo added: “In the midst of these achievements, we had numerous challenges, of which the most pertinent is fund. The financial setback is a case in point which informed our wish to establish an Alumni Trust Fund where alumnus will contribute their quota every year to help the consult.

Over 80 new members were inducted at the occasion while certificates were presented to the graduands.

•Participants at the event

truth is this, from the allocation and the certificate they gave to us, the local government made it clear that every shop in this market belong to them and that we are just tenants.

So I don’t think the state government has any commitment here. If there is anything to negotiate, it should be between us and the Osisioma loclal government council”, he said.

Another victim who is a dealer in fibre said that the new set of shops which were demolished was built under the Orji UzorKalu regime while Chief Allen Nwachukwu was the Chairman of Osisioma Local government council.

“When this place was built, it was only one line of shops that was built but the Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Council under Chief Allen Nwachukwu began to give people allocation for another set of shops in front on this one.

The local government of that time said there was much space in between the road and the other set of shops. That was how they began to give people permission to build shops in front of these shops. Now we are being told that the shops were built on the road but it was the local government of Osisioma that gave the permission to build on that space. So I believe that the owners of the shop should be paid and not left to bear the loss that was caused by the local government staff,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

28

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Obi Onitsha, Achebe flanked by Ezeemo others

T

HE residents of the commercial city of Onitsha woke up on the May 31, 2015 to witness the recent calamity befallen the community of the former president of Nigeria, the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, when a tanker filled with fuel got burnt, killing 70 persons and injuring many in the process.

Since then, such a thing had happened in other cities in the country including Lagos.

It was not the first time such a road carnage happened in Anambra State, as over 60 person equally died at Umunya in Oyi local government area of the state in 2009, while over 20 vehicles were equally burnt.

Following the incessant road carnages along major roads in Anambra, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who also, doubles as the state chairman, Traditional Rulers council, is worried over the situation.

Obi Achebe is seeking for ways with other traditional rulers, of finding a solution to such carnages.

He said last weekend that he would meet with the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to find ways to minimise the road carnages in the state.

Achebe made the pronouncement when the leader of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) and one

Obi of Onitsha, monarchs seek end to road carnages in Anambra

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

time Governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo paid him a courtesy visit at his palace.

According to Achebe, “we have planned to visit Governor Obiano to give workable suggestions to reduce accidents and carnages on our roads, as well as thank him for his swift responses on that day after the incident.

However, he warned that any criticism from politicians against any government had to be constructive, adding that criticisms made every government from state to federal rise up to their responsibilities.

The philanthropist (Ezeemo) who equally, visited the scene of the tanker fire incident and the hospital where the victims were kept (Toronto) went to Achebe’s palace with PPA chairman in the state, Mathias Ameke among others.

According to the monarch, “you should not relent, do not oppose with bitterness but be fair and support the leaders in noble and people oriented programmes”, he advised.

While speaking with the mon-

He warned that any criticism from politicians against any government had to be constructive, adding that criticisms made every government from state to federal rise up to their responsibilities....You should not relent, do not oppose with bitterness but be fair and support the leaders in noble and people oriented programme arch, Ezeemo, urged the monarch to use his position to prevail on the government to look for better locations for motor parks along high ways in the state.

Ezeemo said, “I am here to condole the monarch on the loss of lives and property which happened on that fateful Sunday, I feel bad about it like wise many people within and outside this state be-

cause lives were involved” “I want you to use your position to appeal to the Anambra State government to relocate the parks, especially, those at Upper–Iweka to more appropriate designations to avoid such a thing again” However, Ezeemo said that his political party stood for politics of development and provision of basic needs for the citizenry.

Police arrest suspected Indian hemp farmer in Abia

P

OLICE officers from State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of Nigerian Police Abia State Command have arrested an Indian hemp farmer, Mr. Ibe Onwubiko of Amaroji village in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state.

According to the state Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Onyeke (DSP) men of the SIB after arresting the suspect through a tip off conducted a search around the suspect’s compound and discovered a farm where he (Onwubiko) was growing weeds at the back of his compound.

Onyeke said that the operatives uprooted the weeds and the suspect on interrogation admitted ownership of the Indian hemp farm.

He said that the suspect would be charged to court for prosecution as soon as investigation into the matter was concluded.

In another development Mrs. Agnes Uchendu and her son, Ikechukwu has been arrested by the

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Abia State Police Command in Umuahia, the state capital for reportedly assaulting their house helps Hope and Ngozi Ajunwa, 11 and 9 years respectively.

Anges and her son were accused of being in the habit of beating and inflicting bodily injuries on their wards at the slightest provocations.

The police spokes person told our correspondent that the accused persons were already in police custody and currently being interrogated, adding that the two sisters who sustained severe body injuries were rescued by the police team that stormed the resident of the suspects at No. 50 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia and were currently on admission at the police clinic.

The police spokesman said that the suspect confessed of the crime, alleging that the hot iron was used on his victim when she refused con-

“We have always used well timed and constructive criticism on government issues as well as applaud ruling party when it is doing the right things” Furthermore, Ezeemo said that politics should not be seen as a do or die battle like some people take it to be.

Speaking further with The Nation, Ezeemo and Ameke said that they were in the palace of Obi Achebe because it happened in his domain, adding that the visit was given honour to whom it is due.

During the incident that occurred in the commercial city, after ramming into a building at UpperIweka on the day, over 14 L300 buses were burnt.

Clergy visits Abia for crusade •Continued from page 26 and being free from all their adversity.

The crusade which was going to feature prayers for inhabitants of Abia state and Nigeria in general would start from June 30 and end on July 4.

Immediate past Abia State Health Commissioner and a pastor in the church, Dr. Sampson Okechukwu Ogah in an interview corroborated the state overseer, stating that the importance of the crusade for the state and its inhabitants at this time cannot be overemphasized.

The medical doctor who also believes in the healing power of God however expressed his hope on God to heal incurable diseases within the period of the crusade and people coming out with a lot of testimonies.

•The suspect fessing of stealing his N100:00, adding that he would soon be arraigned in court.

It was learnt that the International Federation of Women Lawyers had

written a petition to the police over the assault by Mrs. Uchendu and her son, leading to the arrest of the two suspects by Police team from the State Intelligence Bureau.

•Pastor Damian Umeh

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PAGE 29

How Warri pastor, Canada-based Deltan got into trouble over N11m property scam •Lawyer: I had no idea deal was fraudulent •Suspect: I ‘ve no hand in the dirty deal

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INSIDE

WARRI pastor and lawyer, Mr Felix Uzor Edewor and a Canada-based Nigerian, Kenneth Uvwo, are standing trial at the Magistrate Court 2 in Warri, Delta State for a multimillion naira property scam.

Pastor Edewor, a lawyer, is a Senior Pastor of the Bornwinners Charismatic Assembly, a Pentecostal church located off Jakpa Road, Effurun, Warri. He was also an aspirant for the Ethiope Federal Constituency House of Representative position on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election.

Court documents obtained by Niger Delta Report indicated that the suspects forged a power of attorney purportedly issued in the presence of one Hon George Windtaker of the Ontario Court of Justice Province of Ontario on the 19th July, 2010, by Mrs Rose Oroghenekowhoreyo Idama, who is the owner of the property. Accordingly, the document was allegedly donated by Mrs Idama to her ‘daughter’ (Miss Kess Idama).

The court was told that with the document registered as No. 48 at page 48 in Volume PA47 of the Lands Registry, Asaba, the Delta State capital, the suspects posed to have an authority to sell the property located at Mrs Ovobi Iffie Layout, off Airport Road, Ugboroke Effurun, headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area.

Armed with the purportedly forged document, they convinced their victims to part with N11million and handed over to them all the original documents to the property, including a Certificate of Occupancy to the property, registered as No. BDSR 3175 dated 15th May, 1984 and registered as No 24 at page 24 in Volume D. 16 of the Land Registry in the office at Benin City, then capital of defunct Bendel (now Edo and Delta states).

The suspects, according to Charge No MW/5/C/2015 among others, “used the said forged document to sell an uncompleted building in the sum of N11,000,000” to their victim represented by Osteen Igbapike, a Warri lawyer.

Information obtained by Niger Delta Report from police and court records stated that the deal blew open

•Uvwo

•The card which gave away Uvwo

• Pastor Edewor

From Shola O’Neil, Regional Editor, Southsouth

when the buyer, after taking possession and was to commence further development of the property encountered stiff resistance from Miss Rachael Daro, who confronted the buyers and their agents.

It was gathered that the Miss Daro was also armed with a power attorney also purportedly issued by Mrs Rose Oroghenekowhoreyo Idama (who is also allegedly known as Miss Roselin Esegine), a British citizen based in London, United Kingdom.

A source told our reporter that a shouting match ensued between the buyers and Miss Daro, who insisted that the buyers had been scammed because she was the authentic donor of the power of attorney, which she presented.

Besides, she reportedly clarified

Victims of Cross River antideforestation agency still cry PAGES 31

that contrary to the claim in the Canadian court document, the owner of the property was resident in the United Kingdom and not the North American country.

After the war of words that followed the encounter, both parties resolved to get to the bottom of the matter by ascertaining the authenticity of their documents. The resolve to unravel the drama also led to a revelation that contrary to information contained in the power of attorney presented by Igbapike (Esq) and his clients, the original owner (seller) of the property had no daughter.

Consequently, the buyers, through the Law Office of Larry Ovwromoh & Associates, petitioned the police on August 29, 2011 demanding for the arrest of the alleged fraudsters and their accomplices. The petition led to the arrest of two of the suspects, including the lawyer

(Edewor), who was thereafter charged with obtaining under false pretense and forgery.

Edewor, in his statements to the police, exonerated himself from any wrong doing. He reportedly stated that his involvement in the deal was purely on professional grounds, insisting that he merely acted as a “solicitor” to the Uvwo family and that he had no knowledge about the circumstance of how the allegedly forged power of attorney came into being, even though he admitted that one of the other suspects was his secretary and lover at the time the illicit deal was done.

He further stated that although he received payments for the property as claimed by the petitioner, he handed same to the ‘owners’, particularly Mr Kenneth Uvwo, who is based in Canada, after “deducting professional fee” for his services in the sale.

‘I’m rewriting the history of Maritime Academy, Oron’ PAGES 34

Pastor Edewor’s statement led to a long and windy manhunt for the Canada-based Uvwo, who was eventually arrested by the police on the day of the governorship election in the state - Saturday, April 11 - after five years of keeping him under watch both in Canada and Nigeria.

His trails were unearthed by the police and victims who monitored his movement on social media and through family members and friends over the years.

One of the police officers involved in the deal told our reporter: “The last piece of the puzzle fell into place when we saw his post on one of the social media sites where he displayed his voters’ card and inkstained thumb after voting on the day of the Presidential election. From the card, we were able to identify his Polling Unit and other details.

•Continued on page 35

Port Harcourt muslim women seek cash for devt

PAGES 34

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

When dignitaries, masses joined Kingsley Kuku to thank God

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After a fruitful season of superintending over the Presidential Amnesty Programme, ex-Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs Kingsley Kuku was joined by the rich and the poor to thank God, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

T

HE second verse of the hymn for the day captures the mood. It goes thus: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”

The church hall was filled to the brim. Many were also standing inside and outside. Not a few outside were peeping in to be part of the thanksgiving service. It was a moment to count blessings and name them one by one. Dignitaries, which included traditional rulers, were decked in their best.

But, the show was not for them alone. The masses last Sunday refused to be left out. They dug into their wardrobes and reached for the most worthy of their occasional wares. Swiss lace and ankara had a duel and at the end, everyone was a winner.

It was all at the First Baptist Church, Arogbo, the traditional headquarters of Ijaw people. This bustling coastal town situated on the fringe of Ondo State but with more affinity to the Southsouth celebrated with one of its own, Kingsley Kuku, who just ended a tour of duty as the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme through which lives of many an ex-militant has been turned around. From Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to exmilitant leaders, such as Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and High Chief Ajube (Shoot at sight), to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, it was like a roll call of who-is-who in Ondo State and Niger Delta. His friends from the North, such as Senator Abdul Ningi, and his friend of 15 years and chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyeama, also left all to join Kuku to praise the Lord.

The main preacher for the service, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, flew into the country the day before all because of a man he said “remains humble despite his attainments in life”.

“Some Ijaw boys who don’t even have anything close to what Kingsley Kuku has will not genuflect to greet me. But not Kingsley.

You honour men of God and God will continue to honour you,” Aggrey, a former Rivers State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman and founder of Royal House of Grace International Church, Port Harcourt, said.

Apostle Aggrey narrated a truelife experience to show that Kuku’s desire for peace in Niger Delta and Nigeria was not a fluke.

According to him, when one of the pilots trained in South Africa

through the Amnesty Programme was to do his first test and many were not willing to join him in the aircraft, Kuku braved the odd.

“You risked your life that day by joining that boy. You felt that the boy would one day fly Nigerians and that if anything goes wrong, it will be remembered that he was trained while you were incharge of the Amnesty Programme, so you gave up yourself as sacrifice,” Apostle Aggrey said.

The man of God said the Amnesty Programme has achieved more than what many thought, adding that with time, the effect of it would be felt, especially when pilots, engineers and other professionals trained through the programme return home to contribute to the country’s economy.

After Apostle Aggrey’s sermon, special prayers were said for Kuku, Niger Delta, Nigeria and its new leadership headed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

If many were carried away by the good things Apostle Aggrey said about Kuku at the church service, they were mesmerised when speakers upon speakers spoke at the reception. As usual at receptions, there were music interlude and merriment in the form of choice food and wine, but the goodwill messages would remain in many’s mind for a long time.

Onyeama, whose testimony on Kuku was punctuated when Mimiko arrived, said his relationship with Kuku transcended the Amnesty Programme. It is as old as 15 years ago, he added.

He said: “I chose my friends, my friends don’t choose me,” adding that he used very high criteria to determine his friends and that Kuku fitted the bill. He said the former presidential adviser deserved to be celebrated for his contributions to the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Ningi’s intervention was spots on and perhaps ‘prophetic’. He foresaw the Buhari administration calling on Kuku to come and help run the Amnesty Programme.

His words: “It is just a matter of time before President Buhari will call on you to come and help continue the Amnesty Programme.”

He begged all present to help impress it on Kuku to accept the offer if made. As far as he was concerned, his experiences travelling the Niger Delta with Kuku and outside of Nigeria had shown he remained the right man for the job.

He added that Kuku was not his friend but his brother.

Ningi, who slept in Arogbo from Saturday night till Sunday morning, said he engaged youths in the community and found out Kuku had touched their lives in many

Some Ijaw boys who don’t even have anything close to what Kingsley Kuku has will not genuflect to greet me. But not Kingsley. You honour men of God and God will continue to honour you

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•From left: Ademujimi, Kuku, Amnesty Office’s spokesman Dan Alabrah and Ekpemupolo

He is known for excellence. As a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, he did well.

He also fared well when he was with Timi Alaibe in NDDC and the Amnesty Programme gave him the opportunity to show he is a leader to watch out for •Oke (third right), Ningi (third left), Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye (second left), Princess Odu (righ) and others at the thanksgiving service.

ways. He added that having been to many coastal communities, he had not seen anyone more developed than Arogbo in terms of infrastructure.

The infrastructure he was referring to are the concrete road, drainage system and solar-powered street lights influenced by Kuku.

Mimiko also spoke of Kuku in glowing terms, saying that with young people like him, there was little to worry about as far as the country’s tomorrow was concerned.

Victor Kolade Akinjo, in a chat with Niger Delta Report, said he lacked the right words to describe Kuku, who, he said, contributed immensely to his emergence as the member representing Ilaje/ Ese Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Akinjo said the tempo of the Amnesty Programme really took a turn for the better when Kuku took the driver seat, adding that Nigeria was yet to see the best of this ex-student union leader.

“He is known for excellence. As a member of the Ondo State House

of Assembly, he did well. He also fared well when he was with Timi Alaibe in NDDC and the Amnesty Programme gave him the opportunity to show he is a leader to watch out for. He has done a lot for the social re-engineering of this country.

Like all good things, the show came to a stop but not without Kuku thanking all, especially those who dumped fear to mount boats to make their way to Arogbo.

The town is only accessible by water. So, Mimiko, Ningi, Senator Yele Omogunwa. Mimiko’s Chief of Staff, Kola Ademujimi, Apsotle Aggrey, Onyeama, Princess Oladunni Odu, Chief Olusola Oke and several others, who crossed the water to bridge the divide between Agadagba and Arogbo, received special thanks from Kuku.

He also did not forget to thank the Committee of Friends headed by a former Commissioner in Delta State, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who packaged a truly special thanksgiving service.

Significantly, Kuku, a graduate of the Ondo State University, Ado-

Ekiti, now known as Ekiti State University, was last month honoured by the State of Georgia for his contributions to the amnesty programme.

Speaking at the event, Kuku said all he did should be credited to Dr. Jonathan.

He said: “For me, today is about one man. It is about a man who grew from nothing, who grew from abject poverty, a man who rose from being in school without sandals, got to the university, got his first degree, had a Master’s, had his Ph.d. That man had a dream of merely imparting knowledge to fellow Nigerians and mankind. He wished he had just been a lecturer in one university. In 1998, he was called upon to be deputy governor. He declined. They had to look for his uncle, then a jurist, Justice Ibinawari, who spoke to him: ‘Is something wrong with you Goodluck?’ Finally, he accepted to be deputy governor in 1999. One of the greatest minds ever created and lived in Nigeria has been our sage, Chief Obafemi

Awolowo, and he said he would love to be president of Nigeria for just one day, 24 hours, so that Nigerians could see what he was going to do. Within a space of 10 years, God made this man deputy governor, acting governor, governor, vice-president, acting president and president elected by all Nigerians in 2011. His name is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That man is from the core of the Niger Delta. When opportunity came to select someone to advise him and manage a programme, very sensitive, called the Presidential Amnesty Programme, he left Rivers State, he left Bayelsa State, he left Delta; he came to the fringe of the Niger Delta, Ondo State and picked a nobody to manage the amnesty programme. He discovered me, he brought me to limelight. Whatever we are celebrating today is about Goodluck Jonathan.”

Aside the honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia conferred on Kuku, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) also gave him a commendation award. Its

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chair, Rep Dee Dawkins-Haigler, said: “We are honouring a great man tonight. The reason we are honouring you is because we honour those who go out to do right for the masses and you have gone out to do right for the masses of your country. God has seen what you have done. We are honouring you with the highest honour in the State of Georgia.”

The GLBC is the largest black caucus in the U.S. with a membership of 60 African-American state legislators! It is a nonprofit, charitable, nonpartisan and educational organisation, with the objectives of developing good citizenship; and advancing the study and implementation of solutions to problems effecting AfricanAmericans and all people of color in the State of Georgia, among others.

30,000 youths have benefitted from the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Over 2000 students are in ivy league institutions in the United Kingdom, United States and others, and will contribute to the development of Nigeria.

Pastor in trouble over property scam •Continued from page 29

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ASED on the information we obtained, we decided to lay siege for him two weeks later on the day of the governorship election. We were hopeful that performing his civic responsibilities and proudly displaying it, he would also be at the same venue to cast his vote on the governorship election date, particularly because we learnt that that he is a member of the inner caucus of the Okowa Campaign Organisation, the platform of then PDP governorship candidate, in the Ugboroke area of Effurun,” one of the police officers involved in the raid told our reporter.

The circumstance of the arrest was confirmed by Uvwo in an affidavit, sworn to by him in support of his bail application from the Federal Prison, Okere Warri, where he was remanded for over one month.

He said, “On the 11/04/2015, I was at my polling unit in my ward about to exercise my civic right of casting my vote when I was arrested and whisked away by heavily armed police officers from the Office of the Area Commander, Warri.”

The Area Commander, Warri, Mr Mu’azu Muhammed, who confirmed

the arrest in a telephone interview with our reporter, said the case had been pending before his redeployment to the command.

“We investigated and were able to arrest one of the suspects that they had been looking for. We immediately arranged for the suspect to be charged to court so that if he found guilty, the relevant arm of the law would be applied and if innocent, he would be appropriately released,” the top police brass told our reporter shortly after the arrest.

Uvwo was later arraigned at a magistrate court in Warri for obtaining money by false pretense and forgery. But he denied being part of the criminal deal, stressing, of the buyers and their agent: “I have never met in my life.” He said here merely knew Edewor as “my late brother’s solicitor”.

In the same bail application, he slammed the police for contributing to his ordeal by “deliberately charging me to a Magistrate Court for forgery of a Power of Attorney in order to be sent to Prison as punishment for my inability to meet up with the unreasonable and illegal demand of the sum of N2,000,000 for my bail at the police station.

Uvwo, who affirmed that he had

no criminal record, vowed not to jump bail if granted his application, promising that he would be “available at all times to attend to my trial and diligently defend the bogus and spurious charges against me…”

One month and five days after his arrest from a polling booth in Ugboroke, Uvwo was subsequently granted bail on the May 6, 2015 at the High Court of Justice, Warri.

However, the process leading to his bail was faulted by Igbapike, who complained that he was not informed by the state about the hearing of application.

His protest to the Assistant Director of Courts, High Court of Justice Warri, said the court’s attention was not drawn to the fact that the accused/ applicant was ordinarily resident in Canada with his family and “is not likely to come back to Nigeria should he eventually travel back to Canada soonest.”

He further claimed that the accused had disappeared for about five years and never returned until during the general election “when he came in secretly and was arrested.”

Meanwhile, Edewor’s trial due to commence on June 15 could not hold because the magistrate court did not sit. The case was adjourned to July 21.

Shell remembers Oloibiri in Centenary celebration

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LOIBIRI came alive in an event organised in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by the Shell Producing Development Company (SPDC). Who will forget Oloibiri in a hurry? It has always been said that the history of Nigeria will be incomplete without devoting copious chapters to Oloibiri.

Though tucked away into the creeks of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, the community is a symbol of the Nigerian economy. It is the community where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in the country in 1956.

Oloibiri Oilfield was discovered on Sunday 15, January 1956 by Shell Darcy. It became the first completed commercial crude oil well in Nigeria which exported crude in February 1958.

Despite occupying a central place in the country’s nervous system, Oloibiri appears forgotten. Only a relic of dry and abandoned oil well reminds visitors and residents in the area that the community gave Nigeria her oil-producing status. In fact, the discovery of oil in Oloibiri ended 50 years of unsuccessful oil exploration in the country by various companies and launched Nigeria into the limelight of petro-state.

But Shell has remembered Oloibiri in the Centenary celebration of Nigeria. For Shell, celebrating 100 years of the country’s existence will not be complete without undertaking people-oriented programme and projects for Oloibiri and its environs.

The company in a special intervention for Oloibiri is focusing on providing affordable and quality health service delivery tagged, Oloibiri Field Health Intervention Project (O-HIP). Shell through the project will build four primary health centres and one general hospital.

But the recent event was designed to start the project by selecting a logo to drive the initiative. The company decided to draft pupils in various secondary schools in Ogbia to participate in a competition designed to select a befitting logo. Shell is of the opinion that involving pupils will enhance artistic skills, promote intellectual development among students and further enhance community ownership of the project.

So, pupils selected from 10 secondary schools, out of 152 entries received for the exercise, marched to Yenagoa to participate in the logo competition.

The schools which took part in the competition are Oloibiri Grammar School; Federal Government Girls’ College, Imiringi; Government Secondary School,Ogbia Town; Community Secondary School,Emakalaka.

Others are Community Secondary School,Oruma; Community Secondary School,Otuoke; Community Comprehensive Secondary School,Elebele; Community Secondary School,Otuokpoti; Anyama Ogbia Secondary School and Community Secondary School, Otakeme.

The students were led to the venue of the competition by their art teachers and other representatives of their schools. Two students from each school displayed their works for the perusal of judges selected from the Ministry of Education. The students explained the symbols in their piece of art while the judges took time to scrutinize the works using the rules of simplicity, design, harmony, layout, pattern and presentation to give their verdicts.

At the end, Micah Oboaviojake,a JSS2 student of

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Community Secondary School, Elebele, emerged the overall winner. Micah was very vocal in his presentation and demonstrated knowledge of his work which captured all the elements of the project in a simple form.

Also, Chiamaka Ezeigwe an SS2 student of Federal Government Girls’ College, Imiringi, came second. The third position went to Ekeke Jenji, a student of Community Secondary School Oruma. Wilcox ThankGod of Community Secondary School Ogbia Town,came fourth and finally, the fifth position was given to Apreala Mildred,an SS2 students of Federal Government Girls’ College Imiringi.

Each of the winners went home with an Ipad 2, android phones and other gift items. In fact, everybody who partook in the exercise received gift items and certificates of participation. The winners were described as youth ambassadors of the Oloibiri health project. They are expected to be at the forefront of telling the health project story as students and community members.

In his remarks, the acting Regional Community Health Manager, SPDC, Dr. Akin Fajola, referred to the strudels as the ages of change. He thanked the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, for honouring the company, describing him as the brains behind the health project.

Referring to the commissioner, he said: “He is a humble man who has the healthcare of Bayelsa at heart. We saw the passion he displayed in this project and in the health sector.”

He said the health project was designed for three years adding that the company would involve more people and groups. He said that Shell its committed to the health care of its host communities.

He said: “Oloibbiri is key to the centenary celebration and healthcare is central to any form of development. We want to do something different. It is going to be a healthcare pilot programme that others will copy. It is a project that will address the primary and secondary levels of healthcare and also look at the social determinant of health.”

He reiterated that winners of the logo would be the youth ambassadors of the project. He asked the ambassadors to use their camera phones to take healthrelated pictures and upload them in a website dedicated to the project. He said the project would include establishing school health clubs, donating first aid boxes, books on HIV/AIDS, school bags and insecticide-treated nets to schools.

On his part, Owei said the centenary project is an important milestone in Bayelsa and Nigeria. “Everybody knows the significance of Oloibiri. A movie is coming out on Oloibiri. Shell decided to champion the centenary project which focuses on healthcare”.

He said the company should be commended for selecting students to participate in the project through the logo competition. He said the government through his kkinsugry has keyed into the health project.

“The logo is significant because it is giving us an umbrella in which to operate. It is also significant because SPDC wants young students to compete. Education is very important in human development,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Victims of Cross River anti-forestation task force still cry T

HE Anti-Deforestation Task Force, an arm of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, has been enmeshed in allegations of illegality and fraud perpetrated by a cartel in the force and has been a matter of public concern in the state for some time.

The recent disbandment of the force and arrest of some of its top officials on the order of the new governor, Prof Ben Ayade, over allegations of mismanagement of the forest for personal gains, has generated a lot of strong feelings about what may have been going since they were inaugurated by the former governor of the state.

A press release from the Ministry of Information signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Freedom Ejom, made available to The Nation in Calabar, stated that offenders are to be prosecuted without delay.

The rate of alleged allegations of extortion and other unwholesome practices by the Task Force by members of the Public and concerned citizens of Cross River State it is believed may have fueled the governor’s decision.

Members of the public had been complaining that people who refused to play ball have fallen victims. They complained that people most times timber are seized without following due process and auctioned without recourse to the huge investment by their owners who are businessmen.

For Chief Ededem Okon Ayito, who said he is a victim, life has become a living nightmare for him as he alleged that all the timber he legally harvested from a protected area he acquired at Ekpri Ibami Community in Akampka Local Government Area was unduly auctioned without fair hearing and no opportunity given to him to make his case.

Ayito alleged, “I acquired that place from the Village, Head of Ekpri Ibam Community for planting of plantain, cocoa and oil palm and other cash crops. But with the trees in the location my plantain and other things will not do well, so I had to fell the trees with proper approval from the forestry people.

“In the process of perfecting the documents and waiting for a final charting to come from them they confiscated my 7950 pieces of timber. I am baffled that they declared only 2,147 in the Order. Also, while the courts were still on strike, they got an Order to sell 2,147peices of timber while the courts were still on strike” “I wrote to them (Anti Deforestation Task Force) through my lawyer Barr Orchardson Umoh that the wood belongs to me and all necessary documentation is being processed and that I copied the governor too. But to my greatest surprise within one week they started selling the wood which is contrary to the CRSF law in section 68 (subsection 4) states that the commission may dispose of any items and forest produce, which the owner might have abandoned to escape arrest and it is not found, and remains unclaimed for 60 days.”

“They did not even get to Calabar nor did they wait for the sixty days to elapse before selling. Not only that they also got an order while the courts were still on strike.

“They have turned my life into a living hell, the banks are after me I am selling off most of my properties at auction price just to meet up with my responsibilities. My family is suffering. My children are almost out of school. I really could not believe that

•Entrance of Cross River State Forestry Commission

•Umoh From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

such a thing is happening in Cross River state,” Edem lamented.

When our reporter visited the Village Head of Ekpri Ibam, Chief Michael Bassey Ako, he said the land that was given to Chief Edem Ayito was not under reserve but in the protected area, hence he had the right to fell the trees and harvest timber.

In 2014 a Court Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/MSC./6/2014) was issued for the sale (auction) of 2,147 Pieces of timber during the period in which the courts were on strike (the first warning strike by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Secretary of JUSUN, Cross River State Branch, Comrade Ogboni Adjah said the courts were on strike at the time and it was called of in August.

But according to the lawyer of the Anti-deforestation Task Force, Barr U.A Ibitam said that the courts were not on strike that it was JUSUN that was on strike.

He said, “The courts were not on strike and are not and the only people on strike are JUSUN. Judges and Mag-

•Ako

•Okon

istrates have never been on strike because they are not members of JUSUN. The only thing is that some judiciary staff that is affected would not be there to assist them (Judges and Magistrates) “That is why you still you still see Judges performing swearing in and other official judicial functions every magistrate and Judges is at liberty to perform judicial functions. That is the point I just wanted to clarify. Apart from this I will not go further to comment because this subject matter is before Justice Ebuta”. He stated.

But Ayito’s lawyer, Mr Umoh Orchardson said the finality of the Order was quite questionable and given in bad faith. “An exparte application cannot be used to sell off someone property without even hearing from the person,” he said.

He continued, “The Forestry court is under the Cross River State Judiciary. The Order which authorized the auction of the timber could not have sat because there was a strike which affected all the courts in the country.

No court in Nigeria was sitting no matter how important your matter was.

“The judiciary headquarters was

also under lock and key from 11th of July till the 8th of August 2014, because the entire place was locked. The question remains, where did they sit and how did they get the registrar to sign?

The same court had other cases on its list that were listed from the time the strike started and none of them was sat upon neither did they take a new case.

According to Chief Ayito, there was there was no order for the Anti-deforestation Task Force to confiscate the 7,950 pieces from his farm in Ekpri Ibami Community in the first place, but alleged they “manufactured” an order for a public auction of only 2,147.

“They never gave an order for the 7,950 rather they got an order for only 2,147. Where is the remaining 5,803 pieces of timber, which has not been accounted for till date? Also how did a Magistrate give an order within 24 hours that a motion was filled to sell a property without giving time to the owner to be heard? It is quite ridiculous and highly questionable” “I am really surprised that a motion filed on 22nd of July was granted on the 23rd to sell 2,147 instead of all

the pieces (7950) which was confiscated by the ATF.” Another timber dealer at Akim Timber market who said he was also a victim, Mr. Bassey Akpan, alleged: “This cartel has been in existence for a long time, they have been doing their dirty deals since 2009. I have lost a lot.

I sold my house and my only truck.

My children are not even going to school; I am now living on good will from friends.

“I have left everything in the hands of God, since they collected my money and gave me documents yet they still came back and seized my wood running into 14.2million naira, how can I ever recover from this.”

Chief Magistrate, Emeng Edogi admitted that the Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/MSC./6/2014) emanated from his court on the said date.

But he said that the Cross River State Forestry court is a mobile court and was not affected by the JUSUN strike as he is also not a member of JUSUN and he acted based on the facts that were presented before him, before giving the Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/ MSC./6/2014) which he gave in good faith.

Following the disbanded of the task force there seems to be a tangible feeling of relief among timber dealers in the state.

Some dealers from Akim market, Akai Effa ,Edide Edibe expressed happiness over the decision of the governor to dissolve the Task force which they alleged was monster used by some nefarious minded people to defraud unsuspecting businessmen.

A timber dealer at Edibe Edibe Timber Market, Mr Promise Eso, said the development was timely He said: “They have been using the Task Force as their personal business.

When they arrest you they sell the timber without following due process.

Even if you have the necessary documents they still confiscate your timber illegally and that has been happening since 2009. They have been doing it with impunity.

Another timber dealer at Akai Effa market, Mr. Victor Bassey alleged, “I had to start from the scratch because of what they took from me. I lost everything to their fraudulent activities.”

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Delta’s libraries without books

‘Unique UniPort’ at 40

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•From left: Ajeinka; Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission/Representative of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Julius Okojie, Mrs Banigo, and Chancellor of UNIPORT/Emir of Gwandu Maj.-Gen Muhammad Bashir, during the 30th convocation ceremony of the university.

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HE University of Port Harcourt, popularly referred to as Unique UNIPORT, in Rivers State in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, was established in 1975 and it is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with the 30th convocation adding colour to the programme of activities.

The 40th anniversary started on June 5 with Jumat service, which was followed on June 7 with church services at the Chapel of the Annunciation (Catholic Chaplaincy) and Our Saviour’s Chapel (Interdenominational) on the campus.

The outgoing 7th Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, an indigene of Okrika in Rivers state, who became the federal university’s helmsman on July 12, 2010, for a fiveyear tenure, addressed a news conference on June 8 at the institution’s Convocation Arena, which was combined with a colourful carnival.

The incoming 8th vice-chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Ndowa Ekoate Sunday Lale, 59, an indigene of Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state, was formally presented at the carnival. Lale, who would hold office for a single tenure of five years, would assume office on July 12 this year.

Lale emerged as the new vice-chan-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

cellor, following favourable consideration of a report by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board that deliberated on the matter.

The incoming vice-chancellor studied Crop Science in his First Degree at the University of Maiduguri, between 1978 and 1981, obtaining the First Class (Honours) and was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy Degree of the University of New Castle-Upon-Tyne in Agricultural Entomology in the United Kingdom in 1987.

Lale served for over six years as the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, where he introduced many innovative ideas that placed the young faculty on a firm academic and administrative footing.

Ajienka, while speaking on the convocation during the news conference, noted that a total of 18,363 students would receive first degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral degrees from 55 departments in 16 faculties. Undergraduates’ convocation held on June 12, while postgraduate diplomas and higher degrees were conferred on deserving persons on June 13, the grand finale of the convocation.

The outgoing vice-chancellor also

stated at the news conference that he envisaged a situation in which public universities were likely to collapse on account of inadequate funding, while calling for urgent action on the matter.

Ajienka also stated that unless something drastic was done on university funding and quickly too, the hope of attaining the indices of true national development would continue to be a mirage, while suggesting that an education bank should be created to grant loans to indigent students.

He revealed that UNIPORT was facing severe difficulties in having unfettered access to the land acquired by the Federal Government for the establishment of the university in 1975.

The vice-chancellor expressed displeasure that the university was compelled to enter into hard bargaining processes with relevant host communities, for every metre of land earmarked for developmental purposes and being compelled to correspondingly pay for economic trees and cash crops on such lands, before taking possession, while not being successful in some instances, with the people of the host communities becoming increasingly non-cooperative.

Ajienka stressed that the type of

Return of relics of the famous Chief Nnana from UK excites Koko residents

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HE ancient city of Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State is in celebratory mood as the town prepares to receive ancient relics of the famous Nnana/British War from a museum in the United Kingdom.

The artefacts are expected to boost tourism potentials of the town as well as increase the value of the Nnana Living History Museum in the Itsekiri town.

The artefacts, which have already arrived Nigeria, are to be presented to the DirectorGeneral of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman by the Ayomike family in Koko.

A statement signed by Edward Ekpoko (Esq) said the

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

relics included photographs of scenes of the famous Ebrohimi before and during the British/ Nanna War of 1894 .

He said, “The Nanna Living Museum, Koko will on the 24th June, 2015 witness another epoch-making event as some photographs from a foreign museum of scenes in Ebrohimi before and during the British/ Nanna War of 1894, will be formally unveiled.”

The photographs to be unveiled, according to Ekpoko, include the Nanna palatial residence, adjoining warehouses, stores and town hall as well as the four British Warships: Phoebe, Widgeon, Alecto and Philomel “on 20th September, 1894 (Commanded by Admiral Bedford) in hot ex-

change of booming canon with Ebrohimi every 5 minutes with smokes filling the air over the choppy Benin River.

“The formal presentation of these photographs by the Ayomike family to the DirectorGeneral of the National Commission for Museums & Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman for the Nanna Living History Museum is scheduled to hold on Wednesday 24th June, 2015 at 11:00am at Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

“Notable personalities expected at the occasion include His Excellency, Brigadier S. O. Ogbemudia, two-time Governor of the Old Bendel State (present Delta and Edo States), HRH Prince Edun Akenzuwa and other personalities. Chief Victor Nanna will be the Chief Host.”

institutional relationship with the host communities on land matters was not conducive to the accelerated development of UNIPORT in the short, medium and long terms, while pleading with the government to come to the aid of the university.

The outgoing vice-chancellor noted that the gruesome murder of four students of UNIPORT at Omuokiri-Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, brought the university so much anguish and negative publicity.

As part of activities for UNIPORT at 40, debate, literary competition, drama performance, research fair, tree planting, class day activities, wrestling and vice-chancellor’s dinner with first class honours graduands were observed.

The convocation lecture, with the theme: “From Consumption to a Production-Oriented Economy,” was delivered on June 11 by the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mazi Samuel Ohuabunwa, at UNIPORT’s Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium.

During the undergraduates’ convocation and award of prizes at the Convocation Arena on June 12, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of UNIPORT,

Gesi Asamaowei, an engineer, assured that the incoming vice-chancellor (Lale) would accelerate the tempo of development to a higher level.

He also prayed that Almighty God would grant President Muhammadu Buhari the wisdom, strength and courage to steer the ship of state safely to the desired destination, while congratulating the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, on his election and assumption of duty, wishing him God’s guidance and success in the arduous task of governance.

Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, assured that Nigeria would move forward.

For the postgraduate graduands for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions, 2,214 had postgraduate diploma, 2,616 with Master’s, while 441 had doctoral degree, totalling 5,271. The first leg of the convocation took place on June 12 for 13,393 undergraduates.

During the convocation’s grand finale, the third Chancellor of UNIPORT since its 1975 establishment, HRH Muhammad Iliyasu Bashir, the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, was installed.

Honourary doctoral degrees were

also conferred on three distinguished Nigerians: Chief Solomon Ogba, a President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) since 2009; Pastor Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the Executive Vice-Chairman of Moni Pulo Petroleum Limited and Ichie Nnaeto Orazulike, the Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Group of Companies.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, a alumnus of UNIPORT, who took all his three degrees from the institution, was also honoured as a distinguished fellow of the university, in honour of his “exemplary leadership” of Nigeria and contributions to his alma mater, being the first to be so honoured, but he was not physically present.

Wike, an alumnus of UNIPORT, in his address earlier, described the 30th convocation and 40th anniversary as historic, holding shortly after his May 29 this year’s inauguration, stressing that a society that does not value education is a lost society.

Wike, the immediate past Minister of State for Education, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, assured that his administration would witness a boom in education, noting that in the new Rivers state, every child everywhere would be in school.

NIS petitions IG over killing of surveyor in Bayelsa

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HE Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS), Bayelsa state chapter, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police( IGP) over the gruesome murder of its member, Mr Kolou Eddi and attempted murder of Mr. Naboth Alaigha by suspected thugs from Okutukutu community.

NIS said it was fed up with the “negligence and complacency” of the Bayelsa state Police command on the matter.

On May 21, Eddi and Alazigha went to a disputed land to demarcate boundary between Opolo and Okutukutu communities in line with a Supreme Court judgment in favour of Opolo community.

But angry youths from Okutukutu community stormed the land, killed Eddi and inflicted serious injuries on Alazigha.

The police team deployed to escort the surveyors neither stopped the attack nor arrested persons behind the dastardly act.

Few days after the incident, the police were said to have arrested some suspects and kept telling anxious families of the deceased and the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

injured Alazigha that they were still conducting investigations.

Irked by the development, NIS wrote a letter through its lawyers U. Saiyou and co to the IGP demanding his urgent intervention.

In the letter signed by Amaebi Clarkson, NIS said that 65 armed policemen were mobilized to site for the singular purpose of marking the clear boundaries of the survey plan.

It lamented that throughout the “ferocious attack” on the duo which lasted for over 20 minutes, the police team “detailed to protect the survey team would not do any significant thing even when they saw messers Kolou Robert Eddi and Naboth Alazigha being hacked down by severe machete cuts from the attackers.

The NIS said it was bitter that the police could not make any arrest on the spot and days after the incident failed to show seriousness on the matter.

It expressed disappointment in the conduct of investigations by the Bayelsa State Police command and

called on the IGP to take over the case.

The petition said in part: “Our client have instructed us to inform you that the lukewarm attitude and conduct of the Police that led to the death of their colleague is not acceptable and they are not impressed by the slow pace of investigation of the matter by the Bayelsa State Police command.

“We are mandated to demand that you urgently take over the investigation of the matter with a view to timeously bring the culprits to book. The timely arrest of the perpetrators of this brutal attack will serve as deterrent and curb the incessant attack on Surveyors on legitimate professional duties”.

But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Asinim Butswat who said he was not aware of the petition.

He explained that a murder case was not what the police would rush investigations.

He assured all the parties that the command had not abandoned the case, adding that all the persons involved in the circumstances surrounding the incident would be brought to book.

HE Delta State Library, in its yore days, was a resource place for those in search of knowledge hidden in printed matters. Thousands of students, teachers, researchers and people who just wanted to get information on any topic could visit the nearest of the facilities located in Asaba, Sapele, Warri, Ughelli and other towns in today’s Delta state.

The shelves usually brimmed with books that are old and new; classics, history and every other kind from travel to geometry; from philosophy to sociology and others. It was hard to search for a book and not see it or a related one.

One of the most popular and oldest of the Delta libraries is the one embedded in a nondescript bungalow, opposite the Warri residence of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark on Swamp Road in the Oil City. Old Warri boys and girls who are making waves in the legal, medical and other profession as well as the business worlds today had at one time or the other spent several hours immerse in that world of knowledge away from the bustling and bubbling city.

The floors were usually clean and sterile no matter how full the library was; the aged and young eagle-eyed attendants saw to that. The librarians of old were also disciplinarians who ensured that the ‘NO NOISE’ signs on the walls of the sacred rooms are religiously adhered to. Those who spoke or asked question utter their inquisition in sotto voce and they got replies in similar tone; nobody was too big or important to defile the sacredness of the hollow chambers of knowledge without being made to face the dire consequence in the form of reprimands or expulsion, depending on the severity of the offence.

When students of the College of Education Warri and other higher institution got lists of books that are rare to get from the bookshops in the city, they usually go to the Warri Library to borrow, photocopy or just to do their assignments, because the shelves were always filled with the latest books.

But those days are gone; the book shelves are now mostly empty from long years of neglect and pilfering by readers and staff alike. Unlike in the bygone days when members of the library are able to borrow books for reading at their convenient times at home, those who want to use the Warri library must now sit down and do it there.

“We have stopped lending books to members, because it was our members that depleted our shelves. Look at the shelves you can see that there are no more books left. People borrow books and do not return them when due; some confiscate them. When we try to locate such borrowers with the addresses on their cards, we find out that they have either moved out or they gave us wrong address,” one of the staff told our reporter.

Indeed, the shelves are naked. The few books standing (or lying) on the wobbly, creaky and dusty shelves are as old as Nigeria’s independence. The books are mostly ragged and jagged; without back or label, making it difficult to know their authors or titles without opening them. The task is made even more tedious because a good number of the books are on the wrong ledges.

A staff at the Effurun Library told our reporter that books meant for the library are usually routed through the Warri Library, from which it said there have been no supply in recent times.

Our checks revealed that the state government has not supplied books to the library for several years. A good number of the books on the sills were donated by philanthropic and book organizations such as Book Aid International. Some of the books date back to the colonial, Midwest and Bendel states eras.

Not even the daily newspapers, journals and periodicals can be found on the shelves again. In the past job applicants go to the libraries to read newspapers and search for ‘Vacancies’ advertorials.

But at the Warri, Sapele, Effurun Libraries visited by our reporter, the only available newspapers were on the tables are the state-government controlled The Pointer and the earliest edition were two weeks outdated.

Although there was no competent source to comment on the deplorable state of affairs, a staff at the Ministry of Education attributed it to lack of funding. Our source said the aggressive development of the education sector by the last administration did not get to the libraries.

“Ordinarily, our libraries should by now be digital with computer and all that, but you we have not reached that stage yet,” the source added.

As a result of the deployable state at the libraries, users to be found there these days are usually students who are looking for quiet place to read for their examinations and they usually go to the

•A library with few and obsolete books

•Students in one of the not-well-stocked libraries

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•A library’s almost empty shelves From Shola O’Neil, Southsouth Regional Editor, Warri

library with their own books and other materials they need.

But even for such users, there are snags. The basic amenities like water, toiler and light are not reliable. Our findings revealed that most of the libraries do not have independent power generators but rely on the unreliable public power supply from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). In the rare places where they have power generators, there is no fund allocated for fueling them.

At the children section of the same library, our reporter couldn’t find children books. A group of four kids who were going through the motion of reading said they came with their books. The youngest of them, who is about five years old, was flipping through a geography book with pictures.

They told our reporter they came from the Western Clinic area of the estate to ‘read’ at the library.

Ordinarily, our libraries should by now be digital with computer and all that, but you we have not reached that stage yet

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handful of the staff who watched proceedings with unhidden lack of interest told Niger Delta Report said they had not been paid for several months.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that newer, valuable books donated by some Nigerian socio-cultural organisations in the diaspora, like the Urhobo and other groups in USA and UK, were also stolen, not by borrowers, but by staff.

“There was an incident at the Sapele Library when a staff was caught stealing some very expensive medical books donated by an Urhobo group based outside the country. The staff know those books that are expensive and in high demand. So they take them away, make copies and distribute to students in higher institutions of learning. One of such thieving staff was caught and he was sacked,” a source told Niger Delta Report.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

INTERVIEW

NIGER DELTA REPORT BRIEFS Port Harcourt Muslim women need cash

I’m rewriting Maritime Academy’s history, says Rector T Dr. Joshua Okpo is the Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron. In this interview with reporters, he spoke on his efforts to reposition the Academy for global competitiveness and other issues. Excerpts:

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HAT have you done to reposition the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN), Oron?

It was known as Nautical College of Nigeria, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, located in the Coastal Town of Oron, Akwa Ibom State. It was set up by the Federal Military Government in 1977 to provide the much needed manpower for the maritime industry in Nigeria.

This premier Maritime Academy has over the years, not been able to achieve its full potentials and core objectives due to a combination of inadequate funding, policy summersault of the government and other numerous challenges. These daunting challenges have, over the years deprived the academy of its pride of place in the comity of other similar institutions, not only within the West African sub-region, but also in the entire global maritime arena.

However, things have in the past three and the half years taken a dramatic turn for good in the academy, as the new wind of change is currently blowing across the nooks and crannies of the institution, courtesy my administration.

How have you been able to bring about the change?

The rationale behind the rapid developmental strides in the academy and the wind of is the teamwork spirit between the management, staff and the governing Council. I see myself as a bridge builder. I am currently turning around the fortunes of the institution to the admiration and fulfilment of its founding fathers.

My result-oriented leadership in the Academy has calmed frayed nerves, sanitised the academy and put it on the path of sustainable growth and development. Apart from giving the institution a facelift, the Academy has also earned a global attention in recent times.

For instance, the new Management under my careful watch has vigorously, been upgrading the Academy’s syllabus to conform to the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other globally acceptable training standards.

In keeping to this guideline, the Academy recently organised a critique workshop to produce an acceptable document for the purpose of training Nigerians in various Maritime-related fields of study, and in line with the global best practices.

What machinery have you put in place to upgrade the Academy to international best standards?

It is the commitment of my administration to upgrade the academy to international best standards, meets the expectation of all relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry and ensures Nigeria remains in the white list of IMO. The management in collaboration with Chief Adiotomre’s led Governing Council had engaged in fruitful collaborative discussions and Memorandum of Understanding with renowned maritime institution in UK, Sweden, Turkey and South Africa to explore possible areas of interest in the training of cadets for global competitiveness and exchange of programmes.

Cadets who graduated from Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN) Oron are now working in the United Kingdom as Captains, Engineers, Lecturers/Trainers, Consultants, and are also providing excellent maritime serv-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

HE President of Rivers State chapter of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hajia Menunat Bello, has called on well -meaning Nigerians to assist in completing the uncompleted projects started by the organisation.

Mrs. Bello said FOMWAN is a non –governmental organisation affiliated to Muslim Women Association of Nigeria and thousand of groups whose objectives are to assist peace building and development in Nigeria.

She noted that in an effort to contribute to the society, the organisation started health and education projects which are now dilapidated due to lack of fund, adding that if those projects are completed it would assist the indigent of the society.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt in an event to mark 2015 FOMWAN week, with the theme: Service to humanity, Mrs. Bello said, FOMWAN is an organisation that had rendered so many services to indigent Nigerians.

She said because the organisation encourages members to contribute to their immediate environment, Muslim women in the Niger Delta, especially members of their group must have no excuse in making their contribution for the benefit of all.

He also advised Muslim women to always abide with the true teaching of Islam in the Quran and Sauna and to encourage other Muslim who are not member of the organisation to live in the accordance with the teaching as to help one another .

“This year’s FOMWAN week centered on service to humanity and I’’ m glad to inform you that we have done greatly as an organisation in this regard. We have commenced programmes in the key sector such as health, education and other projects under our care.

“We are using this opportunity to call for assistance from organisations and individuals to enable us complete some of the projects that are capital intensive. We also have dilapidated building which urgently needs renovation, the school premises need to be interlocked.

“We also have a library that need additional material and computer system, my responsibly as the leader of this organisation is to ensure that we take the organisation to a greater height and to address some challenges facing the less-privilege in our society. “

Honour for Akwa Ibom governor’s wife •Okpo

ices to ship owners.

A lot has been said about the conversion of the academy to a degreeawarding institution. What is your stake on this?

What is more critical in the transformation of MAN Oron is to ensure that the core mandate of the Academy which is to train Marine Engineers and seafarers is that the Academy needs a tripod model of training low level manpower, (Certificate Courses) middle level manpower, (ND programmes) and Higher level manpower (Higher National Diploma and other degree programmes). The most needed qualification in the maritime industry according to International Maritime Organisation, Marine Coastal Guard, Standard of Training Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW) guidelines is the Certificate of Competence (CoC), before other degrees or qualifications could be considered.

It must be clearly emphasized here that MAN, Oron is not a conventional

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My administration has recorded milestones in infrastructural development. There has been a sustained 24hour power and water supply, with increased security for safety of lives and protection of the Academy’s property, hostel facilities for male and female cadets

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institution, but a very specialised, regimented and highly technical institution, with clear-cut mandate to train and nurture seafarers in line with STCW Convention on the 2010 (MANILA) amendments.

What makes MAN Oron different from other conventional institutions is that cadets require Certificate of Competence (C0C) to go to sea before considering the pursuit of degree, since Certificate of Competence has international acceptance, renewable every six months.

Seafarers who hold degrees without Certificate of Competence are not always valued in the maritime and allied industries as those with CoC. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention, which Nigeria is a member state, makes it mandatory for Certificate of Competence to be accepted beyond the shores of Nigeria, as long as the holder is from a member State of the IMO; but degree would assist the holder in other aspects of Maritime Education and training.

However, for Nigeria to maintain its position in the IMO white list, the much envisaged degree-awarding status for MAN Oron should not follow the NUC model as agitated by few uniformed persons on the dynamics and nitty-gritty of maritime education, but an acceptable global model that combines Certificate, National Diploma, High National Diploma and other degree programmes.

Can you highlight some of your significant milestones and challenges?

My administration has recorded milestones in infrastructural development. There has been a sustained 24hour power and water supply, with increased security for safety of lives and protection of the Academy’s property, hostel facilities for male and female cadets; staff accommodation, Youth Corps Members’ Lodge, completion of inherited projects, construction of presidential jetty, fire bay, boat maintenance yard, the procurement, installation and fully operational stateof-the-art simulators for practical training of cadets and staff, ICT equipment, which put the Academy in the class of internationally recognised maritime training institutions.

A

GROUP under the aegis of the African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) has decorated the wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, for her contributions towards the organisations’ visions and the uplifting of womanhood.

The honour was done during the inauguration of the African Women in Leadership organisation, (AWLO) Akwa Ibom chapter held at Ibom Le Meridien hotel, Uyo and the flag-off of the organisations’ mentoring programme aimed at celebrating motherhood.

The founder of AWLO Mr. Elisha Atai said AWLO remains committed to ensuring that women on the African continent are given their rightful place in leadership positions. He said AWLO seeks to advance the status of women in Africa by creating an empowering plat-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

form and harnessing the synergies of alliance noting that the inauguration of the state chapter was in line with the groups’ agenda of creating awareness for local women to aspire to take up leadership positions.

Mrs. Emmanuel said Akwa Ibom State has recorded unprecedented gains in women’s advancement due to the gender-responsive policies of the immediate past administration.

She paid tribute to her predecessor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, whose robust legacies in the mobilisation and empowerment of women and girls has set a standard that cannot be ignored.

Others honoured at the event were the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Noble lady Valerie Ebe and Mrs. Gloria Umoren, wife of the Secretary to Government.

Brass LNG, Bayelsa Oil Palm, others deserve attention, says Ogbotobo From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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HE National Coordinator, Legacy Forum (LF), Chief Frank Ogbotobo, has urged urgent attention to ensure the take-off of the Brass LNG, the Bayelsa Oil Palm and the state’s forgotten plastic industry.

Ogbotobo, who is also a community leader, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) capitalised on the Amnesty Programme to deny the region genuine development.

Speaking in Yenagoa, he said the Nigerian constitution is clear on the issue of individuals or groups carrying arms against the state in any guise or pretence. He said any programme capable of encouraging such acts of criminality should be avoided by the new government.

He said the government, in sincerity and transparency, should initiate the right moves to fulfill its obligation to the people of the region. According to him there is no mention of presidential amnesty programme in the Ogoni Bill of Rights or the Kaiama Declaration among other sets of demands of the various ethnic nationalities of the region.

Ogbotobo said projects such as the Brass LNG, the Bayelsa Oil Palm, the two fishing trawlers abandoned in Bayelsa and the state’s forgotten plastic industry should worry freedom fighters in the state.

He said: “Hence, we consider calls for the continuity of such a deeply flawed and corrupted presidential amnesty programme satanic, misleading and sabotage.

“This administration should simply address the more urgent needs of the states of the the N/Delta.

“Bayelsa for instance urgently needs, among other things, a minimum of eight additional LGAs, the kick-off of the Brass LNG and a seaport all of which will speedily arrest the challenge of youth unemployment in the state as well as the adjoining states.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HERE is a severe romance between crime and amnesty. Crime can exist without amnesty. Amnesty cannot be without

crime.

Let’s look at this from another prism: crime also depends on the society. The society can exist without crime, but crime needs the society to exist. Our world is one where dependence is something that we cannot do without. Someone always depends on the other.

Since May 29, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been without a head. Its chairman, who also doubled as the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, left with his principal, Dr. Goodluck Jonatahn. And without a head, that office is like an egg without its shell. It is simply useless and the effects are beginning to show.

Last Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari was in South Africa to participate in the African Union (AU) Summit. A day before Buhari left for South Africa, some Nigerian students being sponsored by the Amnesty Office went gaga.

They held hostage the food vendor who has been feeding them for years. These students, I understand, were angry because the Amnesty Office has been unable to fulfil its financial obligations to them. Because of this, they have been stranded in South Africa and they could not come home as scheduled. It took a lot of intervention before they were prevailed upon to let the vendor be.

Their grand plan was to cause a chaotic scene that Buhari would meet on getting to South Africa for the AU summit.

It is not only those in South Africa that are protesting. There have been protests back home too, which led to the blocking of the East-West Road in Delta and Bayelsa states over the non-payment of their allowances.

From what I hear, consultants in the Amnesty Office are also in dilemma. They cannot get paid too unless there is a head who will issue instruction for them to be paid. The students in the U.S. and other parts of the world are also in a quandary. The civil servants attached to the office, however, have no such financial worries.

It is important to state that the problem is not cash but who to give the order for the money to be paid. And there comes Buhari, whose job it is to appoint a head for the office in the form of a Chairman. It is three weeks today since Buhari took over and having said he would not scrap the programme, the agony of the consultants, students and others involved in the Amnesty Office should end and the only way to do this is to appoint a chairman for it.

Next week, specifically on June 25, the programme will be six years. The journey has been rough. It has come under attack. Some people think it has supplied some people with free cash to roll on the lap of luxury, enjoy women of easy virtues and turn champagne to hand-washing liquid.

Let me go into a bit of background to properly situate the dynamics which led to the creation of the programme.

Decades before its birth, the Niger Delta, where Nigeria derives the bulk of its revenue, witnessed agitations. The people expressed unhappiness over the way they were neglected. Their farms were polluted by oil spills. Their streams were taken over by crude oil. Their health worsened.

And their existence was seriously threatened.

Close to the birth of the amnesty programme, the agitation had taken a new twist. Before the deadly twist, Ken Saro-Wiwa had been judicially

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Amnesty...Which way?

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Certainly, this is no time to kill the Amnesty Programme. Adding more pep to it may be more like it... Those working with the Amnesty Office and ex-militants also should not have to go through agony because there is no chairman to give direction. President Buhari, the time to act is now •Gen. Buhari

murdered by the military junta of Gen. Sani Abacha. Several other people had been killed by security operatives under one guise or the other.

With intellectual activists like Saro-Wiwa out of the way, another generation of activists took over. This set believes if you make peaceful change impossible, you make violent change inevitable. They also believe it is illegal to be lawful in a lawless environment. So, they took to arms in their quest to prove a point.

In no time, oil pipelines were damaged at a devastating speed. Military boat houses were bombed. Barrels of oil were siphoned. Oil installations were blown up and oil workers were afraid to go to the rigs and others. The economy bled. The country was losing billions daily.

The Oluegun Obasanjo administration in early 2000s created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Its mandate was to develop Niger Delta. But, its activities meant nothing to the militants who were set to bring down the country unless the region was given control over its resources. The impact the NDDC could have made was limited by the fact that its dues were not given to it. The statutory payments that should be made to it were withheld by all arms of government. It ran into trillions and all efforts to get the money released for the betterment of the people did not work.

Things were getting worse by the day. They

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were still in that terrible state when the administration of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was inaugurated on May 29, 2007. That the then president was uncomfortable with the state of war in the Niger Delta soon showed. First, he created the Ministry of the Niger Delta. Pronto, the government set up a technical committee to review all existing reports on the region. The committee, headed by ex-President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mittee, recommended an increase of the derivation fund from 13 per cent to 25 per cent. It also recommended open trial for one of the faces of the arms struggle, Mr Henry Okah who was then in detention in Angola. Another of its recommendation, which led to my birth, is that youths in the region must be disarmed through a credible Decommissioning, Disarmament and Rehabilitation (DDR) process.

The late Yar’Adua knew something urgent must be done to rescue the situation. Aside his love for peace, he also needed to save the country from international embarrassment that the arms struggle had become. By then, there had been reports of militants partaking in piracy activities on the Gulf of Guinea, a development which had seen the governments of Equatorial Guinea and Angola complaining to Yar’Adua at international meetings. Okah was mentioned by the two governments as being responsible for the

LAST WORD

R

IVERS State Governor Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike has made some seemingly populist declarations and controversial appointments since he was sworn into office by an imported state Chief Judge on May 29. The populist slogans, the product of a deliberate media agenda hatched by a hired team from across the borders, had anyway, done little to give new face to Wike's rating. In all intent and purpose, the governor remains a man in dire need of a speech therapist; a governor whose public image runs too low to last a week. Were he on a field of play, a strict referee would have red-carded him.

A little trip on Wike's valley will do. First, he awarded a contract to Julius Berger, a company that left Rivers State over five years ago, verbally.

Wike termed the contract, 'Operation Zero Potholes'. The drama was well-staged by Wike who smiled into the cameras and was applauded by praise singers. Wike followed no due process in the award. There was no Public Notice for tender from interested companies. Wike left no clue as to when, where and how JB became the pre-

piracy activities against their countries. Okah was a leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which had claimed responsibility for many of the kidnappings and the attacks on oil facilities in the region.

Fast forward to April 2009, the then president dissolved the board of the NDDC. Timi Alaibe, who was the Managing Director, however, got another job. He was appointed Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs. His major job, it turned out, was to midwife the birth of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Two months after Alaibe’s appointment, Yar’Adua breathed life into the programme. Its birth did not immediately bring excitement.

Okah’s detention was a major factor for the insurgency’s leadership’s apathy to embrace it.

Yar’Adua recruited Chief Tony Anenih, Dr Koripamo Agary and Dr Ferdinand Ikwang, among others, to assure the agitators that he was truthful about not victimising them after dropping their guns.

Alaibe traversed the creeks persuading hardline militant leaders to embrace me. He did not do it alone. He got Kuku, the Arogbo-born exmember of the Ondo State House of Assembly, who had worked with him as Special Assistant at the NNDC, to get Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Mujahhid Dokubo-Asari, General Shoot-at-sight and many other leaders of the arms’ struggle to sign up to Yar’Adua’s offer.

Okah, who had by then been repatriated from Angolan and was standing treason trial at the Federal High Court, Jos, was a major issue in the refusal of many militant leaders to accept me. But, because Yar’Adua wanted the programme to live, he agreed to drop charges against Okah and on July 13, 2009, Okah became a free man. Okah’s release did not go down with many in the military circle and elsewhere and it did not convince some militants leaders to embrace the programme until hours before the deadline of October 4 set by Yar’Adua.

Between June 25 and October 4, 2009, 20,192 militants embraced the offer by handing over arms in excess of 20,000. Others who did not hand over their weapons initially because of the fear of the unknown later did before the deadline expired. Even after the deadline’s expiration, 6,166 more people bought into the programme.

Over 30,000 ex-militants have been given a new lease of life through the programme. Not less than 2,000 students are abroad studying for one degree or the other. There are several others who have been trained as pilots, marine engineers, underwater welders and experts in various oil and gas fields.

It must be stated that the programme has not ended criminality in the Niger Delta. Oil pipelines are still sabotaged and Nigeria still loses a lot to the activities of illegal refineries and the likes.

My final take: Certainly, this is no time to kill the Amnesty Programme. Adding more pep to it may be more like it. The students abroad, who are the future of not just the Niger Delta, but Nigeria, should not be stranded abroad. Those working with the Amnesty Office and ex-militants also should not have to go through agony because there is no chairman to give direction.

President Buhari, the time to act is now.

•Parts of this piece were in my column titled Niger Delta Amnesty published May 15.

BY BEKEE ANYALEWECHI

The several off-sides of Wike ferred bidder.

The Bureau for Public Procurement, otherwise called Due Process, a body established by Law of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was manacled. Unlike Wike, former Governor Chibuike Amaechi had submitted every contract award to Due Process and transparency prevailed. But in Wike's case, as exemplified in the JB road show, arbitrariness has been promoted as state status. If Wike kicked-off - as he actually did - in such brazen, reckless manner, then, future contracts and other government transactions will not fare any less.

Next, Wike made appointments into the Board of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority. Wike first appointed Mr. Desmond Akawo, Nigeria's Ambassador to South Korea, the Sole Administrator. The Ambassador is not known to have resigned his diplomatic appointment. As controversial as Akawo's appointment

is, Wike made two other worse appointments into that Authority. He appointed his direct cousin and then, his in-law as members of that Borad. If Wike made those appointments on merit, then merit means nepotism. Then, if they were done to make governance an act of patronage, it means that competence and fair competition have no space under Wike's regime. Or, will he, in good conscience, say that his direct blood relation and his in-law would have been the best in equal and transparent competition?

Wike did not include the three statutory bodies prescribed by Law to serve on the Board of the Authority. By Law, representatives of the Ministries of Land, Finance and Planning, are compulsory members. By cutting them off, Wike has bruised the Law that established GPHDA. Signs are obvious that under Wike, law and order in Rivers State will go on a far journey. Under him, foul will be fair.

Another controversy dogging Wike is the N10bn loan he has secured. He told Rivers people that repayment would be through the state's share of VAT. However, unlike FAAC, ECA and 13 per cent Derivation Fund, VAT is not receipted. In order words, VAT cannot be determined as it is lumped into others. So, since the Federal Government does not receipt VAT, how will Wike determine what volume of VAT Rivers State will receive monthly as to know how much to pay? Endless!

Another is the appointment of Mr. Felix Obuah, the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman as Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA). Questions that include whether Obuah's job as party chairman is now part-time have been asked. No answer yet.

Several goofs, several questions!

•Anyalewechi is a Port Harcourt-based journalist.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Day Nwogu joined APC

T

HE Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Ayeyemi, has urged the men and women of the corps to redouble their efforts to ensure that the target of 50 percent accident reduction is met by the FRSC. The corps marshal made the call at the Zonal Retreat of R.S. 9 zonal command of the Corps which took place at the People’s Club in Abakaliki.

The zone is made up of Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states commands.

Represented by ACM Austin Aipoh said the Corps under his administration has been able to push for installation of speed governors commercial buses.

He expressed happiness that most major transport companies have bought into the policy and are now

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

by those who believe they are gods.

She said that he had earlier been admitted into the party in Abuja, “But everyone knows that people do not join a political party except from their unit, ward, local government and the state chapters of the party.

So what I am doing today is to be presented to the party at the state level after being registered at my ward in Osisioma council area and being presented to the state executive council by my zonal chairman”.

Nwogu promised to be law abiding, respectful and be ready to work with the people she has met on ground in the party, “I believe that I will be a change agent and will also help to reposition the party for greater achievements in the state”.

She said that the uplifting of the party to greater heights will be done through hard work, “And not through slander, back biting, since Nigerians asked for change which has been achieved through the election of President Buhari, change we will give them”.

Nwogu said that she left the PDP because of injustice meted out on her, and that after waiting for them to realize their mistakes and apologize to her which they

•Senator Nwogu being received into Abia APC by party chairman Nwankpa

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T

HE former senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the senate, Senator Nkechi Nwogu has defected to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at the party secretariat in Umuahia after she was presented to the state executive council of the party, Senator Nwogu said that she has decided to move to a party with sound internal democracy.

Nwogu said that her former party had been suffering from impunity, imposition of candidates and high handedness by state governors, stressing that such is not what democracy is all about.

She decried the situation whereby state governors of the PDP were lords and think that they have the right to determine the fate of politicians, “It is one of the things that destroyed my former party”.

She said that the era when a man will sit down in his living room and decides what and who will run for elective positions from the political ward level to the local government up to the state level is gone forever.

The senator said that she has a strong believe that APC will not toe the line of destruction like the PDP which made its supposed big umbrella to be torn to shreds

She promised to be law abiding, respectful and be ready to work with the people she has met on ground in the party, “I believe that I will be a change agent and will also help to reposition the party for greater achievements

,

could not do, “I decided to leave to a place where I will be appreciated”.

In his welcome speech the state

chairman of the Abia APC, Donatus Nwankpa said that the party is willing to accept people as members, stressing that they

are not going to come and destroy the party.

Nwankpa said that they are still expecting more people to join the moving party, adding that Nwogu came on her own to join them without any prompting from any quarters.

In his own speech the former deputy governor of the state, Dr Chris Akomas said that the party is main opposition party in the state despite what anyone might say.

Akomas said that the state chapter of the party is blessed with theentrance of the calibre of Nwogu, adding that the world •Continued on page 38

FRSC holds retreat in Ebonyi From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

reaping the benefits as they have witnessed drastic reduction in accidents.

Mr Ayeyemi urged transporters yet to key in to do so as soon as possible adding that it will go a long way in helping the agency in its fight against road crashes in the country.

He urged the participants to brainstorm and come up with strategies that will help the zone and the Corps achieve its set targets.

The corpse Marshal promised to

give financial and logistics backing to any recommendations that will be proffered at the end of the retreat.

In his keynote address, the Zonal Commanding Officcer of RS9 ACM Samuel Obayemi said the retreat is part of the FRSC’s drive to consolidate on her gains.

He said: “Federal Road Safety Corps being a lead agency in road traffic administration in Nigeria, and by extension, a frontier organisation in Africa on road safety practices seeks to consolidate on her gains as well as appraising our operational activities in order to keep abreast of

the world’s emerging trend in road safety management”.

“It is with great enthusiasm and unbounded joy that I welcome you all to the second quarter 2015 retreat for Commanding Officers, Heads of Department of the Zone and Executive members of the Special Marshals of Zone R59”.

“Consequently, this retreat is expedient to address some of the daunting challenges confronting the Corps in order to achieve her corporate strategic goals”.

“Subsequently, Commanding Officers and other principal Officers are enjoined to make the best out of this epoch - making event by making appreciable contributions as well as opening up their minds to issues of discussions.

“It is hoped that at the end, this retreat will have its desired impact on the general well being of all the Commands within the Zone”.

The Sector Commander, Ebonyi State Command and Chairman Organising Committee of the retreat, Anne E. Abhiele praised the synergy and cooperation between the various Millitary and para-military agencies in the state, which She noted has enabled the agency achieve great success in the state in the area of road accident reduction.

She called on the participants to actively participate in the retreat.

She said: “The theme of the retreat is “CURBING ROAD TRAFFIC CRASH IN ZONE R59’, this retreat will afford Commanding Officers the opportunity to critically look at the overt and covert causes of road crashes in the zone, proffer solutions and redirect our energies to fighting the menace”.

“Given the caliber of officers drawn from the various sectors and units of •Continued on page 40

,

Federal Road Safety Corps being a lead agency in road traffic administration in Nigeria, and by extension, a frontier organisation in Africa on road safety practices seeks to consolidate on her gains as well as appraising our operational activities in order to keep abreast of the world’s emerging trend in road safety management

,

•The popular Ohafia War Dancers entertaning people at Isuikwuato, Abia State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A

BA, the commercial nerve of Abia State was at the weekend beseeched by members of a pro-biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra from the Southeast and Southsouth states of the country.

The group who neared about 20, 000 as early as 9am on Saturday had trooped out in their numbers in front of Christ the King Catholic Cathedral Church (CKC) ahead of a march round the city in remembrance of the 1929 Aba women who fought the colonial masters to stop

Group holds rally for Biafra’s fallen heroes and heroines moves they (colonial masters) made for women to start paying taxes.

The second reason was also to honour Biafran heroes who laid their lives in the struggle for the freedom of Biafra land.

The crowd had who came from various states of Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and other parts of the country had both the old and the young in attendance and by 10am traffic around CKC was brought to a halt as members of the group including Aba residents had already gathered at the venue.

Though there was initial apprehension whether the event was going to hold in Aba or not when the news filtered into town that members of the pro-Biafra group were being arrested and detained by the Police, Imo State Command, the

,

A Pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has held a rally in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State. SUNNY NWANKWO was at the rally

We want to be free and until realise the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers we shall continue to push the struggle and push our case to its logical conclusion. People think that we are going to be troublesome, but we chose the path of peace and honour as a non-violent group to pass our message to the international community that we are no longer comfortable

,

event however took place without any member of the group arrested or harassed by Police Officers and Detectives from Abia State Security Services who were on guard to make sure that there was no breach of peace within the Aba Command.

Investigation has it the Aba Area Commander, Peter Wagbara who was on ground had saved what could have led to shootings and killings when some members of the group had a confrontation with the police which led to the

breakage of their patrol van’s glass, though The Nation learnt that the members of the group on their own later came to replace the damaged glass and as well apologized to the police authority in the state for the damage.

They sang various pro-Biafra songs where they praised the gallantry efforts of Late Biafra Warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Philip Effion, Okoko Ndem, Joe Ajuzie Onwu Atuegwu among others who in one way or the other participated in the struggle for freedom of the former eastern region.

From CKC, they divided themselves into groups and marched through Ogbor Hill where they had a stopover at the Premises of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Channel 6 Aba and later marched through Aba-Owerri road, Tonimas-Umule axis, Ariaria, Port Harcourt road leading to Flyover Bus Stop, one of the populous areas in the city of Aba and among other places they went during the march.

And for over 8hours that the march lasted, traffic was however •Continued on page 39

Abia lawmaker promises better representation

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T

HE member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Uloma Onuoha has assured people of her Constituency that she was going to represent them effectively in the state 6th Assembly as a legislator.

Hon. Onuoha was inaugurated on Thursday with other 23 lawmakers from various constituencies across the state as members of the Abia State 6th Assembly.

Addressing constituents at a reception in her honour after the her swearing-in at the chambers of Abia State House of Assembly also promised to ensure that she would use her position as a lawmaker representing the area to attract development and things that would improve the well being of youths and the entire people of Isiukwuato.

She added that she was going to ensure quality and transparent representation adding that her doors would always be open to receive suggestions and contributions from her constituents and party members on how to better the lots of the constituency even as she sought for wisdom and more prayers for her to succeed as a lawmaker.

She also thanked Isuikwuato people and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for their support for her throughout the campaign and electioneering periods.

Chairman of the All Progressive

She added that she was going to ensure quality and transparent representation adding that her doors would always be open to receive suggestions and contributions from her constituents and party members on how to better the lots of the constituency

,

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Grand Alliance (APGA) Isuikwuato Chapter Mr. Simeon Onyeje who described the lawmaker as a dependable person said they were proud of her and expressed optimism that the lawmaker would give Isuikwuato people a voice in the State House of Assembly and will also drive home democracy dividend to the people that reposed trust in her.

Mr. Ndubuisi Ihejirika, Mr. Jude Obinkwu, and Enyioma Ekebuike in their separate goodwill messages thanked Isuikwuato people for the support so far given to Hon. Onuoha from the election period to the day she was sworn-in ceremony as member representing Isuikwuato Constituency and however pledged their continued support for her.

•Some members of the Abia State traditional Rulers' Council waiting to gain acess into the Abia State House of Assembly Complex during the inauguratioin of the state 6th Assembly

Day Nwogu joined APC •Continued from page 37

should know about the capture of such high calibre politicians and those making the state APC great.

He called for a reposition of the party towards 2019, saying, “We are talking about 2019 already, but we need to reposition the party before then and we should do that through preparing for the local government elections which may come at anytime, “So we need to be fully prepared for it so as not be caught unawares”.

Akomas said that the coming into the ruling party by Senator Nwogu shows that people have started seeing the light, stressing that this is just the beginning of better things to come for the ruling party.

The former deputy governor said that what is happening to the Abia APC is now the harvesting of avalanche of personalities, stressing that more prominent politicians are on their way into the party.

In his own contribution, the national chairman of the party, John Odigie Oyegun, represented by a BoT member, Sam Nkire said that said that it is great day for APC members, since he had asked them to fish for credible a member which is what they are doing.

•People selling Ikpeazu's cap

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT •Continued from page 38

•Members of the IPOB protesting in front Of Christ the KIng Catholic Church Cathedral Aba

Group holds rally for Biafra’s fallen heroes and heroines we are still are still not benefiting from the eggs we lay.

“What we are saying is that we want to be free and until realise the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers we shall continue to push the struggle and push our

case to its logical conclusion. People think that we are going to be troublesome, but we chose the path of peace and honour as a non-violent group to pass our message to the international community that we are no longer comfortable.

What we want is a sovereign state of Biafra and nothing else”.

However, residents of Aba have commended the police officers under Aba Area Command for exhibiting maturity in the way they handled the protesters yesterday,

Senator cautions Imo Assembly new speaker SOCIO-POLITICAL crusader in Imo State, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has congratulated the new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iheanacho Ihim (Onwa) on his elevation as the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly.

Samuelson described Dr. Acho Ihim as a grassroots politician who has re-integrated himself back with the mainstream political leaders across the state.

Iwuoha, who played a major role that stopped Hon. Ihim from emerging Speaker on June 7, 2011, which eventually saw to the emergence of former Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu, however, cautioned the new speaker on the kind of aides he would recruit to pilot the affairs of the 6th Assembly.

Iwuoha specifically advised Hon. Ihim to do away with the former Speaker’s senior aides if he does not want the rain to beat him. Iwuoha mentioned the name of the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and others like Mr. Emeka Ahaneku, Mr. Godson Amadikwa, Mr. Kingsley Ndubueze, Mr. Dan Orji, Mr. Ugwu and Mr. Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc. as people which Hon. Ihim should stay away from, if he intends to make any meaningful impact as speaker.

While Kodichi Anamekwe defrauded the Assembly of Funds running into hundreds of millions of naira through fictitious and fraudulent supply of diesel (AGO), computer accessories, ghost workers, award of road contracts, financial assistance scam and burying of several charms allegedly prepared with new born babies and aborted

stating that it was a paradigm shift from what was obtainable.

They added that if the template set out today by the police could be sustained, “they will be achieving the saying that police is your friend and not the enemy of the public”.

,

moving in a snail manner along some of the major roads in the commercial city as commuters, motorists and residents of Aba trooped out in their numbers on the road to have a glimpse of what was happening.

Police patrol vans were however seen at various strategic junctions where the Armoured Personnel Carrier was stationed at Ehi road

by CKC to ensure that the protesters didn’t turn violent or ceases the opportunity to cause breach of peace in the city.

Some of IPOB members who spoke to our reporter said that the movement in Aba today was to honour some of the Biafran Warlords who died during the Nigerian-Biafran Civil war, adding that it was also part of their efforts to further push for their agitation for the realization of the sovereign state of Biafra.

According to one of them who gave his name as Kalu Francis, “It is more than 100years after Lord Lugard amalgamated the people of Southern and Northern Protectorates. According to the treaty, it was agreed that after 100years anyone that felt that they are no longer comfortable to with the way things are being done has the right to secede and that is what we are doing.

“We are the Indigenous People of Biafra and we believe that time has come for us to let the world know how badly we have been treated as a people. Even when we lay the eggs that feeds the nation,

Ahaneku brought down or reduced the number of media correspondents at the Imo State House of Assembly from 36 to only 16, thereby inflicting untold hardships on correspondents

A

,

•Iwuoha (right) with others babies at the Imo Assembly compound, Emeka Ahaneku defrauded the Assembly of funds running into tens of millions of naira through the general duties department of the office of the speaker.

Through this department, Emeka Ahaneku signed off millions of naira for former Speaker’s sister Chidinma Uwajumogu’s non-governmental organisations – Development Initiative for African Women (DIFAW) and Development Initiative for African Youths (DIFAY).

Also, Ahaneku brought down or reduced the number of media correspondents at the Imo State House of Assembly from 36 to only 16, thereby inflicting untold hardships on correspondents. He was stealing the sum of N300,000 from the correspondents stipends on monthly basis and so many other fraudulent activities.

All these information are with

EFCC and force headquarters.

Emeka Ahaneku is a serial blackmailer who operates with pseudo names (fake names) such as Amaefula Amadi, Chinonso Obi, Ikenna Obioha and most recently Barrister Chikodi Amadi etc.

He uses these names to blackmail people of integrity and credibility.

He recently blackmailed the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, with the name Barrister Chikodi Amadi accusing him of interfering with Assembly matters.

The rest of Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc are members of the Ihitte/Uboma cabal that saw to the desecration of the office of the speaker. Anything that has a beginning must have an end.

Samuelson pointed out that the names he mentioned above including Speaker Uwajumogu should be held responsible for the various

deaths that occurred at the Speaker’s office between 2011 and 2014.

The social crusader finally advised Hon. Ihim to make use of aides from among the Acho Ihim Campaign Organisations and credible people across the state.

“Ihim must not allow the rain to beat him and the only way to avoid the rain from beating him is to do away with Kodichi Anamekwe, Emeka Ahaneku, Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc.

Political leaders should advise Hon. Ihim better because I am ruthlessly serious. I want him to succeed in Jesus Name, Amen,’’ Samuelson concluded.

The new Deputy Speaker Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo was also congratulated by the social crusader.

Iwuoha has further cautioned the new Speaker of Imo State House of

Assembly, Hon. Ihim over the alleged plan to retain senior aides of the former Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu.

Samuelson maintained that retaining those boys by Dr. Ihim would mean inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems, battles and troubles as he would not sheath his sword against the office of the Speaker.

He has therefore pleaded with the Clerk of the House, Chief Chris Duru and the other honourable members, including political and religious leaders to talk sense into Hon. Ihim so that he would not make the mistake of inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems by attempting to retain any of those senior aides whose names he listed.

Few days ago, Samuelson had congratulated the new Speaker on his emergence but strictly cautioned him never to retain Uwajumogu’s senior aides over their criminal, fraudulent and occultic tendencies including his battles with the office of the speaker.

40

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

T

HE usually quiet children’s home in Nise, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, was a beehive of activities when Jennifer Okorie, the Miss Goodluck 2015, Southeast visited the orphanage last weekend to give succour to the less privileged and the needy.

Tears of joy rolled down the cheeks of those present.

Queen Jeloy as she is fondly called by all and sundry in the state, took with her some items needed by the children, including cartons of soaps, packets of tissue papers.

Also, she presented some bags of rice, bags of salt, cloths, beverages, Indomie noodles among others.

The secretary of the motherless babies home in Anambra state, Dr. T. C. Aguocha, told The Nation that he wished the Miss Goodluck South East was made Miss Nigeria.

He said the kind hearted mind of the queen was exemplary, adding that she behaved like somebody from the moon.

According to him, “this young lady has shown the qualities of a good leader, she has showers the kids with lots of goodies in this community orphanage home and you can see that the children themselves are happy”.

“I have nothing else to tell her, but I will continue to pray for her for more successes and God’s best wishes and I believe the hearts of the children will equally guild and protect her in all her endeavours”.

The queen’s intimate friend, Chinwoke Nkemere told the Nation that it was not the first time the beauty queen had done such a thing, adding that she had taken such gesture to Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states.

“She has a good heart and wonderful initiative and these had endeared her to the hearts of not only the children in these states but to those that matter in the society”.

The Nation discovered that the orphanage home which was established over 10 years ago, has over 12 children and situated along Nise – Agulu road.

•Continued from page 37 zone 9 for this retreat, I have no doubt in my mind that a workable blue print will emerge in the end for curbing the menace of Road Traffic Crash in the Zone”.

In a goodwill message, the State Cordinator, Special Marshal Programme of the Command, Dr Henry Udochukwu said the introduc-

•Queen's entourage with some of the children at the home

A queen’s love for orphanages in Anambra

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

For the beauty queen, the inspiration to help the needy and the homeless children came from God. According to Okorie “these are bundles of joy from God, we are not going to allow them suffer in the society, I feel fulfilled celebrating this day with them”.

“They are the gifts of nature and should not be abandoned, all I am praying for is that the rich in the society should come and help in making sure that they live the nor-

mal life like every other persons in the society”.

“Nigeria has many individuals who have plenty of money, corporate organisations, let them not

only concentrate on sports and other mundane issues, they should equally spread their tentacles to the motherless children in the society”.

“They are not the cause of what has befallen them, therefore, all of us should rally round them to lift them to greater height, this is just the beginning from my little end” Jennifer Okorie told The Nation.

FRSC holds retreat in Ebonyi tion of speed limiting devices by the Corps Marshal as a welcome development.

His words: “This year 2015, the R.S 9, Zonal Command of the Federal Road Safety Corp is again hosted to

its Zonal retreat for the second time since this present regime of SMP leadership in 2009”.

“We are delighted to be hosting this all important event where state commands from Imo, Abia, Enugu

states and Ebonyi, converge for a retraining, re-appraisal and re-creation of values and guiding principles that reminds one of our responsibilities to our dear nation, Nigeria, through our chosen service of making our roads a safer place for all road users”.

“As an agency that ensures sanctity on our roads, FRSC has grown into a phenomenal institution that is not only lSO-certified but has become a model in Africa courtesy of successive seasoned administrators, committed Commanders, Marshals and Special Marshals”.

Despite parading such envious records, a lot still needs to be done.

The challenge of keeping our roads safe is an everyday affair, with new vehicles, new roads constructed or dilapidating, more adolescents showing exuberance even on our highways and increasing rural-urban migrations that exposes us all to

higher traffic control”.

“The antidote to these challenges is thinking, planning and acting ahead. This is why I must salute the latest innovation by our new COMACE on the introduction and use of speed-limiting Device on all commercial vehicies. Such novelties are but many, that we are yet to be seen, as seasoned Chief Executives direct the ship in FRSC”.

“During the retreat, will among other things be evaluating more strategies to curb RTA in RS 9, appraise the significant role of special marshals in this onerous task and in all these, learn how to manage stress so that we too can live to enjoy the fullness of life”.

“These are very delicate areas to appraise, hence the need for a serene environment. In the South East geopolitical zone, within which R.S 9 falls in, Ebonyi State is the most peaceful”.

,

•Apostle Odoemenam (right) with Apostle Orjiako at Dignity Consult, an independent organisation within the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus

As an agency that ensures sanctity on our roads, FRSC has grown into a phenomenal institution that is not only lSO-certified but has become a model in Africa courtesy of successive seasoned administrators, committed Commanders, Marshals and Special Marshals

,

41

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Former Agriculture and Rural Development Minister and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) President – elect Dr Akinwunmi Adesina last Friday was hosted to a party at Transcorp Hotel Abuja, reports FRANK IKPEFAN

H

E will not be forgotten in a hurry. Remember the N10b cassava bread project that was launched with fanfare at the Presidential Villa? Cassava bread became a staple relished by former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings but many Nigerians never tasted it?

The project was part of the agricultural revolution by former Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.

Adesina was celebrated last Friday in Abuja following his election as Africa Development Bank (AfDB) president.

Adesina was not just a face in former President Jonathan’s cabinet.

He is someone who can never be missed in a gathering. His urbane composure and bow ties and sharp suits stood him out always. But he was different when he arrived on the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton and Towers in Abuja last Friday at 7:45.pm, with his wife, Grace. He was in agbada and a cap to match. He was the cynosure of all eyes.

The hall was filled with many who came to rejoice with him.

The AfDB President-elect moved from table to table, exchanging pleasantries with guests. He didn’t stop until he had touched all the tables.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sunday Echono, extolled Adesina.

He stated that the ceremony has provided an opportunity for development partners, stakeholders and clients of the ministry to thank the former minister for his tremendous achievements in the agricultural sector.

Others described him as a ‘reformer,’ who turned everything about agriculture into gold.

National President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Pastor Segun Adewumi, appreciated the change Adesina brought to the sector.

He noted that the minister has laid a solid foundation that would return the nation’s economy to the path of prosperity.

Others who spoke included past and present members of the National Assembly, youth and rural farmers as well as cassava growers.

About 9 pm, when he took the microphone, he was full of smiles as he wondered: What more could I have asked for?

He thanked President Muhammadu, for President Jonathan and other leaders for their faith in him. He also thanked Nigerians for their support, promising not to let them down.

It was a night of fun. Guests were

•Dr. Adesina; Ms Otteh and Mrs Grace Adesina

Celebrating an achiever

•From left: Deputy Director Gender FMARD, Mrs. Karima Babangida, Director Human Resources FMARD Mr. Aikhoje Itua and Director Reforms of the Ministry Mrs. Rakiya Ibrahim

•Dr Ojo (left) and Hon Munir Babba

‘He is someone who can never be missed in a gathering. His urbane composure and bow ties and sharp suits stood him out always’ treated to dinner, comedy and music from a Yoruba band. Adesina posed for photographs with guests.

In attendance were former DirectorGeneral of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh; Team Leader, Rice Value Chain Prof Osiname; Director-General National Seed Council Dr. Philip Ojo a former Permanent Secretary of the ministry.

Mrs Ibukun Odusote; Serikin Noma of Zamfara Alhaji Mohammed Kwazo and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, among others.

•Alhaji Kwazo

•Mr Tony Ohaeri

•Dr Jide Olumeko

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

42

SOCIETY Miss Chinyere Omenka, who works with telecom firm Etisalat in Lagos, got married to Newton Ihoeghian, an engineer with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Edo State, last Saturday at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Testimony Area Head Quarters in Akute, Ogun State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

T

HEY strode hand in hand out of the church after being joined in holy matrimony.

Newton Ihoeghian, an engineer, had just married his beau, Chinyere, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Testimony Area Headquarters in Akute, Ogun State.

Chinyere, who works with telecom firm Etisalat in Lagos was all smiles.

She dazzled guests in her white wedding gown and veil. She hugged and exchanged pleasantries with all who came around her. Newton was in black suit, white shirt, pitch jacket and tie.

Newton is the son of a retired accountant with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Mr Pedro Ihoeghian; his late mother was represented by Mrs Queen Ihoeghian. Chinyere’s brother Emeka represented their late father Mr Vincent Omenka. Her mother; Mrs Florence Omenka, a businesswoman was full of praises to God. The ceremony began with the traditional wedding at the nearby Raceeko Hall followed by the church solemnisation.

Chinyere accompanied by her brother and the bride’s maids, walked to the altar while the choir sang the processional hymn: “In Christ Alone, my hope is found”. The bride’s maids wore blue dresses with pitch hats. The groom and his men were already in the hall. They wore similar suit.

Deacon Abiodun Sholeye said the opening prayer. Pastor Goke Aniyele joined the couple together. The choir did a special ministration for the couple.

Back at Raceeko Hall for the reception, guests were treated to a nice time. The bride’s parents arrived first, followed by the groom’s.

Pastor Paul Oyeranmi, who chaired the occasion, urged the couple to live happily, praying that God would be with them and grant them success.

The Master of Ceremony (MC), Adewale Oni, led the couple to cut the four-step blue cake after the spelling of JESUS. The couple had their first assignment of feeding each other and sealed it with kisses.

The bride danced with her mother.

Her husband and other guests joined

•Bride’s mother Mrs Omenka and her son Emeka

•Groom’s father Mr Ihoeghian and representative of the groom’s mother Mrs Queen Ihoeghian

Union of lovebirds •The couple, Chinyere and Newton

them on the dance floor.

The groom said he felt great, elated and excited, adding that his wife is truthful, committed, dedicated and God-fearing.

The Edo State born groom met his wife in 2007 but they started dating in 2010 when they were students at

the University of Benin. The groom was then studying Chemical Engineering; the bride Microbiology.

The bride said she is happy, describing her husband as a man filled with the words of God. “He is faithful and sincere,” she said.

The bride’s mother said marriage

•Pastor Oyeranmi (right) and Mr Jonh Omenka PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

is an institution of learning, urging the couple to be ready to learn. She advised them to be tolerant and friendly with members of their families.

She prayed for the success of the

marriage.

The groom’s father told the couple to put God first in whatever they do.

“They should not be selfish, they should respect and let love be their watch word,” he said.

MEETING

ANNIVERSARY

•Members of the Governing Board of the Christopher Kolade Professorial Chair in Corporate Governance from left: former Cross River first lady and Country Director Empretec Nigeria, Mrs. Onari Duke; MD/CEO Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mrs Yewande Sadiku; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; MD/CEO United Capital Plc, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni; and Major General Reuben Nkado (rtd) at a meeting of the board in Lagos.

•From left: District Governor of Rotary 9110, Dr Dele Balogun; President of Maryland Club Dapo Ogunlola; Mr Bola Oyebade and District Secretary Layi Abidoye when the Rotary Club of Maryland celebrated its 13th anniversary

CONJUGAL BLISS

The couple, fomer Miss Oluwaseyi Aladeloye and her beau Adebisi Adedoyin after their wedding in St. Philips Anglican Church, AramokoEkiti

•Bride's parents Dr Dipo Aladeloye and his wife Bosede

•Groom's parents Mr Jacob Adedoyin and his wife Elizabeth

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

43

SOCIETY Former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Lanre Ogunlana has marked his 51st wedding anniversary with the launch of his autobiography, “Reflections and Challenges in Time and Tide”. NNEKA NWANERI writes.

A teacher par excellence

F

IFTY-ONE years ago, when former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife, Prof Lanre Ogunlana, exchanged marital vows with his wife, Aderemi, in Ibadan, only eight people witnessed the ceremony.

More than five decades later, he says he has no regrets to have taken that bold step on June 12, 1964.

At the launch of his autobiography last Friday at the Agip Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, the Professor of Pharmacy and former Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ife, beamed as a book chronicling his social journey was presented to the public.

Many of his professional colleagues and students were there to support him. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, sent representatives.

The memoir documents many of Ogunlana’s reflections on a myriad of issues. Passion has moulded, influenced and sustained the author through life, illustrated with prose, abstracts and pictures.

Dapper in a brown suit and same colour of shoes to match, the 79 year old read out his speech from his smart phone. Nothing showed he was a member of the Old School, but for his white bearded and hair. All the same, many attested to the fact that he has still remained gallant and smart despite age taking a toll on him.

Chairman of the occasion and a friend of the author for many years, Prof Akin Mabogunje, in a remark extolled the virtues of Ogunlana. He recalled the first time he met the author’s wife, fondly called ‘Deremi, with her friend Lola, who were the first set of nurses trained at the University College, Ibadan after their school certificate.

Reviewing the 482-page book was another Prof Abiodun Ogundaini of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry OAU. He said the book documents the early stages of the author’s life to his education and training, noting that aspects of his years as a lecturer, research pursuits and lectures are not spared.

The author spoke before the book was presented by a Knight of John Wesley, Sir Demola Aladekomo.

He said his wife had some impediments not long ago, but led all to sing songs to the Almighty.

He also recalled having his wedding done in a different style, adding that these 51 years have been full of challenges and testimonies, describing the challenges as opportunities. He also said his first passion is music.

“Challenges are essential to life, but in all that, God turned them into testimonies. My marriage is still a work in progress after 50 years. As I reflect, I see challenges in time and tide which I wish all to read, draw lessons and tell their stories too.

“Our individual social actions are created by our society, yet, we create our society by our societal action.” he said.

Ogunlana, who also holds the title of the Fiwajoye of Ife, added that it is a reference book for studying pharmacy, hoping to document more books before his creator calls.

•From left: Sir Aladekomo; Prof Mabogunje; the author Prof Ogunlana; his wife Lady Remi; Olorunsogo of Ile Ife, Oba Kayode Omisore and Toba of Ile Ife, Oba Jide Awojodu displaying the book

•Prof John Pepper Clark (right) and Mr Akintayo

•Prof Onawunmi (right) and Prof Tiwalade Olugbade

•Elder Ayo Oni (left) and Prof Alfred Bamidele Kasumu

Sir Aladekomo before unveiling and displaying the books, said in his younger days, many prayed to be like Ogunlana-polished, suave and gentlemanly, many qualities which have not changed till now except for his white hair.

“He is a distant mentor and role model”.

On the book, he said: “The title of the book is right; the size and content is right and the content, printing and packaging of the book is right.”

President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, who the author taught Pharmaceutical Microbiology from 19831984, described him as a classical epitome and ‘grand teacher’ with striking versatility. He also said his former teacher is a cultural en-

•Bishop of Methodist West Rev Ogunlere Sunday and his wife Elizbeth

•From left: Mr Lawrence Oduyemi; Chief Wole Ariyo and Sir Abayomi Williams

•Oladele Ogunlana and Mrs Yemisi Ogundipe PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

•Sir Ademola Ogunbiyi and Lady Kofo Ogunbiyi

thusiast and one of the best dressed in his generation, recalling a day Ogunlana stunned everyone when he came to class dressed in a native attire and beads.

“He was the first indigenous Dean of

the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ife and, indeed, Nigeria. He blazed the trail when he rose to be the first pharmacist to attain the height of DVC. Seeing him now, one will help but appreciate what age can do to people.”

There was a re-enactment of what they did 51 years ago when the author stepped up with his wife to cut their anniversary cake.

There was also a musical performance by the Methodist Musical Society in honour of Prof Ogunlana, who was a former choirmaster for the Methodist Church of Tinubu, Lagos.

In a vote of thanks, daughter of the author Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos Judiciary said her marriage is 23 years, expressing pride that her parents have been able to carry on so long.

Financial Controller of Tata Services, Dey Saurabh, while presenting Ogunlana with a gift, said since he has known Ogunlana for three years, to be a man vast in knowledge and intellect.

44

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SOCIETY The remains of Mrs Olufunke Adeoya, mother of the Chief Executive Officer, Marketing Mix and Co, Akin Adeoya, were interred at the Apostolic Faith Cemetery, Igbesa, Ogun State, after a funeral service at the church camp ground, reports IBRAHIM ADAM.

•From left: Deceased’s children Akin; Adenike; Ayodeji; the widower Adeoya and his son Femi

•From left: Ezekeal Olubode; Mrs Racheal Familusi and Olumuyiwa Esan

Farewell to a loving mother

E

VEN in death, she was celebrated. For Three days, her children gave her a befitting burial. They described her as a mother, who lived all her life for them and God. The late Mrs Olufunke Adeoya was a nurse and midwife at the Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa. She also worked at the General Hospital, Ido Ekiti and Randle General Hospital in Surulere.

She died on April 10. She was 77.

Her rites of passage began with a service of songs at Times Square off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos. A funeral service was held at the Apostolic Faith Campground, Igbesa in Ogun State.

Family members, sympathisers, and friends came in their numbers to bid the late Mrs Adeoya farewell.

The children of the deceased clad in lemon native attire.

Her remains were laid in a grey casket with gold cross and her pictures around it. The casket was conveyed in a white Volvo hearse.

The service began with a processional hymn, ‘O beula land’ led by the congregation and the Orchestra.

The church choir later rendered the hymn, ‘When I wake up’.

After the scripture reading from book of Job 14: 1-12, a sermon followed by Rev Tayo Oyelaja, who spoke on the topic: “Is your name written in the book of life”.

Rev Oyelaja said the late Adeoya spent her life with Christ and has gone to meet the Lord.

He asked the congregation where they wish to spend their eternity, urging them to live a good life, confess their sins and make it right with God. Rev. Sola Opaleye prayed for the deceased, the widower, her children, grandchildren and other guests before the deceased remains were interred at the church cemetery.

The following day, a funeral reception was held at the Time Square, off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos. Guests arrived in exotic cars. The ambiance of the hall was conducive as guests moved round to exchange pleasantries and take pictures.

A bevy of beautiful ladies welcomed guests and led them to reserved seats.

Most guests clad in the mixed purple aso ebi while others wore choice native attires.

The hall was tastefully decorated in purple, pink and white matching with chairs set round tables. There

were flower vases at strategic location.

Celebrities including, Clarion Chukwura, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Davies, and Dele Taiwo, among others, added colour to the event. Theatre and advertising practitioners and media professionals also stood to be counted.

National President, Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), Ambrose Somide, anchored the event and entertained guests with rib-cracking jokes.

Sir Shina Peters and Taiwo Omotunde led their bands to electrify the hall. Their music ushered the children and guests to the dance floor in celebration of a life well spent.

The deceased’s younger brother, Mr Femi Fayemi, described his sister as his mother, friend and benefactor.

He urged the children of the deceased to emulate what their mother stood for and unite themselves.

He said: “She is my elder sister and I call her my mother. She was a wonderful friend to all and a core Christian. She wais my benefactor because I lost my dad when I was a

•From right: Mr Alabi; Mrs Titi Sunmonu; Mrs Popoola; Mr Afelogun and Mr Oyebami

M

EMBERS of the Rotary Club of Omole-Golden District 9110 were resplendent in their eye-catching outfits on Friday May 22, when they gathered at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos to launch their maiden magazine “Golden Notes”.

At the entrance of the hall was the big flex with the picture of the President, Mr Chris Alabi, ‘welcoming all to the morning fellowship of the Rotary Club of Omole-Golden’.

Inside the hall was another big flex, printed in blue and yellow with the inscription: “Omole-Golden District 9110” and the club logo.

A stack of the magazine to be presented was placed at the back of the high table and draped with brown ribbon.

The event began at 7:45 am with four members of the club rendering different songs. They were Mrs Oluyemisi

Rotary Club of Omole-Golden District 9110 has launched its maiden magazine “Golden Notes” at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, KEHINDE ONIFADE reports.

For their good deeds Balogun; Dr Omowunmi Bakare; the incoming President, Idowu Olusegun Afelogun and the club Assistant Governor, Rotarian Mrs Kemi Popoola.

After the songs, the members went round, welcoming each other.

The club president, Mr Chris Alabi, decked in white Agbada with a matching grey cap, spoke about the past meetings, the 10th year anniversary, the last conference and gala night of the club, which held on May 8, this

year in Abeokuta.

He congratulated the members and the club executives for their cooperation and support towards the success of the gala night award, which rewarded them with trophies as the Overall Best Club’.

He said all the projects embarked upon by the club, its reaching out to the public and its achievements were made possible during his tenure with the support of the members, the club

•Son of the deceased Tope PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

small boy and she had to see me through school. She was prayerful, a loving mother and exceptionally generous. We will miss her a lot because I remember she gave me a Bible and I am using it presently not knowing that she gave me a parting gift.’’

He recalled her words: “She said Femi take this Bible in Yoruba and English translation; make sure you read it always.’’

The first child of the deceased, Mrs Adenike Abiona, said her mother was disciplined and served God all her life.

“She was trustworthy, kept no malice and if there was any issue, she would call you and settle it. She prayed for all; if you pray and sleep at 12 midnight, when you wake at 3am, you will meet her praying again.

She believed in prayer and that with God all things are possible. She taught us how to be decent and have faith, she was a lovely mother,” she said.

The deceased son and President, Babatunde Femi Owolabi Memorial Heart Foundation, Mr Tope Owolabi, said his mother brought them up in a Godly manner.

“She was a wonderful mother; she was like a hen than protects her chicks. She was supportive and gave us morals and I will miss her prayer,” he said.

A daughter in-law, Mrs Florence said her mother-in-law was religious, prayerful, loving and caring. “If you don’t call her, she would call and say, I just want to hear your voice. She was just wonderful,” she said.

A granddaughter, Morolake Abiona, described the deceased as caring and nice.

“I don’t know where to start from because we will miss her so much.

She was so nice, more caring compared to my mum because when we are on holiday, we go to her and it was always interesting. She taught us the ways of God, how to read the Bible and pray,’’ she said.

Mr Akin Adeoya in his tribute said his late mother never took credit for her efforts to effect change.

He said it was a duty that she dared not fail after she knew ‘the stone in my heart was gradually becoming a diamond’.

•Mr Omole (right) and Mr Owolabi

executives and the grace of God. He also spoke on their plan to travel to Sao Polo to gain more experience and knowledge on how to move the Club forward.

The club past President, Mr Osomo Omole said the gathering was to celebrate and congratulate the club for its achievements during the tenure of Chris Alabi. He advised the members to work harder and maintain the trophies won by the club, adding that the trophies should not be taken from them. He said the eyes of other districts are on the club waiting to see if they would be champions at all times.

Omole described the Magazine as the best, saying that it was not a work done in a hurry. He described it as a catalogue of the past projects and awards won by the club. He urged the incoming president to move faster than the present one.

The Assistant Governor of Ikeja Rotary Club, Mr Bola Oyebami, who was

decked in white lace attire with a black bowler hat, reviewed the magazine.

He described the 50-page Magazine as incomparable.

He added that the magazine catalogued past projects and awards of the club, which included World Class ICT Laboratory for Oke-Ira Grammar School; the donation of six-room toilet; borehole to Ajuwon Grammar School; donation of books to Special School in Accra, Ghana; OmoleGolden de-worming pictures for school pupils; donation of security equipment to Area G Police Command in Ogba and donation an incubator to Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital.

He added that the magazine was the best ever published among other clubs.

He recommended the magazine to all members to read. The launch and the presentation of the magazine were anchored by the club Assistant Governor Samuel Ayetutu. The closing grace was said by Mr Kayode Owolabi.

45

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SOCIETY

•Dr Adebule (left)and Alhaja Ireti Oluwa

•From left: Former Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan; Oba Ashafa and Alabirun of Ikare Oba Nurain Akinyemi.

T

HE open field of Awori College in Ojo Lagos was filled last Sunday by politician, friends and associates of Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule during a reception for her. In attendance were executive secretaries and workers of Local Governments, Local Council Development Associations (LCDAs), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Badagry.

Despite a downpour, guests made their way to the venue. They arrived in exotic cars.

They moved round to exchange pleasantries before the programme started.

Many of them were clad in white lace with pitch cap and headgear while others wore choice traditional attires.

It was an APC affair. The high table was covered with sky and deep blue layers with flower vases on them.

The arrival of the woman of the day, Dr Adebule, added colour to the gathering. She went round greeting and exchanging pleasantries. She wore mixed gold attire with matching headgear and Ipele.

The programme began with the National anthem. Ven Ilegbusi Dicson and Dr Paramole Kabir said the opening prayer. Cori cultural group entertained guests at intervals.

In his address, the divisional leader, Prince Rabiu Oluwa called on all members of the APC to reunite.

Prince Rabiu said it is their joy to have Dr Adebule for the third time, saying the reception should have taken place since the inauguration day but they had to give her more time. “We had already fixed today before we realised today was Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s birthday. All we want is your unity despite everything that happened. Let us forget the past and move on with the present”.

•Mr Ojelabi

•Oloto of Oto-Awori Oba Josiah Aina (left) and Prince Oluwa

Honour for a worthy daughter A reception was last Sunday hosted for Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule at the Awori College in Ojo, by the Badagry Divisional Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

IBRAHIM ADAM reports.

He also used the medium to appreciate National Leader APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his courage and support to all the southwest states. He said Tinubu has done a lot for them and now they have a third deputy governor.

The Aladi Onijanikin of Ijanikin Kingdom, Oba Momodu Asafa in his goodwill message congratulated the state governor and his deputy for the outcome of the last election.

He tasked the APC in the division to be up and doing ahead of local government election.

He also appreciated Tinubu for another opportunity, adding that he thanked God for the

•From right: Oba Aileru; Mrs Tinubu-Ojo; Onitire of Itire Oba Lateef Dauda and Chief Ubani

third deputy governor. He assured Dr Adebule and Ambode of their support, praying that they would succeed.

Lagos State Former Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, added that the people should play their part and allow the deputy to also play hers for the progress of the nation.

The Alabirun of Ikaare Land, Oba Kayode Akinyemi gave the deputy a bottle of wine.

He drank from the cup and gave her some.

Dr Adebule appreciated the division for their support at the last election.

She described her success as theirs, appealing to the division to reunite themselves ahead of other elections.

“Am not here alone but am here with the governor and we are here to appreciate you all for your support. I want you to know that if I do it well, it will open doors for others and together we will claim more success. All I want is your blessings and I promise not to stay away. We are promising you that we will do our best from where our predecessor stopped for the continuity of the progressive in Lagos state,” she said.

•From left: Onowu Ndigbo Mushin Raphael Nnaekezie; Eze Ndigbo of Mushin John Nwosu and Chairman Planning Committee Prince Yahya Aileru

Celebration of unity The 20th Mushin Day has been celebrated at the Ojuwoye market square. Residents, irrespective of tribes and religion gathered for the ceremony reports NNEKA NWANERI.

Y

EARLY, Mushin Lagos residents celebrate their unity and achievements.

It started 20 years ago. This year’s be the 20th edition.

Men, women and children of the area wore well- tailored attires. They made their way to the old palace of the traditional ruler, the Olu of Mushin,Oba Fatai Aileru. They waited patiently watching as the venue was being set up for the event.

All stalls at the Mushin market were shut.

Everywhere was quiet.

The youth besieged a stage, where famous musician-Osanla 1, Wasiu Pasuma was billed to perform. They ensured there were to be no hitches during the event.

The chiefs assembled at the palace to pay homage, traditional rites followed as they presented the oba with schnapps and local

gins.

The beating of the Gbedu drum, signalled the kick off of historic event. Oba Aileru led all to the rendezvous.

In a welcome address, the chairman of the occasion and former Police Officer, Chief Ebere Ubani, praised the initiative of the organisers of the event and called for total participation. He was glad that Yoruba land has been a favourable ground for many successful Igbo men, adding that the unity between both tribes must be upheld. He referred to the relationship that led to the death of Adekunle Fajuyi (Yoruba) who died with his former boss and Head of State Major-General Aguyi Ironsi, an Igbo.

A few gunshots by men of the Nigerian Police Force heralded the arrival of the Iyaloja of Lagos and President-General of

•From left: Alhaja Ajoke Riyadiya; Iyaloja of Daleko Market Alhaja Aluifatu Alalukinba and Alhaja Mufuliat Adebunmi

Market Men and Women, Chief Folashade Tinubu- Ojo. The tone of the setting changed. She launched a Children Welfare Scheme, a project which she said, is dear to her, urging all to give proper mentoring to children. She offered prayers to everyone.

The partying continued as various itinerant drummers jostled for a space to perform before the special guests.

Also, Igbo masquerades and cultural troupe put up a spectacular display, adding

colour to the event.

The Nation met with one of those who attended the event, Ola Nelson Rafiu, who though, was born in Mushin left for the United Kingdom when he was Seven.

Having worked with the British Telecoms as an Engineer, he came home briefly to pursue his Masters degree.

He described the tradition as quite interesting and the event entertaining, adding that it evoked a sense of pride in him that he is a son of the soil.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19 2015

46

COMMENTARY

P

REAMBLE Here is the month of the Qur’an.

The revelation of the Qur’an in the sacred month of Ramadan confers the status of a habitat on the latter. But on the other hand, it is the Qur’an that enables humanity to know the significance of the month called Ramadan. Thus, the relationship between the Qur’an and Ramadan is as symbiotic as the one between the egg and the hen. It is difficult for the one to claim an origin that is different from that of the other.

The word Qur’an means continuous recitation. It is so defined because of its inimitable origin which makes it a compelling daily recitation throughout the world, across nations and centuries.

Qur’an contains the unsurpassable words of Allah not only in the grandeur of its diction and splendour of its rendition but also in the depth of its meaning, substance and profundity.

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

The Qur’an and Ramadan in the ‘Divine Diary of Life called the Qur’an’.

Revelation The revelation of this sacred ‘Book’ to mankind through an unlettered desert Arab, Muhammad (SAW) the son of Abdullah and Aminah, began in 610 CE. It lasted 22 years and three months (12 years in Makkah and12 years plus three months in Madinah). The book contains 114 chapters and 6236 verses (not 6666 verses often erroneously quoted by most Nigerian Muslim clerics). Of these 114 chapters, 86 were revealed in Makkah and 28 in Madinah. But the 28 chapters revealed in Madinah constitute two thirds of the Book. And this is because the Makkah chapters are short and rhythmic while those of Madinah are long and prose-like.

Although the Qur’an was revealed orally, its writing began as soon as its revelations commenced. The writing was however done on primitive materials like wood, animal hide, back of trees, tablets of rock and others of the like which were then readily available. It was only a year (633 C.E) after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), that those writings were rendered into a book form not in a foreign language as in the case of the Bible but in Arabic which was its original language of revelation. And one of the wonders in documenting the Qur’anic revelations is the classification of those revelations into chapters and verses by the Prophet himself despite his unlettered status.

Manner of presentation The manner of presenting the Qur’anic revelations is simple and direct. It employs neither artifice nor conventional poses. Its main appeal is to man’s intellect, feelings and imagination. It does not only touch the anecdotes of previous Prophets and nations in different ages and even the accounts of earlier revelations, it also covers the entire period of human existence from the beginning of creation to the very last Day of Judgment.

Besides the above, the Qur’an also gives insight into some natural phenomena like spherical objects and revolution of the earth (Q. 39:5) the formation of rain (Q. 30:48); the fertilisation of the wind (Q. 15:22); the revolution of the sun, the moon and the planets in their fixed orbits (Q. 36:29-38); the aquatic origin of all creatures (Q. 21:30); the duality of the sex of plants and other creatures (Q. 36:35); the collective life of animals (Q.6:38); the mode of life of the bees (Q. 16:69) and the successive phases of the child in the mother’s womb (Q. 22:5 & 23:14). All these can be found only in the Qur’an, of all the revealed Books. Or can anybody point out anything similar to these in any other revealed book?

Yet, the purpose of this Qur’an is not to teach history, astronomy, philosophy or sciences. It is rather to guide mankind in their pursuit of knowledge towards achieving the benefits of each of these fields throughout human odyssey.

Language of the Qur’an Most Muslim clerics read the Qur’an in its original language (Arabic) without understanding what they are reading because they do not speak that language.

Some read it as a means of solving their imaginary problems thus taking the Qur’an for a charm which must yield result if manipulated towards their whims.

The Qur’an is not meant for that purpose.

Profile of the Qur’an

It is rather the manual of life for man by which he lives his daily life and conducts his daily affairs.

The word Qur’an means continuous recitation and understanding. It is so called because of its inimitable origin which makes it a compelling daily reading throughout the world and across ages. It contains the unsurpassable words of Allah not only in the grandeur of its diction and the splendour of its rendition but also in the depth of its meaning, substance and profundity.

Originality of language That the Qur’an is the only revealed ‘BOOK’ in the world today that has consistently retained the originality of both its language and contents for over 1400 years is enough a testimony to the proof of its divine origin. That also confirms not only the genuineness of the prophet-hood of Muhammad (SAW) as a Messenger of Allah but also the lucidity of Arabic as one of the oldest languages in the world today. Thus, just as there can be no proof of the identity of a messenger without the authenticity of the message so can there be no proof of the genuineness of the prophetic mission of Muhammad (SAW) outside the proof of the Qur’an.

Proof of divine origin It cannot be strange to see anybody who perceives the immortal God in the image of a mortal being perceive Islam as a mere dogma like any other religion. It is such people who keep asking for the proof of Qur’anic revelation as if other revelations before the Qur’an do not need proof. In reason and logic, asking for the proof of the Qur’an after all the manifest evidences in its contents is like asking the sun to prove its rays. However, it is the nature and character of unbelievers to deny the truth and refute the obvious. But does it really bother the sun that a blind man denies its rays? Or can a brook be assaulted in anyway if the herds boycott its water?

Features of the Qur’an Qur’an leaves no aspect of life untouched and it leaves no secret unrevealed. Problems and solutions; history and lessons; crimes and penalties; justice and righteousness; discipline and courage; friendship and trust; governance and methodology; marriage and divorce; widowhood and orphanage; childhood and inheritance; poverty and wealth; opinion and logic; facts and figures; life and death; darkness and light; war and peace; leadership and power; angel and man; heavens and earth; all these and many other matters relating to man and his environment form the subjects of discussion and guidance

The revelation of this Book to mankind through an unlettered desert Arab, Muhammad (SAW) son of Abdullah and Aminah, began in the month of Ramadan in year 610 CE. It lasted about 23 years (10 years in Makkah and12 years plus a few months in Madinah). The book contains 114 chapters and 6246 verses (not 6666 verses often announced by most Imams and Alfas). Any individual can verify this by checking the number of verses in each chapter and adding them together. It does not take more than one hour to do this.

Of the 114 chapters contained in the Qur’an, 86 were revealed in Makkah and 28 in Madinah. But the 28 chapters revealed in Madinah constitute two thirds of the entire Sacred Book. And this is because the Makkah chapters are short and rhythmic while those of Madinah are long and prose-like.

Although the Qur’an was revealed orally, its writing began almost immediately the revelations started. The writing was however done on primitive materials like wood, animal hides, back of trees and others of the like which were then readily available. It was only much later, after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), that those writings were brought together and rendered into a book form.

One of the wonders of recording the Qur’an in writing is the classification of those revelations into chapters and verses by the Prophet himself despite his Inability to read and write.

The manner of presenting the Qur’anic revelations is simple and direct. It employs neither artifice nor conventional poses. Its main appeal is to man’s intellect, feelings and imagination. It does not only touch the anecdotes of the past Prophets in different ages and nations as well as the accounts of earlier revelations, it also covers the period from the beginning of creation to the very last Day of Judgment and beyond.

Not only that, Al-Qur’an also gives insight into some natural phenomena like sphericity and revolution of the earth (Q. 39:5) the formation of rain (Q. 30:48); the fertilisation of the wind (Q. 15:22); the revolution of the sun, the moon and the planets in their fixed orbits (Q. 36:29-38); the aquatic origin of all creatures (Q. 21:30); the duality of the sex of plants and other creatures (Q. 36:35); the collective life of animals (Q.6:38); the mode of life of the bees (Q. 16:69) and the successive phases of the child in the mother’s womb (Q. 22:5 & 23:14). Yet, the purpose of this Book is not to teach history, astronomy, philosophy or sciences.

Qur’anic Lessons In this glorious Book are practical lessons such as the great deluge, the cataclysm of Sodom and Gomorrah, the defeat of Jalut (Goliath) by Daud (David), the doom of the tyrannical Pharaoh, and similar catastrophes that had afflicted iniquitous people of the past. All these are taught to man through the Qur’an that he (man) might know how to re-assess himself continually and properly akin to the guidance of Allah.

Apart from the facts mentioned above, many other devices were adopted from time to time, by Allah, to remind man of his mortality and to see him through a successful sojourn on earth. But unfortunately, man has always been blind to

genuine divine guidance just as he has been deaf to warnings and deviant from reason as much as he has persistently been insensitive to rightful thoughts even as he remains unreceptive to positive ideas. In his choice to form freemasonry with Satan (the custodian of ruins and deception, the inventor of arrogance and vanity and the master of avarice and woes), man has ignorantly and continuously strayed into a quagmire of sorrow. Taking Satan for his best friend, he refuses to use the long spoon with which he is provided in the Qur’an

by Allah to dine with the damned Lucifer.

Testimony To Muslims who understand the teachings of Islam through the Qur’an, all the genuine Prophets, including Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) are from Allah and all the divinely revealed ‘BOOKS’ are series of the same ‘MESSAGE’. They are like Ambassadors of a nation to another nation. Changing them from time to time does not change the nation from where they come or the foreign policy of that nation. This fact has been firmly established in the Qur’an itself thus: “The Messenger of Allah (Muhammad (SAW) believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord; and every true believer also believes in Allah and His Angels and His revealed Books and His Messengers; We do not discriminate against anyone of them (those Messengers) as they say we hear and obey (the contents of the revelation) oh God, we seek your forgive, to You is our return” Q. 3:285-286

Discipline That is why Muslims are not known for maligning any Prophet or genuinely revealed ‘BOOKS’ that have not reflected any traces of human tampering. Right from its very first day of revelation, the Qur’an has come with undeniable proof. But it takes only a divinely cleansed heart to comprehend such proof and acknowledge its authenticity. Qur’an itself is the master proof of all other celestial messages that preceded it. It is the final divine revelation which has no human interference or human tampering.

Neither Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who brought this Sacred Book to mankind nor any of his companions (or disciples) had a say in it. The Book contains no chapters or verses according to anybody. And unlike some other books no one speaks in the Qur’an on behalf of Allah in the name of revelation. Even the personal expressions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) about mundane life which are generally known as Hadith were not to be mingled with the verses of the Qur’an despite his endowed divine inspirations. And where such expressions seem to contradict any part of the Qur’an they automatically become superseded by the contents of the latter.

Mirror of Life Qur’an is the extraordinary compendium in which the activities of man from the very beginning of human existence to the end of human life are chronicled. It is the eternally concrete ‘MIRROR’ through which the descendants of Adam and Hawau can see life in its past, its present and its near and far future. This ‘MIRROR’ is the spectacle that heals the blind, the natural manure that fertilises the human brain and the greatest treasure in the possession of mankind.

For the rightly guided mind, the Qur’an is the eye with which to see, the ear with which to hear and the sense with which to reason. It is the bridge across the valleys of life; the insurance against any damnation; the passport for salvation and the only reliable redeemer of mankind.

For any divinely tamed mind therefore, life begins and ends with the Qur’an, Allah’s own tradition and the only authentic fountain from which man can draw and sip from the living spring of wisdom. The sense that reasons with the Qur’an makes no mistake. Any mind that thinks with the Qur’an can never be devilled. Any eye that sees with it can never incur sore. Any tongue that talks with it will never stammer. Any power that genuinely rules with it will never falls. Meanwhile, the Almighty Allah warns in this non-such Book (the Qur’an) thus: “But whosoever deviates from My guidance, verily for him is life of subjugation and We shall raise him up a blind person on the Day of resurrection” (Q. 20: 124).

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

47

DISCOURSE

‘How Southwest was shortchanged in SURE-P projects’ Former Chairman, Ekiti State Special Intervention and Empowerment Programme (SIEP) Committee, a portion of the state subsidiary Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Chief Samuel Bandele Falegan, in a letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo in January last year, highlight how the states in the Southwest were shortchanged in the SURE-P projects.

The letter reads:

Summary of Proposed Subsidy Savings for the month of February, 2012.

S\N 1 2 3 4 5

FGN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FGN SHARE OF DERIVATION & ECOLOGY FEDERAL CAPITAL TERITORY STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FGN SHARE OF DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TOTAL

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE, ABUJA SAVINGS FROM SUBSIDY REINVESTMENT AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME, FEBRUARY, 2012 At the inception of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), the Jonathan administration made solemn commitment to the transparent and accountable implementation of the programme. In keeping with this pledge, here is breakdown of the subsidy saving for February 2012 allocates to the Federal, States and Local Governments.

At the inauguration of the Ekiti State’s committee, the following are extracts from the Governor’s speech. “On 1st January 2012, the Federal Government announced the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector of the economy. To an average Nigerian, this only means removal of fuel subsidy and an increase in the pump price of petrol. The pump price of petrol then moved from N65 to N141 per litre and later reduced to N97 per litre.

In February 2012, the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR inaugurated the subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Pro-

16,292,783,505.15

In addition, as at 11/3/13, the SIEP has released fund for the following projects: S/N 1 2 3 4 5

DATE 29/1/13 16/4/13 28/5/13 17/12/13 10/11/12

6 7

5/10/12 21/11/12

8

Your Excellencies UTILIZATION OF SURE-P FUND I am reluctantly compelled to write this letter to you on the above subject, especially the controversy about the “missing N500billion”.

The document on SURE-P released in January 2012 contained among other things the following: · The total projected subsidy reinvestible funds per annum are N1.134 trillion based on average crude oil price of US$90 per barrel. Out of this, N478.49 billion accrues to Federal Government, N411.03 billion to State Governments, N203.23 billion to Local Governments, N9.86 billion to the federal Capital Territory (FCT) and N31.37 billion as Transfers to Derivation and Ecology, Development of Natural Resources and Stabilization Funds. · In order to transform the economy, in line with the Vision 20:2020 objectives, critical infrastructure projects in the power, roads, transportation, water and downstream petroleum sectors will be executed. · Public works programmes will include projects such as: a. Environmental Projects i. Execution of flood and erosion-control works; ii. Waste disposal and sanitation community projects; iii. Tree planting to combat desertification. b. Education Infrastructure: Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Education Infrastructure and Facilities. c. Health Infrastructure: Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Health Infrastructure and Facilities.

After deciding to remove oil subsidy, the Federal Government set up a subsidy withdrawal organ (SURE-P) which is to use the proceeds or savings from the subsidy to finance development projects nationwide. Under it, each state, including the Federal Capital Territory, share in the proceeds of the oil subsidy in accordance with the Federal Revenue allocation formula.

While each state is free to use its own share for projects of its choice, the Federal share is to cover the whole Federation in key areas warranting development.

As a follow-up, The Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja made the following release in the Punch Newspapers on Wednesday April 16, 2012.

SUBSIDY SAVINGS @97/Litre =N= 15,000,000,000.00 309,278,350.52 309,278,350.52 154,639,175.26 519,587,628.87

13/11/12 19/11/12 21/11/12 22/11/12 17/12/12 21/11/12 21/11/12 21/11/12 22/11/12 13/6,13

PROJECT DESCRIPTION OBA ADEJUGBE HOSPITAL (DALTEX NIG.LTD) 14.5% TAX DEDUCTION POCUREMENT OF TRICYCLES EKITI STATE PAVILION 1 TOYOTA AVENSIS, 2 CORROLA & 3 HILUX FOUNTAIN METROPOLITAN MOTORS-COUNTERPART FUNDING PROCUREMENT OF 200 BAJAJ 4 STROKE TRICYCLES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MDA’S HEALTH PROJECTS MISSION 2012 1 ST PAY FO R STATE 6 TH FREE HEALTH STATE 6 TH FREE HEALTH MISSION AWARENESS OF CANCER A ND METABOLIC DISORDERS INTERGRATED SU PPORTIVE SUPPERVISION & QUALITY REC. INITITI VE ESSENTIAL DRUGS & CONSUMABLES FOR 35 HEALTH FACILITIES SETTLEMENT OF HEALTH REFERRED TO EKSUTH HEALTH PROG. TRG OF HEALTH WORKERS, SCHL OF TOMOMIASIS BY MOH DRUG ABUSE SENSITISATION CAMPAIGN INSTITUTION IN EKITI EKS HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT II (HSDP II) 2013 1ST QUARTER OPERATIONAL F UNDS FOR FREE HEALTH PROG.

=N=

=N= 57,090,635 12,337,200 254,135,437 29,954,000 45,000,000 85,360,000 130,000,000

35,000,000 30,000,000 28,580,000

•Chief Falegan

17,029,811 35,846,860

1,041,790 1,676,840 2,500,000 55,000,000 150,000,000 356,675,301

9 18/2/13 28/5/13

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROVISION OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURES FOR 16 LOCAL GOVTS COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY SELF HELP PROJECTS IN THE STATE

72,544,232 298,958,500 371,502,732

10 4/4/13 4/4/13 10/4/13 11

INTER-STATE ROADS DUALISATION OF ADO-IWOROKO-IFAKI ROADS, HAJAIG CONST. DUALISATION OF ADO-IWOROKO-IFAKI ROADS, HAJAIG CONST. REHABILITATION OF IKERE-OLD GARRAGE ROAD, PLY CON

12/3/13

PURCHASE OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT

8/7/13

CIVIC CENTRE EKSG CIVIC CENTRE, ADO-EKITI GRAND TOTAL

12

1,500,000 250,000,000 339,059,164 590,559,164 4,165,000

350,116,245 2,286,895,714

‘

At the Ekiti State level, I was privileged to have been chosen by the State Governor to manage with a committee of 9 members the Ekiti state portion of the SURE-P re-christened Ekiti State Special Intervention and Empowerment Programme (SIEP). With all sense of responsibility our books are available for public scrutiny; we have scrupulously and honestly kept to our mandate

gramme (SURE-P) headed by Dr. Christopher Kolade to utilize the funds accruing from pump price increase for inventions in critical sectors of the national economy to touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians. On our part, we had wanted to inaugurate this scheme as far back as February 2012, but our accrued share of the gains was not released until May, 2012. As a matter of fact, the Federal Government released the accruals from the savings from the subsidy removal policy for the first five months of the years to the three tiers of government just recently. A separate account has been opened for this purpose in the State.

This committee that is being inaugurated is a creation of the State Executive Council and it is empowered to provide the implementation plans for the management of the fund with clear concentration on projects that will have a direct impact on the people. In this regard, attention will be given to Youth Empowerment through commercial agriculture which was launched recently, health Care Delivery with particular reference to save Motherhood and Public Transportation which will promote tricycle rather than Okada for hinterland access in our urban and rural areas among other critical schemes aimed at complementing the Government’s various social empowerment interventions.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, members of this committee have been carefully selected to reflect the importance attached to the assignment on hand. By every standard, these distinguished citizens have proven track record of capability, integrity and courage to call a spade its name. They are people of character who have over the years created a niche for themselves in their various professions and callings as excellent performers. I can say with

’

certainty that they would apply themselves to the work with dignity so that the common man would further have a feel of purposeful governance that our administration has been identified with. This Committee has been structured not to be held hostage by bureaucratic red-tape given the sense of urgency that the various initiatives require.”

At the Ekiti State level, I was privileged to have been chosen by the State Governor to manage with a committee of 9 members the Ekiti state portion of the SURE-P re-christened Ekiti State Special Intervention and Empowerment Programme (SIEP). With all sense of responsibility our books are available for public scrutiny; we have scrupulously and honestly kept to our mandate.

For the utilization of the State’s own SIEP, a Bureau of Special Projects was created which as appeared in THE NATION Tuesday March 12 2013 was to embark on the following projects: i. Renovation of 18 General Hospitals; ii. Construction of 3 Mother and Child Hospitals; iii. Construction of 16 Local Government Markets across the State; iv. Construction of Bus Terminus in AdoEkiti; v. Drilling of Boreholes; vi. Construction of 36 Bus Stops in Ado-Ekiti; vii.Completion of Staff Clinic at the State Secretariat Complex.

Incidentally the SIEP support funding of the Dualization of ADO-IWOROKO-IFAKI road which is a Federal road project arises from the failure of the Federal Government to reimburse or refund the money owed to the State Govern-

ment on the road.

With the approval of the state Governor, the following on-going projects are being jointly developed with the State Government with financial support from SIEP: (A) State Legacy projects (i) Freedom pavilion to which SIEP has contributed over N500million is nearing completion. (ii) N350million for Life Academy Centre at Iluomoba.

(B) N300million for the state Ministry of Education for the rehabilitation and renovation of three major secondary schools one in each senatorial district.

(C) N300million for SUBEB for textbooks and core subjects.

The crux of the matter However, what you will observe Your Excellency is that while each state has or is receiving its share of the subsidy based on existing revenue allocation, the Federal Government is to use its own portion to intervene in specific areas throughout the Federation.

Some of such areas as listed in the SURE-P release and contained in the Federal Ministry of Finance shown above is the very crux of the matter. It is the inequity, political disfranchisement and bias in the utilization of the Federal portion which has marginalized the core / South-West of Nigeria that I will illustrate with three specific instances.

The Role of SURE-P As An Instrument of Nation-wide Intervention Development Strategy. (i) Infrastructural Discrimination A major marginalization of the core SouthWest, is the Federal Government announcement that it plans to construct 10 new rail lines as reported in The Punch of 24th December 2012.

The information as contained on Page 26 of that paper is partly reproduced below: “The Federal Government has announced plans to construct 10 new rail lines to cover other parts of the country currently not linked by rail. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said on Friday that already feasibility studies have commenced on seven of the proposed railway lines. Umar who spoke in Lagos at the inauguration of the Lagos-Kano train service and resumption of fuel haulage by train from Lagos to Offa, said that the feasibility studies on three other planned rail line would be done in 2013. He gave the total distance of the areas to be covered by the seven rail lines as 3,421 kilometres. The Minister said that at the completion of the feasibility studies, the railway development project would be undertaken through public private partnership arrangement. Upon final construction of these lines, it will improve mass movement of Nigerians and open windows for rapid economic development minister and regional interaction,” he said.

Umar stressed that all the new rail lines would be constructed as standard gauge track for the movement of fast trains. According to him, the new lines would cover Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore-Benin (300km); Benin-Agbor-OnitshaNnewi-Owerri-Aba, with additional line from Onitsha-Enugu-Abakaliki (500km).

It also includes a 615km-high-speed rail track from Lagos, Oshogbo and Baro. The minister listed Ajaokuta-Obajana-Jakutu-Baro-Abuja, with additional line from Ajaokuta to Otukpo (533km), Zaria-Kaura Namoda-Sokoto-IlelaBirnin Koni (520km) as other areas to be covered. Others are costal rail line linking BeninContinued on page 48

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

48

DISCOURSE Continued from page 47 Sapele-warri-Yenagoa-Port Harcourt-AbaUyo-Akampa-Ikom-Obudu Cattle ranch (673km); and Ajaokuta-Eganyi-Lokoja-AbajiAbuja line (280km). The other three lines whose feasibility contracts would be awarded next year are Port Harcourt-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Kaduna-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri; Ikom-Ogoja-Kastina-Ala-Wukari-JalingoYola-Maiduguri and Kani-Nguru-GashuaDamaturu-Maiduguri-Gamborun-Ngala.

With 10 new railway lines that excludes the core southwest, pray does the phrase “other parts of the country currently not linked by rail” include Oyo-Ekiti-Ondo? Pray why such planned railway not extended between Oyo State (Ibadan) to Ekiti-State (Ado-Ekiti) to Ondo State (Akure)? After all, each state capital was planned to be connected by rail under the Obasanjo administration.

How will envisaged economic benefits extend to those neglected states? How do they benefit in terms of employment, enhancement of trade and commerce within and outside the communities? How do the neglected states take pressure off the overburdened roads and reduce frequency of road accidents, strengthen social and intercultural relations? How do these excluded states benefit from economic integration so orchestrated? This deliberate marginalization has further shifted the operations of the companies mentioned (Lafarge, Dangote cement etc) which own the heavy duty trucks and trailers to the neglected states to further damage and destroy both state and federal roads being reconstructed by these neglected states out of the meager funds they get from the federation account.

You need to travel through Ilesha-AkureOwo-Benin road and see daily carnage. Ekiti State is completely caught off between Akure and Ado-Ekiti unless you go via Akure-igbaraodo-odo in a circular way. Although contract for Ilesha-Akure road was recently awarded for reconstruction (not dualization), why not the whole hug from Ibadan? Why should Okitipupa-Ondo-Akure-Benin road not be dualised? Why should Akure-Ado-Ekiti-Omuaran road not be dualised from the same SURE-P funds? More questions are definitely begging for answers.

Item 2.9: List of Road Projects: Of the 1,326km roads, the 295km allocated to SW/S covers Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriage way.

It should be observed that this Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriage way has always been factored into the annual Federal budget for roads in the past 20 or more years. The Nation of Saturday 16 February 2013, page 6, carried another news item that the Federal government has obtained fund from SURE-P to dualise Abuja-Benin road. Yet, the federal authorities are aware of the appalling state of federal roads in middle and core Southwest states.

(Ondo-Ekiti-Osun) where federal roads vertically and diagonally pass through: Akure (Ondo State) to Ilesha in Osun State. The same is true of Iyamoye (Kogi) to Omuo, Ikole, Ogotun in (Ekiti state) to Osun state. Ekiti state has the shortest federal roads in the federation, yet not one kilometre road is considered by SUREP for rehabilitation out of the poor roads listed above.

Item E1:33 Irrigation Projects: nineteen irrigation projects are listed with four going to North East; three each for North West, South East and South South. The two listed for South West go to Ogun and Oyo States as if those are the only states in the South West. The Ero Water Dam and Lake, covering 11Kilometres in Ekiti State, is one of the largest water/ irrigation projects in Nigeria, established at the same time as those listed above in other parts of the country which are to benefit SURE-P. Why should it not qualify for SURE-P’s attention like others listed above?

Item E2:34 Rural and Urban Water Supply Projects: The little Osse mentioned in Ekiti State is put there to demonstrate precedence and involvement. The Ero Water Dam mentioned above can serve the purpose of both irrigation for agriculture and water supply, while Arinta Waterfalls should qualify for Tourism intervention under the Federal scheme.

Item 36 & 37: Selected Power Projects: What is needed here from the Federal Government is a second 132/33KV power substation project in the northern part of Ekiti and the urgent completion of the on-going one which is no more adequate for the state capital, not to talk of the whole state.

If the Federal Government can embark on all these projects with or in addition to SURE-P funds, why is it that none of the federal roads as shown earlier in these core southwest states is receiving Federal attention?

While our legislators must continue to be vigilant and alive to their responsibilities to the

EKITI STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY S/N

TOWN

1

ADO

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

IGEDE ILAWE OTUN ERIO ODE IMESI IGOGO IFAKI/IWOROK O IKERE ITAPA IYE ISE IKOLE-EKITI OKEMESI

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

AFAO IKORO-EKITI IPOTI USI-EKITI ILOGBO-EKITI IFAKI-EKITI ARA-EKITI

23 24

ODO-OWA ERINJIYANEKITI ARAMOKOEKITI

25

LOCATION

NATURE OF PROBLEM

Falegan Estate, Ilawe Road Dallimore, Jokotayo, Adehun Bisi Egbeyemi/Tope Alabi/Teniola /Orubuloye/Omosio (a&b), Okesa, Ajilosun-ureje Confluence, Igirigiri.

Oke-Aga, Oropupa to Ilamoye 0ke-Ibedo/Erita Omi-Oko, Ogburugburu, Ajitutu Ilope, Obada & Oke-Ode gullies Eregunrun and Ilase gullies Imesi gully Isalu/Oke-Owa Oseni, Iwore/Ilado; Oke-Ede flood Plain, Iworoko gullies Anaye, Ugele, Odo-Iro/Odo-Osun River Imila gully Isapa, Obanla, Odo-Idana gullies Idi-Motun/Erinwa Esun, Olope, Ugbesi, Ayetoro, Odo-Oro Odo-Ese, Ilesegunrin, Okeloro, Itio Idobi,Odowo Iro, Odunmorun Kajola gully Ojobe gully Ajagbaara gully, Phase II Imila Imuta, Odo-Ode (Upper & Low Reaches) Ilogbe, Ifaki-Ekiti Ojuoro Upper/Lower, Odo-ro(i./ii.) Ijoko OkeAdura, Odo-lua, Temidire/Araromi Abija Aurin, Oke-dofin, Idogun Igbo Ekuru, Igbehin/Ogunna Ijelu, Okunato/Oyee, Ijofi/Ijanikin, Alele, Ikalako

COST ESTIMATE N 98,180,123.00

Gully Erosion and Flood

608,807,430.00 1,194,540,909.00

Gully Erosion Gully Erosion & Flood Flood/Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion

169,658,587.00 327,791,659.54 289,554,472.75 72,361,984.75 85,153,740.21 51,151,744.88 103,573,458.40 161,663,279.10

Flood & Gully Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Flooding Flood/Gully Gully Erosion

287,741,905.60 80,286,879.75 55,712,512.25 56,302,805.79 255,814,597.50 283,171,869.85

Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Gully Erosion Flood/Gully Erosion

57,380,587.11 101,442,749.10 174,105,808.80 65,328,948.30 64,808,401.37 82,008,784.36 163,236,327.90

Flood/Gully Erosion Flood Gully Erosion

75,601,943.89 68,283,213.45

Flood & gully Erosion

152,081,193.00

TOTAL

5,236,895,656.81

Excellency, I attach as appendix "A" this write up titled "Deprivation & Derivation Principles: why north is poor (I) by Samuel Diminas on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 7:50pm. The real owners of Nigeria!" which shows that 75% of crude oil and gas produced by indigenous companies in Nigeria is controlled by Northerners, with the following as the beneficiaries.

1 2 3 4

Company Cavendish Petroleum Sapetro/ South Atlantic Petroleum Seplat / Platform Petroleum AMM International Pet. Dev. Co

5

Oriental Energy Resources Ltd

6 7 8 9 10 11

Express Petroleum & Gas Ltd. SEPCOL Sheba Exp. Ltd Consolidated Oil (Conoil Afren Intels

12

NorthEast Petroleum

electorate, they must not underestimate the negative influence of policy formulators who deliberately and mischievously plan and execute such discriminatory policies to their (sectional) advantage.

That is why I appreciate the action and vigilance of Senator Femi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) in detecting the fraud, if not dishonesty, in the 2013 budget proposal for roads in other states were shown as Ekiti State roads!

I will like to draw the attention of Senator Ojudu to the dredging and canalization work at Ureje River (that is Ureje Water Works) under the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. The contract was awarded for N1.2billion and reported to have been completed and paid for in 2010 when, in fact, up till now, no work has been done on the site, which is now overgrown with weeds. The contractor who quoted N890million for the job lost out. (ii) Utilization of Ecological Funds/Environmental Projects Discrimination It is common knowledge now and as revealed and confirmed in some daily papers that all PDP States received N2Billion Ecological Funds for the utilization of Ecological and environmental problems to the exclusion of non-PDP states which largely affect the whole of SouthWest States.

I have with me as shown in the table below 25 Ecological Projects that the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in Ekiti has submitted to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) all with negative replies as if we are not entitled to attention from this commonwealth purse.

Each of the affected area deteriorates during every rainy season with the attention of the FEPA drawn to the yearly deterioration and expansion of damage to the areas affected with no positive response from FEPA. I have refused to allow my area, Falegan Estate most severely devastated by torrential rain – to be done in isolation from others. The last rainfall not only weakened my walls but had

‘

Owner Alhaji Mai Deribe General T.Y.Danjuma The Ado Bayeros and Atiku Abubakar Rilwan Lukman Alhaji (Col) Sani Bello (Chaiman of AMM Co) Alhaji Mohammed Indimi Alhaji Aliko Dangote Alhaji Aminu Dantat IBB Tributary Co ‘’ IBB substantial Interest Rilwan Lukman Yar’Adua & Ado Bayero & Atiku Abubakar Alhaji Saleh Jambo

Field OML 110 OPL 246 OML 112 & OML 117 OML 115 + Okwork field and Ebok field (OMLPSC) OML 108 4DW OML 108 ‘’ JDZ

OPL 115 OPL 276 & 283

part of the wall broken down under the weight of the heavy downpour. It is available for inspection. A major danger which can lead to a landslide that will affect about 20 houses lies ahead if the next rainy season should meet us here.

I have it on good authority that my Governor in Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his officials have paid not less than 5 visits both to the Federal Ministry of Environment and FEPA on the issues listed in the table above without any polite or positive result. How do you treat a head of a state government with such derision, contempt and lack of respect? Is this how to live together as one country?

It is no exaggeration that natural disasters like flood and rain storm incidents have been occurring indiscriminately across the length and breadth of the country with all states facing virtually the same climatic challenges. For instance, the Global Warming Syndrome has made a mess of climatic restrictions to certain geographical locations such that incidents of flood etc now cut across virtually all states. (iii) The screaming headline of the Nigeria TRIBUNE No 15,880 of Friday 27 December, 2013 “N30BN 2014 IRRIGATION PROJECTS SOUTHWEST SHORT-CHANGED” North 80%, SS/SE 18%, S/West 2% cannot but worry people like me at my age at 80 whether Nigeria as at present being governed is worth dying for or whether a patriot is not a fool.

The above is just one item of capital expenditure where the discriminating Minister and her Permanent Secretary are from Plateau State and Bauchi State up North respectively.

While the 2013 budget proposal for roads in other states were shown as Ekiti State roads (as discovered by Senator Ojudu), the 2014 budget does not show any appropriation for roads in Ekiti. In which case, there is no budget for Ekiti State for two years running.

The Federal Agency on Roads (so called FERMA) that pretends to operate in this part of the

Here is a cabal, holding the whole country by the jugular.

Whether in Government or in Opposition this crop of rapacious, selfish and greedy people including their sponsors and backers can not but be a collective threat to the stability and security of the country

’

country merely ends up creating more problems that solved. It engages in merely parching the roads and adding more layers of bumps that peel off at the slightest rainfall. The Federal road between Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State and Akure in Ondo State as a good illustration.

In civilized environment, where politics of subtle and creeping compromise and discrimination does not hold, the ecological problem facing us in Ekiti State is sufficient to declare the whole state a disaster area. It is the prayer of people like me that Nigeria survives and its components love, and as a Nation live together in peace. But Your Excellency, peace won by compromise of principles and discrimination is a short-lived achievement. A fabler with two wives says “Yield to both and you will soon have nothing to yield”, while Wilson Churchill said “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last”. No axe can sit down and withhold his hands from warfare against wrong and get peace from his acquiescence.

Your Excellency, It is not that any N500billion is missing or that Dr. Christopher Kolade resigned because of any missing N500billion. If anything, Dr. Kolade, (who I know very well; we grew up here together in Ekiti; his mother is from Igede-Ekiti, while his father who was a godly Priest in Ekiti here where Christopher was born is from Erin-Ijesha in Osun State). A transparently honest and shrewd diplomat must have resigned because of evidence of compromised cheating, inequities and partiality, made up of ungodly and heartless discrimination against his own part of the country by an organization over which he is supposed to preside.

Why should Dr. Kolade continue as of conscience to be Chairman of an organization that discriminates against his own part of the country? Discretion, they say, is a better part of valour. Why are we building some people up and bringing others down, yet pledging we live together in peace as one. It is a spiteful political decision which does not reflect any credit on the balance and maturity of the people who take such decision either on your behalf or at the directive of MR. President. It is an avoidable arbitrariness in the utilization of funds while in turn breeds corruption.

I can not lay hold on the concluding part of the information above. With this kind of lopsided and sectional ownership of the main source of income, the country is heading for a serious crisis ahead of itself.

At a glance, the above can lead to a violent revolution that can make nonsense of a National Dialogue or National Conference, whose end is already being foreshadowed of disintegration if the threat of the demagogue Asari Dokubo were to be taken seriously of a SouthSouth serial nation-wide pipeline vandalisation in the absence of a negotiated “Ijaw State or “Ijaw Nation” that own the oil unless you are re-elected President of Nigeria.

Here is a cabal, holding the whole country by the jugular. Whether in Government or in Opposition this crop of rapacious, selfish and greedy people including their sponsors and backers can not but be a collective threat to the stability and security of the country and any government now or in future that fails to dismantle them and cancel all their monopolistic grip on the Nigerian economy is doomed to failure.

While the Dangotes, the Adenugas and Conoil are visibly employing their “lots” for productive use, stimulating the economy through employment generation and business expansion that are impacting positively nationwide on the economy, all the others merely stand aloof displaying their loots in provocative vanity through “fronts” that create “rentier class” for the rest of the country who is made to eat from the crump that falls from the table, starking their “loots” abroad with their foreign collaborators who readily acquiesce because they use the funds to provide employment for their own people. Their transient political and financial support, however beneficial must be weighed against the lethal danger they constitute in the long run to the stability and security of this country. Their collective threat and stranglehold which must be seen as providing resentment, irritation, agitation, resistance and uprising which are all evident in the rising tempo of national distrust, ethnic and religious conflicts, increase in hitherto unknown crime of kidnapping, wave of pirates’ attack on Nigeria’s territorial waters, must be laid before the National Conference for deliberation because they are all induced by the Nation’s main source of wealth and means of livelihood.

This class of special people induce jealousy and hatred and create the so-called “Boko Haram” which protest ostensibly against injustice whose cancerous spread has contaminated innocent people individually, corporately, sectorally, sectly and religiously, even the security outfit defending the country.

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51

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

‘Neglect of agric ‘ll slow down economic recovery’ P RESIDENT, Federation of Agriculture Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr Victor Iyama, has warned that the economy will continue to decline due to the lack of attention paid to the agriculture sector, which has been the backbone of the economy for decades.

He said contribution of the agriculture sector is likely to drop further this year as new government failed to deliver on infrastructural development through budgetary allocation.

Iyama who is also Chairman, Board of Trustees, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN),urged the government not to cave-in to the pressure of increasing state government debts, to reduced budget allocation set aside for improving the farming environ-

Stories by Daniel Essiet

ment.

With the drop in oil revenue, he appealed to the government to rethink its plans by ensuring that more public money is spent on measures to protect agriculture and boost agric exports.

He stressed that the government needed to go back to the drawing board to ensure that agric strategy finds new ways to ensure farmers provide more food to Nigerians.

According to him, the issue of delay in salaries payment should not be used as an excuse to divert funds meant for development purposes, as there were sufficient budgetary allocations for salaries.

He explained that the issue of delay in salaries payment has

falsely been presented urging the government to continue meeting all ongoing commitments to agric programmes.

He said so long as the budget pays less attention to agriculture, the overall national development would continue to be compromised.

What is even more worrisome, he said, was that the few good policies in various budgets have also not been implemented.

For example, he said the budget provided for irrigation facilities, but they were never implemented.

He observed that Nigeria’s economic woes are a reflection of the state of agriculture in the country, which has been characterised by under-investment, application of outmoded technologies, and use of rudimentary agricultural

equipment.

He advocated for a paradigm shift in policy that will oblige financial institutions, particularly banks, to provide a certain percentage of their loan portfolio to agriculture.

This, according to him, will certainly address the credit deficit that characterised agriculture production in the country.

He said inadequate budgetary allocations for the sector undermine its capacity to expand and create more jobs, despite the fact that agriculture has the propensity to create more jobs than other sectors.

According to him, large numbers of unemployed youth have low skills, thereby making them not qualified for high-skilled jobs in the services sector, saying they are best suited for the agriculture

sector.

He added that the quest to reduce poverty significantly is hampered by lack of job opportunities in the agriculture sector and the declining contribution of the sector to the GDP. He said for Nigeria to move into total mechanisation of agriculture, the size of farm land was critical because the one or two acre holdings is not economically viable for farmers to make enough profit to cater for themselves and their families. Therefore, farmers must have realistic land sizes to be able to make great gains.

He noted that though all governments put some premium on agriculture, farmers had no access to viable seeds and the irrigation system in the country had totally collapsed.

Firm plans multimillion naira tomato project to empower farmers

V

EGEFRESH Group, a top agro business conglomerate is building multimillion naira tomato processing factory at Imeko, Ogun State to support farmers to grow more high-value crops.

Speaking in Lagos after receiving a delegation of chiefs from Imeko, led by Oba Benjamin Oyeditan-Olantie, the Group Chaiman, Prince Samuel Johnson Samuel, said the project which will also involve tomato cultivation in 3000 hectares, noted that out of the amount, contract farmers will be engaged to farm on 2000 hectares.

By engaging the farmers, Samson said the company will protect them from losses as tomato is vulnerable to price shifts and external market factors.

The effects, according to him, are hard felt with farmers losing so much in earnings, affecting the employment of hundreds of thousand people involved in production as small-scale producers were unable to cover costs of production.

Given the structural changes within the sector, he noted it is clear that large numbers of farmers will never be able to effectively compete in the transformed market, adding that the company needs to work with them to identify opportunities that will provide a higher income.

In addition, the projects being implemented specifically target rural development as it promote new opportunities for trade, investment and rural economic prosperity by promoting agricultural diversification and off-farm employment for the area’s inhabitants.

The company, he said is prepared to assist farmers with access to input, including seed, fertiliser and know-how.

Farmers, according to him, are facing serious logistical problems, and crops are often unable to make it to the market in time.

According to him, storage facilities are insufficient, so they lose their harvest.

To address this, he said his organisation is establishing a crushing plant to help farmers process their produce.

The other plan, according to him, is to increase the land area under irrigation using available water resources.

The plan is to increase investment in water storage and secure water sources.

Samuel said the company needs to expand irrigation to cover the

• From left: (Sitted) Chairman, Vegefresh Group, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel; Onimeko of Imeko Land, Ogun State, Oba Benjamin Alabi Oyeditan Olanite and Executive Chairman, Hammersmith Project Solutions Ltd., Otunba Dele Ajayi-Smith at Vegefresh Group Corporate Headquarters, Surulere, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

whole farm area instead of depending on rain-fed agriculture.

He said Vegefresh had a major tomato processing plant in Bauchi State, which has not been functioning because of the activities of Boko Haram.

To this end, he said the company decided to implement its South West development plan, pending when the activities of the insurgents will be brought under control.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba

Oyeditan-Olantie said the community is ready to support Vegefresh to promote economic diversification and competitiveness of the area.

According to him, increasing the overall competitiveness of the sector through the project run, the monarch noted, would transform smallholder production and marketing systems to boost productivity and incomes.

He thanked the group for embarking on the project as it will help to

develop profitable agricultural product value chains and make farms more attractive to agribusiness in the value chain.

If it pulls through, the project would have unleashed its own agrarian revolution — as well a modest green revolution throughout the community.

Together with locals, the project is organising tomato-growing farmers into groups and will taught them the basics of cropping, farm economics, tomato and to-

mato seedling production, business planning, and marketing.

With the project’s assistance, participating farmers could increase their tomato yield.

The increase yield will result in additional income for the participating farmers.

In addition to increasing profits, the project will facilitate large, group quantity purchases of fertiliser, seeds, and other inputs, thus resulting in a more than decrease in the price.

Prep-eez, WAAPP Nigeria partner on e-agric

P

REP-EEZ-GHANA and West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) are in a partnership to provide universal information/communication services in e-agriculture services through a multilingual Interactive Voice Response (IVR) call centre, sponsored and to be managed by WAAPP. When functional, the farmer calls the centre and selects language, selects crops (maize, rice, yam, cassava, amd others) and asks details about pre-cultivation, land preparation and sowing, weed control, water management, fertiliser application and pest control, postharvest management and marketing through the call centre.

E-agriculture in Nigeria, being fa-

cilitated by consultants from Prepeez–Ghana, is to provide toll-free universal information needs of farmers and agricultural stakeholders, including low-cost communication for farmers and service providers, access to demand-driven, time-critical contents and real-time access to any field/ extension services no matter their locations, languages/level of education and finally access to modern markets through integration into commercial agricultural schemes.

“Our aim is to develop a robust, easy to use integrated and accessible system that will improve the lot of the farmers through effective/responsive participation of research and key implementers and stakeholders in the promotion

and adoption of best practices and quick response to field concerns.

“It also includes establishing relationship and integration with telecom services providers for subscription to extremely affordable voice and data servicesPre,” WAAPP/Prep-eez team said during a presentation recently.

The development of an interconnection between the platform and the ordinary farmers, where they utilise their common mobile phones, provides voice messaging to specific needs of farmers and other users whose commodities can be promoted to a wider range of buyers, or buyers’ requests for produce over the phone.

Benefits of the toll-free IVR, according to the partners, include

access to call centre agents, convenient and free audio narrative library of localised contents that farmers use at any needed time; extending support hours to 24/7 operation and allowing call centre agents some extra time to deal with complex issues, thereby making eagriculture system more efficient.

Other features of the toll-free call centre are identification of caller; auto selection of caller’s chosen language; touch tone selection of services; outbound dialer for bulk audio messaging services; backend traceability of contents accessed and also further enquiries required; access to multilingual translated content on best practices, and critical agronomics, marketing or technology information.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

52

THE NATION

BUSINESS

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms : 07035302326

SHOPPING

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Food prices soar as Ramadan begins The holy month of Ramadan is here once again. Muslim faithful across the world will observe the fasting period. To prepare adequately for this holy month, they are expected to visit the market to stock their homes with staple food items. Many of them will, however, be constrained by the sharp increase in the general prices of goods and shortage of others, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports

T

HE last one month has seen prices of staple food items in Lagos markets go up, particularly tomatoes and pepper which have become significantly out of stock since traders finished selling their old stock.

The scarcity and hike in the price of staple foods, farmers from the north says can be attributed to high cost of transportation occasioned by the lingering fuel scarcity and off season period for perishable food items.

Visits to some major markets in Lagos where these items are sold in large quantities showed that prices of items such as tomatoes, pepper, chilli pepper and others have moved up sharply without any likelihood of coming down any time soon.

At the popular Mile 12 and Mushin Markets, a big basket of tomatoes, which used to sell for N15, 000 now sells for N30, 000. A medium-size basket of fresh pepper (tatashe) now costs N12, 000 from N11, 000. A basket of chili pepper (rodo) now goes for N20, 000.00 against the N13, 000. The price of a jute bag of onions also increased from N7, 500 last week to N8, 000. A 20-litre keg of vegetable oil goes for N6, 300 against N6, 200, while a measurement of garri (known as Kongo in local

parlance) still remains at N300. The various brands of 50-kilogramme bag of rice range from N7, 000 to N12, 000. A 120-kilogramme bag of beans costs N26, 000 from N24, 500 it was sold before. A tuber of yam is now N600 as against N400 it was a few weeks ago.

At Daleko Market, a 25kg brand of Mama Gold rice goes for N5,000, 50kg-N10,00, Royal Stallion N7,800 Elephant Gold-N7,500 and Union Stallion-N7,500.

Commenting on this development, the leader of the tomato depot at Mile 12 Market, Mr. Muhammed Shittu, blamed the increase in prices on the rainy season and attack of insects.

He said: “The rain is at its peak now and its hindering the growth of tomatoes. Even when it eventually grows, it would be eaten up by insects and would not be suitable for consumption.”

Spokesman for Mile 12 Traders Association, Mr Femi Odusanya, urged the Federal Government to invest more in the agriculture sector by establishing mechanised farms. “Government needs to invest more in mechanised farming because most of the food items in the markets are cultivated by peasant farmers.

•Baskets of tomatoes at Mile-12 Market in Lagos.

PHOTO: OCHU OHUNENE LATIFAH and EKEOWA PATIENCE

Most of these farmers have just little farm lands and lack the resources for large plantation.

Mechanised farming will make farm produce to be available in large quantities, even during off-seasons while prices will not be this high.

“Until the government does the right thing by shifting attention to agriculture, the citizens will continue to groan under the pressure of costly food items.”

Alhaji Mohammed Tijani, a beans seller, at-

tributed the high price of beans to ongoing planting season and increased demand for the Ramadan.

“Price of beans keeps increasing because of its high demand beacuse of the Ramadan period. A lot of families are purchasing it for the purpose of making ‘moi-moi’ or akara’’ after breaking their fast in the evening. More so, there is reduced supply of beans to the market because farmers are not harvesting but planting now.”

Hotels.ng is Nigeria’s biggest online hotel booking portal. It books 7,000 hotels in the country with more people making bookings on its website daily. In this interview with TONIA ‘DIYAN, its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Essien, said the vision of the platform is to become the biggest travel brand in Africa. He also spoke on the evolving e-commerce sector, among other issues.

Our vision is to become biggest travel brand in Africa

W

HAT is the drive for your choice of business?

My primary drive has always been technology and I believe that technology is one of the areas that is going to have the biggest impact that we’ve ever seen in the world. The state of technology is like how cars were at the dawn of the century. Before that, everybody had been using a common man’s transportation and then, a new company rapidly developed cars. In the first 20 years of the century, we went from horses moving around everything to advanced cars that have not even changed much. So right now, in the face of technology, we are in the first 20 years of technology.

A lot of companies will be built that are going to dominate this market and that are basically going to change the way that we do things. I was always very interested in technology and living and studying in Germany at the time, I saw that there were lots of technological innovations happening there that weren’t happening in Nigeria or Africa. So, I thought of analysing the Nigerian market and see what kind of company can be built.

After looking into various things, I was able to settle for this particular market which is the hotel booking market and it turned out to be a good decision, because from there, we have proceeded to something bigger than what we were two years ago.

How did you manage to get the idea off the ground?

It was two years ago, my friend and I in Calabar were there trying to source hotels and trying to sign them unto the platform and within the few months, we were able to gain enough traction and bookings

• Essien

and gathered investment from local entrepreneur like Jason Njoku, who is the owner of Iroko TV. Using this capital, we were able to secure hotels in Calabar, Lagos and almost all the states in Nigeria. We operated successfully for the first year, second year and recently, we have been able to raise $1.2 million from a new set of people and we plan to use the money to expand not just in Nigeria but across Africa.

In what other ways can this investment help the business?

The most obvious thing that anybody has to do is to make sure that the right quality things are put in place. Our focus at this time is trying to recruit people who are very smart and determined and really want to achieve a lot in the online space and we have successfully done that by purely building up an all staff team that is turning out to be an impressive one with an impressive kind of work.

How would you assess the Nigerian hospitality industry in relation

to the emergence e-commerce sector?

The Nigerian hospitality industry is a significant part of the country’s economy. It contributes right now about 3.6 percent of the country’s GDP which is a massive number if you look at how big Nigeria GDP is.

The country’s GDP is constantly growing and as it grows, the Nigerian hospitality industry grows. Ecommerce, which is the online equivalent of trading, would always be a much bigger part of the overall economy because every day people have to buy things and sell things. It is almost the second biggest, and then travels. That is because people need to travel and as business improve, more and more people travel.

Generally, you see that in every emerging economy, the first online platform that takes off is e-commerce. The next one that takes off is always the travel. We have seen that in indigenous players like wakanow.com. We have seen it in the hotel booking space where we belong. Comparing e-commerce with travel is a very good idea because as one grows, the other is supported to grow.

How would you assess local interests in the e-commerce sector as regards investment?

At the early stage, very few Nigerians were venturing into e-commerce. There were very few African or Nigerian investors investing in African start ups. There were not many people that were even interested in going there. So these people came in and built this business as if it is a Nigerian business to help them. We can now see more competent people who can be coming up and more local investors investing in African start ups. For example, Jason Njoku, who founded Iroko TV, invested in us (Hotels.ng).

Our second investor, Ehosa is from Echo VC. Today, our company is over 90 percent Nigerian owned.

More competent Nigerians are coming up to build this company as opposed to the foreigners that are coming in to make and remit the money abroad and I know that over the next two years, we will see more and more indigenous online businesses come up, as people start realising that they can enter this industry and start making money from it. We can see more interests from the bright young chap instead of thinking of going into oil and gas or banking, they will start thinking of going into technology and look at how technology can help improve circumstance and the life around them such that they can also start using it to make money.

What advice would you give to a young Nigerian who would want to venture into an online business with a foreigner?

There are different types of company with different models. There are companies that invest and believe in you, and they believe in your ideas and give you enough capital to grow your ideas. We have one of such investor, Omidyar Network for example, they do not come in and try to control everything. As the ideal owner, you are maintained as the founder and over 80 percent stake of the company is put in your care. They take small bit, between 8, and 10 percent of the company.

They give you enough capital that allows you grow the company. They will also do things like fly you out to help you design your strategy and meet people that are further advanced than you, and this is the right type of investors.

The wrong types of investors are the type that take 98 per cent of the company, make you sign an agree-

ment that they can fire you at anytime. It is important to look at the profile of the person you are about getting into business with.

For instance, what is the mode of the work of this particular person you are entering into partnership with? Are they the kind of people that believe in you and in your ideas and are willing to provide capital to fund your expansion? Or are they the kind of people that want to come and take your idea and take over control of the idea?

If you see such people you avoid them and know the people that are right and good for your kind of business and partner with them.

What are your projections or where do you see yourself five years from now?

In five years, we aim to become the biggest travel brand in Africa, beyond Africa and in other countries. We will be smarter and more determined depending on how the market develops.What we saw three years ago, the models are not as big as what they are today, we have to adapt, we are here waiting for what is going to happen and when it does we will be ready for it.

What must the new government do to improve the ecommerce sector in the country?

The government should enable transactions and help people do more business basically. They should find a way of investing in peoples idea in a way that make sense such that more can be contributed to the GDP over a long term, the government will recover its money and more through taxes. This is a potential idea of how the government can invest, instead of giving the money to friends and families.

53

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

SHOPPING N EWS

T

RADERS at the Balogun market on Lagos Island selling Italian and Brazilian shoes, bags and other fashion items are worried over low sales as a result of the exchange rate - $1 exchanges for N198.950.

Many of these traders import their items from Europe. Recounting their ordeal, majority of them said some of their goods are still abroad as the previous price they purchased those goods have increased by 10 per cent.

According to them, the high exchange rate is hindering them from bringing their goods into the country. These merchants explained that they often place orders, change the currency to the Dollar and send to the company they are purchasing from but the increment in exchange rate has become a barrier.

‘Falling naira affecting sales’

By Ekeowa Patience

One of the traders, Mr Ikechukwu Ugwu, said he imports office shoes, particularly in the second quarter of the year, but that he would have to wait a while to see if the rate dollar would fall. “If I import shoes and start selling at N13, 000 or N15, 000, my customers will refuse to buy because the original price for the shoes is N8000 or N10, 000. The additional N7000 and N4000 mean a lot to customers and I will not sell to lose either,” he said.

Another importer Mr. Kenneth Okoye, an importer of cosmetics, said he could not put

all his money in the business and later not yield good results. “How can I change money at such a ridiculous rate? I can’t risk it. Because this our business comes with little profit like N50, sometime with N200. Our customers who buy in bulk earn us more profit but for now they are not showing up because of the increased exchange rate. Bringing the goods in and not selling them will be a big problem to us, our customers are used to the old price, and they won’t accept the new price.

We have however agreed that we will not import until the dollar rate returns to what it used to be,” he added.

Another importer of Italian party wears,

shoes and bags Mr. Emeka Urama told The Nation Shopping that he didn’t intend to import soon. He said his customers would have to make do with what was available. He said items or designs and a set of jewelry which used to cost N20, 000, will go for N25, 000 while those that cost N30, 000 would rise to about N40,000.”

He added that the increase in exchange rate has affected demand.”Some of my customers that come from Abuja and Port Harcout to patronise me used to buy about 50 to70 different sets of jewelries. Now, they buy 30 or 35 different sets instead and this is not good for the business, he said.

Online food sales to hit $100b by 2018

Used goods most preferred, says report

By Ponle Akodu

B

S

ECOND-hand goods are the most preferred, according to a survey by The Nation.

Our correspondent found that the demand for fairly used items, such as cars, phones, electronics, bags, shoes and cloths is high. It also found that some online stores also sell second hand goods, such as cars, phones and electronics, thereby making the business thriving in the market.

Iyana Ipaja market and Ikeja in Lagos stock various items, particularly cloths, bags and phones.

One of the sellers, Mr. Frank Chukwuma, said the turnout of buyers was encouraging “Business is good and the turnout is high, especially in the evenings when people are returning home from work. More people patronise this business because it is affordable, when they don’t have money for the new items, they opt for fairly used,” he said.

•Second-hand clothes

By Ochu Ohunene Latifah

Mrs Bunmi Kayode sells second hand cloths for women, she said the business is booming.

“Our prices are cheaper than the boutique where one is likely to buy a blouse for N1, 500; the same blouse is N300 here,’’ she added.

Kehinde Suleiman, who sells London used phones and laptops at the Computer Village in Ikeja, said the reason people buy London used phone was because they trust fairly used phones compared to the new phones from China, which don’t have long life span. We give our

customer warranty and ask them to return phones that develop fault after purchase for replacement.”

Wahab Lawal, who owns a second hand phone, said he uses second hand phones because they are cheaper and more reliable. “The reason I go for the second hand phones is because of the cost. I don’t have enough money to buy the brand new ones.”

Also, Henry Ntuka, said he prefers second hand phones because they are affordable.

But Miss Tayo has a different reason for going for Tokunbo

clothes. Her words: “I just like these second hand clothes not that I can’t afford the new ones, but because I just feel like buying them.”

For Mrs. Marian Afolabi, it is affordability: “I buy second hand clothes for my children because it’s cheap and affordable in this way I can buy more for them compared to the brand new ones,” she said.

On the risks involved in buying the second hand phones, Ntuka lamented: “The new ones break down anytime; so, it’s all about taking risks. When it’s good, its’ good; if it’s not, that is it.”

‘Open market best for baby items‘

B

UYING baby items for an expectant mother is an important aspect of pregnancy. Some of these items range from baby wear, bed-cot, dippers, flask, baby carrier, cardigan, cap, socks, baby walker, and feeding bottles.

Although they are found everywhere, to get cheap bargains, the open market is the best place to visit.

At the Ikotun market, Lagos, baby items are displayed to attract customers; merchants stand by the road side leading to the market to distribute their business cards to their target pregnant women - to enhance patronage.

Mrs. Shade Ogundigba is a sales representative at Twins Faga, a baby store in the mar-

By Ochu Ohunene Latifah

ket. She said baby items are sold at cheap prices at the market.

“We sell baby items here at wholesale prices for people who want to buy them to resell.

We do not only stock cheap items, they are of good quality, so far, and we have been experiencing huge patronage because of our unique selling point which is affordability,” she added.

However, prices of these items are determined by the brand.

Baby wears range from N300 to N1, 000. Socks and caps go for between N200 and N500. A small size baby bed sells for N3, 000, while the big size is N9, 000. A small baby carrier is N3,000 and a big one is N9, 500.

Baby wipes and dippers range

• Baby items on display

from N200 to N 1, 000. Baby feeding bottles cost between N1, 000 and N3,000, walker sells for N4, 000 for the small

size and N 10,000 for big size.

Flasks go for between N1,500 and N 5,000, while a shawl and a blanket cost N 5,000 each

RITAIN is leading the way in the sale of food and groceries online and with e-commerce already accounting for some per cent of food sales, other countries, such as Nigeria, are catching up with online food store.

They include Hello foods and Super mart. Experts predict that the global market will grow to $100 billion in three years.

Big retailers have decided to invest in food selling online operations, with the hope that they can persuade consumers that they will add more profitable items such as clothes and computers to their orders of fruit, vegetables and other meals.

According to findings, food is one of the last things to move online because complex logistics for fresh, chilled and frozen products makes it an expensive business particularly in Nigeria.

However, most food retailers are now ramping up their online food offers to compete with foreign food online stores.

An expert said: “It is notoriously difficult to make money selling groceries and food online. The reason people do it and need to do it have nothing to do with profit but the flare for it.”

12,000 visit Warri Delta Mall daily

T

HE multi-million dollar Delta Mall has been recording about 12,000 visitors daily since the shopping facility located in the WarriEffurun axis opened for business .

Head of the mall’s management team of Broll Properties, consultants to investors of the Delta Mall, Mr. Oni Olusola, told reporters in Warri, that the project would be launched in three phases, including the shopping complex, a lunch, cinema and play arena.

He said the new mall has witnessed an unprecedented success that the management was considering expanding the facility, adding that work was still ongoing on the two phases billed for inauguration in September.

Olusola said: ‘’The mall is still a budding business in Nigeria but with a future that could make the business bigger than the telecoms business in the country.”

The objective was to open up the Nigerian economy with a lot of credible foreign investors coming in and a lot of jobs created, he added, noting that about 57 per cent of the workforce at Delta Mall has been recruited from the host community, primarily from the Uvwie Local Government Area.

Consumers relive experience at Calypso fun fiesta

F

OR consumers of Calypso, Dark Sailor Rum, two premium brands on the stable of Grand Oak Ltd, the thrills and frills they enjoyed courtesy of the product remain evergreen.

It was, indeed, an occasion for the consumers and the brands to actively connect through a fun fiesta packaged for their merriments by the leading brands.

Specifically, Calypso Coconut liqueur and Dark Sailor Rum thrilled consumers and fun-seekers at a well-

attended Beach Slam. It was a festival of music, dance and comedy which held at Suntan Beach on the outskirts of Badagry along Lagos-Badagry Express way.

On the event, Mr. Sola Ajibola, a consumer said it was indeed a great occasion as he along with his family had maximum fun during the fiesta, advising that Dark Sailor Rum and Calypso should make such an event an annual one. He also praised local artistes who provided lively lyrics at the occasion.

Similarly, Mr. John Nwachukwu, a trader and loyal consumer commended the activation stating that brands that celebrate with consumers on such an important occasion like beach slam will always enjoy consumer loyalty.

His words: “We commend GOL’s Calypso and Dark Sailor Rum for identifying with through the beach slam. It is a very good one and we will be loyal to the brands.’’

Brand Manager, Dark Sailor, Susan Adeniyi said the company wants its

target audience to know the Brands care about them through all seasons.

She said: “We came here to excite people through the various carefully planned activities. Asides the free cocktail available for everyone, there are games to participate in where winners will be handsomely rewarded.”

Adeniyi said the participants have to be physically strong and must be prepared to have fun.

According to her, “It’s not everybody that is energetic that is daring;

some people would rather watch while sipping their drinks. Dark Sailor is a brand that is not afraid of daring.

It is a brand associated with games such as sailing, football, rock climbing, dancing competition, and others.

It’s so exciting looking at the response we have got; we are glad we are here this year.”

Some of the winners include Stephen Iyaomolere, who went home with a DSTV Walka and Prince Ade Samuel, who also won a Jersey and a football.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

MONEYLINK

Forex on rice may go as CBN, banks meet today

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has called a meeting with chief executives and treasurers of commercial banks for today.

The stakeholders are expected to discuss issues surrounding CBN’s policy on the foreign exchange market, multiple banking, sources told Reuters.

The stakeholders may also discuss the significant depletion of foreign reserves due to rising cases of rice imports. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele had initiated a fact-finding visit of the apex bank

Besides, the CBN imposed tight controls on the foreign exchange market in February to curb speculation on the naira and save Nigeria’s dwindling foreign reserves.

Before setting the restrictions, the apex bank had been battling to prop up the naira after a sharp fall in the price of oil, which triggered a selloff in assets by foreign investors.

The CBN also fixed the rate at which banks can buy dollars from oil companies.

Traders were upbeat on the outcome of the meeting which they

Stories by Collins Nweze

team to some rice producing states.

In Kebbi State, government said it invested N800 million to purchase over 180, 000 metric tonnes of rice for storage from local farmers to encourage them to continue farming.

In a statement issued yesterday, the CBN said since rice is now produced in large quantity locally, there may be need to stop rice importers from accessing the interbank market and conserve the country’s limited foreign reserves.

‘Banks’ frauds, forgeries hit N23.34b’

C

ASES of frauds and forgeries committed in 22 banks stood at N23.34 billion, out of which N3.01 billion was lost, the Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Henry Semenitari, has said.

Semenitari, who spoke yesterday at the 30th quarterly meeting of the Committee of Chief Internal Auditors of Banks in Nigeria hosted by Unity Bank, said N20.33 billion of the total amount involved was recovered through the collective efforts of bank’s internal and external controls as well as intervention of the law enforcement and antigraft agencies.

Semenitari, who spoke on the theme: Operational Efficiency: A Panacea to the survival of an organization, said the fraud cases, captured in the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) Report on Frauds and Forgeries in Banks from January to September 2014, said a total of 8,502 cases were reported by the lenders.

He said the cases involved fraudu-

lent Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) withdrawals, computer fraud, fraudulent withdrawals, suppression of entries and opening/ operating fraudulent accounts.

The bank chief said recoveries come with huge costs, and that it could have been better for banks to prevent the fraud than pursuing recoveries.

He advised chief internal auditors of banks to focus effectively on fraud management adding that operational efficiency means different things to different people depending on the segment of the economy in which they operate.

“In banking, it will refer to the ability to operate profitably by matching or exceeding customer’s satisfaction while adopting good cost control strategies across all balance sheet indices,” he said.

Semenitari said that previously, banks had built their revenue strategies around deposit mobilisation, creation of risk assets, treasury activities and traditional front-end business cov-

claimed was long overdue to ease the tight control in the market and allow the local currency to find its real value.

“We are anticipating that the meeting would naturally discuss the present market conditions and explore possibility of reviewing the tight control on the forex market,” one Senior Treasurer said.

JPMorgan has threatened to eject Nigeria from its Government Bond Index (GBI-EM) by the year-end unless it restores liquidity to currency markets in a way that allows foreign investors tracking the benchmark to transact with minimal hurdles.

The CBN set its exchange rate peg at N198 to the dollar in February, but changed it to N196.90 against the dollar last week, with dealers saying the tweaking was not a reflection of the market.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

The restrictions included plans to limit the amount commercial bank customers can spend using their debits cards while abroad in a crackdown on dollar demand to save its dwindling foreign reserves.

Unified Payment, CSCS, others support LBSAA

U •Semenitari

erage. However, current realities including weak macro-economic conditions, uncertain growth prospects, unpredictable regulatory policies, global fall in oil prices and its ripple effects on various economies including Nigeria are demanding otherwise.

“The reality is that banks almost offer same products in different names but what gives competitive edge is the level of operational efficiency perceived by the customers,” he said.

NIFIED Payment Services Limited, Central Securities and Clearing System Plc, Mobil Oil Plc, SO&U Limited are among the many corporate organisations supporting the this year’s Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) President’s Dinner.

The event which is schduled for June 27, 2015 and holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, is one of the flagship corporate and social events of the Lagos Business School (LBS) and will provide high-level networking opportunities for participants, mainly LBS alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields.

Other supporters of the event include Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Insight Communications and Rainoil Limited.

The LBSAA President, Wole Oshin, said this year’s President’s Dinner, would be attended by a good number of the institution’s alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields. “The event would create a platform for high-level networking among icons of the Nigerian business community and highlight the School’s leading role in nurturing Nigeria’s business leaders,” he said.

Director, Alumni Relations, LBS, Henry Onukwuba, said awards will be presented to deserving Nigerians and the best alumni class would also be honoured.

“The event will be graced by distinguished professionals and captains of industry from all walks of life, some of them, products of the prestigious institution,” he said.

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 1.2539 1.3581 0.7923 1.1661

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.2471 1.3581 0.7793 1.1661

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

NASCON MCNICHOLS UBN WEMABANK MOBIL CONTINSURE VITAFOAM ABCTRANS ETI DANGSUGAR INTBREW AIICO

8.03 1.42 9.50 0.98 148.00 1.00 5.33 0.54 22.17 6.90 19.01 0.91

8.60 1.50 9.75 0.98 150.99 1.02 5.43 0.55 22.50 7.00 19.25 0.92

0.57 0.07 0.25 0.02 2.99 0.02 0.10 0.01 0.33 0.10 0.24 0.01

LOSERS AS AT 18-06-15

O/PRICE

VONO IKEJAHOTEL CADBURY LIVESTOCK REDSTAREX HONYFLOUR SEPLAT THOMASWY OANDO CILEASING FCMB

1.67 4.00 39.90 2.30 5.25 4.00 330.00 0.70 16.49 0.57 3.08

C/PRICE 1.52 3.80 37.91 2.19 5.00 3.82 315.80 0.67 15.90 0.55 3.00

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -0.15 -0.20 -1.99 -0.11 -0.25 -0.18 -14.20 -0.03 -0.59 -0.02 -0.08

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 18-06-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m

400m 350m

399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Court refuses foreigners’ bid to quash charge

Freed robbery suspect rearrested

F

OUR years after he was released from Kirikiri prison, a suspected armed robber has been rearrested by the police.

He was arrested with another member of his threeman gang following a robbery in Abule Egba, Lagos.

The arrest of Godwin Michael (32) followed that of Ibrahim Adeyemi (28), who was caught on the scene.

Their colleague simply identified as Sunday is at large.

A police source said the gang invaded a tenement builiding about 3am on April 1.

“They entered the first room and collected money, phones and necklace. They later entered the second room and met another tenant with his expectant wife.

They collected their money and phones, but when they entered the third room, the tenant who was robbed last year summoned the courage to challenge them.

“The tenant gave them a surprise attack, pounced on Ibrahim who pointed gun at him. He grabbed him by the waist, while the other two turned him into a

By Joseph Jibueze

T

By Ebele Boniface

•The suspects

punch-bag with the futile intent to free their colleague. They then started using machete and kitchen knife on the tenant.

They stabbed him all over his body,” said the source.

His cry, it was learnt, attracted neighbours, forcing the other two to flee.

The suspect could not escape because he was weakened by the head butt.

The tenant was rushed to a nearby hospital. The suspect was taken to Meiran Police Station before he was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Ibrahim, who hails from Molete, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said he was a bus driver and conductor, adding that he was living inside Gatankowa Market

on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway because he was homeless.

The suspect added: “There, I met one Sunday whom I earlier met at an Indian hemp bunk in Oshodi. He introduced me into armed robbery. We used to collect phones from an Hausa man who charges phones in the market. Sunday is a driver. I later joined their gang.

“We got into a house at Ahmadiyya and robbed the first and second room successfully. When we entered the third room, a man grabbed me and my colleagues escaped. Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives later used me to arrest Godwin.”

Michael, who is from Emododa Village in Ofuluku

Local Government Area of Kogi State, said he was remanded in Kirikiri Prison in 2011 for armed robbery.

“When I came out of prison, I started living in Gatankowa Market because I could not locate my brothers. Later, I started selling second-hand clothes. At times, when I bought N4,000 worth of clothes, I sold them for N5,000. I gained N1,000 every day. I stayed there with other bad boys who smoke Indian hemp in the market. I knew Ibrahim and one robber called Sunday.

We went to rob at Ahmadiyya. Unfortunately, one of the tenants grabbed Ibrahim. Police later used him to arrest me, but they (the police) are still looking for Sunday,” he said.

Cannabis dealer convicted twice in two days

A

CANNABIS dealer in Lagos has been sentenced twice in two days by the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Mr. Afiz Isah, 30, a.k.a Agama, who resides at Iketuga Street, Meiran, a Lagos suburb, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half-year imprisonment.

Justice C.J. Aneke sentenced him to 18months in jail on Monday for dealing in 29 kilogrammes of weeds that tested positive for cannabis.

On Wednesday, Justice Okon Abang handed him seven years imprisonment for

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

unlawful dealing in 3.9 kilogrammes of cannabis.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) prosecutor Mr. Jeremiah Aernan told Justice Abang that the accused was not a first offender.

“We confirmed that Afiz sold cannabis to a female drug trafficker, Toyin Raimi, before the police apprehended him at Atubaje Street Agege, Lagos and transferred him to NDLEA,” Aernan said.

The convict pleaded guilty

and begged for forgiveness.

“I want the court to forgive me and have mercy on me. I am married with children and I want to be with my family.

I have made up my mind not to sell cannabis again. If you forgive me, I will go back to my village in Kwara State to farm.”

Justice Abang ruled that the convict did not deserve mercy, saying: “I have gone through the facts of the case and it is clear that the accused distributed cannabis to some dealers within the state. I will, therefore, put an end to his menace and save the soci-

ety from further damage resulting from his criminal activities. He is hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment.”

Toyin Raimi who was arrested with 29 kilogrammes of cannabis by NDLEA officers in Lagos, had fingered Afiz Isah as her supplier.

Coincidentally, police transferred Isah with 3.9 kilogrammes of cannabis to the agency.

Afiz was charged separately with supplying Toyin cannabis and dealing unlawfully in the 3.9 kilogrammes of weeds found on him.

Lagos CJ frees Ikoyi prison inmates

L

AGOS State Chief Judge Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade yesterday released 26 awaiting-trial suspects at Ikoyi Prisons.

This brings to 47 the number of inmates freed from Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons by Justice Atilade in two days. She had freed 21 inmates from Kirikiri on Wednesday.

Justice Atilade explained that the inmates had been in custody for over two months.

The inmates were freed as part of efforts to decongest the prisons.

Justice Atilade was accompanied by Justices Oluwatoyin Ipaye; Aishat Opesanwo, Kudirat Jose, Lateef LawalAkapo and Sedoten Ogunsanya; the Chief Registrar, Emmanuel Ogundare, and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija.

Executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in Ikeja, Lagos, Ikorodu and Badagry were also on her entourage.

Sixteen inmates were present at the cermony, the others had earlier regained their freedom.

By Adebisi Onanuga

She released them in exercise of her powers under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007 and the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Justice Atilade counselled them to be of good behaviour, saying.

“I release all you today (June 18) from custody pursuant to the powers conferred on me and admonish you to go and sin no more.”

The Chief Judge urged the NBA to take up pro bono (free) cases on behalf of awaiting trials to avoid delays in justice administration.

She appealed to non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are counselled before being reintegrated into the society.

The Deputy Controller (DCP) in charge of Ikoyi Prisons, Bamidele Emmanuel said 70 of the 116 inmates that wrote the last November/December Gen-

eral Certificate Examination (GCE) passed; 27 inmates who wrote the Computer Based Test of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)) scored between 170 and 240.

Some of the inmates, he said, were now at the National Open University.

Emmanuel said the inmates had been sufficiently trained and prepared for reintegration into the society.

He said the reintegration of freed inmates back into the soci-

HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed a preliminary objection filed by 14 foreigners charged with illegal dealing in petroleum products.

Justice Ibrahim Buba held that the court has jurisdiction to try them directed the prosecution to open its case.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 10 preferred a four-count charge of conspiracy, dealing in and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority against them.

They are three Russians – Arthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich, Kretov Andrey; a Japanese – Sergio Abgarian; and three Ukrainians – Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan.

Others are seven Britons - Hilarion Teofilo Regipor Jr, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero Jr, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan.

Three vessels - MT Anukt Emerald, Monjasa DMCC, and Glencore Energy UK Ltd were charged with them.

EFCC said they committed the offence on February 27 by storing 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as diesel inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo Tank. It said they also stored 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other tanks.

The offence contravenes Sections 4, 17, 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws of the Federation.

On Wednesday, defence counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to try them because they were not carrying out any illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

He said the accused were within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and that the Miscellaneous Offences Act does not cover the zone.

EFCC’s lawyer, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to discountenance Koku’s arguments, saying: “It is late for the accused after taken their plea to challenge the prosecutorial powers of the EFCC.” Justice Buba held that the EFCC has the powers to file the charges under the Act being since the offence was committed on Nigerian waters.

Besides, the EFCC can file any charge on the government’s behalf.

The judge said the accused had taken their plea without any objection, adding that the defence counsel applied for their bail which was granted.

“The instant case is not an abuse of court proceedings. The accused has a case to answer and the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case. I hereby dismiss the objection,” the judge held. He adjourned till today for trial.

Sickle cell symposium holds today

I

N commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Day, an advocacy group, Tonymay Foundation, will today hold a symposium at the Lagos Television (LTV8) premises, Agidingbi, Ikeja in Lagos.

Sickle Cell is a disorder that affects haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.

The symposium, will be chaired by the Medical Director, Nigeria East Africa Region and head, Pfizer W o r l d w i d e Biopharmaceutical Businesses, Kodjo Soroh, with the theme: “Healthcare for People Living with Sickle

‘Make Yoruba compulsory in schools’

T •Atilade

ety is a collective responsibility, which should be of concern to all.

HE Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make the teaching of Yoruba in primary and secondary schools compulsory.

The House made the call at plenary yesterday after adopting a resolution on a motion to revive teaching of the language in schools in the state.

The motion was moved by Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1) and

LUTH gets ultimatum to meet doctors’ demand

R

ESIDENT DOCTORS have given Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) up till June 29 to meet their demands or face a strike.

The doctors gave the ultimatum yesterday after their threeday warning strike over unpaid May salary and skipping money from Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) 10 to 13.

Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) President Dr

By Nneka Nwaneri

Cell; whose responsibility” The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Edith Otokhina said the most critical of life-saving measures is awareness and information management.

Chairman of the foundation, Chief Andrew Otokhima said the symposium will be preceded by a walk, where it will enlighten people of the ailment.

Otokhima, a lawyer, called on the National Assembly’s attention to enact laws for a policy to ensure prompt and free treatment for carriers, so that they can enjoy what others are privileged to in other developed countries.

By Wale Adepoju

Ramon Moronkola said the hospital has refused to dialogue with the doctors making peaceful settlement.

He said: “Rather, the management has been threatening and intimidating doctors because they were asking for what rightfully belongs to them. We will not be deterred in our quest to get justice. If the management fails to accede to our demand on or before June 29, we will commence

an indefinite strike.”

The ARD, he said, was still open to peaceful resolution of the crisis, adding that the management should address the issue in patients’ interest.

Moronkola said the hospital was not interested in addressing doctors’ welfare despite their openness on the issue. “We will not hesitate to embark on indefinite strike if by 29 June the management does not proffer solution to the problems,” he said.

By Oziegbe Okoeki

seconded by Oladele Adekanye (Lagos Mainland 1).

The House urged all its 40 members to go back to their various constituencies to promote the teaching of the language by organising competitions among pupils to encourage their fluency.

It muted the idea of holding a stakeholder’s parley where Ministry of Education officials, educationists, parents, teachers, among others would be invited to brainstorm on the way forward.

Yusuf lamented the poor attention being paid to the teaching of Yoruba, a situation he said had made Yoruba sons and daughters communicate poorly in the language.

Yusuf noted that with such neglect, the Yoruba culture and tradition, which he described as very rich and full of wisdom, had been abandoned as the language is considered by some to be that of bush people.

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NEWS PDP condemns APC’s achievements From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned “claims” by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency that the administration has recorded numerous achievements in its short span.

Saying the achievements are imaginary, the PDP added that such claims could set up President Muhammadu Buhari for national and international ridicule.

A statement yesterday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said it was embarrassing that the APC and aides of the President decided “to invade the minds of Nigerians with propaganda and tissues of lies” instead of assisting the President, who was inaugurated three weeks ago, to settle down, form a government and deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.

The statement added: “We therefore urge the APC to stop embarrassing the nation with premature and unsubstantiated celebration of imaginary achievements, especially if they ever want to be credible and responsible people, as sincerity and not propaganda remains the hallmark of trustworthy administration.

“The APC should not by any means attempt to use its flimsy list to divert attention from its numerous campaign promises for which the people are holding them accountable.”

The party advised presidential spokespersons “to allow Nigerians to judge the President as events and time will prove exactly the taste of the old wine”.

Senators caution Kwankwaso over attack on Saraki From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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ENATORS operating under the aegis of Like Minds Senators said yesterday that they were shocked by the language used by former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to describe the emergence of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

The senators, who spearheaded Saraki’s emergence as Senate President, cautioned Kwankwaso against what they called incendiary utterances capable of destabilising the National Assembly and the country.

Kwankwaso was reported to have described the emergence of Saraki as Senate President as a dangerous signal for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former governor was also reported to have warned Saraki against using his ambition to destroy the All Progressive Congress (APC).

A statement by the spokesperson of the Senators of Like Minds, Senator Dino Melaye, said the citizens should ask Kwankwaso when he turned the friend of Buhari, saying “we are surprised at the emergence of Kwankwaso as a friend of the President.”

He noted that it was obvious that the Senate Presidency of Saraki would not constitute any threat to Buhari’s administration.

Melaye added that instead of constituting a cog in the wheel of President Buhari’s administration, “the President is safer in the hands of Saraki”.

He said: “The President of the 8th Senate and chairman of the National Assembly would accord all necessary legislative support and cooperation to President Buhari.

“We make bold to state that Buhari is safer in the 8th Assembly with Saraki presiding as the President. Saraki’s Presidency of the Senate will give all necessary cooperation to the President and would greatly help to stabilise the Buhari’s administration.”

Cannabis plantation destroyed From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed 43-hectare plantation of Indian hemp in Oluyole Local Government of Ibadan, the Oyo State

capital.

Men of the agency led law enforcement officers including the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and officers of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forest Reserve to the site in Gambari Forest.

The armed law enforcement agents were armed to the teeth as they stormed the forest.

They uprooted the plants using bulldozers but no arrest was made during the four-hour operation.

The NDLEA State Commander, Mrs Faboyede Omolade, expressed surprise at the new discovery, which came barely one week after a 24-hectare plantation was destroyed.

She called on the government to partner with the agency in curbing illegal cannabis planting in the state.

Unpaid salaries: LAUTECH doctors protest

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OCTORS at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECHTH), under the aegis of Resident Doctors Association (ARD) Osogbo, yesterday protested the non-payment of their eight-month salary arrears.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene before the situation got worse.

The placard-carrying protesters moved round major streets of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, singing solidarity songs.

Some of the placards read “President Buhari, please come to our aid”; “Enough is enough. Eight months and still counting, no salary”; “Declare the debt burden of our state now” ;”Even slaves deserve to be fed” ; “Doctors are human beings, let government pay our salaries,” among others.

The protesters lamented that they could no longer endure the hardship. They appealed to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay them.

The President of the association, Dr. Olalekan Ajayi, said: “Aregbesola should pay us our eight months salaries in full. We don’t want part payment. We don’t want deduction of our salaries because we are still being owed deductions from our salaries for November 2012/13.

SSS brutalises family over transaction

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FFICERS of the Department of State Security (DSS) have allegedly brutalised the family of a media consultant, Kalu Okoronkwo, in a bid to arrest him.

In a petition to the DSS, counsel to the petitioner, Udoh Bassey, said the operatives, from Shangisha Magodo office, invaded Okoronkwo’s Ikeja home and arrested him, his wife and sister in-law.

Bassey claimed that about 15 armed DSS operatives, acting on ‘orders from above’, came to the house without prior invitation, search or arrest warrants, causing chaos and panic while Okoronkwo was absent. ”They handcuffed my client’s wife in spite of her plea of innocence, stripped and whipped her with a wire, used tear gas on her, siblings and cousins, in the glare of neighbours before hand-cuffing and hauling them into a van” he said.

Bassey said when Okonronkwo returned home, another batch of officers were waiting; they handcuffed and slapped him, wrenched his car keys and forced him into his car.

He said his client’s arrest may not be unconnected with a business transaction he had with Leadership newspaper’s publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah. He said the case was already in court.

“It was on this note that the State Director of DSS instructed the release of my client and his family. He insisted that Nda-Isaiah misled them by not giving the agency full disclosures of the transaction, especially the court aspect of the matter since last year,” Bassey said.

The counsel alleged that Okoronkwo worked for Nda-

•Okoronkwo’s wife, Ann and her sister, Dinma after the arrest

‘

They handcuffed my client’s wife in spite of her plea of innocence, stripped and whipped her with a wire, used tear gas on her, siblings and cousins, in the glare of neighbours before hand-cuffing and hauling them into a van

By Seun Akioye

Isaiah as a media consultant when the latter was a presidential candidate under the All Progressive Congress (APC). According to him, Nda-Isaiah agreed to pay the petitioner N100,000 per week and a Kyron Ssanyyon Jeep with registration number MNA 95 KH was given to him to ease his job, which entailed interstate travelling. Okoronkwo was also lodged at Brickland Residence Hotel in Abuja as part of the arrangement.

He alleged that Nda-Isaiah reneged on the agreed terms af-

’

ter two weeks, leaving the petitioner with an accumulated debt of N3,300,000.00.

He said Nda-Isaiah refused to pay N1,290,000.00, being the amount outstanding on the shooting of a documentary to promote his candidacy while another N900,000.000 expended on mobilisation and other media outreaches in Lagos were not paid.

“Our client had written to Mr. Nda-Isaiah enumerating in details the manner in which funds were disbursed to him and how they were spent but Nda-Isaiah did not pay. Even when our

client instructed his lawyer to write to resolve issues amicably, the latter preferred to use police from Ojodu/Berger station to harass and intimate our client,” Bassey said.

Okoronkwo also got a restraining order against NdaIsaiah from harassment by himself or any of his agents.

However, inspite of a pending court injunction, the DSS allegedly invaded Okorokwo’s house and arrested him and members of his family.

Okoronkwo is asking for the sum of N10, 000,000.00 as compensation for physical and psychological pain suffered by him and his family and an apology to be published in a national newspaper alongside the settlement of all outstanding debts.

When contacted, counsel to the DSS, Mr. Peter O. declined to comment, saying he must consult with the management before granting an interview.

No robbery in our neighbourhood, says chairman T HE Chairman, Divine Estate Residents Association, Sir Emma Orji yesterday, denied that there was robbery in the neighbourhood.

Orji was reacting to an alleged armed robbery attack on a popular hotel in the area in the wee hours of Wednesday.

A source who claimed she was at the hotel when it happened said the robbers forced customers to submit their ATM cards and pin numbers which they used to withdraw money. Another customer was coerced to transfer N2.5 million through mobile banking.

But Orji, who spoke to this reporter on the telephone said nothing of such happened

By Precious Igbonwelundu

there.

“There was no robbery in or around Divine Estate. I am the Chairman of Divine Estate and I can tell you that we have capable security men here.

‘I was with the Area Commander, Dan Okoro (ACP), even the DPO has come here and I told them the same thing. There was no robbery around here.”

Similarly, the hotel management denied the robbery.

Its owner and manager who spoke with this reporter said the information must have emanated from their rivals and

detractors.

But during a visit to the hotel yesterday, plain-clothe security personnel were seen in the vicinity.

The owner said: “Because we are successful, we will have enemies. I think that information must have come from our detractors who want to see our downfall.

“I have spoken with the Area Commander and the DPO on the matter”.

Although they all denied, the source insisted it happened.

She said: “Did you expect them to admit it? The hotel does not want to lose custom-

ers.”

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Festac Town, Mr. Ifeanyi Owo, yesterday threatened to ‘deal with’ this reporter for reporting the robbery.

Owo called the reporter’s telephone threatening fire and brimstone and demanded that the source of the information be disclosed.

Lagos police spokesman DSP Ken Nwosu said: “The DPO is angry about that story.

He said his men have gone round and could not confirm it. I don’t know why you published that story after I told you I have called and no such case was reported by any hotel.

“Who gave you that information? We want to know your source”.

Stop ‘hate speeches’, group urges warring factions

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AN-IGBO group, ‘The Igbo Conscience’ has urged the Yoruba and Igbo warring ethnic factions in Lagos State to sheath their swords. The group expressed worry that the negative fallout of the last general elections could trigger unsavoury developments if not checked.

A statement by Onyekachi Ubani and Peter Claver Opara noted that the cordial relationship between the two tribes was soured by the process and outcome of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

They blamed the degenerating relationship on the negative politics that attended the

electioneering.

According to the group, the developments, tragically spiraling into a dangerous exchange of hate messages have gone to the extent of some Yoruba groups mobilising anti-Igbo protests.

The statement reads: “We note the concern of these Yoruba groups on the continued picketing of a Yoruba, Dr. Ayo Ariyo, in Dallas, United States, by some Igbo’s for his comments and which he had made sufficient clarifications.

“We condemn both actions; we see these as very dangerous and warn that no one, either Igbo or Yoruba will gain from

a degeneration of this situation.

“The Igbo Conscience does not join issues with any group and we warn both groups against furthering hate, division, anarchy, hatred and acrimony. We will gain more from sustaining the age-long cordial relationship that has nurtured our collective interests.

“We appeal to both tribes to heed to reason and end this needless warfare that will not benefit any one.

“We state emphatically that we share a common bond of unity and understanding with the Yoruba, either in Lagos or any other Southwest state.

“The Igbo Conscience there-

fore calls for a cessation of hostilities between Igbo and Yoruba, either in Lagos, Dallas or any other state in and outside Nigeria.

“The Igbo Conscience will, in conjunction with concerned Yoruba professionals and leaders, work to mend the frosty relationship between the groups.

“We call on all Igbo and Yoruba, either in Lagos or elsewhere, to cease forthwith from issuing or causing to be issued, damaging hate speeches, inciting write-ups and insinuations that will further endanger the peace and unity between Ndigbo and the Yoruba”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

59

NEWS Ortom seeks World Bank’s help

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ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has solicited assistance from the World Bank, particularly in the agriculture, poverty reduction and capacity building sectors.

The governor, who spoke when he visited the Country Director of the bank, Marie Francoise MarieNelly, in her office in Abuja, said: “I see the World Bank as a partner for progress, for adding value to the development of the state, particularly in agriculture and poverty reduction.

“We solicit assistance in capacity building and other support programmes.

We’ll partner you and fulfil our obligations.”

He said the bank had a reservoir of expertise in areas, which the state could leverage on in the efforts to tackle challenges of devel-

•From left: Usman Garba, Secretary, Humanities, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS); Maimuna Gwarzo, Tudun Wada, Kaduna; Shakiru Kayode Yekeen of Artec Practice Ltd; Rashida Mohammed, Secretary, Vocation and Technology, GGSS; Mrs. Rose Auba, Vice Principal, Admin, GGSS; Malama Umma Ibrahim, Principal, GGSS and Ibrahim Kyari, at the presentation of computers to the school by Artec Practice Ltd in Kaduna recently.

Tribunal dismisses Adeyemi’s petition

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ENATOR Smart Adeyemi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost his petition seeking to annul the election of Senator Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National and State Legislative House Election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, dismissed the petition yesterday because it is incompetent.

The dismissal followed a motion brought by Melaye’s counsel, Ricky Tarfa (SAN).

Tribunal Chairman Justice Akon Ikpeme said the petitioners fell foul of the Electoral Act (as amended) in filing their reply to the first respondent’s response out of time. They were

From James Azania, Lokoja

served on May 13 and filed their reply on May 18.

“We are bound by our records that this tribunal accepts that the petitioners were served on May 13 at 3:57pm as confirmed by the court’s records. We hold that the reply was filed on the sixth day and therefore, out of time.

“We hold that the petitioners’ reply is incompetent as it was filed out of time and is hereby struck out,” Justice Ikpeme said.

On whether the petitioners abandoned their petition for failing to apply for the issuance of Form TF001 for pre-hearing session, Justice Ikpeme said from the date of service, May 13,

the petitioner had seven days to apply.

She held the petitioner liable for failing to apply for the form within the stipulated seven days.

“The petitioners ought to have filed the application on the 19th rather than May 20 and have, therefore, abandoned their petition.”

The judge said pursuant to other issues relating to the petition, it could only amount to “mere academic exercise.” She dismissed the petition for incompetence and abandonment.

Tarfa, in the motion supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit, sought five reliefs, including an order to strike out the petitioners’ reply for being filed out of time.

In his petition against Melaye, APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adeyemi sought five prayers, including the nullification and withdrawal of Melaye’s Certificate of Return. He also wanted the tribunal to declare him (petitioner) the winner of the March 28 election into Kogi West Sernatorial District.

He based the petition on three grounds including substantial non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), that the first respondent was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast and that he (Melaye) was not qualified to contest the poll at the time he did.

Lawmakers pledge to ensure Dogara’s success

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HE 360-man House of Representatives will ensure the success of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, a member, Magaji Dau Aliyu, said yesterday.

Addressing reporters in Kano, Aliyu, representing Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, said: “Members have resolved to work for the success of the principal officers despite the controversy, which trailed Dogara’s emergence as Speaker.”

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

He said what led to the emergence of the principal officers was a lesson in democracy, adding: “We have accepted it as a lesson and not a distraction.”

Aliyu added: “The lawmakers are one family bounded by destiny and we are conscious of the challenges ahead of us to warrant unnecessary bickering.”

The All Progressives

Congress (APC) legislator said: “It was clear to everyone of us that we had a contest that produced no victor and no vanquished.

Our leadership was voted by all.”

He said he was optimistic that the Eighth National Assembly would be peaceful, adding that members would preoccupy themselves with their statutory responsibilities.

The Jigawa State-born politician said party supremacy remained sacro-

sanct, noting: “Our loyalty remains with the party and to our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Aliyu said the era of suspicion between the executive and the legislature was gone, noting that the Eight Assembly would ensure democracy thrives.

He said: “Nigeria has the opportunity to get it right.

We in the National Assembly will play a positive role under the leadership of Dogara.”

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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

In an interview with The Nation at the APC Secretariat on Barracks Road, Makurdi, Yaro dismissed the reports linking him with the attack. He said it was an attempt to tarnish his image as the chairman of the ruling party.

According to him, if as

the chairman, he did not attack anybody when the party was in opposition, “is it now I will do so when APC is the ruling party? I cannot do such a thing as the chairman of a ruling party, which is in control of the state’s and country’s affairs.”

The Nation reported exclusively that Odoh was attacked and in-

jured by thugs.

Mr. Johnson Agada, an engineer, held a news conference and accused Yaro of complicity in the attack.

Yaro alleged that Agada bolted on seeing the hoodlums.

Attempt to confirm further development from Agada failed, as his line could not be reached.

opment.

Ortom said his administration would fight corruption to ensure that whatever was appropriated for projects was utilised for that purpose.

Marie-Nelly said the bank had $4 billion available for investment in Nigeria in the remaining half of the year.

She listed areas of intervention to remove constraints to growth to include power generation and transmission, long term financing for sectors with growth potential and small and medium enterprises, as well as agricultural productivity.

Others, according to her, are quality health and education, as well as efficiency of water supply.

Assembly grants governor’s request to borrow N10b From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

EMBERS of the eighth Benue State House of Assembly have voted for a resolution to grant Governor Samuel Ortom’s request to borrow N10billion to run his government.

The resolution followed a request to that effect by the governor to enable him pay salaries and attend to other matters.

Joseph Ojobo (PDP) moved the motion. It was seconded by Ianna Jato (PDP).

Jato said he supported the motion because the 2015 budget had provision for deficit funding.

He, however, cautioned against “borrowing, as was the case with the former administration” and urged Ortom to devise other means of getting money.

Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange hailed members for the action.

Addressing reporters after the session, Bem Mngutyo (APC Tarka Constituency), said the decision was to enable the government move forward.

“Ours is to see how the government can move forward.

The state is in a precarious situation where salaries are not paid,” said Mngutyo, ex-chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State council.

He said: “Even if borrowing is not the best approach, it is pertinent to note that the best thing to do now is to borrow.

Perhaps, we can step up internally-generated revenue (IGR) because our situation seems to be worse than states that are newly created.”

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Bello launches ‘operation IGER State Goverzero potholes’ nor Abubakar Sani

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Bello yesterday launched “operation zero potholes within 100 days”.

It is designed to ensure the improvement of urban infrastructure.

The governor, who launched the scheme on Mandela Road, on the outskirts of Minna, the state capital, said the patching of potholes on roads would be undertaken within the first 100 days of his administration.

He said major roads in urban centres required attention, hence his declaration of war against potholes

‘Victim of hoodlums’ attack not APC member’ ENUE State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, has said that one Tony Odoh, who was attacked at a hotel in Makurdi by hoodlums, is not a card-carrying member of the party.

He claimed that the man was attacked over a woman.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

•Yaro... yesterday

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

on urban roads, which he added would soon be extended to rural areas. “’Operation zero potholes within 100 days” is the beginning of an effort to keep our roads free of potholes. We are starting with the urban centres and soon we shall cover the rural areas. This is to ensure the protection of life and property,” Bello said.

He said cold asphalt technology, invented in the state, would be made use of for the project.

The inventor of the cold asphalt and one-time Minister of Sports Sani Ndanusa said the technology was a globally-accepted and faster approach to road maintenance.

According to him, the technology is an innovation in construction and an improvement on the bitumen asphalt.

He assured the government of availability of cold asphalt, saying the company has signed an agreement with the University of Ilorin to enhance the technology and provide technical support.

60

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Nine killed in South Carolina church shooting

UN: Number displaced worldwide hits record high

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•Suspected gunman arrested

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INE people have been shot dead at a historic AfricanAmerican church in Charleston, South Carolina, and a hunt is under way for a white gunman.

Police described the attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as a “hate crime”.

They issued surveillance images of the suspect and said he had sat in the church for an hour before opening fire.

The church’s pastor, state Senator Clementa Pinckney, is reported to be among the dead.

A prayer meeting was going on at the time of the shooting at about 21:00 local time on Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday) at the church in Calhoun Street.

A 21-year-old man suspected of the crime has been arrested.

Police said Dylan Roof, of Lexington, South Carolina,

was detained during a traffic stop in Shelby, North Carolina.

The gunman is reported to have sat in on a bible study meeting for a full hour before opening fire on the group.

Six women and three men, including the church pastor, were killed. A hate crimes investigation has been launched.

US President Barack Obama said he and his wife had known several members of the Emanuel AME Church, including the pastor Clementa Pinckney.

He called the church a “sacred place” in the history of Charleston and spoke of his confidence that the congregation and the community would “rise again”.

He also raised the issue of gun ownership, saying “communities like this have had to endure tragedies like this too many times”.

• Roof ... suspect

“At some point,” he said, “we as a country have to reckon with the fact that this type of massacre does not happen in other advanced countries”.

The streets close to the church are deserted, save for a few uniformed police officers. A trickle of people arrive to lay flowers for the victims.

“Peace for the church, the family and their loved ones,” reads one handwritten note, tucked into a bouquet of bright flowers. A short drive

away mourners have arrived for a vigil in memory of the deceased.

Rev Vanessa Johnson is from a nearby church but knew one of the reported victims, the Reverend Clementa Pinckney.

“All of us are in shock... We are at a loss for words,” she says. Rev Johnson says the Emmanuel church holds a special place in this city’s hearts, making the events of Wednesday night so difficult to digest.

Kenya issues reward for German al-Shabab fighter

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ENYAN police have issued a $100,000 (£64,000) reward for the capture of a German national accused of taking part in an al-Shabab attack on Sunday.

Andreas Martin Muller, who has the alias Abu Nusaybah, is alleged to be one of the gunmen who attacked a military base in Lamu county.

Eleven al-Shabab fighters and two Kenyan soldiers were killed.

Another foreigner, Briton Thomas Evans, also took part in Sunday’s assault and was killed in the fighting.

Sunday’s attack is part of a growing number of assaults in Kenya carried out by the Somalia-based Islamist alShabab group.

Al-Shabab fighters killed

148 people in an attack on Kenya’s Garissa University College in April.

The reward is part of a police campaign known in Kiswahili as Kaa Chonjo Usinyamaze (“Be alert, Don’t Keep Quiet”), which was launched to combat the threat from the jihadists.

In April $20,000 was offered for information that would lead to the arrest of two al-

UK relaxes Kenya travel warning

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HE UK government has lifted its warning against travelling to part of Kenya’s coast, including Mombasa.

The Foreign Office previously warned against all but essential travel to almost all of the country’s Indian Ocean coastline.

Warnings remain in place for part of the coast and anywhere within 60km (37 miles) of the border with Somalia

due to a “high threat from terrorism”.

Warnings also remain in place for areas including Nairobi’s Eastleigh suburb.

The BBC’s Jonathan Chapman said coastal resorts had seen a “dramatic drop” in tourist numbers - and the Kenyan government had blamed this on travel advice from several governments including Britain and the US. The Foreign Office says the

“main threat” of terrorism including kidnapping - in the warning areas comes from “extremists linked to alShabab”, a militant group which has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia.

There have been several attacks in Kenya recently, including the killing of at least 148 people at Garissa University College 2 April 2015.

Mexico police dismantle video cameras installed by gang

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OLICE in the Mexican city of Reynosa in north-eastern state Tamaulipas state have dismantled 39 surveillance video cameras installed by a local gang.

Officers said they surprised two people attaching a camera to a post in a city street on Wednesday evening.

The two said they were acting on the orders of a criminal gang, which uses the cameras to monitor the move-

ments of the security forces.

Reynosa is racked by violence, with two drug cartels vying for control.

The two suspects took officers to the locations of the other 37 cameras they had already installed.

They had been put up at key street crossings in the city, at shopping centres and in residential areas.

Officials did not say which gang was behind the installation.

It is not the first time police have come across gangs installing surveillance cameras.

On 22 May, a day after President Enrique Pena Nieto visited the city, they removed another 39 such devices.

Reynosa, which is across the border from the Texan city of McAllen, is being fought over by the Zetas and Gulf cartels.

Both gangs have been fighting for control of the region, regarded as a strategic commercial entry point into the US.

Serbian PM ‘shocked’ at Hungary’s plan for ERBIA’s prime minis- migrant fence Foreign Minister Peter ter has said he is Szijjarto said Hungary could

S

“shocked” by Hungary’s plan to erect a border fence to keep out migrants.

Aleksandar Vucic said the four-metre (13ft) fence was “not the solution” to migrants entering Hungary from

Serbia.

Hungarian authorities announced the plan on Wednesday, saying the wall would run the length of the 175km (109mile) border between the countries.

not wait for the EU to find a solution to immigration.

Speaking on TV during a visit to Oslo, Mr Vucic said: “I am surprised and shocked. We will discuss this decision with our Hungarian colleagues.

Shabab fighters suspected of being involved in the Garissa attack, but it is not clear if the police have any useful intelligence on their whereabouts, the BBC’s Ruth Nesoba reports from Nairobi.

Kenyan soldiers fight in the African Union force which is battling al-Shabab in neighbouring Somalia.

HE number of people displaced by war, conflict or persecution reached a record high of nearly 60 million around the world in 2014, a UN report says.

The document by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says the number of people forced to flee their homes rose by 8.3 million from the previous year.

The continuing conflict in Syria is seen as a major factor behind the record numbers.

UNHCR head Antonio Guterres told the BBC the “world is a mess”.

“The drama is that if people think that humanitarians can clean up the mess. It’s no longer possible. We have no capacities to pick up the pieces.

“More and more people are suffering, and unfortunately for many of them there is no

chance to support them.”

Mr Guterres said that the number of displaced people had increased to 42,500 per day in 2014, from 32,000 the year before.

The report says that at least 15 conflicts have erupted or reignited in the past five years, including eight in Africa and three in the Middle East.

This led to 59.5 million displaced people by the end of 2014, of whom 38.2 million were displaced in their own country, by internal conflict.

Wars in Ukraine, Nigeria and South Sudan swelled the figures last year, the UNHCR said.

Of the 59.5 million total, the report said, 19.5 million were refugees. More than half of the refugees were children.

Another 1.8 million people were awaiting the outcome of claims for asylum.

Pope Francis blames ‘human selfishness’ for global warming

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OPE Francis has blamed human selfishness for global warming in his long-awaited encyclical calling for action on climate change.

In the letter, he urges the rich to change their lifestyles to avert the destruction of the ecosystem.

Environmentalists hope the message will spur on nations ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris in December.

But parts of the document, leaked earlier this week, have already been criticised by some US conservatives.

It has been dismissed by two Republican presidential candidates.

The encyclical, named

“Laudato Si (Be Praised), On the Care of Our Common Home”, aims to inspire everyone - not just Roman Catholics - to protect the Earth.

The 192-page letter, which is the highest level teaching document a pope can issue, lays much of the blame for global warming on human activities.

Pope Francis writes that: “We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.

“The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.”

EXPRESSO

Troubled governors and the Peter Principle •Continued

from Back page

Where on earth is this impoverished State supposed to get the fund for all these?

Where is financial planning and projections in all this?

Another state in the southwest is building so many posh public schools in towns while many students still learn under trees in the rural areas.

There is also a plan to build a sky-scrapper like the Cocoa House in Ibadan, an egoinduced edifice, not minding that the Ibadan monolith is barely occupied and of little economic value apart from gracing the horizon.

Why would a governor dare to purchase jets, helicopters and fly in chartered jets yet expect that cash is inexhaustible? Why are local government council workers also owed for months in many states? The federal allocation to LGAs ought to be enough to pay that level of staff five times over since hardly anything else happen in the LGAs. The point being made essentially here is that money or the lack thereof, is not the problem with these states that cannot pay their workers. This may be hard to comprehend but the point is that no state is in reality richer than the other.

A state is only as good as its manager. This is buttressed by the fact that while some oilrich state are in trouble, some that are deemed to be poor

states have managed their finances so well that they have enough to bailout rich states.

This is where the Peter Principle above comes in. This principle, espoused by a certain Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull states that people are usually promoted to positions quite above their competence. Are most governors in Nigeria truly competent. Are they willing to learn?

This leads to the other Peter Principle: the Peter Obi Principle. This column will recommend him especially to the new governors. They must quietly seek out the erstwhile governor of Anambra State, Governor Peter Obi and tap his mind on the art of running a state in an emerging economy like Nigeria’s. It is not only that Anambra is not owing workers, it has enough in its kitty to lend money to some overly trouble states.

Obi did not only leave about N8o billion in cash for his successor Chief Willie Obiano, he put millions of dollars of the state’s funds in bonds that will mature in a few years time at some profit. As if he saw tomorrow, he executed a policy of putting aside at least N100million monthly for his eight years in office. Apart from a glaring fiscal discipline, he never embarked on any vanity projects of policies but enacted numerous decisions that

would continue to redound on the economic well being of the state for a very long time.

There are investments in modern shopping malls in Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha; Onitsha Business Parks one and two and a N500 million investment with the Bank of Industry to support SMEs in Anambra State. Perhaps most remarkable is the SAB Miller’s breweries in Onitsha, which recently expanded to Nnewi. SAB Miller, one of the biggest brewers in the world has invested about $170 million in its Nigeria subsidiary based in Anambra and will provide about 50,000 jobs at full capacity.

This is the way to build a state’s economy.

Peter Obi exemplified prudent leadership while delivering value to the people. At the time he left in March 2014, he had restored the people’s trust in public schools and Anambra candidates topped in all national exams for many years. While some states are so indebted that they are no longer credit worthy, Peter Obi did not borrow a dime in eight years. His time in Anambra (2006- 2014) ought to be a case study on how to run a state.

He left the state far better than he met it and proved that it is not the quantum of funds available to a state but the quality of mind managing it.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

NEWS EFCC arrests Ohakim, quizzes Lamido Continued from page 4

•Former Head of State , Abdulsalam Abubakar (second right), Senate President, Bukola Saraki (second left) , Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima (left) and Senator Danjuma Goje during a visit by the Senate President to Abdulsalam Abubakar in his residence in Abuja...yesterday

Wike sacks 344 lecturers, others

R

IVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike ordered yesterday the sack of 344 lecturers and others employed for the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori-Ogoni, the headquarters of Khana Local Government Area.

The teachers were employed by the Rotimi Amaechi administration last September.

The governor also disbanded the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV). His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, confirmed TIMA-RIV’s disbandment. TIMA-RIV was put in place by Amaechi, shortly after he became governor on October 26, 2007.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the polytechnic , Innocent Ogbonna, confirmed the sack of the lecturers.

Ogbonna also disclosed that the Rector of the Institution, Obianko Elechi, began his terminal leave two weeks ago on the instruction of the state government.

Ogbonna said: “The recent employment exercise we had at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori has been cancelled. The process used in employing them was such that the government needs to review. As we speak now that process has already been terminated by the incumbent government.

“As it stands now, they don’t have any job with the Polytechnic now; that is the

From Bisi Olaniyi and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

truth, moreso when they are yet to start work before the process was dissolved.”

On the sack of 344 lecturers and other workers of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Wike’s media adviser said: “Their employment did not follow due process, done in a hurry and fraught with irregularities. Until the irregularities are cleared, they remain sacked. The Rector of Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori was asked to proceed on compulsory leave, because of official misconduct and being investigated. The rector must be on compulsory leave, pending the outcome of the investigations.”

Inko-Tariah, while reacting to Wike’s disbandment of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV), put in place by the Amaechi’s administration, said: “TIMA-RIV officials were constituting nuisance and extorting money from Rivers people, leading to accidents and loss of lives of innocent persons. It was a radical departure from what they were asked to be doing. TIMA-RIV will be reconstituted at the appropriate time.”

The Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, condemned the sacking of the 344 lecturers and others, saying Wike should desist from punishing

“innocent Rivers people, in his bid to get at Amaechi”.

APC said: “It is sad to note that Governor Nyesom Wike’s obsession to conduct a vengeful vendetta and reprisal against every good legacy left behind by his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has now led him to sack 344 lecturers and other staff duly employed by the authorities of the Rivers State Ministry of Education for the services of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori.

“The employment of the sacked lecturers and staff by the Amaechi’s administration, which commenced as far back as 2013, followed due process, as they were painstakingly taken through rigorous examinations and documentation, including biometric capture, to ease their working life. The affected lecturers continue to insist that their recruitment followed due process.

“In a most shocking manner, Wike mindlessly directed, through the Rivers State Ministry of Education, that the engagement of the 344 lecturers and other personnel be terminated in one fell swoop, without a thought for what will become of those involved, their families and dependants. ”To confirm that the Rivers governor was out on a vendetta mission, he also directed that the Rector of the Polytechnic, Obiaanko Elechi, should embark on compulsory leave.”

The APC also said Wike planned to sack all non-indigenes recruited as part of the 13,200 teachers by Amaechi’s administration.

APC said: “The worry APC has is not that a thoroughly vindictive fellow chose to embark on a needless mission of vendetta, true to his nature, character and track record, but the party is totally at a loss at how Wike will execute such mindless agenda with so much collateral damage to the existence and livelihood of so many innocent Nigerians, their families and dependants. ”It is important to state that what is unfolding may be God’s own way to expose the fraud that Wike is to the good people of Rivers State, so that all will see what the APC warned about the man, during the last electioneering in the state. We condemn these antipeople developments by the Wike-led caretaker government of Rivers State.”

Inko-Tariah described the alleged plan to sack non-indigenes among the 13,200 teachers recruited by ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the figment of the imagination of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He said: “Governor Wike does not plan to sack the teachers, indigenes or non-indigenes, who are all residents of Rivers State and have equal rights. The issue has not been discussed.”

DSS grills refinery MDs in multi-billion dollar oil deals Continued from page 4

tal costs.

But an NNPC source said last night that managing directors of the refineries were not involved in the SWAP and OPA arrangements.

According to him, it is completely between the oil traders and the government. He added that the swap and OPA oil deals were created as a result of the poor state of the refineries, adding that the refineries are now begging for supply of crude to enable them produce.

He also explained that because the refineries are down and the rule is that the NNPC must remit the dollar value of the 445,000 barrels per day supply into the Federation Account, the corporation sells the crude at international market price and remits into the Federation Account.

“The Swap and OPA arrangements were considered economically wise and beneficial to the government in terms of value addition, that is why it was introduced,: the source added,

pleading not to be named because he is not allowed to speak.

The fear of a massive purge after a probe of the activities of the NNPC has gripped top officials of the oil giant.

The Deputy Group Managing Director/Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts), Bernard Otti has been away abroad since the inauguration of the new government. Sources and he is abroad for medical reasons.

Company Secretary/Legal Adviser Ikechukwu Oguine resigned and paid three months salary to the corporation in lieu of notice.

The four refineries will resume production next month, according to NNPC spokesman Ohi Alegbe.

The commencement of production by the refineries raises hope of an end to perennial petrol shortages that have plagued the country, which though is Africa’s largest crude producer, has been battling with a crippling fuel scarcity.

“The refineries at Warri, Port

Harcourt and Kaduna will resume next month after a successful turn-around-maintenance (overhaul) of their facilities,” Alegbe told French News Agency, (AFP).

“The turn-around-maintenance has been on for some time. We did not just want to make any noise about it. The refineries will start production as soon as they have delivery of crude oil for refining,” he said.

Alegbe added that the resumption of refinery activity “will significantly improve the supply of petroleum products in the country.”

The NNPC has four refineries — two in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, one in Kaduna and another in Warri, with a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day.

A network of pipelines and depots located throughout the country links these refineries.

Nigeria produces two million barrels of crude oil a day, but has to export it due to a lack of working refineries. It then im-

ports fuel back into the country at international market prices a situation blamed on corruption and mismanagement.

To cushion the blow on the general population, the government sells fuel on the streets at subsidised prices, and makes up for the higher amounts spent by importers by reimbursing them the difference — a system seen as rife with false claims and overpayments.

Last month, the fuel shortage almost grounded Nigeria to a halt, as fuel importers and marketers shut their depots to protest some $1 billion (900 million euros) in unpaid reimbursements.

Black market and legitimate petrol vendors did a brisk trade, selling at around N300 ($1.5; 1.3 euros) a litre — well above the officially-set price of N87.

In January 2012, the government tried to end the subsidies, causing petrol prices to more than double. It was ultimately forced to reinstate the payments after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in violent protests that left more than a dozen dead.

tion with a recent petition against him by a group that goes by the name, Alliance for Good Governance. Dr. Ohakim wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in the reports because he had formally communicated his inability to honour the agency’s invitation to it, attributing the misinformation to bridge in communication.

“Dr. Ohakim got wind of the invitation while he was away on a medical trip in the United Kingdom and upon return to the country, wrote the agency to explain why he could not meet their earlier date. For reasons that are not immediately known, however, the agency did not reply this letter.

“On Wednesday June 17, Dr. Ohakim again wrote to

the Commission seeking for a new date in July on medical grounds. The letter was duly acknowledge by the agency the same day but to his greatest surprise, officials of the agency stormed his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, the following morning Thursday, June 18, 2015, with press photographers and television camera men.

“Dr. Ohakim wishes to state that he has no reason, whatsoever, to evade the agency because he is not only a law-abiding senior citizen of Nigeria but also has no skeleton in his cupboard, having been investigated before by the commission on the same issue and that he is quite confident that nothing incriminating will be found against him this time around.”

Jega disowns anti-card reader directive in Rivers, others Continued from page 4

why for the governorship election we instructed that the card readers must be used.

“And so, if there is evidence of any place where they just put aside the card readers and use manual accreditation, that election can be examined; I am sure the tribunal will look at the evidence clearly as to what happened.

“As far as I know, the commission did not change that directive: so card readers must be used, and there were places where card readers were not used for the governorship election, then people were entitled to produce evidence for that so that the commission could take necessary actions.

“What we meant by card readers must be used is that we did not expect that in any polling unit, people will say card readers were not functioning, people would say we were going to use manual accreditation, no; because we said if a card reader failed, come back the following day, we would replace the card

readers for the election to take place. As far as I know, virtually in all the places, where the card readers actually failed, we came back the following day and did the elections.

“We have repeatedly said that the elections were not perfect, and no elections have ever been perfect, but the last general elections were highly successful, but we are doing this retreat in order to assess what we did so that we can continue to improve, because there is still room for improvement.

“I am happy about what we had done, and of course, I am bowing out because my tenure has expired. We all have tenures, and once our tenure expires, we all leave and other persons will come.

“So, we are happy that we had been given the opportunities to do 2011 and 2015 general elections, and we are also happy that the outcome had been generally commendable. We hope the next commission will keep on doing a better job than what we had done.”

Chad bombs Boko Haram camps in retaliatory attack Continued from page 4

Any type of clothing that leaves only the eyes visible is a form of “camouflage” and is now banned, he added, asking religious leaders to spread the message in mosques, churches and other holy places.

Deubet said security forces in the Muslim majority country had been instructed to “go into the markets and to seize all the burqas on sale and burn them”.

Anyone found wearing a burqa will be “arrested, tried and sentenced in summary proceedings”, he added The Defence Headquarters yesterday denied claims that the Chadian military carried out air strikes on some Boko Haram targets in Nigeria.

It said it suspected that the areas attacked by Chadian forces might likely be in Niger Republic.

Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement: “The claim that the Chadian military has conducted air strikes against six terrorist camps in Nigeria is not correct.

“The fact is that the Nigerian Air Force surveillance mission identified targets tagged as Camp 6 around Bosso town which is not within Nigeria’s territory and alerted the partners accordingly.

“The places reported to have been struck by the Chadian are therefore most likely to be in Niger Republic and not Nigeria as widely reported in the international media.

“Although the terms of the multilateral and bilateral understanding with partners in the war against terror allow some degree of hot pursuit against the terrorists, the territory of Nigeria has not been violated as insinuated in the reports circulated in some foreign media.

“The Nigerian military will continue to cooperate with partners in the mission to exterminate or contain terrorists strictly in conformity with existing terms of the Concept of Operation at strategic, operational or tactical levels.

“It is however important that issues are accurately reported while avoiding misleading or unnecessary sensationalism from any quarter.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3250

‘Rather than pose a challenge to the system that domesticates and enslaves him, he chooses the easiest way out and plays junkyard dog to tyrant cabals and the predatory bunch constituting the nation’s ruling class. He assumes the role of a poseur and pretends to fight for the interest of the public. This sad charade is continually perpetuated across esteemed leader-writers’ polemics in foremost newspapers’ columns’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

N

OW that the 8th National Assembly (NASS) has been inaugurated, despite the controversial and rebellious manner in which its leadership was elected, and since the ruling party has reconciled itself with the rebellion and accepted the reality of the moment, congratulation is due to all members and leaders.

The important role expected of the legislature in the making of just laws in liberal democracy is very well-known. More importantly, however, in view of the promise of change that attracted millions of our people including first-time voters, to the ruling party, the legislative branch, whose members willingly subscribed to the change mantra and campaigned on its promise, is obligated to take legislative initiatives in support of change. This is the justifiable expectation of the electorate who weathered the most violent political storm for the sake of change.

Though it’s been only 10 days since the NASS leadership elections, and the body is not expected to resume for full legislative session until next week, it is an appropriate time to alert our distinguished NASS members about the most important expectations of our people. It is appropriate time for two related reasons.

In the first place, citizens are eager for change and unfortunately, they are receiving feelers which appear to send the wrong signals. In the second place, since we are still in the wee hours of the new dispensation, it is right time to sound a note of warning to all political actors and operatives that our people are mad as hell and will not be fooled again. It is in the light of this empirically validated consciousness of the state of the nation that I share the following 10 posers with NASS members.

One: As distinguished members of the National Assembly, what is your idea of change? Since you consciously campaigned for votes by appeal to the need for change, this question applies especially to you members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, it also applies to you members of the minority party, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in both chambers. Though you did not campaign by appeal to change, you understand that the majority voted for change and as democrats you must accept it and live with it.

Moreover, it is a known fact the present APC leadership in both the Senate and the House had entered into an alliance of sort with PDP members, albeit against their party leadership position but with the blessing of PDP leadership. If this is true,

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

10 posers for NASS

•Bukola Saraki

A

S most governors in Nigeria run from pillar to post in search of funds to meet such basic obligation as salaries and pension arrears, this column wagers that all the petro-dollars in Arabia will not help a poor governor. Even as they collectively resolved to recover expenditure allegedly made on behalf of the Federal Government, a better option may well be to tell each other the harsh truth. Unless most of our governors purge themselves of spiritual and mental poverty, they will always be plagued by this manner fiscal poverty.

The newly-elected governors in particular must carry out a deep introspection over the activities of their immediate predecessors and determine to choose a fresh path because the road ahead is destined to be tough. It will be interesting to note the amount spent by some of the governors at the Abuja meeting last Wednesday in search of bailout. It will be even more interesting to note that some of the governors travelled to and from Abuja in chartered jets at highly wasteful rates.

Just last month, even as workers suffer the pangs of hunger, a governor from the Southeast was on a junket with a chartered jet. As he touched down in his state, he kept the jet on standby for so long and at such huge cost that even the owners of the craft were worried at such wastefulness by a state’s chief executive.

Early in this month, four vessels berthed at the Apapa Ports bearing 34,450 tons of imported crude palm oil worth over N3

•Yakubu Dogara

as I think it is, it would appear that PDP legislators have a stake in the success of their respective houses. Now that there is a coalition of rivals, PDP cannot wash its hand off the success or failure of the Senate and the House.

In the light of the foregoing, then, a relevant question follows: Does change for you our legislators mean just change of actors or does it include change of ideas and practice? If it means change of actors only, how sensible and morally justifiable is it?

Why would anyone expect voters to respond to a call for change of actors without a corresponding change of ideas and practices that had failed the people? Therefore it seems reasonable to expect that the people voted for change of ideas and practices.

Two: If you understand that the people voted for change of ideas and practices what such ideas and practices occurred to you NASS members as needing change? Is corruption one of them? What about governmental impunity? Is greed a practice that requires a rethink? How about financial waste and leakages?

Three: If any of the above occurred to you as NASS members newly sworn in, how do you plan on executing change in such

areas? Does it occur to you that change must start with you and be self-initiated? If it doesn’t, does it occur to you the moral issue that faces advocates of change who are not prepared to self-initiate change and self-impose its requirements? How can you go about mouthing change if you don’t lead in the necessary action and if it doesn’t start with you? Are you an advocate of “do as I say but don’t do as I do” with the moral contradiction it implies?

Four: If you come to terms with the need for self-initiation and self imposition of change, where does it occur to you to start?

Which aspect of change is easiest for you to execute, bearing in mind that what concerns you severally and collectively is the easiest to deal with, especially since you can move from there to what concerns others?

Look at it this way. If I discover a deficiency in my approach to life and I notice that my son is going in the same direction, to help my son get back on the right tract, I must first deal with my own problem. Our legislators are the guardians of our national destiny. Admittedly, we have all gone astray in the matter of our priorities. We expect our national guardians to lead us back on the path of moderation and decency. But they must first remove the logs in their legislative eyes.

Five: In light of Four, how do you as NASS members perceive the recent report on your salaries and allowances in the context of the economic situation prevailing in the nation?

Do you think that it is fair, excessive, or inadequate in comparison with other jurisdictions and other sectors of the polity?

Six: Assume that you consider it fair, what is the basis of that assessment in light of comparison with other countries, including our peers and those more advanced?

Seven: If you consider it excessive in comparison to other demographics, what can you do about it? What will you do about it?

Do you have the legislative power to re-

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Troubled governors and Peter Principle PMB: let’s run with the ‘draft’ now

I

N journalism and indeed in the writing world, when deadline pressure mounts and time is more of the essence than the essence of a piece, editors often call for the draft.

Short of publishing a blank space, the ‘draft’ is quickly tweeked, spruced up and used.

Production must go on.

It seems the same scenario with President Muhammadu Buhari and his work list. Nigerians are almost exasperated waiting for him to get down to work. Nature abhors a vacuum. He must choose his team now without further ado and set about the numerous pressing issues begging for attention. It is good to consult, but too much of it would engender compromise.

He is allowed to make a few mistakes too, which can be ‘rejigged’ and corrected down the line. But we must go now lest we lose the change momentum that brought him in.

It is inexcusable if not inefficient to take so long to appoint the core backroom staff who run the engine of state; like CoS, PS, SGF and even NSA. Certain things don’t wait, let’s run with the ‘draft’ please. billion. In the last five years, Nigeria has imported about 2.4 million metric tons of this commodity valued at about N314 billion (about $1.6 billion).

We must point it out for the umpteenth time that between Adapalm in Imo State and

Risonpalm in Rivers State all the palm products needs of Nigeria’s manufacturing industries can be met with extra to export to Europe. In other words, these states could have easily earned a chunk of this multibillion dollars palm oil trade. But a visit to

duce your remuneration and allowances?

If you don’t, why not, since you have enormous legislative powers? If you do, will you?

Eight: In particular, can you really morally justify the provision for wardrobe allowance no matter how little it is? If you can, will you also support the provision of wardrobe allowance for teachers, lecturers and other professionals?

Some of you are retired governors and you are receiving generous pensions from your states. Will you also consider yourself eligible for full remuneration and allowances from NASS? Some of you are former ministers who received handsome severance allowances from the Federal Government. Are you also eligible for full remuneration and allowances from NASS? What message are you sending to ordinary Nigerians struggling to survive?

Nine: How about the overall budget of NASS? Do you consider it excessive in the context of our overall economic situation and the mass poverty in the country? The Deputy Speaker has suggested that N150 billion is not too much for the body because it is only 3 per cent of the national budget.

Do you know, as Premium Times has revealed, that NASS, with no more than 2,000 people including members and staffers, has a budget that is greater than the budget of 19 states in the federation with population averaging four million people?

How do you justify the allocation of such disproportionate resources to your institution? Is it in terms of the work that you do? But it has also been reported that while NASS gobbled N600 billion in four years, it passed only 106 bills out of 1063. Or is it in terms of the prestige of the institution?

Or the risk that members take in getting elected? You must agree with me that change must start with you.

Ten: Finally how do you as NASS members plan to carry the masses along the path of and toward change? The reaction to the recent announcement of remuneration and allowances has been overwhelmingly negative. To one page of the report in ThisDay there were 57 comments covering five pages of regular paper print and all of them were negative. “Is this the change we voted for?” is the common refrain. Isn’t it too soon for NASS and the new Executive to alienate the masses that voted massively for change?

Just a thought!

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 any of these sprawling palm estates would only make you weep. It would also afford you an idea of the kind of people managing our affairs.

Apart from funds from the federation account, which has virtually vanished with the crude oil debacle, most governors never mustered the initiative to build alternative economic bases in their states. As we said here last week, has cocoa stopped growing in the Southwest of Nigeria or has it stopped being a major world commodity? Any thinking governor can make any state in the Southwest the hub of cocoa production and processing in Africa.

Regardless that most states lacked any economic base and do not earn enough revenue, yet they all live large and embark on vanity programmes and projects that are not only way above their means, but have little economic value. Imo for instance was handing cash to pupils and also claimed to be building two universities at the same time. It was also building a fancy skyscraper and three massive hotels in the three senatorial zones. There are 27 general hospitals going on simultaneously in the 27 LGAs. There is no iota of financial planning in all of these.

In Osun State, an unsustainable N3.6 billion free school meal programme is on, as well as free uniforms; free tablets and free tuition. What then are parents for? In the thick of all these is an airport project.

•Continued

on page 60

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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