The Nation March 24, 2015

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•APC: PDP plans to re-enact ‘Ekiti rigging strategy’•AND •How military plans to intimidate Tinubu, others MORE ON PAGES •Fayose’s brother urges Nigerians to ignore him 4,6,8&12 •We’ll conduct free, fair elections, says Jonathan

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Obama to Nigerians: reject violence From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

U

NITED States President Barack Obama has urged Nigerians to be peaceful, no matter who wins Saturday’s election.

Obama, in his message to Nigerians ahead of the crucial elections, also reminded Nigerians that violence has no place in the democratic process.

He urged political leaders and candidates not to incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during or after the votes are counted.

The message reads: “ I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins. ”Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent Continued on page 4

EFCC clears Soludo of N750m contract scam From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

E

CONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde yesterday said former Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Governor Charles Soludo has been cleared of complicity in the N750m Polymer scandal.

Nothing was found against him, he declared.

He also assured Nigerians that the EFCC will remain neutral throughout the elections.

Lamorde, however, denied knowledge of any watch-list by the anti-graft commission, as being speculated He advised Nigerians to be cautious of the modus operandi of fraudsters in order not to fall victim of their antics.

Continued on page 4

•A crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters listening to the party’s presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Owerri...yesterday

Buhari to Igbo: no reason to re-elect president STORY ON PAGE 58

•Gen. Buhari (second right), Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (second left), Senator Chris Ngige (right) and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu arriving at the venue of the Owerri rally...yesterday

Court stops Jonathan from deploying soldiers for polls

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

We must keep military away from electoral process, says Judge

By Joseph Jibueze

T

HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining President Goodluck Jonathan and the Service Chiefs from deploying soldiers for the general elections.

Justice Ibrahim Buba held that they cannot deploy soldiers without the National Assembly’s approval.

Besides, he said any election which

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The state is obligated to confine the military to their very demanding assignment, especially in this time of insurgencies by keeping them out of elections

is militarised through deployment of soldiers where there is no insurrection is “anti-democratic” and not in consonance with constitutional democracy

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and civil rule.

Justice Buba was delivering judgment in a suit by House of Representatives member Femi Gbajabiamila

who sought a declaration that deployment of soldiers for elections is unconstitutional.

President Jonathan, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation are the respondents.

The plaintiff said the Federal Government deployed soldiers during the Continued on page 4

•TRANSPORTATION P14 •POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •PROPERTY P49 •ENERGY P50 •INSIDE:

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

2

NEWS Countdown to March 28... 4 days to go

Can Jo •All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (second right) at the party’s Town Hall Meeting at Apapa Local Government Area, Apapa...yesterday. With her are: former Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs & Culture, Mr. Tunde Balogun (right); Alhaji Mutiu Are (second left) and Mr. Jide SanwoOlu.

•Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oando Gas & Power, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya (left), receiving the Nigerian Oil & Gas (NOG) Award for Excellence from a Board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), Dr. Peter Madu at the NOG Gala/Award Night in Abuja...at the weekend.

•Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii cutting the tape at the inauguration of the agency’s new warehouse at Oshodi, Lagos...at the weekend. With him are: Director, Drug Evaluation & Research, Mrs. Titilope Olowolabi (left); Director, Laboratory Sevices, Mrs. Stella Denloye (second left) and Director, Admin & Human Resources, Mrs. Yetunde Oni.

The stage is set for the presidential poll. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, are on the last lap of mobilisation across the six geo-political zones.

Unlike in 2011, the President faces more hurdles.

Amid the popular clamour for change, can he weather the storm? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU highlights the major issues that will shape the contest.

N

IGERIA, the most populous African nation-state, will decide on its future on Saturday.

Consensus may be difficult at the critical poll. This is due to its plurality and inherent conflicts of interests among stakeholders. There are divergent perceptions about the issues on the front burner. These may be moderated by such stronger factors as ethnicity and religious leanings. There seems to be a balance of strength and wit. But, at the close of polls, it is expected that voters would have either voted to retain the status quo or change for a better future.

The election is taking place at a critical period. The nation is in despair. The economy is on crutches. Other sectors are ailing. Electricity is beyond reach.

Other social infrastructure have collapsed. Many of the states cannot pay salaries. Many graduates face a bleak future. The jobs are not just there. Corruption is soaring in high places. Nigeria has almost become a laughing stock in the international community.

Insecurity has driven away investments. It is the tragedy of a promising country; a country endowed with vast human talents and natural endowment, but lacking the right leadership.

According to the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, N360 billion is spent on the procurement of generators and diesels for 708 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). In this years Budget, 84 per cent is earmarked for recurrent expenditure while 16 per cent is for capital expenditure. Irked by these figures, the Chairman of the Committee, Opeyemi Bamidele, said that the President has bad advisers.

“Who are the people advising the President? These figures are scaring and scandalous. Nigeria is bleeding,” he said.

Four years ago, the choice before Nigerians was narrow. However, the diverse people of the highly heterogeneous country now have two options.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan, who assumed the reins, following the death of his predecessor, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua. He is fighting for survival.

His second term bid appears to be a Herculean task, unlike in 2011, when certain factors worked in his favour.

His challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), seems to be waxing stronger as the rallying point for the formidable opposition party - the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Core issues

•Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr David Okeme (right); Category Manager, Skin Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Miss Osato Evbuomwan and fashion designer, Mai Atafo at Unilever's introduction of Lux Variants in Lagos...at at the weekend.

In 2011, many factors shaped the presidential election. These included the succession battle following Yar’Adua’s demise, the voting history of the electorate, states and regions; ethnic leaning, political sentiment, perception of the people about the leading candidates, and Southwest sympathy for the President. But, some of the factors have faded away.

When Yar’Adua died after a protracted illness, the mantle fell on Dr. Jonathan. Although Northern elements in the ruling PDP demanded for a successor from the North, the agitation was devoid of logic and it ran con-

trary to the constitution. The doctrine of necessity was invoked to elevate the former vice president to an acting president in his principal’s long absence. When he was eventually catapulted to the front seat, preparations for the general elections of 2011 had started. The PDP considered him as the proper person to fly its flag, owing to the incumbency factor.

Ethnicity Ethnic jingoism was another key factor. The sentiment was fueled in the Southsouth that the son of the soil was thrown up by fate at a time the region was clamouring for a sense of belonging under the fragile federation. It was a taboo for any Southsoutherner to raise a dissenting voice. The President appropriated the bloc goodwill flowing from regional solidarity. Today, that sentiment has evaporated. Addressing some youths in Abuja, Festus Keyamo, a lawyer- politician, said Nigerians will not vote for any candidate because of his tribal background.

He said the pattern of voting will reveal that people have rejected ethnic sentiment. The lawyer, who is from the oil-rich Niger Delta, said Nigerians will vote for intelligent leaders who can perform.

The ethnic card being played by the President in this electioneering may have also backfired. How to share the carrot thrown at the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, Ndigbo groups, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and monarchs in the Southwest is now a bone of contention. The strategy became counter-productive in the Southwest. As the OPC was on rampage, vandalising APC campaign posters, billboards and other materials, many people contented that a vote for the PDP will be a vote for terror.

Religion Also gone with the wind is the religious bigotry of 2011. There was a campaign of calumny, which was to the advantage of the PDP candidate.

Christians demanded for power shift based on religion. Spin doctors went into town, sensitising people into the barriers being mounted by Muslims against a Christian candidate. The South caught the bug.

According to analysts, the strong sentiment and sympathy for the President in the politically conscious Southwest was hinged on regional altruism.

The people of the Southwest rose up as defenders of the minority interest, which Dr. Jonathan represented. In their view, the President has just settled down, after men of goodwill liberated his administration from the jaw of cabals. Thus, he deserved the opportunity to try his luck at the polls as a matter of right, and in accordance with the constitution.

Reality may have dawned on the zone that it had a wrong perception of the Commander-in-Chief. The number one citizen had evoked passion when he humbly approached voters for support. He described himself as the poorest of the poor; a shoeless boy from Otuoke, Bayelsa State, who through the grace of education, dint of hard work and sheer fate, rose to

PO THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

3

Countdown to March 28... 4 days to go

n Jonathan win this election? ‘

In the past, President Jonathan never experienced much stressful campaigns. It is a different ball game in this electioneering.

•Gen. Buhari

•President Jonathan

stardom. Many Nigerians deiced to identify with his aspiration. But, it appeared that they had deluded themselves into thinking that the poor boy from the pauperised clan would redress the injustice of poverty and make life abundant for all.

Serious competition At the presidential election, President Jonathan got 22.5 million votes.

Despite all these factors, Gen. Buhari, who contested on the platform of a seemingly fragile party, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), scored 12.2 million votes. The former military Head of State’s performance in the South was woeful. The candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was like a spectator on poll day. He got 2.1 million votes.

The analysis of the pre-2015 voting pattern showed that Dr. Jonathan benefitted from multiple goodwill. He was a formidable candidate. Many thought that he had the experience, having served as deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president. Then, the PDP was also a formidable platform. Indeed, other parties trembled before the rul-

ing party because of its indomitable arsenal, structure and resources.

When the North objected to the President’s candidature, former President Olusegun Obasanjo became his armour bearer in that region. He was his campaign manager. The former President wielded enormous influence among PDP leaders in the North. He was instrumental to the ascension of many governors, senators and ministers in the zone. It was therefore easy for the former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman to pacify aggrieved chieftains pushing for power shift in the post-Yar’dua period. Obasanjo was also Dr. Jonathan’s coach up to the presidential primaries. To neutralise his opponent at the shadow poll, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo would rise from his seat to speak some words into the President’s ears at that moment of anxiety and tension. Thus, President Jonathan defeated the Turaki Adamawa at the primaries.

On the election day, Ribadu was no match for him. But, Gen Buhari put up a good fight. Many factors worked against the retired General. His CPC was very weak in the South. The former Head of State was like a lone

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ranger. He mooted an alliance with the defunct ACN, but it floundered. When the ACN/CPC deal collapsed, it was said that the General has not learned the ropes. According to sources, he was deficient in partisan negotiation and political abnegation. He was less inflexible and more condescending.

Gen. Buhari had no foot soldiers beyond some states in the North, where he had fanatical loyalists. The media rated him as a candidate who would struggle, but without success.

Strong opposition Also, Gen. Buhari’s campaigns were not vigorous. The CPC was hurriedly put together, following the contradiction in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). It was a defective structure in the sense that it lacked a national outlook. The CPC was a sectional platform. The CPC standard bearer was not perceived as a formidable opponent across the six geo-political zones. Despite his success in some Northern states, he could not muster an equivalent electoral strength below the Niger.

In 2011, many perceived Gen. Buhari as a Northern irredentist and a religious bigot. No effort was made to debunk

the allegations. The propaganda, in part, succeeded. But, he made a spirited appeal to populism. He mounted the rostrum, calling attention to his personal lifestyle. He said he has not made money at the expense of the country while in public service. Only a few cared to listen to his message.

When Buhari also selected a running mate, it was a wrong choice. His running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, a lawyer-turned preacher and a Senior Pastor, Latter Rain Assembly is not in the class of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). A brilliant commentator, he is not known to be a politician. Bakare was not a political asset, despite his popularity in the prodemocracy family.

Break from the past But, it is a clean break from the past.

Things are changing. Gen. Buhari now has foot soldiers. On his side are veterans in the art of winning elections.

His party, the APC, is bigger, solid and more formidable than the CPC. The merger has been successful. Unlike the PDP, it is not troubled by crisis. Defections from the APC has not decimated it in a way that its chances will be grossly affected at the polls.

In contrast, PDP has not recovered from the mass defection. The party is a shadow of itself. Since the President has not lived up to expectation, the incumbency factor is waning. The collapse of the incumbency factor is underscored by the way and manner the President and other PDP chieftains have been running from pillar to post.

In the past, President Jonathan never experienced much stressful campaigns. It is a different ball game in this electioneering.

New permutations The permutations in the battle ground states of Edo, Rivers, Ekiti and Ondo may have also been altered, to the consternation of the PDP. In Edo, the calculus has changed. Between President Jonathan and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, there is a clash of interests. The governor is in charge,

despite the PDP’s rebellion. In 2011, the comrade-governor could not move against Dr. Jonathan. The state could not dump a kinsman from Bayelsa for an opponent from Adamawa. In the Southsouth state, governorship election will not hold. But, for Oshiomhole to survive in the post-2015 era, APC parliamentary candidates must scale through at the polls. Indded, the ruling party in Edo has formidable candidates for the elections. It is relatively easier for the governor to approach voters for support because he has performed.

Stakeholders have applauded the governor for his giant strides. The same has not been said of the President. In fact, last week, the Benin royal palace denied that it has endorsed the President for a second term.

In Rivers, PDP has been balkanised, ahead of the polls. The defection of the governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and prominent chieftains to the APC, has decimated the chapter. Unlike 2011, when the PDP harvested a miraculous two million bloc votes, there will be a stiff competition for power in the oilrich state at the general elections. In Rivers, APC has formidable governorship and parliamentary candidates.

Ondo State will also be an interesting battle field. In 2011, Governor Olusegun Mimiko worked for the President as a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP). Few months ago, he defected to the PDP. His defection enlarged the PDP’s coast. But, the party also became fractionalised. Aggrieved chieftains have been grumbling that the governor has come to lord it over them. During the primaries, there was confusion. Reconciliation has not been effected. Besides, the presidential election is not standing alone. As people vote for the presidential candidates, they are also expected to elect lawmakers. The arrangement may confuse rural voters.

The election will not be a walk over for any of the candidates. But, unlike 2011, the President will not have an easy ride.

Presidential election: PDP’s last card

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ROM popular outcry, President Goodluck Jonathan had promised Nigerians and the international community that the elections on March 28 and April 11 will hold; that Prof Attahiru Jega will not be removed or sent on terminal leave when the elections are just around the corner. I had told Nigerians and the international community that President Jonathan could not be trusted in his promises, as he will always go behind his promises to initiate or instigate moves that will undermine his own promises. How can we explain the ProJonathan’s protest by the Oodua Peeple’s Congress (OPC) for the removal of Jega as the nation witnessed in Lagos on March 16, which was meant to scuttle the March 28 and April 11 elections he has promised will hold?

When it dawned on the President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart Card Readers (obviously meant to bring about free, fair and credible elections, devoid of rigging) was a foregone conclusion, protests and court cases were instigated by the presidency and the PDP to stop the use of these technological devices which ought to have been supported by the President who, himself, once promised to tackle corruption with the same technology he is now afraid of, simply because the use of the

By Moses Makinde

SCRs will not allow those who had cloned and bought PVCs to use them without being detected at the elections.

Just because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the people of Nigeria and the international community have insisted on the use of these technological devices for the elections of March 28 and April 11, and that under no circumstance should these elections be subjected to another postponement, the PDP’s last important card is its attempt to create confusion of monumental proportion on the day of election.

The plan is to ensure that SCRs do not work on the days of elections, in order to justify their morbid fears about the use of the SCRs that will expose their rigging plans. Now, the All Peoples Congress (APC) has accused President Jonathan’s administration and the PDP of planning to jam the machines on voting days for which an Israeli has been hired. The Israeli “had developed three prototype SCRs jammers to be carried in the pockets of trusted PDP chiefs on election days to disable the SCRs so as to justify the PDP’s fears about the Card Readers” (The Nation, Tuesday, March 17, pages1&4). Besides disabling the SCRs, “the jammers will also disable all telephones, I-pads among others within the state’s radius of those carrying them on their persons”. The plan is to

deploy the card jammers to the strongholds of the APC, like Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Rivers State and other suspected areas in the North, Southeast and Southsouth.

The Israeli is already seen as a traitor to the international community interested in free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, and “an enemy of Nigeria and Nigerians who do not mind if the nation burns, as long as he collected his pay”. For the production of 75,000 jammers, the nation would cough out $15 millon at $200 per jamming machine for the PDP! On this serious matter, Nigerians, the international community and the leadership of the INEC must see to it that none of the telephone service providers like MTN, GLO and ETISALAT cooperate or compromise with the Federal Government in this jamming game while the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) must steer clear of this shameful scenario. The leadership of INEC, with the cooperation of the international community, must provide counter jammers to the PDP jamming machine. Already, the international community and especially the United States (U.S.) have made it clear through Vice President Joe Biden, that INEC must use the PVCs and SCRs for the March 28 and April 11 elections in Nigeria (Punch, Friday, March 19, 2015, p.7) The questions that President Jonath-

an and PDP must answer at this eleventh hour are these: What plans do they have for successful elections that are free, fair and credible on March 28 and April 11? What plans do they have for creating crisis by using technology (jammers) to prevent the SCRs from working on March 28 and April 11?

How actually prepared are they for these elections? And, finally, are they prepared to take responsibility for scuttling the March 28 and April 11 elections and the attendant consequences, should anything go wrong in accordance to their plan, wish or prayer? Or, by creating crisis at the coming election, do they hope that the army will take over in order to prevent any elections and Gen Muhammadu Buhari from being sworn in as the next President? It should be pointed out that any attempt to take over the government by the military will lead to a situation worse than those of the Arab Springs where the military and the police had no choice but to surrender to the superior force of the masses of the people who drove out President Mubarak and got him tried for crime against the Egyptian people by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba has said “no waiting at polling booths after voting” (Punch, March 20, p.2). Traditionally, electorate are expected to wait after casting their votes to ensure that their

votes count and are counted. That is what INEC, the legally constituted authority to conduct and monitor elections in Nigeria, says. Voters are well protected by electoral - and not police - laws. The IGP should not usurp the powers of INEC and should be careful about his illegal directive which is not tenable, because what he is saying is that voters should not wait to monitor what happens to their votes and collect the results on the spot. This is yet another rigging device that must be thrown into the dustbin.

On a final note, Nigerians must insist that election materials are delivered to the polling stations on time, as not doing so will affect those who are eager to cast their votes, especially if delays of election materials occur in the strongholds of the opposition party. The Federal Government must also be careful about the way it manipulates the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for carrying news and advertisements about the PDP to the exclusion of the APC, because the NTA is for all Nigerians. Surely this policy of exclusion will backfire as it will further draw the wrath of Nigerians against the ruling party. A word, we say, is enough for the wise!

Moses Akinola Makinde is a professor of Philosophy and the Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology & Good Governance, Osogbo, Osun State.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NEWS •National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu speaking during the inauguration of Corporate Security Institute in Kano...yesterday.

WIth him are: Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other government officials.

Obama to Nigerians: reject violence Continued from page 1

challenges you face today.

Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children— must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families.

Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes. Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress.

“Nigeria is a great nation

and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made. Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions.

You’ve strived to overcome division and to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a source of strength. You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa. ”Now you have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress—by voting in the upcoming elections. For elec-

tions to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful. All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear. ”So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections

are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins. ”I’m told that there is a saying in your country: to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done. Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”

Court stops Jonathan from deploying soldiers for polls Continued from page 1

governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, contrary to the Constitution.

Justice Buba upheld arguments by the plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Seni Adio, adding that even President Jonathan does not have the power to deploy soldiers at whim.

The judge dismissed the defendants’ objections to the court’s jurisdiction and to the plaintiff’s locus standi, saying Gbajabiamila had the legal right to demand an interpretation of the constitution by the court.

He disagreed with the defendants who said soldiers were only deployed to ensure peaceful elections, holding that the army is not needed for such civil duties.

Justice Buba said he was bound by the recent Court of Appeal’s decision, which nullified soldiers’ deployment for elections. He quoted the decision extensively, adding that he was also persuaded by the judgment of Justice Mohammed Rilwan of the Federal High Court, Sokoto.

According to the judge, the law does not make provision for the military to be involved in civil activities, and if soldiers must vote, it must be in their barracks. “The armed forces/ military have no role in elections,” he said.

“The time has come for us to establish the culture of democratic rule in the country and to start to do the right thing, particularly when it has to do with dealing with the electoral process which is one of the

pillars of democracy.

“In spite of the behaviour of the political class, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel and military from being a part and parcel of the electoral process.

“The state is obligated to confine the military to their very demanding assignment, especially in this time of insurgencies, by keeping them out of elections. The state is also obligated to ensure that citizens exercise their franchise freely and unmolested,” Justice Buba said.

The judge said the Court of Appeal directly interpreted the Constitution when it held that the combined effects of Section 215 and 217 limit the president’s power to deploy soldiers to the suppression of insurrection and to aid the po-

lice to restore order when it has broken down.

“I am bound by the decision of the Court of Appeal and equally persuaded by the decision of Federal High Court Sokoto, which also persuaded the Court of Appeal.

“It is in this regard that the court will say that its duty in interpreting the constitution has been simplified and made easy by the decisions I have referred to extensively,” Justice Buba held.

On whether Gbajabiamila has locus standi, the judge said: “The plaintiff is at liberty to approach this court and seek reliefs whether they are beneficial to him or not. In the instant case, the plaintiff is a Nigerian; he has a right of franContinued on page 60

EFCC clears Soludo of N750m Polymer contract scam Continued from page 1

Lamorde, who made the clarification while presenting “Red Alert on Scam”, a special publication of the EFCC, in his office, said: "We invited Charles Soludo in respect of the printing of currency notes. From the investigation conducted, we did not find anything Soludo was involved in.

"Our partners from the United Kingdom (UK) wanted certain information. So, Soludo has been exonerated."

Reacting to his clearance, Prof. Soludo was quoted by online medium Premium Times as saying: “I am impressed by the professionalism of the Commission, especially in making the result of its investigation public. In early November last year

(2014), I wrote to the Commission, demanding for the outcome of the investigation, and it replied, stating that its investigation did not establish any culpability on my part. I simply put the letter in my file.

“Well, I always knew that there was nothing to it as far as I was concerned, and I did not know anything about the said allegations. What impresses me is that the Chairman and the Commission have displayed professional integrity by making its findings public, especially in the light of the negative publicity that attended my invitation and interview at the Commission in January 2013.

I left office six years ago, and I believe that this is good for Continued on page 60

Small boys run hate campaign in PDP, says Mu’azu

C

HAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu yesterday said “small boys” in his party are responsible for hate campaigns against the opposition.

According to him, he had always expressed his misgivings about such utterances.

He spoke when he received members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 general elections at the party secre-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

tariat.

The committee, headed by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, appealed to contesting parties and candidates to refrain from the practice in the interest of peace and unity of the country.

Its delegation was yesterday led by its Vice Chairman, Continued on page 60

APC alleges PDP plans to re-enact ‘Ekiti rigging strategy’

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over plans to rig the general elections by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), using what it described as the “Modified Ekiti Rigging Strategy”.

The party urged foreign election observers and the international community to beam a searchlight on the electoral process, stressing that the ruling party cannot be trusted.

APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed told reporters in Lagos that PDP chieftains are working round the clock to manipulate the elections because the ruling party is not popular.

He said: “It is no longer news that a Captain in the Nigerian Army, Sagir Koli, has exposed how the administration used the military to rig the governorship election in Ekiti on June 21st 2014. According to Capt. Sagir, soldiers were put at the behest of designated PDP officials at each of the 16

How military plans to intimidate Tinubu, others

D

ESPITE court verdicts against the use of the military in Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, there are moves to muzzle All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Lagos and the Southwest.

It was gathered that the Army may have directed an “operation ground APC leaders in Lagos on elections day”.

It was also learnt that Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah will

relocate to Lagos on Saturday.

At the final coordinating conference for the elections last Friday, it was directed that key APC leaders must be prevented by troops from leaving their homes on election day.

According to the plan, armoured tanks are to be deployed in front of the homes of key leaders, including Governor Babatunde Fashola and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The army, it was learnt, mandated a

sector commander in Lagos to take charge of the operation to stop Tinubu from leaving his home on election day. Other officers were also assigned to take charge in the houses of other opposition leaders.

The APC has consistently raised the alarm over the plan by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to witchhunt its leaders, in addition to either arresting them on the eve of the elections or blocking them in their houses Continued on page 60 •Mohammed

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor

local governments to work with the officials to rig the elections.

“Once the PDP officials pointed out any APC leader in a particular local government, such leader was either arrested and detained or simply hounded into hiding. APC leaders who were arrested also had the funds in their posses-

sion, including money to pay party agents and for other logistics, confiscated as they were detained till well after the election.

“We have additional information to give you on what has now become Ekitigate.

Contrary to the general belief, it was not just the military that was involved. It was the entire gamut of the nation’s security agencies; the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the

Civil Defence. They were all constituted into a task force that was deployed to each local government and placed under the command of the PDP. “We have the names of all the servicemen involved in the criminal act, as well as their service and telephones numbers. On the morning of the Ekiti election, not one APC leader was a free man or woman. They were either in deten-

tion, in hiding or on the run, because the task force carried out its duty with brutal efficiency.”

Mohammed alleged that plans were underway to modify the strategy used to rig the Ekiti election, following public outcry over the “show of shame”.

He said, since it had become old-fashioned to use the military for the illegal act, PDP chieftains were sewing military

and police uniforms for thugs, who will be instigated to create confusion during the exercise.

Mohammed stressed: “A large number of uniformed personnel on election day will Continued on page 60

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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NEWS

Ghanaian President: why Nigeria must conduct credible polls •Mahama meets Jonathan, Buhari, others in Abuja

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HE Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Ghanaian President John Draman Mahama, yesterday, met with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s general elections.

He first met behind closeddoos with President Goodluck Jonathan and later with the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega; and representatives of international monitoring groups.

The meeting with President Jonathan was held at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

At the end of the meeting, Mahama, who was accompanied by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Desire-Kadre Ouedraogo, urged Nigeria to conduct free, fair and credible elections to entrench the nation’s democratic process.

The Ghanaian president said the elections would be critical for Nigeria, adding that it will be an opportunity to show the world that Nigeria is a democratic country, ruled by the tenets of good governance and the rule of law.

He said as chairman of the authorities of Heads of State of ECOWAS, he came to extend solidarity to Nigerians through President Jonathan, to show that ECOWAS and the international community was behind Nigeria.

His words: “I am here in my capacity as chairman of the Authority of Heads of

From Augustine Ehikioya and Tony Akowe, Abuja

States of ECOWAS on election visit to Nigeria.

“As you are aware, our sub-region this year has five countries that are going through elections and ECOWAS has been involved in ensuring that these elections are held in a peaceful and transparent environment.

“And so, ECOWAS has undertaken in all these countries that are facing elections, long-term electoral observer missions. These missions have been monitoring the electoral process in the lead up to the elections, not just before the elections, but from a longer period. We have received several monitoring reports and we are working with the electoral commissions of the countries and the authorities of those countries.

“We have tried to ensure that obstacles to free and fair elections are removed to ensure that elections are free and fair.”

He added: “As chair of the authorities of Heads of State of ECOWAS, I have extended my solidarity to the Nigerian people through my brother President Jonathan, to see that ECOWAS, not only ECOWAS, but the international community is behind Nigeria.

Mahama noted that ECOWAS expected no postelection violence in Nigeria and that all the parties involved in the polls would accept the results in good faith when INEC announces it.

He said: “ECOWAS would continue to monitor the situ-

Jonathan (left) welcoming Mahama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja ...yesterday.

ation and would do everything possible to stand in solidarity with Nigerians to ensure that these elections pass on successfully and Nigeria continues in the role that it plays in our sub-regional bodies.

“As you know, Nigeria is an important member of ECOWAS. The largest economy, the largest nation in the ECOWAS region and so, Nigeria’s safety and security is the safety and security of the ECOWAS region and so I stand on behalf of all the presidents of ECOWAS and wish that all Nigerians will come out and vote and their votes would count towards electing who becomes the next leader of this country.”

Mahama concluded his one-day visit with a meeting with the presidential candidate of the All progressives Congress (APC), stressing again that the international community was interested in the outcome of the nation’s general elections.

The Ghanaian president, who arrived at the Presiden-

tial Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport about 6.06 pm, told reporters that the security of Nigerians was important to ECOWAS, the African Union and the rest of the world.

He said Nigeria being the most populous nation on the African continent and the biggest economy must conduct a peaceful, free and fair election.

He added that he received assurances from President Jonathan that the elections would go ahead as planned.

He expressed satisfaction with the arrangement put in place by INEC ahead of the elections.

He said following his meeting with President Jonathan, he met with INEC chairman, who briefed him on the commission’s logistical deployment.

He said: “We believe that with what he showed, they have done well to ensure that every Nigerian is able to exercise his franchise.

“Following that, I met with leaders of representa-

tive groups, including the African Union representative, who is Prof. Amos Sawyer of Liberia, the UN secretarygeneral’s representative and the representative of the Commonwealth.

“Our own representative and head of our monitoring team, former President John Kufour is going to arrive here on March 25 and will remain here in the run up to the election, during the election and after the elections.

We are satisfied with the deployment that the various monitoring groups are going to do.

“The international community is going to have its eyes throughout the country to see how the election process goes, to be able to make a determination on whether everything has gone freely and fairly.

“My final meeting has been with Gen. Buhari, and I’m appreciative of him taking his time to meet with me. We held discussions on the elections and I feel assured that all the political

‘Physically-challenged’ll

Wayas to Jega: make Card Readers effective

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FORMER Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to ensure effective use of Card Readers to forestall disenfranchising the electorate during the elections.

Wayas, who spoke at a conference in Abuja, noted that “as much as Card Readers must be used, no efforts should be spared to make them work.”

On calls for interim government, he said it was unconstitutional.

“The call for an interim government as being agitated by some people is unconstitutional, as it is not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

“As the elections draw near, political party leaders should act as elder-statesmen and avoid actions and utterances that may cause a breach of peace and is capable of truncating our democracy. Campaign of candidates

at this moment should be based on issues and not mudslinging, ethnicity or religion,” he said.

Also speaking at the forum, one of the conveners, Tony Mike Akpan, praised the Federal Government and the security agencies on the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

Akpan called on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces with information in their quest to end insurgency in the region.

Court orders YDP leaders to retract claims or go to jail

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FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday established a case of contempt against leaders of the Young Democratic Party (YDP) for misrepresenting an earlier judgment of the court.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling yesterday, ordered YDP’s leaders to, within 24 hours, call a news conference to put the records straight, failing which they will be jailed for contempt.

The party’s leaders had, shortly after the court’s judgment of March 4 directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue YDP with a certificate of registration, addressed a news conference, where they claimed the court ordered INEC to include the party’s candidates in ballot papers for

•Establishes contempt case against them From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the elections.

Angered by the misrepresentation of the court’s judgment, Justice Mohammed on March 12 summoned the party’s leaders to explain why they chose to distort the court’s judgment.

Yesterday, after listening to the party’s lawyer, Kelvin Nwofo (SAN), and INEC’s lawyer Wole Balogun, Justice Mohammed held that a case of contempt had been established against the party officials from the two affidavits filed by them.

He, however, held that because the court was not out to join issues with anybody and that in view of the plea for

mercy by the party’s lawyer, he would “reluctantly temper justice with mercy”.

He said: “It is clear that the court did not order INEC to include them in the ballot papers or to shift the 2015 elections.

“The case of contempt is clearly established in the circumstances of this case. And learned senior counsel for the plaintiff, having pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy and to forgive the plaintiff’s officials, this court is not out to join issues with anyone, least of all the officials of the plaintiff, Young Democratic Party.

“It is on that premise that I will reluctantly temper justice

with mercy in this matter subject to the following conditions: “(I) The officials of the plaintiff shall, within 24 hours, call a national press conference and debunk or retract the misrepresentation made against the order of this court delivered on March 4, 2015; and “(II) The officials of the plaintiff shall file an affidavit in court for compliance with paragraph (I) of this order.

“In case of failure to comply with the court’s directive, this court will commit to prison, the affected officials of the plaintiff (YDP) on the next return date since evidence of contempt has been established.”

The judge adjourned March 31 for report of compliance.

leaders are ready for a peaceful, free and fair election.

“Of course, there are a few issues that he has brought up which I will refer appropriately to our monitoring group and I hope that the discussions that will take place in the next few days will address some of the issues that have been raised. I want to thank all those who have made this meeting possible.

“I want to affirm to the people of Nigeria that Nigeria is an important country for ECOWAS and the AU. It is the largest economy on this continent, the most populous nation on this continent. The safety of Nigerians is important to member states of ECOWAS region.

“So, we are all stakeholders in this election. The difference is that we don’t have a vote, but we are quite interested in what happens on election day here. So, for you Nigerians who have to vote, we hope that you will rise up to the occasion and make all of us proud”.

be part of APC govt’

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HE vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has assured the physically-challenged that they will be part of the party’s government, if elected.

Prof. Osinbajo said the government would treat people with disability with equal rights, total inclusiveness and give them incentives.

He said persons with disabilities were special and important part of the nation’s society.

The vice presidential candidate, who spoke through one of the directors of his campaign group, Mr. Gbemi Jaiyebo, at the weekend, urged the physically-challenged to come out on Saturday with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for APC without fear of intimidation.

Jaiyebo said: “We are specifically reaching out to secure their votes. We are not taken them for granted. They are not an invisible people; they are part of the society and they have a right to be respected and to live their lives with dignity, in spite of whatever disability they have.

“We have been having engagements with them as we are rounding off our campaign. So, we are saying to them that even though we have engaged them before, we have not forgotten about them.

We are also telling them we are still together with them in their struggle and to renew their hope that on Saturday, they can make their dreams come true.

“This is not our first time of engaging with them. If you can recall, on Prof. Osinbajo’s birthday, we had a function with persons with disability. So, we have had an ongoing engagement with them and we are saying even in these final hours that they are primary on our agenda.”

He lamented that the ruling Federal Government has not taken issues concerning persons with disability as a priority, adding that if voted into power, Buhari and Osinbajo would engage them at multiple levels and take them as a priority.

He noted that the biggest problem facing the disabled was the problem of attitude, advising the public to show a new attitude on the issue of disability.

Being disabled, he said, “doesn’t make them less citizen and that they are people of value”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

6

NEWS Show interest in Nigeria’s polls, Canadian PM told From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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GROUP of concerned Nigerians living in Canada has written to Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper, the Conservative government as well as the leading opposition parties to show interest in Nigeria’s general elections.

In the letter by the leaders of the group under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Canada, Dr. Isa Odidi, Mr. Kay Alabi and Prince Adewale Akanbi said Canada should support Nigeria to organise credible polls.

The group also copied the executive and the leadership of the House of Commons in Ottawa.

Nigeria as the most populous country in Africa, it said, was too strategic politically and economically in the continent to be treated with indifference.

The concerned Nigerians said Canada must urgently lend its voice to the call for free and fair elections during “these trying times that every influential voice in the world needs to be heard to make the polls to be conducted peacefully”.

They referred to the role the United States (U.S.) has lately played, with the State Department publicly and overtly showing interest in Nigeria ahead of the polls.

The letter reads: “For instance, America has sent its indefatigable and influential Secretary of State, John Kerry, to Abuja to hold separate meetings with the two leading candidates - incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and General Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the leading opposition party, the APC - on the need to have a peaceful and fair elections.

The group noted that Canada’s silence on Nigeria’s rescheduled elections was not good enough, stressing that it needs to do better.

Group mobilises for Buhari

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HE Worldwide Isese Agbaye Community, the umbrella body of all indigenous and traditional religion people, has expressed its support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the general elections.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its president-general, Dr. Adebayo Olusina Adekoya (Erinsiba 1), said the members were supporting the APC’s candidate because of his magnanimity.

Adekoya praised members for complying with the directive to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“The report reaching me that you have all refused to sell your PVCs is very laudable, commendable and has made all of us proud and giving us joy,” he said.

The group’s presidentgeneral said the body had made several attempt to seek audience with the Presidency, but met with brick-walls.

The group said it decided to support APC because of its programme.

From front row left: Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) Osagie Okunbor; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer,Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited Charles Odita; General Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joseph Dawha; Chairman, Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited Jite Okoloko; Partner Fides/Company Secretary, Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited Theodore Junior Ezeobi. Back row): Head Oil and Gas, Rand Merchant Bank London Micheal Humphries; General Manager, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited(NAOC) Stefano Mantellassi; and Chief Executive Officer, Suntrust Oil Ugo Okafor, after the Completion and Signing Ceremony for the Transfer of Shell, Total and Agip 45 per cent interest in OML 18 to Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Jonathan: we’ll conduct free, fair polls

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured that the general elections will hold as scheduled by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with presidential and National Assembly polls on Saturday.

He told stakeholders at a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from the Northeast geopolitical zone in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital, that his administration was determined to conduct free and fair elections.

The president added that INEC has been given free hand to operate within the

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

ambit of the constitution and the Electoral Act as amended.

He said the Nigerian troops were doing everything possible to clear Boko Haram from the Northeast.

But, the president was quick to add that God would judge between him and those linking him with the insurgents, boasting that the war against insurgency was being won.

“As a government, there is no sector we have not touched. We have done well in the health sector. Today, we have just commissioned

a modern hospital in Bauchi State. And we are working hard to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from our interventions in the education sector.

“We have established universities in all the states that don’t have federal universities. Today, they have federal universities. We are committed to positive change and I urge you to vote for PDP for the sustenance of this change.

“Nigerians should hold their PVCs very well as an important asset because it will be used for future elections at all levels,” he counselled.

Jonathan assured that he

was committed to one-man and one-vote.

The president commiserated with the families, who lost their loved ones in the 2011 post- election violence in the zone, saying that government was doing everything possible to ensure hitch-free elections this year.

The National Chairman of PDP, Ahmadu Mu’azu, lamented that “states of the Northeast did not do well in the past elections”, assuring that this time around, the people would surprise the president with their massive votes for the party at all levels.

Obasanjo urges court to vacate order ORMER President against his book Olusegun Obasanjo has

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asked a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to vacate its earlier injunction restraining him from further publishing, printing or offering for sale, his autobiography: “My Watch”.

He urged the court to set aside its order directing the Inspector General of Police (IG), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) to recover the published book from all book stands, sales agents, vendors, the sea and airports and deposit them with his court’s registrar pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court had granted the orders on December 10, 2014, following complaint by a plaintiff, Buruji Kashamu, to the effect that Obasanjo breached an earlier order of the court made on December 5 restraining the ex-president from

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

launching the book.

Kashamu, who sued Obasanjo for libel in relation to the claims in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that he (Kashamu) is a fugitive wanted in the United States, had moved the court to grant the earlier restraining order of December 5 on the ground that the subject of the libel suit was contained in the new book by Obasanjo.

Despite the order of December5, Obasanjo proceeded to launch the book on December 9 in Lagos, a development that prompted the court to make the orders of December 10.

Yesterday, Obasanjo’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), moved the application with which he prayed the court to set aside the December 10 order on the ground that the court wrongly applied the law in reaching its

decision.

Agabi argued that it was wrong for the court to grant a restraining injunction against a party in a libel case, who pleaded justification.

He said the court should have first determine whether or not the publication complained about was libellous before restraining Obasanjo from engaging in further publication.

Agabi, who cited some authorities in support of his argument, contended that “the point at which he can be restrained is when he is unable to prove his plea of justification.”

He said his client was willing to abandon the appeal he filed against the court’s decision to enable the trial court decide his application.

Lawyer to Kashamu, Alex Iziyon, while arguing his counter-affidavit, objected to Obasanjo’s prayers. He argued that it was wrong for Obasanjo

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Lagos

programmes.

The president said his administration had succeeded in using technology to reduce corruption in many areas, including fertiliser distribution and procurement, contract inflation and salary payment.

According to him, he will do the same in the oil industry.

He said: “We are going into the oil sector. People talk about the oil industry because that is an industry with a lot of people and a lot of money is involved.

“But I promise you that in the next four years, we will sanitise the oil sector.”

From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday urged eligible voters not to go home after casting their votes during the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

In contrast with the directive of the police to the electorate to go home after casting their votes, she advised them to stay at the polling units to protect their votes and resist any attempt to intimidate them after voting.

Mrs. Jonathan spoke at Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) women campaign rally in Enugu yesterday.

Oxbridge Club hosts debate on Nigeria

F •Obasanjo

to seek the vacation of injunctions, which had been executed.

He said the plaintiff has served the order on all the institutions, security agencies and individuals named in the order.

He told the court that the Nigerian Customs Service recently requested for a copy of the order when its men intercepted container loads of the book.

Justice Valentine Ashi has adjourned to March 30 for ruling.

President vows to end graft in oil sector in four years RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night vowed to sanitise and end corruption in the nation’s oil sector in the next four years, if re-elected.

He spoke at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos during an interactive session with young professionals in Nigeria and abroad.

The event, tagged: “An unimaginable feat in sports”, showcased President Jonathan’s achievements in the sports sector.

Among those who attended the event, which ended in the early hours of yesterday, were young professionals, sports men and women, and beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s scholarship

First Lady to voters: stay to monitor votes

Jonathan promised to end the stigmatisation of Nigerians in the international community as a result of corruption.

He noted that the issue of corruption was being over-celebrated in a way that showed that the whole country was corrupt.

He harped on the need for the citizenry to work together to end the stigmatisation.

The president promised to work with the youth because of his conviction that parents who did not encourage the young ones were preparing their families for extinction.

UNDAMENTAL issues concerning Nigeria, its democracy and the economy will come to the fore as erudite lawyers and renowned economists meet at the inaugural debate being organised by the Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria.

Slated to take place at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the Oxbridge Debate, under the chairmanship of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (CFR), will feature four accomplished subject-matter experts who, together with the chairman, are all members of the Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria.

The debaters are Dr. Bright Okogu, DG, Budget Office of the Federation; Mr. Demola Akinrele (SAN), Senior Partner, FO Akinrele & Co; Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO, Economic Associates and Prof. Fidelis Oditah (QC, SAN), Senior Partner, Oditah & Co. They will each speak on the topic: ‘Nigeria, Democracy and The Economy whilst the moderator will be Prof. Konyin Ajayi (SAN), managing partner of Olaniwun Ajayi LP, and also a member of the club.

The debate is also aimed at promoting knowledge sharing among Nigerians.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

7

NEWS Global recognition for Eko Atlantic

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ICE-Chairman of South Energyx Nigeria Limited, Ronald Chagoury Jr, has said the Eko Atlantic City Project is 100 per cent privately funded with independent power and water projects.

The vice-chairman also said about 90 per cent of the infrastructure needed at Eko Atlantic City, registered as a free zone, would be ready by December.

In a statement after the 2015 MIPIM, the world property market held in Cannes, France, Chagoury formally presented the Eko Atlantic Project to the international community.

He attended the forum with the Chief Executive Officer of JD Forbes, John Okonkwo, the Managing Partners of Akin Olawore & Partners, Akin Olawore and the Chief Executive Officer of 3invest Nigeria, Ms. Ruth Obih, among

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

others.

At the forum, Chagoury assured that the Eko Atlantic City “will have reliable 24/7 utilities, such as independent power plant, water and sewage treatment plants, and a state-of-the-art fibre optic network.”

He said Eko Atlantic “is 100 per cent privately funded. It is a registered Free Zone. It is now time for international companies to take a closer look at investment potential in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria”.

Delivering a presentation called ‘Sub-Saharan Africa Let There Be Light’, Chagoury explained that the realestate sector “is desperately short of housing. We have a shortage of 16 million homes in Nigeria with a shortfall of five million homes in Lagos alone.”

No plan to sack Ogun workers, says govt

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HE Ogun State government has refuted allegations by the Presidential Campaign Organisation (PCO) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it would reduce the workforce, if Governor Ibikunle Amosun was reelected next month.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the government described the allegations as false, wicked, baseless and reckless.

The statement said there were no plans to retrench workers but that a fresh recruitment exercise was at an advanced stage.

It condemned the allegation as a design to create panic by a desperate party facing defeat.

The statement reads: “We have no reason to reduce the workforce because workers remain an integral part of the successful pursuit of our ‘Mission to Rebuild’ Ogun State. “Indeed, our assessments have indicated need for additional personnel in key areas. Workers have contributed to the visible developments in our state.

“That is why although the last government defaulted on its wage bill, which was about N4 billion, we have coped with the increase in the total wage bill to N6.2 billion monthly and have paid the workers up-to-date.

“We have not only cleared the backlog of salaries and deductions inherited from the last PDP administration, we have also paid 42 months deductions.

“The government has an arrangement with workers on how to pay the outstanding and that was one of the agreements we reached with them during our last interactive session with them.”

The government said it demonstrated its workerfriendly tendency by recruiting over 20,000 workers.

It noted that workers know the difference between Amosun and his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, who in a radio interview described Ogun workers as “naive, ignorant and gullible”.

“We insist that from our experience and interaction with the workers, Ogun State civil servants and the people are sophisticated and hard working.

“They, in fact, have a rich tradition. The workers know who best represents their interests. They know the difference between now when public resources are devoted to public work, and the past, when government institutionalised corruption, oppression and insecurity.”

It assured the workers that the administration would continue to protect their interests by giving them their dues and that the size of the service would continue to grow so that the state can cope with challenges from its emerging modern economy.

The government advised the people to ignore the falsehood being dished out by the opposition, whose leaders obviously hold the people in contempt.

‘Ondo residents’ll vote out Jonathan’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has said the people will “vent their anger” on President Goodluck Jonathan by voting against him on Saturday.

The party said Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s claim that the people preferred Jonathan to its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was deceitful.

It challenged Mimiko to name a single federal project or intervention executed by the Jonathan administration in the state.

A statement by the Vice Chairman, APC Publicity Committee, Kunle Adebayo, said the citizens had suffered failed promises, poverty and gloom.

Adebayo said the failure of the PDP government to touch their lives was the reason people turned to the APC and Buhari.

He said: “Mimiko, in trying to mobilise rulers, teachers, workers and youths, boasted that Jonathan’s new tenure will bear an indelible imprint in the lives of the Yoruba.

“The point must be made again that Mimiko’s claims

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

are not only an insult to the intelligence of the people, they are the antics of drowning men which all political opportunists are.

“How can Mimiko hope anybody in Ondo, particularly the insulted workers, frustrated youths, betrayed women and dehumanised rulers, are listening to his tales by moonlight?

“In case he does not know, the people identify Jonathan as the President who treated them like trash, despite the massive votes given to him in 2011 when he came whimpering as the shoeless riverine boy.”

“From inheriting a cash surplus of over N58.4 billion and a zero debt profile, it is no news that Mimiko has plunged the state into an unprecedented level of indebtedness, retrogression, poverty and stagnation.

“As is customary with a bat pretending to be a bird, Mimiko’s empty boasts and politics of opportunism have, by default, exposed the futility of the PDP’s crave for permanent enslavement of Nigerians.”

Obanikoro woos vulchanisers

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INISTER of State for Foreign Affairs Senator Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday held an interactive session with members of the Lagos State Association of Vulchanisers (LSAV).

He urged them to vote for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday and Jimi Agbaje as governor.

The event which was held at the association’s secretariat in Mushin had over 5,000 members in attendance, displaying their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and promising to vote for the PDP. Obanikoro reminded them of the innovative programmes of President Jonathan in education, agriculture, youth empowerment among others.

His words:”Nobody knew that the President set up a scholarship fund for the brightest students. The beneficiaries were showcased to all of us. The benefit of this is that Nigerians can now compete with the best brains in the world and it also means that our future is guaranteed.

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Youths endorse Ambode

HE Lagos State Association of Indigenous Youths (LAIY) has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

In a statement by its Chairman, Sofwan Temitope Ogungbo, the group said of all the candidates, Ambode stands out as the right man for the job.

The group said as an indigenous group, it was concerned about who governs the state.

Ogungbo said they endorsed Ambode because the candidate and its party demonstrated issue-based cam-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

paign and manifesto to develop the state further.

“As a youth non-partisan group but one concerned with political developments in the state, we are supporting Ambode to ensure peace, development and opportunities for indigenous youths across Lagos.

“We are convinced that the APC candidate has the track record, experience, vision, commitment and passion to move Lagos to the next level,” Ogungbo said.

He condemned the activities of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) in Lagos.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (third left), his wife, Olufunso (right), his running mate, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga (left), Chairman, State Housing Corporation, Bashiru Fadairo (third right), Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Olajumoke Akinwunmi (second right) and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle (second left) during the inauguration of Plainfieds Estate on Presidential Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta....yesterday.

INEC: 703,492 voters yet to collect PVCs in Oyo

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 703,492 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected in Oyo State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, said this after a crucial meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the agency’s conference room in Ibadan.

“We have collected 2,381,102 PVCs, of which we have given 1,677,610 to their owners. We still have with us

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

703,492 PVCs, yet to be collected.

“The sensitive materials will be moved to the 351 registration areas on Friday. The poll officials too will also move into the camps to ensure timely arrival at the voting points on Saturday.

“We have 5,620 voting points and they must be adequately protected to assure voters of their safety.

“Besides, only yesterday we received another13,000 PVCs from Abuja, and only

those that were received two weeks ago till date will be distributed.”

The REC said various identification tags to be used by ad hoc personnel would be given at the meeting with the security chiefs to reduce problems arising from identification.

“We have packaged documents that will assist the security agencies to mobilise and deploy their personnel.”

Akeju said the agency was working to ensure the safety of voters during the election.

Commissioner of Police

Muhammad Katsina assured the public that the atmosphere would be peaceful before, during and after the elections.

“We have deliberated here extensively and we are determined to maintain law and order. We want to inform the public that we will spare nobody that causes the breakdown of law and order.

“With the morale of our men on ground, we are certain that Oyo State will be a good reference point after the conduct of the election,” he said

PDP planning to rig Saturday’s polls, says Ondo APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday alerted to plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to manipulate Saturday’s election.

At a briefing in Akure, the state capital, yesterday, the APC Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said: “It has come to our notice that a planned and wellcoordinated effort is about to be activated to manipulate and rig the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ondo State.

“The PDP is the architect and mastermind of this plan and the purpose is to contrive victory for its candidates.

“This alleged plan by the desperate powers in government is to involve some unscrupulous workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the bad eggs

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

of Army formations in Akure and Okitipupa, the Navy command in Igbokoda, the police and other security agencies in the state. Hired militants and sponsored thugs are also substantial parts of the plot.

“We are bringing this to the notice of these organisations as well as residents because we were witnesses to the shameful acts of sabotage, dishonour and corruption, which pervaded the April 2011 and October 20, 2012, elections in Ondo in which over 150,000 illegal names were injected into the voter register.

“There will be last minute arrest of prominent APC and non-partisan popular grassroots community leaders across the 18 local governments on trump-up charges. A dress rehearsal of

this had been operated in Ofosu,Igbindo, Asantan and parts of Owo Local Government.

“During voting, they plan to create crisis and violence in the deep waterside villages of Ilaje and Apoiland as well as other rural areas of Odigbo, Ondo East, Ondo West, Idanre, Ifedore, Owo, Akoko Northwest and Irele.

“They are delaying transportation of results materials from the hinterland to local government collation centres till nightfall to create a fertile ground for violence and manipulation.

“They will use hired thugs and armed militants in military and police uniforms to hijack materials at key waterside villages in Arogbo, Sabomi, Igbotu, Kiribo, Ugbo and Mahin.

“We wish to put INEC, police, Army Navy and the DSS on notice that all eyes are on them.”

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NEWS Two feared killed in Oyo fracas

•SDP candidate calls for probe From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo IOLENCE erupted in Oyo town yesterday during the visit of Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Seyi Makinde to the ancient town to campaign.

The rally held at OdeAremo open space close to the Alaafin’s palace was underway when some hoodlums arrived, hurling stones at those at the rally prompting supporters to scamper for safety, according to eyewitness.

Sources said no fewer than two people were killed.

Security men rescued Makinde.

As a result of the fracas, the ancient Akesan market was deserted. Traders ran for dear lives.

Some of the angry residents moved to the palace to express their disgust at the violence.

A statement yesterday by the Makinde Campaign Organisation said: “Following the violence that trailed the electioneering campaign of the Oyo State Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Seyi Makinde in Oyo town yesterday, the police in the state has been called upon to do thorough investigation and ensure that the culprits were brought to justice.

“Shortly after his successful campaign rally at the outer frontage of the palace of Alaafin in the ancient town, suspected hoodlums attacked the mammoth crowd with stones and other dangerous weapons and in the ensuing melee, some people sustained various degree of injuries.”

Makinde expressed sadness that some people were encouraging violence.

He said: “I find it difficult to understand and explain the rationale behind the dastardly act because we are known for our non-violent disposition and we do not pretend to be what we are not.

“We are committed to our resolve to bring about a new order in our politics and there is no amount of provocation that can derail us from our chosen path of peace? which we are sure our people have already fallen in line with.

“While we are condemning the incident in its entirety, we are asking the state police command to unravel those behind incessant attacks on our campaign as we recall that some yet to be identified hoodlums did similar thing to our public declaration in Ibadan last January.

“In this latest attack, we were told that one of our branded vehicles was burnt without no justifiable cause because, there was nothing to warrant the open confrontation which is why we are calling on the police to help us fish the culprits out and bring them to justice.”

V

•All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr Dakuku Peterside addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Rivers State branch in Port Harcourt...at the weekend.

Supreme Court cautions Chevron, Seplat against sale of disputed Oil block

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HE Supreme Court yesterday cautioned parties to the dispute over the oil mining assets: OML52, OML 53 and OML 55 purportedly sold

by Chevron to Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited to desist from taking steps to destroy the res (subject of the dispute).

The court gave the caution after layer to the appellant, Brittania-U Limited, Rickey Tarfa (SAN) expressed concern that the respondents (Seplat and Cheveron) were taking steps in respect of the subject matter and had fixed next month to conclude the transaction by awarding the Oil Mining Assets to Seplat.

Although respondents’s lawyers, Damien Dodo (SAN), Uche Nwokedi (SAN) denied Tarfa’s claim, the court cautined parties against taking steps which affect the subject matter before them.

“Parties know better

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•To open hearing on May 18 From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

than to do anything to affect the res (subject matter).

It is trite law that when a matter is pending, nothing should be done by any party to affect the res. “This case is even stronger now that you have an application for mandatory ?injunction before us. Any party that does anything to a res know what will be visited upon him”, Justice Datijo Muhammad, a member of the panel said.

Dispute arose between parties after Chevron had offered for sale OMLs 52, 53 and 55 and as usual invited bids from interested 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 was said to have posted a bid of $630 million for the same assets.

Yesterday, Tarfa drew the court’s attention to the pending application for mandatory injunction filed by his client. He pointed out that the respondents had taken some steps in relation to the subject matter.

The court was unable to hear the application because the respondents said they needed time to file their

?counter affidavit to the appellant’s motion and supporting affidavit.

The court consequently gave parties time to file their affidavit and written brief of arguments relating to the mandatory application and fixed May 18, 2015 for definite hearing of the mandatory application filed by Brittania-U Limited against Seplat and Chevron, seeking to reverse any step taken to sell the latter’s oil mining assets OML52, OML 53 and OML 55 to the former (Seplat).

The mandatory application filed by Brittania-U Limited arose from the appeal over the decision of Chevron to sell its ?Oil Mining Assets to Seplat.

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.

Jonathan sharing N50m each to emirs, says Buhari Campaign

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan was bribing traditional rulers with an average of N50 million in an attempt to stop the wind of change currently blowing across the country.

The APC campaign also accused the president of moving massive funds to the northern part of the country to buy votes and sponsor hate messages against its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that letters in English and Hausa are currently being dispatched to willing traditional rulers accompanied with cash running into several millions.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja, the Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, accused Jonathan and his party, the PDP of wasting N1Trillion of tax payers money sponsoring hate campaign against Buhari rather than basing his campaign on his record of per-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

formance.

Garba alleged that “President Jonathan has been criss-crossing Nigeria giving an average of N50 million each to traditional rulers, most especially in the South West and the Northern parts of Nigeria.

“This week, the President’s campaign money is being shipped to the North. Letters in English and Hausa backed by millions in cash are being dispatched to willing rulers in the region. Religious leaders, trade unions, youths organisations, professional bodies, entertainers are not ruled out of the money sharing jamboree of President Jonathan”.

According yo him, a fraction of the trillion naira hate campaign expenditure of the President will fund the APC programme of feeding primary school pupils in Nigeria on one nutritional meal a day, comfortably

pay N5000 monthly to 25 million very poor Nigerians for a year and pay unemployment benefit for one year for graduates who can’t find gainful employment one year after NYSC which are core to the social welfare programmes of the APC Federal government Gen. Buhari will lead.

He said: “We will like to bring to your attention and that of Nigerians how the President Goodluck Jonathan led Peoples Democratic Party government is wasting one trillion Naira that belong to Nigerian people in his self-serving and desperate bid for a reelection at all cost in the midst of grinding poverty his party and government has subjected Nigerians to in the last 16 years.

“It is unconscionable and height of betrayal of public trust that a government and a President who should preside over the husbandry and judicious use of our national patrimony is superintending over its massive

squander in a futile attempt to stop the idea of change.

Let us sound a note of warning at this point that no amount of sponsored negative media propaganda can stop this idea whose time has come.

“The APC Presidential Campaign and the acceptability of our candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice Presidential Candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has become a peoples’ movement and Nigerian masses who are the drivers of change are the major stakeholders.

“A panoramic view of how much Nigeria’s resources Jonathan and PDP have laboriously and wantonly spent on print, broadcast and social media campaigns just to damage the unassailable credential of Gen Buhari’s integrity will confound any casual observer of the polity in recent times.

“An average cost of a wrap around in Tier 1 and Tier 2 newspapers in Nigeria is between N15 million to N20 million and the Jonathan campaign buys average of 5 wrap around

Navy prepares for polls in Rivers

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HE Nigerian Navy yesterday began series of proficiency drills on waterways and creeks as part of its preparation for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

Addressing reporters during the exercise at Onne waterways in Rivers , the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore Godwin Ochai, said the exercise was aimed at showcasing the readiness of the navy for the electoral exercise.

Domino Pizza gives 50% discount

By Adegunle Olugbamila

F

OR patrons of Domino Pizza, these are the best of times. They are to enjoy a 50 per cent discount on every item they buy at the Surulere outlet of the fast food maker in Lagos.

Tagged: ‘A meal for two’ the promo which started yesterday will run till Thursday.

According to brand Marketing Coordinator Ufuoma Ogeleka, the gesture will attract potential clients and reaffirm the organisations’ commitment to identify with its host community.

The new outlet at No 86, Bode Thomas will serve the need of the people in the area.

•Jonathan

and front pages in a day in the last 3 months coupled with the hundreds of billions that have been spent on negative TV exposures on AIT, NTA and other television and radio stations across the country.

“We had expected that a President that has spent about 6 years in office with the revenues more than what all governments before him had received will run on a record of performance rather than peddling lies and hate media campaigns that are accentuating ethnic and religious tensions in the country.”

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NEWS Court reserves judgment in Omisore’s suit From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE Court of Appeal, Akure Division, yesterday reserved judgment in the appeal by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9 election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Omisore is challenging the decision of the Elections Petition Tribunal, headed by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, alleging that it failed to examine the issues raised in his petition properly.

The five-member panel of judges announced this through Justice Gana Mcshella at the end of yesterday’s hearing, which lasted for over six hours.

He said the date of final judgment would be passed across to the parties through their counsel.

Omisore had approached the tribunal, challenging the results of the election in 17 local governments, where he argued that there were electoral malpractices and rigging.

At the hearing yesterday, his lead counsel, Alex Isiyoung, argued that the tribunal erred in its ruling as it failed to examine all the allegations and issues raised by the petitioner passionately.

He argued that the tribunal failed to address the allegations of corrupt practices and non-compliance to electoral act in the election that produced Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

But Aregbesola’s and the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) counsel Akin Olujimi and Rotimi Akeredolu objected.

Olujimi said the ruling of the tribunal was unchallengeable as, according to him, it was decided after thorough investigations.

According to him, the appellant made no case at the tribunal as only seven of the 230 witnesses called made allegations of rigging.

He, however, argued that of the seven, there was no polling agent among them.

Akeredolu said there was no reason to fault the ruling of the tribunal in the interest of justice.

NMA joins Lagos strike

By Wale Adepoju

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HE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has joined its Lagos State affiliate, the Medical Guild, on an indefinite strike.

Its Lagos State chapter Secretary, Babajide Saheed, said the NMA is in solidarity with its affiliate under the employ of Lagos State, who embarked on an indefinite strike over non-payment of three days salaries in April and May 2012 as well as August and September, last year.

He said the NMA will, however, attend to emergencies to save lives, adding: “Following the failure of the Lagos State government to resolve the demands of the Guild, the NMA has begun an indefinite strike yesterday.”.

The Chairman of the Medical Guild, Biyi Kufo, said: “The state applied discriminatory application of its ‘no work, no pay’ policy to members of the Medical Guild only in the period between April and May 2012 and September last year..”

•A cross-section of NULGE members at the event..yesterday. See also Page 56

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has said the local government and its workers are the pivotal forces that drive the workings of any government.

He spoke yesterday when he joined members of the state’s National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to celebrate the Local Government Workers’ Day. Ambode stated his readiness to ensure that the local government tier enjoy the merits of governance.

“The local government was where I started my career and it has made me recognise this tier as the functional unit of government,

My plan for local govt workers, by Ambode

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• NULGE endorses APC candidate which must be respected by any serious administration,” Ambode said.

The state NULGE president, Lasisi Akinsanya, said the union was happy with the emergence of a “local government man” as a governorship candidate.

He added that Ambode’s rise in the civil service has made the union proud and encourages members.

“Mr. Ambode’s dedication to service has seen him rise and we are proud of him.

“It is incontrovertible that we have never witnessed one of us being unanimously, unequivocally recognised and adopted.

“Ambode is a true source of motivation for the local government workforce.

“Going by his outstanding track record coupled with his background, we all agree that Ambode is not only humane, but selfless.

He is not only qualified, but competent.

“Our incoming governor has proven to be a very credible and enterprising person, who deserves our encouragement and support” “Your Excellency, Mr. governor in-waiting, I have the mandate of our workers in all the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Ar-

eas and Local Government Service Commission to adopt you as our candidate.

“By this pronouncement, we are identifying with your struggle and sharing your vision and mission.”

Chairman of Local Government Service Commission Moshood Ojikutu described Ambode as a “virtuous role model”, who knows the local government terrain.

He expressed confidence in his ability to perform.

Ambode promised to employ his experience to better the lot of the state.

“If you succeed in the local government, you can

Thugs attack Ekiti APC candidate’s convoy •IG petitioned

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HE convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti Central senatorial ýcandidate, Gbenga Olofin, was attacked yesterday on IlaweAdo Road by Omisanjana Junction, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The attack, according to the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, was allegedly carried out by thugs, believed to be working for a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate.

Olofin was going to the Town Hall meeting of the APC vice-presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, at Eagle Hall on Ikere Road.

The convoy came under fire from thugs, who were in the campaign bus of the opposition senatorial candidate.

The campaign vehicle of Olubunmi Oriniowo, who is seeking re-election to the House of Assembly, was damaged. Olofin’s vehicle was also damaged in the attack.

Residents fled the scene as guns boomed. Shops were hurriedly shut.

The thugs took over the road, harassing residents.

Olofin has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba.

Police ban street procession

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HE police in Ekiti State have banned street procession by parties ahead Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

The police explained that the embargo became necessary to prevent unwarranted loss of lives and property witnessed in the build-up to the last governorship election.

A statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by the police spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, said the step was taken “n view of the peculiarity of Ekiti, particularly in terms of the perceived high level of political intolerance among the political class”.

Adeyemi said: “Intelligence at the disposal of the command shows that some parties intend to stage street From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

In the petition, the APC candidate alleged that the thugs erected barricades to waylay his convoy in AfaoEkiti, Governor Ayo Fayose’s hometown, after a rally in Igbemo-Ekiti.

A copy of the petition was sent to the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, National Human Rights Commission and State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) The APC candidate explained that the policemen on routine security patrol cleared the roadblocks mounted by PDP thugs.

The petition reads: “On

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

processions in large numbers as part of their campaign strategies.

“Considering the peculiarity of the political situation in Ekiti State, coupled with the level of political intolerance, such as street processions, if allowed to happen will inevitably cause conflict, chaos and breakdown of law and order with possible disastrous consequences.

“In order to forestall breakdown of law and order, the command once again appeals to all political stakeholders to obtain permit for any campaign, which must be restricted to a particular location in order for the police to ensure adequate protection at such venues.”

January 23, Fayose’s thugs disrupted APC ward meetings in Iyin and Igede-Ekiti while they moved from house to house to attack APC members.

“The thugs, who were on Fayose’s convoy, wore masks and shot sporadically in the two towns while destroying billboards and posters.

“In that incident, I narrowly escaped death in Igede-Ekiti, when Fayose led thugs to invade my home. This was reported in the papers on January 25.

“In a desperate bid to cause crisis in Ekiti State to enable him clamp down on APC leaders, Fayose fixed the PDP rallies for

Monday through Wednesday, to coincide with APC ‘Walk For Change’ rally by Prof Yemi Osinbajo, which had earlier been approved by the police.

“This was deliberately done to stoke violence and blame APC for it to enable the governor clamp down on opposition leaders.”

He called on the inspector general and commissioner of police to call the governor to order.

“I also call on the international community, especially election observers, to beam their searchlight on Fayose and call him to order to avoid clashes that could mar Saturday’s elections,” Olofin concluded.

succeed at any level of administration.

“I was well groomed in the local government system, and I promise to use this experience to take our state to the next level.

“I will protect this constituency better than any other candidate because I know it very well.

“I know your pain and aspirations, and beyond leave bonuses and salaries, we will do right things at the right time to make you better individuals with greater capacity and adequately compensate for your service,” the APC candidate added.

Fayose’s brother to Nigerians: Ignore him From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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LUWASEGUN, the eldest brother of Ekiti State GovernorAyo Fayose, has urged Nigerians to ignore the governor, saying he is not representing the Fayose family.

The elder Fayose, who spoke to our correspondent in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, said he would not sacrifice the interest of the country for the governor because Nigeria is greater than him and the Fayose family.

The UK accountant said: My interest is in this country because I am a Nigerian.

I will like to see this country get better. So, I won’t support any effort to further destroy it.

“I am annoyed because Nigeria is in shambles. My children can’t come home because they are always complaining about lack of power supply and other social amenities. That is why I am not happy.”

He reiterated that as the head of the family, he is not happy with the way the governor disrespects elders.

“We are true Ekiti children. We are cultured. We have respect for elders.

“If you bring your father to me now, what is expected of me is to prostrate or bend down in respect, not to insult him,” he said.

The elder Fayose, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore the governor, saying he is not representing the family.

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Supreme Court warns Chevron against handover of OMLs 53, 55

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HE Supreme Court sitting in Abuja yester day, warned oil producing giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), that its proposed handover of oil mining lease (OML) 53 and 55 slated for April 1-6, this year would be at its own peril.

This follows the inability of the apex court to continue proceeding with the main appeal of the case before it involving Brittania-U and CNL, slated for yesterday, because of intervening developments after the matter was adjourned in February 24 this year.

The appellant’s counsel informed the court that they were compelled to file a motion for a mandatory restorative order to reverse overreaching steps allegedly taken by Chevron and Seplat aimed at getting the Minister of Petroleum Resources to consent to the divestment of CNL’s interest in OML 53 and 55, despite the appeal that was pending in court and the motion for interlocutory injunction pending that appeal in respect of acquisition of the three assets by Brittania U. When the case was called, counsel to all the parties were in court. Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and six other junior lawyers represented the appellant while D.D.Dodo (SAN) appeared for Seplat Petroleum which is the first respondent and Uche Nwokedi (SAN) appeared for Chevron Nigeria and US parent company, the second respondent and the fourth respondent. A.V. Etuwewe represented the third and fifth respondents.

Dodo informed the court that they had a motion to amend their respondents’ brief while A.V. Etuwewe applied for extension of time to regularise his own respondent brief.

The two motions were granted unopposed but a cost of N50,000 was awarded against the third and fifth respondents in favour of the appellant.

The appellant thereafter informed the court of their latest motion filed on March 19, this year, asking the court to invoke its disciplinary jurisdiction to reverse certain actions taken by Seplat and Chevron to overreach the subject matter of the appeal before the court.

The appellant has four prayers, which reads: A mandatory/restorative order setting aside the 1st respondent’s written request dated July 30, last year to the Minister of Petroleum Resources for its statutory consent validating transaction in the divestment of the Oil Mining Leases 52, 53 and 55 by the 2nd Respondent to the 1st Respondent.

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

-Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

Jonathan inaugurates N300b Development Bank P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday inaugurated the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It will commence operations with a startup capital of $1.5 billion (about N300 billion), and is projected that the capital will increase to $5 billion (N1 trillion) in the medium term and, ultimately, to N2 trillion in 10 years.

DBN will support the medium to long-term lending needs of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with duration of about 10 years and moratorium period of about 18 months.

It will also allow MSMEs a breathing period before they start repaying and also allow them to match loans terms with longer term investment cycles.

The DBN will lend to specialised institutions of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Bank of Agriculture, (BoA)

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

and the commercial banks for lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In the first five years of operation, the DBN is expected to disburse over 200,000 new loans to MSMEs, and with each SME creating an average of five new jobs, it is expected that the DBN will result in one million direct jobs being created, as well as several more indirect jobs.

President Jonathan said he was passionate about the DBN as it represents a milestone in his administration’s efforts to empower MSMEs, saing it forms the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.

He said: “The recent rebasing of our economy exercise confirms the importance of MSMEs sector for our national economy. Cur-

rently Nigeria has 17 million of these businesses which contributes about 45 per cent of our GDP and employ about six per cent of our labour force.

The Finance Minister and the Coordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that the establishment of the bank was for a robust finance backing for small and medium enterprises.

She said that the wholesale developmental institution plans to offer loans to at least 20,000 beneficiaries in the first one year of its operations and to start business in the next nine months.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said the BoI gave out over N400 billion loans in the last four years to businesses in the country.

The Vice President of the ADB, Solomon Asamoah, said the new bank would contribute to closing funding gaps for Nigeria’s SMEs and also help to create jobs.

The CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said that the Bank would join others in channelling needed funding to the SMES. “We will ensure they get they required support in channeling the badly needed funding for the SMEs in unrestricted way.

As the DBN are said to have succeeded in other countries, it will succeed here because they have taken global success stories to improve on them. The Federal Government is hopeful that the jinks on financial will be broken in the 10 years tenure of the DBN,” he said.

• From left: Prof. Timothy Asobele of Department of European Languages, University of Lagos (UNILAG); Mrs. Atoki; and Dean, Faculty of Law, UNILAG, Prof. Akin Ibadapo-Obe, during the public lecture …yesterday.

CPC decries high rate of consumer rights abuse

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HE Director-General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mrs. Dupe Atoki, has decried the high rate of consumer rights abuses in the telecoms, aviation, banking and power sectors of the economy.

Mrs Atoki said the prevalence of consumer abuses in different sectors of the economy had resulted in a situation where consumers no longer get value for their money, noting that the Council had adopted the strategy of criminal prosecution of recalcitrant businesses or litigation to achieve redress.

She spoke yesterday in Lagos, at a public lecture on The state of consumer rights protection in Nigeria, organised by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

She said: “In Nigeria, market failures manifest in different ways with varying degrees of negative impact on consumers. While the free

By Simeon Ebulu

market is operational in Nigeria, consumer abuses still pervade every sector of the economy, denying consumers their rights.

“For instance, in the telecommunications sector, consumers still contend with drop calls, unsolicited texts/ calls, poor network and credit wipe-off, while in the aviation sector, regular delays/cancellation of flights without notice, damage/loss of baggage without compensation, still occur.

“In the banking sector, there are regular cases of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) dispense error cases with prolonged resolution period; Point of Sales (PoS) terminal issues; and unexplained debit on customer accounts among others.

Similarly, in the power sector, outrageous estimated billing, non-provision of transformers/meters,

wrongful disconnections and inadequate/erratic electricity supply contribute to consumers’ frustrations.”

Atoki noted that consumers of satellite television services were also grappling with regular disruptions, wrongful disconnection, poor service delivery and lack of redress for complaints.

She added: “In the area of land transportation, overloading, non-refund of money when vehicles breakdown and use of dilapidated vehicles add to the burden of consumers of public transport services. In the property and real estate sector, developers still fail to keep to agreement terms, tie down consumers’ deposits for prolonged period and sometimes deliver substandard houses to consumers. In the hospitality industry, many hotels fail to live up to their claims/required

standard, while vendors of holiday packages do not deliver on promises made.

“Also, in the food and beverage industry, cases of foreign substances in drinks, sale of expired products, adulteration and improper storage are rampant.

The non-adherence to warranty/guarantee by car dealers, sale of substandard spare parts, unqualified mechanics and ill-equipped workshops result in safety issues and loss of consumers’ hard earned money, while the sale of substandard home appliances to undiscerning consumers result in repeat purchases and exposure to unnecessary hazards.”

However, the CPC chief said that the agency had begun the implementation of far-reaching strategic initiatives and sectoral interventions in order to enhance the protection of consumers’ rights across the country.

Nebo says LED bulbs ‘ll save N500b, free 1200Mw

By Lucas Ajanaku

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HE use of low emitting diode (LED) bulbs across the country would free 1,200 megawatts (Mw) of electricity valued at N500billion for industrial and commercial use, Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo has said.

Speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the 50KVA 3-phase off-grid solar solution factory of Omatek Ventures, Ikeja, he said the Federal Government is encouraging the use and development of alternative energy sources, adding that the thinking of the management of Omatek was in line with the aspirations of the government.

Nebo said the LED bulbs would also substantially save energy cost by between 70 and 90 per cent and assure power availability and reliability.

He said: “This kind of initiative makes it possible to live off-grid and this means you don’t need to be connected to the national grid before you can get efficient power supply to handle your home, office and industrial activities.”

According to him, what Omatek has demonstrated, in terms of solar power supply and LED indicate that the company knows what the government wants to do because this imitative is perfectly in tandem with the policy of the Federal Government, adding that with regard to LED bulb, Omatek has shown that every Nigerian can cut power consumption by 70 to 90 per cent.

He said: “In other words, if your electricity in a month is N10,000, you can reduce it to N3,000 if you use LED bulb and this bulb conserves a lot of electricity. For 100 watts of regular bulb, if you have a five watts of LED, it will serve you the same purpose, give you the same luminosity so at the end of the day, the whole country would benefit and what we are saying is this: If the whole of the country put LED in use, it will free us 1,200Mwof power for industry, manufacturing, SMEs and industrial revolution will further boom. So, this is a clarion call to all Nigerians to begin the process of modification of making all our offices LEDified, all homed lEDified.

In fact, new housing estate shouldn’t get approval until they demonstrate that they will use LED all through because that is the only way we can save the lot of energy we waste in this country. So, we should start doing the right thing now.

Another way of looking at the use of LED is that when you free up 1, 200Mw of electricity for real-time good use- industrial, productive manufacturing, it is like building a power plant. That kind of power plant would cost about half a trillion naira and that is what you save and that is for the power plant.

When that now comes down, it has multiplier effect.

14

TUESDAY, MACRCH 24, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

LAMATA unveils strategic transport masterplan T

HE Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has said the state’s Strategic Transport Masterplan (STM) will address the “chaotic”traffic in the metropolis.

The masterplan will identify traffic management measures, transport infrastructure and services required for meeting residents’ needs.

LAMATA’s Managing Director Dr. Dayo Mobereola gave an insight into the masterplan during the presentation of LAMATA’s photo compendium- “A decade of Transforming Transport (2003-2013)” to Governor Babatunde Fashola last Thursday.

The STM, he said, envisions implementation of structural reforms and provision of infrastructure and services required to deliver integrated multimodal public transport system for the state.

Part of the public transport infrastructure identified in the STM is the urban rail network. Mobereola said: “To demonstrate its commitment to transport infrastructure regeneration, the government began the construction of the first out of the six rail lines and two monorails identified under the rail network plan. The Blue Line Rail Project, as it is fondly referred to, which is 27km is supervised by LAMATA. The Line will run from Marina in Central Lagos to Okokomaiko. Construction works on the first phase of the project, which covers a distance of 12km from Marina to Mile 2 commenced in July 2010 and is progressing.”

To integrate the different modes, LAMATA he said, is implementing a pilot electronic ticketing (eticketing) scheme designed for uniformity of fare and ticketing. The e-ticketing scheme, he said, covers the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS), adding that LAMATA plans to implement other Intelligent Transport System (ITS) initiatives, which are designed to improve safety, efficiency and effectiveness of transport and traf-

• Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola receiving the photo compendium from Mobereola. With them is Miss Yinka Babalola, a staff of the agency.

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

fic conditions.

Mobereola described the compendium as an account of its stewardship to create an enabling environment for standardisation and effectiveness of public transportation.

In the past 10 years, LAMATA, he said, introduced key policy and institutional reforms under the Lagos Urban Transport Project 1 (LUTP 1), aimed at strengthening the transport sector’s capacity for effective coordination, management and financing of the public transport system.

He said the 2002 LAMATA Law was strengthened in 2007, with planning and regulatory functions across the various modes of transport, including BRT along prioritised corridors.

“A total of 632km road network identified as main bus public transport routes was upgraded and rehabilitated. Interventions were completed on 45km of roads under periodic maintenance and 51.5km of road rehabilitation maintenance during the course of LUTP 1 implementation.

“Interventions were also completed on 57 gridlocked road junctions, while users generally enjoyed reduced vehicle operating costs, improved travel time and

road safety. An appropriate regulatory framework and enabling environment were provided by LAMATA for the organised private sector’s participation in the provision of improved bus services,” the LAMATA boss said.

Mobereola said LAMATA began the implementation of the second phase of public transport sector policy and strategy (LUTP 2), on May 16, 2011, to demonstrate the commitment of key stakeholders to ensuring the continuity and

sustainability of transport sector reforms implemented under LUTP 1.

Fashola said successive administrations before year 2000 struggled with the problems of increasing road congestion, environmental deterioration and decline in public transport service delivery.

He said government decided to redefine the transport sector policy in 2000. Improve the provision of transport services, particularly for low income public transport users and develope a strategy which revolve around developing appropriate institutional mechanisms for managing public transport sector.

LAMATA, Fashola said, has developed into a strong, renowned and internationally acclaimed transport institution with an awesome record of successes achieved which has among others, prepare a strategic long term plan for the transport sector.

He said the urbanisation challenges of a population growing at six per cent yearly against the national average of 3.5 per cent has heightened the need for efficient and affordable public transportation in the state.

Fashola said: “I have always believed that transportation is at the heart of our civilisation and it will largely define the quality of our lives.”

He said he is committed to ensuring a functional public transportation system, which is not only safe, but affordable and convenient.

Government he said is committed to reducing poverty by achieving the delivery of a multi-modal transport infrastructure and services for the people.

‘Auto policy may hike transportation costs’

A

MARITIME expert, Mr. Lucky Aimewero, has cautioned against the implementation of the automotive policy from June.

The implementation, initially slated for January, was deferred to enable stakeholders’ key into it. The policy is meant to promote local manufacturing of automobiles.

But Aimewero, President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), in a statement, said the policy’s implementation may have adverse effect on the transportation of passengers and goods.

He said the hike of import duties from five per cent to 35 per cent on trailers, semi-trucks and buses would push the prices of imported vehicles out of the reach of Nigerians.

The policy, he maintained, would take its toll on the availability of vehicles, thereby leading to high cost of transportation as those who could afford to pay the new import duties would increase transport fares.

According to him, when the new duty regime is added to other charges, such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) that must be paid be-

fore clearing the vehicles, the cost would shoot through the roof.

The shift in the deadline for the policy’s implementation, Aimewero said has started taking its toll on the volume of vehicles cleared at the Apapa Ports.

Government, he said, should rather strengthen local assembly plants and ensure the development of cluster manufacturers that would produce the essential parts needed by the plants.

If the policy is not well thought out and legislation and framework put in place, local plants may soon be overwhelmed by the demand for the vehicles produced, Aimewero said, adding: “I foresee a situation where demand, especially for small and large capacity buses needed for mass transportation, will overshoot supply and this would adversely affect transportation of passengers and goods in the country.”

He said rather than rush into taking off with the auto policy, government should tinker with how to further strengthen the transportation sector, encourage those interested in developing local capacity and ensuring that the wheel of transportation moves unhindered.

From Left: Lagos State Co-ordinator, Special Marshal and Partnership (SMP), Mr George Benson, Managing Director, Academic Press Plc, Mr Gbenga Ladipo, Oshodi Unit Commander (FRSC) Mr Taiwo Eko, Lagos and Ogun Zonal Coordinator (SMP) Mr Toyin Kadiku and Oshodi Unit Protocol Mrs IJeoma Ajuzie at a visit to Academic Press Ltd.

T

HE Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos sector command, has urged the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS managements to monitor their drivers.

The Surulere Unit Commander, Mrs Olawumi Oyeniyi, accused BRT and LAGBUS drivers of contributing to high rate of accidents with their over speeding, recklessness and hooliganism.

She said some LAGBUS drivers always drive against traffic and have no respect for other road users, noting that they drive recklessly both on their dedicated corridors and ordinary roads.

Besides, Mrs Oyeniyi said, some BRT drivers also behave as hooligans, thus constituting dangers to other road users.

She appealed to BRT and LAGBUS managements to check their drivers and organise safety training and enlightenment programmes

Don’t be reckless, FRSC tells motorists

By Olalekan Ayeni

for the drivers and ensure that they are properly screened before recruiting them.

Mrs. Oyeniyi appealed to commercial drivers to install speed limiters in their vehicles before the June 30 deadline when the Corps will start its enforcement.

Speed limiters, according to her, were introduced to check overspeeding, which is another cause of road crashes.

She urged transport unions to continue educating their members on the need to install the device saying: “Any driver arrested from July 1, for failing to install it shall be prosecuted.”

She appealed to motorists and pedestrians to obey traffic rules and regulations. “Pedestrians should ensure that they use pedes-

trian bridges while crossing the highways and ensure they watch the road well, where there is none, before they cross,” she said.

The Oshodi unit commander, Mr Taiwo Eko, also urged commercial drivers and motorcyclists to always obey traffic rules.

Eko identified lack of knowledge of traffic regulations and driver’s impatience as some of the major factors causing road accidents. He urged them to engage in defensive driving and ensure that they have their driver’s licence.

He appealed to corporate organisations to always ensure that vehicles are in good condition before embarking on any journey. He also called on them to organise safety training among their drivers to guarantee safety of lives and properties on the road.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

15

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

16

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Developing air transport master plan Over the last eight months, the Ministry of Aviation has intensified efforts to put in place a master plan that would encapsulate policies, programmes and initiatives that are expected to turn around the fortunes of the aviation sector. The move is also expected to make the sector contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product ( GDP), KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR, reports

S

STAKEHOLDERS in the aviation industry are struggling to reach an accord on what role a sector master plan could play in the accelerated growth and development of the aviation sector.

This is so because the contribution of the aviation sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is insignificant.

With the current GDP of N80.3 trillion or $509.9 billion, Nigeria’s aviation industry contributes a paltry $0.7 billion, which in percentage terms, is about 0.4 per cent.

Comparatively, the aviation industry contributes 27 per cent to the GDP of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); contributes about 2.1 per cent to the South African econom.

Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka has attributed this dismal performance of the aviation sector to current “gaps” in the system which, he said have hampered growth. “These gaps include: “underfinanced domestic airlines, underutilised bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA ), poor incentives for private sector participation and weak corporate governance in the industry.

He said this trend has to be reversed.

As a response mechanism, government is putting in place strategies to achieve a new industry master plan.

Aviation experts say the absence of a formidable sector master plan, which ought to define how policies, projects, agreements , airport concessions are implemented accounts largely for the many infractions that have characterised developments in the sector.

The experts say contentions, controversies and intrigues that have enveloped the sector in the past few years is hinged on the absence of a solid document that should provide a basis on how airport land, concession agreements and other fundamental issues in the sector are negotiated.

Towards this end, Chief Chidoka has set in motion the process that would pave the way for the design of a master plan to deepen engagement for players in the sector.

The master plan, he said would address four key areas which he listed to include: airline operation and safety, aerodrome infrastructure and operation, airspace management, aviation allied services and manpower development.

According to the minister many things have not worked well in the sector because of the absence of a working document to provide guide on how operators and regulators should carry out their activities.

Towards this end, Chidoka last year convoked a stakeholders forum to gather input on the steps to be taken to address the myriad of challenges confronting the sector.

Stakeholders Forum Last year, the Aviation Minister last year met with industry stakeholders, especially domestic airline operators, service providers and trade unions to gather input on the challenges facing the sector.

He promised to take into consideration their advice while drawing up a policy framework to move the industry forward.

Thus, it is believed that the new Aviation Industry Strategy Framework proposed by the minister is the new springboard to advance the growth of the sec-

tor incorporating the interest of key aviation stakeholders.

At the forum, industry players itemised the litany of issues to urgently addressed by government , which they listed them to include adequate and timely training of technical aviation personnel .

They said for many years , critical safety personnel including air traffic controllers , engineers , aerodrome safety and fire personnel as well as aviation security have not undergone the requisite training needed for them to be proficient .

Sequel to the information gathered from the forum the minster has directed aviation agencies to work out a training programme for their personnel in technical areas to ensure their requisite certification is attained in line with global requirements.

He said:” Aviation Commits Initiative is to complement the infrastructural developments in the Nigerian aviation industry and we want to institutionalise practices that will move the industry to the customer-centric industry.

We want to make a transition, which we all believe is a difficult one for us to make because we are used to be in a country where the boss calls the shots.

If I’m the Managing Director or a Chairman of a company, nobody can talk to me, but we need to bring back the customers to make him the boss. Before now, if the Ministry of Aviation takes a decision, nobody was right to query such decisions.

If any of the agencies wants to review charges in the industry, they don’t ask stakeholders whether they want it or not. We will just wake up in the morning and announce new charges.”

Safety and operational Infrastructure One of the major planks, the aviation master plan is to address is how to improve safety and security around airports nationwide.

This experts say would go a long way to attract more investment to the aviation sector .

To drive this development , government has awarded contracts for the installation of air field lighting systems at 13 airports to enable them operate day and night flights .

Airline operators have consistently complained about their inability to operate flights into some airports due to absence of air field lighting system.

According to the managing director director of Arik Air, Mr Chris Ndulue airlines were incurring losses on Some domestic routes because their operations are limited due to inadequate air navigation facilities including air field lighting system.

Ndulue said the fixing of this gap should be considered in the infrastructure upgrade plan of government in its sector master plan.

Another operator, the chairman of Air Peace , Mr Allen Onyema said though government has done a lot to fix the aviation sector , but it must assist airlines to fly at night at all airports nationwide by providing air field lighting system.

Onyema said: “Airports all over the world are expected to be safe and secured. This is based on the fact that the people who use the facility are not only Nigerians, but people from all parts of the world. They also serve as tourists centres.

Revenue automation Experts say the aviation industry

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos being considered as hub for West Africa

could contribute significantly to the gross domestic product if the relevant structure are put in place to drive such development.

Towards this end, the ministry of aviation as part of efforts to actualise the proposed aviation master plan has directed all aviation agencies to automate their collection of revenue to checkmate leakages .

This initiative ,the minister said would ensure that service providers and users comply with global practices in financial transaction to accelerate the growth of the sector .

Last week, a committee set by the ministry submitted its report on how to drive revenue automation in the sector.

The Minister directed the immediate implementation of the Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) project within 60 days to plug leakages towards making the sector more competitive.

He said the ministry has thereby approved a review in the cost and charges of the automation system.

According to him, all aviation agencies were thereby given one week for the implemetation of the project cost and their targets.

He noted that part of the reasons for the project was to satisfy customers and guard against frequent delays and cancellations experienced by air travellers at airports across the country.

“However, it is the aviation industry that is on trial whenever people witnessed service failure,” he said, Chidoka noted that any Chief Executive who fails to comply with the implementation of the project within 60 days would be sanctioned.

The minister expressed optimism that the implementation of the project would increase the efficiency of workers and stakeholders in the industry.

He added that it would enable agencies in the aviation industry to deliver higher quality services to the public He sad “ ``ARAP is aimed at automating all aviation related activities in all the airports in Nigeria to provide revenue assurance for the industry.

“This project will make the industry a world class provider of safe, secured and comfortable transport services .

“The project is self-sustaining and

pivotal to social economic growth, transforming the sector into an efficient, profitable and preferred mode of transportation,’’

Aviation Service Portal The drive to attain passenger satisfaction, experts say is one of the key ingredients needed to propel the growth of the aviation sector .

To ensure that air passengers get satisfactory service, the Aviation Ministry in conjunction with other aviation agencies established one-stopshop for aviation passengers services, the Aviation Service Portal for booking flights, monitoring airline flight performances and obtaining information on local destinations.

The sector- wide initiative has created a window where all stakeholders committed to improve service delivery to the public.

The essence of the portal, the ministry said is to ensure passengers have information about airports in Nigeria, flights ,book their flights with easy first hand, instead of going through intermediaries.

For some months, the portal has encouraged airlines to keep to their flights schedules with considerable delays and cancellation.

Airline financing / Stimulus package

If domestic airlines must survive to drive the aviation master plan, government experts say should design stimulus package to keep their operations afloat.

Nigerian carriers experts say grapple with under financing , lack of corporate governance and untapped regional opportunities.

It is for this reason that Chidoka has designed a stimulus plan to assist domestic airlines, as other countries across the globe have done to their carriers .

The airline sector in Nigeria , the minister said had not been able to close many gaps.

Chidoka said several thriving airlines around the world have typically enjoyed or continue to enjoy government financial and material support.

Citing the United States, Chidoka said three US airlines—Delta Airlines, American Airlines and United

Airlines have received over $40 billion as government subsidies in the past decade.

Government he said is working hard to put a package in place for the growth of the industry.

According to him, the stimulus plan “would involve a package of financial incentives that will provide support across the aviation value chain.”

Other measures Government , investigations reveal has not given up on how to fix the problems of the aviation sector.

As a way out, it has designed a new strategy christened :” The Nigerian Aviation Industry Strategy Framework and the Economic Stimulus Plan (ESP)“.

The new plan will target the funding problems of domestic airlines with the mission to ameliorate their challenges.

The objective of the plan will focus on confronting the financial challenges that have dogged domestic airlines.

Chidoka said there is need to partner more with private sector players to achieve development of the aviation sector.

He said: ”We need to rally round to fix the problems of the aviation sector. Many ways to achieve this is to Stimulate increased foreign direct investment in the sector; reduce industry risk and expand credit and aviation finance, tailored to industry requirements; stimulate equity investments through attractive and competitive incentives across the aviation value chain.

Others are: facilitate government intervention and guarantees to boost industry performance as well as stimulate and facilitate local direct investment in sector.

The second stage of the action plan that would build on the success of the first one, according to Chidoka, will include creation of a robust regional hub and aviation city model that drives commercial activities , improve corporate governance and enterprise risk of industry operators; liberalise air space by implementing the Yamaussoukro Declaration; review government intervention model and move to commercial funding.”

17

TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

For the first time since the return to civil rule in 1999, wives of the two frontline presidential candidates have been criss-crossing the country, canvassing for support for their husbands. The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Hajia Aishat Buhari, were in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, recently to campaign. ADEKUNLE JIMOH, who saw them in action, examines the style of the duo.

Between maturity and abrasiveness W

IVES of the two main contenders in this week’s presidential elections Hajia Aishat Buhari and Dame Patience Jonathan have been touring the states of the federation to canvass for votes for their husbands; President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last week, Mrs. Jonathan and Mrs. Buhari were in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to convince woman to vote for their husbands.

Mrs. Buhari and her entourage were in the ancient town on Monday. During the visit, they paid traditional homage to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. The team also paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Government House.

Mrs. Buhari’s convoy was allegedly attacked by suspected PDP hoodlums around Emir’s road in the metropolis.

After meeting with the governor, the wife of the APC presidential candidate had a town hall interaction with women.

The meeting was primarily to sensitise and educate the womenfolk on how to identify the logo or symbol of the APC on the ballot paper.

Throughout the visit, Mrs. Buhari carried herself with a measure of elegance. Her speeches were delivered with panache, calmness and maturity. Interestingly, it was also devoid of caustic diatribes against her husband’s opponent.

Conversely, for Mrs. Jonathan, it was a different ballgame.

From her utterances, she saw the contest as a do-or-die affair. She was desperate, abrasive, combative and venomous.

Mrs. Buhari said: “As you are all aware, women are the major voters. Women constitute 55 per cent of the number of registered voters in Nigeria. Our duty is to educate the women since we are the major voters, on how to vote, educate them about the party and the logo because now the party has become a very big party.

“It is very important to educate the electorates to look out for our party symbol, the broom. Our major supporters are the masses, who have been supporters of the APC flag bearer over the years. He was in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), two of the three major parties that came together to form the APC. This sensitization would make it easy for people who are not literate to identify our party symbol on the ballot paper.

“My message to the governor; I remember the period before the merger was consummated. I could remember when we came to Ilorin, the only statement I heard from him is that I will confer with the distinguished senator and the former Governor, Dr. Abubakar Saraki, That shows how disciplined he is as a seating governor, not to take decisions on his own, without consulting the leader of the party in the state.

“I think Kwara State is so lucky to have him a governor; he knows that he has a leader, unlike in other states where the successors and sitting governors are not in good terms with their predecessors, which is not good; politically it is not healthy. We thank the Almighty Allah for letting him know that he has a leader and he did not forget him, and he cannot do without consulting him as a senior or mentor.”

In contrast, Patience Jonathan told the crowd of women and youth at the campaign arena that God had told her the APC will lose the election. She also defended the office of First Lady, arguing that contrary to claims by the opposition that there is provision for the office.

Apparently referring to last week’s attack on the convoy of Mrs Buhari, wife of the APC presidential candidate in Ilorin, the First Lady took swipe at leaders of the APC, say-

•Dame Patience

•Aishat Buhari

There is office for wife of the Presi’dent, but they were saying there is none.

As you are all aware, women are the ’major voters. Women constitute 55

But, soon they brought one ‘Hajia’ as the wife of the APC presidential candidate and she is now saying, don’t worry my husband made a mistake

per cent of the number of registered voters in Nigeria. Our duty is to educate the women since we are the major voters, on how to vote

‘

ing they deliberately planned the campaign itinerary of Mrs Buhari to collide with her own itinerary, all in a bid to create an atmosphere for violence between the two camps.

She however warned wives of political leaders to always avert trouble in their campaign, pointing out that the election is mostly a contest among men and that women can only serve as observers and peace makers.

Her words: “The PDP is not rattled. 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 peace-makers and nay a woman that makes trouble is not worthy of being called a woman.

“Before I went to Edo State, the APC was there, all to make trouble. I have always been telling them that like to make trouble. I wanted to go to Edo, they were there. Why? To make trouble! I wanted to come to Kwara, they were there.

Why? To make trouble! As I was coming today at the airport, they were also coming, so that there will be trouble.

But, I told my security people that I am a Mother of Peace, so let them go in peace. We wives of political leaders should

‘

not make trouble. So, even if they come to you to make trouble, don’t fall for their trick.

“Kwara is PDP. They only stole the mandate because the Government House they are occupying today is in the name of the PDP. We shall take it over. Every day they change from one name to another and very soon they will change to Ebola and then death will come. My God that I serve has told me that they will fail. So, don’t be deceived; don’t listen to their lies.

“There is office for wife of the President, but they were saying there is none. But, soon they brought one ‘Hajia’ as the wife of the APC presidential candidate and she is now saying, don’t worry my husband made a mistake; we shall make provisions as necessary. Don’t believe what they are saying, hold to what you have because it is better that what you are yet to see.

While making reference to Buhari’s age, she said: “I am a person that will tell the truth. I will not abuse people, but if you are old you are old. So, leave it to younger people.”

‘Group endorses Al-Hasan for Taraba governor’

A

GROUP, Shine Out Nigeria, has endorsed the candidature of Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hasan for the governorship election in Taraba State. The senator is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) In a statement by the group’s spokesman, Prince Peter Nrialike, she was endorsed be-

By Patience Saduwa

cause of her sterling contributions to the development of the state, both as a judicial worker and senator.

“Shine Out Nigeria took the decision to endorse the APC governorship candidate for Taraba State, Hajia Aisha Jumai AlHasan, after a meeting with all its state coordinators in Abuja.

We have been following her career right from the senate and when she worked with the judiciary. She is a lady that has the masses at heart especially the youths and so Shine Out Nigeria wants to associate with her. The belief is that she will make history as the first female governor in Nigeria and take Taraba State to the next level.

“Consequently we have

unanimously decided to endorse Senator Aisha Jummai AlHasan of the APC as our candidate for governor of Taraba State on a purely merit driven basis.”

Shine Out Nigeria is calling on all indigenes of Taraba to support Senator Al-Hasan in the forthcoming elections to enable her impact more positively on the state.”

•AlHasan

18

THE NATION TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2015

‘

In the past 6 (six) years, the people of Southwest Nigeria, particularly the people of the State of Osun and most especially, Ifes and Ijesas have not felt the presence and impact of the Federal Govenrment

‘

...

4D AYS TO GO ...4 DA All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East), who reflects on President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the Southwest to woo traditional rulers, contends that the last-minute clandestine moves will not swing the pendulum of victory towards the direction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.

‘Why Southwest ’ll not vote Jonathan’

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan visited Osun East (Ife Ijesa) Senatorial District on Saturday March 7, 2015. By the grace of God Almighty and the support of the good people of Ife Ijesa, I proudly represent that Senatorial District in the 7th Senate. I suppose the essence of Mr. President’s visit was to boost his electoral chances. Less we forget, the week before he visited my Senatorial District, he practically moved the seat of Federal Government from Abuja to State House, Marina, Lagos hosting some youths and was serenaded by pop stars etc. The President hosted General Adeyinka Adebayo, Chief Idowu Sofola SAN, Professor Adebayo Olateju and some other elders of Yoruba Council of Elders. He also visited Alaafin Oyo and Soun Ogbomoso, traditional rulers in South West Nigeria.

The Chairman or President Jonathan’s Southwest Campaign Organization and governor of Ondo State Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko CON has also tried very hard to galvanize support for Mr. President. He hosted Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Dr. Gani Adams, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Femi Okunrounmu et all; purportedly to appraise the recently concluded National Conference. It should be on record that Mr. President did not do any rally or canvas for votes.

All he wants from South West is endorsement. Without being preemptive and imputing motive, I hope the visits to South West will not be justification for electoral malfeasance.

On Saturday August 2, 2014, a week before the State of Osun gubernatorial election, Mr. President visited Osogbo to campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

The city of Osogbo was locked down.

Men from the Directorate of State Securities (DSS) covered their faces with balaclavas and shot sporadically into the air. The highlight of the visit was that when Mr. President was given the microphone to campaign, we expected him to inform us of what he has done in the State of Osun and what his presidency will, in the twilight of his government still has in the offing for the good people of the State of Osun. Alas, Mr. President said when next he comes he would tell us what they have done in Osun.

Since that visit, President Jonathan has visited the State of Osun, by my estimate at least twice. He isnyet to tell us what he has done in my State. The last visit of Saturday March 7, 2015 was to my senatorial district. As usual, the City of Ile-Ife was locked down.

Personally, I will remember this visit to my Senatorial District as opportunity for the Thugs of the PDP’s senatorial candidate to destroy APC Billboards. Yet, the President did not come to “turn the sod” for a new project, talk much less of “commissioning” a project. The truth is: there is none to commission. He came to visit our royal fathers, which is in order. What is not in order from my point of view is that one would expect Mr. President to remember the people I proudly represent on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic.

If he is not starting a new project, he should even complete projects he promised to complete and not to just ask for our votes.

In the past 6 (six) years, the people of South West Nigeria, particularly the people of the State of Osun and most especially, Ifes and Ijesas have not felt the presence and impact of the Fed-

eral Govenrment. The Ile-Ife Water Project that was abandoned in 2009 remains abandoned. The sum of about N4,000,000,000 (four billion Naira) is required to complete it and the Budget Office of Mr. President appropriated a paltry N5,000,000 (five million Naira) in this years’s budget, which is not enough to mobilize the Contractor to site. The counter-part fund of the State of Osun for the Ilesa Water Project in Kajola, a project also abandoned in 2009, is already available. The counter-part fund for the Federal Government in the sum of N2,400,000,000 (two billion four hundred million Naira) is not available. The meagre sum of N5,000,000 (five million Naira) is also appropriated in this years budget for this project. The dualization of Osu - Ife Road has been abandoned.

The Omiokun Road project in Arubidi, Ile-Ife has just been commenced by the government of the State of Osun when the Federal Government failed to implement same.

This same story will be told of the dualization of the Osogbo - Ilesa Road.

The Ife Mini Stadium at Ita-Osa has also been abandoned. The President however, kept coming to South West without commissioning a project. The foregoing tales of woes is true about the entire South Western part of this great country. It is on record that His Imperial Majesty Ooni Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II reminded Mr. President of these outstanding projects and others, when he came last year August to campaign for PDP’s gubernatorial candidate.

It is also unprecedented in the annals of Nigerian contemporary history that a geopolitical zone will be this jettisoned and abandoned like the Federal Government did the South Western part of this country, not only in the area of infrastruture development as gleaned in the foregoing but also in the area of filling political offices. Our supreme law has protected every geopolitical zone in Nigeria by providing for Federal Character in infrastruture development and appointments. Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of Nigeria provides: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies”.

In this area, there has been gross injustice meted out to South Westerners; my geopolitical zone has been crassly short-changed and disgustingly marginalized. Let us even ask ourselves how the Yorubas have faired under President Jonathan’s government. A government that agency facted the afore-sited supposedly inviolable provision of the Constitution is definitely not a friend of Yorubas.

This government cannot suddenly wake up from its slumber of almost six years and just fall in love us, because election is lurking. The President is from South South. From Mr. President’s geo-political zone, we also have the following: Petroleum Minister, the Director General (DG) of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), DG Security andExchange Commission, the Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Managing Di-

assurance do ’ What we have that the gargantuan maginalizatoion of Yorubaland by President Jonathan will not continue, if he is re-elected?

Will the present and coming generation forgive those endorsing Jonathan when accounts are given in future?

How will they be remembered by the unborn generation

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rector (MD) NDDC, the DG Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Speacial Adviser (SA) to Mr. President on Millenium Development Goal (MDG), the Chief Economic Adviser to Mr. President, the SA Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation of Ministries, Depaprtments and Agencies (MDAs), Chairman Nigeria Port Authority, DG Directorate of States Security (DSS), , Chairman Poice Service Commission, the Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service etc.

The Northwest produced the Vice President as well as the Speaker House of Representatives. This geopolitical zone also prodused the Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Registrar of Supreme Court, the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission. The Senate President is from North Central, the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Comptroller General of Immigration, the DG Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme, the Auditir General of the Federation and the DG national Orientation Agency. The Chief Justice of the Federarion emerged from the North East with the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Head of Service, the Chairman NIMASA, MD Nigeria National Petroleum Corporarion (NNPC), SA Political Affairs. The Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives are from the South East, ditto Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minis-

ter of Finance, the Chairman National Population Commision, the DG Budget Office, the DG Soverign Wealth Fund, the DG Debt Management Office, theh Comptoller-General of Prisons, the Chairman and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC), the DG/CEO National Identity Management Commision, the Chairman/ CEO National Electricity Reulatory Commision.

When faced with the foregoing, it is ostensible that my geopolitical zone of South West has been abjectly neglected and politically undervalued.

We are not unaware of the fact the whole of Nigeria has been grossly underdeveloped; the seemingly deliberate retrogression of the South West is unprecedented in the history of governence both in terms of infrastructure as well as human capital. It is on record that the people of South West voted for Mr. President en masse in 2011. The good people of South West will assess President Goodluck Jonathan on his performance in our region in the last six years; our assessment will not be based on desperate and empty promises. One wonders what these trips cost? It would have been better if such cost had been put to use to develop projects in South West. To enable us assess whether President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had been fair to us in South West, I use this medium to throw a challenge to the President’s handlers, let them reel out their achievements for Nigerians to juxtapose and judge. The Awujale of Ijebuland Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona was reported as corroborating my foregoing position when Mr. Presdient visited his Palace on Thursday March 12, 2015 by saying that “Ijebuland has not felt the impact of Federal Government and that Ijebu Sons and Daughters have not been given important appointments imto the quota arrangement of Nigeria.”

It is therefore strange and curious that any freeborn Yoruba adult will adopt a President that has not done anything for his or her region. The All Progressive Congress presidential running mate is from this region, it is dubious that our elders who claim to be Awoists will not adopt the grandson-in-law of the late sage.

Whether the people pandered as Yoruba Leaders that are endorsing President Jonathan actually have the mandate of Yoruba people to so do is another topic for future debate.

Whether they even have the clout to deliver is another topic for intellectual polemic in future. What matters now is whether President Jonathan has reciprocated the over 2,700,000

• Omoworare

(two million seven hundred thousand) votes cast for him by the Yoruba nation in 2011. What assurance do we have that the gargantuan maginalizatoion of Yorubaland by President Jonathan will not continue, if he is re-elected? Will the present and coming generation forgive those endorsing Jonathan when accounts are given in future? How will they be remembered by the unborn generation? Anybody campaigning for and endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan in the Southwest is patently on his own.

We can not continue on this perilious path and mortgage the future of the next generation. The die is already cast, effort of this nature of unfruitful and unmeritorious trips to South West by Mr President is an attempt to reap where he did not sow. I sincerely advice Mr President to listen to the street, do away with praise singing and empty promises of shylocks around him whose major interest is financial exploitation. The wind of change (blowing across the Nation) is looming to all except the Court Jesters in the Presidential Palace.

I do not believe in nepotism, ethnic jingoism and tribal chauvinism, in fact I owe full allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I abide by my Oath to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic. Put siccintly, I am a patriotic nationalist. It is however a matter of duty for me as a Senator of the Federal Republic to protect the interest of those who voted for me in Ife Ijesa senatorial district, and the State of Osun as a whole. I also owe my Yoruba race to protect it from under development, systemic annihilation and calculated extinction. Lastly, as a matter of honour, I must uphold Section 14 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which from the foregoing has been serially impugned and successively assailed.

Obas ‘can’t guarantee Jonathan’s re-election’

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HE Southwest Peoples Assembly (SWPA) has said that monarchs in the region can not gurantee the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls.

The group said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is not sincere with the people of South-west since he assumed office about six years.” It pointed out that the Yoruba people had been schemed from strategic positions or appointments under his leadership.

Its Mr. Lai Omotola, said in a statement that the South-west “has

the most sophisticated voters that cannot be bought with petro-dollars or influenced by traditional rulers.

He added: “In South-west, petrodollars will not impact much, but pedigree will be key on the basis of who have stood by the Yoruba agenda, who can be trusted, who can put Yoruba on the right pedestrian. Integrity has electoral weight in Yoruba land.”

Omotola said that the purported inroad by the president into the South-west and the apparent shifting of all campaign machinery into

the zone to win votes “is nothing, but an exercise in futility.”

He said: If the president is sincere with the Yoruba people, then what happened in other key appointments like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) among others.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Honouring heroes •Cameroon shows Nigeria how to honour fallen combatants

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NE of the most disheartening aspects of the anti-insurgency campaign currently being waged by Nigeria in concert with Cameroon, Niger and Chad is the way in which Nigeria has failed to properly honour the soldiers who have paid the supreme price for their fatherland.

Cameroon demonstrated the proper way to treat fallen heroes with a series of elaborate military funerals in which the country’s citizens came together as one to celebrate the courage and fortitude of those who had fully lived up to their oath to protect their nation with their own lives. Families of the fallen heroes were invited, as was the general public. Coffins were draped in the Cameroonian national flag, and the departed soldiers were given posthumous medals for bravery.

The Cameroonian example is replicated in many other countries, most notably in the United Kingdom and the United States, where personnel killed in action are treated with a dignity that emphasises both the extent of the sacrifice made and the esteem in which those who made it are held. In the US, the coffins are received at airports with a sombre dignity; for several years, the small town of Wootton Basset was the UK’s major site for the honouring of British military personnel killed in action in Afghanistan.

These countries fully understand the importance of what they are doing. All the rhetoric about patriotism, bravery and fortitude will count for nothing

if those who fight for their nation know that nothing will be done to honour their memories if they die.

Unlike other professions, a military career is more than just a vocation: it is a calling in which one can be asked to pay the supreme price. That is why the honour they receive when they die in action is far more significant than what is extended to those in other jobs.

Tragically, it is a lesson that Nigeria is yet to learn. Ever since the country’s involvement in the Liberian and Sierra Leone conflicts in the 1990s, the armed forces have developed the unwelcome habit of performing mass burials in conditions of great secrecy.

Casualty numbers are a closelyguarded secret, even while the deaths of enemy combatants are trumpeted. In spite of all the promises from President Goodluck Jonathan and the military hierarchy, it is clear that the Nigerian soldier is far more likely to be put on trial for insubordination, mutiny or cowardice, than to be publicly honoured for bravery.

Instead of being openly acknowledged by a grateful nation, the deeds of gallant soldiers are often limited to scattered mentions on social media, such as tweets, and posts on blogs and Facebook. The story of Wing-Commander Chimda Hedima who was beheaded by Boko Haram is a case in point. Instead of just bailing out after his plane was hit, Hedima deliberately

crashed his aircraft into a column of insurgents, thereby causing the death of 63 of them. Rather than confirm reports of Hedima’s death, the military high command preferred to stonewall the media, as if the late pilot had disgraced the armed forces in some inexplicable way.

If Nigeria wants to become the nation of heroes that it can be, it must learn to bestow honour upon those who are deserving of it. The courageous members of the armed forces should be at the forefront of this distinguished group. They must be properly motivated and equipped, adequately led and fully briefed. When they are injured, immediate evacuation and comprehensive medical care should be the top priority. And when they are killed, they must be mourned and celebrated like the heroes and heroines that they are.

‘In spite of all the promises from President Goodluck Jonathan and the military hierarchy, it is clear that the Nigerian soldier is far more likely to be put on trial for insubordination, mutiny or cowardice, than to be publicly honoured for bravery’

Oyingbo Market •It is a testament to Governor Fashola’s pact with the people

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T was yet another promise kept when on March 15 Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State commissioned the N1billion ultramodern Oyingbo Market Complex, 24 years after it was demolished for reconstruction. Reconstruction of the market was one of the governor’s campaign promises in 2007 when he was seeking the mandate of Lagosians to be governor. An elated Fashola said at the commissioning, “I held my promise in high esteem … New Oyingbo market is one of my promises and it is here today and more modern than what used to be here. I was not too young to know the old Oyingbo Market because my mother used to sell aluminum pans somewhere around here.”

Efforts to rebuild the market started about 24 years ago. Although the market was demolished then, one thing

‘In a sense therefore, Governor Fashola’s commissioning of the market is beyond fulfilling a campaign promise. Oyingbo Market is a monument. The market has become folklore of sort.

Therefore, what Fashola did was not just honouring an agreement; it was also a pact with culture’

led to another and nothing happened again until Fashola came to the scene in 2007. The market dates back to the 1920s when it was a depot for agricultural produce. However, it began to expand with development around Ebute-Metta, Oyingbo and the Lagos Mainland, generally. The saying that oja Oyingbo ko mo p’enikan o wa (Oyingbo Market does not know if anyone is absent) is a tribute to its sheer size which also made it an important market across the country.

In a sense therefore, Governor Fashola’s commissioning of the market is beyond fulfilling a campaign promise. Oyingbo Market is a monument. The market has become folklore of sort. Therefore, what Fashola did was not just honouring an agreement; it was also a pact with culture.

As the governor noted at the commissioning, his mother was once a trader in the old market from where the ultra-modern one has sprung up. So it was with many other people who can now look back with nostalgia and marvel at the wonder that the market has become.

The four-floor Oyingbo Market is modernity personified. Sitting majestically on a 544 sq metre, it has a 150car parking lot on the ground floor, 622 open shops, 102 lock-up shops, 48 open offices, 134 toilets and six exit gates. The market also has an air-cooling system, cold room, industrial borehole, water treatment plant, refuse chute, sewage treatment plant,

ground and overhead water tanks, fire protection as well as 100 KVA transformers, two 1250 KVA generators and a 100KVA generator as well as fire alarm system/smoke detector.

However, as the Iyaloja of Oyingbo and the Mainland, Basirat Balogun, said at the commissioning, the state government still has some work to do to fully bring out the beauty of the new edifice. The surrounding of the market has to be tidied up, with more attention paid to environmental issues. The drainage in the area has to be expanded and kept free of garbage to allow for unhindered flow of water. In the same vein, the government must ensure that maintenance is given priority because that is the bane of many public institutions in the country. The government also has to ensure that security is tightened in the area now that the market has become a one-stop shop for all items.

We congratulate Governor Fashola for keeping to his campaign promise because it is not often that politicians do that in our part of the world. We also congratulate the original occupants of the market who are still alive to witness the commissioning for their patience which would soon pay off as they are to be given priority in the allocation of the shops. They should heed the governor’s advice to leave the road now that the market is ready so as to free the traffic logjam that has become a permanent feature when construction work was ongoing in the market.

Kudos to Gov. Ahmed

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IR: I wish to employ this medium to commend the Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed for the following landmark achievements of his administration: First is the prompt payment of government workers’ salaries and pensioners’ allowances despite the continued reduction in the state’s monthly allocation from the Federal Government. As a matter of fact, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Comrade Farouk Akanbi, recently gave kudos to Ahmed while the state’s pensioners’ association endorsed him for second term because of this achievement.

Second is the constant training and retraining of the state’s civil servants, which has made them more resourceful in the discharge of their duties. A sum of N250million was set aside for this to cover civil servants of various cadres throughout the state.

Third is the setting up of a globally acclaimed community health insurance scheme employing the most comprehensive health systems, featuring an advanced Diagnostic Centre and five remodelled general hospitals.

Fourth is the empowerment of a new generation of agribusiness men with the provision of about N215million to 172 lead farmers under the state’s Off taker demand scheme.

Fifth is the establishment of the City and Guilds’ of London- affiliated International Vocation Centre, Ajasse – Ipo, which has now made the state an emerging hub for world ranked vocational skills acquisition.

Others are the boosting of the state’s informal sector by the injection of N1billion in microcredit advances to 50000 small businesses and the creation of 10,200 jobs within four years in line with the administration’s pledge to empower the state’s youths.

‘Segun ‘Bambo Ojomo, Lagos.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: To say that First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s destructive utterances can ever be controlled, could be an understatement. One cannot imagine that after reading the article titled “Can someone call Dame Patience to order” written by a renowned journalist, Mr. Kanayo Esinulo, which was published at the back page of Daily Sun newspapers of February 13, 2015, she still would not employ decorum. This is so after considering her utterances at a rally in Benin, capital of Edo State the following day, which witnessed minimal improvement. Does it mean that the First Lady is not amenable?

President Goodluck Jonathan should have taken time out to plead with his wife not to make him lose the March 28 elections because her utterances could be responsible, if added up. It is also a pity that top PDP chieftains, close friends and associates of President Jonathan, seem afraid of asking him to caution the First Lady on her meddlesomeness in party affairs coupled with her flippancy, most of which showcase the party’s pursuit in bad light.

I am afraid that the PDP is drawing nearer to a verdict of losing the March 28 election. I am also dismayed that more intelligent and educated personalities like Onyeka Onwenu and Mrs. Kema Chikwe, among others, who are normally in the First Lady’s entourage, could not advise her. Or are they cheerleaders and sycophants? They should consider; peradventure another occupant takes over the Aso Rock by May 29, 2015 their fates will be sealed and locked out of the place. I hope they are still intelligent enough to understand this.

At her Benin outing, the First Lady had as one of her messages that the Presidency had been occupied for eight years by other geopolitical zones and asked why the SouthSouth should be denied the opportunity. To her, this is a selling issue; to many, it is very parochial.

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Can our first lady be ever amenable?

Barring short memories, she should have known that apart from the statement being a non-issue, the North should have been allowed to complete Yar’adua’s eight years tenure instead of Goodluck Jonathan contesting in the 2011 elections.

Moreover, people are quick to remind her that her husband was quoted in the media, at the twilight of 2011 elections, promising not to stay beyond 2015.

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Probably for the sake of the spoils of the office, he should have a rethink. Also, in Dame Patience’s other statements at the rally, she goofed when, rather than appreciate Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for cancelling booking earlier made by Mrs. Buhari’s group for use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Station for the same date and favoured her; she described the (Aisha Buhari’s) postponed visit as a plot by the

opposition to foment trouble.

Any right thinking person would be at a loss understanding what her statement in this regard meant.

What a power-drunk, incoherent and insatiable First Lady, people continue to say! The other time, Dame Patience defended her unfortunate statement that anyone who shouts ‘change ‘should be stoned. She said after all, her husband was stoned in Katsina, Bauchi and Taraba; whereas it was

established, respectively, in Katsina, Bauchi and Taraba that the acts were carried out by aggrieved PDP members.

She could not be assuaged by statement of the PDP-controlled Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda, about the fact that the stoning was arranged by the FCT minister, Bala Mohammed and also the revelation by the PDP spokesperson in Taraba, confirming that the stoning there was carried out by aggrieved youths who claimed they were not brought in to be part of the arrangement for the President’s visit. The youths did not stop at that. They also torched the State secretariat of the PDP. As Kanayo Esinulo rightly expressed aloud: “Can someone call Dame Patience to order”?

• Dr. Cyril Kachi Madueke, Awka Road, Wuse II, Abuja.

PDP’s lies about state creation

IR: For quite some time now, immediately after the postponement of the 2015 general polls from February to March/April, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially in the South-west geopolitical zone, began a campaign of deceit mostly on the electronic media, through sponsored jingles that its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will create more states in the region if voted for.

Thus, the party is deceiving the people that the creation of states is dependent on the President’s reelection. An example of such is the one that is frequently aired on popular private electronic media in Oyo State, including the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), under the auspices of Chief Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State for the Federal capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, who doubles as the South-West Coordinator, President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation.

Another nauseating aspect of it is the way some Yoruba royal fathers

have been using President Jonathan’s visits to demand for the creation of state in their respective regions and how some leaders of Yorba extraction, mainly those that constitutes the delegates to the 2014 National Confab who endorsed the President’s candidature in a post summit Confab held recently within the region, have been misleading the people by making them to believe that the President has the power to create states since the issue forms part of the recommendations in the report of the Confab that was set up by him.

It wouldn’t also be unwise if one queries the rationale behind the President’s second term endorsement by the self-acclaimed Yoruba leaders. Going by this, one needs to wonder why Ms. Akinjide, with a respected discipline in the legal profession, vast experience in developed countries of the world as well as her party’s assertion to give ‘Power to the People’ feel so comfortable with such deceptive political gimmick all in the name of winning votes for her party and the President.

Without nursing an iota of partisanship, if the Oyo PDP chieftain truly has the interest of the people at heart, she wouldn’t have resorted to such ridiculous and negative propaganda with the intention of swaying the votes of those she perceived are not wellinformed among the electorate concerning certain workings of the government. Instead, she would have taken it upon herself as a lawyer saddled with the responsibility of interpreting the law and also as a political leader whose watchword and actions should be based on transparency and accountability in service to the people, to enlighten the bulk of the electorates on the process of creating new states under a civilian rule.

Of course, one would have expected the minister to be aware of the fact that all the states that have been created in the history of the nation were done under Military rule through decrees at the will of dictators and their cronies.

So, it wouldn’t be illogical to conclude that Ms. Akinjide and the

PDP, as well as the President’s apologists in the south west are just being insincere to the electorates for they obviously knew quite well that President Jonathan or any President under a civilian rule cannot take responsibility for state creation due to what Section 8 of the 1999Constitution stipulates.

Taken that the political enlightenment of the people should be one of the responsibilities of any well-meaning political party in a democracy, especially towards an election. This is to say that leaders and members of political parties should beat the forefront of enlightening the bulk of the electorate on how some policies; laws and basic principles that the society is governed by are formed.

It would, however, amount to an outright insensitivity on the part of a political party if it is found to be involved in deception and lies about certain governmental processes during its campaign for votes.

• Abimbola Makinde, Total Garden, Ibadan

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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COMMENTS “B’Oyinbo nlo nlu, a su s’aga” [A fleeing expatriate defecates on his seat] — Yoruba saying LMOST like yesterday, the 16 April 2011 presidential election. “It takes patience to get Goodluck,” punned a voter in the scorching sun, in a Lagos voting precinct.

Neither Patience nor Goodluck now appears worth all that trouble!

Not long after the deed, Goodluck Jonathan having romped to victory, it was standard fare to crow, not without a mighty sense of pride and fulfilment: “We voted Jonathan, not PDP”.

Again, neither Jonathan nor PDP has proved a good deal!

A

R

epublican ipples

lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please)

Why, not a few back then christened their new-borns Goodluck!

It was the sunny and halcyon days of Goodluck Jonathan, the adored president of the Federal Republic.

Not anymore!

Ripples wished he could swagger and say, “I told you so!”

But that would be insensitive — not after Chibok and the missing 219; and Buni-Yadi and the doomed 29: school girls and boys consumed by terror, while the commander-in-chief practically dosed; the ill-fated Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) 16, youths that perished in legitimate search of jobs, because the sitting government could not curtail soulless racketeering; and civil servants nationwide, federal and state, now tasting the bitter novelty of salary yo-yo, because the Jonathan Presidency could not account for Nigeria’s oil receipts. That has led to astronomical slashes in states’ monthly Federation Account takings, without any cogent reason.

Still, yours truly saw through President Jonathan, even when he was Prince Charming — and raised alarm.

Late 2010 in New York, the new President Jonathan was asked: will you contest in 2011 [given the circumstances of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s exit and the North’s bitterness about its loss of power]?

Simple question. But Jonathan launched into a rigmarole: well, I might still contest as vice-president; I might contest as president; I might just conclude Yar’Adua’s tenure and quit; in fact, I’ve not really thought about it — I’m still busy with my current assignment!

Ripples saw through the sophistry; spotted a devious power schemer and raised an alarm. Even when people were celebrating Jonathan’s “pan-Nigeria mandate”, Ripples declared it was no more than a regional gang-up, which conspiracy produced a “pan-Nigeria mandate of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.”

Indeed, Lagosians and other southerners now howling about a disastrous Jonathan should own up to their own share of the mass conspiracy that created him. By, for southern solidarity, acquiescing to the expedient scrapping of electoral zoning, they joyfully created the monster that would later gobble them.

Glorious irony: former President Olusegun Obasanjo, chief and happy cheer-leader of that expediency, despite himself being a zoning beneficiary, has become the bitter jeer-leader of Jonathan!

‘It would take a most egregious rigging for Jonathan to prevail in this election. That is clear from the geopolitical balance of numbers and spread’ “Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.”

------Sir Winston Churchill XCEPT the August 6, 1983 Presidential election, every Presidential election in Nigeria has ended in the courts. That of August 11, 1979 was worse.

On August 15, 1979, the returning officer in the Presidential election, Chief Fredrick Louis Menkiti, announced the results of the Presidential election. In the results, Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN scored 5,668,857 votes while Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) of the UPN scored 4,916,951 votes; Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe (1904-1996) of the NPP scored 2,822,523; Alhaji Aminu Kano (1920-1983) garnered 1,732,113 votes; and Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri had 1,686,489 votes. After the results were announced, Chief Awolowo challenged the results with Chief Abraham Adesanya as his lead counsel while Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide defended Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

I covered the tribunal and the Supreme Court judgment for The Punch newspaper thirty-six years ago. At the Supreme Court, delivered just few days before the new government’s inauguration, Justice Kayode Esho (1925-2012) gave the minority judgment in favour of Chief Awolowo, while the majority judgment was delivered by Mr. Justice Atanda Fatai Williams (1918-2002), in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

But in the August 6, 1983 Presidential election, it was a different ball game; Alhaji Shehu Shagari scored 12,081,471 votes while Chief Obafemi Awolowo scored 7,902,209 votes; Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe got 3,557,113 votes; Alhaji Aminu Kano got 968,974 votes while Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) scored 646,806 votes. Mr. Tunji Braithwaite of the Nigerian Advance Party scored 271,524. Chief Obafemi Awolowo decided not to challenge the result insisting that if Nigerians needed him they know where to find him. He thereafter settled in Ikenne his hometown and on May 9 1987, he answered the final call. In the words of Thomas Jefferson “I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office”.

In the February 27, 1999 Presidential election, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party had 18,738,154 votes as against that of Chief Olu Falae of the Alliance for Democracy who scored 11,110,287 votes. Chief Falae did not accept the result of the election.

The regime of General Abdul-salami Abubakar who wanted to quit government in time had to summon the traditional ruler of the Akure Kingdom where Chief Falae comes from,

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and even that is a rump, following the split and exit of the Governors-5. Even then, a paranoid Jonathan still subverted his party’s nomination process: PDP claimed, even after aspirants had paid the due fees, that it only printed one presidential nomination form — and the president had got it!

What other areas has Jonathan’s locusts not eaten: respect for electoral laws — which Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) brazenly breached, organising proJonathan rallies, thus undermining INEC? Or, the PDP shameful campaign to prematurely sack Prof.

Attahiru Jega, the INEC chair, for having the temerity to insist on innovations like permanent voter cards (PVC) and smart card readers, to authenticate genuine voters?

Or, Jonathan as author and finisher of hate campaigns, in lieu of hardly any concrete achievements, erected on brutal demonization of political opponents, and explosive Christian-Muslim, NorthSouth and petty ethnic divides, all served in the most incendiary, hateful and vulgar of languages — not to mention the cavalier ploy to politicise the security and armed forces!

Lest we forget: the unprecedented Police invasion of the House of Representatives, all in a bid to forcefully change the Speaker, after Aminu Tambuwal’s defection to the opposition APC! It is tribute to the triumph of reason over brute force that both the Police and DSS have eaten crow and restored the Speaker’s full security, after an initial shameful romance with state outlawry.

Jonathan’s supporters, just like his opposers, have their democratic right. But four days to the presidential election, it is clear which of the two are upbeat, and which are downcast.

Take the media. The pro-Jonathan This Day deviated from its tradition of electoral mapping to predict putative winners and losers. Could it be that This Day editors have seen the handwriting on the wall; and instead, settled for an advert form of a Richard Grenell Armageddon scarecrow, written for Washington Times, suggesting should Buhari win, Nigeria risks Islamization? But why is no one surprised at the green Mr. Grenell? Didn’t Islamization scare run through the Jonathan campaign?

O, Sunday Vanguard too, on March 22, ran a front-page advert predicting Jonathan’s “victory”. But even a casual look at it shows the parameters are highly suspect. But maybe they tell Jonathan what he wants to hear!

In contrast, The Nation (pro-Buhari) and Sunday Punch (neither friend nor foe) ran a electoral map that tilted towards Buhari, with accompanying detailed analyses. Well, it is all in voters’ hands now!

In Ripples’ view however, it would take a most egregious rigging for Jonathan to prevail in this election. That is clear from the geopolitical balance of numbers and spread.

That is why INEC must stand firm and do its duty to motherland: credible, free, fair and transparent election. The security forces too must resisit any partisan temptations, that runs contrary to their oaths of service.

So long, Mr. President. One just wished your outgoing activities would not earn the portraiture of the exiting white man that soils his high seat, just because he is skipping town!

Olakunle Abimbola

So long, Goodluck But just as Gen. Obasanjo, in 1979, handed Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a legitimacy grave in the twelvetwo-thirds controversy, which Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, baked, Chief Obasanjo handed Jonathan a serious legitimacy crisis in the zoning controversy, with a cheated core North screaming blue murder.

Still, the Jonathan debacle was at best a blissful marriage between the duplicity of the power elite and Jonathan’s own crass opportunism.

Because he had a legitimacy baggage — the guilty are afraid, after all! — Jonathan fretted and lingered, while Boko Haram made hay, thinking he was appeasing the North. That way, he thoroughly demystified the once and supremely proud Nigerian military. A commander-in-chief never ended a more tragic fall guy!

In terms of concrete-and-mortar, Jonathan never achieved much, never mind all the crowing about antiquated coaches and prehistoric rail tracks, that his lobby credits him with.

But it is in the area of intangibles, democratic, normative and lawful, that Jonathan has proved an unmitigated disaster, almost without any redemptive value.

Indeed, in both governance and politics, Jonathan brought the Presidency to nadirs unimagined; and manically worked — and is still working — a divided Nigeria; and wilfully creating mutually loathing Nigerians, along explosive religious and ethnic lines; more than any other government in Nigeria’s painful history.

Besides, though he boasts a PhD, his grasp of issues is pitiably childish and pedestrian. The president parrots, in 2015, his e-payment anti-corruption “achievement”. But e-payment, for the Lagos State government, has been standard fare since 2002!

The less said about Dame Patience Faka, the presidential spouse, the better. Suffice it to say she has brought that usually classy office to great disrepute by her gross insensitivity, galloping lexical challenge and unapologetic vulgarity. All these will return, with a vengeance, to wreck her husband on March 28.

In presidential imaging, Jonathan also plumbed new lows. Proof?

Just listen to his reckless presidential canvassers, sounding off like all-muscle-no-brain bouncers: Edwin Clark, Ayodele Fayose, Doyin Okupe, Femi Fani-Kayode, Olisa Metuh, Fredrick Fasehun, Gani Adams and Dame the Game, herself! Now, garnish all that with Jonathan’s atavistic crusaders: MASSOB, OPC and Niger Delta militants. Pray, how can a president sworn to law and order, court so much anarchy, for wishful electoral gains?

Mention institutional wrecks, and Hurricane Jona has been hyperactive, starting with his ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Despite the bluff and bluster, a hugely divided PDP goes into the polls —

Presidential elections: A writer beckons on history

By Eric Teniola Kabiyesi Adebobajo Adesida, then Deji of Akure to Abuja to persuade Chief Falae to withdraw the suit. He refused and for his refusal till today both General Obasanjo and Chief Falae are not on speaking terms. The enmity between both men still lingers.

On the April 19, 2003 election, General Olusegun Obasanjo scored 24,456,140 votes while Major General Muhammadu Buhari scored 12,710,022 votes and the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of the All Progrssive Grand Alliance (APGA) had 1,297,445 votes; Jim Nwobodo of the UNPP scored 169,609 votes while Chief Gani Fawehinmi of the Conscience Party of Nigeria had 161,333 votes. Sarah Jubrin of the Progressive Action Congress scored 157,560 votes just as General Ike Nwachukwu of National Democratic Party garnered 132,197 votes. Chris Okotie of Justice Party got 109,547 votes; Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the Redemption Party equally got 100,765 votes while Arthur Nwankwo of People’s Mandate got 57,720 votes. Emmanuel Okereke of All People Liberation Party scored 26,921 votes; Kalu Idika Kalu of the New Nigeria People’s Party scored 23,830 votes and Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf, former Inspector General of Police of the Movement for Democracy and Justice scored 21,403 votes. General Buhari went to court to challenge the results of the election. The Supreme court finally decided in favour of General Olusegun Obasanjo.

In April 21, 2007 Presidential election, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua of PDP had 24,638,063 votes as against General Muhammadu Buhari/Edwin Ume-Ezeoke of the ANPP team that scored 6,605,299 votes. Both Alhaji Yar’adua and Major General Buhari are from the same Katsina state. It was the first time in the history that both candidates for the nation’s apex position would hail from the same state. The Presidential disputes ended in the Supreme Court with Chief Wole Olanipekun as the lead Counsel for Alhaji Yar’adua.

In the April 9, 2011 presidential election, the duo of Jonathan Goodluck/Namadi Sambo had 22,495,187 votes while the duo of Major General Muhammadu Buhari/Pastor Tunde Bakare scored 12,214,853 votes. General Buhari chal-

lenged the outcome of the results and it ended in the Supreme Court.

In a few days’ time, we shall march to vote for the March 28, 2015 Presidential election. It is on record that no incumbent President has ever lost any election in Nigeria. But there are examples in Africa. In the April 1991 Presidential election in Republic of Benin, President Mathieu Kerekou lost to Nicephore Soglo. Also in 1991, President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia lost to Frederick Chiluba. Just last September, Michael Suta of Zambia defeated the Multi Party Democratic (MPD) that has been in power for twenty years with President Rupia Banda conceding defeat. All eyes will definitely be on Nigeria before and after the election.

It is to be seen whether the Presidential election will bring peace or chaos to Nigeria. So much has been written about the forth-coming Presidential elections in Nigeria-the anxieties, the alarms and the innuendos. Definitely one must lose and another must win. Defeat can be injurious but definitely there is life after defeat. Nothing pains a politician more than to lose an election.

When I think of Presidential elections, the one that comes to my mind is the 1968 Convention of the Democratic Party in the United States in Chicago.

After withdrawing from re-contesting, the incumbent President, Lyndon Johnson became so unpopular that he was not even invited by his party to the Convention. He thereafter lamented; ‘I’ve never felt lower in my life. How do you think it feels to be completely rejected by the party you’ve spent your life with, knowing that your name cannot be mentioned without choruses of boos and obscenities? How would you feel? It makes me feel that nothing’s been worth it. And I’ve tried. Things may not have turned out as you wanted or even as I wanted. But God knows I’ve tried. And I’ve given it my best all these years. I woke up at six and worked until one or two in the morning every day, Saturdays and Sundays. And it comes to this. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

Presidents too have their own lamentations. They are not invincible. They are like the rest of us. Power belongs not to the individuals but to the people. The people in their wisdom have to choose whom they are to endow the power with. Afterall, Albert Einstein once said” the state is made for man, not man for the State.”

• Eric Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, stays in Lagos, Nigeria

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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COMMENTS

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EVERAL years ago, the only reason I visited Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, was to attend “compulsory” social functions…mark the word: “compulsory”! And hardly did I spend nights there. The only hotel l felt safe in was Premier Hotel. As a matter of fact, to me it was the only “correct” hotel in the city. A city I rather referred to as a large village. It was too sleepy for my liking. The roads were terrible and the sights were an eye sore. You needed to see the heaps of filth that had become hills and mountains.

That was the Ibadan I knew. Today, I know a new Ibadan. The beginning of the new Ibadan for me, started last year when l grudgingly embarked on a journey to the city for another social event.

Confusion greeted me right from the tollgate end of the city on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway. In the past, I needed not watch out for signboards that greeted “Welcome to Ibadan”. I only looked out for the filth, the decay and blood red eyed young men. But on this day, I was confused because the “signs and sights” of “Ibadan” were nowhere to be found? I wondered if I had wandered into another city. Where is the Ibadan that I knew?

Behold, it was gone! At that point I recalled what I had been hearing about the activities of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Transformation, Restoration, Urban renewal, I thought it was all “politricks” but here it was, staring at me like “politruths” Ibadan was wearing a new look – clean roads, good roads, new structures, orderly parks and befitting markets. I thought I was dreaming- the same dream I saw happen in Lagos. After having a pleasure

Who is afraid of Ajimobi?

By Shokanmi Michael drive round the city, I attended my function and still decided to find out what happened or better still, find out who this man, Ajimobi was. I suddenly envied the people of Ibadan for being blessed with such a visionary leader.

I never got to meet him then but the impression was that he was not popular with the people. What! Why? A man who had so transformed the state and instituted peace, security and development that had long eluded the people? Something is definitely not right here, I said to myself.

My curiosity got the better of me and l began to grab every opportunity that would help me get a better and perhaps true picture of how people really felt about this man. l got a few but the most recent one got me thinking the more. I had the opportunity of observing at closer quarters, the people’s feelings and perceptions during the governors recent tour of local governments in the state. My findings jolted me.

First was the reaction of a people who from findings were skeptical of the administration since inception only to witness magical transformation within two years. I am not talking about the very evident Ibadan now. I am talking about areas other than the city that were hitherto forgotten territories – Ibarapa, Oke Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ono Ara and all the places visited.

During this tour with the governor, the

‘I believe this governor has out-performed the rest and performed beyond the people’s expectation. Ahead of the 2015 elections, the people’s choices have been easier because they only have to choose between governors who achieved nothing for the state and a performing governor. They have to choose between inexperienced leaders and a vastly experienced Ajimobi’ “Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.” - Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart

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Y the close of the year 2008, it was only the naive, sycophant or inane optimist that did not see the writing on the wall - Yar’Adua’s health would be his Achilles’ heel. Then in the Daily Independent, I wrote a piece entitled: YAR’ADUA: TIME TO RETURN HOME. Below are excerpts from the article.

“Fortunately, Yar’Adua has an alter ego in the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

He is equally cool-headed and unassuming. When Jonathan was the Deputy Governor in Bayelsa, he skillfully resisted pressures to supplant his governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was in police net in the United Kingdom on charges of money laundering. In a country where political perfidy is an art, Jonathan’s conduct was exceptional. In spite of the health challenge of the President, that constantly sees him out of the country, there is no evidence linking the Vice President to sponsoring fifth columnists against his boss. Again, that is uncommon in a nation where opportunism is a political culture. Goodluck Jonathan is very much like Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. (However, on transparency and accountability, as a former governor, I must confess that I do not know anything about Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.)

“Yar’Adua did not dream of becoming the President of Nigeria when he was in power in Katsina State. The presidency was placed on his laps on a platter of gold.

Yar’Adua is a humble man but now, resigning from such an exalted position, no doubt, demands extra humility.

“Even the best army in warfront sometimes beats a retreat. It is not a sign of weakness or capitulation. He who fights and runs away only leaves to fight another day.

President Yar’Adua has made a name for himself. He has demystified governance and made due process a cardinal principle although there is still a long way to go.

His voluntary resignation will only add another feather to his cap. History will

people trooped out in their thousands to see him. Based on what I had read about him not being popular with the people, I expected that as they trooped out in their thousands, the governor would also get a thousand stones and missiles hurled at him!

But no, the joy on their faces was priceless! They were clearly happy to see their Governor. Men and women, old and young, professionals and artisans, everyone seemed ecstatic to see the Governor.

At nearly all the rallies too, there was a semblance of cooperation between the security men and the crowd. Even the crowds from the notorious Bere area to Mapo hall were not as unruly as they used to. Agreed, everything could not have been very perfect because we live in a complex and heterogeneous society. An example of that were few cases where over-excitement almost marred certain aspect of the occasion, but these were quickly curtailed.

All that joy and happiness said a lot to me. Why are the people so happy? If they did not like Ajimobi, why did they come out in all the local governments to welcome him? Why did they not stone him and curse him for whatever reasons were cited by those who wrote in various media that Ajimobi was not liked by his people?

I tried hard to justify the unjustifiable. I tried to separate Ibadan from the other towns. Quite right, Ibadan had been lavished with new roads, a new bridge and infrastructural development as well as aesthetics. So, these other towns, these hinterlands, what did they get in infrastructure because there was obviously no flyover bridge like the one in Mokola Ibadan? I realized that these people were happy because their narrow and bad roads had been repaired and widened, thereby facilitating their movement with their agricultural

Jonathan, Yar’Adua and Buhari

By Soyombo Opeyemi record him as the finest leader that ever governed Nigeria in its 48 years of nationhood.”

Unfortunately, Yar’Adua did not heed my advice. He probably would have been alive today and a global hero. History has again come full circle. The current President, Goodluck Jonathan, seems to have found himself in an analogous situation.

This time not about health issues, but the palpable prospect of losing the March 28 presidential poll. With the bloc votes of the North, overwhelming majority in the West and some battle-grounds in the East and Southsouth, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is only a few days away from becoming the President-elect. It is only the politically naive, sycophant or an inane optimist that will still contemplate a Jonathan presidency beyond May 29, 2015.

Am I then suggesting that Jonathan should throw in the towel and resign as President? No. This is an electoral contest and under normal circumstances, Jonathan should fight till the end. But is President Jonathan actually a competitor or gladiator in the presidential race? This is the crux of the matter. The way and manner the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government has been conducting itself in the race for the presidency tends towards a zero-sum goal - It’s either we win or everybody loses! The abuse of institutions like the military, the police; threats to sack or sabotage institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its key officers; creating an imaginary medical condition for an opposition candidate that has no such history; tacit support of armed ethnic groups and militia to perpetrate violence

under the guise of supporting the president; the pollution of public space by a public nuisance called Femi Fani-Kayode; the general heating up of the polity in a bid to win the presidential poll at all cost, among others, are conducts clearly beyond the pale. This surely is not the Jonathan that I wrote about in 2008. What exactly has gone wrong?

I have heard cause to blame or even curse history. And some people asked ‘Why’. I often argue that the man (history) is unconscionably wicked for permitting no one to learn from him. We have heard several leaders in this country and outside Nigeria who stood on the very threshold of history but blew up once-in-a-life-time opportunity. The opportunity to conduct the freest and fairest election; the chance to hand over power peacefully; the opportunity to return the country to full-blown democracy; the chance to write one’s name in gold and become a global icon by losing gallantly in a keenly contested but peaceful free and fair elections. Why is history so wicked?

Like I wrote about Yar’Adua in 2008, President Jonathan never dreamt of becoming the governor of Bayelsa let alone occupying the posts of the Vice President, Acting President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What again does anyone want from fate? Indeed, he may go down in the history of Nigeria as the only

products. Farmers now had access to tractors. Their children – university and secondary school graduates had been employed into the civil service while others were part of the 20,000 engaged in the Youth Employment Scheme of Oyo state (YES-O).

So, who is afraid of Ajimobi in a new Oyo State? Definitely not the same people who feel so lucky to have such a visionary leader. Not the people who never knew that succor could come to them. Not the people who can now sleep with both eyes closed. Not the people who love him so much that they would cast their vote twice for his second term bid, if voting more than once was possible.

These are the group of people who I think are afraid of Ajimobi: Unrepentant hoodlums whom the security forces have caged; unscrupulous politicians who want a return to the old order where money meant for infrastructure were shared among them; enemies of the state, physical and spiritual, who want the state to remain in perpetual darkness and backwardness!

Who is afraid of Ajimobi? I believe this governor has out-performed the rest and performed beyond the people’s expectation. Ahead of the 2015 elections, the people’s choices have been easier because they only have to choose between governors who achieved nothing for the state and a performing governor. They have to choose between inexperienced leaders and a vastly experienced Ajimobi.

They have to choose between conservative personalities and a progressive governor.

Who is afraid of Ajimobi? Not those who are enjoying the new lease of life in the state. Those who are afraid of Ajimobi are those worried that the governor is educating the people so much now that they are better exposed and now know what true leadership means.

I believe these are the elements that are afraid of Ajimobi and they are shaking really bad because the people are set to return the governor for a second term.

• Shokanmi, is a consultant with Olsphere Investment Limited, Lagos.

one that had such favour of God to occupy such offices in quick succession. And you attained these heights virtually on the platter of gold. What are the lessons of life?

“Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” asks the Holy Book. We all often talk about the vicissitudes of life. We say life is full of ups and downs. You cannot have all the ‘ups’ without the ‘downs’. No way. And we are religious in this country. There is no scripture that says you will always have everything in life going on fine for you. That is not God! You have always won, now if you lose just once, what is the big deal about that? Is that not itself the lesson of life? Even Gen. Buhari contested election three times and lost and he is a former Head of State. That is just life; the Almighty teaches us a lot of lessons through the vicissitudes of life. You win some, you lose some, but in the end you become a better person.

President Goodluck Jonathan should seize this opportunity by the forelock. He should immediately douse the current high political temperature. He knows what to do to achieve that. “If I lose, I will return to my home town; the presidency is not my birthright,” the President was recently quoted to have said. That is assuring, but even reassuring is the need to calm the polity from being heated to the boiling point through concrete actions. Jonathan stands once again on the threshold of history. He can write his name in gold and become a global icon, sought out by international bodies like the United Nations (UN).

•Soyombo, a public affairs analyst, sent this piece via densityshow@yahoo.com

‘President Goodluck Jonathan should seize this opportunity by the forelock. He should immediately douse the current high political temperature. He knows what to do to achieve that. “If I lose, I will return to my home town; the presidency is not my birthright,” the President was recently quoted to have said’

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

25 Under Sections 17 and 18 of the Constitution the State is mandatorily required to provide ’free health and education including tertiary education based on the availability of resources.

If the abundant natural resources of our country have been harnessed and distributed equitably as envisaged by section 16 of the Constitution the government would have guaranteed the security and welfare of all citizens’

’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

See page 27

Chief Niyi Akintola(SAN) is a former deputy speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly and member National Conference.

In this interview with ADEBISI ONANUGA, he speaks on the conference and why the Southwest could not present a common agenda, among other issues.

‘National Confab report not enough to endorse Jonathan’

• Akintola

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INSIDE:

RIEFLY itemise the demands of the Yoruba at the last National Conference and their current status?

Let me say that there was no concrete agenda by the Southwesterners before we left for the 2014 National Conference. I am saying this against the backdrop of the fact that we went there as a divided house. Forget about the claim of some people that we had an agenda. There was sectional agenda, no doubt, but we must appreciate that our interests in Yoruba land as at today are not joint but several as it used to be. There was a meeting at Iperu Remo in Ogun State that was supposed to have been attended by credible representatives of the states in the Southwest to aggregate our positions that we will take to the conference. Only Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, governors of Oyo and Ondo states were present, out of all the governors in the region. Many of the opinion leaders were absent. Invariably, the credible opinion leaders of the various segments of Yoruba nation were not at that meeting where supposedly the decisions to present the common front were taken. So, by the time we got to Abuja, it was a divided house. Sincerely, we never really got there as a united geo-political zone. Of course, there was a paper that was

Court dismisses terminal operators’ application for stay of execution -Page 27

taken away from Iperu meeting that was meant to be foisted down the throat of every Yoruba man which was resisted.

As a matter of fact, Governor Ajimobi warned those present at Iperu meeting that they had no mandate to think, speak and take decisions on behalf of the people of Oyo State without consultation and consent of his people. He used the analogy of chief Imams and told them that the mere fact that there were learned scholars in Islam at Ilorin should not qualify one to be imposed as Imam of Ibadanland. He said that certainly, Ibadan people will want to appoint of one of their own as their own Imam, meaning that the fact of having elders sitting at the Iperu meeting does not necessarily means that what was being said there would be accept-

able to the elders in Ibadan. In a nutshell, he told them clearly that there must be wide consultations among the people of Yorubaland before any decision was taken. He even reported back to us in Ibadan that his counterpart from Ondo State was not allowed to speak as he was regarded as a small boy who knew very little of Yoruba needs. To that extent, our own mandate from Oyo State was clear and direct. It was to go there and protect the interest of Oyo State and it has nothing to do with party politics or political affiliation. For instance, over 50 percent of the delegates from Oyo State were apolitical. Of the remainders, leaders like Senator Rasheed Ladoja, Brig-General Raji Rasaki, and the likes belong to Accord party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively. All of us spoke with one voice on what we considered to be the best interest of Oyo State people.

The situation wasn’t different with the delegates from Ondo, Lagos and Ekiti states. For instance, on the issue of regionalism, the people of Lagos State said Gedegbe leko wa, meaning that they are on their own. Quite unfortunately, we no longer have the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, and co.

For example, Ige knew everybody that was somebody in Yorubaland up to Kogi and Kwara States. We don’t have that kind of leaders that have community value across the region again. Things are changing, everybody is becoming a local champion in his own area of birth or influence and we must appreciate that.

Take, for instance, the delegates from Ekiti State, led by my teacher, Professor Akin Oyebode, who said that they were not ready to be going to Ibadan to take instruction again.

But he who understands the political arithmetic of Yorubaland as at today will know that power has even moved away from Ibadan to Lagos. We must accommodate, respect and appreciate our differences, including the changes that are taking place. We had crisis there because we didn’t appreciate our difference and individual state challenges.

In summary, from what you have said, there was no Yoruba agenda contrary to what is being peddled around?

There were but there were disagreements along the line. There were also conflicts of in-

‘But he who understands the political arithmetic of Yorubaland as at today will know that power has even moved away from Ibadan to Lagos. We must accommodate, respect and appreciate our differences, including the changes that are taking place’

terest in the entire Southern part of the country. We had agreement in terms of restructuring but interests were at variant. Take for instance, the issue of Land Use Act. Southwest didn’t buy into the idea of removing Land Use Act which the people of South east and Southsouth wanted. Those of us from Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti states never believed in the Southern solidarity nonsense which they call Southern Solidarity movement because it has not paid the people of Southwest in any form. If there has been any benefit of the movement, the marginalisation of Yoruba wouldn’t have been this pronounced. Not even under Abacha did we have it this bad and rough.

Today, the financial sector of the country is in the hand of just one ethnic group, so also the power sector of the economy. Unfortunately, when they are trying to satisfy the constitutional requirement by picking one minister from each state, they ensure that they pick only technocrats who have no community value from the Southwest. Though these are highly gifted world class people in their own right and various disciplines and we are very proud of them but they have no political education like their counterpart from the Southeast. If you are in doubt, check the ministries being headed by these Southwesterners and the parastatals under them, compare and contrast these with the ministries being headed by their Southeast counterpart, the parastatals under them and the appointments made therein, the outcome will be too obvious to you. So, what friendship do we have with the Southern Solidarity Movement that is not bothered about our interest apart from using and dumping us?

Again, some people put up a paper over state creation and they were recommending another state from Ogun State as the only state proposed from the Southwest region when it was thought that only six states would be created. How can anybody who understandS the geographical arithmetic, and knows the political arithmetic of Nigeria and Yoruba land think of creating a state in Yoruba land without mentioning Oyo State first considering the size, population and other criteria? That is another area of disagreement. Ondo State does not agree with most of the things that emanated from Iperu axis because they have their own interest to protect. So, we didn’t really aggregate our interest before leaving for the confab but we all believe in restructuring the country.

Along what line?

Along the independence of each state, devolution of power and parliamentary system.

The people from the Iperu meeting came there with regionalism and parliamentary •Continued on page 26

‘How media can boost rights protection’ -Page 38

‘Lawyer petitions ministry over children’s ‘ expulsion’ -Page 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

26

LAW COVER CONT’D

‘National Confab report not enough to endorse Jonathan’ •Continued from page 27

system which delegates from Oyo, Ogun and Osun keyed into but which Ondo and Lagos states didn’t believe in. Ekiti was in between.

What is the status of regionalism?

It failed.

So, what did Yoruba bring back from the confab?

Of all the Yoruba states, Ondo State was the most prepared but generally, we didn’t have that cohesive front. There were those that wanted us to toe the line of South South people which some of us resisted. Our position from Oyo State which Lagos State supported was that if you want resource control whole sale, it must be all embracing. It must include tax, VAT, charges from the ports, and collections from the borders, which some people were not comfortable with.

What was the outcome of the resource control?

Stalemate. It did not scale through. The status quo remains. We didn’t get parliamentary system, and full decentralisation. State police scaled through. We also have decentralisation of the court system where we recommended creation of state Court of Appeal. Local government should not be a tier of government in a federal state. The type of what we are having today was a creation of the military. That is why we have a state with 42 local governments as against another with more population having 20.We liberalised it. A state can create as many as 1000 if it can sustain them. If the recommendation is implemented, this country will not remain the same. It will improve greatly. The issue of corruption was tackled headlong. We are having so much at the centre which everybody is scrambling for. Statistics shows that over 80 percent of the landed property in Abuja belongs to the civil servants. In fighting corruption, we have concentrated so much on political exposed persons without looking the way of civil servants that are the source and master minds of corruption. We have had a situation in this country where N20billion was found in the account of an NYSC director who died in a plane crash. America and Europe are saturated with the houses of your generals, serving and retired.

What was the level of success of the conference?

I will say we achieved between 55 and 60 percent in relation to Yoruba demands and it is not correct to say that we didn’t achieve anything.

How do you juxtapose your rating with the position of Afenifere, using the implementation of the confab’s report to endorse Jonathan on behalf of the Yoruba?

Give it to Mimiko. As for the confab, he was the most proactive governor from the region.

Mimiko knows and goes for what he wants as a pragmatic man. But I disagree with him for using the confab as a yardstick to endorse one presidential candidate over the other. We should not forget that in 2011, we were railroaded into voting for Jonathan without any demand. I am guilty of it too. We canvassed for him without a charter of demand placed before him unlike our Southeast counterpart, who was more than represented at the federal level. Southeast has Secretary to the Federal Government who coordinates practically all the appointments to the parastatals.

Southwest was short changed down the line in terms of appointments. Look at the financial sector, Minister of Finance, and virtually all the heads of parastatals under the ministry go to the East just as it happens in the power sector. Every institution that works today was established by a Yoruba man. For instance, television was first established by a Yoruba man and they took it away from us, ensuring that no Yoruba man gets there, until I made it an issue at the plenary session of the confab after which Sola Omole was appointed to head NTA. BPE was the brain child of Kekere Ekun. They used and dumped him after establishing it.

Uncle Fola Adeola was the man who wrote paper on pension, Pension Board has now become the drain pipe which they siphone our money, hardly can we find a Yoruba man there today. In fact, Onagoruwa was removed unceremoniously as DG. Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was the brain child of Wole Soyinka. It was established only for Oyo State.

I don’t know anywhere in the world where Road Safety issues licenses and plate numbers except in Nigeria. We are not asking for too much. We are only asking our compatriots across the country to allow us to do our own things in our own way and they are denying us. Take for instance, if the dream of our forefathers about Obafemi Awolowo University

‘But I disagree with Mimiko for using the confab as a yardstick to endorse one presidential candidate over the other.

We should not forget that in 2011, we were railroaded into voting for Jonathan without any demand. I am guilty of it too.

We canvassed for him without a charter of demand placed before him unlike our Southeast counterpart, who was more than represented at the federal level’ • Akintola

(OAU) was allowed to materialise, we would have been at par with China today. Imagine if Mathematics is being taught in Yoruba Language. In 1982/83, we were to have metroline even before South Africa; it was scuttled by the General Muhammadu Buhari regime. If not for the resilience and pragmatics approaches to infrastructural development in Lagos by Tinubu and Fashola, we would not have that bridge across the Lagoon that links Admiralty Way and Victoria Island and the 10 lanes road to Badagry. We wouldn’t have heard Lekki today because some people somewhere did everything to frustrate those projects hiding under federal might. In fact, at a stage, a minister came from Abuja to stop Lagos-Badagry project.

I don’t believe that having the Speaker would have improved our lot. No, it doesn’t follow.

Bankole was a speaker; the road leading to his home town was not tarred. Olubunmi Etteh was a speaker, her home town, Ikire, had a gully that was killing people every day. The roads are still bad there. It doesn’t follow, it depends on the personality. That was why I advocated the inclusion of technocrats that have community value. Technocrats like Okonjo-Iweala, not a technocrat that is out of touch with his own people. Look at the financial sector, SURE-P, CBN, budget and planning, Stock Exchange, and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), they are filled with easterners. That we are not well represented in the government shows that we are not as political literate as our people from other zones.

It is very sad that we don’t have leaders to coordinate us like our brothers from the East. Of recent, there were altercations between former CBN governor, Charles Soludo and OkonjoIweala, the people that matter in that region came in and said look, the two of you should stop the altercations and we never heard anything from them again. No leaders and no media to defend Yoruba interest again. Before, Tribune used to do that but it has abandoned that role unlike what the Sun Newspaper is doing for the East. Do you know that the MD of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, is more prosperous, three times than a governor or a minister? All l

have been saying is that the Yoruba in government must draw a line between their political interest and the interest of their people back home. They should stop behaving as if they have all the solution to Nigeria’s problems. They should start behaving like their counterparts from other zones.

How do you see the roles of the monarchs in this dispensation?

We have passed through this route before. The Yoruba monarchs have a lot of issues. Some of them don’t see eye to eye. A lot of ego issues. Of course, some of them are pragmatic, highly cerebral and well informed. They need to appreciate and respect each other’s differences. Most of the obas take decisions to spite each others. In any case, how many of them have community value? When you talk of traditional rulers that have community value, Awujale is a deity that every Ijebu person obeys, respect, adore and he doesn’t do anything without consulting his people. Alaafin is on ground “gidigba” among his people up to Oke Ogun. And Olubadan is surrounded by the elites called the CCII, who call the shots. But when you have a republican oba that is highly republican but doesn’t have the followership, then you will appreciate the Yoruba monarchical challenges. Our society is a bundle of contradictions and is characterised by illiteracy: be it political illiterate, economic illiterate, social illiterate, and legal illiterates.

That is why you find supposedly educated person but a legal illiterate saying somebody without a university degree should not contest when constitution ordinarily requires aspirant to be educated up to, not necessarily need to pass the exam or produce the certificate.

Are you still maintaining your position about the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) that they are one of the forces that can protect the Yoruba?

I respected the then OPC as it was. You will recall that the respect and the encouragement we gave the body during the years of the locust otherwise known as Abacha era. The OPC then was not exposed to the lure of political patronages. The OPC then was highly principled, focused on the ideology of Yoruba nation, and believed in the concept of “Omoluabi”. The OPC of today is not the same as the OPC of the yore. The present day OPC is

‘The OPC of today is not the same as the OPC of the yore. The present day OPC is factionalised. The leadership has tasted the forbidden fruit and the body is now the OPC of anything goes. It is my prayer that the body will retrace its step to the path of honour and gain the respect it commands among various Yoruba national among Nigerians extraction irrespective of their political lineage and ideology’

factionalised. The leadership has tasted the forbidden fruit and the body is now the OPC of anything goes. It is my prayer that the body will retrace its step to the path of honour and gain the respect it commands among various Yoruba national among Nigerians extraction irrespective of their political lineage and ideology. The recent happening among the ranks and files is very saddening and no Yoruba man of impeccable character should be proud of the development. The fault really did not emanate solely from the leadership of the body but rather the blame should be put at the door step of Yoruba political elites whom on gaining political ascendancy with political power, money and influence started inciting the OPC members and indeed erstwhile benefactors started treating them like lepers. This ingratitude on the part of most Yoruba political office holders infuriated the leadership of OPC. Frustration now set in and the leadership, to have it back on this political office holders, seceded to depart from the path of “Omoluabi”, which was the set goal of the movement at its inception. It is rather unfortunate that most of the political office holders turned out to be ingrate and forgot where they were coming from. They started maligning friends at the expense of the older ones thereby turning many former friends into sworn enemies and the resultant effect is what we are now witnessing in Yorubaland. It is simply a matter of failed leadership at all levels.

What is your advice to the people of the Southwest?

Yoruba should stop playing God over the affairs of Nigeria. I think it is time Yoruba people start behaving like their counter parts from other zones who will sacrifice anything for the common people of their region. We should not go to vote blind folded. We should play the game the way it is being played by other zones because we can’t be the only sane person in the midst of six mad people or the only virgin in the maternity ward. Again, we should learn to talk less and stop revealing our strength and wining strategy until when it is right to so do. For those that do the dirty jobs, they should appreciate the fact that there is a thin line between honour and dishonour in Yorubaland and once you cross it, you are a goner. If anyone is in doubt, he should go and learn from those that went against the wishes of Yoruba nation during the Abacha regime. The people concerned are still fighting the battle of their lives for relevance. My brothers and kinsmen, Governor Ayodele Fayose and Femi FaniKayode should thread softly in carrying out their national assignments. They have the right to hold different opinions from that of their compatriots, but they should thread softly in carrying out their assignments and pursue same within the concept of “Omoluabi”. They should stop selling their kinsmen cheaply because they may not be able to buy them back at a very high price.

With the way things are, the marriage between the South and the North seems not to be working. Why is it difficult to divorce?

My brother, the life span of Nigeria is not up to 20 years unless we change our ways. Except there is total devolution of power, and decentralisation of powers, the marriage will collapse. It is not the question of marriage between the North and the South, even among the Southerners, there is injustice, and lack of respect for each other differences. The problem of Nigeria is not caused by the North but rather it was caused by the structure which we are operating at present. There is too much injustice and where there is injustice, there can’t be peace. Unfortunately, our political leaders don’t read. It was over centralisation that killed the old Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Sudan. It is over centralisation that is killing Britain, even the state of Texas is asking for its marriage to be dissolved in USA. At every slightest opportunity, you say that you can’t contest election. Why? Yes, for now l can’t. Apart from the fact that I don’t have enough money for such venture, I am too blunt even against myself. I am a realist. I believe in what it is as against what ought to be. Many elites out there are living in selfdenial and they play the ostrich most of the time. For instance, most of those who fraternised and benefited immensely from Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, General Olusegun Obasanjo and Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu are now turning out to fight the same system that brought them to limelight. The question is: why must you smell something you can’t swallow? When you are benefiting from the system, you are not asking questions only for you to cry blue murder when the same method is being used to shortchange you. I hope I have answered your question.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY Being the paper presented by Femi Falana (SAN) at the First Annual Public Lecture Series of the Mass Communication Department, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu.

Legal and ethical issues in election reporting • Continued from last week

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HOSE who are convinced that the nomination form submitted by any candidate sponsored by a political party should take advantage of section 34 of the Electoral Act by filing a suit in court for the disqualification of the candidate. Since section 318 of the Constitution prescribes education up to junior secondary level as the minimum qualification for contesting elections in Nigeria the whole debate over General Muhammadu Buhari’s school certificate is totally diversionary. Unfortunately, the army allowed itself to be discredited on the basis of its partisan role in the whole saga. A few weeks ago, Brigadier-General Olatunji Laleye had said that the army was in possession of General Buhari’s academic documents and that he could apply if he needed them. The same officer later turned round to claim that the documents could not be found in the retired General’s personal file!

It is jejune to suggest that an army officer who attended post secondary school military institutions in Nigeria, United Kingdom, India and the United States is constitutionally disabled from contesting elections in Nigeria. It is particularly embarrassing that some senior lawyers who joined the fray pretended not to know that the minimum academic prerequisite for contesting any of the national elections includes the possession of a primary six certificate with 10 years’ working experience or the competence to speak English to the satisfaction of the INEC.

Reclaiming the welfare state To reclaim the welfare state from its obstinate opponents in government the Nigerian people have to be mobilized to ensure compliance with the various welfare laws. The press is obligated to promote the campaign for the full justiciability of socio-economic rights such as rights to education, health, employment, housing etc. These rights are enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constitution. Although the government is required to defend the security and promote the welfare of the people it has always complained of lack of resources. However, the resources are available but the country is run by a ruling class that is not prepared to wage a battle for the democratic control of the economy. The crisis is compounded by the fact that the country is currently administered by an army of neo-liberal ideologues who are leading the two dominant political parties.

At a recent public lecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN was reported to have said that the government could not guarantee access to education for Nigerians. According to him, ”the quality of education that we can impart if children pay N50,000 to get professional training and their colleagues in private schools pay N200,000 upwards abroad to get the same training. Will they be of the same quality in a capitalist world, where quality is often determined by price?’’.

The governor said that the free education policy which Chief Obafemi Awolowo implemented in western Nigeria is no longer feasible because Nigeria has recorded an average literacy level of about 55 percent! It is curious that a progressive governor is campaigning for lack of access to mass education because we have a

•Falana

“literacy rate of 55 per cent” .

Since the governor is one of the leading ideologues of the APC the views attributed to him on access to education should not go unchallenged. With respect, the educational system in the capitalist world is organised in a manner that the children of the poor can access education at the expense of the State while the rich can are at liberty to educate their children and wards in expensive private schools. Through the universal health care insurance scheme funded by the State the poor can access health in the public hospitals while the rich can afford to go to well equipped private medical centres in any part of the world. It may interest Governor Fashola to know that the tiny island of Cuba which is far less endowed than Nigeria has attained 100 percent literacy rate and has the highest number of doctors per capital in the world.

Under Sections 17 and 18 of the Constitution the State is mandatorily required to provide free health and education including tertiary education based on the availability of resources.

If the abundant natural resources of our country have been harnessed and distributed equitably as envisaged by section 16 of the Constitution the government would have guaranteed the security and welfare of all citizens. In any case, through popular struggles, the neo-colonial state has been compelled to enact laws to provide for the welfare of the Nigerian people.

One of such legislations is the Universal, Free and Compulsory Basic Education Act, 2004 which has guaranteed free and compulsory education for every child from primary to junior secondary school.

‘Since freedom of expression is not absolute any media house or reporter who engages in libellous publications during electioneering campaigns may be sued and if found liable, ordered by the courts to pay damages running to million of naira’

Towards the funding of the UBE scheme, not less than two per cent of the consolidated revenue fund of the federal government shall be contributed annually. In 2012, the UNICEF disclosed that there were 10.5 million Nigerian children who were out of primary school. Regrettably, the implementation of the UBE scheme has been frustrated by the majority of state governments. Right now, the sum of N56.9 billion, which is the matching grant due to 31 states and the federal capital territory has not been accessed due to refusal to contribute counterpart funding. From the information at my disposal, only five states namely Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Taraba states have accessed their matching grants up to date!

Under the newly enacted National Health Act, at least one per cent from the consolidated revenue fund of the federal government shall be contributed to the Health Provision Fund. Although the fund will not be adequate to provide basic health care services to every indigent citizen the contribution of state and local governments to the fund ought be made compulsory. At the federal level the National Health Insurance Act has established the National Health Insurance Scheme with the basic objective of protecting Nigerian families from financial hardship of huge medical bills. The scheme is funded by contributions from employers and employees based on income. For the formal sector the contributions are premiums which make up 15 per cent of a member’s basic salary. The employer contributes 10 per cent while the employee pays five per cent. The scheme covers a member, the spouse and four children. Participants from the informal sector are required to make a monthly contribution. No state government has a similar scheme in place.

Political reporting and electoral offences The fundamental right to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference has been guaranteed by the Constitution. (Section 39 of the Constitution).

Apart from professional ethics the law of defamation protects the reputation of individuals and corporate bodies including politicians and political parties. Since freedom of expression is not absolute any media house or reporter who engages in libellous publications during electioneering campaigns may be sued and if found liable, ordered by the courts to pay damages running to million of naira.

In addition to the penal codes the Electoral Act 2010 as amended has prohibited political campaigns which are based on hate or incitement. In order to ensure equal coverage of the activities of political parties and candidates the Act has criminalised certain publications with respect to political reporting. Sections 99-101 of the Electoral Act 2010 which deal with media reporting of political activities are briefly examined hereunder.

Campaign Period By virtue of Section 99 (1) of the Act, the period of campaign in public by political parties shall not commence 90 days before polling day. Although the media cannot be prosecuted under the section it is morally wrong to collude with political parties to breach the provisions of the law.

Court dismisses terminal operators’ application for stay of execution

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has dismissed an application for the order of the stay of execution filed by the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) against the judgment of a court which declared that the association had no right to increase port charges.

The terminal operators had prayed for stay of execution of the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

The Nigerian Shippers’Council (NSC) also filed an application, praying the court to compel the terminal operators to comply with the earlier judgment.

NSC is praying the court to direct the terminal operators to immediately refund the N150 billion it “illegally collected in disobedience of the judgment’’.

Lead Counsel for Shippers’ Council, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), had noted that the fact that the terminal operators applied for stay of execution did not stop them from adhering to the earlier judgment.

Agbakoba filed an application to compel the terminal operators to comply with the judgment pending the determination of their application for stay of execution.

He also demanded the refund the N150 billion collected by the operators from shippers (importers and exporters) in disobedience of the judgment.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Ibrahim Buba, dismissed the application, saying that there was no evidence to show that the judgment given earlier was executed.

“For there to be a stay of execution, the judgment must have been seen to have been executed, there was no evidence to that effect, therefore the application for stay cannot subsist, its hereby dismissed,’’ Buba held.

However, he granted the interlocutory application filed by NSC, compelling STOAN to comply with the earlier judgment.

He said that interlocutory injunction was meant to protect legal rights.

The Counsel who represented STOAN, Mr Dayoola Johnson, had earlier told the court that there was a record of appeal before the court stopping it to continue hearing the case.

Buba said that the affidavit of records, which was filed by STOAN, was filed on March 18, after the court

• Executive Secretary Nigerian Shippers Council Hassan Bello

By John Austin Unachukwu

had adjourned to rule on the application for stay of execution.

He, therefore, held that all pending applications should go to the Court of Appeal.

The Counsel to the operators and the Shipping Companies Femi Atoyebi (SAN) had on the last adjourned date notified the court that they had entered an appeal at the Court of Appeal quashing the rights of the court to hear the matter.

Buba ruled that there was no record or evidence of transmission of appeal before the court and adjourned to rule on the stay of execution earlier filed by STOAN. On the case of stay of execution filed by shipping firms, the court on the last adjournment ruled that the notice of appeal was duly filed and there were records before the court that appeal has been entered at the Appeal Court.

Buba, therefore, stayed further proceedings on the matter pending the determination of the application before the Appeal court.

On December 17, last year, Buba, in a judgment, annulled illegal port charges and ordered shipping firms to refund billions of naira collected since 2006 from shippers (importers and exporters).

The Judge okayed the appointment of the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports and dismissed the claims of shipping firms and the operators.

Buba further held that the Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC) levied and collected from shippers by the shipping firms since 2006 were illegal.

He ordered that the shipping firms should account and pay to shippers all money or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers or users of shipping and port-related services from 2006 to date.

The Court dismissed the claims of the shipping firms and the terminal operators and granted the counter claims of the NSC. Before the appointment of the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports by the Federal Government in February, last year, the council issued notices to shipping firms and terminal operators to reverse all illegal charges levied on shippers.

Dissatisfied, the shipping firms and the operators, mostly foreigners, filed the earlier suits at the Federal High Court, Lagos to invalidate the actions of the NSC

• Chief Judge Federal High Court Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Auta

LEGAL DIARY

NBA holds conference

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) will hold its Ninth conference from June 7-9 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos In a statement, its Chairman, Conference Planning Committee Mr. Ayuli Jemide said the theme of the conference is Regulators as catalysts for economic growth. He said the event will enable regulators, lawyers and business executives to engage in a dialogue on how policies and regulations will shape economic growth He said: “With key note presentations and panel discussions led by top industry experts nationally and internationally, the conference sessions will prove to be an impactful forum for information sharing.”

He said session topics will include Long term global economic trends and implications for Nigeria; Improving Nigeria’s ease of doing Business Index; Raising money for projects; Latest trends in Nigerian financing; Nigeria’s power privatisation process: Learning curves and next steps; Young lawyers visit to law firms; and Value-based pricing for legal services

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NATIONAL BAR

‘How to make oversight functions more effective’

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HE National Assembly’s oversight functions can be more effective if those indicted by its probe reports are promptly prosecuted.

This is the view of some speakers at the Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA) Eket branch.

They urged the lawmakers to amend the Constitution to give powers to the law enforcement agents to prosecute those indicted during such oversight functions.

Among the speakers were former NBA president Okey Wali (SAN).

He spoke on the topic: Oversight functions of the legislature: a conflict with the doctrine of separation of powers.

Wali took a historical view of the origin and definition of the doctrine of separation of powers.

He examined cases and situations where the doctrine was applied by the courts in its pursuit and determination of cases before it.

By John Austin Unachukwu

He also traced the constitutional basis of the doctrine in Section 88(1) of the Constitution (as amended).

Wali praised the framers of the constitution for introducing the doctrine which helps to expose corruption and waste in governance.

The senior advocate cited instances where the legislature carried out such oversight functions and concluded that some were inconclusive and did not achieve the much desired results.

Participants made contributions to the discourse, agreeing that though the oversight function was well conceived to checkmate corruption and waste in governance, its application has been abused.

According to them, such oversight was not carried out with good intentions as in some cases nobody is sanctioned despite reports of infractions or misdeeds.

‘Participants made contributions to the discourse, agreeing that though the oversight function was well conceived to checkmate corruption and waste in governance, its application has been abused’

• From left: Justice John Okoro of the Supreme Court; Senator Effiong Bob and his wife Comfort.

• From left: Justice Iniabasi Udobong; Wali and Justice Ita Mbaba.

• From left: Uju Okongwu; NBA Second Vice-President Taiwo O. Taiwo; Treasurer, Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) U.D.A. Imeh (second right) and NBA First Vice President Francis Ekwere.

• From left: Chairman NBA Ikoto Ekpene branch, Essien Essien Obong, Former Chairman NBA Uyo branch, Essien Essien and U.D.A. Imeh.

• From left: Justice Joy Uwana, Rt. Hon. Nse Ikanam and Hon. Onofiok Luke

• From left: Justice A. Okon, Chairman NBA Eket branch, Ebitu Akpadiaha, Administrative Judge Eket Division, Justice Charles Ikpe an Eric Ekare who represented Paul Erokoro (SAN).

• From left: Secretary NBA Eket branch Mfon Etukudor; Ekanem E. Ekanem and Nsima Nsima

• From left: Mojisola Iyani, Nkechi O. Uduma, Ebi Ikhunmman and Yetunde Oni

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE How to revive Aso-oke industry

PAGE 30

Finally, a Govt House fit for Plateau

PAGE 31

•A woman fetches water from the community well

‘We suffer for lack of water’

Hard life on Abuja streets

When the community well dries up, residents, including weak, old people, trek far in search of water. That is why a non-governmental organisation, WaterAid Nigeria, which visited two communities in Plateau State, wants government to provide water and protect citizens against diseases and death. FRANK IKPEFAN reports

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HE plight of residents of Wentul and Patishi, two communities in Pankshin Local Government Area, Plateau State, typifies the general challenges across the country. In the two communities in Jos South Local Government Area, safe water is a luxury. The residents rely on the community well and when it dries up, they walk a long distance to scoop water from a small, shallow pit beside a sizeable rock. The water from the well and the pit is unfit for drinking, but the residents have no choice.

They know that their sanitation profile is woeful and there are no medical facilities. The people sigh in resignation because they cannot help the situation.

Stakeholders in the water sector have expressed concern over politicians’ apparent lack of interest in tackling water, sanitation and hygiene or WASH issues in the run-up to the general elec-

‘Nearly 40 million Nigerians practice open defecation while over 60 million lack access to improved water sources. Around 68,000 children under the age of five die from diseases caused by poor levels of access to water, sanitation and hygiene’ tions. The various candidates vying for positions, they say, have not given priority to WASH in their campaigns.

They explained that access to basic social amenities such as safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene remains the responsibility of

governments, whether federal or state.

The Country Representative of WaterAid Nigeria, an international agency, Dr. Michael Ojo said that Nigeria remains one of only a handful of countries around the world where access to basic sanitation is

actually falling rather than rising.

According to him, only 28 per cent of the population has access to basic sanitation (over 100 million people have no access to improved sanitation). He explained that access to sanitation has continued to decrease from 37 per cent in 1990 to 32 per cent in 2000 and just 28 per cent in 2012.

Ojo said that 23 per cent (nearly 40 million) of the population practice open defecation while 36 per cent lack access to improved water sources (over 60 million) and around 68,000 children under the age of five in Nigeria die from diseases caused by the nation’s poor levels of access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

These figures are alarming, he said, adding that government at all levels must partner to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation. He stressed the need for politicians to not only seek for votes, but serve the people who put them •Continued on page 30

PAGE 33

‘We need health centre’

PAGE 35

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

‘We suffer for lack of water’ •Continued from page 29 there by providing services that will improve the lives of the people.

He said: “We call on our own leaders here to embrace the spirit of the Kigali Action Plan and invest the resources needed to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene for its people.”

Although, issues of access to safe water supply, lie with the state, and local government, the Federal Government through intervention, can assist. This is because most communities in Nigeria cannot be accessed by state or local government.

For example, Wentul and Patishi communities, have same thing in commonalities: No water. No sanitation facilities. No medical care. These lacks of basic social amenities make living a daily struggle. People in the two communities located in Pankshin Local Government, Jos South, walk a far distance before they can access water from a stream.

The communities are in dire need of basic amenities of life. The women suffer most. An octogenarian was seen by this reporter trying to fetch water from what looked like an underground stream.

Hashima, a 12-year-old SS3 student, another resident of the community, explained that she wakes up 5am daily in order to access water from the rustic well, not far from her house. The result is that she arrives at school late.

“This is what I do every morning,” she explained in incoherent English. “I want the government to build hand boreholes for us so that we can go to school early.”

Hashima’s concerns where reechoed by Iliya Gowok, the chairman of the Parent Teachers Association in the community, who spoke for the village head. ”We need water, and sanitation facilities,” Gowok said. “We get water from our well and when they dry up we trek very far to the river to fetch water,” he continued.

He explained that they have to go into the bush for defecation because they lack latrines. Asked if flies from the faeces don’t affect the water they drink, he said: “We are thinking of covering the water we drink. Our calabash too needs to be covered.”

Asked if there were no water boards for the people to access safe water from, an official of the Water and Sanitation Unit (WASU) replied in the negative. ”The water board does not supply water for two or sometimes three months,” the WASU official who pleaded anonymity, told this

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DEALER in Aso-oke fabric has suggested how the dying industry can be revived. Alhaji AbdulKareem Okolo, renowned in the trade, regretted that the once-thriving industry has plummeted, but he added that government can save the situation by supporting it.

Aso-oke weaving is synonymous with Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

In fact, it used to be a trade for the influential in the society. The June 12, 1993 election impasse changed the tenor of the once flourishing business in the metropolis.

Till now many residents of Ilorin earn a living from weaving and selling Aso-Oke clothes. This agelong industry is more common among the people of Idi-Ape, Okelele, some parts of Agbaji, Okekere, Oke-Apomu, Isale-Aluko

‘The water board does not supply water for two or sometimes three months. They base their excuse on money.

Sometimes they say they don’t have enough money to buy diesel. So our people are suffering here.

Our government has made access to water and sanitation a luxury’ reporter during a working visit to the state. “They base their excuse on money. Sometimes they will say they don’t have enough money to buy diesel. So our people are suffering here,” he stated.

He explained that politicians in the state are busy deceiving the electorate to vote for them again ahead of the general elections when they have failed to live up to the votes they got in 2011.

According to him, issues of sanitation and hygiene have basically been abandoned by politicians in their campaigns. He criticised the state government and local councils for failing to live up to their responsibilities.

“Our government has made access to water and sanitation a luxury. It takes international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) like WaterAid to provide water for some communities in the state,” he concluded.

On what can be done to provide safe water for both communities, The State Programme Consultant, WaterAid, Chukwuma Nnanna explained that both communities have been ‘triggered’ by the agency for immediate response.

“We are working with partners in the state to make sure that people have access to safe water and sanitation. What you have seen today

•Women at the community’s main water source

•A woman fetches from a shallow ground-water

makes a strong case for not just increased investment but a strong advocacy for ensuring that more of our people have access to water.

“We are supporting partners to provide facilities to communities in the state. And the two communities we visited today have already been triggered, in the sense that we

have come here through our partners to encourage them to stop open defecation, and to ask them to build latrines for them to use. Most importantly, the visit is to encourage the government, stakeholders, Civil Society Organisations and everybody to come together and address the sanitation crisis.

“Many of our people don’t have access to sanitation. Many of our people still struggle to have access to safe drinking water. And this is a big concern to us in WaterAid Nigeria and every Nigerian. We are inspired to increase our partnership and advocacy,” he added.

How to revive Aso-Oke industry, by dealer From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

areas both in Ilorin East and Ilorin West local government areas of the state.

Aso-Oke fabric is a hand-woven fabric popular among the Yoruba people especially in Ilorin and Iseyin in Oyo Otate. The popular Aso-Oke fabric comes in various colours, designs and qualities.

Yorubas wear Aso-Oke fabric for every conceivable occasion such as wedding, funeral and chieftaincy title ceremonies.

Aso-Oke, which is woven with elaborate unique patterns made from dyed strands of fabric that are woven into strips of cloth, are of three

kinds namely Alaari, Sanyan and Etu. It takes some time to make AsoOke fabric as it is made very delicately. It can also be made with a silk fabric which enhances the colours and the material.

Speaking on the local industry, a one-time Aso-Oke magnate in the state, Alhaji AbdulKareem Okolo said, “I inherited the business from my father but had to quit when things were not moving on fine.

“Some of those [who] have become the who-is-who in the society today are trained children of weavers; when you talk of beautiful houses then, they were owned by weavers.

But the story changed during the June 12, 1993 crisis.

“You know the business involves travelling; we exported it for sale in Ibadan precisely, Oja Oje where people from different parts of the country like Ijebu, Abeokuta, Lagos, Onitsha, Benin and so on come to purchase it for retail. So when there was the crisis of June 12, weavers encountered series of attacks, they were robbed and injured. This really affected the business which made many people to abandon the trade for alternative means of livelihood.

On the quality of modern-day AsoOke, he explained that modern technology has made the craft easier.

“It is made by first washing the thread and then using starch. It is then left out to dry in the hot African sun.

It then needs to be rolled before you start to weave it. It can take up to 3 hours to finish weaving one piece and can take up to two weeks to finish a complete customised AsoOke cloth. This process can be much longer during the rainy season,” he explained.

For the survival of the industry, he appealed to Nigerian government to support the trade in all ramifications.

“People in this local industry are contributing to the development of the economy. It is manufactured good that can be proudly pointed to as Nigeria made product, For Continued on page 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

31

THE NORTH REPORT

T

HE old order has rolled past. Henceforth, Plateau State government business will be done in a befitting facility, not lodges or temporary structures. A brand new Government House has made that possible.

“Plateau State never had a Government House of its own since it was created in 1976,” said Secretary to the State Government, Prof Shedrack Best. “The state affairs have always been run from a temporary Government House and this has made the seat of government unstable all this while.

The first military administrator of the state, Police Commissioner Joseph Dechi Gomwalk started running government affairs from a private residence in Jos, talking of late Mark Samchi residence.

“The military administrators that came after him relocated the governor’s office several times.

It was one of the military governments that built a Presidential Lodge in Rayfield. But the first civilian governor of the state, the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar converted the Presidential Lodge to Government House and from there he ran government affairs for the period of his administration.

“After Solomon Lar, there was another military government and they maintained their office at the same location in Rayfield.”

The Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon. Abubakar Badu also corroborated the position of the SSG. He said, “Plateau is a second generation state created alongside 19 states by the late General Murtala Muhammed in 1976. The first generation states were the original twelve states created by General Yakubu Gowon. But the state never had a Government House of its own, the seat of government has been relocated from here and there against government protocol and security. At a point we were even operating government activities from a presidential lodge. So, in practical terms, Plateau State never had a befitting Governor’s Office and this has created some measure of inconvenience to those running the affairs of the state all this while.”

This explained why on assumption of office in 2007, Governor Jonah Jang said the state deserved its own Government House and cannot continued to run government affairs from a temporary location. He then promised to build one.

“So from inception, the idea of a befitting and conducive Government House was captured in the 10-point agenda of the Governor Jang administration. How-

•The new Government House

Finally, a Govt House fit for Plateau From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

ever, the dream of having a Government House never materialised in the first term of Governor Jang” “On resumption of the second term of Governor Jang, the contract for the new Government House was awarded to an Italian construction company known as “Eagle Construction Company” According to the SSG, “The contract for the new Government House was assigned to Eagle Construction Company in 2011, that is the government building itself, the road network at the site was awarded to Pw Construction Company. The original contract for the project was N4 billion, but the cost for the project had to be reviewed upward from time to time to be able to accommodate additional work not envisaged in the origi-

‘We sited the Government House on rocky hills, capturing the topography peculiarity of Plateau State. So the project itself is serving a dual purpose; apart from providing enormous office accommodation to government, the building has added to the tourist sites in the state because the state had never had this type of modern architectural edifice’ nal concept.”

“But the true story about it is we moved in to occupy the new government house three years after

Japan’s N750m grant for Northeast

T

HE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received a grant of US $ 3.4 Million or N750 million) for Integrated Provision of Life-Saving Emergency Interventions for Vulnerable Populations in the Northeast of Nigeria, from the Government of Japan. The grant will be used for interventions focused on the Internally Displaced Persons and conflict affected populations in the area in the sectors of Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection and Education.

The conflict in the Northeast of Nigeria especially in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa has caused large-scale human suffering for the populations in the areas especially children and

women. The conflict has triggered major population movements and the number of IDPs in the north east has almost doubled in less than a year, from an estimated 647,000 in May 2014 to what International Office of Migration reports is now around 1.2 million. Children make up about 56 per cent of those who have been internally displaced, with over half of them being five-years or younger. ”This grant is timely and will further boost the work UNICEF is doing in the northeast. It will make a significant life-saving contribution to alleviate the suffering of the affected populations in the northeast especially children and women” said the Officer in charge UNICEF in Nigeria Mr. Samuel Momanyi.

Since 2000, the Government of Japan has been a major donor to UNICEF supporting interventions in child survival, prevention of infectious diseases in children and emergency interventions in Nigeria, through the UNICEF/Federal Government of Nigeria Programme of Cooperation.

“I earnestly hope that this grant aid will bring humanitarian assistance to the affected populations, especially children in the northeast of Nigeria” said Mr. Masaya OTSUKA, Chargés d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria. “The Government of Japan will continue to cooperate with the people and Government of Nigeria and the international community to mitigate the conflict through nonmilitary assistance, and to support Nigerian people affected by the conflict.”

the contract was signed. This mean the project was so dear to the hearth of Gov Jang administration because it is a promised we made

to Plateau citizens that this administration will give the state a befitting government house they will be proud of. To us, this is a legacy project for future generation.

“In this very project, the administration deliberately situated the project in such a way as to reflect the tourism might of the state. We sited it on rocky hills, capturing the topography peculiarity of Plateau State. So the project itself is serving a dual purpose; apart from providing enormous office accommodation to government, the building itself has added to the tourist sites in the state because the state had never had this type of modern architectural edifice”.

As a matter of fact, Plateau state Continued on page 32

Rotary distributes grains

R

OTARY Club of Ilorin, GRA, Kwara State has mounted a road-show campaign to create awareness on its humanitarian profile.

To drive the point home, the club distributed about 2,000 bags of rice and beans to the needy and less privileged.

Chartered President of the Club branch and former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamgboye (retd) led the carnival.

The road show started from GRA to Challenge and proceeded to Post Office, Emir’s palace market, Gambari, Ipata, Maraba, Sango, Fate, Tanke, Gaa Akanbi, Ajasepo Road, Unity Roundabout and Murtala Road.

At the Emir’s Palace and Gambari, Col. Gbamgboye and members of the club distributed 10kg bags of branded rice and beans.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

By the time the road show convoy got to Ipata, the destitute and ablebodied people were trooping out to collect the largesse.

Speaking with reporters after the event, Bamgboye said the road show was to create awareness among the people about activities of Rotary Club of Ilorin GRA. He said over 2, 000 of the branded 10kg rice and beans were distributed during the road show to people irrespective of their social standing.

Col Bamgboye said Rotary Club was a humanitarian NonGovernmental Organization (NGO) to help the needy and less privileged the society.

Asked to compare his feelings about his participation in the road Continued on page 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

32

THE NORTH REPORT

A Govt House fit for Plateau •Continued from page 31 is the only state that operates from four government houses before the acquiring the present Government House in Little Rayfield. One of it is Governor Jang’s personal residence in Du village of Jos South Local Government. Governor Jang had to convert his own personal residence to government house initially from where he conduct official functions. That was because, the existing government House in Rayfield had to be renovated. So while the renovation was going on, Governor Jang relocated to the presidential Lodge located beside the Government House. And because the presidential lodge could not accommodate the governor and his supporting staff fully, his personal residence was used to carry out certain government functions.

During Jang’s first tenure, the former Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Jishe was reconstructed as Government Lodge to host the governors office and official resi-

dence. The location was used as government house alongside the one in Rayfield and Governor Jang’s personal residence. So it was not unusual then the hear reports of government functions held from Du, Jishe, Rayfield and presidential lodge in the national media. In that period, when journalists were invited to cover the government’s activities, they often asked, which of the Government Houses, is it Du, Rayfild or Jishe?

But with the new government house in Little-Rayfield Jos, government seat has finally moved from Du, Rayfield, Presidential Lodge, Jishe to the new government house where subsequent administrations will have befitting office accommodation.

The new Government House was furnished by the same Italian company which constructed it, all its furniture imported from Italy. The entire complex boasts up to 300 offices. The governor and his family are also accommodated there.

According to the commissioner for Information, Gov Jang did not embarked on this capital intensive project for selfish reason, he has almost served out his tenure be-

•A part of the Government House

fore the completion of this project, but he had to do it for future generation of governors. If Governor Jang had wanted it for himself, he would have started it since 2007

when he took over. But he rather started it after his first term, suggesting he only wanted a befitting Government House for the state, so that the next governor will not

suffer lack of office accommodation like he did during his tenure, so I think Governor Jang means well for the state. This building is the pride of the state.”

Rotary distributes grains •Continued from page 31

•Aso-oke weavers at work

•Continued from page 30 instance, countries like China and India do not depend on other countries, they are manufacturing countries because they supported creativity and this has given them upper hand in this area.”

Okolo added that the trade is one that effectively engages youth and discourages hooliganism and other social vices among youths.

He then urged the federal government to find lasting solution to the violence in the northern part, noting that it is already affecting the economy of the country just like the June 12 crisis which hindered inter-state trading activities.

Another practitioner, Alfa Laaro Lamule Omo-Oba who hails from Idi-Ape area of the metropolis told THE NATION that weaving of Aso-Oke is a trade that may go into extinction if care is not taken.

The clothe weaver who said he has been in the business for

‘How to revive Aso-Oke industry’ 25years, said that there are several challenges threatening the survival of the industry.

He said “I have been in the business for about 25yrs but it is now gradually fading out because there are several problems hindering the growth of the local industry. But I decided to continue in the business because I don’t want to be idle.”

Omo-Oba also attributed downturn in the trade according to the June 12, 1993 crisis when they could not move their products to the south western states where demand for the product is very high.

Another problem, he noted is the change in fashion trend which has taken shine off the Aso-Oke. “People now use Ankara and head gear called Tapanpa instead of Ofi and this has greatly affected our business. People prefer to use what is in vogue rather than what is good.

“There are few hands in the business as people are not ready to learn the craft again, their target is

western education and afterward, they go for white collar job. And let me tell you, this business is now profitable, the number of pieces that we weave in a month then will be produced within two weeks now because of modern techniques adopted.

“People are not ready to weave again and the demand is more than what we can produce. Imagine a situation whereby there is demand for 40 pieces and we are able to produce just 15 pieces, apparently demand is more than supply, it is a great challenge, despite the fact that it is now more profitable than ever.”

Omo-Oba however stated that he has no regret being in the business because of the passion he has for it.

“More so, I have been able to use proceeds from this business to meet most of my financial responsibilities from time to time.

The 30year-old, who became an orphan at an early age, said he had the craft to fall back on to make ends

meet after the demise of his parents.

“I lost my parents while I was still young, one must not see that as an excuse to join bad gang or become liability to others. I had to move on with life and thank God my parents had enrolled me in the trade. With the help of my boss, Alhaji Abdulkareem Okolo, I was able to save money to sponsor myself in Arabic school.

“No knowledge is a waste; thank God the two are of good use to me now because I have been able to establish an Arabic school. After I am through with weaving for the day, I retire to the school to train my students.”

He said that the trade is one that could be conveniently combined with other jobs be it government or private.

On the importance of the fabric, Madam Deborah Ogunbaiyeje, a resident of Ilorin stated that the outfit is one that cannot be underestimated in the world of fashion because of its grandeur.

show as Rotary President and former state governor he said “there is nothing more fulfilling in touching lives in private capacity than official position as military administrator. .”You know, as governor of a state, it is statutory to provide social amenities with State resources but with Club like Rotary, you use personal means to better lives of lacking fellow human beings.”

He said that the road show was to sensitise members of the public about the humanitarian mission and vision of the Rotary club.

He added that the sensitization was also designed to make well meaning Nigerians participate in Rotary activities designed to uplift the downtrodden.

Bamgboye said contrary to public perception, Rotary was not a secret society nor its membership restricted to the rich.

He explained that members of the club meet weekly to make the haves contribute their widow’s mite to the well being of the needy.

The former military administrator added that Rotary Club was involved in intervention schemes designed to make people self employed and self reliant.

The President said Ilorin GRA Rotary has been involved in the rehabilitation of dilapidated IsoloOpin Secondary school in Ekiti local government area of Kwara within the last one year that the club was chartered.

Also speaking, President of Ilorin Metro, Rotarian Salami Onaolapo said that Rotary was involved in vocational skills acquisition, social rehabilitation of the indigent, education and eradication of killer diseases like Polio.

Onaolapo said Rotary was always in partnership with government and non-governmental organizations in order to achieve its set objectives.

He said this accounted for donations to the orphanages and leprosarium as well as training of local fabric weavers in the state.

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Page 33

•Abuja hawkers

I

T may well be the seat of federal power, parading people of immense fortune and influence, flaunting glitzy high-rise structures and wide, paved roads, but Abuja owes no one anything. Your fate is in your own hands. That is why many, young and old, take to such odd jobs as hawking just to sustain their breath in a very expensive city.

What a choice! The very presence hawkers seems to offend the officials who manage the city. Thus, they are chased around, beaten, exploited and extorted. Sometimes, they are detained and even imprisoned.

Officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEBP) are among the most dreaded by the itinerant traders.

Once caught, the hawkers sometimes lose their wares in addition to being arrested.

Some of the sellers have learnt to survive by displaying their articles beside their large sacks, ready in a second to sweep them into the bag and run away before the AEBP men swoop on them.

The AEPB which was created to ensure that Abuja is clean and that hawkers are kept away from the city, takes the latter of their brief very seriously. It is normal for one to be patronising a hawker one minute and the next, he begins running and scaling obsatcles with his wares at the site of the enforcement team of the board.

Most residents and hawkers do not have very flattering things to say about them and to say that they can be loved by residents might be

Hard life on Abuja streets After coming to terms with the fact that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) does not guarantee jobs or safety nets, many people have taken to hawking. But what a tough choice they made, as the authorities hound and harass them, even locking some up.

GRACE OBIKE reports far-fetched.

Shola Oremade who was at the premises of the AEPB Enforcement Office to bail a young friend had a lot to say about the way they treated their victims.

He said they treated people arrested like animals just because they were found hawking and that the security agencies and environmental officials made some of them kneel down, flogged and kicked those they felt where protesting or being stubborn.

“It is inhuman to treat these people as if they are animals and not human beings in their own country, flogging, kicking and making them kneel down,” he said. “There was a man that they arrested and brought here earlier on because his vehicle was overheating and he parked by the side of the road to attend to it; they asked him for a bribe of N10,000 so that they will allow him attend to his car and when he could not afford the money, they dragged him over here to the mobile court, treating him like a criminal.”

Aminu Malami, a teenage pure

‘The security agencies and environmental officials made some of them kneel down, flogged and kicked those they felt where protesting or being stubborn... It is inhuman to treat these people as if they are animals and not human beings in their own country, flogging, kicking and making them kneel down’ water hawker, complained about how they beat him so much that his ear was still ringing from the amount of slaps and kicks that he received even hours after the ordeal.

Malami said they arrested him around the Central Mosque where he was running around traffic, selling his wares to thirsty customers; they grabbed him and threw him in their

hilux van after his pure water which many of them drank to quench their thirst and even poured the cold water over their head as the sun was scorching real bad. Not done with him, they searched his pocked and stole the only money that he had made all day which was N200 and still beat him for resisting.

“Even after they had arrested me and brought me to their enforcement centre, I still fail to understand why they continued beating many of us. I have received so many slaps and kicks from these people that my ear is still ringing and I don’t think that I am hearing properly with my left ear,” he said.

His friend, Nurudeen Yahaya, who sells dates (known as Dabino in Hausa) said, “Usually, when they come to where we are hawking to arrest us, they take us to a corner and demand that we bribe them so that we can continue with our business; they make us bribe them with at least N2000 to N3000; if you can’t afford •Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

34

ABUJA REVIEW

I

N a bid to ensure violence-free elections in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed has met the Ardos (Fulani chiefs) from the six area councils of the FCT. Senator Mohammed emphasised the need for stakeholders to ensure violence-free elections.

The minister stressed that the FCT Administration would continue to protect all the residents of the FCT, including the Fulani herdsmen within the 8,000 square kilometers of the Territory; adding that Abuja belongs to all.

In a statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minister said: “My administration would continue to protect the lives and property of all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory including cattle rustling which is becoming a serious crime.”

The minister further said Fulani herdsmen are known for their peaceful co-existence, urging them

Herdsmen advised on peace From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

to continue along that line to ensure minimal friction between them and the host communities before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

He, however, reminded them that President Goodluck Jonathan has been nice to him and he is their brother; noting that they need to help him reciprocate by returning the President come March 28, 2015.

The minister directed the chairmen of the area councils to consider putting some important Ardos in their jurisdictions on monthly salaries in order to give them a sense of belonging. He also urged them to set up a high-powered Task Force on crime and cattle rustling control to be chaired by the FCT

‘My administration would continue to protect the lives and property of all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, and also guard against cattle rustling which is becoming a serious crime’ Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu.

The new Task Force comprises the Director of the Directorate of State Security Services, Commandant, FCT NSCDC; representative of Commandant, Brigade of Guards; Special Adviser on Security to the

FCT Minister, AMAC Chairman, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Secretary of the FCT Area Council Secretariat, Special Assistant to the Minister on Political Matters, six Ardos representing the six area councils.

Also speaking at the occasion, the

FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Inalegwu advised Fulani herdsmen to be careful and cautious in providing abode to their kith and kin coming in from other parts of the country.

He gave the herdsmen a telephone hotline which they could call in times of distress.

Responding, the National President of the Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi promised to mobilise his members to continue to support the FCT Minister, as well as President Jonathan.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, Commandant, Brigade of Guards, the FCT Police Commissioner, Director of FCT DSS, Commandant of the NSCDC as well as the Special Adviser to the FCT Minister on Security attended the meeting.

Hard life on Abuja streets •Continued from page 33 it, they will drag you over here to the open court where you will be required to pay a fine and if you cannot complete the fine by even a hundred naira, you will be taken to the prison in Suleja.

“I was really lucky the last time that they came for operation around Silverbird and I was there selling my wares; I did not have enough money on me, so I gave them the only N200 that I had, which they collected and packed a lot of my dabino as compensation for the shortage,” he said.

A welder at the Federal Housing Estate Lugbe, Leonard Chukwuka complained about how he had been unjustly treated by the team. He said his welding business was situated legally and that officials of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) always collected money for revenue from him and his neighbour and he had been at the location for years until the enforcement team of AEPB decided to disrupt his business.

“In fact, AMAC came to serve us papers today and we explained to them what the environmental authorities had done to us and they told us to inform the environmental authorities that we are paying revenue the next time they come.

“On the 18th of last month, they came to my place and destroyed the container and burglaries in my place of work that I was contracted to do, they carried my welding machine and truck and said that i was conducting my business in an unpermitted area but AMAC come all the time and I always pay my tax and revenue, this has been happening for years, I wonder what changed, they brought me here and I paid the sum of N5,000 but till now, they have not released the things they seized and since that day I have not been working. The lady who owns the container that they destroyed arrested and locked me up at the police station because I had promised her the end of last month, now the police have made me promise and I signed an undertaking that I will replace her container by the middle of next month, but how am I going

•Hawkers at work in Abuja

to do it without my welding machine and tools? The worst part is that I will have to buy new materials since they destroyed the original one she paid for.”

Abuja Review once witnessed an incident in Zone 3 last month in front of UBA. A passerby whispered to three women hawkers that the team was behind. Two of the women took to their heels with their wares but one stood her ground, saying, “I have settled them for today” as they got to where she was seated, one of the men made to grab her soft drink container and she reminded him that she had settled, so he said, “Okay, sorry”. He left her and began pursuing the fleeing two.

In an interview with the Public Relations Officer of AEPB Joe Ukairo, he explained that the board operates a zero tolerance policy for corrupt enforcement officials.

He said that he had been on the radio on several occasions begging residents who witness such extortions to call their hotlines and report. He added that it will be better if residents can secretly take pictures of the action taking place or record it and send to them because the board does not only dismiss such officials but hands them over to the police for prosecution.

He also said, “What I will say is

‘These hawkers and people conducting businesses within unauthorised places are generating waste, destroying the environment without paying for it; you must compensate the environment when you injure it’ that the AEPB is a responsible corporate body and we try as much as possible to discharge our functions within the enabling Act. “People see the environment as no man’s land [which they should] use to make ends meet but they don’t know that the floods of yesterday and of tomorrow are based on how we manage and use our environment; the environment is a living organism that cannot talk or shout when depleting and when it begins to deplete you hear of landslides, earthquakes.

“When they sell pure water in unauthorised places, they don’t have a waste bin close-by; they don’t care how their customers dispose of the empty bags or care to pick them up; they build up after a while.

“That is why the world over, businesses must be within designated areas where they can be reached, given waste bins that we clear at given times. These hawkers and people conducting businesses within unauthorised places are generating waste, destroying the environment without paying for it; you must compensate the environment when you injure it.

“No one is saying that our people are perfect but we have always told the general public that if you see them on the street conducting illegal business in the name of AEPB, check their shirt numbers and vehicle numbers, if possible record whatever is happening and send to us; we will take over from there. Usually we dismiss such people and hand them

over to the police for prosecution.

“There may be one or two bad eggs but the agency should not solely be judged by their attitudes; the enforcement squad of AEPB are trained officials who risk their lives every day. Almost two weeks ago, one of our staff almost lost all his fingers, when a man attacked them with a cutlass. Recently they used a hammer to attack one of our staff; those boys that sell fuel by the roadside carry daggers on them to attack our boys.

“Sometimes when you see them trying to use minimal force on people refusing arrest, you don’t blame them, they have gone through and seen a lot, I know that it does not justify any inhuman treatment but even under the law, reasonable force is allowed to apprehend a suspect resisting arrest.

“Hawking is prohibited; welding in an unauthorized place is prohibited and stands prohibited. For instance, if you are coming back from work and see a detachment of Wuse market in front of your house, I’m sure that you will not like it; why should we allow them to take over the roads; I have the legitimate right to use the road and so do you, so why should we have to change the use of roads for pedestrian and vehicular movement into a shopping complex?”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

35

ABUJA REVIEW

‘We need health centre’ R

ESIDENTS of Orozo-Gidan in the Federal Capital Territory seem to have little to celebrate. They have electricity, nursery and primary schools. But that is about all. There is no health facility, which they say they need urgently in order to remain healthy.

A visit to the community revealed that residents of Orozo-Gidan are in dire need of primary health care centre. This is because of the distance they have to trek on daily basis to access health care services when any member of the community is sick or when a woman is about to be delivered of a baby.

It was a pathetic experience for a young man who was rushing his wife who was in pains of labour on a motorcycle to a distant health centre at Orozo town, as both of them were struggling not to fall off from the motorcycle because of the bad nature of the road in the community.

John Abachi, a native of the community who spoke with Abuja Review said the man and his wife had no money to board a vehicle, adding that they had to board a motorcycle to get health care attention due to lack of health care centre in the community.

“This is what the poor in this community experience since there is no near-by health centre. If the young man has money or even if there is health centre in this community, the man would not be struggling on a motorcycle with his pregnant wife probably in labour or very sick to get to a hospital which is very far from here,” he said.

Prince Zaphania Sule, who spoke on behalf of his father who is the Chief of the community, Chief Sule Baba, commended the leadership of AMAC for providing them with rural electrification, nursery and primary schools, but said that the issue of absence of health care centre has been worrisome because of its importance.

His words: “We do not have health centre in this community, when anybody is sick or wants to give birth; they go to Orozo, Kurudu, Gidan-Mangoro or Karshi.

The distance to these areas is very far and it is very risky most times, because when that person is very sick, instead of just walking into the health centre in the community, he would be thinking of how to get the money to pay the motorcyclist who will take him to any of these communities, before he thinks of how to get the money to pay for hospital expenses.

“We seriously need health care centre. That is what my father usually complains about, because the issue of health centre is challenging to us. If somebody is very sick at night, we go through the pains of travelling to these areas for treatment. It is very dangerous, mostly when somebody is at the brink of death. There would not be nearby hospital to save his

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HE chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Giri has reminded the staff of the council of the need to strictly adhere to the civil service rules in the discharge of their primary assignments.

Giri stated this during a one-day induction course organised for newly employed junior staff of the

•Part of Orozo-Gidan community

‘We seriously need a health care centre.

That is what my father usually complains about, because the issue of health centre is challenging to us. If somebody is very sick at night, we go through the pains of travelling to these areas for treatment.

It is very dangerous, mostly when somebody is on the brink of death’ From Gbenga Omokhunu

life. So, the chairman should help us by establishing a primary health care centre in this community.”

Sule also said another challenge that the community is experiencing is insecurity, saying the issue of armed robbery has become disturbing to residents of the community. This, he said, is because of the absence of police post to checkmate on the activities of the youth in the community.

“Before, the issue of armed robbery was inconceivable in this community; but now, due to development, the problem has persisted and almost every helpless residents and natives are becoming

•Another part of the community

victims of armed robbery attacks.

“Even last week, a woman was robbed in broad day light. We seriously need police post in this community to help us fight crime,” he said.

Commenting on the customs and traditions of the people of Gidan, Prince Sule proudly said that in the past they had customs and traditions which they practised devotedly. Such practices included

not pounding of pepper at night, masquerades dances and idol worshipping and believing in their guidance.

But, since the community, Chief Sule Baba converted to Christianity over 12 years ago; they no longer practise those things.

“Since our chief became a Christian in 2002, those idol worshipping has stopped; those things that we prevent the people

from doing, no longer border us; such as not pounding pepper at night, believing that it disturbs the spirits and can cause sickness if any one does it. We no longer believe in it. Now anybody can pound pepper whenever they like, as far as it does not affect the next person negatively. Since we started living this way, things have been going smooth and peaceful for us all,” he stated.

Council chief urges staff on rules From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

council recently.

The chairman urged them to be dedicated to their duties, adding that if they work as a team, it would help bring about progress and de-

velopment to the council.

Also speaking, the head of personnel management of the council, Mrs. Amina Solomon warned the staff against envy which, according to her, can lead to rancour in the council.

She also called on them to work

towards bringing development to the council, urging them to be dedicated to their duties, as this will go a long way in helping them reach the peak during their service period.

Most of the participants who spoke with Abuja Review described the induction course as helpful, adding that

it will help them work properly in the duties of the council.

It was gathered that about 60 members of staff participated in the induction course which was attended by heads of the department, units head and other senior staff of the council.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

36

ABUJA REVIEW

I

It is just four days to the Presidential elections, and various groups keep storming the Presidential Villa to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for reelection.

Prior to picking his nomination form till now, various groups ranging from artistes, actors and actresses to transporters and from other sectors of the economy had expressed their solidarity with the President.

The latest of the visits was by the Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which visited Mr. President last Wednesday not only to endorse him for the election but declared him as their “sole candidate” for the March 28 presidential elections.

The group also made President Jonathan their Life Patron.

The National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Abdullah Bello Bodejo, who spoke through an interpreter, said: “We will go back and mobilise our people to support you because you have the interest of Fulanis at heart.”

Apart from those who came to express such solidarity at the seat of government, President Jonathan has also in the past months met many groups at political rallies and stakeholders meetings.

Being the incumbent President seeking reelection, I warned Mr. President to be wary of most of these groups in my write-up about five months ago entitled ‘X-raying Jonathan’s form donations’.

Then I pointed out that many of those who will come to him, just like many past presidents and heads of state in Nigeria had experienced during their times, will only come to promise heaven and earth just for what they can get out of it.

But in that write-up I didn’t advise Mr. President to ask the many groups that would visit him to come with and show their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) because as at then it wasn’t really certain whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will not go back to the Temporary Voter card.

Now that INEC seems unstoppable in its plans to use the PVC and the card readers for the elections, I hope Mr. President has been asking the various groups in the past months to show their PVCs, as a proof that they are really eligible voters.

Even if they have their PVCs, it is another kettle of fish whether they will actually vote for Mr. President in the election or not.

Do they really have any electoral value as they have made the President to believe? Do they really have the influence to

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Mr. President’s many suitors sway the votes of their groups or constituencies in Mr. President’s favour?

Even as Mr. President and his team will continue to ponder on these questions till the final result of the election is announced, I did warn Mr. President in that my write-up to try hard to unveil the real motives behind those who will come and declare their support to him and also try to see through donations made for his nomination form.

Definitely, more groups and individuals will still see him with just few days to the election, I hope he will continue to shine his eyes and look at them deeper and critically.

Injury time Ministers must perform magic President Jonathan last Wednesday charged eight newly swornin ministers to do everything to shine like footballers who just came to the field during extra-time of a match.

The eight ministers, who just came on board with barely 10 days to the Presidential election include Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), who was a former Minister of State for Defence before resigning to seek the ticket to contest governorship election in Lagos State in October last year. He has now been reengaged as the Minister of

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya State II in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Before now, he represented Lagos Central in the Senate between 2003 and 2007, and was appointed High Commissioner to Ghana after leaving the Senate.

Joel Ikenya (Taraba), who was named as the Minister of Labour, was elected to represent the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator for Taraba South in 2003 and was reelected in 2007. In 2011, Ikenya made an unsuccessful bid to become the governor of Taraba state.

Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa) is now the Minister of Information. She was elected Senator for the Nasarawa North constituency in May 2007.

Hauwa Lawan Baffa (Jigawa), who has been assigned the port-

folio of Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, was Honorable Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Tourism in Jigawa State.

Nicholas Ada (Benue), who is the Minister of State I for Foreign Affairs, was a Professor of Science Education, Department of Curriculum & Teaching. He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin), Benue State University, Makurdi.

Augustine Akobundu (Abia) named Minister of State for Defence was a retired Colonel in the Army.

While Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) has been assigned Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi) was named Minister of State for Health.

President Jonathan, during the

swearing-in ceremony, did not hide his feelings about the need for them to hit the ground running.

He said: “For the ministers this is an injury time, it is like bringing a player when you have just five minutes to go in a football match. So everyone wants to know what that player will do, the magic the player will perform within that short period.

The player himself will be struggling to at least kick the ball before the end of the game.”

“So you are coming in at a quite challenging period and I believe that a number of people will not envy you because government is coming to a close. But sometimes it is even good to come at this time because you are now well exposed to Nigerians.”

“Your dancing steps will be watched by everybody and we believe you will dance well.” he stated The President’s remark could be interpreted in two ways of either asking the Ministers to contribute their quotas towards his re-election coming up this weekend or their quotas towards developing Nigeria before May 29th handover date.

If Mr. President’s directive is towards his reelection, then the eight ministers must really perform magic in their constituencies if they have not started to canvass votes for Mr. President before the swearing in.

‘We’ll tackle Nyanya-Keffi traffic’

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration has intensified work on the ongoing construction of the Karshi–Ara/Apo Road project to serve as alternative for motorists moving towards the Northeast axis of the country.

This is in order to tackle the traffic congestion with its associated problems along the Nyanya - Keffi Road.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, revealed this after meeting with some engineers of the FCT Administration on how to tackle head on the traffic bottlenecks along

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike

that axis.

According to a statement issued

by Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, Mohammed noted that the FCT Administration is concerned about the plight of residents of the Federal Capital Territory plying that route, hence the serious attention being given to ongoing construction work of this segment of the road.

He emphasised that President

‘The FCT Administration has conveniently achieved the laying of stone base as well as asphalt on this road reaching 4.2km and 3.0km respectively’ Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is a responsive one and would do everything possible to make the traffic problem along

that axis a thing of the past. According to him, the construction work of Karshi – Apo is already 65 per cent complete, while

Karshi – Ara is 25 per cent complete.

He revealed that the total length of the Karshi-Apo axis of the road is 13.2 kilometers and that the entire distance has been cleared with all the culverts completed.

The minister further revealed that 9.0 kilometers formation of the road has already been achieved, with 5.0 kilometers of sub-base.

His words: “The FCT Administration has conveniently achieved the laying of stone base as well as asphalt on this road reaching 4.2 kilometers and 3.0 kilometers respectively.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Lawyer seeks peace in NLC

By Adebisi Onanuga

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• From left: Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu; Hon Justice Amina Angre; Author of the book Mr Ade Ipaye; Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Justice Kazeem Alogba at the book launch.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Fashola: It’s criminal to evade tax

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AGOS State Governor,-Babatunde Fashola, (SAN), has said that it is a criminal offence for anybody not to pay tax .

He berated politicians who have been campaigning against payment of tax in order to win votes during elections saying that such politicians are enemies of progress and development.

This was at the public presentation of a book, Nigerian Tax Law and Administration written by the Lagos state Attorney-General, Ade Ipaye at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Fashola said tax payment cannot be taken for granted in any egalitarian society.

He said it is criminal for anybody not to pay tax stressing that tax administration in the state is a vex issue.

The governor chided the governorship candidate of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) Jimi Agbaje who he alleged promised to cancel tax payment in the state.

He said no state can develop without tax collection and good revenue drive.

According to him, “ payment of tax, cannot be taken for granted. Any politician that says he will cancel payment of tax is telling you lie.

There is no way government can achieve the implementation of laudable projects without revenue from taxes.”

The governor advised Lagosians to disregard such promises which he said was intended to lure them into voting for the wrong party.

Fashola wondered how they would run the government without revenue drive.

He pointed out that several states

By Adebisi Onanuga and Olatunde Odebiyi

have not been able to pay salaries of workers because of paucity of funds from the oil revenue from the federal government.

He assured that Lagos State government would continue to fulfill its obligations of providing infrastructure and ensure regular payment of workers salaries from the tax collected from the people of the state.

He recalled that payment of tax dated back to the pre-colonial days when the traditional rulers collected tax to run their domain adding that such tax collection was not limited to money but also include farm produce.

He urged Lagosians not to be discouraged from paying their taxes.

He said they have a right to challenge the government on the proper utilisation of the tax collected.

“What you can do is to pay your tax. The payment of tax is a legal obligations. Failure to pay tax is

criminal offence. What you can do is for you to withhold your votes for government or the candidate that fails to utilize your tax effectively.

“What should be the discussion or the debate is who is to pay more and who is to pay less. We left tax for oil revenue, where are we today? This state will continue to survive on tax receipt.”

In his tribute, Professor Itse Sagay saluted the author,’s courage for coming out with the book.

According to him, Ipaye has been “extremely reliable, efficient, intelligent and proactive. It has been a pleasure meeting him. I have benefited much from our relationship.”

The author, Ipaye said he was inspired to write the book based on his experiences both at the classroom as a teacher as well as the tax special assistance to the former Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He disclosed that his experiences had help in the expansion of his horizon in tax laws and regulations.

Girl, 18, arraigned for ‘theft’

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N 18-year-old girl, Mary Ogah, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court for allegedly stealing gold jewelries valued at N5 million.

Ogah was arraigned before Chief Magistrate A. O. Komolafe.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Eranus Nnamonu said the defendant and another at large conspired to commit the alleged offence last March 9, at Alausa Secretariat, Lagos.

The prosecutor said gold jewelry val-

By Peace Iyere

ued at N5 million belonged to Mrs. Folashade Ogunnaike.

The offence is contrary and punishable under Section 409 and 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Mrs. Komolafe granted the defendant bail for N1 million, with a deposit of N100,000 with two sureties, who must be a relation and a tax payer.

She adjourned till March 30.

•From left: Bishop Oguntuashe, Hon. S. O. Agunbiade, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Jimi Benson and Passtor Ololade Salami at the Town Hall meeting organised by Concience Christians for APC vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at Ikorodu.

AGOS lawyer and National Secretary, Labour Party (LP), Olukayode Ajulo, has urged labour leaders, particularly parties in the just concluded elections of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to bury the hatchet and allow peace to reign.

Said Ajulo: “With the emergence of Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba as the new NLC President at a well attended and democratically conducted delegate conference, it is expected that all old animosities and misgivings that trailed the previous attempt to conclude the conference would be laid to rest.”

He said the NLC deserved a hearty congratulation from all progressive and democratic elements in Nigeria over the successful conclusion of its 11th Convention held in Abuja.

The LP National Secretary said in a statement: “It is expected that all truly progressive and democratic unionists must sheath their swords and join hands with the new leadership to clear the augean stable and forge ahead to do the task at hand.

“The atmosphere of geniality, camaraderie and openness that surrounded the Eagle Square venue of the Convention was most heartwarming.”

Ajulo lamented that the last eight years have witnessed the dwindling of NLC’s fortunes and plummeting of its prestige amongst the workers and suffering masses as a result of the palpable docility of the past leadership.

“From the golden era of Hassan Sumonu, through the progressively febrile days of maverick comrade Adams Oshiomole who showed Nigerians that not only would Nigerian workers not condone military dictatorship, but that they would not equally fail to keep civilian dictatorship and executive lawlessness at bay, the NLC suddenly simmered to a mournful complacency under Omar,” he noted further.

He said the years under Omar were years of loss of confidence in a meddlesome leadership that shirked its responsibility to the generality of the Nigerian workers, while fueling in-fighting within the Congress itself adding, “it was indeed most disheartening when at the first attempt the just-concluded delegate conference hit the rock”.

According to him, “Nigerians today expect the new leadership of NLC to be alive to its role of defending the economic interest of organised labour, providing leadership for the working people in the continue struggle against the neoliberal policies foisted African and Third World countries by the Bretton Woods institutions and engaging in politics up to partisan level as informed stakeholders rather than self-aggrandising labour aristocrats.

“In practical terms, and in the immediate, this translates to the following: the new leadership of NLC must continue to ensure that at all levels national minimum wage is adhered to and reviewed as at when due; it must demand and struggle to ensure that salary arrears and emoluments of workers are promptly paid, especially now that most states of the federation are owing workers upward of three months’ salary; it must wage a relentless struggle against actualisation; it must insist on restructuring, devolution of powers and economic diversification in order to ensure viability of the states; and it must also insist on the implementation of all pro-labour and pro-people resolution of the 2014 National Conference”, he counseled.

Ajulo however lamented what he described as “ the discordant tunes, distractions and morale-dampening anti-union activities” allegedly being mooted by the defeated old guards within NLC. He accused them of threatening to divide congress that was handed down by their forebears, on selfish grounds by hold alternative delegate conference.

Ajulo advised those he described as old brigades in the congress to acknowledge the fact of their popular rejection at the polls and to stop whipping up sentiment and romancing of illegality.

He urged them to accept the fact that NLC is a legally recognised body with standing not only in Nigeria but also internationally.

“Our advice to them is that these disgruntled elements need to be more circumspect in whatever steps they take in the nearest future, admitting humbly the need to rub in the ointment of defeat as a necessary balm for self-criticism and the rebirth needed to face a common challenging future full of hope for the working people of Nigeria,” he added.

• Ajulo

Deeper Life Church sued

By Adebisi Onanuga

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HE Incorporated Trustees of Deeper Christian Life Ministry (also known as Deeper Life Bible Church), has been sued at the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, over a landed property measuring 41.44 hectares.

The Baale and Village Head of Agbodi Village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Taiwo Ogunkayode and his chiefs are claiming N1 million damages against the church for alleged trespass.

The claimants are Oluhunmi Esuruoso, Ezekiel Afolabi Sobowale, Olanrewaju Okanmolu, Chief Taiwo Ogunkayode, Alani Idowu and Prince Muraina Olatunji Bamjoko.

They are also praying the court to restrain the Deeper Life Bible Church, her agents, servants or privies from further trespassing or dealing with the said parcel of land.

According to them, the land in dispute, situated at Agbodi Village in Obafemi Owode Local Government, Ogun State form part of the village land which is possession of different families in the village.

The claimants stated that sometime around 2008 they noticed that the defendant (church) entered the disputed land, attempted to fence it and erected signboards with inscription that the land is the site for her proposed university.

They claimed to have immediately challenged the church and vehemently opposed the defendant adding that this eventually led to series of meetings convened by the church in which the church gave various contradicted, uncoordinated and unsubstantiated story of how she acquired the land.

“That further to the above the claimants aver that they simply demanded that the defendant should produce her document of title in respect of the land in dispute or any part thereof or that the defendant produce the person(s) that alienated the land to her or bestowed title on her in any manner which demand the defendant refuses, neglect or fails to satisfy up till date”, they stated.

The claimants, however, prayed the court to declare that they are the persons entitle to the Right of Occupancy in respect of all the parcel of land being at Agbodi Village, along Lagos Expressway, Obafemi/Owode Local Government, Ogun Sate measuring approximately 41.444 Hectares and bounded in the front

by Eruku village, back by Greenland Estate; Right by Akinde Family Land/ Maaba village and left by Olowotedo Village.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

38

LAW & SOCIETY Lawyers and journalists have examined the state of human rights administration. They set agenda for the government and the media on ways to ensure effective rights protection. ERIC IKHILAE reports

‘How media can boost rights protection’ H

OW can human rights be better protected in Nigeria? This was the question media and legal experts sought to answer at a forum organised by the National Association of judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), Abuja chapter.

It had the theme: The role of the media in promoting human rights.

Speakers assessed the human rights performance of successive administrations and suggested ways the media could boost human rights protection.

Speakers, including Prof Dakas C. J. Dakas (SAN) of the University of Jos, Tobi Soniyi of ThisDay newspapers and Reuben Buhari of the Leadership newspapers said unlike what existed during the military era, there is improvement in the observance and promotion of human rights under the current administration.

They were also of the view that despite the achievements so far, there was need for improvement both on the side of the government, its agencies and the media, in constantly keeping them (government and its agencies) on their toes.

They urged the media see the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act a ready tool to be deploy to seek openness on government and demand protection for the rights of the people. They urged the media engage in continuous training to keep abreast of current development and know when to raise questions and demand actions.

They argued that although the right to freedom of expression was a universally acknowledge and respected right, the media should exercise such right responsibly and refrain from inaccurate, irresponsible reportage capable of inflaming the society.

Dakas, who gave the keynote address suggested efforts must now be directed at the ensuring the realisation of what are now classified as the second and third generations of rights as against the much emphasised first generation of rights, which are basically civil and political rights, provided for in Chapter Four of the Constitution.

“The rights to life, the right to personal liberty, the right to human dignity, the right to freedom of expression and the press, the right to freedom of religion, among others. These are basic fundamental rights that are civil and political in nature that you find encapsulated in Chapter four of the Nigerian Constitution.

“There is also a second generation of rights, which are essentially economic, social and cultural in nature. They include the right to food, the right to education, the right to health, the right to housing, among others. These rights that are economic, social and cultural in nature are not expressly provided for in the Nigerian Constitution in the sense in which a deprived citizen can seek redress in court.

“At best, what you have in the Constitution are the “fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy,” contained in Chapter two of the Constitution, which the Constitution itself, makes non-justiciable.

“There is also the third generation of human rights, which are essentially the solidarity rights.

They include the right to safe and clean environment, the right to international peace and security, among others.

• From left: Prof. Dakas, Soniyi and Wumi Obabori.

Dakas noted that while the existing legal regime guarantees the civil and political rights, as provided in Chapter Four of the Constitution, it made a halfhearted effort at addressing the economic, social and cultural rights in Chapter two, which it made non-justiciable.

He argued that the huddle created by the nonjusticiability of Chapter Two can now be sidestepped with the activation of the African Chatter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), which the country has domesticated.

Dakas further argued that with the domestication of ACHPR, Nigerians can now to go to court to activate the judicial process on the basis of violation of the provisions of the ACHPR, which encapsulates all the generations of human rights and makes them justiciable.

“So, even for those, who argue that because Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution is not justiciable, but simply provides for fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, they need to acknowledge that the ACHPR is now part of Nigerian law. And by reason of the domestication of the ACHPR, it is possible to go to court and activate the judicial process in order to ensure the enforcement of the rights provided for in the ACHPR, including those rights that are economic, social and cultural in nature,” he said.

Dakas noted that as against past experience, particularly during the military era, efforts are being made to protect the rights of the citizens under the current administration.

Dakas pointed at the plausible roles played in recent time by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) . He said although the commission was created under the military, with limited powers, the recent amendment to its establishment Act has provided a framework for the commission to have a robust engagement with the subject of human rights.

The Law Professor, who noted that there are positive developments that are ongoing, in terms of the works the NHRC has done and is still doing in the area of rights protection and

enforcement, also noted that with the recent amendment to its Act, the commission can issue an order that has the force of a High Court order.

He commended the government for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, which was rejected by the Obasanjo administration.

He highlighted the benefits of the Act and argued that the people can leverage on the opportunity presented by the Act to lift the veil of secrecy that often pervades the conduct of government affairs, and demand that government businesses are conducted in manners that are credible.

He observed that the people, particularly journalists are not leveraging as much as they should on the FOI Act. “As journalists, if you leverage on the FOI Act, you will find that you will be impacting greatly in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes in the country.”

Despite the noted achievements, the lecturer identified existing challenges, which he said must be addressed. They include the for the military and intelligence agencies involved in the current efforts against the insurgents to ensure that they conduct counter-terrorism in a manner that is human rights compliant.

“It is in the interest of the security and intelligence community to ensure that counter terrorism administration reckons with the reality of human rights and mainstream human rights into counter terrorism administration. Otherwise, you will find that they leave themselves vulnerable to prosecution by Nigerian authorities, and where the Nigerian authorities are unwilling, they will be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC),” he said.

He urged the government to domesticate the Kampala Convention, a continental initiative to address the plight of the Internally Displaced People (IDP). He contended that it was not enough for the Nigerian government to ratify the convention, but that it should take a further and necessary step of domesticating the con-

vention to allow for its municipal invocation as required under Section 12 of the Constitution.

Dakas urged the government to also do more to alleviate the plight of the IDPs as it relates to meeting their basic subsistence and their rights to vote in the coming elections.

He urged the government to direct efforts at addressing economic, social and cultural rights, arguing that the government cannot ignore the people’s rights to shelter, education, health, among others on the basis of lack of found.

“The government should demonstrate that it is prioritising theses rights and that it is not frittering away resources in the name of corruption and pretending that there are no funds.

It is one thing to have resources and it is another to ensure that the little that is realised is prudently utilised.

Dakas noted that the media has a major role to play in promoting respect and protection of human rights. He said journalists must be vigilant and alert in reporting cases of rights abuses to keep government and its agencies on their toes.

He reminded journalists that the right to freedom of expression and of the press, guaranteed by the Constitution, is not an absolute right that should be exercise to the detriment of the larger society. He said journalists, in the course of performing their responsibilities, must ensure accuracy. He also advised them to engage in constant self-improvement to prevent instances of inaccurate reportage of court proceedings “As judiciary correspondents, if you do not understand the nuances and fundamentals of human rights investigation, monitoring and reporting, you will be looking in the wrong places and be looking for the wrong things,” he said.

Soniyi noted the increasing responsibility modern society has placed on the media, which now include reporting, analyzing and commenting on issues and events as they unfold.

He stressed the need for journalist to always be guided by the interest of the larger society and avoid being influenced by the government or concerned interests.

“The media, in reporting rights violations, should look deep into the problem and provide solutions. Mere reporting of the facts is not enough. It should give reasons for the problem, the nature of violations and proceed to give solutions,” he said.

Buhari, who noted that the media was not doing enough to report the various rights abuses being perpetrated in the troubled Northeastern part of the country, urged media owners to empower journalists to put in their best.

He said Nigerian journalists can compete effectively with their foreign counterpart if well equipped and protected.

Buhari gave an instance where he was harassed and threatened with detention by the police for publishing pictures of killings and destructions in Southern Kaduna during one of the crisis.

He said rather the being commended, the police, who wanted everything hidden from the public, accused him of publishing inciting materials.

Buhari urged the journalists not to be deterred by existing challenges, but to seek creative ways of overcoming such challenges.

•Chief Judge Anambra State Justice Peter C. N. Umeadi (middle) with some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) during the Anambra CJ dinner in Awka.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

39

LEGAL OPINION

Bank sued over deceased’s account

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HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been asked to, among others, order Diamond Bank Plc to disclose the status of an account owned and operated by one of its deceased customers, Uchenna Onyewuenyi, while alive.

The request is contained in a suit filed by the deceased’s brothers - Goodluck Onyewuenyi and Jude Onyewuenyi, in which they accused the bank of withholding funds held in the account numbered: 0035246173, which was opened and operated in the bank’s Wuse Zone 4 branch in Abuja.

The plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Adewale Odeleye, are seeking an order compelling the bank to confirm the account’s existence and how much is in it.

Defendants in the suit marked: FCT/ HC/CV/233/2014 are Diamond Bank Plc and its Branch Manager at Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Mrs Uloma Jide-Afonja.

Goodluck stated in a supporting affidavit that he had assisted his then sick brother to open the account and had operated it on his behalf until he died last July 19. He said his brother had provided his name as the next-of-kin in the account opening documents.

Goodluck further stated that members of the public responded and made donations into the account to help treat his brother of “chronic kidney disease”, but that his brother later died of “pulmonary heart failure,”

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

before the family could conclude plans to move him to a medical facility in India, where he was to undergo kidney transplant.

He averred that after his late brother’s interment, he had approached the bank to withdraw funds to settle outstanding medical bills and other debts incurred while his brother was alive, but only to be denied by the bank’s officials, who accused him of fraud and handed him to the police.

“The police investigated the matter and concluded that there were no facts of fraud and directed that I apply to the court for letters of administration now that my brother is deceased.”

Based on the police’s advice, Goodluck said he went before the Probate department of the High Court of the FCT and completed the procedure for the issuance of a letter of administration.

He said on completing the procedure for the issuance of the letter of administration, the court published a legal notice on August 13, 2013; and that the court, as required, served on the bank twice (August 6 and September 2, 2014), copies of the statutory affidavit of nextof-kin he completed and bank certificates, which the bank has refused to respond to.

Goodluck stated that by the statutory affidavit of next-of-kin and bank certificate served on the bank by the court’s probate department, the bank was required under the law, to con-

firm the existence of the account opened in his brother’s name and disclosed to the court the current balance in the account.

The plaintiffs therefore urged the court for, among others, an order directing the defendants to respond to the documents served on them by the court’s probate, requiring them to confirm the existence of the account numbered: 0035246173 and the amount left in it.

They also seek a declaration the defendants are bound to respond to the request made by the court’s probate department and that the defendants are liable to be punished for continuing to withhold information about the status of the account and its content.

The defendants denied willfully withholding the information sought by the court. They denied the plaintiffs’ allegation and said the deceased was not related to the plaintiffs and were not known to the bank as the deceased’s next-of-kin.

They further stated in their counter affidavit, that they had discovered contradictions in the claim by Goodluck, who had approached the bank for a transfer of N7million from the account to his (Goodluck’s) First Bank account.

The defendants also stated that, upon suspecting that Goodluck could be a criminal, they reported the matter to the police, who arrested him and was still investigating the case till date.

Justice Olasunmbo Goodluck adjourned June 2 for the hearing.

Enforce printing laws, govt urged

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HE Chartered Institute of Professional Printers (CIPPON) has urged the Federal Government to enforce laws on printing.

One of them is the CIPPON Act of 2007 which empowers the institute to regulate printing in Nigeria.

At a press conference in Lagos which has as theme: Industrialising a nation through printing: Using the provisions of the law, the institute’s President Mr Wahab Muhammed Lawal sought the support of law enforcement agencies, especially the police and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

“Nigeria can only be industrialised through printing if the government could strictly comply with the provisions of the law on patronage of local printers, while the law enforcement agents enforce positively on regulation of practice,” Lawal said.

According to him, it is the government’s duty to enforce laws it made, adding that the provisions of the Printers Act No. 24 of 2007 enjoins the government and print buyers to patronise local presses.

“If the government is strictly complying with the law it assented to, there should be no capital flight of printing jobs to foreign countries without the professional input of a regulatory body established by an Act of parliament, which is CIPPON,” he said.

The CIPPON president said adequate enforcement of the laws on printing would empower employers of labour

•Lawal

By Joseph Jibueze

to expand their investments by setting up paper mills, ink manufacturing companies, which will employ more people. “Government alone cannot provide employment,” Lawal said.

The institute said print operators need government’s support through tax incentives as the industry is capital intensive. He recalled that Malaysia, for instance, once declared a tax-free period for its printing sector.

CIPPON wants applicable laws applied to ensure correct payment of duties/tariff on printing materials as approved by the government; strict enforcement of payment of duties on importation of printed books; enforcement of the Local Content Act, as well as provisions of the Printers Act. Lawal urged the government reduce

tariff on raw materials that cannot be produced in Nigeria, adding that while the country’s paper mills are dead, Malaysia has no fewer than 30 mills, which makes it difficult for Nigerian printers to compete with their counterparts abroad.

“It is possible that people are benefiting from importing printing papers; maybe that is why they want to kill the local industry. The only functioning paper mill produces craft papers. People cannot invest without the government’s support. The government should support employers of labour. Issues like double taxation, power problem, high import cost must be addressed,” he said.

Lawal said printing can be a vehicle for national development if an enabling environment is provided for employers of labour to manage their investments, and if the relevant laws are adequately enforced.

On why the industry needs support, the CIPPON president said: “Printing is one of the highest employers of labour due to its many facets. It is the beginning of civilisation. Eighty per cent of what we know come from the printed word.

“Printing lubricates the operational wheels of a nation’s economy and is the engine-room of qualitative and productive education. The most economical way to disseminate information and preserve knowledge is through printing.”

No military for polls, says group

A

CIVIL society coalition, OneVOICE, has warned against deployment of soldiers during the general elections.

It said doing so would go against recent court pronouncements.

It said if soldiers must be used, they must be restricted to crisisprone areas.

“Prof Attahiru Jega should ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not further blackmailed by the military hierarchy and the National Security Adviser and the Service Chiefs should desist from usurping the constitutional responsibility of the INEC and the Nigeria Police Force,” OneVoice said.

The group urged Nigerians to ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held to further consolidate democracy.

By Emmanuel Udodinma

OneVOICE members include Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Access to Justice (AJ), New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Centre for Constitutionalism and Demilitarisation (CENCOD), Human Rights Law Services (HURILAWS), Independent Advocacy Project (IAP) and Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG).

Its Media Committee Chair Pastor Deji Adeleye at a briefing and rally at the Dr. Beko Ransom Kuti Memorial Park in Lagos, said the

elections any further would be unconstitutional.

OneVOICE said the distribution of the PVCs is now far above the initial figures before the previous postponement, while the Card Readers have been tested successfully in 12 states across the six geopolitical zones.

The coalition advised that INEC to embark on confidence building measures through daily press briefings and public service announcements, including in local languages, to bridge gaps on electoral preparedness and voting procedures.

It also urged it to increase voter education efforts to demonstrate to the public the use of new technology such as the PVCs and card readers.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Nigerians let’s give peace a chance

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OPEFULLY as you read this, we are in the final week of this year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. While I was writ ing, the certainty of the elections, slated for next Saturday, was a mere hope; considering the man-made uncertainties surrounding the polls.

In this era of so called social media, the anonymity of a crowd has transmuted into the anonymity of the social media practitioner, with its grave consequences. Now, all shades of persons hide under the social media, to wreck emotional havoc on the society, through character assassination, tempestuous mass hysteria, multiple mudsling, uncreative falsehood, integrity hacking, false innuendo, outright libel, you name it.

But the determined hangmen of this political era, are not anonymous.

They are in the open. They are either supporting or within the political parties. Even they, also employ the tools of the social media to recklessly drive their poisoned screw into the thumbing heart of the social space. As I write this, the integrity of the electoral process has been so badly maligned that many Nigerians now see the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a villains’ empire. Yet, even where the hangmen are dangerously determined to have their way, we must rely on INEC to conduct the elections.

So, now we are faced with submitting our country, pregnant with multiple babies, to a midwife that many have openly referred to as a quack, compromised and incapacitated umpire. Having so recklessly maligned the integrity of the midwife, the challenge now starring us in the face is, how can we accept that the new baby that will be presented after the delivery, has not been switched? For the midwife, whose confidence has been so heavily shaken, can she confidently apply her skills to the best of her ability, even when her best efforts will most likely be challenged?

In employing the tools of her trade, like the card reader, what will Nigerians say or do, where some of the card readers unexpectedly malfunction, without any person haven pre-planned it? This is particularly scary, considering that while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written off the card readers as a compromised instrument, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has claimed that card jamming equipment have been procured, to frustrate the exercise. So, where we have an accidental malfunction of a number of the card readers in any state, will it not be interpreted to suit the written script?

Because the parties are determined to have their way at all cost, the integrity of the chairman of the electoral commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has been so badly damaged that he is now perhaps worth a penny, in the eyes of his many detractors. Yet, the INEC boss is the chief returning officer of the presidential election. So, unless he has a magic wand to whip the partisans in, to accept the results of the elections, there is the great likelihood that whatever results he announces after the elections will be dismissed as a fraud, with its huge consequences.

Considering the weight of insults heaped on the head of the electoral chief, it is a miracle that he still works upright, without at least a hunch back. For many others, the real miracle is that as I write this piece, Professor Jega remains the chairman of INEC, despite the unprecedented hue and cry against his stay in office. Unfortunately the script against Jega was modelled from that made against his predecessor in office, the former INEC boss, Professor Maurice Iwu. Then as now, Nigerians are urging President Goodluck Jonathan to usurp lawful legislative powers, in exercise of constitutional powers.

In an effort to hack Prof Jega to smith screens, the integrity hackers alleged all manner of perfidy against the man. Some had done their damage without any inkling as to the collateral consequences their action has foisted on the entire process. Recently as I watched Jega walking tiredly within the prescient of seat of the federal power, Aso Rock, Abuja, I could visualiSe the heavy chains dragging his feet as he dragged himself to the finishing line. But for a birthday congratulatory message showing him as being in his 50s, his recent gait had given him off as being in his seventies.

Even as our sights are set on the presidential election, the states and the constituencies are no less combustible. For many, it is a zero sum game.

A do or die affair. Of course, if Hon. Nduka Elumelu, a member of the House of Representatives, could, without duress, confess to a bewildered country, that he willingly gave out a humongous N 750 million to a well-heeled political tout, for a political pie in the sky, Nigerians would understand the reasons for the dreadful desperation to win, regardless of the preferences of voters.

As recent events have shown, our common resources have come to the rescue of those who are already on the brink of personal bankruptcy. Since the unconscionable hard work of the contestants to win at all costs have now colluded with the civil elites’determination to gain materially from that desperation, the ordinary Nigerians and our national and state treasuries have willy-nilly, joined the desperados to the Ides of March. As is already clear to all and sundry, our national bankruptcy will soon be wedded to their personal bankruptcies, to our mutual tragedy.

So, our Nation needs all the prayers, for surely it is at a historical crossroad. As I said at the beginning, much of the problem is man-made, and the so the solutions can be made by man. It is therefore important that our national security agencies should rise up, and join their capabilities to our supplication for a free, fair and credible elections, to save our democracy.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

LAW REPORT

‘Medical evidence necessary for damages’ award’ IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OWERRI JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT OWERRI ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS RAPHAEL CHIKWE AGBO, J.C.A. PETER OLABISI IGE, J.C.A. FREDERICK O. OHO, J.C.A. CA/OW/146/2010 (2015) LPELR-24408(CA) BETWEEN: 1. JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC. 2.

GODWIN OBADO

-

DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS/ CROSS-RESPONDENTS

AND MRS. PHILOMENA UGO

-

LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY FREDERICK O. OHO, J.C.A. •Continued from last week

W

HETHER from the circumstances of the case and evidence before the trial Court an award for exemplary and aggravated damages would have been justified.

6. Whether the refusal by the learned trial Judge to make an award on Exhibit ‘O’ was justified.

7. Whether the refusal by the learned trial Judge to make an award on Exhibit ‘M’ was justified.

8. Whether Exhibit ‘UU’ is the valid class of license required in law to drive an articulated truck of the 1st Appellant/Cross Respondent.

9. Whether Exhibit ‘UU’ is a private document which does not require certification for admissibility.

On issue 1, Learned Cross Appellant’s Counsel contended that there was sufficient evidence upon which the learned trial Judge could have made awards of damages based on Exhibits RRRR3, which Counsel told Court are the walking aids purchased by the Cross Appellant in India from life line distributors in India.

According to Counsel, the Cross Appellant spent a total sum of 151,000 rupees in the purchase. On this issue, the Court stated that the principle involved in all compensation trials is to restore the victim to the position that he or she would have been in if the defendant’s negligence had not occurred. The Court, therefore, found the Cross Appellant’s claims sought to be proved through Exhibits RR-RR3 established.

The Court invoked the powers of the Court under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act in ordering the award of the sum of 151,000 Rupees in favour of Cross Appellant.

On issue two, the Court held that where a victim of an injury makes a claim for money award for pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and loss of consortium, for future on-going inevitable medical expenses, these of course would be classified as claims made in General Damages. See JULIUS BERGER PLC. & ANOR vs. MR. DOLAPO OGUNDEHIN (2013) LPELR - 20421 (CA), for general principles for assessment of General Damages or the various heads of General Damages. The Court

CLAIMANT/RESPONDENT/ CROSS-APPELLANT noted that it ought to take into account the pain that the Cross Appellant has suffered, the injury to her leg and entire hip region, and the handicap which she now suffers, in calculating the damages which, she should be paid for the loss she has suffered as the natural consequence of the wrong which has been done to her.

In this connection, the court considered the fact that the claimant suffered a fracture of the left femur, and as a result of which she now has a Metal Angular plate fixed to her hips and which had collapsed for a record third time resulting in her seeking Overseas Specialist Medical attention in India. She had attended a good number of Hospitals and Clinics as well, and during which period she suffered pain.

The Court also took into consideration the fact that the Claimant still suffers pain and may never be in a position to drive a car again. The burden now rests on the Claimant to procure the services of a professional driver.

The Claimant had been an active sports person by virtue of her position as acting Director of Sports of the Imo State University and a member of the Imo State Sports Council. The Court held that the Claimant must be given compensation as far as money can do it which will make up for her loss proportionate to her injuries and such as will be fair assessment in the opinion of a reasonable man. The court made an award of N500million as General Damages for pain, suffering, loss of amenities, loss of expectations and enjoyment of life.

The Cross Appellant has claimed award of damages for future inevitable on-going medical expenses and this head of claim, according to Cross Appellant’s Counsel, is based on the evidence of medical doctors/experts who gave evidence before the lower court. The Cross Appellant had claimed N122,580,084 in this regard. The Court held that in personal injuries cases, the multiplier is an estimation of the plaintiff’s annual loss or earnings whereas in fatal accident claims it is an estimation of the annual value of the dependency. See OSHOLAKE vs. LAGOS CITY COUNCIL (1972) 12 CCHCH 56.

The Court noted that to arrive at the multiplier, Medical evidence would have to be relied upon.

The PW6, in the trial Dr. A. U. Katchy, Medical

•Court of Appeal President Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa Director of Hilltop Orthopaedic Clinic, Enugu, in his evidence before the lower Court, said that the Cross Appellant would remain in clinic for up to three to four years in the minimum before she could start rehabilitation. The PW5, Dr. L C. Nwagbara, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon testified that the Cross Appellant would carry the metal plate in her body for a period of three years and would require overseas trips for medical attention and post surgical observations.

Learned Cross Appellant’s Counsel had opted for a multiplier of three years. The Court resolved issue three in favour of the Cross Appellant and N94,375,020 was awarded as General Damages for future ongoing medical expenses.

On issue four, Learned Cross Appellant’s Counsel told the Court that Exhibits MM-MM19 were payment receipts from Divine Medical Complex Pharmacy, Enugu and that the receipts totalled N5,797,540. He further informed Court that the Cross Appellant pleaded these receipts at the trial.

According to Cross Appellant’s Counsel, the Cross Respondents did not controvert the Cross Appellant on this issue neither did they raise any issues as to who signed the attached Medical prescriptions which gave rise to the purchases and the subsequent issuance of the receipts.

Counsel contended that the refusal to make use of the said exhibits MM-MM19 or the reason for rejecting same by the trial Court contained at page 250 where the Court for no just reasons refused to attach any weights, thus raising suo motu and resolving same, which is the question of weights to be attached on the receipts, without giving the Counsel of the Cross Appellant the opportunity of addressing Court on it.

On this issue, the Court held that it was highly

irregular for the lower Court to have refused to ascribe probative value to Exhibits MM-MM19 after admitting same into evidence without giving opportunity to Learned Counsel to address it upon same before taking its decision. See the case of UBA LTD. & ANOR vs. ACHORU (1990) N.W.L.R (Pt.156)254; (1990) LPELR-3403(SC). This issue was resolved in favour of the Cross Appellant and the sum of N5,797,540.00, representing payments for prescribed drugs purchased by Cross Appellant from Divine Medical Complex Pharmacy Enugu as encapsulated in Exhibits MM-MM19 was awarded in favour of Cross-Appellant.

In issue 5, Learned Cross Appellant’s counsel contended from the circumstances of the case and evidence before the trial Court an award for exemplary and aggravated damages would have been justified. Learned Counsel drew attention to the Cross Appellant’s evidence on Oath at page 34 paragraph 19 of the records of Appeal where she said that since the accident, no delegation of the defendants visited on her sick bed and that no efforts were made to replace her car or contribute towards her Hospital Bills or any of such friendly or kind gestures from them. On this issue the Court did not agree that simply because the Cross Respondents did not pay visits to the Cross Appellant in her sick bed that qualifies them as high handed, outrageous, insolent, vindictive, oppressive or malicious and showing contempt of the Cross Appellant’s right. This issue was resolved against the Cross Appellant.

In the final analysis the Court held that the Cross Appeal succeeds in part. The Court drew attention to the observations of the Court, per ONALAJA, JCA in the case of TECHNO MECHANICAL (NIG.) LTD vs. OGUNDAYO (1990) LPELR-6760 on the award of damages in personal injuries in negligence cases. Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 were resolved in favour of Claimant/Respondent/ Cross-Appellant, while issues 5, 8 and 9 were resolved in favour of Defendants/Appellants/ Cross- Respondents. The Court made the following Orders: 1. The powers of this Court are hereby invoked under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act in ordering the award of the sum of 151,000 Rupees in favour of Cross Appellant for the purchase of walking aids, tripod sticks et. al. (Issue One).

2. The sum of N500,000,000 is hereby awarded as General Damages for pain, suffering, loss of amenities, loss of expectations and enjoyment of life. (Issue two).

3. The sum of N94,375,020 is awarded as General Damages for future ongoing medical expenses.

(Issue three).

4. The sum of N5,797,540.00 is hereby awarded as an item of Special Damages representing payments for prescribed drugs purchased by Cross-Appellant (Issue four).

The sum ofn N1,808,000.00 and N1,200,000,00 is hereby awarded for expenses incurred as Nursing and Cab Services (Issues six and seven).

The sums stated here-above, were Ordered to be awarded to the Claimant/Respondent/CrossAppellant in addition to the sum of N28,516,680 only already awarded by the lower Court as Special Damages for Nigerian treatment and the sum of 108,00 Lakh as part of her Overseas medical treatment.

LawPavilion Citation: (2015) LPELR-24408(CA) Compiled by: LawPavilion

‘Lawyer petitions ministry over children’s ‘expulsion’

By Joseph Jibueze

• Akpedeye

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SENIOR Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dafe Akpedeye, has urged the Ministry of Education to probe the alleged expulsion of his client’s children from the International Community School (ICS), Abuja.

The petition was also sent to the United States embassy, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools.

The children’s mother, Ms Natasha Akpoti al-

leged that on April 9, last year, her teenage son and seven of his classmates, during a class project, stumbled on pornographic contents on the computer belonging to the school’s assistant computer teacher.

According to the petitioner, the boy and his siblings were expelled because the boy reported what he saw to his mother and because she insisted on proper investigation.

As an elected member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) executive with a moral obligation, the mother said she decided to bring forward the teacher/porn episode which her son mentioned to her for a lasting and proactive solution.

She shared the report and expressed concerns as to why the school allegedly failed to put in place safety internet filters to protect the children. Her report, she said, bothered the parents who took the matter up with the school’s management.

According to Akpoti, the school later sent messages to the PTA members exonerating the teacher, saying he was innocent of the allegations levelled against him.

Following her demand for justice based on her personal investigations, she said the school’s

board of directors, last December 23, sent her a brief mail advising her to withdraw her children from the school, which she refused to do.

She insisted it would be best to submit the evidence in her possession to relevant regulatory bodies for a fair investigation.

Matters, she said, got to a head when on January 5, the children were expelled from the school.

Akpedeye questioned the school’s investigation of the incident, and wondered why three innocent children, two of who had nothing to do with the case, should be expelled for speaking up against a moral wrong while the teacher remains allegedly unpunished.

He added that no child deserves to suffer retribution leading to public ridicule and physiological trauma simply for exposing a school’s “error”.

“In retrospect, rather than expelling the child, he should have been applauded for his courage because his singular act, which enunciates the various International Children Internet Protection Laws, has saved a lot of ICS children from harmful online content and abuse within the school premises,” the SAN said.

But the school, through its legal counsel Mr. Isaac Okpanachi, said although there was indeed a pornography information on the school’s

computer, it was a device used by both students and teachers and so it was difficult to know how the material got into the system.

ICS said: “The management has strengthened controls on the computers by ensuring that such sites are blocked. No student is allowed to use any computer except with the permission and under the strict supervision of a teacher.

“It should be noted that as per the ‘evidence’ which was much later handed over to the school, the times and dates shown did not correspondent with any particular teacher’s presence in the school.”

ICS management said the petitioner’s children were not expelled.

“Ms Akpoti’s children were never expelled from the school. She had not paid any fees for them for that quarter (terms) and still had outstanding fees for the previous quarter. Also, she was threatening to take the school to court and before ‘other bodies’ because she was not satisfied with our investigations, claiming it (sic) was sweeping the matter under the carpet.

“In view of this and statements she mailed to the PTA, expressing her dissatisfaction with the school, the board of directors wrote to her advising her to keep the children at home until these issues were addressed,” the school said.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NATION SPORT

Angry Madrid fans attack Bale

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ARETH Bale's car was allegedly attacked by Real Madrid fans following defeat in El Clasico on Sunday night.

Following the team's return to their Valdebebas training ground following the game at the Nou Camp, it has been reported that fans were anxiously waiting to vent their frustration at the squad. Spanish television channel Cuatro caught video clips of fans

•Bale

appearing to shout verbal abuse at players, before Bale's car was hit as he drove past.

Jese Rodriguez rolled down his window but avoided confrontation with the rowdy supporters, while defender Sergio

Ramos criticised the actions of the fans.

Ramos said: “What’s the matter? Do you think that’s the right attitude?”

Bale has come under scrutiny from both pundits and supporters in Spain and he appeared to

be the scapegoat for the criticism once again following the game. The Welshman had a goal ruled out for offside during the first-half in a move which Cristiano Ronaldo had just strayed offside in the build-up.

Neuer seeks Bayern Munich’s response after home defeat

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AYERN Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admits the Bundesliga leaders were "not good enough" in their surprise home defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach - but expects them to bounce back strongly.

The visitors inflicted only a second league loss of the season on Bayern thanks to a Raffael brace at the Allianz Arena.

Neuer, who was at fault for the first goal, told the club's website that Gladbach were the better side but is not too concerned by the defeat.

"Gladbach were very good and defended excellently. We didn’t create any genuine chances," he said. "That wasn’t good enough. Obviously we wanted to do much better and we’ve missed a chance because Wolfsburg dropped points today.

"But it won’t darken our mood. We know what we’re aiming for this season. We’ll look to the future and we’re optimistic.”

The reigning champions lost Arjen Robben to a torn abdominal muscle midway through the first half and

Robben to miss Turkey, Spain clash

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HE Netherlands will be without Arjen Robben for upcoming games against Turkey and Spain after he tore an abdominal muscle.

The Bayern Munich winger, who has only recently returned from a back injury, was taken off after just 24 minutes of the shock 2-0 defeat to B o r u s s i a Moenchengladbach on Sunday following a tackle

by Tony Jantschke.

And the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) has now confirmed he will miss the European Championship qualifier against Turkey and the friendly against Spain.

A statement on the KNVB's official website read: "Arjen Robben has informed national coach

•Neuer

were also without Franck Ribery, who has been struggling with an ankle injury recently.

Bayern head coach Pep Guardiola admitted the defeat was hard to take and that his side struggled without the pair.

"We had problems when attacking," he commented.

"We started well and controlled the ball well on the counter attack. We have tried everything, but without Franck and Arjen it was hard.

"In the second half we played with too much heart and too little head."

But the coach did not lay any blame on Neuer for the two goals and believes Bayern will return to winning ways following the international break when they face Borussia Dortmund.

"Gladbach did it very well.

We did not lose because of Manu, but because we had problems when attacking," he added.

"It's the Bundesliga, people think it is always easy. But I know how hard it is. We need to analyse the game and - after the international break - win our games again."

•Robben

Guus Hiddink of his withdrawal for the upcoming matches of the Dutch team against Turkey and Spain.

"Hiddink will decide at a later stage if he will call up a replacement for the injured Robben."

Bayern revealed on their website after the game that Robben would be out for "several weeks", and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: "This news is at least as bad as the defeat."

The Netherlands face Turkey on Saturday in European Championship qualifying group A, where they lie third behind the Czech Republic and Iceland after losing two of their first four games. Spain then visit the Amsterdam Aren a for a friendly tonight.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

Johnnie Walker gig: Abuja fans wild for Burna Boy, Kiss Daniel

• Burna Boy

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HE news had gone round that Lagos-based rave-of-the-moment s ingers were coming to town, and on the D-day, the crowd was unprecedented.

Burna Boy and Kiss Daniel took their Abuja fans through popular tracks that became refreshing, going by the physical presence and show-

By Mobisola Oladapo

manship of the artistes.

The show, which held at the exclusive XO V.I.P section of Cubana Loung, last Saturday, was the Abuja leg of the Johnnie Walker Black Podium party.

Although it was an evening of great downpour, the

crowd, made up of young and upwardly mobile fun seekers defied the rains to be part of the lively gig.

The mood for the party began with a cocktail, where guests were served Black Label whisky, according to their preferences.

There were other side attractions such as picture sessions on the black throne set up outside the venue of the party.

The preambles continued until about 2:00am when Kiss Daniel mounted the stage. The singer went straight to his hit single, Woju, and got the crowd singing along.

And when it was the turn of Burna Boy, the tempo went a notch higher, with chartbusters such as Check and Balance, Yawa Dey, Run My Race and Don Gorgon. It was indeed a night of quality entertainment, as guests had wished for more.

Lilian Esoro’s message to lovers

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HEY first made their love affair public last Thursday, March 19, and ever since, Nollywood actress, Lilian Esoro and her beau, Ubi Franklin, who is Iyanya’s manager, have been all over the blogosphere.

Despite the controversy concerning their love affair, Franklin and his fiancée have not failed to express their love for one another.

The controversy surrounding the engagement stemmed from initial denial

by Lilian which she later retracted.

Having confirmed that they are engaged to be married, an excited Lilian posted a photograph of herself and Franklin on her Instagram page which she captioned; “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect

By Ovwe Medeme

person perfectly. Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that. #Goodmorning and

M

By Joe Agbro Jr.

in Asaba, Lagos, Abuja and Kano will run for a week and will take place after the 2015 general elections, adding that the times and precise venues will be announced later.

“The workshop which will be residential and nonresidential will be conducted by local and foreign participants. The kernel of the workshop will be technical.

Participants will receive copies of already produced screenplay[s] of the Facilitator[s], and most likely copies of the film[s] produced from their screenplays.

“Interested ANA members should send their names, postal addresses, emails, phone nos, list of their published works and the Zone in which they will like to participate in the workshop to the email of the ANA Vice President, DenjaAbddullahi,” said Ali, in a press statement.

By Ovwe Medeme

N

OLLYWOOD actress, Omotola JaladeEkeinde, will be recognised at the 2015 ‘Women4Africa’ awards, coming up in the United Kingdom.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday May 9, at The Great Hall, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX, the super actress would be honoured alongside Princess Deun Adedoyin Solarin, Anna Vanderpuye, Kate Anolue, Adele Davis-Boe, Nimi Akinkugbe and Oluwatoyin Sanni.

One of the most recognised actresses in the Nigerian movie industry, Omotola was born in 1978. She made her debut in the Nigerian movie industry in 1995 when she starred in the movie, Mortal Inheritance.

This is not the first time Omotola would be receiving such an honour. In 2013, she made the list of Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’, where she was described as the Queen of Nollywood.

Prior to that, in 2012, CNN Travel listed Omotola’s accent on their list of the ‘World’s 12 Sexiest Accents’.

• Omotola

B-Code dumps engineering for music

• B-Code

By Joe Agbro Jr.

U

• Lilian Esoro

ANA partners Film Company for screenwriting workshop EMBERS of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) now have the opportunity to learn screenwriting.

According ANA Public Relations Officer (North), Mr. Richard Ali, the initiative was a fall-out of the recently concluded second Playwrights Confab convened

by Prof. Femi Osofisan and hosted by Kwara State University, Malete.

In line with this plan, the Abuja Film Village International Ltd has invited interested ANA members to a Writers’ Workshop that will focus on adapting writing into screenplays.

Ali said participants will be taken through the rubrics of writing for the screen and adapting literary works into screenplays for eventual filming.

He noted that the workshops which are scheduled to hold

happy New Week”.

It will be recalled that Franklin, a co-owner of Iyanya’s Made Men Music Group, proposed to his girlfriend last week.

More honours for Omo Sexy

Vin Diesel names daughter after Paul Walker

P and coming music artiste, B-Code, has released his second single, Lemme Know, which was directed by Toyin Lawal.

However, the surprising thing is that the artiste, whose real name is Godwin Chinedu Nzekwe, has revealed that he is going to face music squarely, despite being a graduate of Petroleum Engineering.

He schooled at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO).

“I like my career in Petroleum Engineering but it would be on hold for a couple of years,” said B-Code, who in 2002 won the best act in FUTO, speaking in an interview with The Nation.

“Everything about life inspires me. The good times and the hard times, as well as the times that you feel confused. Life is about the ups and downs. You get the downs to make you stronger and it also makes you not to forget how you got up there. When you have the good times, you appreciate it with good music and when you are confused you write confused songs.

So when people who have gone through that stage get to hear such, they appreciate the persecutions and the things that they have passed through more.”

B-Code, who hails from Ehime Mbano in

Imo State, started music professionally in 2008.

His first single titled Rollercoaster was directed

by Patrick Elis under paparazzi records. B-Code also plays the Konga drums.

“The truth for me is that music is life,” said the artiste, who noted that his album should be out early in 2016.

“I have been in music before I went to school.

The course, Petroleum Engineering is very challenging. It is a course that I admire a lot. I chose it because music for me is natural and I wanted to study something new. Instead of restricting myself to music, I said why don’t I divert and do something fresh. Expand the knowledge and not just be in the arts to study music.”

By Mobisola Oladapo

I

T was an emotional moment for the cast and crew of Fast and Furious serial, as lead character, Vin Diesel named his newly born daughter after Paul Walker, another hero of the film who died on November 30, 2013.

It was Diesel’s third child, as he welcomed his new daughter with his girlfriend and Mexican model, Paloma Jimenez, earlier this month.

The actor, on Monday, revealed on The Today Show, the special name he gave his baby girl.

“While I was in the hospital, the name that I will give you, is, I named her Pauline,” Diesel, 47, told Natalie Morales.

Diesel and Jimenez are already proud parents to daughter Hania, 6, and son Vincent, 4.

“There’s no other person that

• Cast of Fast and Furious

I was thinking about as I was cutting this umbilical cord. I just thought I knew he was there.

And it felt like, you know, a way to keep his memory a part

of my family and a part of my world.”

Diesel’s news comes just weeks before the highly anticipated release of Furious 7,

Walker’s last film. Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, filmed the remaining scenes of Furious 7 following the tragedy.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

•From left: Dr (Mrs) Wright; Dr Amole; Dr Adewuya; Prof Odusanya; Dr Idris; Prof. Gbolahan Awosanya; Dr Ore Falomo; Prof Ademola Olaitan; Dr Williams; Prof Adedeji and Prof. Osibogun cutting the Founder’s Day lecture cake.

PHOTO: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA

How to resolve govt, doctors feud, by H commissioner OW can the frequent conflicts between the government and health workers, especially doctors, be addressed?

The solution lies in workers being committed to their jobs rather than being propelled by pecuniary gains, says Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris. He was delivering a lecture at the 16th Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) Founders Day with the theme, Restoring and promoting professionalism in medical practice.

Idris said doctors and stakeholders must be propelled from the standpoint of, “our responsibilities to our patients/clients and even the society at large in finding solutions to overcoming these challenges. New approaches requiring thinking out of the box and better mastering of the political resolution of such conflicts should be embraced”.

Quoting a Canadian physician and one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sir William Osler, Idris said: “You are in this profession as a calling, not as a business, as a calling which exacts from you at every turn selfsacrifice, devotion, love and tenderness to your fellow men. Once you get down to a purely business

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

level, your influence is gone and the true light of your life is dimmed. You must work in the missionary spirit, with a breadth of charity that raises you far above the petty jealousies of life.”

Professionalism, according to Idris, must not be compromised because, “professionalism is an important component of medicine’s contract with society”.

“Not only do we need to make good decisions for our patients based on the evidence in the literature, but we also need to apply those decisions in a way that is professional and ultimately helps our patient. Certain behaviours early in medical education do correlate with unprofessional behaviours during a physician’s career. We need to be vigilant in looking for those behaviours and let our students and trainees know why we are so concerned about them. Physicians are likely to improve in professionalism with training and experience,” he said.

He added: “Professionalism is

widely accepted as a central element of healthcare, but it is a complex and multifaceted concept that is often difficult to define or even measure. Consequently, it is frequently described in terms of its absence and negative values, behaviours and relationships that are demonstrated when things have gone wrong.

“The emphasis should therefore, shift to reinforcing the positive and professional behaviours that are expected of staff and to articulate how they can be motivated and supported to enact the quality agenda.”

Idris urged tutors to harp on professional ethics to sustain the allure of medical practice. “A comprehensive discussion of professionalism in medicine must include its impact on successive generations of physicians. Fifty years ago, doctors acting professionally emphasised medicine as a calling and an ability to act as the authority for patients in crisis at home and in hospitals.

“Therapeutic options were limited relatively to modern era, and

the laying on of hands was practiced as science and art. Today, doctors balance increasing demands on time and efficiency with the sense of primacy of patient care.

Technological innovation and patients’ increasing access to medical knowledge through varying media of inconsistent quality challenge physicians in novel ways,” he said.

Idris added:“Fifty years in the future, doctors will have access to vast amount of information through a multitude of non-invasive diagnostics. Progressively more personalised medicine should inspire doctors to become more adept at communicating effectively with patients. Professionalism in medicine through these generations embodies similar fundamental behaviours, such as demonstrating compassion, respect and humility; adhering to high ethical and moral standards; subordinating personal interest to that of others and reflecting on actions and decisions.”

“Despite the dynamic nature of medicine itself,” Idris explained, “the omnipresent need for such traits will define medical professionalism for decades to come. The need to balance the advancement of medicine with societal need and

a sense of accountability will be even more important, as the unprecedented wealth of medical, pharmaceutical and technological options will demand the vigilance of physicians in every aspect of their practice.

“As our tools help us treat disease as never before, we will require more confidence in our knowledge and abilities to interprete vast amount of data and to connect with our patients beyond the machines, the pills and the lab tests. As practitioners, we must prevent doctor-patient interactions from becoming sterile, mechanical, technology-driven processes.”

In attendance, were Head of Department, Community and Primary Health, Dr Kikelomo Wright; Dean FBMS, Dr Femi Amole; Dean FCS, Dr Abiodun Adewuya; former Provost, Prof.

Olumuyiwa Odusanya; the Provost, Prof. G.O.G Awosanya; Dean FD, Prof Ademola Olaitan; Chairman Lagos State Univeristy Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Board, Dr Williams; Deputy Provost LASUCOM, Prof.

Wole Adedeji; former Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Akin Osibogun and Medical Elder, Dr Ore Falomo.

Foundation seeks research into sickle cell disorder

N

O Fewer than 150,000 babies are born yearly with Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD), a sickle cell expert, Prof Olu Adeyanju, has said.

Adeyanju, chairman of Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria (SCFN), is calling for more support for those with the disorder According to Adeyanju, who spoke during Arik/SCFN forum in Lagos, Nigeria being the largest African country, has the highest number of the condition in the world.

By Wale Adepoju and Everistus Onwuzurike

This, prompted the establishment of the sickle cell centre in 1994. The centre, he said, is the only one in Africa. “The United States (US), which has lesser number of carriers, has 21 centres. It has been contributing to research,” he said.

Adeyanju spoke of how the US found ways through research to make life better for carriers.

One out of four Nigerians, he said, is a carrier, adding that one

person in 12 Afro-Americans has SCD. He said it was necessary for Nigeria to train doctors, nurses and medical laboratory scientists, among others, on the management of the condition.

This capacity building, he said, would help to prevent wrong diagnosis and ensure proper treatment. “This will make them know when patients have serious crisis and the necessary steps to take,” he said.

He said Americans manage their

sickle cell disorder better as the average lifespan of carriers is 60 years, adding that it is better than those with the condition in Nigeria.

“Patients can live longer in Nigeria if we do research to help them,” he said.

The professor invited those with research proposals to present them to the research committee.

“Research can help reduce the pains and ensure that the crisis is controlled,” he said.

Senior Vice President, Commer-

cial, Arik, Mr Siva Ramachandran said the condition is serious and as such requires urgent attention.

“It is serious like HIV and AIDS and it affects the children,” he said.

He said his organisation has been carrying out awareness on its flights to sensitise the people on the need to support the foundation.

“We will continue to support the foundation strongly, especially with the Inflight scheme,” he assured.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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HEALTH

‘Nigeria will be poliofree in seven months’

N

IGERIA will be declared polio-free in seven months, according to Dr Yewande Adeshina, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Health.

She spoke at flag-off of first round of this year’s national immunisation plus days at the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Nigeria, she said, would be polio free in seven months if it does not record any new case during the period.

“In three years’ time, we will officially be declared free of polio. It is good to know that since 2009 when we had like 200 cases, we only had six cases last year and so far we have not had any and there are seven more months to say we have not had any new case in a whole year, which puts us on another level.

This is why we must all come together to take Nigeria off the list of countries that are causing the menace of polio in the world,” she said.

Dr Adeshina said states were expected to key into the Federal Government polio eradication initiative, adding that Lagos has adopted measures for doing so.

She said: “In Lagos State, we are doing beyond the flaggingoff, which is recommended. We have embarked on massive media campaign to increase the awareness on the importance and safety of polio

By Toba Agboola

immunisation. Jingles are being aired, local government areas and social mobilisers have been moving within the communities to sensitise and mobilise the citizens, town announcements, community dialogues, church/ mosque announcements, sensitisations with schools, and advocacy meetings with local government executives and key traditional and religious leaders have been and are being carried out.

“We are also using the house to house and transit components, which will administer only OPV to children between zero to 59 months irrespective of their immunisation status.”

She encouraged parents to take their children to Ikeja local Government or the Primary Health Care Clinics for vaccines and other scheduled immunisations, adding that this would protect them against preventable killerdiseases.

She called on mothers, community, traditional and religious leaders to ensure that every child receives the necessary polio and other scheduled immunisations.

Ikeja Local Government Executive Secretary Adekunle DallyAdeokun said immunisation is the right of every child, adding that no eligible child should be exempted because it would prevent outbreak of poliomyelitis in the state.

•Miss Okeke being presented with the Bowl of Hygeia by Mrs Bukky George, CEO of Healthplus Pharmacy Limited. She is flanked from the left by her parents Mr and Mrs Okeke and Prof Odukoya.

Best graduating student gets award

B

OWL of Hygeia award has been presented to Miss Linda Okeke, the best graduating student in the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). She bested 139 other students, making a First Class, with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.43. It is the first time in the faculty’s history that such an honour would be given. It was at the Induction of graduating pharmacy student held at the University Main Auditorium in Akoka Yaba.

According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Olukemi Odukoya, the Bowl of Hygeia symbol is the most widely recognised international symbol of Pharmacy. “The Bowl of Hygeia award is the highest award

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

in Pharmacy. It is usually awarded to a female that possesses outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities. Our community is a community of scholars primarily for students. On the occasion of the celebration of 30 years of Pharmaceutical excellence in the University of Lagos, the Bowl of Hygeia is being awarded for the first time in the history of Pharmacy in Nigeria.

The Pharmacy profession has used numerous symbols over the past centuries. These symbols include the Rx sign, the show globe, the green cross, “A” for apothecary (Apotheke), and the Mortar and Pestle (Bowl of Hygeia), Prof Odukoya said.

She continued: “Miss Okeke was selected on the desirable qualities of a Pharmacist.

As a student, she was admirable and brilliant, pulling CGPA 4.43, coordinated, decent, diligent, elegant, fantastic, graceful, honorable, intelligent, joyful, orderly, obedient,

peaceful and punctual student now a Pharmacist. The Bowl of Hygeia symbol is the most widely recognised international symbol of Pharmacy.”

Prof Odukoya explained the significance of the Bowl of Hygeia: “In Greek mythology, Hygeia was the daughter and assistant of Asklepios, the God of Medicine and Healing. Hygeia’s classical symbol was a bowl containing a medicinal potion with the serpent of Wisdom partaking it. The serpent had since been separated from the bowl. Now the bowl represents a medicinal potion, and the snake represents the pestle to make the medicines for healing. Healing through medicine is precisely why Pharmacy has adopted the Bowl of Hygeia Symbol.”

Miss Okeke was all smiles. She said: “My bagging the B.Pharm degree, started in December, 2009. I am happy to be inducted a pharmacist by the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Mr Elijah Mohammed.”

Foundation screens 2, 500 men for prostate cancer

N From left: Oral Care Consultant, Mrs. Oge Mac-Johnson; Professional Manager, East/West Africa, Colgate Palm Olive, Mr. Chestin Twigg; Marketing Director, Mrs. Hannah Oyebanjo and Brand Manager, Mr. Gbadesola Adenrele during the launch of Maximum Cavity Protection Sugar Acid Neutralizer (MCPSAN) toothpaste by Colgate Palm Olive Nigeria in Lagos.

O fewer than 2,500 men have been screened for prostate cancer in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt by the United Bank for Africa Foundation (UBAF).

The Foundation’s Managing Director, Ijeoma Aso, said prostate cancer is easy to cure when detected early.

Aso, who spoke during the screening in Lagos, tagged: “Walk, jog and cycle against prostate cancer”, said the exercise was to ensure that men are protected against preventable diseases, especially prostate cancer.

He urged men to screen for the disease, stressing that many of them do not usually take their health seriously unlike women, who visit hospitals regularly.

She advised men from 40 years and above to screen for the disease yearly, adding: “If it is detected early it can be prevented.”

Ms Aso encouraged governments and other non-governmental

By Wale Adepoju

organisations (NGOs) to organise more programmes for men to check their health status.

She said the four-day yearly screening programme is not sufficient as it can only cover a very large percentage of men.

“Women are always visiting the hospital to check their health, but men hardly visit the hospital or have health screening. So, we are using the medium to encourage men to test for prostate cancer,” she said.

The exercise, she said, has been carried out since 2011.

A beneficiary, Mr. Tayo Daisi, said the test is a must have for men because early detection saves lives.

Daisi, a technical assistant with Vigeo Holdings, said everybody should be health conscious.

He said the programme has given men an opportunity to screen without going through the rigours of accessing care in the hospital.

LUTH repaints statue

T

•A painter repainting the statue on the eve of the publication

HE Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) statue has been repainted. Reacting to the publication of the condition of the statue as carried by The Nation on Tuesday, March 17, the Head, Corporate Services Division, Hope Nwawolo, in a rejoinder on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Prof Chris Bode, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the publication in your esteemed newspaper of Tuesday, March 17, 2015, with the above caption.

“This has caused great embar-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

rassment to the Management of the Hospital. Management wishes to state that this is a misinformation to the public, as the said statue has been repainted for quite some time now and still portrays the excellence which the Hospital has always been known for. It will be appreciated if this misinformation is corrected immediately.”

It is on record that the statue was repainted on the eve of the said publication.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

49

THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

How to spot a real estate scam

S

EVERAL house hunters have fallen victim to fraud.

This is usually influenced by some features presented to them about the property to be leased.

While new technologies have made it easier for property seekers to get all the information they need to supercharge their house hunt, the Internet has also made it easier for online fraudsters to target both buyers and renters.

But by being aware of a few telltale signs, house-hunters can learn to quickly sort the scammers from the legitimate real estate agents.

Global property network, Lamudi.com.ng, a leading online real estate market place exclusively focused on emerging markets, after a careful research, compiled a guide to help online property seekers avoid falling victim to a scam. The steps to be taken include:

•Chief Anthony Enahoro Estate, Ogba, Lagos. Inset: Fashola, with Enahoro family members and Adedimeji (left) unveiling the comemorative plaque, last weekend.

Enahoro Estate: From slum to ‘paradise’

T

HE gathering was devoid of much funfair, perhaps in consonance with the moderate lifestyle led by the late elderstatesman, Pa Anthony Enahoro, whom the vast estate is named after. It was the commissioning of Shogunro Estate, Ogba, Lagos, which was renamed “Pa Anothony Enahoro” Estate.

In renaming the estate, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, recalled the sterling qualities of the late Enahoro, which made him worthy of the honour. Besides, it served as the administration’s little way of immortalising the elderstatesman, especially for his gallantry in enshrining democracy in the country.

According to Fashola, the commissioning of the estate is a promise kept between the administration and Lagosians. It also signposts the efforts of the government at eradicating slums in the state. This position is true given the deplorable condition of the area before government’s intervention to bring it to its present state.

For the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, the journey to create a new face of accommodation for Lagosians and especially the people of Shogunro, Ogba, commenced in 2013, by the directives of the governor. He said the scheme is yet another milestone in the provision of decent accommodation for the people of the state.

The late Pa Anthony Enahoro Estate, Jeje reiterated, is an example of how a well-structured public private partner-

A

•Lagos honours Pa Anthony Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

ship (PPP) can work. Besides, it also underscores the invaluable role of the private sector in providing solution to the housing deficit not only in the state, but in the country at large.

“As we celebrate this achievement, I am sure this will boost the confidence of investors from the private sector to actively participate in the Lagos State Public Private Partnership (PPP) in reducing the housing deficit in the state. We are determined more than ever before, to collaborate and work with genuine investors within and beyond the state to ensure that affordable housing is delivered to the people of Lagos State through LagosHOMS mortgage, a rent to own policy,” Jeje said.

With strong input coming from the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), especially under its urban renewal drive, the Enahoro Estate is a delight to behold. The Estate, which comprises 20 blocks of 240 units of one, two and three bedroom flats, in phases one and two, is provided with vital infrastructure to make it functional and self sustaining.

These include very well tarred

road network, ample parking space for cars, drainage, external and internal electrification, perimeter fencing and gate house, well landscaped environment, and adequate security.

Jeje explained that adequate maintenance structure has been put in place for the estate not lose its aesthetics and ambience. The cost of ownership is N8 million for one-bedroom, N10 million for two bedroom and N13 million for three bedroom.

Fashola takes pride in the jobs created as a result of the construction of the estate. During the construction works, the governor disclosed that 5,000 jobs were created with the multiplier effect along the value chain.

He said 13 construction firms, 30 engineers and 120 suppliers benefitted from the estate.

Prince Mike Enahoro, the immediate younger brother of the late Enahoro, was full of praises for the honour done his late brother. “It is indeed, a great honour for your excellency and your state to dedicate this estate to the memory of my late brother, Anthony. It is simply out of this world,” an elated Enahoro said.

In a similar vein, the chairman of the Anothony Enahoro residents association, Scheme 1, Adam Adedimeji, a lawyer, sees the development of the estate and subsequent commissioning as “the reinvention of decent life in Lagos” as obtainable

in the first world countries such as United Kingdom (UK) and America, where it is absolutely possible to get bank loans to buy houses by merely presenting letters of employment to the banks.

Adedimeji’s submission is based on the modalities for home ownership in the scheme, which he confirmed is based on the down payment of 30 per cent of the total cost of the house and the payment of the remaining 70 per cent over a 10-year period.

“Before the advent of Governor Fashola, it would have been a mirage for middle income earners like us to enjoy this kind of gesture in which apartments of these structures and sizes are given out to Lagos residents, spreading payments on mortgage terms to 10 years and at a convenient single digit interest rate; it is like renting to own,” Adedimeji said.

For the Lagos State government, the successful completion and hand over of the Enahoro Estate will not only increase the available housing stock for Lagos Home Owners Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS), but it also demonstrates the determination of the present administration to provide decent and affordable housing for Lagosians. This is evident in the fact that construction of such houses in 26 other sites across the state simultaneously.

Firm appointed for New Circle Mall leasing

SOUTH African based real estate investment management and development firm, RMB Westport, has appointed Ibukun Efuntayo & Company (IEC), a firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, as part of its leasing team for the new Circle Mall (formerly Osapa Mall), in Lekki, Lagos.

According to the firm’s Principal Consultant, Emmanuel Efuntayo, the appointment is a vote of confidence on the competence and expertise of the firm. This reasoning may not be

faulted given the fact that the Circle Mall project is the second in the history of the partnership between RMB Westport and Ibukun Efuntayo & Co. and having being a part of the leasing team for the Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, also developed and managed by RMB Westport.

An elated Efuntayo thanked RMB for the appointment, describing it as a welcome gesture.

“We appreciate and thank RMB

Westport, for appointing us as part of the leasing team for this project; it is indeed a welcome gesture. We strongly feel this second appointment from them is an indication that they recognise and appreciate our expertise and competence in the retail leasing business,” he said.

The Circle Mall is strategically located at the Jakande Roundabout on the Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lagos, and features a premium retail section, including a Business Centre. The retail section features open mall convenience

shopping with a retail space capacity of 10,800m2 and 373 exclusive parking bays, among other facilities. The Business Centre, adjacent to the retail section, has an office space of 3,700m2 with 72 dedicated parking bays among other facilities.

With this appointment, Ibukun Efuntayo & Co will be joining Broll Property Services Ltd., and Estate Links Ltd., the other two members of the team, to lease both retail and office spaces at the new Mall.

Avoid paying inspection fees Never agree to make any payments upfront or sign a contract without first inspecting the property no matter how official the documentation looks. Viewing the property and meeting the agent in person are the best ways to guarantee that the listing is legitimate.

Verify the identity of the person you are dealing with Take steps to check the agent you are dealing with if he is a licensed broker or agent. In the first instance, a simple online search can help you detect a scam. Try searching for the property’s address, the name of the agent and their email address.

Avoid listings that have been posted multiple times One common scam is for fraudsters to copy an existing (and legitimate) listing of a property for sale and repost it as a rental, with their own contact details attached. Look out for duplicate listings, which have different asking prices.

Never give away your personal information or documents You should never be asked to provide your bank account details or personal identification documents to someone over the internet. Importantly, never provide your credit card verification Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is One of the most important rules in real estate is that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Be sceptical about any online listings for attractive properties, which are very well priced for the area. Scammers often use these very low prices to lure property seekers.

If you detect a scam, get in touch Focus your search on properties listed by well-known real estate agencies and trusted classifieds websites. Once you have detected a possible scam on a real estate search website, notify the platform immediately.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

$84m compensation opens door for oil firms in Ogoni

T

HREE months after Shell Petroleun Development Company (SPDC) paid $84million compensation to Bodo community in Ogoniland, Rivers State for the two operational oil spills that occured in 2008, the community has agreed to open its door to local oil companies intending to carry out production activities.

The oil company, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, paid the money within two months starting from December last year to January this year thus puting an end to the issue of compensation to the victims of the.

The Chairman, Bodo Council of Chiefs, Mene Slyvester Kogbara, said the community was ready to open its doors to welcome companies with good track records to encourage growth. He said due process shall be followed in selecting companies that will operate in the community. He noted that Shell paid

By Akinola Ajibade

his people in January. The 15,000 indigenes of Bodo community has since received N600,000 each for the loss they suffered as a result of the spills.

He said companies intending to operate in the area must meet all set down requirements placed for them by the community. “No company would be allowed to come to the area except we know its directors, management and the history of such company. We would look at the profiles: where they are coming from, what they set out to achieve, among other vital information that would be of help to them and the indigenes of Bodo community,” he said.

He said although the compensation had been paid, what is most disturbing is the cleanup of the environment as stipulated in the United Nations Envi-

ronmental Programme.

Also, Cerase Environmental Services Limited(aNon-Governmental Organisation) said hydrocarbon pollution and others are attracting global attention because they have social and psychological effects on the people.

The firm’s Business Development Officer, Gloria Igbaji said stakeholders including Bodo community leaders have attended seminars and workshops organised to sensitise them on the issue. She said the organisation has visited the community to ascertain the level of degradation, and carried out a study to help facilitate cleaning of the area.

She said: “The clamour by the community for cleaning of the oil polluted areas was borne out of the need to protect their source of livelihood. Cleaning an oil polluted area is not a one-off thing. Cleaning should be systematic

and effective to achieve the desired results of making the natural habitats such as land and water useful for socio- economic activities again. Traditionally, the people are farmers and fishermen and inability to recover lands and waters would affect them greatly.

“Thousands of acres of land have lost their nutrients, making it difficult to grow crops, so also the waters, which have been polluted by oil. This is not without a multiplier effect on the economy of the area.”

She urged Shell to fast-track the process of cleaning the area, noting that further delay would compound the problems of the people. The condition of the land and water gets messier when wrong chemicals are not applied to treat them, she added.

“Besides paying damages to the people, the multinational oil compa-

nies operating in the area should try and build roads, hospitals, schools, among other infrastructural facilities.

The people would waste the money, if there are no socio-economic activities to invest it on. No matter the amount of money Shell has given them, they would remain in poverty if amenities that would improve their lives are not provided, ditto cleaning their land,” she said.

Shell, in 2010, agreed on an out of court settlement in a case brought against it by the people of Bodo community over the oil spills from the company’s failed facilities, which had caused a damaging effect on the Ogoni environment and its people. This led to the payment of $84 million to the community by Shell as compensation with an agreement to clean the impacted areas.

NIPCO posts N2.916b profit •Pays 375 kobo dividend

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IPCO Plc has declared a profit before tax of N2.916 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, representing a three per cent increase over the N2, 827 billion declared in 2013.

Its Chairman, Plc, Chief Bestman Anekwe shareholders at the company’s 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, said the company’s profit after tax also rose by 11 per cent from N2,089 billion in 2013 to N2,314 billion in the year under review.

In a statement by its Manager, Corporate Affairs, Lawal Taofeek, Chief Anekwe described the performance as good, considering the challenging operating environment in 2014, adding that the company is emerging stronger, bigger and more committed to excellent services.

According to him, the company recorded a turnover of N145.174 billion in 2014 as against N137.851 billion in 2013, which represents an increase of N7.32 billion.

He noted that in view of the performance, the Board recommended a dividend of 375kobo per share, totalling N703.756 million representing a seven per cent increase over the 350 kobo paid in 2013. The amount was unanimously approved by shareholders.

The chairman explained that the impressive result is a fallout of the commitment, dedication, diligence and prudent management of resources and the numerous marketing strategies put in place by the company. He stated that the result is a reflection of the resolve of the board and the management to brace all odds in achieving a superior shareholders’ value in the industry.

Reviewing the downstream sector last year, Anekwe said because domestic requirement of refined petroleum products could not be met locally due to poor state of the refineries, it made import regime unavoidable. “The above scenario coupled with the difficulties associated with the processing of subsidy claims impacted negatively on downstream operator’s margins resulting in low returns on investment,” he said.

Its Managing Director, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy said the company was able to put in place initiatives, which improved its service delivery to stakeholders, stressing that the workforce played a key role in this direction. He said the company’s operations continued to be in tandem with international best practices, noting that the focus will propel the firm to exceptional performance this year.

•From left: Venkatapathy; Chairman Nipco, Anekwe; Company Secretary, Mr. Paul C. Obi and Executive Director Corporate Services, Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu at the company's Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

‘Smart meters ‘ll address estimated billing, others’

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HE management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc now known as Ikeja Electric, has said the planned introduction of smart metering infrastructure will ultimately address the problem of estimated billing and energy theft. The meters will also enable prompt and improved response to vandalism of power distribution facilities.

Speaking during a customer forum in Lagos, its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Abiodun Ajifowobaje , said the necessary financial and technical commitment needed to achieve new metering regime has since been put in place. “We have and will continue to make investments in this regard and assure all our customers that the impending roll-out of smart meters will drive effective and transparent billing system within the network. We will surely work with all customers to ensure the success of the project even as

we remain committed to continued engagements on the issue of estimated billing,” he said.

Ikeja Electric, he said, has concluded a comprehensive study and technical evaluation of the network through the assistance of its technical partner, Korean Electricity Power Company (KEPCO). The company is also carrying out Asset GIS mapping and customer enumeration. The completion of these exercises will facilitate effective planning for future development and reduction of technical and commercial loss levels.

Its Head, Communication Strategy, Pekun Adeyanju in a statement, said Ajifowobaje told the customers that Ikeja Electric has introduced new payment channels, which have made payment of electricity bills easy and less stressful. With the introduction of such new services, some operational glitches will be brought to the attention of man-

agement and promptly addressed. He further added that customers can always reach its contact centre through the dedicated helplines 07000225543, 014483900, or email:customercare@ikejaelectric,com for prompt solutions to queries and enquiries.

The Ikeja Electric chief attributed the drop in power supply to low allocation of power to the company from the national grid. He craved the understanding of customers saying Ikeja Electric remains committed to equitable distribution of the power it receives from the grid.

“Ikeja Electric requires at least 1,250 megawatts (Mw) to effectively serve customers within its network, but we consistently receive only about 400Mw for the past two weeks. You all are aware of the gas challenges as well as the activities of vandals. The government

and stakeholders in the sector are working assiduously to tackle these issues and ultimately with the reform, we will transform power supply in Nigeria.

“Equipment vandalism remains one of the greatest factors militating against stable power supply within the network of the company. In 2015 alone, over 70 transformers have been lost to vandalism within Ikeja Electric’s network,” he said.

Ajifowobaje decried the increase in vandalism and called on the community to assist the company in stemming the menace. “Whilst we will continue to partner with security agencies to protect our equipment, it is not feasible to man all our equipment across the network for 24 hours a day. We, therefore, call on community leaders through vigilance groups to assist in this regard,” he added.

JTF vows to deal with oil thieves in Niger Delta

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HE Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, has warned oil thieves, sea robbers, kidnappers, and other crime perpetrators in the region and its environs to stay clear or risk being crushed.

Atewe told The Nation that the agency is committed to its mandate of checking illegal activities on the waterways and oil installations and checkpoints in the area, adding that anybody caught would face the law. He said the body has arrested one of the biggest

By Akinola Ajibade

bunkerers, adding that efforts are ongoing to nip in the bud activities of people that pose as threat to - the socioeconomic wellbeing of the country.

He said over 100 vessels that were being used for nefarious activities, have been arrested in line with the goals of the JTF to rid the region of criminals.

According to him, the communities have been supportive as evident by the ways they participate in issues that would help reduce crimes.

“The communities are on our side.

They are supporting our activities. The

JTF has so far intercepted and arrested several illegal oil bunkering vessels and suspects and handed them over to prosecuting agencies for prosecutions,” he said.

The JTF commander urged stakeholders to join hands in fighting crude oil theft and other criminal activities in the region.

On his zero-tolerance campaign against oil-theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, Atewe reiterated his commitment to total eradication of oil-related crimes.

The Federal Government estab-

lished the JTF few years ago to curb activities such as kidnapping, oil theft and others that have brought huge loss to the economy. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said the nation has lost over 1.38million barrels of crude oil estimated at $10.9billion through pilfering and sabotage from 2009 to 2013. It added that the figure of losses in crude theft represents about 7.7 per cent of the total revenue that accrued to the federation account within the period.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

ENERGY The Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Access Bank Plc, Elias Igbinakenzua, was a panelist in one of the sessions of the just concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja. He spoke to reporters on the sideline at the event on what local oil firms should do to make their projects bankable and have easy access to financing. EMEKA UGWUANYI was there.

‘Oil firms must imbibe good governance for efficiency’ W

HY is Access Bank interested in oil and gas financing?

Oil and Gas is our mainstay in Nigeria. It contributes over 90 per cent of foreign exchange to our revenue and it employs the bulk of our people. Any bank that wants to encourage the industry and add value to the economy must support oil and gas. So, as a bank we have been there from inception. We have encouraged players locally as well as the International Oil Companies (IOCs). It cuts across all the chains of oil and gas companies in the downstream, midstream and upstream.

Access Bank is one of the well capitalised Nigerian banks that have the wherewithal to support the Nigerian oil and gas industry. In terms of governance, we have the right framework to access the risks, dimension them and know the extent to go. We have also been able to help our clients to understand the risks and know how to perch against them. So, we are a core player and we think that as a key Nigerian stakeholder, we must play big in the oil and gas industry.

You emphasised lack of corporate governance as an impediment to funding of projects. What are you doing to make indigenous firms incorporate this in their system?

The theme of the panel session was actually to look at the independent oil companies and success recorded so far and then accesses the future. For you to sustain participation for a long term as a going concern, you must imbibe good governance. This will help to determine how to organise your activities, what risks to take and how to mitigate the risks. A player cannot attract the bank’s attention if he does not have a structure that is observed and examined as transparent and operating in line with global best practices. So, we think that for our local players that want to grow big, they must embrace good governance. We have done that for a number of players.

We have actually tried to make them understand the need for governance. We have also called external parties to assist them to put the right structure in place and have good governance. This form of assistance by Access Bank has encouraged a good number of indigenous players. It is not about coming to borrow, but when they come to us, we help to put their companies in the right perspective to follow good steps as a player for the long run.

What are you doing to collaborate with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), to address theft

of crude oil from pipelines owned by the international oil companies (IOCs), but used by indigenous players, and the impact on cost per barrel?

I talked about global best practices and must look at where we are going to operate as firms with the best practice, where is the deal trend that we should all focus on? Today, we have inefficiencies in the system and we can’t live and be okay with that. We want to identify what is making our production less efficient and see how we can team up and reduce the inefficiencies. When we say oil is costing $15 per barrel to produce, we are talking about removing the associated costs responsible for the inefficiency such as the militancy in the Niger-Delta, the issue of down times and all that. After the removal of these undetermined cost elements, we can then say what is the optimum production cost per barrel?

That is what we are aiming to achieve. If you look at the cost issue, Saudi Arabia is producing for less than $10 per barrel. Even Ghana here, the cost of production per barrel is not as high as the cost production of oil in Nigeria. So, a lot can be done. I am not blaming the oil companies for what we have today but I am saying as a system we are still inefficient and we must work together to minimise inefficiency so that we can have a going concern that is sustainable.

While speaking at the panel session, you said your bank has a window that will it do more than 10 per cent funding in the oil sector.

Please expatiate on this?

I didn’t say 10 per cent. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the last quarter of last year issued a circular that banks total loans to the oil and gas sector should not exceed 20 per cent of their portfolio. Before then, the policy was that a bank could finance 20 per cent downstream, 20 per cent midstream and 20 per cent upstream. And because the circular was issued towards the end of the year, virtually all the banks could not comply with that policy. The CBN had to suspend the policy for now. So, as at today the old policy is still what is applying which means as a bank, you can lend 20 per cent downstream, 20 per cent midstream and 20 per cent upstream. The limiting factor today is the bank’s single obligor limit. That is to say, a bank cannot lend to one obligor, 3 per cent of the shareholders’ fund. And today we have banks that have up to N500 billion of the shareholders’ funds. So, they can lend up to a N100

billion if a particular bank so desire to lend to one obligor. That is why I am saying the banks today have the capacity. The CBN two weeks ago said Nigerian banks are well capitalised, that shows that Nigerian banks are actually strong enough to support the sector. We are ready, provided there is good governance.

The CBN is worried over banks exposure to the energy sector – the power and the oil and gas sector and that you should reduce your exposure to the industry...

Yes and rightly so because the oil and gas and the power sectors have issues right now. You are aware of the drop in crude prices and if an oil company is not efficient, then the drop in price of crude can make their loans to start going bad. So, if banks have not gotten their borrowers to hedge their risk, then they are exposed. And once a bank goes down, it affects the entire industry because there is what we call the ‘Contagion effect.’ We have banks that are called all CPs and non-Cps, the ones that are considered to be very important in the system. If anyone of the CPs is brought down because of oil and gas then the whole industry will have a contagion.

Why then do you think that the current slide in oil prices is an act of God? No, what I was trying to say is that sometimes things are allowed to happen by God because they will teach you a lesson that you needed to learn. We are too dependent on oil as a nation. Like I said, the whole of Africa, we have only 8 per cent of the global oil reserves and Nigeria has 2.25 per cent of the reserves. So, why should that 2.5 per cent be our

sole focus? It should be one of our resources. We should have a way of having a broadened income base for the economy. It calls for a rethink.

For instance, to say that we are too reliant on oil, let us think of agriculture and other areas where revenue can be earned as a nation.

That way we are better for a long run as a nation. So, to that respect the slide in oil price is a blessing in disguise.

Aside the corporate governance, especially in the power sector, what are your observations and what advice do you have for them?

Power is a different issue. I don’t want to go into power because it involves a lot of issues with government doing their own part.

But I think what banks want to finance are bankable projects.

Bankable implies that the risk that they can see is mitigated. In this case, the bank will tell the customer that look I can’t see my way in and out so I won’t lend to you as a customer. But note that the money banks are using to trade is not their equity, they are funds from depositors. The bank is expected to pay customers back as at when required. So, banks can’t risk their deposit so much. They must ensure that they have enough skills to appraise the risks in any sector and know the extent to go such that when depositors come and ask for their deposit they can easily pay them without controversy.

Concerning banks ability to finance a project worth $500million, can you respond to a request from any indigenous firm asking for this amount to finance a single project today?

Again let me restate what I said. I

A

tional efficiency and enhance the plant’s output, it said. Natural gas is a major component in the production of fertiliser.

The Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy, Phillip Ihenacho, said: “We are happy to announce the formal commencement of gas deliveries to Notore Chemical Industries Plc through our subsidiary, Accugas, a clear demonstration of our commitment to drive the industrialisation of Nigeria through the development of the country’s huge natural gas resources. Through the supply of our processed gas, we are providing a new source of feedstock to meet

said some banks have enough shareholders fund to support lending half a billion dollars to any project.

Access bank is one of the top four banks in the country today. The bank has huge capital to raise support for indigenous players. Whether we will lend half a billion to a company is a different ball game. I am not sure I will want to sit down today at Access Bank and lend half a billion to an indigenous company. I have a risk structure that I must comply with. In Access Bank, there is so much of good governance that is entrenched. What I do as Executive Director must be sanctioned by my risk and control team. We have a lending policy that is well entrenched in our governance framework that we must adhere to. So, the extent to which I lend must be in line with the law and in line with what I see as risk that I can take.

What message has Access Bank for Indigenous operators?

There is very bright future for the indigenous producers. Nigerian banks are willing and able to support them, provided they put in place the right structures that will ensure good governance that optimises production and enhances efficiency.

‘We have a lending policy that is well entrenched in our governance framework that we must adhere to. So, the extent to which I lend must be in line with the law and in line with what I see as risk that I can take’ Gas market needs time to develop, says NNPC chief The development of the domestic gas market will take some time given the state of infrastructure in Nigeria, the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige has said.

Ige, while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, said it would be wrong for people to

By Akinola Ajibade

compare the Nigerian gas market with the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US) and other developed nations, noting that those countries have facilities that are better than that of Nigeria.

He said: “It took United Kingdom to establish a

Seven Energy begins gas supply to fertiliser firm N indigenous oil and gas company, Seven Energy International Limited, has commenced supply of natural gas to Notore Chemical Industries Plc, a fertiliser and agroallied company in Nigeria.

The commercial delivery of gas to Notore in Onne, Rivers State, is being executed through Accugas, a whollyowned subsidiary of Seven Energy. The company said 25 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) of gas is supplied as part of the feedstock to Notore’s fertiliser plant. By this supply arrangement, Seven Energy is helping Notore fertiliser plant to improve its opera-

•Igbinakenzua

the company’s increasing requirements, whilst directly enabling the production of fertiliser that Nigeria’s burgeoning agriculture sector desperately needs to grow.”

The Managing Director, Accugas Stephen Tierney, said: “This milestone represents another significant step for Accugas in our effort to increase domestic supply and utilisation of gas for the good of the Nigerian people and its economy. By providing a clean, dependable, quality source of gas supply to the Notore plant, and doing so via an integrated end to end solution, we are demonstrating our clear commitment and ex-

ecution performance toward enhancing domestic gas consumption for broader industrialisation.”

Seven Energy has continued to champion the Nigerian gas and industrial revolution through the exploration and production of natural gas, and its commercialisation through processing and distribution infrastructure, where it has invested over $1 billion in the southeast region of the Niger Delta in the last five years, it added. This enables Seven Energy to reach the end-user and to support Nigeria’s evolving power sector and meet the growing energy needs of the industrial sector.

competitive gas market in spite of its infrastructure. So also United States that has one of the best infrastructure in the world, but yet spends some time to develop its gas market. The Nigeria’s gas market reforms started 10 years ago. The country has recorded some progress such as getting some local companies to invest in gas, winning the confidence of some international buyers, amid poor infrastructure.”

He said gas infrastructure development is not a one-off thing, adding that efforts are ongoing to make the infrastructure better and well positioned to achieve growth. ‘’Our gas market needs to be competitive domestically and internationally. To achieve this, there must be a well developed infrastructure. The government, oil companies, builders of pipelines and other stakeholders are working to improve infrastructure,” he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

‘Why Apapa, Tin Can, Warri, other ports are expensive’

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HY are the country’s ports considered the most expensive in West Africa? It is because of the multiple import charges, according to investigations.

These charges are hindering the government’s trade facilitation programme. But, other sub-regional port, such as that of Cotonou, are thriving.

Besides, tracing capability and speed, poor yard planning and spacing, online accessibility of pricing and quick debt note reconciliation, among others, also make the ports expensive.

Others include low level of automation and integration of handling process by government agencies with major stakeholders, such as terminal operators, importers, truck drivers and clearing agents; poor infrastructure investment profile by the government; unstreamlined

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

movement of containers per crane, per hour from ships to stacking position and the trucks.

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) president, Prince Olayiwola Shitu blamed the high cost of cargo processing at the ports on these factors.

Importers, he said, clear many charges before taking their goods out of the ports, urging the government to address the problem and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.

Importers pay Customs duties and levies that are not uniform in most of the nation’s sea ports. Other tariff that make the ports expensive are the seven per cent development levy; one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme; 0.5 per cent ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS); NIMASA/NPA Sea Protec-

tion Levy (SPL); haulage cost – transportation per TEU and terminal operator progressive stage charges.

Importers also pay terminal operator documentation; terminal operator examination; terminal operator scan fee; terminal operator scan loading fee; terminal operator delivery; terminal operator terminal handling and terminal operator labour fees.

They also pay shipping line demurrage; shipping line agency; shipping line documentation; shipping lines telex release; Shipping line, container; shipping line container deposit fees; terminal operators two weeks additional advance rating period; shipping line two weeks additional advance rating period; shipping line minimum of one month grace for container deposit refund; freight forwarders professional fee – unstreamilined; and several inconsiderate charges at the bounded terminals, among others.

The President, Lagos Shippers Association, Mr Jonathan Nicol, said the five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and the one per cent Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) charge were some of the charges.

The others are the 35 per cent Automobile Levy and the Common External Tariff Levy.

According to him, the combined charges on one consignment affect shipper’s profit.

He urged the Federal Government to address industrialists’ cry to reduce the charges.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Finance should provide leadership in managing the problems of the shipping community.

The shippers’ boss said the government should think about the huge investments in building the seaports and maritime prospects in the next 20 years to attract more cargoes.

Nicol also suggested that plans must be made to secure and promote local industries, the manufacturing sector and the shippers.

He noted that it was the duty of the government to encourage private entrepreneurs to contribute to the economy’s growth.

“When you add the costs of generating power in a factory with

salaries, these costs cannot be bypassed whether you like it or not.

“You must provide power for your factory and you must pay staff salaries,” he said.

Nicol said the bottlenecks at the ports were largely the reasons behind government’s appointment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the economic regulator.

He condemned the government’s inability to enforce the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003 (Cabotage Act) to enable indigenous ship owners participate in crude oil lifting.

He said the government should implement the law to allow indigenous shipping companies participate in oil business.

A maritime lawyer, Mr Dipo Alaka, berated the government for not streamlining the charges.

“To make matters worse, importers and clearing agents are compelled to pay demurrage on containers for the numbers of days containers remain at the port, even when there is system breakdown caused by the service providers.

“Importers used to pay for terminal handling charges, container cleaning charges, manifest amendment upon request by an importer, container deposit (refundable) and container demurrage,” he said.

Customs seizes goods worth N5m

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Some of the goods seized by Customs on Sagamu highway in Ogun State.

C

Work to begin on Lekki Deep seaport July

ONSTRUCTION of Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos will begin in July, its Managing Director, Mr. Haresh Ascoani, has said The contractor, China Harbor Construction, he said, will move to the site that month.

Ascoani spoke during a visit to the Free Trade Zone where the port is sited, with him were top Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) officials led by their Managing Director Mallam Habib Abdullahi.

The Federal Government, it was gathered, has committed about $118 million to the development of the port, which is e3xpected to cost $1.5 billion.

Abdullahi said the government has not reneged on its commitments towards the project.

The government, he said, initially paid N1 billion as part of its commitment to the project.

He said the government’s stake in the project is $118 million, adding that balance is captured in NPA’s 2015 budget. ”The total amount of the Federal Government’s stake in this project is $118 million, what we had as at last year was N1 billion and we have already paid that. We have already started making payment on this, because there was an allegation that the Federal Government has not made payments, this is not correct, we have already paid part of our own dues as at last year.

“For the year 2015, we have made enough provision to pay up the re-

maining amount that is due to us, it is still with the Senate, but we have already made an agreement with them and we will pay it up to the end of the year,” he said.

When completed, Abdullahi said the project would be an eye- opener that will attract other investors, adding that it will also inspire the construction of other proposed deepsea ports like the Badagry Deepsea; also in Lagos, Olokola Port Project in Ogun State, the Ogidigben port project in Delta State, and the Ibom deepsea port in Akwa Ibom State.

“It is going to drive the economy, it will bring economic growth to the nation. It will bring employment, it will bring export promotion and it is going to transform the

economy of this country as promised by Mr. President,” he said.

Ascoani said that some of the financial institutions backing the project include; African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Diamond Bank; adding that there will be a financial close by September 2015.

According to him, the port will take approximately 40 months to be built and when fully completed, the Lekki Free Trade Zone would be the largest industrial city in Nigeria.

He added that investments that will be coming into the region when it is fully operational will exceed $25 billion.

While we are building the port, industries will come up to build their projects knowing that the port is coming up, cumulatively it is all a 10-year programme.”

HE Monitoring Team head quarters of the Nigeria Cus toms Service (NCS), Idiroko Axis, led by Yahaya Usman, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACC), has intercepted a Man diesel truck carrying large quantity of prohibited goods on Lagos/ Shagamu expressway.

The truck was laden with 626 pieces of used tyres; 152 cartons of ceramic tiles; 11 pieces of plastic bowls; 266 pieces of flower ports and 86 bundles of plastic containers among other items estimated at N5 million, The Nation learnt.

The patrol team, led by Yahaya Usman, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (ACC), following a tip-off, trailed the truck to a low-risk area along the road before intercepting it to avert any operational hiccups.

The Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Turaki Usman Adamu, told The Nation that “the team led by Usman acted on a tip off and intercepted a Man diesel truck with registration no AGB 106 ZD along the Lagos/Shagamu expressway. In line with the practice of ensuring 100 per cent physical examination on such suspected vehicles; the truck was taken to the FOU office at Ikeja where examination was conducted and the prohibited items uncovered. From the physical examination, it was evident that all those other items were carefully conceal in 626 fairly used tyres.

“The goods are in clear contravention of Sections 46 & 47 of the Customs & Excise Management act Cap C45, 2004 as amended.”

Turaki said the seized items has a DPV

of N4,684,260.00 and commended the team for their consistent operational exploits and determination to collaborate with the unit in fighting smuggling.

On the incessant attacks on Customs operatives by hoodlums and street urchins in some of the volatile areas, Turaki pledged that the concept of Customs Community Cooperation (CCC) would be resuscitated and given top priority attention. This is in view of its tendency to create a platform for sensitisation and education of the public’s on the consequences of obstructing Customs operations.

“Synergy with critical stakeholders is panacea for mutual understanding and healthy relationship between the NCS and community dwellers, who sometimes tend to be ignorant of the socioeconomic consequences of smuggling.

He called for the support of Nigerians through genuine information/ intelligence for the actualisation of this statutory mandate”.

He stated that investigation is ongoing to unravel those behind the illegal importation with a view to ensuring that all their illicit supply chains are blocked. Turaki also promised to leave no stone unturned in his quest to completely eradicate smuggling in his area of coverage.

The team’s leader expressed deep satisfaction with the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko and his management for their support and the confidence reposed in his team.

Usman said since inception, the team has contributed immensely to the seizure profile of the service to justify the essence of its creation.

NLCA supports Dikko’s trade facilitation programme

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HE Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has said it will continue to support trade facilitation programme of the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi to boost revenues generation and sustain the economy.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), ANLCA said, was contributing N30 billion into the federation account before Dikko was appointed. But with the modernisation Dikko has brought into the

service, ANLCA said, the revenue generation has increased geometrically from N30 billion to N100 billion monthly.

ANLCA said it was happy that the Customs boss has trained his officers and men of the service for greater revenue generation and trade facilitation at the nation’s sea ports and border stations.

Speaking with The Nation, ANLCA’s immediate past Chairman, Tin Can Island Chapter, Mr Kayode Farinto said Dikko is one of the few government officials that key into the trans-

formation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and gave the scheme the necessary support.

Farinto said the allegation that Dikko has betrayed President Jonathan by supporting and sponsoring the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari against President Jonathan in the coming presidential polls is unfounded Farinto urges President Jonathan, Nigerians and other stakeholders in the maritime industry to disregard the allegation, which he de-

scribed as baseless and cannot be substantiated.

ANLCA, and other stakeholders, Farinto said, know the good role the Customs boss has played in ensuring that President Jonathan’s transformation agenda is implemented and carried to the letter at the ports.

“His role alone has made Mr. President’s tenure to be the best in the area of revenue generation and trade facilitation, even some of us that are Dikko’s critics gave him kudos,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

53

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-03-15

Equities rally on corporate earnings

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HE Nigerian stock market opened this week with a tinge of bullish rally as investors took positions in several quoted equities in anticipation of the release of earnings reports of a large number of the quoted companies this week. Quoted companies have seven working days to submit their full-year audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Post-listing rules at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) require quoted companies to submit their earnings reports, not later than three months after the expiration of the period. Most quoted companies including all banks, major manufacturers, oil and gas companies, breweries and cement companies use the 12-month Gregorian calendar year as their business year. The business year thus terminates on December 31.

NSE’s regulatory filing calendar indicates that the deadline for submission of annual

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

report for companies with Gregorian calendar business year is Tuesday, March 31.

The benchmark index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI), appreciated by 0.58 per cent to close at 29,505.47 points as against its opening index of 29,334.23 points.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the NSE rose by N57 billion from its opening value of N9.789 trillion to close at N9.846 trillion. The modest uptrend mitigated the overall negative return as average year-to-date return improved to -14.86 per cent.

The bullish rally was supported by gains by some highly capitalised stocks as well as widespread bullish sentiments across many sectors. There were 26 gainers to 19 losers.

Forte Oil topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N6.93 to close at N196.98. Lafarge Africa followed with a gain of N3.60 to close at N84.

Guinness Nigeria rose by N3

to close at N129. Stanbic IBTC Holdings added N1.14 to close at N27.14 while International Breweries chalked up 80 kobo to close at N18 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle Nigeria led the losers with a loss of N9.50 to close at N820.

CAP followed with a loss of N2.29 to close at N34.

Cadbury Nigeria dropped

by N2.05 to close at N39.23.

UAC of Nigeria lost N1.80 to close at N34.20 while Flour Mills of Nigeria slipped by 67 kobo to N32 per share.

Total turnover was above average with the exchange of 611.72 million shares valued at N5.62 billion in 3,275 deals. Mansard Insurance was the most active stock with a turnover of 303.74 million shares valued at N926.33 million in 75 deals.

Analysts said the market was also responding to increasing assurance that the weekend’s general elections might hold as scheduled.

They however noted that the upcoming general election remains a downside risk.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-03-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

54

MONEYLINK FirstBank provides financing support to Omatek

Banks’ loans to economy hit N17tr, says CBN

T

HE aggregate banking sector loans to the economy stood at N17.2 trillion in January, the Central Bank Economic Report for the month released yesterday showed.

The report said the figure indicated a 7.1 per cent increase, on month-on-month basis, compared with the growth of 7.2 per cent at the end of the corresponding period of 2014.

It said the development reflected, largely, the increase in banking system’s holdings of government securities.

It said banking system’s credit to the private sector increased by 0.2 per cent, to N18.1 trillion in January, compared with the 0.1 per cent increase at the end of the preceding month. The development, it said, reflected, wholly, the 0.3 per cent rise in credit to the core private sec-

F

Stories by Collins Nweze

tor.

Available data indicated mixed developments in banks’ deposit and lending rates during the review month.

It said that the seven-day, sixmonth and over 12-month deposit rates fell by 0.08, 0.03 and 0.04 percentage point to 4.37, 9.74 and 10.10 per cent, respectively.

“With the exception of the 12month deposit rate which remained unchanged at 9.51 percent, all other deposit rates of various maturities rose from a range of 3.46 to 9.48 per cent to 3.48 to 9.64 per cent. The prime lending and maximum lending rates trended upward, during the review month,” the report indicated.

Also, Federally-collected revenue (gross) in January was estimated at

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele N710.78 billion, showing increase of 4.6 and 4.3 per cent above the receipts in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2014, respectively.

At N486.44 billion, oil receipts (gross), which constituted 68.4 per cent of the total revenue, was higher than the receipts in the preceding month.

FCMB declares N23.9b profit before tax

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc and WEMA Bank Plc yesterday declared their full year-year results, with a cumulative N27billion profit before tax (PBT) for the full-year ended 31 December 2014.

While FCMB posted N23.9 billion, up 32 per cent from N18.2 billion for the full-year ended 31 December 2013, that of Wema Bank was N3.1 billion, equivalent of 58.8 per cent growth compared to 2013 figures.

The results for the full-year 2014 reflect solid momentum in FCMB Group Plc’s profitability, enabled by harnessing the synergies between its corporate and invest-

•Wema, N3.1b ment banking entities, as well as the successful execution of its retail strategy.

The banking group’s prioritisation of Retail Banking yielded positive results. The Retail Banking divisions of FCMB Ltd contributed a PBT of N4.1 billion or 18 per cent of FCMB Ltd’s total profits, up from N1.8 billion for the previous year.

Managing Director of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Peter Obaseki, said: “The results for full year 2014 reflect solid momentum in our businesses as our key earning metrics grew at double digits”.

Speaking from the Bank’s head-

quarters in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO of Wema Bank Plc, said: “It gives me great pleasure to report that Wema Bankcontinues to record year on year improvement in its financial performance.

The Bank has improved significantly on its profitability and customer growth despite shrinking margins and intense competition.

This progress recorded is a result of the continued execution of our three-year growth strategy – Project LEAP. Wema Bank also recorded a 19 per cent growth in customer deposit volumes largely from the Commercial and Retail space despite the tightening government regulation on cash-reserve.

IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) has provided fi nancial support to Omatek Engineering Services Limited to enable the firm expand its operations locally and offshore.

The bank’s Group Executive, Commercial Banking for FirstBank Mrs. Cecilia Majekodunmi disclosed this yesterday during an inspection of the firm’s factory in Lagos, said the bank is known for financing large corporates and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Mrs. Majekodunmi, who was represented by Group Head, Commercial Banking Group, (Lagos Mainland III) Emmanuel Ogundipe, said the bank’s roles with Omatek Engineering Services Limited, is that of a partner that has put forward all the financial support needed to take the firm to the next level.

“We have provided financial support, both locally and offshore to

the company. We will also continue to work with the company to ensure that all that needs to be done is done to bring about efficiency in the firm’s operations,” he said.

He said the management of the bank has been strong about providing this support, by not looking back, by playing the role so that any other services needed including assisting Nigeria in ensuring that solar power initiative is embraced.

“We believe that the solar power will help the companies save cost that can be channeled to other productive sectors of the economy,” he said.

Group Managing Director/CEO, Omatek Engineering Services Limited, Engr. (Mrs) Florence Seriki said the firm is an indigenous company commenced business about 30 years ago with its core business in the sale and distribution of computers, assembling of “Omatek” brand of computers.

$100m scheme: Elumelu Foundation picks 1000 entrepreneurs

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HE Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) yesterday announced the se lection of the first 1000 African entrepreneurs for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP).

The TEEP is a $100 million initiative to discover and support 10,000 African entrepreneurs over the next decade, with a target of creating one million new jobs and $10 billion in additional revenues in the process.

TEEP Founder, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, said: “the selection of these 1, 000 entrepreneurs brings us closer to our ultimate goal - to drive Africa’s economic and social transformation from within and to radically intensify job creation in Africa.

Though I have never met or spoken to any of the winners, I am confident that due to the rigorous criteria and selection process, these entrepreneurs are Africa’s hope for the future. I will continue to invest my experience, time, influence, and resources to see them succeed. I am embarking on this journey with these entrepreneurs hopeful and inspired.”

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

CONTINSURE UBA MCNICHOLS DIAMONDBNK FIDELITYBK INTBREW WAPCO STANBIC UBN ETI

O/PRICE 0.83 3.53 1.48 3.62 1.29 17.20 80.40 26.00 9.01 17.30

C/PRICE 0.87 3.70 1.55 3.79 1.35 18.00 84.00 27.14 9.40 18.00

CHANGE 0.04 0.17 0.07 0.17 0.06 0.80 3.60 1.14 0.39 0.70

UBCAP CAP UACN CADBURY PAINTCOM ETERNA NAHCO COSTAI N HONYFLOUR MAYBAKER WEMABANK

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

1.65 36.29 36.00 41.28 1.42 2.65 4.99 0.64 3.00 1.55 0.96

1.38 34.00 34.20 39.23 1.35 2.52 4.75 0.61 2.86 1.48 0.92

8%

Monetary Policy Rate

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 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

LOSERS AS AT 23-03-15

SYMBOL

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 23, 2015

Inflation: December

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 23-03-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

CHANGE -0.27 -2.29 -1.80 -2.05 -0.07 -0.13 -0.24 -0.03 -0.14 -0.07 -0.04

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

55

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NEWS ‘Resist desperate politicians’ From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

E

DO State youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo has advised youths not to make themselves willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.

Eriyo, who gave the advice yesterday, appealed to security agencies, including the police, to be vigilant.

He, however, alerted to an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unleash mayhem on APC members.

“That is why I am appealing to our youths not to involve in violence. I am appealing to security agents to remain neutral; they should arrest anybody trying to cause trouble.

“Our youths must play according to the rules, they should reject any offer to kill or help rig election. Any politician that tells any youth to rig election, tell that politician to tell his or her children to do it. We must resist the offer of money and vote for who will secure our future” Eriyo said.

Maritime workers vow to picket oil firm

M

ARITIME workers in Bayelsa State yesterday said they would continue to disrupt the activities of Conoil Producing Nigeria Limited.

The workers said their planned action would stop the company’s drilling in Ango Field in Koluama Clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The workers, under the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

aegis of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) said they had exhausted other methods of resolving the dispute with the company.

State Chairman of MWUN Mr. Lloyd Sese, said the union wrote many letters to the company to no

avail.

“As a law abiding union, we severally wrote to the company requesting a meeting with its management concerning its operations in Ango Field, which by virtue of its Martime Environment, falls within the coverage of the union, to no avail.

“The nonchalance of management made the

union to give the company a 21-day ultimatum to meet with the union or face being picketed. The 21-day ultimatum has since expired hence this statement.

“We wish to announce here that the union shall mobilise its members and every resource at its disposal and proceed to Ango Field location at Koluama on Wednesday,” Sese said.

F

S

•From left: Hon Pandola Edward Okwuosa, Hon. Okwudili Ojiba, PDP Senatorial candidate for Anambra North Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, Archbishop Valerian Okeke and Mrs Stella Odife when Oduah and her team visited the Archbishop of Onitsha.

Boko Haram: Military victory exonerates Jonathan

I

JAW Leader Chief Edwin Clark has said that the recent military onslaught against the Boko Haram has exonerated President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the victory had shown to all that the President was not the sponsor of the group, as claimed in some quarters.

Clark spoke yesterday in Abuja when he received a delegation of Borno State indigenes, who came to pledge their support for the President’s re-election.

He said with the liberation of captured communities, it was obvious that those who alleged President Jonathan was behind the group were wrong.

Clark said Boko Haram would have been defeated

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja before now if not that Nigeria was denied arms by the United States and others.

The Southsouth leader argued that there was no point promoting hate speeches, saying “Nigeria belongs to all of us. No one in this country can manage this country alone.

We need one another. We should treat and regard ourselves as brothers and sisters.

“What is going in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe is a sad development. It is the problem of Nigeria and we should tackle it together”.

Peterside: teachers are God’s best gift to mankind

G

OVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Dr. Dakuku Peterside has described teachers as God’s gift to mankind, saying a society’s survival depends on how enlightened its people are.

Peterside argued that as agents of enlightenment, teachers hold the key to the future of every society.

The candidate, who spoke at an interactive forum with

teachers, assured them of his commitment to qualitative learning tools, balanced curriculum and teacher’s well being.

“I am sure many of you do not know that I am a teacher’s son. My mother taught all her life until she retired from service. So I am the son of a teacher who believes that teachers are the greatest gift God gave mankind because without them, we cannot raise the next generation.

“Education is acknowledged globally as the single greatest force for transforming a society for good. Nothing else transforms a society better; that is why it is better to have an enlightened society. An enlightened society will endure but a society with only infrastructure will not survive.

“Therefore, any serious government must pay attention to education. And the teacher is important because if you remove him or her, the

conversation on education ends. If this is so, then our focus should be on developing his capacity.

“I will transform education and make it work. I will motivate teachers by giving them extra so they can go the extra mile,” he said.

Peterside acknowledged that any investment in teachers is an investment in the next generation, even as he stressed that his government would deploy information technology tools to aid teachers.

First Lady urges women to instill fear of God in children

T

D

ELTA State Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has honoured Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with the Most Outstanding Governor in Human Capital Development in Nigeria.

The award was presented by the Chapel’s Chairman, Mr. Paul Osuyi.

Governor Uduaghan hailed the journalists for recognising the achievements of his administration, especially in human capital.

The governor said human capital development was important to every administration, stressing that the bottom line was to affect life positively.

He said: “I am humbled by this award. I want to thank you for acknowledging developments achieved by the government, especially in human capital because the bottom line of every government is to affect lives positively.

“When journalists appreciate your efforts then it is genuine”.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

HE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has urged Nigerian women to inculcate the fear of God in their children to make them respectable and useful citizens.

She spoke on Sunday in Abuja at the National Muslim Women Town Hall Meeting, with the theme: “ Violence Free Election, the Role of Muslim Women.’’

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

Court adjourns indefinitely on APC ruling

I remain in APC, says Obende ENATOR Domingo Obende, representing Edo North, has denied reports that he and some of his aides defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described the report as ‘false and a calculated attempt to smear his image’.

In a statement yesterday, Obende said such report was callous as he could not leave a party he helped to build, urging his supporters to discountenance it.

“We cannot be talking of change at the top and I will be changing at the bottom.

“There is no truth in that report. Since our party primaries, I have not had any meeting with anybody or group where such was discussed. It is mischievous and ill-conceived by those who planted such a report and I consider it defamatory to my person.

“I have contributed immensely to the emergence of the APC, I am a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party and it is definitely too late for my detractors to misinform the public about my position.

“I remain committed to our great party to effect a change that we crave for.

“I urge my supporters to ignore such reports. They should continue to campaign and mobilise Nigerians to vote for the APC,” Obende said.

Delta NUJ award for Uduaghan

The First Lady, stressed the need for women to preach peace as critical ingredient of national development and advancement of families.

She said that women are the most vulnerable, during breakdown of law and order, saying that they should do everything to monitor the actions and movements of their wards to avert electoral violence.

“We should not allow peddlers of violence and discord to have their way, we must ensure peace in our churches, mosques and homes.’’

She restated her commitment to the emancipation of women and their continued involvement in issues of governance at the highest level.

She appealed to Nigerian women to vote for President

Goodluck Jonathan and all PDP candidates in the coming elections in return for placing them on high positions in all sectors.

In his remarks, the guest speaker, Ustaz Bashir Mundi held that Nigerians identified peace and unity as key issues in the country’s growth and development.

Mundi stressed the significance of spreading peace messages by women in en-

suring stability for Nigeria at critical period of the forthcoming elections.

“Your role is to speak out against violence always, by maintaining the paradigm of peace and by championing peace and unity of the country.

“It is in your interest to continue to speak and promote peace, because when there is violence, you are the greatest victims.’’

OLLOWING a petition against him before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday adjourned ruling in the case of illegal possession of firearms by four members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Eteche Local Government Area, Charles Anyanwu, Tony Boms and two others were arrested a fortnight ago on alleged gunrunning.

They appeared before Justice Akanbi on illegal possession of guns, but the charge was later struck out on legal advice and the suspects discharged.

They were, however, rearrested outside the court premises.

Their bail application was heard last week before Justice Akanbi adjourned and the suspects remanded in custody.

Hosts seek provost’s removal From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

HE crisis rocking the College of Education, Ekiadolor in Edo State deepened yesterday, as host communities protested and called for the sack of the Provost, Prof Amen Uhunmwangho.

The communities - Ekiadolor, Iguedaiken, Iguodia and Iguekhimwin - are protesting the alleged victimisation of Dr Osahon Osemwengie, a senior lecturer, who was suspended indefinitely, with others.

The protest, led by youths and leaders of the communities, including Victor Adun, Victor Iyekowa and Igbinedion Barekel, was staged in solidarity with various unions.

The protesters carried placards and called on government to intervene.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

56

CITYBEATS •Management accused of forceful removing union vehicles

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Workers bar DSS men at LASU

T

HE crisis at the Lagos State University (LASU) took another dimension yesterday. Union vehicles parked at the gate were forcefully removed overnight by unknown persons.

The action threw workers, who gathered at the gate yesterday for their daily protest, which began last Monday, into a rage. They accused management of being behind the removal of the vehicles, some of which were dented in the process.

The workers protested round the university, carrying placards with inscriptions, condemning what they called the “ill-advised” action.

They marched through the Vice-Chancellor (VC) office, TJunction, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Management Sciences, among others.

The management declared a recess yesterday for the forthcoming elections, asking staff and students to vacate the university.

But the workers ignored the directive, insisting on going on with their daily protest.

Department of State Security (DSS) operatives stormed the university yesterday, but were prevented by the workers from entering.

They, however, stationed their vehicles outside the gate, monitoring goings-on.

In statement, asking staff and students to go on recess for the elections, the university said the resumption date would be announced later.

Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, LASU chapter Saheed Oseni wondered why management should order workers and students out of school.

He said: “We are aware that many institutions have declared a recess in their schools ahead of the election, but the

•The protesters

PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

By Adegunle Olugbamila

good thing is that they did not close down the school or force students and staff out of their premises. But in our case, management is asking us to vacate the premises.

“We shall be here tomorrow (today) to continue with our protests which we have been doing every day. We are waiting for management. Let them come and force us out of the university.”

•From right: Lagos State President of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya raising the hand of All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode during endorsement of Ambode by NULGE at Archbishop Vining Memorial Ground, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. With them are Ambode’s running mate Dr Idiat Adebule and Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye... yesterday PHOTO: AAMCO

Navy opens new new officers’ quarters

T

HE Navy Town, Ojo was agog at the weekend for the opening of new officers’ quarters.

Mrs Lami Jibrin, wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, led wives of naval officers to commission the seven blocks of three bedroom bungalow and four blocks of 6by3 bedroom flats built by the navy.

The buildings, Flag Officer of Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango said, were constructed to reduce accommodation challenges being faced by officers, who could not get house in the naval barracks.

Mrs Jibrin, the National President of Naval Officers Wives’ Association (NOWA), said shelter remained important necessity in the Navy, adding that the commissioning was a milestone in the transformational drive of the Navy leadership and the Federal Government.

She said: “The Nigerian Navy has been striving to provide con-

•The building

By Wale Ajetunmobi

ducive accommodation for its personnel. As a home-keeper and mother, I commend the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in the provision of adequate and appropriate accommodation for naval personnel.

“I observe with deep satisfaction that, despite competing de-

mands on limited resources, the Chief of Naval Staff has made concrete efforts to address accommodation problems in the service. It is anticipated that this milestone and subsequent housing project will ameliorate accommodation shortfalls being experienced in the Navy.”

Ango said the Navy was bat-

tling accommodation shortfall because the rate of enlisting officers was faster than rate officers retire from service.

He said many officers could not be accommodated in the barracks because of the tradition in the Navy, which allows officers to occupy their hostels until they are retired or given new accom-

modation.

With the new buildings being added to the one previously built, Ango said the accommodation challenge would be greatly reduced as more officers would benefit from the scheme.

He said: “Within a short time, the accommodation our personnel face in Lagos would be ease off. These new blocks of flats will go a long way to help us solve the challenge. Since 1980 that this Navy Town was opened, there has not been any reasonable expansion until recently when we acquired houses in Okokomaiko, Kiri-Kiri camp site and at Naval Dockyard on Victoria Island.

“It is our duty to provide accommodation for officers who are serving the nation. As they put down their personal comfort for the nation, their welfare must be taken care of. They must be entitled to good shelter and their children must get education and good healthcare. The NOWA has been helping in augmenting whatever effort the Navy is making to provide accommodation.”

Lagos State governor’s wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, represented by Mrs Olajumoke Durosinmi, hailed the Navy for the project.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

57

CITYBEATS Residents seek removal of abandoned tractor T

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

HE residents of Paul Okuntola and Agoro Streets in Mushin, Lagos, have appealed to the state government to remove the abandoned Moragoff Arrow tractor at the junction of their streets.

The tractor, which was abandoned in 2007, is constituting traffic gridlock and causing accidents in the area.

It was learnt that the tractor was brought for use when Agoro Street was to be rehabilitated by the government in 2007.

Speaking with The Nation, Secretary of KOPAA Community Development Association Mr Lawal Sulaimon said the tractor was brought for roads rehabilitation before it got damaged and was abandoned.

According to Lawal, it has caused a lot of damage including accidents.

F

OR rehabilitating their homes, which were destroyed by storm, the Lagos State government has earned the victims’ praise.

Rainstorm ravaged houses in Papa Ashafa in OrileAgege, Lagos about two weeks ago, removing roofs and destroying electric poles.

The victims thanked Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) for coming to their aid, saying they could not have done anything without the government’s help.

Seventy-five-year-old Ahmed Adenekan, whose house was reconstructed, said his roof was due for a change but he did not have the money to fix it.

“The government has just done that for me and I am so grateful. Since 1977 that I built this house, I have not done a major re-roofing. I can now relax knowing that

•The tractor

•The back of the tractor

• ‘Hooligans hide guns inside it’

By Olalekan Ayeni

The tractor, he said, has become a refuse dump and criminals’ den where hoo-

ligans keep guns and other weapons.

Lawal said letters have been sent to the Works and

Transportation ministries and Mushin Local Government, all to no avail.

KOOPA Treasurer Mr Kabiru Ambali has urged the government to repair the only borehole at Paul

Storm victims praise Lagos govt

By Medinat Kanabe

my roof is better,” he said.

Mrs Sherifat Toriola, who inherited her house in Egbatedo Street from her mother about 30 years ago, said she did not re-roof the house after taking it over.

She said after the incident, she became scared because she has no money to repair the building.

“When they came and said they would re-roof the house for me I was very happy. The house is about 60 years old and we have never done a major re-roofing before,” she said.

A tenant, Lucas Ogundayo, 72, also narrated his experience, saying: “When the incident happened, I called my landlord. He came after three days with some roofing materials. As

a carpenter, he climbed the roof trying to fix it when LASEMA officials came and called him down saying they would repair the house. I really appreciate the Lagos State government for this effort.”

LASEMA General Manager Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu told The Nation that the storm affected 4380 victims and more than 400 houses.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “Immediately the governor directed that a relief camp be opened for the victims and with the cooperation of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board (LASTVEB) carpenters, we are building all the houses.

“We have been on it for days and the construction is still ongoing but I can assure you that by the end of this

week, we would have completed all the buildings.”

He explained that when the incident happened, they categorised the houses into groups - the severely, moderately and mildly affected - adding that those severely affected were fully rebuilt.

“We have finished with the severely and moderately affected houses; we are now working on the mildly affected. We have spent millions of naira on the reconstruction,” he said.

Deputy Director in charge of construction in LASTVEB Emmanuel Abubakar complained that residents whose homes were not affected have begun to remove the roofs, saying it took the community development council’s intervention to stop them.

Okuntola Street under the same Community Development Association.

The borehole, according to him, was donated through Osun and Ogun River Basin Development

Authority for the residents’ use.

Ambali said the facility stopped working after six months, adding that efforts to repair it have failed.

Thugs attack market leader

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Oba Rilwanu Akiolu have been asked to intervene in the crisis rocking Obanibasiri Market in Oshodi.

The market leader, Alhaja Ayisat Aliu Obanibasiri, is claiming that thugs attacked her when she attempted to enter her office, following Oba Akiolu’s order, that those removed as Iyaloja should be restored.

She frowned at the change of Obanibasiri Market’s name to Balogun Lane Market, saying the crisis started when the developer, who handled the Obanibasiri Market project, refused to hand it over after completion.

According to her, it will be improper tradition-

wise for anyone to install another person in my stead.

She said: “When the hoodlums attacked me, I reported the matter to the police that advised me to report the incident to the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, because, it was not a matter for the police. I did so. Mr. Ademorin Kuye requested for the file of the market from the Oshodi Local Government. He said he would get back to us, but he has not.

“I have stopped going to the market because of my safety. There was a day they tore my dress, rendering me naked. Although it is my market, and it has been since the 80s, I have to allow peace reign until the relevant authorities intervene.”

We are no longer compatible, man tells court

A

MIDDLE-aged driver, Idowu Ejitola, has sought the dissolution of his fiveyear-old marriage to his wife, Odunayo. He is accusing her of being troublesome.

Ejitola said his wife is fond of fighting neighbours.

“I realise we are not compatible. I can’t stand her attitude any more. I just want our marriage dissolved,” he said.

Odunayo, a 29-year-old trader, who is not contesting the case, said: “There was no formal introduction between our families. When I got pregnant, I moved to his house. Since we started living as a couple, I haven’t enjoyed myself.”

The mother of two between the ages two and four said her husband stopped her from working.

“I learnt nursing but I never practiced it because of my husband. I have almost seen hell with his relations.

When my husband and I had an argument, his elder sister forcefully collected our

By Basirat Braimah

first child from me. My husband’s mother gave me two attires to wear for our second child’s dedication. I excitedly told her I was going to take it for laundry because I noticed few stains on the cloth. But, my mother-in-law said the stain wasn’t obvious so I decided to put it on that way. Even after I decided to wash after I wore it, she still insisted I shouldn’t wash it.” she said.

Mrs Ejitola said few days

after her husband took the dress from where she kept it to his mother, her life became a misery.

“At exactly 1am, I see cow head on the wall of our room. I see different things.

I don’t understand myself anymore. Even when I told my father who is supposed to be my confidant, he accused me of getting pregnant for my husband. He said a cleric revealed to him my husband and I weren’t compatible. Both families have tried to settle our mar-

ital problems but his family doesn’t want me anymore. I also don’t want him anymore because I have seen enough,” she said.

Mr Ejitola, interrupted saying: “It is not true my folks don’t want me to marry her, it is solely because of her troubles. But, it is true I took the dress from where she kept it.”

The court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, fixed a chamber discussion for the parties immediately after the court’s sitting.

Physically-challenged man chides beggars

By Olalekan Ayeni

•Adelabu

A

56-year-old physically-challenged man, Mr Mukaila

Adelabu, popularly called ‘Aro’, has appealed to Lagos State government and wellmeaning Nigerians to help secure his children’s future.

The father of eight said he has been catering for his family through his income from sewing and the chanting of local poetry at ceremonies.

According to him, the lit-

tle proceeds from these menial jobs are not enough to pay rent and school fees as well as feed his family.

He condemned able men and women who take to begging, saying he preferred working hard to cater for his family instead of being a beggar.

Adelabu said his wish is that all his children be educated.

•Lagos Island East Local Government Executive Secretary Lookman Omotosho (left) presenting a gift to one of the beneficiaries of the Social Security Programme at the Council Secretariat, Lagos.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

58

LENT

NEWS

Igbo industrialists seek N30b compensation T HE purported support enjoyed by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State may have hit the rocks.

A group of industrialists, the Harbour Industrial Layout Association, is demanding a compensation of N30 billion from the PDP-led Federal Government or lose its votes.

The association said it lost goods worth over N50 billion in the September and October 2012 flood disaster in Onitsha.

The industrialists said the N100 million former Gov-

Theme: Kings and, The King of kings

•Tell Jonathan: Pay up or forget our votes

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ernor Peter Obi gave them as relief was the only money they got from any government.

The Chairman of the group, Chief Paul Okonkwo (Poko-Bros), said they were abandoned.

He spoke at the weekend when ex-Governor Obi visited with PDP’s Anambra

North senatorial candidate, former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah to seek votes for President Jonathan.

Okonkwo said businessmen in the North, who were affected by flood, were compensated.

He said nothing was given to Harbour industrialists from the intervention fund brought by the Federal Government, adding that

•Dr Jonathan

other states received theirs.

Obi told the industrialists that everything they listed would be looked into, noting that Jonathan had done well for Ndigbo.

Stella Oduah urged the industrialists to vote for her for what she called sustainable policy to work.

Ndigbo in Niger enlist 15,000 for APC

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HE Chairman of Niger State Igbo in Diaspora Association, Chief Onyeka Ozuluoha, has said the association has enlisted 15,000 members in 18 of the 25 local governments in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ozoluoha, who addressed reporters yesterday in Minna, said contrary to rumours, the Igbo in Niger State endorsed the APC standard-bearer,

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the governorship candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

He said: “As I’m talking to you now, we have convinced over 15,000 Igbo resident in the state to support the APC and vote for its candidates. We have advised those who left the state for fear of election violence to return and vote for the APC.” Ozoluoha described as un-

true, the insinuation that all Igbo supported President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the citizens need a change and Gen. Buhari represented that change for a better Nigeria.

According to him, “our association is effective in Niger State. Our members are committed, working hard for the success of APC. We are already in 18 of the 25 local governments.”

The Igbo leader cautioned

against mass exodus of nonindigenes, especially the Igbo, from the state before the election.

Ozoluoha said: “If you are running, you must know what is pursuing you. I am sure the fears of post-election violence are gone and we are staying to vote for Buhari and other APC candidates.”

He urged the Igbo to join the movement for a change, for development and security of life and property, symbolised by the APC.

Buhari: don’t vote for Jonathan on sentiment

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HE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday told Igbo leaders, monarchs, clerics, businessmen and women and youth leaders that no amount of ethnic or religious sentiment would justify support for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said it’s in the nation’s best interest to vote out the PDP, adding that the party has done enough damage to the country.

Buhari, who addressed a town hall meeting at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said President Jonathan, having served as a deputy governor, governor, vice president and President should know everything about governance, “but it is unfortunately that he is surrounded by failure.”

He said: “The Igbo nation, known for business drive, has been drained by the PDP. The collapse of the economy has af-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

fected your businesses and we cannot allow the PDP to continue in power for another four years. It is time to say goodbye to a party that has reduced Nigeria to ridicule in the international community.

“I was a governor, minister of Petroleum and Head of State.

So when I retired, I should have returned to my farm and floated a company, getting contracts from them and living big thereafter, but I joined the presidential race in 2003 and chose the late Chuba Okadigbo as my running mate. In 2007, I chose Edwin Ume-Ezeoke and in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare was my running mate. So this religious blackmail does not hold with me.”

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, said a bridge of friendship running from the North to the Southeast, the Southwest and the Southsouth, was being built.

He said in all political dispensations, the Igbo had supported

SURE-P trains 85 interns

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HE Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) has completed a training for graduate beneficiaries of one of its programmes, the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).

The training, put together by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Federal Ministry of Finance, was coordinated in Lagos by SINBOL Ltd. Speaking at the launch of the training, the Director of the GIS, represented by Ngozi Okonkwo, said the programme was aimed at providing about 50,000 graduates with quality work experience as well as improving their job placement options by providing opportunity to acquire professional skills.

The training, an orientation

training to prepare the interns for the workplace, had in attendance 85 graduate interns from disciplines and companies as well as 15 employers.

The participants praised the Federal Government for the initiative, which, they said, helped them to get jobs as interns, while also giving them the opportunity to gather experience needed for their careers.

They said they were also happy that the Federal Government gave them stipends for the 12-month duration of the programme.

The GIS interns were trained in personal branding, studying and adapting to organisations, financial literacy skills, work ethics/etiquette, skills for the workplace, business leadership, performance management, among others.

candidates from all geopolitical zones, but have never been supported for the post of President, adding that Buhari’s Presidency is the shortest route to producing a president of Igbo extraction.

His words: “The Igbo supported Jonathan to become President, but today we have nothing to show for it. Today, we are supporting Buhari because his Presidency will be the shortest route to the Igbo presidency. So a support for Buhari is a support for Ndigbo.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said every election was a referendum on the performance of a sitting government “and this present administration has displayed its performance and Nigerians have seen it.”

He said: “The PDP claimed to have created five million jobs that are non- existent. We saw our children die at the stadium in search of Immigration jobs. They also claimed to have built 25,000 kilometres of road, but we know

this is impossible because there is no provision for that in the budget.”

Ogbonnaya Onu described the elections as the most important since Independence, saying it would afford Nigerians the opportunity to make a choice.

Said he: “What Nigeria needs is a man that will stop corruption, a man who has a sense of mission. It is necessary to hold this interactive session so that you can hear Buhari because they have laboured to paint him black and demonise him. We are confident that Buhari’s administration will give Ndigbo all they want.”

Those in attendance included Governor Fashola and his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Chris Ngige, former President- General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife.

Others are ex-Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Abdulraman Dambazau, deputy governors of Nasarawa and Osun states, among others.

Vehicle owners get ultimatum

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HE Lagos State Police have warned owners of all accidented and abandoned vehicles parked at Ajangbadi and Akinpelu Divisions to remove them within 14 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public. The vehicles are: Faragon Bus XU 969 LND, Faragon Bus BDG 554 XJ, Ford Pick-up unregistered, Toyota Pick-up unregistered, Toyota Camry BT 30 AKD, Mitsubishi Lancer car SMK 255 BU and 14 Motorcycles.

Senate Deputy Whip meets monarchs, youths over Jonathan

S

ENATE Deputy Whip Mr. Hosea Ayoola Agboola at the weekend visited the palaces of Oke-Ogun monarchs, chiefs and leaders of thoughts in Oyo State.

He solicited their support for President Goodluck Jonathan, as Nigeria goes to the polls on Saturday.

Agboola, who is seeking reelection as the lawmaker representing Oyo North, also solicited the support of the

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

people for his re-election.

The people of Oyo North vowed to support him, saying he had performed, as he facilitated four road projects, eight school buildings, health centres, museum, ICT centres and empowerment of 20,000 women and youths in the area, in addition to the siting of the N500million University College Hospital (UCH) annex.

Text:”.... there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee?.....” (2 Kings 6:26-27)

I

N universal term, a King is someone who has manifested mastery in a particular discipline and not necessarily restricted to custodians of the traditional institutions. That explains the reason for King of Juju, Apala, Fuji Music among a host of others. Having established that, it needs be said that the differences between earthly kings and The heavenly King are extremely wide. While the former have restricted jurisdiction, curtailed influence and limited knowledge, the latter is unlimited - He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. It is therefore incongruous and of no dependable value for anyone to assume that earthly kings play the role of God in any of life’s issues. Like the motto of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, “we care but God heals”. Earthly kings can talk, brag and try to convince without action but real performance is the exclusive right of The King of kings.

One of the greatest weapons of warfare that has been since biblical times to date is the withdrawal of support by privileged nations to any nation they desire to bring to their knees. From the passage of our text, Benhadad, the King of Syria and his host employed this same tactic against Israel. Benhadad sent his armies to the boundaries of Samaria such that food supplies, clothing and other utilities were debarred from reaching them - the city was besieged! Before long, demand became more than supply hence famine became imminent. The survival instinct of human beings therefore came to the fore as two women resorted to internal arrangement of eating their children one after another. In line with their agreement, one of the women surrendered her son as a meal but when it was the turn of the other woman she reneged on the terms of their agreement - she hid her son!

The woman became so traumatized as the problem was beyond her control hence she went to the king. Often times, we also run headlong into such disappointments and abuse of agreements and in a bid to get out of the melee, we assume that ‘a mad man may be a mechanic’. It is in that circumstance that we run to human beings that we opine can help us - maybe our bankers or benefactors when it is tied to finances, Doctors when it borders on health issues, a Pastor when it has to do with spiritual matters, a superior officer to solve employment issues or a king when it comes to influencing others within a restricted geographical enclave. It was this

situation that compelled the distraught woman to solicit the assistance of the King of Israel who was very honest to express his limitation as an earthly king and confessed that the Almighty God is the only King with unlimited capacity.

A man of God once said that the result you have is dependent on the person you are running to for assistance. No one can ever go beyond the level of their helper. If you run to a local chief for help, the best you can get from him is a local attention and if privileged can be conferred with a local chieftaincy title. If the person helping you is a local government Chairman, his influence is restricted to his local area.

Anyone who cries to a Governor for help is constricted to a section of the national map. In fact, if the person rendering assistance is the President of a nation, the beneficiaries are more often bounded to that national horizon and not the continent. However, if it is the Almighty God you run to, He is indefinite in geographical compass, fathomless in occupational dimension and immeasurable in connection - in fact, the entire world belongs to Him. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” ( Colossians 1:16-17).

Given that earthly kings may be able to influence their wives and children, same cannot be said of people outside the ambit of their direct influence but the Almighty God has control over the heart of men and has power to turn it wherever He wills (cf Esther 5:1-4). It is by Him that “...kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Proverbs 8:15-16). The Unlimited God, and not any earthly being, is the One with capacity to make a way where there is logically no road. He manifested this power in Exodus 14 when the army of Pharaoh pursued the Israelites knowing fully well that the path they took was a dead end, the Almighty God destroyed the barrier, opened the Red Sea and made an expressway for His children to pass - He made a way, where there was no way. He is a man of war (Exodus 15:3 cf Isaiah 43:19).

Prayer: Almighty God, you are the only help for the helpless, give me grace to trust only you and not repose my confidence in earthly vessels, in Jesus’ name.

THE NATION TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2015

59

NEWS Shagari urges peaceful elections •Dispels death rumour From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

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HE Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, yesterday dispelled rumours of his death.

The elder statesman urged Nigerians to give peace a chance for a more united and stabilised nation.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to give peace a chance, especially at this election period.”

The former president spoke at his Sama Road, Sokoto home where he addressed reporters to dispel the rumours of his death.

He said: “We must give priority to the prevalence of peace and unity in the country.”

Alhaji Shagari enjoined the citizens to put Nigeria above their selfish interests, saying: “God gives and takes leadership.”

His words: “Nobody should •Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director-General Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, officials and youth corps perpetrate or sponsor violence in the name of politics. Anymembers during a visit to the Sultan. body who does that is an enemy of the country.

“God has created Nigerians with diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We At press time five people should learn to accommodate HE one million APC members, who chanted From Abdulgafar man-march of the “change, change dole”. They were injured and are at the one another.”

Alabelewe, Kaduna All Progressives vented their anger on any- Barau Dikko Specialist Hosthing that had to do with the pital, Kaduna.

Congress (APC) to round off Operatives of the Kaduna its campaigns in the Kaduna porter showed that trouble PDP, pulling down its billFrom Kolade Adeyuemi, Kano metropolis was brought to a started as the march, which boards and tearing its post- State Security Outfit, Operation Yaki, arrived the scene IFE of the All standstill yesterday, as hood- was originally planned to ers.

The situation almost got and dispersed the warring Progressives Con- lums suspected to be of the kick-off from the Ahmadu From Kolade Adeyemi Kano Stadium, w a s out of control at the NEPA parties. gress (APC) presi- All Progressives Congress B e l l o Spokesman for the El-Rufai dential candidate, Gen. (APC) and the Peoples stopped by security agents Roundabout when some misIX million long-lasting Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC supporters creants, who were said to be Campaign Organisation, treated insecticidal nets were asked to move from APC supporters, tried to Samuel Aruwan, said their Aisha, has urged northerners clashed. are expected to be distribpeaceful road march was inscale the fence of the People were injured and there to the Kaduna Interto use their population uted in 44 local governments filtrated by PDP thugs, who Goodluck/Sambo Camstrength to vote out President the posters of President national Trade Fair Comin Kano State.

Goodluck Jonathan and the Goodluck Jonathan and Gov- plex on the Kaduna-Zaria paign office, but they were planned to cause chaos to Governor Rabiu Musa confronted by the PDP sup- portray APC and its goverPeoples Democratic Party ernor Mukhtar Ramalan Expressway.

Kwankwaso, who spoke yesnorship candidate in bad porters and this resulted in a Yero were destroyed.

This, The Nation learnt, did (PDP), on March 28. terday in Bunkure Local Govlight.

Investigations by this re- not go down well with the fight.

She said her husband would ernment when launching the emerge victorious at the polls, distribution of the nets, said following the support he had they were meant to reduce the received across the country. high rate of malaria.

Aisha, who was in Kano to The governor, represented mobilise women as part of the HE National Leader determined and create the lucky. by the Commissioner for From Kolade Adeyemi, “I’m extremely not only Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran campaign ahead of the presiof the All revolution with their PVCs. Kano impressed, but I am very Yusuf, said activities were cardential election, said alProgressives ConPlease vote for change.” though her husband is old, gress (APC), Asiwaju Bola at the highest price per barAsiwaju Tinubu hailed proud that we have a vision, ried out to ensure the conduct “he is fit, healthy and strong Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday rel ever experienced in the Governor Kwankwaso for a commitment for a vision of the exercise, which included enough to lead the country in Kano urged Nigerians to world and to plummet to what he described as un- and sincere value in this training of ad hoc workers, visit for the next eight years.” see the general elections as below 50 per cent and tak- common development be- government under Rabi’u to stakeholders, community She said a wind of change is a commonsense revolution. ing the country to recession ing witnessed in Kano un- Musa Kwankwaso.” mobilisation, among others.

The Governor enjoined blowing across the country, He advised them to use at the same time; and if you der his administration, notHe said malaria is a global Kano residents to use their adding that it is time for Presi- their Permanent Voter cast you mind back to a few ing that he was not only emergency, which affects dent Jonathan, his wife and Cards (PVCs) as a tool for years ago, governors and impressed but proud that PVCs wisely by voting for mostly children under five and family to vacate Aso Rock change. the entire population were such experience was coming APC candidates. expectant mothers, adding that He thanked Asiwaju about 3.3 billion of the world Villa, “as their days are numAsiwaju Tinubu, who ad- deceived about the excess from an APC Governor.

Tinubu for honouring his bered.”

Said he: “What I discovdressed reporters after in- crude. population are at risk of maHajia Buhari, who spoke at augurating Kano Corporate “You said you want to ered today during the inau- invitation and congratu- laria and an estimated 300-500 the Government House, Security Institute and other save for the rainy day, they guration is that security and lated the 1,130 graduating million cases occur globally, Kano, at a town hall meeting projects executed by Gover- said we are saving for sov- training are given priority; students of the institute for which makes the disease one organised for her to meet nor Rabi’u Musa ereign wealth—if there is a and not just an ordinary pri- being part of the training. of the major public health probwomen groups and represen- Kwankwaso’s administra- save for sovereign wealth ority in the area of just hu- He described them as ideal lems. tatives from Kano, Jigawa tion, enjoined Nigerians to and if there is a save for the man prospects, but youths. and Katsina states, said her vote with clean hands and rainy day—is it not a Tsu- organising a society, buildhusband was healthy to lead hearts for credible leaders. nami now to move from the ing a society to have confithe country to the promised He urged them to vote for exchange rate of 110 to 210, dence in themselves and be•Three dead in another accident land. the APC candidates to res- 220. What is the position of ing trained in modern dayShe decried the bashing of cue the country from socio- our foreign reserve? Where to-day challenges of our From James Azania, Lokoja the North by Dame Patience economic-cum political is the savings as regards the modern time, which will PUPIL of Covenant Secondary School, Lokoja, the Kogi Jonathan, who she noted al- quagmire created by the rainy day from the excess bring a lot of economic deState capital, died on Sunday and others sustained inlegedly described the region bad leadership of the crude oil account? Where is velopment. juries in an accident in the metropolis. as an enclave of the Almajiris, Peoples Democratic Party the sovereign wealth and “We all know that withThe deceased, Jalekaiye Dominion, reportedly died from urging the North to use its (PDP), led by President how much are they spend- out security, there can be no head injuries. His body has been deposited in the mortuary. massive population to vote Goodluck Jonathan. ing to support the naira ev- direct foreign investment The injured are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical out the PDP and its presidenand economic progress in His words: “My message ery week?

Centre (FMC), Lokoja. tial candidate.

“Why did they make a U- any society. In a state like is that they should see the It was learnt that 50 boarding pupils were on their way to Hajia Buhari promised forthcoming elections as a turn and move away from Kano that is very large, with school after a Sunday service at the Living Faith Church at Kano women that Gen. Buhari commonsense revolution; what they called the Dutch a high population density, Phase II when the crash occurred. and the APC would fulfil their commonsense revolution to auction and the manufac- vehicular density, According to an eyewitness account, a truck trying to avoid electoral promises and ini- reform, re-change, get re- turers that will keep the industrialisation is very a pothole on the Murtala Muhammed Way, hit the state mass tiate programmes that would lieve, ensure security of life economy buoyant and go- important; and to have to transit bus conveying the pupils to school, from the back. be favourable to them, mak- and property, eliminate ing are not being supported educate and develop the Three persons were said to have died and many sustained ing them to be self-reliant. corruption and deception, because they are having a skill of those who are to injuries in another accident at Felele, Lokoja.

“With Gen. Buhari in power, and ensure recovery of the low foreign exchange to provide security, intelliIt was said to have involved a cement company truck, which kidnapping and killing of in- economy. even support the factory gence information and be lost control and veered into a market, ramming into commernocent people will become “This is the first nation and the manufacturing in- able to cope with those chalcial motorcyclists conveying passengers from the market. history. With Gen. Buhari in that is moved from the dustries? These are the ar- lenges, the far-sightedness The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps power, the nation’s depress- platoon of economic pros- eas that Nigerians will of the government—in the (FRSC) could not be reached for confirmation on the phone, ing economy will be re- perity. For oil to be selling have to shine their eyes, be long-run, Kano has been as his line was unreachable. vived.”

Buhari’s wife to North: use your strength to vote out Jonathan

APC, PDP supporters clash in Kaduna

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Kwankwaso gives six million malaria nets

W

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Tinubu: see poll as commonsense revolution

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Pupil killed, others injured in crash

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NEWS EFCC clears Soludo of N750m Polymer contract scam Continued from page 4

Nigeria.”

On alleged watch-list foisted on the agency by the Presidency, Lamorde said there was no such document.

He expressed worries over the circulation of a fake letter purportedly from the office of the Chief of Staff to the President directing the Commission to investigate some political figures.

He said the list was unfounded and unfortunate.

He said the agency had made up its mind to remain neutral during the electioneering to avoid being accused of bias.

He said: "They said there is an order to arrest the leadership of the party. We do not want to get involved in any political discussion.

"We have tried to remain

neutral since the campaigns started. Let us do the last lap peacefully.

“I like to sound a note of warning here that the Commission will no longer tolerate people dropping its name to further their political ends.

The EFCC is not a political body and will not allow itself to be dragged into political fray by desperate politicians”, Lamorde warned.

“The EFCC does not need the prompting of anybody to open investigation against anyone that has violated the law. But it does the nation no good when politicians seek to use the name of the Commission to further their political objectives”.

The EFCC boss said the prosecution of politicians with cases in court will continue after the poll.

He said: "Corruption has become an issue in this political campaign. We cannot stop people from talking. The irony of it is that, some of them talking about corruption are standing trial. They are busy playing to the gallery. It is unfortunate. They do not see themselves first.

"Some of them have no business taking about corruption. They are corruption personified. We want to remind them that they still have their day in court.

"If the media had been covering these cases in court, these politicians would not have been talking? The criminal justice administration of the country has to be looked at. You cannot fast track criminal cases in court."

He asked Nigerians and government agencies to be-

ware of increasing activities of fraudsters including employment racketeers.

He said: “Many agencies of government are targeted by syndicates of fraudsters who send out false notices of recruitment and go ahead to demand fees from unsuspecting members of the public to process their applications.

“Another dimension to the scam is for the fraudsters to create a website, purporting to be a portal for employment processing.

"Such would include a phone number, which the job seeker is told to call. As soon as the job-seekers call, the fraudster begins to make financial demands, requesting the caller to deposit money in a particular bank account."

APC alleges PDP plans to re-enact ‘Ekiti rigging strategy’ Continued from page 4

be those donning fake uniforms and ranks, and their mandate will be to rig for the PDP and terrorise opposition members and supporters.

“They have also mobilised ethnic militias across the country; MASSOB in the Southeast; the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in the Southwest and ex-militants in the Niger Delta. Mobilised under the pretext

of a N9 billion pipeline contract, the marching order given to the ethnic militias is to destabilise the election in their respective regions, thus rendering it inconclusive. The highly disruptive and armed protest by the OPC in Lagos last Monday was a dress rehearsal for the plot.”

The Publicity Secretary said thugs have been trained in the Southwest,particularly Ondo and Ogun states, to disrupt the elections.

Urging the security agencies to rise to the occasion, Mohammed said: “In Ondo State, training was organised by the PDP leadership in Ilaje/Okitipupa zone. These thugs, numbering over 300, were given two weeks training in weapons use under a Commander/President called Miti.

They have now been moved in 12 buses to join the Ogun State Group from where they will be dispatched to other states in the Southwest, with arms.

“For the Northern part of the country, the plot is to deploy the Special Forces, who were trained in Belarus, to the liberated territories in the Northeast, ostensibly to hold the liberated territories. But, in reality, they are to rig the election for the PDP. Also, Vice President Namadi Sambo has met with security chiefs in Kaduna with a request that they must deliver 2 million votes to the PDP anyhow, with promises of mouth-watering incentives include cash and promotion.”

The party official alleged that the Inspector-General of Police and the Service Chiefs are also part of the plot to rig the elections.

He recalled that the Inspector-General has issued a strange and unlawful warning to voters to cast their votes and leave the polling units.

Mohammed said a similar order is expected to be issued by the Chief of Army Staff, ahead of the election, in a bid to harass and intimidate voters.

Urging voters to ignore unlawful directives, which are not supported by the Electoral Act, he said voters are free to defend their votes without disrupting the electoral process.

Mohammed added: “Without being disruptive, they should use their phone cameras to document proceedings at the various polling booths so that no one will tamper with their votes. All they are required to do is to conduct themselves peacefully.

“We will not accept accept a repeat of the Ekiti rigging strategy in any form, modified or not. Voters must not be harassed or intimidated and they must be allowed to defend their votes, as supported by the Electoral Act. Those who are bent on rigging the elections must know that Nigeria will be under a global spotlight on election day. No polling booth, no matter where it is located, will escape that spotlight.”

Mohammed thanked the United States and Britain for their commitment to free, fair, credible and violence-free polls in Nigeria as demonstrated in the article jointly written by US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Phillip Hammond.

He said: “We at the APC associate ourselves with that timely article in which the authors urged ‘all eligible Nigerians to vote, resist those who attempt to incite violence, and to come together as one country to defend the country against terrorist threats.

“Those planning to disrupt or rig the elections and instigate violence should heed the warning signals from the international community, as aptly conveyed by Mr. John Kerry and Mr Phillip Hammond, that ‘any person who incites violence at any stage in the electoral process, or who seeks power through unconstitutional means, should be held accountable and should understand that the consequences will be severe, both domestically and internationally.”

Court stops Jonathan from deploying soldiers for polls Continued from page 4

chise, so it will be beneficial to him.

“This court will not dabble in academic issues. The instance Originating Summons has merit. The court shall proceed to answer the questions for determination in favour of the plaintiff that the deploy-

ment of the armed forces by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth defendants during elections violate the provisions of the Constitution.

“Accordingly, the declaratory reliefs sought are granted.

Any militarised voting pattern is anti-democratic and not in consonance with constitutional democracy and civil rule.”

Small boys run hate campaign in PDP, says Mu’azu

•Mu’azu Continued from page 4

Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, who complained about the way some of the politicians have been speaking.

Ukiwe said: "First, I will encourage them to focus more on issues; what they want to do, the type of development they want to tackle. And to stop what looks like hate speeches or hate attack, personality attack and so on because that will only bring anger and retaliation as a result of which we may end up with a crisis we don't wish.

"There are fears that following the crisis already witnessed, there could be postelection violence like we witnessed in 2011 where more than 800 persons lost their lives. Do you have these fears?

"The purpose of this visit is to continue to hammer on peaceful co-existence to avoid any post-election violence. We don't want any violence, we don't want to lose our children, our brothers and sisters.

"It happened before and so whatever result that comes out of it, there should be no violence. I don't wish that we have violence and so I am also preaching against violence after this election.”

Ukiwe was accompanied by other members of the committee, among who were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, among others.

Kukah said: "This is Nigeria.

And it is important to understand our country and our people. As a Christian, my prayer is that all our anxieties will probably be laid to rest by the Lord of the Universe Himself.

"But on a more practical and serious note, Nigerians are probably far more resilient than we were giving them credit for. I expect that these elections will come and they will go.

"My real concern is not with ordinary Nigerians, it is with the politicians who may never have learnt how to smell defeat. And we have said all that needs to be said; about the fact that this country is more important than any politician."

Some of the most vicious campaigns is the “death wish” advertisement by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

Mu'azu?, said hate campaigns from PDP were carried out by "small boys" within the party who reacted to ?"antics" of the APC. Mu'azu said: "I want to assure you that the PDP will be running a very fair campaign led by me if you watch my utterances personally, you will find that there is nothing I do than to be a good salesman of what I should be, for my party and for my President. I have enough to say about my President that are positive to make people adore him and love him to vote for him. I have very little to say about the opposition.

“Unfortunately, when the opposition goes hay wire, some of our small boys in our own party also shout back.

And that is why you have some of the unfortunate things. Believe me, I always give them a very strong signal that we don’t expect that. This is why it is not more than it has been. It would have gone even much worse.

“It is absolutely unnecessary to call somebody’s product bad product, it is better for you to sell your product and show how good or better your product is than the others.

"For us, President Goodluck Jonathan has all we need to sell in a president and therefore we do not need to speak ill about others. But I only want to assure you that by the grace of the Almighty God we have heard your advice and your words as elders are words of wisdom.

"We will continue to improve and increase in our caution and the use of our words and whatsoever use of negative campaigns for the next few days until the election day.

"On our part, we will make sure we sit down with all the gentlemen and ladies that we need to talk to, so that there will be no further injuries from our own side to the others.

"We hope the other political parties will be able to give you equally important, their commitment to continuous peaceful and none-insulting campaign as we move towards the deadline for the presidential election".

"This is the kind of committee we need to be our watchdog, to be our prompters so that we do what is absolutely required to have a very credible peaceful and transparent elections and for such a result that would come out of the elections for us to be happy with.”

How military plans to intimidate Tinubu, others Continued from page 4

on election day.

The opposition has argued that the ruling party has the capacity to use the military to influence elections as it did with last year’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

The activities of the military in the Ekiti elections have come under focus since

the release of an audio on the plot to rig the poll, with Brig-Gen. Aliyu Momoh taking instructions from Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan, former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Iyiola Omisore and then PDP governorship candidate Ayodele Fayose on how to rig the election.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Israel accused at UN over Gaza war casualties

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HE scale of civilian deaths in Gaza during the 2014 war with Israel puts Israel’s adherence to international law in doubt, a UN official has said.

In his annual report, the special rapporteur also said many children were left traumatised by the 50-day conflict.

Israel and its ally the US were both absent from the debate at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.

Israel has previously accused the body of being biased against it.

It has insisted it did everything possible to avoid causing civilian casualties, and has accused Palestinian militants of putting non-combatants in harm’s way.

At the meeting, special rapporteur Makarim Wibisono criticised Israel’s conduct during the July-August conflict.

“The ferocity of destruction and high proportion of civilian lives lost in Gaza cast serious doubts over Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law principles of proportionality, distinction and precautions in attack,” he told the council.

He lamented “acute” needs in Gaza, warning that Israel’s continued “blockade keeps Gaza in a stranglehold which does not even allow people to help themselves”.

Israel says its tight restrictions over Gaza’s northern and eastern borders and coastline are vital to protect it from attacks by militants.

Parts of Gaza City were destroyed in the conflict last summer Also under discussion at the session is a report from the UN’s secretary general, which highlights the continued building of settlements in the West Bank, and alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians in the area.

About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

The report cites alleged incidents of settler violence and access of Palestinians to agricultural land as particular ar-

eas of concern.

In Israel, the foreign ministry told Reuters that the UN’s annual debate about human rights in Gaza and the West Bank “negatively singles out Israel and Israel every year asks its friends on the council not to express themselves”.

The Palestinians and Israel each accuse the other of committing war crimes during the 2014 conflict.

The war left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, the majority civilians, according to the UN. Tens of thousands of homes in Gaza were also destroyed or badly damaged.

On the Israeli side, 67 soldiers and six civilians were killed by militant attacks, which also caused damage to homes and other buildings.

Israel says the offensive was aimed at ending rocket fire and preventing militants attacking it via tunnels.

A UN inquiry into possible war crimes committed during the war was removed from the agenda of the current session of the UNHRC after the head of the team quit amid questions over his suitability to lead the investigation.

Canadian legal expert William Schabas had a “clear and documented bias”, Israel said, since he had previously done paid work for the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

The inquiry, now headed by former New York judge Mary McGowan Davis, will report back in June, although Israel says it should be disbanded altogether.

Ukraine exPresident’s son ‘drowns in lake’

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IKTOR Yanukovych fled to Russia in February 2014 after being toppled following mass protests The younger son of Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovych has drowned in Lake Baikal in Russia, reports say.

Ukrainian MP Nestor Shufrych confirmed to the BBC the death of the ex-leader’s son, who was also called Viktor.

Earlier Russian and Ukrainian media reports said he died after his vehicle fell through ice on Lake Baikal in the south of the Russian region of Siberia.

Reports say he had been taking part in a sporting event when the VW van plunged into the water.

Five other people in the vehicle escaped, Ukrainian news website Levvy Bereg quoted sources from his inner circle as saying.

Russian website RBK quoted local officials as saying the incident happened on Saturday, after the group drove on to the ice to take photographs.

Viktor Yanukovych Jr, 33, was known for his passion for extreme driving.

The death of Viktor Yanukovych Jr is the latest of several involving people with ties to the former president.

Oleksandr Peklushenko, a former regional governor, was found dead in Ukraine earlier this month in what authorities said appeared to be a suicide.

Five other officials also died in mysterious circumstances this year.

•A sculpture of a dinosaur is put in place in Wustermark, eastern Germany, where 40 dinosaurs will be on display from 31 March.

Kabul lynching: Hundreds protest against Farkhunda’s death

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EDIA caption Farkhunda was speaking for a more orthodox Islam, David Loyn reports Hundreds of Afghans have protested against the lynching of a woman who a crowd thought had burned the Koran.

The woman, Farkhunda, was beaten, hit by bats, stamped on, driven over, and her body dragged by a car before being set on fire.

The demonstrators called for justice and planted a commemorative tree.

Thirteen police officers have been suspended following allegations they failed to do

enough to stop the attack in central Kabul last week.

Protesters wore masks portraying the bloodied face of Farkhunda Her killing has triggered unprecedented public outrage Protesters demanded that the government prosecute all those responsible for her death Children joined the march Farkhunda, 27, is reported to have been a religious scholar Witnesses to the killing on Thursday said a crowd accused her of burning a copy of the Koran, but an official investigator said there was no evidence she did this.

“Last night I went through all documents and evidence

once again, but I couldn’t find any evidence to say Farkhunda burnt the Holy Koran,” General Mohammad Zahir told reporters at her funeral on Sunday. “Farkhunda was totally innocent.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has ordered an investigation into her death.

The attack, near the ShahDu-Shamshaira mosque and shrine, is thought to have been the first of its kind in Afghanistan.

A tree was planted at the spot where she was burned At her funeral, women’s activists carried the coffin, breaking with tradition as

Tunisian police chiefs sacked over museum attack

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UNISIA’S prime minister has sacked six police chiefs following last week’s attack on the famous Bardo Museum.

Habib Essid had noted several security deficiencies during a visit to the museum, his office said.

The Islamic State (IS) said it carried out the attack on the museum in the capital, Tunis, killing 23 people, mostly European tourists.

Two of the gunmen were killed by the security forces, while a third was on the run, the president said.

“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.

The attack was the deadliest in Tunisia since the uprising which led to the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine alAbidine Ben Ali in 2011.

Media caption “On Wednesday afternoon, I had my first cancellation. After I had another one in the evening and another one a day after” The police chiefs of Tunis and the museum were among those dismissed, Mr Essid’s spokesman Mofdi Mssedi told AFP news agency.

Mr Essebsi said 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.

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.

In an earlier interview with Paris Match, Mr Essebsi said that “shortcomings” in Tunisia’s security system meant “the police and intelligence services had not been thorough enough in protecting the museum”.

However, he added that the security services “reacted very efficiently” to the attack and had helped save dozens of lives.

Media caption Rached Ghannouchi tells the BBC that there is “no place for Daesh in Tunisia” 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 - the event that sparked the Arab Spring.

men usually perform that role.

Initial claims that the woman was mentally ill have been contradicted by both a relative and a neighbour, who said she was training to be a teacher.

Yemen protest flares THE conflict in Yemen could become “protracted in the vein of an Iraq, Syria, Libya combined scenario’’ the UN’s special envoy has warned.

Jamal Benomar was speaking as the Security Council met in New York to express support for ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Mr Hadi fled the capital Sanaa in February as Houthi rebels from the north tightened their grip on the city.

The rebels, who are Shia, have now taken Yemen’s third-largest city, Taiz.

In a video link from Qatar, Mr Benomar called for “peaceful dialogue” and warned that Yemen was on the “edge of civil war”.

The participation of Houthi rebels in talks was “crucial” he said.

Shortly afterwards, the 15member Security Council issued a statement giving unanimous support to President Hadi, who has sought refuge in the southern port city of Aden.

“The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen,” it said.

Media caption Who’s in charge in Yemen? Explained in 90 seconds In Taiz, residents took to the streets in protest at the Houthi occupation. One protester was killed as the rebels fired on them.

Instability has been growing in Yemen, where alQaeda and Islamic State sympathisers also pose a threat.

On Saturday, the US said it was withdrawing its troops from the country because of the worsening security situation.

The rebels declared a new government in February and said a transitional presidential council would replace President Hadi.

However, the Houthis are from the north, and their declaration has not been recognised by southern leaders.

Jonathan: Lee Kuan Yew’s example will inspire the world From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commiserated with the government of Singapore on the passing away of the founding father and former Prime Minister of the country, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, assured Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong and the people of Singapore that Nigeria stands in full solidarity with them as they mourn his legendary father who transformed Singapore from a small port city into a highly developed and prosperous centre of global enterprise.

It reads: “The President and people of Nigeria, for whom the globally acclaimed achievements of Singapore under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew have been a great source of inspiration over the years, join his compatriots and many admirers across the developing world in paying very well deserved tribute to the late Prime Minister who moved his country “from the third world to the first world” with immense wisdom, courage, resilience and perseverance.”

“In doing so, the late Lee Kuan Yew set a magnificent and enduring example for present and future world leaders to follow and President Jonathan believes that the iconic leader’s accomplishments in the service of his nation will continue to inspire positive development across the world for many years to come.” It added The President also urged the people of Singapore to take solace in the knowledge that Lee Kuan Yew will be remembered and honoured forever as a celebrated global citizen whose leadership style, writings, speeches and glorious example will eternally motivate leaders in government and private enterprise.

He prayed that God Almighty will grant Lee Kuan Yew’s soul eternal rest and comfort his family, people of Singapore and admirers in other countries of the world.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

NEWS Amaechi’s deputy Ikuru is Judas Iscariot, says Rivers APC

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IVERS State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, who defected on Sunday from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been likened to Judas Iscariot.

Rivers APC Chairman Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya said Ikuru’s defection would have no effect on the party’s chances of winning elections.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, Ikanya said: “The defection of erstwhile Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr.

‘His defection is PDP propaganda tool’

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HE defection of Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is designed to be used as a propaganda tool to shore up the party’s dwindling strength, a Third Republic politician, Chief Sam Erewari, has said.

Erewari spoke with reporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport. He said the PDP plans to arrange a gathering where Ikuru “will seat with hired persons who will pose as persons who are defecting with him with the aim of From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Tele Ikuru, from the APC to the PDP is good riddance to bad rubbish.

“Contrary to the thinking in some quarters, the defection of Engr. Tele Ikuru did not come to us as a surprise.

Rather than being shocked, we feel relieved that he is no more part of us, because Ikuru was a PDP mole in our midst all these while. Un-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

giving the impression that his defection brings along some electoral value”.

He added: “I have been told that the PDP is arranging a reception for the mole defector where some persons will be hired to sit with the deputy governor in such a way that he will introduce them as his followers to deceive the unsuspecting general public.”

Also reacting to the defection, the Local Government Caretaker Chairman

known to most people, Ikuru initially refused to leave PDP for APC with Governor Rotimi Amaechi in November 2013. However, after series of meetings with his uncle and political mentor, Chief Uche Secondus, the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, and some other PDP bigwigs, he was prevailed upon to follow his principal to the APC. “Engr Ikuru was asked to stay behind to monitor the activities of APC and most importantly to act as a mole for his uncle (Secondus, a former Rivers Chairman of PDP, who is from Andoni LGA as Ikuru) and plot the fall of APC in the state, a mission which he failed to accomplish, because APC is not just a party in Rivers State, but indeed a revolutionary movement fully embraced and jealously guarded by the people of the State.”

of Andoni, Hon Esuku Esuku, said Ikuru defected because he did not secure the APC governorship ticket as planned with his uncle, Prince Uche Secondus, adding that the APC would not lose any sleep as Ikuru’s electoral value in both the local government and the state is zero. He urged party faithful to remain steadfast and turn out enmasse to cast their votes for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for president and Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside for governor.

Ikanya disclosed that PDP and the deputy governor’s calculation was that Amaechi would be impeached by hook or crook, to clear the way for Ikuru’s assumption of office as governor.

Rivers APC chairman said: “In keeping with the plot of making Ikuru the substantive governor of Rivers State, PDP set in motion a machinery to use five misguided members of the state House of Assembly to impeach the Speaker, but the move was foiled by the Majority Leader, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, and other loyal members of the House. The plan was that after impeaching the Speaker (Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the five renegade lawmakers would go ahead to impeach Governor Amaechi and subsequently declare Engr. Tele Ikuru as the substantive governor.

“When this plot failed, Engr. Ikuru was asked to remain in APC, in the hope that the Presidency would somehow find a way to force Governor Amaechi out of office.”

As part of this plot, said Ikanya, the Presidency contrived a crisis with regard to the appointment of a Chief Judge for the state, but failed to actualise the appointment of a certain justice, who, he alleged, was expected to facilitate Amaechi’s impeachment.

“When this plot failed, the PDP resorted to the mobilisation of ex-militants from Bayelsa and Rivers states to protest in the state, in the hope that this would result in insecurity, to be used as an excuse by the Presidency to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and impose Engr. Ikuru as governor.”

Ikanya stated that when all the attempts by the PDP leaders failed, Ikuru was asked to remain in the APC, in the hope that the party would give him its governorship or senatorial (Rivers Southeast) ticket, but when the plan failed again, he noted that the deputy governor was urged to stay on and destabalise the APC in Andoni Local Government Area.

•Ikuru

The APC chairman said “Ikuru threw in the towel, as he was about to be called to account for anti-party activities, after asking his supporters not to attend the door-to-door rally held by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the APC’s governorship candidate in February 2015 and the women mobilisation organised by Dame Judith Amaechi, the wife of the Governor a few weeks ago.

“For some time now, Ikuru stopped attending to his official duties or follow us (APC leaders) to any of our campaigns or rallies. We are, therefore, expectedly relieved by his exit and wish to call on our teeming supporters not to shed tears, as the defection of Ikuru to the PDP will have no effect whatsoever on the fortunes of APC and its candidates in the forthcoming general elections in the state, instead to thank God for removing a ‘Judas Iscariot’ in our midst,” Ikanya said.

Wike, Obuah host Rivers deputy governor

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IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship

candidate Nyesom Wike and the party’s Chairman, Felix Obuah, yesterday in Port Harcourt, held a reception for Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru.

The Rivers deputy governor, at the reception, claimed that he was deceived and misguided by Amaechi into joining the APC in December 2013.

Ikuru said: “I must confess, we were deceived into thinking that the defection was in the interest of Rivers State.

We were misguided by the information that was presented to us. But as we went along, I discovered the truth of it all.

“My resignation (defection) speech said it all. I spoke from my heart. There was no iota of pretence in it. I did not intend to run anyone down. It is simply telling the truth. It is just that my heart could no longer take the drift in the APC. Now, I have come back to my original political family.

“I confess to someone this (yesterday) morning that for the first time in 18 months, I slept and woke up with the peace of mind. I say so because I can now stand with a clear conscience. I have now totally washed my hands of

‘If we allow what is happening now in Rivers State to continue, it will later come to haunt us, our children’ From Bisi Olaniyi, Port harcourt

the treachery of working against my state and region.

“If we allow what is happening now in Rivers State to continue, it will later come to haunt us, our children and our grandchildren, and may continue even up to the fourth generation. We must not allow this to happen in our time.

“For the sake of yourself, for the sake of your children, for the sake of your grandchildren and for the sake of your children that are unborn, let all true Rivers people come together to fight the evil at the gate. We must unite to defeat that evil.”

Ikuru stated that he could no longer go along with

Amaechi’s determination to stop President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, having come from the same Southsouth geo-political zone and Niger Delta.

He claimed that he and many elected politicians and political appointees in Amaechi’s government, who were uncomfortable with the Rivers governor’s defection from the PDP to the APC, allegedly kept quiet when the going was tough, for fear that all kinds of things could be done to them, if they spoke against what was going on.

Obuah, while receiving Ikuru, with a symbolic umbrella, the PDP’s symbol, handed over to him, claimed that more commissioners in Amaechi’s cabinet would soon defect from the APC to the PDP. Obuah noted that while he was willing to receive as many APC members who were willing to return to the PDP, he declared that he was not prepared to receive Amaechi, describing the defecting deputy governor as the real politician in the APC. Rivers Chairman of the PDP said: “Now that we have him (Ikuru), there will be no need to bother about Amaechi. We have the big fish (Ikuru) back in the PDP. We are now ready to go.”

63

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Lagos Open revelation Hassan gets call-up to AJC team

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HE revelation at the just International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open, Nurudeen Hassan has been called up to the Nigeria’s African Junior Championship (AJC) team.

The NationSport learned that the technical crew of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has included the 17 year-old in the team to the Mauritius Open and AJC. The tournament holds on April 3 to 12 in Mauritius.

Hassan won the hearts of the Nigerian coaches with his exceptional performance at the recently concluded Lagos Open.

The Union Bank Sports Club star endeared himself to the fans as well as the Nigeria’s technical crew.

His excellent display came to fore in the men’s U-21 singles when he nearly bundled out number two seed, Egypt’s Magdy Shady but his inexperience con-

•Hassan

By Olalekan Okusan tributed to him surrendering to the Egyptian, who also won the U21 title.

Hassan defeated one of Nigeria’s top local players, David Fayele in the first round of the men’s singles to make it to the round of 16 of the Lagos Open after finishing as the second best in his group, while the win over Fayele indeed boosted the confi-

dence of the teenager when he battled Egypt’s Mohammed ElBieali in the round of 16.

As a junior player, who never had the experience of playing at top level, he gave a good account of himself against El-Bieali. Despite falling to the North African, the fans at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium gave the young lad a standing ovation for his extra-ordinary performance in the tournament.

Fenerbache boss seeks support for Emenike

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ENERBACHE manager Ismail Kartal, has called on fans of the team to support Nigerian International Emmanuel Emenike, who is currently experiencing a goal drought that has seen him score just four times this season.

Kartal made the call after the team edged out Besiktas 1-0 in the derby, a game which saw Emenike walked off the pitch after been jeered by his own fans, only to be persuaded to go back on by the technical staff of the team.

Emenike missed a great chance early in the first half, to put Fenerbache ahead and was heckled by the home supporters afterwards.

The Nigerian international reacted by taking off his shirt and abandoning the game and if not for the intervention of manager Kartal and his technical staff, Emenike would have walked out on the game during the first half.

Kartal eventually managed to convince Emenike to put his shirt back on and return

to the game before he was eventually substituted in the second half.

“Emenike is a great guy but he is emotional, he wants to score more than anyone but he needs the support of the fans,” Kartal told Lig TV. “The fans need to start backing him, he needs their support.”

•Emenike

Glo extends sponsorship pact with Manchester United

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IGGEST supporter of football in Africa and Nigeria’s National Telecoms Carrier, Globacom, has extended its sponsorship pact with English Premiership giants Manchester United for another five years.

The deal which makes Globacom the club’s Official Integrated Telecommunication Partner for Nigeria, Ghana and the Republic of Benin was first signed in 2009. The partnership which expired last year has now been renewed and will last until 2019.

Globacom has since the 2009 agreement, worked with Manchester United on a number of exciting promotional ac-

tivities including the Recharge and Go to Old Trafford Promo.

Over 100 Globacom subscribers benefited from this promo and were taken to the Theatre of Dreams, which is Manchester United Stadium, to watch the team’s home games in the Barclays Premier League and the European Champions League.

There was also the Glo Soccer Academy, a reality TV show created by Globacom, to give aspiring young footballers in West Africa the opportunity to win a trip to the United Kingdom to train with Manchester United Soccer Schools coaches.

The extension of the partner-

ship coincides with the release of Manchester United’s new Club app which will be made available on App. stores in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic. The App. offers fans the latest club news, exclusive videos, match highlights, live ingame updates, player profiles and much more.

Commenting on the extension of the partnership with Glo, Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold, said, “Manchester United is pleased to be extending its relationship with Globacom. Over the past six years, the partnership has given ambition and inspiration to the youths of West Africa.

Gateway through to Ogun Fed Cup semi-final

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ATEWAY United Football Club is through to the semi

final of the ongoing Ogun state Federation Cup Competition.

Playing in the first quarterfinal match, the Bode Awakan-tutored side thrashed Shelter FC of Abeokuta by 5 goals to nil at

the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

Opeoluwa Olufemi scored a brace while Kanu Wisdom, Tony Omaka and Francis Olanrewaju scored a goal each.

Gateway who won last year's state edition of the competition will meet Indomie FC of Ota in the

semifinal.

The Nigeria National League side caused sensation in last season's National Federation Cup by getting to the quarter-finals stage of the competition beating top clubs like league champions Kano Pillars, Bayelsa United and FC Abuja on its way to the last eight .

Kwara boss revels in brilliant start to NPFL season

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ENERAL Manager of newly promoted NPFL side Kwara United FC of Ilorin Haruna Megidansanma has assured fans of the club to expect more positive results.

The Afonja Warriors have picked up five points since the start of the season with the addition of a point picked up on the road after a 1-1 draw was played against

Wikki Tourist FC over the weekend.

In a chat with footballlive.ng, Megidansanma stated that the team will keep improving and keep getting better. The Ilorin based topflight side has picked up a win and two draws on the road in the current campaign.

“I think people should expect success and even better perfor-

mances and we’ll continue to make appraisals. All in all, we know that in time, the team will be in good shape in terms of the players” Kwara United are fifth on the log table behind El Kanemi Warriors FC and Gabros International in third and fourth respectively while Taraba FC leads the log with seven points and Heartland in second spot with six points

TODAY IN THE NATION

‘It would take a most egregious rigging for Jonathan to prevail in this election. That is clear from the geopolitical balance of numbers and spread’ TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3163

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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Y the time we meet again on this page next Tuesday, the presidential election – dare we hope?–would have been won or lost The thrill of victory will be ringing harmoniously in one camp and across its political base, and the agony of defeat will perfuse the other camp and its base. In one camp there will be rejoicing and in the other mourning; in the one, celebration and in the other, lamentation and recrimination.

A great deal of re-positioning, to borrow the locution careerists so readily employ to justify their fecklessness – a scramble, the like of which Nigeria has never seen, will be well under way, with elements of the losing party denouncing it with the same or even greater fervor than that with which they had supported it and defecting en masse to the winning party, which they will hasten to canonize as the only one that can “move the country forward.”

Contemplating this latter scenario, a leading expatriate Nigerian academic whose insights and judgment I respect tells me he is substantially sure that, if the APC wins, the foul-mouthed, equal-opportunity slanderer, Femi Fani-Kayode, will dump the PDP without hesitation and without regret, and begin singing the praises of the new people with even greater fervor than he had employed as media director of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign in skewering them.

All this is of course assuming what cannot be assumed even at this point, namely, that the election will actually take place as scheduled.

Leading personalities across the political divide are saying they cannot vouch that an election will actually take place on March 28. The Jonathan administration, I gather, is still shopping around for a court judge who would consider a multi-billion Naira reward worth the risk of declaring General Muhammadu Buhari ineligible for the race.

It is also shopping around, by the way, for a judge who will, for very valuable consideration, prohibit the use of electronic card readers during the election.

The national security apparatus, Dr Jonathan’s confederates in administering Nigeria as a police state, may yet come up with another excuse to warrant yet another postponement. Don’t forget that they had requested that the poll be pushed forward by six weeks in the first instance to allow them crush Boko Haram.

We are still in that first instance. And with vast tracts of Nigerian territory yet to be recaptured from the marauding insurgents, who says that there cannot be a second instance, or a third?

Nor can it be assumed, despite Dr Jonathan’s stout denial, that the “Interim

RIPPLES

Soyinka: I’ve 60 REASONS WHY I WON’T VOTE FOR JONATHAN

ONLY 60?...GOD KNOWS I HAVE 60 TIMES 60 REASONS

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The home stretch, finally?

•Dr. Jonathan

•Gen. Buhari

Government” option is no longer under active consideration. The former military president and self-proclaimed “evil genius,” General Ibrahim Babangida, who was reportedly awarded the contract for the scheme, may swear by anything he holds dear, but nobody will believe him. He lacks a crucial attribute that his unexplained billions cannot buy: credibility.

He has been peddling the scheme and may yet find a buyer.

I hope they are factoring Chief Ernest Shonekan into the scheme. As the only Nigerian who has the experience of actually running an interim government, he is eminently qualified to head the scheme. It lasted only 83 days, I grant. But I am sure he learned all the appropriate lessons. So that, if summoned to national service again, he may well be able this time around to transform the interim into the interminable.

Nor should anyone be fooled by Dr Jonathan’s frenetic pace these days as he flies

to far-flung places to buy support from traditional rulers and ethnic militias. It is almost as if he has just discovered Nigeria. His wife, Madame Patience Faka, is criss-crossing the country seeking – no, I take that back – demanding support for Dr Jonathan, sowing coarse and vulgar abuse and the most delicious infelicities along her route.

It is unsafe, I insist, to conclude from all this coming and going that the presidential election will actually take place. “Betwixt the cup and the lip,” says an English proverb, “there’s many a slip.”

Whatever happens, the election campaign will go down as the dirtiest, ugliest, and the most indecent in Nigeria’s history. It was not entirely devoid of ideas, but the ideas were crowded out by fear-mongering, character assassination, incitement, ethnic-baiting and hateful speech on a scale beyond belief. As the perceptive Kayode Komolafe of ThisDay remarked, some combatants carried on as if the law of defamation was on vacation.

I would add that it was almost as if the civil law relating to invasion of privacy and the criminal law relating to incitement were also on vacation.

There is more than enough blame to go around, but it has to be said it was the PDP’s national secretary, Wale Oladipo, who cast the first stone when he dismissed General Muhammadu Buhari as a “semi-literate jackboot.”

Though Oladipo has the formal designation of professor of Nuclear Analytical Techniques at the Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD) at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, his antecedents at first blush seem as dodgy as Dr Jonathan’s doctoral dissertation.

At this writing, he does not figure on CERD’s web site. My Internet search turned out more information about him as PDP national secretary than about his scholarship in the arcane field of particle physics.

HARDBALL

R

ICHARD Grenell, a spin doctor, would appear President Goodluck Jonathan’s last scarecrow, in a virago-like electioneering that started with hate; and is set to end with fear-mongering.

So, why not end it in a final hysteria of putative Islamization, to give the doomed Jonathan campaign some satanic bounce?

That appears the Grenell shot.

But it is no cold comfort at all, that Mr. Grenell, reportedly a spokesperson of four US ambassadors to the United Nations, sounded so green — both in the rigour and logic of his write-up for Washington Times, and in his understanding of Nigeria’s culture and politics.

Might his paranoid piece, on the March 28 presidential election, be a happy result from the Jonathan government’s overseas PR? Maybe!

Titled “Nigeria on the brink”, and given its wish-washy logic, would it be fair to say Mr. Grenell is guilty of the famed American ignorance on just about anything outside their vast near-continent country?

Or, if the writer’s sour grape about how a reported opposition PR consultancy contract, allegedly awarded Alex Axelrod, which allegedly drove the Obama government’s not-toofriendly attitude to Nigeria’s extant order, could this be Mr. Grenell’s counter PR consultancy, to help the nervy Jonathan government?

These questions are imperative the way Mr. Grenell mixed up his facts, played around with

Grenell, the last scarecrow outright fiction and half-truth, and came to the fantastic conclusion that a Buhari Presidency, should he win on March 28, would give ISIS and allied terrorists a bigger window to play in Africa via Nigeria!

Blessed are those who live in blissful ignorance! But cursed are those who, taking dubious contracts, build a dire scenario that exists only in their dollarized psyches! Whichever of the two categories Mr. Grenell falls into, Hardball is not sure. But the submission in his piece is the stuff of which concentrated mischief is made.

Briefly, Grenell holds that Gen. Buhari is an alleged Boko Haram sympathiser. How? Because he had personally been named by Boko Haram as putative negotiator, with the Jonathan government. But did Mr. Grenell know Gen. Buhari turned down that invitation? Of course, that was not necessary! The selective amnesia in the Grenell mind somehow also plagued Godswill Akpabio, the PDP governor of Akwa Ibom, who made the same mischievous charge at the PDP Governors’ electioneering sortie to Lagos!

Another Grenell claim: “He [meaning Buhari] is not known to have openly condemned the group or offered any advice to the government.

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

Even his home page, such as it is, says nothing about his education and the universities he attended.

Perhaps Oladipo is not the type who blows his own trumpet. But settling for such a desultory identity as secretary of the PDP – even if it is still the largest political party in Africa — when he may well belong up there with Ernest Rutherford and Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg and Max Planck is carrying coyness too far.

As they say here, Man, if you’ve got a trumpet, blow it; blow it hard and blow it often.

Otherwise, it will get rusty.

To return to the election: Mrs Jonathan has been ordering her fellow women to vote for her husband because more than onethird of the senior officials he has appointed are women, whereas Buhari did nothing for Nigerian womanhood when he held power for 2o months some 30 years ago.

Stop throwing stones (no pun intended) when you live in a glass house.

Was it not under her husband’s watch that about 230 girls were plucked from their hostel in Chibok and spirited to places unknown? For ten precious days, her husband not only failed to rouse himself to launch a rescue effort, he was actually in denial, claiming that that the whole thing was another propaganda stunt by the Opposition to discredit his administration.

And by way of support, Mrs Jonathan personally conducted on national television an inane inquisition seen and ridiculed around the world, blaming the school authorities for what was a failure of security, a failure of anticipation, and most crucially a failure of leadership – her husband’s leadership Two hundred and thirty young women unaccounted for under Dr Jonathan’s watch.

That is an entire generation. Then, there are the tens of thousands of Nigerians lost to Boko Haram violence without serious challenge until lately, under a Commander-inChief whose primary duty is to protect the lives and property of citizens. Then again, there are the millions of so-called internally displaced persons, refugees in their own country.

Dr Jonathan has not indicated what he would do differently if elected. In six years when money was not a serious problem, he succeeded only in patching the Lugard-era Lagos-Kano railway line. Now that money is tight, he is promising to link all 36 state capitals by rail if re-elected.

Desperation truly knows no bounds.

A vote for Dr Jonathan is a vote for more of the same, for Continuity.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Really — even after elements suspected to be Boko Haram made an assassination attempt on him? But even assuming that Gen. Buhari has not “offered any advice to the government”, has his All Progressives’ Congress (APC) party not done so?

And the charge that Buhari wanted Sharia implemented all over the country — is the writer diplomatically blind, deaf and dumb to the Buhari consistent refrain that Sharia could not be applied nationwide simply because it had to do with family and inheritance matters, among Muslims? Perhaps Mr. Grenell has been too busy to know that, even as military Head of State, Buhari resisted Nigeria joining the Organisation of Islamic States (OIC)?

Ambassador Grenell’s latest tar job is only a regurgitation of the PDP anti-Buhari Islamization campaign, that nevertheless floundered, simply because the General picked Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, a Law professor and Pentecostal pastor, as his running mate.

So, Mr. Grenell’s disingenuous scarecrow practically calling on the Obama government to help rally Jonathan in the election (but how) is a laughable fig, founded on combative ignorance.

Still, the Grenell vomit was sheer music to Jonathan sympathisers, the way they splashed it as front page advert in This Day on Sunday (March 22).

Nice try! But only Mars-living Nigerians would believe such nonsense.

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