March 23, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

•INEC Card Reader stolen at Zamfara training venue •AND •VP Sambo boasts: we’ll defeat APC hands down MORE ON PAGES •Fulani cattle breeders deny endorsing Jonathan 4,5&54 •APC calm as Amaechi’s deputy Ikuru defects to PDP

...68 D AYS TO GO DA

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VOL. 10, NO. 3162 MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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President mounts pressure on North’s leaders, Emirs

Dangote raises refinery’s capacity to 650,000bpd

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FRICA'S richest man and President of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote has announced that he is increasing his refinery’s capacity to 650, 000 barrels per day.

The move, according to petroleum industry analysts, will see Nigeria listed as having the largest petroleum refinery in the world.

Dangote said that though the initial plan was to have 450,000 bpd refining capacity, but that he has since gone back to the drawing board to have a bigger plant because he believes that Nigeria as a leading producer of crude oil should also be credited with local refining capacity.

Continued on page 4

P •Dangote

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been paying nocturnal visits to the North’s leaders, Emirs and groups ahead of Saturday’s election.

Dr. Jonathan’s biggest challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is from the North.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

The President and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are worried about their prospects in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Niger, Bauchi, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Zamfara and others.

This, said a source, is why the President has turned to the

Southwest as the “real battleground”.

Jonathan has visited more than 50 key leaders in the North, urging them for support to sway votes in his favour.

A top source said: “Apart from the few visits captured by the media, the President Continued on page 4

Polls: Panic as Jonathan deploys troops in states Kwara, Edo, Delta residents scared It’s show of force, says military From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, Osagie Otabor, Benin, Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan may have ordered the deployment of soldiers in some states - in defiance of court verdicts that the military has no role in elections.

There was panic in Kwara State at the weekend as residents saw troops in the streets.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed issued a statement, calling for calm.

The military said troops were being deployed to maintain the peace before, during and after Saturday’s elections.

The spokesman of the Army’s 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Lt. Weri Finikumor, said 300 troops were deployed in Ilorin and the other local government areas.

Lt.Finikumor added that the soldiers would maintain security and not meddle in the conduct of the presidential election.

He added that the soldiers would stand 300 meters away from the polling booths and would not be involved in anything pertaining to electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes.

Lt. Finikumor said the police would proContinued on page 4

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

•One of the injured supporters at the hospital...yesterday

STORY ON PAGE 4 •Two shot APC members at the hospital...yesterday

Thugs attack APC’s rally in Lagos Five in hospital after being shot PDP: attackers not our members

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P40 •FOREIGN P56

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

2

NEWS Countdown to March 28... 5 days to go

How we’ll revamp

•From left: Managing Director, Microsoft, Mr. Kabelo Makwane; Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Lanre Adesanya and Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tony Okpanachi, at the presentation of Businessday awards to Nigeria’s Top 25 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in Lagos…at the weekend.

Rather than make vague promises for which he cannot be held accountable, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer Gen Muhammadu Buhari has been going into the specifics at his meetings with groups and stakeholders in the Nigerian project. In an address at his parley with the Abuja Private Sector Forum in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday, the former Head of State told his audience how he plans to fix the country with a blueprint that took his party six months to prepare.

I

•Group Managing Director, Arco Group Plc, Alfred Okoigun (right); Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Siemens Nigeria, Ms Nyeche Tifase and a Federal Commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (lCPC), Mr. lsa Ozi Salami at a dinner hosted by Arco Group for delegates to the Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference in Abuja.

•Ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi-Etteh on her convocation as a Law graduate at Buckingham University, London, United Kingdom (UK)...at the weekend. She is flanked by Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company Limited, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji and a consultant in Gynaecology, Dr. Sekinah Bola Oyebamiji.

AM indeed delighted to be here at this dinner organised by the Abuja Private Sector Forum to give me another opportunity to interact with the private sector and garner support for our electioneering campaign. This gesture demonstrates the patriotic zeal of the Forum to the unity and progress of our dear country.

Coming less than one week to the general election of March 28, this forum will certainly go a long way to sensitise and mobilise our people to constructively apply themselves to actualise the much-desired change in our country on that date.

I am glad to state that the desire for change in Nigeria today is not just an All Progressives Congress (APC) party affair but has turned into a national movement underpinned by a national agenda of arresting the drift and promoting the unity and development of our country. This desire for change has been embraced by all and sundry from all over the country.

I am sure that you are all concerned about the general deterioration in all sectors of the Nigerian society, in particular the business environment which has been negatively affected by mismanagement, profligacy, bad governance, corruption and above all, pervasive insecurity in our land and therefore has not been able to advance the course of doing busi-

Fasehun, Gani Adams and unending Southwest conspiracies ANALYSIS

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•From left: Head, Human Resources/ Admin, FSDH Merchant Bank Ltd, Mrs. Fola Wltshire; the bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Rilwan BeloOsagie and principal, Dolphin Senior High School, Mr. S.O. Akindunbi at the Financial Literacy Day organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lagos.

ness in our country.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, if by the grace of God I am elected President, in next Saturday’s election, the security and stability of our nation, which have been threatened in recent times, more than at any time since the civil war, shall be properly addressed as a number one priority by enhancing the capacity of security agencies to safeguard lives and property. We shall decisively bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end and promote lasting peace and stability in all the nooks and crannies of our nation.

We would ensure that the victims of the insurgency are adequately rehabilitated and supported to restore their means of livelihood. All Nigerians shall be free to live and work in every part of the country. We shall make accountability and transparency the hallmarks of our administration by ensuring that resources are well utilised through plugging all loopholes and eliminating wastages and corruption in governance. Anti corruption agencies shall be strengthened and given free hand to operate in discharging their statutory mandate.

We would strengthen and make government institutions more independent to provide the necessary regulatory framework for conducive business environment. We would

OTH Frederick Fasehun and Gani Adams, co-leaders of the two factions of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), had in the early years of the founding of their ethnic militia tried to paint themselves as gallant defenders of the Yoruba cause. Their common cause was the oppressive tendencies and policies of the late head of state, Sani Abacha.

Once the strongman died, however, the OPC was in a quandary, unsure what its raison d’etre should be. They sauntered from one private security job to another, and in one private residence, public building, entire neighbourhood or another. Finally, inspired by Niger Delta militants, they seized upon the idea of multi-billion naira pipelines protection jobs, a payday and payout far beyond their earthly dreams.

Sometime last year, factional leaders of the OPC were embroiled in a war of attrition over the said pipelines

By Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

contract that was yet to be awarded to the Yoruba militia. Dr Fasehun had struggled for a larger percentage of the awaited contract, and Otunba Adams had suggested that because he commanded more OPC militants, he deserved a larger part of the pie.

In the end, the pie turned out to be so big, so unimaginably huge, that the two factional leaders have sheathed their swords. Instead, they have now reserved their swords and malignant hatred for the main faction of the Yoruba power elite led by the progressives in the All Progressives Congress (APC). The OPC seems thereby to underscore the stereotype that for a private end, and maybe for money, aggrieved Yoruba politicians, militia leaders and militiamen could be trusted to instigate or lead a rebellion against their own people.

Until Dr Fasehun openly admitted the role he played in the postponement of the February 14 presidential election, few knew the actual begin-

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

3

Countdown to March 28... 5 days to go

p economy, tackle corruption, by Buhari

source of job and wealth creation.

Some of our policy thrust would include Agricultural Enterprises Value Chain and Cluster Development for commodities, and institutional framework and support for agribusiness investment. In this regard, the Abuja Commodity Exchange shall be reinvigorated and supported. We will rehabilitate and invest in agriculture, infrastructure such as access roads, dams and irrigation. We will also invest in research and development and promote farmers capacity for more efficient agric. production. We will restore and institutionalise extension services system.

Arising from the above, we shall adopt a robust industrialisation policy and provide conducive environment for a private sector led industrial base for the economy. We would create industrial hubs and clusters with appropriate infrastructure and tax incentives to support industries and businesses. We will promote relevant edu-

cation in technical and vocational training to create the necessary skills required for industrial development.

Property rights will be guaranteed, while sanctity of contracts would be protected.

We shall take a look at the Land Use Act of 1978 with a view to making land more accessible for residential, commercial and developmental purposes. We shall provide incentives in the housing sector to bridge the housing deficit in the country in order to make houses cheaper and affordable to our average income earners, especially in our major urban centres such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan and Kano.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, when I addressed the Lagos private sector on February 2, I did promise that if elected, I will maintain periodic and regular meetings with stakeholders to obtain well-informed advice for government to formulate policies and strategies that would uplift this country from the economic doldrums and advance their interest for the overall progress and development of our country. I am therefore happy to state that the private sector will be one of the stakeholders to be consulted on issues from time to time. As we approach March 28, we urge you and other Nigerians to intensify efforts to vote as well as mobilise voters to ensure my successful election. I would want to reiterate my pledge that I will lead with integrity, honour and sincere commitment to the good cause of Nigerians.

I will like to finally express my profound appreciation to the organisers of this event for their altruistic support and all those who participated in this dinner as well as many others who contributed in one way or the other to our campaign efforts. May God crown our efforts with victory in the polls, ameen.

Thank You and God Bless.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s presidential election

man lacking in moderation and leadership ethics, and one to whom age has brought nothing but inurement to frugality and noble deeds and virtue, what does he care?

Perhaps leaders of the Yoruba political organisation, Afenifere, will sometime later find the honesty and decency to admit that they have become sucked into the vortex of partisan politics, thereby becoming either advertently or inadvertently members of the PDP, and have enlisted into the Jonathan column either as foot soldiers or officers. Meanwhile, another honest admission came from the other half of the OPC conundrum.

According to Otunba Adams, perhaps also anxious to publicise his contributions to the Jonathan reelection project and justify his disruptive protest along Ikorodu Road in Lagos last week, he was eager to sign up to the pipeline contracts because it showed the magnanimity of the Jonathan presidency, contrary to the niggardliness of the wealthy Lagos government which refused to patronise the militia. In other words, the OPC politics and the opposition of the militia to the APC leadership is all about money and financial power. Who knows, maybe Afenifere’s opposition to the APC is also underscored by financial reasons.

The OPC factional leaders are at liberty to legitimately disagree with the APC, though the unanimous hatred

they exhibit towards the APC is both telling and instructive, and they can quarrel with anyone they like. But both Dr Fasehun and Otunba Adams will, however, find it difficult justifying their pretentious promotion of Yoruba interests when what they are promoting is in fact their private interests. They will find it difficult pretending to altruism when their partisan objectives are gingered by wholly private financial calculations. The two OPC leaders have confessed their infamous roles in the politics of Dr Jonathan’s reelection; the country and, in particular, the Southwest await the confessions of Afenifere leaders who continue to mask their private ambitions under Yoruba nationalism.

Dr Jonathan has a knack for seeking out disaffected people and politicians to co-opt into his conspiracies.

Dr Fasehun, whose inexplicable embrace of Major Hamza al-Mustapha (rtd) perplexed many Nigerians a few years back, will always be available for hire. So, too, will Otunba Adams be available to the highest bidder. Together with the freelancing Afenifere and the rambunctious Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose pushing and pulling in different nefarious directions, the ongoing political trading in the Southwest points to the urgent realignments certain to take place both in the Yoruba country and in Nigeria as a whole after the elections.

• From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John OdigieOyegun; the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman, Urban Shelter, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu and Executive Vice Chairman, Shiroro Power Station, Mr. Olubunmi Peters at a dinner organised for Gen. Buhari by the Abuja Private Sector Forum in Abuja...on Saturday.

provide level playing field and will not allow politics to creep into and constrain the business climate. We would embark on multiple tracks reform in the oil and gas sector, especially the government institutions like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to block revenue transmission leakages and make them more efficient and accountable.

The manifesto of our great party, the APC, which took six months of surveys and painstaking analyses of the Nigerian condition to develop, has come out with a comprehensive Economic Development Plan geared towards promoting agriculture, power supply, infrastructural development, industrialisation and job creation, amongst others. We shall promote sound macro-economic policy environment, run an efficient and transparent government, restore and strengthen financial confidence by putting in place a more robust monitoring, supervision and regula-

tion of all financial institutions.

We shall embark on a National Infrastructural Development Programme that will promote road, air and water transportation in the country to make Nigeria a hub of the West African sub-region. Roads and rail construction will unlock a value chain of opportunities for construction companies, builders, engineers, architects, quarry operators, cement and iron rod production and supply. We shall undertake a review of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework with a view to strengthening its legal, regulatory and operational systems. We shall provide incentives to accelerate public and private sector investments in the green field ports development and inland waterways.

Our maritime environment shall be secured and protected from piracy and armed robbery at sea.

We would undertake a more comprehensive power reform that would address the gaps in the power indus-

try. Also, we would explore and develop alternative sources of energy that are efficient, affordable and environmentally sustainable. These would boost power supply, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the current dwindling oil prices have brought our economic and social predicament into sharp focus. We must stop paying lip service to agriculture by taking practical and concrete steps to restore it to its glorious position as the mainstay of our economy providing employment, food for our teeming population as well as leading foreign exchange earner.

Our agricultural policy shall provide farmers a dignified living through improved inputs, extension services, access to credits and price support mechanisms. We would revitalise the agricultural sector and make it the engine of growth, and

‘

The two OPC leaders have confessed their infamous roles in the politics of Dr Jonathan’s reelection; the country and, in particular, the Southwest await the confessions of Afenifere leaders who continue to mask their private ambitions under Yoruba nationalism.

•Fasehun

nings of that infamous decision. The Goodluck Jonathan government had given the impression that the election date postponement was at the instance of the security agencies which argued that insecurity in the Northeast made the conduct of the elections impracticable in those troubled regions. Mercifully, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was also anxious to let the world know that the postponement was not at its instance. Though the President told an embarrassing untruth that he knew nothing about the security reports that foreshadowed

•Adams

the postponement, it was obvious the plan was orchestrated by his presidency in a desperate effort to hold on to power.

According to the OPC factional leader, Dr Fasehun, at one of the conspiratorial summits organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, he boasted that fearing that Dr Jonathan would lose the election if it was held on February 14, he made phone calls and contacts to inspire and instigate a postponement.

Amidst resounding applause, he said he was glad his counsel was heeded,

‘

and a postponement arranged.

Though the world railed against the shift, few knew at the time from whence the idea came. Now, it is possible Dr Fasehun was making an empty boast, but once a criminal voluntarily admits to a crime, there is little a judge can do other than to find him guilty in the absence of any objections. Dr Fasehun hung himself by his own admissions; and it must be accepted that even if he was not the only one who precipitated the postponement, he was one of the major instigators. He stands condemned in the estimation of the public. But for a

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

NEWS APC: Jonathan’s men plan to make elections in Southwest inconclusive

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•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (second right) with other leaders of the APC during the Northcentral zonal rally in Lafia...at the weekend. From left: Senator Abdulahi Adamu, ex-Governor Abubakar Audu, APC Women Leader Hajiya Hamatu Saratu Falmata, Senator Bukola Saraki and APC Chieftain, Senator Sirika Hadi

President mounts pressure on North’s leaders, Emirs Continued from page 1

has in the last six weeks met with more than 50 key Northern leaders, Emirs and groups to come to his rescue. His message has been reassuring that he will not disappoint the North.

“Jonathan made most of the trips nocturnal to protect the image of the leaders and Emirs, who are described as match-makers in the region.

“Some of the leaders Jonathan has lobbied are exPresident Ibrahim Babangida; ex-Minister of Defence Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; former Minister of Defence Mallam Adamu Ciroma;

former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Amb. Maiatama Sule; and Alh. Tanko Yakasai, among others.

“He believes these leaders and Emirs can turn the table against Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,” the source said, adding: “It has, however, not been easy penetrating the North because of the perceived marginalisation of the region by his administration.

“It has reached a frustrating level that in some states, the President and the PDP are only striving at securing at least 25 per cent of the votes.

“The President panics be-

cause while he is sure of above 80 per cent of the votes in 11 states in the South-South and South-East, the North has been a hard nut to crack. Only Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Gombe have given some ray of hope.

“As I am talking to you, there is a fresh plan for the President to visit Adamawa State for the third time to meet with some PDP stalwarts who defected to the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“The President wants to prevail on these defectors to dump their ambitions and return to the PDP to ensure the victory

of the ruling party.”

Vice President Namadi Sambo is said to be under pressure to deliver the region.

The problem, said the source, is compounded by the fact that most of the ministers from the North have not been embarking on direct campaigns for votes because of the likely backlash.

“None of the ministers has been outstanding in mounting the soap box for Jonathan because the North is volatile. Instead, the ministers only appeared at the presidential campaign and zonal rallies before receding into the background,” he said.

Dangote raises refinery’s capacity to 650,000bpd

Continued from page 1

Describing the situation where Nigeria produces crude, but goes abroad to buy refined products as unacceptable, Dangote, who spoke through his Group Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin, said Dangote refinery was ready to reverse the trend just as it had successfully done in other sectors like sugar and cement.

His clarification came as the company's Executive Director in charge of Stakeholders Management and Corporate Corporation, Manure Ahmed, told stakeholders in South Africa that the refinery would run full swing as from 2017.

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Edwin, who spoke while receiving on behalf of Dangote, a group of oil and gas stakeholders who paid him a visit in Lagos at the weekend, also said the petrochemicals, which is being developed alongside the refinery, also had its capacity increased from 750,000 to 3.6 million.

"The entire petrochemical industry is history. Nobody has started with a 3.6 million tonnes capacity anywhere in the world. We are doing two million tonnes of polypropylene and 1.6 tonnes of polythene, which is approximately 3.6 million tones, which is a huge petrochemical complex.

"The consumption of petrochemical products in Nigeria and within Saharan Africa is quite limited today. But in the future, there will be growth. if the cement industry has not developed like this today, if we were still living with a 3.4 million tonnes per annum capacity, today we would have imported about 16 million tonnes of cement and with that, you can imagine if we had imported this, it would have cost the country $2 billion of foreign exchange.

"So that much of foreign exchange has been saved by the country and we can imagine how much of billions of dollars

the country is spending in importation of products. That much of enormous foreign exchange has been conserved and the petrochemical products are exported, it will yield a huge amount of foreign exchange for the country even for us today, we are so happy and relieved that our external investment in cement has started to yield returns this year we will be able to bring back foreign exchange in terms of our earnings from these investments."

He also dismissed fears that change in government policy could affect the business saying "we have witnessed so many Continued on page 58

LECTIONS are likely to be inconclusive in the Southwest, the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned yesterday.

The party spoke of a plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters to make Saturday’s elections inconclusive, having realised that they cannot deliver the zone to the PDP as they have promised.

In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the plot was conceived at a meeting held in the Ondo State Government House on March 13.

The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is said to be part of the plot in which youths have been armed with guns and other weapons.

The youths, said APC, will be given military and police uniforms, “which we

earlier said were being sewn in the capital of a state in the Southwest.”

The APC said the highly-disruptive and armed protest by the OPC in Lagos on March 16 was a dress rehearsal for the plan to be executed across the states in the Southwest.

The party also said the PDP had compiled for the Police anticult squad names of APC youths in all the Wards in Ondo State so they can be arrested and locked up before, during and after the elections, to give the PDP and its cohorts the free rein to carry out their nefarious activities. ‘’As a matter of fact, funds have been provided to the Police AntiCult Squad to expand its detention facility, and work is going on at the facility as we write. The reason for these actions is that, despite the massive infusion of illicit funds to bribe individuals Continued on page 58

Jonathan deploys troops in states Continued from page 1

vide security around the polling units, adding that soldiers would intervene on invitation of the police if there is a major security threat which the police cannot handle.

The military’s role in the polls has been controversial.

While the military high command said the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief could deploy troops, the opposition parties have warned against the deployment of troops for the polls, fearing they could be used to intimidate voters and supporters of the opposition.

Besides, the Court of appeal has declared that the military

should have no role in elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also said soldiers will not be used for elections — except in an emergency.

Ahmed urged Kwarans not to panic.

The governor, in a special announcement, said soldiers were deployed in the 16 local government areas to maintain law and order during the elections.

The statement reads: “My good people of Kwara State.

For many years, we have lived in harmony, regardless of our differences.

“Our people are friendly and peaceful. And so, as we prepare to vote for leaders of our choice Continued on page 58

Thugs attack APC’s rally in Lagos

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OME suspected thugs believed to be sympathisers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday shot at All Progressives Congress (APC) members who were campaigning at Obalende in Lagos.

Five people were injured –one of them critically – after the shooting.

An eyewitness said but for the intervention of soldiers from Dodan Barracks, the injured would have been more and that people would have been killed immediately. Four people - Babangida Bello shot in the leg;

By Wale Adepoju

Gambo Idi shot close to the eye; Ibrahim Musa and Jubril Ishaku whose ankles were shattered were last night being treated at the Island Maternity Hospital (IMH), Lagos.

The fifth person, whose injury is critical, was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba for further care.

According to an eye witness, the thugs chased after APC members who began their rally close to the State House en-route Continued on page 58

Amaechi’s deputy Ikuru defects to PDP

IVERS State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ikuru declared his defection yesterday, six days to the general elections.

In a statement titled "A call on the conscience of the people of Rivers State", the deputy governor said: "Ever since, as the true nature and motives of APC are unveiled, I have continued to twist and turn in extreme mental and emotional agony.

"The more I struggle to belong, the more the Rivers man in me rejects the APC." He described the APC as a party of rebels, insurgents and anarchists.

Ikuru said his decision was centred on the fact that he would not want to be listed as part of a generation that would witch hunt and hound down the very first ever President from the region, apparently referring to the incumbent President seeking re-election in the presidential election that will hold on March 28.

His defection a scratch on the surface, says APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Andoni, home town of Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, has described his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a mere scratch on the surface of the party’s towering popularity in the state.

Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt, a leader of the party in Andoni Local Government, Hon Esuku Esuku, described Ikuru as an appendage of the PDP NationFrom Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

"I wash my hands of this treachery and in the light of the above, I wish to urge all my supporters, the good people of Rivers State to join hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to massively vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Transformation Agenda that has brought so much relief and succour to the greatest number of Nigerians.

"I also urge all Rivers people to vote for Chief Nyesom Wike (CON), who has shown by his antecedents, track records and boundless capabilities that he

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

al Organising Secretary, Prince Uchewaju Secondus.

Esuku said Ikuru’s defection was long expected after he failed to secure the governorship ticket on the platform of the APC. Esuku said: “This is the first time that election results will be determined by actual followership as the electorate will be expected to cast their votes, using their

will deliver good governance to the people of Rivers State."

Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said Ikuru has chosen a dishonourable path of barefaced lies, with his defection.

Speaking through the Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Amaechi noted that the deputy governor had all along been romancing with the PDP, and he was not surprised with the latest development.

Amaechi said: "Governor Amaechi, only this (yesterday) evening, received the news of the resignation of his Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru,

PVC under the card reader system.”

Esuku believed that Ikuru’s defection was to save him from the embarrassment he and Secondus would receive on election day since their plan to secure the APC governorship ticket did not materialise.

The APC leader urged party faithful to ignore Ikuru and ensure victory for APC’s presidential candidate Gen. Mohammadu Buhari on Saturday and Peterside on April 11.

from the APC. While the news remains unofficial at this time, as the Deputy Governor is yet to notify His Excellency, the Governor, of this move. Governor Amaechi, however, wishes Engr. Ikuru all the best in his future political endeavours.

"He (Amaechi), however, wishes to note that the reasons adduced by Engr. Ikuru are shocking, as Deputy Governor lkuru has consistently been the one driving political activities in his local government area of Andoni and has been the second-in-command, driving politics and governance in Rivers State. On a personal note, Governor Amaechi has accorded

Engr. Ikuru all the privileges and respect due the office of the Deputy Governor and has treated him with love as a friend brother.

"Though the governor had hoped that the numerous rumours of Engr. Ikuru's doublefaced membership of the APC and open romance with the PDP were not true. He (Amaechi), however, appreciates the fact that every individual has a right to pursue his political dreams, as he deems most appropriate.

It is, however, regrettable that Engr. Ikuru has chosen the dishonourable path of bare faced lies, retracing his steps to and Continued on page 58

•Ikuru

Nda-Isaiah mourns Lee Yew

L

EADERSHIP publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah last night mourned Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew, who died at 91.

He said Yew “would be remembered as one of the greatest statesmen to have passed through the surface of this earth. He has set a high standard for statecraft and we will ever remain grateful to him”.

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

5

NEWS

Jonathan: stop celebrating ill-gotten wealth

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to stop celebrating people with ill-gotten wealth to discourage corruption.

Jonathan, who participated in the Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) yesterday in Abuja, said Nigerians should change their attitude towards primitive accumulation of wealth.

He said his government had introduced the e-payment system to stop the flow of raw cash and diversion of funds to reduce embezzlement.

Jonathan said the method he used in fighting corruption was prevention, strengthening of institutions and re-orientation of the people.

“Nigerians should change their mentality and condemn people with ill-gotten wealth.

“What we see is a situation where somebody gets wealth illegally and goes to his village and they give him a chieftaincy title.

“In the government circle, we

•APC faults President for reading prepared text at debate used the IPPIS; no more use of raw cash; it cuts across all sectors and in that case, you stop people from stealing public fund.”

According to Jonathan, the government has tackled irregularities that characterised the supply of fertiliser to farmers.

On corruption, the presidential candidate of National Conscience Party, Mr. Martins Onovo, said no meaningful development could be achieved if corruption was not tackled.

Presidential candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP) Mr. Chekwas Okorie said the fight against corruption must start from the top and that leaders must lead by personal example.

“Assets declaration will be compulsory and made public and should be reviewed yearly.

“Security votes must be tied to

only security matters and must be accounted for. Immunity must be limited to civil matters and all criminals must be tried,” Onovo said.

Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the presidential candidate of KOWA Party, said public office should be made less attractive by making the holders to earn normal salaries.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Jonathan said the dates of the rescheduled elections remain sacrosanct and praised Nigerians for showing interest in the electoral process.

Chief Godson Okoye; United Democratic Party (UDP) was another participant in the two-hour debate, which generally lacked the expected spark.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate Gen. Muahmmadu Buhari, did not par-

ticipate, said it was vindicated owing to the rumpus among the debate organisers, according to the issues raised by the Value and Integrity group.

A statement by APC’s Campaign Director of Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu yesterday said: “Watching President Goodluck Jonathan reading from a prepared script gleefully as he answered questions in the debate confirmed our suspicion that there will be “EXPO”.

“Without a fore-knowledge of the question to be asked, how did the President come with prepared answers?

“These two scenarios: The allegation (against) the NEDG and the President reading from a prepared script during the debate validates our reasons for abstaining from the debate.”

Sultan seeks protection for corps members

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HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged security agencies to provide adequate protection for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other personnel to man polling units.

He spoke when the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi visited him in his palace.

The sultan urged the public, especially politicians, to ensure the safety of corps members.

Abubakar informed Olawumi of the directive from the Sultanate Council to all district heads to ensure safety of corps members in their domain. This, he said, should be replicated in other parts of the country.

He enjoined corps members not to be deterred by upheavals of the past, but to consider their engagement in the elections as a national duty.

Sultan Abubakar urged them to go into the electoral assignment with a high sense of patriotism and to avoid identifying with any party.

He reminded politicians that winners had been pre-destined by God and wondered why some of them viewed elections as a do-ordie affair.

INEC Card Reader stolen in Zamfara

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Zamfara State lost one Card Reader during the training of ad hoc workers in Anka Local Government Area, a report by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said yesterday.

INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, Alhaji Garba Galadima, who confirmed the incident in Gusau, said security agents were investigating the matter.

Reacting to the issue, police spokesman DSP Sunusi Amiru said the police had arrested some suspects in connection with the stolen machine.

He said investigation had commenced to unravel the circumstances behind the missing machine.

Amiru expressed the command’s readiness to ensure peaceful election in the state, saying that “we will not tolerate any threat to disrupt election process and we have to ensure full protection of INEC materials”.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (right) greeting the Secretary General, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Jacqueline Yemi Odiadi (second left), at a dinner organised for Buhari by the association in Abuja...at the weekend. With them are: APC chieftain Aliyu Farouk (second right) ; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 1 President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr. Foluso Fasoto, and Executive Secretary APBN, Mr. Olajide Aminu.

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56.4m PVCs collected, says INEC

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday that 56.4 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected as at March 20.

The commission may also have ruled out any extension of the collection exercise, which ended yesterday.

The commission register has 68.833,476 million voters for the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

elections holding March 28 and April 11.

The INEC update, which was made available to reporters yesterday in Abuja, showed that collection rate had reached 81.98 per cent.

According to the latest updates, most states recorded between 60

per cent and above collection rate .

Ogun State, which used to record the lowest collection, recorded 49.45 per cent. Gombe and Zamfara recorded over 95 per cent.

On the possibility of INEC extending the collection exercise, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said he was not sure if the exercise would be extended.

‘President using Confab report as campaign weapon’

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan was using the report of the National Conference as a campaign weapon.

Its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, asked Yoruba leaders not to predicate any endorsement for the President on his promise to implement the Conference report.

The statement said the Conference report was submitted more than six months ago, adding that Jonathan, for want of cogent achievements, decided to use it as an electoral promise because he sees the report as “opium”.

He noted that the best the President could do with the report was to use part of the contents as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for formal amendment to the Constitution.

The APC Campaign said it was enthused with media reports, in which the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, expressed strong aversion to the endorsement of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan by the Afenifere

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

leaders.

The respected Yoruba elder-statesman was quoted to have said in the interview that ”the Yoruba agenda brought before the National Conference failed.”

Gen. Akinrinade also faulted the pro-Jonathan Yoruba leaders, who said the implementation of the report would benefit the people, noting that the recommendations of the Conference were below Yoruba’s target.

He wondered why the leaders would base their endorsement on that.

Shehu said Gen. Akinrinade emphasised the position of the APC Campaign when the former chief of Defence staff said: “When the Yoruba sent their delegates, the cardinal points that can make a federation were practically not given to us (the delegates). I can assure you, we missed all the targets. It will be preposterous of us now to expect that by the time that report is executed, we will end up with true federalism.

“We want to set the records straight that there are major things

that have to be done before we can have a true federalism. It cannot be done by one President alone. Unless you change the rule now, you will need all the National and State Assemblies to agree with you.”

The statement quoted Gen. Akinrinade as saying that Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who has been holding several postConfab conferences, was only pushing the agenda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC Campaign agreed with Gen. Akinrinade on his stance, which, it said, undoubtedly vindicated the party’s position on the endorsement of Jonathan by Afenifere.

“We state unequivocally, without any scintilla of doubt, as a revered Civil War veteran and remarkable Yoruba man, Gen. Akinrinade’s opinion on the national discourse, nay the Yoruba agenda, cannot be discountenanced,” the statement said.

The APC presidential campaign urged the citizens, especially people of the Southwest, to imbibe the perspectives of Gen. Akinrinade and “delete the highly acidic impetus of the Afenifere”.

Saraki: Court restrains 14 media outfits •Senator urges politicians to respect INEC From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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N Ilorin High Court has restrained 14 media houses from publishing defamatory material against Senator Bukola Saraki.

The interim injunction also barred the outfits from publishing or airing embarrassing and degrading publications or video documentary against the former Kwara State governor.

The interim injunction granted by the court followed a motion ex-parte dated and filed on March 19 by the applicant.

Justice I. A Yusuf also restrained the respondents, by themselves, their agents, privies, representatives and other media entities from interfering or further interfering with or from violating the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to privacy, right to private ownership of property and general right to property whether by means of publication, transmission, broadcasting and dissemination of any video documentary or by any means whatsoever.

Joined as respondents in the suit are Daar Communication, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channels TV, Vanguard, Leadership, Premium Times, Vintage Press Ltd, ANN, Punch and The Guardian.

Others are ThisDay, Pointblank news, The Will and The Sun. The originating notice was adjourned to April 2 for hearing of the application for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the applicant.

Saraki has, however, cautioned politicians against desecrating the sanctity and independence of the Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) chairman.

He told reporters on the sideline of the APC campaign in Baruten Local Government Area that anything short of that would put the conduct of credible elections in jeopardy.

The senator, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, was reacting to the allegation that the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, would be compelled to proceed on end-of-tenure leave.

He said politicians as players in the electoral process must allow INEC as an umpire to discharge its responsibility without interference, fear or favour.

At the event, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed promised that if re-elected, his administration would strengthen the provision of infrastructure and human capital development in all parts of the state.

Mark urges Idoma people to vote for PDP From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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HE Senate President, David Mark, has urged people of Benue South to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in Saturday’s presidential election to enable him consolidate on the gains the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government has recorded.

He spoke during the Goodluck/ Sambo presidential campaign town-hall meeting with PDP ward chairmen, local government chairmen and party chieftains from Oturkpo, Benue State, yesterday.

Decrying a situation where some members of federal boards of parastatals in Idoma were engaging in anti-party activities, he urged them to honourably relinquish their posts.

He said the people of Benue South were the most beneficiaries of the Jonathan administration and could not afford to practise opposition politics at this critical moment in the country’s history.

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

NEWS ‘PDP, ‘U.S. envoy’ lied in article against Buhari’

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has denied a claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was promoted by an opinion article in Washington Times by a onetime United States (U.S) ambassadorial-aideturned-media-manager, Richard Grenell, who implied that the APC presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is an Islamic fundamentalist prone to terrorist leanings, and therefore, should not be returned to power through the ballot on March 28.

In a reaction in Abuja yesterday, APCPCO’s Director of Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu punctured the said provocative advertisement as the handiwork of a failed president and his ruinous party, the PDP, designed to tarnish the hard won credibility and integrity of Gen. Buhari. ”The PDP is a troubled-cannon; firing salvos in all directions, accidentally and incidentally, without caution, care or conscience. With the stark reality of defeat staring them in the face on March 28 and April 11 general elections, a reward for their maladministration, incumbent President Jonathan and his co-travellers have intensified their global campaign of calumny and outright fallacy - their well-known stock in trade.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the phoney phone call to the King of Morocco that never was or the futile effort to stop Buhari from speaking to the world at United Kingdom think tank at Chatham House, where their rented crowd confessed to being paid for a hatchet job,” Shehu said.

Shehu said the PDP was only clutching to irrelevant and irreverent decoys after abandoning serious issues of lack of power, insecurity, disunity, unemployment, infrastructural decay, comatose economy, and dysfunctional educational and health sectors, among others that affect the lives of the citizens and are concrete and poignant to the polls.

“How does a former media aide to US Ambassadors to the United Nations, now a partner in www.capitolmediapartners.com, suddenly got adorned in the garb of an emissary or envoy by the PDP?” Shehu queries.

From left: The author of book on President Goodluck Jonathan, Rev. Charles Imokai; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Coordinator Dr. Amadu Ali; book reviewer Prof. Richard Kings; Chairman of BUA Group of Companies Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; former Chief of General Staff General Oladipo Diya; National Vice Chairman, PDP Chief Uche Secondus; President Jonathan; former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon; Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Senator Bala Mohammed at the book presentation at the State House, Abuja...at the weekend.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

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Churches pray for peaceful elections

HURCHES in Lagos State yesterday dedicated time to seek the face of God concerning next Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

They prayed for peaceful and non-violent exercise, as the pastors cautioned members on how to behave during and after the elections.

Many of the services monitored involved special prayer sessions for peace to reign before, during and after the elections.

At Global Harvest Church, Maryland, Reverend Victor Adeyemi led members to pray for peaceful polls and the enthronement of the will of God over Nigeria.

The 10th year anniversary service witnessed special prayer sessions in the two services for the will of God to reign over the elections.

At Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Pastor Sam Adeyemi urged members of the church to pray for “those who will fulfill God’s

•Caution members against violence

By Seun Akioye

agenda to be elected .”

Pastor Adeyemi told his 20,000-strong congregation to pray against violence, bloodshed and for the will of God over the country.

At St. Gerald Catholic Church Soluyi, Gbagada, the cleric urged the faithful to vote according to their conscience.

He warned members against getting involved in arguments with anyone at the polling station and also to desist from any form of campaign for any candidate or political party on the day of the election.

However, it was a more dramatic scenario at the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, where Presiding Bishop David Oyedepo asked members to come with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

The cards were used as a

“point of contact” to pray for peace.

Bishop Oyedepo asked the congregation to pray that God’s will be done at all levels of the polls.

He prayed for wisdom for those in charge of the election, particularly officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At many of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) branches in Lagos, prayers were said for the elections. One of the pastors, who declined to be named, urged the members to be conversant with the electoral laws before, during and after the elections, while he also urged them to get their PVCs. Former vice presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the founder of Latter Rain Assembly (LRA), Pastor Tunde

Bakare, prayed for the success of the election.

He said: “May God Almighty ensure that Nigeria wins; may neither of the gladiators win, if the price we must pay for winning an election is losing the nation.”

Pastor Bakare also took a swipe at some delegates to the Constitutional Conference for “flagrantly distorting the truth,” about the outcome of the conference.

The cleric, who was an Ogun State delegate to the confab, berated Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who was part of the Lagos camp, for saying he would not forgive the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for what he (Buhari) did in the past.

He said: “The Yoruba went to the National Conference as a group, but when the

March 19 meeting took place, the Deputy Chairman was in Ibadan, while the Secretary, that led the group to the confab, was in Lagos.

“The meeting in Lagos had a stain of unforgiveness.

When I heard such sentiments as ‘I will never forgive General Muhammadu Buhari for what he did as a former head of state’, my heart sank.”

The pastor criticised the Ibadan group for “double standard”, saying it erred when it stated that the Yoruba did not achieve their aims at the confab.

Clearing the air on his earlier call for election postponement, Bakare noted that it was not a call for Interim National Government.

The cleric said he had lifted the “embargo” he placed on the election, noting that the “issues have been ameliorated by the shift” of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Supreme Court hears oil block sale suit against Seplat, Chevron today

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HE Supreme Court will today resume hearing in the appeal filed by an oil firm, Brittania-U Limited, against Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited and Chevron.

Brittania-U Limited lodged the appeal over the decision of Chevron to sell its oil mining assets OML52, OML 53 and OML 55 to Seplat.

At the last hearing of the appeal, the Supreme Court ordered the parties in the suit not to take any measure that would render its decision nugatory.

Brittania-U took the matter to the Supreme Court over the ruling of an Appeal Court, which vacated an order of interlocutory injunction by a high court restraining Chevron and Seplat from concluding any deal on the two oil leases.

Chevron had offered for sale OMLs 52, 53 and 55 and as usual invited bids from in-

terested firms.

The sale of the assets became controversial after Chevron, in a bid to transparency put the assets through a public bidding process, failed to make a public announcement of a winner, a reserve bidder and unsuccessful bids.

It then allegedly turned its back on the highest bidder, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, and began to deal with Seplat behind the scene.

Brittania-U went to court to contest Chevron’s action of not declaring it winner after it posted a $1.67 billion bid for the three assets, an amount later revised to $1.015 billion after both companies’ officials met in Houston, United States. Seplat posted a bid of $630 million for the same assets.

A document showing the bid procedure outlined by Chevron in 2013 required bidders to be ready to post 15 per cent of the value of their bids

in irrevocable Letter of Credit.

Brittania-U paid $250 million to back up its bid, which it made at the conclusion of the bid process on September 20, 2013. This irrevocable letter of credit is still with Chevron and has not been returned to the company.

In the third quarter of last year, Chevron attempted to threaten the bankers who issued and backed the ILC to withdraw their backing but barely succeeded as the power to withdraw actually lies with Brittania-U. In e-mail communications, it was apparent that Chevron was dealing with Brittania-U after the bid process closed. It was during these dealings that Brittania-U’s initial bid of $1.67 billion was revised to $1.015 billion, an amount that was accepted by Chevron as shown in emails sent to the management of Brittania-U by Chevron’s commercial consultant,

Hermon Patel on the transaction.

In a November 17, 2013 email, Patel told Brittania-U that Chevron lawyers were revising the SPA between the two parties, something lawyers have interpreted to mean a contract was in place between the two parties.

Besides, it was argued that the fact that Chevron and Brittania-U sat to revise the initial bid, along with the acceptance of a deposit of $250 million, an amount which has been with Chevron for more than 18 months, question’s Chevron claim to being a transparent organisation on this deal.

One of Patel’s messages reads: “Mrs. Uju, sorry I am out of Houston this weekend.

Our lawyers are revising the SPA.” It was also claimed that that when Chevron was holding meetings with Brittania-U in Houston, it had contact with

Seplat in London over the assets’ sale. It had even gone ahead to sign an SPA with Seplat consortium, which after it expired, it proceeded to try to renew.

That original SPA, tagged “execution version” was simply dated November 2013. In Clause C of the recital, it stated: “SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, AMNI International Petroleum Development Company Limited, and Belema Producing Limited have formed a consortium for the purpose of the transaction contemplated by this agreement(“the SEPLAT consortium”) on the term set out in an amended and Restated Consortium Agreement entered into between them and dated November 14, 2013. (“the consortium Agreement”).

In accordance with the consortium agreement, the members of Seplat Consortium,

which comprises the buyers, have agreed to apportion the right and liabilities to the assets. “Nothing in this agreement shall be deemed to create a partnership between the members of SEPLAT consortium,” it was indicated in the agreement.

This undated SPA (estimated to have been prepared around November 4, 2013) was later revised and replaced with a new one dated November 14, 2013.

But an examination of the bid process documents shows that Chevron bid rules forbade the forming of consortium after the bid had closed.

Oil industry analysts familiar with this process said even if this were to happen, other participants in the bid ought to have been informed. But Chevron did not.

All this the Supreme Court will have to look into in what is keenly been observed globally.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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NEWS School of Hygiene graduates 2,817 From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Oyo State School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan, at the weekend graduated 2,817 students at its 15th convocation.

The graduates comprise 2006-2014 sets with 334 from public health nursing, 393 from environmental health technology, 94 pharmacy technicians, 584 community health extension workers, 539 junior community health extension workers, 496 health information management, 132 food hygiene and 246 health assistants.

The Director, Secondary Health Care and Training, Dr T. Akande, said the students’ performances were encouraging.

He said:” In one or two courses, the students’ performances were a little above average, while in the majority the performances range between 85 per cent and 100 per cent.

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Governor Ajimobi for his love and support, which culminated in the signing into law the bill establishing the school, which was passed by the House of Assembly.”

Fayose embarrassing our family, says brother

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose’s eldest brother, Segun, has appealed to the governor to stop embarrassing the family.

He said their father was a gentle pastor, who built and sustained a good name for the family, before joining his ancestors.

The elder Fayose spoke with our reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said rather than sustain the good name which he inherited, the governor has been embarrassing other Fayoses with the way he in-

From Bisi Oladele and Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan

sults elders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Segun, who is a United Kingdom-based accountant, said the family cherished the name it inherited from its late patriarch.

Emphasising that their father died with contentment, the elder Fayose said the family was known in Ekiti for sound character found in every omoluabi.

He described Chief Obasanjo as Ayo Fayose’s benefactor.

Segun said: “It is a pity Nigerians are celebrating criminals. I am angry with Nigerians for electing somebody like Ayodele as governor. My children cannot come to Nigeria because of the terrible situation of our country.

“I don’t have a relationship with any of our leaders because of their criminality and anybody who says I collected money from the opposition should step forward to challenge me. Ekiti and Ni-

geria are bigger than Fayose’s name and both names should be protected.

“I don’t want anything from anybody, but Ayo should stop insulting and abusing my father’s name. As a result of Fayose’s attitude, many people believe the Fayose family is rude but it is far from the truth.

“I have spoken to him many times, but he refused to listen. Buhari and Obasanjo are old enough to be his father and I don’t know why he should be insulting them.

“I am always sad with the

1,500 enjoy Makinde’s scholarship From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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‘Shun hate politics’

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HE Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government, Olawale Shittu, has called on politicians to shun hate politics.

He spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

Secretary to the Local Government Olaniyi Opanuga, who represented Shittu, said the use of inciting and hateful words was capable of igniting disdain and disregard for law and order among political followers.

He enjoined politicians to emulate the peaceful campaign of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Shittu urged market women, parents, guardians and youths to contribute their quota to achieve sustainable, peaceful and credible elections in the council.

‘Stop attacking our members’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has condemned the attack on some of its supporters by suspected political thugs.

Four persons were reportedly injured and vehicles belonging to the party badly damaged last Thursday.

A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said the attack on lawyers, who gathered for a peaceful rally and a door-to-door campaign, was condemnable.

The statement said the attack, which was allegedly perpetrated by thugs allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Candidates (PDP), followed a wave of damage of billboards and defacement of posters belonging to the APC candidates.

“Peace-loving APC members should not be provoked to defend the interest of their candidates.

“We are calling on the candidates of other parties to warn their supporters to desist from these acts of provocation and brigandage. No amount of defacement of our candidates’ posters and destruction of billboards will change the minds of the majority from voting for change.”

situation of this country.

Ayo’s arrogance is one of the reasons I said people should not vote for him prior to the Ekiti governorship election.

If all I am saying is not true, my six children should die and I should end up in shame.

“Most of us abroad are not happy with the situation of Nigeria. We are sad. When people call me from Ekiti to complain about Ayo, I tell them to forgive the family.

People should not see Ayo as an ambassador of our family.”

•The Sogunro Housing Estate, Ogba, Ikeja renamed Chief Anthony Enahoro Housing Estate, Scheme I & II, Ogba, Ikeja, built by the Lagos State Government. INSET: Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the estate.

With him are: Enahoro’s brother Michael (second left), his nephew, Gregory, Granddaughter, Daniella (third left) and the Chairman of the Estate's Residents Association,Adam Adedimeji (second left).

Parties protest non-issuance of PVCs

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VER 20,000 eligible voters in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State may be disenfranchised as they are yet to be get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

There have been protests by parties and civil society groups in major towns, such as Awe, Akinmorin, Jobele, Fiditi, Iware, Ilora and Imini. There are 10 wards in the council with 77 polling units.

Some of those yet to collect their PVCs are Accord Party House of Assembly candidate Olusegun Olasun-

•20,000 eligible voters may be disenfranchised From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

kanmi; his PDP counterpart, Sunday Ojo Akindele; All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Gani Adeyefa and his Accord counterpart, Gbade Adeyemo.

Adeyemo said of the 77 polling units, wards 1 and 2 have 22 units.

He said of the 10,221 voters registered in the two wards, about 50 per cent are yet to get their PVCs. Adeyemo said about 60 to

65 per cent of voters have received their PVCs at Wards 3,5,6,7 and 10.

“Wards 4, 8 and 9 are seriously affected by the non-issuance of PVCs. In Ward 4, Fiditi, there are six polling units with over 2,000 voters at Ori-Eru, Ebenezer, Oleyo, Catholic, Methodist and police station.

“About 15 per cent of the voters have collected their PVCs. Similar situations are applicable in the remaining two wards.

He said about 35,000 voters registered in the council area, while only 50 per cenhave PVCs. Asked if the parties had lodged complaints to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in the area, Adeyemo said: “Both the parties and the electorate started besieging INEC office at Jobele the day collection began. We have not stopped complaining.”

No INEC official could be reached for comments.

Put Ekiti under special watch, APC tells Jega

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said it has uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the Saturday presidential election.

It asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, and all election monitors to put Ekiti State under special watch.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said this should not be dismissed, considering the alleged June 21 Ekitigate scandal.

He said: “Our fear is not without basis. Nigerians heard Governor Ayo Fayose talking on tape about how he collected INEC soft copies.

They also heard how the military provided cover to subvert democracy in Fayose’s

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

favour.

“We are calling on Jega that we have it on good authority that Fayose has again printed fake ballot papers to exchange with INEC original ballots before the election.”

The APC spokesman urged Jega, INEC officials and security agents to ensure that ballot papers were not distributed at night.

He added that Jega should put his workers under surveillance to avoid them being compromised.

The APC also alleged that the governor and his agents had sewn fake army uniforms to be worn by the thugs allegedly imported into the state three weeks ago.

According to him, the thugs in security outfits would be unleashed on APC leaders

and candidates from Thursday.

Olatubosun said: “Part of the plan is also to start hijacking money allocated to each polling unit on Friday night

by Fayose’s fake soldiers, who are actually PDP thugs.

“The first ‘consignment’ of the thugs were “shipped” to the state at night in six 18seater buses three weeks ago while the last batch will be coming from Cotonou in Benin Republic after a weeklong recruitment.

“The first batch, led by someone called Tosco, is being presently lodged at a popular hotel on Iworoko Road.

“The other batch is in a camp in Ilaje/Okitipupa area of Ondo State where they are being armed with sophisticated weapons. Their reward is N150,000, if they can deliv-

•Prof. Jega

er.

“We hereby call on Jega to nip this internal sabotage in the bud while we also call on security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. It is also a challenge to voters to protect their votes against poll invaders,” Olatubosun said.

NE thousand, five hundred students from Oyo State have been selected for the Seyi Makinde Bursary Award.

The beneficiaries will receive the bursary today at the Prof. Ogunlesi Hall, opposite University College Hospital (UCH) main gate, Ibadan.

A statement by the Seyi Makinde Campaign Group said the award was being sponsored by Seyi Makinde, who is the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“The selected students were chosen from various higher institutions in the country.

“The awardees have been notified to make themselves available at the venue of the presentation by 8 am with their parents or guardians,” the statement said.

Clark’s wife distributes kerosene

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S part of her monthly empowerment programme to residents of Ogun Central, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark has distributed 200,000 litres of kerosene to the people.

She said this would reduce felling of trees, which will in turn improve the ecosystem.

The distribution, which commenced at the weekend, is co-sponsored by the Adeife Akinola Foundation founded by Mrs. SodipoClark.

Hundreds of Abeokuta residents thronged the several points of distribution.

Other local government areas will also be visited with free gallons of kerosene and other materials.

Dr. Sodipo-Clark, who is married to Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, said the kerosene distribution was one of many projects her foundation would undertakein coming weeks, months and years.

“You will recall that this foundation is training young Nigerians in different schools on full scholarship.

“We have also helped to improve the well being of our people with qualitative health care. We are not tired. By the grace of God, these gestures will continue”, she said.

Dr. Sodipo-Clark said the Foundation had distributed 10 kilogrammes bags of rice to the needy, with persons with disabilities making up a large percentage of beneficiaries.

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NEWS StarTimes upgrades bouquet

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IGITAL TV service provider StarTimes has upgraded its most affordable bouquet from 15 channels to over 26 channels.

The bouquet, NOVA, will be scaled up to 30, for a more robust digital television experience as Nigeria approaches full Digital TV switch over.

A statement by the company said: “Nigerians can now enjoy a refreshing digital television experience with N600 monthly subscription on NOVA. With focus on ensuring that digital life becomes affordable and enjoyable, Startimes decoder now goes for N990 with N2400 minimum subscription from any of the four bouquets. With these offers, StarTimes makes digital TV affordable, including those yet to get a decoder. Getting a decoder and recharging regularly has been made easy and convenient.”

Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, NTA StarTV Network, Mr Israel Bolaji said: “The increase in the number of channels on the NOVA Bouquet was done in to satisfy Nigerians in. preparation for digital migration.

Wike gives First Lady $1m monthly, Amaechi alleges

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IVERS State Governor and DirectorGeneral of the All Progressives Congress party (APC) presidential campaign Rotimi Amaechi has alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Chief Nyesom Wike gives Mrs Patience Jonathan $1 million monthly—an allegation Wike has denied.

Amaechi spoke at a Praise-and-Worship session, organised by the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) and Ikwerre Women Forum (IWF) at Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area.

The governor said: “Do you know that the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, has been giving one million dollars monthly to the wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan? He has been doing this to gain political favour in the Presidency and to retain the favour… For

•Ikwerre youths, women endorse Buhari, Peterside Ex-minister: governor only beating about the bush

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Rivers State Nyesom Wike has denied the allegation that he gives the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, $1million every month.

Wike, in a statement by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, yesterday, said: “Our attention has been drawn to another desperate press statement issued by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, falsely accusing the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, of paying the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan $1 million monthly.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

eight years, our Okrika brother (Senator George Sekibo) has been occupying the Senate (Rivers East) seat and now it is the turn of an Ikwerre son, but Nyesom Wike has gone ahead to ac-

“This allegation is completely false and simply aimed at diverting the attention of the public from the monumental corruption under Amaechi’s leadership. Wike has always been an upright administrator and politician committed to the development of Rivers State and Nigeria.

“Wike has published documents of mass corruption in Government House, Port Harcourt and Rivers State government under Amaechi. The outgoing governor should respond to these documentary proofs of corruption, rather than cooking up false allegations to distract attention.”

cept another four years for George Thompson Sekibo.

This is not acceptable, Chief Andrew Uchendu will take over this time, one man called Nyesom Wike cannot sell Ikwerre’s birthright.”

The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) and the

Ikwerre Women Forum (IWF) have issued a communiqué endorsing the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the APC governorship standard bearer, Dr Dakuku Adol-Peterside as president and governor.

The groups said they had over one million card carrying members across the four Ikwerre councils.

The groups condemned violence and killings in remote parts of the state, blaming Wike for political intolerance.

Peterside hailed the two groups and thanked the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Ikwerreland and other groups.

He said he was determined to promote women and youth empowerment.

President-General, Ikwerre Youth Movement Azubuike Wanjoku assured the people that the group would work for equity and justice in the elections.

He said: “Nyesom Wike formed Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) ... This battle is between God and Ogboni. Nyesom Wike is on the side of the devil, he will fail. And that is why we are here today to put our trust in God to win the elections.”

Firm condemns seizure of tanks

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N indigenous firm and operator of the Stubb Creek Marginal Oil Field in Akwa Ibom, Universal Energy Resources Limited (UERL), has condemned the seizure of its oil tanks by irate youths.

The youths, under aegis of Mbo Youth Development Association, seized the tanks during a Maximum Efficiency Rate Test (MER) on its oil wells, a prerequisite by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The management, in a statement by its Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Aniefiok Iwaudofia, said: “Crude produced as a result of the MER test has been stored in rented tanks since 2013, which is eventually pumped through our pipeline. Those rented empty tanks were released to the contractor and were being transported out of our field when they seized.

“All allegations made by the community youths are wrong and unsubstantiated just as their actions were uncalled for. We want to reiterate that Universal Energy does not truck crude using tanks but uses approved pipelines to deliver crude to Mobil QIT. “By the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between us and our hosts, we have put in place avenues and channels upon which enquiries could have been made by the community in respect of movement in and out of our Operational Base. Regrettably, those avenues/channels were not utilised and trucks conveying those empty tanks were impounded by community youths.

“We wish to reiterate our commitment to maintaining the highest standard of Social Responsibility within our Operating Environment and to respect the host Ccommunities where we operate.”

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi (middle), President-General of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) Azubyke Wanjoku (left) and APC House of Representatives candidate for Obio-Akpor Tony Okocha at the Praise and Worship session by IYM in Isiokpo, Rivers State... at the weekend.

Peterside’ll win, says Rivers monarch Giniwa

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HE Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King GNK Giniwa, has said All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr Dakuku Peterside will be the next governor.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Ogoniland to Peterside and his party.

The monarch, who spoke in his palace at Korokoro in Tai Local Government Area when Peterside visited him at the weekend, described the Ogoni as a straight-forward people, who keep their word.

“The incoming governor, my son and friend: Ogoni people are for you.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

We are with you. Is anybody surprised I referred to him as my friend? When your hands are clean, you can eat with kings.

Peterside has thoroughly washed his hands, so he is eating with kings.

“I want to assure you that Ogoni people are not wayward people. We don’t say one thing today and say another tomorrow. You are an Ogoni man, so you know our tradit i o n . W h a t e v e r you want in Ogoniland will be given to you. I want to enjoin all Ogoni to support Peterside and the APC. “Let me use this medium to call on our people to forget about intimidation. I am one of the

people who fought for the creation of Rivers State in 1967. So, I am not bothered by intimidation. I want to advise you Peterside to go ahead with your campaign; we all know you have supporters across the state.”

The Tai LGA ward rallies, which took Peterside and the Greater Together Campaign Organisations to Bunu, Korokoro and all the wards in the council, dwelt essentially on the need to support the APC and its candidates. The party warned that if Ogoniland must survive the grand conspiracy against it and its people, then they must take action against forces that did not in favour their survival as a group.

Rivers elders condemn police

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HE Rivers Elders Council has decried the use of the police to harass members of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Rising from an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt, the council condemned the activities of the police in Rivers State, arguing that this situation is not the same in other states.

Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt, the Publicity and Media Secretary of the Elders Council, Dr. Tammy Tom George, commended the APC for the peaceful protest, describing them as exposed and respectful. The council advised politicians in the state to be law abiding and play by the rules to ensure the sustenance of the nascent democracy.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police Dan Bature has said his men are not biased against any political party.

Bature, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital last week, said: “While I do not intend to dignify the false alarms raised in the recent press briefing by the state government, it is necessary to put records straight.

“The allegation of the purported plan to arrest 307 leaders of a political party is nothing but a ploy to whip up public sympathy. Anyone who is not planning to cause or foster violence or breach the public peace has no cause to fear or raise false alarm.

“We should be mindful of the fact that security issues are not matters forcomic entertainment. The command remains focused in its mandate to serve and protect the people and interest of the state.”

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Community leader hails Tinubu

Police detain man for shooting self

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•It’s robbers’ accidental discharge’

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20-year-old security man, Meshack Samuel, has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for shooting himself.

The police described the incident as “robbers’ accidental discharge.”

Samuel is being detained for alleged illegal possession of fire arm.

His action led to the arrest of his friends - Uja Emmanuel, 32 from Otukpo, Benue State and Adams Ameh Idoko, 30, from Igbokoto also in Benue State - in Awoyaya Street, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

According to the command’s spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the suspects were arrested following complaints by people, who alerted them on hearing the sound of gunshot.

Samuel told reporters that he ran into trouble when he asked a friend to help get a gun for protection from hoodlums and cult boys.

He said: “After relocating from Abuja to Lagos, I got a job as a security man from Threeshat Guard Security Company; the company posted me to Coscharis Motors on a monthly salary of N18, 500.

“My trouble started when I told my friend Adams that I needed a gun to protect myself from the

•The suspects

By Ebele Boniface

menace of the hoodlums and cult boys in Awoyaya. He brought one Double Barrel gun and said he would sell it for N20, 000 and I told him that I don’t have such amount of money. He later promised to exchange it with my laptop which cost more than the gun.

“When he brought the gun, I tried to test it to know whether it was working, I just heard gbosa and my right hand started bleeding profusely. I knew I have shot myself.

Adams took me to General Hospital and told the doctor that I was shot by some hoodlums in Awoyaya who he claimed to be cult boys. The doctor told us to bring a

police report before he could treat me. Adams rushed to Elemoro Police Station.

“Surprisingly, as we entered the police station, we saw one of our neighbours there who went to report us. He pointed at us and told police ‘that is the man, see his bullet wound.’ Police quickly arrested us and transferred us to SARS. “When the SARS asked me what I intended to do with a gun, I told them that I wanted to defend myself from cult boys. Thereafter, they searched Adams’ house and recovered the gun with two kitchen knives. There, SARS officers arrested Emmanuel.”

Emmanuel, who also works as a security man guarding MTN Mast, said he picked the gun from bush.

“I later dropped it but Adams said he would take it. When I heard that they were arrested, I went to police as a good friend to know why they were arrested. There, Adams told the police that I was the one who gave him the gun which I accepted,” he said.

Adams said he was arrested for trying to help a friend.

“I am a security man opposite Mayfair at Awoyaya area. Police arrested me because I had a gun I wanted to sell to solve my family problem. I did not rob with the gun.

I needed money desperately and it is only the gun that has value to give me the change (N20, 000) I desperately needed. I am not an armed robber but a business man trying to help a friend,” he said.

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UNS boomed in Palmgrove, Onipanu, Lagos yesterday as hoodlums engaged in gang war.

Those returning from church and residents fled for dear life.

Traders hurriedly closed their shops.

The incident occurred at noon when activities on the street, which links Onipanu to Mushin, were at their peak.

A resident, who simply gave his name as Owolabi, said it was a continuation of the gang war in Mushin area. He said he could not recognise some of the hoodlums,

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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By Ebele Boniface

to rob his firm’s accountant.

The police said: “The accountant had collected the money to pay workers salaries and the duo planned to snatch the money from him with a toy gun. Chukwuemeka produced the toy gun. When they got near the gate, he put the gun in Osuagwu’s bag and they entered. As they were approaching the accountant’s office, he gave the gun to Osuagwu. When they entered, Osuagwu pointed the gun at the accountant. As the accountant screamed ‘Ole Ole’ meaning thief, thief,’ fear gripped Osuagwu and he dropped the gun. Chukwuemeka got disappointed and ran away.

He tried to run after him but it was too late. The workers had surrounded him and arrested him; they beat him and handed him over to the police.

Osuagwu said he dropped the gun because “I lost courage.”

•Osuagwu holding a gun (INSET) the knives

Guns boom in Lagos gang war

By Wale Ajetunmobi

hinting that they could have come from another area to avenge the killing of a gang leader in January.

The hoodlums reportedly fled following the arrival of riot policemen. Some of them fled on motorcycles through the adjoining streets.

Matthew Alamu, who was returning from church when the incident happened, said he saw two of the youths with AK-47 rifles on two motorcycles.

•Alhaji Farombi

Police warn troublemakers

Hotel worker held for ‘attempted robbery’ 24-year-old man Chimezie Osuagwu has been arrested by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for allegedly conspiring with a friend, Austin Chukwuemeka, now at large, to rob his company’s accountant.

Osuagwu, an employee of Royal Bliss Hotel in Lagos, allegedly conspired with Chukwuemeka area to rob the hotel’s accountant of workers’ salaries.

According to the Police, Osuagwu, at a time, complained about his poor pay to Chukwuemeka, threatening to resign, but his friend prevailed on him not to, saying things will be better.

“The salaries cannot solve reasonable problem even if I work for 20 years there,” Osuagwu reportedly told his friend.

On the day he was arrested, Osuagwu after a rendezvous with Chukwuemeka, told him of a plan

HE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been hailed for his commitment to democratic principles.

In an interactive session with journalists in preparatory to Asiwaju Tinubu’s forthcoming birthday, Alhaji Taroeed Farombi, the Akinrogun of lsolo, said as a leader that has confronted the challenges of democracy, Tinubu deserved to be honoured on such an occasion.

Tinubu, Farombi said, has ensured better life for all, quality education, uncommon philanthropy and building enviable future for the youth.

His words: “Asiwaju has laid a good foundation which makes the whole world to recognise him. He is a dogged fighter, a strategist, an uncommon achiever and a winner.

Whatever they might say about him, he remains a colossus and would lead to better fulfilment of his destiny.”

The Babaloja of Aswani Market, Isolo prayed for his good health and more years of selfless service to the country. He enjoined Nigerians to emulate him.

“I could not move an inch as the gunmen riding on Okada passed by me,” he said.

An automobile technician said the area has been the battle ground for cultists in the last three years.

He said: “There is hardly a month that the cult boys won’t come to shoot on Kayode and Ogunmokun streets. We live at the mercy of these criminal gangs killing themselves and innocent people. Despite the presence of the police armoured tank at the Ogunmokun Junction, the boys

still use deadly weapons freely to cause havoc in this area.

“We appeal to the government to help us from the criminal activities of the gangs. We cannot sleep with our eyes closed because the hoodlums fight at any time of the day.”

The Nation learnt that the incident caused panic among residents of Railway line, Sule Bada, Idera, Adegboyega, Iseyin and Awoyokun streets.

The hoodlums returned to Awoyokun Street around 9pm, shooting sporadically.

HE police has warned troublemakers of the dire consequences of their action during the forthcoming election.

At the signing of a peace accord by parties and their candidates in Agege and Ifako Ijaiye local councils in Lagos State, the police urged the parties to advise their supporters to shun unlawful acts.

Commander, Area ‘G’ in Ogba, Lagos, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Edward Egbuka said the Force Headquarters has empowered policemen to effectively discharge their duties during the elections.

He appealed to candidates to warn their supporters against pasting their posters on those of others, noting that the command would not tolerate the use of armed thugs for campaigns.

He said: “This election is about the future of Nigeria and we are very prepared for it. We won’t allow miscreants and thugs to undermine the process. We have enough manpower and resources deployed by the headquarters to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.

“We will not allow any one or group to subvert the wishes of the masses. While we are stakeholders, the candidates themselves are major players and that is why we held this peace accord so that they can pass the message to their supporters.

“Nigeria is bigger than any political party, politician or group. No individual’s ambition is greater than the unity and peace of this country.

“Election should not be seen as door-die affair, not winning election is not the end of the world. All politicians must call their supporters to order. Signing of this peace accord might be simple but its effect if any political party or politician is caught promoting violence goes beyond what one can imagine.”

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NEWS Ajegunle ‘Walk for Change’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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HERE was a massive turnout of residents in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area of Lagos at the weekend, when the lawmaker representing the area in the House of Assembly, Abdulbaq Ladi Balogun, led them on an early morning rally tagged ‘Walk for Change’.

The old, young, youth, women and men were part of the walk, which got residents excited and shouting “Change! Change! Sai Buhari! Sai Buhari!”

Balogun said the massive turnout is “to tell the world that Ajeromi-Ifelodun people are behind the APC and its candidates”.

He said: “The only capable person of all the presidential candidates is the APC’s Muhammadu Buhari.

“Buhari has the integrity, experience and what it takes to rescue this nation from disaster.

“He is the only person, who has the experience to tackle insecurity, corruption, unemployment and reduce poverty.

“So let’s give it to the general, he is the man of the people, he is the man of the moment, he has come to rescue this country at this critical time that we need a messiah.

“Our messiah today is Buhari and that is why everyone who means well for this country should vote for Buhari on March 28.”

Ibadan Muslims pray for Nigeria

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HE Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN) yesterday in Ibadan offered special prayers for peaceful general elections.

Its Executive Secretary, Prof.

Dawud Noibi, said the association organised the prayer to ensure peaceful elections.

“The only resort Nigeria has is to call on Allah to guide us and give us peaceful elections,” he said.

He said the way out of any problem should be through negotiation and not crisis.

“As Muslim faithful, we believe that through prayers there will be peace in Nigeria and all will be well.”

Noibi advised eligible voters to cast their votes according to their conscience.

The Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, said Muslims believed the elections would be credible, free and fair.

“As the election is drawing near, there has been apprehension by Nigerians that the election may be marred with violence and may lead to anarchy.”

He urged ethnic militias not to foment trouble and allow peace reign.

The Chief Imam of Ibadan, Suara Haruna, presided over the prayer.

Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) spokesperson Alhaja Sururah Oyero urged women to come out en masse to fulfill their civic obligations.

The Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, represented Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

•From left: Olojudu of Ojodu, Oba Sikiru Adelani; Oniwere of Iwere-Oke, Oba Olatunde Akinyemi; Sabiganna of Iganna, Oba Azeez Oyemonla; Leader, Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committe and Oluigbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan; Oluyani of Iyani-Akoko, Oba Joel Daud; Odooka of Obe-Ogbaro, Oba Obafemi Ogbaro and representative of Aheri, High Chief Michael Lebi at a meeting in Ode-Ugbo, Ondo State.

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LASU students reject calls to sack VC

AGOS State University (LASU) students have said they are not in support of the calls by workers that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, be sacked.

The students insisted that they are neither siding the management or the workers.

They said finding a successor for Obafunwa may not address the crisis in the 31year-old institution.

The Students’ Union made this claim, following the allegation by workers that the university management and certain elements in government are inciting students against them.

The unions –Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)

•Unions: they are inciting them against us From Adegunle Olugbamila

- insisted they are not on strike.

They, however, noted that any attempt by students to create disharmony within their rank and file may force them to temporarily suspend their services.

“We have noticed that certain elements within the management are scheming to incite the students against us.

“We are warning that such attempt may compel us to temporary suspend our services because in such situations, we cannot rule out the possibility of violence,” said ASUU-LASU Chairman Dr Adekunle Idris.

“We have information that some students have met with

some government officials.

“We have invited the leadership of the Students’ Union and made them know our position.

“We want to re-emphasise here that we are not on strike.

“LASU is peaceful and any attempt to cause disharmony might impair the existing peace in the university.”

But students’ spokesman Adebayo Fatai Adekoya denied the claim.

He said: “The position of the union is that we are not in support of either management or workers.

“We, on our own, have looked into the demands of workers and found them legitimate.

“We are, therefore, appealing to government to

look into their demands.”

Adebayo added: “But we are against their call that Obafunwa should not return to campus.

“We are not supporting the ‘Obafunwa must go’ campaign.

“Let him (Obafunwa) return to complete his term and outstanding projects.

That is why the unions are thinking that management or government want to use us against them.

“There is the 20th convocation which is now postponed indefinitely. The reaccreditation of the Faculty of Law is also there.

“The refund of outstanding school fees is another.

If Obafunwa leaves the situation will remain the same.”

I’m committed to teachers’ welfare, says Ambode

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HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said his administration, if elected, will cater for teachers.

Ambode spoke yesterday at a meeting with teachers at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

He identified with the teachers, describing himself first as a son of a teacher and then a fellow civil servant.

He promised to use his understanding to serve the best interest of teachers.

The APC candidate said: “I

am the son of a teacher and also a civil servant like you.

So, I have the firsthand capacity to understand your concerns and adequately deal with them.

“I recognise you as the ones who help build the society that we hope to govern. I, therefore, assure that all I will do as governor will be in favour of your welfare and interests.

“I intend to continue and even improve upon the good work done in the education sector by the present government, and with your support, I am sure the best is yet to come.”

The teachers, led by the Chairman of the state Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Adesegun Ibrahim, said the present administration improved the sector.

The APC candidate entertained questions on welfare and allowances, leave bonuses, better staffing, greater civil service recognition and adequate security.

He addressed the leavebonus confusion and stated his readiness to reverse to the harmonised pay pattern, much to the cheer of the teachers.

“The facilities for learning

in our schools will be adequately provided.

“I’ve been to the best schools to get knowledge, and I will replicate such standard in Lagos schools. This is not impossible; we will work together to achieve it.

“The education sector under my watch will see reforms that will upgrade the stance of teachers, elevate their working standards, introduce more capacity building programmes and training for them.

The audience was made up of school heads, head teachers, assistant head teachers and NUT members.

APC to court: granting UPN’s application’ll jeopardise polls

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that granting an application by the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) could jeopardise the general elections.

UPN, in the suit before Justice Okon Abang, is seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to list its presidential and other candidates for the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

APC applied to be joined as a defendant, saying the outcome of action could affect its political interest.

Arguing the party’s application, Emeka Ngige urged the court to allow APC to be joined as a co-defendant.

He said as a major political party, the APC was ready for the polls, and that any order compelling INEC to list UPN candidates would negatively affect not only the party, but the electorate.

By Joseph Jibueze

Ngige said the UPN’s suit was filed on February 25 after the general elections were postponed.

“The implication, if the UPN’s prayer is granted, is that ballot papers and other electoral materials already printed and distributed would have to be destroyed and new ones printed.

“We are in a race and we are ready to go but someone is trying to draw us back.

“What we are saying is that time is of the essence because election must be conducted at least 30 days before the end of the tenure of an incumbent administration,” Ngige said.

The lawyer drew the court’s attention to a statement purportedly issued by the UPN, adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

He also urged the court to take judicial notice of a letter written by the UPN to INEC,

stating that the party was engrossed in internal crisis.

INEC’s lawyer Mrs. N.O Taiwo did not oppose APC’s application.

But UPN’s lawyer Akinwale Ekunusi urged the court to reject the application on the ground that APC has no serious reason to justify being joined in the suit.

Justice Abang will rule tomorrow on whether APC can be joined as a co-defendant.

Seven die in accidents

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EVEN persons died and 23 others injured, following multiple accidents at the Danco filling station stretch (Ogun State) of the Lagos -

Ibadan Expressway yesterday evening.

The accident involved a truck, two commercial buses and a Toyota Camry led to the on-the-spot death of the four men and three women.

The Spokesman of the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who

Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

confirmed the accident and number of people affected, gave the vehicles number plates as Camry car: KEY 857 DN, buses: XB 367 LAF, XC 909 FFA and the truck AGL 632 XH. Also, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Ogun State, Adetunji Adegoke, said FRSC officials and policemen were at the scene to rescue victims, explaining that the injured have been taken to the hospital.

‘PDP’s cash-forvotes’ faulted From Bisi Oladele and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged cash-for-votes policy.

Abass-Aleshinloye, who is a member of the APC presidential campaign committee, said the people, who collected the money, saw it as a bonus.

He insisted that the recipients were not swayed by the antic, adding that they would vote for the APC candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday.

“People are more prepared and we have to be honest with ourselves, we saw it coming. The popularity was too much. “ It was obvious and that was why they shifted the election. They had thought that by extending the election for six weeks, they would be able to correct some mistakes and that is why you see them running helter-skelter.

“You will even see that they are spending money to buy people’s conscience but it won’t work because Nigerians want true change.”

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Police arrest man for ‘murder’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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HE police in Ekiti State have arrested a 25year-old man, Wale Ede, for allegedly beheading a 50-year-old man, Olasehinde Fagbola.

Fagbola was a patrol assistant with the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at the weekend in Iyin-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Sources said the attack happened at a wake when Fagbola, a father of seven, was about to leave the event.

The suspect, who had been keeping malice with the deceased, allegedly hacked the victim, leaving him in a pool of his blood.

Sources said Fagbola had last Thursday seized Ede’s phone for failing to supply him blocks which he had paid for.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said the suspect is being held at the state CID.

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MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

BENUE POLITICS In Benue Northeast District, the die is cast between Governor Gabriel Suswam, the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Barnabas Gemade, who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ). UJA EMMANUEL examines the preparations for the poll and the chances of the aspirants.

Benue Northeast: Suswam, Gemade T battle for Senate

HE senatrial election in the Benue Northeast District promises to be a battle of titans. The contest is between Governor Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the former National Chairman of the party, Chief Barnabas Gemade, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The two personalities are political heavyweights. Governor Suswam is fondly called the “Civilian General“ by his political associates.

Since he joined politics in 1999, he has never lost a contest.In 1999, he contested for the House of Representatives in Ukum/Logo/ Katsina Ala Constituency and won. In 2003, he was elected for a second term. Not satisfied with the outcome of the election, his opponent, Mamud Akiga, challenged it at the tribunal. But, Suswam won at the Appeal Court in Jos. Suswam contested for governor in 2007 as a lawmaker and won. He was re-lected in 2011. After the 2011 elections, he faced a protracted litigation. The candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prof. Steven Ugbah, backed by Senator George Akume, gave him a run for his money. He pursued the matter from the tribunal to the Appeal Court.

Now, Suswam has set his eyes on the Benue Northeast senatorial seat. The seat is currently occupied by the APC candidate.

Going by his antecedents, Suswam is not likely to give up easily. His body language suggests that he is determined to take over the seat, using the advantage of being the incumbent governor. He had used the incumbency factor to defeat Gemade at the party primaries, before the latter defected to the APC to pursue his ambition of returning to the Upper Chamber.

This is the sentiment being field by Suswam’s political bloc, the Sankera, which

•Suswam

•Gemade

controls three out of the five local governments in the district.

Suswan is expected to receive massive votes from the zone and his foot soldiers would work for additional votes in the other two local government areas: Kwande/Ushongo and Konshisha/Vandeikya. This, according to observers, puts Gemade at a disadvantage.

As a result, Suswam has a better chance of

defeating his opponent. But, politics is no Mathematics; particularly as his main challenger is also an experienced politician.

Gemade came to limelight as the Mnanaging Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Benue Cement Company( BCC), now known as Dangote Cement Gboko,Benue State.

Since then, he has never looked back. At

the time he was in-charge of BCC, the company was at its peak of production with almost 100 trailers on three shift production.

This is a record no other chief executive of the company has beaten.

He was appointed Secretary of Works.

Later, the late General Sani Abacha regime appointed him chairman of CNC. He became the National Chairman of the PDP during the Obasanjo era and later, a member of the Board of Trustee (BOT). He was a founding member of the party .

Gemade is not new to political contest. In 2007, he contested for the Benue Northeast seat against Joseph Akaageger, but the election was inconclusive. However, events in Benue South, where Gen. David Mark was squaring up against Gen. Lawrence Onoja, compelled President Obasanjo to declare Mark winner. Akaagerger, who was set for a second ballot against Gemade, became a beneficiary by default.

But, in 2011, Gemade defeated Akaagerger, who latter picked the defunct ACN ticket and again lost to Gemade at the general election.

During the build up to the PDP senatorial primaries. Gemade cried foul. He said Suswam has manipulated the process against him. After a series of petitions and complaints at the PDP National Secretariat, Gemade dumped the party for the APC, where he subsequently contested the party’s senatorial primaries.

During the APC campaign flag-off in Zakibiam, Gemade told his supporters that he is capable of defeating Suswam in a free and fair contest.

Suswam has asked the people of Benue Northeast District to evaluate his performance as a federal lawmaker and governor.

The governor also told his audience during local government election in Wannune that any time he sets his eyes on anything, he goes for it and makes sure that he gets it.

‘Don’t deploy troops for elections’ A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS) have reiterated their opposition to the deployment of troops for elections, urging the Federal Government to halt the politicisation of the military.

Rising from their second summit in Lagos, the party officials also warmed against any last minute polls postponement, saying that it will create tension.

In a communique by its chairman, Comrade Joe Igbokwe of Lagos State, CAPS advised the police and other security agencies to maintain neutrality during the general elections in the national interest.

The group commended the military for its resounding success against insurgents, who had earlier seized 14 local governments in three states in the Northeast region. It also paid glowing tribute for the collaborative forces from Cameroun Chad and Niger for their support.

CAPS urged the police, the Nigerian Civil Define Corps (NCDV), the State Security Service (SSS) and other civil authorities to be neutral, professional and unbiased in the discharge of their duties during the general elections.

It also urged the police to arrest those allegedly involved in the purchase of voter’s cards from unsuspecting Nigerians.

The group urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that no money is shared to voters at voting centres during the elections to avoid election disruption, which may arise from the predictable resistance to the illegal act.

According to the image makers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Attahiru Jega should conduct free, fair and credible elections.

CAPS added: “We particularly commend

By Emmanuel Oladesu

the innovative spirit of INEC to introduce, nurture and sustain the use of card reader in the general elections so as to improve a process that has been badly bastardised in previous elections.

“The analogue accreditation process has been proven to be fraught with manipulations and outright rigging of election, leading to litigations. The introduction of the card reader will halt this mischief and stem the falsification of results.

“In the light of the prospects of this initiative for our ’democracy, we have taken a considered stand that no elections without card readers will be supported by CAPS or the APC. “We urge INEC to take due cognizance and to halt the growing incidence of buying, snatching and destruction of PVCs in many parts of Nigeria and guard its self against sabotage of the beautiful card-reader initiative.

The analogue accreditation process has been proven to be fraught with manipulations and outright rigging of election, leading to litigations. The introduction of the card reader will halt this mischief and stem the falsification of results

“However, we place the umpire on red alert to set up counter checks for the bad eggs, in its midst, particularly the corrupt Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) known to hold nocturnal meetings with partisans.”

The group warned against any attempt to derail the electoral process in favour of any extra-constitutional option of Interim Government, It said any attempt to further postpone the exercise will be vehemently resisted by the people in defense of the constitution.

CAPS called for an investigation into the use of the Army to subvert the will of the people in the Ekiti State governorship elections. It added: “We urge the leaders of the Southwest to advise the loquacious beneficiary of that soiled process, Mr. Ayo Fayose, against the undemocratic attitude of introducing brown-uniformed illegal security forces to intimidate the people at the polls.”

Lamenting the devaluation of the currency, the group said: “The Naira, under the PDP economic management team, which has run out of steam and run aground. The PDP government, whose leaders and presidential candidate are happier to share dollars (USD) and pounds sterling to local groups to induce them, do not have an explanation for the latest Naira scourge.

“The devaluation, which leaves the USD trading above N200, has affected every Nigerian businessman without exception, and taken every Nigerian citizen three notches deeper into poverty, irrespective of his location, ethnic group, religion, class or creed.

Foreign investors are divesting in droves from the six zones, particularly the Niger Delta, where oil company giants have fled.

The PDP Central Government has no answer to the massive capital flight.”

• Igbokwe

The group condemned the recruitment of ethnic militias, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and renegade Niger Delta groups to intimidate the electorate. It said the move “is already sending wrong signals to Nigerians about the intention of the Federal Government during the general elections.”

CAPS urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the European Union, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) to beam their searchlight on the country during the exercise. It also urged the civil society groups to be vigilant throughout the electoral process.

The group added: “The media should not sleep on guard. They should effectively monitor the process from now till May 29 handover.”

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THE NATION MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015

It is the lacklustre image of the President and his ‘inability to deliver on the promises he made to the electorate in 2011 that have become his nemesis.

That is what has also tossed up APC as a viable alternative now and General MuhammaduBuhari

‘

...

5D AYS TO GO ...5 DA

A social critic, Peter Kolade, reflects on the general elections and adduces reasons for the quest for change at the centre.

‘Why Nigerians should vote for change’

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it is the biggest political party in Africa and that it will rule Nigeria for 50 years. Other leaders boasted 100 years.

Why not? From the first general election in this democratic dispensation in 1999 to the last one in 2011, PDP won all the presidential elections, won most governorship seats, has been controlling the two arms of the National Assembly and has held sway in many House of Assembly than any other political party. However, the on-going climate of change has begun to alter the political landscape. So those statistics may be rooted on shaky grounds now.

The ruling party owes itsawesome strength to its dominance of the political arena while fragments of the opposition were speaking in discordant notes. The All People’sParty, APP that fielded Buhariin the 2003 presidential election, the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP that chose him as its presidential candidate in the 2007 election and the Congress for Progressives Change, CPC that made him its presidential flag bearer in 2011 were all parties that did not control enough spread to pose serious challenge to PDP. And so OlusegunObasanjo, UmaruYar’Adua and now Goodluck Jonathan just left Buhari in the lurch and won the presidential races in quick succession. Even the Alliance for Democracy, AD, later known as ACN and the rest could only scratch the surface and left PDP in virtual absolute control of machinery of Federal government and many state governments.

So, under such circumstances, why should anyone except PDP to be modest when its handlers were engaged in perpetual dance at the seats of political power in Nigeria. As someone crudely puts it “If na you nko?” meaning if you had found yourself in such a position, what would you have done?

The problem with that kind of overconfidence is that the PDP became complacent. Its slogan, PDP! POWER!! became so resonant that nobody knew if the other parties had a

slogan to match that one. It is even worse that while the likes of Obasanjowho was brisk but sometimes brash and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who appeared to be trustworthy and even declared his assets publicly, created a semblance of governance, Goodluck Jonathan fell in love with the paraphernalia of the office of President. He has been evasive while his wife Dame Patience was vocal and quite visible sometimes to the extent of being the alternate president of Nigeria but for the constitution that did not really assign her any role in government. For the duo, power has been ‘sweet’ and they have spent the last six years or so just enjoying it.

There has been public outrage about pandemic corruption in government with culprits of corruption walking around with so much air of freedom. Monumental contracts were awarded for infrastructural development all over the country. Only the President can tell the nation how often he visited the sites of those projects and whether or not he is satisfied with the progress of work. Certainly official briefs prepared for him on the contracts would always belly the facts while his ministers would like to tell him what he wants to hear.

Like Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State recently asked: “Where are the 25,000 kilometres of roads that President Goodluck Jonathan said that his government had constructed across the country?”Honestly, if such achievement has been recorded, it is doubtful if the major highways in the country would still have ordinary potholes.

Impunity reigned and the confidence of the people in their government waned The many attrocities of PDP’s domination of governance in Nigeria will fill volumes of books.

However, there came a time when many of the opposition parties decided to fuse under a single banner. Incidentally BamangaTukur was the Chairman of PDP at that time. He dismissed the fusion of ANPP, CPC, APGA, ACN and others as “ordinary gang up that

• Buhari

It is hoped that PDP ’that is ill-prepared for defeat will allow the will of the people to determine the outcome of the election and the party should take solace in the fact that 16 years in power is a period long in enough for one party to reign supreme

‘

won’t affect the electoral fortunes of PDP.” Many political soothsayers, fortune tellers, practising marabouts and analysts of Nigeria’s political scene found a common tent to gather and dismiss the All Progressives Alliance, APC as a none starter. It was jocularity

predicted that the alliance would crumble as early as it was formed.

For nearly two years, a group that called itself Transformation Agent of Nigeria reeled out scripts dressed with audio visuals and told Nigerians that Goodluck Jonathan was transforming Nigeria. While the propaganda went on in a frenzy APC spent time consolidating itself.

As the saying goes, nobody can delay the sunset. So time was ticking away until the 2015 general election stared everyone in the face.

All the predictions about the disintegration of the opposition have not come to pass. The achievements that Jonathan said he had recorded cannot justify the amount of resources that had been ‘poured’ on them. Many projects have not left the drawing board; yet a good number have been abandoned and what is more the ones going on are at best work in slow progress. No wonder the glib presentations that the President gives to explain his non-really-enviable scorecards whenever he engages the media!

The other day, a group of people was watching the news on one of the TV channels and the President came on air to say that the nation was winning the war against terror. The chorus that greeted his remarks was: “We have heard that before.”

It is the lacklustre image of the President and his inability to deliver on the promises he made to the electorate in 2011 that have become his nemesis. That is what has also tossed up APC as a viable alternative now and General MuhammaduBuhari, the man with the pedigree that can turn the nation back from the cliff hanger which is where the country is now.

In addition, PDP is going into this election as a weakened imperial army.A good number of its ‘generals’ are now in APC and there are others who are still in the party but working against the party. Add that to a despondent electorate and you will know why the clamour for change is being echoed everywhere now.

It is hoped that PDP that is ill-prepared for defeat will allow the will of the people to determine the outcome of the election and the party should take solace in the fact that 16 years in power is a period long in enough for one party to reign supreme. If change is inevitable now, so be it. Parties come, parties go, Nigeria should remain intact. That will lend credence to our democracy!

‘Abia ‘ll be better under APC’

In this piece, SAM OGUEGBU examines the struggle for power in Abia State and contends that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will restore the glory of the state.

F

OR nearly 16 years now, Abia State has been brutalized, battered and suffered sustained, deliberate and wicked neglect from her past leaders. This is a well known fact to Abians, indigenes and residents.

Like the Jerusalem of old, Abia State has been ravaged and plundered by “enemies of the state”, who came under the guise of either successful and well known business men or technocrats.

They left the state worst than they met it.

This is inhuman and therefore, they (the past leaders of Abia State) do not deserve any accolade from Abians. The colossal damage inflicted on the state range from economic downturn (whereby it is known that Abia State has a gargantuan debt overhead from financial institutions – both private and public), infrastructural decay such as bad roads, poor health services, no pipe borne water, poor sanitation in the cities, falling educational standard, lack of agricultural programmes, endemic corruption to lack of transparency in government, etc.

The list is endless. These past leaders were either clueless/rudderless or lack basic management skills. Research has however shown that most people occupying exalted position at the local, state orfederal levels are often times being misled by sycophants and bootlickers, who rather that tell their principals the truth about issues, resort to telling them lies or at best, half truths.

Thankfully, just as Nehemiah offered to rebuild the walls and city of Jerusalem as recorded in the Holy Bible, one man from Abia State (of Ngwa extraction) has come to the rescue. Dr Nyerere Anyim, a highly cerebral fel-

low, chartered accountant, successful businessman and great philantropist has offered to carry the burden of Abians and vowed that ‘ABIA STATE MUST CHANGE FOR BETTER’. With the abundant resources (human and material) available in God’s own state – it only takes a man with sound managerial skills and acumen to put back the state to its rightful place of glory. I believe it is pertinent at this point to take a look at the background and antecedants of this man, Nyerere Anyim, for the public (especially Abians) to know his suitability and preparedness for the job.

Born on April 25, 1960 in Jos to the family of Agburuike Isiugwu Obingwa, Abia State.

Nyerere had his early education in Jos with excellent academic records, graduating in Accounting from the University of Jos. As a fellow of ICAN (Istitute of Chatered Accountants of Nigeria) and Certified public accountant, he is adequately equipped to fight corruption by plugging wastages in government and running a transparent government. During my interaction with him recently, Nyerere promised that as part of his pledge to run a transparent government, he will publish the monthly revenue received from federal allocation to states, FAT, and Abia’s IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) as well as expenditure, if voted as the governor of Abia State, come April 2015. A devout Christian, philantropist and prolific water, he has numerous Social Responsibility (SR) programmes to his credit, in a bid to serve humanity.

Nyerere has worked in both private and public sectors of life for over two decades and until recently, sat atop a conglomerate of Business Empire, the Rochas group, as the Group

managing Director (GMD).

Some of his SR programmes include: Free Education and Scholarship programmes to thousands of students from Abia State.

Youth and Women Empowerment Programmes.

Community and Rural infrastructure Development projects tender this program – He has graded and rehabilitated road projects such as Itungwa – Osaa Ukwu Road, UmuoparaNtigha/Unuaro Road, Abayi, Amaorji, Onicha Ngwa Christian Hospital Road. He has sunk boreholes in his water for life project at Agburuike-Isiugwu, Obegu-Ugirunagbo LGA, Aba Park, etc. Nyerere has also constructed village markets at Ahia Nkwo and other places.

Home for the homeless, where he has built homes for people free of charge.

Sports development scheme.

Agricultural Support Initiative – supporting rural farmers with farm implements, improved seedlings, etc.

With a humongous vision for the developemnt of Abia State, Nyerere has assured Abians that if voted in as governor of Abia State under APC (The All Progressives Congress) come April 11, 2015. he will urgently take steps to change the state for better by: Putting God first in all his programmes.

Implementing Free Qualitative Education at all levels to Abians.

Running a transparent government, fighting security and corruption.

Developing tourist centres at – Arochukwu along Juju River, Creating Aba Water park along the Bank of Aba River, Developing the Azumiri Blue River, Abia Golf course devel-

• Anyim

opment to International standard, Develp the colonial structures/site as war museum etc. this will no doubt boost te economu of Abians.

Industrializing Abia State through reactivation of Golden Guinea Umuahia, Modern Ceramics Umuahia, Aba textile mills, Aba Glass Industry, Metallurgical centre etc.

Providing health Care Development System.

Agricultural Development Infrastructural development and Rural Transformation Wealth and Job creation.

Housing Development Social welfare and security Entrepreneurial and Youth Development programmes.

As laudable as these programmes are, it will only take a man who has such vision to implement it. That is why Abians should arise and vote enmass for Nyerere Chinenye Anyim and APC at the elections.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The lying president

Unwholesome contracts •President Jonathan’s pipeline deal with militants is at best subversive

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HE last minute attempt by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration to use the country’s resources to woo voters for the up-coming general elections should be condemned by all Nigerians. One of such is the doling out of about N9 billion to companies owned by duplicitous militant groups, through a dubious oil pipeline protection contract, for political support.

The alleged prominent beneficiaries of the contract include Asari Dokubo, Fredrick Fasheun, Gani Adams, Government Ekpomuopolo, and a few others.

Most of these men, but for political interests, should have been in prison or in the dock, on charges of grievous crimes against the state.

Now, because the president seeks to win the coming election at all costs, these men whose conduct rankles, now have prime assets of the state, handed over to them to guard. The president’s decision to put the safety of our petroleum pipelines in the custody of openly reckless and lawless men, defies common sense and logic. While past contracts to the militants yielded more vandalisation, as the administration has never seized to bemoan the loss of crude oil, the renewal and expansion of similar contracts, at higher costs, shows that the administration is bereft of ideas.

Even more disturbing is the unlawfulness of handing over the core responsibilities of the Nigerian security agencies to companies that are strange to the con-

stitution. The president should know that it is the responsibility of the Navy to protect the petroleum pipelines within the maritime zone of our nation, while other statutory security agencies are responsible for the safety of the pipelines littering the nation’s landscape. So we ask, why should a democratically elected president prefer to use illegal agencies to achieve a lawful purpose?

In seeking an alliance with the militants, we recall that the promoters of some of these companies had recently threatened that they will blow up the pipelines if President Jonathan loses the next election.

Strangely, despite making such threats openly, the Federal Government, led by the president, failed to rein in these men or condemn their actions. While not calling them to order is a dereliction of duty, it is fearful that the president has now put the same pipelines in their custody. We ask, could there be a collusion between the president and the militants to put our prime national resources in harm’s way, should the president lose the election?

Considering the humongous resources put in the hands of these men, there is the likelihood that in the least, plans are afoot to foist anarchy on our country, using these men who live short and brutish lives. As we recently witnessed in Lagos in the hands of Oodu’a Peoples Congress (OPC), the byword for the financial inducement by President Jonathan is a reckless march to anarchy, to please the paymas-

ter. The reason why President Jonathan is priming these roughnecks to get ready for anarchy may be because he is afraid that he will lose a free, fair and credible election.

We however urge those sent on the dubious errand to remember that the Federal Government has no right to issue them a license to break the laws of the land. Whether they have lawful contracts or not, the resort to anarchy and mayhem are offences against the laws of the land, and any person who engages in that will be held accountable in due course. We also remind them that the life of this administration will come to an end, whether by this election or another. So, in their personal interests, they should remember that sooner or later, the day of reckoning will come.

‘We however urge those sent on the dubious errand to remember that the Federal Government has no right to issue them a license to break the laws of the land ... We also remind them that the life of this administration will come to an end, whether by this election or another. So, in their personal interests, they should remember that sooner or later, the day of reckoning will come’

Power flip-flop Price of meters shoot up; president directs tariff reduction. It’s endless tales of woe in power sector HAT age-worn cliché: garbage in, garbage out would come in quite useful here for that is what has happened in Nigeria’s power sector under President Goodluck Jonathan. For tragically mismanaging its laudable power privatisation programme, what therefore, might have been this government’s most outstanding legacy may sooner be its lingering albatross.

Nearly one and a half years after the bulk of Nigeria’s power sector was transferred to private ownership, and notwithstanding billions of dollars committed into power projects by the Nigerian government since 1999, darkness still hovers over most of the land. The requisite energy to galvanise both corporate and individual endeavours continues to fall short and the country is stumped and rooted in backwardness.

In other climes, privatisation immediately bolsters a sector as it rides on the massive infusion of private capital, financial discipline, managerial and technical know-how and all the time-tested

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‘We insist that giving a presidential directive is mere palliative if not an aberration in a supposedly privatised business environment. Indeed, it is only a political decision meant to get some mileage for the government.’

management acumen lacking in the public sector. Even in Nigeria, we have seen the aviation and telecommunications sectors leap to life upon privatisation. But it has not been so for the power sector and the reason is simple: the process of divestment was fraught with opacity.

In the first place, established power firms, especially foreign ones either shunned the process or were shunted.

The result is that the power generating and distribution facilities were handed to cronies and party stalwarts who had neither capacity nor knowledge of the industry. Thus, since November 2013 when the new (private owned) generating and distribution companies came into existence, Nigeria’s power situation has failed to improve. Many of the people who scrambled to hijack prime power assets either have no funds to invest in them or would not invest. Instead, they have elected to continue to finagle with obsolete equipment and installations that had been the bane of the sector under government’s watch. It is like milking a scrawny, old cow.

But in this intervening period, they have inveigled the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase tariff a couple of times even though power supply has not improved by any appreciable margin. Most galling, they have connived to make sure that electricity distribution is not metered so that lucrative but arbitrary billings would continue.

Late last year, a N213 billion facility was availed the privatised power firms by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is taxpayers’ money being funnelled to private firms

at low interest rate. Quite a number have already accessed this fund.

Yet the problems linger to the pain of electricity consumers and the ruin of the country. It was reported last week that electricity meters will now sell for about N60,000 for the multiple phase industrial use and N40,000 for the single phase, household use. These are increments of 20 and 56 percent, respectively. The reason for this sharp hike in price is said to be because of the weakened naira value. Ironically, all the meters required for operation could have been installed many years ago and long before privatisation. Interestingly, it is only in Nigeria that the consumer has to pay for meter, a property of the power companies!

Recently, President Jonathan reportedly directed the NERC to reduce tariff. A 50 percent reduction was announced this week. This, clearly, is the result of the dysfunction built into the new power sector reform; that is why a presidential order is now required to control the tariff structure. There are also, lingering issues with gas supply, generating capacity and transmission.

We insist that giving a presidential directive is mere palliative if not an aberration in a supposedly privatised business environment. Indeed, it is only a political decision meant to get some mileage for the government. The Federal Government must review the power sector reform in order to correct the flaws; especially the handing of critical power facilities to incompetent people.

S

IR: Obviously, whoever can tell 10 lies is a liar. But, I will limit myself to 10 huge lies of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ).

Firstly, he has denied saying he would not seek reelection, having told the whole world he would not. Secondly, he lied during his presidential campaign in 2011, saying of himself: “I have no shoes” even while the whole world saw he was wearing shoes.

Thirdly, he lied in December 2011 that he would eradicate Boko Haram by June 2012. Fourthly, he lied in January 2012 that he increased fuel price to improve infrastructure with particular reference to electricity, while indeed he had spent our reserves on his presidential campaigns and the country was broke. Nigeria’s electricity is worse than GEJ met it.

Fifthly, after stopping Mama Sarah Jubril from meeting Boko Haram’s representatives, GEJ lied that Boko Haram was an invisible organisation, and so nobody could dialogue with it.

Sixthly, GEJ lied that he was not informed that the Army would stop the election, while he is the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, and the Army was not known to be anarchical.

Seventhly, GEJ has been lying that his government is not as corrupt as claimed by his detractors while indeed Nigeria loses billions of naira/dollar on daily basis to misappropriations.

Eighthly, GEJ lies whenever he protects corrupt officials. Ninthly, GEJ lied that Nigeria’s electricity would stabilise after he might have privatised it, while he knew the conditions on ground would not make it happen.

Tenthly, GEJ is lying through his ministers on the national television (NTA) that he has transformed Nigeria’s infrastructure nationwide.

Yes, one might have problem with General Muhammadu Buhari but if the option is between him and GEJ, he should be availed the benefit of the doubt since GEJ has exhausted his own benefit of doubt. GEJ has mortgaged Nigeria’s future and should not continue to rule us.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, PhD, University of Ilorin.

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The media has been awash with resistance and vigorous campaigns being mounted against the deployment of the Ecard reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections by the PDP and its cohorts.

In a democracy, the majority must have their way while the minority must also have their say.

The reality today is that the grounds for the rejection of the use of E-card reader by the PDP for the 2015 general elections smacks of mischief and unwillingness to be part of a free, fair, transparent and credible general elections as promised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and so the Nigerian people and the international community should understand the game being played and place it in proper perspective.

The E-card reader is a technology that has been tested and deployed for successful conduct of elections in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and now being imported into our system with the aim of enhancing the credibility of our elections by INEC that has been working tirelessly to deliver on its constitutional mandate in a responsible and responsive manner.

Under Prof. Jega- led INEC, we have seen improvements in the conduct of elections with the use of different ballot papers for different local government with the aim of eliminating electoral malpractices including ballot papers faking and ballot box snatching among others.

We still have other notable developments in our electoral process that have reduced electoral malpractices during elections, earning INEC commendations from stakeholders and the general public, in the process.

Today, elections are held in such a way that accreditations and public announcements of accredited voters take place before the commencement of actual voting and these to a large extent help in curbing electoral irregularities. Unlike what obtained in the past, election results are now announced publicly at the polling units to the hearing of all and it has succeeded

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

Still on card readers for 2015 elections in no small way in checking electoral malpractice.

It was because of the successes recorded by INEC in its previous innovations that propelled it to look at the option of the E-card as another system of enhancing the transparency and credibility of our elections.

Unfortunately, this laudable and responsible step is facing stiff opposition from political parties and groups who are well at home with electoral brigandage and want us to continue with the old shameful ways. The E-card reader is a devise that ensures that the spirit of democracy as enunciated in one man, one vote, one woman,

one vote is respected and implemented.

With the E-card reader, it is impossible for a voter to present PVC other than his own for voting.

The E-card reader detects fake and cloned PVC within seconds and eliminates the possibility of a voter voting more than once for a candidate of his or her choice.

Through the use of the E-card reader, it eliminates the undemocratic and unconstitutional culture of political parties purchasing PVC from voters with the aim of committing electoral criminality. The E-card reader thus curbs electoral robbery of massive thumb printing, which originates

from the polling units and which has the potential of igniting crisis on election day and thereafter.

The advantages of the E-card reader in enhancing our elections is an added value to our electoral system in the sense that it has the possibility of strengthening our democracy through responsible and responsive political class who will become aware that their political fate can be made or unmade through the ballot box.

The field test of the E-card reader conducted by INEC in 12 states of 2 in each of the six geo political zones of the country on March 7th 2015, revealed that it was a huge success as the duration of its life span

confirmed the statement of the electoral umpire that it can last for 12 hours as against the 5 hours designated for accreditation in polling units on election day.

The E-card reader is not a mechanism for voting, but rather to confirm the authenticity of the voter so that enemies of progress do not shortchange democracy. So any person or party/person leading campaign of calumny and blackmail against its use must be understood for what he or she represents.

Therefore, the wolf cries of those against the deployment of the Ecard reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections is not borne out of altruistic intentions, but because of their plan to employ undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional means to perpetuate electoral robbery that has now been foiled.

• Nelson Ekujumi, Surulere, Lagos.

Nigerians must reconcile with God

S

IR, may I use your widely read newspaper to remind Nigerians that the only path to genuine recovery for ailing Nigeria and her embattled people is for us all to waste no further time in turning back to God by obeying His sacred commandments to the letter.

Our dispositions to one another at all levels and on all spheres, governmentally and nongovernmentally, show clearly that we have little or no regard for God and His interests. We behave as if we created ourselves for our cherished mundane purposes. Love, which God decreed in 1Corinthians 13, as the pivot of human interpersonal dealings, sadly, has no room in our affairs today.

The general run of our so-called leaders feeds us with deceit, while we, the poor, swallow it hook, line and sinker in utter helplessness.

The situation is exacerbated by the offensive conspiracy of silence by those that should be the conscience of the nation and the defender of the cheated at all times, and the callous support of the few that should guide

the ungodly towards the path of righteousness.

Quite disturbing is the fact that those among us that revel in criminalities like corruption and abominable exploitation/ oppression of the masses of the people have forgotten that as old as Methuselah lived (969 years according to the Bible), he died one day.

Those of us who own numerous mansions at the expense of the impoverished masses who live in shanties fail to realise the vanity of life and the fact that however long we live, we shall leave all behind and eventually give accounts of our (mis) deeds before God, The Impartial.

Let us remind ourselves of what God says in Psalm 9: 17 – 18: “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectations of the poor shall not perish forever.”

The materialistic rulers of the world and their conscienceless cohorts may smile to the banks today

while their preys languish in abject poverty (hunger, homelessness, inability to pay school fees etc); everything will end here because there is no bank in heaven to accommodate their loot.

Daily today in the news media, we are innundated with mind-boggling stories of criminalities perpetrated by the desperate ones who have been pushed to the wall by the wickedness of those that should cater for their welfare. An idle hand, it is said, is the devil’s workshop and there is a limit to which a hungry soul can stand it without misbehaving.

It is painful that the poor whom our Lord Jesus Christ came and lived for are now being cheated, exploited and oppressed by the few with the mandate to turn their situations around for better.

Even in our private capacities, how do we treat our servants – housemaids, drivers and messangers? Do we realise that they too belong to the same society where people cough up intimidating amounts as university tuition fees

per session? How do you, a multimillionaire, expect the driver you pay a monthly paltry salary of N35,000 to be a proud father of a varsity student? One can go on and on about the nauseating indices of Godlessness that are fast turning life into hell for the majority.

Money ritualists are on the loose while assassins, kidnappers and armed robbers are not showing any sign that they may down tools anytime soon.

With all these, it is time we all sat down and reflect on why God created us and the consequences of treating His commandments with disdain. We must all daily ask ourselves: If God calls me today, have I been living in His ways? This is why we must reconcile with Him today that we may live according to His will and enjoy His abundant Grace.

• Philip Babalola, Senior Pastor, Evergreen Church of God, Obanikoro, Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

21

COMMENTS

Credible elections? Then, no wahala

“

W

HEN the President is defeated, he will declare himself winner, the same way it happened in the NGF (Nigeria Governors’ Forum). He will try to split the country thev same he did to the NGF.” Femi Fani-Kayode (before he diverted to PDP) The presidential election holding this weekend is about the future of Nigeria. Being the opportunity to choose who the people would want their leader in the next four years to be, it is either the nation will in veracity begin to be restructured for true transformation or be tied down to the ground that has been making nothing in the country be ever what it seems.

In nations of democratic development, electoral processes offer political parties and civic factions’ option to mobilize and organize supporters and share alternative policies with the public. Hardly can any nation be justly democratic until its populace is permitted the chance to make choice through voting that is evidently free and fair. This is also to say that civil liberties with freedom to vote as convinced and in compliance with the will of the voters will not be manipulated through rigging or negotiable manipulation.

Nigeria is hindering politically and administratively simply because local politicians are merely claiming to be politicians without impacting positively on the life of the citizenry often used as scapegoats. They operate in politics more for self, family members, friends and cronies.

Whenever they emerge in office, they are seen in multiple convoys with overzealous security men who bulldoze their ways and kill anything on the road. It is only in Nigeria that elected officials see themselves as masters instead of servants.

They feel like thin-gods and want to be hailed like emperors.

Let the political parties manifest commitment to the integrity of the people they are requesting to vote them into their leadership. Let them show sincerity in the trueness that elections are for the living and not for the dead.

Anyone who really loves his people will not sponsor or even pity thugs and gunners, who are used by the devilish spirit to steal the goodness of the people, kill joy in the heart, and also destroy life.

Democracy is being hindered in this country mainly because politics is being run as a do or die matter. If only those seeking position of leadership can comprehend that elections are for the living and not for the dead, then no one will be plotting to win at all cost or manipulate crisis as the option.

The Femi Fani-Kayode quote at the top of this piece was his view before he decamped back to Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). He was still chatting from sense as what he said then is now what cannot be ruled out in this week of peoples’ decision. Today, Fani-Kayode’s mouth just flows in abusive and offensive utterances that are worthless. It is atrocious that those he is supposed to be shielding are accepting what could not be of value to their being voted for.

It would have been persuasive and sensible were he able to let people know what President Goodluck Jonathan actually wants to do better than his ability as president in six years and why he deserves to be re-elected. He would have been defending allegations of corruption against the ruling administration – for instance, convincing the nation on the actuality of the missing $20 billion, the yet-unresolved $9million arms deal embarrassment in South Africa, oil theft, depletion of external reserves, devaluation of more than N200 to a dollar etc. Or just revealing any truth to my Ekiti State election fraud and why Boko Haram that could not be confronted in the last five years are now being chased out within the six weeks of postponed election.

Who indeed should be voted for to salvage this nation that is on the verge of collapsing? Should the focus be on the issue of regional candidacy or who can sincerely make Nigeria’s abundant lost glories to be restored? Will those pushing against INEC’s Attahiru Jega and voter card readers that will frustrate rigging allow the coming election to become the beauty of democracy? Will MASSOB that was formed against Nigeria and Oodua Peoples Congress that is ever dividing still be allowed to carry guns when peace needs to rule in this turbulent nation?

Must a party that utterly failed and misled the populace for 16 years be sustained? What Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) said last week is more inspiring than what the same South West Afenifere wants to exploit to support Jonathan. He said: “We cannot afford a leadership that is absent of developmental foresight, that lacks innovative thinking and is not capable of producing the right responses and answers to the challenges of multi ethnic and multi-cultural politics in the country.”

Let those who know the reality of their people see poverty as a infection instead of focusing on stomach infrastructures that only care for tentative survival but waste futures of values. Let voters be convinced of who can truly handle the

D

AYS to the country’s potentially reforming presidential election rescheduled for March 28, the language and logic of compulsion coming from the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan deserve contemplation and rejection. In particular, the implication of coercion expressed by First Lady Patience Jonathan betrays the innermost recesses of her mind, and by possible and understandable extension, the likely evil within the presidential circle.

Mrs. Jonathan said at a women’s rally in Benin, Edo State: “Everybody is staying there eight years. Now, it’s our turn. We must complete our eight years.” She continued: “It is in the constitution of this country. Two, two terms. We will complete our two terms and hand over.” Such dangerously simplistic thinking is even more terrorising because of its source. If the unenlightened belief in automaticity is the operating inspiration for Jonathan’s reelection ambition and campaign, it further exposes the appalling lack of democratic awareness and understanding in his sphere of influence.

It is disturbing that Mrs. Jonathan, who must have spoken the minds of others of her ilk, reduced the concept of two possible terms in power to a mechanical construction. In other words, in the wife’s view, her husband’s first-term performance in office shouldn’t be a factor for consideration by the electorate in the expected election. What should matter to voters, the thinking goes, is Jonathan’s constitutional eligibility for a second term in office, separate from any measurement of his first-term accomplishments, if any.

What kind of democracy gives power to the people, and yet expects them to be powerless to remove a firstterm failure and stop him from advancing to a secondterm catastrophe? Interestingly, perhaps because love is said to be blind, Mrs. Jonathan seems blind to her husband’s political minuses, for which a conscious electorate should punish him by voting him out.

In this context, it is relevant to consider the dubious slogan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Power to the People. Against the background of Mrs.

‘What if the people go against Mrs. Jonathan’s ridiculous argument that her husband “must” be reelected irrespective of his track record that makes him unelectable? What if the people rubbish her nonsensical view that her husband and his party have a messianic value?’

‘We must complete our eight years’ Jonathan’s demonstrated not-so-subtle sense of entitlement regarding a second presidential term for her husband, the power of the people appears to be unrecognised, meaning that a powerless people is central to the achievement of her dream.

Fundamentally, the expected presidential election represents a priceless opportunity for the electorate to demonstrate not only discerning political consciousness but also confident mastery of its ultimate sovereignty. In other words, the election is better appreciated as a People Power Project.

It is about the supremacy of the vote or the primacy of the voters. Power to the people is a catch-phrase that must be actualised by the people themselves for meaningful change.

Probably the main the challenge facing the progressive camp in the countdown to the defining election is people mobilisation, which will likely come with the difficulty of spreading political awareness and enlightenment as well as delivering the crucial message of the need for game-changing political action within a population that is usually fatalistically absorbent. Indeed, how far the people are ready to go to protect the sacredness of their votes will be decisive.

Importantly, the people need to respond in the clearest of terms to Mrs. Jonathan’s misconception of her husband’s misrule by expressing through their votes the popular perception concerning his unpopularity. It is thought-provoking that at another PDP women’s presidential rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs. Jonathan said: “Nigerian women, if they (APC) come, tell them that your mother said you should not listen to them. They have nothing to offer. They have nothing to give you, Nigerian women; because the battle has already been conquered, God has opened the way for us. God has

nation’s security, revive the dead economy, grant real jobs to the jobless and unfasten corruption from governance. And it is only when there is no manipulation of the will of God as placed in the heart of true voters that peace will surely reign.

FEEDBACK “Soji, the connivance of the military with President Jonathan to further ruin Nigeria is going to fail just the way it did in the Holy Bible. Jesus remains the Lord today despite a section of compromised military. God will surely fight for Nigeria against the ungodly and the cohorts - military or otherwise. Untimely exit of Fayose in Ekiti still remains one. Just note.

- Pastor Joe Awelewa, FCT “TheyassureNigeriansthatinsixweeksinsurgencyandinsecuritywouldbe thing of the past. Let us keep our fingers crossed and watch how magic would happen.”

- G.C. Nnorom “Sir, I adore the birth of a profound thinker like you and I promise to keep following your column. May it live long. For those vagrant former militants, Nigeria is bigger than any state or individual. Heaven did not fall when the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo list federal elections despite the fact that South Westresourceswereusedtoserviceeconomy.So,vulnerablepeoplelikemilitant should stop beating the drum of war they cannot dance.”

- Adesola Tunde.

“Your piece is insightful and truthful to say the least. I dough my hat concerning your openness and forthrightness.”

- Mark “Unless we end corruption, corruption will end Nigeria. We must vote for corruption free Nigeria.”

- Anonymous “Thank you Soji. GEJ and his brothers are now Goliath; Nigerians are David.

Let’s wait and see the living God in action.”

- 2348076956254 “Reason for the poll postponement is not to fight Boko Haram but to fight opposition. Or how would you explain military siege in opposition houses? It is a clear indication of the reason for the postponement. God, save Nigeria.”

- Dada, Ibadan.

Good one, most respected. I carefully read your write-up and is quite obvious Jonathan don’t deserve to be re-elected. Thank you.

- Odili Monday.

Lifewithoutbattleiswithoutvictory;themarginisnarrowbuttheresponsibility is clear. May Heaven shine light on us to achieve victory this year.

- Jasper “In line with your view, the President promised to create two million jobs annually. Please ask him what does he have to say about the NIS aptitude text that we wrote? Secondly, tell Okonjo-Iweala that former CBN boss Charles Soludo is waiting for her to fix the sate and time of the debate so she can defend herself for the mismanaged N30tr as Minister of Finance under President Jonathan. Thirdly, the President is using the NDDC to empower his militant brothers with the sum of N3m for each company in the name of clearing weeds and water hyacinth in our rivers.

- Tamunosaki O, Port Harcourt.

brought down the messiah for us. And PDP is the messiah. Goodluck is the messiah.”

It is unsurprising that the closer the election, the more corrupted the political talk, especially by a party of corrupt and corrupting features. On crooked thinking, it may be impossible to beat the thought that links the purity of the divine with the observable impurity and impunity of the PDP and its governmental hierarchs, particularly President Jonathan. It should be interesting to have an idea of Mrs. Jonathan’s idea of God as well as her definition of a messiah. Still on clarifications, Mrs. Jonathan may need to be more clarifying about her concept of peace. She also said in Ilorin: “PDP is not shaken; as far as we are there, there is no need for trouble.

You know that Mama Peace, your mother, is peace-loving, so the children must also be peace-loving. Women are peacemakers and no woman that makes trouble is worth to be called a woman.”

Interestingly, the questions that must follow such innocent self-disqualification are: Does Mrs. Jonathan stand for womanhood? Can she be called a woman?

When in December 2013 she re-introduced herself as Mama Peace, Nigerians were anxious to find out whether the publicised change of name would make any difference not only to her public conduct but also to public perception of her personality. The so-called name-change sounded like a publicity stunt prompted by pressure from “social anxiety,” which was graspable in the light of her markedly unflattering public image.

According to her at the time, “My name is no more Patience but now Mama Peace because I believe that without peace, there will be no more women, no more children and no more health sector. Without peace, the international community will be afraid to come and invest in our country.” She also said: “Peace is from the heart and not from the tongue or lips; not what you say but what is in you.” From the look of things, whatever might have been responsible for Mrs. Jonathan’s new-found song on “peace evangelism,” it appears that she would benefit from further education on the basics of the concept.

She still needs to learn from her own words, if they were not uttered hypocritically, but that seems more and more to be the case.

Apart from the reality that her record of imperiousness has not changed, Mrs. Jonathan’s campaign utterances show that a name-change cannot be the same thing as conscious self-redefinition. This is still the old, familiar lady of battle, and it is difficult to recognise any change.

What if the people go against Mrs. Jonathan’s ridiculous argument that her husband “must” be reelected irrespective of his track record that makes him unelectable? What if the people rubbish her nonsensical view that her husband and his party have a messianic value?

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

22

COMMENTS

A

LL things being equal, the presidential and national assembly elections will hold in five days time.

There is no foreseeable reason they should not hold after the initial postponement. This is more so given that the two major planks on which the shift was hinged have been very substantially addressed. The liberation and recapturing of local governments, towns and villages under the stranglehold of the Boko Haram insurgents have reasonably progressed. So also is the distribution of the PVC. The other matter of whether or not to deploy the card readers is now at the table of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the sense that it is its prerogative to decide when and how to use them if it is fully satisfied with the outcome of the trials. Though, those experimental outings came out with some hitches, it is to be expected that the electoral body has taken note of them making, amends where necessary.

Expectations are high that this set of elections should come and go. So much heat has been generated by this particular election that Nigerians are eager to have them pass by. The eagerness is not as much for any personal interest or enthusiasm but because of the general belief that this election could make or mar the country.

Many are therefore desirous to have the elections pass by for them to resume their normal lives.

Before now, many of our citizens living outside their ancestral homes had fled those areas for fear that harm may come their way.

Many more are likely to flee days before the elections especially those residing in the northern parts of the country and Abuja.

This is not a matter of speculation. Neither can it be dismissed as the doomsday prediction of an arm chair Journalist. It is real. The fear is palpable that unmitigated violence is likely to breakout thereafter irrespective of who wins. And in this regard, we have in mind the presidential election which at any rate comes first. There is general apprehension that its outcome is most likely to be disputed. And when such disputes arise, they manifest in violence often leading to the destruction of lives and property. This is more so as the election is viewed rightly or wrongly as a defining moment for the nation’s corporate survival.

Two factors account for this. The first has to

P

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Again, here we go! do with the history of elections on these shores and the penchant by politicians not to accept defeat even when there is sufficient evidence they lost. This conclusion is very evident from the plethora of litigations that follow elections on these shores. Even where losers are known to have conceded defeat, congratulated their opponents with a promise not to challenge such verdict, it has been very disappointing seeing the same people reverse themselves only to proceed to the tribunals later. This election is unlikely to depart from this ruinous pattern.

There is even more reasons for it to assume more dangerous dimension than previous ones.

And this brings us to the second point.

Despite whatever pretences one may wish to make, the election is largely seen from the prism of ethnic and religious lines.

These factors have been palpable in the language of political discourses since campaigns began and even before then. The north wants power return to it as a matter of right. The south-south wants one of its own currently occupying that position to be given another term of four years before power can now move. There is yet to be any national consensus on the matter and we are going to the elections with such destabilizing and potentially explosive tendencies.

There have also been threats from here and there if certain events go certain ways during this election. Accusing fingers have been pointed at each other by the major political parties. We have been inundated with accusations of plans by the political

OLITICAL leaders, historians and policy makers would not forget the years between 2007 and 2009 in a hurry.

The global recession that spread across the world during this period resulted in a sharp drop in international trade, rising unemployment and slumping commodity prices. Many multi-national companies were unfortunately swept away by the depressive economic gale.

Across the world, economic theorists warned sternly that recovery might not appear until 2011 and that the recession would be the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

One of such economists of this century, Paul Krugman, in his comment on the economic downturn described it as "seemingly the beginning of a second Great Depression." Expectedly, governments and central banks in Europe and America responded with both fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate national economies and reduce financial system risks.

In its findings on the cause of the meltdown, the report of the U.S. Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, in January 2011 described the crisis as avoidable. The Commission listed some of the causes to include among others: widespread failures in financial regulation; dramatic breakdowns in corporate governance, including too many financial firms acting recklessly and taking on too much risk; key policy makers ill prepared for the crisis, lacking a full understanding of the financial system they oversaw and systemic breaches in accountability and ethics at all levels.

Nigeria and indeed African countries were, to some extent, so lucky the depression wind did not blow across the black continent. We escaped the economic downturn. This however, is not to say that African countries and in particular Nigeria, did not taste the sourness of the economic downturn.

Everyone thought Nigeria would learn from the global crisis. Today, the economic reality pointed otherwise. The operators of the country's politics, monetary and economic policies have told the nation that they are either incompetent to run the nation or are too greedy and self-centred to run people-oriented government.

Today, the economic crisis has left many states paralysed due to what many tagged the Federal Government's financial recklessness and twin factors of corruption and poor economic policies. Workers across the 36 states have been groaning under this economic hardship owing to backlog of unpaid salaries, arrears as well as pensions.

The situation in Osun is however slightly different as workers have been paid up to November while in some states worker are owed up to six months salaries. Osun is a different kettle of fish in the sense that the Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, was foresighted enough to prepare for a situation that the whole country currently found itself. On the federation account - Osun is actually in the 34th position on the rung of allocation ladder - collecting between N2bn to

parties to rig the elections especially the ruling party. INEC has not been spared on this. If anything, the recent demonstrations in Lagos by some ethnic militias asking for the sack of Jega can only add to the general foul air that now surrounds the coming elections.

The net effect of all these is the likelihood that the outcome of the election is likely to be disputed, especially so if there are observed lapses from the arrangements put in place by the electoral body. It would even seem to me that people are likely to be looking out for faults to discredit the elections.

When we pair this observation with the high stakes of the election, one can then understand the stark reality that awaits this country in the next few days. But elections are not an end unto themselves but means for the advancement of public good. If that is the proper conception of the matter, why must hell let loose because one political party or individual failed to realize his ambition? Why has ethnicity and religion become prime considerations that determine the direction of the power matrix in this country? And if our leaders emerge on the basis of such mundane platforms, can they really pass as nationally acceptable leaders? Can they in all fairness, still remain loyal to the central authority irrespective of their attachment and loyalty to primordial considerations?

These are some of the moot issues.

Again, why are we simulating obstacles so as to find a convenient ground to wrestle the electoral body to the ground? And what

of the likely consequences of such on the general wellbeing of the ordinary people that are being promised heaven and earth if they vote in a particular way? These are some of the contradictions arising from the polluted atmosphere that pervades the political atmosphere as we go into the elections.

If blames are to be apportioned, the political class is largely culpable for heating up the political environment. And the reasons for this are largely self-serving. The same political elite that have despoiled this country, mortgaging its future are at it again.

And in the pursuit of their personal interests, they have now mobilized the common people against each other.

It is the same common people that will bear the brunt of whatever adverse repercussions that may arise out of a contentious election.

If the overall interest of the people is the prime factor for seeking political office, nothing should be done to throw this country into crisis whatever the outcome of the polls.

Our laws are replete with established processes for redress and those who feel shortchanged should avail themselves of such avenues. There must be conscious efforts to redirect this country from the part of a self-fulfilling prophesy of disintegrating this year. That is the huge challenge before us.

Above all, much still depends on the INEC on the day of the election. The elections must not only be free and fair but must be seen to be so. Already, the electoral body has been put on edge. It does appear the electorate is not prepared to take excuses from it. It must therefore work hard to deliver to Nigerians an outcome that will give no room for acrimony. That is the surest way of disappointing those who are waiting for the slightest infractions to cause trouble.

‘If the overall interest of the people is the prime factor for seeking political office, nothing should be done to throw this country into crisis whatever the outcome of the polls. Our laws are replete with established processes for redress and those who feel shortchanged should avail themselves of such avenues’

Osun and the unpaid salaries: Matters Arising

By Kunle Owolabi N4bn. And the state has a monthly salary wage of N3.6 billion to fulfill.

Despite this huge bill and low allocation, the state under Aregbesola had always paid it's workers' salary as and when due, mostly between 24th and 26th of every month. Besides, it was during his tenure that the monthly pension to retirees jumped from N150 million to over N650 million, which the pensioners also collected promptly monthly. Not only this, workers also enjoyed thirteenth month salaries, first, half of their basic and in subsequent year, full basic salary.

This smooth and orderly arrangement began to suffer mid July 2013 when allocation from the Federal Government abruptly nosedived. Allocation coming to Osun significantly reduced from N4 billion plus to about N2.5 billion. Federal Government blamed this reduction first, on theft of crude oil to the tune of 400, 000 barrel per day; but later attributed the dwindling fortunes to decline in oil price at the international market.

Before Federal Government came out with these reason, Aregbesola and his Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiohmole, had raised the alarm over the continuous reduction in states' monthly allocation by the Federal Government. It got to a stage that some states, Benue for example, contemplated slashing workers' salary so as to be able to meet its monthly financial obligation to workers. This was vehemently rejected. It led to workers been owed up to eight month salaries.

Amidst this reversal in the fortune of the states, Osun was able to meet its financial commitments to its workers. This was made possible by Aregbesola's prudence and foresight.

When he assumed leadership in Osun, oil price was as it's all time high and so extra fund was dripping from excess crude account. Aregbesola did not fritter this excess fund. He opened Omoluabi Conservative Fund and kept saving the accruing excess crude fund.

As if he knew that after a period of surplus economic hardship would follow. When eventually sources of the excess crude oil suddenly dried up, Aregbesola had something to fall back on. For the next six months - that is well into mid 2014 - when most of the states could no longer meet their monthly statutory obligation, Aregbesola was drawing from his Omoluabi Conservative fund to augment the now significantly reduced allocation to pay salary.

Rather than abate, the economic crisis showed no sign of abatement, forcing many states to economic stagnation. Yet Osun trudged on until the reserved fund emptied. Why Osun's case is manageable today was as a result of financial prudence of the Aregbesola administration. The present predicament in Osun is not peculiar to the state; other states are affected. In some states, the situation is even worse.

Osun debt profile has nothing to do with the prevalent economic conditions. The situation, brought about by Federal Government's uncontrollable financial misappropriation unleashed this hardship on all states, both PDP and APC controlled. Like any other state in the federation, Osun went to the capital market for bond. The state did not however bite more that it could chew. Its debt profile is within its economic capacity. In terms of solvency, Osun is solid. For the avoidance of doubt and to expose the wanton lies of opposition, it is germane to refer to what the Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO) in the Presidency, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, said last year shortly before the August 9 governorship election.

As usual, the opposition party had gone to town on its campaign of calumny that the state was indebted to the tune of N350 billion. But the DMO, shortly after, revealed that the state is one of the best states in the federation with public debt management. He also noted that his office recognised Osun as the first to take the Sukuk, the Islamic bond. The state later won an award for this in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate. Nwankwo said at that forum: “We want to make sure that all segments of the society is captured in the bond market (Sukuk) because there are some groups of people or individuals who do not want to participate in ordinary bond because of interest. “Our office, DMO, and others are working hard to introduce Sukuk in Nigeria. We are delighted that Osun took the initiative and helped in introducing it in Nigeria. So, by that, Osun is one of the best states in public debt management.”

The workers in Osun know that the governor is deeply concerned about their welfare. In fact, he is one of, if not the best, worker- friendly governor around. It thus stands to reason that in this adverse time, the workers would be standing firmly behind the governor so that they can jointly swim across the present murky economic water.

•Owolabi, a journalist is a final year Law student at LASU, Ojoo.

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

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SMEs’ thorny road to recovery

More jobs coming in Egbin Power, Eko DISCO - P. 35 News Brief CBN disburses N40b to banks, others THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed a total of N40.3 billion out of the N220 billion Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) fund it inaugurated last year.

–Page 26

TUC: weak law responsible for contract staffing GENERAL Secretary, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Mohammed Lawal, has blamed continued existence of contract staff in the country on weak legal system.

–Page 26

‘Lack of technical, financial mgt hamper SMEs growth’

- P. 29

SEC, operators discuss new capital requirements’ implementation

S

ECURITIES and Ex change Commission (SEC) and capital market operators have started discussion towards ensuring that the new minimum capital requirements for capital market operators set by the regulator are implemented in a less disruptive and more effective ways.

The Nation gatherd at the weekend that the Commission and market operators have formed a joint implementation committee and are working on the key details of the new capital requirements.

The joint committee, according to sources, included executives of the apex capital market regulator, stockbroking chiefs and deal-

By Taofeek Salako

ers under the auspices of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), which regulates the stockbroking practice and other key stakeholders.

Sources said the committee is expected to deliberate on key implementation details including valuation methodology, the proportion and definition of liquid to illiquid assets, the status of stockbrokers’ equities in the proposed demutualisation of the NSE, the timeline for implementation of key compliance points, compliance evaluation methodology and

possible incentives for operators among others.

The committee’s deliberations are expected to form major part of the minimum capital status review that the market regulator has scheduled for June.

SEC had extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements for various capital market functions from December 31, last year to September 30, this year. Before the extension, 262 capital market operators had met their various capital requirements.

However, the larger segment of the market operators had called for a review of the minimum capital base arguing that it violated the princi-

ples of risk-based approach that should govern the capitalisation of multi-operators market.

SEC had in 2013 announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital market functions under a new minimum capital structure that was initially scheduled to take off by January 1, this year.

Minimum capital base for broker/dealer was increased by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million. Broker, which operates with capital base of N40 million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent. Minimum capital base for dealer increased by 233 per cent from N30 million to N100 million.

LACK of technical and financial management capacity has been identified as two of the greatest impediments to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

–Page 26

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb

ASSBIFI warns of massive job cuts

RATES Inflation

• From left: President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Chief Olabintan Famutimi; Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and United States Commercial Counsellor, Lagos, Mr. Brian McCleary during this month’s breakfast meeting of NACC, sponsored by Access Bank in Lagos.

8.4%

Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending

15.87%

Savings rate

3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

N

ATIONAL President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution (ASSBIFI), Comrade Olusoji Salako, has warned of massive job cuts in the banking sector because of the declining value of the naira against other international currencies, especially the dollar.

Salako, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said job cuts had become inevitable in view of the harsh economic realities in the country.

He said: “There is no way the naira fall in the country will not affect the banks as most of the banks in the country also borrow in foreign denominated currencies for their

By Toba Agboola

business transactions. They have to pay more in naira now to service the loans because of the fall in naira value. The slide in naira will take a toll on the balance sheets of the banks.

“The slide in naira will also make banks to start thinking about how they can streamline their operation and think of what can be done to reduce cost. Job losses will be part of it. We have not seen much for now, but it is just a matter of time when people will begin to notice this.”

He said if Nigeria is to survive the crippling effects of the global fall in oil prices, serious investment in the agriculture sector and less reliance on

importation, especially on food, must be prioritised.

He lamented that successive governments in the country neglected the agriculture sector by relegating its to the back door.

He said: “If Nigeria is to come out of the crippling effects of the global oil price fall, serious investment must be made in the agriculture sector. There is no other country where farmers are more advantaged as they are in Nigeria. With only 40 per cent of her 84 million hectares of arable land cultivated, plus 263 billion cubic meters of water (having two of the largest rivers in Africa), Nigeria can be said to have immense agricultural potential. In addition,

Nigeria has the required manpower to support agricultural expansion. The country’s population of 170 million provides a huge market.”

Salako said it is still not too late to transform the country into a global food power house, but reminded the government the achievements of past governments which are still evident today, were built and made possible through revenue generated from agriculture which he said was the main source of internal revenue generation in the country.

He lamented that the discovery of oil led to the neglect of the agriculture sector which was the mainstay of the economy at independence.

‘How to mitigate declining oil prices effects’

By Akinola Ajibade

R

EDUCTION in government expenditure, judicious use of the lean revenue accruing from crude oil sales, a private-sector driven investment in refineries and petrochemical industries are factors that will help Nigeria mitigate the effects of the falling crude oil prices, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Arco Group Plc, Alfred Okoigun, has said.

He said the government’s decision to focus on non-oil sectors, and the political will would help in stopping stealing of crude oil and save the country a lot of money.

Speaking on the theme: The challenges and opportunities of the falling oil prices at the oil and gas conference in Abuja, Okoigun said oil price might not rise to the pre-June 2014 price of over $110 per barrel, advising Nigeria to put on some safety valves in view of this development.

He said falling prices of oil is a normal thing, noting that prices of oil have fallen and rebound in the past.

He said: ‘’In July 2008, the spot price of crude oil was $145 per barrel. At that time, the consuming nations were in pains, while producing nations enjoyed unprecendented income windfall.

“However, the global financial meltdown caught up with the price and by December 2008, just six months down the road, the spot price fell to a paltry $30 per barrel. Oil prices went up again trading at $115 per barrel for several months before the free fall started in June 2014. “The spot price was $47 per barrel by December 2015; currently, the price is hovering around $58 per barrel. This is the reason Nigeria needs to put in place measures to reduce the effects of dwindling oil price.’’

Okoigun said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) survived because of the measures they put in place, urging Nigeria to follow suit.

He said: ‘’Saudi Arabia has in reserve almost $1trillion and so the country can sustain deficit budgetting longer than any other member of OPEC. Similarly, Qatar, United Arab Emirate(UAE) and Kuwait will also survive an appreciable period of lull in the global oil market.

“As we begin to see, Nigeria is not in the class of Saudi Arabia and a few other OPEC-member countries that can convinently weather the storm of lower oil prices. The only way to cushiion the effects of falling oil prices is to put in place the abovementioned mesuresures.’’

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

26

BUSINESS NEWS ICAN, CIPFA sign MoU on financial management

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HE Institute of Chartered Ac countants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen public financial management in Nigeria.

The MoU outlines the relationship between the two institutes, which seeks to improve the governance of public finance within the country and helps to improve the training options for those in the accounting. The deal will also pave way for dual membership for members of ICAN and CIPFA. The framework of the MoU reflects the overlapping interest of both bodies and their mutual desire to share expertise, skills and experience to further the cause of good financial management.

The signing, which took place in

United Kingdom was attended by Rob Whiteman, CIPFA’s Chief Executive. The President of ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu and the Registrar/ Chief Executive Mr. Rotimi Omotoso and some other top officials of ICAN also attended the occasion.

According to CIPFA’s Chief Executive, Rob Whiteman, “Both CIPFA and ICAN are committed to serving the public interest through good public financial management, therefore it is welcome news that both bodies have come together to form a new collaborative relationship.’’

The President of ICAN, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, said: ‘’ICAN working together with CIPFA is in the interest of the public good. There will be great improvement in the financial management of the Public Sectors of both Countries as this relationship is mutually beneficial to both Institutes.”

NIWA to improve water transportation

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HE Lagos State government, through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has partnered a private ferry operator- Seacoast Ferry Service, to improve water transportation in the state.

Its Lagos Area Manager, Mohammed Sambo, said to realise this, Seacoast Ferry Service has deployed nine boats in Lagos waters, planning to add 15 more boats to the fleet.

He assured prospective operators of NIWA’s readiness to extend the necessary institutional support to them, which he hoped would be valuable towards achieving efficient waterway transportation and improving the operations of the partners.

Sambo said such effort from NIWA would also help in making the inland water transportation

By Muyiwa Lucas

busy and safer for Lagos residents.

Analysts say with an estimated over six million people plying Lagos daily, either to their work places or around the state, water transportation remains the best option for such movement, especially when the turnaround time on such trips are considered.

Sambo maintained that the core mandate of the NIWA is to ensure the development of the inland waterway transport system in the country, which is the fourth mode of transportation but remains the least developed in the country.

He said: “Our job is to make inland waterway transport as busy as possible. Seacoast has our approval to operate ferry at our terminal at CMS, Victoria Island and Ikorodu.”

IFC, CBN to launch Collateral Registry

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HE International Finance Corporation (IFC) is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish a National Collateral Registry (NCR), IFC’s Project Manager, Ubong Awah, has said.

Speaking on the sideline at a workshop on the N220 billion MSME Fund organised by the Bankers’ Committee’s sub-committee on Economic Development, Sustainability & Gender in collaboration with the CBN, Awah said when established, the Registry would help in stabilising micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) financing and also boost the confidence of local banks in playing active roles in financing the sector. The establishment of the Regis-

By Muyiwa Lucas

try will also assist in minimising the risks associated with MSME financing.

According to Awah, the MSME sector is an important catalyst for economic growth; therefore, financing the sector requires serious attention.

He said: “As an organisation, IFC is bringing the experience we have garnered over the years across geographies to bridge the knowledge gaps and lay emphasis on the fact that globally, collateral for MSME is moving away from fixed assets to movable assets; hence, the need to establish a collateral registry for the financial industry. We are excited to partner with the CBN on this initiative.’’

• From left: Executive Director, Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Plc., Onome Olaolu; Ambassador of the Ireland to Nigeria, Ambassador Sean Hoy; Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Fidelity Bank, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu and Executive Director, Shared Services, Chijioke Ugochukwu when the Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the management of Fidelity Bank in Lagos.

CBN disburses N40b MSMEs’ fund to banks, others T HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed a total of N40.3 billion out of the N220 billion Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) fund it inaugurated last year.

The disbursement of the funds to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Microfinance Banks (MfBs) and other stakeholders, falls below the N9.6 trillion financing deficit of this critical sub-sector of the economy.

Its Head of Relationship Management, MSME Development Finance Department, Tobin Jonathan, who spoke at an MSM forum, said the apex bank is worried by low access to the fund by operators of the sector.

The N220 billion, he added, is designed to address the gap and unlock the potential of the MSMEs as an innovative way of improving their access to finance, shoring up their potentials for job creation

By Collins Nweze

and enabling them to reduce poverty within the country.

He said the apex bank is, particularly, worried that since the fund was launched in August last year, stringent conditions attached to accessing it have prevented any segment of the economy targeted by the fund from accessing it.

He said: “As we speak, N40.3 billion has been disbursed to state governments, commercial banks, MfBs, financial co-operatives. We have disbursed to 19 state governments, some of them have taken first tranche of N1 billion.”

He said complaints from the MSME operators suggested that the criteria were too strict and difficult to meet. This he said made the CBN

Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to relax the criteria across board to make the funds more accessible.

He added that the CBN has also addressed all other complaints raised by participating financial institutions including the spread of profit to cover their cost of operations.

“They can collect the forms at two per cent and give it out at five per cent. So they have seven per cent spread which is good enough. That has encouraged so many of them to begin to apply,” Jonathan said.

Participants in the fund include Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, DMBs, MFIs, MfBs, state governments, Federal Ministers, Heads of Government Agencies and Departments, International Development Agencies and captains of industries.

Expert urges govt to stop malt extract import

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HE Managing Director, Food Agro & Allied Industries Lim ited, Mr. Sudhansu Sinha, has urged the Federal Government to stop the importation of malt syrup into the country, adding that the development constituted huge drain on scarce foreign exchange.

He said farmers from countries, such as China, India and Turkey, where the raw material is imported from, enjoy government subsidies in addition to other waivers that make their products cheaper for importers and consumers.

Speaking at the weekend, Sinha lamented that food, beverage and drinks manufacturers in the country prefer to buy the raw material from foreign countries at the detriment of the growth of the nation’s

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

economy.

He advised the government to implement the policy it started in the 1980’s under which it banned the importation of barley and the by-product of malt extract, which led to research by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) that discovered sorghum, a tropical plant found in abundance in the Northeast, especially in Gombe State.

According to him, the implementation of the policy will not only empower farmers, it will also create employment as there will be capacity utilisation of local industries to grow the economy.

He noted that the market runs into billions of naira, but adding that the government needs to protect the local industries from the overwhelming influence of foreign interest that insist on buying raw materials from their factories abroad rather than patronising local firms with the requisite technology and competitive production process.

Sinha said: “The production of sorghum is going down as the farmers are not empowered and there is no subsidy on agriculture unlike the European countries that protect their farmers. The insecurity problem is a major issue as most of our supplies come from the varieties found in the Northeast.”

‘Lack of technical, financial mgt TUC blames weak law for contract staffing dicial system. In some other AfriENERAL Secretary, Trade hamper SMEs growth’ can countries, common principles Union Congress (TUC),

L

ACK of technical and financial management capacity has been identified as two of the greatest impediments to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The sector is also constrained by the prevailing economic environment as well as the pessimistic attitude of operators.

Managing Consultant, Resort Consult Limited, a financial consultancy firm, specialising Mr. Femi Ekundayo, who spoke in Lagos, also lamented that SME operators also lack good management structure and accounting system to make them attractive to financial institutions for any form of assistance.

With the economic crisis caused

By Chikodi Okereocha

by declining oil prices and subsequent devaluation of the naira, SMEs that depend on high import with its associated foreign exchange risk are unable to compete in the global market place.

The lending rate of between 20 and 30 per cent is also considered unfriendly for SMEs as most of them find it challenging to sustain their businesses at that level.

“It takes a lot of persuasions to make them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them,” he said, adding that a lot of interventions have been made in the sector that has brightened the prospects for SME operators.

G

Comrade Mohammed Lawal, has blamed the continued t existence of contract staff in the country on weak legal system.

Lawal, who represented the President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, at the launch of a book titled: ‘Determination of Contract of Employment’ written by Femi Aborsade, said Nigeria’s legal system needed an urgent review to align with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

He said jobs were no longer secured as employers now opt for short-term flexible employment as part of the strategies to save costs and boost profit.

Aborisade, a lawyer, said he was motivated to publish the book to explore ways through which the

By Toba Agboola

law could be used to address social problem, such as contract employment and the unprecedented grill of unemployment.

He expressed concern over increasing disregard for the rule of law by several private sector employers, noting that violation and open disregard for the law is capable of creating atmosphere of industrial unrest.

He said: “In doing this, I felt it is necessary to establish the international standard establish by the ILO and which is being practised in countries, such as South African, Zimbabwe. We have to compare and contrast.

“We discovered that the international standard being adopted by ILO is lacking in the Nigerian ju-

have been jettisoned in favour of the international standard that states that no employer has no right to sack any employee without following the normal procedures.

“The two principles guiding the contract employment which is stated in the ILO recommendation are applicable in other countries, but they are not applicable in the Nigerian legal system.’’

A former Attorney-General of Edo State, who is also the reviewer of the book, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, said progressive laws were being violated with impunity by employers, particularly in the private sector, adding that workers are denied the right to organise.

27

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS For more over 12 decades, First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) has continued to provide exceptional services to its numerous customers at home and abroad. The lender has broken new ground, acquiring new lenders, and winning accolades for its services in the financial sector, writes ALVIN AFADAMA.

FirstBank: Corporate governance promoter

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ANKING thrives on quality services and trust. At First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), the customer is seen as king, and is treated thus.

It is therefore not surprising that in its over 120 years in business, the management and staff of FirstBank have strived to give customers the ‘exceptional services’ that have kept and strengthened the business relationship.

The feedback from stakeholders has equally been exceptional, as they responded with awards and different forms of recognition for the lender.

The bank has also continually evolved, changing its brand names severally, but retained the high quality of services that define its brand essence.

For instance, for the fourth consecutive year, First Bank of Nigeria has been ranked number one banking brand in Nigeria by The Banker magazine of Financial Times and Brand Finance, London, United Kingdom in their annual 2015 The Top 500 Banking Brands.

The Country Representative of The Banker magazine - Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ogedengbe, the lender moves from being number 382 in 2014 to 336 this year. A leapt of 46 places.

Other Nigerian banks that made the ranking include Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Access Bank. Zenith Bank moves to number 388 from 453 in 2014, Guaranty Trust Bank moves to 417 from 422 while Access Bank made first entry into the ranking.

Brand value of First Bank increases to $300 million in 2015 from $228 in 2014 representing an increase of 31.57 per cent. The brand value according to the Silvia Pavoni, the Economics editor of the magazine, is “the licensing rate that a third-party would need to pay to use that company’s brand.”

The history FirstBank was established in 1894 as the premier Bank in West Africa, and is now Nigeria’s number one bank brand and the leading financial services solutions provider in the country.

The bank was founded by Sir Alfred Jones, a shipping magnate from Liverpool, England. With its head office originally in Liverpool, it commenced business on a modest scale in Lagos, under the name, Bank of British West Africa (BBWA).

In 1912, the lender acquired its first competitor, the Bank of Nigeria (previously called Anglo-African Bank) which was established in 1899 by the

Royal Niger Company. In 1957, it changed its name from Bank of British West Africa (BBWA) to Bank of West Africa (BWA). Again in 1966, following its merger with Standard Bank, UK, FirstBank adopted the name Standard Bank of West Africa Limited and in 1969 it was incorporated locally as the Standard Bank of Nigeria Limited in line with the Companies Decree of 1968.

Changes in the name of the Bank also occurred in 1979 and 1991 to First Bank of Nigeria Limited and First Bank of Nigeria Plc, respectively. In 2012, the bank changed its name again to First Bank of Nigeria Limited as part of a restructuring resulting in FBN Holdings Plc (FBN Holdings), having detached its commercial business from other businesses in the FirstBank Group, in compliance with new regulation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

FirstBank had 1.3 million shareholders globally, was quoted on The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), where it was one of the most capitalised companies and also had an unlisted Global Depository Receipt (GDR) programme, all of which were transferred to its Holding Company, FBN Holdings, in December 2012.

Building on of its solid foundation, the bank has consistently broken new ground in the domestic financial sector for over a century and two decades.

FirstBank is present in the United Kingdom and France through its subsidiary, FBN Bank (UK) Limited with branches in London and Paris; and in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi with its Representative Offices there.

In October 2011, the lender acquired a new subsidiary, Banque International de Credit (BIC), one of the leading banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In November 2013, FirstBank acquired ICB in The Gambia, SierraLeone, Ghana and Guinea, and in 2014, the Bank acquired ICB in Senegal.

These were major landmarks in its plan for growing its sub-Saharan African footprint.

As the global operating environment evolves, FirstBank has kept pace, responding to the dynamic needs of its customers, investors, regulators, host communities, employees and other stakeholders. Through a balanced approach to plan execution, FirstBank has consolidated its industry leadership by maintaining transgenerational appeal. Thus, the Bank has continuously boosted its customer-base, which cuts across all segments in terms of size, structure and sectors.

Union Bank achieves ISO certification

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NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has been certified to the internationally recognised ISO27001:2013 standard for Information Security. The bank was awarded the certificate following a rigorous audit process conducted by the British Standards Institute (BSI), in partnership with Information Value Chain consulting firm, Digital Jewels.

ISO 27001:2013 is an information security standard published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and International Electro technical Commission (IEC), under the joint ISO and IEC subcommittee.

The standard specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving information security management across systems, people and processes.

It also includes requirements for

the assessment and treatment of information security risks specifically tailored to the needs of an organisation.

The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa said: "Since we began implementing our transformation initiatives in 2014, we have continued to improve our systems and processes to deliver optimal service levels to our customers. This certification reinforces our commitment to embracing global best practices in ensuring the integrity of our customer data and a secure operating environment."

Last year, Union Bank became the first Nigerian financial institution to be awarded the latest Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) - Version 3.0, which offers customers added protection from card fraud and other security vulnerabilities.

Leveraging experience spanning over a century of dependable services, FirstBank has continued to build relationships and alliances with key sectors of the economy that have served as strategic building blocks for the wellbeing, growth and development of the country. With its huge asset base and expansive branch network, as well as continuous re-invention, FirstBank is Nigeria’s strongest banking franchise, maintaining market leadership on all fronts in the nation’s financial services industry.

Growth strategy FirstBank has about 800 business locations in Nigeria that are online, real time, and enjoys one of the largest domestic sales networks in the country. As a market leader in the financial services sector, the elnder pioneered initiatives in international money transfer and electronic banking, serving more than nine million customer accounts.

Besides, the lender’s strategy has been focused on restructuring the business to take advantage of growth opportunities within the industry, pursuing business line expansion across strategic business units, continuously implementing a systematic international expansion plan and sequencing its growth initiatives across defined metrics.

Manpower development FirstBank’s manpower development policy recognises the invaluable contribution that human resources

make to the growth and development of countries successfully navigating from third world to developed country status. Besides, its human capital management initiatives are geared towards providing necessary support to staff, departments, and the various business drivers to enable the Bank achieve its goals and objectives.

The lender also hires personnel with the unique skill sets needed to fully leverage its operations. Its succession planning framework ensures perpetual business continuity.

The long drawn transformation in the Nigerian financial services sector has distinguished it as Nigeria’s strongest financial services group. This is arguably as a result of the Bank’s proactive and far-reaching transformation programme initiated ahead of the turn of the present century. FirstBank was the first quoted company in Nigeria to achieve the feat of hitting the trillion naira mark in market capitalisation, the clearest evidence of the market’s estimation of its worth.

Corporate Awards

governance/

A best-fit corporate governance promoter, FirstBank’s corporate governance practice remains at the industry’s leading-edge. This is especially evident in its laudable leadership transition processes, ensuring that there is seamless business continuity and stability in all aspects of the Bank’s businesses. This corporate governance posture has won the Bank much respect and recognition both

•FirstBank CEO, Bisi Onasanya

locally and internationally.

In its 120 years of uninterrupted operations, FirstBank’s outstanding services have attracted innumerable recognitions and awards. The bank was first listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in March 1971 and won the NSE’s Annual President’s Merit Award for the best financial report in the banking industry a record thirteen times. This subsisting feat received additional impetus when the Bank in 2011 was bestowed with the “Best Financial Reporting Company” award by Africa Investor, one of Africa’s most respected multimedia investment news and information publishers.

In the same period, FirstBank was named the “Most Innovative Bank in Africa” by African Banker Awards.

This highly coveted award goes to the African bank that has demonstrated original and practical uses of technology to provide customer convenience, better and cheaper services, and greater access to the financial services industry in Africa.

• From left: Head corporate Responsibility and sustainability, FirstBank, Ismail Omamegbe; Executive Director, Lagos & West, FirstBank, Gbenga Shobo; Principal, Tinuola International College, Ado Ekiti, Kehinde Alao; and Business Development Manager, FirstBank Ekiti, Abiola Lufadeju at the commemoration of the Global Money Week/Financial Literacy Day in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

FCMB kicks off traning for SMEs’ owners

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has commenced an empowerment programme for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their financial, marketing and management skills.

The exercise is aimed at equipping operators with the necessary skills they can readily deploy to effectively operate, grow their businesses and profitability.

Tagged ''FCMB Capacity Building Initiative: Empowering the Nigerian SMEs'', the empowerment programme is in partnership with Shopp!ng Internet Services Limited.

It involves series of free training and radio programmes cutting across various topical issues concerning SMEs. The pilot phase of the exercise, which the Bank, has aptly christened cluster marketing, kicked-off in

Lagos and will last for five months after which it will be extended to other parts of the country for another 18 months.

Apart from Shopping Internet Services Limited, the training has been endorsed by stakeholders such as the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jobberman Limited, House of Tara and Metro FM, which will broadcast the training on radio.

The bank's Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Mr. Olufemi Bakre, said at a briefing in Lagos that the training was conceived by the bank to build the capacity of SMEs by exposing them to modern and innovative skills that would help them realise their objectives.

This, he added is in line with one of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focal areas of the Bank and its value as a helpful financial institution.

''FCMB realises that SMEs play pivotal roles in the growth of the nation's economy.We also understand that a number of factors combine to determine the success or failure of SMEs,'' Bakre assured.

Senior Economist at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Sunny Michael, endorsed the initiative, stating that all hands must be on deck to build the capacity of SMEs. ''While it is very important to provide financial support to SMEs, we must also consider their ability to make judicious use of such funds to achieve the desired result. If SMEs are not effectively equipped with the right training and skills, it will be difficult for them to utilise the funds made available to them. This is why we strongly believe in this initiative of FCMB,” he stressed.

28

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA Dana Air begins flights to Owerri

ECA-AU ministers’ conference holds tomorrow

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HE Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) will hold its conference of ministers from tomorrow.

It is coming against the backdrop of negotiations leading up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and within the context of the continent's Agenda 2063.

Over 1,000 participants are expected, including no fewer than 50 ministers of Finance, Planning and Development, 30 Central Bank governors and key leaders as well as thinkers from business and academia.

The conference will tackle the theme: "Implementing Agenda 2063 Planning, Mobilising and Financing for Development".

At the event, the ECA will also launch its Annual Economic Report on Africa, with the main theme: "Industrialisation through trade".

The last two meetings, which held in Abidjan and Abuja, focused on

• From left: Operations Support Manager, EMEA Servair, Mr. Gael Lokossou; Executive Director, Servair Nigeria, Mrs. Leye Akingbe and Vice President, African Operations, Servair, Mr. Laurent Hermet, after Servair Nigeria was named the 2014 Bronze Winner for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at the Quality & Safety Alliance Inflight Services Programme (QSAI) Award of Excellence in Catering Quality in Santiago, Chile.

industrialisation and transformative growth. At the meetings, calls were made to African countries to adopt dynamic industrial policies with innovative institutions, effective processes and flexible mechanisms to transform their economies to bring about inclusive and sustainable economic as well as social development.

But, this year's theme will highlight the importance of securing finance to implement the continent's development agenda.

The financing needs of Agenda 2063, the organisers said, "are considerable, in particular with regard to regional integration; intra-Africa trade, infrastructure among others".

The ministers will also focus on the role of finance as well as discuss ways to put together better frameworks so that the banks and financial services will play a more active role in driving the transformation agenda.

The conference will focus on domestic resource mobilisation since Africa

‘New chair’ll transform AshakaCem’

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HAREHOLDERS have expressed optimism that the appointment of Mallam Suleiman Yahyah as the new Chairman of AshakaCem will add great value and lead to a revolutionary transformation in the cement company.

President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria - Nigeria's biggest shareholders association - Mr. Sunny Nwosu, said the appointment of Yahyah is commendable, describing him ‘’as a man of groundbreaking record in managing quoted companies."

"He has a big heart. Even when you have a problem with him, he will call you and say let's settle. He also understands the yearning of shareholders," Nwosu said in a statement.

In a statement, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, chairman, Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, commended the Board and management of AshakaCem, saying: Yahyah has a record of innovative achievements as chairman and director in other companies. The statement reads in part: "We have seen his patriotic zeal, his commitment, selfless services and acumen for transforming businesses within a short time."

The shareholders said: "Yahyah's appointment will definitely bring tremendous benefits and the much needed repositioning for greater efficiency in production, human resource management and marketing."

The statement added: "Suleiman Yahyah will assist in reviving AshakaCem Plc through his effective

and exemplary leadership style."

Also expected to bring on board their wealth of experience are Mr. Anders Kristiansson, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa and Alhaji Rabiu Abdullahi Umar.

Mallam Yahyah-a First Class Economics graduate- takes over from Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga.

AshakaCem is a subsidiary of the Lafarge Africa Plc. He is also the chairman of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Rosehill Group, Asokoro Island (AIL) and director in other companies in the country.

AshakaCem Plc, in its notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) stated: "The Board of Directors has appointed Mallam Suleiman Yahyah OON as the Board chairman effective from March 12, 2015."

Firm takes campaign to Anambra

T

O position its brand, Chikki Noodles has intensified its consumer awareness programme Recently, the brand campaign train was in Southeast, Umuoji town, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The campaign strategy, which revolved around the brand’s sponsorship of key schools' events in major towns is targeted at creating top of the mind awareness and recognition for the brand.

The campaign train, which has become a common feature in most schools' events in Lagos, played a dominant role in the sponsorship of Umuoji Community Secondary School's yearly inter-house sports.

It was a highly exciting moment for the pupils, parents and teachers watching the delightful displays by the Chikki Mascot. Gift items consisting mainly of Chikki Noodles and Chip Chips were distributed to guests at the event.

The inter-house sports featured five competing houses represented by the colours of purple, green, red, yellow and pink.

The various houses jostled to outdo one another in several sporting events: athletics, egg-race, sack race and fashion display.

The track and field event was the most interesting, taking a better part of the day. At the end of the various sporting events, Green House emerged tops with the highest num-

ber of medals. Red House came second while Yellow House was third.

The colourful event was witness by a large number of spectators including parents who came to support their wards.

The event, which started with a march past by the six houses, also featured the Young Farmers Club, the Road Safety Club, Youth Service Corps Members, including staffmembers.

Some of the dignitaries, who witnessed the event, were the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Norbert Obi; the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima and Chief Edi Umuesi, special guest and chairman of the occasion.

Project Smile to make people productive at work places

T

HE Initiator, Project Smile, Dr Amy Traore, has identified excellent oral health condition a crucial condition to make people more productive in any endeavour.

She said in Lagos that the project, a corporate social responsibility initiative in the oral health sector now in its Season Three, is designed to provide succour to people who have suffered one flaw or the other in the oral part of their body, adding that a lot of people have suffered stigmatisation because of this.

She said the project would take care of the financial expenses of indigent people who ordinarily could not afford to pay the high cost of undertaking corrective measures in their defective oral health condition.

According to her, the occasion was chosen to coincide with global celebration of oral health day, underscoring the important position it holds in every facet of human life, especially in the work place.

Traore said last year that the project was in three cases - mild,

moderate and severe, stressing, however, that it ended up doing nine as it got support from partner organisations that offered to help.

She said this year's would be different because the project has added the Adopt a Smile to give opportunity to more people to benefit from the programme.

Some of the beneficiaries of the project that spoke on the occasion said it has redefined their lives as they are now free to express themselves in public places.

needs funds and more effective and inclusive means of channelling funds to where they can be most effective and where the markets failing to reach. The meetings will also include a week of expert talks, seminars and discussions focusing on a wide variety of themes.

Climate change will feature strongly and the ECA will showcase the work they have been doing on the data front to unleash a data revolution, which will, ultimately, drive policy.

This is part of the ECA's wider mandate to provide data driven policy advice. The conference will also feature the inaugural lecture for the Annual Adebayo Adedeji Lecture Series, launched in Abuja last year.

Later in the year, the much-anticipated regional integration ranking will be released by the ECA. This ranking, using a wide range of metrics, will list countries in terms of how integration friendly they are.

S part of its domestic route network expansion, Dana Air will tomorrow kick off daily flights to Owerri.

The addition of Owerri brings its route network to five destinations - Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Owerri.

The Chief Commercial Officer of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanouzuo, said the airline was working with the objective of integrating most major cities in Nigeria into its route network and making air transport accessible by developing new routes and linking same to its existing routes network to better serve the demands of passengers.

"We are constantly reviewing our operations and our decision to commence operations to Owerri is hinged on our desire to offer passengers in Owerri and its environs access to Dana's wider route network," said Mr. Mbanuzuo.

Also, the airline has set an introductory online fare of N9,900 to boost leisure and business trips across its route network.

Dana Air operates flights from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt and Uyo; will operate daily flights from Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos to the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, as well as onwards flights to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Dana Air, which is the only domestic airline to have undergone an operational audit by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and its foreign partners the Flight Safety Group, has also gone through the three phases of the IOSA workshops and is now due for full IOSA audit coming up within the year.

Lufthansa offers premium on economy flights LUFTHANSA is offering new Premium Economy on all flights to and from Nigeria. Passengers of the German airline would also enjoy the new business class on almost all flights before the end of the year, saying that the new First-Class won accolades in Europe as well as in the United States and that it is synonymous with the most luxurious form of travel from Lufthansa's Nigerian gateways.

The Group Managing Director for West Africa, Lufthansa, Claus Becker said: "Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt remain among the most important destinations in Lufthansa's Africa portfolio. We are proud of the success story in this country together with our esteemed Nigerian passengers".

"The prospects for the aviation sector in Africa are promising: passenger numbers are set to rise in Africa by nearly six percent yearly until 2025.

For Lufthansa in Nigeria this means we remain steadfast in our commitment to our local customers", he said. According to the airline, Lufthansa's success story in Nigeria has been firmly rooted with over 50 years of proud service from Germany.

On March 4, 1962, the first Lufthansa flight touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. "Back then, Lufthansa flew to Lagos with a Boeing 720B aircraft, the world's fastest commercial aircraft at that time. These planes had a passenger capacity of about 160, ‘’ Becker said.

Firm wins award A FIRM, Servair Nigeria, has been named winner of the Quality and Safety Alliance Inflight Services Programme (QSAI) Award of Excellence in Catering Quality.

The company was named the 2014 Bronze Winner for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, in the award designed to recognise the world's best airline caterers.

This is the first time a West African company is winning the award. It is also the first time any unit of Servair International, the third largest airline catering company in the world, will win the award.

Patrice Larapidie, General Manager, Servair Nigeria said: "We are thrilled to have won this award. It's a real boost to Servair Nigeria at a time when we've re-focussed our efforts to put the customer at the heart of every meal and cuisine."

The announcement of this year's world's best airline caterers took place at the Cousino Macul Vineyard in Santiago, Chile.

The awards were presented by airlines participating in the Quality & Safety Alliance Inflight Services Programme (QSAI), a programme developed and managed by Medina Quality that monitors and improves the safety and quality of inflight food on behalf of international airlines.

The awards are given across three geographic regions, namely, Asia, the Americas, and Europe/ Middle East/Africa. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are named for each region, making for a total of nine honorees.

One out of these is then selected for the Platinum Worldwide award.

There were over 200 catering facilities located across 80 countries in the running for the awards.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

29

ISSUES Things appear to be looking up for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), despite challenges before the sector credited with the capacity to create jobs, boost production and diversify the economy, writes Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

•Bol MD, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa

SMEs’ thorny road to recovery T

HE Director-General/ CEO,Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce (NYCC), Comrade Peter Ayim, is upbeat that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will soon gather momentum to catalyse industrial growth.

His optimism is hinged on the recent signing of a service agreement between Bank of Industry (BoI) and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) as well as other strategic initiatives aimed at unlocking the opportunities in the sector, globally acknowledged as the engine of growth.

This is because of its capacity to create jobs, boost production and diversify the economy.

BoI had on November 21, last year signed a service agreement with 122 BDSPs. The synergy, seen by industry stakeholders as a revolutionary step in development banking, entailed BDSPs collaborating with the development finance institutions to identify credible SMEs that require funding. They would also develop bankable business plans and proposals for SMEs to facilitate their access to finance. The BDSPs, according to BoI’s Managing Direc-

tor, Rasheed Olaoluwa, would also provide post-finance services, such as mentorship, handholding, advice and inculcation of best practices for SMEs, among others.

A few months after the agreement was consummated, Ayim confirmed to The Nation that the BDSPs have hit the ground running by preparing SME projects for possible financial support by BoI. For instance, NYCC, one of the BDSPs that scaled BoI's rigorous and painstaking selection process, is engaged with about 10 SMEs. "We have been engaging with 10 SMEs. While some came to us on their own, Skye Bank Plc, one of the SME-friendly banks referred some to us. We are talking to the SMEs," he said.

Comrade Ayim added that as part of the chamber's services to its clients, it has also commenced discussions with Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), to organise a workshop for the SMEs. "The service agreement was the missing link," he said, noting that the signing of the agreement effectively addressed the gap in the areas of poor packaging of loan requests and non-bankable business

plans, which are some of the factors responsible for the low level of financial support to SME operators.

He added that as the umbrella body and voice of youth entrepreneurs, the chamber is proud to be associated with an initiative that is poised to stimulate SMEs. While describing the initiative as an emerging trend, he called on SMEs to take advantage of the window created

by BoI to build their capacity to play their role as growth drivers. He said while NYCC and other BDSPs are preparing the enterprise operators by providing them with a range of services, the collaborating banks provide the working capital.

Chairman Managing Consultant, Resort Consult Limited, a BDSP, Mr.

Femi Ekundayo, is no less excited over the prospects of SMEs riding on the platform of the agreement to scale up their operations.

"It's a good thing that BoI did", he said, noting that Resort Consult Limited, a financial consultancy firm specialising in financial advisory service, project and manpower development, is appraising two SME projects before forwarding them to BoI. "We are appraising two projects.

We expect that by April after the elections the projects would be completed and approved," he disclosed. Ekundayo, however, said in rendering services to the SME sector, BDSPs are faced with the challenge of the attitude of SME operators, most of who do not want to be persuaded that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them.

"Despite that a lot of interventions made in the sector brightened prospects for SME operators, it takes a lot of persuasion to make them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them," he said.

He identified other challenges facing SMEs to include lack of technical capacity to package their feasibility studies and businesses very

‘

well; lack of good management structure and accounting system to make them attractive to financial institutions for any form of assistance, as well as harsh economic environment. For instance, most SMEs are weighed down by high operating cost due to lack of basic infrastructure particularly power.

Perhaps, most importantly, with the economic crisis caused by crashing oil prices and, subsequently, the devaluation of the naira, SMEs who depend on high import with the associated foreign exchange risk are unable to compete in the global market. The current lending rate of between 20 and 30 per cent is also considered unfriendly for SMEs, as most of them find it difficult to sustain their businesses at that level.

SME-friendly banks to the rescue The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BoI and 10 SME-friendly banks set the tone for a major reversal in the fortunes of the sector • Continued on page 30

The current economic crisis caused by crashing oil prices and, subsequently, the devaluation of the naira is taking a huge toll on SMEs who depend on high import. With the associated foreign exchange risk, most SMEs are unable to compete in the global market

’

30

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

ISSUES

SMEs’ thorny road to recovery •Continued from page 29

with regards to project funding. The 10 commercial banks renowned for their SME-centric activities were carefully chosen to partner with BoI in the financing of their SME customers. The banks include Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, FirstBank, First City Monument Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and United Bank for Africa.

Essentially, the banks are collaborating with BoI in the provision of long-term loans to qualified SMEs based on BoI's Risk Acceptance Criteria (RAC) and the provision of working capital to the SMEs also based on individual bank's RAC. Olaoluwa explained that the terms of the loans will be in accordance with BoI term loan with a tenor of three to five years. While the moratorium will be 6-12 moths, interest rate is between 9 and 10 per cent per annum. On the other hand, working capital facilities by SME-friendly banks will be on a tenor of 6-12 months.

The BoI MD listed sectors to be financed to include agro-processing, solid minerals and metals, light manufacturing, logistics, etc. identified under the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) launched by the Federal Government recently. While describing the synergy between BoI and the SME-friendly banks as unprecedented, he said it will undoubtedly foster greater access to finance for SMEs, financial inclusion for Nigerians and also engender wealth creation and accelerated job creation for Nigerians.

Banks have since keyed into this aspiration, having seen the synergy as opening up a new vista for them in that sector of the economy.

CBN shows the way The launch of the N220 billion MSMEs' Development Fund in August 2013 by the CBN was a shot in the arm of MSMEs. The intervention, which CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, described as an innovative way of improving MSMEs access to finance, was aimed at shoring up the sector's potential for job creation and poverty reduction in the country. One way it hopes to achieve this is by addressing the challenge of high cost of funds that has continued to affect operators' profitability.

This is so because most commercial banks charge as high as between 22 and 25 per cent interest rates. Micro-finance Banks (MFBs) even charge higher, insisting on between 30 and 40 per cent interest rates. The exorbitant interest rate charged by the commercial banks is also believed to be partly responsible for why local industries are uncompetitive.

This was why the CBN in its guidelines said the fund attracts nine per cent interest rate.

The fund would also be administered through private or state owned Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs), Finance Houses, and Cooperative Finance Agencies. Such MFIs or micro-finance banks must pass CBN's competency and proficiency tests in order to certify them capable of distributing these funds to MSMEs. State governments will be able to access up to N2 billion each for lending to eligible beneficiaries through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) in their states.

In other words, the CBN will not be lending directly to farmers or businesses. What the fund does is a wholesale fund. It provides funding to the PFIs. MFIs or micro-finance banks can also come to the fund. The CBN will assess them; give them the money at low interest rate. The PFIs would undertake that they will lend at low rate of interest to micro-entrepreneurs, the low-income earners, farmers, artisans and the active poor who operate in the informal sector. Also, PFIs can only finance agricultural value chain activities, trade and commerce; cottage industries, artisans, among others.

The apex bank in a bid to ensure that productive sectors of the economy attract more finance necessary for employment creation and diversification of the country's economic base, also said a maximum of 10 per cent of

A Cottage firm.

the commercial component of the fund should be channeled to trading and commerce.

The icing on the cake of the intervention for MSMEs perhaps, was the provision that 60 per cent of the fund, representing N132 billion, be earmarked for providing financial services to women-owned businesses.

Emefiele said PFIs would be required to submit periodic returns on disbursements as well as an analysis of the social impacts of the fund.

He added that the finance sector regulator will also undertake regular on and off site checks to ascertain the veracity of the reports received.

SON, OPS also involved Rejection of made in Nigeria goods because of poor quality and packaging remains a pain in the neck of most SME operators. To halt the trend, which inflicts losses to operators and by extension, the local economy, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is certifying SMEs in the country to prepare them for export. This is in the hope of stopping the high scrutiny given made-in-Nigeria goods at the global market.

During a visit by the National President, Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar to SON in Lagos, its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the agency found that apart from challenges of funding and poor management facing SMEs, what makes SMEs fit for export is not just for their products to meet Nigerian standards but also meet international standards.

"We intend to work with SMEs going forward to build them to international standards," he said.

Odumodu stated that as part of the agency's emphasis on making made in Nigeria products acceptable all over the world, its accredited laboratory is for a specific competence, which boasts of carrying chemical and biological testing for agricultural products in the country. He said Nigeria has entered a phase, which he called the map for world quality due to its latest accredited laboratory.

While urging SMEs to take advantage of this golden opportunity to push their products to the world, he said SON intends to certify 50 SMEs to International Standard Organisation (ISO) 9001 quality management systems.

SME operators are not folding their arms.

Recently, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), part of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) commenced a programme of equipping SMEs with requisite skills needed to make their products competitive.

LCCI President Alhaji Remi Bello, stressed that the Chamber was embarking on the initiative because the sector has been proven by developed economies of the world as a tool to accelerate economic growth and development.

Bello, who spoke through LCCI Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, during the graduation of 25 mentees of the chamber's mentoring programme scheme 2, said the mentoring programme is aimed at match-making young business leaders with experienced business owners to share their experiences with the mentees in order to make their products competitive anywhere in the world.

More hurdles to cross Ordinarily, a combination of these interventions ought to take the SME sector out of the woods. But this has not happened. Although, operators and experts say that there is silver lining on the horizon for SMEs as a result of the increased focus on the sector, they however, contend that there are still a number of hurdles that must be crossed if SMEs must get to the 'Promised Land'.

One of such hurdles, according to Mr. Ekundayo, is the lack of technical/financial management capacity by most SMEs. He also said SMEs lack technical capacity and are constrained by harsh economic environment induced by high operating cost due to lack of basic infrastructure, particularly power.

The poor state of roads also increases the cost of transporting both raw materials and finished goods to and from markets. They are also under constant threats from different organs and tiers of government who collect regressive and multiple taxes and levies.

Most importantly perhaps, the current economic crisis caused by crashing oil prices and subsequently, devaluation of the naira, is taking a huge toll on SMEs who depend on high import. With the associated foreign exchange risk, most SMEs are unable to compete in the global market place. The current lending rate of between 20 and 30 per cent is considered unfriendly for SMEs, as most of them find it different to sustain their businesses at that level.

That is not all. The attitude of some SMEs, according to Ekundayo, is not helping matters. He said despite the fact that a lot of interventions made in the sector have brightened prospects for SME operators, "It takes a lot of persuasions to make them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Recommendations Ayim noted that although, Nigeria has the required number of active enterprises, with a predominantly youthful population of over 70 million youths, what is required is for government to give them the needed impetus by deliberately creating the enabling environment that will remove all the barriers that impede youth-led micro enterprises.

According to him, this could be done by building a robust and dynamic public/private enterprise development eco system. "This will facilitate diverse direct investment options in youth focused start-ups and microenterprises," he told The Nation. While describing government's diverse intervention

‘

In the circumstance, a dynamic mix of microleasing, micro-insurance and demand-driven business development services offered within a cluster is a credible option that should be encouraged

’

programmes as 'demonstration of commitment to encourage and support the promotion and development of entrepreneurship and the MSME, he said it is also important for government to explore other credible vistas so that more people can enter and actively participate in the MSME sector.

"In the circumstance, a dynamic mix of micro-leasing, micro-insurance and demanddriven business development services offered within a cluster is a credible option that should be encouraged," he said, adding that using this approach will enable more aspiring entrepreneurs who cannot meet the conditions of accessing available funding options to access appropriate equipment under a micro-leasing arrangement for their businesses while existing entrepreneurs can access equipment to grow and expand their businesses.

Why SMEs hold the ace

President Goodluck Jonathan underscored the critical importance of SMEs to Nigeria's economic growth and development when at the recent inauguration of the MSMEs Council he said: "MSMEs are the innovators, the wealth creators, as well as employment generators. Every MSME today has the potential of growing to the large corporation of tomorrow, and that is why we are now backing the initiative with the creation of this Council."

Latest survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the number of MSMEs in Nigeria at 17.2 million. The enterprises, according to NBS, employ over 32 million people.

Citing the survey, Jonathan said, "Over 95 per cent of registered businesses in Nigeria are small businesses. If each of these businesses employs one more person, we would create over 17 million extra jobs, which would indeed be a revolution in Nigeria's job markets. This is the unexplored power of small businesses."

The President also explained how MSMEs' impact on employment, saying that apart from employing people directly, MSMEs promote employment indirectly through creating market opportunities and improving market conditions. They also disperse and diversify economic activities, wealth creation and distribution as well as localize resources, mobilise savings, and stimulate indigenous entrepreneurship and technology especially in developing economies.

The job creation capacity of the sector appears to be the most interesting. For instance, 70 per cent of all new net jobs in the US are created by SMEs, according to National President of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), the umbrella association for all small scale enterprises and industries in Nigeria, Chief Chuku Wachuku. He however, said that in Nigeria SMEs contribute about 95 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but their only problem is that whereas they contribute this percentage to GDP, the wealth addition stands at only 46 per cent.

He noted that the economy of the emerging nations or even developed nations appreciate that economies must necessarily depend on MSMEs and the informal sector because it's the engine of growth, propelling the economies of those countries by creating the bulk of job opportunities. He said government only creates the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive through unfettered access to credit facility to MSMEs in those countries as well as provide the necessary infrastructure.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

31

MONEYLINK

CBN sells N167b T-Bills, yields fall Govt’s revenues down to N401.5b

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it sold a total of N167 billion of Treasury Bills (T-Bills), less than the N447.81 billion worth of bids submitted by investors.

It said bids at last week’s auction stood at N318.58 billion. The apex bank sold N33.87 billion worth of the 91-day note at 10.79 per cent, broadly flat against the 10.8 per cent fetched at the previous auction.

The 182-day bond worth N50.27 billion was sold at 14.7 per cent, against 14.85 per cent previously, the CBN added.

Stories by Collins Nweze

The T-Bill’s yields fell across the board during the auction, compared with a previous sale on March 4, the CBN said.

The bank said a total of N83 billion worth of the 1-year note attracted 15.35 per cent compared with 15.89 per cent at the previous auction.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s revenues fell two per cent to N401.5 billion in February, from N410 billion in January, on lower oil, gas and other

revenues, the accountant general said yesterday.

The excess crude oil savings account remains unchanged at $2.06 billion, Jonah Otunla said. The decline in oil price and a fall in the price of natural gas, as well as lower non-oil revenues in February contributed to the decline, he said.

“The persistent shut down and shut in of trunks and pipelines at various terminals continued to impact negatively on the revenue performance. Nigeria will distribute N522 billion to its three tiers of government — federal, state and local — for the month of February,

FirstBank, Access Bank back financial literacy

F

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

including revenues, cash from vat and gains on the exchange rate,” Otunla said.

Fidelity Bank’s customers win N80m promo prizes

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has given out N80 million cash prizes to its savings account holders in its Save for Scholarship promo which was concluded at the weekend. Before Friday’s draw in which the lender gave out N15.9 million to 398 winners, it had given out cumulatively, N64.1 million to over 200 winners across the country.

The bank’s Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, IK Mbagu said the essence of the promo is to promote savings culture, and empower customers within the economy. He said the promo is aimed at supporting government’s efforts at building sustainable educational standards in the country and providing financial empowerment to the general populace.

Last weekend’s draw saw Godson Eze and Onuoha Chigozie winning N2 million star prizes each while and Dahud Adeola and Ogbuagu Hycient also won N1 million star prizes each.

Other winners were Umoh Francis, N500,000; Abdulahi Aliu, N500,000; Charity Shekani,

N500,000; Atuanya Daniel among others. Also, Elekan Segun, Aleem Abiodun, Nike Ayanfeoluwa won N210,000 each even as the bank gave out consolation prizes of refrigerators and generators.

In earlier draws, the bank’s Executive Director, Shared Services, Mrs. Chijioke Ugochukwu, said the lender will continue to fulfill

its promises to customers. “At Fidelity Bank, when we make promises, it is always our delight to keep to our word. We know the money will not solve all the needs for education, but it will help,” she said.

Representative of the Consumer Protection Council, Susan Onwuka said the lender has show high level of transparency and integrity in the

conduct of the promo which lasted for six months.

She commended the bank for keeping its word, and redeeming the prizes as promised. “The exercise has been transparent. The feedback from winners shows that the bank has kept its promises to customers in the course of this promo,” she said.

Ecobank inaugurates SME Club to boost subsector

E

COBANK Nigeria has demonstrated its long-term commitment to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with last weekend’s inauguration of ‘SME Club’, the bank’s Managing Director, Jibril Aku hs said.

The bank chief said the SME Club will offer preferential business support, products and services to its teeming customers across the country. According to him, it also serves as a platform for adding value to SMEs through information mining, networking and capacity building.

“We recognise the impact of

growing SMEs and applaud government’s initiatives in promoting the subsector,” Aku said.

He said the bank has on its own, been expanding its scope in SMEs, leveraging on its spread across the African continent to create wealth for its customers. He expects the SME Club help SMEs grow to conglomerates that will become major employers of labour.

The bank’s Executive Head, Business Banking, Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, explained said the Club will build strategic framework that focuses on growing and track-

ing the progress of the SMEs. According to him, “The launching of our SME club is to propel us to the top chart in provision of banking services to SMEs. KPMG in collaboration with Enterprise Development Bank (EDC) carried out a comprehensive survey of SMEs in the country between November, 2013 and March, 2014. The SMEs were selected across the nations’ business/market hubs.

The survey report showed that 10 per cent of SMEs in the market are being financed by Ecobank Nigeria and that 18 per cent of them transact their business with the bank.

IRST BANK of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) and Access Bank Nigeria Plc have reiterated their commitment to promoting financial literacy in the country.

Speaking at the Central Bank of Nigeria Financial Literacy Day held in Ado-Ekiti, FirstBank Executive Director, Lagos and West, Gbenga Shobo, said the lender is firmly committed to the achievement of financial inclusion in Nigeria and would continue to work towards this aspiration by extending banking services to under-banked.

As part of the CBN ‘Adopt A School programme’, Shobo took over 200 students of Tinuola International School, Ado Ekiti through the basic concepts of making money, savings and investments while letting them know that their capacity to make informed decisions will make them better adults in the future.

Also, Access Bank’s Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, said that the lender has pioneered several financial literacy initiatives aimed at promoting awareness for financial Inclusion and literacy amongst women, small and medium scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) and more especially children and schools in Nigeria.

Etuokwu who spoke on the theme: ‘Save Today, Safe Tomorrow’ at the Greensprings School, Anthony Campus, Lagos, in commemoration of the 2015 Global Money week said: “Several years ago we launched Nigeria’s first fun-filled interactive financial literacy campaign for kids, parents and educators with the Access Early Savers campaign”.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

129.05 36,584.31 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,767.41 115.85 121.16 1.05 1.1896 1.3147 0.7077 1.1379

128.65 36,584.31 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,767.41 115.05 120.30 1.03 1.1834 0.3147 0.6969 1.1379

CHAMPION FO

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

4.70

5.16

9.79

181.00

190.05

5.00

LIVESTOCK

1.93

2.02

4.66

SKYEBANK

2.20

2.30

4.55

NASCON

6.25

6.52

4.32

22.00

22.90

4.09

GUARANTY VITAFOAM NESTLE AIICO

3.42

3.55

3.80

800.00

829.50

3.69

0.87

0.90

3.45

LOSERS AS AT 16-03-15

SYMBOL NPFMCRFBK UBN PZ DANGFLOUR DIAMONDBNK EVANSMED COSTAIN UBA ZENITHBANK RTBRISCOE AFRIPRUD

O/PRICE 1.00 9.48 25.70 3.05 3.80 2.15 0.67 3.65 17.00 0.69 2.47

C/PRICE 0.95 9.01 24.43 2.90 3.62 2.05 0.64 3.53 16.49 0.67 2.40

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 23, 2015

Inflation: December

8%

Monetary Policy Rate

CHANGE -5.00 -4.96 -4.94 -4.92 -4.74 -4.65 -4.48 -3.00 -2.83 -2.61 -2.45

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$33.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 16-03-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

19 Feb

20 Feb

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

19 Feb 29,282.04 9,770.36 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

20 Feb 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

32

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

33

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

34

EQUITIES

Electoral risk shaves off N462b from Nigerian equities

A

NXIETIES over the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections pervaded the stock market last week as investors scrambled to lock in cash and realign their portfolios. Investors discountenanced substantial undervaluation of most quoted equities and the trickles of full-year audited results and dividend recommendations.

With nearly five decliners for every advancer, Nigerian equities were overwhelmed by the downtrend orchestrated by inflow of unrestricted sale orders, especially from foreign investors who were anxious about the outcome of the general elections.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped by N462 billion to close the week at N9.789 trillion as against its opening value of N10.251 trillion for the week. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI)- a value-based composite index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, indicated a week-on-week decline of 4.51 per

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

cent to close the week at 29,334.23 points. The ASI had opened the week at 30,719.36 points.

All key value-based indices at the NSE indicated widespread bearish sentiments with additional risk of assets deterioration fuelling faster decline in the banking sector. The NSE 30 Index, a large-cap index that tracks the 30 most capitalized stocks on the NSE, indicated average weekly decline of 5.58 per cent. The NSE Banking Index recorded the highest loss of 11.77 per cent. The NSE Oil and Gas Index declined by 5.08 per cent while the NSE Insurance Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index indicated average week-onweek loss of 0.25 per cent, 2.67 per cent and 2.53 per cent respectively.

The NSE Lotus Islamic Index, which tracks Shari’ah –compliant stocks, also depreciated by 2.68 per cent.

The downtrend further worsened the negative overall market situation at the stock market. Average year-to-date return closed weekend at -15.36 per cent, implying greater

losses for investors as latest inflation rate showed increase from 8.2 per cent in January to 8.4 per cent in February.

There were 11 gainers against 53 losers last week. Also, some 132 stocks, mostly stunted insurance stocks and other long-time penny stocks, closed flat. Africa Prudential Registrars suffered the highest loss of 22.58 per cent to close at N2.40 per share. Zenith Bank followed with a drop of 19.95 per cent to close at N16.49. Dangote Flour Mills dropped by 17.85 per cent to close at N2.90. Diamond Bank depreciated by 14.82 per cent to close at N3.62 while Fidelity Bank declined by 14.57 per cent to close at N1.29 per share.

Total turnover stood at 1.38 billion shares worth N12.05 billion in 16,877 deals. Financial services sector remained the most active with a turnover of 1.23 billion shares valued at N7.18 billion traded in 10,743 deals. This represented 88.9 per cent of total turnover. Conglomerates sector staged a distant second with a turnover of 61.57 million shares worth N187.60 mil-

lion in 814 deals while the consumer goods sector placed third with a turnover of 49.20 million shares worth N3.2 billion in 2,450 deals.

The trio of Diamond Bank, Access Bank and FCMB Group were the most active stocks, accounting for 550.74 million shares worth N2.42 billion in 1,500 deals, representing 39.8 per cent and 20.1 per cent of the total turnover volume and value respectively.

Also, 105,162 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1.504 million were traded in 20 deals during the week.

The performance of the Nigerian market contrasted sharply with the predominantly bullish mood of the global markets. In the emerging markets, China Shanghai Composite Index indicated a positive return of 7.2 per cent last week. The Brazilian IBOVESPA rose by 6.1 per cent. In London, the United Kingdom FTSE indicated a week-onweek gain of 3.3 per cent while the United States’ key indices, S & P 500 and NASDAQ appreciated by 2.4 per cent and 3.2 per cent respec-

tively.

Analysts attributed the negative performance of the Nigerian stock market to anxieties over the forthcoming general elections.

“While the bearish trading in the market within the past two weeks has further led to increased upside potential for equities, investors’ apprehension as the general elections approaches next week remained the only downside risk,” analysts at Afrinvest Securities stated in their weekend review.

Analysts said the market may remain on the downside this week as more investors seek to exit their positions. They however noted the increasing upside potential being created by the continuing undervaluation of equities.

“Selling pressures have again returned as we approach the polls on 28 March as some foreign investors think the previously unthinkable.

We may have had the thoughts but do not reach the dark conclusions.

FBN Capital sees a one per cent loss for the index (ASI) over the full year,” analysts at FBN Capital stated.

Chapel Hill Denham becomes primary market maker

C

HAPEL Hill Denham Securities Limited has been appointed as a primary market maker at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This appointment confers a special status on Chapel Hill Denham as one of the foremost traders on the stock market.

Market-making is a technical term that generally refers to the system of providing liquidity to securities through provision of bid and offer prices in the trading system of a stock exchange. A member of the exchange that undertakes the function of market making is called market maker.

Market makers are usually categorized according to the level of liquidity supports they provide. A primary market maker is regarded as the foremost liquidity provider of a particular security while the supplemental market maker acts as a supplementary liquidity provider.

Executive Director, Business De-

A

velopment, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna JaloWaziri, described the appointment as a positive step towards the improvement of market liquidity and depth.

According to him, Chapel Hill Denham went through a rigorous selection process and met the minimum net capital requirement, as well as compliance history and operational standards, as set by the Exchange.

He explained that the marketmaking initiative is aimed at providing liquidity through the establishment of best prices and the narrowing of spreads noting that there is one primary market maker and two supplemental market makers assigned to each listed equity.

The market-making initiative started on the NSE in September 2012 with the commencement of a hybrid market system that allows market makers to provide two way quotes and licensed brokers.

•From Left: Head, Product Management, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oladipo Omotoso; Chief Executive Officer, Chapel Hill Denham Securities Limited, Mr. Akeem Shadare; Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri and Compliance Officer, Chapel Hill Denham Securities Limited, Ms. Ewere Mgbeke at the presentation of appointment letter as a Primary Market Maker to Chapel Hill at the Exchange

The NSE had initially in April 2012 appointed 10 stockbrokers as market makers. These included Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Renais-

sance Capital, Future View Securities, Vetiva Capital, ESS/ DunnLoren Merrifield, WSTC Financial Services, Capital Bancorp,

FBN Securities, Greenwich Securities and CSL Stockbrokers. However, WSTC Financial Services resigned its position.

Financial expert advises investors on how to mitigate risks

FINANCIAL expert and the chief marketing officer of Flobal Trust Limited, Mr. Abayomi Adeyeri, has advised investors to develop the habit of continuous savings and investments, and to avail themselves of the services of professional investment managers in order to achieve sustainable living standards during and after their active career.

Adeyeri, a former regional head and senior management member of Ecobank Nigeria Limited, cautioned that savings and investment should not be handled haphazardly, but should be managed through a planned programme of ideas, resources and actions based on individual peculiarities. Mr. Adeyeri was delivering a paper at the first Warri Business Seminar, held in Warri, Delta State.

According to him, investments involve risks which are greatly reduced when investors seek advice from professional investment managers and also show commitment towards continuous savings and investments. He noted that investment risks can also be mitigated by diversifying one’s portfolio across several investment options including money market instruments such as treasury bills; capital market instruments such as shares and real estate investments, among others.

While acknowledging that there

are risks involved in non-fixed investments such as shares, Adeyeri opined that diversification and use of professional managers would ensure that investors reap the greatest benefit associated with such high-risk investments.

He, however cautioned that investors should always carry out due diligence to confirm the status of any investment company they

want to deal with, noting that they can directly verify the status of any investment company by making enquiry at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or check the website of the Commission.

SEC is the apex regulator for the capital market.

According to him, the status check on any professional manager or investment firm should include veri-

fication of whether the person or company has flouted any extant law guiding capital market operations.

He advised income earners to develop the habit of paying themselves first by setting aside a predetermined portion of their income, at least 20 per cent, for continuous savings and investments.

He pointed out that everybody needs to have a financial plan that

will specify savings and investment objectives and draw up specific action plan to achieve these objectives.

In drawing up a financial plan, the objectives could include a home, a car, a comfortable retirement, children education, new business, periods of unemployment and caring for parents and extended family among others depending on individual priorities and stage in life.

Unity Bank bounces back with N13.6b profit

U

NITY Bank Plc made a remarkable turnaround in 2014 as the commercial bank returned to the green with a pre-tax profit of about N14 billion. Against the background of loss before tax of N33.64 billion in 2013, Unity Bank rode on the back of improved capital base, growing top-line and better cost efficiency to record a full-year profit before tax of N13.64 billion.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that gross earnings rose from N62.83 billion in 2013 to N77.07 billion in 2014. Interest income had grown from N52.2 billion in 2013 to N62.64 billion in 2014 while net interest income rose from N30.14 billion to N45.45 billion. Fee and commission income stood at

N10.71 billion in 2014 as against N7.33 billion in 2013. Other incomes totaled N3.72 billion in 2014 compared with N3.30 billion in 2013.

After taxes, net profit stood at N10.69 billion in 2014 compared with net loss after tax of N22.58 billion in 2013. Earnings per share thus turned positive with a modest 17.45 kobo in 2014 in contrast with loss per share of 58.74 kobo recorded in previous year.

The balance sheet of the bank also firmed up substantially. Total assets rose to N413.31 billion in 2014 as against N403.63 billion in 2013.

Total liabilities meanwhile dropped from N375.42 billion in 2013 to N337.04 billion in 2014.

Shareholders’ funds closed 2014 at N76.26 billion as against N28.21 billion in 2013.

Unity Bank had raised N39.22 billion new equity funds in 2014 through a combined rights issue of N19.22 billion and special placement of N20 billion.

In a recent review, managing director, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Henry Semenitari, said the bank’s growth was founded on the improving fundamentals and would not be impaired by any loss or impairments going forward.

According to him, the bank’s current growth strategy is anchored on strict operational efficiency in line with its chosen business model and strategic intent of being the leading retail bank in Nigeria.

“The growth is expected to continue in the foreseeable future, no loan loss, no impairment, no termite will eat into this profit because it’s cash income,” Semenitari as-

sured.

He said the bank has what it takes to achieve its vision of being the retail bank of choice by 2020 citing its vast nationwide branches, human resources, improved capital base and committed executive and non-executive directors.

He outlined that Unity Bank is already one of Nigeria’s leading retail banks in the country with 240 business offices spread across the country and ranking as Nigeria’s 7th largest bank by business locations adding that the bank would increase its branch network in the nearest future.

He pointed out that the bank has carved out a niche for itself as a leading bank in small and medium enterprises, agriculture and rural economy financing noting that the bank is leveraging on its historical

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• A power plant station

With the rehabilitation of its sixth steam turbine, Egbin Power Generation Plc may soon throw its doors open to job seekers. So also is Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), which is carrying out an audit to create fresh openings. EMEKA UGWUANYI reports.

More jobs coming in Egbin Power, H Eko DISCO

ERE is good news for job seekers, especially those with engineering and technical skills. There will soon be job openings in Egbin Power Generation Plc and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in Lagos State.

The Egbin Power management has rehabilitated the plant’s sixth steam turbine (ST06), adding 220 megawatts (MW) to the national grid. The company is also upgrading its facility; overhauling and retooling the ST04 to maximise output.

With the rehabilitation, the plant’s six turbines are operational and meeting its 1320MW installed capacity. The jobs will come from the planned expansion of the plant, which will add another 1,350MW from the combined cycle plant.

Chairman, Egbin Power Plc Kola Adesina said on handover of the plant to its new owners, Sahara Power Group and Korea Electric Power Company Nigeria (KEPCO) in November 2013, the plants rehabilitation became a priority. He noted that the restoration of ST06 and the retooling of ST04 have created thousands of jobs, adding that more will be created.

In recognition of the importance of commerce and industry, output from Egbin unit Six will be made available under an innova-

tive bilateral commercial arrangement to Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies to help improve power availability in Lagos and its industrial outskirts.

“We are, indeed, leading a new dawn in job creation within Lagos and its environs.

We have made significant investments in the rehabilitation of Unit Six, overhauling and retooling of Unit Four, renovation of the office space, computerisation of processes, and increase in staff remuneration. We recruited 107 engineers to shore up the capac-

ity deployment in the plant, he said, adding that by the development, over 6,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect employments will be created in terms of support and maintenance services, engineering, procurement, supplies to power sector, including support for the small and medium scale industries.”

On the new 1350MW plant planned for construction, Adesina stated that the management has inaugurated the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study. After the preliminary activities, including the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), among others, the company will mobilise to site.

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

36

JOBS

More jobs coming in Egbin Power, Eko DISCO •Continued from page 35

From the foundation, construction and installation of the turbines, tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created for specialised, skilled and unskilled job seekers outside engineers and technicians, he stated.

Adesina said electricity has played a pivotal role in unlocking potentials, unchaining productivity and releasing vital energy that guarantees individual and national prosperity, innovation and industrialisation. Electricity supply in a reliable manner will help uplift the creative intelligence of our people and engender exceptional entrepreneurship in our citizens.

“We have commenced an ambitious plan to double the capacity of Egbin within the next four years, Adesina said, adding that the 1,350MW will be realised with the kick-starting of the Combined Cycle plant with its Front End Engineering Design Study in place.

“For us to achieve these noble objectives and unravel the bottlenecks in the value chain, we seek government’s help in terms of gas availability and expansion of the transmission network.

But in the light of paucity of funds faced by the government, the hands of the private sector needs to be strengthened by allowing significant investment in both the transmission and gas infrastructure.

With the appropriate models and investment recovery mechanism, this holistic public private partnership (PPP) approach, will engender a faster, cheaper and more productive result in rapidly growing the value chain.

“Beyond the shores of our nation, we aim to eventually expand the scope of our operations to the African market, through acquisition of existing power facilities and building of new infrastructure, not only through trading of electricity across Africa but also to provide a leeway to trans-national development.”

The owners of the Egbin Power and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company – the Sahara Energy Group and its partner, Korea Electric Power Company Nigeria (KEPCO) recently employed 107 young graduate engineers who are

• Nebo

• Dr. Oladele Amoda

being trained by the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) under the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAN). The company is also set for recruitment.

Adesina said the choice of NAPTIN for this resource function was informed by the company’s belief that it is well equipped to provide the depth of expertise required to master peculiarities of

the sector as the reforms continue to unfold.

He noted that Sahara Power would also take advantage of its relationship with the globally renowned Korea Electric Power Company to expose its professionals to offshore training and exchange programmes.

The Minister of Power Prof Chinedu Nebo said the Federal Government in an effort to create

more jobs spaces in the power sector, initiated a one-year apprenticeship scheme to train 7,400 young Nigerians on technical jobs.

Known as NAPSAS at will ensure that there is adequate skilled manpower base that will take up jobs in the sector instead of expatriates.

Participants are drawn from across the country and trained in batches. Nebo said the initiative is vital or lest foreigners will take up

Beyond the shores of our nation, we aim to eventually expand the scope of our operations to the African market, through acquisition of existing power facilities and building of new infrastructure, not only through trading of electricity across Africa but also to provide a leeway to trans-national development

the jobs. “We need this and we cannot run away from it because if we don’t do it, the Chinese and Indians will take them up. They are even here already and you see them doing jobs that Nigerians can do. Why don’t we train our people as we create these jobs so that when the international companies demand for expatriate quota, we can ask them if they have exhausted the local capacity that we have here?”

The NAPSAS programme will afford young Nigerians the opportunity to receive technical trainings in the area of electrical fitters, cable jointers, linesmen and district substation operators within six months to one year.

The minister explained the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) will manage the scheme and trainees will be drawn from all states of the federation, with state governments sponsoring 1,000 of them while the federal government will sponsor another 1,000 in addition to providing monthly stipends of N18,000 through the duration of the training.

On conclusion of the EKEDC audits, some workers will be retired to create employment for the young, it was learnt. “Ongoing staff audit when concluded, will pave way for stronger and efficient workforce. Several engineers, technicians, IT personnel will be added to the workforce. I must also tell you that regular training and retraining of staff will be stepped henceforth.”

EKEDC Chief Executive Officer Dr Oladele Amoda, confirmed plans, but said the company is not sacking anybody.

“We only want to re-strengthen the workforce and ensure efficiency to meet the aspirations of the company,” he said.

“Legacy members of staff are aging and need to be replaced by the younger ones. We don’t want to experience skills-gap. The younger ones that would be employed will get tutelage the employment before the aged workforce,” he said, adding that the company currently has a workforce of about 2,200 staff members.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Fishing out your dream job: You need a game plan (II)

N

ETWORKING in a nutshell, is nothing more than asking the people you already know to help you find out about the job market and meet the people who are actually doing the hiring. That was the issue that we were discussing last week before we had to take a break.

Following are the don’ts of Networking: Don’t: • be too pushy or abrasive by insisting on meeting with someone who just isn’t interested or able to speak with you; • ask personal questions or questions about their salary; • ask for a job; • overstep your time limits; • come unprepared, either about the company, the career path, or yourself; • interrupt the speaker; • focus entirely on your own

By Olu Oyeniran

needs. You’re there to learn; • ask the person to circulate your resume for you (unless he or she offers); • forget to say “thank you; and • become a pest, continually calling the contact for advice and referral after your initial meeting.

Ask the “right” questions Ask the type of questions that will assist you in your networking efforts. In networking, you are trying to identify certain individuals who can assist you in finding your next job. With that thought in mind, you will need to prepare questions that call help you do just that.

Everyone has one favorite subject: himself or herself! We all like to talk about what we do and who we are. Knowing this, as you begin to talk to people ask them about their line of work or industry. If what they say has relevance to your job search, inquire further about their organisation.

At some point, express an inter-

est in their industry and ask them whom they would recommend you talk to regarding a possible employment opportunity.

This is known as getting a referral in your networking efforts, you should always try to get a referral.

You may want to ask the person you are speaking with, how they feel about using their name when contacting the individual they suggested.

Networking resources Identifying whom to network with is a challenge for most job seekers. However, the average person knows at least 250 people. Networking means connecting, and there are a number of ways to connect, including in person, by telephone, email or through a card or letter. Let’s look at where you can find your network so you can get started on your search!

The first one we will identify is our Personal Network. The personal network would be those individuals such as family, friends, acquaintances, work peers, vendors, customers, teachers or professors, our children’s friends, parents, our parent’s friends, our

child’s baseball, soccer, or basketball coach; in other words, people we see or have seen oil a regular basis.

Make a list of 25 people from your personal network that you can contact within the next 7 to 10 days.

Another networking resource would be your Service Providers.

These are individuals that you have developed a rapport with that may have provided a business service, or you may have come in contact with among the local population.

Consider your community leaders, teacher, small business people, local chamber of commerce, social/religious groups and associations. This include your teacher, barber, salespeople, doctor, pharmacist, lawyer, insurance personnel, banker, estate agent, hairdresser(?!, yes?) etc.

Now make a list of 15 people to contact from your service provider list.

Professional organisations you are involved with provide a great way to network while staying updated on your industry or occupation’s latest trends. If you currently don’t belong to any professional organisations you may want to consider

joining an appropriate one for you.

Professional organisations post job opportunities from other members on their web sites. Besides the networking opportunity, professional associations offer professional growth and development through their many educational programs and services.

Networking situations can occur when you least expected. Networking opportunities can occur in any social situation: at a party, standing in line, sitting next to someone. Many times, we find ourselves in an unplanned or opportunity networking situation.

The conversation can begin as “small talk”, and move to a more personal topic such as our line of work. This is a tremendous opportunity to network by applying what you learned about listening and asking the right,” he added.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

37

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

THE CEO These are not the best of times for Public Relations practice. It is burdened by slow growth, inavailability of data, harsh operating environment and lack of global rating for practitioners. Many believe that business is slow because the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) are working at cross-purposes. But PRCAN president and Group Managing Director of Mediacraft Mr. John Ehiguese, in this interview with ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI, disagrees, describing such beliefs as wrong perception of what public relations is all about.

‘Why Nigeria is excluded from global PR ranking’ • Ehiguese

T

HE volatile global oil market has led to the introduction of austerity meas ures, including the devaluation of the naira. How will this affect PR budgets?

The slide in the value of the naira is definitely having adverse effect on businesses, especially those that are heavily dependent on imports. If this situation continues, definitely such businesses will be forced to cut costs, and ultimately the PR budget may be affected. I have a couple of clients who are already dropping hints of imminent reduc-

tion in their communication spend this year.

What is the projected revenue from the PR industry, this year?

Well we don’t have the data; so, I really cannot answer that question. But I will encourage you to ask me that same question this time next year, I’m quite sure my response will be different.

What is the market demand for PR services, and would you say there are enough PR agencies in the country to meet this demand?

I don’t think so. There are still several sec-

tors of the economy, which require PR services that are not being serviced adequately, if at all. We, the professionals, need to be more creative in our business development drive, to identify new market niches and opportunities. And they are there, waiting to be harnessed.

Multiple taxations are a burden on businesses in the country. How has this affected PR growth?

I don’t think that is a fair question. There are no special tax regimes exclusively for

the PR industry, so I really don’t see how the tax system can specifically affect the growth of the industry or otherwise.

Is it true that the digital media is a major challenge for managing brand reputation?

How are practitioners reacting to this, if it is?

The ascendancy of digital media is a challenge to the extent that it is one of the manifestations of how media forms are evolving, •Continued on page 38

38

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

THE CEO

‘Why Nigeria is excluded from global PR ranking’ •Continued from page 37

affecting consumer information consumption habits, and ultimately impacting the way we communicate with the consumer.

But then it also presents many opportunities. Digital media has in many respects, changed the rules of the game. In a manner of speaking, and because it has come to stay, we really have no choice than to accept and deal with it.

In the traditional media, it takes hours to manage an emergency image crisis. Now, with the emergence of online media, news goes viral within the twinkle of an eye. How can a PR practitioner weather this change?

I agree that with online media, speed is of essence because of its real-time nature. Adverse news or information online can go viral within minutes and cause severe damage to a brand or company’s reputation. That is why one of the most important elements of Online Reputation Management is “Listening.” As a PR man you must be listening to the online conversation as it affects your brand, so that you can respond promptly to address any negative or inaccurate piece of information before it goes viral and causes reputational damage.

We have seen unethical adverts in this electioneering period. What do you think this makes of professionalism in our industry?

PR and advertising are completely different things, even though they are both important members of the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) industry. That said, I admit that there have been a few offensive and clearly unethical advertising materials exposed in the course of the ongoing electioneering campaigns. There are extant Codes of Practice that are supposed to guide political advertising in Nigeria. I am surprised that these codes are not being enforced by the relevant regulatory authorities.

PR is often misconstrued as lying to defend clients. What is your take on this?

That is not true, and it reflects the ignorance that some people have about our business. PR is not about lying, or ‘the spin’ as some tend to euphemistically refer to it. It is about strategic communication designed to achieve certain pre-set and articulated objectives. There is both the science and art of PR. So, it is serious business.

PRCAN has been around for a while and at least two leading practitioners have led the organisation. What new things are you bringing to the table?

I want to encourage our practitioners to begin to play on the global stage. That means raising the standards of practice, increasing their level of confidence and getting them more exposed to international PR conferences and forums. I would wish that during my tenure, Nigerian PR would begin to have a tangible presence on the world stage, especially through the presentation of case studies and research reports.

What can you do to earn respect for the industry?

There is still a great deal of ignorance about what professional PR is all about. But even that is changing. We will continue to do our best to educate people through various forum and other engagement opportunities, and also by showcasing the programmes and campaigns that we execute. Another thing to do is to project our successful PR practitioners as serious-minded, respectable and successful professionals in their own rights.

Nigeria has always been excluded when it comes to global PR rating. What will you do to raise the bar for PR practice?

The issue of global ratings and rankings is an interesting one. We tend to be ignored in global rankings because the world does not have data on PR practice in Nigeria. And you cannot generate data if you do not conduct research. Also we do not have a culture of documenting our campaigns in the form of case studies which we can present to global forums for assessment and reviews. Finally, our level of international exposure is still abysmally low. How many of our practitioners attend international PR conferences, for instance? These are some of the issues I will be addressing during my tenure. I plan to introduce an annual PR industry research, which report will be published for general consumption. Luckily my predecessor, Chido Nwakanma, had already started something in that direction, albeit, on a small scale. I will review it and see how it can not only be improved upon, but also implemented in such a way that it becomes a permanent feature on the annual PR calen-

• Ehiguese

‘We do not have a culture of documenting our campaigns in the form of case studies which we can present to global forums for assessment and reviews’

• Ehiguese

dar in Nigeria. I will also encourage our professionals to become more involved and visible at international PR conferences and forums. Thankfully, the response in this area has improved over the past one year or so, but we hope to do even much more.

What are the major achievements of the professional body?

In terms of major achievements in PRCAN, historically, we have succeeded in no small measure in sensitising Nigerian PR practitioners on the need to become more involved in efforts to sanitise and improve the standard of practice. In the past two years for instance, we have admitted about 15 PR consultancies into membership of PRCAN.

This is significant when you consider that the current total membership is 50. We have also begun an advocacy campaign to encourage serious clients to only engage the services of PRCAN member firms. As we create and provide more tangible value for our members, we believe that our membership will grow, and then we’ll be able to achieve even much more.

Some believe the establishment of PRCAN was unnecessary because the NIPR was in place. Do you agree with this?

PRCAN was created specifically to serve the interest of the consultancy arm of the PR profession in Nigeria. It has the legal backing of the NIPR Professional Consultancy Practice (Amended) Bye Law No. 3 of 1993.

There is no conflict whatsoever in roles. The NIPR is statutorily empowered to regulate the practice of PR generally in Nigeria.

Within this broad framework there is the recognition that certain sub-groups can, and indeed, should exist to address certain specific sectorial interests. PRCAN membership is made up of PR consultancy firms, not individuals. And it might even interest you to know that one of the conditions for admittance into membership of PRCAN is that the Chief Executive of the firm must be at least an Associate member of the NIPR. In any case, both the NIPR and PRCAN have ultimately one common goal: to grow the standard of PR practice in Nigeria. Our roles are therefore complementary, not competitive or adversarial.

What is your take about proliferation of agencies, when two or three agencies can come together and be bigger?

There really isn’t much anybody can do about the proliferation of PR agencies. People will continue to set up new practices, either out of the need for self-expression, or in pursuit of some innate entrepreneurial drive. Besides, the barriers to entry are very low. I mean, it’s so bad you don’t even need a physical office space to run a thriving PR agency. However, whether many of these new agencies will eventually thrive, or even survive at all, is another matter entirely. I take your point about the desirability of mergers and acquisitions in the industry, essentially in order to build scale, to be able to gain more clout, and to service big clients effectively. We haven’t seen much of that happening yet in Nigeria, but it will come with time. The merger and acquisition fever appears to have caught on globally, and I belief that it’s just a matter of time before we begin to see it in Nigeria.

Globally, what is the place of PR in the entire marketing mix, compared to Advertising, experiential and others?

In comparative terms, I believe that PR is the fastest growing member of the integrated marketing communication (IMC), mix, globally. And the reason for this is selfevident. Apart from the fact that PR is relatively more cost-effective than the other elements in terms of return on investment (ROI), the changing media landscape tends to favour an increase in PR patronage. Today’s consumer is exposed to a wide array of media choices, and as access to consumers through these the media forms themselves become more permission-based, it puts a lot more power in the hands of the consumer.

As a result ‘earned’ media has become ‘king’ in a manner of speaking. Your ability to break through to the consumer is determined more by the relevance and interest of your message to him, than by how much you spend, or how dexterous you are in developing your media mix. In other words, creativity in communication is no longer the exclusive preserve of so-called ‘creative’ agencies. It is as important in PR as it is in any other element of IMC mix.

What is the level of PR acceptability in Nigeria?

The demand for PR is growing in Nigeria, and there is no doubt about that. This year alone, we have attended more pitches than any other year since we opened shop. And it is instructive that some of these pitches were called by organisations that have been around for quite a while, but never before worked with a PR firm.

What steps are you taking to encourage research and record about billings and business volumes?

We really have no choice but to invest in industry research, if we must make progress.

I will do everything I can to ensure that the annual Nigeria PR research project becomes a reality during my tenure. It will enable us gather useful data for planning, and for projecting Nigerian PR practice globally.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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Taxation

Penalties for late filers, ABC of tax returns (3)

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S a follow up to last week’s publication, below is a continuation of the article that highlights the requirements for filing returns, due dates and penalties for late filing of returns as it pertains to various tax types.

Last week’s edition focused on Company Income Tax (CIT), Education Tax (EDT), National Information and Technology Development Levy (NITDL), Estimated Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), FinalPPT, Personal Income Tax (PIT).

This week’s edition wraps up the article as it centres on Annual Pay as You Earn (PAYE), Monthly Pay as You Earn(PAYE), Withholding Tax (WHT) and Transfer Pricing (TP).

7. Requirements for filing annual returns of Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) (by employers) Section 81 (2) of PITA (as amended) and Regulation 10 of the Operation of PAYE Regulations provide that an employer shall render to the relevant tax authority a return on each employee showing total emoluments of each employee during the year, the tax relief, if any, and the total tax deducted from the employee. This is to be done on a Form H1 or such other form as may be approved or prescribed by the relevant tax authority.

Due Date Annual PAYE returns should be filed not later than 31st of January in respect of all employees of the employer in the preceding year.

Penalties for late filing of annual returns of PAYE (by employers) Section 81 (3) of PITA stipulates a penalty of N500,000.00 for corporate bodies and N50,000.00 for individuals upon conviction.

8. Requirements for filing monthly PAYE returns (by employers) The schedule to be attached to the payment and evidence of remittance should contain the following information: a) Taxpayer information (employer): I. Taxpayer/agent name and address II. Taxpayer/agent TIN III. Transaction amount IV. Transaction date b)Employees’ information: i. Staff TIN ii. Staff name iii. Basic salary iv. Allowances v. Transaction date (DD/MM/YY) vi. Tax amount vii. Period covered Due Date • Evidence of remittance should be filed not later than 10th of every month Penalties for late filing of monthly PAYE returns (by employers) • Penalty for non-deduction and failure/late remittance under Section 40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007 applies.

• Upon conviction, the penalty is at 10% per annum of the tax not remitted and interest at the

prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria re-discount rate and imprisonment for period of not more than three (3) years.

9. Requirements for filing Withholding Tax (WHT) returns Regulation 4 of the Companies Income Tax (rates, etc. of tax deducted at source (WHT)) regulations as well as Regulation 3 of PIT (rates, etc. of tax deducted at source (WHT)) regulations provide that a person who deducts tax from a payment shall, when the payment is credited or paid, whichever is earlier, submit, to the relevant office of FIRS, the evidence of remittance made to the designated bank of the tax deducted. The submission shall be accompanied with a statement containing the following information: • The name and address as well as the TIN of the person from whom the tax was deducted.

• The nature of activity or service in respect of which the payment was made.

• The gross amount paid or payable.

• The amount of tax deducted.

• The period to which the payment relates.

Similar provisions can be found in Sections 78, 79 & 80 of CITA as well as Sections 69, 70, 71 & 73 of PITA. Due Date Evidence of remittance should be filed not later than thirty (30) days from the date the tax was deducted or the time the duty to deduct the tax arose.

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan

Regulation 6 of the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Regulations No.1, 2012 provide for the filing of Transfer Pricing returns and the documents required to be filed. The provisions under the regulations refer to companies which have relationship with any other company (i.e.) through control, management or ownership.

Penalty for late filing of Withholding Tax (WHT) returns WHT only has penalties for non-deduction and failure/late remittance of deduction.

Upon conviction, the penalty is 10% per annum of the tax not remitted and interest at the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria re-discount rate and imprisonment for period of not more than three (3) years (Section 40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007).

The following are the content of Transfer Pricing returns: • TP Declaration Form (required only in the first year but must be updated should there be material changes in the information provided) • TP Disclosure Form (annually whether or not there are controlled transactions) • Copy of audited financial statement • Copy of Self-Assessment Form • Copy of income tax computations (including all relevant schedules)

10. Requirements for filing Value Added Tax (VAT) returns Section 15 of the VAT Act (VATA) Cap. V1 LFN 2004 (as amended) requires taxable persons to render returns of all taxable goods and services purchased or supplied by him during the preceding month to FIRS. The Service has prescribed the use of VAT Form 002 for filing the monthly VAT returns.

The taxpayer should write a covering letter for the Transfer Pricing returns; package all the documents into a separate envelope and mark the envelope “TP RETURNS”.

The package containing the TP returns should be delivered to the tax office (where the taxpayer’s file is resident) along with the annual income tax returns and obtain acknowledgement of submission at the tax office.

Due Date Returns should be filed not later than 21 st day of the month following that in which the purchase or supply was made.

Due Date Same due date with CIT/PPT returns and must be filed when filing CIT/PPT returns.

Penalty for late filing of Value Added Tax (VAT) returns Section 35 of VATA stipulates a penalty of N5,000.00 for every month in which the failure to make returns continues.

11. Requirements for filing Transfer Pricing returns

Penalty for late filing of Transfer Pricing returns Regulation 13 of the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Regulations specify same penalty as specified for failure to file CIT/PPT returns. v Please note that apart from penalty for late filing of returns, many of these tax types also have separate penalties for late remittance.

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

MOTORING

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AJOR automobile manufacturers and dealers in Nigeria are to ‘lock horns’ at the forthcoming Lagos Motor Fair and Autoparts Expo, the organisers have said.

The 10th edition of the fair scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, according to the organisers, BKG Exhibitions Limited, will be a benchmark in auto show business in West Africa.

BKG Managing Director,

Auto giants to ‘lock horns’ at Motor Fair Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, said notable banks and insurance companies, major oil companies, manufacturers and dealers in auto-accessories have indicated interest to be part of the event.

Agwu assured visitors, exhibitors

Ford car parts go fashionable

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AR seat covers used in new Ford cars have received a glamorous new lease of life after being recycled for a unique fashion collection.

Emerging designers from Europe and Asia transformed the covers and other materials and waste from Ford vehicle production – into dresses, jackets and skirts for The Redress Forum: Ford Design Challenge, an event organised with Hong Kong sustainable fashion charity Redress to highlight sustainable design in fashion and automotive.

“Sustainability is a key element of Ford design and it is tremendously exciting to see material from our cars given a new lease of life on the catwalk,” said Emily Lai, manager, Colour and Materials Design, Ford Asia Pacific.

“Designers have the power to affect environmental waste through their designs and design process, and can minimise impact through the creative use of materials and other innovations. All the creations we have seen are innovative and thought-provoking, and we applaud each participant for rising to the challenge,” Lai said.

Taking part were the 10 finalists of the Ford-sponsored 2014/15 EcoChic Design Award and Amandah Anderson, from Sweden, used felt and cloth from Fusion and Edge seats to create the winning ensemble in just

three hours.

Since 2001, a dedicated team of Ford engineers has worked to incorporate sustainable materials into Ford vehicles, while upholding the company’s strict quality and performance standards. The company uses recycled plastic bottles, shredded cotton, kenaf, wheat straw, soy beans and castor oil to help reduce consumer and industrial waste, decrease depletion of natural resources and lower energy consumption.

The new Fusion and Edge use a mixture of 50 per cent kenaf and 50 per cent plastic in interior door panels, reducing individual component weight by more than 30 per cent.

Ford also is working with Heinz to investigate the use of tomato fibres in developing sustainable, composite materials for use in vehicle manufacturing. The company is a founding member of the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, an advocacy group created with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other global partners, promoting the responsible development of plantbased plastics.

Sustainable materials are only one piece of Ford’s comprehensive approach to sustainability. Since 2000, Ford has decreased its total water use in vehicle production globally from 64 million cubic metres to 24 million cubic metres.

and the public of forthcoming days of serious business and fun.

“Each of the seven days that the fair will last is loaded with activities and events that will make this edition remarkably different and we intend to improve and add on this in subsequent editions,” Agwu said.

The fair, he said, will parade unique range of automobile products from notable companies from Asia, dominated by the Japanese, the Chinese and the South Korean autofirms.

From local market, products from Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Kia, Nissan, among others will be on display. PAN Nigeria, National Trucks Manufacturers Limited (NTM) will showcase the latest in their range of products.

The products will include exotic cars, sports utility vehicles (SUV), light and heavy duty haulage

trucks, and buses of various capacities for corporate and mass transit businesses.

The European and American continents, he said, will equally present products from the stables of Ford, Mack, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Volvo, BMW and Skoda.

“Strategically, as we did in the last three years, we are laying a great emphasis on the Spare Parts sector in this edition. This is as a result of our guided intention to enhance the development of cottage industries in the spare parts sub-sector, with attendant multiplier effects on the economy,” Agwu said.

He added: “It is also spurred by the need to ginger activities in the sub-sector to complement the setting up of Auto clusters as espoused by the new automotive policy. Our target is to attract many reputable Original Equipment Manufacturers

of Spare Parts (OEMSP) from across the globe to participate at the fair and in subsequent ones. Over 100 confirmed Original Equipment Manufacturers from all over the world are already preparing to be at the show.

“In conjunction with our foreign partners, SENEXPO International Fairs Inc of Turkey, we have reached out to many of such companies and happily the response has been tremendous and we are expecting close to 150 of them. Our intention in bringing them to Lagos, which is the hub of automotive business in West Africa, is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West African countries engage in auto spare business and work out rewarding business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts.”

Council rehabilitates 10 roads • Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai Sonata gets Best Family Car award

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HE 2015 Hyundai Sonata was named a Kelley Blue Book’s Best Family Car of 2015. The Sonata was recognised for providing families with safety, comfort, compatibility with car seats, cargo space, rear-seat entertainment and extra features. The vehicles were evaluated by families and the automotive experts of KBB.com.

“The redesigned Sonata continues

•One of the roads

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OSAN-OKUNOLA Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has rehabilitated no fewer than 10 roads within 10 weeks.

The roads include 4th avenue, Rufus Banjo, Modupe, Abiara, Ajijola Annobi, Abosede Aro, Foursquare, Opeki Streets. Others are Awori by Balogun Ladega and Macus link to Ojurogbe.

The council’s Executive Secretary, Princess Opeyemi Akindele, said the gesture was in line with the mandate given to them by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, during the swear-in of the

O

N Sunday, March 15, I witnessed a very pathetic road crash. Shortly after Ogbomosho, there was a very long queue of vehicles, all at a standstill.

With the new zeal I received at the National Executive Council meeting of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria(ADIN) the previous day, I came out of my vehicle and jogged to the front to know the cause of the traffic jam and also profer possible solution.

Alas! it was a ghastly motor accident which resulted from a head- on collision between a trailer and a 15-passenger bus.

As at the time I got to the scene, 7 people were already dead while several other passengers were

57 Executive Secretaries to the Local Governments and LCDAs. Akindele promised not to rest on her oars to ensure more deliverables to the community.

She appealed to residents of the areas the council has not grade their roads to bear with her administration, promising to look into their plight soon.

The council boss enjoined the community leaders to ensure proper maintenance of the projects.

According to her, if the roads are not well maintained, it could amount to wasting of tax payers’ fund used for their rehabilitation.

to deliver on key attributes that are important to today’s families – safety, value, technology, ride and roominess,” said Mike O’Brien, VicePresident of Corporate and Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America.

In addition to an added level of convenience, this can improve safety by reducing distraction, owing to the familiar smartphone interface.

The all-new seventh-generation Sonata offers a more refined look through a new Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language, stiffer body structure, better ride quality, reduced noise, vibration and harshness and advanced safety and convenience features.

Sonata truly democratises the premium design and convenient technology.

Musk: ‘Auto steering’ included in new Tesla update

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SOFTWARE update to Tesla Motors (TSLA)’ Model S will include “auto steering,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said.

“We can basically go between San Francisco and Seattle without the driver doing anything,” Musk said.

With the technology, which should be ready in “about three months,” drivers will not have to control the steering wheel, acceleration or braking when the car is on a highway. The announcement

came during a press conference in which Musk detailed a separate update that includes a “range assurance” application and a trip planner.

The software will warn Model S drivers before they drive out of charging range and plan routes with charging stations, making it “basically impossible” to run out of battery before reaching a station.

The Model S will also get automatic emergency braking and side

collision warnings with the new update.

Tesla has attempted to alleviate concerns that trips would take cars out of charging range. It is among the challenges the company has faced after posting a quarterly loss last month as it struggled to keep up with its production target.

Musk hinted at the software update in a tweet, saying the company would “end” range anxiety, or concerns about reaching a charging station before battery runs out:

Horror and lessons on Oyo – Ogbomoso road groaning in pains and rolling in pools of blood with no help coming from any quarter.

I immediately called the emergency number of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) which rang severally but no response from anyone. I and two of my colleagues started trying the numbers of the FRSC Officers that we know until an Officer in Port Harcourt picked the call and assured us that he will contact the Ogbomoso office of FRSC for rescue operation.

It is disheartening that a very busy road like the Ogbomoso to Oyo road, which always play host to lots of trucks and articulated vehicles

(Trailers and Tankers) can lack regular Police or FRSC patrol operation.

It is very painful to see Nigeria in this stage in this jet age century.

I hereby suggest the following: 1. That there should be a regular patrol of the Oyo- Ogbomoso road by the FRSC Officers; 2. That the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, should complete the Oyo-Ogbomoso portion of the newly dualised Ibadan- Ilorin road; 3. That the deep or eroded road shoulders should be urgently filled with laterite sand by the Federal or State Government; 4. That there should be adequate traffic signs and road markings on

the road; 5. That every State Government in Nigeria should run Ambulance services particularly on the roads with high rate of accident; 6. That the State Government Ambulance or Emergency service should have active emergency number with Attendants or Operators working 24/7; 7. That FRSC emergency centre should be functional everyday, every second(24/7), no matter what; 8. That every local government should operate functional ambulance service 24/7.

•To be continued next week

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

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•Podolski

Podolski unsure of Inter future

NTER striker Lukas Podolski has said that he is unsure of where he will play football in the next season.

The Nerazzurri l o a n e d the 29 year old German attacker from Arsenal this winter in a bid to pull the Italian club out of crisis.

Speaking to the Press at the Rho Fiera event in Milan, Podolski admitted the uncertainty surrounding his future. ” Where will I be next year? I do not know, I just think about the next game,” Podolski told FcInterNews.it.

“What do I want? We’ll see, now I do not know and I want to focus only on Inter.”

Inter recently suffered a 5-2 aggregate Europa League defeat to German side Wolfsburg.

“It’s hard to explain the loss, but it isn’t easy to say

what went wrong,” said the player on Wolfsburg loss.

“They’re second in Germany and it wasn’t an easy match, we played two games and lost both of them.

“Maybe we could have gone further, only to be

knocked out at the next round. This is football.

“Now we have the championship, let’s focus on that.”

Podolski has featured in nine Serie A games since moving to Italy, but is yet to net a goal for his temporary employers.

Subotic: Dortmund still aiming for Europe

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EVEN Subotic is hopeful that Borussia Dortmund can catch the sides battling for Europe after their 3-2 win against Hannover on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp's men have

turned their season around following a dreadful start to the Bundesliga campaign and now sit 10th in the table - five points behind the European qualifying spots.

A win against Hannover on Saturday helped Dortmund continue their recent revival, with PierreEmerick Aubameyang bagging a double at the Niedersachsenstadion, while Shinji Kagawa also scored.

Despite conceding twice to a side for whom Leonardo Bittencourt was sent off for two bookings in the second half, Subotic admitted Dortmund were happy to use the momentum from the win to chase sixth-place Augsburg.

"We were able to pull away a bit today from the teams below. Now we want to go for the place above us," he said after the 3-2 victory.

"We really wanted to take advantage after they went down to ten men and so made it 3-1. We also threatened a fourth, which would have been important for us, but again, we let an opponent come back into the game.

"Although they did well, we gifted them too many chances. We had a different idea of how to play against ten men, but we couldn't quite put it into practice on the field.

"Either way, the win is deserved. We had the better chances."

Sarri: 'Empoli belongs in Serie A'

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AURIZIO Sarri praised Empoli for beating Sassuolo and setting a new eightmatch unbeaten Serie A record.

The 3-1 victory enabled them to leapfrog Sassuolo in the standings.

“We went into this season with no guarantees, no certainties and not even any idea if we were competitive in Serie A,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“Despite a difficult start, we realised pretty early on that we could make our mark here. We’re missing a few points to achieve our objective, so we can’t let up now.”

Riccardo Saponara has been a huge help since returning from Milan on loan in January, scoring two goals today and creating another.

“We wanted Saponara back precisely for this, as we felt he could’ve revived his campaign with us. Unfortunately he arrived without good fitness levels and when he did get better he caught chickenpox, so that slowed down his development.

“He is a very sensitive lad, so these two goals will really boost his confidence. I am convinced he can have a great end to the season.”

Mirko Valdifiori has earned his debut Italy callup for games against Bulgaria and England.

“We are very happy for him, but we have nine players in seven different national teams, so there are concerns over fatigue.

Obviously, the happiness is greater than the concern.

“I think Valdifiori could be worth several million now. I think Empoli can set the example, so this economic crisis can actually help Italian football create something different.”

•Booy

Go Ahead Eagles fires Booy

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REDIVISIE strugglers Go Ahead Eagles have fired coach Foeke Booy following their home defeat to Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday.

Booy had already announced his intention to leave at the end of the season but a run of five successive losses has seen the club replace him with Alfons Groenendijk, a statement said.

Go Ahead Eagles have won only twice since the winter break and scored four times in their last 11 matches.

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the beginning of this democratic dispensation ‘ Since in 1999, between 1999 and 2015, why is it that they have not been able to create Ibadan State? Why is it now that they are desperate to return to Aso Rock they are now promising Ibadan State

‘

...

5D AYS TO GO ...5 DA

Dr. Gbade Ojo, a political scientist, the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Political Matters. In this interview with JEREMIAH OKE, he says the people of the Southwest will not vote for the PDP at the general elections on the feasibility of promises by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to create Ibadan State, Governor Ayodele Fayose’s incessant attacks on the personality of General Muhammudu Buhari and the present administration in the state.

‘Ibadan State not feasible now’

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DP has promised to agitate for the creation of Ibadan State. Don’t you think this campaign may make the people vote against the APC? Our people know it is an attempt to deceive them. As a political scientist, I have done many researches on state creation in Nigeria. There are two angles to Ibadan State creation; I am an indigene of Ibadan. I was born and bred here in Ibadan. I have all my degrees at the University of Ibadan. But, I tell you that the creation of Ibadan State is not feasible. Many readers will be shocked that Ibadan man is not supporting the creation of Ibadan State.

But, the truth must be told. If you are talking about Ibadan State, in terms of mere nomenclature, like Kaduna State, Enugu State and we are saying Ibadan being a state, I will tell you it is not feasible. There are some criteria for state creation, which we need to put into consideration. Based on scientific finding, the first principle is that the new state must be economically viable. If in Nigeria today, out of the 36 states, you cannot pinpoint six states that can pay wages and salaries without the federal allocation, then, why talking about state creation?

Does it make any sense that you want to create an additional liability? To those who are not sufficiently exposed intellectually, it could be a political gimmick to deceive the electorate and they should not forget that our people are not dumb as they are. Talking of the geographic and demographic size of the state, if the new state is not economically strong to tell the Federal Government that ‘go away with your allocation’ and we are now agitating for a new state, our people need to check the level of exposure of the people deceiving them. Secondly, as we want Ibadan State, other parts of the country are also agitating for the creation of more states. The fragmentation of the federal structure will make the Federal Government to be stronger in political theory and the component part of the federation becomes weaker because they depend on the federal allocation. Federal government can use that as a weapon to fight states that if they refuse to give them allocation, they won’t be able to pay their salaries and their respective contractors. Most of the states of federation could not pay January salary because they are yet to get their allocations. What does that connote? Simply lack of economic viability. If the new states are not economically viable, it is a fundamental problem. That will make the Federal Government to become stronger than as it is today.

Why do you think that state creation is not feasible?

Jonathan, Akinjide and Folarin campaigning with state creation are not politically exposed because they are not political scientists. They are just trying to mislead our people with wrong information. They refused to find out information from those who know better than them. You don’t make issues out of no issue if you have not consulted properly from those who specialises in that area. Politicians being what they are, they can go out to hoodwink the electorate just to get what they want. To cajole the electorate that if the aspiration of an average of Ibadan man is Ibadan

The fragmentation of the federal structure will make the Federal Government to be stronger in political theory and the component part of the federation becomes weaker because they depend on the federal allocation State, let us promise them Ibadan State so as to have our way. But, we can now ask ourselves: Since the beginning of this democratic dispensation in 1999, between 1999 and 2015, why is it that they have not been able to create Ibadan State? Why is it now that they are desperate to return to Aso Rock they are now promising Ibadan State? It is a poser for the ruling party at the federal level. It is a mere gimmick and not a campaign promise. The process of creating an additional state is rigorous and that is why since 1960, no democratically elected government has created a single state and all the existing states were created by the military. For Jonathan who has been there for the last six years to now begin to promise us Ibadan State, an Ibadan man like me need to sit down and think twice.

PDP alleged that the APC administration has not lived up to expectation. What is your reaction?

We have said much about it. Agreed that the Hon. Minister of State said there was a huge amount of money from the PET fund but, it is a ridiculous thing that a minister for that matter will intend to mislead the great people of Oyo State who are politically sophisticated. What is PETFUND? It is Tertiary Education Trust Fund, there is existing law which says certain amount of money must go to the purse of PETFUND for all the tertiary institutions in all the states of federation.

The fundamental question is that; was

• Dr. Gbade

it only Oyo State out of 36 States that collected the money? It was the constitutional right of the state and if you go to our schools in the state, you will see development in those schools. The money was deducted from money meant for all of us and it belongs to all of us. It is the right of every state to get their own money because it is being deducted to care for tertiary institutions across the country. Now, she mentioned the University of Ibadan. Is it a property of Oyo State? Can you now see the discrepancies in what the woman is spreading around? The money belongs to all the states of federation and I don’t know why that of Oyo State is now different from others. One other funny thing about her explanation to hoodwink the electorate is that Jonathan did more than Governor Ajimobi in Oyo State, in terms of education. Is Jonathan or the Federal Government paying the salary of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University in Ogbomosho and others state institutions? Is Jonathan, who has not been paying opposition parties regularly, interested in supporting Oyo State? Does it make sense to argue that Jonathan has done anything reasonable for us in the southwest? That woman should look for something else to say rather than deceiving the intelligent people of the state. The Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose insisted that General Buhari is not fit to rule Nigeria because of his military background, as a political scientist, do you subscribe to this argument?

Lagos women root for Buhari

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CROSS section of women in Lagos have resolved to mobilise support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on March 28.

The women, who cut across ethnic groups made the pledge at a town hall meeting organised by Pro-climate Federation for Buhari/ Osibajo Presidency 2015 in Surulere. They promised to embark on door to door campaign to ensure the victory of the APC at the elections.

The Convener, Women’s Pro-Climate Federation, Mrs Ekaette Sanusi, said Buhari and Osinbajo would rescue the country, strengthen the economy and the naira that has depreciated beyond imagination.

Sanusi urged the women to regard March 28 as a call to elect Gen. Buhari and Osibanjo as President and Vice President. “We will be on national duty to elect credible leaders that would strengthen the economy, guarantee security of lives and property, provide stable power supply, quality education, affordable houses, healthcare and transportation,” she said.

According to her, Nigerians would vote for integrity, probity, accountability, transparency, job creation, strong economy, massive investment in agriculture, resuscitation of the manufacturing sector and provision of infrastructure.

One of the guest speakers, Mr Gbemi Jaiyebo, advised the people to regard the election of Buhari and Osinbajo as a guarantee for the future of children. According to him, the present leadership have no plan for the children of the poor.

Jaiyebo said the Jonathan administration is an embodiment of corruption; adding that it spends public funds recklessly at the expense of the suffering masses. He said what Nigerians need now is a visionary and disciplined leader, which Buhari/Osinbajo ticket represents.

The representative of Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the APC vice presidential candidate’s wife, Mrs Tolu Ogunlaja, said Nigerians should hold their destiny in their hands by collecting their permanent voter’s cards and vote for the APC for positive change in the country.

She advised women to protect their votes by staying at the polling centre after casting their votes to listen to the result of the election to be announced by the presiding officer.

Another guest, Mr Bolade

• Senator Chris Ngige greeting All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters at Ayomnokpala Ward 1 and 2 in Awka, Anambra State during his senatorial campaign.

PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

• Prof. Osinbajo

By Leke Salaudeen

Agbolamagbe, recalled that Buhari came to power in 1983 to rescue the country from the abyss of corruption but was not allowed to implement his programmes. He said, his regime instilled discipline in public and private life; strengthened the naira and re-ordered the nation’s priority.

Agbolamagbe said God has preserved Buhari’s life for the sake of the suffering masses so that he can rescue the country. He said President Jonathan is confused and incompetent to lead this country and urged Nigerians to vote him out of office on March 28.

The Leader of Arewa Youth Community, Malam Muhammed Sani said the March 28 poll will offer Nigerians the opportunity to change their destiny and liberate themselves from the clutches of corrupt leaders.

Group seeks support for Okowa

By Joseph Eshanokpe

A

GROUP, Okowa Renaissance Group in Diaspora, has urged the people of Delta State to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Its Coordinator, Mr. Esoswo Imagoro, said that Deltans need a man who understands the needs of the people. He said Senator Okowa is the most qualified among the governorship candidates to take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He said: “The onerous task of leading a state, such as Delta, with its ethnic diversity and political sophistication, requires a man with the experience, humility, and grassroots reach of Senator Okowa, who sincerely knows, understands and is ready to give the people of Delta State the much desired leadership; without any argument, Okowa is, indeed, the right man and the choice of Deltans.”

Imagoro said the increasing support for Senator Okowa was an indication of the acceptance of his candidature and that this was shown during Okowa’s state campaign rallies, which he said were graced by crowds at every local government area they visited.

He said the decision of the group to support Senator Okowa was taken after an appraisal of all the governorship candidates in the state, and that they found the PDP candidate better equipped to rule the state.

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THE NATION MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015

PDP has been controlling the Federal Govern‘ The ment since 1999. The party has been applying the same solution to the problems and it has been getting the same results. In fact, the PDP pills have been worse than the ailments they are meant to treat

...

5D AYS TO GO ...5 DA

‘

For almost 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rule Niger State. The party believes it has laid a solid foundation for development. Its 40 year-old governorship candidate, Umar Mohammed Nasko, told JIDE ORINTUNSIN in Minna, the state capital, that a vacancy does not exist in the Government House. He also infolded his plans for the state.

Nasko: PDP will continue to rule Niger

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OVERNORSHIP candidates and political parties in Niger State have signed a non-violence. How will you ensure that your supporters adhere strictly to the pact?

It is obvious that lack of understanding about the tenets of democracy is attributable to the rising levels of violence in our political landscape.

The irony of it is that the young people that have formed themselves into weapons of mass destruction are neither card-carrying members of any political party or holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). But they are young people, who are looking for jobs and they are ignorantly cashing on that to harass, intimidate and cause confusion in order to extort money from would-be candidates. For us and for our party, the PDP, we will continue to preach peace and tolerance.

We are honourable and we shall hold to the tenets of the agreement signed.

It is on record that in our campaigns across the 25 local government areas of the state and indeed, our party have not engaged in any violently act. Even when the campaign train of the PDP was attacked in some places, when our billboards and posters were destroyed, we never raised a dust. This is because the PDP government believes it is only in the presence of peace that unity and progress can be achieved. It is only a peaceful conduct that can guarantee credible and transparent elections. The PDP does not want to engage with those that create problem, they can only use PDP as a scapegoat. However, we are very confident that the PDP will continue to provide a level playing ground for other political parties in Niger state but the other parties must respect due diligence and rule of law in their quest for power. We are not afraid of their intimidation and harassment.

How would you take the comparative advantage of the land mass of the state to develop agriculture?

It is no longer news that Niger State has the largest land mass in the country and we have already, as the PDP government, embarked on mass agricultural transformation, in line with the federal government agricultural transformation agenda. The Niger State agricultural mechanization that has been rebound after the mechanization by the World Bank has been rejuvenated.

The only way we can move away from the micro land production is to engage in large scale enterprise to invest in the sector. This we have started with Dangote Group. The present administration made available 50 hectares of land to the group for rice and sugar production. Some investors are in Niger State already trying to leverage on the out growers scheme of our rice farmers by establishing rice mills for mass production of qualitative rice.

Niger State is already in the front seat in driv-

ing agriculture to commercial level from micro agriculture. In order to encourage our farmers to produce more, we will guarantee and ensure farm produce attract good prices to serve as an incentive for farmers to go into more production.

On irrigation, we have found out that only two of the 18 irrigation sites in the state are functioning. We are going to look into this with the aim of addressing and re-activating the remaining 16 sites. This we believe when perfected will boost irrigation farming and ensure the produce of crops all year round instead of the current seasonal farming.

If we are able to maximise that, Niger State will retain her front seat in agriculture.

Another area that will be accorded priority is the encouragement of the establishment of small and medium scale agro-industries that will promptly accommodate the skills of our local people and youths. Local Government-based farm settlements will be established all over the State, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its agencies, especially the Niger State Agriculture and Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA) will be strengthened towards realizing our agriculture transformation agenda.

We shall also strengthen the Micro-finance banks to enhance access to soft loans by farmers while providing access roads to ease transportation of farm produce and enhance efficient marketing system where farmers would benefit maximally.

Niger state economy is dependent on federal allocation, What are you going to do differently to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)?

The state Internal Revenue Service will be strengthened to enhance our revenue generation capacity for improved service delivery. We must begin to explore alternative sources of internal revenue generation to break out from the vicious circle of perpetual dependence on FAAC allocation.

Our arts, culture and tourism potentials will be explored to create additional income streams for the State.

We shall appeal to every stakeholder in our development drive for an attitudinal change towards prompt payment of tax. We will also leverage on land, which is our valued asset. A new valuation policy will come on land so that we will open corridors of development between the state, Abuja and all the high neighbouring developing states.

PDP has been in power in the state since 1999.

What are you going to do differently from the present PDP administration?

The mandate we are seeking is aimed at consolidating on the gains recorded by the Chief

• Nasko

Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, whose achievements will serve as the springboard for higher performance. What defines a good democratic system is the access and equal opportunities available to all stakeholders. If given the mandate, we shall carry everyone and every part of the state along, ensuring even development across the state. We shall uphold the trust and confidence reposed in us, by living up to expectations and even beyond the call of duty.

In addition to sustaining the laudable policy initiatives and fully implementing the transformational projects of the present administration, we will create an investment corridor in Niger State to attract foreign direct investments that will leverage on our vast economic resources for the actualization of Vision 3-2020. Our economic development blue print will be anchored on the agriculture sector, where we shall exploit our comparative advantages of abundant arable land and consolidate on the value chain in Rice, Yam,

irony of it is that ‘theTheyoung people that have formed themselves into weapons of mass destruction are neither card-carrying members of any political party or holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)

‘

Cereals, Fisheries and livestock development across the State.

One area that guarantees development is education. What will be your policy trust for this sector?

Education sector will remain the bedrock of our strategic development agenda for the realization of Vision 3-2020. We shall therefore, not only strengthen all existing policies in the sector – such as free education, free NECO or WAEC examination fees, increased bursary allowances, etc., but also build additional schools and expand existing infrastructure to sustain the tempo of increased pupils’ enrolments and the standard of quality educational services.

Our Technical Schools will be improved upon to produce quality furniture for all schools in the State, as we shall encourage them to be more innovative and creative while delivering on the contents of their curriculum.

On the whole, our education policy at primary and secondary levels shall seek to improve infrastructure, create conducive environment for learning, and ensure the safety of all pupils/students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff in our schools. Similarly, we shall employ more qualified teachers and supporting staff and ensure regular monitoring of schools by strengthening the inspectorate division of the Ministries of Basic and Tertiary Education.

Meanwhile, the giant strides achieved in the repositioning of our tertiary educational institutions, especially IBB University, Lapai will be consolidated and improved upon. Adequate funding of all tertiary educational institutions will be a major priority, as we shall pay more attention to the strategic growth of IBB University as a world-class centre of academic excellence and the smooth take-off of the University of Education, Minna. Our two State Universities will be properly and firmly positioned to compete favourably within the national and international university community.

You are the youngest governorship candidate in the country. What are your plans for the youths?

This is my immediate constituents – the teeming, energetic, vibrant, articulate and dynamic youth of Niger State. Majority of them engage in some of the difficult tasks that keep our state safe, clean and growing. They constitute the productive segments of the public service, especially the workforce in the vigilante corps, who keep vigil over our streets and national assets, when many of us may be deep asleep in the comfort of our homes; the community traffic wardens, who assist in keeping the chaotic traffic conditions of our urban centres in control; the forestry guards, who patrol our forests, at great risk to check the activities of economic saboteurs and environmental tyrants; and the sanitary inspectors, who are assisting in enforcing the sanitary laws for our well being.

Undoubtedly, the future of any nation depends on the quality and vibrancy of the youth, who constitute over 60 percent of our national population.

Legislator to President: your promises are utopian

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HE Lagos State Coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign Organisation, Abiodun Faleke, has warned Nigerians against being tricked into another round of slavery by the last-minute move by President Goodluck Jonathan to curry their favour.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has in the past 16 years, demonstrated that it was bereft of ideas on how to take the country to the Promised Land.

Sounding the note of warning at the Ikeja campaign office of the organisation, Faleke, who is seeking re-election into the House of Representatives from Ikeja Federal Consituency, urged the electorate to critically weigh the promises being made the President, especially, few days to the elections.

Faleke noted that it will amount to

expecting too much from a President, whose party has not been able to tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic problems for 16 years.

He said: “The PDP has been controlling the Federal Government since 1999. The party has been applying the same solution to the problems and it has been getting the same results. In fact, the PDP pills have been worse than the ailments they are meant to treat.

“It is obvious that the party has lost its compass and therefore, the promises being made by Mr. President cannot help the PDP. Besides, the promises are utopian.”

According to him, the President has been deceiving Nigerians with promises to implement the recommendation of the 2014 National Conference and to create additional states.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right), Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Ishola Adekunbi (right) and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Yewa North Local Government Area, Chief Sunday Akinyemi (left) when a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rasak Adewusi (2nd left) defected to the APC in Ijoun...yesterday.

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SHOWBIZ

Saro 2 hits the stage Easter

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OLLOWING its successful outing during the Yuletide, the producers of Saro: The Musical2 are presenting to Lagosians, the electrifying Easter edition of the dance and music piece, Saro 2.

The show is returning with a 100-man cast that traces and pays homage to Nigeria’s rich musical history by beautifully rendering some greatest hits over the years, along with its own ingeniously composed original music.

And as before, the elegant combination of drama, music with the impeccably choreographed dance routines and unforgettably charged performances would be delivered by an attractive cast, according to its

By Evelyn Osagie

producer, Bolanle AustenPeters.

Saro is the story of four young people who, in an ageold search for greener pasture, migrate to Lagos with little else but an abundance of hopes and dreams, where they are duly reoriented by the people and experiences they encounter on their journey of selfrealisation.

According to AustenPeters, the play is set to push Nigeria’s culture forward, adding that the choice of • Cast of Saro 2 Lagos is inspired by the place the city represents in the popular demand.” promotion and celebration “Many, who missed the of arts and culture. The play during Christmas staging to Saro 2 Easter because they travelled, have edition, she said, “is due to asked that we stage it during

Easter to give them the opportunity of watching it,” she said.

While observing that the show was a huge success last

year, she said, beginning from Wednesday, April 1, Saro 2 would be having 13 shows during Easter.

She also disclosed that

henceforth, there would be a new play that would be premiered every Yuletide, which would be re-staged during Easter.

Gideon Okeke welcomes baby boy

T

• Okeke

INSEL act, Gideon Okeke has a bouncing baby boy. The proud father made the revelation on his Instagram account last week when he posted a photo of the baby’s feet with the caption; “FULL CIRCLE. Forever Thankful. “SummerTime” #GodIsGood #DaddyDuties.”

The Nollywood actor came into limelight when he started appearing in Tinsel. Prior to that, in 2006, Gideon was cast as one of the contestants in the first Big Brother Nigeria.

Shortly after Big Brother, he released his first song, Ogidigada, which received airplay, but it wasn’t a huge hit. However, Gideon still had dreams of the spotlight and a career in acting. After a brief stint as a TV presenter on a lifestyle show, he was cast as Philip Ade-Williams, the spoilt, egotistical and only son of a wealthy Nigerian movie mogul on Tinsel.

Gideon made his big screen debut as the lead actor in the 2010 Nollywood movie, Relentlessness.

It aired at the BFI London Film Festival before being released in Nigeria.

‘We didn’t squander N10m donated for popular Ijaw movie Amara film’ producer and actress,

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Mrs. Ann Bekele, has denied allegations that she and her team misused the N10million naira and other donationsreceived for the production of Amara, the widely sold Ijaw film.

Bekele, who is the chairman of Annog Creation, a movie production company, said money donated for Amara film was used for the purpose on which the money was donated, adding that her company coughed out half of the money donated to ensure the success of the firm.

The Ijaw movie producer, an indigene of Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa state, made this clarification during her birthday yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, where she resides with her family.

She said that anyone who wants to know the truth of how much they spent in producing Amara film should come to her company for clarification.

She noted that Ijaw films have been facing a lot of challenges unlike Yoruba and Ibo Films that enjoy the support of many people partnering with them.

“There is nothing wrong if people want to find out the truths of how we spend the money that was donated for the production of Amara film. One thing I want the

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

public to know especially the Ijaw people is that we didn’t squandered the N10milion donated for the Amara Firm but it was judiciously utilized.

“The film which was directed by NdubisiOko is a traditional film, created to assist the culture of Ijaw people and for them to know the important of coming home rather than residing outside from their main home. So because Ijaw people appreciated the movie it was distributed free.”

Bekele said they would have made millionsfrom sale ofAmara film which premiered in London if those who sponsored the movie allowed them to get a marketer for general public use.

She also revealed that Annog Creation is presently pushing for more than N500million project with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for youth development in the film industry.

“We are hopeful that NDDC will approve our proposal, we want to train youths in different area of film making and other area like acting, makeup artiste, location planners, directors

• Bekele

and so on. This is one of our ways to reduce youths’ restiveness in the Niger Delta region.”

• UB40 with BA crew

Taste of Dubai: UB40, Ali Campbell, others thrill BA’s VIPs

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RITISH Airways took its customer relations treat a notch higher recently, when VIP guests on the airline were treated to unique versions of UB40’s greatest hits, featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue who brought some reggae flavour to theTaste of Dubai Festival by performing an acoustic set in the British Airways VIP Lounge.

BA is Taste of Dubai 2015’s official VIP Lounge and airline partner, and the talented trio performed some of the band’s best-loved tracks for special guests at Dubai’s Media City.

The airline flew the artistes into put on the exclusive gig.

Singer songwriter Ali whose band sold more than 70million albums over the years - said he was thrilled to be invited to play and that the guys still get a huge thrill from performing.

The 56-year-old said: “I’ve been doing this for like 30 years and I still get the same buzz but I also still get really nervous. I find myself pacing up and down and I’ll be in the loo before the show! I can’t seem to get this Eric Clapton

vibe where you just turn up and walk on!”

Celebrities including chef Jean-Christophe Novelli have been enjoying British Airways’ generous hospitality in the sunshine at the Taste of Dubai 2015 alongside BA executives and corporate customers.

The band recently released their own album, Silhouette, after the original UB40 line-up from the 1980s went its separate ways.

UB40 flew all over the world performing their back catalogue of reggae-pop hits, which included more than 50 tracks which reached the UK Singles Charts.

One of their most famous tracks is Red Red Wine – and Ali revealed the title has inspired a unique ‘Red Red Wineries’ tour, which will see the band performing huge gigs at vineyards across the world.

Ali – who is currently on a world tour with the band explained: “We’ve been talking about it for a few years now – it’ll be us touring the bigger vineyards playing shows. We’re going to start in Australia and New Zealand

and if it goes well there, we’ll take it worldwide.

“It could take us into vineyards in South America, Europe and South Africa - it could go everywhere really.

It’ll just be a nice way of spending our time.”

Ali - who is now a judge on New Zealand’s Got Talent said the music industry has changed a lot since then and a band like his, growing up with very little money in Birmingham, might not have made it in today’s market.

He laughed: “We certainly wouldn’t have made it through if we’d gone down The X Factor route!

“Pop music kind of goes in 10 year cycles and Simon Cowell has dominated pop music all over the world really – but it’s kind of time for something else now.

“Reggae is actually more influential now than it has ever been. If you listen to all the contemporary dance music all over the world which we do when we travel it’s all influenced by reggae. JLo recently had a No1 with a reggae vocal beat. It’s a massive influence now.”

Blood in the Lagoon for private screening

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ORPORATE titans in the country will get the chance to see a new movie titled Blood in the Lagoon.

The movie which will be screened to a private audience in Lagos in April, parades stars such as screen goddess, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ufuoma Ejenebor, OkeyUzoeshi, Hakeem Rahman, Ben Nwosu, Cassandra Odita, Jim Roach (American), and Phil Simmons (American).Veteran actors like Eddie Ugboma and Akin Lewis also star in the movie.

Blood in the Lagoon, the result of a collaboration between Tropical Gem Studios, a U.S.-based movie production company and TFP Studios, a Nigerian film production company, follows the protagonist - an illiterate and indigent boy - who rises to a middle-class position through the grit of hard work and honesty, highlights the

By Joe Agbro Jr.

reflection of the socio-economic issues befallen the country.

The movie is produced by Jerry Padney who has worked on several Hollywood blockbuster movies and TV films in the United States and directed by Teco Benson. The Director of Photography is Abdullahi Yusuf while FataiIzebe is in charge of sound.

According to a release from the promoters of the movie, “given the professionalism and experience of the producers as well as the genius of the post-production team in the United States movie industry, we expect that ‘Blood in the Lagoon’ will be a cinematic masterpiece.”

The movie which is targeted at both Africans in Africa as well as Africans in the diaspora is scheduled for release later in the year.

• Omotola

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THE NATION MONDAY MARCH 23, 2015

NEWS

MASSOB blasts Uwazuruike •Picks Ojukwu’s son, APC candidate, others for elections

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HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has slammed its leader, Chief Raph Uwazuruike, for the woes faced by the group, describing him as a selfish person.

MASSOB, which has been in crisis for the last one year, urged Ndigbo to vote wisely.

In a communiqué yesterday after its Executive Council meeting at Okwe in Imo State, signed by the Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, MASSOB said it picked candidates for the National Assembly elections in the Southeast.

It said the group endorsed the son of former leader of Ndigbo, the late Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Jnr), candidate for the Nnewi North/South and Ekwusigo seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Others included Chief Uche Onyeaguocha (Owerri senatorial seat), on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North, PPA); Chief Victor Umeh (Anambra Central, APGA); Chief Athan Nneji

‘We condemn soldiers’ ‘brutality’ •Opposes creation of state in Southeast

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HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has berated the “inhuman and brutalisation” of one of its members by soldiers in Aba, Abia State.

The group, on March 13, held a protest in the five Southeast states, calling for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Soldiers stopped the protest.

MASSOB alleged that after the protest, a member, Samuel Jonah, who was going home, wearing a Biafran camouflage cap, was stopped by soldiers, who were in two Hilux vans, at Obikabia junction, on the outskirts of Aba. “The soldiers, after interrogating Jonah, beat him up before abandoning him on the road.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Achonu (Okigwe zone, PDP); Andy Ubah (Anambra South, PDP); Ozo Nwabueze Okafor (Enugu East, APGA); Also picked were Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West, PDP); Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (Abia Central, PDP); Chief Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North, PDP); ThankGod Ezeani (Orlu Zone, APGA) and Princess Stella

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Good Samaritans took him to an undisclosed hospital where he is responding to treatment.”

The group’s Assistant National Director of Information, Mr. Sunny Okereafor, in a statement at the weekend, said it was disgusting that security operatives, who disrupted MASSOB’s protest and beat up members, provided cover for members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Lagos when they held a similar rally.

He described the soldiers’ action as “selective treatment.”

MASSOB said it was against the creation of an additional state in the Southeast, noting that that would amount to the continual enslavement of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

It added that what the Igbo wanted was total freedom.

Oduah (Anambra North, PDP).

The group listed Anambra House of Assembly Speaker Princess Chinwe Nwaebili (Ogbaru Federal Constituency, APGA); Tobias Okechukwu (Awgu-Aniri, Oji River Federal Constituency, PDP); Prince Emeka Mamah (Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency, APGA) and Ofochukwu Egbo (Enugu North/South Federal Con-

stituency, APGA).

Although Uwazuruike boycotted the meeting, it was attended by regional administrators, state zonal leaders, foundation members and senior officers of MASSOB. The body said the political leadership of Ndigbo had waned, adding that it wanted strong-willed Igbo sons and daughters to represent the zone in the National Assembly.

Council boss alleges threat to life •Ebonyi deputy governor denies allegation From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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HE Caretaker Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chief Chaka Nweze, yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Dave Umahi, of plotting to kill him.

Nweze, a member of the Labour Party (LP), spoke in Abakaliki.

He alleged that the thugs hired by Umahi, who is also the deputy governor, attempted to kill him at the weekend at the PDP’s rally in Uburu.

Umahi and the council boss hail from the community.

Nweze said: “I was discussing with my party faithful on our rally at Uburu terminus when four PDP branded vehicles stormed the venue with armed thugs. Their leader, Mr. Ogbonnaya Enodi, pointed at me and shouted that their oga sent them to kill me.

“I beckoned to the security men, including the police, mobile policemen, State Security Service officials, among others, to intercept them, but they ignored me.

“One security officer later approached the hoodlums, but they ignored him. Youths, who tried to stop them, were overpowered, while other security personnel watched.”

He said the hoodlums accosted him, but the crowd, comprising the young and the elderly, shouted.

“They were undeterred, as Enodi shouted that I was the one the PDP governorship candidate instructed them to kill.

“He brandished a gun while his colleagues brandished machetes. My aides and supporters prevented them from harming me by shielding me. Some of them sustained injuries.”

Enodi said he managed to escape and ran to Abakaliki where he met the commissioner of police and narrated his ordeal to him.

“He expressed shock at the incident, especially that the officers he sent to ensure security failed to protect the people they were supposed to protect.”

Umahi denied sending anybody to kill the chairman.

He spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Agwu.

“The deputy governor cannot descend so low to threaten, let alone plan to kill anybody. Nweze belongs to the Labour Party and can cook any story to attract sympathy,” Agwu said.

He said PDP held its rally in the area on Friday and it was peaceful.

Ex-Benue governor dies at 67

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•Convocation lecturer, Dr. Joseph Odumodu; Pro-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Dr. Chilo Offia; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Chancellor, Amb. Hassan Adamu and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, at ESUT’s 26th convocation lecture in Enugu...at the weekend

APC to youths: vote out PDP

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged youths to shun violence as they take their future in their hands by voting for change on Saturday.

At a sensitisation programmes in Ojokoro, Lagos, the youth were educated on the use of card readers, and how to ensure that their votes count.

Director of the Buhari/ Osinbajo Campaign Office (Lagos Directorate), Mr Gboyega Soyannwo, said the sensitisation was to remind the youth that the change they desire is in their hands.

“We identified the fact that the votes in this area are actually with the youth between the ages of 18 to 35, so there was the need to focus more on them by telling them the importance of this change that we want in Nigeria. The future of Nigeria is in their hands.

“We’re telling them to be prepared. They can take food to the polling stations. Be

By Joseph Jibueze

peaceful. Don’t quarrel with anybody. Don’t cause violence.

Don’t disturb the security agents. We preach no violence.

Gen. Muhammed Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo have told us clearly that we should preach peace and urge people to let their conscience guide them in voting,” Soyannwo said.

APC’s Youth Coordinator for Ifako-Ijaiye/Ojokoro, Mrs Omo Elebute, said the sensitisation became necessary with the introduction of the card readers, which many of the youth are unfamiliar with.

“We enlightened them on how to vote and how to go about protecting their votes.

Because of the use of the card reader, they needed more information. We don’t want a situation where they will be disqualified at the polling station, because most of them have their PVC, which is a plus for the party.

“They should also tell others who are undecided to come on board and vote for APC and vote out Goodluck Jonathan.

We’re tired and we’re being pushed to the wall. We’ll let our PVC speak by voting PDP out,” she said.

APC’s youth leader in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Shakin Agbayewa said youths, who he described instruments of positive change, have a

chance to determine their destiny on Saturday. He urged them to reject monetary inducements by PDP agents.

“If you look at the voting population of Lagos State, the youth accounts for about 70 per cent. It means that the power to make any effective change is in our hands. We’re trying to tell ourselves that money is not everything. We urge them to be loyal to the APC and be focused on change,” he added.

Ikpeazu replies Otti on monarchs’ suspension From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HE campaign organisation of Okezie Ikpeazu has asked the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s governorship candidate Dr. Alex Otti to face his campaign instead of joining in a thing that is purely a government affair.

It said Ikpeazu has nothing to do with the suspension of five traditional rulers in the state by the Abia State government and therefore has nothing to do with government action on the traditional rulers.

The response was contained in a statement by the campaign organisation of Ikpeazu.

FORMER military governor of Benue State, Gen. Ishaya Bakut (retd), died yesterday after a brief illness. He was 67.

Family sources said he died at an undisclosed hospital.

Gen. Bakut was appointed the Field Commander of ECOMOG during Liberia’s civil war by the Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime and also a Principal Officer to Chief of General Staff during the military government of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Bakut, who hailed from Kurmin Bi, Zonkwa, in Zangon Kataf Local Government was born on August 16,

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

1947. He attended Government College, Kaduna from 1961 to 1965 on a Shell BP scholarship. In 1966, he went to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, graduated in March 1969 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (from 1971 to 1975) where he got a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He attended the United States School of Engineering from 1977 to 1978, Command and Staff College, Jaji from 1979 to 1980 and Indian National Defence College, New Delhi in 1985 where he obtained his MSc.

‘It shall be well with Nigeria’

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

T

HE General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, has assured Nigerians that there won’t be crisis after the elections.

The cleric, who spoke at the weekend at the 19th anniversary/convention/annual thanksgiving of the Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry, Abule Egba, Lagos, said: “It shall be well with Nigeria.”

He said despite the tension caused by the polls, God would take control of the nation “because He loves Nigeria.”

Rev. Meduoye said people should have faith that there would not be crisis, adding: “Better days are coming soon.”

The General Overseer of the Christian Royal Ambassador, Bishop Tom Samson, said there was no cause for alarm because Nigeria would not disintegrate after the elections.

He urged the citizens to be optimistic in their approach to life, adding: “It is time we changed our negative attitude.”

The General Overseer/Senior Pastor of Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry, Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, said he was worried that the custodians of the law (Holy Bible) were not working according to the word.

Ogedengbe, who is also the national president of the All Christian Leaders and Ministers Forum (ACLMF) and the special assistant to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Religious Matters (Christian), added: “I am worried because we are not prepared for the rapture. I am worried because the priests have abandoned their calling. I am worried because men and women in the Christian community are not faithful to their Creator. I am worried because money has taken over our focus.”

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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NEWS

More knocks for IG over voter’s right at polling unit •Ali, Senator Magoro, others ask voters to shun police chief Abba

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ORE criticisms yesterday assailed the directive by the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, that voters should vacate polling booths after casting their votes.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali, who spoke on the matter, asked voters to shun the directive by staying and monitoring their votes during Saturday’s presidential election.

Ali, who is also the directorgeneral of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, urged voters to follow their votes to the collation centres.

He spoke at a meeting of chairmen of local government councils and PDP members in Abuja.

His words: “This election is a centenary election. The enemies wanted us to disintegrate, but we should prove them wrong.

How do we prove them wrong? By maintaining our stability.

“Nigeria is a great nation irrespective of our economic or security problems. Maintain peace and harmony. Do not allow yourself to be provoked or fight at any polling station. Do not take part in any trouble.

Watch your votes. Mark what is happening at your polling unit and make sure that your votes are counted properly and entered properly. Follow your votes to the collation centre.

Reacting, Senator Muhammad Magoro, warned Abba to respect constitutional provisions and electoral law that allow any interested voter to stay back after voting at polling units to ensure their votes count.

Magoro, who spoke to reporters at the weekend in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, accused the Inspector-General of Police of overzealous, alleging that the order was a violation of the people’s constitutional right.

The retired general, who led the Buhari/Osibanjo campaign team to meet with civil societies and organisations in the state, said: “The Nigerian constitution permits any voter who wishes

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja, Osagie Otabor, Benin, Ahmad Rufa’i, Jigawa, Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin, Oziegbe Okoeki, Lagos and Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

to stay back after casting his or her vote in a peaceful and lawabiding manner.

“If a law allows you to stay behind after voting, who is IGP to say no? Is he above the law?

Is he superior to the constitution or electoral law?”

He said voters have the right to votes for the candidates of their choice, guard their votes, wait for the votes to be counted and follow the ballots to the collation centre peacefully according to the constitution and the Electoral Act. Also yesterday, a legal practitioner, Mallam Yusuf Ali, told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, shortly after an exercise tagged: “Walk for Peace and Sanctity of human lives,” organised by his Ghalib Chamber, that Abba should have resigned honourably.

He added that the IGP was overstepping his boundary, noting that Abba unconstitutionally withdrew the security operatives attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and later restored it.

Ali said: “Election is about making choices and to whom you want. It is not about destruction of lives and property.

You should know that human live is sacred; we should not take it on ourselves to take life because it is something you can-

‘Igbo have not adopted presidential candidate’

By Joseph Jibueze

not create or bring forth.

The Deputy Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru, who spoke in his office at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, said such statement coming from the police boss was capable of causing violence during the election.

The lawmaker wondered where the IGP got the authority to give such an order, adding: “Is he trying to write another Electoral Act or maybe another constitution.

“The Electoral Act only says those who have no business with the electoral process should stay 300 metres away from the polling centre. But you will agree with me that does not have anything to do with the voters, because you cannot say the voters have nothing to do with the election.

Women in the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as in the state Labour Party (LP) have vowed to stay behind after they might have voted in the March 28 and April 11 general elections to ensure that their votes count.

The women, at the a summit organised by the APC Action Group in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at the weekend, described the pronouncement of the Inspector General of Police as a ploy to give unscrupulous politicians opportunity to rig the general elections.

The summit was held to drum support for the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), at Saturday’s presidential polls.

Former Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Ronke Okusanya urged the women not to leave their polling booths until the ballot papers

A •Abba

are counted and the result announced.

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader in the state, Mrs. Modupe Ogundipe, urged women to vote massively for Buhari and defend their votes.

She said President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to justify the mandate given to him in 2011, adding that he had ditched the Southwest in the last four years, only to be courting the zone as the polls approach.

The guest lecturer at the summit, Dr. Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi, re-echoed the need for the citizenry to protect their votes from being stolen.

Dr. Abiola-Akiyode, who is the executive director of Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and an election observer since 1993, stressed that mandate protection remains an integral part of the electoral process.

She argued that there was no law in the land that prevents voters from standing at a safe distance to monitor the polls and protect their votes.

To House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State Philip Shaibu, the directive by the Inspector General of Police was an indication that the IGP was working with “enemies of democracy to rig the elections”.

‘Count us out of Jonathan’s endorsement’

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IYETTII Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dissociated itself from a ‘purported endorsement’ of President Goodluck Jonathan by Miyette Kautal Hore.

A statement in Kaduna by MACBAN National Youth Leader Adamu Isa Muhammed, in reaction to the endorsement of President Jonathan

by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Badejo, said MACBAN was not part of the endorsement.

The statement said: “After an emergency meeting of the MACBAN in Kaduna at the weekend, we have resolved to put it on record that

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

we don’t agree with an announcement made by a certain group, which goes about the name Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, endorsing President Jonathan. They are different from our organisation, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).”

It added: “The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, is a cultural organisation, which exists in one state and cannot speak on our behalf on any national issues, because they are not representing all Fulani in the country. ‘’We disssociate ourselves from the group.”

•His Royal Highness, Emir of Dutse (left), receiving the Buhari Campaign Organisation team leader, Gen. Muhammad Magoro, in his palace at the weekend.

SOUTHEAST organisation, the Igbo Conversational Group (ICG), has rejected any “wholesale endorsement” of any presidential candidate, saying the Igbo have not adopted anyone.

The group, a “collegial and non-partisan platform to canvass Igbo interest”, met in Enugu where it held a “conversation” on the theme: 2015 and the Igbo question.

The meeting had the sub-theme: Agwo No N’Akirika (There is snake within the dry palm frond (or there is imminent danger).

A communiqué at the meeting said discussants and other participants were unanimous that the Igbo nation is “most regrettably” going to the polls without extracting any commitments from any of the presidential candidates.

“Consequently, members rejected any wholesale endorsement without obtaining any commitment from the presidential candidates for the development of our homeland,” ICG said.

The discussants noted that the Igbo would work with and support any of the presidential candidates, who genuinely commits himself, unambiguously, to specific issues affecting the Igbo, and responds to questions on performance on previous promises, where applicable.

ICG said it mandated a committee to engage with President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari “to extract a concrete commitment on Igbo strategic interests and fears…”

It said the Igbo are interested in having a president with the capacity to restore the country’s collective integrity and create for the Igbo an atmosphere to further develop their spirit and gift of enterprise.

The group will meet on Thursday to “consider and discuss the outcome of the direct engagement with the frontline candidates,” and would issue a statement indicating who made a commitment enhancing the strategic interest of Ndigbo.

The communiqué was signed by former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Chidi Duru, Chike Maduekwe and Bishop Blaise Iwuogo.

Gunmen shoot Tor Tiv’s son UNMEN yesterday shot Prince Kaase, son of Tiv traditional ruler, the Tor Tiv, Dr. Alfred Torkula, in Mbadwem ward of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

He was attacked during a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Igbanongu Akenyi, the attackers told the prince to take his campaign to other

G

places because their area was for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, a retired Permanent Secretary (Government House and Administration) and Mr. John Enger, Commissioner for Lands and Survey, who are strong supporters of Prince Tarzoor, hail from the ward.

The prince is married to a daughter of the APC governorship candidate, Chief Samuel Ortom.

Deputy governor denies defection

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WARA State Deputy Governor Peter Kisra has denied his rumoured defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He urged people to disregard the rumour.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Timothy Nathaniel, said the rumour existed in the imagination of those peddling it.

‘We ‘ll defeat APC hands down’ From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

V

ICE President Mohammed Namadi Sambo yesterday met women and youth groups in Kaduna, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

Addressing supporters at the Umar Musa Yar’Adua Indoor Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, he urged women and youths on the need to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP candidates.

Sambo, who listed the achievements of President Jonathan, stressed that he had done well to deserve continuity to consolidate on the successes recorded so far.

He said strategies have been perfected in Kaduna and the country to ensure that the ruling party wins the elections.

The Vice President said PDP maintained power for about 16 years with good performances and it would be difficult for the opposition party to defeat it during the elections.

He stressed the need for women and youths to vote PDP all the way to guarantee a sustainable empowerment and development.

Sambo said there are plans to engage over two million women and youths annually through an employment scheme, SURE-P and the agricultural sector.

He enjoined PDP supporters to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote PDP without fear or intimidation by the opposition party.

The Vice President said: “If you vote PDP, rest assured that your votes will be translated into more transformation agenda.”

He cautioned youths, who are used to cause violence during and after elections, to desist, to ensure hitch-free elections.

Kaduna State Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero admonished the people not to give in to any form of harassment, intimidation or fear.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

55

NEWS

••Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika (left), Head, School of Communication Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Lai Osho and Guest Speaker and Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation Mr Sam Omatseye and Special Adviser on Information to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Mr Lateef Raji at the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Lagos Information Chapel’s public lecture in Lagos

•Kogi State Deputy Governor Mr Yomi Awoniyi (right) speaking when members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) visited him in Lokoja. With him are President of PSN, Mr Olumide Akintayo (middle) and Chief of Staff to Mr Awoniyi, Yunusa Mohammed Nasir, a pharmacist.

PHOTO DAYO ADEWUNMI

CEO, Ground Water Pump Systems Mr Todd Hunter (left); President, Association of Waterwell Rig Owners and Practitioners Mr Micheal Ale and in- coming President, National Ground Water Association (NGAWA) Mr Jeffrey Williams at the NAGWA’s Ground Water Summit in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A

•From left: A Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) Chinwenduri Richness Ifenkwe; Ngozi Okonkwo (GIS Representative), Abiola Adedeji (SINBOL Consult Representative and Ebogu Mary-Jane (GIS beneficiary) at the Graduate Internship Scheme Training organised by SINBOL Consult for the SURE-P GIS project at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Lagos.

The Nigerian Academy of Letters and a Heritage of Discourse •Ahead of tomorrow’s yearly lecture by the Nigerian Academy of Letters at the Delta State University, Abraka, Olutayo Adesina, a professor of History, speaks on the tradition of the Academy

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N the 21st century, there are indications that the humanities and the sciences are still vying for space and recognition in public consciousness. The controversy surrounding the relevance of the humanities had raged on in the last decades of the 20th century. Still, the issues surrounding the relevance of the field in Nigeria have remained constant. The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) is now closely associated with a much more significant desire for a systematic scrutiny and appreciation of the humanities and has since the 1990s come to define a central arena for debates over the relationship between humanities and society in Africa’s most populous country; Nigeria. NAL was formally inaugurated at a meeting held at the University of Ibadan on November 14, 1991, as an apex organisation of Nigerian academics and scholars in the Humanities to promote, maintain and encourage excellence in all branches of humanistic studies. The field has had its own complex history in relation to the development of Nigerian higher education in particular and society in general.

The historical and strategic relationships between the humanities and society have therefore become vital to the understanding of the field more implicitly. The outstanding contributions to scholarship, a powerful sense of history and of the dynamics of change have been notable characteristics of humanities scholarship in the country. These have had remarkable repercussions of a political, socio-cultural and intellectual nature far into the future. Over time, the humanities contained sufficient issues that enabled us to understand the interesting career of a field that once caught the interest of the Nigerian society enough to become an issue in Parliamentary debates. The field in Nigeria should therefore be understood more than as a method by which knowledge is generated and transmitted in society.

The humanities as a field of study and epistemological domain surfaced in Nigeria only in the late 1940s. Its development was delayed for as long as was practicable by British colonial brinksmanship. Prior to this date, and

from the period of the country’s first Governor-General, Lord Frederick Lugard who cobbled together what became modern Nigeria in 1914, the policy of government in the colony was to control and regulate the content of education in a way that would preclude the emergence of ‘trouble makers’. Lugard had argued in 1915 that literary education (as opposed to technical and vocational education recommended by the colonialists) could be a ‘social nuisance and a danger to the country’ since it has an inclination to sharpen the critical faculty, and also the tendency to produce ‘an attitude of bitter hostility’ on the part of the governed towards the government. In the light of such preoccupations, care was therefore taken to ensure that the education of the colonial peoples remained at the level of agriculture and technical subjects and the cultivation of love for manual labour.

At the inception of the University College, Ibadan, whereas the University College Ordinance assented to in His Majesty’s name on the 1st day of September, 1948, required the new university “to advance learning and research and to provide instruction in all branches of liberal education”, the University privileged training and research activities in science and medicine in the academic development of the university. The determination of the founding fathers in this regard became more obvious when the first seven out of the twelve professorships advertised for the new university were in Surgery, Medicine, Public Health, Pathology, Anatomy, and Gynecology.

In spite of this, however, by the late 1950s and early 1960s the field of humanities began to take pre-eminent position in Nigeria. This development occurred for several reasons. The order of emphasis of educational activity at Ibadan, the only university then in existence in the country was reversed in the Second University College Ordinance which was enacted in 1959. The central focus of the Ordinance became the pursuit of a regular and liberal education in all classes and communities. Also, with the rise of African nationalism after World War II, a

lot of interest began to be generated in African history and historiography.

There developed the widespread recognition of the need to document and write the indigenous history of Africa.

All West African communities had their own historical traditions and established systems of maintaining them, in the absence of writing, by oral means. Thus, as more Africans joined the academic staff of the university, the major focus of the humanistic field quickly became the desire to change European perceptions and African consciousness of the nature of culture and civilization. By the early 1950s, some landmark contributions on African history had begun to emerge from the humanities. The discipline of history played a crucial role in this regard. The ascendancy of Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a British-trained Nigerian historian as the arrowhead of this new epistemology, played a crucial role in this regard. His appointment in the 1950s as Professor of History during Nigeria’s nationalist ferment was significant.

When in 1956 Dike became was appointed to the headship of the Department of History at Ibadan, he became the first African to head a Department of History anywhere on the continent.

Up to the 1950s European imperialism and intellectual traditions had created a universal history dominated by European presence. With Dike in place, the Ibadan School of History emerged and defined this field within the aspirations of the age. The intellectual ideas and trajectory of the Ibadan School were shaped by the prevailing Nigerian social and political conditions. The school began to reflect the ongoing struggle for control of discourse on African history Although History was the dominant academic department in the humanities in the early years of the university, the discipline of English followed history’s approach subsequently. Just as the African historian contested the assumptions of imperial history, other subjects within the humanistic field also developed a PanAfricanist or even archetypal interpretation of the colonial episode in Africa. The authorial ideology and vision of Pan-Africanism of the 1950s be-

came widespread. This became the dominant tendencies of the humanistic field. At inception, the Department of English at the University College directed its energy towards the study of English Language as a colonial apparatus for education and enlightenment. Its focus for a long time remained a general focus on the classical and Anglo-Saxon literary and linguistic traditions of Western civilizations.

With the anti-colonialist struggles of the day fast permeating the intellectual world, the Department of English at Ibadan “pioneered series of research into the languages and literatures of Africa and African peoples, including their phonetics and folklore as resources and subjects of critical analyses.” The department inevitably trained the first set of African writers such as Chinua Achebe who went on to produce remarkable works of African literature. Achebe, with his Things fall Apart and several others would help to roll back the colonial literary tradition in place. In the 1960s, the most significant aspect of the changes going on in the academia catalyzed major changes in society. The major arguments and positions of these scholars were not lost to the public.

Nationalist ferment and “the transition from colonial rule to black selfgovernment in African territories brought with it political, economic and social reverberations, of a magnitude consistent with such a radical shift in power locus.” The control of discourse on the African past subsequently broke free of an essentially European derived methodology and conceptual framework by focusing on local approaches as well as local and regional forms of historical action. The trajectory of the humanities in defining and capturing the complexities of social life and public policy became a primary Nigerian emblem.

Prof. Charles E. Nnolim, in his paper at the NAL Symposium of August 10, 2000 entitled, “Literature, the Arts and Cultural Development” clearly adumbrated this. He averred: “ …the [19]50s and 60s saw the full flowering in Nigeria, of what has been identified as cultural nationalism or cultural reaffirmation

which,…was aimed at reasserting the “African personality”, at regaining the cultural initiative, at rehabilitating African culture in order to give our people “a new vision of life, to rescue them from the trauma of cultural confusion in which they have been left as a result of European acculturation, to provide them with new values, new outlooks and new spiritual bearing with their base in the African culture and psychology.”

This is a high point in the extended public debate over how best to build this country and its people.

NAL had since the 1990s increased the pace at which it has sought to give direction to the country by applying practices developed over time to public consciousness, an invaluable ingredient of nation-building. One of the ways by which NAL seeks to achieve this is through its annual lectures. The lecture is statutorily scheduled for the second Thursday of February of every year. However, due to the presidential election earlier slated for February 14, 2015 and now March 28, the 2015 version of the lecture was fixed for March 24, 2015. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Prof Sam Ukala, a Professor of Theatre Arts and Drama at the Delta State University, Abraka. Ukala, a distinguished scholar won the glamorous NLNG The Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2014 with his play, Iredi War. Prior to this, he had won the ANA/ British Council Prize for Drama (1989) with his work entitled Akpakaland. Prof. Ukala will be speaking on the topic: Is the Nigerian Critic Still Timid? Like in the past, the NAL lecture this year will also clearly echo the massive investment in liberal education and discourses.

By so doing, NAL is constructing for the future; a significant pathway, not only for vibrant and critical discourses for understanding the cultural and intellectual development of the human race but also as key elements of human progress in this part of the world.

Prof. Olutayo C. Adesina of the Department of History, University of Ibadan is the Secretary, Nigerian Academy of Letters

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Israel: Netanyahu Global Focus wins and whither GMB, GEJ in Nigeria?

DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor

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OR a country of about 8 million people and almost 75 percentile of adult voting population, elections in Israel is not your usual piece of cake. Thus, last week’s parliamentary election called for by Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu was a stoic tale of test coming from a political maverick who actually defied the orthodoxy as in thou shall not offend the Big Boy in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and think you can get away with it.

Knowing full well the political and economic fallout, jolly good fellow Bibi stood up to his benefactors, knowing well the take in Washington and decided on standing up to President Obama, first by addressing a joint conference of the American legislature much to the disdain and chagrin of 1600 and providentially following with the icing on the cake by winning an election he called way before it is necessary just because couple of his cabinet members criticised his administration in handling of state affairs.

Good news is Netanyahu is back in having securedgt 30 seats in the 120- Knesset opening the door for him now to seek coalition with other rightists political persuasions to form the next government, hopefully if he can then become the first prime minister to run four times in Israel’s chequered political history. I am adding this caveat because it will not

be the first time that a leading national party leader will not necessarily form the government parliamentary elected will not converge the government. Think back to 2005 when Tzipi Livbni led centrist party led the elections with 28 of the 120- seat sout scouring the Bibi ld rightist Likud by just one vote.

Conventional wisdom was that the majority will form the government. But it is not necessarily so as Bibi the ever clairvoyant and clever politician emerged to form the national government. Is now set to form the next government.

Now in 2015, is there a possibility that another political upstart can upstage the veteran Netanyahu in forming a wide ranging coalition in forming the next government in Israel? That is yet to be seen giving the plurality of political thoughts within Israels’political landscape. Alliances will be formed and coalitions will be formed in the tenets of the political divides.

In the wider calculation are the American policy implications for the latest Israeli election. Nothing new except the love lost between these two cantankerous and never yielding global personalities the framework of President Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu will finally come to count In the murky often bloodied waters of the Middle East, noth-

sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com ing is ever so simple. As you may recall, the Yemeni capital of Sanaa gave birth to what is now characterised as the Arab Spring, which catapulted a lot of despots and dictators in that region out of power. Any way, like we say the rest is history.

27-year old Mohamed Bouazizi was a vegetable seller who doused himself with a can of petrol, setting himself ablaze out of frustration from local tax officials shaking him down with bribe demands untowardly.

Now that country is at the epicentre of global focus. The country’s president Hadi was incarcerated by the invading Houthis forces since last year and only managed to flee hgis captors bin a dramatic strike on. Now he relocated to the southern palace of Aden where he had been administering his country hitherto. Two days ago he was dislodged from same palace and he is now on he run for dear life.

AND NOW COMING HOME We thank goodness for all the interlocutors and genuine interventionists in the survival, nay continued prosperity of PROJECT NIGERIA. This column is generally noted as a window to the outisde

world.

At times like this, it is wont for MEN and WOMEN of good resolve to bring their true colours out to bear on an issue that joins us together. A voting experience is a challenging civic responsibility to which to citizens should not take for granted. It means a lot to our collective future and no one should take it for grantede.

When the issue of our dear country’s independence came forth, the gentlemen and wom-

en who sojourned endlessly, tirelessly to crystallise and bring to being the nation’s well being and birth from our colonialists did not think about tribes, religion nor creed. They acted in the spirit of nationhood. We are now once again joined in this crossroad.

Fellow Nigerians, even at the very height of what civility stood for in our modern day politics, bags of dollars being thrown in the faces of our so called traditional rulers and a

VAIN DAME claiming her husband as a Messaih, PHD or not, Julius Shakespeare exhorted us thus through Brutus: There is a tide in the affairs of men.

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat,And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.

This Saturday is your date with destiny, please do not lose this wonderful opportunity.

We will be closing by urging you to always treasure and treat this our God-given planet with all respects. It is the only one we have. Live green and put a smile on a strangers face by just doing an act of random kindness. RBF administration admonishes all to live green because live is good with trees.

See you next week

LENT

Theme: Hope for restoration of lost grounds Text:”..... I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm.....” (Joel 2:25)

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OD is not giving to frivolity; He is not like man that will make a promise and give excuses when time for indemnification is due. “.... The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent” (1 Samuel 15:29). Therefore, whatever He says, He has the capacity to fulfill because “.... the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof (1Corinthians 10:26). David in Psalms 50:10-11attests that, all beasts of the forest are His with the cattle upon a thousand hills. He knows all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are also His. Paul in his epistle to the Romans said that “ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things” (Romans 11:36). For the fulfillment of His promises therefore, God has the capacity to suspend nature, reverse order, put logic to shame and make “... foolish the wisdom of this world” (1Corinthians 1:20).

From the text, He promised that there is hope for restoration of lost grounds and glories for everyone, institutions and of course nations.

Suffice to say that there is hope for every “down syndrome situation” of personal life, economy, matrimony or nation. Naaman, once a Commander of the Syrian army, who was afflicted with leprosy and ought to have been confined to the colony of lepers had his lost years restored when he obeyed the words of the man of God. Naaman left Syria as a leper but he returned with the skin of a new born baby (2 Kings 5:1-14). Restoration made the outcast a celebrity!

Restoration means the bringing back of a person or state to a former position or condition. It can also mean the destruction or annulment of the enemy’s agenda to “kill, steal and destroy” (John 10:10a). It is the laying of the axe unto the root of the trees and every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10). David noted in Psalms 126:1 that, “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream”. A time of restoration is a transition from sickness to health, austerity to prosperity, quarrels to peace, a bad life to a good life, a movement from a house to a home and a worrisome society to a peaceful environment.

There was a man named Jabez because he was conceived under a sorrowful situation. God created him with honour that surpassed the endowments of his brethren; he had the destiny of a leader but was experiencing the jaundiced life of a nobody. When he identified this error (which Solomon in his wisdom assigned to the ruler who places “servants on horses and princes walking on the ground” Ecclesiastes 10:5-7), Jabez cried to God and was restored (2 Chronicles 4:9-10). Gideon too had this same fate. God created him as a mighty man of val-

our but untoward circumstances of life reduced him to a Lilliputian - instead of leading God’s army against the insurgents from Midian, he was hiding his wheat from them until God found him out and restored him (Judges 6:1112).

The devil’s assignment in this world is to kill destinies and turn the journey of days into years, steal the joy and peace of homes and marriages, and destroy the family unit, frustrate bonds of love in churches and fragment national cohesion by reverberating tribal with other delimiting cleavages (John 10:10). Now that the devil is aware that he has but a limited time, he is more committed to his destructive agenda more than ever before (Revelation 12:12). The devil’s onslaught is launched in the affairs of men and polity when men are spiritually asleep (Matthew 13:25); that is, when spiritual things matter less, when vain glory and life are lifted high and celebrated, when love of money is lifted above selfless service to humanity, when aspirants to political offices discountenance God’s plans for “getting there at any cost”, when people abhor the light, which is Jesus Christ, and cling more to darkness and its works (John 3:19).

Brethren, it doesn’t matter how grave your situation is, there is hope for you. Are you an economic or social outcast like Naaman? The power that restored his lost years is still available today; is it that what is in your plate is far less than what you are truly worth? All is not lost as the power that restores is same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Beloved, “... there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a plant (Job 14:7-9) What you need to do, is to return to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the scent of water, during this Lenten season, He will accept you like the Prodigal Son and restore all the grounds that you have lost (Luke 15:11-24).

He has promised in John 6:37 that “..... him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. He is a loving father. He is concerned about your state and all that you are passing through now, more than your parents or anyone else (Isaiah 49:1516). If only you can return to Him today, He will do “exceeding abundantly above all you may ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Above that, there is an assurance of eternal life which is more valuable than whatever pleasure that is available in this world (John 14:2-3). May you get there at last, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Oh Lord of restoration, I come to you today, forgive all my sins and restore unto me the joy of my salvation, in Jesus’ name.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Houthis take parts of Yemeni city

North Africa jihadi front spreads to Tunisia

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•Anti-Houthi protesters demonstrate in Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz March 21, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS/ANEES MAHYOUB

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OUTHI fighters opposed to Yemen’s president seized parts of the country’s third largest city of Taiz amid growing concern about a conflict diplomats say risks drawing in neighboring oil giant Saudi Arabia and its main regional rival Iran.

The U.N. Security Council was set to meet to discuss Yemen after President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi, a U.S. ally, accused the Iranian-allied Houthi militia of staging a coup against him and appealed to the United Nations for “urgent intervention”.

U.S. officials said Washington had evacuated its remaining personnel from Yemen, including about 100 special operations forces, because of worsening security, marking a setback in

U.S. efforts against a powerful al Qaeda branch.

Conflict has been spreading across Yemen since last year when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and removed Hadi from effective control of the state, angering Gulf Arab states led by Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, which regards the Shi’ite movement as a terrorist group.

The Houthis then advanced into Sunni Muslim areas, leading to clashes with local tribes and al Qaeda and energizing a southern separatist movement.

In Taiz, located on a main road from the capital Sanaa to the country’s second city of Aden, residents said that Houthi militias took over the city’s military airport from local authorities late on Saturday.

The fighters also took control of a number of government buildings and a prison, they said.

The takeover of the airport happened without a struggle, but later eyewitnesses reported Houthi gunmen firing tear gas and shooting into the air to disperse protests by residents demonstrating against the presence of Houthi forces.

Eyewitnesses in the central province of Ibb described to Reuters seeing a column of dozens of tanks and military vehicles traveling from the Houthi-loyalist north on their way southward toward Taiz, 150 km (200 miles) northwest of Aden.

On Sunday, anti-aircraft guns opened fire at an unidentified plane flying over Hadi’s compound in Aden and appeared to force it

away, witnesses said.

It was the third incident of its kind in four days, in which aircraft have flown over the compound, where Hadi is based, on one occasion dropping bombs without causing any casualties.

Aden’s governor Abdulaziz bin Habtoor has accused the Houthi movement of ordering the flights over Aden, an allegation the group, which controls much of the north, has yet to address.

The Houthis are allied with former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who still has influence in the military despite having given up power in 2011 after mass protests against his rule. The Yemeni army has varied loyalties, with most units being controlled by the Houthis or Saleh, while some are loyal to Hadi.

Third Tunis attacker ‘on the run’

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THIRD attacker is still “on the run” after the deadly Bardo Museum attack in which 25 people died, Tunisia’s president said in a live TV interview.

“There were certainly three attackers... there is one who is on the run, he won’t get far,” President Beji Caid Essebsi said on Sunday.

Suspects have been arrested over the attack but just two gunmen were thought to have assaulted the museum.

The news comes after a video was released of the pair roaming the Bardo.

Mr Essebsi said it was clear there had been three attackers, because they had “been identified and filmed on sur-

veillance cameras”.

He added in an interview with French media that a monument would be erected in memory of the victims.

The gunmen are said to have been trained in Libya in an area controlled by Islamic State (IS) militants.

IS has said it was behind the attack on the museum, which is next to the country’s parliament.

The two gunmen seen in the video were named as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaoui. They were both killed in a gunfight with security forces inside the building. At least one of them was wearing an explosives belt.

Media caption “On Wednesday afternoon, I had

my first cancellation. After I had another one in the evening and another one a day after” Twenty foreigners were among those killed in the attack, including British, Japanese, French, Italian and Colombian tourists.

Following the attack, large numbers of Tunisians gathered outside the museum to protest against terrorism.

Tunisia has seen an upsurge in Islamist extremism since the 2011 revolution that ousted dictator Zine alAbidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring.

The leader of Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party, Ennadha, says the country will continue to be under threat of attack as long as neighbour-

ing Libya remains unstable.

Media caption Rached Ghannouchi tells the BBC that there is “no place for Daesh in Tunisia” Rached Ghannouchi told the BBC that IS would not be able to establish a foothold in Tunisia itself but young men were being armed in Libya and crossing borders that were hard to control.

On Saturday, the brother of Yassine Laabidi, one of the gunmen, said his family were struggling to understand what had happened.

He described Laabidi as a sociable person who “enjoyed a drink with mates” but said he had been “brainwashed by swines who send young men to their death in the name of religion”.

Polls favour France’s National Front for council elections

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RANCE’S council elections are in two rounds, so victory Sunday will determine which candidates can contest a second vote March 29.

The Socialists, which currently control the majority of the councils, are deeply unpopular after the government’s failure to turn around France’s economy. Both they and the conservative UMP

party are torn by infighting, leaving the National Front something of an open field for the first round.

But the two parties, normally rivals, are expected to support each other in the March 29 second round and have issued dire warnings about France’s future under a resurgent National Front, whose opposition to immigration, radical Islam, and

the European Union has helped transform the party from a pariah under Le Pen’s father.

Opinion polls rated Le Pen’s National Front Party the favorite versus the ruling Socialists and conservatives as Sunday’s vote began.

The government said voter turnout was 43 percent in late afternoon, slightly better than in the last council elec-

tion in 2011.

One outcome is certain: Half of those elected will be women.

Instead of voting for individual candidates, the ballots contain tickets - one man, one woman - in order to overcome years of failed efforts to get more women into government. Currently, only 16 percent of council members are women.

TUNISIAN policeman stands guard at Bourguiba Avenue in the capital of Tunis during a celebration to commemorate Tunisia’s National Independence Day March 20, 2015.

Praised as a model of Arab Spring progress, Tunisia has finally been drawn onto the global jihadi battlefield after Islamist militants gunned down foreign tourists in a brazen assault at the heart of the capital.

The storming of the Bardo museum inside the heavily guarded parliament compound was more deadly evidence Islamist militants are turning to North Africa as a new front beyond their main battlegrounds in Iraq and Syria.

Libyan and Tunisian jihadists have streamed to the ranks of Islamic State and other militant groups in Syria and Iraq. That flow is reversing with experienced North African fighters returning to target their homelands.

In Libya, where two rival governments are battling

for control and armed groups flourish on the streets, militants returning from Syria and linked to Islamic State have established a new outpost. Washington believes 3,000 fighters loyal to Islamic State are fighting there, including 300 returned from Syria or Iraq.

Since the start of this year, fighters in Libya proclaiming loyalty to Islamic State have beheaded Egyptian Christians, stormed a Tripoli hotel seeking foreigners to kill and overrun three oilfields kidnapping 10 expatriate oil workers.

Neighboring Tunisia has until now been mostly peaceful. It was the birthplace of the “Arab Spring” protests that swept the region at the end of 2010 and start of 2011, and four years later it is that era’s only success story.

Since a popular revolt toppled autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia enjoys free elections, a new constitution and politics that have seen compromise without the civil wars or widespread violence seen in Egypt, Libya, Syria or Yemen.

Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91

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EE Kuan Yew, the statesman who transformed Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91.

Mr Lee served as the citystate’s prime minister for 31 years, and continued to work in government until 2011.

Highly respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity, Mr Lee was also criticised for his iron grip on power.

Under him freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.

The announcement was made “with deep sorrow” by the press secretary of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Lee’s son.

“The Prime Minister is deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore,” his office said in a statement.

It said Mr Lee passed away peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital at 03:18 local time on Monday (19:18 GMT on Sunday).

A charismatic and unapologetic figure, Mr Lee co-founded the People’s Action Party, which has governed Singapore since 1959, and was its first prime minister.

The Cambridge-educated lawyer led Singapore through merger with, and then separation from, Malaysia - something that he described as a “moment of anguish”.

Speaking at a press conference after the split in 1965, he pledged to build a meritocratic, multi-racial nation.

But tiny Singapore - with no natural resources - needed a new economic model.

“We knew that if we were just like our neighbours, we would die,” Mr Lee told the New York Times in 2007.

“Because we’ve got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have.”

Through investment in

schooling, Mr Lee set about creating a highly-educated work force fluent in English.

He reached out to US investors to turn Singapore into a manufacturing hub, introducing incentives to attract foreign firms.

Singapore also became a centre for the oil-refining industry. The city-state grew wealthy and later developed into a major financial centre.

But building a nation came with tight controls - and one of Mr Lee’s legacies was a clampdown on the press.

These restrictions remain today. In 2014, Singapore stood at 150 in the Reports Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, below countries like Russia, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.

Dissent - and political opponents - were ruthlessly quashed.

Today Mr Lee’s PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.

Other measures, such as corporal punishment, a ban on chewing gum and the government’s foray into matchmaking for Singapore’s brightest - to create smarter babies - led to perceptions of excessive state interference.

But Mr Lee remained unmoved.

“Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up,” he told a rally in 1980.

“I’ve spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as I’m in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.”

•The late Kuan Yew

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

NEWS Dangote increases petroleum refinery’s capacity Continued from page 4

political upheavals and never had any negative impacts on our business as such because our business is not dependent on any government contracts or any linkage to the govern-

ment. Fortunately, for the businesses we are in and the way we carry out risk analysis, we go through a rigorous analysis before we carry out any investment. One of the reasons why we carry out this very rigorous

risk analysis is because most of the investments comes from president’s pocket and because he makes massive investment and obviously, he will not want his investments to be wiped out because of one mistake."

Thugs attack APC’s supporters in Lagos Continued from page 4

Obalende. But as the thugs advanced behind them, they scurried into Dodan Barracks and Ikoyi Cemetery for safety.

Some of those shot were not even part of the rally.

Recounting his ordeal, Bello, who resides at 32 Ajeniya Street, said: “I was sitting in from of the mosque when I saw the thugs.

They were many and armed with guns and machetes. They approached me without saying a word and shot me in the chest and leg. They also shot some other people.”

Bello, who was writhing in pain, said some people also sustained minor injuries while running from the attackers.

APC member, Alhaja Rikiya Jubril, said their rally was peaceful and orderly until they ap-

proached Obalende via Ajeniya and Suya Junction when news reached them that some thugs were advancing to the area to unleash terror.

“Most of us scampered for our dear lives. I, along with some women, ran into the barracks while some of our members took solace in the cemetery. It was a frightening sight. This must stop before Saturday,” she said.

Mrs Jubril said the incident happened at about 6pm. “It was soldiers that saved us. I had to beg a woman for clothes in the middle of the stampede.”

She said the thugs shot at APC members who were at the Obalende Office. “Many of those who got injured were those sitting in the front of the mosque,” she added.

Adamawa Youth Leader of APC in Lagos, Alhaji Zakari Mo-

hammed, said the casualty would have been more but for two police men from MOPOL 2 who told them not to go to Obalende and the intervention of some soldiers from Dodan Barracks.

“Some PDP thugs came in buses and were removing banners.

We asked them not to remove our candidates’ banners. The next thing they did was to bring out their guns and machetes and started attacking people. Many people were injured,” he said.

He said: “Because the place is close to Dodan Barrack the soldiers came in The soldeires were forced to return fire which forced them to disperse.

He said the soldiers recovered a bus loaded with arms which they pushed into the barracks.

But PDP Lagos State Chairman Tunji Shelle denied that the thugs were his party members.

PDP plans to make Southwest polls inconclusive Continued from page 4

and groups in the Southwest, the PDP and its agents in the region have realised that their strategy has backfired and even given the people more impetus to vote against the ruling party,’’ it said.

APC called on the security agencies, especially the police and the State Security Service, to shun partisanship in carrying out their assigned responsibilities to prevent any individual or group from disrupting the elections, irrespective of their political lean-

ings. ‘’Let’s be clear: In the event that the security agencies fail to carry out their duties, we will hold them, as well as those behind the plot to disrupt the elections, totally responsible for any disruption in the polls. They will also be held responsible for any act of violence or intimidation against the opposition,’’ the party warned.

It appealed to its members and supporters across the Southwest to be calm but vigilant, and to doc-

ument all actions aimed at harassing and intimidating them, as well as all acts of violence and all moves to disrupt the polls in the geo-political zone. ‘’The forthcoming elections are being closely watched within and outside Nigeria. In other words, the eyes of the world are on our country. Therefore, no one who engages in violence, rigging or intimidation of voters, to scare them away from the polling booths, will go scot-free, irrespective of his status,’’ the APC said.

Polls: Panic as Jonathan deploys troops in states Continued from page 4

in the forthcoming elections, I urge you to remain calm and law abiding. ”The army and other security agencies have been deployed in all the 16 local governments to keep the peace and protect you. Your safety is guaranteed.

Perform your civic duties without fear. All you need to do is cast your vote, wait for the counting and return home.

“We are a peaceful people and we will remain peaceful long after the elections have come and gone. Kwara State: It’s good here.”

In Edo State, there was a parade across major streets in the South Senatorial District, termed “Show of Force” by security agencies –Army, Police, Department of State Security(DSS), National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Prison Services and others.

The parade took off from Ring Road to Ekenwan and then proceeded to Ugbowo. Okada, Iguobazuwa, Siluko Road, Textile Mill Junction and New Benin, before moving on to Benin Agbor Road to Abudu axis.

Spokesman of the army’s 4 Brigade, Captain Abubakar Abdullahi, said the exercise was to demonstrate the unity among

the security agencies towards ensuring a violence-free election.

He encouraged the populace to feel free and safe to go about exercising their constitutional rights of voting and being voted for without harassment.

Captain Abdullahi said: “What is going on today is a show of force, a way of demonstrating our preparedness for a free and fair, peaceful, credible elections coming up. It’s meant to show the level of unity existing among all the security agencies in Edo State and how we will work together to ensure we have violence-free elections.”

“The patrol will take the whole day, and will cover the entire southern part of Edo State.”

The 222 Battalion, Zone 2 of Sector 1, JTF, Pulo Shield, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State assured residents of violencefree elections and protection during the elections.

Ughelli North Local Government Council Chairman Kenneth Ibru inaugurated a newly constructed office for the battalion’s Regimental Sergeant Major, Leonard Onah.

The Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Mathew Oyekola, who gave this assurance during the show of force, told the combined force of

Army, Vigilance group, FRSC and other security agents that the exercise was meant to give confidence to the public that security agencies under the overall umbrella of the Armed Forces are capable of protecting them during the elections.

Lt.-Col. Oyekola said the need for the show of force became necessary to give the electorate reassurance that the forces were prepared and ready to protect them as they came out to cast their vote during the elections.

Warning against violence during the polls, Oyekola said they were not unaware of the violenceprone areas where politicians perpetrate malpractices, assuring them of bringing to book any person caught violating the law during the elections.

He said the drive around more than 10 local government areas that the command covers was carried out to sensitise the populace that the force will not be ready to take for granted any misconduct. ”We will do our best to protect all voters and we will not ignore any phone calls where our attention will be needed for immediate action. All areas where they are perpetrating that act of carrying ballot boxes, we will ensure that there is relative peace and no snatching of ballot boxes or creating violence,” he said.

Amaechi’s deputy Ikuru defects to PDP Continued from page 4

name calling, rather than the more honourable path of simply retracing his steps to where he has always been."

Ikuru was deputy for five months to a former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, who was sacked on October 25, 2007 by the Supreme Court in a landmark judg-

ment. Amaechi was inaugurated as governor the next day.

Amaechi, however, decided to retain Ikuru as his deputy and he recently commended him in public for being very loyal, stressing that his support and loyalty made him not to watch his back during the July 9, 2013 crisis in the Riv-

ers House of Assembly. He expressed optimism that his deputy would not betray him.

The defecting deputy governor hails from coastal Ikuru in Andoni Local Government Area, the hometown of his uncle, political mentor and benefactor, Prince Uche Secondus, the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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SPORT EXTRA

Nigeria claims 7th U-20 title

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jaw-dropping moment of qualify from Bernard Bulbwa settled a fiercely-contested 2015 Africa U20 football championship final between Nigeria and Senegal yesterday.

The hosts started as the better of the two sides and almost got the first goal on six min-

utes but Joshua Enaholo’s great reflexes denied Malick Niang after a flowing Senegalese move.

Senegal was all over Nigeria in the opening moments of the game and almost scored the opener in 12 minutes, but Enaholo was outstanding again, this time denying

Niang a sure goal with an unconventional stop with his feet from point blank range.

Three minutes later, the hosts came close again through El Malick Niang whose header just flew off target.

The home fans were bouncing in the stands as the Young Teranga Lions looked to exact revenge on the Flying Eagles following their 1-3 defeat to the Nigerians in the opening game of the competition.

On 19 minutes, Bernard Bulbwa silenced the home support with a goal worthy of winning any game.

The forward took a long pass with the outside of his right foot before hitting an unstoppable volley beyond the reach of a shell-shocked Senegalese goalkeeper.

The two sides traded excellent opportunities all game but the Flying Eagles held out for a famous win.

Nigeria will now compete in Group E of the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup alongside Brazil, North Korea and Hungary.

The World Cup begins in New Zealand on May 30 and runs till June 20.

‘Training Special athletes is tasking’

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PORTS master at the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind Vocational Centre, Nicholas Obot has said that training special athletes is challenging, but described the experience as wonderful.

Speaking at the school annual sports meet recently at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Obot stated that special training was needed to teach sports skills to physically-challenged athletes.

Obot stated that he has been with the school for 20 years, expressing happiness that some of the athletes he has worked with have represented Nigeria at special Olympic Games.

“It is wonderful training the athletes and I am happy some have won medal for Nigeria at Special Olympic Games. This set of students also have the potential to win medals at the Paralympic Games and that is why we invited the national team selectors to look at them,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3162

‘What if the people go against Mrs. Jonathan’s ridiculous argument that her husband “must” be reelected irrespective of his track record that makes him unelectable? What if the people rubbish her nonsensical view that her husband and his party have a messianic value?’

FEMI MACAULAY

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HERE is an eerie rendezvous between love and politics. And we have seen this in the past few months, especially in the past two weeks. They woo, they enact rites of affection and play chivalry. They cajole, beg, spend, date, hate the rivals. They exaggerate their own graces and reify their own sacrifices and extol even their generosities.

The one with the big bulbous nose remoulds himself as the Adonis, sculpted with the delicacy of divine patience. The short man is actually taller than he seems, and the limping fellow is nothing but a hunk of swagger. Yes, like the world of romance, the bride is supreme. Even when her cooking is awful, you ask for more.

In a sense, other ethnic groups in Nigeria must envy the Yoruba. They have become the bride of the season. But this is not new wisdom. The Yoruba have always illumined the path for the nation. When they do well, so does the nation. They are our conscience.

In the First Republic, the collapse of the Western Region foreshadowed our descent into the dark scythe of war. Not long after the prophecies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Second Republic fell. June 12 was a theatre of the Southwest.

In this republic, are we surprised that the same region holds the ace? In development, Awo patented many firsts envied by other regions.

Hence President Goodluck Jonathan has been playing the suitor-in-chief among the Yoruba. For the Yoruba he became a Christian, playing the roving evangelist from church to church. He also became an Ifa adherent, bowing for prayer with obas. He became a dollar merchant, bedecking politicians, obas and all sorts of hustlers. He turned a tourist, visiting different parts of Lagos, so much so that over 2,000 policemen were deployed for his service. He opened the city to criminals and robbers had a field day at Lekki. So, his visit had its toll in blood as the robbers lapped up some dear lives.

He was also a tribalist. While courting the Yoruba vote, he incited the non-Yoruba against them. He said INEC was discriminating against non-indigenes on PVCs, as though he had the statistic. Even if he did, it was not the way leaders of unity spoke. But he didn’t have the statistic, and the INEC REC had shown the claim to be apocryphal.

This same President wants the Yoruba to forget easily that he deployed soldiers to menace the inhabitants of the city in the cauldron of the subsidy showdown. He encouraged his kinsmen and followers to abuse Lagos as a citadel of spoilt brats. He neglected the city and even the region without a major landmark achievement in six years. He used condescending language at Ife a few months ago with a raft of Yoruba renegades who hosted him. He said, “ I will take care of the Yoruba.” What does that

RIPPLES

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Jonathan and the Yoruba

‘

If he can kill the Igbo and the Ijaw dream, why not the Yoruba, so he can stay in office. That is romance, Jonathan style. It is fatal romance, a kiss of death to the Nigerian dream •Dr. Jonathan

mean?

Did Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, not ask him to confer a special status on Lagos? Did he not sneer at what the governor of example said with an outlandish parable about his uncle who spends his money in Lagos? Can we forget that?

This is romance, Southwest zone. Jonathan has turned the Yoruba into his bride. This is cynical romance. He knew that if the election took place in February he would have been trounced dizzy. So, he decided to dollarise the campaign, to buy love. He “pieticised” the hustings, making himself an evangelist of all religions, and a faithful of none. For Islam, he rather asked the leaders to come to him at Aso Rock. But his men are parading phony Muslim leaders in the Southwest, too, as endorsement of Jonathan.

Who else championed this than the whitlow of the West, the Mimic Mimiko of Ondo State. And Vice President Sambo, in the name of votes, described the PDP as the Muslim party after he and his Presidency with such

HARDBALL

CORRUPT GOVERNMENT WORSE THAN ARMED ROBBERY, Says Buhari

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Yes, this is a COUNTRY where STEALING is not CURRUPTION

’

foul mouths as Fani-Kayode had said APC was the Muslim party. Sambo listed all the major positions in the party and said the PDP is more Muslim than APC. Have we ever in our history had a more divisive era than that of Jonathan? He wants tribes and tongues to differ and the brotherhood of faiths to stumble.

When bad leaders are emboldened, it is often the fault of the people. It is particularly true of President Jonathan. If he can go to his very home and say I have not done much for you, and he is hailed, our democracy must wail. The people see how tons of naira has gone unaccounted for and his immiserated people say, he is our son, so let him do it. The currency has tanked. For the first time in a generation, many states cannot pay civil servants salary, including states of his region. He rolls out antediluvian trains as a 21st century marvel. He claims he rebased the economy, believing the illusion that he gave us Nollywood and other areas of the economy. They were only now recognised.

ELL dear reader, would it be stupid to ask where all this money is coming from? All the money we hear, see and know is being thrown around by the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Could this be the fabled dividend of democracy much spoken about in the last 16 years? Is it possible that there is any Nigerian who has not been hit by the PDP cash wagon; at least indirectly?

The PDP cash train has been hurtling across the land like a mobile, giant ATM machine dispensing cash directly to anyone who as much as stretches out his hands. It is an endless feast and the treat continues till at least March 28, 2015. Not to have picked up your PDP bundle by now would suggest that you are either smart by half or you are ‘poorly’ brought up.

Being smart by half means that you consider yourself a member of the opposition group whereupon you sit at your corner and pontificate (not unlike Hardball here) about the licentious profligacy of PDP over the treasury in a time of economic failure. You probably forgot that what is being disbursed

They were always there. He commissioned a power plant and darkness still overwhelms the people of Lagos. He should compare that with Governor Fashola’s fulfillment of the Oyingbo market dream. He promised it and he fulfilled it. Oyingbo is not just a market; it is history, it is a monument in the people’s imagination and a mainstay of folklore.

Ebenezer Obey sang it into eternity: “Oja Oyingbo omo pe enikan o wa o…”

Bad leaders like Jonathan try to abolish the people by killing their dreams. According to a Reuter’s report, a poor woman from Otuoke says this man has done nothing for her except a big university that is far away.

He has established universities without a sense of economics. All the money in those new universities would have been used to expand the existing ones, and admit more students and recruit more staff and research centres. He sets up an almajiri school and his wife mocks them in public.

Bad leaders abolish dreams by turning the people into their own image. Hence playwright Bertolt Brecht in a famous poem asserted that the leaders had lost confidence in the people. So they would dissolve the people and elect another people. Some thinkers say that good leaders make good people, bad leaders make bad people.

But it is not so simple. The people have a way of emboldening the tyranny and imbecility of bad leaders. They do so by encouraging them when they misbehave. When a leader encourages contracts to militants and the same government says theft is on the increase, we wonder. If he approves of violence in Rivers State and says nothing when an OPC runs riot in Lagos, we agree that he is a despot cloaking as democrat. It means that when he says he loves the Southwest, he is a suitor without love. He is encouraged by the uncritical support among the Ijaw and the Igbo to think that if he does not perform, the Yoruba will also support him. Love does not define us but we define it.

In his play, the Iceman Cometh, Nobel laureate Eugene Oneil’s main character kills his wife because she continues to forgive him.

The woman is dreaming of a perfect husband and hopes that someday her forgiveness will pay off and he will be the man of his dreams. He kills his wife and kills the dream. Both the killer and victim cannot pursue the dream. The people commit suicide when they don’t give leaders standards, and the leaders kill the people’s dreams.

If a Jonathan who promised Enugu-PH road, second Niger Bridge, et al, gets support for unfulfilled promises, why would he not renege if he is voted in? It is that logic that has made him think he can bribe his way into victory in the Southwest.

If he can kill the Igbo and the Ijaw dream, why not the Yoruba, so he can stay in office.

That is romance, Jonathan style. It is fatal romance, a kiss of death to the Nigerian dream.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

P – D – P ! Cash to the people so recklessly is our commonwealth. On the other hand, you may be ‘poorly’ brought up and unfit for this age in which case you turn your nose up in righteous indignation about this bizarre new dollars and the naira suffrage. By the time you realize that it is a ‘new’ day and age, the deed would have been done and you would have yourself to blame for not cottoning on to the act.

But it is not too late to join the band, no, money wagon if you are minded. In fact find out from the leaders of your church or mosque if they have already got their share.

If the answer is yes, insist on getting your share or you expose them (some church denominations that chose to visit Aso Rock got as much as N20 million). If your church has not got, you may arrange to lead them to Aso Rock quickly to pay homage to the big man and endorse his second term. You will never return empty handed, neither will you be the same again.

If you are not of any religious group, form an ethnic or tribal association now, especially of southwest or southeast bent. Call it a good name like Igbo Union Howling for Jonathan’s Second Term or O’dua Renaissance Troops for Jonathan. Find your way to Aso Rock. If you cannot get in, let your group mount a sentry at the nearest outpost. Soon enough you will be noticed and ‘settled.’

If you are lucky, you may be given a bigger assignment like being mobilized to go rally for Jonathan along the famous LagosIbadan Expressway or on the first Niger Bridge. That indeed will be the big stake. By the time you are through hiring the crowd and all the logistics, you would be shocked that you probably have almost as much cash to be able to fix the long-forsaken road.

There are simply a thousand and one way you can log into this PDP’s who wants to be a billionaire election campaign. It is the new area of growth; the new economy!

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO