March 06, 2015 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

...84 D AYS TO GO DA

•It’ll be tougher to win election now, says Jonathan •PDP’s rejection of Card Reader proves us right, says APC •Buhari my jailer has become our hope, says lawyer MORE •PDP backs First Lady’s statement on Buhari ON•AND PAGES 2-4&6

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VOL. 10, NO. 3145 FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

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•INSIDE: REPS ADOPT $54 OIL BENCHMARK P11 IMF SEEKS NIGERIA’S REVENUE REVIEW P11 NNPC to repair refineries with $550m From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

HE Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the nation’s refineries will cost $550million, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday. The corporation blamed the TAM’s delay on the refusal of the original builders of the four refineries to handle the maintenance contracts. There are two refineries in Port Harcourt, one in Kaduna and another in Warri. They are all working below capacity, unable to meet the consumption demands of Nigerians. The Coordinator, Corporate Planning, and Strategy of the NNPC, Dr. Tim Okon, told the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), in Abuja while defending the budget proposal of the corporation, that the NNPC had worked out an alternative local arrangement that would enable it refine about 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily after the completion of ongoing rehabilitation. Okon, in company with the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Joseph Dawah, told the Senators that the corporation could not afford the exorbitant bills for their TAM from the Continued on page 4

•ALL FOR AMBODE: Part of the crowd at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos...yesterday

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

‘Boko Haram using Chibok girls as Shekau’s shield’

ROOPS have not carried out aerial bombardment of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau’s hideout because the sect is using the Chibok girls as shield, it was learnt yesterday. Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on

•Abducted schoolgirls alive, says Jonathan From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Wednesday visited Chad to seek clarifications on some issues and map out plans with multi-national force on what a source described as the final

onslaught against Boko Haram. The military source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said Shekau and some members of his Shu-

ra Committee – the sect’s highest policy making body - had been shuttling between Sambisa Forest and strategic locations, such as Gwoza and Bama.

The Chadian President, Idris Deby said Shekau’s convoy was sighted in Dikwa on Tuesday. But the military source explained that Shekau has a strong base in Gwoza with a special armoured tank. Continued on page 4

The leader Nigeria needs now, by Obasanjo

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

Ex-CDS to military: shun politics From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HY is Nigeria so troubled? How do we resolve this country’s problems? These were some of the questions yesterday at an intellectual exercise to mark former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 78th birthday. Two distinguished citizens former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Martin Luther Agwai and National

Oyegun, Tinubu, others hail ex-president at 78

‘

We are about 180 million now. Our brothers and sisters in West Africa are worried...If half a million Nigerians go to Republic of Benin, we will overwhelm them; if two million go to Ghana, that is a big problem...Even Britain is worried

Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion Director-General Dr. Umar Bindiri – tackled the topics of

’

the day. But it was Obasanjo himself who summed it all up. The problem,

according to him, is leadership. The lectures were delivered at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The former president, who praised his guests for coming to honour him, reiterated that his loyalty to the country comes first and cannot be undermined. He said once Nigeria gets it right by putting the correct leader in place, the Continued on page 4

•1.5M CANDIDATES TO WRITE COMPUTER-BASED UTME P5 IG WARNS POLICEMEN P5

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

MAY 29 ...84 DAYS TO GO

NEWS

‘Buhari my A Lagos lawyer, Adeyemi Adefulu, who was jailed by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari 30 years ago, says the former Head of State remains the country’s hope for change. Adefulu, a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), believes Gen. Buhari is on a rescue mission. •From left: Regional Retail Co-ordinator for Lagos and Southwest, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Funmilola Paseda; Chairman, General Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (Alaba International Market branch), Mr. Felix Nwagu; President, Alaba International Market (Electronic Section), Mr. Daniel Nnadozie; the Zonal Head, FCMB, Ojo/Alaba branch, Mr. Endwell Brown and Branch Manager, FCMB, ASPAMDA branch, Mr. Nicholas Okorie, at the inaguration of the bank’s Personal Business Account Product at the Alaba International Market, Lagos.

•Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka (left), welcoming the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr Obafemi Olawore, when a delegation of the association visited him at work in Abuja...yesterday. With them are: Chibeze Anyafulu and Alxis Vovx of Total Nigeria Plc.

•From left: General Manager, PEP Stores Nigeria, Deon Conradie; General Manager, Business Development, Sales & Distribution, MTN, Kola Oyeyemi; Financial Controller, PEP Nigeria, Kofo Awonuga and General Manager, Regional Operations, Lagos/Southwest, MTN, Fehintola Mustapha at the launch of the MTN/PEP Partnership in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO BOLA OMILABU

FOUND Lola Shoneyin’s piece on Buhari titled: “How My Father’s Jailer Can Offer Nigeria A Fresh Start” very engaging, although it dredged up some very painful memories. It took me down the memory lane; indeed, it was a vivid reminder of an awful road on which l, and others like Audu Ogbeh, now an ardent Buhari backer, travelled. It was my painful duty as the “Captain” of the detainees, to receive Lola’s father, Tinuoye Shoneyin, an engineer, into the Abeokuta prison and to make him as comfortable as possible in the extremely difficult prison environment, providing him with clothes, a towel and toiletries. Shoneyin had, as a matter of courtesy, responded to the invitation of the government of Ogun State, then led by Col Oladipo Diya, who later became the deputy to Gen. Sani Abacha(the late Head of State), to answer some questions and had expected to be back home that evening. He was not to return home for six months! Lola’s account dwelt on the torture that she (at such a young age) and her family had to endure and the telling effect of such an experience on the family. Many detainees never recovered from the torture and the injustice that this experience represented. In many cases, mine included, there was no accusation, much less a charge. One slight misstatement in Lola’s account was that the detention was at the behest of Col. Tunde Idiagbon, the erstwhile deputy to Gen Buhari. I doubt if that is quite true. The problem with autocracy is that once the atmosphere has been established, or allowed by the leader, many tin gods at the various levels of the strata will for any number of reasons, exploit the situation for the purpose of settling personal and petty scores, including disputations over girlfriends! So, in the case of Lola’s father, the local despot at the time was Col Oladipo Diya, who was mean, brutal and sadistic and locked up as many people as he wanted, for good, bad or sometimes no reason at all. He flogged civil servants for lateness, taxed the people on every imaginable score, and signed for nearly 20 people who had been sentenced to death (none of whom his predecessor permitted to be killed), to be executed by hanging in one day. He reveled in making people suffer wherewith he was promptly given the name of “Kunya” (meaning tormentor which was the direct opposite of what his name “Diya” means in Yoruba language. He was, indeed, the harbinger of torment and suffering. He, it was who saw a ghost in every situation. If the sun was too bright, he blamed it on the dethroned politicians. He was a cruel task-master, who tried irrationally to get water out of stone. At a stage he rounded up contractors who had done various jobs for the state government and dictated that they should either pay certain arbitrary fines or be locked up in prison.

In jail for 18 months

•From left: Creative Director, Genevieve Magazine, Mai Atafo; Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Betty Irabo; Executive Director, Polo Luxury Limited, Jennifer Obayuwana and Managing Director, Glambrand Agency, Bola Balogun at the public presentation of Genevieve Online at Polo Avenue, Victotoria Island, Lagos PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

I was in the gulag for 18 months, 16 of which I spent in the Abeokuta prison. Prior to this time, I had presided over three ministries in four years and three months. There was never an accusation or a charge of any sort against me. His investigators

were surprised at how clean my affairs were and how I could succinctly explain every transaction I was involved in, including providing photocopies of cheques that even pre-dated my appointment. “Were you expecting that this type of thing would happen? Why did you leave a thriving law practice for a job like this?” they asked me repeatedly. Therein lies the dilemma of our country that needs good people to preside over its affairs, yet castigates the few who dare to get in the fray. “The punishment for the wise, who refuse to take part in the government of their people,” said a Greek philosopher, “is to be ruled by fools.” I came to understand that Diya’s grouse with me was that I was so close to the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, my governor, and that there was no way of getting Onabanjo without getting Adefulu, his political son and confidant! “Onabanjo did nothing Adefulu did not know of,” Diya was reported to have said repeatedly. So l had to be purged! Oluokun, the head of state security, himself a dastardly character, was Diya’s hatchet man. When all efforts at intimidation and harassment failed, they changed tactics and tried to recruit me as an informant against the late Onabanjo. It soon became clear to them however, that I was not going to be party to their pursuit of crass injustice and motive hunting. I asked Oluokun pointedly to cock his gun and shoot and kill me because under no circumstances would I be part of such villainy. In any case, unless I wanted to become a liar, such incriminating evidence did not exist except in the figment of Diya’s convoluted imagination. The late Onabanjo was the quintessential leader - open, fair-minded, as straight as a spoke and a great lover of the people; a man who, to this day, several years after his demise, I still hold in the highest regard.

Time heals Genevieve Magazine At the time of my incarceration, my family was at a more delicate stage than the Shoneyins, because it was younger and less endowed. My first son Adeoye, was just under 10 years and our last daughter, Dayo was three months old. I was 37 years old at the time of the coup. My family was subjected to a long and extremely humiliating deprivation. It was the unjust compensation I received for a job to which I gave the very best of my life at a very young age (try as you may, such injustice never leaves you. The wound may heal but the scar is there and sometimes stares you in the face). I tried hard to be strong and for the most part, I was. The knowledge that I had served with the very best of my ability in a job I truly enjoyed, gave me peace of mind and assurance. The open and vocal agitation of many wellmeaning citizens, including Prof Wole Soyinka, for my release was an act of grace for which I will forever be grateful. The only time I broke down was the day my son, Adeoye, turned 10. With a smuggled recorder, I had recorded a birthday message for him and his young siblings admonishing them to be strong in the knowledge that God was on our side. After recording the message, I wept profusely. It was terrible! My co-prisoners, including my Deputy Governor, the late Chief Sesan Soluade, and the present Emir of Suleija, Alhaji Anwal Ibrahim, the erstwhile Governor of Niger State, and the

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

MAY 29 ...84 DAYS TO GO

y jailer is now our hope’ ‘

Thirty years is a long time and I honestly believe he has had enough time to reflect and to change. He is no more a military officer. He has retained a sharp, social conscience for the people. I am impressed with the hunger with which he has fought for elections. I want to believe that it is out of an earnest desire to work for the people and to do some things right that Gen Buhari has struggled so hard to win the nation’s leadership through the electoral process. •Gen. Buhari

‘

•Adefulu

‘Afenifere’s endorsement of Jonathan won’t stand’ In this piece, a group - Concerned Yoruba - rejects the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid by a faction of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere. Spokesmen for the group Felix Adenaike, Adetowo Aderemi, Tokunbo Ajasin and Kayode Oyediran counsel their kinsmen from the Southwest to vote wisely during the elections.

N Thursday, 26th February, 2015 a group of persons described in the media as “eminent leaders of thought in Yoruba land” met in lbadan at what they called the second post-national conference summit. It was convened by the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who was the convener of the first “summit” in Akure a week earlier. Advertisements of both events in the dailies had indicated that attendance was strictly by invitation, and subsequent reports showed great overlap in the list of those who attended both events. Dr. Mimiko is reported to have described the lbadan “summit” as” - a panYoruba forum with all political tendencies in attendance”. That claim is clearly false because several groups in Yoruba land have since issued disclaimers as we do now. Moreover it is common knowledge that the All Progressive Congress (APC) - for which we are neither representatives nor spokespersons did not participate in the meetings. Having regard to the fact that the APC currently administers four of the six states in Yoruba land, the description of the meetings as” summit” is very presumptuous, misleading and delusional. The lbadan “summit” is reported to have declared that every Yoruba son and daughter should vote for President Goodluck Jonathan” in the ire lightened self-interest”. In earlier statements some of the participant s had urged the Yoruba to support Jonathan in order to avoid” making a big mistake and digging their own graves”. The Chairman of the “summit” and leader of a faction of the Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the decision to support President Jonathan was taken to ensure that the report of the 2014 National Conference was implemented, and because Jonathan was committed to the restructuring of the country through the implementation of the confab’s report. Chief Olu Falae, Chairman of the Yoruba delegation at the confab, said: “Throughout the conference, Jonathan did not try to teleguide us. He said he will implement the report of the conference in the first year of his second term of office”. The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Olajumoke Akinjide said President Jonathan had already started implementing the report of the confab by setting- up an inter- ministerial committee of which she was a member representing the Southwest Region. Thus, in his sixth year in office as President, Jonathan set-up a national conference, but more than six months after receiving the report of the confab,

the only action he has taken on its implementation is to establish an inter ministerial committee - to do exactly what? He gave Falae and others an assurance that he would implement the report in the first year of his second term - even though the elections are yet to be held and he has not publicly made implementation of the confab report a campaign issue. Clearly, this is selling the Yoruba a dummy (won nfi obo lo Yoruba). It is curious and disappointing that participants at the “summit” have eagerly bought the dummy. We are confident that the vast majority of the Yoruba will not agree to be taken for a ride. The position of the summiteers on this matter is made more curious by Chief Falae’s statement at the meeting that, in 2007, he personally raised N20 million to support Buhari’s Presidential campaign because of Buhari’s promise to convoke a national conference if elected. As it happened, Gen Buhari did not win that election, but it is instructive that his manifest of or the 2015 election includes a commitment to restructuring of the country and other important issues which are said to feature in the report of the 2014 confab. There is no such commitment in the PDP manifest to. It is obvious that, whereas over the years Buhari has maintained his position on this matter, those who claim to be “consistent and principled” have withdrawn the strong support they gave him in 2007, and have deserted him for a new bride. What could be responsible for this apparent abandonment of a bird in hand in order to chase after two in the forest? There can be no doubt that restructuring is very important and desirable for the stability and survival of the country as one entity. However there are many other extant problems which are and have been militating against the welfare and development of Nigeria. Prominent among them are widespread endemic and pervasive corruption (which includes, but is not limited to stealing), a culture of impunity, and the debasement of the institutions that undergird the nation (including the police, judiciary, armed forces and so forth). These problems have worsened steadily during this Fourth Republic, particularly under the current administration. Our socio-cultural values have been steadily assaulted and, as it were, thrown out of the window. The best interests of the Yoruba-indeed of all Nigerians - dictate that the rot should be arrested and reversed before it is too late, and the country degenerates in to a banana republic governed by war-lords. This is the imperative change being sought.

others, tried hard to console me. I had been the strong one, the encourager of the brethren, but I guess the cup had become too full and it ran over. While time heals, the impact of such injustice endures. It leaves a telling effect which you carry for the rest of your life. Ironically, when I was finally released, I was in hospital where I had just undergone an emergency operation. Liberty had come at last but it met me totally broken and incapacitated. At my release and after, no one offered any apology for this gruesome and very unjust recompense. Nobody, without due process, should ever have the power to visit such humiliation and injustice on any human being. The irony of dictatorship is that a leader can be so conscientiously wrong in his crusading mission. The Buhari regime was very wrong in my case as in the case of several others. I, along with many others, had come into office with the purest motive of service. It was

no guile! Such men are rare! Understandably then, it has taken some effort for me to embrace Buhari’s candidacy. I have never voted for him. I did not even like him. But as my friend, Audu Ogbeh said to me once, “so much has gone wrong with our polity that our emphasis now must not be on ourselves but on the survival of the nation.” I have no doubt he is right. This is a time when the overriding interest must be that of the country. As a student of history, I know that while constitutions can be copied and adopted, in the end every nation will only learn by its national experience. The history of many of the democracies we admire today is replete with unimaginable and odious occurrences that characterised their development. It is obvious to me that the trust we reposed in President Jonathan in 2011 has been wantonly squandered. The sobering state of our nation and real politik has made me take an-

what I had always wanted to do. I thought it was my life’s mission and when the opportunity came I did the work as if my life depended on it. I left a lucrative practice to serve my people. I was totally accountable, yet I was unfairly thrown into jail for no just cause for 18 months!

Our nation’s survival first That was many years ago and since I have focused on re-building my life and raising my family. I have prayed and tried hard to forgive my unjust tormentors but I know that the scar is there and people like Lola Shoneyin stroke that weak point now and again, albeit unwittingly. Obviously this is not an experience that can be wished away because it evidently affected my being and changed my life fundamentally. It makes me appreciate people like Mandela so much - 26 years on Robben Island (have you been there?) and he came out with no bitterness and

other look at Gen Buhari. How viable is he for our polity given the available options? Is the General the devil he is portrayed to be, or a victim of circumstances or a misunderstood individual?

Jonathan, a disappointment To me, President Jonathan has been such a disappointment in many critical areas of our national life. There has been unprecedented violence and bloodletting under this administration, which, naively in my view, treated the Boko Haram insurgency with kid gloves and a total lack of resolve. Today, Boko Haram has established a formidable force and has succeeded, before our very eyes, in changing the map of Nigeria. The President appears to have turned deaf ears to the voices of wisdom and surrounded himself with cronies, whose main preoccupation is to exploit him. Some of his spokesmen have made a virtue of

rascality and turned public relations upside down. Miscreants, who should be in jail for their past deeds, are the ones now threatening that our collective vote must go a particular way or there will be insurrection. We never heard of “democracy” at gunpoint till now. To the discerning, it is clear that the Boko Haram insurgency has been employed as a source of inscrutable abuse, or how else do we explain a Nigerian private plane filled with raw US dollars being impounded abroad? How many such plane-loads escaped without being caught is anybody’s guess, yet our troops are said to be so ill-equipped that the insurgents have better arms. All this, despite the huge sums that have been voted for defence under this administration; one wonders where all that money went. Then the massive corruption in every sphere of public office - pension funds stuffed into pillows and mattresses among others. The disgusting state pardon for a man, who, before an incredulous world, broke the terms to a court order and left Britain dressed as a woman! This is not how a leader should exercise such hallowed prerogative power. The President’s conduct sent a chilling message down the spine of the polity that corruption and stealing are the way to go. You can add to that the company of shady men wanted abroad for all manner of crimes, including drug offences, who have been installed in positions of leadership in the PDP or have been fielded as senatorial candidates. The management or lack of it of our foreign reserves (which have become totally depleted) and reports of billions of missing dollars dominate the air. Everybody who is working hard is in trouble. Joblessness has risen to record levels. The youths are, justifiably restless because they have no future in the present dispensation. The tales of woe are just endless. Billions of dollars have disappeared into petroleum subsidy, yet, even the cost of kerosene, the poor man’s fuel, is at an all-time high. It is the oil sheiks that are being subsidised not the ordinary people. To say the ship of state is clearly adrift in Nigeria is an understatement. A land that should be flowing with milk and honey has become the laughing stock of the international community. We simply can no longer tolerate this grotesque level of gluttony and of corruption. There is an urgent need for a change. Otherwise, we face a huge problem and social dislocation ahead, beyond what we already have.

Buhari means well These are the reasons why I have embraced Buhari. If you look at his past, and some of the statements credited to him, he is not an easy man for a person like me to embrace. But 30 years is a long time and I honestly believe he has had enough time to reflect and to change. He is no more a military officer. He has retained a sharp, social conscience for the people. I am impressed with the hunger with which he has fought for elections. I want to believe that it is out of an earnest desire to work for the people and to do some things right that Gen Buhari has struggled so hard to win the nation’s leadership through the electoral process. While he may not be a saint, he is certainly not a villain. His choice of a very good man in Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for a Vice President gave me the assurance that Gen Buhari was listening to the comments on his areas of weakness. There are enough checks and balances in a democratic set up to make fears of a return to dictatorship a joke. I am also impressed by his modest lifestyle, unlike many of his ilk who live in opulence and indulgence. •Continued from page 60

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS NNPC to repair refineries with $550m Continued from page 1

•From Left: Chairman, Chrisland University Board of Trustees, Chief Winifred Awosika; Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okogie, at the presentation of provisional licences to nine new private universities in Abuja…yesterday.

It’ll be tougher to win now, says Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that he deserves the votes of Nigerians as his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has done well in many sectors in the last four years. Dr. Jonathan was answering questions on an African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Kaakaki. Stressing that PDP still has the most formidable structure among the political parties, he said he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential electon. He said: “I believe Nigerians should vote for me and I want Nigerians to vote for me because we have done well. Sometimes, as a government, we are busy working and we don’t advertise what we have

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

done.” “Sometimes, it appears not much (is done). Nigeria is a very big country...If you assess what we have done in a number of areas, we have done quite well and I believe that if Nigeria is linking up to where we were before and what we have done over these four years of government, they will want us to continue to make sure we at least complete some of the ongoing programmes.” “We believe that in several areas, we have tried and we are working very well and if encouraged in the next four years, at least Nigeria will be able to stabilise in various sectors.” The President however admitted that it will be tougher to win the election now than it was in 2011.

He said: “In 2011 there were four strong parties. The PDP was strong, the ACN was strong, the CPC was strong and the ANPP was strong. So we had four strong political parties presidents sharing the votes of Nigeria. Yes I agree with you it was easier in 2011 but PDP is still the dominant party. “In 2011 we had three presidential candidates against the PDP it was easier. But if these three have come together no matter how strong, in politics coming together also has a cost. As a second term president, globally in 70 per cent of the cases it is most challenging for the President to secure a second term than first term.” He noted that people from the PDP that gave the opposition the strength it currently

enjoys, adding that if the PDP elements were to leave the opposition, they would crumble. He said: “Even the opposition will tell you if they are realistic. Who has strengthened the opposition? Are the not the PDP elements? If you remove the PDP elements from the opposition, they will just crumble like a pack of cards.” “Why are people aggressive towards the PDP to the extent that even the presidential convoy is stoned? Why do you show that aggression? If you are comfortable, you will not do that.” he said Jonathan maintained that the increasing victory against the insurgents close to the election period was not political as the military had just started receiving about 65 per cent of the required equipment to fight the insurgents.

‘Boko Haram using Chibok girls as Shekau’s shield’ Continued from page 1

The source said: “Troops have located what I may call Shekau’s bunker but they cannot strike because some of the Chibok girls are being used as shield by the leaders of Boko Haram. “We want to do a clinical job with limited damage because the whole world is awaiting the safe return of the Chibok girls. “ The ability of the troops to rescue some of the girls will

earn more credit to the success of Nigerian military against the insurgents. “We are also being extremely careful to avoid any military assault which may force Shekau to turn against the Chibok girls and other hostages in Boko Haram’s camps in the Northeast. According to the source, intelligence report has indicated that recent bombings in Jos and other cities were borne out of anger against the military

for reclaiming over 40 occupied territories and killing more than 300 insurgents.” Air Marshal Badeh on Wednesday met with the Chadian military hierarchy. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “ The session was used to iron out alleged claims by Chadian military that Nigerian troops were frustrating its collaborating troops in the Northeast. “At the meeting, the Chadian military denied issuing such

statement. Instead, it restated its commitment to collaboration with Nigeria to rout out the insurgents from the Northeast and the sub-region. “After ironing out the misgivings, the CDS and Chadian counterpart later mapped out plans with the multi-national force on the final onslaught against Boko Haram. “We are likely to see enhanced synergy between Nigerian troops and their Chadian counterparts in the next few days.”

original builders. Okon said when the corporation invited the original builders from Japan and Italy for the TAM, they declined and instead, they recommended SAIPEM - a foreign firm operating in Nigeria - to carry out the TAM on their behalf. He added that while the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries were built by two Japanese firms - Chioda and JGC, the Warri Refinery was built by Snapcogetti of Italy. Okon said: “The refineries would work again at full capacity, we already have plans to bring them back to perform at full capacity. He added that Saipem which was to carry out the TAM of the Port Harcourt refinery gave the agency a bill of $475m, but later reduced it to $297million after further negotiation. He said the management considered the prices to be high and decided to look inward by inviting local contractors that are familiar with the facilities and worked with them. He said, “Going forward, we have been able to reduce the

cost of doing the TAM from $550m to $152million. “We did a similar analysis for the Warri refinery and we brought it down to $180m from the $850million requested by Saipem. “For the Kaduna refinery it was reduced from $600million to $212million. “So we have been able to reduce the total cost of the TAM for the refineries to $550million. “The exercise which started in October last year is for a period of 18 months and it will be completed in the first quarter of next year. “The expenditure of $16million a month had been reduced to an average of $10million a month per a refinery. “By the first quarter of next year, all the refineries will be functioning optimally and we would be able to refine an average of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day for local consumption. “However, another advantage of what we are currently doing is that instead of shutting down the facilities while the TAM lasted, we will be producing even when the rehabilitation work is ongoing.”

Boko Haram kills 68 in Borno village

USPECTED Boko Haram gunmen shot dead and slit the throats of 68 people -- including children -- in an attack on a village in Borno state, according to survivors and vigilante sources, the CNN reported yesterday. The attackers then burnt down the entire village of Njaba, the sources said. Dozens of gunmen invaded the remote northeastern village before dawn on Tuesday, singling out boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 19 and killing them alongside their parents, witnesses said. Njaba village lies about 65 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Karimu Lawani, who escaped to Maiduguri after hiding with eight other people behind the barn of a neighbor, said the attackers came into the village at around 5 a.m. "They shot dead anyone that tried to flee but spared children younger than 13 years old," Lawani said. He and other survivors counted the victims of the massacre before leaving the village

some hours later. His account was supported by Faltama Bisika, 62, who lost four grandchildren in the attack. "They hurled petrol bombs into homes and opened fire on anyone trying to flee. They particularly targeted teenagers and elderly people," Bisika said. News of the attack was slow to emerge due to lack of communication following destruction of cell phone towers in the region in previous Boko Haram attacks. "I only got information of the attack on my village last night," said a civilian vigilante from Njaba who asked not to be named. The vigilante said his father was among those killed. The vigilante said he left Njaba for Maiduguri in June to join others fighting against the Islamist radical group. He said he believes the attackers came from Gwoza -- a town on Nigeria's mountainous border with Cameroon that Boko Haram seized last June -- because Njaba "lies on the route to Gwoza from Maiduguri."

Ex-CDS Agwai to military: stay off partisan politics

ROM a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Martin Luther Agwai to the military: don’t dabble in partisan politics. According to him, the military should target an effective way to tackle the security challenges facing the nation. The military has been at the centre of discussion after some of its officers and men were allegedly used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. An audio recording of a session where the rigging plans were being fine-tuned by some PDP chieftains with Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh was released by Capt. Sagir Koli. The Court of Appeal has also reled that the military should have no role in the organization of elections after the polls in Osun, Edo, Ondo were militarized. Gen. Agwai spoke yesterday in a lecture he delivered to

The leader Nigeria needs now, by Obasanjo Continued from page 1

nation’s thirst for greatness, all-round growth would be fulfilled. He said it would take one person - the leader - to make the positive difference everybody is yearning for, adding that Nigeria has not got every other aspect of her life right because the leadership question has not be addressed. Obasanjo said: “Loyalty to Nigeria should not be undermined by anything, except the truth; what is right and what is in the best interest of this great country of ours. May God continue to bless Nigeria. “We have listened to two beautiful lectures, presentation or what you will call them. For me, it has been very instructive From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

mark ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 78 th birthday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Agwai also urged the nation’s leaders and the citizens

and I have not been disappointed by either of the presenters and they have met the expectations. “But you have seen that they haven’t presented us with magic as solutions to our problems and there is nothing they have told us that is impossible but all they have said boils down to one thing and one thing only - leadership. “And until we get it right, anytime we do not get it right, we cannot get any other thing right, don’t let us deceive ourselves, whether it is security, science and technology or innovation or the development of the economy or education they all boil down to leadership and at all levels. “May God give us the leadership that occasions like this deserve in Nigeria. Because when we have that, we will get

to accept change and move with it to enable the country experience the desired growth and development. Gen Agwai is the chairman of the SURE P, an interventionist body created by the federal government to manage the

there. I’m an incurable optimist about this country, and may be because I have seen in a little bit in my short span of life, a little bit of what is possible and a little bit of what can go wrong and what can be made to go wrong. “And may be that is why I am, incurable optimist and I believe that all will be well in this country. We have no choice anyway, all has to be well. “We are about 180 million now, our brothers and sisters in West Africa are worried, and when they talk to me and I said why are they worried, they said, ‘if half a million Nigerians go to Republic of Benin, we will overwhelm them; if two million go to Ghana. That is a big problem. “Even Britain is worried. They are wor-

funds generated after the withdrawal of petrol products subsidy in 2011. He was Chief of Army Staff and became the CDS between 2006 -2009 before retiring after serving as the head of the African Union Force in Darfur,

Continued on page 60

The Sudan. He titled his lecture the “Imperative of a National Security Framework for the Development and Progress of Nigeria.” It was delivered at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

•Odigie-Oyegun

The lecture was organised by the Centre for Human Security arm of the OOPL with a theme, ‘an agenda for the developmental future of Nigeria.’ Gen Agwai advocated the restructuring of the army towards professionalism. Continued on page 60

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS

Card reader: PDP’s opposition proved us right, says APC

HE Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) opposition to use of card readers in the rescheduled elections has proved the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusations right that the ruling party is trying to either prevent the polls from holding or to rig it. APC’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said this in a statement in Lagos yesterday, added that it was curious that the PDP rushed to the media to deny the allegations and then quickly turned around to confirm them. The statement reads: “At the press conference we addressed on Wednesday, which rattled the PDP and the Jonathan administration so much, we listed the conditionalities of the PDP/ Jonathan administration for holding the election: no Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), no card readers, no Prof. Attahiru Jega and the fact that they want the military deployed to harass and intimidate voters. ‘’We mentioned ‘card readers’ at least three times during the press conference, and said they (PDP/Jonathan administration) are doing everything possible to sabotage the machine and prevent its use. ‘’Both the spokesmen for the PDP and the Jonathan Campaign Organisation rushed to the press to deny any such ‘reprehensible’ plan. But a few hours later, the spokesman for the campaign organisation told an incredulous country that they would oppose the use

‘Why ruling party is scared’ THE Lagos State All Progressives Congress has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) desperation to use cloned fake voter cards to rig the rescheduled elections “is responsible for its hollow campaign against the use of card readers” for the polls. The party noted that the desperate manner the PDP was going about “fighting the use of a credible device to stop the use of stolen, fake and cloned voter card,” had exposed the ruling party as a cabal of electoral thieves, who predicate their strength on “farcically manipulating every election in Nigeria”. State APC Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe, in a statement in Lagos, urged the PDP to stop its opposition to efforts to curb electoral fraud, adding that the ruling party at the centre should face the masses on the strength of its performance in the last 16 years in power. The party insisted that the time was up “for the PDP and its fraudulent ways of short-changing the country and subjecting it to the type of horrendous wreckage that has marked PDP’s unfortunate years in power”. “Nigerians should recall that the Directorate of State Security (DSS) invaded the APC Data Centre in Lagos, vandalised the place and arrested some workers. We recall that the DSS was to follow this horrendous act with a specious, outlandish and false claim that the APC was cloning voter cards in the centre.” The party said it denied the DSS claim and went on to show that the agency was up to some tricks for the PDP. “Nigerians should recall that recently, Lagos APC revealed a sinister plan by the PDP to mop up voter cards of unsuspecting Lagosians and the card numbers of Lagosians in its wild dream of capturing Lagos for a dying PDP. We also observed By Bola Olajuwon

of card reader, apparently after the spokesmen were overruled by their party. “Obviously, these men are outsiders in their own party and it is now obvious that the opposition knows more about the inner workings of their party than they do.” APC said in an apparently-choreographed show, some 15 portfolio political parties called a news confer-

ence to also announce that they will oppose use of the card reader, vowing to boycott the elections and use a legal process to prevent use of the machine. The party noted that the syndicated threats were the latest indications of the mortal fear in the corridors of power about the machine that had now become the nemesis of election riggers and manipulators world-

that the PDP in Lagos, using a front of mainly traders and Igbo groups, has been boasting lousily of having millions of PVCs to execute its wonky dream. “With the raging PDP frantic effort to stop the use of card readers to verify the authenticity of voter cards on election day, it is now clear to us that the PDP has been busy cloning voter cards and using voters PIN numbers to hack cards it intends to use to rig the 2015 election. “It is now clearly obvious that in launching a brazen attack on the APC and raising the false claim that the APC was cloning cards, the DSS was providing covers for the PDP to clone millions of cards with which it hopes to rig the 2015 election, hence such diversionary trick by the PDP’s DSS. “We challenge PDP to disprove this fact that now dustbins its deadly campaign for the stoppage of the use of card readers, which stands to unearth its rigging strategy this time around. If this is not the case, pray what harm do the card readers stand to inflict solely on the PDP? Why is it frantically trying to stop a device that will detect stolen and cloned voter cards, if it had not stolen enough cards and cloned millions of fake cards all over the country for the purpose of manipulating the 2015 elections? “PDP is desperate as it continually runs out of dubious schemes to continue remaining in power and as Nigerians continue to suffer irreparably from PDP’s corrupt use of power to dehumanise and traumatise them. No one is deceived by PDP’s latest antics, but Nigerians must insist on free and credible election as an irreducible minimum for leadership selection. “Card readers must be used in the coming election as a means of stopping such electoral frauds as stealing and cloning of voter cards, which PDP excels in.” wide. Contrary to the claim by the PDP, the APC noted that Nigerians were ready for free, fair and credible elections to be made possible by the use of the card reader, adding that the citizenry would massively resist any move to dump the machine. “Nigerians have sacrificed all they can to obtain their PVCs, which are now their most-prized possession.

They have also hailed the plan by INEC to use the card reader to give Nigeria credible polls. “Only dishonest politicians, those who plan to rig, those who have engaged in a massive purchase of PVCs and those who have something to hide are opposed to use of the machine. “For the avoidance of doubt, our party is ready for any tool, including the card

reader, that will ensure that the votes of Nigerians will count in the election. In this regard, we sincerely hope that the nationwide tests of the card reader to be carried out this week by INEC will not be sabotaged by those opposed to the machine. “The card reader has been demonstrated to work, including at the Senate, and no one must come out to tell Nigerians anything to the contrary. “The huge investments in providing PVCs for Nigerians will not be worthwhile if the cards would not be authenticated by card readers, which, by the way, have been used in other countries, all of them less endowed than Nigeria, in Africa,” APC said. It added that it was taking the elections very serious and closely monitoring every move of those who do not want the elections to hold, “or if they must hold at all, only on their terms”. The statement noted that the APC was aware of an allnight meeting (Wednesday/ Thursday) between a Southwest governor and security chiefs on how to rig the rescheduled polls in the geopolitical zone. But, the party said it remained convinced that no one was powerful enough to stop an idea, whose time has come. APC thanked Nigerians, both within and outside the government, for their efforts in keeping a close eye on those planning to sabotage the polls, imploring the citizenry not to relent “since eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”.

Stop inciting policemen, IGP warns From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

Vice-Chancellor, Bayero University Kano Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed (second left) receiving ICT books from Commissioner at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Alhaji Mohammed Bintube (second right), when an NCC delegation donated to the university in Kano. With them are: A director in NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu and the commission’s secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye.

HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has warned Nigerians to stop inciting men of the force. The warning came following reported information that junior police officers were being incited. “It has come to the notice of the IGP that the public has taken the mischievous path of inciting junior police officers to disrespect their oath of office. We warn the public to desist from this unholy attitude,” Abba said in a statement yesterday by Force spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu. Following threats by some policemen to embark on strike, the IGP explained that such action was inimical to democracy. He cautioned officers to desist from indiscipline or face arrest and sanction. The statement also reads: “The IGP wishes to draw attention to the dangers inherent in police officers disobeying superior orders and acting outside the code of conduct. It does not portend well for public safety and security, and is a threat to our democracy. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigeria Police Force will never tolerate any iota of indiscipline in the form of strike, or work-to-rule among its personnel. Any officer found to have engaged in such a despicable act will be arrested and sanctioned in line with the police regulation and the laws of the federation.” Abba noted that effort is being made to meet the welfare of the police personnel, including payment of promotion arrears.

Epidemic: Nigeria among 30 vulnerable nations

1.5m candidates to write computer-based UTME •208 inmates to sit for exam in Kaduna, Ikoyi prisons

BOUT 1,475,477 candidates were registered by the Joint Admission, Matriculation and Examination Board (JAMB) for this year’s Computer-Based Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) holding March 10 and March 21. The UTME will be written in 400 centres in Nigeria as well as seven foreign countries - Ghana, Cameroon, Republic of Benin, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Ethiopia.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

JAMB Registrar Prof. Dibu Ojerinde told a news conference in Abuja yesterday that 208 prison inmates from Kaduna and Ikoyi prisons would write the examination. He regretted that the number of candidates this year was a far cry from last year’s, which recorded 1,632,172 candidates. Attributing the decline to insecurity in some parts of the

country, Prof. Ojerinde explained that there was a decrease of 156,695 compared to last year. He said the registration process for the computerbased examination had eliminated dual or multiple registration. The JAMB registrar, who debunked a report that the board postponed the examination, explained that the transformation to full computer-based test became imperative to resolve the chal-

lenges faced by the board. He stressed that the board would ensure that the nation’s education sector was placed on the same pedestal as other developed nations. Imo State has the highest number of applicants, with 104,381. The Federal Capital Territory has the lowest figure of 4,085, while Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, with insecurity challenges, also ranked low with 15,692, 15,613 and 10,044 candidates.

HIRTY developing nations, including Nigeria, are ‘extremely vulnerable’ to infectious disease outbreaks, a report at the International Summit on the Ebola Crisis, Rome, has said. A charity organisation, Save the Children (StC), which gave the information, noted that a country, such as Nigeria, which was able to stop early Ebola cases, is among the top 30 countries. StC said after analysing the 75 countries with the world’s highest child mortality rates, it concluded that the situation is as bad in 27 nations, such as Somalia, Haiti, Afghanistan, India and Sudan. The organisation also said that there is “broad agreement” across the world that Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were worse hit by the Ebola outbreak because their health systems “were dangerously under-resourced, understaffed and poorly equipped”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS Falana appears in suit seeking Mbu’s removal

Security vote: Senate queries defence ministry

By Joseph Jibueze

From Onyedi Ojiabo and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

HE Senate Committee on Defence and Army has demanded details of the expenditure of over N1.275 billion security vote appropriated for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the 2014 fiscal year. Chairman of the committee, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, who made the demand yesterday at MOD’S 2015 budget defence, directed the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Aliyu Ismaila, to furnish the committee with details of the expenditure within one week. The fund was appropriated for the MOD under the subhead of security vote, including operations/ration and allowances for Brigade of Guards. Sekibo wondered whether the allocation was not duplication since Service Wide Vote, which was provided for in the year under review covered the issue of security vote for Brigade of Guards.

•From left: Senators Jibrilla Bindowo, Olubunmi Adetunbi, and Jide Omoworare after Senate PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE session at the National Assembly, Abuja...yesterday.

New political party seeks shift in polls dates

OLLOWING a Federal High Court judgment on Wednesday ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include the Young Democratic Party (YDP) on the election ballot papers, the party has called on the INEC to accommodate it or re-schedule the general elections. Stating its position in Abuja after an emergency meeting yesterday, the party said the court had ordered INEC to issue it a certificate and include YDP among the parties con-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

testing the 2015 general elections. The National Publicity Secretary of YDP, Ugo Nwofor, said INEC has no option than to reprint its ballot papers to accommodate its candidates for elective positions. Nwafor said: “If INEC does not have the appropriation for logistics for re-printing of its ballot papers, then INEC ought to within the constitutional provision further re-

schedule the general elections so as to accommodate our party. “In either of the two options, our party is ready. It has been a long journey for YDP. We wish INEC would explore the first option”. He added that in compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act, the party has fixed it governorship/ House of Assembly and presidential and National Assembly primaries for March 26 and 27. According to him, the par-

ty has approved sales of nomination forms as follow: presidential (N15 million), governorship (N3 million), Senate (N1 million), House of Representatives (N500,000) and House of Assembly (200,000). “As a gender-friendly party, the nomination forms for women in all categories is free, except for a processing fee of N100,000”, Nwafor stated. He described the court’s judgment as a victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity.

APC to NBC, APCON: you are promoting violence, hate

HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation has accused the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) of promoting electoral violence and hate messages by default. The APC campaign said following the inability of the two regulatory agencies to sanction erring radio, television stations, industry players and groups who continuously breached extant laws and regulations governing activities of the agencies, the two bodies were indirectly promoting violence and hate messages in the current political dispensation. In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of the Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, the APC campaign organisation challenged the NBC to make good its threat to wield the big stick against erring broadcast stations by applying its code to all industry players across board without fear or favour. Reacting to the assurances by the Director General of NBC to wield the big stick on erring broadcast stations that violate the Code particularly when it comes to airing of political programs under this political dispensation, Shehu said the two agencies must be seen to implement extant laws guiding political campaign and advertisement.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Shehu said as heart-warming as the words of the D-G of the broadcast regulatory body, it must be matched with action if the NBC was not to be perceived as indirectly helping in promoting a culture of political violence. According to him, “the NBC has soon forgotten the role it played through its inaction against some TV stations when they aired a dirty and false documentary on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the APC. “The specific code that these TV stations have contravened is Section 3.1.2 of the NBC Code which states that “materials/statements likely to incite or encourage the commission of a crime or lead to public disorder shall not be broadcast.” “This is a breach, which attracts severe penalty of suspension of licence or outright withdrawal of the licence of that station. But, to the surprise of many industry observers and Nigerians, nothing has been done to the errant stations to date,” Shehu said. He explained that the actions or inactions of the NBC call into question the neutrality of many government regulatory bodies, especially in an election time where the incumbent President is on the ballot. He condemned the seeming lack of “free hand” by var-

ious government regulatory bodies to sanction breaches by the Jonathan government, his ruling PDP and groups associated with them. He argued that the situation is not different with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the regulatory body saddled with the responsibility of screening print adverts for publication and issuing certificate of clearance. The APC campaign decried a situation where the PDP and its agents, acting under a blanket cover of immunity or impunity, by-passed these steps and clearances to place abhorrent and hateful adverts in disregard of laid down laws and regulations. Shehu described as untenable fallacy and sheer cock-andbull story the paid newspaper advertisement claiming that the Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) diversified the economy, grew the non-oil export sector and enhanced the national economy by 300 per cent. He maintained that an advertorial placed by the “Forum for Economic Progress”, claiming that “non-oil export has increased by 300 per cent and that Cocoa had brought revenue of over $2 billion in the last two years,” is anything but “blatant lies and bandied poor spin-doctoring by a dying PDP regime clawing to undesirable straws.” Shehu quoted sources from

•Shehu the Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce as revealing the true position of things are as: “Official figures show that Nigeria’s total non-oil export stood at $2.9 million in 2013 which declined to $2.7m in 2014. In 2012, export growth was 7.3 per cent which went up to 13.7 per cent in 2013 and later crashed to 8.6 per cent in 2014. At best, Cocoa only brought in a total in $1.2 billion in the two years. This translated to $758 million in 2013 and $666 million in 2014.” Shehu added that the misinformation about imaginary growth in the non oil sector “falls within the PDP’s narratives of deceit, mischief and clever-by-half communication mannerisms; same as the tissues of lies being exhibited on fuel scarcity, power sector, security, employment, public health and a host of others. The Jonathanians blame everyone and anything in sight, except themselves for the avoidable precarious condition they have thrown our once prosperous nation.”

CTIVIST-lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has offered to represent a lawyer, Mr. Tope Alabi, who is praying the Federal High Court in Lagos to strip Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu of his rank and declare his office vacant for allegedly abusing his powers. At yesterday’s hearing, Falana announced appearance for the plaintiff and moved an ex-parte application on his client’s behalf. The application was for leave to serve the Police Service Commission with the suit in Abuja. “We have a motion for leave to serve the third respondent outside jurisdiction,” Falana said. Justice Ibrahim Buba granted the application. The plaintiff also filed three other applications which have not been heard. They are a motion for interim injunction restraining Mbu from giving any orders to officers under him during the general elections pending the hearing of the plaintiff’s motion for interlocutory injunction. The motion for interlocutory injunction is seeking to restrain Mbu from giving any orders pending the hearing of the substantive suit. The plaintiff also has a pending application seeking to abridge the time within which the suit will be heard and determined in view of its urgency. In the substantive suit, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the first defendant (Mbu) “is unfit to be a police officer in Nigeria”. Mbu, the newly posted AIG in charge of Zone 2, rose to infamy for his unguarded utterances as well as his recent clashes with politicians, civil society activists, and journalists. Last year, the #BringBackOurGirls protesters in Abuja slammed a N200 million damage suit against the Nigeria Police after Mbu banned their daily sit-ins to demand the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls. The police hierarchy promptly reversed the ban and the suit was dropped. Also last year, Mbu detained and arraigned a journalist before a Magistrate for branding him ‘controversial’ during a TV programme. The magistrate struck out the charges. Justice Buba adjourned till March 16.

PDP campaign backs Patience Jonathan •Party insists ‘Buhari is brain dead’ From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has risen in strong defence of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on her statement that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is brain dead. A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP campaign, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said: “The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was absolutely right to say that Gen. Buhari is ‘brain dead’ is an understatement and to suggest that he is suffering from dementia is nothing new. “The First Lady has spoken in a courageous and forthright manner and, most important of all, she has spoken the bitter truth. Instead of crying like spoilt little brats and complaining, the APC and the Buhari Campaign Organisation should live with that bitter truth and leave her alone. “She has every right to express herself in any way that she deems fit and she is entitled to her opinion. This is especially so given the fact that her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, is in the presidential race. “Buhari’s general disdain for women and their opinion is well known. This is a man that said that he would scrap the office of the First Lady if he is elected president.”

Chibok girls: Fed Govt in secret meeting with families From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

EPRESENTATIVES of the Federal Government met yesterday behind closed doors in Maiduguri, Borno State, with parents and guardians of the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls. A statement by Mr. Olawale Rasheed, the special adviser on Media to Minister of State for Power, said the meeting was to brief families of abducted Chibok girls on the efforts of the Federal Government in securing their freedom. The statement added that President Goodluck Jonathan was represented at the meeting by the Minister of State Power, Mohammed Wakil, while the families of the girls were led by Mrs. Pindar Dauda and Chibok’s youth leader. The president’s representative told the parents that the Federal Government had devised “comprehensive counter-insurgency strategies which has its central goals as reclaiming of occupied territories; rescue of abducted persons; resettlement of IDPs; and the rehabilitation of insurgency ravaged communities”. The minister added: “Mr. President is pursuing multi-faceted strategies, which address the pains, anger and frustrations of victims. Our President directed me to tell you that his government is committed to doing everything possible for the safe return of your daughters. “I am here to convey the sympathy of Mr. President and the entire Federal cabinet to you the parents and families as well as all other victims. As you are all aware, our military is having the upper hand in this sacred war. We believe by the grace of God that your children will return safely. “Your presence here to listen to the message of Mr. President confirms your belief in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations as a solution to our collective challenge.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS ‘Abiola airport project on course’

HE management of the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services of the Nigeria Airforce Company has said the MKO Abiola Airport project in Osun State is on course. Outgoing Managing Director Air Vice Marshall Andy Tsakrin spoke when Governor Rauf Aregbesola visited the site. The governor said Osun would get one of the best airports in Nigeria in terms of architecture and technology. On the call centre built by the Airforce, Aregbesola said politics had hampered the provision of sort code to activate the centre. He said: “It is unbelievable that during the last August 9 election some hoodlums in army uniforms vandalised the emergency call centre in Osogbo.”

200,000 DVDs on Ekitigate released

Police talk tough on Ibadan violence

•CP to arrest politicians

HE Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina, yesterday told politicians they were in for a hard time, if political violence continued in the state. Katsina spoke at a briefing attended by representatives of the major parties, following the mayhem that claimed the lives of two persons at a political rally on Sunday. Emphasising his seriousness about dealing with violence, Katsina said he would deal with any politician causing trouble before, during and after the elections. The police boss said he would arrest and parade publicly any politician withholding information or providing a haven for thugs. “Whoever is caught, whether a politician or a miscreant, in the course of this investigation will be brought to justice.

Stop violence, Makinde pleads From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

HE governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has appealed to candidates of other parties to rein in their supporters to stop the violence in the state. Makinde said candidates should let their overzealous supporters realise that their only interest is to serve the people and not destroy them. Two people were killed at a political rally in Odinjo last weekend. He said the incident should be condemned by all rightthinking people. He said the time has come when “as leaders, we should rein in our supporters. “We are all brothers seeking the good of the people under different political party platforms; and as much as I know, I don’t know any of the gladiators who is blood thirsty. No one among the leaders can send anybody out to go and kill or maim anybody, what for? “But, we can’t rule out overzealousness on the part of our supporters on occasions and that’s why we should constantly drum it in their ears what our philosophy is all about. From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

“The information you have given me here is vital, but you are lucky because of the sanc-

tity of this meeting. If you have this kind of information on the March 1 killing and you refuse to give the police, you will be guilty of hiding infor-

mation. “When you have such information and you allow me to find out that you have it, you will not only be held liable but culpable in this dirty game of conspiracy. “I am here because I mean business. If you allege, you must prove it. If you want me to consider you as a dependable ally in this onerous task of revealing the identity of those who are behind this murderous adventure, come to me and give me the information. It will be treated confidentially. “I am not here pleading for information, whether or not you give me, I will find it. By the time I come to your doorstep, you will have no time to escape I will get you and you will face justice. “Some of the people you have mentioned have been declared wanted. If you are hiding them, the long arm of the law will catch up with them and by extension, you will be arrested too.”

GROUP, All-Nigeria Save Democracy Movement (ANSADEM), has launched 200,000 DVDs of the ‘Ekitigate’ video. Convener of the meeting Adebayo M. Adebayo said copies of the DVDs had been sent to the United Nations, Africa Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). An on-line news medium released a recording, which reportedly captured the voices of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan at a meeting where they ordered military officers to rig last June 21 poll for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Adebayo said: “The situation demands a deliberate comprehensive intervention by the civil society as an impartial watchdog.’’

Oyo caretakers’ tenure renewed From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Oyo State House of Assembly has renewed the tenure of the 30 local government chairmen and stepped down the consideration of three local governments. The three local government involved are Egbeda, Ona-Ara and. Ibadan North. The House had directed head of local government administration in the 33 local governments to take charge at the expiration of the council chairmen’s tenure on February 10. The renewal was granted after a review of the activities of the chairmen during the last renewal. The Speaker, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, said the lawmakers have reviewed the performances of the chairmen and found them to be satisfactory. Mrs. Sunmonu said their tenure will end on May 20.

•Aregbesola (third right); Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori; Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti (second right); Chief of State to the Governor, Gboyega Oyetola (third left); AVM Tsakri (right); the newly posted Managing Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System Limited (AETSL), AVM Ajibola Jekennu (second left) and Project Manager, Aminu Sulaiman.

Fayose alleges APC conspiracy with INEC

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has alleged a conspiracy between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of smart card readers in the elections. Fayose said use of the card reader might cause confusion during and after the elections. The governor, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, claimed that the APC leadership had a hidden agenda, hence its consistent calls for use of the card reader. “INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega has told Nigerians that the card reader could last up to five hours, which means unless there is alternative power supply, the machine would be useless after the battery goes flat. “The question is, will the INEC provide power generators in each of the polling unit in the country? Without this the introduction of the card reader is nonsense. “Nigerians should also know that INEC has never hidden the fact that the card readers are Internet-based in

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

delivery and considering the fact that most of the towns and villages are not fixed with Internet that means that the card readers cannot deliver until they get to places with internet connectivity. “It means the usage would be a failure because a lot of contradictory information would have wreaked havoc on the exercise before the card reader delivers its results”. “I can say boldly that the leadership of APC have a hidden agenda in the usage of the card reader, that is why its clamour for the smart reader has been so vociferous when it knows abinitio there is no way the party can win this election.”

But the Youth Wing of the APC slammed the governor’s opposition on use of the smart card reader, saying “it is only enemies of democracy and incorrigible election riggers”, who will be opposed to any patriotic step taken to ensure a cleaner electoral process. The Youth leader, Femi Ogundare, said the party was not surprised that Fayose is opposed to the use of card readers because “he has been a serial beneficiary of electoral fraud”. Ogundare said: “We want to commend INEC for going ahead with its plans to use card readers for the accreditation of voters, which we believe will make our election credible, transparent and pass international electoral stan-

dards. “Despite the opposition of the PDP, Fayose and their henchmen, well-meaning voters in Ekiti State are ready to cooperate with INEC to carry out a test-run of the card readers at a designated ward in Ado-Ekiti. “It is only incorrigible election riggers that will be opposed to any patriotic move to clean up our electoral system and the opposition of PDP and Fayose can be understood. “The nation is still shocked by the revelation of how the last June 21 governorship election was rigged and the beneficiaries of such fraud won’t support any step to make our electoral system credible.”

Ekiti College teachers on strike

CADEMIC activities have been grounded at the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, following a strike by lecturers. The decision was reached after a congress by the lecturers yesterday. The college teachers, acting under the aegis of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), are protesting the non-payment of August, September and

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

February salaries. The strike has disrupted many activities at the college, including the orientation of new students, who had been granted admission since last year. A source said a management meeting to be chaired by the Provost, Prof. Francesca Aladejana, has been scheduled for today.

Retrace your steps, Afenifere leaders told By Leke Salaudeen

YORUBA socio-cultural group, Yoruba Ronu, has advised the leadership of Afenifere to have a re-think over what it described as “politics of deceit and activities that are inimical to the interest of the Yoruba”. Members of the group, led by their president, Prince Diran Iyantan visited The Nation Corporate Head Office, Matori, Lagos, yesterday. Iyantan was accompanied by Foluso Aminu, Secretary and Bily Omosebi, member. They noted that the present leadership of Afenifere has abandoned all that the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, stood for. Iyantan, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy in Ondo State, wondered why the Afenifere should be promoting a failed administration, inept leadership as represented by the Jonathan administration. According to him, the Yoruba suffered the greatest neglect and marginalisation under Jonathan more than any other administration in the nation’s history. He said: “It is surprising and ungodly that there are only two Yoruba men among the first 50 top positions in Nigeria; despite the fact that a Yoruba man “installed” Goodluck Jonathan. “This is not considering the fact that Jonathan received the highest votes from a Yoruba state (Lagos). “Despite the availability of great and illustrious sons and daughters of Yoruba, Jonathan and PDP have consistently been promoting bad eggs of the Yoruba race.” Iyantan said he could not understand why any rational thinking Yoruba man or woman will be promoting a regime that has not hidden its hatred for the race. “Unless the Afenifere leaders change their focus and align with the struggle of the main stream political leadership in the Southwest, the group is heading towards oblivion. “The main reason why the Afenifere leaders are going against the norms of Awo philosophy is the meteoric rise of Senator Bola Tinubu. “He built a formidable opposition in the country with only one state, Lagos. If not for him, there wouldn’t be any opposition in this country today. None of us will be talking of change today. “Tinubu achieved the political leadership in the Southwest and the nation at large through his contributions and perseverance.” The former commissioner also took a swipe at the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), led by Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, for joining the fray of politics of inducement and commercialisation. “The YCE is supposed to be neutral in political matters. We are pained that the YCE is now hobnobbing with the oppressors of their race. I know their children are not supporting what they are doing rather they are in the forefront of the struggle to liberate Nigerians from the pangs of desperadoes.” He advised President Jonathan to desist from any act that would plunge the country into crisis before, during and after the elections.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS

•From left: Mr. Saheed Adebule, APC Women’s Leader Mrs Kemi Nelson, Fashola’s wife, Abimbola, Fashola, Ambode’s running mate, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, Ambode, the senator representPHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES ing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa at the rally...yesterday.

Perform your civic duties, Fashola tells Lagosians

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged Nigerians to take the coming elections seriously and save the country from socio-economic collapse. Addressing supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ibeju Lekki, the governor said Nigeria was passing through a critical phase. He said: ”We are at a very crucial moment in our country. We have elected a bad government at the federal level, we have elected a bad party. In the last 16 years they have put our nation in reverse.

“For me, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost the morality to govern our dear country, so it must be voted out. “When I became governor, the dollar was trading at N115, in less than eight years, the dollar is trading at almost N230, this is worrisome.” Fashola said with the continued falling standard of the naira, the youth were more exposed to socio and economic challenges. The governor noted that the situation calls for urgent change and intervention of a

competent leader. He said the business community was having a difficult time meeting its financial obligation. “The spare parts traders, who import their products, would always face double jeopardy because of the rising cost of their goods and the inability to get enough funds to meet the foreign exchange.” “They are again toying with all sorts of manipulations. They are even thinking of adjusting the election programme but they cannot do it because the constitution has clearly stated when elections

will be held. “Prof. Attahiru Jega has become a ‘burden’ on them and they will not be able to remove him. “You should also get ready because they will be coming to harass you but do not be deterred, be strong and don’t allow yourselves to be intimidated. “Whoever is arrested in your neighborhood do not abandon him, you must all support him as a mark of solidarity. “You can even get him a lawyer because Nigerians have the right to freedom of association.”

Southwest youths endorse Jonathan

OUTHS from across the Southwest states yesterday converged on Akure, the Ondo State capital, to endorse the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. The youth said their resolve to support Jonathan was based on his promise to implement the recommendations of last year’s National Conference. The summit chairman, Lanre Olu Adeyemi, who read the communiqué at the end of the summit, said they have resolved to back the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Governor Olusegun Mimiko said he purposely convened the summit to remind youths to rise up for the progress of the country. He urged all youths to support Jonathan in his desire to continue with his transformation agenda. The governor saluted the President for his leadership focus, especially concerning the just concluded National Conference.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

•APC: Akure summit a sham From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Delivering his keynote address, Prof Dupe Olatunbosun urged the youth to support Jonathan’s second term bid, saying he must not be denied a second term. His words: “The North has been in power for 36 years and the South only 18 years. “Therefore, in the interest of fairness, justice, equity and the overall national interest, the southern interest should take precedence over the northern interest. “Nigerian needs someone such as Jonathan who can transform the nation in all areas.” He called on the youth to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to conduct their franchise. Afenifere spokesman Yinka Odumakin said the implementation of the recommendations of the National Conference was crucial and must be supported by the youth. Odumakin emphasised that

the interest of the Yoruba nation was more paramount than the interest of any individual. In his goodwill message, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth & Student, Jude Imagwe, urged Nigerians to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that President Jonathan was the only credible candidate for the election. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the gathering as a resultant effect of unemployment and poverty in the land. The party said the endorsement by students and youth groups sponsored by Mimiko did not reflect the wishes and yearnings of people in the region. The Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said at a briefing in Akure that it was disheartening to see Mimiko manipulating the youth, whose future had been destroyed through unemployment and poverty.

He said: “It is common in the country to see a 30-yearold man still living with his parents. “Millions of our young graduates are walking the streets daily in search jobs or how to earn a living. “It is sad that Mimiko has impoverished the youth to use them for political gains. We feel sad anytime we think about the welfare of our youths. “These young Nigerians who are supposed to be our future leaders have been made to pass through an unwholesome situation. “Most of the youth who graced the summit came because of what would accrue into their pockets. It will be unfair if we say students and youth groups should not collect their share of the President’s largesse. “We can only advise the youth groups and students to collect the money and vote for a man with proven integrity, experience and competence to govern Nigeria, where their future would be guaranteed.”

The APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, said the Lekki axis will benefit from his tourism plan. He said the youth will be assisted through massive infrastructure development and the opening of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ). He said: “In the next four years, we are going to work very hard for Lagosians. “We are going to work for our youths who are jobless; we will assist them with interest free loans to enable them become independent. “The Fashola administration has provided a template;

we are going to continue from there. “The government has signed a business pact to build an oil refinery in Lekki, this will be achieved and our youths shall be gainfully employed.” An APC chieftain, Tola Kasali, urged the people to be ready for the March 28 polls, where the PDP would be issued a red card. He said the slogans all around were all about change. He said PDP has compromised Nigerians, noting that it was not a party to be trusted any more.

Pupil ‘kills’ friend with charm

KE Agbe community in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State was in a pensive mood yesterday, following the mysterious death of a pupil, simply identified as Muyiwa. Sources said Muyiwa’s friend, Ade, allegedly hit him with a fetish ring. The suspect was said to have gone to the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

police, saying he went through the medicine book he inherited from his late father and prepared the killercharm, testing it on his friend. The suspect has been arrested and detained at Oke Agbe Police Station. Police spokesman Wole Ogodo could not be reached for comments.

Bayo Kuku is dead

TOP Ijebu chief in Ogun State, Chief Bayo Kuku, is dead. He was 84. The Ijebu chief died yesterday and his remains will be laid to rest today at his White House residence in the ancient town. Chief Kuku held a number of chieftaincy titles, including Bobajiro of Ijebu land, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu, Chairman Council of chiefs of Ijebu. He was a former President, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), former Vice-Chairman, Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited, former Board Member ,FBN Merchant Bank and former Board Member, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

ICAN urged to implement electoral panel’s proposals

FELLOW of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Sola Oyetayo, has urged the institute to implement the recommendations of the Electoral Matters Special Investigation Panel. The panel had called for the cancellation of ICAN’s election held last May. It said a fresh election should be conducted as soon as it was practicable while none of the 28 contestants should remain on the council, until the new poll is held. Oyatayo said about 300 members of the institute have called on the president/chairman of council to convene a special general meeting to consider and adopt the recom-

By Joseph Jibueze

mendations after it was found that the council allegedly rejected them. The issues at stake, he said, include fraud and identity theft; what to do with results of the elections; what to do with the IT personnel who aided the fraud; revamping the electoral process, among others. The special panel’s report, which was submitted to ICAN’s council on December 1, concluded that there was sufficient evidence that the voters’ list was grossly compromised and the allegation of massive fraud was proved beyond reasonable doubt. It also found that cybercrime was committed in the

election, and a number of innocent ICAN members were victims of identity theft. “Over 80 per cent of the fraudulent votes were credited to the nine winners. Ironically, the ICAN rules that all voters must vote for all vacant seats made it impossible to separate the innocent candidates from the dishonest ones,” the panel said. It added that it was apparent that the electoral fraud was carried out by workers in the IT department at the instigation of some ICAN members who stood to benefit. It said from the forensic auditor’s report, 1,191 fake voters cast 10,719 votes, representing 21.884 per cent of 49,068 votes cast.

Among its recommendations was that work must begin immediately to compile a new voters’ list “as the existing one has been extensively compromised”. The panel said: “If the electoral process can be grossly compromised, other sections in the IT department might also have been compromised. We are particularly concerned about the examination process where the stakes are by far higher. Therefore, the entire IT personnel should be cleaned out and the department sanitised. “In the circumstance, the institute should immediately engage one of the big firms with a strong IT department to review the electoral pro-

cess, and possibly temporarily take over the running of the IT department until credible workers are recruited. “Discreet enquiries should be made from law enforcement agencies, if it is possible, to unmask the ICAN members involved in this destructive act so that proper disciplinary actions can be carried out against them in accordance with the ICAN Act. “ICAN electoral rules should be revisited in the light of what has been revealed in this and earlier investigations in order to re-establish members’ trust in the electoral process.” Investigation of the fraud was prompted by Oyetayo’s first memo in which he al-

leged, among others, that the institute’s system was hacked into and that qualified members were impersonated after their PIN numbers were fraudulently obtained. Oyetayo said the 2015 council elections could not be conducted peacefully and credibly without resolving the critical issues arising from the 2014 election. On ICAN’s electoral process, he said: “I strongly believe that the first thing to do is to discard the idea of group voting as it not only promotes mediocrity and brings division of council along ethnic and religious lines. It is also unconstitutional because it negates the principles of fundamental human rights.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

CITYBEATS ‘My husband is a thief’ A

35-year-old trader, Abimbola Okole, has prayed the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her 15year-old marriage to Idowu, accusing him of beating her relations. Mrs Okole of 19, Janet Olalekan Street, Alakuko, Lagos, said her husband was fond of gambling. She said: “From the outset, my mother was not in support of my relationship with him. I thought I was in love. I thought my mother didn’t want the best for me. It was when my family realised I was pregnant that they allowed me to marry him. I was barely 19 when we started living as a couple. We were never at peace. My husband is a thief. There was a time I used to keep his younger brother’s salary, he stole everything. “I was confused when my husband said he wanted to purchase a land because I knew what he earned for a

•It’s all lies, says man By Basirat Braimah

living couldn’t buy one. On getting a land, my husband didn’t have a kobo to pay. It was my mother who deposited N100, 000. Two months after we moved to our house, he beat me mercilessly, threw my things out, saying he wanted to marry another woman who cared for him. “It’s not just only me he maltreats. He beats our children as if he isn’t their father. Most times, he denies them. I can’t count the number of times I left his house. There was a day he sent our first son out of the house because he tampered with his laptop. There is nothing he does for me. As I speak, he hasn’t paid our

Girl, 13, missing

•Mrs Okole

•Okole

the court decides,” she said. The court’s president, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the respondent’s sister, Onyebuchi Omowole, to serve a three-day communi-

ty service or pay N5, 000 for harassing the bailiff last Thursday when he went to serve her the court summons. Awosola remanded Okole till March 12.

NDLEA impounds 810.1kg of cannabis

13-year old girl, Bilikisu Isiaka has been declared missing since February 28. According to her uncle, Muhammed Ganiyu, Bilikisu hawks liquid soap when she returns from school till 6pm. Last Saturday, he said, she went to hawk and did not return home. He said she hawks liquid soap to Ajeromi, Waterside and Ojo road - all in Ajegunle. Miss Isiaka is a primary

children’s school fees for one year. My relations have pleaded with him severally but he wouldn’t listen. “I decided to bring his case to court because of what he did during our last argument. On that day, he wanted to take Garri (Cassava) in the store but I refused since he doesn’t buy food stuff to the house. He beat me mercilessly and almost strangled me to death. Even when our son tried to protect me, he beat us together which landed us to a police station. At the station, when my relations tried to apologise on my behalf, his sister pointed her finger into my mother’s nose, beat her and stripped her naked while my husband beat my father and elder brother

who limps leaving a scar on his face. I feel so sad. I am tired of everything. I can’t leave my children with him.” Idowu, a 37-year-old civil servant in his defence said: “She framed everything. It is a lie. I don’t know how she got the cut on her face but I saw her sister pouring ink on her face. She also slapped my sister. This is the second time she left my house. I just want the custody of our children.” The petitioner’s mother, Mrs Modinat Arogundade, who was in court, said she wasn’t happy about her daughter’s marriage troubles. “He is very violent. My husband is just recovering from the pains Idowu caused him. I don’t support divorce, hence I have always advised my children to endure in their marriage. Right now, I am in support of whatever

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

N •Bilikisu

four pupil of Ajeromi L. E. A. School. “She lives with her aunt, Salimotu Ganiyu, at 10, Ayetoro Street, Apapa, Ajegunle

ATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have impounded compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis sativa weighing 810.1kilogrammes. They were seized during a raid of some hideouts in Lagos. The first consignment weighing 658.8 kilogrammes believed to have been imported from Ghana was detected at Alaba Rago

•‘We sell cannabis to sustain ourselves’ By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

area of Lagos. The team also discovered another 151.3 kilogrammes at Agege where two suspected drug dealers were apprehended. Lagos State NDLEA commander Aliyu Sule, who confirmed the raid, said it was based on intelligence report. “Acting on intelligence report, we raided the water front at Alaba Rago area where we found compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. “The team also raided Kasamu Street in Agege where 151.3 kilogrammes of cannabis was found hidden in the ceiling. Both seizures weighed 810.1 kilogrammes. Two suspected cannabis dealers, Raji Kabir, 22 and Yusuf Bako, 19, arrested during the operation are cooperating with our team of investigators,” Aliyu said. Kabir, who hails from Oyo

State, said he has been dealing in cannabis for over five years. “I was introduced into cannabis smoking by friends. Later, I began to sell cannabis at Agege and I used to make a profit of N2,000 daily. I have stopped selling hemp about three times but I keep coming back to the business because I have no money to sustain myself. We were sleeping when officers came to search our house and found the drug inside the ceiling,” he said. Bako from Kebbi State told investigators that he sells hemp to sustain himself. “After my primary school in Lagos I enrolled as an apprentice in an electrical workshop since I cannot further my education. My friends introduced me to cannabis smoking. I began to sell about a year ago in order to sustain myself. The day I did not go to work, I will go and sell hemp. I used to earn N1,200

daily. We were sleeping at night when NDLEA officers came to arrest us and discovered the hemp in the ceiling,” he said. Following intelligence report that the cannabis originated from Ghana, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade has directed his commanders to intensify surveillance along the water ways. “I have directed commanders to intensify maritime surveillance to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the country through the water. We are also working very hard to identify other members of the drug cartels. I can assure you that we will not relent in our offensive against drug cartels,” Giade said. He called on parents to monitor their children, adding that good parental care will go a long way in preventing drug trafficking and abuse.

Salesgirl ‘steals’ N1.19m cash

26-year old sales girl, Opeyemi Lateef, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing her master’s N1.19million cash. The prosecution gave her master’s name as Onyebuchi Umeokoli. Lateef, who appeared be-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

fore Magistrate A.T Omoyele, was alleged to have committed the offence on February 13 at 5pm at 18, Sunny Adewale Street, Balogun Market, Lagos Island. According to prosecuting police Corporal Francesca Okere, the defendant com-

mitted an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos. The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her and was admitted to bail in N300, 000 with two responsible sureties. The matter was adjourned to March 30, for mention.

Two die, one injured in okada crash

WO persons were killed and one was injured when a commercial motorcyclist run into the culvert at Araromi Bus Stop on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway last Tuesday night. According to eyewitnesses, the motorcyclist took one-way because of the heavy traffic; but was unable to control his speed while pedestrians were crossing. “He was trying to pave way for pedestrians crossing the expressway before he slipped. He and his passengers were seriously in-

By Kehinde Onifade

jured,” Yemi, an eyewitness said. The passengers died before they reached the nearby Veta Hospital. The hospital, The Nation, learnt refused to admit the dead and the injured. Another eyewitness said the Okada rider was going to Abule-Egba from Oshodi when the accident happened. Yemi described the incident as unfortunate, saying despite government’s effort to curb the menace of Okada riders; people are

still wasting their lives through one-way route. The bodies, he said, had been taken to the morgue; the injured rider is in hospital. Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Public Relations Officer Bola Ajao decried the menace of Okada riders on that route especially during closing hours. Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, she said, is among the 500 routes commercial motorcyclists are barred from plying under the Lagos Traffic Law.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

What does corporate governance do? It ensures that you have set up a structure and a culture within the institution that can drive the business in line with given rules. That’s what corporate governance does. -Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

IMF seeks review of Nigeria’s revenue formula

HE Executive Board of the International Mon etary Fund (IMF), yesterday concluded the Article IV consultation with Nigeria where it advised the country to review its revenue sharing formula. The Article IV is a review of a country’s economy over a period of time. The Fund directors said there is a need to review the current revenue sharing arrangements in the country so as to help address regional disparities over the longer term and ensure that social and development needs are evenly addressed across the regions. This, the IMF reasons, is important considering that Nigeria still lags behind its peers in critical infrastructure development, coupled with her high rate of poverty and income in-

By Collins Nweze

equality. It noted that in spite of the country’s diverse economy, largely dominated by the service sector whch accounts for over 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2013, and oil sector accounting for only 13 per cent, latter still remains a critical source for revenue and foreign exchange. However, the IMF regrets that with limited fiscal and external buffers ($2 billion in the excess crude account and $34.25 billion in gross international reserves, respectively at the end of 2014), the sharp decline of oil prices in the second half of 2014 now underscores the challenging but compelling need to address remaining development challenges. This situation made the IMF

to submit that mobilising additional non oil revenues is critical to open up fiscal space and improve public service delivery over the medium term. The IMF Board also welcomed ongoing initiatives to strengthen tax administration, and encouraged the authorities to also rein in exemptions, keep tax rates under review, persevere with subsidy reform, and improve the management of oil revenue. The Executive Directors commended the authorities for the progress recorded in promoting Nigeria’s economic diversification and for the macroeconomic response to collapsing export prices. They noted, however, that vulnerabilities remain high in view of the uncertainties about oil price, security, and the po-

litical situation, and concurred that additional policy adjustments and broader structural reforms will be necessary in the period ahead to reconstitute buffers, mitigate risks, and meet pressing development needs. The IMF directors agreed that tightening fiscal policy and allowing the exchange rate to depreciate while using some of the reserve buffer were appropriate responses to the recent fall in oil prices. “Nonetheless, directors stressed that achieving the authorities’ fiscal targets will require a careful prioritisation of public spending and a cautious implementation of capital projects. Also highlighted was the importance of improved budgeting at the state and local governments levels to help

better manage their fiscal adjustment,” the report said. The IMF directors welcomed the recent unification of the foreign exchange rates, noting that greater exchange rate flexibility could help cushion external shocks. As the largest single supplier of foreign exchange, the fund said it will be important for the central bank to intermediate this supply in a transparent, efficient, and fair manner. On the banking sector, IMF directors noted that financial soundness indicators remain above prudential norms, but the concentration of credit risks and foreign currency exposures call for continued close oversight. They welcomed progress in strengthening supervision and regulation, including cross border activities,

and encouraged additional initiatives to foster financial market development, including hedging instruments, and improve financial inclusion. The directors emphasised that Nigeria’s longer term prospects rest on lowering oil dependency and strengthening private sector’s participation in economic activity. Lasting and more inclusive growth, it added, calls for improving the business environment, promoting youth and female employment, and advancing human capital development. Directors noted that Nigeria’s economic data are broadly adequate for surveillance. Nonetheless, they encouraged the authorities to further improve statistics, in particular as regards the balance of payments.

2015 budget: Reps adopt $54 benchmark

• Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited and International President, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Mr. Babs Omotowa (left) presenting the CIPS Presidential badge to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga in Abuja.

HE House of Representa tives adopted $54 oil benchmark against $65 proposed by the Executive in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2015. The House also adopted N198 to a dollar as official exchange rate, 2.278,2mbpd oil production estimate for the 2015 fiscal year. Some of the wide ranging changes made by the House to the executive’s proposal include scraping the N360.94bn Service Wide Votes. The resolution was passed after the adoption of the recommendations in the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) report considered during the Committee of Whole. This was sequel to the submission in the report of the joint committees on Finance, Appropriations,

Business confidence level dips, says LCCI

USINESS confidence level in the nation has continued to wane, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has said. The body, aggregating leading businesses across the various sectors, in a release yesterday, said the First Quarter 2015 aggregate Business Confidence Index (BCI) has dropped by about eight per cent from 30 per cent it posted in Q42014 to 22.3 per cent. “This represents 7.7 per cent point slack of the confidence level among business operators over the last three months. This is the largest quarter-onquarter point drop of the BCI score over the last three years,” LCCI Director-General, Muda Yusuf, said, adding that the movement of the BCI score by up to five points is an indication of the presence of significant positive or adverse development in the country’s economic/business environment. The body pointed out that the drop of the BCI at this time is an indication that the business leaders are largely pessimistic about expanding their businesses and investment

By Simeon Ebulu and Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

spending over the next few months. Yusuf listed factors that mostly lowered the confidence level of business leaders at this time to include heightened uncertainty surrounding the 2015 general elections, depressed crude oil price in the international market and the volatile exchange rate leading to significant depreciation of the local currency. He said: “Over the last few months, business managers and investors have faced heightened anxiety and commercial risks associated with the political uncertainty in the country. Unpredictable political developments have engendered uncertainty among economic agents, increased the risk profile of new contracts and distorted investment plans,” pointing out that initial commercial plans and investment decisions across the economy have become very fragile leading to less than optimal operations and delay tactics by companies pending

when things will start to normalise. The LCCI helmsman, said sectorally, operators in the oil and gas industry are worried by the uncertainty surrounding delayed passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) coupled with the adverse developments in the global oil and gas market as depicted by the slide in global crude prices. In addition, it cited delays in approval of the 2015 draft budget, influx and rising patronage of offshore Consultants/, regulatory and security challenges as some of the concerns of players in the professional business services’ sector, and IT related transactions. On trade, the body drew attention to the declining patronage due to weak consumer demand, depreciation of the Naira, and rising cost of goods and services as factors militating against businesses, saying that similar constraints are also noticeable in the financial services sector, where business leaders mentioned that macroeconomic fluctuations, flight-to-safety due to the general elections, downgrade of sovereign ratings by international rating agencies,

policy uncertainty and exchange rate volatility, have weighed Yusuf said manufacturers, both the big players and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are being affected by the uncertain political environment, in addition to other constraints bordering on cost and access to credit, rising cost of production, exchange rate fluctuation, influx of fake and substandard products, regulatory infractions and worsening public power supply. He said the hospitality industry is also at the receiving end as the hotel and tourism sector confirmed that sharp drop in the number of events and conferences occasioned by election uncertainties, lower room occupancy rate and the recent emergence of new entrants into the sector have hindered growth in the sector at this time. Yusuf said the first quarter 2015 BCI survey covered 180 top business executives in 162 companies, pointing out that only top decision makers, including business owners, chief executives, directors and top managers participated in the survey.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Aids, loans $ debt management and Legislative Budget and Research presented to the House by the Chairman, House committee on Finance, Abdulmunin Jibrin yesterday.

Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research in his presentation urged the House not to be ‘boxed to the corner nor blackmailed” in passing the budget He also warned against job cuts during the year, despite the dwindling oil revenue.

Global entrepreneurs meet in Nigeria

HE Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO), a global network of more than 10,000 business owners in 46 countries will converge in Lagos on March 8-9 as its Nigerian Chapters organise the EO’s prized Learning Event and the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) national finals. The 2-in-1 event billed for

the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos,will feature as guests acclaimed entrepreneurs such as Tony Elumelu – Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Jamshid Douraghy, Chair, Global Growth Task Team, EO; Gilberto Crombe , Director, EO Global and Sriram Bharatam, Africa Global Growth Task Team, EO.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Brandnews Jurors for Young Lions Ad Council brings competing competitions announced brands together for a campaign T

HE Ad Council of United States is uniting competing firms for a campaign called “Love Has No Labels.” Together, the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Allstate and State Farm are hoping to start a conversation about prejudice and unconscious biases. The idea stemmed from a conversation one of Coca-Cola’s top marketers, Wendy Clark, had last spring with then Ad Council President Peggy Conlon. “She wanted to see if this is a topic we would want to take on,” said Lisa Sherman, the non-profit organisation’s current president. “As we approached some of our partners it was clear that there was a number of partners interested.” The campaign, from digital shop R/GA, is meant to draw attention to “implicit biases.” People will be prompted to examine their own preconceived notions of others. The idea is to jolt those who believe they are not prejudiced. “Implicit bias refers to the way people unconsciously and sometimes unwillingly exhibit bias towards other individuals and groups,” said Rachel Godsil, cofounder and director of research at the Perception Institute in a statement. “The good news is that once we are aware of our biases, we can begin to take action to reduce the

By Adedeji Ademigbuji with Agency reports

effects they can have on our behavior and ultimately, to reduce the biases themselves.” The Ad Council – whose public service announcement legacy includes well-known slogans like “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste” and “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” – has historically worked on a single issue with just one organisation at a time. With this new program it will be collaborating with eight non-profit organisations, each representing a class that is discriminated against. Those who visit www.LoveHasNoLabels.com can take an online quiz to evaluate their own level of prejudice. Then, they will be prompted to help the AntiDefamation League, Southern Poverty Law Centre, National Women’s Law Centre, Human Rights Campaign, American Association of People with Disabilities, AmericanArab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Muslim Advocates or AARP. “It’s timely,” said R/GA Global Chief Creative Officer Nick Law. “There are lots of stuff happening. Not just domestically but globally.” The campaign will be seeded on social media platforms by the brands and non-profit partners involved, with each expected to temporarily replace its profile image

with the official campaign logo designed by Mr. Law. The simplicity of the design speaks to the overall message. “One of the original creative ideas was using the product and taking the labels off… this idea of taking away superficial labels or superficial impressions. This idea of the absence of something,” Mr. Law said. “To take brands that in business compete but are all dedicated to specific values.” A TV spot will be produced at a live installation in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day and will air in March. There will be additional support from print, as well as significant pushes on digital and social media platforms – which factored into the Ad Council’s agency selection. “Engaging communities of people felt very important to our strategy,” said Ms. Sherman. “R/ GA was a great creative and strategic partner – it thinks holistically but is very digitallycentric.” Though there are some natural time periods throughout the year where it will make sense to promote the effort – like LGBT Pride Month – the hope, according to Ms. Sherman, is to create an evergreen campaign. “The creative and the idea have the makings of creating a social movement that will bring people together,” she said.

HE Cannes Lions Representative in Nigeria, CHINI Pro-ductions, organisers of the Young Lions Competition, has announced the jurors for the various categories of the competition. The PR Competition, which made its debut last year, has come to stay, the PR jury President for is John Ehiguese, CEO Mediacraft Associates and President of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) and others. The Media Jury President is Dele Odugbemi, Managing Director Mediashare Ltd.

Members are Uwem Afanide, Executive Director Mediacom, Kemi Asemota, Managing Director Mediamore, Shamsi Onilenla, Director Sharemind Media, Lagos and Banks Adigwe, Executive Director Media Stamp. The Creative Jury will assess works in Cyber, Design, Film and Print categories of the competition. Its President for is Babatunde Sule, Creative Director DDB Lagos. Sule said: “New kids on the block! Our industry has always belonged to the young or young at heart.”

Outdoor Advertising practitioners for top US varsity

O give Outdoor Advertising Marketing Communications, members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) have mapped out for training, starting with a forthcoming Executive Education workshop in the United States. Focusing on the theme of “The Art and Science of Outdoor Advertising in the Age of Digital Media”, the five-day Training Event will hold from April 12 to 17, at the Department of Communication, North Dakota State University (NDSU), with Resource Persons drawn from other American Universities and the field of American Professional Outdoor Advertising Practitioners. North Dakota State University is ranked among the top two percent of American public and private universities. The curriculum for the training, which was drawn up by OAAN members and NDSU Advertising Professors, shows that participants will be exposed to topics that include business aspects and return on investments in outdoor advertising, managing the creative Process, working with governments and public institutions.

Other include: Innovations in outdoor advertising practice, media relations for outdoor agencies, and leadership paradigms for outdoor agencies. The Professor/Chair of NDSU’s Department of Communication Dr. Mark Meister, said his team was excited about the opportunity to collaborate with OAAN in co-hosting this special training, which demonstrates the university’s commitment to serving its publics, locally and internationally. He added that since Communication Coursework started at NDSU in 1907, making it one of the pioneers in providing university-level education in communication, the emphasis has always been on leveraging Professional practices with high quality academic instruction. OAAN President Mr. Charles Chijide, expressed optimism that the forthcoming training would be beneficial to its members and their clients in Marketing Communications. In recognition of the collaboration in the sector, Chijide has extended invitations to OAAN’s peer associations in advertising, marketing and media to encourage them the proposed training.

BHM launches social and digital marketing agency • From left: Directorate Head, Corporate Services, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Abimbola Izu; Chief Executive Officer, Jumbo Nominees Limited, Mrs. Nimuta Mbamalu; Executive Director, Southsouth/Southeast, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Ibiye Ekong; President, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Mrs. Funmi Ajia-Ladipo and an entrepreneur, Mrs. Amina Gbajabiamila, at an interactive session with women in business by Skye Bank in Lagos.

Skye Bank begins instant ATM card issuance S KYE Bank Plc has started instant card issuance service to both new and existing customers for improved customer experience in its branches. This service is available in selected branches, but is being gradually deployed to all branches of the bank. Instant Card Issuance is a process of personalisation and issuance of debit cards to customers immediately upon request, at any branch of Skye Bank. It delivers speed, convenience and value to customers and aligns with customers’ lifestyle. Head of Technology and Service Delivery Channels at Skye Bank,

Markie Idowu, indicated that henceforth, all branches of Skye Bank will prime debit cards instantly on new accounts and when cards are reported lost, stolen or damaged; customers can expect instant replacements. “Instant Card Issuance will improve our customers’ banking experience by eradicating logistics problems that have resulted in delays in debit card delivery. Instant card issuance is seamless, so customers can walk into any Skye Bank branch, request for a debit card and collect it instantly,”

she said. On the bank’s recent strides, the Head, e-Channels at Skye Bank, Akinwale Ojo, said the company has improved its uptime and responsiveness through a series of initiatives that have significantly increased the efficiency of its automatic teller machines. “We have entered into strategic alliances with leading card providers to improve card use and promote e-commerce for the economic development of Nigeria. Our cards have been restructured, segmented and streamlined for optimum performance,” he noted.

HM has launched a new company called ID Africa. The new agency, headquarted in Lagos, is a social and digital marketing agency, according to founder Ayeni Adekunle. BHM is a major advocate of social PR – a practice that prioritises the use of C2C conversations in driving advocacy and telling brand stories. The agency is a digital PR leader in Nigeria, in an industry that’s just slowly waking up to the opportunities technology and trends provide. ID Africa is a creative, social and digital marketing agency specialising in the customisation of brand communication to specific target markets, and the use of stories and conversations to engage audiences. The company is part of the BHM Group, which is home to Nigerian Entertainment Today and BlackHouse Media. Last year, BHM introduced Ni-

geria’s first mobile application in the media and PR industry, and, according to data from its digital department, the company recorded over one billion (1bn) social impressions from different campaigns during the year. Ayeni said: “Brands should not only tell their stories, they must have a passionate community of consumers who are believers and evangelists, happy to share their experience and convert even the worst skeptic. The combination of great social technology and cool content are the sine qua non to achieving this.” ID Africa aims to fill the gap left by digital marketing firms across Africa who currently offers only the most generic of marketing and digital ad services. This it hopes to achieve by leveraging on the often-overlooked Internet business community in Nigeria reported to be growing by up to 50 per cent yearly.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Quality fingerlings: Hatcheries to the rescue Shortage of high-quality fingerlings (young fish) is a major issue in the aquaculture sector. This has driven companies to establish hatcheries to fast-track their production. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

ATFISH is one of the most popular fish in Nigeria. It’s an easy, economical fish for farmers to raise and sell. While they are prolific breeders, farmers have discovered that some of them are stunted in growth,hence too small to market profitably. To address this, breeders exploring farms where they can buy good fingerlings that will mature quickly into bigger, more uniformly-sized fish to bring in tidy profits for them. While this is possible from industry report, farmers say it is difficult for owners of such breed stocks to sell to competing farms. To this end, farms with big dreams have resorted to building their hatcheries to grow their own foundation stocks. One of such farms is Premium Aquaculture Limited, Epe, which has established a farm and hatchery with the capacity of producing 4,500 tonnes of fish yearly when all its ponds are ready. The company is operating a fully integrated system, including broodstock selection and maintenance, hatchery/ nursery operations, grow out and distribution of catfish and tilapia. The company has mapped out an investment portfolio of about $100 million in the production of African catfish and tilapia to the annual production level of 4,500 and 15,000 metric tonnes. At its Epe location, the farm has started catfish production in more than 15 large earthen ponds out of the planned 90. According to the farm Project Manager, Sarvesh Pandey, the entry into the aquaculture business is to key into the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and to help bridge the gap in fish supply shortfall. Having plans to expand fish production nationally, Pandey said fish hatcheries are a key component of the fish value-chain. This is because they provide feeder stocks which fish farmers require to sustain supply. For watchers, the non-availability of good starter stocks is a primary constraint on the broader development of fish farming. In most cases, most fish farmers depend on supplies of fingerlings transported over long distance, resulting in considerable losses. This is what Pandey would like to avoid. To other fish farmers, the challenge is that fingerlings are available at a high cost, but are not quality breed for them to

•A hatchery pond

nurture to maturity. Having addressed this, Pandey sees the hatchery producing thousands of fish each year and getting sufficient supplies to meet increasing market demands nationwide. The company foresees some marketing advantages that will partially offset the competitive environment they will face as its operations expand. All of their fish will be domestically produced with highly traceable raw materials, and free of mercury, pollutants and carcinogens. Maximising water utilisation and environmental impacts will also allow the company to reach out to environmentally-conscious consumers. The company is planning for a second hatchery as part of another fish farm to be established in Abeokuta. The cheery news is that the company would provide employment opportunity for about 500 Nigerians in the two establishments. He said the company would train local experts that would work in the two farms, saying that a lot of researches have been carried out on what species of fish to invest on and where to start the production. He hinted that the company would be committing an investment worth about $100 million on the production of catfish and tilapia fish in both

• Beniga

• Pandey

Epe and Abeokuta farms, adding that the company has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority to go into tilapia fish farming. He explained: “We are doing the cage culture in Oyin River Dam in Ogun. We have acquired six hectares of land there and we are already planning that around 150kg of fish will be farmed there. So if it is done, we are planning around 15,000 metric tonnes there.” On Epe farm, we have the plan of 4,500 metric tonnes of catfish every year.

Farm Manager, Jagadeesha Gowda, said the farm in Epe has been able to stock seven ponds out of the projected 90 since it started in January, saying the remaining ponds would be stocked subsequently, as shortage of fingerlings has been hindering production of fish in the country. He said the company decided to get involved in the hatchery business to raise fingerling for its catfish production that the company sells in the local market. To farmers, fingerlings, or young fish, are to aquaculture what seeds are to rice farming. Without good

fingerlings, a successful harvest is impossible. To produce good stock however, it requires good quality of water supply and improved hatchery management practices. The company’s hatchery is expected to produce more than 100,000 fingerlings which will be stocked into nursery ponds. He explained that the hatchery is poised to play an important role supporting the expansion of the fish farm by providing the fish stock. The set-up according to him, is to have a good recirculating aquaculture system (RAS): uncomplicated, user-friendly and wellbuilt. Right now, the project is bound to succeed due in large part, to a range of technologies introduced by the aquaculture specialist. As hatchery supervisor, he takes a paternal pride in the catfish raised there. During the hatchery process, Beniga takes eggs and milt, or sperm, from female and male fish, and fertalises them. Typically, the hatcheries grow fish for commercial production. He pours the fertilised eggs from one female into a tray in the incubation room. After incubation, the fingerlings are then transferred to nursery tanks. Across the room , circulation pumps generate currents to “exercise” the fish. He works with the hatchery technicians to monitor and manage water clarity and nutrients in the ponds, resulting in better fingerlings. Species-specific nutrition programmes and proper stocking densities are observed to help facilitate rapid growth. Beniga helps the workers to monitor, as well as detect and respond to diseases early to maximise fingerlings growth. As hatchery supervisor, hetakes a paternal pride in the catfish raisedthere. His major assignment is managing the hatcheries process. Through experience, he tries to minimise genetic risk by selecting fish that return at different times and breeding with as many different parents as possible. However, in recent years, catfish producers have been struggling to keep their heads above water, avoiding the waves of a slow economy, high feed costs, and fish imports from foreign countries. To help farmers, West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) is looking at breeding, nutrition, genetics, and management practices to produce a better catfish.

ATA: Cellulant’s e-wallet processes 70m transactions

HE e-wallet technology deployed by Cellulant Nigeria Limited to aid the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in the past three years has processed more than 70 million transactions and has been used to deliver more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of fertiliser and improved seeds. The firm that has been at the heart of government’s agricultural transformation programmes has also been commended for the significant roles it is playing in the Federal

Government’s ATA. In recent times, Cellulant was recognised as Agroinnovator of the Year, at the Agroinnovate Conference, while the Chief Executive Officer, Cellulant Nigeria, Mr. BolajiAkinboro, received the Outstanding Contributor to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda award at the recently concluded Agroivest 2015. The recognitions have come as a result of the innovation called e-wallet that was invented in Nigeria by Cellulant Nigeria Limited, under the guidance of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina. It will be recalled that in 2011, Cellulant Corporation, was contracted to develop the technology for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Program and also to provide program management support to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). Cellulant, within 90 days, not only put the technology together, but led the delivery on the ground in 754 local governments and 87,300 villages. The grip of the cabal that had held Nigeria’s farmers hostage for more than 40 years on the purse

of government was broken. Based on the success of the GES programme, many local and international industry players have commended it. Among them was Chairman, Nigeria Cassava Growers’ Association, Delta branch Mr. Justus Kachukwu,. Kachukwu said that GES enabled farmers in the state to receive cassava stems early in the year and promptly plant the crop which have been yielding bumper harvest. Similarly, agricultural experts from Tanzania lauded the scheme and have even embarked on un-

derstudying it. A two-member team led by Damian Gabagambi and Chaboba Nkangwa, who were sent by the Tanzanian Central Government to understudy the operational modalities of GES commended the scheme. The government is now evolving this platform into an end-to-end payment system for agriculture called the Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI). “Because of this e-wallet system; Nigerian farmers can now say; “thank God Almighty, We are free at last,” the Cellulant boss said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

cannot understand the basis for endorsing an ad‘ Iministration that had been criticised by the Afenifere leaders for marginalising the Southwest. What has changed now that they want the Yorubas to overlook? ... 84 D AYS TO GO ...84 DA

‘

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has joined a section of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the futility of the campaign in a region that has a reputation for rejecting inept leadership and its implications for the elections.

Fallacy of Jonathan’s Southwest endorsement T

HE Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has joined the train of President Goodluck Jonathan’s promoters in the Southwest, when it endorsed his re-election bid recently. Previously, the council had maintained a neutral position, saying the presidency. But, members of the group led by Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo paid a surprise visit to President Jonathan at State House, Marina, Lagos, apparently to express its support for his second term bid. During the visit, members of the delegation commended the president for offering good leadership to the country. Besides, Gen. Adebayo-led a powerful delegation to the post-National Conference Summit organised by the leaders of the Afenifere and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Premier Hotel, Ibadan. Analysts have described the sudden volte-face of YCE as ridiculous, saying it has seriously undermined its integrity. They reasoned that YCE is supposed to be apolitical adding that aligning itself with a political party will make it lose its dignity. Afenifere and YCE hinged their decision to support the President on their desire to see the recommendation of last year’s National Conference implemented by the man who convened the conference. But, the Deputy Leader of Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, was not swayed by that reasoning. He asked whether it is only Jonathan has the exclusive ability to implement the report. Fasanmi said: “Those who endorsed President Jonathan based their decision among other reasons on his commitment to implement the outcome of the National Conference. However, the outcome of the conference will require a constitutional amendment. Hence, it is the national and states assembly that have the power to incorporate the conference resolutions into the constitution. So, the President has minimal not pivotal role to play in this matter.” Former Senate Minority Leader Olorunnimbe Mamora, aligned himself with Fasanmi’s position that the President does not have the exclusive right of implementing the recommendations of the conference. “The implementation cannot be done outside the National Assembly. The report is a public document that can be implemented by whoever wins the presidential election. The issue of true federalism, devolution of power and fiscal federalism recommended by the National Conference are contained in the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto. I can assure you that if Buhari is elected, he will ensure that the report is implemented. On the directive that the Yoruba should vote for Jonathan in the rescheduled March 28 presidential election, Afenifere chieftain Senator Biyi Durojaiye said it is illogical. He said, he could not understand the criteria or the rationale for the endorsement of Jonathan by both the Afenifere and the YCE, which directed the Yorubas to cast their votes for him.

•Adebayo

•Fasanmi

•Adebanjo

He said: “I cannot understand the basis for endorsing an administration that had been criticised by the Afenifere leaders for marginalising the Southwest. What has changed now that they want the Yorubas to overlook? Is it because Jonathan has engaged some Yoruba elements to castigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo? “I am amazed that some Yoruba leaders are asking our people to support a government that lacks good morals, that has the tenacity to hold on to power at all costs, that changes the rule of the game at its convenience, that plots to remove the chief electoral umpire.” Fasanmi said it was too late for Jonathan to be making promises of appointing a Yoruba person into a high position after his re-election. “Despite the fact that Jonathan won five states in the Southwest in 2011 with 2.7 million votes, the people from this zone play minimal role in his administration. Even when he appointed Southwesterners into his cabinet, they were not assigned strategic portfolios,” he added The Second Republic senator regretted that his colleagues, including Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo spearheaded the endorsement without sparing a thought of the future. He said the Awoists calling on the Southwest to vote for President Jonathan have mocked their antecedent and rich history of struggle for a better Nigeria. He challenged the Afenifere leaders to list the achievements of President Jonathan in the Southwest that could warrant their endorsement

of his candidature. He said the Jonathan administration has marginalised the region in the distribution of appointments and amenities, wondering why the Afenifere chieftains are rooting for his re-election. President of Yoruba Consultative Group (YCG), Chief Ayo Adegoke, advised President Jonathan not to be deceived by the political jobbers, who have been assuring him that they would win Southwest votes for him. He said President Jonathan should not expect bulk vote from the southwest in 2015. According to him, what happened in 2011 will not play out this time around. Adegoke stated: “Jonathan got sympathy votes in the Southwest in 2011 not because of the PDP, but because he came from the minority group that had never ruled this country. The same Jonathan has squandered that opportunity and relegated the Southwest to the background in the scheme of things. When he was not allowed to take over the leadership of the country at the time the late President Umaru Yar’Adua travelled abroad for medical treatment, it was the people of Southwest that fought for him. “Despite the goodwill the people of Southwest accorded him in 2011, what did they benefit from his government? Instead most Yoruba holding senior positions in civil service lost their jobs. Jonathan should not be misled by the selfserving groups like the Afenifere and the YCE that the Yoruba would vote for him. The so-called leaders lack electoral value; some of them

cannot win in their wards.” Adegoke described the Southwest as the traditional home of the progressives. I don’t see a situation whereby the Yoruba would for any reason this time around abandon the APC, which was co-founded by their leaders and other like minds across the country. He said the politics of the Southwest is based on principle and peoples interest. It is not possible for the people of this region to vote for the PDP, given the performances of the APC governors in the zone, he added. A PDP chieftain confided in our correspondent that it will be herculean for the party to score the required 25 per cent in Southwest states during the presidential election in the Southwest let alone winning the states. He agreed that the Jonathan administration marginalised the region, in spite of the goodwill of the people towards him during the 2011 presidential election. He said: “I share the view that we do not deserve Yoruba support this time around. The people of the Southwest voted massively for Jonathan in 2011. It is a general cake that has to be shared among those who contributed to its baking. “We went to Abuja on this issue. All the PDP governors and leaders were there to confront President Jonathan. He promised to rectify the anomaly after 2015 elections. Apart from ministerial appointment, which is constitutional, what have we gained from Jonathan’s administration so far? We have nothing to show for the massive support he got from

‘I am amazed that some Yoruba leaders are asking our people to support a government that lacks good morals, that has the tenacity to hold on to power at all costs, that changes the rule of the game at its convenience, that plots to remove the chief electoral umpire’

Southwest in 2011.” A lawyer, Tolu Afolabi, said the self-appointed leaders of the Yoruba should know their limitations. He said: “Nobody appointed either the Afenifere or the Yoruba Council of Elders to speak on behalf of the Yoruba race. The Yoruba know what is good for them. They can decide for themselves. Those promising Jonathan Southwest votes are on their own.” Afolabi noted that the leadership of the Afenifere and the YCE have betrayed the Yoruba race by endorsing an administration that marginalised their region in terms of appointments and infra-structural development. “At a time when the people of Southwest like other progressives across the country are yearning for a change they are asking us to vote for a government that has failed,” he said. “The political setting that made people to vote for Jonathan in 2011, irrespective of party affiliation, has changed. The political leadership of the Southwest at that time interacted with their colleagues in government to give him solid votes, but that situation does not exist today. Jonathan and his foot soldiers should face the reality that the Southwest is a no-go area. “The new political leadership in the Southwest represented by the APC has been consistent with the principle of protecting the general interest of the Yoruba, which Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood for all his life. That principle made him more popular in death. Awo is revered because of his landmark achievements in education, health, agriculture and rural development that stood him out among his peers. The so called Awoists should retrace their steps and stop ridiculing themselves. On the claim by the Afenifere that they are supporting Jonathan because he is from the South, the lawyer said the group has betrayed Awo’s philosophy and his political approach. Afolabi said: “Awolowo never discriminated against the North in expanding his political empire. “Awo’s Action Group (AG) went into alliance with the United Middle Belt Congress led by the late J.S. Tarka and the Borno Youth Movement in the First Republic. The political horizon of the late sage widened in the Second Republic when he signed a pact with the Concerned Citizens of the North led by the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua in 1983. That explains why Awo was able to pick a Fulani man, Alhaji Muhammadu Kura, as running mate. The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) performed better in the presidential election in the North in 1983 compared to 1979. “It will be wrong of the Afenifere leaders to describe the coming together of the mainstream politicians of Yoruba extraction and their counterparts from the North as a sellout. Awo started it and he even predicted that the progressives of the North and the South would come together one day to rescue the country.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

The NFF-Keshi shenanigans •So sad, Nigeria’s football authorities can’t seem to hire a coach!

IGERIA’S senior football team, the Super Eagles, has been without a coach for nearly six months running. What this means is that Nigeria has no national football coach, that face of every nation’s football prowess and pride. It also means that Nigeria’s foot-balling powerhouse, the senior team, has been circumscribed for so long, leaving it in disarray and in retreat. Friendly matches with Brazil, South Africa and Ghana have been outside our ken since then. If football had not become one of the most significant pastimes of not only the world youth but, the entire humanity, this would be no matter of concern. But football has not only become modern man’s most loved game, it is also one of his biggest businesses. Not the least, it is one of the most structured and gainful ways of engaging today’s youth. Football, therefore, is gradually becoming among the most important national strategic assets and serious nations are not leaving anything to chance in maximising its potentials. As in all other spheres of endeavour, Nigeria’s leadership does not seem to pay attention to matters, weighty or otherwise. In fact we tend to wonder whether our government knows the difference or cares at that. This must explain why over six months after Nigeria’s Super Eagles disgracefully failed to qualify for the last African Cup of Nations (ACN), a tournament in which she was defending champions, she still cannot manage to

install a coach. Most other countries of Africa that needed to change their coaches had done so in transparent, structured and competitive processes. But if Nigeria was a land of aberrations, our football house under the aegis of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is the operational template of that morass. It is a house of intrigues and endless shenanigans. It has long become the migraine of a multitudinous Nigerian football lovers and the nemesis of even the world football house, FIFA. Its misbehaviour has neither limits nor methods. After its failure at the Nations Cup, South Africa promptly recruited another coach, an open process in which even out-offavour Nigeria’s coach, Stephen Keshi participated. It is the same report with Burkina Faso. She accomplished hers barely two weeks after the close of the Nation’s Cup last February. After leading the Super Eagles to a glorious Nations Cup victory in South Africa in 2013, Keshi has accomplished little since then and the team has been in the doldrums. It is obvious that Nigerians do not want him any longer and indeed, would love to pave a new path. But the NFF always embroiled in self-serving intrigues has shied to do the right thing. Need we reiterate the importance of the round leather game and the significance of a nation’s senior coach to the NFF? Need we remind them that without a respected and quality senior national coach, it would be difficult to make real progress in a nation’s football? A national

coach is the face and icon of a country. Successful, trophy-winning ones are national heroes, more loved than presidents. We appeal to the folks at the NFF to stop making a laughing stock of our great foot-balling nation; they should stop fooling around and do the right thing. There are standard templates for employing national coaches across the world. If they need our advice, they should stand Keshi down immediately and call for applications from all over the world, including Nigeria. Including Keshi! A technical panel would assess and pick the best that fits our requirements, terms and conditions. This process is so simple; as simple as ABC and it can be done in two weeks flat!

‘We appeal to the folks at the NFF to stop making a laughing stock of our great foot-balling nation; they should stop fooling around and do the right thing. There are standard templates for employing national coaches across the world. If they need our advice, they should stand Keshi down immediately and call for applications from all over the world, including Nigeria. Including Keshi!’

Abubakar Gimba (1952 – 2015) • A literary icon departs

HEN a literator leaves the world of letters in the context of death, it is a time to reflect on the potential immortality of the literary creation. It is true to say that more than any other aspect of his multi-dimensional life, Malam Abubakar Gimba’s writing life was the one most likely to earn him a place to stand long after he is no more. His passing on February 25 in Minna, Niger State, brought this reality to the fore. It is instructive that, as a mark of respect to the departed former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) between 1997 and 2001, another previous chief of the group, Dr. Wale Okediran, unveiled a writer’s award named after Gimba. Okediran said: “The annual literature prize will be known as the Abubakar Gimba Prize for Short Stories Collection, and will be initially worth N200, 000, with another N100, 000 for its administration. It is my hope that since the announcements for this year’s prizes have not been made, the new prize can commence from this year.” Gimba, who was aged 63 and born in Nasarawa, not only made history as the

‘Symbolically, against the backdrop of the country’s ongoing terror war to counter Islamist rebels opposed to Western education, Gimba’s activities as a Muslim writer and his adoption of English as his medium made powerful statements about his enlightenment as well as his social vision’

first writer of northern origin to head the ANA, his body of work established him as a prominent contemporary English language-novelist from Northern Nigeria. His fictional books include Trial of sacrifice (1985), Witnesses to tears (1986), Sunset for a Mandarin (1991), Sacred apples (1994), A Toast in the Cemetery (2002) and Letter to the Muslim Fundamentalist (2004). Significantly, he was a writer who took his writing seriously, even if his realist mode was not particularly notable. It is noteworthy that the Niger State government acknowledged Gimba’s role in the state’s educational development, especially his contribution as the foundation Implementation Committee Chairman of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai, and the first Pro-Chancellor of the university. Also, he played an important part in the process leading to the establishment of the University of Education, Minna. “It will not be out of place if we name the University of Education after him,” the state’s acting governor was quoted as saying. His background as an economist, with first and second degrees in Economics, earned from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the USA, made his literary passion a subject of enduring fascination. It is a reflection of his remarkable enthusiasm for creative writing that in the year 2000 he attended the University of Iowa’s prestigious writing programme with support from the US Embassy in Nigeria. Interestingly, Gimba’s legacy in the service of Literature outshines his extra-literary involvements, including positions as

Executive Director of United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Union Bank of Nigeria and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Niger State, and chairman of the Concern Foundation and Savannah Publications Ltd. He will be remembered and appreciated for his enthusiastic effort to give the ANA a truly national outlook and image during his tenure as the body’s president. It is illuminating that Okediran who worked with him as general secretary at the time said: “Gimba was a very methodical ANA President who used his connections in government and business circles to get funding for the association’s programmes. He was also quite committed to the growth of the association. Several times, he used his personal financial resources to run ANA. It is on record that during his tenure, we were able to secure a certificate of occupancy for the ANA land in Abuja. Until he became President, it was difficult to do this.” Symbolically, against the backdrop of the country’s ongoing terror war to counter Islamist rebels opposed to Western education, Gimba’s activities as a Muslim writer and his adoption of English as his medium made powerful statements about his enlightenment as well as his social vision. In particular, Gimba’s sponsorship of an annual Schools Carnival of Art and Festival of Songs in Niger State for 10 years demonstrated his cultural essence. It is a tribute to his value that the Federal Government honoured him with a national decoration, the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

Adieu Gimba, my mentor

IR: Life has taught me that attaining greatness is simply a question of the array of individuals you associate with, the books you read, places you go to and God’s unmerited grace available to all. The late Abubakar Gimba, author of the famous, Witnesses To Tears, Sunset For A Mandarin, Sacred Apples, Footprints among other titles was one individual that I cultivated a distant, but very beneficial relationship with. What later blossomed into a father and son kind of affiliation began when I first read his awardwinning novel, Witnesses to Tears as one of the recommended texts for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board exams more than a decade ago. I so fell in love with the book that I pleasurably read it over and over again. The almost flawless text has the trappings of a good literary effort. The simple diction, flawless grammar, consistent concord and flowery line of narration made the book second to none. The book fired up my passion for literature, arts and creativity generally. Witnesses to Tears is more than a novel, it is a complete dossier of what art represents - life, fulfilment, pleasure, freedom and exploration. Strangely however, we never had physical contact before he passed on last week. All I know and understand about this literary Iroko are largely based on his works and the confessional statements of his countless apostles, like BM Dzukogi. Having consumed several of his brilliant weekly columns in both Weekly Trust and Tribune Newspapers, the only thing left for me to do was meeting him in person. I enjoyed his line of thoughts. His arguments were devoid of pettiness, clannish considerations or religious bigotry. He was not a typical Nigerian columnist whose interventions are basically to either defend or promote narrow and often parochial considerations. Malam Abubakar Gimba was a man who used his pen to correct societal ills. His literary interventions were quite legendary, very enlightening and laced with strong lessons. His arguments were people-driven, broad-based and filled with penetrating anecdotes needed for deep reasoning. He was much more interested in promoting issues that will better the lots of everyone. He was by any standard, a true nationalist and statesman. He related so well with Nigerians across ethnic, religious or tribal divides. He was not a man known for parochialism. So many tongues wagged when, out of sheer conviction and the need to promote unity in diversity, he chose to begin a weekly column in the Ibadanbased Tribune Newspapers. Many wondered what a core northerner of Gimba’s standing could be doing with a paper outside his territory. In his passing, humanity is robbed of one its finest minds. The literary community is in somber mood. The body of patriotic Nigerians has lost a consistent member. An ‘A-Class’ writer has exited the stage. • Abdullahi Yunusa Kubwa, Abuja.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: As political hawks hover about and around in their bid to grab power to, perhaps, enable them as usual, to loot the nation’s wealth rather than serve the interest of the people, anyone who grew up during the struggle for independence is bound to lament over what has been happening in the country for a long time now. In particular, such a person is bound to be deeply touched by the news of the death of Chief Chukwuma Anueyiagu, a unique nationalist, who contributed selflessly and immensely to the struggle for Nigeria’s independence. I remember the late Anueyiagu as the editor of The Nigerian Spokesman, one of Zik Group of Newspapers then published at Onitsha with the motto: That Man Shall Not Be a Wolf to Man. I still remember vividly his advertisement for news that read: If a Dog Bites a Man, It Is No News, But If A Man Bites A Dog, Then It Is News. If Anything Newsworthy Happens In Your Community, Take Up Your Pen And Write To The Nigerian Spokesman. I also remember that he preached the five planks of ZIKISM on the pages of the newspaper to wit – (1)Spiritual Balance, by which is meant respect for the opinion of others; (2) Social Regeneration, which meant the jettisoning of all forms of prejudice, be they racial, national, tribal, societal, religious, political, economic or ethical; the realisation that an African is an African no matter where he was born; (3) Economic Determinism, which taught the realisation that economic self-sufficiency on a sane basis is the ultimate means to the salvation of the Renascent African; (4) Mental Emancipation, which states that the African must develop mentally as he is not intellectually inferior to other races, for mental slavery is worse than physical slavery; (5) National Risorgimento which assured that if the Renascent African cultivated spiritual balance, experienced social regeneration, realized economic determinism, and created a condition whereby he is mentally emancipated to appreciate his manifest destiny in the world, then he would expect national risorgimento.

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Anueyiagu, unsung icon of journalism Anueyiagu was one of the most erudite of such editors that carried out his own campaign with such zeal that beggared description. So efficient was he that served as editor of virtually all newspapers in the Zik Group. He served for six clear years as Editor-in-Chief of the West African Pilot, the premier and most important newspaper of the group. Anueyiagu’s editorials were so fiery that the British authorities in Nigeria saw them as seditious and

sent him to prison several times. A man of principle, who always had the courage of his conviction, he could not be intimidated by the British imperialist. One had expected that after independence the government of Nigeria would have recognized and honoured Chief Chukwuma Anueyiagu and others who performed as political foot soldiers during the struggle for independence (Mokwugo Okoye, Raji

Abdalah, Osita Agwuna to mention only a few). But those in power after independence preferred to honour such persons as were described by nationalists during colonial times as Uncle Toms, political lackeys and fifth columnists. However, God honoured him with longevity as Anueyiagu died at the age of 100 years in a country where life expectancy is below 50 years. As Nigerians continue to develop the penchant for forgetting

the people of yesterday, they spend so much time and expend so much energy singing the praise of the people of today, even when they are unworthy of such praises. In the process, they build monuments to perpetuate the memory of those who have left no memory. But the men of today must realise that they themselves would become the men of yesterday only tomorrow and that tomorrow is very much in sight. They would be wise to stop polishing pebbles and darkening diamonds, start giving honour to whom it is due and to learn that, “When the high heart we magnify, and the sure vision celebrate and worship greatness passing by, ourselves are great.” • Emmanuel Orji, Awka, Anambra State

AIT, now FG’s megaphone?

IR: EVERY single business person that is benign enough to set up an establishment like AIT (Africa Independent Television) needs to be congratulated especially in a country that is not investor-friendly. It is also praiseworthy, if the prefix of the organisation’s name is ‘Independent’. One imagines it therefore, to be as independent as the BBC in the discharge of its duty without seeming to be choked especially - if it is not government funded, and run. I have followed this station over the years from its unsettled days in the mid-1990s up and until this moment. How can I forget Jika Attoh’s Kakaaki back then? The packages those days were first class, but, the station is quickly losing its respect by my assessment. In 2009, when I watched without fail, I noticed that guest analysts invited to the studio used to be skewed in favour of the masses such that government policies were queried impartially but it is different these days especially during this political dispensation. I have noticed that no day passes by these days without a negative advertisement on Buhari. Not that this is bad. Politicking involves the

throwing up of sludge and flak on opponents and, it is up to the masses to filter the tall tales bandied on the screen of truth. Buhari as a political figure ought to know that politics is murky as well. What is disturbing is that there isn’t such balance with regards to the opposition. I do not see the advertisement of the opposition (APC) aired as frequent as that of the ruling party (PDP). The times I saw advertisement by the opposition, the catch word, ‘sponsored’ was boldly displayed on screen. But this is not always the case with damaging advertisement on Buhari. Some do not state that they are ‘sponsored.’ Is that station becoming insularly partisan, the same way NTA became many years back which made many a Nigerian to look elsewhere for current news (the bulk of my television watching on NTA today is the nine o’clock news). Is it any wonder then, that another television house for eight years non-stop has won the television station of the year. Could they have achieved this feat if they were partisan? I watched a people’s parliament on AIT on the need for the placement of the military at election cen-

tres for the elections. All of the reactions aired supported military’s presence in the forth-coming elections. To think that government supports the use of the military: Is it possible for a journalist to go to the street in quest of views only to come back with same findings? Is it also possible to distribute questionnaires and then have responders submit same conclusions with no variance? The female anchors on Kakaaki who interviewed the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President GoodLuck Jonathan, on Thursday, March 5, need be reminded, that a feature interview, with a statesman on sensitive national issues, must be handled with such proficiency, as is, done at other mass media like CNN, Aljazeera, Sky News etc. without an intermittent, informal, laughing gaffes, as exhibited on that day: for the hope of many Nigerians rest on what a sitting president have to say. There is the need for Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to set up a television watch body because the importance of television cannot be over emphasized. Millions of people watch feature interviews, documentaries and news daily but what should they

be watching? Especially as it doesn’t require much effort to watch television as much as the tortuous mental strain required to read newspapers. Any negative appearance aired certainly will linger in the minds of people. I hope AIT can be as independent as other international broadcast media to give us a bird’s eye view as well as a worm’s eye view of all issues. I hope its management also take criticisms seriously with the view to firming up the Nigeria’s news media. Could the management also separate its views from that of the advertised views aired on its channel: this will let us know that it is not pandering totally towards the present federal government. But should it want to be a progovernment news media, could they let us know, so we know what to expect daily. Just the way some Americans of the Republican Party tune in to Fox Channels daily to catch up on anti-Democratic news or Aljazeera which is slightly antiAmerica. • Simon Abah Port-Harcourt, Rivers State

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 16

COMMENTS

This shameful thing that is still happening… Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

S you read, a shameful thing is recurring; men in their teens are meeting to determine the fate of the Nigerian State. Apology to teens, for many a teen have been proven to possess the intellect and soul of a man of 40 and above. It is amusing to see the so-called best amongst us: career youth leaders, activists, journalists, actors, musicians, artisans, professional associations and so on, court the devils we swore to divorce. Today, such characters parade themselves as representatives and spokespersons for the Nigerian youth. They are meeting with representatives of the ruling party and its rivals. They meet to chart a game plan; an almighty formula by which the ruling class may enslave us, for the umpteenth time. That has to pale in the face of logic; it does. Things are supposed to be different now but they aren’t. As the 2015 elections draw near, familiar trolls are joining hands with the devious and sly amongst us; their intent is to use us against us in their customary plot to rob us silly. The end result of course, can be better imagined.

Money changes everything. It vitiates the soul of the Nigerian youth. Although the need of it makes us human, loving it could be practical but an obsession with it drives us to the brink, it shows us up, upside-down and inside-out; as men of vulpine souls and intellect, eternally forsworn to despise honour for the love of mammon and associated luxury. Many have argued that we can never sell out by playing muscle to the ruling class. “We are only enjoying our share of our collective wealth that they steal from us,” they claim, even as we get ready to be courted and plied with easy money and other inducement, by the same politicians that habitually treat us with disdain, until the elections approach. Whatever justification we choose to give to it, a bribe is a bribe. And more often than not, it changes relations. Once accepted, it vitiates a large chunk of the essence of the recipient, making him inferior, like a man who has paid to lie with a skunk the same way the impotent pays to be sodomized by a horse, thinking it would cure him of his impotence and aid him to sire by a

‘Whatever justification we choose to give to it, a bribe is a bribe. And more often than not, it changes relations. Once accepted, it vitiates a large chunk of the essence of the recipient, making him inferior, like a man who has paid to lie with a skunk the same way the impotent pays to be sodomized by a horse, thinking it would cure him of his impotence and aid him to sire by a woman, a blessed child’

VERY rare civil servant, Alhaji Gidado Idris, GCON, will be 80 on Sunday March 15. He has served his country for 42 years.And he has seen it all. He has shaped and witnessed history in his years of service. An adage says” If you let me frame the question, I will get the answer I want”. Alhaji Gidado Idris, born into the royal Idris family in the ancient city of Zaria, framed the question of his career in the civil service years ago and got the answer by arising to the highest pinnacle of his profession before retiring in 1999. Soft spoken and highly principled, he cultivated a high degree of friendship from the lowest to the highest, across the country. He is like an encyclopaedia of events with accurate dates. He remembers all and forgets nothing. A trusted aide to the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello (1910-1966), first and last premier of Northern Nigeria. An in-law to President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, a trusted friend to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida (72), General Sani Abacha (1943-1998), General Abdusalam Abubakar and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. A very close aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo who gave him the national honour of CON in 1978. His wife Hajia Maryam Idris was the best friend of Hajia Maryam Babangida (1948-2009) - a friendship that started from their school days as secretariat students at the Federal Training Centre, Kaduna and spanned over 40 years until Maryam Babangida died on December 27, 2009 in a Los Angeles hospital in the United States of America. He cherishes friendship and builds trust among friends. On the directive of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Gidado Idris drafted and typed the dethronement letter of the former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammed Sanusi, the father of the present Emir, in August 1963. A copy of the letter is still with him today. On January 14, 1966, the then Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (1910-1966) in company of Chief Richard Abimbola Osuolale Akinjide (84) flew to Kaduna in a chartered helicopter to warn Sir Ahmadu Bello of an imminent coup d’état and of a grand plan to eliminate some key politicians including both of them. Sir Ahmadu Bello advised Chief Akintola that there was no point running from the country and if he was truly the leader of his people, it was most honourable to die among the people. Shortly after their departure back to Ibadan, Sir Ahmadu took a drive round Kaduna in an open car. Seated beside Ahmadu Bello was Gidado Idris. A few hours later Ahmadu Bello was killed. With others Alhaji Gidado Idris arranged a befitting burial for the late premier according to Muslim rites. Few days later, Major Chukwuma Patrick Kaduna Nzeogwu (1937-1967) assumed power in Kaduna. He then appointed

woman, a blessed child. The folly of our ways shall soon dawn on us, as it did, few days after we installed the current dispensation. The meek and humble leadership we thought we had installed evolved to become one of the worst tyrannies Nigeria would ever produce. It’s worse than any other, given Mr. President’s manipulability by the murder of crows he has surrounded himself with. A brilliant tyrant could be trusted to a certain degree of depth and capacity to lead but a manipulable tyrant is infinitely more dangerous, as he cannot be trusted beyond his blandness, intellectual handicaps and devious plots of his coven of cronies, advisers and kitchen cabinet. Sadly, in the corrupted currents of the world such men have foisted upon us, we can only devise more alluring ways to play dumb and project our generation as easy marks for the ruling class to exploit. The current liaisons between the ruling class and the so-called representatives of the Nigerian youth portend an ominous development. It presages the continued enslavement of the Nigerian youth and our incapacitation by obscene inducements and gifts of grandeur; the perpetuation of a system in which the youth are psychologically confined and broken by financial inducements, dubious segregation and manipulative politics; a situation in which the sentimental fops amongst us are programmed by rumors, innuendo and outright falsehood to shun the path to progress and tow the fast lane to destruction. Many argue that the major problem afflicting Nigeria is the dearth of inspired leadership drawn from the nation’s youth. A converse view advances the

presence of eminently capable persons out there, many of whom have failed to altruistically and responsibly apply themselves because like every other Nigerian, they are too busy looking out for themselves. Potential heroes we could rely on have learnt the wisdom in keeping silent. They tactfully scoff at our romanticized wish to abolish the status quo, knowing that, as usual, we would settle for an opportunistic contract between our exploiters (the government) and a part of the exploited (labour and youth leadership), at the expense of the rest of the exploited (you, me and everyone) – something Noel Ignatin aptly identifies as “the original sweetheart agreement.” I recommend as usual, peaceful revolt guided by probity and a conscious quest to achieve the collective good within the ambit of fairness, equity and unflinching morality. Without such humane attributes, every measure we adopt will fail. Policies and practicable solutions are mere words on paper; they can only be activated by our conscious efforts to actualise them. Mr. President, the National Assembly, the judiciary, our 36 State governors and political parties are indisputably worthless and impotent without the support of the Nigerian youth. These societal creatures depend on our goodwill to survive. It’s about time we stopped playing disposable muscles and junkyard dogs to them. Money and other inducements they dangle before us shall be exhausted sooner than we can ever imagine. If we are indeed serious about installing visionary leadership capable of steering us from the threshold of ruin to the portal of hope and social renaissance, we have to start now. The Nigerian youth needs a platform. We need a more concrete forum than Facebook and Twitter.

We need to create a rallying point by which we could sit to determine a bloodless path to a promising future. Yes, the current leadership won’t relinquish power easily hence our need to act. Let us identify and vote into power that particular breed whose idealism and pragmatism capably understands our painful silences and heartfelt dreams in order to speak and actualize them. Let us begin to ignore those who would desert us no sooner than they regain their hold on power. I speak of men and women that would recoil into their exclusive homes in Banana Island, Lagos, their palatial estates in Abuja, and fashionable neighbourhoods in Europe at the barest sign of chaos. There, they isolate themselves from the tragedies that mar our world by indulging in unrestrained hedonism and extravagant consumption of their ill-acquired wealth. We, the suffering masses are however, repressed with greater ferocity every time we protest. Our resources are being depleted; soon they will be exhausted. And then our hollowed-out edifice will collapse. Impoverished and severely robbed of optimism, we, the hopeless masses will rise against the ruling class in a premeditated and very savage strike – of which we shall suffer the worst consequence. Like in all such uprisings, Nigeria will plunge into a canyon of blood and maniacal murders, in the name of the “revolution.” The Roman and Sumerian empires fell this way. The Mayan elite became, at the end, as the anthropologist Ronald Wright notes in A Short History of Progress, “...extremists, or ultraconservatives, squeezing the last drops of profit from nature and humanity.” This is how all civilizations ossify and collapse. Today, we tow a similar path.

As Gidado Idris hits 80 By Eric Teniola Mr. Ignatius Julius Dawer Dulong as the Secretary to Government and head of Service in the absence of Alhaji Alli Akilu who was hidden by the Northern Nigeria Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammadu Diko Yusuf from being killed. In the present day Nigeria such an appointment will be greeted with thanksgiving but Ambassador Ignatius Julius Dawer Dulong declined the appointment insisting that he was junior to Alhaji Akilu and that procedure must be followed. Alhaji Gidado Idris who witnessed the drama once told me “that in life one must be righteous in all things”. Incidentally Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf became the third Inspector General of Police and served between 19751979. He was the one who brought the traditional rulers from Northern Nigeria to the Ibadan meeting between July 27 to 30, 1966, during which General Johnson Thomas Uwanaikwe Ironsi (1924-1966) was killed. He co-ordinated their safety back through Ibadan/Ilorin to their respective palaces. The constituent assembly adjourned sine die on June 5, 1978 because members of the assembly became headstrong and recalcitrant and wanted to undertake executive responsibilities. The regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo was worried after the adjournment because it wanted to keep its October 1, 1979 pledge. General Obasanjo then summoned the chairman of the assembly and former Chief Justice of Uganda (63-39), Mr. Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (1919-1998) and Alhaji Gidado Idris on June 7 1978 to Dodan Barracks the then seat of government with an order to produce a new constitution before May 1979 so that the Supreme Military Council could ratify the new constitution before departure. With the assistance of the chief draughtsman of the assembly, Justice John Hezekiah Omololu Thomas, Justice Udo Udoma and Alhaji Gidado Idris sat for weeks and months to produce the 254-paged 1979 constitution without reconvening the Constituent Assembly. For doing a good job, General Obasanjo awarded Justice Udo Udoma CFR and equally awarded Alhaji Gidado Idris, CON. After the death of General Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998, it was Alhaji Gidado Idris as the Secretary of the Armed Forces Ruling Council in his position as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who conducted the stormy meeting of the council where General Abdusalam Abubakar emerged as the new Head of State in the early hours of June 9,

1998 in Abuja. I still remember the way and manner he announced the new Head of State to a fatigued media and members of the secretariat of the executive council on that day who had not slept for 26 hours. To me it is still the longest day of my life. Alhaji Gidado was a product of the Institute of Administration, Zaria and that of University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He was appointed District officer for Benue, Sardauna and Adamawa provinces which in the present day Nigeria will be regarded as governor. He later became private and personal secretary to the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello. He served as Permanent Secretary in Kaduna State from 1971 to 1975. He was appointed secretary of the Constitution Drafting Committee in 1975 and in 1976 he was also appointed Secretary of the Constituent Assembly. He was appointed first Clerk of the National Assembly in the presidential system of government in 1979. After the overthrow of the presidential system of government, he was appointed Secretary and Director of Administration, National Institute of Strategic Affairs in Kuru near Jos. When General Sani Abacha took over in November 17, 1993, Alhaji Gidado Idris became the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and a few months later, he was appointed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a post he held till he retired in 1999. Very urbane and shy, Alhaji Gidado Idris is a workaholic. His value has not declined even in retirement for the likes of Emeka Offor, Senator Musa Adede, Alhaji Shehu Malami, Olu Adekunle, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, Col. Sabo Dasuki (rtd.), Col. Lawan Gwadabe (rtd.), Dr. Akin Ogunlewe, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Alhaji Baba Farouk, Dr. Aliyu Babangida and others see him often. Nothing gladdens his heart these days than to watch the Super Eagles and Arsenal football win their matches. He has paid his dues. He is a fulfilled man and totally at peace with himself. • Teniola, former director at the presidency, lives in Lagos.

‘His value has not declined even in retirement ... Nothing gladdens his heart these days than to watch the Super Eagles and Arsenal football win their matches. He has paid his dues. He is a fulfilled man and totally at peace with himself’

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6 , 2015

COMMENTS ‘Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straightforward and simple integrity in another, —— Charles Caleb Colton HE greatest threat to peace in this country today is the barrage of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conservative propagandists portraying falsehood as decent, noble, and patriotic. To these elements, the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public regarding the nation’s authentic debilitating state of affairs, but how best to use concocted ‘facts’ to coat their ineptitude and to deceive the public so as to sustain their hold on power which has so far lasted 16 wasteful years. The last six years under President Jonathan particularly, have so far been a colossal failure. And barely a month to the rescheduled presidential election, Femi Fani-Kayode, DirectorGeneral (DG) of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation has come to epitomise the uncouth verbal assaults on the opposition and people of this country. What readily comes to mind when the name Femi Fani-Kayode comes up in public domain is what again this time. His non-biological names are falsehood, duplicity and contradiction. It is either he is arbitrarily supporting somebody or that he has chosen to come after another person, not necessarily for the sake of principles or national interest but for that of bread and butter. Surrounding him is a façade of lies about honour and integrity - which majority of discerning Nigerians know - have taken flight from him. Though a superbrat lawyer with silverspoon background, Fani-Kayode has not proved to be a worthy ambassador of his generation. He stands for nothing valuable - and sadly for egoistic reasons. Worse still, he defends such ills with rapacious tenacity. He talks without thinking, making negative impact on the polity in most cases. If truly, the only guide to a man’s character is his conscience, and the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his words and actions, according to Winston Churchill, then Fani-Kayode has lost all. He is a man of duplicity that relies more on own illusory personal ethics rather than inner chore character values. In the days leading to the coming general elections, Fani-Kayode continues to justify his appellation of a Rottweiler with promiscuous rage against the interest of majority of Nigerians that are calling for CHANGE from the current regime that Fani-Kayode is currently supporting. But for the fact that he allows duplicitous personal ethics to overshadow his more inner character ethics, he would have

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Fani-Kayode: Rottweiler and his promiscuous rage known that the ‘ P r o j e c t Change’ is a compelling necessity that illicit propaganda accompanied by a bodyguard of lies can not halt. F a n i Kayode, in trying to justify his pay Fani-Kayode and perhaps secure reprieve over past alleged misdeeds while in office, went berserk, attacking anything in sight perceived by him as impediment to his master’s re-election aspiration. Mohammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate was his first target. He accused him of not having school certificate result and of perjury. When all attempts failed in this regard, he called the military general a Boko Haram person; his bid in this regard failed. He sat over political hate campaign against Buhari; that move too boomeranged and when he discovered that the election initially slated for February14 would not favour them, they deployed the military to coerce INEC to shift the polls. His campaign of “one week, several lies” is replete with libel and makes one wondering what has happened to his training as a lawyer. He confirms the fears of his paymasters about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader

IMMENSELY dislike it when someone self-titles himself without reflecting on the nuances of that appellation. Our politicians are most guilty of this. Many politicians blissfully preen when called “godfathers” while joyfully oblivious that the pejorative term is actually derogatory. Among several other titles now flying in our political space is “the issue.” Oyo State’s former Governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja recently gave this new word a fresh meaning in the dynamics surrounding his latest quest to become the state’s governor again. Now, about Senator Ladoja. In my observance of Oyo State’s political terrain before now, I found him excitedly refreshing, especially during his infamous tug-of-war with late Lamidi Adedibu during the latter’s halcyon days of single-handedly bearing Oyo’s political fortunes in his pocket. I felt Ladoja’s doggedness and grace under pressure during those trying times marked him as a progressive worthy of favourable continued scrutiny. But, the same feat which should have earned Ladoja national greatness, heralds his personal tragedy. Maybe, those incidents which led to his impeachment and ostracisation within his former party apparently aged his spirit, stunted his mindset and failed to broaden his outlook. Since his removal from the gubernatorial chambers, he has not convincingly articulated the formerly-noticed endearing virtues that were associated with him. Bit-by-bit, Ladoja has become ensnared in undesirable traits which he accuses the opposition of. This new Ladoja is glaring in the volley of exchanges between him and incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The exchanges reveal the former governor’s readiness to stumble over the pits of infamy in order to join the ranks of destructive critics of the governor. This is especially buttressed by his evasiveness in pointedly answering questions posed to him by a group called Oodua Truth Seekers in an advertorial published in a national daily on February 17. The group query is straightforward and unequivocal. Some of the questions posed at him are as follows: “Can he tell the people of Oyo State what actually destroyed Trans International Bank (TIB), the only bank with headquarters in Oyo State, owned by indigenes of the state, thereby throwing thousands into the unemployment market? Did his government actually move Oyo State funds out of TIB and into First City Monument Bank Plc. (FCMB)? Does he remember Tola Duro-Ladipo, Dr. Shehu Ladoja, a driver and four policemen who died in an accident involving his convoy? Did he not drive straight to the Governor’s Office, even when the accident occurred, with the dead still swathed in their pool of blood and the injured writhing in pain? Did he wait after the accident that involved the latter to sympathise with and get help to save the lives of these aides of his? Was there a spiritual dimension to these deaths? Did he not abandon the families to their fates? These questions are too simple to warrant an evasion. Once he gives his answers, he

of the opposition party, when he came up recently with a phantom plot to make Professor Yemi Osibajo, vice-presidential candidate of APC to step down for Tinubu once he assumes power. Such thinking shows the fickleness of Fani-Kayode’s mindset in his bid to retain Jonathan in power through irascible lies. This unstable character, until recently, would do anything to promote Tinubu. But to him, the game has changed for stomach’s sake. When it comes to backstabbing for self-survival, Fani-Kayode’s insatiable urge craves no noble limit. Close friends and political associates that came across this element had tasted the devil in him at one time or the other. Perhaps, it would not be out of place to perhaps say that if his father were to be alive today, Femi would probably not blink an eye-lid before betraying that illustrious man-just for flitting tokenism. What has Fani-Kayode said of the APC, Buhari, Osibajo, Tinubu that he has not said worse things against his known benefactors and close buddy in the past? His other name is betrayal. Femi abused Obasanjo in the newspapers during the first term of the Owu man and once he was called upon to serve in that administration between 2003 and 2007, he changed the rhythm of his music, praising the man to high heavens and describing him as the best man to ever rule the country. He once abused Jonathan on all media platforms describing him as the most inept and the worst leadership to have ever ruled this country. He is back to eat his vomit as he now champions clamour for re-election of the president in a very disgusting manner. In the end and routine style,

his target might be to seek reprieve regarding questions over the way he allegedly managed the affairs of the Aviation ministry as minister under Obasanjo by this administration. The only thing that earned him the DG’s job was his known trademark of doing dirty jobs beyond the limit of decency. His weekly churning out of senseless rants might have left those who do not know him bewildered. Those who know him can merely hope to see more of his odious public antics at play. In the days ahead, Fani-Kayode and his paymasters will be dazed by landslide votes with which the PDP will lose the coming elections. Charles Caleb Colton once said: ‘Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straightforward and simple integrity in another.’ At the moment, the political integrity of Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, the APC and others championing the cause for CHANGE is too overwhelming for a duplicitous character like Fani-Kayode and his ilk to fathom. No wonder, they would stop at anything to bring down the roof when they should be telling Nigerians how to take them out of this sorry state largely created by Jonathan’s ineptitude. Nigerians would like to know from FaniKayode how the naira got so devalued that it now sells for over N220 to a dollar under Jonathan administration; why it is after the rescheduled polls that the military under his commander-in-chief paymaster got the boost to seriously combat the Boko Haram insurgents? They want to be educated on what informed the call against the use of card reader by the ruling party. Our people want FaniKayode to tell them if the acquisition of the Aviation Village over 90 hectares of land by the president through his company is not greed and corruption. Let him tell us if the moves by the president and FCT minister, Bala Mohammed, who also got 40 hectares in the acquisition saga were proper and in good conscience. Fani-Kayode must the nation know why there is persistent fuel scarcity attributed by the PPPRA to this regime’s senseless baits devaluation among others. If he has no answers to these among others, he should just shut his mouth forever. Fani-Kayode should stop chasing shadows and face the reality staring them in the face that Jonathan will lose the coming election. After all, it is almost certain that he will gladly take a 360-degree U-turn back to the APC fold once Jonathan is defeated and turn against his current paymaster. That is the true character profile of this fake democratic crusader in chameleonic garbs!

Questions Ladoja refuses to answer By Tade Abiola would be free in the court of public opinion which thinks otherwise. Initially, I viewed Oodua Truth Seeker’s questions as one of the extremes of politicking in our clime. But, that idea became obliterated upon recalling that democracy’s elegance best shines during challenging moments like this as the wheels of political juggernauts criss-cross plains and valleys in scouring for the highest percentage of votes to secure power. Moreover, the public is afforded the chance to know salacious details of wheeling and dealings in quaint demonstrations of freedom of expression which, apart from titillating the masses on the happenings behind the shadowy power curtains, also shapes their voting choices during elections, the ultimate demonstration of expression. On that basis, I, alongside many other political watchers, waited with tense expectation for Ladoja’s swift and unapologetic answers to the group’s queries, especially as they are damning enough to hurt his current gubernatorial ambition. It never came. Instead, Ladoja responded through the simultaneously-timed issuance of a press release and advertorial. The press release described Oodua Truth Seeker’s advertorial as a “farago of lies and malicious doctoring of facts” and the advertorial introduces Ladoja’s self-title as “the issue” in Oyo politics. What manner of issue? “The issue” that Oyo stakeholders rather want as the recurring decimal is the continuing provision of affordable and qualitative education, sustainable health reforms, employment opportunities, good infrastructure and security. Calling himself “the issue” in order to score cheap political points insults Oyo people’s sensibilities. Nigerians generally have suffered so much and have been betrayed frequently often by those in whom they repose the strongest confidence, that it is natural that they should be suspicious of any whiff of wrongdoing. Probably, Ladoja sees himself as “the issue” for, according to him, embarking on road constructions and renovating classrooms eight years ago. But, Ladoja need know that government is a continuum; if he addresses some sectors, subsequent government would not duplicate efforts in focusing on such areas again. Rather, successive administrations would examine new challenges to address. Since Ladoja said his administration tackled all that effectively, it is imperative that Ajimobi tackles areas which the former senator failed to work on, like healthcare reforms. However, whatever records Ladoja recorded in office is inadequate reasons for discountenancing answering these latest

accusations because the dowry of genius is not limited to Ladoja’s administration. In his advertorial, his Man Friday said “he is a man much loved by the people.” So, Ladoja should abandon this Robin Hood mentality of attempting rousing sympathies with patronising and diversionary references to his performance of normal governmental duties he constantly drones about in justifying his refusal to answer the posers raised in the advertorial. Particularly, he should answer Oodua Truth Seekers and Oyo people their queries. Rather than respond to these, Ladoja calls himself “the issue” in Oyo. I am unsure if his handlers are aware of the phrase’s double entendre. Stripped bare of any niceties, its nuances basically mean ‘problem, obstacle, hindrances.’ Judging by recent events, maybe Ladoja means he is synonymous with such negatives in Oyo State. While he wallows in self-absorption however, the present “issues” raised by the group are already rife from within crowds at Mapo Hill to traders at Ogbomoso markets and rallying talk among Saki weavers, including all lovers of Oyo State. Ladoja, with his attempt at wishing away these “issues” with his silence, now has giant question marks clouding his much self-vaunted integrity which he should address now, rather than brow-beating Ajimobi’s upward pendulum of progress with accusations and lawsuit threats. Ajimobi has displayed that the hopes and fears, the hatred and bitterness, of past Oyo rulers are centred upon his shoulders at this time, not distractedly fixed on Ladoja. Ladoja’s advertorial says he “is a passionate leader of repute whose integrity cannot be questioned”. He should exemplify these attributes because remaining quiet is certainly not golden now. Ladoja should answer the posers raised against him with cold, hard facts. Now, is time for inflexible discharge of propriety. Act right, Senator Ladoja. • Abiola is a teacher.

‘Probably, Ladoja sees himself as “the issue” for, according to him, embarking on road constructions and renovating classrooms eight years ago. But, Ladoja need know that government is a continuum; if he addresses some sectors, subsequent government would not duplicate efforts in focusing on such areas again. Rather, successive administrations would examine new challenges to address’

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

A vision for Awka

Man held for selling son

•PAGE 27

•PAGE 39

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

PAGE 25

Women unite against violence •PAGE 40

•Soldiers take position, aim and fire at the range

A shooting range for combatants A forgotten military practice facility in Imo State has been reconstructed and inaugurated not just to the delight of the army but also residents of the community. OKODILI NDIDI writes

HESE days when insecurity is not just a northeastern challenge but also a huge national concern, the revival of a shooting range in Imo State is something to cheer. At a comfortable location in Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, soldiers have been taking position, sizing up targets and squeezing the trigger at practice sessions. The army is happy about the development. And so is the

community which hosts the 34 Artillery Brigade off Owerri/Port Harcourt Expressway which operates the practice facility. It was a joyful moment for soldiers and officers at the brigade as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Shehu Yusuf inaugurated the reconstructed small arms shooting range. He disclosed that the shooting range which was abandoned

will enhance the professional skills of soldiers in the brigade.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Obinze Barracks, the GOC

‘The shooting range which was abandoned will enhance the professional skills of soldiers in the brigade. The GOC described the reconstruction of the facility as a milestone achievement by the army’

described the reconstruction of the range as a milestone and commendable achievement by the Army, adding that it was not a mean feat to construct the practice facility. He noted that the reconstruction of the range ended the challenges encountered by the brigade in taking soldiers to other places like Elele in Rivers State for routine shooting exercise. •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A shooting range for combatants

•Continued from page 25

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) would be impressed with the reconstruction of the range, pointing out that Soldiers need regular training to ensure they are alive to their responsibilities at all times. He further observed that the 34 Artillery Brigade by the “feat achieved in reconstructing the shooting range has made it a veritable stage for the annual range classification exercise by the Army which helps to test its capability based on the training they received”. The GOC expressed satisfaction with the representation of all security Agencies in Imo State at the commissioning ceremony, stating that it clearly demonstrates the cooperation among the Agencies in the state. He described the synergy as the most effective way of combating crimes and other security challenges that may arise in the state. Earlier in his address, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Lanre Bello observed that the shooting range was constructed in the 1990s but later abandoned until the recent reconstruction. He said, with a good measure of pride, that soldiers under his command will no longer have to travel to Elele Shooting Range for routine exercise, stressing that good man-hour was lost on a daily basis conveying Soldiers to Rivers State, hence the need to renovate the abandoned shooting Range. The Commander noted that the shooting range is fully functional and available for use by soldiers

•Major-General Yusuf cuts the inauguration tape

and other security agencies in the state and expressed optimism that the 2015 range classification would take place at the Obinze Barracks. The event which was attended by all heads of federal security agencies in the state and other dignitaries, featured a demonstration shooting exercise by the special guests led by the GOC 82 Div. Obinze, a boisterous commu-

nity in Owerri West Council Area of Imo State, plays host to the 34 Artillery Brigade and this informed the high level of security in the community located along the Owerri/Port Harcourt Expressway. Today the sprawling community has become one of the safest and fastest developing autonomous communities in Imo State. Some of the residents, who spoke with The Nation, attributed the

Mbaka predicts disaster

‘I pity the Igbo man; where will they run to? Most of the Igbos build their factories in foreign lands and leave their home undeveloped. When disaster comes he will forfeit many of those things’

HE last time, it was a lampoon of the president; now, calamity is said to loom over the land. CHRIS OJI reports on the latest pronouncement of Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, a Catholic Church priest in Enugu There is another message from the fiery priest Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s pulpit: an impending catastrophe. In a sermon in which he likened Nigeria to the biblical Nineveh, he posited that except there was general repentance, national disaster was ahead. He took his text from the Book of Jonah in which the prophet was divinely instructed to go to sinful Nineveh whose doom would only be averted if Jonah warned them and they repented. An unwilling Jonah eventually washed up at Nineveh and delivered the message. Then, what? The people turned round. “How do we apply it to us? My fellow Nigerians, disaster is coming. Those who are sleeping should wake. In a no distant time people will begin to run helter-skelter. That is our message today: disaster is coming. If Nigerians want to avert the disaster they will repent. “When Nineveh heard the news they repented and sought the face of God. They did not pursue Jonah to kill him; even the men of God of those times did not criticize Jonah on his method of preaching…Today, the pope is crying on the gross corruption in Nigeria and gruesome injustice all over the world. And we Nigerian ministers are calm; we are painting a picture that there is no problem. If any person tells you that after the election there will be no more problem, that person is a liar. Let us all pray that even 14 February will come.

•Fr Mbaka

We are busy covering the sins of our leaders and thereby sinning against God. I cannot fool you, my children, I am telling you what God has told me. I’m just a messenger. When they send you to go and kill Fr. Mbaka, don’t accept to do it because you cannot withstand what it entails. Everybody has his own gift, so use yours and allow me use mine. Do you know that our sisters and brothers in the North now live in the bush? What if it happens to the East, and is there any assurance that it will not happen?

growing commercial activities in Obinze to the presence of the Army. Mr. Chinaza Ilechukwu, an Obinze based businessman, stated that, “We are grateful to have the 34 Artillery Brigade because Obinze is now the safest place in the entire Imo State as a result of the soldiers. Crime is at the barest minimum and you can hardly hear of any case of kidnapping or other heinous crimes.

“I want to reiterate here that there is no one kobo of Buhari or Goodluck or Patience or Ekweremmadu in my house. Let God hear me and see me now. Nobody gave me one kobo, let everybody hear this disaster is coming. What offence did the Ninevites commit that Nigerians have not committed? So if Nineveh was destroyed, what makes you think that Nigeria cannot be destroyed? Let Nigerians listen to God and repent. We just go to church and come back. Nigerians are just church-goers

not true Christians. I am not partisan; I am just touched by the condition of the masses. How many government hospitals are working now? How many poor people have the money to go to private hospitals? Some men of God tell the people what they want to hear, not what God wants them to hear. And according to some people this type of men of God are good men of God. I pity the Igbo man; where will they run to? Most of the Igbos build their factories in foreign lands and leave their home undeveloped. When disaster comes he will forfeit many of those things. Kidnappers and [ritual murderers], you are also warned that disaster is coming to your camps. It is only God’s mercy that is holding our country now. Unless we repent and ask God’s forgiveness and fast, it will be difficult to avert this disaster. Some people worship our fellow humans and offend God. Let’s seek God’s face now. There will be no safety anywhere except in God. God is not comfortable watching people dying on bad Nigerian

‘We are grateful to have the 34 Artillery Brigade because Obinze is now the safest place in the entire Imo State as a result of the soldiers. Crime is at the barest minimum and you can hardly hear of any case of kidnapping or other heinous crimes. Nobody intimidates anyone; we live our lives freely and everybody is happy’ Nobody intimidates anyone; we live our lives freely and everybody is happy”. Chuks Mbata, a civil engineer, said, “The presence of the brigade has actually secured Obinze community and unlike in other places where residents are assaulted by soldiers from barracks, the soldiers here are very disciplined and friendly”. “In Obinze people go about their businesses till dawn without fear of molestation and the soldiers are always around to provide security.” roads. Anybody that dies on that road the blood is on that contractor. The sin in Nigeria is more than that of Nineveh. Our youths are unemployed and graduates still being fed by their parents. They told us that oil price dropped but before the drop in oil price, what happened? “What did they do with the oil money? The money in the country is in the hands of few occult men and some of them are even boasting that they can buy anything even all the priests with their money. It is a lie; you can’t buy all the priests with your dirty money. And if you plan to attack the priests, the angels of God will strike. When we talk about insecurity in Nigeria, has the government of the day provided security? The…Christians that were killed in Madalla church has the government compensated their families? Are you waiting until it becomes your portion? Those Christians are not worse sinners than us. As things stand right now, no political party will save us right. Those giving you bags of rice are buying your life with bags of rice. Those giving you bread to eat are fooling you because you are the owner of the bakery. Look at the quantum of corruption going on, and they tell us it shall be well, how? A leaking basket can never be filled up. A person who has nothing and suddenly he says his business is now politics and still suddenly he started building houses and buying property, he is also guarded by soldiers and policemen, such a person is an archcriminal. People of God should not sell their birthright. Anybody that is saying he did this and that for you but in the actual sense he did not do anything for you, don’t vote the person during the election. Those people telling me to shut up? It is because they have not been affected. We cannot be afraid •Continued on page 38

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A vision for Awka Much has been said about the ungainly face of the city of carvers and smiths, Awka, the Anambra State capital. Now, that profile is changing, thanks to Governor Willie Obiano’s dream, reports NWANOSIKE ONU

•Governor Obiano (third left); his wife Ebele (third right); Deputy Governor Dr Okeke (second left); APGA chairman, Chief Umeh (second right) and others at the launch of the flyover project

NAMBRA State residents seem to betray a sense of discomfort when it comes to the look of their capital city, Awka. Its wood carvers and blacksmiths are legendary but there has been little more to remember the city for. Things are starting to change and the people may be cheering up. Flyovers are springing up and suddenly there is a feeling that Awka, with an estimated population of over 1m, is finally revealing its beauty. Lying some 25 miles east of the commercial city, Onitsha, Awka hosts two higher institutions namely, Paul University owned by the Anglican Church, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University belonging to the Federal Government. There is also its lone carnival called Imo-Oka celebrated annually. Today, after years of neglect by previous administrations in the state, the community has started picking up in terms of aesthetics and development. Governor Willie Obiano pledged to bring it to par with other big cities in the country like Enugu, Owerri, Lagos and Port-Harcourt, among others. He is living up to his words. Just three months after he took over the reins of power, he started building three flyovers in the city. The aim is to alleviate the suffering of the people in the city since the federal government seems to have abandoned the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway which has claimed over 100 lives in accidents. The three flyovers are located at Amawbia Junction, Akwata Junction, and Arroma Junction, all along the expressway. Obiano said it was a promise he made to the community, when he was campaigning for the governorship in 2013 to transform the state capital into a wonderland. It is not only the project in Awka the governor is working on; he is also working on what he called the three arms zone at Agu-Awka. He promised that the construction of the flyovers would take one year to complete after they were awarded to IDC construction firm. When the contract was awarded, the state Commissioner

•One of the flyovers being built

for Works, Callistus Ilozumba, an architect, told The Nation that the three flyovers would cost the state N5b. The governor is working in tandem with the Awka Capital Development Authority which has presented a master-plan to the state government on how to make the city the number one capital city in Africa. He equally wants to build a shopping mall covering about four football fields, and a 5,000-capacity conference centre. All the projects, according to the state chief executive, would take his administration nine months to complete. On June 24, it would be nine months these promises were made by Obiano, and out of these, only the three flyovers are visible in the capital city. Furthermore, he promised that another five-star hotel would be built in Awka to make it a befitting capital, while every road in the city must have electric light. He said, “What we need is the cooperation of the people and let me assure the people that anybody who disturbs work on any of these projects would have to

see the bad side of the state government.” Speaking with The Nation, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh said the implication of what the governor did was that Awka would soon be like New York with highrise buildings. Umeh said, “Obiano is in a hurry to transform the state and he needs the support of everybody; people should join hands to make the governor’s dream a reality” Hon. Rebecca Udorji, the state Assembly member representing Awka North on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), told The Nation that despite party affiliations, they would give Obiano a helping hand in making Awka look like other cit-

ies. For Comrade Obi Ochije, the chairman of Ezinano, comprising 20 villages in Awka, Obiano has shown the zeal in making Awka look like a capital city. He said that past administrations came and saw the capital city as one of the distant communities in the state without giving it a look in. Ochije said, “The capital city was neglected and abandoned, but we thank God for Obiano who has remembered that the town houses the state capital.” Also, the chairman of Awka South Market Amalgamated Traders Union (ASMATU), Chief Anayo Nweke, told The Nation that if the flyovers were completed, Obiano would have outperformed every other regime in the state.

‘People are now happy with Obiano and they will be much happier with him if he completes these projects that will beautify the capital city. We can’t wait to see when the day will come’

“We feel ashamed anytime people from outside visit what is called Anambra capital city because I do not believe that there is any capital city in the country that looks abandoned and neglected like Awka.” “People are now happy with Obiano and they will be much happier with him if he completes these projects that will beautify the capital city and we can’t wait to see when the day will come.” Nweke said. Many people in the state believe that if the flyovers are completed, it will bring night life to the community which had not been there before now. It is not life after dark that thrive in the city. Movement will be enhanced as will life itself. Before the flyovers, traffic was somewhat belaboured, though it could not be said that there was perpetual gridlock. Still, there is no denying the fact that the capital city will lift its aesthetic profile. That will attract more people and increased business. And come to think of it, the carvers and smiths may not complain.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

ISTORY was made as the 240km road linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Ikom and Cameroon was launched. The commissioning was performed by President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister for Works, Mike Onolememen. The road is a section of the LagosMombasa trans-African highway. The rehabilitation and construction was flagged off in 2012, a federal project which cost over N32billion. The project was consequent upon the International Court of Justice judgment of 2002 in the suit between Nigeria and Cameroon over the border dispute. A tripartite summit was held in Geneva on November 15, 2002 attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and Kofi Annan, the then United Nations Secretary-General. The meeting resulted in the setting up of the Nigeria/Cameroon Mixed Commission and a decision was reached that Nigeria and Cameroon should embark on a multi-national highway and transport Facilitation Programme to effectively link Nigeria and Cameroon. Following the agreement, Nigeria had to explore funding options with the World Bank and the African Development Bank in financing the project at a comfortable ratio of 9-1 between the donor agencies and the Federal Government, under the Nigeria-Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme. According to the Works Minister, Onolememen, the composition of the project included 80km Enugu-Abakaliki section rehabilitated by Setraco Nigeria Limited at a contract sum of N10b with funding assistance from the World Bank. The 85km Abakaliki-Mbok/ Ogoja junction section was rehabilitated by CCECC at a contract sum of N12.03 billion with African Development Bank funding assistance.

Enugu-Abakaliki Road inaugurated

•The representative of the President, Minister for Works, Mike Onolememen inaugurating the Enugu-Abakaliki Road From Chris Oji, Enugu

Also the 50km Mbok/Ogoja junction-Ikom section was rehabilitated by PW Nigeria Limited at a contract sum of N6.6 billion with World Bank Assistance while the 25km Ikom-Mfum/Cameroon border section was rehabilitated also by CCECC at a contract sum of N2.3 billion with African Development Bank assistance. The main physical features, the minister outlined, include a new bridge built at a sum of N600m at KM 7 from Enugu to replace the old collapsing bridge and seven other bridges rehabilitated along Abakaliki-Mfum corridor to cater for the anticipated heavy trucks that would use the corridor.

•Soldiers practice shooting at a reconstructed range in Imo State

‘Over 80 social infrastructure projects were built in 50 communities along the road corridor. Some of the social projects include 36 boreholes and hand pumps, three agricultural produce drying platforms, four cassava processing mills, one rice processing mill and five palm oil processing mills’ Another unique feature of the road project was the inclusion of people-oriented social projects as part of the main road works con-

tract. Under the arrangement, over 80 social infrastructure projects were built in 50 communities along the road corridor. Some of the so-

cial projects include 36 boreholes and hand pumps, three agricultural produce drying platforms, four cassava processing mills, one rice processing mill and five palm oil processing mills Others include 6 market blocks, 8 new classroom blocks and renovation of existing primary schools, 2 new primary schools built in two communities, 2 town halls, 8 access roads and culverts linking communities and one dispensary. With the Onolememen at the occasion were the Minister of State Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, The Enugu state Commissioner for Works, Goddy Madueke who represented the state governor Sullivan Chime.

•From Left: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Chairman, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh and Executive Secretary, NCPC, John-Kennedy Opara at the kick-off of the Commission’s Easter pilgrimage in Enugu

Orji’s wife donates to church From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

•From left: Member, Association for the Defence of Igbo Interest in Lagos, Mrs Nkechi Chukwueke; Lagos Leader, Igbo Coalition in All Progressives Congress; Lagos, Chief Chris Ekwilo; Coordinator, Association for the Defence of Igbo Interest in Lagos, Plrof. Chris Nwakobia and General Secretary, Dr Haris Chima, at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

HE Deeper Life Bible Church Camp ground in Umuugo, Aba, Abia State, was the beneficiary of philanthropy from high quarters. Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Odochi Orji who worshipped at the church, made a donation of N2m for the fuelling of its electricity generators. Mrs. Orji also inaugurated two 230-KVA transformers which the state government donated and in-

•Mrs. Orji

stalled at the church’s Camp ground. Speaking after the service, she •Continued on page 37

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

TW O YEARS AFTER TWO

•The late Ezebri

IT is nearly two years since Cadet Godwin Ezebri died in the South American city of Panama, on June 7, 2013. The 27-year-old student of Gdynia Maritime University, Poland was on practical sea experience training aboard a maritime vessel when he died suddenly in a mysterious circumstance. •PAGE 31

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

PAGE 29

OGONI

MA TERN AL CARE MATERN TERNAL

AN indigenous oil and gas producing firm, Belema oi, seeking to resume oil production in Ogoniland in Rivers State has promised to abide by the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP), report on the land if given consent.

DELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has identified access to new technologies, books and stateof-the-arts facilities and equipment as key tools needed in the fight to reduce maternal mortality. He said it was important for hospitals to be equipped with the latest healthcare facilities. •PAGE 33

•PAGE 34

•Amaechi

•Uduaghan

Spills leave Bayelsa communities helpless

•Water Hyacinth seriously impacted

TEPHEN Ziworitin, a 13-yearold indigene of Keme-Ebiama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, was disappointed recently when he went to the river in his area to take his bath in the morning. He could not believe his eyes. The river did not just change in its outlook, it emitted offensive odour. In fact, he could no longer differentiate between the water and crude oil. He said: “I decided to go and take my bath at the waterside and return to my bed. But when I got to the waterside, I noticed a strange smell and later, the crude oil on the river. I moved away from the first spot to another side and, it was still the same there too.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa “Left with no option, I had to strive to part the crude oil and when the water appeared in the middle; I quickly fetched some water and took home to bathe. That was how I managed to bathe that day. “Even as at that, my body was shining, oily. It is difficult for us to get water to bathe before going to school these days. Even with the school bell ringing we stand just looking at the water, no way to bathe before going to school. Our problem is not limited to only bathing, even to wash our dirty school uniform is a problem”. In fact, all is not well between the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its Keme-Ebiama and other host communities in

Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The bone of contention is an oil spill described by community sources as major and devastating. The spill is reported to have sent heavy volume of crude oil to the entire river located in the area. The river is polluted. The spill, which flows from Shell’s Seibou Deep facility has impacted many downstream communities . The spills are circulated faster by water current. Communities said to have been impacted are KemeEbiama, Apoi, Kokologbene, Gbaruan, Ukubie, Lobia and others. A report from the Environmental Right Action (ERA) signed by its Field Officer, Mr. Alagoa Morris, said that Shell has three wellheads at the end of a canal constructed by the company

some years ago. The canal which links the Ogboinbiri River is located by the Ogboinbiri community. ERA explains the devastating effects of spills that occur in bodies of water. The report said: “It is a well known fact that there is one major characteristic difference between spills that occur on bodies of water and those that happen on land. This is even more true when the body of water is flowing. “The difference lies in the fact that oil spills on moving bodies of water spread and flow along with whichever direction the current is headed. This also happens when the spill on lands spreads and gets into any moving body of water. “One of the reason spills spread

easily on water is that, apart from the influence from the current, there are no topography issues when it comes to water in most cases. “Unlike land where the spread would be influence by topography; it spreads very easily on water. And, unless steps are taken promptly to contain the spill, the spill could travel as far as the water current carries it.” But the communities are worried that the expected swift attention has yet to be given to the disaster by the company. The Chairman of the Keme-Ebiama Community Development Committee (CDC), Columbus John-Bull confirmed that the spill occurred at Seibou 2 facility of Shell at Ogboinbiri. SEE STORY ON PAGE 31

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

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NDDC...Making progress gradually, steadily

S part of his strategy to make the people of the Niger Delta region feel the impact of his transformation agenda, President Goodluck Jonathan while inaugurating the 4th Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, directed it to complete the large number of uncompleted projects that litter the landscape of the oil-rich region. He said: “Complete all on-going projects handled by the previous boards before embarking on new ones.” Thus, from the onset, Barrister Bassey Dan-Abia, the Managing Director, made it clear that members of the new board were fully conscious of the expectations of the people of the Niger Delta region and as such had resolved to work as a team. “We need to engage ourselves in a soul-searching exercise, so as to chart a new course for the region. There will be no room for squabbles and in-house-in-fighting this time,” he assured Speaking in a similar vein, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, the Chairman of the Board, said the board would spare no effort in advancing the transformation agenda of the Federal Government. “The President charged us to make a remarkable difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. We shall not disappoint him,” he declared. The board got into full gear and started commissioning projects that had been completed as well as monitoring all the on-going ones. According to the Executive Director Projects, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, no less than 1, 500 projects spread across the Niger Delta region were ready for commissioning. He said that they covered diverse areas such as roads, bridges, electricity, water supply, canalisation, erosion control, shore protection and land reclamation, among others. Of course, attention was also given to human capacity development also got a fair share of attention. The fruits of transformation started manifesting with the commissioning of completed projects spread across the length and breadth of the Niger Delta. The new board started by handing over a 522-bed space modern hostel to the authorities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, on February 5, 2014. The students were over the moon with joy and excitement. Senator Ewa-Henshaw, who was performing his first official function along with other members of the NDDC board, said that the commission would step up partnership with tertiary institutions in the Niger Delta region for the advancement of research, teaching and learning, stating that the training of students in science and technology “falls directly in line with the philosophy of the NDDC.” Also speaking, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, Barr.Dan-Abia, said that human capital development was a corner stone of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. “One of this administration’s policies for the development of education is the provision of infrastructure across all levels, so as to ease over-crowding of students and increase access to decent accommodation, in line with the millennium development goals,” he said. The Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Professor Chigozie Asiabaka, stated that the NDDC had largely ful-

Spills leave Bayelsa communities helpless

From Shola O’Neil, Southsouth Regional Editor, Warri

filled its mandate of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region by providing projects that significantly affect the lives of the people. The contributions of the NDDC to the education sector were not limited to infrastructure. According to the commission’s Managing Director, the interventionist agency had in recent times provided “science equipment to our secondary schools; retrained 500 science teachers and 225 principals and vice principals, for capacity enhancement in schools management and administration. It has also provided 3,600 sets of computers to all the polytechnics in the region and awarded 1,021 overseas scholarships for Master degrees and PhD programmes in engineering and sciences, including medicine to children of the nine NDDC states, in the best universities across the world.” Meanwhile, as the NDDC’s provision of the right environment for learning in tertiary institutions in the region, was not restricted to FUTO. It also undertook the building of 18 other hostels in universities and polytechnics across the Niger Delta. On March 19, 2014, it was the turn of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, to celebrate NDDC’s state-of-the-art hostel. The UNIBEN modern hostel built by the NDDC was commissioned by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State, who doubles as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the NDDC. He gave kudos to the NDDC for providing critical infrastructure. He said: “As the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the NDDC, I am impressed with the efforts of the new board and management. I assure them of the continued support of the governors of the nine Niger Delta states.” Eight months later, precisely November 13, Dr. Uduaghan was called upon again to commission another NDDC hostel. This time, students of the Delta State University, Abraka, were the ones dancing and jubilating. The university authorities were not left out in the fanfare. The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Chukwuemeka Aloamaka, said: “I must commend the NDDC for coming to the aid of the university by building and furnishing this hall of residence. The imperative of accommodation for students remains a big challenge and the NDDC has done noble in helping us.” Mindful of the contributions of youths to the transformation agenda Mr. President, the NDDC had initiated different programmes to build their capacity in the Niger Delta. On Tuesday, March 18, 2014 it organized the First Niger Delta Regional Youth Conference on Ethics and Value Re-Orientation where it articulated a 3-point agenda of capacity building, wealth creation and employment generation for the youths of the region. The NDDC Managing Director said: “It is my belief that when we develop and empower young people, we are bound to reduce crime and violence in the region, as well as the concomitance of kidnappings and vandalism of public infrastructure, especially oil installations, which is negatively affecting our economy today.” Another key aspect of NDDC youth development scheme focuses

•Shell's failing boom

•NDDC MD speaking to students of the Delta State

University, Abraka.

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It is my belief that when we develop and empower young people, we are bound to reduce crime and violence in the region, as well as the concomitance of kidnappings and vandalism of public infrastructure, especially oil installations, which is negatively affecting our economy today

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•NDDC Hostel UNIBEN

on training the youths to gain useful skills with which would get them gainfully employed. The fruits of this strategy are beginning to manifest as statistics made available by the commission indicate that a total of 5,765 youths across the Niger Delta Region have so far benefited from these skill programmes. Again, the NDDC is making substantial contributions to the transition from subsistence farming to modern agricultural practices. Currently, the commission has distributed over 100 tractors to ministries of agriculture in the nine Niger Delta states to boost food production. It also donated 27 tractors to the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS)

group, for delivery to farmer cooperatives in their respective host communities. The OPTS is a working level committee of the major oil companies in partnership with the NDDC. The NDDC’s Director, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Godspower Amadi said that mechanised agriculture was a sure way to increase food production and employment generation for the youths. He said that the commission had been running agricultural training programmes in conjunction with Songhai Delta, a reputable capacity building and youth empowerment centre based in Amukpe, Delta State. The NDDC

has trained over 6,500 youths in various aspects of agriculture in the centre. Of all the development projects which the NDDC has undertaken in the Niger Delta, the one that brings tremendous relief and makes immediate impact on the lives of the rural people is the free Health Care Programme from which 5,000 patients have benefited since the coming of the new board. The free Health Care Missions have been taken to virtually all corners of the Niger Delta to heal the sick, many of whom are suffering from the effects of oil exploration and exploitation in their communities. One of such free health pro-

grammes held recently at Ndoni, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government Area of Rivers State, brought showers of blessing for Mrs. Chigozie Isaac, who was delivered of twins, a boy and a girl. Although the boy died at birth, the Ndoni woman was still full of praises to God and the NDDC for making it possible for her to carry her child in her arms after a pregnancy that had overshot the normal 9-month period. The commission is also rehabilitating hospitals and health centres as well as building new ones, including two specialist hospitals in Rivers and Cross Rivers states in partnership with private sector service providers.

•Polluted water

•The signs of the pollution on the way from Ogboinbiri to Keme-Ebiama

E said the spill spread to affect the rivers right from the Ogboinbiri axis to other rivers in the area. “The volume of crude oil was really heavy. It covered the whole of our river. “It was so devastating that our people could no longer go to the river and take their bath or fetch drinking water; the river is our main source of drinking and every other domestic use. Due to the heavy pollution and resultant scarcity of drinking water, the cost of water sachet in the community rose from N10.00 to N30.00. “And, most of our people cannot afford the sachet water at that price. We are very much worried of what the situation might lead to considering the recent outbreak of cholera in some communities in the local government area”, he said. He appealed to the company to immediately clean-up the river and its banks properly. He urged Shell to send relief materials including water and drugs and pay adequate compensation for the pollution, damage and inconveniences suffered by the community. He said: “This call has become necessary because we have suffered this sort of thing other times from Shell and Agip and they have continued to ignore our cries; with no feelings whatsoever for us as if we are not human beings. They would always say that the spill was caused by third party and so, there is nothing they can do. “But we are far away from whatever source the so-called third-party spill comes from. How can we continue to suffer from what we know nothing about like that? Those who benefit from those past spills we suffered were people from different places, strangers who got the contracts for clean-up and other related matters. “We that are directly impacted are always left just like that; to suffer from the negative impacts only. We are tired of this inhuman treatment and, we want Shell to do those things I mentioned earlier: Clean-up, send Relief materials and compensate the community adequately”. A leader from the community,

Chief Barack Ogiere further confirmed the incident. He said: “Very early in the morning when we went down to the waterside, we observed that crude oil has visited us again; covering the whole surface of the water. “It was devastating because we couldn’t take our bath again in the river, no way to fetch and drink the water from the river; we could no longer do anything with the river we depend on. And we don’t even have any wells or borehole here, the river has been our only source of water. “Neither the oil companies nor the government has considered implementing any projects here for us. I haven’t had my bathe throughout today. Since the spill is traced to Shell’s facility at Ogboinbiri; the company should come and clean-up our environment to the original state God gave to us, because we solely depend on this river for every of our water needs. “We even need relief materials right now before clean-up. Besides they should pay compensation for the severity of this heavy volume of crude oil spill that has just impacted us. The suffering is continuing, children are sick in the community.” A woman, Mrs. Peretei Francis, said the river was highly polluted. She said they were managing the water before but later discovered they could no longer use it. She said: “The current reality is that we cannot make use of the water again; it is polluted. When we fetch it to the house and drink, the children

•Stephen Ziworitin

begin to fall sick. In the light of the above, Shell should come and cleanup the river for us without delays. “They should come and repair what has been damaged by the crude oil. The fishes have also no more around since this spill spread to this environment; we no longer kill fish. All the fish nets we set around the river have been impacted, soaked by crude oil and so; they can no longer catch fish. “So, they should come and repair the river for us. After that, they should give us borehole as an alternative source of water. Shell should also send us relief materials: food including fish, because there is no more fish around, drugs and water. “We are hungry and presently most of the children are suffering from stomach ache. So they should quickly come and clean the impacted river for us. I also have a message for the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), please tell NAOC that they should stop turning the river into refuse dump. All the wastes they dump in the river are being transferred to us downstream and we are not happy with the act”. In its observation, ERA, said booms used by Shell to contain the spills had failed. It said the community people were obviously worried about the situation. “Crude oil slick was observed right from Ogboinbiri till the field monitors got to Keme-Ebiama. The Water Hyacinths floating on the river and by the sides of the river were soaked in crude oil and were wilting.

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“Although the people said due to the one-way flowing current the volume of crude oil has reduced; much was still observed within the immediate environment of the community”, it said. ERA further knocked Shell for not conducting Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) two months after the spill. “This is very strange and unacceptable. Shell cannot leave crude oil in the open and on the canal where fisher folks and farmers also access”, it said. ERA demanded that Shell should mobilize to ensure that JIV is done concerning the spill. It called on the relevant agencies of government and security agencies to take appropriate measures to ensure Shell does the right thing and promptly too. “Shell should send relief materials, food stuff, water, medical team and drugs to take care of the concerns and needs of the impacted communities. “Shell should not only take full responsibility of the spreading crude oil spilt from the company’s facility; Shell should also carry out adequate clean-up of the impacted rivers/ creeks and surrounding environment. “Shell should compensate victims of the spreading crude oil. Payment should take into consideration individual and general damages”, the report said. The state government is also very unhappy with Shell’s handling of the incident. The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills, said the government was taking the massive pollution seriously. Wills said the government had sent a letter to Shell emphasizing the importance of immediately cleaning the impacted site. He also said that the management of Shell was invited to a meeting to discuss the development on Tuesday. But he regretted that the company did not show up. He said: “We are taking it seriously. We have written to ask them to ensure quick clean-up and containment of the area with the full involvement of the State Ministry of Environment and National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA). “We also invited them for a meeting but they didn’t show up. So,we will proceed with some of the steps we have in mind to unfold.” The Spokesman of SPDC, Mr Joseph Obari, said at the weekend that the firm was yet to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit on the spill site.

They should come and repair what has been damaged by the crude oil. The fishes have also no more around since this spill spread to this environment; we no longer kill fish. All the fish nets we set around the river have been impacted, soaked by crude oil and so; they can no longer catch fish

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Two years after, controversy over Amnesty trainee’s death unresolved

T is nearly two years since Cadet Godwin Ezebri died in the South American city of Panama, on June 7, 2013. The 27-yearold student of Gdynia Maritime University, Poland was on practical sea experience training aboard a maritime vessel when he died suddenly in a mysterious circumstance. His remains have been subject to several tests and autopsies, yet the circumstance surrounding the young cadet’s death aboard the MV Green Guatamala, a Bahamas-registered vessel owned by Green Reefer, has remained a mystery and source of conjecture between his family, the Amnesty Office and the management of the contractor who handled his placement and owners of the vessel. The result of an autopsy conducted shortly after his death was rejected by the family. The coroner report, signed by Dr Omar A. Zapata, Coroner Coordinator of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science Institute in the Province of Colon, indicated that he died abruptly, ostensibly “of cardiac origin”. But the Ezebri family expressed reservation about the report and demanded that a fresh autopsy be conducted to ascertain the true cause of their member’s death. It was gathered that the family’s suspicion stemmed from the deceased’s communication with them before his unfortunate and sudden end. A source said merely hours before the incident he spoke with his younger brother, inquiring about how he could remit some money home. Besides, the report of the crew master of the vessel, Capt L. Sapelevics, indicated that Godwin had indicated his desire to sign off at the nearest port, insisting that Godwin had concluded that he was not suited for the challenges and demand of sea life. Sapelevics further stated: “Two hours before his death the master of the crew ordered a check of his blood pressure, pulse and temperature which were all normal.” But two hours after he was reported ‘normal’, Cadet Ezebri “slumped and died”. Over a month later, on July 13 of the same year, his remains were ferried to Lagos. The refusal of his family to receive the corpse led to a fresh argument between it and the amnesty office in one front and with the vessel owners on another. The corpse was later deposited at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, where it remained until it was buried on December 5, 2015. The matter was reported to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which in

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I have respectfully pleaded with Mr President to instruct the relevant security and martime agencies, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser… to comprehensively probe the death with a view to ensuring that justice would be seen to have been done on the matter and to recommend ways of averting a recurrence

•The late Ezebri From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

conjunction with the family and the amnesty office carried out a second autopsy. Reputable Anatomic Pathologist, Dr Nicholas Awolola was consulted by the family to lead their team of doctors for the exercise. But the second autopsy was further bedeviled by fresh controversy over his remains that were repatriated back to Nigeria. It was discovered that key organs and tissues needed for the exercise were not repatriated with the corpse. Several communications led to the return of more body parts in April, 2014, nearly one year after the incident. However, rather than provide answers to the questions over the cadet’s death, the fresh autopsy opened a fresh can of worms. The report obtained by our Niger Delta Report revealed that the brain, heart and key organs needed to ascertain the cause of death were either missing or in very bad shape.

It stated: “We were expecting the heart, small and large intestine and the brain of the deceased, (either intact or dissected as a result of the previous postmortem examination.” Conversely, the report noted: “that the organs sent consisted of a conglomerate of tissues that had been cut into several small pieces which weigh 20.3kg).” More damning was the observation: “That all these organs could not have come from the body of Late Godwin Ezebri as, at most, the expected organs should weigh between 8 – 10kg.” Besides, it noted that tissues as the lungs, liver and kidneys that were seen in the body of the deceased were also included in the package sent. “That tissue such as the human spine was included in the package even though there was no evidence of trauma to the body and no indication that such tissue was taken for analysis during the first autopsy.” The report concluded that without

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the whole heart to ascertain the cause of death, stressing, “after painstakingly extracting heart tissue from the heap of ‘rubbish’ sent from Panama, we were unable to obtain a DNA profile for the tissue. This is possibly due to the effect of the preservative. “We strongly believe that the heart of Late Godwin Ezebri, 27 years, male was not in the package (sent to Nigeria) which arrived on the 6th of April, 2014.” Contacted to explain the absence of the vital organs, Green Reefer referred the inquiry to the funeral home in Panama, where the body was embalmed. Documents obtained by our reporter indicated that the General Manager of the home, Mr Glen Hutchinson, explained that the deceased organs and cavity were discovered to be in “first stage of decomposition.” Apparently unimpressed by the development, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr Kingsley Kuku wrote to the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting for “intervention and investigation into the death…” Kuku, in the letter dated 29th August 2014, requested the ministry to convey to the Government of the Republic of Panama, an official request from the Government of Nigeria, for investigations in the death…and enquiry whey the organs taken from his body were not sent to Nigeria for autopsy.” Over 15 months after the death of their member, the family received an official condolence message from Kuku. In the letter, the Presidential Adviser expressed suspicion at the cause of death, adding that his office was liaising with NIMASA to ensure actual cause of death. “I have respectfully pleaded with Mr President to instruct the relevant security and martime agencies, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser… to comprehensively probe the death with a view to ensuring that justice would be seen to have been done on the matter and to recommend ways of averting a recurrence…” It was gathered that the head of the amnesty committee also gave scholarship to the younger sibling of the deceased, offering the medical student total sponsorship in a university of his choice anywhere in the world. But a member of the family told our reporter that the efforts of the Amnesty Office aren’t enough. Our source said in spite of the strong desire earlier displayed by the OSPAND, there is now indication that it has lost interest in pursuing the perceived murder of the young Nigerian. “They have given us the impression that with the burial of our late brother, they have washed their hands off finding the cause and how he was killed. As grateful as we are for all their assistance and concern, whatever they do would be scanty consolation if they don’t help us get to the bottom of what happened to Godwin,” the close family source lamented. Besides, our findings showed that the family still await the payment of compensation as indicated in his contractual agreement with the vessel owner and the amnesty office. Even more painful, as the Ezebri Family waits for justice over the death of the promising 27-year-old cadet, death again visited the family as one of those in the fore of the struggle for justice, Preside Ezebri died January 17. “The Family is going through hell as we are now, everything is against us but we believe that only God can give us victory.”

Tompolo, Asari only reacted to North’s threat, says Oritsejafor

INISTER of State for Defence during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Dr Rowland Oritsejafor, has defended the position of ex-Niger Delta militant leaders on the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Oritsejafor, in an interview with reporters in Warri, Delta State, said the ex-militant leaders were not threatening the country but reacting to statements made by some North’s leaders. He said: “The militants only reacted to what the Northern have said. Let us be conscious in analyzing security situation. Where you make a statement does not suggest or mean that it is the party’s policy. Let’s get that very clear. I can be invited to Aso Rock and then I make a statement, does that mean that the president supported what I said. Let us be very

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

clear, PDP is a peaceful government with well-respected and responsible people. There is no way the PDP would support violence. Some people are making statements, I cannot come and defend those statements because I don’t know from where they are coming and I wasn’t there. However, as far as PDP is concern, we will pursue peace and it is in our interest to pursue peace. So why would we want to invest in violence when we have opportunity to show what we can do. You can hear the president going round, it is all about what he has done and he keeps rolling them out. “In the past, indeed of our faults as a party is that we underreported our achievement and we are correcting that now and things are taking a bet-

ter shape so I don’t see what we should embrace violence.” He also justified the award of surveillance contracts to the ex-militants. Oritsejafor said: “All over the world it is people that acquire weapons as long as you have the license to do it. To me that is not the problem. We have to be very careful with this issue. We should not politicize everything. Every Nigerian citizen has the right to acquire weapons if he is licensed. But unless you have something against them and you have taken them to a competent court of law. Yes these guys were militants. But let me ask you a question, do these guys have a cause for carrying arm against the Federal Government? The fact they were militants does not stop them from partaking in activities going on in the country. They carried arms because they were oppressed

and when they protested, government recognised that they have been wronged and the matter was corrected.” On whether Jonathan deserves another term, he said: “He has done so much. The challenges are colossal but if you look at governance, he has brought governance closer to the people in different area. Is it transportation, electricity has improved. We are talking about measurable indices of performance. Since I came to Warri the light has not tripped and no generator and you know power is key to us. Things are happening you can see gender equality. The president of Rwanda became extremely popular because of given opportunities to women folks in terms of governance and you can see what is happening here; he brought in trusted woman who are doing well in the area of gov-

ernment. “Security is a great challenge, it is unfortunate, but the mistake between us and those who have security in their country is that security is not left only in the hands of profession; everybody has to be cautious in the area of security. It is only then that you can help the professionals to achieve what they want. People who are throwing bombs are living among us. Why are we silent, why are we not observant and why do we wait till people are killed, maimed and property destroyed before we start shouting. I want to appeal that security is collective responsibility. It should not be used as an index of political achievement. That will be sad. All of us, our lives are important, are future and property are important so we must all be committed to the security of the nation.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

FEATURE

Unending controversy over N800m Okpella Water Scheme Uduaghan proffers solution S

INCE Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole spoke on the N800m Okpella Water Scheme, the Ministry of Water Resources has been running around to defend itself. The project is listed on page 126 of the publication titled Sure and Steady Transformation: Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration. The Jonathan administration claimed it has completed the N800m project and listed it under ongoing projects of the Ministry of Water Resources. It reads, ‘Completion of Okpella Water Supply Scheme, Edo State-N800m. The publication was from the office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas. Oshiomhole said the Federal Government lied over this project. The Federal Government earlier in the week said the project was ongoing. The Federal Government, at the weekend, said the Okpella water scheme in Edo State is an ongoing project. Edostate government last week accused the Federal Ministry of Water Resources of siphoning the N800 million meant for the project. The ministr's Permanent Secretary, Mr. Istifanus Musa, in a statement in Abuja, said the water scheme had not been complted because of insufficient funds. He explained that the water scheme was listed among projects documented by the ministry at the inception of the Goodluck Jonathan administration for completion. The project was initially awarded by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in 1998 and later transferred to the ministry after the winding down of the PTF in 2000. He said: "The contract was initially awarded for N321,190,848.41,advance payment made by PTF was N157,860,865.74, certified works by PTF (supply of pipes and fittings) was N262,458,447.76 and the liabilities inherited by the Ministry was N104,597,582.04 . The Ministry has so far paid N60,000,000 .00. "The ministry under took nationwide assessment of several abandoned project in the water sector, includng the Okpella Water Supply Project, which was estimated to cost N800,000,000 and documented them properly for completion by the Federal Government. "The project was later reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to N789,934,486.00 in the 2011 to ensure its completion. However, due to funding constraints, the project was only provided for in the appropriation for 2012-2014 with the total releases of and payment of N60,000,000 only in 2012 and 2014." Okpella clan is a border town between Edo and Kogi states. It sits atop several solid minerals, especially limestone. The huge deposits of limestone led to the establishment of the Edo Cement Factory that later become moribund but is now owned by the BUA Groups. The Okpella Water Scheme, according to documents obtained by this reporter, was supposed to be completed within six months after it was awarded in December 1998 at a cost of N346m by the Petroleum Trust Fund. A letter to the Military Administrator of Edo State and signed by Secretary to the Petroleum Trust Fund, late Chief Tayo Akpata, showed that the project was awarded in four lots to four different contractors. Messes Rotary Group Limited was awarded lot one which included Pipeline Network, Treatment and building of Pump house. Messrs SIBGA Services Limited was to supply the Generator and Power Supply. The elevated tanks were to be done by Messrs

to maternal mortality

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•Abandoned tools

•Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRH A.Y Dirisu

There is no water supply from the Okpella Water Scheme. We saw the publication and we went to Abuja. Nobody claimed to be aware of the author of the publication. It is clear the project is an ongoing project. It is not completed and there is no where N800m was spent

•Uduaghan (third right), Okowa (fourth right) and other dignitaries at the book launch

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•Chief Patrick Onyobi, (right), the Iyase of Asaba and other council of Chiefs during the inauguration of Ezenei Road in Asaba.

G •Power equipment wasting away

Johnson Steel Company while Messrs Galcon Engineering Company was awarded the contract to handle the civil works. The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) led government under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped the PTF in 1999 and the Okpella Water Scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Water Resources. Checks showed that all the materials for the project, including water supply pipes, pipes accessories and fittings, pumping machines, standby generator and transformer were supplied and the raw water house built. Tanks were also elevated. When our reporter visited Okpella, the transformer and power generator supplied by the contractor were seen at the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRH Andrew Yusuf Dirisu. It was learnt that the traditional ruler took in the transformers and generator to avoid them being stolen. The Managing Director of Rotary Group, Alhaji Ja’faru Nuhu, in a chat with our reporter, said the project

•’A structure at the site

would have been completed within the stipulated time if Obasanjo had not stopped all PTF projects and transferred them to the Ministry. Ja’faru said he was owed a balance of N77m needed to complete the project which was at 60 per cent completion stage when PTF was scrapped. He said he wrote to the Ministry of Water Resources in 2009 on the need to pay the balance for the project to continue but was not paid. He said: “We were to start laying the pipes when Obasanjo stopped the project. Since then nobody has talked anything about it. I would have completed the project if the balance N77m were paid. I have been going to the Ministry for the past 15 years and no response. “In 2011, the project was reviewed upward to N789m but no money was released. I was surprised when we saw a publication that the project has been completed. We went to the ministry and they told us it was a mistake.” “You can imagine the price of dollar to the naira now and many of the

things we supplied have been stolen. I was told that N150m meant for the project is in the 2015 budget; but whether that money will come out is another thing.” Vice Presidential Candidate of Action Alliance, Comrade Ishaka Paul Ofeimile, who led other community members on a tour to the project site, said the only thing done by the Jonathan presidency was to review the contract upward to N800m. Ishaka said more than 200 trailers were used to supply equipment to site only before Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim showed up in 2008 and start removing the pipes and accessories with a claim that they were sold to him. According to him, “This is the source of water for Okpella water scheme, it used to be the quarry site for Bendel Cement Company now BUA group. Their activities resulted to the coming of this water. All year round there is water here. It is like a water table. This is where to get water to be supplied to the whole of Okpella. Even though mining activities is still on, it will not

stop this flow instead more water will come out. During the rainy season it becomes dangerous to come here. They have built the pumping house. The only thing they have done is to supply the equipment. They have brought everything including the tanks, pipes, generator, and transformers. The tanks they installed in some places have been vandalised. “Unfortunately since 2008, one auctioneer, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubarkar, has been taking the pipes away. He claimed that they were sold to him. He comes here with soldiers and police and they start loading with cranes. In 2010, he removed nine fully loaded trailers of the pipes. We took him to the police headquarters but showed up two weeks ago and he brought armed soldiers. A retired soldier in this community stopped him. Our worry is that we don’t know who he said sold the pipes to him. The people he claimed sold the pipes to him have denied. Who is giving him power to sell the pipes we don’t know.” “In 2010, when we saw that this

project has been completed for N800m, we went to Abuja to see the Minister. A director in the ministry said it was an on-going project. The director said they would soon mobilize the contractor. The only thing the federal government has done is to review this contract to N800m which needed only N77m to complete in 2001. Even after the revaluation not one kobo has been given to the contractor. If you see the progress report of President Jonathan, it is saying that N800m has been spent to complete this project. This project has been lying fallow since 2001. This is a big fraud. We don’t know who collected the money.” Chief Peter Ikiedeme Okun, the village head of Iyeshun in Okpella, said the project was abandoned because of corruption at the highest peak of governance in the country. He said forged documents were presented to enable them cart away materials meant for the water project. The treatment to Okpella is not good. It is unprecedented.” The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella said:

“There is no water supply from the Okpella Water Scheme. We saw the publication and we went to Abuja. Nobody claimed to be aware of the author of the publication. It is clear the project is an ongoing project. It is not completed and there is no where N800m was spent. “The dam is supposed to provide water for the entire Ukpilla community. We get water now from individual boreholes and from good stream. The Federal Government should expedite action to make sure contractor comes to site and complete this project.” The President of the Okpella Youths, Otarru Gospel, accused some elders of the community of conniving with external factors to sell the materials meant for the water project. “There is no water in Okpella. We only a publication that water has been provided for Okpella. We saw where former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that our water project has been completed and paid for.”

OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has identified access to new technologies, books and state-of-the-arts facilities and equipment as key tools needed in the fight to reduce maternal mortality. He said it was important for hospitals to be adequately equipped with the best and latest healthcare facilities needed for health workers to improve their knowledge and be abreast of the latest trend in handling health challenges involving pregnant and nursing mothers. Uduaghan, a medical doctor, spoke at the presentation of a book titled ‘Obstetric Ultrasonography: Basic Principles and Techniques’, which was authored by Dr Festus Ossai While explaining the importance of proper maternal and child healthcare service to guests at the occasion, the governor disclosed that his administration, through the free maternal and under-five healthcare service scheme, has reduced the rate of maternal and child mortality in the state He explained that the maternal and child mortality rate went down by more than half from the prevailing 2,500 deaths per 500,000 (.5percent) at the time of his inauguration in 2007 to 1,000 deaths per 500,000 (.2percent) in 2013. “To underscore the importance of this book, as at today, in Delta State about 500,000 women gets pregnant every year, in 2007, out of the 500, 000, 2,500 died but with the introduction of our free maternal healthcare, we have been able to reduce the deaths

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

to 1,000 per 500, 000 pregnancies,” the Governor stated. “With this book and with ultrasonography equipment, if we can get the less expensive tablet type and teach our specialist how to use this in the field, we will save a lot of life.” He observed that serious attention should be paid at all times to pregnant and nursing mothers and advised his successor to retain the free maternal and healthcare programme he initiated for the benefits of mothers and their children in particular and humanity in general. “Surviving pregnancy by women is very important; it is in the interest of our daughters, mothers and women to ensure that they get safe delivery.” Dr Uduaghan commended the author of the book for his efforts observing that it has immortalized his name and that of the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in whose honour the

book was written. In his response, Senator Okowa assured that he would carry on the free maternal healthcare of Governor Uduaghan’s administration, noting that, “Delta State has done so much in the healthcare sector both in its infrastructure and programmes; the state has one of the best maternal and child healthcare services in the country, we intend to continue with this programme and there is the need to put up a legislation on community health insurance programme that will guarantee the health of our people.” For his part, Dr Ossai said he was motivated to write the book because of his desire to contribute to the wealth of knowledge in obstetrics and gynecology and fulfil the yearnings of his colleagues looking for materials to update their knowledge in vital area. Other speakers at the occasion included the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, who observed that it was important for books to be written in rare areas that requires public enlightenment.

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Surviving pregnancy by women is very important; it is in the interest of our daughters, mothers and women to ensure that they get safe delivery

‘

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Belemaoil pledges to implement UNEP report as youths kick over sale of Shell’s assets A

N indigenous oil and gas producing firm, Belema Oil, seeking to resume oil production in Ogoniland in Rivers State has promised to abide by the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP) Report if given consent. The Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of the firm, Tein Jack-Rich (Jr), made the pledge while addressing Ogoni youths at Yeghe Community, in Gokana Local Government Area. The firm is owned by an indigene of the state from Kalabari. He is among seven others, including Chinese company seeking approval to take-over oil production activities in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), OML 11 abandoned in 1993. Addressing Ogono youths in Yeghe, Jack-Rich promised to follow the terms and conditions stipulated in the UNEP report in carrying out oil activities in the area, including the clean-up of oil impacted areas. Jack-Rich promised to create employment opportunities for youths of the area, give 300 scholarship slots to indigent youths in the university and release the sum of N24 million grants for farmers of Ogoni origin. The MD said: “Belemaoil is you and me and what Belemaoil will do is to abide by UNEP report, ensure you have a voice and a say in anything that has to do with your future. We will create employment, empowerment programmes and projects. We will provide scholarship scheme for indigent Ogoni indigene that have the dream of going to School, starting with 300 students. “We also have designed a programme to support farmers in Ogoni, we have mapped out a sum of N24 million in form of grant. “Belemaoil is not here to cajole you, I am aware of your needs; I am a Rivers man, I know and understand the plights/ difficulties faced by oil bearing communities of the Niger Delta region like yours and I promise that I will carry everybody along, as for me days of divide and rule tactics are over , just give me a chance to prove myself.” He appealed. Reacting to rumor he was fronting for a politicians in the state, he said: “Belema Oil does not belong to any political platform. It is a company from Rivers State, Kula in Kalabari

From Rosemary Nwisi and Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Kingdom of the state. “Belema has a Foundation known as Belema Aid Foundation and as a mark of seriousness we have already acquired a piece of land to set up the Foundation’s secretariat in Ogoni to enable us begin to implement the scholarship and grant disbursement programmes. The office will be ready within six months.” The Leader of Association of Community Youths of Ogoni, Mr. Mao Kekah, said: “We are here today as youths of Ogoni to identify and partner with Belema, to transform our lives. Chiefs, youths, MOSOP and other groups of Ogoni have been consulted, what we are doing here today is a sort of grand finale of all the consultations and every one of us gathered here is in support of Belema. “You have heard his promises, we have not had it this way before. Belema is not the only person bidding for this OML11, I learnt a total of eight companies are on the role yet he is the only person that has come to us.” He also warned the bidder on the dangers of indulging in divide-andrule approach when he begins exploration. “Thank you Belema for identifying with this group, just as we had earlier told you, this are those that would have given you problems and generate unbearable heat to you if you did not meet with them as far as Ogoni is concerned, but for them to have given you the audience, it is an indication that they have accepted you. “But be warned ensure that you implement all that you have told them here today, be and remain sincere with us I assure you that you will not have any problem with us. “We do not want any form of divide and rule, if we notice any thing of such, even if the government grants you the licence to start exploration, we will resist it, you will be surprised at what we will do.” Also the leader of another group known as Ogoni Youths, Chief Solomon Ndigbara, pledged his support for the indigenous oil company on the condition that he would implement the agreements he has reached

•Damaged palm trees at Kpor community

with the people. He said: “When I heard about Belema Oil Producing company I was happy but happier when I discovered he is a young man. “We can give him support if he is actually going to carry out all that he has promised to the youths. We have had promises that never worked in the past and would not want to robe ourselves into such lies again. “I have past a stage in my live when people will come here to deceive us and go. But after several meetings between him and key youth leaders of Ogoniland, we have agreed to give him our supports with the hope that he will keep to his words.” Their declaration points were also read out to the acceptance of those present in the meeting. The Ogoni Youth Foundation has, however, refused to endorse the company. During a protest to the Port Harcourt office of The Nation, the youths led by their President, Mr. Dowell Badom, accused the oil company of causing a fresh crisis in Ogoni communities. They alleged that the new company lacks understanding of the lingering crisis between the communities and SPDC before venturing into any agreement to take over production in the area. Badom said, Ogoni Youth Foundation, and Ogoni Kingdom Youth Forum chapters have refused to endorse the new oil company to pro-

tect the people of the area from another betrayal. He noted that their refusal to endorse the new oil company will send a signal to the company and Ogoni chiefs who have hurriedly endorsed the new oil company without consulting the youth body that all is not well. He alleged that “Ogoni oil bearing community chiefs have endorse the Belema Oil without the input of the Ogoni Youth Host Communities. But we are assuring the chiefs and the new company that without proper consultations and the engagement of the Ogoni Youth Foundation, we will not allow any indigenous company to enter into our oil bearing communities. “We have stated our positions and our decisions are predicated on the fact that Belema Oil Company has no oil social license from the oil field landlords in Ogoni land. The demand for the cleanup of Ogoni land, compensation for the Ogoni people, payment of rents, royalty for 56 years of a oil multi-national company operating in our communities are yet to be resolved. We are using this opportunity to call on the Belema Oil Company to stop parading itself as an owner of assets in Ogoni land until the company decides to consults all stakeholders involved in the area.” He continued that the Ogoni people are peaceful, hospitable and believe in a non-violent struggle but the youth leader insisted that any buyer of oil blocks in Ogoni territory must

engage the Ogoni Youth Foundation and relevant stakeholders. He said the new oil company has no right of ownership to OML 11 (Oil Mining Lease 11) because the Ogoni people are the rightful owners. He said Ogoni people are expecting £18 Billion representing royalties on petroleum mining in Ogoni land since 1958, and £4 Billion compensation for environmental pollution and ecological degradation in Ogoni communities. “These sums remain unpaid to date and we shall not renege on it at this point in our struggle. We therefore, call on the good people of Ogoni to resist any attempt to fraudulently sell Ogoni Oil through the back door. The Ogoni Youth Foundation has supported a new lunch of National Ogoni Restoration Empowerment Program (NOREP) an initiative to provide a means of livelihood for economic empowerment to the Ogoni youths to be self employed and to develop the indigenous companies for training in the area of oil and gas. “We call on the Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Government Oil Agencies, the oil companies to partner with the OYF and other bodies to ensure that NOREP assist the Ogoni Youths in various skills. We also want them to provide the NOREP assisted transport services scheme as a means of empowerment to restore the livelihood of the youths to stop restiveness in our communities.”

ERA, others decline Bodo offer of compensation T ‘ HE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and several civil society groups have turned down an offer of financial compensation from the Bodo community after defeating Shell in a landmark suit that has been in court since 2008 for which the company settled out of court for the sum of $84 million. The offer of compensation was turned down when ERA/FoEN, Oilwatch and Host Communities Network (HoCoN) visited the community to celebrate with them in Bodo, Rivers State, last week. ERA/FoEN has been the arrowhead of campaigns to get Shell to compensate the locals for two massive spills that occurred in 2008, depriving about 13,000 fish farmers their trade for five years. The community maintained that Shell failed to carry out a proper cleaning of the environment after the incident, until the Dutch government intervened, which culminated in the initiation of talks between Shell and Bodo community

Shell must not be allowed to escape from its human rights violations and environmental degradation of the Niger Delta

‘

on the cleanup process. Under the out of court settlement agreement, 11,500 persons will share the $84 million which Shell agreed to pay as compensation. ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Uyi Ojo said: “Today we are in celebratory mode. We wish to commend the Bodo people for their victory over Shell after six torturous years of twists and turns aimed at evading justice”.

Ojo explained that while the sum remains paltry in the face of Shell’s assault on the environment and their livelihoods, the victory of the people would serve to galvanise other impacted people to also seek justice. Speaking with the community leaders, Ojo said that: “We applaud your courage. Shell would have preferred that the case remains in perpetuity until the community tires out, but your resilience in the face of such

intimidating might forced the company’s hands” Further, he pointed out that the victory of the Bodo community over Shell is the victory for civil society and people in Nigeria and everywhere suffering from the activities of multinationals. Receiving the delegates, the Chairman of the Bodo Council of Chiefs, Chief Sylvester Kogbara explained that the struggle and victory against Shell could not have been possible if not for ERA/FoEN and other national and international organisations that were involved in fighting the company. “When we cried, you cried with us, and when we were weeping, you wept with us. You made our pains your pain. Whatever we have achieved today, ERA/FoEN was part of it. You are always here with us. A day of thanksgiving is coming and we will remember all you have put in and also compensate you.” Deputy paramount Ruler of Bodo City said: “We are very pleased with

ERA/FoEN for coming to pay us an official visit today. The situation is not over, we need you to continue to fight for environmental justice with us because Shell is yet to begin clean up and restoration of the destroyed environment in Bodo.” Godwin Ojo thanked the council of chiefs and the Bodo people for their kind gesture to compensate ERA/ FoEN but however said that ERA/ FoEN will not take a penny and no civil society will no matter how much time and energy has been expended on pursuing the case. The highpoint of the celebration was the opening up of a register of victims of Shell’s abuse at individual and community levels by ERA/FoEN after which victims were urged to come up for documentation and possible legal action against the company. In the words of Ojo: “Shell must not be allowed to escape from its human rights violations and environmental degradation of the Niger Delta.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

HERE are brothers and there are brothers. Some brothers watch your back; others break your back. Ask some brothers to help you scratch your back and what you get is pain instead of peace. They will use knife to scratch peace out of your back instead of using their soft palm to soothe it. There are brothers who are ready to go to any extent to make you happy. There are others who will do all possible to ensure you do not smile. Somebody says they perhaps love you too much to see you smile. So much for love, I say. And I am quick to add, no brother, no cry. Since the beginning of the campaigns for the elections, especially the presidential arm of it, the word ‘brother’ has taken centre-stage. The first to use it, in the context relevant to this situation, was Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Others in the Southsouth have used it after that to describe their relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan. The Southsouth is where Jonathan hails from. His real root is in Otuoke, a settlement in Bayelsa State, where he was deputy governor and governor. Like Jonathan, the Ikwerre-born Amaechi is also from the Southsouth. Amaechi has a sterling political history. He was Special Assistant; he was House of Assembly Speaker; and now, he is governor. He has been governor for about eight years. He is bowing out May 29. In his eight years as governor, Amaechi has had to relate with Jonathan on many an occasion. Their relationship was not sour. It was chummy. Then they called each other brother. Now, they no longer see eye to eye. Both are suspicious of the other. They belong to two different political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is bent on sending Jonathan back to his mansion in Otuoke after May 29. Amaechi, as the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, is doing all within his power to ensure his brother of yesterday is not re-elected. You need not ask him these days before he tells you that Jonathan is not his brother. Both gladiators used to belong to the PDP until Amaechi left to team up with the opposition to un-elect the man who was his brother. Their quarrel has led to so many ugly incidents. The House of Assembly is not the same again. The quarrel saw the deployment of Joseph Mbu to the state as police commissioner and almost all saw the disaster that was. The state’s judiciary is still bleeding. They have both reached the point of no return. It is either you triumph or you sink. On almost all the campaign rallies he has held for the urbane and civil APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Amaechi has said it clearly that

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Your brother is not my brother

‘

It is the fundamental right of every one to choose who his brother is. A brother is not just so called because the two of them are from the same mother or father or village or town or even zone... God gives life and only God should take life. Don’t take what you can’t give •Dr. Jonathan

Jonathan cannot be his brother. He says your brother is someone who watches your back, but that Jonathan stabs his back. He cites the Soku oil wells, which have since been ceded to Bayelsa State as evidence that the president is not qualified to be his brother. A few days ago, he told the Kalabari people at a rally on their soil that Jonathan should not be seen as their brother. In clear terms, he said the president hated them. He gave examples of when he nominated two Kalabari sons, Tonye Cole and Odein Ajumogbobia, the exemplary and brilliant product of the University of Lagos, as ministers and they were rejected by Jonathan. He did not forget to tell them that the president also refused him the permission to fix a federal road which has become a source of pain to the

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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When we cried, you cried with us, and when we were weeping, you wept with us. You made our pains your pain. Whatever we have achieved today, ERA/FoEN was part of it. You are always here with us. A day of thanksgiving is coming and we will remember all you have put in and also compensate you

‘

––– Bodo community

• Amaechi

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Kalabari people. Another reason Amaechi does not see the president as his brother concerns the sixth train of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant in Finima, Bonny Island. The governor said he once spoke with the president on the need to allow the company proceed with the sixth train, but was told by his ‘brother’ that the project had to wait for the Brass LNG in the president’s home state to take off first. He wondered why Rivers has to wait for Bayelsa to develop. The governor is also sad that the president has been silent on the mayhem in Okrika, his wife’s hometown during an APC rally. Gunshots were exchanged between those who wanted the rally stopped and the police. At the

end, a policeman died and a reporter with Channels Television, Charles Eruka, was stabbed. Some other policemen were also badly injured. Mr Anayo Onukwugha, a journalist working for Leadership in Port Harcourt, said he saw youths carrying AK-47 rifles, locally-made pistols, cutlasses and bottles. They overpowered him and collected all they could lay their hands on in his pockets, including his two phones, a digital voice recorder and some cash. His colleague, Emeka Amaefula, the Bureau Chief of City Magazine, sustained abrasion on his sheen and waist and had an elbow inflammation. The president has said nothing on this. The police is investigating. Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunde Ogunsakin is leading a team of detectives to unravel the mystery of who was behind the violence. So far, they have discovered items stolen from APC members in the hands of one of the three arrested in connection with the crime. Perhaps the president will speak when the police conclude the investigation. Or perhaps his own way of speaking was to secretly instruct Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba to investigate the matter. Like they say, life is like a coin; the side it shows to you is not what it shows to the other. Amaechi’s one-time Chief of Staff, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers, sees Jonathan as his brother and a friend to the people. Few days ago, he said the conflict over the Soku oil wells, one of the many sins Jonathan committed against Amaechi, would be resolved. But there is a condition attached to it: “If I become governor”. Some will ask why can’t it be resolved before April 11 when the governorship poll will hold or even before March 28 when Jonathan and Buhari will slug it out? To Wike, Amaechi is just painting the president black in order to hang him. The former Minister of State for Education says no president has done as much as Jonathan for the people of Rivers, especially in the area of education. The way things stand, it is now a matter of your brother is not my brother. Jonathan is the middle man here. To Amaechi, he is not a brother; to Wike, he is a dear brother in whom he is well-pleased. My final take: It is the fundamental right of every one to choose who his brother is. A brother is not just so called because the two of them are from the same mother or father or village or town or even zone. Blood, social ties and political gains or losses can play a role in choosing someone as your brother or adversary. Whichever of these factors determine your choice is fair and good. But what is bad is taking the game to the level of senselessness where human lives are toyed with. God gives life and only God should take life. Don’t take what you can’t give. That is my humble plea.

BY NICHOLAS KALU, CALABAR

March 28... Niger Delta, Jonathan and sentiment

Y President Goodluck Jonathan's admission, Niger Delta has not benefitted anything special on the basis of his be-

ing the region of his birth. To the president and his handlers, it means he has been a leader for Nigerians and not the people of the Niger Delta. But not many in the region agree with him. Those who disagree with him feel that even on the scale of fairness, the region has not gained equally when compared with other geo-political zone. To this set of people, the president has been wicked to his people. In Otuoke, the sleepy Baylesa community where he hails from and spent the early parts of his life, his multistory mansion, which he built for himself and close family while in office, is the most impressive building there. The house is not far from the street where he grew up. The street remains a haven of rusting iron-roofed shacks. The school where he had part of his primary education was in a state of disrepair until The Nation did a number of reports on it, pointing attention to its terrible state. Now, it looks better, but not ‘presidential’. The community has Jonathan to thank for the Federal University Otuoke, which was completed in 2011. It has about 1,000 students. The teaching and non-teaching staff outnumbers the students. There community does not have light, neither does it have po-

table water. Not a few of the people of the community are disappointed that their status as kinsmen of the president has brought them neither water nor light. For sentiment sake, they will, however, still cast their votes for the president on March 28. The Amnesty Programme, which was started when Jonathan was Vice-president, may be another thing the region can point at as its benefits from Jonathan. He was not the country's number one when it started but he has sustained it and many believe he had a hand in its design. Ex- militants, such as Ateke Tom, Mujahhid Asari-Dokubo and Government Ekpumopolo, have become multi-milionaires under Jonathan. They get lucrative pipeline surveillance contracts and got paid handsomely despite the fact that oil theft has gone up. Jonathan can also claim to have made sure the highway the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, connecting to the Rivers Sate capital, Port Harcourt, is now smooth. The region will, however, not forget in a hurry that Jonathan policies in power and farming have not benefited its people. The power sector privatisation has not led to more electricity supply for the people; neither has the people gained from the fertiliser scheme. Whatever gains have been recorded in the agric sector, Niger Delta cannot stand to be counted.

The East-West Road is a project which the Jonathan administration has been unable to complete. Goal posts have been shifted many a time and no one is in doubt that the project will not be delivered during his first term in office. The incomplete status of this road means that people will continue to go through hell using it, especially during the rainy season. Dokubo-Asari, in an interview with Reuters, said whatever Jonathan's faults are, he deserves to complete the region's slot by being given a second term. His words: "He who pays the piper must dictate the tune, and the delta has been paying the piper for so very long. If they make war, we can make war. We have the capacity to take what's ours." Since blood is thicker than water, many in the region will still go with their man. Like Happiness Ebi, an indigene of Otuoke, told Reuters, despite their disappointment, "he's our brother" and they will of course still vote for him. Ebi said: “We haven't really seen much benefit since our brother became president, except the university... There's no light, no water here. We're disappointed." Ex-militant leader Reuben Wilson believes that "we have been oppressed, we have been sidelined, and we are the people feeding this country". For this reason, he is ready to do battle to see their man back.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Aba road rehabilitation begins A

ROAD rehabilitation effort has started in Aba, Abia State’s commercial nerve. Over 150 trailer loads of materials were said to have been deployed to the exercise spearheaded by the governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Sir Chikwe Udensi. No fewer than 10 roads were said to have been fixed in the exercise, which involves sand-filling and other forms of remedial work. The roads include St. Peter’s Catholic Church Road, EziukwuAba, Uratta, sections of Power Line, Hospital Road, Ohanku, Obohia, Old Express, Eziukwu and Omuma roads. Udensi, a former national secretary of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and security consultant to the police, spoke with reporters shortly after inspecting a section of Omuma Road (St. Paul). He said he embarked on the rehabilitation to address the suffering of the residents, particularly those who lived in areas with poor access roads. “I embarked on the rehabilitation of these roads because the people have suffered and I can’t wait to become governor before I do something that will end their sufferings. “As I speak with you, we’ve taken delivery of over 150 tipper trailer loads of chippings and if they will not be enough, we hope to order for more so that the roads could be put in good shape before the rains come.” He said it was disheartening that Omuma Road which connects the city centre with Ariaria International Market and Ebiri Omuma in Rivers State has been in a sorry state, leaving residents to groan. He promised to begin the clearance of the debris which covered about a kilometer of the road by this week to enable the actual rehabilitation start. He lamented that people who paid taxes lived under such circumstances. “It is shameful that people should be allowed to live in such squalor when a responsible and responsive government should have done a little by rehabilitating the road and providing drainages,” he said. Responding to a question, the PPA governorship candidate said if he could use his personal money to

HE Abia State police command in conjunction with security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have convened a meeting where all the political parties in the state and their governorship candidates as well as senatorial and House of Representatives contestants have signed a peace accord ahead of the general elections. Speaking at the meeting, the AIG Zone 9, Gwuari Akila who chaired the occasion, said that this type of situation had earlier taken place in other states across the country and that this is the turn of Abia state. Akila said that the day is a great one for the command with the peace accord which all the political parties and their candidates in the state have come to signed to ensure peace before, during and after the forthcoming general elections. The AIG said that the meeting was called to appeal to the parties and their candidates to ensure that the political terrain in the state is

Orji’s wife donates to church •Continued from page 24 said that the presentation of the transformers were in fulfillment of an earlier promise in last August when women held a prayer programme there. Orji, who described her husband as a man with a listening ear and God-fearing leader, assisted in the provision of the transformers to help the church in its evangelistic works. She used the opportunity to call on members of the church to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates jostling for various positions at state and federal levels in the coming elections, warning them against voting “mushroom parties that will not fulfill their promises”. “Politics is not for fighting. It is like a game; if you win, you go but if you fail you go and sit down, not fighting people and planning evil against other contestants. God will not forgive you,” she said. The state overseer of the church, Pastor Chukwuneye Umeh on behalf of the church thanked the state government for the donation, adding that the transformers would go a long way in assisting them to advance the message of salvation and repentance which they propagate. He also used the opportunity to remind the state governor that the church was still expecting his administration to fulfill promise of constructing and making motor-able the road leading to the Camp from the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. The clergy further reinstated that the church was committed to helping to prepare men for heaven and to transform the lives for a better society through building their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

•Udensi at work

•One of the roads to be fixed

rehabilitate roads in the city, he would not only rehabilitate all the roads in the city but change the mindset of the people on governance

through delivery of democracy dividends as soon as he becomes the governor of the state. He therefore urged the people of

the state to vote for him and indeed other PPA candidates during the elections for the change that is needed in Abia.

‘Politics is not for fighting. It is like a game; if you win, you go but if you fail you go and sit down, not fighting people and planning evil against other contestants. God will not forgive you’

Police, candidates sign peace accord From Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke, Umuahia

not over heated, especially during their political campaigns. He urged the political stakeholders to conduct themselves, while their political activities should be conducted according to the laws of the country to usher in the next democratic dispensation. Akila said, “This meeting has been called to remind them to conduct themselves before, during and immediately after the general election to avoid any political motivated violence. “The politicians and the political stakeholders in the state are being reminded to avoid going astray and I’m happy with the number of political stakeholders in the state that attended this meeting. This shows that all of you want peace in the state.” Responding the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Chineye Nyerere Anyim, thanked the se-

‘The politicians and political stakeholders in the state are being reminded to avoid going astray and I’m happy with the number of political stakeholders in the state who attended the meeting. This shows that all of you want peace in the state’ curity agencies in the state for organising the meeting, adding that his party is against any violence and assured that they will abide by the accord. Anyim said that they need a level playing ground for all political parties in the state irrespective of those in power and those that want to take over power and decried the ban by the state government on other parties from using state property for their campaigns. He urged security agencies in the state especially the police not

to be bias and not to allow themselves to be used by the party in power to subvert the will of the people during the elections. In his contribution, the senatorial candidate of the APC for Abia Central senatorial seat, Hon Acho Obioma said that there is need of the security agencies in the state to be up and doing and not to be seen favouring any particular party. Obioma said that all political parties should be given equal opportunity in terms of security coverage before, during and after the

general election, even as he pledged to go home and educate his supporters and urged other candidates to do same if the accord is to stand the test of time. In his response, the state chairman of the PDP, Senator Emma Nwaka said that his party will abide by the peace accord to the letter, adding that all they knocks his party has received from other party candidates is a normal one for a party in power. In his speech the deputy governor of the state, Sir Emeka Ananaba commended the police for organising the peace meeting and urged the political parties to go beyond the accord by educating their supporters to avoid violence during the elections. The partieswhich attended the meeting were APC, PDP, ACPN, APGA and the PPA, with the governorship candidates and their national assembly candidates, some of them like PDP and APGA governorship candidates were represented by their running mates.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Members of ACCIMA and other participants at the interactive session

Group interacts with candidates

EMBERS of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), an umbrella body of business clusters in the commercial nerve of Abia State, have hosted various candidates contesting election in the state. Why? AACIMA said it was to determine what visions the contestants had for the state and even how they would translate them to reality.

HE traditional ruler of Okahia in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State HRM Eze Okey Ananaba has praised the state police command for initiating a peace accord signed in Umuahia, the state capital, by party candidates. The peace pact was to ensure a hitch-free election in the state, the state Police Commissioner, Habila Joshak said. It was unclear whether the peace deal was inspired by a similar agreement reached earlier by presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

In attendance were governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nyerere Anyim; Dr. Alex Otti (All Progressive Grand Alliance); Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu Peoples Democratic Party) and Chief Chikwe Udensi of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). Others included Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South

Senatorial Constituency); Hon. Uzo Azubuike (PDP, Aba North and South Federal Constituency); Ossy Prestige (APGA, Aba North and South Federal Constituency); Chief Chris Nkwonta (Abia South Senatorial Constituency candidate), and Mascot Uzor Kalu (PPA), among others. Candidates seeking reelection reeled out their achievements, saying why they should return; fresh

contestants presented their programmes. Some of the participants, who spoke to our correspondent, said they shut down their businesses to hear from the candidates and know them better. They lamented the communication gap between the leaders and the led in the past 16 years during which politicians who sought the people’s support, relocated to Abuja

Monarch hails peace accord ‘The monarch also called on registered voters in the state to endeavour to collect their permanent voter cards or PVCs in order to vote the candidates of their choice, urging them to cast their votes according to their conscience’ From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Goodluck Jonathan and his counterpart in the foremost opposition

•One of the flyovers being built in Awka, Anambra State

party, the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking at his palace when the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti visited him, Eze Ananaba said the accord would have no meaning except it was enforced. The revered monarch admonished politicians to shun violence, urging them to play politics with the spirit of sportsmanship. He said, “What is of paramount importance to the traditional rulers is the peaceful conduct of the elections,” adding, there would be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of violence and rancour. The monarch also called on registered voters in the state to endeavour to collect their permanent voter cards or PVCs in order to vote the candidates of their choice, urging them “to cast their votes according to their conscience on the day of the elections.” Otti promised to run an all-inclusive and people-oriented government if elected into office. He assured that his administration would ensure even development of the state, promising not to discriminate against any section of the state. “I will give everybody a sense of belonging and there will be even development across the different parts of the state,” he said. “I will not discriminate against any person or section of the state, whether they voted for me or not.” The former Diamond Bank MD beckoned on the monarch to sensitize his subjects on the need to get their PVCs and feel free to vote for the candidates of their choice. “People should collect their PVCs and vote according to their conscience, he said, adding that they should not allow themselves to be intimidated by anybody. Otti said that he joined the governorship race in order to redeem the people.

only to resurface and start “making noise” as another election neared. They expressed the hope that the interaction would help to sensitise Abia electorate on making informed decisions on whom to vote or not. The chairman of ACCIMA, Chief Anthony Enukeme said that the business group was holding the event not to witch-hunt anyone but to provide a platform for candidates in to meet the electorate and present their manifesto and also for the people to interact with them. Enukeme expressed the hope that the interaction would be productive.

Mbaka predicts disaster •Continued from page 26 of the so-called leaders who are not afraid of God. I will never be afraid of anybody who is not afraid of God. “There is a malignant political cancer in the liver and kidney of our economy. We are still talking about unemployment and bombing here. But after this disaster, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.” Rev Mbaka urged the congregation to pray and do charity works. When the message came to Nineveh the president of Nineveh called on all citizens to pray and fast. They say they are constructing trains and building international airports while the poor people are hungry. Let them repair even the roads first before going to trains and airports. They are toying with the reality that God is not happy…the widows are suffering and they expect me to keep quiet. This is blackmail, and I will never keep quiet. The government officials visit foreign lands but they cannot replicate what they see there. The amount of money they raise for campaign is enough to develop another country altogether. Unhealthy accumulation of wealth and banking them here and there is depriving the citizens of their better life. I encourage all men of God to open their mouths and tell them what God wants them to hear. Our representatives are thieves. The church fights for justice. God will make those wealth they are looting away come back to fight them. Samuel was the one who anointed Saul and Saul was still alive when Samuel anointed David. Was Samuel contradicting himself? Jesus blessed Peter and made him the head of the apostles but the same Jesus told Peter “get behind me Satan.” Did Jesus contradict himself?”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Man held for selling son

HE Abia State police command seems to be making progress. No fewer than nine suspects have been paraded for alleged crimes ranging from kidnapping to ATM fraud. One man was said to have sold his son for a fee. Speaking in Umuahia while parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police (CP) Joshak Habila said the command was determined to reduce the level of crime rate in the state. Habila said that the strategies the command put in place to check criminality has been yielding fruit as the command had made tremendous progress in apprehending criminals at different locations in the state. He said that the command rescued a man who was alleged to have been kidnapped by two suspected kidnappers and were demanding ransom from his family in Port Harcourt. The CP said that one Sarah Onuegbu of Nworoma street Port Harcourt, Rivers state reported that her brother Callistus Agunmuo of 48 Ikwere Road Port Harcourt called her on phone that he has been kidnapped by four men. Habila said that the kidnappers had asked her to come to his house with the ransom and his men swung into action, “During which the duo of Light Nwalozie and Anthony Ukaegbu were arrested, while the victim was rescued without any ransom”. He said that his command has also arrested one Ezenwoko Gideon of Ohuru Amangwu who has been terrorizing Obingwa and its environs, adding that Gideon has been on the wanted list of the police for several kidnap cases. The CP said that the command had earlier arrested his gang, “But Gideon ran away and later resurfaced and has been linked with several kidnap cases in recent time with the Obingwa council area of the state. Habila said that his command arrested one Chika Azubuine of Akpunekpu village and Victor Young of Obiekwensu village both of Isiala Ngwa South council area who are experts in ATM robbery. He said that the suspects attempted to rob the ATM of one of the first generation banks in that area, adding that investigations led to the arrest of Enyeribe Chidi, Obinna Francis, Iwejuo Chilaka and Izuochi Iwejuo from their hideout in Obiekwensu village. The CP said that the items recovered from them included iron bars, three ATM cards, one handset, four SIM cards, one motorcycle, two locally made singe-barrel shot guns, a DVD player, two motorcycles without registration numbers among others. The Abia CP said that a woman named Gladys Sunday of Ahiaba Okpuala in Isiala Ngwa North council area reported to the police that her brother, Sampson Uchenna

•The suspects

‘The Commissioner of Police said that the items recovered from the suspects included iron bars, three ATM cards, one handset, four SIM cards, one motorcycle, two locally made singe-barrel shotguns, a DVD player and two unregistered motorcycles, among others’ From Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke, Umuahia

Sunday aged 32 years had been stabbed to death. Habila said that Gladys told the police that her brother was stabbed to death by one Chizaram Amandu aged 40 years from Umuagu Eziala Nsulu of the same council area. He said that the suspect after committing the act ran to the police to report that he fought with a man, adding that during investigation, “It was found that the suspect stabbed the deceased with a knife at his neck which led to his death”. The CP said the police found out that the suspect had gone to the back of the man’s house and when the deceased confronted him he attacked him with the knife and claimed that he was hunting for snails at the back of the dead man’s house.

•The man suspected to have sold his son (middle), the little boy, his mother and another suspect

He said that on being questioned by the police questioned that the suspect said that he fought with the deceased, but did not know that his action will lead to his death and regretted his action. Habila also paraded a man for selling his one year and two months old son for a paltry sum of N300,000, while the suspect who is alleged to have bought the boy is on the run, the father is currently under arrest by the police, while the boy has been rescued.

The CP said that the suspect, one Maduabuchi George Okey, conspired with one Obinna Erondu to sell his son, Chizoba Maduabuchi aged one year and two months for the sum of N300,000. He said that trouble started when his wife Eberechi Maduabuchi raised alarm that her baby was missing, “The police swung into action, traced and rescued the boy from the house of one Erondu at Mbutu Umuogwo village, who is now on the run”.

Sustain peace, rector urges students

•Prof. Uche Ikonne

HE Acting Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba Prof. Uche Ikonne has urged the newly elected leaders of the Student Union Government (SUG) of the institution to maintain peace and harmony between the management, staff and students of the polytechnic. At the inauguration of the union executives at his office, Ikonne urged the students leaders not to allow politicians to use them to cause unrest or any act capable of truncating the country’s democracy. Ikonne represented by the Deputy Rector, Administration, Elder Okpara Onyekwere assured the new executive that the management of the polytechnic would support and cooperate with them in activities geared towards promoting the welfare of the students. He also urged them to seek clearance from the management on issues so as to be properly guided and to avoid running foul. Onyekwere used the opportunity to eulogize the immediate past regime for the peace and development recorded in the school during their tenure and expressed optimism that the incoming SUG would take after them. In his handover address, the former SUG President, Comrade Mbah Justice while enu-

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

merating some of their achievements, said “To maintain cleanliness within the campus, this administration initiated a project known as “Clean and Green Initiative” aimed at inculcating cleanliness… which has drastically reduced the number of dirt in the campus…. “In course of my administration, we organized a lot of empowerment programmes that brightened the lives of our students. 34 students of this institution are in SACA pay role. 200 of our students are involved in HIV and AIDS sensitisation programme in and outside the campus. “This administration took it as a responsibility to train Anita Agwuoma Miracle whom we inherited from our predecessor as a toilet cleaner in the union. We observed that cleaning of the union toilets will do her good in the future; we purchased admission form for her, paid her acceptance fee and part-payment of her tuition fee. Sir, this is not part of our duty, but following our manifesto, we promised the students that efforts must be translated into something that can be seen)”. Justice however implored the incoming administration to consolidate and improve on

what they have done, have the interest of the students that they have swore to represent at heart and to make sure that the position of the school management in the scheme of things was not neglected. Comrade Maxwell Eze, the incoming president of the Polytechnic Student Union Government promised to sustain the achievements of their predecessors, adding that they were going to work closely with the school management while they ensure that the sustenance of the entire students welfare remain their utmost priority. The acting rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba Prof. Uche Ikonne has charged the newly elected Student Union Government (SUG) Executive of the institution to maintain the existing peace and harmony between the management, staff and students of the polytechnic. Ikonne speaking when the newly constituted SUG was inaugurated in his office also charged the students body not to allow politicians that would come by to befriend and use them cause unrest or any act capable of truncating the country’s democratic as 2015 elections are by the corner.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

HEIR colourful dressing belied the reason for the occasion. The women drawn from all the Igbo states of Abia, Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Rivers came together to fight harmful practices against them. The women known as Umuada Igbo gathered at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral field in Awka, Anambra State with the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano in attendance. The Umuada Igbo group is led by its president in Nigeria and Diaspora, Lolo Dr. Kate Uzoamaka Ezeofor, but was powered by a group known as IPAS–Nigeria led by Dr. Nihinlola Mabogunje. Other heavyweights at the celebrated event to mark the world’s women day in Anambra included, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Usman Gwari and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edwin Nwatalari, an engineer. Governor Obiano’s wife, Ebelechukwu, was not in town but was represented by former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Uju Okeke. The over 5,000 crowd of women at the arena carried placards with the inscription “make it happen”, being a way of giving voice to the passage of violence against person prohibition (VAPP) bill by the National Assembly. Dr. Echendu Adinma, the president of female Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) talked on family planning and reproductive health and rights of women. Also, Nkem Anyaogu, a lawyer and member of Umuada Igbo gave legal aspects of harmful practices against the women, adding that the female lawyers were ever ready to represent those who go through such tortures. While talking on the (VAPP) bill, Princess Nnenna Emele, who represented Mabogunje and Edosa, said the bill was on the higher rate of female battering in the society. The bill was passed by the house of representatives in 2014, after one year it was presented, while the senate had had its first and second readings on it and referred it to committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters for further legislative work. Emele, listed other violence against women as forceful eviction from land, emotional and psychological verbal abuse, abandonment of children by parents, rape among others. On Monday, there was a public hearing at Abuja on (VAPP) according to Edosa, which attracted a large crowd. Other issues on the women’s day event in Anambra as discussed included security by the AIG Gwary, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Anambra, Mr. Finham Adeoye. He told the crowd that hunger was one of the major reasons for

•Governor Obiano (fourth right) and other dignitaries at the event

•The Umuada at the event

Women unite against violence From Nwansoike Onu, Awka

thuggish acts in Nigeria during elections, but adviced Umuada Igbo as mothers to cage their children from being used as such by politicians during elections. He commended Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for taking the lead in collaboration with security operatives in the state in chasing out criminals in the state. Nwatalari of INEC, while discussing on voter education, displayed to the women on how the card readers would work during the forth coming general elections in the country. He reminded that, any body who failed to obtain his or permanent voter’s card (PVCs), and comes out to vote on any of the election days

was risking jail. “Election has gone scientific in Nigeria, the era of snatching of ballot boxes, papers, result sheets are over and this card reader dictates fakes and original, we are going to witness a peaceful election without violence, anybody who wants to cause violence should go to the Bokoharam camp” INEC REC said The leader of Umuada Igbo and its founder, chief Dr. Kate Ezeofor, informed the Igbo speaking women that the traditional ruler of Omogho community, in Orumba North Local Government Area, Igwe Ralph Offor provided 7.7 hectares of land to Umuada Igbo for its cultural centre, hospital and other things. Ezeofor said Umuada (daughters

Obiano’s wife equips health Centre

HE challenges, once huge, are being surmounted. At Eziowelle, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, child-bearing was quite arduous. Some women delivered on a bench as the community health centre lacked everything it should not. Help has come, thanks to the wife of the state governor, Ebele Obiano who has provided facilities at the health facility. She promised to help last year. Now she has fulfilled her pledge, as she presented a power-driven delivery bed designed to provide support for the mother during delivery. The designed delivery bed equally aids the nursing staff in the birthing process. The bed could be powered with

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

electric to gain height and has backrest adjustment which provides support for mother during labour. The women in the community were worried during Obiano’s wife first visit; even their visitor wept. Five months later, the situation has changed. The joy of the women forced the local government chairman, Emmanuel Idemobi to declare that the council would take special care of the first child to be delivered on the new bed at the health centre. He thanked the governor’s wife for what he described as her latest gift of charity, adding that the support of the people for the governor, Chief Willie Obiano would never wane. The matron of Eziowelle health

centre, Mrs. Monica Ekwealor told The Nation that the equipment donated to the centre by Obiano’s wife would be properly utilized. She commended her for keeping her promise of not allowing the sufferings of the less privileged women in the community to continue.

of the land”) had been as old as Ndigbo and had been in the vanguard in socio cultural and socio political developments in the country. She said, “Umuada derives its membership from Igbo daughters of seven Igbo-speaking states of Nigeria, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers and Igbo daughters living in all the states of Nigeria and in the Diaspora” She said Umuada Igbo had partnership with IPAS, vision and society for family health on family planning, reproductive health and rights and more than two hundred and thirty thousand persons have benefited from the projects. “Umuada Igbo Nigeria is planning advocacy visits, rallies and meetings

On her part, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano saw the donation as a natural reaction to what she saw on the ground when she visited the place last year. Mrs. Obiano said that she was sure that what she had done would go along way in ensuring safe delivery for women at the centre. She said, “I remember that when I

‘It touched me because I felt that should not be happening in this century especially in our state. That’s why I promised them a bed before and went ahead to procure a standard delivery bed, but didn’t find time to present it to them before now’

to communities, villages, and towns to educate women on their inheritance rights, as most of them may not have access to radio, television and newspapers in the areas”. Drama presentations were done by Umuada Igbo which included lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, Journalists, pharmacists among others to the admiration of Obiano and the police boss. Obiano was overwhelmed by the display of the women to whom he made a cash donation. Former Commissioner for Women Affairs and state Coordinator, Umuada Igbo, Lady Henrietta Agbata, commended Igbo daughters for their dedication and commitment to the oppressed.

came sometime in September 2014 one of your complaints that touched me was that your facilities have gone bad that you have to resorted to undertaking delivery of babies on a bench”. “It touched me because I felt that should not be happening in this century especially in our state”. “That is why I promised them a bed before and went ahead to procure a standard delivery bed, but didn’t find time to present it to them before now” she said. Furthermore, she told them that she was always touched by things concerning the welfare of children and women. This, she said, was made easy by her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), a nonprofit, non-partisan outfit which has mandate to care for the less privileged and reduce the vulnerability of women and children.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

A night of tributes/service of songs was held last Wednesday for the late chairman of CFAO Motors, Sir Alexander Molade Okoya-Thomas, a philanthropist, frontline sport enthusiast and socialite. There was an outpour of emotions by many eminent personalities, reports NNEKA NWANERI

•The widow, Lady Olivet (right); Fashola and his wife, Abimbola

Rain of tributes for Okoya-Thomas P

OSH cars made their way to Trinity House, Zion Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. The occupants were not there for the mid-week bible study. They were expatriates, politicians, captains of industries and business moguls, who came to pay tributes to the late Asoju Oba of Lagos, Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas, who died on February 1. He was 79. One after the other, they made their way quietly into the church auditorium to honour the late business icon; it was a sober gathering. Two large portraits of the deceased placed at the background of the church altar caught guests’ attention as they reflected on the messages inscribed on them. The late Okoya-Thomas would have joined the octogenarian club next June 8. He was an entrepreneur, socialite, and industrialist. He held many titles, such as the highest honour of the French Citizenry Commandeur de La Legion d’Honneur de France; Bobasuwa of Remoland; Odofin of Ife and the Asalu Oba Oke-Ona Egba. He was also a papal knight of the Catholic Church; and a patron of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation. Besides, the late Okoya-Thomas was honoured with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). The event was to celebrate his passage, times, exploits, charity and love for mankind. The worship session by the Trinity Voices choir of the church added colour to the event. The songs were moving: “Till we meet again”, “Smile again” and “Holy City”. Many fought back tears, damping their faces with handkerchiefs. A woman from Alliance Francaise’ sang a French song before the first daughter of the deceased, Hon Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, read the first bible passage from Genesis 1:26-29.

The first set of tributes came from the International Community and related companies. The French Ambassador, Marcel Escure, lauded the beneficial relationship the late Okoya-Thomas established between Nigeria and France. He noted that his heritage will outlive him for a very long time. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CFAO Motors in Paris, Richard Bielle, said the father of the late Okoya-Thomas worked for CFAO for 52 years from 1902. His son, the late Molade for 56 years contributed tremendously to the company, when he joined as an accountant and rose to become its chairman. “He will be remembered for his modesty and humility, which endeared him to all. His memory will be missed; his smile so sincere.” Country Manager, CFAO Motors, Steve Faderin, described his late boss as a man who loved life and people, thus making him the first choice in national and state assignments. “I still see his smile lit up in his face and I hold his life as a beacon I can aspire to be like,” he said. Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, in his tribute, said it was a painful, but necessary task. He described the late Okoya-Thomas as a man great in life and in death; a man who never took sides during conflicts, but would always be in the middle seeking solutions. Fashola described him as ‘Nigeria’s Sports Minister Emeritus’ for dedicating 40 years of his life to promoting sports. Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the late OkoyaThomas was a father to her for the past 16 years. She said without him the New Era Foundation, her pet project, would not have thrived. The second Bible passage from the book of Psalm 23 was read by another daughter of the

•The late Sir Molade

deceased, Mrs Toyin Alobo-Bakare, before another set of tributes were paid by deceased’s friends and associates. Founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun, said his late friend was a consummate gentleman and an icon of Lagos society. “I don’t believe he had any enemies because we knew right from our secondary school days when I was in Igbobi College, I used to hear his name mentioned during loud announcements at sporting events in the 40s. He was a great sportsman with many awards. We grew to be special guests at each other’s events and though in death, his soul goes marching on.” Industrialist, Chief Kessington Adebutu,

said he met Sir Okoya-Thomas in 1951, when they were new students at the Baptist Academy. “MOT as we fondly called him in school, was a great boxer and debater. He was a trusted friend in whom I shared so many intimate things with. He was my number one confidante. Although we spoke a few days before his death, his strong baritone voice gave no indication that he would pass so soon.” The Baptist Academy Old Students Association, led by its national president, Chief Olatunde Onakoya led other old boys to sing their school song. Family members later took turns to pay their round of tributes.Grandchildren of the late Okoya-Thomas filed out to honour their grandpa. The eldest of them, who spoke on their behalf, promised that they will continue the good works their grandfather started. Son of the deceased, Deji, pledged to continue the legacy of sponsoring the Asoju Oba Cup his father inuagurated and sustained for the past 46 years. Hon Okoya-Thomas, who represents Lagos Island at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, recalled a day her father beat her up in her grandmother’s house for not brushing her teeth well. She also noted that because her father was always particular about the family name, she has promised never to disappoint him in politics. Mrs Alobo-Bakare said her father was addicted to a particular perfume for 40 years and “always teased me about my weight”. Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo gave a brief sermon on what must be done for all to make heaven. Also in attendance were: First Lady of Lagos, •Continued on page 43

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

SOCIETY

•Children of the deceased from left: Mrs Yinka Taiwo; Mrs Alobo-Bakare; Deji Okoya-Thomas and Hon Okoya-Thomas

•Chairman of Eleganza Industries Chief Rasak Okoya (right) and Chairman of Doyin Group Prince Samuel Adedoyin

Rain of tributes for Okoya-Thomas •Continued from page 15

Dame Abimbola Fashola; APC Women Leader, Mrs Kemi Nelson; Senators Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Florence Ita-Giwa; Sisi Oge of Lagos, Chief Opral Benson; Vice President Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs Chief Iyabo Foresythe; Mr Wale Edun; former Lagos State Deputy governor, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu.

•Senator Tinubu flanked by Mrs Vivian Fowler and Otunba Balogun

•From left: Mr Bode Emmanuel; Justice George Oguntade (rtd) and Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola

•Mr Edun

•Chief Nelson

•Olori Abiola Balogun (left) and Alhaja Ojikutu

•Senator Ita-Giwa (left) and Mrs Abba Folawiyo

•From left: Chief Benson, Chief Foresythe and Chief Kessington

•Hon Hakeem Bello (left) and Chief Kenny Martins

•Chief Gbenga Obasa (left) and former Minister of Defence Demola Seriki

•Senator Afikuyomi; Hon. Iju Nwabunike and Chief Richard Okafor PHOTOS: MUYIWA HASSAN

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

SOCIETY The grand finale of the activities marking the 30th anniversary of Rotary Club of Oregun, Lagos was held last Sunday at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, reports NNEKA NWANERI

HE Rotary Club of Oregun celebrated its 30th anniversary in style. The club was chartered on February 23, 1985. The anniversary was celebrated for one week. For each day, there was a special package to deliver in the six areas of focus. There was a special Health Day, which the club held in partnership with Mecure Healthcare. Health workers were at Oregun Senior High School to give a career and vocational talks to the students before donating items to the school. On Friday, the club in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was at Ojota Park to give safety talks to members of the Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The club donated a borehole to Oregun community, and also gave its widow’s mite to Ozanam Home for the destitute. At the grand finale last Sunday at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, the club ensured that guests had fun. The event was chaired by former University of Lagos Vice chancellor, Prof Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, who lauded Rotary’s structure and the way members pursue its objectives. “Nigeria needs to adopt the 4-way Rotary test from pupils in the primary school to the Presidency”. Obe said. The 30th president of the club, Henry Ibhade, was proud of its achievements. The first keynote speaker and DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi urged all to ensure that “we always strive to deliver services in all we do”. Sunday Vanguard Editor Jide Ajani, highlighted the lapses of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), pointing the way forward after the general elections. The event became more interesting when the Sasore of Ilesa and pioneer president of Rotary Club of Oregun Chief Tunde Aluko was installed doyen of the club by the District Governor, Dr Dele Balogun. Aluko was president during the 86/87 year. Many past presidents of the club at the event were invited to the podium for a group photograph after their were induction into the council of past presidents. Members later came forward to cut their blue and white two-layered cake. Chairman, 30th Anniversary Committee, and the club’s President for 2012-13 Mr Arinze Okamelu, was grateful to members and guests for the success of the ceremony. He said it almost seemed an impossible task, but like a sweet dream, the celebration went seamlessly. Those at the event were former Minister of Works Adeseye Ogunlewe; Senator Anthony Adefuye and Dr Michael OlawaleCole.

Rotary Marks 30 •Chief Aluko (right); the president Mr Ibhade (middle); beside him is his wife Queensley; Mr Okamelu; and other members of the club to cut the cake

•Mr Ajani speaking at the event

•Dr Balogun (right) and Prof Ibidapo-Obe

•Dr Shoga

•Senator Adefuye and his wife

•Senator Ogunlewe (right) and Omoba Gbenga Osinowo

•Mr Aloysius Bamidele presenting the award to Ijeoma Aso of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation

•Dr Olawale-Cole •PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

SOCIETY

A man for all seasons A tribute to Sir Chief Molade Okoya - Thomas OFR, Asoju Oba of Lagos

HIEF MoladeOkoya - Thomas was, as they say, many things to many people. To me he became, over the years, a father-figure, a mentor, a role model, and a most cherished friend. As such he will be sorely missed but always remembered in the most endearing terms. I offer my heart-felt condolences to Mama, the children and the entire family he left behind. Eyin Baba a da. Amin. I first encountered Chief Okoya - Thomas and got to like him and almost instinctively adopted him as a role model, even before I met him and got to know him. It was back in the early 1980s and I was recently returned to Nigeria after a long stay abroad. I had just started my career in investment banking and quickly came across his name on my marketing list of the Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Nigeria Plc, as one of the high net-worth individuals to both market financial instruments to, in both his corporate and individual capacities. It was years before I actually met him in person, but

By A. Olawale Edun in the meantime I followed him in the media, long before the days of Twitter and social media! Back then, I was truly intrigued by the way that his presence and personality were writ large across the spectrum of society. He was mentioned regularly on the business pages, while he was also a key figure on the Lagos cultural and social scene; and when you looked at the sports pages he was there also; and his philanthropic work was also regularly mentioned-particularly his steadfast sponsorship of the Asoju Oba Table Tennis competition. Here was a man who was as easy and comfortable in corporate boardrooms among the elite and international businesses people, as he was playing the traditional role of Asoju Oba in cultural gatherings and doing church work. One day he would be at Roland Garros or in his box at Wimbledon, the next mingling with and encourage young sporting talent at the grassroots level in Lagos. Here was a man

•The late Sir Molade

showing how to really be a part of society and how to fulfil the lofty goal of contributing to others across several facets of life. Observing Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas from afar, I saw a role model of how to live in Lagos and Nigeria. As the years rolled by I was fortunate to

have the chance to spend many happy hours with Chief Okoya-Thomas in various settings, from formal gatherings to hanging out at his beloved Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. I remain eternally grateful for the effusive kindness and consideration he always showed to my wife and family, whenever he met them. For me, his most endearing feature was his wonderful personality. The wit, the humour, the kindness, generosity of spirit and humility of the man knew no bounds. Always a master of impeccable hospitality, you only had to visit him at his office lunchtime at - even if he had guests - to be treated to a sumptuous meal, fine wines and an afternoon of rib-cracking tales and eyewatering laughter. Despite his humble nature Chief, quite rightly, never allowed anyone to sell him short. If you made the mistake of seating him at anywhere but the highest table, at a function you had invited him to, he would quietly gesture towards the adjacent table, with its reserved signs, and gently ask rhetorically:” is that where the Governor will be sitting?” Then he would ask: “Se ko ye kiawanajokoti Governor”! Adieu, Sir Chief(Dr) Molade Okoya Thomas OFR, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, Businessman, Philanthropist, Sportsman and Bon Viveur!

A day of celebration This year’s Elewu Day celebration was held at Odolewu-Ijebu in Ogun State, reports BUSOLA ODUGBESAN •Lt. Gen Diya greeting Madam Nike Akhidena

•Chief Ogunkoya (left) and Senator Adefuye

•Prof Grange flanked by Chief Rasak (right) and Chief Sola Dada

•Mr Femi Ajayi Bombe and his wife, Funmi

HE yearly celebration of Elewu day attracted dignitaries from all walks of life into Odolewu town in Ogun State. Guests appeared in gorgeous attires. Elewu day is a yearly celebration for indigenes in Odolewu town in Ogun Sate. The event began with an opening prayer. Its chairman, former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), in his opening remarks, hailed the Odolewu indigenes both home and abroad for their moral and financial support. The Babalaje of Odolewu, Olugbon of Lagos and Group Managing Director, Aresco Limited, Senator Anthony Adefuye, urged Nigerians to develop their roots with regular visit. He urged the indigenes of the town to return home and develop it. “Disabuse your minds from the age long fear of the unknown, rather, encourage your children, especially the wealthy and the privileged ones to invest positively in their roots,” he said. Senator Adefuye enjoined government to partner with genuine Investors to develop hinterland. He called on the distinguished personalities and the Indigenes present at the event to donate handsomely towards the community projects. The event featured the presentation of an award to Senator Adefuye in recognition of his zeal to improve the lot of others. Among those at the event were the former Minister of Health Prof Adenike Grange; former Executive Director Mobil Oil Plc, Prince Emmanuel Adesanya; an industrialist, Chief Frank Ekperigin; Omoba Gbenga Osinowo; the Bale of Odolewu, High Chief Paul Ogunkoya; former Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Chief Lanre Rasak; All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Seriki Bamu; Alhaji Denge Anifowose; member, Lagos State House of Assembly Bayo Osinowo; and Jimoh Ibrahim.

•Babatunde Adesida

•From right:Wife of Baale of Odolewu, Olori Funmilayo Ogunkoya; Mrs Florence Ekpengirin and her husband, Frank

•Chief Tayo Soyode

•Cross-section of community leaders

PHOTOS: RAHAMAN SANUSI

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6 2015

COMMENTARY

“T

HERE are good men in every land; the tree of life has many branches and roots; let not the topmost twig presume to think that it alone has sprung from the mother earth; we did not choose our races by ourselves; Jews, Muslims, Christians, all alike are men; let me hope I have found in you a man.” Jonathan Von Goethe

FEMI ABBAS ON

Proverbial Adage Leaders are not those who ascribe leadership to themselves by whim and thus become unworthy impostors. Real leaders are those who are acknowledged as leaders by their followers and are willingly assisted by those followers to pilot the affairs of the people. A Yoruba proverbial adage which informs that “all sorts of knives surface on a day of an elephant’s death” may not be far from the truth after all. Politics in Nigeria today is like that proverbial elephant. It throws up all hidden agenda and exposes all clandestine moves by some dubious characters in the society. In other words, the satanic cloak under which some obscure, chameleonic politicians masquerade in a bid to benefit from Nigeria’s new political paradigm called ‘stomach infrastructure’ seems to have become an implacable calamity that devours the vestiges of peace in the land. The Yoruba Muslims of the current generation who were never privileged to witness the political and religious trauma to which their parents were subjected in the 1950s and 1960s in the old Western region, when Yoruba Muslims had not fully imbibed Western literacy, can still feel the impact of that trauma today. They may however take advantage of today’s atrocious spectacle to view the religious cloaks of those years and use it to unmask some dubi- •Map of the Southwest ous characters who then masqueraded papers? The theory of stomach infrastrucunder those evil cloaks. ture which just crept into Nigeria’s political thesaurus has surely brought a new The sun and the brook dimension to the cultural value in Yoruba An Arab poet once observed thus in land. For people who know the owl very well one of his poetic stanza: “…..It does not bother the sun that some blind people with its queer operation in the forest, the deny the existence of its rays just as it antics of the AFENIFERE political demadoes not bother a brook that some herd gogues cannot be strange. Here are people of yesteryear who had spent their time boycotts its water”. If the above quotation is thoroughly and the time of their children as well as analysed by men of literary prowess it that of their grandchildren and are yet would be discovered that the blind men seeking to spend the time of their great who deny the existence of the sun rays grand children to their own benefits are the ones to lose out in their animos- alone. At a time when vision rather than improvidence is the order of the day it is ity. Their refusal to recognise the rays of strange that this group’s deleterious pothe sun can neither diminish the gran- litical activities are still geared towards deur of the sun nor enable their blind the search for any relevance even where eyes to see. Yet, they will suffer severely relevance for them has become impossiunder the burning heat of the sun rays. ble. But what else can be said of a group that Likewise, boycotting the brook water by some herd can never affect the brook once claimed to be progressive but now in any way. If anything, it is the herd turns round to become ultra-conservative? which boycotts the brook water that may end up dying of thirst. Living in the dark

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Afenifere: Generals without troops

The parable of owl The similitude of the above analogy is like that of a self-adulated group in Yoruba land called AFENIFERE which, like an owl, cannot freely interact with credible, well-meaning Yoruba men and women on issues of substance. Like the owl which, by its own design, is essentially a bird of the night that cannot comfortably associate with other birds in the day, AFENIFERE is now a pariah group that can only arrogate leadership to itself on the pages of some pariah newspapers in its search for relevance. If we may ask, at what forum did the well known and globally acknowledged Yoruba leaders of thought appoint the so-called AFENIFERE to serve as the megaphone of the Yoruba tribe? Even if the group was ever appointed the megaphone for the Yoruba tribe does that confer leadership on it? When did Yoruba leadership become so cheap that any pariah group can rise from an obscure corner of the region to start claiming it on the pages of news-

With some dead woods and half baked elements in Yoruba land as its members today, AFENIFERE is currently arrogating Yoruba leadership to itself and claiming to be the megaphone of that Nigerian major tribe as it once did unchallenged in the remote past. That group which still

lives in the dark days of the primitive past seems to be too visionless to coin a contemporary name for itself other than that of its progenitor in the early 1950s. Thus, in its failure to keep pace with the modern reality, the group still believes that the situation of the 1950s is the same as that of today an indication that it has long outlived its time and its relevance. The group (AFENIFERE) was recently reported in the media to have told a particular presidential candidate in the forth coming general elections that Yoruba people had decided to give him their block voting. That report has not been denied. And that was not the first time the group has fraudulently made unsolicited claims on behalf of Yoruba people. Sometime early last year, the same group hijacked the Southwest presidential nomination to the national confab and put 15 of its members (all non-Muslims) on the list of that nomination to the exclusion of the entire Muslims in the region whose numerical strength cannot be underestimated. When, in reaction to that clandestine act, the Muslim Ummah of the South West of Nigeria (MUSWEN) wrote a memo to the National confab to put the records straight, the group quickly but deceptively wrote a letter to MUSWEN inviting the latter to a meeting of mutual understanding. But the meeting never came up as AFENIFERE began to play its usual chameleonic hide and seek game that is still on course till this moment.

Evidence of ignorance What these people do not and may not know in a foreseeable future is that with the coming of Internet and social media the definition of literacy has tremendously changed from mere reading and writing of tales and fables to that of modern browsing and messaging through the Internet in the 21st century. And without such standard of literacy this time around any person who still claims to be literate is half-dead. However, it takes only the seeing to recognise the light and make the best use of it. Therefore, it cannot be a surprise that the members of this group are still snor-

‘Like the rise of a modern building from the debris of the old, the Yoruba Muslims of this generation have come of age and can no longer be swept with the rubles of irrelevance into the refuse bin. We do not need a borrowed mouth to speak out when necessary and nobody has a right to speak for us without our mandate’

ing in their primordial bed while expecting others to be off like them. Even in Yoruba land where AFENIFERE is supposed to be based the group merely operates in a certain obscure corner of the region only to randomly roar out to impress its ignorant backers in Abuja through the pages of some obscure newspapers. But since the dance of a dragon fly on the surface of stream water can only be in mandatory rhythm of the drum beat beneath the water no one should expect the owl to come home to roost. Judged by the public utterances and conducts of its members, AFENIFERE has become a ridiculous paradox between yesterday’s fictitious dream and today’s disappointing nightmare. Had the members of the so-called AFENIFERE group known how much they have become a laughable stock in Nigeria today they would have probably reclined into their obsolete cloak and stopped behaving like the owl among birds. But how can they know when they can hardly realise that the trend of literacy which once gave them the opportunity to be relevant in the region has since changed when most of them cannot put their fingers on the computer let alone prying into the modern world of literacy through the Internet.

Yoruba Muslims in the 21st Century To this so-called AFENIFERE group, the usefulness of the Muslim multitudes in the Western region does not transcend voting and clapping for the region’s ‘lotus eaters’ which it (AFENIFERE) typifies. Despite the glaring difference between the Muslims of the 1950s who were treated like slaves and those of the 21st century who are highly sophisticated in essence and substance the groups still pretends not to take note hence the ignorant wish to maintain the anachronistic status quo.

Warning Let it be known to this self-elevated group that the antics of the yore with which the so-called AFENIFERE outsmarted and relegated Yoruba Muslims to the background in the past have gone with the irritating particles of the past. And any further attempt to want to continue such primitive antics to the detriment of Yoruba Muslims will be adequately resisted in letters and in law. We have paid our due in terms of tolerance, patience and endurance. Elasticity has its limit. No group of sheer opportunists that still ignorantly believes in the deception gimmicks of the past will be allowed anymore to ride roughshod over the Muslims of the Southwest. Enough is enough. Though the unofficial policy of ‘stomach infrastructure’ of this era seems to have taken away the once valued wisdom associated with old age there can be no substitution of light for darkness now.

Conclusion Gone are the days when wisdom was genuinely attributed to old age because old age then personified experience. Today, from the experience of technology and its effect on the modern society, the human wisdom of the bicycle age seems to have been rendered anachronistic by that of the internet age. Like the rise of a modern building from the debris of the old, the Yoruba Muslims of this generation have come of age and can no longer be swept with the rubles of irrelevance into the refuse bin. We do not need a borrowed mouth to speak out when necessary and nobody has a right to speak for us without our mandate. As it takes two to tango it must also take a give-and-take relationship to ventilate a peaceful environment in a mufti-religious society. No group should assume any vain superiority over others and expect peace to thrive. To live side by side and cohabit in harmony, mutual respect must be in the front burner of our relationship.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS APOLOGY: These stories were published from the front page of yesterday’s edition but page 4 — the continuation page— was omitted in a mix-up due to a technical error. This is highly regretted. We tender an unreserved apology – Editor

APC accuses PDP of plot to blackmail Jega, Tinubu Party lists plans to scuttle elections PDP: it’s falsehood

HUGE amount of money is to be stuffed into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega’s bank account. Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be accused of making the payment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday. The party said the plan was being hatched to justify the on-going campaign for Prof. Jega’s removal and prevent him from conducting the rescheduled elections. APC also alleged that “there is an on-going effort to compromise the card reader, which the Jonathan Administration sees as inimical to its rigging plans”. But the PDP denied it all, saying it has no plans to rig elections. APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed told reporters in Lagos that plans were also underway to credit the bank accounts of certain key institutions with huge sums purportedly from the main opposition party to compromise these institutions. Acknowledging the tension in the polity, he spoke of a plan to instigate smaller political parties to agitate for the postponement of the March 28 and April 11 elections. Mohammed said the intention was to ensure that the elections do not take place, until Jega’s tenure expires. However, Mohammed said the grand design to manipulate the general elections and implicate APC leaders will fail, stressing that Nigerians are now wiser and more vigilant. Mohammed, who was accompanied by the spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Shehu Garba, disclosed that APC leaders were being targeted for liquidation through ha-

‘APC’s false alarm, a reflection of its inner thoughts’

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday “the string of false alarms and outright lies that characterised the news conference addressed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had clearly justified its profiling of APC as a party of ‘one week, one lie.” PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement said Nigerians were not surprised that the APC has officially adopted the use of fabrications having exhausted its fake campaign promises which were not able to upstage the verifiable achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration. “Indeed, Nigerians are not surprised at the contents of the recent false alarms by the APC as they are undoubtedly a reflection of the character, inner thoughts and ideology of its leaders. These ignoble ideas are clearly incompatible with the ideology of the PDP and President Jonathan who has overtime demonstrated the qualities of a true democrat and not a reformed one”, the party said. By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

rassment, intimidation and repression. He reminded the Federal Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the world’s attention is on Nigeria, adding that lack of free, fair and violencefree elections will affect the country’s leadership position in Africa. Mohammed said the agitation for the dumping of card readers and permanent voter cards, Jega’s sack and troops deployment will undermine the electoral process and subject the ballot box to abuses. Adducing reasons for these agitations, he said President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP knew they cannot win the election because the government has not lived up to expectations. Mohammed alleged plots to implicate APC leaders in crimes, create panic in the polity and shift the elections. He said: “There is a plot to transfer a humongous amount of money into the bank account of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and then claim that the money came from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in order

The PDP noted that the opposition to realize that under the current financial system, it is practically impossible to transfer the so called humongous amount of money into any bank account without the source being traced by relevant independent financial monitoring bodies like the EFCC. “In any case, we note that the allegation by APC is suspect and betrays an attempt to cover up. We ask, is it that the APC has already been paying monies into accounts of INEC officials and some institutions of government with a view to compromising them and is now using the allegation as a subterfuge to distract the financial monitoring agencies and cover its tracks? “We have also noted the hues and cries of the opposition regarding the issue of PVCs and Card readers for the elections but Nigerians are not short in their memory to recall that it is not the PDP but APC that had issues with security agencies over attempts to hack into INEC’s data base and to clone the PVCs.

It is also not the PDP but the APC that has complicities with some compromised INEC officials on biased distribution of PVCs in select states especially, Lagos and other APC states.” the PDP said. The ruling party also debunked allegations of plans to use security agencies to intimidate or implicate opposition leaders describing such as “part of APC’s worn out antics of attempting to use nuisance alarm to heat up the system having failed to articulate credible manifesto to secure genuine followership among Nigerians.” “Nigerians are aware that this is not the first time the opposition would be raising such alarms just for Nigerians to find out that they are lies. We have here a group of people who are being haunted by failure and self inflicted woes. APC has all along been deluding itself as a government in waiting with some phantom popular image it created for itself in the social media. Now that reality has dawn it in the face, it has resorted to deploying all manners of antics in a failed attempt to win the sympathy of Nigerians”, it said.

SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS •Transfer of huge cash into Jega’s bank account •Use of some political parties to push for postponement •Use of security agencies to intimidate opposition leaders •Illegal recruitment of over 500 cadets into a security outfit •Nocturnal meetings between PDP and security agencies •Hiring of Israelis and Belgian to hack into INEC computers •Efforts to compromise Card Reader •Buying up of PVCs •Arrest of opposition leaders days to the elections •Planting of illegal substances in opposition leaders’ luggage to justify the ongoing plan to sack Prof. Jega so he won’t organise the elections. “Beyond Jega, there is also a plan to credit the bank accounts of some key national institutions with huge amounts of money purportedly from our party, the APC, ostensibly to compromise those institutions. “There is plan to use some political parties that are satellites of the PDP to push for the postponement of the elections again. The plot is to get the parties to address a press conference to say the elections should not hold in the Northeast, until September 2015 because of the ongoing counterinsurgency battle there. The

intention is to make sure Jega’s tenure expires before the polls, so that they can appoint a malleable card-carrying member of the PDP as INEC Chair to conduct the polls. “There are plans to use the security agencies to intimidate key opposition leaders as well as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunications service providers to disrupt voice and data transmission, especially in APC strongholds, on election day. “The telephones of our leaders have been bugged and their movements are being daily monitored. Top on the list of the security agencies to

Govt to pay oil marketers N30b for forex losses

IL marketers are to get N30 billion compensation for the losses they recorded as a result of naira devaluation. This payment is in addition to the N185 billion debts owed the marketers, which the government has also agreed to offset with the issuance of the Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) by the Debt Management Office (DMO). Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala broke the news yesterday after a meeting in Abuja with the oil marketers on the petrol scarcity that seemed to be easing yesterday in major cities. Apart from the marketers and depot owners, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) joined the ministry at the meeting. The minister, who raised the hope that the fuel shortage will end by the week-

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

end, said the Federal Government had addressed all contentious issues with the marketers, such as foreign exchange rate differentials for which the N30billion will be paid to mitigate their losses. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal Government had been in talks with the marketers in the last 10 days, adding: “President Goodluck Jonathan wants Nigerians to know that he is working on the situation to resolve the issue in the shortest possible time. At the Federal Executive Council meeting today (yesterday), the issue was discussed in terms of pushing forward and making sure things get back to normal.” She urged the marketers to be patriotic in their dealings with the government as the issue affects all and sundry, praising Nigerians for their patience and promising that the crisis would be

over in the next couple of days. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank had met with banks and oil marketers to resolve all the contending issues associated with credit facilities, adding that in the last one week, over $500 million worth of Letters of Credit had been opened by banks on behalf of the marketers. He urged any marketer who is experiencing delay in its Letters of Credit to alert the CBN, promising to ensure the issue is resolved amicably. Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) Executive Secretary Obafemi Olawore said the queues will ease off in the next few days as 495 trucks of fuel to Lagos, Abuja and other places. According to him, massive movement of fuel in the last three days had been complemented with the importation of three cargoes of petrol

following the agreements secured with the CBN and the Finance ministry. He said: “On Monday, major marketers moved 132 truckloads of fuel to Lagos while 87 truckloads were moved to Abuja, and this is exclusive to the quantity moved by the NNPC, independent marketers and other marketers. ”On Tuesday, 137 trucks were moved to Lagos while 139 trucks were moved to Abuja. You can see that the amount we moved to Abuja was far more than the quantity we moved on Monday. It normally takes between three and four days to transport fuel from Lagos to Abuja; hence we believe the queues will ease off by weekend, latest.” He added that “our actions are deliberate, to ensure that the queues vanish and normalcy returns. I want to tell Nigerians that tougher days are over; normalcy is expected to return pretty soon”.

be used against the opposition is the Department of State Security (DSS), which will be used to compel all Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to hand over the names and telephone numbers of all INEC’s regular and adhoc staff who will conduct the elections, as part of the Jonathan administration’s rigging plans. It is no longer news that a signal has been sent to all state commands of the DSS to get the list of all INEC Returning Officers and Adhoc Staff before March 10th. “There is also the ongoing illegal recruitment of over 500 new cadets into one of the

•Jega

country’s security outfits, 50 per cent of who are from the home state of the outfit’s top brass, in violation of the provisions of the Constitution, especially as the recruitment does not reflect the Federal Character .Nocturnal meetings are being held between various heads of national security agencies and the leadership of the PDP to undermine the coming elections.” Mohammed alleged that the Presidency has hired two Israelis and a Belgian to hack and corrupt INEC computers on election day, adding that the trio have been paid 25 percent of their contract fees upfront. He added: “Huge funds are being provided for retired and serving security personnel to buy up PVCs, with the hope that they can be used once the card reader is compromised. Remember, gentlemen, that there is a case in court seeking to declare the use of the card reader in the forthcoming elections unconstitutional. “In the days leading up to the elections, the Jonathan administration is planning to give the opposition the Ekiti treatment by massively arresting key opposition leaders, with a view to destabilising their ranks, putting them away and paving the way for a free rein of their rigging agents. Towards this end, thousands of signed blank detention orders have been procured. “As part of the plan to implicate our leaders, illegal substances may be put into their checked-in luggage during local and international flights. That is why we are calling on our leaders to travel only with their carry-on baggage.”

We know where Shekau is, says Chadian President Deby

HADIAN President Idriss Deby yesterday told Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to surrender or be killed. Speaking at a news conference in N’djamena, Deby said he knew the whereabouts of the terrorist leader. “Abubakar Shekau must surrender. We know where he is. If he doesn’t give himself up, he will suffer the same fate as his compatriots. “He was in Dikwa two days ago. He managed to get away, but we know where he is. It’s in his interest to surrender,” Deby said, referring to a town in Borno State held by Boko Haram that fell to Chad’s army earlier this week. A video showing Shekau, sitting with four hooded members of the group, was released last the weekend. The Chadian army has killed many members of the sect, fighting alongside the Nigerian, Cameroonian and Niger military, to battle the sect which has taken terrorism beyond Nigeria’s

northeast states where they were operating. Shekau is wanted by the Federal Government. The military once said it had killed him. He is also wanted by the United States which placed bounty on his head and that of some of the sect’s leaders. Chad’s army has waged a series of battles against Boko Haram as part of a cross-border military campaign and has retaken territory the militant group held in Borno State. The Chadian army is considered one of the best in West Africa and is backed by a strong air force. It first deployed to help Cameroon fend off Boko Haram and is now pressing southwest into Nigerian territory after capturing the border town of Gamboru last month. Boko Haram, a Sunni militant group, has killed thousands of people in Nigeria during a sixyear insurgency to carve out an Islamic caliphate. It has also staged a series of cross- border attacks into Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Switzerland partner ECOWAS to mobilise $21b Agric college, on capacity building T for agric, others T HE ECOWAS Community Development Programme (CDP) is set to mobilise about $21 billion to enable it finance over 200 projects in across various sectors of the economy in the West African Sub-region. The projects are part of a long term development strategy to be implemented ove five years. Sectors to benefit from the projects include agriculture, transport infrastructure, energy, health, education development and, capacity building. The Coordinator of the ECOWAS- CDP, Dr Guevera Yao, made this known at a meeting of the Network of Economic Journalists in West Africa. The meeting brought journalists from 15 countries in the sub-region to review and validate the communication plan of an impending High Level Conference and Roundtable to be held in Cote D’ Ivoire later this year.

Stories by Daniel Essiet

Yao said the ECOWAS-CDP already has $7 billion in its coffers and need the $21 billion to enable them to holistically implement the five-year development plan. He explained that the projects to be implemented are proposals brought to the CDP through a survey conducted among intergovernmental organisations, non-state actors and media networks. He further explained that if the ECOWAS CDP gets the needed funds to implement the projects, it would enhance the economic development in the sub-region by increasing the Gross Domestic Products(GDPs) as well as reduce poverty.

Director, Africa and Regional Integration Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Sena SiawBoateng, who chaired the meeting, noted that the Network of Economic Journalists had an important role to play in the resource mobilisation effort. While pledging government’s support for the meeting, she expressed belief that the meeting would be a success, urging the participants to develop a good action plan for the regional media network. The ECOWAS CDP programme was formulated in 2008 to help with the vision of transforming the ECOWAS from an organisation where heads of states meet to an organisation where people or citizens play a vital role.

HE Federal College of Agriculture, Akure is collaborating with the Switzerland Government project to develop manpower in the sector. Known as Capacity Building for Agricultural Education in Nigeria, the project is to be implemented by Switzerland School of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences on behalf of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) in collaboration with the institution. The project, the Provost, Dr Samson Adeola said, has been developed within the framework of the Migration Partnership between Nigeria and Switzerland established in February 2011. It aimed to expand the dialogue and to enhance the cooperation migration between the two partner nations and to find constructive solutions to the challenges of global migration – in a spirit

of partnership and trust. Odedina said the project to last two years would consolidate on the achievements already recorded by the college during pilot and first phases of the project where the College excelled. Specifically the project is intended to build the capacity of small scale farmers. He said the development is a further recognition of the college as a leading provider of agricultural education in the world system. He therefore enjoined the Organised Private Sector (OPS), especially the agro-allied industries to partner with the college in capacity building to attain the objectives of the Federal Government through Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) especially in training young and emerging farmers on value chain opportunities.

Nigerian Breweries, others to boost cassava production

•From left: Fadeyi Olayinka Oluwaseyi; Emeka Darlington Ohagwu,Publisher Agro Nigeria,Richard Mbaram and Oshinanya Tokunbo Sunday during the presentation of winners of postadish Farm-to-plate twitter contest, organised by AgroNigeria as part of the Agrifest celebrations in Lagos.

Fertiliser use to surpass 200 million tonnes in 2018

LOBAL fertiliser use is likely to rise above 200.5 million tonnes in 2018, 25 per cent higher than recorded in 2008. World fertiliser consumption will grow by 1.8 per cent a year through 2018, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s new report “World fertiliser trends and outlook to 2018.”

At the same time “the global capacity of fertiliser products, intermediates and raw materials will increase further,” the report said. As the potential to produce fertilisers will outpace their use, the global potential balance - a technical term measuring the amount available over actual demand - will grow for nitrogen, phosphate and potash, the main three soil fertilisers.

Global use of nitrogen, by far the largest fertiliser base, is projected to rise 1.4 per cent each year through 2018, while phosphate use will increase 2.2 per cent and potash 2.6 per cent. In comparison, the supply of those three critical components is expected to grow by 3.7 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 4.2 per cent per annum, respectively, according to FAO’s outlook report.

ARMTI chief canvasses stronger animal

S poultry farmers count their losses after an outbreak of bird flu, a livestock expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo has called for increased surveillance to prevent outbreak of deadly livestock diseases. Adeyem, Deputy Director, General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), said the sudden outbreak of bird flu required the strengthening of animal disease surveillance nationwide. He said there was the need to strengthen surveillance and early detection systems for diseases of domestic and wild animals as poultry have already fallen victim to highly pathogenic avian influenza in less than four months. Although the outbreaks of the vi-

disease surveillance rus have so far been rapidly controlled by the health authorities, he said the virus had important economic repercussions for the poultry sector. According to him, the impact of the globalisation of movements of animals, people and commercial products has greatly increased the possibilities for pathogens to spread from one side of the world to the other in record time. Adeyemo said it was important to be on the alert given the capacity of influenza viruses to mutate. One of the measures, he suggested was combating diseases at their animal source, adding this can be

achieved if the government can put in a competent, well-organised national Veterinary Services. This, he noted, is a precondition for early detection of animal disease outbreaks and a rapid, transparent response. While this will ensure extensive, optimal surveillance for animal diseases, the expert urged animal producers, hunters, and other key players to cooperate with the government in the campaign to boost survelliance and promote stricter veterinary control in livestock production. He urged them to provide information about diseases to the public health centres.

IGERIAN Breweries Plc, Psaltry International Company Limited and the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) have signed an agreement to optimise the cassava value chain and improve agribusiness for small farmers. The agreement is a collaboration between the parties to improve the output of small farmers, support economic development and promote inclusive growth in Africa. The partnership will enhance farmers productivity and increase supply of high-quality cassava roots to Psaltry, who will, in turn, provide industrial quality cassava starch for NB to extract maltose syrup for use in the brewing process. According to a statement, the agreement succeeds the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the partners in June last year which formed part of the 2SCALE programme, a Dutchfunded initiative aimed at improving rural livelihoods and food security in Africa. The partners agreed to support small-scale farmers in the production of more and better cassava through technical assistance, training and easier access to fi-

nance. This will enable more small farmers to participate in the market for processed cassava byproducts required for large industrial purposes. The partnership also enhances NB’s socio-economic contribution via the agricultural sector and supports the progress the company is making, towards the achievement of Heineken’s ambition to source 60 per cent of its agricultural raw materials in Africa locally by 2020. Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Nicolaas Vervelde, said: “As an operating company of Heineken we have a long standing commitment to support local economic development and promote inclusive growth by sourcing agricultural raw materials from entrepreneurial local SME’s and utilising it in our operations. Through our partnership with Psaltry and IFDC, we are taking a big step towards further realising this ambition with cassava.” From June to December, last year, 2SCALE and Psaltry created awareness, mobilised and trained over 500 direct farmers who supplied more than 20,000 tons of cassava roots to Psaltry’s processing factory. Over 2,000 direct farmers are expected to benefit from the project within the next three years.

‘Oyo can survive on cassava export’

YO State can survive on exportation of cassava and other farm products, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Teslim Folarin has said. He said the state is the second largest producer of cassava in Nigeria after Edo but it has not contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) due to lack of proper management. Folarin, who spoke to journalists in his Oluyole, Ibadan home, lamented the dwindling international oil price. He said it was high time each state took steps on how to be financially independent, adding that he has plans to revive the farm settlement across the state if elected. According to Folarin, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be strengthened to improve the output of agricultural sector and add to the state Gross Domestic Products (GDP). He noted that farm settlement across the state would be empow-

From Jeremiah Oke

ered and resuscitated to fulfil its initial objective. “We have been talking about diversifying form oil for the past many years but nobody seems to act on it because there are so much money coming from Abuja. Now, there is no money in Abuja again and either we like it or not, we have to take step now. “Look at cassava for instance, we can run Oyo State on cassava alone. Oyo State is the second largest producer of cassava after Edo state and it does not contribute to our Gross Domestic Products (GDP) because we don’t export cassava. “All we need to do is to mobilise our people to double their effort in production and start to export products of our farm settlement. We also need to strengthen our ministry of agric and rural development so as to improve our output in agricultural sector. We cannot continue waiting for the money from Abuja,” he noted.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms : 07035302326

SHOPPING

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Loyalty reward as bait for online shopping Like other conventional wholesalers and retailers trading in fast moving consumer goods and allied products, online store merchants in their quest to grow their businesses have also come up with ingenious ways of attracting customers, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN

LTHOUGH online shopping is still relatively new and remains an emerging market in the country, most owners of online shopping portals across the country are not leaving anything to chance to grow their customer base. Like their counterparts in real time sales, online store merchants know too well that the strategy to retain customers, get prospective ones, gives birth to improved sales. Thus, these online merchants say they are not left out of this, as they have also spread their tentacles to consistently indulge in the act of purchasedriven loyalty promotions knowing the benefits involved in the act. The former chief executive officer of Broll, Mrs. Gbadebo Erejuwa once said savvy retailers are defining innovative ways to achieve the benefits most important to their customers and online merchants are not an exception too. One of the now trending ways is the loyalty reward system. This involves giving back to the customer rewards for patronage. According to Erejuwa, online stores seem to have also caught the “customer loyalty reward” bug and thus, have imbibed the trend and have kept it going. “They are aware that if they reward their customers they will want to visit again and again,” she said. Stakeholders in the online business are of the opinion that while the concept of loyalty is not new in marketing, it has also led to a significant surge in retailers investing in ‘loyalty programmes’ that give them valuable insight into how to better meet their customers’ needs. Since online shopping gained a foothold in this part of the world almost three years ago, it has continued to thrive at a phenomenal rate, bringing with it relative ease or convenience of transacting business without leaving the comfort of one’s home. And like the shopping malls, online stores now appreciate their customers in diverse other ways apart from the usual discount offers, price slash and other seasonal offers given to shoppers who buy from their website. Now, the online stores are confident that they have outgrown their teething problems and have proven themselves worthy, thereby brightening their prospect for further. For these operators, the number of people who now patronise them across

•Evangeline Wiles, Managing Director Kaymu

•Marek-Zmyslowski, Managing Director Jovago

‘Stakeholders in the online business are of the opinion that while the concept of loyalty is not new in marketing, it has also led to a significant surge in retailers investing in ‘loyalty programmes’ that give them valuable insight into how to better meet their customers’ needs’ the country and beyond is continually on the increase as they enjoy convenience, transparency in service delivery, availability and affordability of their choice items, among other benefits apart from the reward programme. At the early stage of its entry into the Nigerian marketing space, online store, now considered a novel concept reshaping the way shopping and marketing is done, was a pariah; it was not a first or second option for prospective shoppers. However, with growing awareness in technology and more exposure to western markets, the tide has

changed. Therefore, the once despised mode of shopping is now the beautiful bride being embraced by techno-savvy shoppers. The reasons for this change are numerous: one of which is the ease of buying and paying that it offers. From the comfort of one’s home, purchase, payment and delivery are made. This and many other reasons have made online stores warm their ways into the hearts of the Nigerian shopper. Aware that loyalty programme is one of the many ways of boosting sales, Tomiwa Oladele, Head of Public Relations and Marketing, Kaymu.com.ng said that her online

•From Left: MD Marketing, Dr Jonathan Doerr; Head Offline Marketing,Afam Anyika; Co-CEO, Jeremy Doutte and VP Vendor Management - GM from Jumia Nigeria Shobhit Pandey at Innjoo ONE Phone launch in Lagos.

•Mr Obi Ejimofo, Managing Director Lamudi

store has packaged more exciting campaigns, promotions, and giveaways for its customers as a means of expressing their appreciation for customers’ patronage. “We are aware that our customer is King and as a result customer service efforts at Kaymu.com are optimised to ensure they are satisfied with our services and those of our sellers whom we connect them with, being the number one online market place in the country, we bring buyers and sellers together under one roof,” she said. Oladele added that as a brand, her firm extends the customer experience beyond customer service to reward systems that ensure their customers feel appreciated. In similar vein, customer reward is nothing new to jumia.com. This is because for almost three years of this foremost online store’s existence, it has continued to provide various initiatives that have been carefully tailored to reward its customers. Afam Anyika, Head, Offline Marketing, Jumia.com.ng explained that her store’s reward programme is an indication of the priceless value placed on its customers, whom she explained, they have always been committed to, to consistently provide them with convenient, professional service, and an excellent shopping experience. She said that the essence of the reward programmes from jumia is to ultimately provide customers with a delightful shopping experience that is hinged on great deals and best prices or incredible discounts on quality products. “For instance, in December 2014, we launched our Customer Appreciation day. This will now be an annual event where we thank our customers, and celebrate a great year together and a time when we not only continue to build ecommerce in Nigeria, but also a day we provide them with exclusive massive discounts off on selected premium products across all categories on the Jumia store,” Anyika said. He gave other examples of such initiatives to include “Black Friday” sales, ‘Awoof Vouchers’ pre-sale’- where customers bought vouchers up to N 20,000 with its value doubled for purchases on the Jumia Black Friday store. “More recently, we also initiated a partnership with First Bank of Nigeria, where customers can now buy any item of their choice and pay later, this is just one of many of such initiatives we plan to unfold in 2015,” she said. Certainly, better deals await online stores’ customers with different loyalty schemes, even as the trading platform gets more acceptance and thus, fuelling more competition.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS

Osinbajo promises good governance

R. Yemi Osinbajo, the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has promised Nigerians good governance if his party wins the general elections. He said under an APC administration, the citizens would be assured of the dividends of democracy, such as good roads, potable water, constant electricity, decent houses, qualitative education, employment and others. Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday at an interactive section at the Overcomers Pentecostal Church, Abule Egba, Lagos, said Nigerians had been patient over the years, adding that they would soon have cause to smile, as there was light at the end of the tunnel.

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

His words: “The only thing our people need to do is to vote for APC candidates on March 28 and April 11. Once they do this, they are assured of good lives. People should obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). No matter the money offered them, they should not sell the card because it is their instrument to exercise their franchise by voting for APC candidates.” Osinbajo said his party was determined to tackle corruption, adding that Buhari’s opponents were afraid because they were corrupt. The National President of the All Christian Leaders and Ministers Forum (ACLMF), Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, said a vote for APC candidates would mean bye-bye to poverty. He said Prof. Osinbajo and

•CAN urges peace

‘

Osinbajo said his party was determined to tackle corruption, adding that Buhari’s opponents were afraid because they were corrupt

’

Gen. Buhari are tested politicians, who can be trusted with public offices because they are men of integrity. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, has urged Nigerians to embrace peace before, during and after the

elections. The CAN Chairman, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, who spoke yesterday in Lagos at a news conference to herald this year’s Inter-Denominational Divine Service (IDDS), which will be held on March 14 by the association, at The Apostolic Church Nigeria, International Convention Ground, Ketu, Lagos, said people should not take the polls as a do-or-die affair. The Chairman of the IDDS Planning Committee, Dr. Adefunmilayo AkitoyeBraimah, said the theme of the programme is: “Looking up for help”, adding that “IDDS is a solemn assembly of all Christians, which our beloved Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, although a Muslim, has attended yearly since he assumed office in 2007 “

Otti to hold town hall meetings HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has said town hall meetings would be held regularly by his administration to enable it interact with the people and know their needs. The APGA standard-bearer, who was at Itumbuzo, Ntalakwu and Nkpa in Bende Local Government for town hall meetings as part of his campaigns, said the visit enabled him to know the state’s problems. He said he was not scared by what he saw, as he was prepared for the task when he resigned his job at the Diamond Bank to go into politics. At Ndiwo Itumbuzo, where Mr. Columbus Ukpabio, a lawyer, received the entourage on behalf of the people, he noted that Dr. Otti was the first governorship candidate in recent time to visit them to solicit their votes. He promised that they would reciprocate by voting for him and other APGA

By Segun Ajiboye

candidates. Otti said he would touch the lives of the people by offering free and compulsory education, sinking boreholes, building roads and providing electricity. He advised the people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) because it was the instrument they would use to effect a positive change. At Okopedi Itumbuzo, monarchs and the President-General of Okopedi Town Union, Elder Asoqwo Ise Daniel, were among those who received the APGA governorship candidate and his team. They prayed for his success at the polls. Youths said Otti’s visit was historic. Otti, after introducing other APGA candidates, including his running mate, Mrs. Uche Eme-Uche, said: “I would not have known there is a community like this, but for the town hall meeting. This is why I’ve made it an integral part of my campaign.”

ANA honours senator for promoting reading culture From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

HE Nasarawa State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors yesterday bestowed The Pillar Award on Senator Suleiman Adokwe for promoting the state’s reading culture. Chairman of ANA Nasarawa State chapter, Mr. Sumaila Umaisha, presented the award to Adokwe in Abuja. Umaisha said the lawmaker had been a pillar of support and “single-handedly financed the association’s com-

petition which took place in the three senatorial districts that lasted three weeks”. He added: “The distinguished senator has been assisting us and because of his support, we decided to present this award to the senator here in Abuja.” Adokwe, in his acceptance speech, noted that although he did not usually accept award, “I want to thank the association for recognising my little gesture in promoting reading culture.

‘Stop embarrassing our members’ •NBA: we’re only doing our job •From left: Dr. Oyet Gogomary, Head EHSSQ, Oando Marketing; Mr. Abiodun Da Costa, Community Development Administrator, Marine Beach, Apapa; Chief Akeem Ojora, Lisa of Ijora Kingdom; Mrs. Olaposi Williams, COO, and Temidayo Adeboye, Head Operations, both of Oando Marketing PLC., at the inauguration of the upgraded Oando Ijora Service Station recently.

Suspected thugs attack widows in Ebonyi

VER 100 suspected thugs yesterday stormed OnuaforEzeukwa in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and attacked widows at a party organised for them by the Coordinator of Ezeukwa Development Centre, Ogbonnaya Odabe. The hoodlums, who were armed with cutlasses, rods,

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

bottles, woods and other weapons, smashed over 1,000 plastic chairs and destroyed five canopies and sound systems meant for the event. A source alleged that they were working for a political party and sent by a member of the National Assembly, who hails from the local gov-

ernment. A team of the State AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) and policemen led by the DPO in Onicha Local Government arrived the scene one hour later, but could not subdue the hoodlums, who chanted solidarity songs in support of a governorship and House of Representatives candidates from the area.

The hoodlums reportedly resisted arrest and overpowered the policemen, who left the scene for fear of attack. At press time, the thugs, who increased in number, took over strategic locations, while people fled. Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said he was yet to receive official information on the incident.

‘Vote Ambode to sustain democracy dividends’

ROUP, Akinwunmi Ambode Komittee of Friends (AA’KOF), has urged Lagosians to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to sustain the dividends of democracy. Elder Cornelius Olopade, AA’KOF’s media director, who spoke yesterday at the APC rally in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, said a vote for Ambode and other APC candidates would guarantee the continuity of good governance and sustain the dividends of democracy. He said residents should ensure the continuity of a dynamic government started by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

Bola Ahmed Tinubu and continued by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, by voting for Ambode and others. Addressing a mammoth crowd, Ambode enjoined people not to sell their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He said it was the weapon

they needed to vote for politicians, who would better their lives. The APC governorship candidate said on the Election Day, people should protect their votes by ensuring that there were no malpractices at the polling stations. Said he: “The electorate

should not sell their PVCs, to avoid entrusting their future to corrupt politicians. “If they vote for me and other APC candidates, they are assured of good roads, potable water, decent houses, effective transportation system, quality education and other good things of life.”

Power night at CAC today

HRIST Apostolic Church (CAC), Itire District Co-ordinating Council, holds one-day Pentecostal Power

Night. The programme takes place today from 10p.m. Venue is Christ Apostolic Church, Surulere District Headquarters, 3, Fashoro Street, Surulere Lagos. The theme of the programme is: “God is

our refuge”. (Psalm 46:1). Ministering are Pastor Joseph Olatitoye Babayemi, Pastor E. Adelusi, Pastor Aba Omolade, Pastor M.S.A. Jacob, Pastor M. Olu Ojo, Pastor A.A. Fabiyi, Pastor Emmanuel Odugbesan, Pastor S.O. Ojo and other anointed ministers of God. Pastor Joseph Olatitoye Babayemi, who is also Itire DCC chairman, said Almighty God would “meet you at the point of your need during the programme.”

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE National President, Association of Water-well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), Mr. Michael Ale, has urged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to desist from harassing their members with cases, following dry holes after drilling. He spoke at an extraordinary meeting on the impending dangers of drilling activities in the country, held in Ibadan. Ale said many of the cases instituted against their members lacked merit and were without foundation. The NBA Ibadan branch Chairman, Mr. Kazeem Gbadamosi, said: “ An unsatisfied client has a right to seek professional advice from a lawyer. There has never been anytime that lawyers will litigate any case against anybody. Whether we like it or not, a client has a right to sue anyone for unprofessional services rendered.”

Funeral for ex-car dealer Amigun

HE final burial arrangements for Chief James A. Amigun (Titilayo Motors), who died on December 5 last year, have been released. There will be a Christian wake today at his home, 5, Okesa Street, Ilesa, Osun State. The body will lie in state at the same venue today. After a short service, the body will be interred at his residence inside Warm Spring Motel Estate, Ikogosi-Ekiti. Guests will be entertained at Ikogosi High School, Ikogosi –Ekiti.

The Nation deputy editor loses mother

ADAM Maria Adekitan Oyegbile of Ile Ashipa in Oke Masifa Quarters of Ogbomoso, Oyo State is dead. She died peacefully at home on March 3. She was 91. She is survived by children, many grand and great grand children. Among her children are Matthew Oyegbile, Mrs. Adeola Ehigie, Kunle Oyegbile, Olayinka Oyegbile, Deputy

•The late Madam Oyegbile Editor, The Nation on Sunday and Timothy Oyegbile. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS Chief Judge reassigns Nyako’s suit From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

HE Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has transferred the suit filed by former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, at the Yola division of the court, to a new judge in Bauchi division. Nyako had initiated the suit marked: FHC/YL/CS/11/ 2014, to challenge the process leading to his impeachment last year. The suit, with the Adamawa State House of Assembly & others as defendants, was one of the two suits filed by the governor shortly after he was impeached. Nyako had, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed in November last year, alleged that he was denied fair hearing by the impeachment panel, which recommended to the House of Assembly that he should be removed from office. The trial judge in Yola, Justice Bilikisu Aliu, concluded hearing in the fundamental rights enforcement suit and adjourned till February 12. Before the date scheduled for judgment, the Chief Judge, Justice Auta, called for the file on the grounds that a petition was written against the trial judge by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ishaya Banu, through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo. Nyako protested Justice Auta’s action in a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing him of seizing the case file and “thereby forestalling the delivery of the court judgment slated for February 12, 2015.” The Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mrs. Rosemary Dugbo-Oghoghorie, on February 18 denied Nyako’s allegation. She said the court’s Chief Judge called for the case file to enable him address a petition dated February 3, 2014 written to his office by Festus Keyamo, who is the lawyer to the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, a party in the case. Keyamo was also the lawyer to the current Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngilari, who was Deputy Governor under Nyako, when Ngilari fought his way back to power via a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Nation’s investigation showed yesterday that the case has been transferred to the court’s Bauchi division. It was, however, not clear if the decision to transfer the case was as a result of the outcome of his (Justice Auta’s) handling of the petition by Justice Banu. Since transfer has now denied Justice Aliyu the opportunity of delivering her judgment in the case, it is not clear whether the new judge in Bauchi will hear the case afresh or continue from where Justice Aliyu stopped.

•Nyako

PDP‘ll suffer humiliating defeat, say Rivers monarchs

RADITIONAL rulers in Rivers State have restated their support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Peterside. The rulers said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would suffer a humiliating defeat in the state. King John Berebon of Bodo and Chief Godwin Okpabi of Onne, spoke when the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, led by Peterside, visited them in their palaces. Also, monarchs in the four Ikwerre local government areas of Rivers State, under the aegis of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, insisted that their endorsement of Peterside stands. Ikwerre people are in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua. The paramount ruler of Odoha-Ogbakiri, Eze Ferdinand Ekenta; the traditional ruler of Rumuoro-Ogbakiri, Eze Charles Oboneme; and the traditional ruler of Okporowo-Ogbakiri, Eze Emmanuel Echonwere, spoke yesterday while receiving Peterside at their palaces during his campaign visit to Ogbakiri in Emohua. Ekenta said: "I want to confirm the statement made by Dr. Dakuku Peterside. I know that we, members of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, met at Isiokpo (headquarters of Ikwerre LGA) and gave confirmation that Dr.

•Ikwerre monarchs: we’re still behind Peterside ‘APC is our only hope of survival’

HE Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oji Ngofa, has described his party as the hope of the people of Eleme, Rivers State. Ngofa spoke at the State School, Agbeta, Onne, during a ward rally by APC governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside. He urged voters to reject the PDP. According to him, the ruling party represented the worst form of subjugation and repression. “I am here to affirm as deputy national secretary of APC that the mantra of change has taken a firm root in our local government. APC represents our hope and the only means of our survival. Without APC, Eleme is finished. Therefore, we will give everything to the party, including our blood, if necessary. A member of the House of Assembly, Josiah Olu, said Eleme would deliver block vote to Dr. Peterside and the APC. “We are for APC. Though we are under From Bisi Olaniyi and Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Dakuku Peterside will be the next governor (of Rivers State). We are not going back on our endorsement of Dr. Dakuku Peterside." Peterside said he would not disappoint them. He said: " The Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers brought me out. They came together at Isiokpo and said for the image of Ikwerre, they would not allow the selfishness of one Ikwerre man to destroy their image. "They commissioned me to go and represent them. After eight years, will it be

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

serious threat from the ruling party, our loyalty will continue to be with APC because they have a peaceful and God-fearing man like Dakuku. I am happy that everybody here fully appreciates the fact that this election is all about our future, so we are not leaving anything to chance,” he said. Peterside promised to pay special attention to Eleme because of its potential. “PDP should not even get a vote here and you know why. On my part, I promise to work with you. Nobody will harass you again because they are not God. They boast because they have power but I want you to put your hope in God. I will fight for you, I will protect your interest and I will complete every project that Governor Rotimi Amaechi started. Let me also assure you that our government will recognise and give special place to women and the youth,” he said.

fair for Ikwerre to be governor again? I promise you, for this kind gesture from the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, and our leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, I cannot disappoint Ikwerre people." King Berebon said he was happy to receive Peterside. He said: “I am very happy to welcome you. All of us in Bodo are confident that God will see you through because you are a peaceful man and we believe in you, so we will continue to pray for you. You have honoured our palace, God will honour you. You have also honoured our people, God will honour you.

“I wish to state that I am solidly behind you and the APC. I was a school boy when Buhari came here to inaugurate the Niger Basin project years ago. I believe you are a blessing to this community. I know that an APC Federal Government led by Buhari will be beneficial to our towns and region. So, we are voting APC all the way.” Chief Okpabi described the PDP as enemy of the people of Eleme. The monarch spoke during the APC ward rally at State School, Ogale, Eleme. “It might interest you to know that there are Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Rivers State today.

The people of Ekporo are displaced persons in our state, they are displaced in their fatherland because power is in the hands of one man and his wife, so they decided to dehumanise us. “Here, in Eleme, we are working hard to ensure that PDP suffers a humiliating defeat in the hands of APC. It is a promise that must be accomplished. I speak as a paramount ruler because I know my people and my people know me. If my people are angry and I speak, when they hear my voice, they will be calm. ‘’Today, as in other days, I am asking them to reject PDP so they can be free. They have no choice than to believe me because we are all victims of PDP’s oppression, intimidation and harassment. PDP has even taken that which God gave us because they are in power in Abuja.” Peterside urged the people to be peaceful and lawabiding. “My brother attended St. Pius Bodo and my childhood friends are from here. I cannot be governor and look the other way. I know the challenges of Bodo and I will pay attention to this place because I belong here.” He said he would always defend their interest as he did when he staged a walkout over the non budgetary allocation for the Bodo-Bonny Road during last year’s Federal Ministry of Works budget presentation.

Our interest in Nigerian polls, by EU From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

•From left: Former Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Benjamin Olabinjo; Coordinator, Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Team, Abiodun Faleke; Director, Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Team, Yomi Kasali; Coordinator, Ayobo/Ipaja Local Government, Olu Farinre; and Head, Entertainment Committee, Ms. Kenny Saint-Brown, at a briefing on the APC March4Change rally in Lagos.

Benue APC, LP, PDP sign peace pact

HREE parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have signed an undertaking to maintain peace before, during and after the elections in Benue State. APC governorship candidate, Dr. Samuel Ortom and Deputy Chairman, Zone A, Vincent Uji, LP governorship candidate, Dr Mannasseh Ligom and Messrs John Ngbede, PDP governorship running mate and Bem Dzoho, state secretary, who repre-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

sented the state chairman, signed for their parties. The event, which was organised by the interagency consultative committee under the state police commissioner as chairman, was held at the police officers’ mess in Makurdi yesterday. The Commissioner, Mr. Hyacinth Dagala, said the meeting became necessary on account of the attacks on party supporters and destruction of

campaign property of parties, which indicated that unless urgent measures were taken, the state might witness an upsurge of violence during the polls. He said peaceful coexistence was imperative for development and urged political leaders to preach peace to their followers and ensure that they conduct themselves peacefully at all times. Mr. Dagala assured that the law enforcement agencies would deploy all resources to maintain peaceful, free and

transparent elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Istafanus Dafwang, listed what he described as monetisation of political offices and the electoral process, greed, as well as a do or die attitude as causes of electoral violence, which result in death, injuries and destruction of property. He recommended reduction in salaries, allowances and pecks of political offices, prosecution of electoral offenders as well as civic and voter education as the solution.

HE European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said yesterday that it was not interested in who becomes the next president of the country, but in the process of the elections. The EU Deputy Chief Observer, Hannah Roberts, spoke when she led a delegation to the Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, in Abuja. Hannah noted that EU observers were on ground in all the states to monitor the general elections, adding that a preliminary report on the elections would be released two days after the polls. Her words: “We are neutral, impartial and interested only in the process, considering the international treaties that Nigeria had signed and ratified. “We have teams spread across. We are interested in how the election results will be compiled and accepted by Nigerians. “We will produce public statement two days after the election and later produce final report and findings on the election. We are here to find out your challenges because we know the role of NYSC in election coverage.” Responding, the NYSC Director General noted that issues raised by the public, including the safety of corps members, had been adequately taken care of by the government.

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS

‘Jonathan ‘ll give women 44% appointment instead of 35% if he wins’

HE First Lady and wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has assured women that her husband would surpass the world-approved appointment opportunities of 35 per cent affirmative for women. She said he would increase that opportunity to 44 per cent if he was re-elected, adding that women have a lot to look forward to in the next dispensation. Speaking in Umuahia during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Presidential Campaign Rally, Mrs. Jonathan said time has come for young people to be given the chance to rule. She said youths were the leaders of tomorrow, instead of old people, who should give way for the young ones, adding that if youths were not

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

given the opportunity, the future would be bleak. Said she: “Those who have ruled the country before should not be allowed to rule again, as they have nothing to offer. If at the end of my husband’s second term he insists on running again, I will drag him into the house, as he should allow the younger ones to rule.” The First Lady said her husband is a man who does what he says he will do and he is a man who has made the women to have a pride of place within and outside the country. Mrs. Jonathan said she is not in the state for campaign. “I know Abia People will vote for my husband and PDP. I have come to thank and

appreciate you people for what you did for us in 2011 by voting for us. I believe you will do it again. “I have come to tell you that your in-law, my husband, is going back for a second term. Therefore you should come out, even the sick with their walking sticks and farmers dropping their tools, to vote for him.” The wife of the governor, Mrs. Mercy Orji, said President Jonathan should be reelected for the continuation of the transformation agenda. She said Jonathan had done enough in the provision of social amenities and infrastructure, which were the hallmark of democracy. Mrs. Orji described President Jonathan as a symbol of peace, freedom, unity and progress, “which makes a

vote for him an empowerment and a vote against poverty and slavery. Governor Theodore Orji said President Jonathan was caring and a listening leader, who solved people’s problems. He cited the restoration of the abandoned rail lines as an example. Orji said Mr. President gave the state the security that was used to chase away kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals, just as he was doing in the Northeast against Boko Haram insurgents. The highlight of the rally was the defection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship running mate, Fred Eke Idika, to the PDP. He said there was no need to change when things were going well.

•From left: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Governor of Kogi, Capt. Idris Wada and his wife, Hajiya Halima Ladi Wada, at a PDP Women Rally for President Jonathan in Lokoja

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State is set to conduct a mock (field test) election in Dan Maliki Ward in Kumbotso Local Government tomorrow. It is part of efforts to give the electorate confidence on the durability and flawless functioning of the electronic voting process. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Mukaila Abdullai, yesterday described the proposed mock election as a field test of card readers, noting that it is an extra mile in sensitising the electorate on how the card reader works. He said the essence of the exercise was to test the capability and ability of the machines that would be used to capture voters during the elections. Mukaila said the field test of the gadgets would restore confidence in the electoral process.

Jonathan mourns Emir of Gusau

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara State on the death of the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Dan Baba. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President joined them in mourning Alhaji Muhammad, who was one of the longest serving traditional rulers in Nigeria, having been appointed the District Head of Gusau in 1984 before being upgraded to a second class Emir in 1997 and first class Emir three years later. It reads: “The President believes that the late Emir, who honoured him with the tradi-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

tional title of Garkuwan Manoman Zamfara during his visit to Gusau on January 19, will be greatly missed by the people of Gusau, whom he ruled with great wisdom and understanding for more than 30 years. “As they mourn and lay their just, fair-minded, pious, courageous and benevolent patriarch and Emir to rest, President Jonathan urges members of his family and the people of Gusau to also give thanks to Almighty Allah for Alhaji Muhammad’s long and very fulfilled life of exemplary service to his people and country.”

The old man and the ‘invaders’ •Continued

Bird flu kills 9, 208 birds T least 9,208 birds have been killed by Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Bauchi, Toro and Katagum local government areas of Bauchi State. The Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Animal Resources and Nomadic Resettlement, Mr. Umar Giade, confirmed the outbreak yesterday during a sensitisation visit to Toro Lo-

By Armstrong Bakam, Bauchi

cal Government. He said: ”Ten poultry farms have been hit by the bird disease. More farms may be affected. “About 558 species of birds in seven poultry farms in Toro Local Government have been wiped out by the flu. Of the total number, 9208 were earlier killed by the rampag-

ing avian influenza.” Toro Local Government, The Nation learnt, was worst hit because it had the highest number of poultry farms, following its conducive weather and peaceful nature. The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government, Mr. Adamu Geji, represented by the Head of Administration, Alhaji Usman Mashema, said: “The

council is determined to partner the Ministry of Animal Resources and Nomadic Resettlement to eradicate the disease.” He hailed the government for its effort in educating poultry farmers on the dangers of the disease, which he noted, did not only kill birds, but also human beings, if measures were not applied.

INEC: we’ve distributed 94% PVCs in Kaduna HE spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna State, Hajiya Fatima Aminu Pande, has said 94 per cent of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has been distributed. Hajiya Pande, who spoke at the launch of a sensitisation and awareness workshop against electoral violence, organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Kaduna, said they were expecting about a million PVCs that would be distributed nationwide before the elections. Her words: “So far, we have distributed about 94 per cent of the PVCs in Kaduna State. We also distributed 80 per cent nationwide. So, we are ready for the elections because we

INEC to conduct mock election in Kano

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

have recruited ad hoc workers, who will work during the elections.” The INEC spokesperson said PVC distribution was ongoing, adding that the commission would soon test- run the card reader in some states, to show the electorate how it operates. NEMA’s Northwest Zonal Director Musa Ilallah said the essence of the workshop was to educate and sensitise the public on emergency/disaster curtailment activities during and after the elections. “It is not in doubt that this effort has become inevitable, considering that any security breach in any part of the country will be a disaster to Nigerians,” he said.

Ilallah acknowledged the effort of INEC, after drawing lessons from the 2011 postelection violence in constituting an inter-agency consultative committee on election security.

He said he hoped the stakeholders would key into existing contingency arrangements by security agencies and INEC towards free, fair, credible and non-violent elections this year and beyond.

Aliyu: my deputy ought to resign From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday insisted that his deputy, Musa Ibeto, morally ought to have resigned, having defected to another party. He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Aliyu noted that the political culture in the country has not got to the level where such political office holder, who defects to another party, will be made to resign from office. He said: “We were elected on the same ticket and morally if you decide to cut away from that ticket, it will mean you should resign, but our political culture has not gone to that level. “I hope we will reach a situation that the society will demand that we voted you on the platform of this party, no matter the difficulties, three months to election, you decide to defect.”

on page 59

Worst of all, the state’s accounts were frozen even before investigations had started and against court order. And finally, there is currently a contrivance to impeach the governor by all means. It may be argued that this is an internal affair of a party but that in itself is the irony and the crux of the matter. The brigandage in Ebonyi is a pointer to the situation across the country and signposts a ruling party where there is a confounding leadership vacuum. For instance, the governor listed all the entreaties made to the President and party leader and all his ‘efforts’ at intervening yet this megalomaniac gang he has as aides and party officials countermanded him at every point and carried on with their perfidy to the point that the state begins to implode, lives are lost as PDP faces a crushing defeat at the polls. True, what is happening in Ebonyi is typical of PDP and its Abuja marauders across board and across states. It is also Senator Ayim’s stock-in-trade, to put it plainly since his senate days in Abuja to be an agent of destabilization of his forlorn Ebonyi State. He has a history of seeking to lord it over any governor in his state. Today he has raised his megalomania one notch. He seeks to hijack the state by force, install a stooge and run it by proxy. In his poorly wired mind, he thinks nothing of the incumbent; he has not an iota of respect for him, thinking him old, frail and of no consequence whatsoever. He forgot that this old man with all his flaws is probably the living father of Ebonyi who laid the foundation of the state; he forgot that he paved the way for most of the younger Ebonyi politicians of today including Senator Anyim. What, if we may ask, has Ayim done for his poor state drawing on the influence of the exalted offices he held as Senate President and SGF? But even if we grant that old Pa Elechi has soiled his office and is guilty of all they accuse him of; we ask how dare Senator Ayim or anyone in the Presidency, PDP or the EFCC for that matter, lay an accusation of corruption against anyone else? These places are bastions of corruption. It is starkly indecorous to seek to hound out of office, a man who has only about two months to go. It is coarse to literally strip the old man naked, drag him about town in utter humiliation and ignominy. What made Ayim and his cohorts think they could get away with such barbarism; such jungle tactics? We know it is the way of PDP but it still does not make it acceptable and right. It is the same steel-gloves tactics that was deployed in Bayelsa State with former Governor Timipre Silva and incumbent Seriake Dickson. It is the same jungle treatment that Governor Chibuike Amaechi has been resisting in the past two years. Same in Delta State where the Presidency allowed some thugs, old and young, to lame-duck a sitting governor and shunt him from having a say in who succeeds him. If Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was not made of a higher constitution we would have in Delta today, a streaming of much striving, maiming and killings. Ebonyi would have been child’s play because the stakes are far higher in Delta. This surely isn’t any way to run a party or country. We must state it clearly that all of these happened because the leader of the party, the president did not manage to stand firm and insist on the right and culture approaches. Where his wife was not the chief culprit, it was him or aides and party cabals. Happily, it is coming to an interesting denouement that Pa Elechi is only old, he still has some political fire in his belly yet as the invaders have found out.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NEWS

Theme: War against your Prince of Persia

‘Buhari my jailer is now our hope’ •Continued on page 3

This says something about the man. I can trust this man with my wallet in a way i cannot do with Jonathan, who appears to have forgotten where he came from. Jonathan has lost the golden opportunity to fundamentally affect the lives of the ordinary folks. I am persuaded that it will be a tragedy for us to continue in this drift for another four years. While Buhari is far from being my ideal candidate and I worry about some of his deficiencies, my perception is that although he may be short on the skills required for the modern management of a state - technology, economic management among others his record shows that he has the ability to enlist support. I hope this time; he will choose the right people and avoid those who will use his name to do iniquity. While Buhari may not be the ideal candidate we need, he is, certainly the best we have. There is a time in the history of a nation when an individual is needed to rescue it or perform a historic role. As it was with Winston Churchill who provided Britain with the much needed war-time leadership, Gen Charles de Gaulle who restored the confidence of France, Madiba Nelson Mandela of South Africa,

who championed the cause of majority rule and showed the way to national reconciliation and our own Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who provided leadership to a country on the brink after the Abacha years, my belief is that this is the hour for Muhammadu Buhari to stop the torment of a hemorrhaging nation and restore its confidence. Lastly, the General owes me one. I will still like Buhari to vocalise an apology and offer some succour to people like me whom his government brutalised in the past. It is the least he can do. To do so is not weakness. Indeed, it is strength to admit the mistakes of the past and to promote national reconciliation. For now, even ahead of the apology, and in the national interest, i have thrown in my hat with Gen. Buhari. So has Lola Shoneyin’s father. Now 87, but still spritely and alert, my big brother and comrade, Tinuoye Shoneyin, always a big heart, is enthusiastically by my side at political rallies and party support meetings. Our jailer has become our hope. Life is indeed nothing if not an agglomeration of ironies. Culled SaharaReporters

from

“The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me....” (Daniel 10:1213)

ANIEL was a man with unequalled pedigree in Babylon - he was a man of faith, spirit-filled, knowledgeable about the things of God, righteous, honest, courageous, dependable, reliable and responsible among many other virtues. Yet, this man who knew God so well was on his knees for days praying to God without any response. It was later that God told him that since the first day that he prayed He had answered him, He had sent an angel to deliver the answer to him but the angel was waylaid by the Prince of Persia - very sad! Who is this Prince of Persia that had power over the righteous Daniel that hungry lions could not devour? The Psalmist provided the answer, albeit in a rhetoric way, in Psalm 11:3 that, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” It is common knowledge from the Scriptures that being a righteous person does not exclude one from trials and challenges. The Psalmist puts it even more succinctly that, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19). It is axiomatic that a person can get into trouble, be arraigned before a court and convicted without falling into sin. The trial and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ is a case in point. Beyond that brethren, one of the challenges of generality of people, the righteous inclusive, is a faulty or damaged foundation. A foundation is that unseen part of a structure that determines the height, strength, dependability, tenor and future of a structure. A structure that is very well painted with good decors but situated on a shallow or bad foundation is limited in height and future. Jericho was a city like that - very beautiful to behold but the water was naught and land was consequently barren. It was Elisha’s intervention at the foundation that altered the destiny of that city (2Kings 2:19-21). Jesus Christ once referred to the scribes and Pharisees as “.....whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness”. (Matthew 23:27) Being born again is surely a visa to heaven but not a guarantee of actualising life purpose. Hosea 4:6 says that “my people perish for lack of knowledge”. Ignorance concerning the issue of foundation is one of the terrible hindrances that inhibits many people from getting to the height that God has prepared for them. Isaiah 5:13-15 elaborates further by saying, “ .....my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled”. The most important aspect of a building is that ugly part that is covered, and not the beauty and charm that is seen on the outside (2Cor. 4:18) - the foundation! In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus Christ, when teaching about the importance of foundations, said that a wise man builds his house on a rocky foundation so that flood and wind does not have effect on it. A foolish person however builds on a sandy foundation and when the challenges of life comes, the house crumbles. Evil family foundation is one of the instruments being used by the devil to destroy people’s lives, destinies and future. One of the powers that God gave to parents is the grace to assist their children chart the course of their lives through either their curses or blessings. Evil foundations are laid when parents pronounce curses on their children or through the names given to them at birth. There was a man whose destiny distortion evolved from the name that his mother gave him at birth - she named him Jabez because she bore him in sorrow. Things would

have continued to be sorrowful for this inherently honourable man had he not come to God in prayers (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Beloved, things will follow a natural course of action unless there is spiritual intervention for it to be otherwise. Elizabeth was a woman who rose stoutly against her husband’s family members by screaming “Not so” when the family members agreed to name the new born baby after their fathers which would have laid John’s life on the foundation of his lineage (Luke 1:57-66). Brethren, you need to use your mouth to declare “Not so” against every evil foundation too because a closed mouth is a gateway for a closed destiny. A bad foundation causes majority of problems in the lives, destinies and marriages of most people; it makes a person struggle without result, go into destructive rage, causes perennial misunderstandings among couples leading to divorce; it is the power behind unexplainable errors at the working place aimed at destruction of great destinies; it is the force of labouring with nothing to show for it; it is the reason for people to start well and end badly; it is the evil foundation that makes a righteous person go into established errors/sin without power to control self and regret doing it later among many other inexplainable life issues. Is there something you have noticed in your family line that is adverse to growth, prosperity, peace and joy; maybe in your family line people may aspire but never get to the top or the ones that get to the top fall down with nothing to show for it; is polygamy or divorce running through any of your family lines? Is there a sinful trait or destructive habit in your genealogy? Are there evil attitudes or patterns that you have noticed in your parents or even the house where you are staying or place of work? Is there a sickness that flows in your lineage? Is there a covenant that was entered into on your behalf by your parents with powers of darkness? You need to come to Jesus Christ. He is the porter while we are the clay. In times of yore, parents used to conduct discreet foundational checks on the family of the spouse to be, in order to authenticate their foundations before consenting to marry their kids off to the families but things have since changed as families now discountenance those traditional checks. Rather, families’ decisions are predicated on aesthetic values of looks, height, speech, educational qualifications, same church, same town, business patronages, richness of background forgetting that what matter most is the foundation. Where you come from determines the quality of your being! A family with a terrible history will reflect on the quality of the child, their offsprings, their behaviours and of course their future. It is knowledge of the fact that problems and challenges can be traceable to parental/ancestral background that facilitates corporate bodies to request for information about family health issues and personal family history, knowing fully well that whatever has befallen the parents of the employee will one day come to play in the life of the staff. That must however not go without stating that even the traditional background checks are not spiritually faultless. The only remedy to live peaceably and prosperously is to come to Jesus. It is “... by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16). Prayers: Almighty God, visit my life, destroy every illegal foundation and build my life on the Rock that can never be destroyed by the wind and storms of life, in Jesus’ name.

NEWS The leader Nigeria needs now, by Obasanjo Continued from page 4

ried. They said the problem is that if one million Nigerians go to Britain, they said in 10 years time, there will be 10 million Nigerians in Britain and they will rather keep us here. “There is no reason why any Nigerian child, at this point in time should not have a basic education, food and nutrition, not only Nigeria child, any Nigerian should not go to bed without food. “We have the resources to achieve all that, that we are not achieving it does not mean we don’t have the resources. It is because we haven’t manage our resources well. “Employment. If all other things are right, there should be no reason for any Nigerian who wants to be employed not to have the opportunity for employment. And if the things that all the young ones are expecting are not there, in 15 years time, they will be good recruits for Boko Haram or its equivalent. Do not let us deceive ourselves. “You can suppress but if other things that are supposed to be there are not there, you will only suppress. Sooner than later, it will rear its ugly head, and what should be done, you should remove the root, stem and branches and I believe that too can be done.” Chief Odigie - Oyegun said the APC was on the verge of issuing the former President a membership card after he shredded his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) card, but changed its mind. He said the tearing of the PDP membership card via proxy was a significant milestone, causing Obasanjo to cross the

“threshold” and making him to qualify fully as the “true father of the nation” that anybody can now run to for guidance. According to Odigie-Oyegun, issuing the former President with the APC membership card would be “demeaning” to a man who should now be seen as “true nationalist, statesman and non- partisan icon”. The APC National Chairman said Obasanjo stood out as the “only symbol of this country everybody can run to” whenever the need arises. Odigie-Oyegun said: “Speaking seriously, a few weeks ago, we saw somebody tearing a party card on his behalf and we all went ecstatic, fantastic! So, leaders of the party quickly conveyed a get together and authorised me if we should issue him a fresh card. “But we sat down soberly and discussed the issue and at the end of the day we said, we use this word, nationalists and statesman very loosely in this country and a wise counsel prevailed and we said this event is more significant than we think, this man has crossed a threshold; he has now become truly father of the Nigeria nation. “We will be demeaning him if we went to him now and said ‘Baba this is APC party card’. We thought we would be demeaning him by issuing him a card and we said finally, what Nigeria never had; an icon, a father, a non partisan person, the very first in the history of this nation, finally has arrived, somebody we can now all go to; everybody. He will just be open to all of us. “And what is important was that given the nature of the man, if he says well done, you can go back home, buy a bottle of champagne and toast because if

you have not done well, he will equally look you straight in the eyes and tell you to go to hell. “This is the kind of man General Obasanjo has become and I want to say, thank you very much, may God grant you very long life to enjoy your new status. To Tinubu, Obasanjo is one man who has great passion for the country. He recalled when he and a delegation of APC members visited him in Abeokuta, the former President assured them if they do the right in the interest of the nation, he would set aside partisan politics to assist them. Tinubu said: “You trapped me innocently with a great wisdom of a 78-year-old. I’m honoured to be here and many of you will see this as a rare occasion but this is an opportunity to pay tribute to a nationalist, a teacher, a disciplinarian and a tutor in dignity and boldness. “Yes, it is true, there are no permanent friends or Permanent enemy in politics. What is common is common interest. Once upon a time, some nine years ago, I went to the Villa. President Obasanjo asked me to walk out. “And he was just abusing me in the newspapers and I said, ‘Baba, you are a tenant here. This house (Aso Villa) belongs to Nigeria. If I get to Ota, you can send me out. I brought a file about Nigeria’ and he said, ‘that is true, sit down’. “If I would tell you several events that occurred between the two of us in the interest of the nation, I would write an epistle but today is not for that. But how do you celebrate, truly and honour a man who has kept you on your toes? “No matter what, between Baba Olusegun Obasanjo and

myself, what I can say is a gratitude to you because you kept me on my toes. “Each time we disagreed on things, on principle, I took him to court one time as the President and he saw me and said, ‘you took me to court, we can’t be friends after the court’ and I told him, ‘I didn’t take you to court, I took Nigerian President to court’ and he said, ‘get off my way’ and I told him, ‘I wouldn’t get out of the way, until I get what I want.’ “And one morning, very early, Professor Mabogunje was there and we were discussing and it was about the development of the country, there’s no doubt about that, it was about rail line and urban development, very serious matter, and I dialogued with him and Prof. Mabogunje was asking me to keep quiet, and Baba said, ‘get out of here. “And I said, ‘Baba, I am not going out, you asked me to come and we are talking this matter. You love Nigeria. I love Nigeria. You brought a professor of great reputation and he said, ‘sit down, if you want me to do that thing. I am the President, you must also listen to me.’ And I saw that it wasn’t just an emotional thing, it was a passion for perfection at that particular time. “And then when we started this present regime of merger and alliances, and we visited him and we told him we wanted him to be a navigator, he said, ‘navigator? “I will try to avoid it because of Nigeria, but if you people put a good team for the sake of this country together, I will give you wisdom. “And if you look at what has been happening since then, Obasanjo is an open book, you

read a line, you pick a paragraph, you learn, you comply, if you drink from that fountain of wisdom, you will see value in it, he is very committed to Nigeria . “As we were talking earlier, I said Nigeria is the giant of Africa and he said, ‘I hope you will remove the k-leg’ and I said, ‘the elephantiasis would be killed’. He said by what? And I said by APC. “And the change that is necessary for now was the day I saw him instructing that shredded umbrella card be torn into pieces, and I said what is happening? “There’s nothing Obasanjo would have wanted in terms of material, oil well, oil lifting, whatever - from Jonathan that he wouldn’t have got or what from PDP that he wouldn’t have got as a retention service. “But he puts all of that aside, believes in the unity, cohesion, and progress of this country in order to free himself from that bondage of commitment to one partisan politics that is probably drifting in the middle of the storm of a political change, he, will rather be afloat and chat a new course.” At yesterday’s lecture at his presidential library in Abeokuta were, among others, Obasanjo’s wife Bola, All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman John Odigie - Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Amosun, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni and Akwa Ibom State APC governorship candidate Umana Okon Umana. There were also representatives of 34 universities at the ceremony.

Ex-CDS Agwai to military: stay off partisan politics Continued from page 4

He said peace and security is crucial to a people or nation, adding that no meaningful development and growth could take place in an atmosphere of chaos, insecurity and crisis. According to him, the only thing constant in life is change, hence the need for leaders to embrace the change needed to bring about growth and development in the country. Gen. Agwai urged the military to take professionalism seriously so that they could effectively tackle insurgency and other security challenges. He described national security as holistic in nature while making a case for overhaul or reforming of the security sector for better result in a changing time. He identified some of the precursors of insecurity to include poorly developed democratic system, political and social exclusion of people and the deteriorating morals of the society. Gen. Agwai also hinted that churches and mosques that ought to serve as moral compass in the country were regrettably becoming facilitators of corruption He noted that the security challenge is not strange to him, recalling that as at 2003, he had predicted that the wars the nation’s soldiers would contend with, would be one without frontiers where every state of the federation is a “ battle field.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Flying Eagles get first training in Senegal N

IGERIA’S Flying Eagles have had their first training in Senegal ahead of their opening AYC clash against the host country. The Nigeria U-20 team trained Thursday evening at the Stade Iba Mar Diop in Dakar. The training lasted an hour and a half and all 21 players trained fully. The Flying Eagles will have a feel of the pitch at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, venue of their opening AYC match against hosts Senegal, Friday evening by 4.30pm local time, which is 5.30 pm Nigerian time. Their last training before the Sunday showdown will be on Saturday at the Stade Iba Mar Diop, which at a time was the country’s na-

• Flying Eagles at Thursday evening training in Dakar tional stadium and is named after a foremost physician cum politician. Team arrival meeting with CAF officials will be by 10am at the Junior Eagles Alafifa Hotel, during which the players and officials will

be given their accreditation as well as put through the competition guidelines. Flying Eagles’ doctor Ozi Salami will also attend a seminar for the eight-team doctors at the AYC Friday morning.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3145

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

Y objective in this two-part series has been to review the balance-sheet of the two leading presidential candidates on the basis of their past records and present credentials. While some distinguished Nigerians have expressed their concerns with the two, the election has come down to a choice between them. The sensible approach then is to place their “problematic” credentials on a scale to determine which is the negatively or positively weightier. In other words, we must make a rational choice based on the balance of relevant factors. Last week, I focused on President Jonathan. Today I take on General Muhammadu Buhari. One of the negatives critics identify with General Buhari is his military background versus the need of the nation for a president that would respect democratic norms. The question is whether Buhari is able to move from the command and control orientation of the military to the consensus building requirement of democracy. His critics are quick to make reference to Buhari’s “high-handedness” as military Head of State for twenty months from December 1983 to July 1985 when he was toppled in a bloodless coup. For them, those are scary times which they don’t want to relive and they are not convinced that the General has changed with the times. Interestingly, this charge has been addressed by Buhari on a number of occasions, most recently at his Chatham House address. While acknowledging the concern about his military background and record as military Head of State, Buhari assured his audience of his conversion to the tenets of democracy. He has to; otherwise he will not succeed because the institutions of democracy require consensus building qualities in a president. It is important to also note, however, as one of the retired Generals observed a while ago that civilians have no good reason to blame the military for intervening in politics in those days because military intervention would not have been necessary if civilians had not lost their sense of good governance. Many would recall the prelude to December 1983 and the near-anarchy that prevailed. The police was in professionally irresponsible cahoots with the ruling party and the economy was in doldrums. The sense of helplessness on the part of the people was the reason for the wild jubilation over the announcement of military intervention just as it was in January 1966. Second, as far as his critics are concerned, at 72, General Buhari is too old for the rigors

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

All things considered (2) of the presidency. The uncultured and uncouth among them, including Governor Fayose of Ekiti, have made this the foundation of their opposition. Fayose has sponsored several advertisements playing God and cautioning Nigerians of the impending demise of •Gen Buhari Buhari. When this backfired in the midst of a boisterous denouncement of the adverts, he backed down only to resurface with a press conference to announce that Buhari’s London visit was not to visit Blair or give a talk at Chatham House, but rather to see a doctor. He even gave the location of the hospital which Buhari checked into. Tony Blair’s confirmation that he met Buhari and the announcement of the General’s scheduled talk at Chatham House did not persuade Fayose. For him and his fellow ageists, it was all a hoax. The PDP Publicity Secretary joined in to question the integrity of his APC counterparts: why are they doctoring pictures? suggesting, without a compunction of conscience, that the picture Buhari took with former Prime Minister Blair and Governors Amosun and Saraki was dated or fake. The question this scenario raises is the following: If health is not compromised, is age really a negative? Perhaps the most serious “negative” that critics have dwelled on the most is the allegation of religious and ethnic bigotry against Buhari. This is not something coming from the poor and lower classes of the society. This charge has been brought directly and circulated far and wide by intellectuals including professors, high profile clerics, and

OUNDS like the title of a fairy tale but this is a true-life story happening in Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria. Ebonyi had always been the patched spot of the east – stunted, backward and remote. It really is a poor, poor cousin afflicted by wants and wantonness. Strange things happen all over but stranger things make their abode in Ebonyi for instance, communal feuds around there come in the form of savage bazaar that consume by wild fire and blood. Examples of such human carnage in Ebonyi are numerous. Now, another story, stranger than fiction; at least by the standards of Nigeria’s political culture, has broken in that outpost. Last week, Pa Martin Elechi, the septuagenarian incumbent governor widely regarded as the father of modern Ebonyi made a plaintive cry for help. Pa Elechi who is rounding off his second and last term as a governor took to the newspapers in what seems like a safeour-soul two-page advertorial. Have you ever seen a sitting governor; an elderly man, cry for help? Have you ever seen a deputy governor stampeding his boss and threatening to remove him from the executive quarters and put him on the run? Not in Nigeria, but it is happening. In a 17-point plea, the governor explained carefully, how a cabal from Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is working up the state to a conflagration. He mentioned specifically, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Ayim Pius Ayim and such co-conspirators as Chief Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh

industry giants. They are afraid that Buhari will Islamize Nigeria in a jihadist war against the south. In a country with religious and ethnic diversity, this is a weighty charge. But what is the evidence? That is not important as long as the perception is alive and is nourished with fear. Does Buhari’s background in the matter of religious devotion lend any credence to this charge of an islamization agenda? Have Buhari’s presidential campaigns since 2003 pointed in this direction of an Islamic aggression? While there is no doubt that religion has featured prominently in this election, it is true that this has not come from the camp of Buhari who has been pilloried by the ruling party as a religious bigot. We are yet to see a video of Buhari kneeling before an Imam or hopping from mosque to mosque for the blessings of the congregants. If Buhari is so much into islamization, why is he not mobilizing the Muslim Umah in these elections? Buhari has also addressed this matter in a thoughtful presentation to the Catholic Bishops. On their part, Buhari’s supporters have identified three areas of the candidate’s strength as the positives that really matter for the leadership of the country in the present stage of its democratic and economic development. First they point to his endowment of leadership discipline, a trait that even his staunchest opponents can attest to and which supporters attribute to his military background. Thus, while opponents are wary of that background in a democratic setting, supporters taunt the discipline that he has acquired from it as what the country needs now to clear the rot and mess of sixteen years. There are indications as well that it is the matter of his discipline that scares his opponents. They know that a Buhari presidency will close all the loopholes that fertilize the lust for greed and unmerited acquisition as well as the tendency

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

The old man and the ‘invaders’ Many troubles of the comrade governor

EING a governor in some states can be quite forbidding to say the least. Not that it is entirely a joy ride anywhere or that the much coveted guber seat is less hot in any state but some states are peculiar. One of such is Edo and the reason is simple: the gubernatorial seat is circumscribed by formidable power blocs. Consider the imagery of a man in a valley hemmed in by several towering mountains. Even if he manages to breathe, he will be working under poor lights and constrained space. Such is the situation Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo who is running a state sequestered by so much impedimenta that stand in the way of work. Governor Oshiomhole has been pitched against such behemoths as Chief Tony Anenih; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Bini and lately, the Omono’ba himself, the fulcrum of Bini monarchy and essence. It takes only a man of Oshiomhole’s heart and hide to stand up to or stand down these forces and still get in a decent result in the last six years. Oshiomhole’s predecessors (especially the Esama’s son) ran Edo aground but the incumbent has brought it back to life as everyone can see. The good people of Edo State must rally around their Comrade, support him and help him finish strong. (National Publicity Secretary) and Amb Franklin Ogbuewu, Deputy Coordinator of the PDP Presidential Campaign in the state. What is at stake? The Abuja ‘mafia’ led by

Ayim is bent on hijacking the state by installing a stooge of their own in the next dispensation. They made sure the old man had no say in the transition process especially in in-

towards impunity in government which has characterized the camp of the ruling party since 1999. Next there is Buhari’s widely acknowledged incorruptibility and disarming honesty. He headed the Ministry of Petroleum as Minister under the first regime of General Obasanjo and he discharged the responsibilities of the office creditably. Under Abacha, Buhari was head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and despite the allegation of lost funds Buhari was cleared by the investigative panel. President Obasanjo who ordered the investigation confirmed this recently. And there was no reason Obasanjo would cover up for Buhari, knowing their political differences as rival presidential candidates in 2003. Finally, according to his supporters, Buhari’s track record in dealing with religious insurgencies in the North since his days as GOC is well known. It was Buhari that dealt decisively with the Maitatsine sect in Kano in the 80s. It was he that sent back the invading Chad insurgents. If Buhari was at the helm when Boko Haram first reared its violent head, supporters insist that he would have effectively led the charge against it. He would certainly not have underestimated the strength and senseless determination of the sect to wreck havoc in the polity. Incidentally, the moment that President Jonathan confessed his underestimation of the Boko Haram many Nigerian commentators on social media placed the responsibility for the death and displacement of fellow citizens squarely on him. How does a president underestimate the strength of an enemy of the state who from the beginning did not hide its disdain for the country? You can only give what you have, and in the matter of discharging himself creditably in his oath to protect the territorial integrity of the nation, Buhari surely has it. In sum, then, of all the concerns of Buhari’s critics about his past record, the most relevant and weighty is his record as military Head of State. But it wasn’t an unmixed record of negativity. He accomplished a lot, especially in the matter of dealing with religious fundamentalism, corruption, and instilling discipline across the board. For his supporters, this is exactly what the country needs now. And to his critics, Buhari has declared himself a “converted democrat.” We will know soon if the nation believes him. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 stalling his successor. They imposed his deputy, Chief Dave Umahi as governorship candidate in a contrived congress that excluded the sitting governor. Same for all the other elective positions in the land; they never allowed the old man to have a say. All entreaties to President Goodluck Jonathan, the leader of the party, yielded no fruit. The invaders appeared to have usurped even the powers of the president. Unable to live with the humiliation any longer, the old man and his supporters shifted their allegiance to a lesser known Labour Party (LP). It soon dawned on the Abuja bullies that the old man could still pull some strings in the state. Electoral entropy starred the cabal in the face as LP suddenly came alive and became dominant in the state. Jolted, they immediately resorted to rough tactics. According to the governor, a wave of terror was unleashed on the state with shootings, attacks on campaign rallies, burning of vehicles and vandalizing of LP billboards. Like a caged hound, the SGF allegedly caused the simultaneous release of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on the state. As you read this, no fewer than six state commissioners are on needless shuttles to and fro the Abuja offices of these two so-called graft commissions. The governor’s son and about 13 LGA care-taker committee chairmen are also being run through the Abuja hoop.

•Continued

on page 59

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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