March21, 2015 by The Nation

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

•From left: Prof Yemi Oshinbajo speaking, Lt. Gen Alani Akinrinade, Governor of Oyo, Sen Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Osun State,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the Yoruba Assembly in Ibadan Oyo State... Thursday •Continued from Page 1 Jega added that allowing voters stay after voting is not even new having done so in the 2011 elections. He explained that the only people the law does not permit close to or at polling stations during elections are those who do not have business with the electoral process. Such people should not come within 300 meters of a polling booth. A voter,he argued ,does have business with the process and therefore cannot be classified with non-voters who ,in the face of the law,have no business with the electoral process and should therefore keep off. Former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, said the provisions of the law, and not an individual’s opinion, should be the basis for anyone to stay back to watch the counting of votes after voting. “If anyone has a good rea-

Police order to stay off after voting:

IG under fire

•Okogie, SANs to Nigerians: ignore police chief, protect your votes •Jega: voters have right to stay after voting son to wait around the polling booth, he or she can wait.If not, he or she should depart. What does the law say? That is what we should do,” he said. Prominent jurist,Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) said the IGP was wrong to issue the keep off warning. He said:“ There is no legal provision that people should go home after casting their votes. What the Electoral Act says is that people should not loiter around in an aimless manner after voting. Prof. Jega affirmed this when he spoke today (yesterday). “He said that the electorate who want to witness the counting of the votes are free to do so, so far they stand at a

distance and watch the process. There is no way the electorate are prohibited from doing so. Waiting to see the votes counted enhances the credibility of the election and our democracy. “ If the IG enforces his pronouncement, he will end up sowing a seed of doubt in the outcome of the election.” Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) is on the same page with Prof.Sagay on the issue. His words: “After voting in an election, the electorate have the right to know the outcome. It is not enough to have party agents at the polling booth. The party agents can compromise, so, it is better for the people to see the

process to the end. “When the electorate witness the counting, it would be difficult to do anything untoward. “The IG has no power to make such statement except there is a law that permits that. I am not aware of the existence of such law. “Would he begin to arrest the electorate if they refuse to go home after voting? It is impossible in a democracy. What if the police collect bribe and work against an opposing party? The IG should get the National Assembly to make the law before the pronouncement can be binding.” •Continued on Page 7

...APC deplores order

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday strongly objected to the warning by Police Inspector General Suleiman Abba that voters should keep off polling stations after casting their votes in the coming elections. The party said the Police was off course and should be ignored by voters. The National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement in Lagos that the electorate should rather listen to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who said the electoral law does not state anywhere that voters cannot or should not wait to watch and ensure that their votes are counted.

It therefore urged the electorate to stay behind to protect their votes after casting their ballots, as was the case in 2011. APC said contrary to the suspicious directive by the IGP, INEC encourages voters to stay behind and watch their votes counted, saying the law expects such voters to stay behind but to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The APC said: “According to Jega, who appeared on Channels TV on Friday morning, the electoral law says anyone that has no business with the electoral process at the polling booths but desires to monitor events should stay at least some metres away from the

polling agents and completely away from the ballot box after casting their votes. ‘’The INEC Chairman further clarified that all registered voters have businesses with the process and can therefore not be classified as people that don’t have businesses at polling units. ‘’Therefore, the IGP has no constitutional right or powers under the constitution or Police Act to rewrite the electoral law. The role of the police is to maintain law and order or such other assistance as may be sought from the police by INEC,’’ the party said. It also asked Nigerians to “ignore the so-called public

service announcement concerning the show of force by government security agencies, saying it is part of efforts to intimidate the electorate and pave the way for the PDP to rig the elections.” The party also advised the public to ignore the SMS being sent around by the agents of the PDP, asking them to send their names and the last five digits of their VIN (Voter Identification Number) to certain numbers. ‘’These and other messages are being sent out by the PDP to steal people’s PVCs, intimidate voters and manipulate the elections. Nigerians should never allow that to happen,’’ the party said.

•Dame Patience

•Hajia Aisha

‘

One feature of the current electioneering has been the active participation of the spouses of the candidates. Many of them have interestingly, perhaps more than ever before, emerged from the shadows of their husbands to throw their hats to the ring...

T is exactly a week to the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The politicial terrain has expectedly been soaked in tension. This is partly because of the desperation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold on to power by all means. Confronted by a virile opposition, which, for the first time in 16 years, looks very good to win the elections, the PDP and its candidates have launched the most virulent hate campaigns and divisive tendencies that have aggravated the tension in the land. One feature of the current electioneering has been the active participation of the spouses of the candidates. Many of them have interestingly, perhaps more than ever before, emerged from the shadows of their husbands to throw their hats to the ring, in a bid

’

to pep up the campaigns and boost their husbands’ electoral chances. The women’s involvement has had a tinge of the theatrics in some respects. For example, as the presidential campaigns hot up, the wives of the two main candidates, Patience Jonathan and Hajia Aisha Buhari, have exhibited different approaches typifying their respective personalities. While Patience’s speeches are characterised by gaffes and hatred, Aisha has been quite polished and polite in her use of language. Many of the spouses of other candidates have also gone spiritual, resorting to prayers and supplications to enhance their husbands’ chances at the polls. •FULL STORY ON PAGES 13-16

OPC’s pro-Jonathan Lagos rally Lagos and the entire ? South-West, being a stronghold of the APC, has been marked for massive dishevelling commotion that would involve killings, maiming and kidnapping. Our findings have further shown that the recent N9b pipeline surveillance contract to the OPC and some militant groups in Southern Nigeria was the elixir for the latest crude impudence of the proJonathan armed groups. —Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation

It is absurd for anybody to attempt to link President Jonathan to a protest and disagreements involving rival factions of an organisation such as the OPC. The president has proven himself to be a peaceful , humble and forthright leader with unparalleled inclination for political accommodation. —Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary, PDP

News

ARRING hitches, the In dependent National Elec toral Commission (INEC) is set for March 28 and April 11 general elections. The Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Atthiru Jega, has deployed all the 12 National Commissioners in his team in 36 states for the evaluation of the preparation for the polls. But there were strong indications yesterday that the INEC is going ahead with the use of Card Readers for the elections. According to findings at the commission, the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has reached an appreciable level for the conduct of the polls. It was also learnt that all materials needed for the elections have been delivered to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A top source said: “We are set for the polls; everything is in place in 36 states and the FCT. All sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been delivered and kept in safe custody. “We are in a convenient

THE NATION, SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2015

INEC set for polls •Jega deploys commissioners in 36 states •Elections may hold at IDPs’ centres in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation bend for the conduct of the polls because out of 68,833,476 registered voters, 56,350,776 have collected their PVCs, representing about 81.87 per cent. “Prof. Jega has deployed all National Commissioners to 36 states and the FCT to evaluate the preparation for the general elections. Each of the National Commissioners will supervise three states. “They have left for these states in order to ensure that there is no setback anywhere. Whatever is any challenge any state Resident Electoral Com-

missioner is facing, it will be addressed on the spot.” On the situation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the source said: “We have received reports that all Internally Displaced Persons

(IDPs) have refused to return to their towns and villages which have been reclaimed by the military. “So, we have no choice than to conduct elections for IDPs in designated voting

points with adequate security provided by the police and other agencies. It is expected that these voting points will be made secure. “Long before some of these local government areas were regained by the military, we

had been forward looking by creating these voting points. We may have no choice than to adopt these voting points now.” As at press time, it was unclear if the polls will hold in Chibok or not. A document, Information Kit, from the INEC, revealed that there are 11 wards and 95 polling units in Chibok. Although Chibok is a state constituency on its own for the state House of Assembly election, it has been merged with Damboa/Gwoza for the House of Representatives seat. The battle for the liberation of Gwoza was ongoing as at press time.

Boko Haram: Nigerien, Chadian troops uncover 70 bodies in Borno mass grave

ROOPS from Chad and Niger have discovered what appears to be a mass grave outside Damasak, Borno State which was liberated from the terror group Boko Haram last weekend. No fewer than 70 bodies, some of them beheaded,were found dumped near a bridge outside the town. The skeletal bodies were partially mummified by the dry desert atmosphere, the witness said, suggesting that the killing had taken place some time ago. Niger military sources said yesterday that they were awaiting the arrival of Nigerian authorities to take charge of the operation. “Niger and Chad’s troops have discovered a mass grave at Damasak which appears to contain the bodies of Boko Haram’s victims,” said one of the military sources, who asked not to be identified. The dusty streets of Damasak were largely deserted, following its liberation on Saturday after many inhabitants had fled the terrorists’ four-month rule. Shops and businesses were looted and Boko Haram’s black and

white insignia were scrawled on buildings around the town. Nigeria announced on Thursday that scores of dead bodies had been found in a well in Bama, Borno State that was also recently reclaimed by by Nigerian troops from Boko Haram. The authorities said the large number of bodies found in the well are apparently some of the hostages of the terrorists or those who resisted them. An intelligence officer is reported to have confirmed that a cordon and search operation in the town is continuing with interrogation by troops. Bama, the second largest local government area in Borno, fell to Boko Haram on September 11, 2014. Some residents, mostly women and children who tried to flee the area at the time, were reported to have died of thirst and hunger as insurgents tightened their grip on the town. The community was liberated from the group on Monday by Nigerian soldiers.

•From left: Hon. Kazeem Ademola Alimi, Hon Gbolahan Yisawu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Prince Babajide Akinloye, all APC candidates, during the party’s rally in Victoria Island, Lagos ....yesterday PHOTO: Taiwo OKANLAWON

Why schools must hire qualified teachers, by Nigerian Turkish College boss

O stem the falling stan dard of education, par ticularly in secondary schools, employers must ensure that qualified teachers are engaged in secondary schools across the nation. The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian

Call your militia to order, Jonathan told

ARELY seven days to the rescheduled 2015 general elections in Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan has been called upon to call the militia men he is massively funding to desist from further display of weapons, especially guns in Yoruba land in order not to set the South Western part of the country on fire as other youths of the region are agitated over the display of impunity by the the OPC and the collaborators who protested in Lagos on Monday, demanding for the removal of the INEC boss, Prof Attahiru Jega. The warning was handed down yesterday in Lagos by the leadership of the Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups (COSEG), in a press release signed by its Chairman, Ifedayo Ogunlana and the Seccretary, Rasaq Olokoba, describing the militia men’s conduct as an afront and a disgrace,

especially as they were guided by security agents that were supposed to have arrested the gun wielding elements. The group maintained that from the reports so far, it is clear that the militia men are being heavily funded by the government at the centre in the bid to win the forthcoming presidential election, stressing that this desperation is being too far and the president must be held responsible for any breach of public peace in the South West of Nigeria before, during and after the forthcoming polls. The COSEG said: “The recent thoughtless, inciting and provocative protests embarked upon by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra and Odua People’s Congress(OPC) are desperate acts on the part of the Jonathan led government to get political favour by all means necessary or at best to

intimidate our people into casting their vote for him. “But from our investigations so far, our people are not in anyway intimidated by the show of shame of Monday, but rather resolute to vote their conscience, however, continuation of such brazen display of brigandage may be resisted in the future which may lead to political crisis of high proportion.” The group appealed to the other parties not to be provoked by the action of these desperate elements, but to be more focused and campaign on issues and allow the people who are yearning for change to do justice on March 28 and that no amount of threats or intimidation can prevent the people from voting their choice. COSEG furthermore advised those who are being funded to destabilize the South West to have a rethink as nemesis will definitely catch up with such elements, no matter how long.

Gbade OGUNWALE, Assistant Editor, Abuja Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Mr. Mehmet Basturk, stated this in Abuja, while receiving the Best Mathematics Award from the National Mathematical Centre. Basturk, who received the Mathematics and other science awards on behalf of the NTIC, attributed the superlative performance of the NTIC students to the engagement of qualified teachers by the colleges. Basturk said the NTIC always ensured the recruitment of qualified teachers, adding “its management usually undertakes training and retraining of teachers for optimum performance.” He restated the commitment of the school to improving on the excellent performance by its products at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The NTIC was honoured by the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) for winning no fewer than 12 awards in national and international Mathematics and Science Olympiads. At the award ceremony in Abuja, the Director and Chief

Executive Officer of the National Mathematical Centre, Prof Adewale Solarin, expressed satisfaction with the quality system put in place in all NTIC schools which has seen the students winning laurels. Prof. Solarin said: “I am very impressed with the kind of system the NTIC has in place, so I am not surprised that we have to celebrate their achievements”. He commended the partnership between Mathematical Centre and the NTIC, saying that the symbiotic collaboration has led to enormous gains in stimulating students’ interest in Mathematics. Solarin continued: “The NTIC has been a formidable partner of the NMC. If we want to look at the achievements we have made so far in international competitions, starting from the Pan-Africa Olympiad, the NTIC contributed significantly to the number of medals we have. “If we look at the international Mathematics Olympiads and Physics Olympiads which we had six medals so far, five of the medals can be associated to the NTIC. “At the national level, in every state that the NTIC has a school, it is always on the fore front of the award. Usually, we give plaques to first

three positions and the best schools, and in those states, the NTIC is always on the top”. The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, while presenting the awards, described the performance of the NTIC students as wonderful and commended the school for its numerous achievements in Mathematics and the sciences. The minister, who was represented by the Director, Basic and Secondary Education in the Ministry, Mr. Chike Uwazuoke, said the emergence of NTIC as one of the best schools in Nigeria in the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in the 2013 and 2014 showed that the school’s excellent performance in Olympiads is not a fluke. “This is a school (NTIC) that has made so much mark in Mathematics and Sciences. I am the Chairman of WAEC board in Nigeria. Last December at Minna, the usual practice whenever we have our annual meetings is to reward schools that did very well in School Certificate Examinations. The NTIC was among the best three schools in Nigeria for WAEC in 2013 or 2014”, the Minister said.

THE NATION, SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2015

Eid-El-Maulud

News 5

142 dead in Yemen mosque bombings claimed by IS

ULTIPLE suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 142 people yesterday at Shiite mosques in Yemen's capital -- one of the strife-torn country's deadliest ever jihadist attacks. The killings were the first claimed by IS in Yemen and represent a strong show of force by the group in a country where rival Al-Qaeda is the most prominent jihadist organisation, and which reacted by saying it would not attack mosques. Charred bodies and pools of blood were at the scene of the blasts, which targeted supporters of the Huthi Shiite militia that has seized control of the capital Sanaa. Worshippers rushed the wounded to hospitals in pick-up trucks, while others removed mutilated bodies. One suicide bomber struck inside Badr mosque in southern Sanaa while another targeted worshippers as they fled outside, witnesses said. A third suicide bomber targeted Al-Hashush mosque in northern Sanaa, while a fourth struck outside the mosque, according to the Saba news agency, which is now controlled by the Huthis. Nashwan al-Atab, a member of the health ministry's operations committee, told AFP 142 people were killed and at least 351 wounded. Huthi TV said hospitals had

made urgent appeals for blood donations. The imam of the Badr mosque was among the dead, a medical source said. Another suicide bomber blew himself up outside a mosque in the northern Huthi stronghold of Saada, a source close to the militia said. Only the assailant was killed, and tight security at the mosque prevented the bomber from going inside, the source added. In an online statement, the Sanaa branch of IS said the attacks were "just the tip of the iceberg". "Infidel Huthis should know that the soldiers of the Islamic State will not rest until they eradicate them... and cut off the arm of the Safavid (Iranian) plan in Yemen," the statement said. The Huthis are accused of receiving support from Iran. IS, a radical Sunni Muslim organisation, considers Shiites to be heretics. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula issued a statement saying it had nothing to do with the bombings. "We stress that we abide by the instructions of Sheikh Ayman Zawahiri, to avoid targeting mosques and markets... to protect the lives of innocent Muslims," it said. The Huthis overran Sanaa in September and have since tightened their grip on power.

•Wife of General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya A'isha Buhari, and former Vice President and chieftain of the APC, Atiku Abubakar, when the duo met at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja ... yesterday

Tinubu vs AIT: Court fixes April 1 for ruling J

USTICE Olamide Akinkugbe of a Lagos High Court has fixed April 1 for ruling on the interlocutory application filed by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against the Africa Independent Television (AIT). Justice Akinkugbe fixed the date after taking the submis-

Adebisi ONANUGA sions of the applicants and defendants in the N150 billion suit filed by Asiwaju Tinubu against the AIT. The trial judge last week granted an interim injunction

Nigeria’s credit rating drops over poll risks, falling oil prices

TANDARD & Poor’s (S&P) yesterday downgraded Nigeria’s credit rating. This came when the rating was reviewed last month because of falling oil prices and rising political risks ahead of delayed elections due next weekend. Nigeria’s foreign and local currency long-term rating BBwas cut one level to B+, four levels below investment grade. The outlook was changed to stable. “The decline in oil prices in the last seven months has significantly affected Nigeria’s external position and external vulnerability. The tightly contested general elections may pose risks to Nigeria’s external position and the implementation of what we view as the government’s ambitious fiscal consolidation plans, while the Boko Haram group continues to disrupt the northeast,” S&P said in a statement. Nigeria, which derives 90 per cent of export earnings and 70 per cent of government revenue from oil, is struggling with Brent crude prices, having halved since June. The International Monetary Fund predicts growth of 4.8 per cent this year, down from 6.3 per cent in 2014. The naira has weakened 18 per cent in the past six months, the most after Zambia’s kwacha among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Currencies Analyst, Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, said the downgrade worsens public and investor perception of the economy, already hit by a fall in oil prices, reserves and the local currency. He told Reuters that the action could increase the borrowing costs of the federal government and the 36 states. Head, Africa Research at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, said in an e-mailed re-

Collins NWEZE sponse obtained by The Nation that having only just put Nigeria on credit watch negative in February, citing revised oil price assumptions in 2015 and in the mediumterm, the move is not entirely surprising. “Despite Nigeria’s relatively-diversified economy, its fiscal revenue and export dependence on oil continues to be a key vulnerability. The extent of that vulnerability has

been exposed by weak fiscal buffers and subsequent pressure on its foreign exchange reserves,” she said. Khan said she does not expect the confirmation of the S&P downgrade to have a significant impact on Nigerian assets, as the risk of any ratings action had largely been priced in already. “Elections, expected in a week’s time, are a much bigger driver of investor sentiment. The hope is that Nigeria will witness sustained reform

momentum in reaction to weaker oil prices, ultimately lessening its economic vulnerabilities. However, progress on any economic reform will only be gauged in the medium-term. For now, the stable outlook assigned to Nigeria’s rating suggests that there is little risk of further ratings action from S&P in the near,” she said. Fitch Ratings will publish a review on its BB- rating for Nigeria, which has a stable outlook, on March 27, the eve of the vote. Moody’s Investors Service also has a stable outlook for the country and rates it Ba3, the same as Fitch.

Nigeria ‘ll not disintegrate — Cleric

cleric, Pastor Rached Aribatise Alade, General Overseer of the Solid Foundation Holy Ghost Bible Church, Ojo, has said that Nigeria will not disintegrate in spite of the acts of terrorism and the tense political situation currently being witnessed in the country. At a press briefing in Lagos to announce the yearly Easter Retreat of the church slated for April 2 to 5 on the Theme: “Triumphant Over Death”, the cleric said Nigeria would surely triumph over her challenges as Jesus Christ triumphed over death. The cleric lamented barbaric killings through insurgency and destruction of churches, saying that the perpetrators of these evil acts were not propagating any religious ideology and praying that God would surely bring the situation under control, as “Nigeria belongs to God and will never allow any misguided group

of people to destroy the nation. On the coming election, the religious leader expressed the hope that the elections slated for March 28 and April 11 will surely come to pass, assuring that they will not lead to any crisis or war as being envisaged in some quarters. Stressing that Nigeria will surely triumph over her challenges as Jesus Christ triumphed over death through resurrection, she admonished

our politicians to be God-fearing in all their aspirations and should always consider themselves as servants who should not be greater than the people who elected them to serve them. Speaking on the theme of the Easter retreat, she observed that a lot of Christians are afraid of death, adding that after the programme they would see reason why they should no longer be afraid of death as Jesus Christ died to give us life.

restraining the AIT from airing the said documentary pending the determination of the interlocutory application. Asiwaju Tinubu had sued the AIT before the court over a documentary broadcast by the station, titled ‘Lion of Bourdillion’ which he said was aimed at tarnishing his image. In an ex-parte motion file through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the APC National Leader sought an order of interim injunction restraining the AIT whether by itself, agents, privies and or other persons from producing or continuing to broadcast, airing, or continuing to reproduce the documentary. In his application, Tinubu urged the court to restrain the TV station from continuing the broadcast of the documentary which it started airing on March 1 and had been repeating daily, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated March 5. The motion further noted that damages would not adequately compensate applicant/claimant, if the ex-parte order was not granted and prayed that the rest of the suit may be extinguished, if the exparte order was not granted. It stated that there was real, imminent and urgent threat and danger of continuing to decimate the person and integrity of Asiwaju Tinubu by the AIT by continuing to air the “offensive” broadcast, if the ex-parte motion was not granted. But moving the application

Jonathan eyes Boko Haram ouster within a month

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is optimistic that Boko Haram will be pushed out of captured towns and villages in the Borno State within the next one month. “I’m very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in their hands,” he told the BBC in an interview broadcast yesterday. The military, backed by soldiers from Chad, Cameroon and

Niger as well as foreign private military contractors, claim to have already cleared Yobe and Adawama states of insurgents. Borno state, which has been worst affected by the insurgency, is expected to be liberated “soon”, they have said. In the BBC interview, Jonathan, who is seeking re-election at polls on March 28, said Boko Haram were “getting weaker and weaker every day”. He blamed the military’s inability to put down the rebellion pre-

viously to a lack of weapons and resources, which have now come through. Military and political rhetoric from federal government officials suggests that victory over Boko Haram could be declared soon but security analysts have warned that this could be premature. A Boko Haram attack on the border town of Gamboru on Wednesday and Thursday killed 11 civilians and gave an indication of the difficulties in bringing

yesterday, Chief Olanipeku urged the court to grant the motion stressing that the defendants, the AIT, stands to lose nothing by temporary stopping the broadcast of the contentious documentary, pending the determination of the substantive suit. Olanipekun disagreed with the submission of the AIT that most of the contents in the said documentary were already on various online publications, emphasizing that this was not an excuse to continue to broadcast the documentary. He also submitted that the claims of the television station that the said documentary was a sponsored advertorial was also not an excuse to further continue the broadcast which has become a subject of litigation. He argued that the AIT cannot continue to make money at the expense of Asiwaju Tinubu who, he claimed, had never been convicted by any court of law, either in Nigeria or abroad. But the AIT’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), in his response, insisted that the applicant’s application would not in any way be prejudiced, if the court chose not to make an order stopping the broadcast. Ozekhome, however, told the court that the station had since stopped the broadcast of the documentary immediately after Asiwaju Tinubu instituted the suit. Ozekhome contended that the issues contained in the documentary were already public knowledge as several websites had already published similar facts. Moreover, he noted that since Asiwaju Tinubu had already demanded for N150billion as compensation which is the worth of his purported damaged integrity, it would not be wise to grant his prayer for an interlocutory injunction, restraining the AIT from further broadcasting the documentary. After hearing the arguments of both parties, Justice Akinkugbe adjourned the matter till April 1 for ruling.

THE NATION

NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Jonathan: I'm not desperate for power

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday in Abuja that he was not desperate to serve. He spoke at the launch of the book , ‘The People’s Choice’, at the Presidential Villa. The book which chronicles his life is authored by Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhan. President Jonathan said: “Sometimes people ask me ‘Mr. President, from what we read and what we see, we see you are still smiling and unruffled.’ Yes, nothing will really ruffle me because I’m willing and ready to serve but I’m not desperate to serve. “And that is what keeps me going and if all of us who want to hold office from the least -a councillor or chairman of a council, a member of the state house of assembly or member of House of Representatives, Senate, or President; if all of us are always ready and willing to

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja serve our people, but we are not desperate in that our mission, then of course Nigeria will be a better place for all of us.” He pledged to continue to empower Nigerians with quality education to enable them realise their potentials. “Because my story is a humble story and whenever I read write ups about me, especially my personal account from my birth to when I got into the limelight as deputy governor, most times the accounts are not very accurate,” he said of the book . “I think the only accurate account will be when I write when I leave office. But to some extent this particular account is reasonably close, the whole story has been captured except for minor details.” He expressed gratitude to the author for “ representing me to Nigerians.”

•N170m raked in from book on President The story of his life,he said, “is meant to encourage young people. I have to thank the people who bought the book for Almajiri schools because my dream is that one day a product of Almajiri school will stand here as a president of this country. “And that is why I have been very passionate about education and I tell people that I grew up from a very poor background. But luck-

ily Nigeria is not a cast society, if I were to be an Indian, I probably wouldn’t even have dreamt of being a commissioner in my state. “Because in a cast society some people permanently belong to a lower class, but Nigeria is an open society, so you can move from the lowest level to the top but for you to do that one key thing is education and that is why I lay so much emphasis on education.

“That was why when I came here I decided that every state must have a federal university.” Former military head of state,General Yakubu Gowon, who stood in for Alhaji Maitama Sule as chairman of the occasion, corrected an impression in the book concerning the Aburi Accord. He said: “I have seen that you have gone back in history in your research on

Ojukwu and myself on the Aburi Accord. I was fascinated by that because I can assure you that meeting was to break the ice and to all of us allow the military leaders at the time to be able and to agree to be discussing our problems in Nigeria and to solve them. “ What happened to us at Aburi was that I couldn’t make it because I was unfortunately down with fever. And Ojukwu got back and made a statement and that wasn’t what we discussed •Continued on Page 7

Boko Haram: Nigerien, Chadian troops uncover 70 bodies in Borno mass grave

ROOPS from Chad and Niger have discovered what appears to be a mass grave outside Damasak,Borno State,which was liberated from the terror group Boko Haram last weekend. No fewer than 70 bodies,some of them beheaded,were found dumped near a bridge outside the town . The skeletal bodies were partially mummified by the dry desert atmosphere, witnesses said, suggesting that the killing had taken place some time ago. Niger military sources said yesterday that they were awaiting the arrival of Nigerian authorities to take charge of the operation. “Niger and Chad’s troops have discovered a mass grave at Damasak, which appears to contain the bodies of Boko Haram’s victims,” said one of the military sources, who asked not to be identified. The dusty streets of Damasak were largely deserted following its liberation on Saturday, after many inhabitants had fled the terrorists’ four-month rule. Shops and businesses were looted

and Boko Haram’s black and white insignia were scrawled on buildings around the town. Nigeria announced on Thursday that scores of dead bodies had been found in a well in Bama, Borno State that was also recently reclaimed by Nigerian troops, from Boko Haram. The authorities said the large number of bodies found in the well are apparently some of the hostages of the terrorists or those who resisted them. An intelligence officer is reported to have confirmed that a cordon and search operation in the town is continuing with interrogation by troops. Bama, the second largest Local Government Area in Borno, fell to Boko Haram on September 11, 2014. Some residents, mostly women and children who tried to flee the area at the time were reported to have died of thirst and hunger as insurgents tightened their grip on the town. The community was liberated from the group on Monday by Nigerian soldiers.

•Former Had of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (right) ;President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right); and former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya (left), during the presentation of a book on President Jonathan in Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Another foreign firm tips Buhari to win presidential poll N

NEW York based political risk firm, Teneo Intelligence, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is gaining momentum over President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of next week’s election. Teneo Intelligence, in a report yesterday,thought Buhari had ”an edge,” but that “a last-minute upset by the incumbent president remained a possibility.” It said: ”President

Goodluck Jonathan is banking on recent reports of the ‘ s u c c e s s f u l ’ counterinsurgency offensive against Boko Haram to help turn the tide on his battered reputation … “However, the momentum of Jonathan’s rival Muhammadu Buhari of the main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) continues to grow. “Despite the absence of reliable polling data in Nigeria, the most important signal that he could unseat the

president is the change in the voting trend this time round. “Buhari’s support in the north (his home region) appears to be unwavering – he has consistently defeated his rivals there in the past three election cycles. This support is only likely to increase thanks to a growing antiJonathan sentiment in the region … “Buhari’s strong momentum represents a serious threat to many powerful

Abdulsalami: Ambassador of peace

•Continued from Page 2

Like every other former military leader from the North, AA is a member of the Board of Trustees of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). It is remarkable that unlike many other Nigerian elites, he has never been identified with the ethnic jingoism, undue sectionalism or the political and religious biases that pervade the system, setting the younger generation on edge. An officer and a gentleman, many of those who worked with him, even in rather lowly capacities, easily recall his fatherly mien, firm yet accommodating and reassuring. On January 14, the presidential candidates of the 14 political parties that would be participating in the March 28 presidential election, signed an ac-

cord in Abuja to uphold peace before, during and after the elections. By the agreement, popularly called the Abuja Accord, the candidates and their political parties are committed to peaceful electioneering and effective management of the outcome of the elections. Former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Emeka Anyaoku, were at the signing ceremony of the agreement that was facilitated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, in conjunction with the National Security Adviser. In times like this, Abdulsalami is conscious of his role as an ambassador for peace. Of course, he is no stranger to the likely challenges that he may come

across in the search for peace. Yet, he is not one to give up. It was that resilience to pursue the course of peace that has won him many laurels and awards from different parts of the world. In spite of contentions over perceived shortcomings, the stature of Abdulsalami Abubakar has not been eroded. According to veteran columnist, Mohammed Haruna, “These, however, do not seem to have dimmed his standing as a much sought after broker of peace in international conflicts by the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS, thanks, no doubt to the fact that he was a man apparently destined by fate to get the military out of the politics of the most populous black and African nation for good.”

While wishing the retired general more fruitful years during his 71st birthday in June, 2012, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) described him as the father of Nigeria's democracy. A statement issued by the forum's chairman and Governor of Niger State, Mu'azu Aliyu Babangida, noted that at 71, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has remained the reference point on good governance, diplomacy, and conflict resolution, not only in Nigeria but the world over. “We are equally proud of General Abdulsalami Abubakar as our ambassador of peace beyond Niger State and Nigeria, especially his intervention as the head of the United Nations Missions to Congo Kinshasa in the year 2000, Sudan and Chad in 2004

and the restoration of peace in those countries,” the governors stated. Now in his twilight years, General Abdulsalami Abubakar can cast a retrospective glance backwards to behold the hands of destiny and joyfully carry on with the quest for peace and consensus-building, even as the nation's stability and cohesion face yet another round of tests from centrifugal forces from within. How well he succeeds in this latest quest is largely dependent on how the various stakeholders in Nigeria's democratic journey take his messages of peace which he now pursues with grey-haired wisdom. Will Abdulsalami win the peace for all at the end of the journey? Only time will tell. But even if he doesn't , it will not be for lack of trying.

business and political interests that have benefitted from the incumbent People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s 16year political dominance. Consequently, entrenched interests will not easily concede a Buhari victory.” Teneo’s prediction followed on the heels of the projection made last week by the world’s leading global political risk research and consulting firm,Eurasia Group that Buhari has a 60% chance of winning, depending on how a considerable tranche of uncommitted voters leans. Eurasia’s Africa practice head and Analyst Philippe de Pontet wrote that the electoral map is tilting to Buhari in swing regions in the Southwest and the Middle Belt. He said that with Buhari in the saddles, investors could expect business-oriented policies. He adds:”The election will still be difficult to call, but our expectation of a narrow Jonathan win was predicated on several factors that are losing some saliency late in the campaign. Chief among them is the incumbency and financial advantages of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While this still helps Jonathan, its impact is blunted by the intensity of support for Buhari, lackluster grassroots campaigning by the PDP, and new antirigging measures by the electoral commission.

THE NATION

NEWS 7

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday stayed proceedings in a suit seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from deploying electronic card readers for the coming elections. Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered the stay of further proceedings while ruling on an application to that effect filed by counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Alex Iziyon (SAN) had initiated the suit on February 26, 2015 on behalf of four political parties, arguing that the proposed use of card readers for elections was a violation of the Electoral Act, which prohibits electronic voting. The use of card reader,according to him,meant the introduction of electronic element to the voting process. One of the plaintiffs, Action Alliance (AA) ,withdrew from the suit later, denying that it instructed the filing of the suit. Another of the plaintiffs, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has also indicated its intention to with-

Card readers: Court stays proceedings in suit seeking to stop INEC Eric IKHILAE, Abuja

draw from the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/173/2015. Yesterday, Fagbemi, with whom were former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Kola Awodein (SAN) drew the court’s attention to an application for stay of proceed, which he filed before the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The APC and some other defendants in the suit had appealed the court’s ruling of March 13 , abridging their time to respond to the substantive suit. While the others applied to the trial court for stay of proceedings, the APC applied to the Court of Appeal. Fagbemi urged the trial court to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of his appeal. Iziyon, who had insisted that the court hear the substantive suit with all pending preliminary applica-

I'm not desperate for power •Continued from Page 6

and that was the beginning of the misunderstanding not because we agreed to work with Ojukwu. “Since you presented that we had a meeting I thought I should make that comment and to correct that.” he said Gen.Gowon urged Nigerians to vote according to their conscience in the forthcoming general elections. He said: “Vote your conscience but vote right. I hope all of you here will do the right thing and vote for the people’s choice.” The author, Rev. Fr. Charles Imokhan, said that he was encouraged to write the book because of the good work the president has been doing. The Chief Launcher at the event, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, announced a donation of N25m and another N26m on behalf of his friends. He also announced a donation of N20m on behalf of the co-launcher, Chief Cletus Ibeto, who was said to be abroad.. Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State bought cop-

ies of the book for members of the state executive council for N20m and a copy each for all state governors for N10m. The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Muazu, bought copies of the book for N10m. Alhaji Hauwa Lawal bought copies for N10m; Mr. Tunde Ayeni bought for N10m; Mr. Kola Adesina bought for N12m and Charles Momoh bought for N5m while the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, bought on behalf of women for N5m. The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and a former Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, donated N1m each. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, bought 50 copies for members of the Federal Executive Council at a special rate of N15,000 per copy. At the occasion, hardback copies of the book were sold for N10,000 each while the paperback copies cost N7,000 each.

tions, objected to Fagbemi’s application. He faulted Fagbemi’s application on the ground that he ought to have first, sought a stay of proceedings before the trial court before approaching the appellate court. Ruling, Justice Ademola held that the Certified True

Copy (CTC) of the application by Fagbemi carried the appeal number of the appeal he (Fagbemi) filed. When an appeal is assigned number, it implies that the appela has been entered and the appellate court has taken cognisance of the appeal. The lower

court has no option than to await the outcome of such an appeal. Justice Ademola noted that the CTC of the motion (filed at the appellate court by Fagbemi and served on the trial court) carries the appeal No: CA/121/2015. He added that the counsel

to the 2nd defendant (Fagbemi) had done what was required under the law. He held that in view of the development, the only option opened to the court was to stay proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal. Justice Ademola consequently stayed proceedings.

Nigeria Election Debate Group:Dopesi must be probed, says Integrity Group

pressure group,Value and Integrity Group, yesterday called for the probe of how the founder of the African Independent Television (AIT) Dr.Raymond Dokpesi runs the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) . The group branded NESG as a one man show and partisan organization. The group,in a statement in Lagos said that whereas NEDG was incorporated on April 27,2011 with six organizations as shareholders, “Dokpesi has turned the NEDG into a private estate put at the service of the President Jonathan and his party members.” The supposed shareholders, according to the pressure group, are: Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria represented

by Mallam Abubakar Aji; DAAR Communications, represented by Tony Akiotu,;Nigeria Union of Journalists, represented by Mohammed Garba; Alliance for Credible Election represented by Emma Ezeazu;Nigeria Guild of Editors; and TMG represented by Moshood Erubami. It alleged that other directors are completely in the dark about the financial transactions of the NDEG. It said: “This of course is in total violation of one of the 8 Memo/ Articles of Association for NEDG that stipulates that the NEDG will organize and promote and host independent

civil non- profit, non-political, non-partisan open debates. “Dokpesi’s name does not reflect in the NEDG registration documents from the CAC only that of DAAR representative, Tony Akiotu.” Dokpesi,it added, “went ahead to single handedly organize the 2011 election debate with AIT staff-Amoni Amarere and Nancy Ilo as moderators. “Again, he is the one solely organizing the 2015 presidential election debate for the NEDG which has become an appendage of the Jonathan presidency and at the service of the PDP. “The NEDG is clearly in the pocket of Dokpesi. Presented to

the unsuspecting public as a non-partisan body, the NEDG is fully partisan in favor of PDP.Dokpesi, a very close friend of Jonathan, once jostling to be chief of staff has put NEDG at the disposal of the ruling party, PDP.” Value and Integrity Group said the refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate,General Muhammadu Buhari to participate in the NESG debate has “thrown some spanners in the works,” adding: “for his refusal to attend Buhari, APC and its leaders have come under severe attacks on AIT news programming and defamatory documentaries.”

•From left: Daniela, grand-daughter of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro; his brother, Gregory Enahoro; Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello; another brother, Mr Michael Enahoro and Gov. Babatunde Fashola, at the hand-over of Chief Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate by Gov. Fashola to users in Lagos... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Police order to stay off after voting: I-G under fire

•Continued from Page 3

Chief Niyi Akintola, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria also faulted the IGP’s warning,saying : “ INEC is the only body given the responsibility to conduct and monitor elections in the country. If the IG’s pronouncement is a directive from INEC, it will be acceptable. “If it is not, then it is not acceptable. The pronouncement is illegal if it was not a directive from INEC. We have to draw the line here. INEC has the final say and the chairman has clarified this.” Retired Police Commissioner, Abubakar Tsav said: “The Electoral Act says that the electorate can wait as long as they are not making trouble. If the people do not wait to see their votes counted, what is the assurance that the result will not be manipu-

lated? “If the process will be transparent, why would you not want the people to be there to witness the counting? It is not the duty of the police to make such statement. Their duty is to maintain law and order. The IG is trying to rewrite the law. He doesn’t have that power because he is not an authority in law.” Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Second Republic lawmaker, expressed surprise that such a statement was made by the IG, warning that it would be suicidal for Nigerians to accept it. “I have been in politics for the past 40 years and nobody in any capacity has ever made such statement. The IG’s statement should be ignored. It will be suicidal for Nigerians to do that. The Federal Government is determined to rig

the election and that is why they are inventing non-existing law to rig it. Every election that has been rigged in the country is always with the help of the police. The IG is doing a hatchet job after which he will be consigned to the dustbin of history.” Ayo Opadokun, a political activist said : “Given the prevalence of rigging that has taken place in the recent past , the Nigerian electorate have the fundamental right to see the election to the end ,and ensure that the votes are counted and announced as stipulated by the electoral act. “No one, that is, no state official has the right to undermine the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens because he wants to serve a master. That the IG said that they can secure the votes doesn’t mean we should trust them. We do

not trust them. They have not given serious minded Nigerians such confidence that they can protect their rights.” Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo dismissed the IG’s statement as baseless. “Fortunately, the INEC Chairman clarified this position on television where he said that as long as people organise themselves in an orderly fashion, they should wait to see the result of their vote in that particular polling station. So that is good, there is nothing wrong with people waiting. “The Electoral Act says that to an extent, people should not be seen loitering around a polling station and has designated a particular distant to keep. But that excludes during voting and during counting.” Prof. Pat Utomi, an econo-

mist, however said that the IGP’ statement was in order. He said: “It is a good idea, because some people can wait behind after voting to cause problem. At this point in the life of this nation, I will just say that we should put our hope in God because some of these politicians are too desperate and they want to force their wishes on the people.” The IGP , while addressing accredited observers for the general elections in Abuja on Thursday had said the possibility of committing electoral offence would be high if voters stayed back at the polling booths for votes to be counted. He said that each polling unit would have at least two or three policemen to protect the votes cast by the electorate. He said: “Two to three po-

lice officers will be attached to each polling unit, and we would provide more officers for the collation centres and for the managers of the elections. “We will go on to protect the electorate. Every eligible voter should feel safe enough to cast his votes. We will be there to protect the votes and make sure no one disrupts the process. “Cast your votes and go and cool down. If you remain there, there is a likelihood that you will commit an offence.” The police chief advised political parties and their candidates to abide by “one agent to a polling unit,” which the electoral act stipulates. “Asking voters to wait and protect their votes implies taking the law into their own hands. It is unacceptable.”

THE NATION,

News

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

APC petitions police over attack on members

HE All Progressives Congress in Osun State has petitioned

the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abubakar

Morafa, over the attacked on its members in Obokun Local Government Area. According to the party, some of its members were

allegedly shot during its campaigns in the state. The petition signed by APC lawyer, Barrister Abdul Rasaq Adeoye, urged the police to

•Members of Christian Conscience Group, during Road match for peaceful 2015 Election in Lagos

investigate the shooting at Ilase and Ibokun towns where a political campaign organized by the party and attended by thestate gover-

PHOTO: Olusegun RAPHEAL

Six bodies yet to be identified in Synagogue building collapse

HE body of six victims of the September 12, 2014, building collapse at the Synagouge Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun, Lagos are yet to be identified. They are still being kept in the mogues, three each in Isolo and Yaba mortuaries. Lagos State Chief Medical Examiner (CME), Professor John Obafunwa disclosed this while submitting the forensic report of the autopsy carried out on the victims to the coroner court headed by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe yesterday. Chief Magistrate Komolafe, admitted the report entittled, “Report On the Collapsed Building In

Adebisi ONANUGA Synagogue Church Of All Nations” in evidence. Prof. Obafunwa also told the coroner court that he adopted same report as his final evidence before the court. Led in evidence by counsel to the state government, Akingbolahan Adeniran, the witness informed the court that: “The task before the Chief Medical Examiner’s office was to perform the autopsies in order to determine the cause of their death and identify the victims, bearing in mind that a large percentage of them were mostly from South African. Obafunwa said the post mortem examinations was concluded on September 30,

2014, adding that the samples were later taken for DNA examination at the Unistel Laboratory, South Africa for about two weeks afterwards. He said they experienced some delay in getting the importation license from the government of South Africa owing to official bureaucracy. “The first set of DNA and fingerprinting results were sent to me on November 3, 2014. Thereafter, an identification committee was setup. “At this time, 74 South Africans (as well as few from Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, etc) were identified and subsequently released to the South African authority on Saturday No-

vember 15, 2014. “Again, the identification committee sat on February 4, 2015 following the receipt of other results from South Africa. During this time, another 11 South Africans were identified and again released to their authority on February 5, 2015 thus concluding the release of a total of eight five (85) victims of South African origin. “The respective death certificates as well as embalmment certificates were also handed over to the South African authority. In addition to these figures, 25 others comprising 22 Nigerians, two Benenois and a Togolese were identified and released, bringing the total number of deceased victims to 110.

Boko Haram: Displaced Nigerians can’t return home despite liberation of towns

undreds of thousands of Nigerians who fled from northeast towns and villages are afraid of returning home despite liberation of such areas by soldiers from Boko Haram terrorists,according to reports yesterday. The displaced Nigerians are afraid that the terrorists may return with vengeance in the absence of Nigerian soldiers. Only troops from Chad and Niger,according to the New York Times, are visible in someof the affected areas. The foreign soldiers want to leave as they do not want to occupy somebody else’s territory. The newspaper cited the recently liberated Damasak in Borno State where it said

”the only sound in the hot, still air is from military vehicles, carrying soldiers from the neighboring countries of Chad and Niger as they make their way through the wreckage of the deadly five-month Islamist occupation of this Nigerian town. From time to time, the Chadian soldiers ululate to celebrate their victory against the militants in a fierce firefight that stretched into this week.” The Chadians took a small group of journalists round the area earlier in the week offering a rare glimpse into a Boko Haram’s stronghold, and into the dimensions, and difficulties, of a cross-border, four-nation fight against the Islamists. The paper said the visit revealed “ some of the confusion and resentment that are creating tension among

neighbours. The soldiers from Chad and Niger had succeeded here, but there was not a single Nigerian soldier to be found. The force members were bewildered to find themselves as foreign liberators without any help from the Nigerians.” Chadian officials in the capital, N’Djamena, are said to be complaining aloud about “ the near-total absence of cooperation from the Nigerians in a crucial regional battle.” Nigerian officials, meanwhile, are discounting the extent of Chad’s role. One Chadian soldier was quoted as saying: “We asked them to come, to receive this town from us, but they have not come.” ”It is because they are a f r a i d , ” LieutenantMohammed

Hassan added, spitting out the words, his face half hidden against the 107-degree heat in a black turban. ”We fought on the night of the 14th, and the last attack was on the 15th,” Lieutenant Hassan said. As for the Nigerians, “we called them on the 16th” — after the fight for Damasak had ended — “and told them to come; they didn’t believe we were here,” Lieutenant Hassan said. Chad’s foreign minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat, offered a similar appraisal in an interview Thursday. “The Nigerian Army has not succeeded in facing up to Boko Haram,” Mr. Mahamat said. “The occupation of these towns, this is up to Nigeria,” he added. “My fondest wish is that they assume their responsibilities.”

nor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, was disrupted. Speaking, the APC leader in Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Mrs DupeAjayi Gbadebo hinted that one of the members of the party who was shot during the attack, Agunbiade Bukola is now on danger list. “We had set up our podium for the campaign and we moved to the street to welcome the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, but the PDP thugs stormed the venue, shot our members and disrupted the event. These thugs were sponsored by a prominent politician in the town who wants to be a senator by all means. ”He had earlier issued an ultimatum to our people that anybody that would not vote for him must vacate this town. We need protection and that is why we are calling on the police and other security agencies to do their job”. The politician has however debunked the allegation. He accused APC thugs of using the covering of the governor to unleash violence on PDP members in the area.

Southwest youths back Buhari Damisi OJO, Akure CORES of Yoruba youths yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital condemned the endorsement of President Jonathan Goodluck by a faction of nthe Afenifere. The group under the aegis of Yoruba Youth Congress(YCC)expressed support for All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Speaking, the coordinator, Prince Dapo Adepoju, said: “We are aligning with the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Rauf Aregbesola to deliver southwest votes to the APC candidates. “We condemn the violence perpetrated in Lagos by the Gani Adams led OPC. It is so unfortunate that the leaders of the group, because of selfish interest have resorted to waging war against their kinsmen they have always claimed to be protecting.” Also speaking, a factional state publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Gani Mohammed, lamented that President Jonathan’s administration completely relegated the Yoruba race to the background. The PDP chieftain described Yoruba leaders clamouring for Jonathan’s re-election as “political pensioners who are frequent faces in Aso Rock forn the purpose of fighting for their own pockets at the detriment of Yoruba race.”

Any one with fake PVC will be apprehended — Lagos REC Ebele BONIFACE THE Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr. Akin Odebiyi has warned that any voter who comes to the polling station with a fake Permanent Voters Card (PVC) on election day will be arrested and handed over to armed security agents. Mr. Odebiyi gave this warning why fielding questions from participants at the Inter-Agency Consultative Forum/Stakeholders meeting held yesterday at Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) events centre, Oduduwa, Ikeja, Lagos State. He said 95 per cent of all the PVC expected in Lagos have been received and that about 3.8 million cards have been collected by their owners and that people who had not collected still have the chance of collecting theirs on Saturday and Sunday as the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is taking all the necessary steps to see that no legitimate voter is denied the right and chance to vote. He also said that about 10,500 smart card reader were brought and that the nine places it was tested including Ikeja worked very well. He said accreditation should start from 8am to Ip.m while actual voting will start about 1.30pm and warned that any person rejected by screening machine will be handed over to police. He advised those who wish to observe to stay 300 metres away from voting area.

Civil engineers get new leader A SEASONED engineer, Robbie Owivry, has been elected as the new national chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE). The inauguration ceremony which took place on Thursday at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, was witnessed by dignitaries including the Group Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Mr Bisi Onasanya. Onasanya urged engineers to join hands with government towards addressing infrastructure decay in the country. He said:”There is indeed infrastructure decay in Nigeria and that is why engineers should endeavour to play their role in rebuilding of deplorable infrastructure because the processes of rebuilding infrastructure collapse cannot happen without the participation of engineers. In his valedictory speech, the outgoing chairman of NICE, Engr Saliu Lawal, thanked members of the body for their support during his tenure and urged them to extend the same to his successor. Owivry promised to consolidate on the achievements recorded by his predecessor particularly in the area of providing a befitting secretariat for the body as captured in his five point agenda.

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Elections as nemesis for performance and corruption EXT Saturday Nigerians who have the required PVCs will troop out to vote in the 2015 presidential elections while those who don’t have them brood disconsolately in their homes at their disenfranchisement. This is the hard fact and no matter how much those who have PVCs gloat at the opportunity to vote the fact that those who cannot vote because they don’t have them did not put themselves in that situation. They are just victims of INEC’s incompetence and inefficiency in insisting that some Nigerians cannot vote because the computer used for the registration of their PVCs in 2011 is bad and only those who register in in 2014 can have PVCs for the 2015 election. I find that totally unacceptable even though I know such disenfranchised people are in their millions and have resigned themselves to their fate because politicians and political parties have politicized and polluted the issue of glaring and manifest INEC incompetence in this election such that it is like barking at the moon to provide remedy for such disenfranchised Nigerians. It is particularly painful that INEC’s callous indifference to the plight of such disenfranchised Nigerians gave rise to the call for the removal of its boss Professor Attahiru Jega which has led to a do or die duel in the polity as the matter has become personalized and politicized about his headship of the electoral body. Whereas in any civilized community he would have thrown in the towel for lack of capacity or shown the way out for palpable mendacity in saying he was ready for the postponed 2015 Valentine Day’s election when indeed he was not and would later in smug relief tell the National Assembly unbelievably that the postponement was a blessing. Definitely I am one Nigerian who has lost faith in the capacity of INEC to conduct a free and fair election in our 2015 elections starting next week on March 28. Let me state that I am aware that some politicians have said that that INEC made cards available and potential voters did not just collect their cards and that is not the fault of INEC. That again is not tenable or plausible. Why would voters not want to collect their PVCs? Frustration in not getting them on deliberate visits to registration sites is one reason. The second is the dismay of seeing so many cards for your area lying unclaimed while a leering INEC official tells you casually that your name is not amongst the huge lumps of unclaimed PVCs in your area. Such blatant disenfranchisement is going to be read as voters apathy by observers in this election. But I call it induced or inadvertent apathy as distinct from real apathy when for whatever reasons registered voters don’t want to vote or be involved in the electoral process for personal reasons. Yet elections provide a great opportunity for voters to exercise their democratic rights and reward performance while admonishing governance sloppiness and failure to fulfill election promises by voting out such errant incumbents or leaders out of office. It therefore follows that any political system worth its salt and mindful of its stability should make the creation and entrenchment of an enabling environment for vot-

ers and potential voters to exercise their voting rights its priority or open itself to charges of electoral fraud or manipulation even before elections take place. Again, elections such as the ones we embark on next week provide the litmus test to authenticate or fault any democracy and ours is no exception. Up to next Saturday you can bet that the incumbent president of Nigeria will still be campaigning furiously as he has done in the last three months for reelection. He has been joined by his wife who has brought her own brand of first lady politics to the fore to ensure her husband is reelected. One can only for now warn the first lady that the wife of the former president of the Ivory Coast has just been jailed for about 21 years for post election violence in that nation after the husband Laurent Gbagbo refused to quit the presidency when he lost the presidential election to current Ivorian President Alasane Ouattara. However in spite of the first lady’s electioneering aggression I do not think the husband has the hunger for power that much to go the Gbagbo way in case he loses power, but it is necessary to bring up the issue. One thing that is certain though is that the incumbent pres-

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So in Brazil, the re elected president is demonstrating zero tolerance for corruption in spite of the fact that her party was known to be corrupt before the election and got elected any way. But the saving grace for her was her reputation for integrity and the trust of the Brazilian people

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ident is fighting belatedly for his political life in an unprecedented manner as if he forgot what we are discussing today. Which is that elections are the nemesis or day of judgement to renew or take power from those who hold it and or give it out to those with the promise to use it better for the good and welfare of the electorate. Certainly from his busy campaign shuttle and that of his wife added to it, the incumbent president knows what is at stake and does not want to lose power in next week’s presidential elections. On that score the Nigerian president must defend his record on the management of corruption during his tenure. That record is dismal to say the least and his many evasive answers on the issue have only compounded the matter. The example of the Brazilian President Dilmar Roussef who won the presidential elections in that nation recently is apt. She is facing calls for her impeachment because the ruling Workers Party that brought her to power is facing accusations of corruption involving kickbacks and bribes involving government officials from Petrobas the major oil company in Brazil and the equivalent of our NNPC. The Brazilian president won elections in spite of the Petrobas corruption charges but the charges like a bad dream have resurfaced again and have to be addressed by the government and the president who happens to be the party leader. It is pertinent to mention here that the Brazilian president herself has not been implicated on any corruption charges even though it has been acknowledged that the corruption started when she was Chairman of the Board of Petrobas before she became president. In addition President Dilmar Roussef has given her full backing to the corruption investigation and has insisted that whoever is involved in her party no matter how highly placed must face the music The latest casualty has been the Treasurer of the Workers Party, the ruling party in Brazil. So in Brazil, the re elected president is demonstrating zero tolerance for corruption in spite of the fact that her party was known to be corrupt before the election and got elected any way. But the saving grace for her was her reputation for integrity and the trust of the Brazilian people. Next week Nigerians will decide the fate of their president on a similar plate and it remains to be seen how he will fair with the wind of change blowing in opposite direction of his performance and record of fighting corruption during his tenure.

Bayelsa and politics of self-destruction N March 6, the Supreme Court put paid to the ambition of Timepre Silva to upturn the election which saw Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson succeed him as governor in 2012. Syvla had sought to set aside an earlier judgement by the same apex court on his quest to be recognised as the candidate of the PDP vide the primary election of 2012. This long-winding case will continue to generate interest because of the associated issues in the legal realm and indeed its reflection on the local politics of the state. Even as the case has come to an end, several issues continue to elicit reactions. One is the penchant by some members of the political class to engage in endless litigation even when their cause or their case is hopeless thereby tying up valuable time and resources. It is as if they seek to rig through the courts what the democratic processes have declined to award them. Why indeed is this unrelenting disposition of throwing huge amounts of money at wasteful litigation? Or is it the popular pull him down (PhD) syndrome to which Bayelsa State has not proved immune? Or shall we now see it as part of our political DNA playing up frivolity over substance? These questions bear correlation to politics in Bayelsa State where the incumbent governor is assailed by the activities of those dark forces opposed to the government's singular focus on socioeconomic development of the state. For those unfamiliar with the Bayelsa story of great restoration, the last three years have been quite remarkable in terms of solid achievements particularly in education, health, infrastructure, economic diversification, manpower development and a sundry other empowerment programmes touching on the welfare of the people. Essentially, there is a consensus among Bayelsans and outsiders alike that Governor Dickson has so far recorded a scintillating performance unequalled in the annals of the state. Ironically, there are some who, misguided by a tiny fraction of the greedy elite formation, are not happy with the achievements of the government. Imagine such pronouncements like "Na road we go chop?" or "Na bridge we go chop?" These are regrettable comments you hear from even among the educated.And when you ask them why they are not happy seeing so much development everywhere, you're told the governor is not distributing money as they used to have it. Indeed, there is this sense of entitlement euphemistically called 'stomach infrastructure' and it is being seen as the right thing to do because that was the practice in the past. But how can the state develop when state resources are distributed rather than invested in durable initiatives that have real value for the overall development of the people and society at large? While physical infrastructure will drive development and ensure everyone is enabled to provide their own 'stomach infrastructure', the primitive sharing of state resources in the manner of apostles of 'stomach infrastructure' only ends in waste deposited in the toilet! And it is only a matter of time before they come back for more.

Daniel IWORISO-MARKSON To be sure, Governor Dickson had made it known to all from the outset that his administration would be different. Said he in his inaugural address :" We shall undertake fundamental reform of governance culture to emphasize transparency, accountability, due process and value re-orientation by all institutions and functionaries of government, beginning with my humble self... there shall be zero tolerance for corruption... The days of enrichment without labour and funding the greed and avarice of a few at the expense of the development of our people is over”. It was a future foretold. Evidently, the governor saw the current ugly developments coming because he knew how much critical values had nose-dived. A reformation and a re-ordering would be inescapable to have a sane society which can only be the basis for development. From carrying out the reforms he promised in government, building institutions and making them work by enforcing compliance, the quest for re-orientation has been a major success and a clear departure from the anything-goes situation the government inherited. Just as the policies and programmes of the Restoration Agenda were being put in place for implementation, government was also cleaning up the Augean stable, enthroning due diligence and accountability in expenditure. This was not done by mere words of mouth but by the enactment of relevant legislation and living by example on the part of the leadership. This is why it has been possible to deliver on the free education policy of the government; to regularly pay for WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees for all students, and to ensure the scholarship scheme for numerous Bayelsans up to PhD in local and foreign top rated schools are realistic. This is why Yenagoa has become a modern state capital with newly constructed roads and the first ever flyover to ease traffic , the several roads and bridges lnking the various communities in the state, the reason people can now drive straight to Nembe from Yenagoa for the first time. It explains why we now have the first world class diagnostic centre in Bayelsa State, among

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Admittedly, the stomach infrastructure mentality is not peculiar to Bayelsa State but is a national malaise which represents a tragedy in our political culture. No one can pretend not to know or appreciate the level of underdevelopment and huge poverty in Bayelsa State which had over the years constituted a huge shame to the Ijaw nation

so many other uplifting infrastructural monuments and other life changing schemes and programmes spanning the state. Admittedly, the stomach infrastructure mentality is not peculiar to Bayelsa State but is a national malaise which represents a tragedy in our political culture. No one can pretend not to know or appreciate the level of underdevelopment and huge poverty in Bayelsa State which had over the years constituted a huge shame to the Ijaw nation. We have had governments in the state but none has had such massive socio-economic impact on the people as this Restoration Government.Yet there are people who ought to know better and be in the vanguard of championing the cause of development but who are instead fuelling disaffection and dissatisfaction, instigating the populace against the government even on very basic, commonsense measures. Why, for instance, should workers in the state bureaucracy feel bad over the insistence of the government on punctuality and presence at work violation of which will attract sanction? That government should pay salary for work not done? Or why should the same set of people feel that the insistence of the government that the Pay As You Earn (PAYE), a federal government law, should not be applicable in the state? In another dimension, some wealthy Bayelsans who should use their resources to advance the living condition of their less-fortunate brothers and sisters are not doing so but only interested in throwing themselves around as "big men" in society and regrettably even doing greater harm by sponsoring hate campaign against the government of the day. The poverty at home is not an issue to them but their selfish and inordinate posturing to gain political power and return the state to the past's savage soul. This is why an individual is going about boasting that he has set aside N15 billion for the sole purpose of removing the incumbent governor. Invariably, the crab in the basket analogy which doesn't allow any of the crabs get out of the basket because they pull down one another is apt. But at what cost to the society and to the people? It is not about Governor Seriake Dickson but about the sustenance of the collective good of the people who are beneficiaries of the good works of the government. It is also about decent sense of leadership and acknowledgement that Bayelsa State has had a governor who is changing the ethos of government from that of profligacy and Father Christmas to the pursuit of the common good. Frantz Fanon has told us, "each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it". Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has long discovered his mission and is working assiduously to fulfill it. The challenge before all Bayelsans and indeed all Nigerians is whether they are doing the same. •Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor sent this piece from Yenagoa.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

For Mama Peace, a speech advisory Knucklehead

AMA Nigeria or whatever the eternal lickspittle sycophants in the corridors of power chose to label you Ma, let’s just say this is not the right time to embark on such frivolities like that self-delusory courtesies of first ladyship. No disrespect to that office which you are committed to continue holding for yet more years anyway. As the Nigerian Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka, recently observed, every lady needs to first learn what it means to be a lady before being elevated to the position of a First Lady. That office, though manifestly unconstitutional, is a privilege enjoyed by wives of certain personalities in our warped political arrangement. It's an unpalatable pill that an ever-docile populace has decided to swallow with tepid equanimity in spite of the persistent abuse of such privileges by previous and present occupiers of that illegal post. And so, it is safe to say that you are not the first and probably won't be the last to wield a power that was never reposed in you beyond your due recognition as the wife of the President. I hate to use the word domestic appendage because that would be pedestrian. Be that as it may, the least the society expects from you is the deployment of your feminine wit in the physical, emotional and psychological balancing at the home front as the fate of millions of Nigerians hang on the lean shoulders of your husband, President Goodluck Jonathan. In most cases, the wife of the man of power, especially one with the kind of unrestrained power that the Constitution confers on the Nigerian president, is expected to be the moral compass that ought to temper the likely temptation of an abuse. I want to assume that you are conversant with the elementary theory of power to wit: it is said to be held in trust for the good governance of the people. It is also my belief that you must have heard the time-worn saying that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Now, I need not stress your wit by asking you to discuss the fundamental ideology behind that statement. We all know that John Dalberg-Acton constructed that masterpiece, right? Generally, power is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it intoxicates. On the other, it is temporal. This means no one wields power ad-infinitum. It must end one day and that is why common sense dictates that it should be exercised with utmost caution. Madam, do not get it twisted. We are not unmindful of the fact that your husband would, once in a while, attempt to wield power crudely. Such is the ruinous allure of power. For someone who should ordinarily redirect her husband from treading that path of infamy, it is shocking that you have comfortably adjusted yourself to the situation with cold ease. If the bootlickers in and around the seat of power relish telling the President only what he wants to hear, it is your responsibility to pull his nose down the reality lane. You are to help him in keeping his head straight and focused. Unfortunately, you have hardly displayed any of these attributes in words and in deed. You are a direct opposite of what you say you are. As they say it in the creeks, ‘you don fall ya Oga hand, no be small.’ How? You asked. I will explain. The problem really has nothing to do with your refusal to remain an ordinary domestic appendage in Aso Rock. I doubt if it is even about your outlandish comical showmanship. Most Nigerians are used to such executive comic relief in an economically challenged environment. They could even forgive the occasional flailing and railing. After all, you are human too and blood, we assume, flows in your motherly vein. What is difficult to stomach, our dear Madam Peace, is the violence and murderous intent embedded in your grammatically wonderful speeches, especially in the bid to get votes for the President who happens to be your husband. They worry not just because of the bareknuckle punches you unleash on the use of Mama Charlie’s language. Instead, they marvel at the utter discourteousness and sheer baloney in

COMMENTARY

your speech. Rather than wooing the electorates on the strength of your convictions, you tend to be convicting your husband in the court of public opinion. Painfully, and mercifully so, your speechmaking is a disaster to the art of oratory and many parents must have real fears about the likely future of children who dutifully follow or learn your mis-command of the English language. Take, for example, your latest attempt at wowing the crowd in Ado Ekiti the other day. As usual, it was a bad copy of what electoral marketing is all about. Simply put, you were a bundle of contradictions. So, you knew right from the onset that you are an illegal occupant of a nonexistent Office of the First Lady and that you are just a wife of the President? Wonderful! Question is: why the persistent abuse of the privileges as a wife of President Jonathan? Each time you step out to market your husband as a presidential product, you end up raising doubts about his competence to continue on that seat with the kind of questions you pose. Worse still, your efforts at de-marketing a major threat to Jonathan's comeback bid, General Muhammadu Buhari, are often calamitous before they end being some sort of self-indictment of the stewardship of President Jonathan in office. By the way, there is no law that says your husband must remain in office for two terms if the electorates think otherwise. In a democracy, the power is in the thumb and not in the wishful thinking of any candidate regardless of whether such person is an incumbent. And so, it beggars belief that you were quoted as insisting that nothing would stop your "moving train" from completing "our two terms in office." As usual, you quote the constitution out of context by insisting at the Benin rally that: “Everybody is staying there for eight years. Now it’s our turn. We must complete our eight years. It is in the constitution of this country. Two, two terms. We will complete our two terms and hand over.” Ha! I bet you wouldn't have babbled this vomit if you had paused for a while to reflect on the likely consequences if the wife of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua had insisted on the implementation of this your queer interpretation of the Nigerian Constitution. Fact is: you miss he point Madam. That power your husband holds in trust for the people can be withdrawn and given to another person in the general election coming up next Saturday. Of course, he is entitled to contest for another term but his fate to remain in the office for another term lies squarely in the thumb of every eligible voter. The Nigerian electorate alone reserves the right to determine whose 'turn' it is to occupy Aso Villa and that's a legitimate route to oust a moving train! Also, there is something about your split image that unnerves the

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Most Nigerians are used to such executive comic relief in an economically challenged environment. They could even forgive the occasional flailing and railing. After all, you are human too and blood, we assume, flows in your motherly vein. What is difficult to stomach, our dear Madam Peace, is the violence and murderous intent embedded in your grammatically wonderful speeches, especially in the bid to get votes for the President who happens to be your husband

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Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 spirit---the way you cuddle peace with the cold comfort of a warrior! You crave peace with the biting pellets of hate on the campaign tuft. Aside the hate messages filtering from the embittered mouth of the man you gloriously called your 'junior husband', Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, no other Nigerian has physically unleashed terrifyingly annoying language to malign the person of General Buhari than you. If you are not calling Buhari a spent force on diapers at 70 like some person's mother, you would be busy diagnosing him as brain dead. If you are not indicting him for spending "donkey years" in office as a military Head of State for less than 20 months, you would be regaling in the assumption that your husband is contesting with an 'expired drug.' If you are not casting aspersions of a tribe that 'born troway', you must be somewhere encouraging people to stone anyone that dares chant the word 'change.' Is that your recipe for peace in a multicultural nation like Nigeria? Pity. Mama Peace, listen to yourself on peace: “I am a peaceful person and I preach peace anywhere I go. They are looking for a fight; they are looking for war. They are troublesome people. That is why they went and took expired drugs. Now they are crying. They are the people stoning people and nobody talked.” Peace, as Albert Einstein puts it, "is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order —in short, of government.” As a woman who never gets tired of describing herself as "good" with the belief that your husband has given Nigerians all they ever wanted in a democracy, there should be no need for the veiled threats and outright abuse of power. Or could it be that you have let yourself open to the corrupt nature of power which corrupts absolutely? For a man who has given a good account of himself as far as good governance is concerned, people really don't understand why Mama Peace should live with an eternally disturbing phobia that her husband may end up in jail should he fail to make it back to Aso Villa in next week's election? They ask: What scares Patience Jonathan? Why does she think she may have to be taking food to a good man in prison when no court of competent jurisdiction has indicted her husband? Well, I am the least qualified to answer their questions. All I can offer, Madam, is my one Kobo advice: when next you go on the campaign train on behalf of your husband, employ the simplest of language to drum home your points. Stop the posturing, whining over inanities that trigger comical laughter even within the hired crowd. Just beseech them to vote for your husband because he is a good husband that overlooks the laughable excesses of a loving wife just that peace might reign! No more forays into uncharted territories that continue to serve as veritable raw materials for stand-up comedians please!

The Buharism explosion HE Nigeria project currently cuts the perfect imagery of one surviving on a life support and reeling in the throes of decay , corruption has taken strong hold of its jugular and insecurity wraps up the specter in a helluva of clearly hopeless grip. The question then is, who possesses the requisite capacity of will power and courage to enact the extraordinary feat of daring a well entrenched, deeply rooted system and rescue the nation from the ironic grip of institutionalized corruption and impending state failure.? Professor Tam David West, in his book, 'THE SIXTEEN SINS OF BUHARI' , ran an exciting array of extrapolations with philosophical exegesis on those traits and character of Buhari, perceived by his critics as extreme , rigid and uncompromising yet account for the very reason he is admired by many people across the nation and beyond. In a feat of profound erudition , the revered professor engineered a fresh theme of the virtuous appeal in Buhari's strong moral convictions and standpoints, ditto, his rigidity and resolute reflexes as the necessary requisites for overhauling the Nigerian state from the narrow confines of deepening corruption, decay and collapse of values to the wide expanse of openness and national integrity in governance. The caliber of intellectual giants scattered across the nation's ethnic and religious divides who subscribe to Buhari's radical attitudinal philosophy is an absorbing reminder that when values and honest purpose combine to confront national emergency , the barriers that differentiate our individual identities and persuasions which are so often tossed up for exploitation to weaken national spirit, unity and togetherness dissolve with teasing and accelerating ease. Nigeria's over fifty years of independent national existence and her attempt to secure reasonable placement in the continent as a decent democratic nation have offered nothing in return but deep seated corruption , recurring misadventure of embarrassing electoral fraud and scandalous manipulation of popular will. The nation's headache and worry for now , in the true depth of what constitutes its most daring challenge is its inability to overcome these identified and identifiable malaises . Individuals with appetite to overturn these untidy records and redirect national efforts in nation building are favoured with exceptional traits of commitment to radical advocacy of reformism and rectitude built around incorruptible character , honesty , devotion to public good and above all, the taste for good conscience, fairness, equity and justice. A nation trapped and troubled by its own fabrication of institutional failures and the attendant unedifying and ignoble national character of this mould and form is in dire need of exceptional personalities whose strength of character and vision are sourced and originated from the reassuring and appetizing drive for moral reorientation, iconoclastic rebirth and reformism of national values. Such strong content and proportion of extremism identified in their views and character, more than just being in the opposite direction and antithetical to the general trend, offers portent remedy to the decay that has gripped the nation. This edifying symbolism transforms them into exceptional super personalities and popular reference point for positive change in a nation's unrewarding downward slope and decay . Marooned in its own peculiarity and hunted by the urgent necessity to reverse its misfortune , Nigeria needs an individual with radical orientation and character , woven around commitment to defeat the monstrous albatross of deepening corruption and collapse of values which effect

Mohammed Nuru YAKUBU

have for long arrested the nation's development. This much the behemoths in the People's Democratic Party (PDP ), their cohorts and local sympathizers know that the arrival of Buhari on the scene this time, and its peculiar message of Buharism explosion , under a larger platform of consolidated opposition parties sounds a deafening death knell to its brutal and tyrannous hold on power for an unbroken stretch of sixteen years. Thus, the tepid kick out of certain death that the ruling party is exhibiting in its desperation to cage the Buharism phenomenon is just an expressive pointers of the fear of a Buhari victory , certain to end underserved , ruinous and exploitative privileges, abridgement of national benefits for unduly privileged few cabals bent on continuing the despoliation of our national patrimony and values. Their hopelessness and fear are well marked out in the graduated series of orchestrated black mail , willful lies and character assassination as seen in the abhorrent cruelty and utter shamelessness exhibited in the forged /false medical report of Buhari , the cacophonous falsehood and senseless noise over Buhari certificate which assumed a cantankerous and dangerous dimension and blown out of proportion at the expense of honest reflection for quality leadership , climaxed by the current disingenuous, tacit PDP-sponsored campaigns to postpone the February election. In our considered opinion, Buhari's refusal to be drawn into the polemics of these orchestrated propaganda underscored the purity of his vision and the clear-headed honest conception of power as only a means of service to humanity- this singular display of worth of attitude gained national currency with blistering flammability to his credit. The signification around the character and personality of Muhammadu Buhari presents a radical departure from the contagious , well entrenched and rampaging culture of corruption , deceit, double standard, dishonesty, rapacity, and offer the exact opposite of these negativities as his trade mark. Though an entity of the political extraction , Buhari embodies a rare character of peerless stoicism and stubborn resistance to corrupt temptations and extravagant life style -the raison d'être for his electrifying popularity which is quite offensive with choking toxicity and a source of hyper phobia to the super -rich and the ruling class of those who love and dread /hate him offers rich evidence on the cult personality that Buhari has come to symbolize in our recent political history . The huge population desire him to liberate the nation from the stench of decay, whilst the ruling

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Buhari's refusal to be drawn into the polemics of these orchestrated propaganda underscored the purity of his vision and the clear-headed honest conception of power as only a means of service to humanity- this singular display of worth of attitude gained national currency with blistering flammability to his credit

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class considers him as an irritating albatross, patently intolerant to any machination aimed at sustaining the swing of the corrupt status-quo. Indeed ,the centrifugal political repositioning and re-alignment of hitherto disparate regional opposition parties around the new All Progressive Congress , APC, followed by mass exodus of the members of the splinter groups of the PDP, are pointers to the significant political development that the nation is set to witness in the next few days when the Buhari phenomenon, around which the progressive potentials of the APC'S presidential quest is rested would be given a perfect mass expression on the 28 March, 2015 historic presidential election. The arrays of significant issues and unfolding developments in the polity aggregated and interpreted to arrive at the decision of migrating to the new party, APC are fundamental to the overriding need to attain democratic maturity via a vibrant and credible opposition party - a significant blow to the ruling party's desire for a unipolar strangle hold it had enjoyed for well over a decade . It is worth stating that the central philosophy of 'CHANGE' embedded in the campaign slogans of APC is organically linked to the perceived value and credibility that the Buhari's immense personal popularity would bring into the party. The political lexicon that describes accurately the spontaneous explosion of Buharism in the contemporary Nigeria politics is conspicuously embossed in the narration that emphasizes the necessity and suitability for close partnership , understanding, cooperation and a sense of national emergency among members of the opposition party , APC to save the nation's tottering democracy . Still smarting from the barrages and intense degree of PDP-engineered campaigns of calumny against Buhari which heated the polity to a boiling point , the attendant destabilizing pranks not unduly mentioned , but aimed at deepening the seed of mistrust and mutual suspicions among the people , to wit, a wickedly unnerving cold blooded attempt to contain the Buharism explosion , a new twist, with its unwise cruel wish of death for Buhari climaxed the PDP's rudderless desperation for power retention. However, the good attraction which counts as paradoxical revolution to the foregoing reveals a notable positive exception as Buhari's magnetism soars on in an uncontained progression. The spontaneous spread of Buhari's popularity across the nation's geo-political zones , his adoption by hitherto sworn opposition members, critics and adversaries are new additions to the phenomenon of the Buhari persona, we dare say a redeeming feature for the many unwarranted attacks and campaigns of calumny targeted at him and above all a precious appetizing piece of meat in the nation's political menu for the APC to furnish its taste and preference in the upcoming presidential election and beyond. We therefore advise that the APC put to great use, its enormous structure and professionalism in managing the unfolding mass of goodwill and surging band of immigrants across parties into its fold , strive with excited and exciting enthusiasm to coalesce all into a solid bloc and stream away from the offensive triviality of engaging or falling for the PDP's preference for reducing serious issues before the nation to mere supremacist tussle , and above all, deploy more effort in contemplating and reflecting on ways to lead the nation out of the woods and the plague that the PDP had inflicted on the nation. •Yakubu is the National Publicity Secretary of the Muhammadu Buhari Legacy Foundation

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

13 THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

•A recent APC women rally in Owerri, Imo State. Courtesy: Aisha Buhari

One week to poll:

•Patience Jonathan

Candidates’ wives on the move

•Aisha Buhari

•Spouses pep up campaigns through prayers, aggressive mobilisation drive

Stories on pages 14,15,16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Candidates’ wives

•From left: APC chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; his wife, Aisha and Prof Osinbajo’s wife, Dolapo at a recent rally

ITH the global attention focused on the general elections just a week away, spouses of candidates lining up to do battle are not leaving the fighting to their husbands; most of them have taken up the gauntlets themselves. Depending on which side of the political divide you belong, you are most likely to see the panache, the crude, the urbane and outright buffoonery being put on display by the different women in a bid to outdo one another. While the candidates climb the podium in public to address their supporters, the women have girded their loins, employing every available strategy in the books, some even the most unorthodox, to ensure victory for their husbands. Interestingly, some of the women have also brought a lot of comedy and theatrics to the table. It does not matter how foolish the strategy may seem, as long as it promises victory, some of them are willing to try it. A covert visit to spiritualists, pastors and traditional rulers are all part of the tactics to win election by some of them. And like never before, some of the women are gradually writing a book, which may end up with the title ‘How to win elections in Nigeria’. The battle has been particularly fierce between the wives of the two presidential candidates, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and Hajia Aisha Buhari. But while Mrs. Buhari has been more tactful and suave, Mrs. Jonathan, on the other hand, has been unsparing and always ready for a fight, most of the time committing gaffes. Earlier this week in Ilorin, Kwara State, the two women were at their best, cam-

n Segun AJIBOYE (Assistant Editor), n Innocent DURU, Sunday OGUNTOLA, Precious DIKEWOHIA (Portharcourt), Abdulgafar ALABELEWE (Kaduna) and Kolade ADEYEMI (Kano)

paigning for their husbands. Though, the First Lady has fondly referred to herself as Mama Peace, most of her her actions and utterances have been everything but peace. Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Ilorin, Mama Peace momentarily became a spiritualist, saying: “My God that I serve has told me that they will fail. So, don’t be deceived, don’t listen to their lies. Kwara is PDP. They only stole the mandate because the Government House they are occupying today is in the name of PDP. We shall take it over. “Every day, they change from one name to another and very soon, they will change to Ebola and then, death will come. They are shouting change; when they fail finish, they will change their name. Do not be afraid, we are going to win this election. My God that I serve has told me that we will win this election. “The person wey go win, no dey fight, wetin we go take fight do, let them go with their problem. The airport wey dey here, na we PDP wey do am. Wetin dem don do? Nothing. Them just dey shout change, change.”

Speaking the previous day in the same city, however, Mrs. Buhari had said: “It behoves women political leaders to go out and educate women on party activities and logo, bearing in mind that many APC candidates, particularly, the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has moved from ANPP to CPC and finally to a mega party, called APC. Thus, there is a dire need to register the name of the party and logo on the minds of our rural women to avoid any confusion at the poll because the women are the masses.” Similarly, the President’s wife left her crowd wondering when she said she was not ready to feed her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, in prison. Mrs. Jonathan spoke in AdoEkiti during a rally of the women’s wing of the Peoples Democratic Party. Making a reference to the All Progressives Congress, she asked: “What did they forget in Aso Rock? If you vote the PDP and Jonathan, it would be better for you. If you vote the APC, you will go to prison. How can you jail somebody for 300 years?

For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid because we are all yearning for change. The insecurity in the country, the very poor healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking, I believe Nigerians need somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari now

I’m not ready to carry food to my husband inside prison oh!” But in apparent response to Mrs. Jonathan, Hajia Aishat Buhari, at a mega rally where she interacted with Women in Edo State, said the PDP’s attempt to paint her husband black with the tar of religion is a desperate attempt to hoodwink the people, saying Mrs. Jonathan needs not fear, as Nigerians only want a change in the way Nigeria is being run presently. She said: “For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid because we are all yearning for change. The insecurity in the country, the very poor healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking, I believe Nigerians need somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari now.” Undeterred, Dame Patience Jonathan is definitely not leaving any stone unturned in her bid to make sure that her husband gets another term as president of Nigeria. And like no first lady before her, she has been in the forefront of the campaigns, lobbying men of God, traditional rulers and whoever that catches her fancy to have anything that can contribute to her family remaining in Aso Rock for the next four years. While her husband is busy trying to convince Nigerians on why he deserves another term, Mrs. Jonathan has been shuttling from one state to the other, shouting at the top of her voice on the need to return her husband to office. A typical example of her attempt to curry favour from men of God was her unsuccessful visit to Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka of Adoration Ministry, Enugu State. On an occasion, she asked Buhari to leave politics and governance to younger people. In her recent visit to Benin, the Edo State capital, she said that nothing would stop

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

on the move

•From right: Sen. Ahmadu Ali, Senate President David Mark, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, Namadi Sambo and others at a rally campaign train. The granddaughter of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has remained grounded and accessible to all manners of people, a virtue she embraced long before her husband came into political limelight. As late as 2004, she had developed a special passion for the downtrodden, through a project initiated by the church the couple pastor. The community initiative was aimed at feeding street urchins and holding a small fellowship for them. Once Pastor Dolly, as admirers call her, got into the mood, there was no stopping her. She not only expanded the project in such a way that wowed everyone, she also injected every bit of her being and resources into it. She more or less took possession of the initiative, taking meals to area boys at base, a ramshackled community right under the bridge in Victoria Island every Sunday. The boys loved her for the foods but they respected her more for her passion. They called her Mama, believing she was God-sent and opened their lives to her without holds. Penultimate weekend, she was back at her natural turf again. This time, the beneficiaries were disabled athletes under the

her husband from completing his two terms in office. Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, is not left out of the efforts by wives of candidates to stand firmly by the their husbands. Like Mrs. Jonathan, Hajia Buhari has been involved in the campaign for her husband’s presidential bid. However, one thing that has stood her out in campaigning for the former Head of State is that she had remained focused on what Nigerians stand to gain under the leadership of her husband. At a recent outing in Adamawa State, Aisha Buhari donated drugs worth over N135m to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state. Presenting the drugs, Mrs. Buhari said: “I am deeply touched by the plight of our people, we cannot pretend not to see the situation you people are into.” She added: “We are not here for politics or for religion, but because we’re really touched by the condition you found yourselves,” urging the displaced persons to take advantage of the window of change in the country. Also speaking at the 14th town hall meeting of the Lagos Central senatorial district hosted by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC senatorial candidate, Hajia Aisha expressed confidence that her husband’s quest to be the president of the country is near actualisation with the support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s support. “My husband, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has been contesting presidential elections for over a decade now but this particular election is unique because our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, jettisoned his personal interest for his sake,” she said. The wife of the running mate to the APC presidential candidate, Dolapo Osinbajo, is supporting her husband’s and his party’s

auspices of Wheel Sports Foundation. They had organised a surprise novelty match for the 58th birthday of Prof. Osinbajo, who has been supporting them over the years. While guests and dignitaries focused their attention on the ‘birthday boy’, Mrs. Osinbajo was more attracted to the athletes. She spent minutes discussing with them and ended promising to show up at their training pitch one of these days. Three days later, there she was at the National Stadium, Surulere to honour the appointment. She joked with them and heard their tales of frustrations coping with physical disabilities in Nigeria. She even bought food and drinks, which the athletes consumed with great relish. The overwhelmed athletes were transfix. They said they had never seen a prominent Nigerian so down-to-earth and considerate. Tope Ogunyemi, coordinator of the foundation, said: “You don’t get prominent Nigerians interested in people like us. For

The person wey go win, no dey fight, wetin we go take fight do, let them go with their problem. The airport wey dey here, na we PDP wey do am. Wetin dem don do? Nothing. Them just dey shout change, change

many of them, we don’t exist. But we are truly humbled she had found a friend in us.” Such ability to connect with ordinary, otherwise overlooked Nigerians, has been her greatest contribution to the campaign train of the APC. She has a knack to spot suffering Nigerians and offering them listening ears. She moves on to provide succour as much as she could to alleviate their plights. This, observers say, has been a plus to the humanitarian perception of the party. Many of such Nigerians she has identified with told our correspondent they felt much relieved and believe the party will do much more for them should it win the presidency. The trained lawyer is aware there is no such thing as office of a First Lady for the Vice President. But assuming her husband wins the election, she said her role primarily would be to look after the home front and create an enabling environment for him to perform better. According to her, “The only role I will play is to look after my family, especially my husband, so that he can concentrate and do the works committed to him. That, to me, is the only assignment expected of me. There is nothing more. As long as I can help my husband to do a good job for the nation as a mother and wife, I am done.” Silently, but steadily and surely, Mrs. Osinbajo is sure adding immeasurable value to the campaign efforts of her husband. March 28th will tell how much Nigerians she could win to the side of APC. In the run-up to the governorship election in Rivers State, the candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, is having a staunch female backing from the wife of Governor Chibuike Amaechi. According to sources, Mrs. Judith Obiajulu Amaechi’s praying prowess had a

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

•APC Senatorial candidate, Hon. Olamilekan Adeola Yayi and wife Temitope

•From left: Lagos APC governorship candidate, Mr Akinwumi Ambode; his wife, Bolanle; deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Oluranti Adebule; member, Lagos House of Assembly, Funmi Tejuosho; Gov. Babatunde Fashola; his wife, Abimbola and Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at a rally.

•From left: Aisha Buhari, Dolapo Osinbajo, Nkechi Okorocha and another APC member at a rally in the East

•Vice President Namadi Sambo and wife Amina

Spouses pep up campaigns through prayers, aggressive mobilisation drive huge influence on her husband’s success as governor of the state. Since the dark days in Rivers State, Mrs. Amaechi, said to be a prayer warrior, had regularly gathered women in the state to pray for peace. And with her husband’s tenure winding up, she has shifted attention to APC candidates in the state. According to a source in the office of the governor, “Even now, she is gathering women, advising them to pray for the success of all the candidates of All Progressive Congress (APC).When the PDP tried to remove her husband as governor, it was fire for fire. She was praying day and night. And of course, now is the last minute prayer.” Recently, widows from across the state, under the aegis of Alice Worluh’s Widows Foundation, gathered to pray for APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. The widows, numbering over 2000, came from the various local government areas in the state. And the purpose of the prayer meeting, which held at Emohua Local Government Area, was for the success of APC candidates in the state, especially, Dr. Peterside. Hajia Fatima Yero, wife of Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, is contributing to the campaign effort of her husband by constituting her own women campaign group. Till date, she has personally led the group to tour virtually all the 23 local government areas of the state. Mrs. Yero has taken her campaign to some churches and other religious organisations and used the opportunity to present people of such communities with foodstuffs, clothing and campaign materials, with a promise that her husband if elected will move the state to the promised land. She boasted during her campaign tour in Kaduna recently that, the only reason the PDP would not emerge victorious at the forthcoming election is if its members are

intimidated and prevented from coming out to perform their civic responsibility. "As a party, I am confident that everyone will be carried along and women will continue to enjoy large patronage from the state government,’’ she said. Not ready to be left out, Architect Hadiiza El-Rufai, wife of the APC candidate in Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed ElRufai, has been sensitising women on the free education and free healthcare policy of her husband, telling them the impact that free and compulsory education will have on the girl-child who had hitherto not been getting adequate attention in the areas of education in some parts of the North. El-Rufai's wife alongside the wife of his running mate, Mrs. Ladi Barnabas Bala Bantex, had equally visited all the 23 local government sensitising women on the need to support the party, saying that the party will tackle the menace of insecurity, which women and children have always been vulnerable to. At one of the outings in Kaduna recently, Architect Hadiza El-Rufai said free education and free healthcare delivery, which are the bedrock of her husband's programme, are the major policies that have direct bearing on women and children. The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Malam Salihu Sagir Takai, has confirmed that his wife, Hajia

Mariam Takai, has been helpful in ensuring that he makes it to the Kano Government House. Takai, who spoke on behalf of his wife, told The Nation that the effort of his wife in ensuring his victory at the poll is immeasurable and has continued to boost his chances of winning. According to him, “My wife has been mobilising from the rural areas. She has engaged women and youths in a number of programmes and her team has engaged in house-to-house campaign, explaining to the people the programmes, policies and vision of our great party.” Also speaking, Salihu Bala Dawakin Kudu, Director of Press to the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who spoke on behalf of his boss’ wife, Hajia Hafisat, said she has been so supportive, to the extent that she has engaged in various programmes that are capable of boosting the chances of her husband in winning the election. He named the programmes to include empowering women and children, as well as promoting the need for girl-child education. Apart from this, Dawakin Kudu stated that Ganduje’s wife has also engaged in promoting morality at homes and ensuring that women are discouraged from divorce and early marriage.

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Even now, she is gathering women, advising them to pray for the success of all the candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC). When the PDP tried to remove her husband as governor, it was fire for fire. She was praying day and night. And of course, now is the last minute prayer

“She is also empowering them economically through the provision of capitals that can enable them engage in small-scale businesses, so as to become self-reliant and fight poverty. “Religiously, she finds time to pray with women and the youths as part of ways of mobilising them to ensure that the right candidate, which is Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is guided by God in all he is doing to ensure that Kano gets the best in the next political dispensation,” Dawakin Kudu stated. Mrs. Temitope Adeola, wife of the Lagos East senatorial candidate of the APC, Hon. Solomon Adeola, is happy that her husband is running for the Senate, seeing his participation in politics as an opportunity for him to give back to the people. “You should be happy if your husband or wife is contesting to go to the Senate. It is an opportunity for him to give back to the society. It is also an opportunity for other people to see what he can offer,” she said. And to make the dream a reality, Mrs. Adeola is aware of the importance of prayers. “The most popular thing is to support him with prayers. And that is the particular thing that I have been doing. I also have been playing my role as a good wife by making sure that he does not lack my support. I have also been involved with the women, enlightening them on what to do before and after the election. Particularly, I have had to speak with them on the need for them to collect their PVCs and to stay behind to protect their votes on election day.” Not even the spate of violence that has been witnessed in the campaigns can discourage her from supporting her husband. “I don’t feel anything because I know that it is the responsibility that he has taken up as a politician. I want to advise other politicians to play politics in a clean way. We should not bring others down because we want to win election. We should do the right thing the right way and play politics with decorum.’’

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

The billboard erected on the land

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Views of the controversial land

Patience

Turai

Continued from Page 19

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Mobolaji Johnson, Niyi Adebayo, Akeredolu, others honour Jakande at book launch

•Sitting from left: Alhaji Lateef Jakande; his wife, Alhaja Abimbola; Commissioner for Informaton and Strategy, Hon. Lateef Ibirogba and Brig Gen Mobolaji Johnson. Standing from left: Representative of Gen Mohammadu Buhari, former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Healthcare Publisher, Dr Bola Olaosebikan; Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo; representative of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu; Mr Seye Alade, representing Akinwunmi Ambode, APC Governorship candidate and Hon Dimeji Gbadamosi at the launch of a book on Alhaji Jakande at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos...on Tuesday

•Bolaji Sunmola and Mrs Oyebimpe Yetunde Adeusi-Ojo

•Hon. Chief Mrs L. O. Gbajabiamila (left) and Hon. Mrs Dayo Gbajabiamila

•Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Alhaja Abimbola

T over 80, Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Alhaji Lateef Jakande CON, is still receiving public recognition and awards. Last Tuesday was yet another honours day for the former journalist and politician. The venue was the Lagos Airport Hotel in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos. And the event was the book launch of Jakande Leadership is action, a 200-page book put together in his honour, by Healthcare magazine publisher, Dr Bola Olaosebikan. Jakande was there with his wife Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, and son, Deji Jakande; and so were a large number of party stalwarts from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party’s presidential flagbearer, General Muhammadu Buhari, was ably represented by ex-Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo; Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN represented Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the APC Campaign Director General, while Lagos Sate Hon. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Lateef Ibirogba, represented the Lagos State Governor, BabatundeRaji Fashola SAN. Also on the high table was ex-Governor of Lagos State, Brig. General Mobolaji Johnson, who has been a close friend of Jakande, over the years. The Lagos white cap chiefs were there, representing the Oba of Lagos. They sat in the front row. They were prominently laid out in their conspicuous white attire and symbolic white caps. APC women party faithful were there in yellow coloured aso ebi and gele to match. And so were the Iya-Olojas. It was quite a crowd.

•From left: Agbaakin Tayo Oni-Awoyinka; Otunba Sola Akingboye and Dr Ayo Olatunde

•From left: Chief M. Kola Lawal, Oluwa of Lagos and Apapa; Chief Wahid Yusuf, Olorogun Agbeje of Lagos; Chief Ismail Folaji, IdeOkoro of Lagos; Chief Akasoro Ahmed, Ashogbon of Lagos and Chief Ibikunle Balley, Oluwo Jakande of Lagos

•From left: Apostle Babatunde Odede Pawpaw; a guest and Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Osinsanya

•A cross section of Lagos market women representing Iyaloja of Lagos

n Paul UKPABIO n The book reviewer for the day was the APC gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by Mr Alade, a member of his campaign group. According to him, “The book has arrived at a most auspicious time, a time when leadership is much needed in the country. The book is informative, educative, interesting and engaging to read. The book is also laced with 10 sterling qualities of leadership found in the life of Alhaji Jakande, and worth emulating. And among other things, the book tells us much about the historical life of Alhaji Jakande, who was born in Epetedo.” There were repeated applauses for Alhaji Jakande when he later received a Life Time Award from the publishers of Healthcare magazine. Two more Life Time Awards were also presented in the course of the event. One went to Brig. Gen Johnson, and the other was presented to the National Leader of All Peoples Congress party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by a representative of the Lagos white cap chiefs. It was received on behalf of the APC leader by Alhaji Lateef Ibirogba. Jakande, who spoke after the awards, said: “My heart is full of joy and prayers for this country and for the organisation that has published this book to honour me and also bestow on me, this Life Time Award.” His son, Deji Jakande, rounded off the emotional event with a vote of thanks.

•Mrs Dewunmi Quadri and Alhaji (Chief) S. O. daranijo

•Ms Nike Akinsuroju (left) and Dr (Mrs) Bolu Akingboye

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

with Email: bineharriet@gmail.com

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NATION S P O RT

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

With Ozolua Uhakheme

Email: ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com 08023058761

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Review Evelyn OSAGIE

Ozolua UHAKHEME

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Olumo Rock:

Biafran locally fabricated Ogbunigwe

HE history of the ancient city of Abeokuta is inseparable from that of Olumo Rock, the huge rock formation surrounding the city. Movement in and around the town is described from the point of Olumo Rock in most cases.The rock has become synonymous with the town. Olumo Rock , in the course of history, had served different purposes for the Egba people who are the inhabitants of Abeokuta. According to history, Olumo Rock, had always served as a sanctuary for the Egba during ancient wars. For example, during the war between the Egba and the people of Dahomey, in the present-day Benin Republic, from

Nature’s gift to Egba

1830 - 1833, the rock shielded the Egba from their enemies and also provided them with an elevated point to observe the enemies. It has become a point of religious worship for the people because of its protective work for the Egba. They thanked and worshipped the rock for keeping them safe and intact through the wars. The town of Abeokuta itself got its name from the rock as the name Abeokuta

conference to discuss the Nigerian tourism and hospital industry will hold this year. The event takes place from November 25 to 27 at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, according to organisers, Jonel Hospitality and WoodStarHotels.com in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. The November event will be the main edition of the conference which will be an annual event. The conference, according to organisers, “will be an outstanding networking event, a place where deals will begin and be concluded”. More than 200 industry professionals from 30 countries are expected to attend. And there will be a significant increase in participants from Middle East and North Africa, while maintaining a strong international representation. Tana Forsuelo, one of the organisers and provost of Wavecrest College of Hospitality, said “the objectives of the conference include: to identify and critically examine the profitability of

translated into English language means under the rock. The sprawling Abeokuta city spread from the foot of Olumo. The city of Abeokuta has so many rocks scattered all over it. The indigenes have learnt to live with them. The abundance of rocks is reflected in their local architecture. But none of these is as imposing as Olumo Rock. Olumo Rock is a gift of nature to the people of Abeokuta. At the entrance of the

complex is a huge metal gate. Right inside the complex at the foot of the rock is a modern leisure facility. At the entrance of the complex is a huge metal gate. A visitor is expected to obtain a ticket before going in. Inside the sprawling complex, at the foot of the rock, is a modern leisure centre with halls, eateries and other relaxation spots. The place has been developed to an aesthetic masterpiece. At the foot of the rock is a fountain gushing out

Nigerian tourism conference holds in November tourism locations in the country and how they can be accessed; to discuss the tourism regulatory framework and its complexities if any; to provide information on investment policies and their central role in the development; to address the complexities of raising finance for investment in the sector and options available; to critically assess the Nigerian financial institutions and how banks and fund managers assist hospitality and tourism investors; to provide a high-level networking event, bringing together government, private sector and international community and thought leaders to find the ways of mobilizing investment in the sector; to consider how the nexus between investment and enterprise development policies can be best used for facilitating investments in the tourism sector; to address the issue of power and how investors and managers can overcome the challenge, and many others”.

From left: Hope Opara; Ronke Bamisedun, PR Manager Intercontinental; Brian Efa, event organizer; and Vernon Page, MD, Hotel Partner Africa… during the briefing on the conference

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

‘

Olumo Rock continues to hold a kind of fascination for the Abeokuta people and tourists. That is why during festive and holiday periods, it is usually visited. The thrill from this enchanting rock is to climb to the summit and see the city of Abeokuta unfold

’

water. Looking at the rock from the foot, one could not but be amazed by the piles of huge stones at single spot. At the top, the arrangement is a little more amazing with the intricate balancing of some rocks at the top. Olumo Rock has its share of the grotesque as it is arranged in a kind of three-storey building formation. Before, getting to the top of the rock was physically exerting and not something to be embarked upon by an unfit person. While ascending, it is common seeing before stopping at a convenient point to get their breaths back before proceeding. After ascending the first part of the rock, you turn left and pass through a small space of about five feet wide sandwiched by rocks on both

sides. At the end of the tunnel is a kind of huge rock lintel. It hangs precariously

over the “door”. One may decide to stop there , but if bold enough, one could then proceed to the topmost. The view is very fascinating for those who enjoy heights, but unnerving for those that don't. Alternative to getting to the top of the rock are two modern lifts. The first takes visitors to the first stop above, while the second takes one further up from where it is possible to get to the summit of the rock. For those who have not visited Abeokuta before, the name, more than anything else, gives an idea of the topography of the

Aerial view of Abeokuta

Eko Atlantic City hosts beach polo

KO Atlantic and the Lagos Polo Club are to host the first beach polo tournament at Eko Atlantic. It will be another opportunity for both local and foreign tourists in Lagos to enjoy quality leisure time. The event which began last Thursday, will end tomorrow. A number of Nigerian teams are participating in a round robin tournament. Every team is playing every other team in their pool once. This allows for a wide variety of opponents and each team could be equally as involved, as opposed to a knock-out competition. Each of the four teams in the pool would progress to the final which would take place tomorrow. Pool winners will compete for the main cup, while runners up would play for the plate. The third place will play for the bowl and the last place will play for the shield. This format will guarantee each team four matches as well as games on each of the three days of competition. The Eko Atlantic Beach Polo Tournament

Arena will sit on approximately 42,000 square metres of land located directly off Eko Boulevard, a paved eight-lane thoroughfare that is over a mile long and is the spine of the Business District. This selection will provide a spacious location with the paved road access that will also be used by guests parking throughout the event. Furthermore, this area is the first to have street lighting installed which will improve security as well as mobility for guests at the end of festivities each day. Entrance to the Eko Atlantic Beach Polo Tournament is strictly by invitation. There is an invitation card for each day of play to ensure guest numbers are controlled and avoid overcrowding with a maximum of 1,000 invitees bein g distributed for each day of play. Polo is known around the world as “the sport of kings” and in Nigeria, this is also the case.

enigmatic ancient city and the capital of the Egba people. There is a shrine on top of the Olumo Rock. The rock is to the Egba people what water is to riverine communities. This is what the Olumo Rock captures. Olumo Rock continues to hold a kind of fascination for the Abeokuta people and tourists. That is why during festive and holiday periods, it is usually visited. The thrill from this enchanting rock is to climb to the summit and see the city of Abeokuta unfold like book. It is a sight better seen than imagined. The Egba, whose ancestrial home is Abeokuta, could boast of individuals and historical figures capable of attracting tourists to the town. I am talking of people like the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; his mother, Mrs. Funmilayo; Professor Wole Soyinka and the late M.K.O. Abiola. A tour of Abeokuta can never be complete without a visit to Olumo Rock.

Royal Air Maroc lifts 1.3m Africans

oyal Air Maroc transported about 1.3 million passengers on its African destination in 2014 during the period spanning from November 1, 2013 to the end of October, 2014. This represents an increase of 16 per cent with regard to the previous year. During this year, the national company operated 16 285 flights on 32 air routes towards the continent. The bulk of this increase is ascribed to nine air links, namely flights connecting Morocco to Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia and Gabon. Through these regular connections, Royal Air Maroc could carry 782,000 passengers. This result shows the commitment of the national company in the strengthening strategy of its anchorage in its natural environment, by developing its network on the continent and improving its offer and its services for the benefit of the clientele in Africa. This

assessment was realized despite the unfavourable circumstances faced by the continent and which affected the development of the air transport sector in the region, notably those relating to the outbreak of Ebola which is considered to be the most serious epidemic having affected the continent. Royal Air Maroc’s performance is also reflective of its sincere and responsible commitment to support the continental developmental efforts in line with the solidarity policy led by the kingdom in Africa. The company is launched in this process by means of continental development partnerships of the main and big cultural and artistic events such Dak' Art in Senegal, MASA (Market for African Arts and Show) of Cote d’Ivoire, FESPACO (Pan-African Film and Television Festival) of Burkina Faso . Besides, out of responsible solidarity and following the appeal of the international organizations involved in the fight against this epidemic, including the WHO, Royal Air Maroc maintained its flights to

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

56 OU have been the DG of the NYSC for a year now. What will you consider the major achievements of the scheme under your watch? When I came on board, and after a careful study of the NYSC, I came up with my vision for the scheme and with that vision came a four-point agenda. For me, everything centres on the welfare of corps members and staff. What I consider my biggest achievement is the increased focus that the welfare of corps members now enjoys from the scheme. I will break this into three categories: before the corps members come in, during their service year and after they leave us. We started the online mobilisation last year because we found out that in the past we had lost some prospective corps members to accidents on their way to collect their callup letters. That was one of the main reason why we started e-mobilisation and online processing and printing of call-up letters. For me, this is looking out for them even before they become corps members. During the service year, the most critical thing in terms of welfare of corps members is their safety and security, and this starts from when they are in camp. We now have enhanced safety and security of our corps members through the increased collaboration with all security agencies. And I will tell you that in spite of the numerous security challenges that we have had in the country, our orientation camps have been well protected and free of any ugly incident. Outside the camp, we are focused on using technology to quickly reach and assist corps members who might be in danger. Apart from the physical inspectorate mechanism, which we have at the local government level, we have the NYSC mobile app and social media platforms to monitor and address, in real time, challenges faced by corps members. For instance, I use Twitter to maintain daily interaction with corps members all over the country. They can reach me and that enables me to quickly respond to their problems. This is aside the fact that I made it mandatory that whenever a corps member is ill or is involved in an accident during the service year, we strictly follow the provisions of the NYSC Act by ensuring that all their medical expenses are paid. For those unfortunate to sustain one form of disability or the other during their service year, we have also inaugurated a programme to ensure that they are not abandoned or forgotten, but are assisted to be productively engaged. Before now, all they were entitled to was an insurance payment. But we have introduced the NYSC Hope Alive Programme, graciously launched recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, to give them additional succour and support and reassure them that they are not forgotten. We have also not forgotten about the welfare of the NYSC staff. They have to be well motivated to cater for the welfare of corps members. Before I came on board, the issue of promotion had always been a problem. But last year was the first time that the result of the promotion examination would come out within one week. The examination was done in a transparent and objective manner, and immediately we finished, I called a meeting of the NYSC Governing Board and the result was approved and released in record time. Still on staff welfare, when I started as the DG, the scheme didn’t have a single bus to convey our staff in Abuja who live on the outskirts. We leveraged on the goodwill of our stakeholders. Today, we have four 32seater buses without reference to budgetary allocations. What are the major challenges that you have encountered in the last one year and what are your plans to overcome them? The NYSC is an agency that depends almost solely on government subvention. That is a major

Polls: Our plans to secure corps members — NYSC D-G Olawumi In the past one year, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, has been piloting the affairs of the scheme. He met with some select Editors in the week to share his experience and four-point agenda. Our Managing Editor, Northern Operation, YUSUF ALLI, reports the encounter with the man. Excerpts: challenge. We all know that because of competing needs, government cannot do everything, even if it loves to do so. One has to commend the government for sustaining the scheme because a lot of money goes into it. The fact remains that a lot of things need to be done, but budgetary allocations to the scheme might not allow us to do them. So that’s one major challenge for the scheme. We are, however, looking at ways to mitigate the shortcomings. One thing we are considering is the need to get the private sector to be more involved in funding the scheme. For example, we are getting signals that some big companies are ready to brand some of our products, camps and uniforms, and this will come with some funds that will ultimately support our activities. But we are also careful not to violate the NYSC Act, and we know we need to get government’s support and the support of the public too. So we are looking at the possibility of corporate organisations, supporting the scheme through branding. We are also stepping up advocacy to ensure that states and local government areas meet their obligations to the scheme as specified in the NYSC Act. You earlier mentioned your vision and your four-point agenda which you unveiled shortly after taking over. Why did you think the scheme needed a new vision and agenda? You will recall that there was a time when there was a lot of discussions about the relevance of the NYSC. Those questioning the scheme wanted to be sure that the NYSC was still useful, that there was value for the scarce

resources spent on it by the government and that the corps members served in safety. I did some research and discussed with a lot of people within and outside the NYSC after my appointment to see how to address these concerns. So I came up with my vision which is: ‘to increase the impact of the scheme and expand its value to critical stakeholders.’ The vision was designed to address the observed gaps and challenges. I believe that no one will be talking about the relevance of the NYSC, if they can feel its impact and if the various stakeholders get more value from the scheme. I further broke down the vision into a four-point agenda which is: to improve the service content of the scheme; to enhance the welfare and safety of corps members and staff; to expand partnership for greater impact, funding and support; and to increase the visibility and relevance of the scheme. After coming up with this, I introduced the vision and agenda to my senior management from across the country at a retreat in Ibadan. They not only bought into the vision and the agenda, they helped in fleshing them out and deepening them. How far would you say you have gone in implementing the four-point agenda? The four-point agenda has been our roadmap. And it has helped in keeping us on track, especially in terms of increasing the service content of the scheme and improving the welfare of corps members. I will give you a few examples. Now, corps members participate in monthly sanitation exercises across the country, not only for cleaning, but more importantly by sensitizing the people on the need for them to come out and clean their surroundings. Then, we came up with another programme tagged Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers. We realised that there are some communities across the country that do not have anything you can call a health facility. These are remote communities. We have launched that programme in Kwara State, and as we speak, there are five other states in the waiting. We launched the pilot scheme in a place called Igbo Owu in Kwara State. What we did was that we partnered the state government and an NGO, Royal Health Foundation. The state government gave us the location and some drugs. The NGO provided an ambulance and drugs and mobilised the community. The NYSC mobilised the manpower such as corps doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others. The launching was very successful. On that day alone, we attended to about 300 patients. The NYSC team consulted, conducted laboratory tests, provided medication, and provided counselling and referrals for those who needed them. This intervention is patterned after the mobile clinic idea with our team visiting the communities regularly. The participating corps members do this in addition to their primary assignments. If you also recall that the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) sneaked into the country in 2014. The NYSC formed part of the integrated framework for the containment of the disease. Many people might not be aware of this. We came up with the NYSC Combating Ebola Virus Disease programme. Because corps members are well dispersed in all the nooks and crannies of this country, we organised seminars where some corps members were trained on how to sensitise communities about Ebola, how to identify, report

During the service year, the most critical thing in terms of welfare of corps members is their safety and security, and this starts from when they are in camp. We now have enhanced safety and security of our corps members through the increased collaboration with all security agencies

•Olawumi

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

and handle infections. We also have the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme (SAED) through which we have trained over 400,000 corps members in about 12 different skills set in the last two years. Within the last one year, we also built an ultra-modern bakery and a table water plant in Kubwa, FCT. We built them from various support from our stakeholders. Though they are part of our ventures, they are basically available to train corps members who might be interested in these areas. We also have a 70-hectare land in Kwali, Abuja, and within the last one year, we went into partnership with IITA and cultivated about 20 hectares of this land. We also got in touch with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and they supported us in no small measure with farming and processing equipment. With all these, we were able to process cassava into garri to feed five orientation camps in Batch C of last year. Today, the NYSC produces garri, and is ready to bake bread and produce table water. These were things that came up within the last 12 months. Can you shed more light on the skills acquisition programme and the rationale behind it? The Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneur Development programme (SAED) came into being because we were looking at how to use the NYSC to address the issue of unemployment in Nigeria. You will recall that when the scheme started in 1973, the key issue then was integration and national unity. We realised that 42 years down the line, we might still be having issues with unity and national integration, but the challenge of unemployment is more pressing. So the scheme came up with the SAED programme. What we do is that from orientation camps, we sensitize them to change their mind-set to turn them from job seekers to job creators. We train them in the orientation camps. We have about 12 approved areas such as farming, poultry, beads making, fashion designing, make-up and a host of others. Beyond the training, we also link them with established people in their areas of interests during their primary assignments. However, a major problem we noticed is that when we train them, most of them do not have start-up capital. Because of that, we signed an MOU with the Bank of Industry. Although they have not started disbursing, it’s ongoing to ensure that the start-up capital is always available. We also try to encourage corps members who have inbuilt skills by nurturing them and helping them to achieve their potential. That was one of the reasons for the NYSC National Band where we pulled together about 60 corps members who have talents in music, singing, or playing one or two musical instruments. We also did same for football. We have an NYSC standing football team that is making waves in the FCT league. Recently, they played the Super Eagles. Some of them have been approached by clubs because of the exposure we have given them during the service year. We are also looking at partnerships with Nollywood, so that those who are already into acting or who have talents in that area can get necessary training, exposure and patronage. We are also planning to revive the practice of sending those with first- class degrees to serve in universities, so that apart from supporting those universities, those who wish to do more research will have the time to do that. We are doing all these to ensure that the corps members also get something meaningful out of the service year, and that they are better prepared for life after service. You mentioned in passing the NYSC Hope Alive Programme recently launched by the president. Why was it established and what purpose do you think it will serve? The motivating factor in our establishing the NYSC Hope Alive Programme stemmed from the fact that when I came into the scheme most times I read in the media about the plight of corps members who in the course of service got permanently disabled. And I felt that there should be a way we could address this. Yes, government has made provision for an insurance cover for anybody who dies or who incurs permanent disability during the course of the service year. The insurance cover is now N1,000,000. But we have also recognised that this money is not sufficient. We realised that we must give these young men and women something that will give them hope about our country. And one way we could start is to make sure no one who suffers disability in the course of service is abandoned. That was what led to the establishment of the NYSC Hope Alive Programme. It is a public-private sector driven empowerment programme designed to provide succour to corps members who become disabled during the course of the service year. It has been flagged off. Heritage Bank gave the first beneficiaries N1.5 million each. The governor of Akwa Ibom and Ibeto Group also chipped in. Mr President specifically said the NYSC Hope Alive Progamme is very dear to his heart. We want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr President, Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, for this and for his unflinching support to the scheme. You will recall that it was when he came in that he increased corps members’ allowance by 100% to N19,800. And from the support we have been getting from him on issues that concern the scheme, there is no doubt that he is somebody who is passionate about youths in general and the NYSC in particular.

•Olawumi So we are leveraging on the support of Mr. President and planning to turn it into a trustee or a foundation that will be managed by credible, eminent and honest Nigerians. Their responsibility will be to attend to those who might need more treatments after the service year, to help source jobs in private and public sectors for those interested in paid employment and to provide training and start-up capital for those who want to be selfemployed. Will the post-service medical treatment include things like prosthetics, wheelchairs and some other things that will make people whole or aid them to function better? Hopefully it should because we want to make that person to get integrated into the society and we want such a person to see that there is ability even in their disability. A major highlight of the NYSC under you is the online registration fee. Do you still think you made the right decision on this? I want to say categorically that the issue of e-mobilisation as far as I am concerned is one of the best things that happened to the Scheme. We started it with Batch C last year and I am aware that there were a lot of complaints over the issue of payment. After that, we had a stakeholders’ meeting whereby we brought together parents, members of the civil society groups, members of student bodies and even people from the universities who are not members of the NANS and so on. Everybody agreed that it’s a very laudable programme. But the issue was the amount involved. We made them understand that government cannot finance it now because of competing needs and because it requires the provision of hardware and network infrastructure in 37 orientation camps, 37 state secretariats and the headquarters in Abuja, all running to about N800,000,000. We realised that there was no way government can fund it ahead of things like food, kits and allowances for corps members. That was why we went into the PPP arrangement. In doing that, we followed due process and that was why even when we were dragged to the National Assembly, they saw that due process was followed. We got the approval of Bureau of Public Procurement and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and other agencies that were supposed to give us the go-ahead did after careful scrutiny of the project. We also made the payment for online processing of call-up letters optional because we realised that it might not be everybody that would want to use that facility. What that means is that those who feel they want to travel to collect their call-up letters from their schools can still do so. The status quo remains. But during the last stakeholders’ meeting ,we prevailed on the consultant and the result was that for Batch A this year, the amount has been reduced to N3000. Security of corps members has been an issue lately, especially with their participation in elections. Given the tension this particular election is generating, do you think it is a good decision to get corps members involved and what are you doing to make sure that they are secure? First and foremost, I need to make it clear here that yes the

We have been engaging community leaders, prominent Nigerians and political party leaders on the need for them to talk to their subjects and followers not to inflict violence on corps members. We have also placed jingles on radio and TV stations, sensitising the people that corps members are their children, brothers and sisters, and they should not inflict violence on them

decision was taken in 2010 when we signed an MOU with the INEC for corps members to take part as ad-hoc staff in the conduct of elections. Since then, corps members have been taking part and contributing so much to improve our elections. A dimension that was introduced late last year is that we are no longer the ones who submit names of corps members to the INEC.The INEC opened their portal and asked interested corps members to register and they registered. They were not forced. They registered on their own volition. That was why from the over 240,000 corps members that we have only about 168,000 registered which means close to 80,000 did not register. It should be noted that the corps members were not forced and what that means is that any parent who does not want his or her child to take part in the conduct of the elections must have told the child not to register. Also, corps members who do not feel inclined on their own will not register. So corps members are participating voluntarily? Yes. They registered on their own. Not only that, in the course of registration, they supplied information as to where they are serving and where they want to be during the election. That means, if a corps member is serving in Anambra State and the parents live in Oyo State, when asked where he or she would like to participate during the elections, the corps member could fill Oyo State. So these are things that have been done as part of security measures. Despite this, we still believe that their security is our primary responsibility and we are prepared to do that to the best of our ability. We have taken some measures. For example, we have been engaging community leaders, prominent Nigerians and political party leaders on the need for them to talk to their subjects and followers not to inflict violence on corps members. We have also placed jingles on radio and TV stations, sensitising the people that corps members are their children, brothers and sisters, and they should not inflict violence on them. We have documented all the contacts of security agencies in all local government areas in Nigeria. And we made these contacts available to all corps members in those areas. Then, in the headquarters here, we keep a record of all those contacts because we have a Distress Call Centre which we have reinvigorated to cope with whatever challenges that might arise during the elections. Through that Distress Call Centre, once a corps member is in distress and he or she calls, we immediately identify the location and inform the closest security agency within the location to rescue the corps member. We have also compiled the addresses of all the corpers’ lodges across the country which have been made available to security agencies in all those areas. We have also issued out directives that all our local government inspectors will not take part in the elections. Their sole duty on that day is the security of corps members. We have approached the INEC, and they are going to provide logistic support in each of the local government areas for easy monitoring and rescue operation on the election days. There are also concerns about the possible partiality of some corps members. What are you are doing to ensure that they stay neutral and out of politics? You will recall that the corps members that will take part in the elections are corps members who did orientation courses in Batch B and Batch C of last year. One thing we did was that I and the top management of the NYSC visited all the camps and we kept hammering it the need for them to remain neutral and not to do things that will jeopardise the interest of the scheme and put them in danger. They have also been trained preparatory to this assignment. As a matter of fact, there is a sensitization pamphlet which will be given to each corps member taking part in the elections. It contains the dos and don’ts. It also clearly spells out the consequences, if they contravene any aspect of the electoral law. They all have it and they have been trained. I will also like to call on all corps members that they must remain ethical and very neutral and avoid engaging in acts or behaviour that will bring the scheme into disrepute. One other thing I would like to add is that beyond the provision of the electoral laws, we also have our own internal mechanism to deal with corps members who contravene the electoral law. Even while the electoral law is taking its course, such a corps member will face a disciplinary committee and the punishment for that is that the corps member will lose the service year. I also want to call on all politicians that they should plead with their supporters not to assault corps members. Second, they should not try to induce corps members with financial or material gifts to manipulate results of elections. I am also calling on corps members to shun any form of financial or material inducements from any politician. With rising number of corps members and dwindling revenues, some doubt the sustainability of the scheme. What are your thoughts on this? There is no doubt that the population of corps members per year has been increasing. From a paltry 2,364 in 1973, as at today, we have hit about 249,000 and our projection, based on the number of universities springing up, shows that in the next four to five years, the corps population might hit 350,000. This comes with its own challenge because resources are also dwindling. So right now in the scheme, we are working on so many strategies to reposition the scheme to be able to meet these challenges that we are anticipating. Some people have been coming up with possible options. For example, there is an argument that the scheme could be made optional, with incentives attached for those who volunteer to serve. Such incentives could include that the NYSC certificate could be a prerequisite for service in the military, police, other paramilitary agencies, civil service, and for those seeking political offices. For those who make this argument, some benefits would also accrue to the scheme, if service is made optional. Such benefits include: less number of corps members to manage, such that resources can be used with more impact; improved discipline and reduction in requests for concessional postings; and the fact that only those ready for service will be mobilised. At the appropriate time, we will make the positions available for government’s decision.

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

The low足down

HENEVER I heard about weight. It's not easy to stick to it. There are cholesterol, I used to think so many things I love to eat like fried it was only old people it af- chicken, meat and fried eggs that I can't eat fected," stated Tonia Enianymore because of the cholesterol." fome, an Isolo, Lagos based school teacher So, what is cholesterol and what causes and designer. To the 38 year old woman, a it? high cholesterol level was the last thing on "There are so many causes," stated a her mind when she fell ill with malaria medical practitioner, Dr Kennedy. "Somesometime last year and went to the hospital times, it is caused by what we eat, our for treatment. "I went to lifestyle; it could also be the hospital when I was hereditary. So high chosick last year. It was duris caused by difIf your cholesterol lesterol ing routine tests and ferent factors. It is genetic checks that I was told I and at the same time enlevels are too high, not only had malaria vironmental. Some of us deposits can occur with some traces of tyeat quite a lot of fatty phoid, my blood presfoods. The good the bad in your arteries. sure and cholesterol and the ugly. So it is such The cholesterol levels were high! I was foods that cause lots of shocked and got scared forms fatty deposits problems for the heart," because of what the docon the walls of your he added. tor said could happen to blood vessels, hardme if the condition is left The ABC of cholesuntreated; that stroke or terol ening and narrowheart attack could occur. Cholesterol is a waxy ing them in a My parents are still alive substance that circulates and strong and I wonin the blood. The body condition called dered why I should uses it to create cells, horatherosclerosis. have to deal with such mones, and Vitamin D health conditions at my and the liver creates all Narrower vessels age." the cholesterol the body transport less oxyAsked what could needs from fats in the have caused the serious diet. gen-rich blood. If health condition, she "However, it is not all your heart muscle stated: "Actually, the cholesterol that is bad, doctor said it could be there are good and bad is starved of oxymy weight. You see, I cholesterol," noted Dr gen, you can have a put on a lot of weight Kennedy. "Your body has after I had my daughter two types of cholesterol: heart attack. If that who is now three years low-density lipoproteins happens in your old. I used to be a size 16 (LDL), known as 'bad' but after I put to bed, cholesterol, and highbrain, you can my weight ballooned to density lipoproteins have a stroke size 20. I have gone on a (HDL) referred to as diet to reduce my 'good' cholesterol. HDL

cholesterol carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to the liver. Your liver then processes the cholesterol out of your body. Both types of cholesterol are necessary for healthy cell function, but too much LDL can clog your arteries and could lead to heart failure. You can reduce LDL levels by avoiding foods that add cholesterol to your blood stream and by exercising. Foods from animal sources like eggs, meat, and dairy products can raise bad cholesterol. Exercise not only reduces the bad cholesterol in your body, but also can add good cholesterol," he said. On the dangers and manifestations of high 'bad' cholesterol, he added: "If your cholesterol levels are too high, deposits can occur in your arteries. The cholesterol forms fatty deposits on the walls of your blood vessels, hardening and narrowing them in a condition called atherosclerosis. Narrower vessels transport less oxygen-rich blood. If your heart muscle is starved of oxygen, you can have a heart attack. If that happens in

your brain, you can have a stroke. "Signs of high LDL in your blood include heart diseases like coronary heart disease or cardiovascular diseases. It will show signs like the legs being numb, the hand could feel like its numb like there is no blood there, while some could have chest pain and so on. It can also lead to complications like cardiac arrest or death." Indeed, heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide accounting for about 30% of all causes of death globally in 2008. More people died from cardiovascular diseases than from any other cause in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 9.4 million deaths each year or 16.5% of all deaths can be attributed to the disease. It has also been estimated that the number of people who will die from cardiovascular diseases mainly from heart disease and strokes will increase to reach 23.3 million by 2030 and cardiovascular diseases is projected to remain the leading cause of death globally. Cardiovascular diseases are usually preceded by certain risk factors such as smoking, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes among others. Despite the serious health implication of cardiovascular diseases, awareness of its risk factors among the pop-

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

on cholesterol

Heart healthy diet and lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol levels IET can play an important role in lowering your cholesterol. Here are heart friendly foods that can lower cholesterol and protect your heart:

•Dr Taiwo ulation is very low. For instance, a study carried out by Adeseye Abiodun Akintunde, Temitope 'Sade Akintunde and Oladimeji George Opadijo of the Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Nigeria and published in the Nigerian Medical Journal, titled 'Knowledge of heart disease risk factors among workers in a Nigerian University: A call for concern' showed a low awareness of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the populace. " Despite the surging trend in cardiovascular disease worldwide and in developing nations like Nigeria and having reported that in this environment, the commonest reason for medical admission to Teaching Hospitals are cardiovascular disease, there is still poor level of knowledge of heart disease among University workers. An outreach programme including training on the risk factors for heart diseases, preventive strategies, treatment and association with cholesterol and diabetes is, therefore, very essential. Africans including African-Americans have been shown to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. They should therefore be targeted for interventions to prevent or reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, increasing the level of knowledge of heart disease risk factors, prevention and treatment remain a major way to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases among Africans," the study noted. Treating and controlling cholesterol There are a number of factors that put one at risk for developing high cholesterol according to health experts. These include age, hereditary factors, weight, diet, lifestyle and others. Cholesterol levels rise with age, especially in women after menopause while hereditary also plays a factor since how much cholesterol your liver makes is partially determined by your genes. "There is treatment for cholesterol," stated Dr Lasisi Gbolade Taiwo, a Consultant Cardiologist at the Dominion Cardiac Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. "However its not a one-off-treatment, but modified lifestyle coupled with drugs. Both must be combined depending on the risk factor. For a high risk patient, the treatment will continue for life. For somebody who has intermediate risk, the risk factors will have to be eliminated by change of environment and diet, lifestyle generally. But if there is no change, then treatment must continue," he said. For Dr Kennedy, control and management of the condition begins with consultation. "I advise that the person see a doctor and commence treatment. A doctor will advise such a patient to go for a test to confirm and place on drugs. Now we have a lot of good drugs that can bring the cholesterol level down. And maintain a good level of the 'good' type. When you are on those drugs, the person will recover fast, you will be told what to avoid eating and what to eat. It can be totally cured if it is the normal one but when it becomes complicated, it can only be managed for the rest of the person’s life." "Everyone should begin getting their cholesterol checked once every five years starting at the age of 20. However, risk levels normally don’t rise until later in life. Men should begin monitoring their cholesterol levels more closely starting at around age 40- 45. Women tend to have lower cholesterol levels than men until menopause, at which point their levels begin to rise. For this reason, women should begin getting checked regularly around age 55," he noted.

Eliminate trans fat, go for unsaturated fats Trans fats may raise your 'bad' cholesterol and lower your 'good' cholesterol. They’re found in fried and deepfried foods as well as in commercially-packaged baked goods like biscuits, cakes and crackers are particularly bad for your cholesterol levels. Saturated fats, like those in meat, full-fat dairy products and some oils like palm oil, raise your total cholesterol. Trans fats, which are sometimes found in margarines and store-bought cookies, crackers and cakes, are particularly bad for your cholesterol levels. Trans fats raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good, cholesterol. You don’t have to cut fats out of your diet entirely. Instead, switch to unsaturated fats such as groundnut, canola or olive oil which are good options for cooking. Avoid oils that are solid or semisolid at room temperature like coconut oil. Avoid butter or mayonnaise on bread and low fat options. Eat fruits, nuts and vegetables Nuts and avocados are good sources of unsaturated oils and make for healthy snacks. Fruits, vegetables and beans are rich in soluble fiber, which traps cholesterol and helps the body eliminate it. Try lentils, kidney beans, soy beans or edamame, dark leafy greens, pears, and apples. Edamame also contain isoflavones, which may lower cholesterol levels. Another cholesterol-busting nutrient is lycopene, which is found in tomatoes. Walnuts, almonds and other nuts can reduce blood cholesterol. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, walnuts also help keep blood vessels healthy. Eating about a handful a day of most nuts such as almonds, groundnuts, walnut, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts, may reduce your risk of heart disease. Just make sure the nuts you eat aren't salted or coated with sugar.

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, apples, pears, barley and prunes. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your total and LDL cholesterol. Eating 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides 6 grams of fiber. If you add fruit, such as bananas, you'll add about 4 more grams of fiber. Fish and omega-3 fatty acids Eating fatty fish can be heart healthy because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which can reduce your blood pressure and risk of developing blood clots. In patients who have already had heart attacks, fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of sudden death. Health care experts and nutritionists recommend eating at least two servings of fish a week. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in mackerel, trout, herring, sardines, tuna, salmon and halibut. You should bake or grill the fish to avoid adding unhealthy fats. If you don't like fish, you can also get small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from foods like ground flaxseed or canola oil. Avoid smoking Smoking is a major risk factor of high cholesterol and heart disease. Smoking tobacco causes the arteries to harden and leads to atherosclerosis. It also roughens the walls of the arteries, allowing cholesterol to stick more easily and begin to form plaques. If you smoke, cut back or quit entirely. Try to avoid repeat exposure to secondhand smoke. Exercise and weight Experts recommend you exercise at least two hours and 30 minutes per week, or for 30 minutes most days. Exercise lowers your LDL levels and boosts your HDL levels, plus it helps you lose weight. Losing weight also helps lower your cholesterol levels. If you’re overweight, you don’t have to lose it all, losing just 5-10 percent of your body weight can have a big impact on lowering your cholesterol. •Adapted from Healthline

Natural ways to beat stress, anxiety (2) Connect with people problem shared is a problem halved. A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work or personal troubles and help you see things in a different way. The activities we do with friends help us relax and we often have a good laugh with them, which is an excellent stress reliever. Tell someone who cares such as a friend or relative. Acknowledging you are finding a situation stressful, and being heard and understood by someone who cares for you, even if they can't physically help, will reduce stress levels. Talking things through with a friend will also help you find solutions to whatever problems you have.

Help other people Evidence shows that people who help others, through activities such as volunteering or community work become more resilient. Helping people who are often in situations worse than yours will help you put your problems into perspective; also the more you give, the

more resilient and happy you will feel. If you don't have time to volunteer, try to do someone a favour every day. It can be something as small as helping someone to cross the road or some other little task. Avoid unhealthy habits Don't rely on alcohol, smoking, caffeine or even hard drugs as your ways of coping. Studies show that men more than women are likely to do this as women are better at seeking support from their social circle. Known as the avoidance behaviour, these habits won't solve whatever problem you have but worsen the situation by creating new ones. It might provide temporary relief but it won’t make the problems disappear. You need to tackle the cause of your stress." Herbs for stress Herbs that calm include passionflower, St. John's wort, kava, oats, damiana, chamomile. Those that reduce the effects of stress on the body include licorice and ginseng. Avoid caffeine which is a stimulant that increases adrenaline in the body, the very hormone you are looking to reduce. Avoid coffee (decaf is ok), colas, chocolate and more than 2 cups of tea daily.

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

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Many injured as gunmen attack another APC rally in Rivers •PDP thugs fingered A rally by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at Elioparanwo-Port Harcourt, Ward Nine in Obio\Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was yesterday disrupted by suspected thugs, believed to be working for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There were sporadic gunshots in the area, while other dangerous weapons were freely used by the armed thugs, leading to the APC members sustaining varying degrees of injury.

n Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt n

The governorship candidate of the PDP and immediate-past Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, hails from neighbouring RumueprikomPort Harcourt, also in Obio/Akpor LGA. An APC stalwart in Elioparanwo, who simply gave his name as Chike, said, "The APC's rally in Elioparanwo was disrupted by gunmen who shot

some APC members, while so many others escaped with different degrees of injuries. I was only lucky to have escaped too, though I sustained injuries and I am now at the hospital receiving treatment. "Barr. Tasie Wike was hit by a bullet. Even the Rivers State's non-indigenes' Chairman, Chief Okokoba, was hit by a stray bullet and currently nobody knows his whereabouts." The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy

Superintendent of Police (DSP), while confirming the incident on the telephone, stated that the organisers of the rally did not inform the police. Ahmad said: "Reports at my disposal indicate that no life was lost, but some persons sustained injuries. The rally was without police knowledge. We only knew about it when there was pandemonium. Our quick response arrested the situation." It will be recalled that on Thursday, hundreds of APC

members in Port Harcourt, protested their indiscriminate arrests and killings, as well as the disruption of their rallies by suspected PDP thugs, while accusing the police of not arresting the culprits. The leader of the protesters, Emma Chindah, who is also the Rivers Commissioner for Agriculture, declared that members of the APC would continue to occupy the police headquarters on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt until they were able to get justice.

Foundation advocates for peaceful elections

Ben Bruce promises virile representation HE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the seat of Brass East senatorial district at the coming 2015 general elections, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, has boasted that he already has ten bills which he intends to sponsor at the next National Assembly. While promising to sponsor bills to tackle poverty in the country, he is also promising to deliver on people related issues like poverty, sickness, disease and backwardness afflicting his district. According Murray-Bruce, “the degradation of the environment has brought enormous hardship to generations yet to be born if the intractable problems in the area are not tackled headlong now”. Speaking on illegal refineries, which he considers to be the bane of the Niger Delta region and responsible for environmental degradation, pollution and crude oil waste, he said, “converting illegal refineries to legal corporate outfits and getting the owners to pay a corporate tax based on revenue will help curb oil theft and the proliferation of such refineries”. Murray-Bruce further said, “I will introduce a Marshall Plan bill for the North East to fast track its economy to a modern development oriented region or zone, to keep pace with the other more economically developing states.’’

n Rosemary NWISI, Port Harcourt n HE chairman, Board of Trustees of Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values education, Professor Emeritus, Otonti Nduka , has appealed to politicians to eschew violence in the forthcoming general elections. Prof. Nduka made the appeal in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday on the reaction of members of the public on the Foundation’s on-going weekly radio dialogue on the conduct of free and fair elections in the country. The Foundation was set to inculcate and promote the right values in all segments of Nigerian society. The professor decried the spate of political violence and killings in parts of the country, saying the needed credible elections would not be achieved on the face of ongoing tension being fuelled by the activities of desperate politicians, party candidates and their supporters.

•From left: Rivers Coordinator, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Rev. Fr. Donatus Ukulor; Rivers INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan and Administrative Secretary, Rivers INEC, Mr Royce ObiPhoto: NAN juru, during an interactive forum with civil society organizations in Port Harcourt...yesterday

Taxi driver admits responsibility for death of hotel staff ONTRARY to allegations that the police in Benin, Edo State, was responsible for the death of a staff of Protea hotel who was in their custody, a 29-year-old cab driver yesterday admitted that he accidentally killed the middle-age man along Sapele road in the state capital. It will be recalled that accusation of extra-judicial killing was slammed against the Edo Police command over the death of the man, identified as Chibuike Edeh.

• Continued from back page wallowing in Enyimba FC of Aba or be tagged a veteran without a job. Eight midfielders - Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Steven Ukoh (Biel-Bienne FC, Switzerland); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England);Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine); Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks FC) and Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC) raised fresh hopes that the rebuilding of the Eagles would be thorough. Sadly, John Mikel Obi’s injury may scuttle the attempt to carve out a formidable midfield to provide the defence-splitting passes for the strikers to score goals. Akpan and Aluko have been very enterprising in the few games that they have played for the Eagles. Perhaps, the next Eagles coach would have the guts to pick one person between Mikel and Onazi to play at the number 4 position, which is where either of them plays in Europe. The Eagles midfield lost its fluidity when the coaches dropped Sunday Mba for inexplicable reasons. Mba gave the Eagles attack at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa the width it required to spray the passes towards the flanks for our strikers to score goals. When the goals didn’t come, Mba took the gauntlet and scored. Indeed, it was Mba’s goal that gave Nigeria the trophy in our nail-biting 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the final game at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Since Mba was dropped from the Eagles, we have struggled to score goals.

n Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA, Benin n The deceased family and friends have accused the police of killing their son, even as the police have maintained that the victim was knocked down by a car when he attempted to escape while leading investigators to where he hid the sum of N42, 000.00 he allegedly stole from the hotel. The cab driver and his Toyota Camry 2.2 car, marked FUG 93-JD (EDO), were in the custody of Adesuwa Police Divi-

Sensible Eagles list Emmanuel Emenike, who benefited from Mba’s incisive play, hasn’t scored a goal for the Eagles like he did in the past. Many football pundits still remember how Mba combined effectively with Brown Ideye at the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria won. If there was one player who surprised many a Nigerian fan at the Brazil 2014 World Cup until the Eagles were eliminated 2-0 by France in the second round, it was Babatunde Michael. Until he was injured in the game against France, Babatunde’s bustling run from the midfield gave the Eagles another option to launch its attack. It was in one of his bustling runs that he got hacked by a French defender. That marked the end of the competition for him, but he had made his mark. His return to the Eagles represents one of the benefits of Nigeria’s participation at the Mundial in Brazil, last year. Already, the South Africans are scared stiff about the Nigerian list, which excludes most of our big stars. They are not shocked because we have the population to produce 11 Super Eagles, only if our coaches consider the importance of fielding our best. The strikers’ list tells the story of adequate monitoring of the European leagues. The list includes Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China), Brown Ideye (West Brom, England), Odion Ighalo

(Watford FC, England), Anthony Ujah (FC Cologne, Germany), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium), Ubong Moses (Kano Pillars), Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves) and Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC). Musa, Ideye, Ighalo, Samuel and Ujah have been quite outstanding in their leagues. They haven’t played together before. But we expect the coaches to know how to get them to work as a unit. It is quite interesting to know that Emmanuel Emenike can be dropped. I feel strongly this is the best reality check for Emenike to improve on his game. Emenike’s goal drought extends to his Turkish club. It explains why he shouldn’t be in this squad. It would have been marvelous watching Victor Moses’ return to the Eagles after his war of words with the coaches in Brazil over his exclusion in the team. The coaches denied that such an incident happened. Yet, Moses hardly made the team after the 2014 World Cup fiasco. Moses is on standby due to the injury he sustained playing for Stoke penultimate Saturday. Pundits are relieved that Yakubu Aiyegbeni wasn’t listed for this game. Yak has played his part in the Eagles creditably. He may be doing well at Reading but he should never be considered for the national team. A few others who are ageing could be invited with one goal in mind- sending them forth so that they can keep such tapes recorded for posterity. It still hurts that Nwankwo Kanu,

sion, Sapele road, Benin, yesterday. Narrating how he accidentally knocked down the victim, the driver stated that about 3pm last Saturday, he had earlier taken a female passenger from UNIBEN in Ugbowo to her destination en route Sapele road, by the Edo State Library, when a man unexpectedly left the walkway and ran into the road. He explained further that he rammed the car into the man before he was able to bring the vehicle to a halt a few distance from the spot. Stephen Keshi, George Finidi, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Eguavoen, Peter Rufai et al don’t have tapes of their testimonial games at the national level. NFF must ensure that John Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama and others in this generation break the voodoo by sending them forth at the appropriate time. A word is enough for the wise. Bonfrere’s heart of gold Johannes Bonfrere isn’t a stranger to football lovers here. Need I waste space to highlight his contributions to our football development? Bonfrere is certainly a good man. It takes the heart of gold for a former boss to keep track of what is happening in a country that, according to him, treated him with levity. For the records, Bonfrere was the technical adviser that led the team coached by the late Willy Bazuaye to win the gold medal at the Atlanta’96 Olympic Games in Georgia. It is quite understandable that Bazuaye’s death should attract tributes from those who knew him closely. And Bonfrere told 88.9 Brila FM on Wednesday that Bazuaye’s death left a deep cut inside him. “What can you say to the family other than sorry, that a good man is gone again? He was always ready to work very well when the time was there. You can trust and believe him when he was telling you about the football in training,” Bonfrere concluded in his smattering English.

Traditional rulers declare support for APC candidates n Osemwengie BEN n OGBEMUDIA, Benin

raditional rulers in Etsako West, Central and East local government areas of Edo State have declared their support for Hon Philip Shaibu, who is running for the Etsako federal constituency in the general elections. Shaibu, who is presently the Majority Leader in the Edo State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), got the nod of the traditional rulers when he flagged-off the second phase of his campaign in the constituency. Addressing his supporters in Ewora, Iyogba, Eware, Awan, Amai and Jagbe communities, Shaibu urged them not sell their voters cards to desperate politicians, who he said are only interested pauperising the electorate after getting into power. He said, “the only way to sustain this development the APC government has brought to the state is to vote the party in all the elections, starting from the presidential, senate, House of Representatives, and the state assemblies as the case may be. Our party is the only party that can affect the change the people are yearning for.”

NEWS 67

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Abia police parade alleged notorious baby factory owner He Abia State police command has arrested the owner of a suspected baby factory, based at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South council area of the state. Known simply as Mma Achumba, the suspect, who has successfully evaded arrest in the past, has been under surveillance from the police, SSS, army and civil defence corps. She was finally arrested in Akwa Ibom State and brought to the state capital. Early last year, Mma, who has been in the business for years, with the name Mma maternity home, relocated her operational base from Umunkpeyi to a remote area in Olokoro. The relocation of her former operational vase from Umunkpeyi to Olokoro was said to the result of constant raids on her maternity home, where it was believed that teenage pregnant girls were housed until they are delivered of their babies. Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police [CP] Habila Joshak, said that one Ogechi Kalu, female of Ivoyi

n Ugochukwu UGOJI-EKE, Umuahia n Akaeze in Ivo council area of Ebonyi State, reported that one Uchenna John and Ngozi Onyekachi conspired and sold her sixmonth old son, Chisom Eze to Mma. Joshak said that it was alleged that the baby was sold for the sum of N150,000 and that the child was recovered at Umunkpeyi from an old woman, while Mma was arrested in Akwa Ibom State. The CP noted that the suspect has been under the searchlight of all the security agencies in the state and has been in the business of child trafficking in the state for years, adding that she has been. The Abia police boss also paraded six suspected armed robbers for allegedly killing a traffic warden while on duty at Brass junction in Aba on the 24th of February, 2015. The suspects are Chisom Solomon, 17; Temple Ikpeazu, 21; Justice Wisdom, 19; Sunday Nwabueze, 21; Orji Jacob Ikechi, 17 and Uche Jumbo, 22. A locally-made pistol was recovered from them.

•Suspected baby factory owner, Mma (middle) being paraded by police in Abia

‘We’re not supporting any candidate’ social cultural group, Ohanaeze Youths, has declared that it is not supporting any political party or candidate. Speaking on behalf of the group in Lagos during an official presentation of the new executive of the group to journalists, the leader of the group, Mazi Kelvin Okereke, said the group remained a cultural group that is committed to the advancement of Ndigbo and focused in all matters concerning Igbo youths, adding that it will en-

deavour to protect their strategic interests. The group insisted that Ohanaeze state youth leadership and youth leaders from all the LGAs and LCDAs in the state are under the state youth wing and an integral part of the parent body. According to the group, “Ohanaeze youths in Lagos State, both leaders and members were not part of any negotiation with any candidate or political party. Also, we have never been involved in any endorsement by the

Ohanaeze State leadership. Therefore, we make bold to state that we have not received any money or partake in the sharing of same from any candidate or political party for the forthcoming general elections.” Speaking further, the group said that, “the Ohanaeze State Youth leadership is resourceful, principled and is focused in all matters concerning Igbo youths and will endeavour to protect their strategic interests.”

APGA guber candidate preaches change HE governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has taken his campaign message of change to Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state. At a meeting with people of the community, he said it was time for the people of the state to have the change they have been yearning for. According to him, the forthcoming governorship election is the right time to vote him into power, promising to take the state to the promise land. While emphasising that the state needed an urgent rescue, Otti described himself as a vessel available for the people's service. The governorship hopeful said: "It is not about Alex Otti, it is more than him. It is about change and delivery from slavery. I am not a politician and won’t be. I came to rescue and serve. After eight years, I won’t return to the senate, my son won’t go to the state House of Assembly and my wife won’t be angling for the House of Representative, as some of them do. "To them, governance is a family affair. This is why everybody has to come out to reject

this evil. When you are there, stand by our votes, and they can’t rig. Planning to rig is an indication of failure and if they constitute an obstacle, they will be swept off." Otti pledged that his administration would ensure that in the next academic session, no school fees will be paid in Abia State, while education will be made compulsory, adding that workers will be paid by 25th of every month. "There is urgent need to lift health care delivery in the state and above all, to make it affordable. This interactive session is not just for the campaign, it will become a regular event by this government to meet directly with the people," Otti said. He said Umuahia was presently the worst state capital in Nigeria, a place similar to a glorified village, stressing that the state capital must look like one if he is voted into office. He promised to be accountable to the people, explaining that accountability starts with what one has done, rather than what one wants to do. According to him, if you are accountable and trustworthy in small things, you will be more so in big things.

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3160

For sure, with Nigerians’ experience with President Jonathan, any contender for elective posts in the country who thinks he can gain cheap sympathy by saying he was shoeless as a boy can never smell the office, because experience is the best teacher.

T was shortly after his swearing in as gov ernor of Lagos State on May 29, 2007. Mr BabatundeRajiFashola (SAN) was received on the ramp of the Round House, the old governor’s office at the Alausa secretariat by cheering civil servants. It was, however, a sober and serious Fashola who rounded up his speech to them by saying “Ladies and gentlemen, I have exactly 1450 days to spend in this office in my first term. This translates into 35040 hours counting from today. There is therefore no time to lose. We must get to work immediately to fulfil our social contract with the people of this state”. Of course, I have only paraphrased the essence of his message that day. But it was no surprise that Fashola hit the ground running. In four years the question of his re-election for a second term was a fait accompli. His accomplishments in all spheres of governance spoke for him. On May 29, 2011, the mysterious forces of good luck that had consistently assured President Goodluck Jonathan’s political ascendancy propelled him to the apex of political authority in the country as President of Nigeria. His easy, effortless ride to power seems to have been his undoing. Luck may get you into high office. But luck will not perform the duties of the office for you. Luck cannot substitute for hard work, dedication, diligence, commitment and the concentration of one’s mental and psychic energies to the task at hand. Dr Jonathan is learning the lesson too late. He is fighting the political battle of his life. Unfortunately, his administration’s unprecedented indolence and utter mediocrity in the last four years have made the yearning and momentum for change unstoppable. Nigeria today lies at a critical cross roads. The old order is dying. A new order is struggling to be born. There is a grim struggle between the present and the future. The outcome of the titanic battle would have been decided on February 14 and 28. Sensing defeat, the old order represented by President Jonathan and his compromised service chiefs forced a postponement of the elections. Six weeks to them at the time must have looked like six months. But time is remorseless and relentless in its unceasing movement. Next week the electoral battle will be joined. Can new reasons be found for another postponement with a view to plunging Nigeria into constitutional crisis and anarchy? The unanticipated consequences of any such plan will most likely consume its architects. But as Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has warned, we cannot afford the luxury of collective amnesia and complacency at this time. For, as he reasons, there may be “illegal, sinister power-grabbers” around Jonathan who may be bent on scuttling the entire democratic process even if the President genuinely wants free and fair elections to hold. The unjustified postponement of the elec-

An administration’s death throes OGD’S insult on Ogun people OR eight years between 2003 and 2011, they gave him the opportunity to preside over their affairs as governor on the platform of the PDP. During that period he found no fault with his people. However, by 2011, the people of Ogun State decided within their constitutional rights for change and voted in Senator IbikunleAmosun of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as governor. Apparently still unable to come to terms with the wind of political change that blew over Ogun in 2011, OtunbaGbenga Daniel hurled insults on the people of the state on a recent radio interview programme on Rockcity FM 101.9. In his words “I assumed wrongly based on what appears to be a common belief that

Ogun state consists of the most educated and enlightened people. The notion is that if you look at what has happened to us in Ogun state, it is clear that our people may be educated in terms of going to school but in terms of enlightenment, they’re not enlightened. In terms of gullibility, they are very gullible…But alas, we found out that those people we thought knew were naïve, were ignorant and were gullible, that is how we got to where we are today”. It was indeed OGD whose amazing gullibility made him vulnerable to the antics of sycophants who derailed his government. The stark reality is that Governor Amosun has surpassed in one term what OGD achieved in eight years. No more sour grapes please.

tions was an act of desperation. It was a sign of the death throes of an expiring administration. In the six weeks extension period, the military in conjunction with its Chadian, Camerounian and Nigerien counterparts has taken remarkable strides in its battle against the Boko Haram terrorists. Several towns and communities captured by the terrorists have been liberated. Boko Haram cadres are in disarray and on the run. But will this be of much electoral value? Hardly, in my view. Rather, it creates the impression that it was a looming election defeat that spurred Jonathan into action as Commander-In-Chief motivating the military to move decisively against the insurgents and even visiting the war zones in full military gear! But why couldn’t this have been done two or three years ago? Can the new election-inspired bravado bring the thousands of

the dead back to life, restore maimed limbs, bring back the Chibok girls or heal psychologically damaged minds? I think Jonathan will pay heavily at the polls for this tardiness. Governor AyodeleFayose of Ekiti state is another vivid symbol of the Jonathan administration’s dying throes. The very real prospects of a Jonathan defeat at the polls have sent him to dizzying and ever more alarming heights of hysteria, imbecility and bellicosity. Of course, this is understandable. He has criminal cases pending before the courts and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His thugs unleashed violence on high court judges in his presence while the Jonathan presidency kept mute. The stunning revelations by Captain SagirKoli on how the military colluded with top PDP politicians to rig the Ekiti state governorship elections means

—Tunji Adegboyega

that his government rests on rickety foundations. He needs the continuation of Jonathan in office to continue to protect the elaborate illegality, illegitimacy and immorality that his administration constitutes. Another veritable symbol of an administration’s death throes is the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. She has completely lost control of herself on the campaign trail. On one occasion, she described the APC presidential candidate, a distinguished Nigerian General and former military Head of State, General MuhammaduBuhari, as ‘brain dead’. Many have wondered when this retired Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa state civil service also qualified as a medical specialist.In Calabar, the Cross River State capital, she openly urged her supporters to stone anyone who dared utter the slogan ‘change’ to their hearing. Is it any wonder then that hoodlums detonated bombs and opened gun fire on the APC campaign team in her native Okrika, Rivers State last month? Given her violence and hate-infested utterances, can she credibly dissociate herself from this dastardly act? Of course, there are several other signs that the Jonathan administration is fast sinking and desperately clutching at any straw in sight. One of them is the enhanced spiritual fervency of Dr Jonathan. He was at the Redeemed Christian Church of God where, in characteristic fashion, he knelt humbly before Pastor Enoch Adeboye for Christian prayers and blessings. Among several other churches he has visited Jonathan was also at the Winners Chapel in Ota where Bishop David Oyedepo led the congregation in prayers for him. To reinforce these Christian prayers, we have also been served with the picture of President Jonathan sitting within a circle of Yoruba Obas pointing their royal walking sticks at him possibly praying for him in the name of Obatala, OrishaNla, Sango, Ogun and other traditional gods. It is incredible. There have been yet to be denied stories of dollar rain on influential individuals and groups to buy support for the Jonathan campaign. Alleged beneficiaries of such presidential largesse reportedly include traditional rulers, religious clerics and ethnic militia groups. All these are signs of desperation by a dying regime striving to survive and remain in power at all costs. The President claims he has no intention of sacking the INEC Chairman, Professor AttahiruJega from office. Yet, individuals and groups known to be loyal to Jonathan have been relentlessly clamouring for the sack of the INEC Chief before the elections are held. This is the same Jega who conducted the 2011 election in which Jonathan defeated Buhari by a wide margin. Today he is being labelled a sympathiser of the North without a scintilla of evidence. Surely, there is no absurdity beyond an administration in the throes of extinction.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Sensible Eagles list I

’M excited over the 23-man list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the March 25 and 29 games against Bolivia and South Africa. The list shows clearly that it is no longer business-as-usual. It represents the best of Nigerian players in Europe. And that has been my biggest grouse with Super Eagles’ coaches. Super Eagles isn’t a rehabilitation centre for orthopaedic players. Nor is it a place to expose players for export to European clubs. The Eagles camp is the centre-piece of excellence where our players should fight for shirts. It should be a place where the mere invitation to camp should call for celebrations, like we see in other climes. Hitherto, most Eagles’ list either looked like they were brought out of the dusty drawers at the NFF or were the results of the coaches’ fixation, which forbade new players in the team. The list became subjects of debates because it contained the names of injured players or those who hadn’t played for their Eu-

ropean clubs for months. Such were the discrepancies in the Eagles list that pundits asked the coaches where they saw those questionable players play. They were not the ones seen weekly on television. Global best practices are such that players who under-perform in competitions or matches, lose their shirts to others in subsequent matches. But in the old Eagles dispensation, it was forbidden to replace fumbling players. It is, therefore, refreshing to note that Nigeria could pick three goalkeepers without Chigozie Agbim and Austin Ejide. The argument that Agbim is the best goalkeeper in the domestic league, going by the listing of goalkeepers Theophilus Afelokhai (Kano Pillars) and Chidiebere Eze (Ifeanyi Ubah United), is bunkum. These home-based goalkeepers have been around in the last three years. Afelokhai mans the goalpost for defending league champions Kano Pillars. The implication of this new development is that other domestic league goalkeepers will fight to improve on their game, knowing that they could be invited to

camp, if any of those picked fumbles. Part of the list’s excitement is that only two members of the Eagles defence at the 2014 World Cup are included. Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo are listed with some home-based defenders along with Leon Balogun, who was injured in one of our buildup games to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. No list is perfect; otherwise one would have asked for the criteria used in picking Omeruo, who has been very inconsistent with his English Championship side Middleborough. But one is consoled by the fact but he represents some of the youngest boys in the Brazil 2014 World Cup Eagles’ whose experience shouldn’t be jettisoned on the altar of poor performance with his club. The talk of starting a home-based Super Eagles camp with over 28 players which must be pruned to five or six that would eventually make the final squad, smacks of laziness on the part of the coaches. If the coaches had taken pains to watch the domestic game religiously, it would have been easy to pick a 20-man local league side without duplication.

For defenders Chima Akas (Sharks FC), Nelson Ogbonnaya (Heartland FC) and Akeem Latifu (Aalesunds FC, Norway), a debut appearance for the Eagles is like a dream come true. Granted friendly matches are to expose players but they have to be our best at all times. If we continue to invite our best, foreign scouts would be encouraged to visit our local clubs to watch matches and get the players without necessarily going through shylock agents, who rip off the players through slavish deals. If the NFF sincerely continues to ensure that only our best players in the domestic league get called to the camp, the exodus to Europe that has crippled the game here will be reduced. Our players will remain here, knowing that if they excel with the Eagles, they can discuss their future with their suitors. Globally, it’s the strikers who get the attention, but if we showcase midfielders and defenders who are talented, the searchlight would be focused on them. Had Adegboye Onigbinde not taken the risk in fielding hitherto rookie Vincent Enyeama against a starstudded England side at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, maybe Enyeama have been

•Continued on Page 67

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