March 27, 2015

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•Hoodlums shoot at Amaechi’s convoy in Port Harcourt •AND •Soldiers lay siege to Oshiomhole’s country home MORE ON •Mimiko’s deputy Olanusi dumps PDP for APC PAGES 2,7&8 •Court restrains military from arresting Tinubu

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Buhari: I’m not in the race for money and power APC candidate worried about misuse of military

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is worried about what he calls the government’s penchant for misusing the military.

Speaking yesterday at a news conference in Abuja, Gen. Buhari urged his supporters to shun violence during tomorrow’s presi-

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

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

dential and National Assembly elections.

Gen. Buhari also said that he was not contesting the election because of power and money, but because of the belief by Nigerians that he is in a position to lead them out of despair.

He thanked Nigerians for their support throughout his campaign and urged them to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the elections.

They must resist “any act of deliberate provocation to derail the fast moving train of change”.

He said the democracy being practised in the country is

not what Nigerians bargained for when they celebrated the end of military rule in 1999, pointing out that the basic challenges facing Nigerians today are: the economy, insecurity, unemployment and

•March of 28 Editorial P.19

corruption. These challenges demand competence and political will to handle, he added.

Gen. Buhari said: “I specifically called this press conference to thank millions of Nigerians for their support and their enthusiastic commit-

‘

I am particularly overwhelmed that despite the sustained smear campaigns against me by the ruling PDP, the support Nigerians have for me has remained intact

’

ment to the imperative of change. I am particularly overwhelmed that, despite the sustained smear campaigns against me by the ruling PDP, the support Nigerians have

for me has remained intact.

The enthusiasm of Nigerians for change is understandable.

“The 16 years of PDP administration is a story of despair, despondency, disillusionment and pervasive fear, caused by unprecedented insecurity. The basic functions of the governments, such as the security, welfare and happiness of the citizens, appear only on paper.

“It is morally wrong for any government that has woefully failed in these basic responsibilities to demand or expect another mandate from the disillusioned citizens of Nige-

•Gen. Buhari

Card Reader’s supplier held •How PDP plans to rig, by APC

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yes-

terday alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the general elections, warning that it

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 4

JONATHAN VS BUHARI

HOW STATES WILL VOTE •PAGES 4,5,54,55&60

•AGRIC P13 •BRAND P15 •SPORTS P24 •SOCIETY P42•CITYBEAT P52 •FOREIGN P57

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THE NATION FIRDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NEWS Mbaka’s account frozen •We’re not involved, says EFCC

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•Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc Jim Ovia with GMD/CEO Peter Amangbo (left) and Executive Director, Adaora Umeoji, at the 24th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bank at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island , Lagos...yesterday.

Hoodlums shoot Amaechi’s convoy in Port Harcourt

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ARELY 24 hours after the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, raised the alarm that a plot to assassinate him was on, his convoy was yesterday attacked in Port Harcourt.

Thugs, who are suspected to be working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fired gunshots at his convoy.

Amaechi met at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday morning with the caretaker chairmen of the 23 local government areas and other stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers Governor, David Iyofor, said in a text message at 7:33 p.m. yesterday: “Gunshots fired at Governor

•Soldiers lay siege to Oshiomhole’s country home From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Amaechi. This (yesterday) evening, gunshots were fired at the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Rumuolumeni (Port Harcourt), Obio/Akpor LGA (of Rivers State) by PDP thugs. Obio/Akpor LGA is the home of PDP Rivers governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike (an indigene of Rumueprikom).

“The thugs attacked the governor and his entourage with bottles, stones and various dangerous objects.

Then, gunshots were fired at the governor.

“For now, two APC supporters are confirmed

injured and bloodied. When the governor was leaving the community, a bonfire was set up on the road to prevent him from leaving. More gunshots were fired at his convoy.

Governor Amaechi was on a door-to-door ward campaign in the state.”

Police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said he was still trying to get the details.

Amaechi, raising the alarm that his life was under threat, said he would not leave Nigeria, as advised and would vote for all the candidates of the APC. Commissioner for

Information and Communications Mrs. Ibim Semenitari last night in Port Harcourt said: “The PDP in Rivers State has concluded plans to launch house-to-house attack on APC chieftains in the state, with the aid of security personnel.

“The APC wishes to draw the attention of the police and other security agents to this unwholesome development on the eve of the election scheduled for March 28. It is more worrisome seeing that a few days ago, a team of security personnel visited Governor Amaechi’s hometown to carry out a Continued on page 60

I’m not in the race for money, power, says Buhari Continued from page 1

ria.

“The PDP administration has exhausted all its goodwill and lost all the argument on performance and competence and is, as a result, seeking to retain power at all costs, regardless of performance. This is a shameless reflection of desperation and greed for power. A government that abandoned its citizens to their fate has no reason to remain in office a day longer than necessary.

“I am pleased to say that the best judges of a government’s performance are its own citizens. The popularity of the PDP is at the lowest ebb, and

this shrinkage of goodwill is irretrievable. Nigerians are desperately yearning for change as they enthusiastically look forward to tomorrow, Saturday March 28, and April 14 to exercise their franchise by voting for change.

“Nigerians are desirous of change because they don’t want the continuation of their present miserable existence under PDP’s ruinous rule.

They are tired of a government of failed promise, and are earnestly marching ahead to embrace a government that loves the welfare of its citizens.

“The presidential election this Saturday, March 28, 2015,

presents a great opportunity for Nigerians to come out enmasse and vote to remove an incompetent government from office. The beauty of democracy is that it gives power to the people to change the government peacefully.

“We thank all Nigerians for their support, but we urge all our supporters to come out and vote on Saturday. If they don’t vote, it may be difficult to change their miserable conditions. I urge all our supporters to also conduct themselves peacefully, and resist any act of deliberate provocation to derail the fast-moving train for change.

I urge my supporters and

my party to show exemplary conduct of orderly behaviour.

They must avoid anything that might make them play into the hands of the PDP mischief makers, who are determined to discredit our party.

“As a people, this is not the kind of democracy we bargained for when we celebrated the end of military rule in May 1999. The basic challenges facing Nigerians today are: the economy, insecurity, unemployment, and corruption.

These challenges demand competence and political will to handle.

“Nigeria is adrift under the current PDP administration.

Continued on page 60

LL the bank accounts of Enugu Catholic Priest of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, have been frozen.

Sources traced the action to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They claimed that the EFCC operatives who carried out the operation were detailed from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Mbaka was also said to have been asked to report at their Port Harcourt office on an unspecified date.

Mbaka's media aide, Maximus Ugwuoke said: "All the cheques issued to the banks today (yesterday) were returned. We don't know why they decided to use EFCC operatives from Port Harcourt while the zonal headquarters is here in Enugu. " The media aide said the action might not be unconnected with the December 31, 2014 message

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Chris Oji, Enugu

in which Fr. Mbaka criticised President Jonathan's administration.

The priest had also raised the alarm that his life was being threatened But the EFCC denied freezing the bank account of the fiery priest.

Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, in a statement last night, said: "The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media claiming that the Commission had frozen the accounts of Enugu-based Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Mass fame.

"The Commission wishes to state that there is no truth in the report and should be discountenanced.”

Card Reader’s supplier held Continued from page 1

could be catastrophic.

The party also decried the incessant harassment and intimidation of its members across the country by PDP officials and candidates, using security agencies, which are supposed to be non-partisan and professional in the discharge of their duties.

APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed told reporters in Lagos that PDP chieftains were plotting to manipulate the exercise out of desperation.

He said the rigging strategies include the plan to manipulate the card readers, use of fake security agents and recruitment of thugs to disrupt voting.

Mohammed stressed: “Out of the desperation to win the elections at all costs, the PDP has perfected a number of strategies to rig the elections, especially in the North and in the Southwest. In one last desperate move, one Alhaji Sani Musa, the owner of ACT Tech-

nologies, the company that supplied the PVCs and the card readers, has been arrested and detained by DSS officials since Tuesday.

“Perhaps, the agents of the ruling party believe he may have the codes for the card readers, which is preposterous. Alhaji Musa has also been accused of colluding with the APC to rig the elections, which is totally false, because we at the APC do not subscribe to rigging under any guise.

“Another strategy is to deploy bandits in uniform to polling units to disperse voters by force, after voter accreditation must have been completed using the Card Reader. While that is going on, armed police and soldiers will then come in, ostensibly to chase away the bandits and evacuate INEC officials and voting materials. After evacuating them to ‘safety’, they will then coerce the electoral officials to allow them, secuContinued on page 60

FAYOSE, NOT FAYEMI In our story tittled ‘IBB lashes First Lady, Fayose, Fani-Kayode for hate campaigns published on page four yesterday, we mistakenly referred to Dr. Kayode Fayemi as Ekiti State governor.The paragraph should have read: “Although Babangida did not mention names, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council spokesperson Femi Fani-Kayode, have been criticised by many for championing hate campaign.” The error is regretted. — Editor

Otuoke eager to receive Jonathan

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NDIGENES of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayela State are eagerly awaiting the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The president is expected to arrive in his home town today ahead of tomorrow’s general elections.

But there were no soldiers or riot policemen on the streets – unlike many others in the other parts of the country which have been swarmed by troops.

Residents are confident that their “brother” and “son” will be victorious at the polls.

Around the town, posters and banners of President Jonathan and his running mate, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, are at various locations.

There were some last-minute street campaigns for the president. Vehicles with speakers mounted on them drove through the Otuoke Road with the announcers urging people to come out en masse and vote.

From Mike Odiegwu and Joseph Jibueze, Yenegoa

A few campaign materials in circulation also urged residents to vote Jonathan.

One of them reads: “Game over, let the truth be known.

Vote Jonathan/Sambo 2015 and say yes to democracy and no to autocracy. Sustain the Jonathan victory, come out en mass on election day.”

A resident, Rose Ogbeifun, smiled broadly when asked who she would vote for.

“Jonathan of course; he’s our brother,” she said.

A technician, who simply gave his name as Jude, said: “I will vote for my brother Jonathan. I have my PVC and I am ready for Saturday.”

Another resident, James Sawyer, said he was confident Jonathan would carry the day.

“Some said he has not performed. But whether he performed or not, I will vote for him. I know everyone in Bayel-

sa will vote for him. He’s our son and brother,” he said.

With one of its illustrious sons as the nation’s president, Otuoke, home to a Federal university – courtesy of the Jonathan administration - has etched itself on the world map.

The Ijaw, Niger-Delta town, is about 21 kilometres south of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and 120 kilometres west of the famous seaport of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Governor Seriake Dickson has declared today a work-free day.

A statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Daniel IworisoMarkson, said the holiday was to enable eligible voters travel to their communities in the remote riverine areas and other distant parts for the elections.

The governor said the decision was also to enable voters participate in the accreditation at their registered polling centres, given the peculiar terrain

of the state.

He urged the people to turn out en mass, to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

Dickson explained that the directive affected only all offices in the state, aside from financial institutions.

According to him, the government has constituted a special committee to ensure compliance in both public and private offices. He enjoined employers to show some understanding.

The governor said: “It has become imperative to ensure a maximum voter turnout to reelect President Goodluck Jonathan.”

He stressed that the task had become a matter of state interest, “as the President is a son of Bayelsa”, and urged Bayelsans to vote massively, as they would have the rare privilege and honour to make history.

To forestall violence on the election day, he directed that

no boat or river craft of any description would ply the waterways for two nights, beginning from 7pm today to 8am on Saturday morning and Saturday 7pm to 8am on Sunday.

Only vessels on essential duties and emergency cases would be allowed to ply the waterways during the period.

It was learnt that Bayelsa State was yet to receive all the electoral materials for the polls.

The sensitive materials were said to have arrived in PortHarcourt on Wednesday night but could not get to Bayelsa because of heavy rainfall.

At the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Yenagoa, people who applied to work for the electoral agency, were scrambling to know whether they had been shortlisted for the jobs.

While the lists of supervisory presiding officers for Ogbia, Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw

•Dr. Jonathan

were pasted, those of other local government areas were being awaited.

Also, lists of presiding officers for the election had not been released.

But the Resident Electoral Commissioner Mr. Baritor Kpagih, said the commission had received all the materials and was prepared to conduct the elections.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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NEWS COUNTDOWN TO MARCH 28...ONE DAY TO GO

Jonathan versus Buhari: Nigerians will file out in their millions tomorrow to vote in presidential elections that could transform the political landscape for decades. In this final installment of our comprehensive reports tracking developments in the race, SUNDAY EDITOR FESTUS ERIYE, MANAGING EDITOR YUSUF ALLI, ASSOCIATE EDITOR SAM EGBURONU, ASSISTANT EDITOR DARE ODUFOWOKAN, ASSISTANT EDITOR REMI ADELOWO AND SUNDAY OGUNTOLA highlight the latest realities and project likely outcomes in the 36 states and the FCT.

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ESS than 60 million of Nigeria’s estimated 170 million population will tomorrow choose the nation’s next president. One week to the day the first ballots would be cast, the Indepenedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) put the total number of registered voters at 68,833,476. Out of this only 56,431,255 permanent voter cards (PVCs) had been collected. This represents 82% of total cards and is a relatively high figure when compared with previous elections.

Before the February 7 postponement the momentum was clearly on the side of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and a loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan has confessed that that was a key factor behind the six-week shift pushed through by the Presidency.

The extension was supposed to enable Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regain the initiative. In that period the president, governors and campaign team virtually relocated to the South West – courting traditional rulers and others with a shower of dollars. The Gani Adamsled OPC took to Lagos streets brandishing guns and vandalizing All Progessives Congress (APC) billboards. First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan barnstormed throughout the country rallying women for her husband. Critically, the armed forces in collaboration with the multinational force from Cameroon, Chad and Niger chased Boko Haram insurgents out of most towns they had occupied in the North-East.

But not even the successful military campaign has altered the dynamics of the race in the North and across the country. The fundamentals remain largely the same for Jonathan and his challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The emerging electoral map shows a collapse of the voter base that swept Jonathan to power in 2011. At the election, the incumbent took the three Southern zones and North-Central. In 2015 he’s being restricted to the SouthSouth, South-East and pockets of North-Central.

Buhari on the other hand won in the North-West and North-East in 2011 but lost woefully down South. This year his support base has dramatically improved. In addition to retaining his grip across in the two zones he took four years ago, this time around he’s projected to sweep North-Central and South-West. This will give him four of the country’s six geopolitical zones – a clear pathway to power.

A status report on the presidential contest from zone to zone and state to state follows – beginning with the North-West.

NORTH-WEST The PDP controls the state governments in Kebbi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna. This

notwithstanding, the sentiments across the zone is largely pro-Buhari. His personal popularity is reinforced by the regional clamour for power-shift to the North. In 2011, the general running under the relatively untested Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) swept the zone. Now he’s running on a far stronger platform. Crucially, the zone with the biggest vote haul in the country is Buhari’s home turf.

Four years ago Buhari garnered 6,453,437 votes as against Jonathan’s 3,395,724 votes in the entire North-West zone.

KEBBI The tide is much more in favour of APC because many stalwarts or match-winners of PDP have defected to the opposition. They include leaders like ex-FCT Minister, Adamu Aliero, Sen. Muhammadu Magoro, Bala Na’Allah, Suleuiman Mohammed Argungu and even APC governorship candidate, Sen. Atiku Bagudu.

The situation has degenerated to the extent that angry citizens of the state now heckle Governor Saidu Dakingari at rallies. To win election, most candidates of PDP for National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections have refused to identify openly with Jonathan.

In 2011, Buhari running as the CPC’s candidate won 501,453 votes to defeat Jonathan who polled 369,198 votes in the state. So far 1.4 million PVCs out of the state’s registered voter base of 1.5 million have been distributed.

Verdict: APC wins.

SOKOTO Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the APC are gaining more ground in the state. Known as “Alu Sai Alu”, Wamakko strongest points are ability to relate freely with the poor at the grassroots; ability to deliver on his promises; and a performance which has overshadowed the records of his predecessors, especially ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa. The internal crisis in PDP has buoyed the governor and APC’s chances of coasting to success.

As at press time, thousands of supporters of Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari had chosen to work for APC rather than the party’s governorship candidate, Ambassador Abdallah Wali.

Out of the 1,659,044 Permanent Voter cards (PVCs) received by the Sokoto State INEC, 1,571,000 have so far been distributed. This might be indicative of heightened voter interest this time around. In 2011 voter turnout was a poor 40.1%. In that election Buhari prevailed over Jonathan by 540,769 to 309,057 votes.

Verdict: APC victory.

KADUNA The disastrous campaign outing of the PDP presidential campaign train to the state indicated that the party is unpopular in the state. With some empty seats at the stadium and the shout of Sai Buhari, President Jonathan and members of the PDP presidential Campaign team were rat-

•How they stand now

tled. Findings revealed that APC and Buhari are in control of the northern part of Kaduna like Zaria and Lere.

The opposition has always controlled the Central Senatorial District too especially Birnin Gwari, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Igabi.

Disunity is the bane of PDP in the state with 80 per cent of supporters and loyalists of ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi defecting to APC. The spate of killings in Southern Kaduna, the removal of the former GMD of NNPC, and the sack of a former chairman of SURE-P, Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) might make it difficult for PDP to retain its grip on the state.

The anger in Southern Kaduna against the PDP is much and it will be difficult for Jonathan to assuage it. To add to the burden of PDP, the choice of the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Arc. Barnabas Bala Bantex has made the ruling party in the state to run helter-skelter. Bantex is loved by the people of Southern Kaduna and he is said to be a rallying point for them Unfortunately for the President, he is being careful in directly intervening in the party’s affairs in Kaduna State because it is the domain of his deputy.

The race appears headed towards victory for APC unless Vice-President Namadi Sambo overhauls his party’s campaign machinery.

In 2011, running on a very new platform, Buhari beat the PDP’s Jonathan here with 1,334,244 to 1,190, 179 votes.

As many as 3,145,037 out of Kaduna’s 3,414,250 registered voters have picked up their PVCs. Verdict: APC to win.

ZAMFARA Ex-Governor Sani Yerima and his political son, Abdulaziz Yari, have continued to enjoy more grassroots support in the state. They are having an easy ride because the politics in the state has followed the same pattern since 1999. The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Sani Ahmed Gwamna, said the party has no opposition in the state. “Everybody knows that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, PDP has never won an election to form government in Zamfara,” he said. The aloofness of the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, to the

presidential campaign has foreclosed any good outing for PDP. PVC collection rate here is one of the highest in the country. Out of 1,495,717 registered voters, 1,435,452 PVCs have collected their cards - amounting to a 95.97 per cent. In 2011, Buhari won the state with 624,515 to Jonathan’s 238,980 votes.

Verdict: APC victory.

JIGAWA In spite of the ranting of Governor Sule Lamido against APC leaders, the opposition will win the presidential poll in the state. One of the reasons Lamido is begrudging Buhari is the fact that the latter controls large following in Jigawa State. Even under ANPP and CPC platforms, Buhari had always won Jigawa hands down in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Since January, the governor’s comments have given advantage more to Buhari than Jonathan.

In January, Lamido told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “I agreed like every other person that Buhari is an incorruptible, honest, clean and patriotic Nigerian. My concern has always been defectors who our party, PDP, had made ministers, governors, speakers and members of the National Assembly and left us after benefiting so much.” For the presidential race, Buhari is the man to beat in Jigawa. But the governor will cling to any straw to retain the state for PDP in other strands of election.

Out of 1,831,276 registered voters in the state, 1,757,658 had picked their PVCs giving Jigawa one of the highest collection rates at 95.98 per cent.

Four years ago Buhari took the state with 663,994 votes to Jonathan’s 419,252.

Verdict: APC to win.

KATSINA This remains an APC enclave because it is the home of Buhari. During the week, many PDP members tucked their membership cards into big bags and burnt them. The elite forces are also overwhelmingly against PDP. These are prominent Katsina sons seeking power shift, APC strong leaders, those who defected from PDP to APC, and the loyalists of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua working for Buhari.

Though the PDP is trying to survive, the people of the state will vote for

APC because they want the presidency which they lost in 2010, due to the death of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua, to return to the state. The removal of the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mallam Kabir Mashi, at the prompting of some PDP stalwarts, is a minus for Jonathan in the state because it will lead to protest votes against PDP in some parts of the state.

A total of 2,569,453 PVCs are now in the hands of eligible voters in Katsina State out of 2,840,654 on the register. Four years ago Buhari won his home state handsomely by 1,163,919 votes to Jonathan’s 428, 392 votes.

Verdict: APC to win.

KANO This is still a tough terrain for Jonathan and the PDP. For almost a week, Vice President Namadi Sambo was in Kano to woo opinion leaders and voters. He got more than he bargained for during an interactive session with academic staff who gave the Jonathan administration a low mark.

The Kwankwassiya political dynasty has successfully managed its succession plan which has given APC an advantage to consolidate. The commissioning of some projects in Kano State in recent weeks has added more pep to the score sheet of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The fresh call by the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the NNPC account for the controversial $20billion oil funds might seal the fate of PDP in the state. But the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau is trying his best to salvage the PDP although he can only hope to secure the required 25 per cent of the total votes cast for the President.

Kano has a huge registered voter base at 4,975,701. But of this number only 3.4 million have picked up their PVCs. Buhari took an impressive 1,624,543 votes to defeat Jonathan who only managed 440,666 votes in the state in 2011.

Verdict: APC to win.

NORTH-CENTRAL With the exception of Kwara and Nasarawa, PDP controls the state governments in the zones four other states –

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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COUNTDOWN TO MARCH 28...ONE DAY TO GO

: How states, FCT will vote

•A map showing the results in 2011

Niger, Benue, Plateau and Kogi. What on paper ordinarily would have been a PDP stronghold has , again, been neutralized by sentiments across the North favouring power-shift to the region. This favours Buhari. However, the results may ultimately be determined by a complex mix of ethnic and religious politics that is never far from the surface in this zone.

NIGER Despite spirited moves to deny his association with the opposition and disparage Buhari at the PDP presidential campaign rally, Governor Babangida Aliyu knows the game is up for his party in the state. Even the manner in which Aliyu was panting and making unsolicited and irrelevant remarks suggested he was facing some electoral challenges. PDP’s fortunes further slipped down with the defection of the Deputy Governor, Musa Ibeto to APC. This is in addition to the loss of Niger East Senatorial District byelection seat to APC’s David Umar. The National Assembly Election Tribunal declared Umar as the validly elected senator instead of Nuhu Zagbayi of PDP. The refusal of the governor to handover to his deputy while going for lesser Hajj has boosted APC’s chances.

Buhari is set to reenact his 2011 victory in the state. That year he won the state convincingly by polling 652, 574 to Jonathan’s 321, 429 votes. Of the state’s 2, 014, 317 registered voters, 1, 682, 058 have collected PVCs. Verdict: APC to win.

NASARAWA The combined forces of Governor Tanko Al-Makura and a former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu have upstaged the PDP and APGA in the state. Though the APGA governorship candidate, ex-Minister Labaran Maku is whipping up religious sentiments, the outcome of the marathon campaign tours of APC has shown that Al-Makura remains the candidate to beat. His selling point is what a source described as his “humility.” If there was any hope left for Maku, it was shattered by the Director-General of PDP Campaign Organization, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who described the former Minister as an ingrate. The exit of Maku from PDP has altered the game strongly in favour for APC. Up

till now, the PDP campaign in the state has no bite as if the party has resigned to fate.

Four years ago PDP won the presidential contest here with 408, 997 votes to Buhari’s 278, 390 votes. PVC collection here has been relatively high. Out of 1242667 registered voters, 1, 048, 053 have picked up their cards.

Verdict: APC to win.

KWARA Kwarans are still celebrating the tumultuous crowd which welcomed APC’s presidential campaign train to the state. The crowd doubled a similar one for PDP. Rather than allowing campaign to move on smoothly, the PDP has resorted to violence with the attack on some APC leaders and members including the campaign convoy of the wife of APC presidential candidate, Mrs. Aishat Buhari.

The presidency is covertly trying to woo the gamesmaster of Kwara politics, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to its side but with its recourse to media blackmail of APC leaders, the battle line is drawn. The only survival straw of PDP now is to reach out to the church and make it to believe that the general election is a religious war. The APC is trying to discountenance the propaganda.

Buhari was defeated here by the PDP machine in 2011. He polled a paltry 83, 603 votes to Jonathan’s 268, 243 votes. So far out of the 1, 142,267 registered voters in state, only 884, 996 persons have collected PVCs. Even if half that number votes it would be an improvement on the abysmal 36% voter turnout recorded at the last election.

Verdict: APC to win.

KOGI A major headache of PDP in the state is the poor performance of Governor Idris Wada which has been attributed to inherited debts from the administration of ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris. The relapsing health challenge of the governor has slowed him down in gaining electoral advantage for the president. The non-payment of minimum wage to primary school teachers’ has pitched PDP against the masses. This is also creating electoral threat to the ruling party’s success. The PDP is sticking to old jokers of ethnic,

cultural and religious prejudices.

The fact that there is no governorship poll in Kogi State has made the battle very close between the PDP and APC. Also, the defection of major stakeholders in Kogi East and Kogi Central has given APC a slight edge above PDP. The stakeholders from Kogi East are Alh. Linko Ocheje (the strong man of Ankpa politics); Mallam Sani Egwu; Gen. Salifu Atawodi; Chief John Odawn (the long-serving state PDP chairman); Sen. Alex Kadiri; Sen. Yahaya Ugbane; Hon. Ikani; Hon. Gowon (IGN); Hon. Ismail Ina Hussein; Hon. Adejoh Akowe; Hon. Musa Idoko; and Hon. Aduku Ojodale.

Those who left PDP for APC in Kogi Central are Sen. Mohammed Ohiare; Sen. Salihu Ohize; ex-Speaker Abdullahi Bello; Chief Michael Ozovehe; Alh. Idris Ozi Shuaibu; Hon. Sule Kokori; Hon. Kabir Ajanah; and Hon. Bashir Sani Omolori. In Kogi West, some PDP chieftains who have defected to APC and other parties are ex-Yagba West LGA chairman, Hon. Tunji Aro; former Chairman, Yagba East, Hon. Abdulkadir Jimoh Salahudeen(a.k.a Erukutu); former Chairman, Mopamuro LGA, Hon. Pedro Obadofin; Hon. Salifu Akawu Sule; ex-Chairman, Kotonkarfe LGA, Hon. Shaba Mohammed; and Commodore Foluso Daniels.

Those trying to salvage PDP in Kogi State now are Sen. Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), who can no longer afford to remain in the background as a technocrat. The rescue mission of the Minister to Kogi Central Senatorial District for the PDP has made the game difficult for APC in the area. Adoke had offset the SSCE fees of all final year secondary school students in the five local government areas in the district.

Last weekend, we projected Kogi as being too close to call but current realities indicate the state may be leaning towards Buhari for the presidential contest. Sources say there is anger in Kogi West/ Okunland over Jonathan’s unfulfilled promises. Also, critical PDP stakeholders who have

refused to defect openly to other parties are said to be giving surreptitious support to the opposition.

In 2011 Jonathan won here by 399, 816 votes to Buhari’s 132, 201 votes. A total of 926, 013 PVCs have been distributed out of the registered voter tally of 1, 350, 883.

Verdict: APC to take Kogi.

BENUE More than any period in his political career, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State is fighting for his own survival such that he finds it difficult to take the party’s governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzor along.

Suswam is in a cul-de-sac because of inability to pay workers minimum wage; owing of workers six months’ salaries; prolonged strikes in the state which led to closure of schools for eight months and a sharp drop in popularity rating.

The defection of ex-Minister Samuel Ortom and Chief Barnabas Gemade to APC is still haunting the PDP. This development has forced Suswam to embark on aggressive dusk- to- dawn campaign. With a high prospect of winning two out of the three senatorial districts in the state, APC is giving PDP sleepless nights. The game remains 50-50 in the state because of ethnic and religious factors which Suswam may latch on. Otherwise in a free and fair atmosphere, it is APC’s.

Jonathan won by a wide margin here in 2011. He polled 694, 776 votes to Buhari’s 109, 680 votes. So far 1, 607, 800 PVCs have been collected. Total number of registered voters in the state is 2, 015, 452.

Verdict: Battleground PLATEAU Unknown to many Nigerians, the race is tighter in Plateau State this time around between PDP and APC because of the manner in which the PDP primaries were rigged in favour of some candidates and the demand for power shift. The people of Southern and Central Plateau have rejected the imposition of another governorship candidate, Sen. Gyang Pwajok from Plateau North on them after eight-year tenure of Governor David Jang. Out of the 17 local governments in the state, Plateau North has six, South (six) and Central is left with five. Motivated by the urge for power shift, the people of Southern and Central Plateau have opted for APC leaving only Plateau North in PDP. The APC governorship candidate, Hon. Simon Lalong is from Southern Plateau and his deputy is the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Sonny Tyodem from Plateau Central. On its part, the PDP picked its candidate, Sen. Gyang Pwajok from Plateau North and deputy, U.G. Gomwalk from Kanke in Plateau Central.

More PDP leaders and members have also moved over to APC forcing most political office holders from Plateau State, like the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, to relocate home to salvage the situation.

Out of the 16 governorship aspirants in PDP, 13 defected to APC, two remain neutral and Pwajok is on his own. Though the defectors have succeeded in shaking PDP, the ruling party in the state has a narrow edge over APC due to the population advantage of Plateau North. Governor Jang has sustained religious and tribal politicking to checkmate the growing influence of APC in the state.

Buhari suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Jonathan in this state four years ago. He polled a mere 356, 551 votes compared to the president’s 1, 029, 865 votes.

Verdict: Battleground NORTH-EAST The critical factor in the North-East is the insurgency and how the Jonathan ad-

ministration has handled it. As at February 7 when the six-week postponement was announced, security chiefs told the National Council of State (NCS) that 14 local government areas in the zone were occupied by insurgents.

Over the last four weeks insurgents have been flushed out of most of those locations.

President Jonathan spoke midweek of the military recapturing Gwoza where the insurgents had set up the headquarters of their caliphate.

The president and PDP were clearly hoping that the military victory would translate into an electoral boost for them.

That hasn’t happened. Instead angry citizens of this zone are saying if it was possible to defeat the Boko Haram fighters in a few weeks, why was the insurgency left to fester for over five years – leading to death of over 15,000 people and making hundreds of thousands Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

ADAMAWA The centre no longer holds in Adamawa PDP to the extent that President Jonathan made an emergency shuttle to the state last Saturday. He got more than he bargained for when stakeholders only promised to vote for him during the presidential poll. Overwhelmed by the challenge at hand, Jonathan paid a nocturnal visit to exVice President Atiku Abubakar for help. Instead, Abubakar shunned his invitation to return to PDP. The party is locked in a cold war following the failure of its recent reconciliation over the choice of ex-EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the party’s governorship candidate.

Ribadu’s olive branch is yet to be accepted by stakeholders who are embittered about the conduct of the party’s primaries in Abuja. The PDP’s headache is how to heal all wounds and defeat the PDM candidate, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo and the APC candidate, Sen. Jibrilla Bindo. It is certainly an open race in Adamawa where Buhari’s wife hails from.

Adamawa is 50-50 for the presidential election.

Four years ago Jonathan had the edge – winning the state by 508, 314 to 344, 526 votes. PVC collection rate is quite high. Out of the 1, 559, 012 registered voters 1, 381, 571 have picked up their cards.

Verdict: Battleground TARABA Despite his bombshell against some ex-militants, a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, holds the ace for PDP victory in Taraba State. But APC and SDP are giving PDP some headache in the state. When the Acting Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi, kicked off his senatorial campaign in Karim Lamido; he was greeted with chants of “Ba mu yi”. The yeoman’s job of Sen. Aishatu Alhassan (Sai Mama) has improved the prospects of APC. The religious factor is being exploited by PDP to secure its reign in the state. One thing is certain: Buhari will secure the mandatory 25 per cent of the total votes cast.

Taraba was another comfortable win for Jonathan in 2011. He beat Buhari by 451, 354 to 257, 986 votes.

This state at over 94% has one of the highest PVC collection rates in the country. Out of the 1, 340, 652 registered voters 1 270, 889 have collected cards.

Verdict: PDP to win GOMBE The state is prone to political violence because the ruling PDP is feeling the competitive heat of the opposition. The structure of ex-Governor Danjuma Goje, which produced the governor in 2011, is formidable to the extent that attempts were made to set Goje up on phantom security charges.

Last weekend we projected the state •Continued on page 54

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NEWS AD candidate backs Buhari From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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RESIDENTIAL candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) Rafiu Salau yesterday dumped his ambition, saying he was stepping down for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Salau told a news conference in Abuja that he was stepping down from the race and giving his support to Buhari to save the country’s democracy from one party system, which he said encourages dictatorship.

According to him, “the PDP had been in power for 16 years, and it has tried its best. No matter how good the performance of PDP, you need to vote for another party before you can know that you always get a better performance when you create a competition among the parties.

“One party system takes away democracy from the owners and denies them the right to use their democratic system to determine the level of the national development.

No matter how good the performance of one party system, it cannot perform 10 per cent of a democratic system with at least two strong parties that make the people to have the opportunity to control their democracy.

“It is your responsibility to vote for another party that will also execute its programme. This is the only way the country can move forward like other democratic countries that have the control of their democracy. You need to create competition among the parties so they can always go back to their drawing board to redesign their programme for your benefits.

“I urged all of you the 68 million voters, to vote for Gen. Buhari, the candidate of all the democrats who will bring change. Vote APC. Show the world that you are in control of your democracy.”

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, praised the AD candidate for identifying with Buhari.

He urged those who are yet to decide on whom to vote for to emulate Salau and support the APC presidential candidate.

Odigie-Oyegun said: “By identifying with Buhari, it means that you must have look at our programmes and our candidate and judged that it is people-oriented and our candidate is more qualify to lead the country.

“I am asking people to judge the administration of Jonathan whether they have really deserved any support of any kind. The PDP government has failed in every aspect. The main business of government today is corruption.”

T

NHRC expresses fear over heightening electoral violence T HE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern over what it described as the frightening and increasing trend of electoral violence by major political actors.

The Chairman, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, expressed fears about the commission’s findings during its recent visit to Lagos, Kaduna and Rivers states, identified as the states with high electoral violent potentials.

Odinkalu said the outcome of the NHRC’s visitation team to states captured in its February 13 pre-election violence report and advisory, revealed a frightening trend.

He noted that since the commission’s February 13 report, which revealed that 58 pre-election killings were recorded, more of such deaths have been recorded.

But, many political actors have argued that the NHRC was conserva-

•Commision gets 30 complaints

From Eric IIkhilae, Abuja

tive in its death figure.

Odinkalu said the number of preelection violence incident reports and complaints, submitted to the commission, has increased from 10 to 30.

He added that there were evidence of major political actors’ preference for self-help as against depending on the security agencies and state-owned dispute resolution mechanisms.

“Visits to the states confirmed the assessments in the report and advisory. Certain patterns were very evident from these locations, which predispose them to a potential for significant election-related violence,” he said.

The NHRC boss named some of the

identified patterns as including the deliberate arming and empowerment of militias and gangs by leading political parties, increase importation and utilisation of small arms and light weapons; increased substance abuse and psychotropic substances, among others “In Kaduna, Lagos and Rivers states, the state governments made allegations of the use of violence or threats of violence as an instrument of coercion by the opposition party in the state.

“All the institutions, entities and communities whom we consulted with affirmed that hate speech was at unprecedented levels and nearly all warned that the level of such hate now

•President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Mr. Olumide Akintayo (middle); PSN National Treasurer Chief Emeka Duru; and the National Secretary Mr. Iyiola Gbolagade, at the presentation of drugs and other relief materials for the internally displaced persons in Borno State at the PSN National Secretariat, Lagos. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Court restrains Chief of Army Staff from arresting Tinubu A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday restrained the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, from arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice J.T. Tsoho granted the order after hearing a motion ex parte application dated and filed on March 24, 2015, by the applicant, Asiwaju Tinubu, through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and reading of the affidavit of urgency in support of the motion ex parte sworn to by a journalist, Sunday Dare.

By Adebisi Onanuga

The court also restrained Chief of Army Staff, his privies, agents and servants from preventing Asiwaju Tinubu from participating in the general elections.

The Chief of Army Staff, his privies, agents and servants were further restrained from laying siege to Tinubu’s home situated at number 26, Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, pending the determination of a motion on notice filed against the defendant.

The applicant had approached the

court on March 25, 2015, through his counsel, Falana, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

In his application, the applicant had prayed for three orders of the court, including leave to serve the Originating Motion on Notice on the respondent at the Ministry of Defence, Area 10, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

The court granted the three prayers of the applicant.

Justice Tsoho adjourned hearing of the motion on notice in the matter to March 31, 2015.

CODER to electorate: vote and defend your votes

HE Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) yesterday urged voters to exercise their civic rights on election days and defend their votes.

The group called for vigilance among Nigerians, stressing that enemies of democracy may want to subvert the electoral process.

Its convener, Mr. Ayo Oladokun, said in a statement that there can only be victory for Nigerians when losers concede victory to winners in a free and fair exercise.

Hailing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for insisting on the use of the Card Reader to authenticate the genuineness or otherwise of the prospective voter, he described it as a legacy worthy of commendation.

Opadokun flayed unpatriotic elements for attempting to exploit judicial authority to undermine the process.

He, however, praised the judiciary for living up to expectation by rep-

•Group asks Nigerians to remain vigilant

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

rimanding the political party that has twisted its judgment on the electoral process.

Opadokun said the world attention is focused on Nigeria, urging the people to prevent any move by unscrupulous INEC officials and desperate politicians to swap the digitalised voter’s register.

The pro-democracy activist frowned at the use of ethnic militias, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to organise violent activities and steer up unrest.

Opadokun added: “No one has monopoly of the use of violence.

They should be put on notice that whenever opposing groups decide to meet force with force, it is a recipe for Mutual Self Destruction (MSD).

“All Nigerians should ignore every repeated effort to scare them away from exercising their civic rights by the drafts of the military during elections. They should be determined to vote and remain resolutely in their polling units, until the votes are counted and announced at the polling unit as sanctioned by Section 64 (4) of the 2010 Electoral Act. “No state official, including the Inspector General of Police, should arrogate to himself power not allocated to him by the constitution. Only the Presiding Officer has the final say on all the processes to be followed until the result is declared and announced.”

Opadokun urged domestic and foreign observers to monitor the processes up to the collation centres, adding that results are usually hijacked and manipulated at the centres.

He advised party agents and voters to insist on the collation and an-

nouncement of results without break or adjournment.

Opadokun praised the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for his commitment to free and fair elections, despite the pressures on him to compromise the integrity of the electoral process.

He said: It’s a major agony of unquantifiable proportion that Nigeria, which had been assigned a divine destiny to provide leadership to the black race, has become a giant with a feat of clay and a huge disappointment.

“Let all patriots resist further temptation to make us continue on the current unprofitable socio-economic and political trademarks that have held us down as the 146th out of 173rd nations surveyed for corruption in 2014; being a shameful member of the war-ravaged nations like Afghanistan, Somali and south east Asian Countries in the Statistics of Human Development Index.”

presents a clear threat to national cohesion, irrespective of the outcome of the elections.

“In Rivers and Kaduna, in particular, we received very credible indications that PVCS may have been “bought wholesale” by politicians or communities and indications that the practice of “community voting” could seriously endanger both plans for credible elections and the safety of staff engaged to organise or administer them. These are on a level that must be taken seriously by both INEC and the security agencies.

“In all the locations, the parties suggest that the accords signed between the parties to promote issued-based campaigning and refrain from violence had broken down almost irretrievably. There is mutual suspicion and lack of good faith between the parties.

“As we go into the elections also, we must call on the parties and candidates to refrain from any

Army: no plan to intimidate APC leaders

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

T

HE Army yesterday faulted a story on a planned military “grounding” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Lagos as “unwanted and baseless accusations” aimed at damaging its reputation.

It said the publication was “meant to tarnish the good name of the division and distract the Army from performing its constitutional duties”.

The Army stated its position in a statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 81 Division, Col. Mustapha Anka.

The military, the statement said, “is apolitical and will only uphold its mandate in protecting lives and property of the citizenry before during and after the elections”.

He said the troops deployed were for “internal security, to assist the police where necessary”.

The statement reads: “The attention of the 81 Division, Nigeria Army, has been drawn to some false, malicious, biased, provocative and unprofessional publication alleging that Nigerian Army directed an ‘operation ground APC leaders in Lagos’, and that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah is to be relocated to Lagos on Saturday.

“The publication went further to state that Armoured Tanks are to be deployed in front of the houses of APC key leaders, including His Excellency the Executive Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The newspaper went ahead to state that the division has mandated a Sector Commander in Lagos to take charge of the operation to stop Senator Ahmed Tinubu from leaving his home on election day, adding that other officers have also been assigned to take charge of the houses of other opposition leaders.

“Once again, the division wishes to reassure Nigerians that troops deployed were for internal security, to assist the police where necessary.”

NAMA: airspace remains open

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

T

HE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said yesterday that the nation’s airspace remains open to all users before , during and after the general elections.

The Acting General Manager, Public Affairs of NAMA, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, said this in a statement in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

7

NEWS

Jega: no plan to rig election for any party

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, has denied any plan to rig the presidential election in favour of any political party.

INEC, in apparent reaction to an advertorial in some national dailies (not The Nation), described the allegation as complete false and baseless.

Jega was alleged in the sponsored advert of setting up a committee to rig tomorrow presidential election in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

INEC, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu,

•Commission says allegation not true From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

affirmed that the allegation to manipulate or rig the election was false and baseless.

He noted that it was not out of place for Jega to constitute an in-house committee to assist in the collation process after the presidential election.

Besides, he explained that the committee was purely an administrative arrangement to assist the commission’s chairman.

Kayode stated: “INEC would not have bothered to respond to such patently cynical and

malicious allegation, but for the fact that the elections are days away and otherwise respectable national newspapers have lent themselves to be used as platforms to disseminate such falsehood. Any misinformation, – even as baseless as in this particular case – unless corrected could mislead innocent or undiscerning members of the public and cause unnecessary apprehension about the credibility of the electoral process.

“The commission affirms that the allegation to manipulate or rig the election is com-

pletely false and baseless. The Chairman of the Commission as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of Nigeria and the Returning Officer of the presidential election, has statutory and legal powers to constitute administrative committee(s) to facilitate the performance of his duties.

“The constitution of an inhouse committee to assist in the collation process after the presidential election is purely an administrative arrangement to assist the Chairman. Members of the committee are officials of the commission. They work

as professionals and non-partisan technocrats and have sworn to the oath of neutrality in the execution of their official duties. They are drawn from the Operations, ICT and Legal departments of the commission as well as the Office of the Chairman. This arrangement is not new and was the same as during the 2011 general elections.

“INEC condemns these sinister and unpatriotic attempts to create unnecessary controversies aimed at discrediting the commission through dissemination of falsehood. The commission assures Nigerians of its commitment and reso-

•Jega

luteness to conduct free, fair and credible elections. The commission will not hesitate to institute legal action, where necessary, to protect its members from malicious and libelous allegations.”

Fed Govt re-opens sea borders

T

HE Federal Government yesterday announced the re-opening of the sea borders to economic activities during the general elections.

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, said this when he fielded questions from reporters in Koton Karfe, Kogi, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Federal Government had on March 25 announced the closure of the land and sea borders to allow for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The borders are to be closed from midnight of March 25 to midnight of March 28.

Moro said the government made the decision based on intelligence reports, which showed that the sea borders needed to be kept open.

“Today, intelligence available to us shows that the sea borders would need to go on and that the Nigeria Immigration Service is fully prepared to contain the marginal movement around the borders.

“Therefore, they will still be open to economic activities while the Nigeria Immigration Service has been directed to keep a 24hour alert on those areas. But, I can assure you that everybody is prepared for the elections,” he said.

Lawyers to Jonathan: sign amended laws, Electoral Act to avoid chaos •From left: Head of Spirits, Marketing & RTDs, Diageo Nigeria Liz Ashdown; Baileys Brand Manager Ufuoma Udjoh; On the Air Presenter (OAP) with MTV Base Africa and Ebonylife TV Stephanie Coker and OAP with Beat FM Fade Ogunro at the “Baileys Mothers’ Day Tea Party” in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Jonathan, Buhari sign another peace deal

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday signed another peace deal for violent-free elections.

The two top presidential candidates in tomorrow’s elections had signed a similar agreement alongside other presidential candidates on January 14, 2015.

The agreement then was popularly called the Abuja Accord.

The meeting yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja was facilitated by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar -led National Peace Committee on 2015 elections.

Just like the first meeting, Jonathan and Buhari again shook hands and hug each other at the venue.

The accord by the two candidates and read by Bishop Mathew Kukah was titled: “Renewal of our pledges to peaceful elections. Joint state-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ment issued by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan and Major General Muhammad Buhari on Thursday, March 26, 2015 ahead of the 2015 presidential elections.”

It reads: “You may recall that on January 14, 2015, both of us, along with nine other party leaders signed what has now come to be known as the Abuja Accord. The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our dear country.

“In the accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names.

“Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We, there-

fore, call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our party supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.

“In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles. We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections.

“Today, we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria.

We want to all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless you all.”

In his remarks, Gen. Abubakar said: “This committee has been working round the clock to assist the parties and Nigerians to ensure that there is peace and harmony before, during and after the elections this time around.

“Mr. President was kind enough to see us yesterday (Wednesday). One, he is the President of the country, and secondly, he is a contestant.

And this morning, Gen. Buhari, despite his late arrival last night or early arrival this morning, was kind enough to meet with this committee.

“In essence, all the meetings were held to brief them the current situation of the country and what we expect of them as stakeholders and as presidential candidates.

“I want to thank both the President and Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with the committee. And I want to thank both party chairmen for the support received in trying to send this message of peace.

“I’m happy both parties and the contestants are committed to free and fair elections; free of violence. And this morning, a document to reiterate their commitment for peaceful forthcoming elections.”

Fani-Kayode ends defence in money laundering charge

D

IRECTOR of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation Chief Femi FaniKayode yesterday closed his defence in his trial for alleged money laundering.

His lawyers, led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), told Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos that the defence had no more witnesses to call.

“My Lord, we have since reviewed the case of the prosecution in relation with the defence, and having been satisfied, we are no longer calling any witness,” Adedipe said.

By Joseph Jibueze

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo said he would require about two weeks to file his final written address.

The judge would, at the next proceedings, rule on an application by the defence seeking an order to discharge one of Fani-Kayode’s sureties, Wale Ajisebutu.

The surety said he was withdrawing because he needed the original title documents of his landed property “to meet certain personal and urgent matters.”

Ajisebutu had in 2009 deposited the title documents into the court’s custody in fulfillment of the bail conditions

granted Fani-kayode by the court.

The defence, in its application dated March 11, is also praying the court to replace Ajisebutu with one Ogbor Elliot.

Fani-Kayode was accused of making a transaction exceeding N500,000 on September 20, 2006, which was not done through a financial institution, by accepting N2.1 million in cash. The money was paid into his personal bank account by his aide, Supo Agbaje, while he served as Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence, which EFCC said contravenes the Money Laundering Act. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned till May 4 for closing arguments.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to sign all the amendments effected on the Constitution and the Electoral Act by the National Assembly before Saturday to avoid a possible constitutional and legal crises during and after the elections.

A Senior Advocate, Sebastine Hon, and the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, said in Abuja that it was imperative that the amendments were urgently assented to by the president to avert a possible chaos after the election and the transition period.

Hon said it was necessary for the President to sign the amended Constitution into law, to avoid reverting to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) up to the 3rd Alteration Act. Nwankwo, who spoke during the unveiling of the Election Day Situation Room of Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs), an initiative of the Nigerian Civil Societies Situation Room, said the President’s signing of the amendment to the EA, will resolve the issues surrounding the innovations introduced by INEC in the electoral process.

Hon said: “With only about 72 hours or less left to the conduct of the presidential election, grave constitutional implications lie in wait for all of us if these amendments are not signed into law.

“In the first place, once elections are conducted, they would have been conducted pursuant to the current constitution, hence the winners thereof can only take their oaths of office pursuant to and under the said current Constitution, the fact that Mr. President decides to sign it into law after the conduct of the elections notwithstanding.

“Secondly, Election Tribunals and other courts trying election related matters must, by force of law, apply the existing Constitution as opposed to the amended one. This is because the Nigerian Constitution does not operate retroactively. The net will then be that all the efforts and resources expended in producing the constitutional document will be rubbished.

“Further implication is that Nigerians will be deprived of enjoying the robust and dynamic alterations introduced by the legislature in the new constitutional document.

“In legal jurisprudence, the law grows or is expected to grow at par with the society. So, much has happened in the Nigerian society between 2011 and now, hence the imperative of the amendments introduced by the legislature in the amended constitutional document.

“In other words, let Nigerians not be deprived of the enjoyment of the legal revolutions introduced by the legislature into the 4th Alteration Act. “I, therefore, again strongly urge Mr. President to sign the amended Constitution into law before Saturday the 28th of March, 2015,” Hon said.

Nwankwo, who is also the coordinator of the Nigeria CSOs Situation Room, said: “Overall, the legal framework for the 2015 general elections provides satisfactory basis for the conduct of democratic elections in accordance with international principles and Nigeria’s international legal commitments.

“However, a number of gaps still remain mainly due to the failure of the government to implement legal reforms proposed

by INEC and other election stakeholders,” Nwankwo said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

8

NEWS Study predicts victory for APC

By Leke Salaudeen

A

PRESSURE group, Women’s Pro-Climate Campaign, has predicted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will win tomorrow’s election.

According to a result of the research by the group, Buhari scored 61.7 per cent and Dr Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 35.3 per cent.

The score sheet shows that Buhari scored 50 per cent and above in 27 states and over 40 per cent in two states.

Jonathan won in 10 states.

A statement by its president, Mrs. Ekaette Enitan Sanusi, said the projections were based on “our codification of electoral opinions, dynamics and trends reflected in the scientific allocation of votes”.

Mrs. Sanusi said: “We are pleased to present the outcome of our empirical analysis, deep insight and rigorous surveys of the political landscape on the presidential election for the purpose of deepening the electoral process and democratic value system.”

Mimiko’s deputy dumps PDP for APC

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NDO State Deputy Governor Alli Olanusi yesterday dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection, which came two days to the presidential and National Assembly elections, came as a shock to the people, especially PDP members, including Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Olanusi was a founding member of the Labour Party (LP). He left for the PDP, when Mimiko joined the party.

The Supare-Akoko astute politician resigned in 2006 as the PDP state chairman with Senator Boluwaji Kunlere and joined Mimiko to nurture the Labour Party (LP).

Kunlere left LP late last year for PDP following alleged friction between him and the governor.

Ironically, Mimiko dumped LP two weeks after Kunlere’s exit.

They met again in the PDP

• PDP: we won't miss him From Damisi Ojo, Akure

where the senator was denied a second term ticket.

There had been a frosty relationship between Olanusi and his boss, but the deputy governor was handling the situation maturedly.

The deputy governor, in a statement, said his decision to join the APC was in line with the call by his followers.

The statement reads: “In the unfolding political developments in our country today and in Ondo State, it is clear that I need to chart a new course for my followers, who look up to me for direction and leadership and who have watched helplessly in the last six years, the marginalisation and exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place.

“While still being in place as the deputy governor of Ondo State, I have decided to lead my supporters and

well wishers into the All Progressives Congress (APC), where we can find justice, fairness, equity and democratic liberty- a party to which majority of our kith and kin in Yoruba land belong.”

“I have taken this decision at this critical time, in the best interest of peace, stability and the good governance of our state and for the development of the Southwest and the nation.”

The APC, in a statement in Akure by the Secretary of APC Media Campaign, Charles Titiloye, hailed Olanusi for abandoning the sinking PDP ship and embracing the emerging progressives in Nigeria.

The party noted that Ondo as the only oil producing state in the Southwest failed to live up to expectation in six years.

It said: “We welcome the deputy governor and look forward to an emancipation of Ondo people from the

grip of the PDP aristocrats.”

The government, speaking through the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said: “We have just received the news of the defection of the deputy governor to the APC. “Though it came as a surprise, government acknowledges his right to determine his political affiliation and wish him well.”

The PDP has said the deputy governor would not be missed.

Its Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, said the defection seems targeted at the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan by its timing and the scarce words of Olanusi in his statement.

"I enjoin party members to continue to work for the good of the party. This lastminute attempt to strike at the party will achieve little for the opposition, we must say," Okunomo said.

The statement added that any premium placed on the defection by the APC will be misplaced and any dime

By Kunle Akinrinade

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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A

‘Fake police in Osun’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alerted residents to the presence of fake policemen in the state.

The party urged residents to stand firm and insist on their right to vote.

The Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “Nigeria will never be the same again after tomorrow’s election.

“This is the defining moment of the nation’s destiny.

All true patriots must participate in this crucial hour of decision without fear or favour.

“The fake police have been sighted in the last couple of days and are part of the Federal Government’s recruits to do what terrorist-looking security men did during Ekiti and Osun elections last year.

“Our people should not be intimidated.

“A vote for the PDP will be a vote for slavery, continued corruption, unemployment and insecurity; a vote for the APC is to secure democracy and end poverty in Nigeria.”

invested a wasted effort as the fortunes of the PDP will not be affected by same.

"While we value the vote and commitment of every member, we must state that the elderly deputy governor must have deliberately over calculated his worth and over estimated his political weight.

"Anybody conversant with the politics of Ondo State in the last six years will know that Baba has lost his weight where it matters.”

Aspirant sues PDP to claim his candidacy

One-man rally for Buhari PHYSICALLYCHALLENGED man, Wasiu Nurudeen, yesterday staged a peaceful support rally in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

Nurudeen, who was in a wheelchair with Buhari’s posters, started his one-man campaign at Agodi secretariat at 7:30 am.

He said: “I’m not an APC member but I’m supporting Buhari and his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo, because they have conscience and are the best candidates for the job.

“I’m out to give direction and advise the masses on who to vote for. I’m not a politician or a group leader of any society, but I am concerned about what is going on in the country and I want change.”

•Olanusi

•BEHOLD THE NEW OWNERS: From left: Taiwo Olabode (winner of three bedroom at Sangotedo); Aromona Olubunmi (winner of three bedroom at Sangotedo); Enemchukwu Emeka (winner of three bedroom at Sangotedo); Mrs. Olufunmilayo Odelola (winner of three bedroom at Sangotedo); Mrs. Ifonlaja Olubunmi (winner of one bedroom at Mushin) and Mrs. Folashade Adekunle (winner of one bedroom at Mushin) during the first anniversary draw of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

Yoruba not for sale, says Fashola

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday chided the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere for hobnobbing with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan.

He alleged that the group collected contracts from the ruling party to endorse the President’s second term bid.

The governor, who said the Yoruba could not be bought, warned that whoever betrays his kinsmen for material gains would not prosper, regardless of how much wealth he or she acquires.

Fashola spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Alimoso, accusing the Afenifere leadership, who aligned with President Jonathan, of sharing the fund meant for the developmental projects in the country on illegal and undocumented contracts.

Alleging that the

•Governor urges voters to stay back after voting •’Jonathan lied on Ajuwon Water works’

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Musa Odoshimokhe

contracts collected by the leaders of the group were to enable them deceive the people, he urged residents to reject the group and their stance on the elections, saying they are betrayers and don’t represent the voice of Yoruba nation.

“They have done what the betrayers of yesterday did, that is why whoever betrays his kinsmen for material gains will not prosper. God has made us the leaders in this region but some people because we gave them chance to do whatever they want. These people want to sell Yoruba race because of money, will you allow them to do so?

“The contracts illegally awarded to them are speaking; they are not the ones speaking. The money meant for the progress and development of the coun-

try is what they shared among themselves. Do you have stable power supply?

Can you buy fuel? That is the kind of government the President is running.

“Those Yoruba leaders, who got the contracts will soon regret their actions.

They will all regret one after the other.”

The governor advised the residents and traditional rulers of Awori to shun the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, if they don’t want to lose their property to the Federal Government.

“You must do everything possible to ensure they are not allowed to govern Lagos, because they are coming to take over your land.”

He faulted President Goodluck Jonathan on the claims that the Federal Government built the Aju-

won Water Works.

“President Jonathan in an advert said he built the Ajuwon Water Works, that is not true. He said stealing is not corruption, now he wants to steal my work.

“Please go and vote our candidate, who will end corruption tomorrow. They have been stealing our money, it is now clear that the economy is comatose.

It is only General Muhammadu Buhari who can handle the situation on ground.”

Fashola, who earlier addressed civil servants in Alausa, urged voters to stay back after voting tomorrow.

He said the directive was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, affirming that there was nowhere in the Electoral Act, where voters were barred from observing the electoral process.

N aspirant who contested for a ticket to represent Irele in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Odimayo Gbadebo Akinola, has sued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly substituting his name in the final list submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akinola claimed to have won the party’s last November 29 primary with 35 votes while the first runner-up, Ajimatoki Olusegun Philip, scored 23 votes.

The aspirant accuses the PDP of transferring his mandate to Ajimatoki, urging Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to declare the action unlawful.

Other defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ajimatoki.

The aggrieved aspirant is seeking an order for the restoration of his mandate and an injunction restraining INEC and the PDP from recognising Ajimatoki.

Akinola averred that he was duly returned as the standard bearer of the party at Saint Peters Catholic Hall, Ode-Irele, in a primary supervised by an INEC official, Waheed Ganiyu.

But the PDP, through its lawyer, Nanchang Ndam, raised objection to the plaintiff’s prayers, describing it as “misleading.”

In an affidavit deposed to

by Ndam, the party said the primary election was conducted at the Irele Local Government secretariat and not at the Saint Peters Catholic Church.

Ndam averred that Waheed Ganiyu was not the electoral officer, who supervised the primary election.

He argued that the plaintiff took part in an illegal election and that the court should dismiss the suit.

Justice Mohammed adjourned the case till April 2.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

9

NEWS

‘Keep your eyes open’ Ahead of tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) National leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in this statement urges Nigerians to come out enmasse and vote for change.

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HIS Saturday,March 28 will be our encounter with destiny. It is our responsibility to get people out to vote in mass.

No one with a voter’s card should stay at home. All those who can vote must be part of this historic change.

A new broom sweeps clean. The APC is that broom. Forever gone will be the days of a “ruling party’ that believes the people are meant to serve it. Your votes shall call into office the APC, a party that will govern for you instead of ruling over you. The President of that governing party shall be General Muhammadu Buhari whose steadfast courage, honesty and integrity intelligent vision for our future show that he is the better man for the job that requires a strong, but…… leader to rescue our nation.

Vote for General Buhari that he may lead us from the congestion of problems – insecurity, corruption, joblessness, economic recession, religious, ethnic and regional tension — the Jonathan administration has heaped upon us. Then we shall have the change we seek-posterity for all and poverty for none.

We have passed through six weeks of electoral delay to go along with the six years of misrule en-

dured under the current administration. All of that is set to fade away because of what you will do this Election Day. I thank the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress for remaining true to our vision of a progressive, just Nigeria even in the face of intimidation by our desperate opponents who wield the power of state yet care little for the people who comprise our nation.

Most importantly, I thank all Nigerians for caring enough about our collective future to allow us to explain our party and its platform to you. You have listened. The clear majority of you know that the APC is on your side while the PDP only rides your back. You seek what the APC seeks: A new Nigeria. Together we can do it. Give us your mandate and our candidates will give you their blood, sweat, toil and heart to bring this vital change for good.

Throughout the campaign, General Buhari and our National Assembly candidates have expressed how a new APC government would resolve the major challenges we face, particularly in the areas of security, corruption, jobs, economic policy, agriculture, educa-

tion, and health care.

That campaigning has reached its conclusion. There is no more our candidates can do toward this end.

It is upon you, the voter, to accomplish the rest.

You have a fateful choice to make.

You must decide whether our current reality is the best that Nigeria can be or do you believe in your heart of hearts that we can summon our collective talents and aspirations to forge a better nation, more ably governed. If you think Nigeria can have a future better than its past, then vote for General Buhari and his APC team. The progressive vision and policies of our party offer more to you than do the trodden, broken promises of the present administration.

You must vote. Do not fall weary at this point. Don’t fall to the idea that your vote will not count. Voting is your democratic right. With the condition that the nation is in and given the problems we now face, voting is your civic and personal duty. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to join in this process that will determine our collective future for years to come.

Do not be afraid. Do not let anyone intimidate you or strike fear in you. Soldiers and Police are there

•All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari (left) and former Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi at the Seventh Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos... on Wednesday.

•Lagos State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Henry Ajomale (left) and Pa Abiodun Sunmola

to protect you. That’s the role our constitution has carved out for them. You are a Nigerian and have every right to participate in determining the fate of this nation. No one, no matter how rich or powerful can take that right away. You are the people. It is your sovereign will that must decide who governs this nation in your interests. Your vote counts because you count.

Vote peacefully and remain vigilant thereafter. Be inquisitive Keep your eyes open. Any disturbance or malpractice you see, report it to the electoral authorities. Some people have been funded to cause violence and to disrupt the process.

Do not be seduced to join them.

Also do not allow them to provoke you. Remain peaceful so that they have no reason to cancel or postpone the very election that augurs your better future.

Nigeria is literally in your hands.

Do not let this historic opportunity slip from your grasp. You have suffered much to get to this moment.

It is your time to write your own future.

The other side complains the voting card reader will not allow you to vote because the reader can only detect a clean fingerprint. The answer to that is simple. Let this be

•Asiwaju Tinubu known as our first “Clean Hands” election. As voters, let us all wash our hands prior to going to the polling station. This is both a practical and symbolic act. It means that we shall vote with clean hands and clean hearts.

Moreover, let this also place a parallel demand on those governmental bodies in charge of the elections and related activity. May they conduct their duties with clean hands as well. In this way, we will get the election we desire and, from this election, the change that we need.

Nigerians please fulfill the duty you owe yourselves.

Vote for a new Nigeria. Vote for a better future. Vote.

• Senator Olorunimbe Mamora (left) and Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Chief Ayo Opadokun.

• Mr. Murphy Adetoro (left) and Senator Tony Adefuye.

PHOTOS: MOSES OMOSEHIN

IGP redeploys 17 DIGs, AIGs, CPs for election

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HE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba has redeployed 17 Senior officers to different parts of the country to ensure a successful election.

The redeployment affects six Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), five Assistant-Inspector General (AIGs) and six

Commissioners of Police (CPs).

The redeployed CPs are expected to cover their new commands only for the period of election.

Their redeployment contained in a statement yesterday

by Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu.

According to the statement, the DIGs and their new stations are: “Dan’Azumi Doma, Coordinator, Southeast Zone; Mamman Tsafe, Coordinator South-South Zone; Hashimu Argungu, Coordinator South West Zone; Christopher Katso, - Coordinator, North West Zone; Hilary Opara, Coordi-

nator, Northeast Zone and DIG Adeola Adeniji – Coordinator Northcentral Zone.

The AIGs affected are: “Kalafite Adeyemi, – Asst Coordinator, Southwest Zone; Bala Magaji Nasarawa Asst Coordinator, Northcentral Zone; Adisa Bolanta, Asst Coordinator

Northwest Zone; Usman Gwary, Federal Operations (FEDOPS) Abuja and AIG Mark Idakwo, – AIG Zone 9 Umuahia”.

Also ”Hosea Karma – CP Rivers State Command, Adamu Mohammed, Anambra State, Dan Bature, Enugu State, Usman Abdullahi – CP Katsi-

na State Command; CP Jimoh Ozi-Obeh – CP Benue State Hyacinth Dagala, Department of Operations (DOPs) FHQ Abuja”.

The IGP urged the officers to exhibit the highest level of personal and professional conduct in the discharge of their duties.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

11

NEWS

Fed Govt seeks $2b W/Bank, AfDB loan A

FEW days to a crucial national election and crippling low oil revenue, the Federal Government has gone to borrow $2 billion from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) so it can implement its policies and programmes this year.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the facility was part of the approved 2012-2015 External Borrowing Plan and being a concessionary loan, she said the facility would pose no burden on the nation.

The minister who spoke during an interactive session with reporters in Abuja, yesterday, also said the government was working to strengthen the nation’s currency, among others.

She said: “We have entered negotiations with international financial institu-

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

tions, specifically, the African Development Bank and World Bank. You know they have some resources for us already programmed, which is in the Borrowing Plan. We have asked them to turn these resources into budget support for us. We are negotiating for $2 billion that will come in foreign exchange. “The terms of this loan from the AfDB are quite reasonable (between three and four per cent) compared to what you can get outside, and this is money that they had committed and set aside for us. “So we have decided to draw on it and use it in the form of budget support to come in form of foreign exchange.

“Government will get the naira equivalent given to us by the Central Bank. It will come in two tranches. It will

bring in the needed foreign exchange that will help our private sector people to have access.

“So, it will alleviate the situation. It’s something that we are working on. We are communicating day and night with them. We have to address the needs of manufacturers and others. That is one more thing we are doing and I hope that will help to ameliorate the situation.”

The CBN governor had on on Tuesday, said the nation’s foreign reserve now stands at about $30 billion in an economy that is partially dollarised, coupled with high dollar demand and low foreign exchange inflow.

As a first step to check the economic slide, the minister of finance appealed to Nigerians to reduce their appetite for imported goods and patronise made-in-Nigeria products so as to conserve available reserves for more productive uses.

• From left: Arik Air Chairman Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, CFM International President/ CEO Mr. Jean-Paul Ebanga and Arik Air Deputy Managing Director Capt. Ado Sanusi during the visit of the aircraft engine manufacturers to Arik Air’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

NEDEP’s N1b credit line for Lagos MSMEs

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HE Federal Govern ment has unlocked a N1billion special credit line, through the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP), for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Cooperatives in Lagos State.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the direct micro-enterprise funding further demonstrated the com-

mitment of the current administration to developing enterprises at the grass roots in order to create jobs, enhance growth and ultimately reduce poverty.

He said NEDEP provided the necessary platform for the sustainable ongoing funding of micro enterprises, adding that the disbursement of the N1billion loan to MSMEs in Lagos was part of ongoing MSME funding across the 36 states of the federation and

would be in phases.

Aganga spoke in Lagos on yesterday while presenting cheques to the beneficiaries of the first N100million special credit line.

NEDEP is an initiative spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and its three parastatals – the Bank of Industry (BoI), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

BPE to commence fresh privatisation of Ajaokuta

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HE Director General, Bureau of Public Enter prises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki has said the Federal Government will soon commence another process to privatise the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).

A statement endorsed by its Head, Public Communication, Chigbo Anichebe said Dikki spoke during a breakfast programme on Independent Television (ITV)-This Morning. He said

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the Federal Government was exploring an amicable resolution of all encumbrances with the core investor of ASCL-Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL) at arbitration and once that was done, the privatisation process would commence.

He said the Federal Ministry of Justice was driving the process which was making steady progress and

“once the issues are resolved, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited will be handed over to the Federal Government and we will begin another process of privatisation.”

Dikki explained that when the issues are resolved, the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) would be jointly owned by the Federal Government and the Global Infrastructure Holding Limited (GINL).

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

12

NEWS March 23, 2015 Re: National Polling Results APC has expanded its lead over President Goodluck Jonathan since our October poll, and they are now in a commanding position over PDP. Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo hold a 13-point lead over Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo (54% Buhari / 41% Jonathan / 5% undecided).

Key findings • APC has increased its lead since October. Voters in our October poll said they would back an APC candidate over Jonathan by a slim margin (51% APC / 45% Jonathan / 5% undecided).

•

Buhari is better liked than Jonathan. When voters are asked if they are favorable or unfavorable towards the two candidates, more are favorable towards Buhari (60% favorable / 34% unfavorable) than they are towards Jonathan (50% favorable / 48% unfavorable).

•

People think Buhari did a better job leading Nigeria than Jonathan is doing now. Voters are more likely to say that Buhari did a good job as past ruler of Nigeria (60% good / 30% bad) than they are to say Jonathan is doing a good job today (50% good / 48% bad).

•

Voters are ready for change. Voters are supporting APC because they are ready to change the direction of Nigeria o

They think Nigeria is going in the wrong direction. Most voters think Nigeria is going in the wrong direction (25% right / 50% wrong).

o

They don’t think Jonathan deserves another chance as President. 52% of voters say Jonathan “isn’t doing a good enough job and it’s time to give someone else a chance” while only 41% say Jonathan “is doing a good enough job that he should get another chance as President”

These results are based on a face-to-face nationwide survey conducted by KA Research Limited (KARL), Africa Division, in 36 States + FCT in Nigeria; with sample size of 5,193 Interviews representing 18+ Population of Nigeria on March 8- 17, 2015. The survey respondents have been selected using multi-stage random sampling methodology across all Nigerian States; interviewed by experienced and trained local field teams in each state.

The survey results have a margin of sampling error of +1.4%, including design effect.

KA Research Limited (KARL) is a privately owned international research company, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and Istanbul, Turkey; operating in more than 60 countries with its own offices, subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA Region). The company is specialised on social and political polling as well as economic and media research in the EMEA Region. It conducts polls for private, governmental, nongovernmental and academic clients and think-tanks . These groups include the United Nations, UNICEF, UNDP, Save The Children, USAID, DFID, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, CSIS, Brooking Institutions, National Democratic Institute, ABC News, BBC World Service, NHK Japan, ARD Germany, Deutsche Welle, Radio France International, Coca-Cola and Burger King Corporations. The company and its management are long-time members of global professional research associations, such as ESOMAR (esomar.org) and WAPOR (wapor.org). It strictly follows ICC/ESOMAR Guidelines and Professional Code of Ethics for global survey practices during its activities and survey work in Nigeria and all other countries

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

A capacity building forum was held at the Federal College of Education, Akure, Ondo State with the aim of empowering agricultural training institutions to promote entrepreneurship, increase employment capacities of agro-business and grow the incomes of producers. DANIEL ESSIET writes that more still needs to be done to achieve the desired results.

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ROVIDING farmers with tools and knowledge needed to manage farm business successfully and promoting value chain activities to create jobs across the nation’s agricultural sector formed the cornerstone of a forum tagged Capacity Building in Agricultural Education in Nigeria (CBAEN) held at the Federal College of Education, Akure, Ondo State.

It was organised by the college and Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland.

Participants and speakers included eminent scholars and trainers who have acquired reputation as successful users of agricultural practices.

After appraising the sector, participants agreed that the government’s move to build a functional agricultural sector was lofty and commendable. They however say it still requires a lot more efforts in terms of measures and incentives to boost sustainable and competitive farming practices capable of meeting growing domestic and export demand for food commodities.

Setting the tone, Project Consultant, CBAEN, Prof Placid Njoku said government’s efforts could have produced ‘what may be a working model of sustainable agriculture, resurrect the nation’s local, affordable and accessible food system but that the absence of infrastructure is hampering transference of functional agriculture to every area of the country.

He observed that despite national efforts to achieve strong development of agric industries and services in urban and rural areas, there were considerable gaps.

These breaks, according to him, have hindered farming business from growing as expected as farmers lack of knowledge to carry out viable commercial ventures to produce grains, livestock, roots and tubers.

Njoku also identified weak and inadequate agricultural extension delivery as a shortfall in the nation’s agricultural architecture, adding that Nigeria had experienced a disconnect between developed agricultural technologies and farm operators.

He stated that in effect, the huge resources expended on agricultural research seem to have been wasted as research results hardly get to the farmers. Therefore, he lamented that the opportunity of a full exploration and exploitation of the agricultural value chains is not realised.

Njoku said though the nation’s agricultural sector offers great potential that could be leveraged to drive economic growth, agricultural performance over the last decades has not been encouraging.

To reverse this, he said the government must encourage agribusinesses through incentives to help them respond to market demand for high quality products.

Canvassing the need for functional value chain across the sector, Njoku said this will not only empower farmers, but that agric manpower development institutions will direct their efforts at capacity building and technology to enable farmers and investors

Grooming agro entrepreneurs

•From right: Oladunni, Ahmed, Njoku, Borger and Odedina

• Lehmann

•Adebayo

•Dr Fromm

explore the growing commodities market.

On the CBAEN initiative, Njoku said it is a project between the Federal Government and the government of Switzerland designed to develop manpower in the sector.

According to him, the project is to be implemented by School of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) on behalf of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) at various institutions in the country, including Federal College of Education, Akure.

According to him, farmers have to be trained to systematically observe their crops and base their observations on modern farming practices to make informed decisions.

The Director of Studies, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State capital, Dr Femi Oladunni observed that agricultural supply chains must be upgraded, deepened and expanded, adding that stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship and offering opportunities to young people within well-functioning farming and agri-food systems can help them to take up careers in farming.

He further said the economy needs to upscale infrastructure level to support farmers and

agro businesses to increase food production nationwide.

To reposition the agric sector, Oladunni urged the government and the private sector to address the pervading issues of lack of modern farming knowledge, poor agricultural practices, depletion and degradation of ecosystems, adding that proper response to the challenges of food security would increase production and farmers’ incomes.

He also called on the government to facilitate easy access of rural youth to the agric sector and provide incentives to halt the rural-urban drift to ensure a sustainable increased production to feed the nation.

Speaking on Partnering options in training to promote efficiency in harnessing new value chain opportunities hunger, Project Director, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa(CAVA) Phase II, Kolawole Adebayo said the agric value chain consists of activities from farm, processing and to consumption.

Highlighting the importance of promoting value chain development, he said the outcome will encourage investors to invest in agric extension, harvesting, rural infrastructure, seeds and other inputs capable of inducing growth in the agriculture/ agribusiness sectors.

According to him, poor infrastructure has impacted nega-

tively on food security, causing less food availability, loss of jobs and livelihoods which in turn has affected farmers.

So far, he observed that the market was increasingly driving agricultural development.

International expert, Prof Robert Liehman said Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), Switzerland which he represented is determined to help Nigeria improve capacities in agriculture manpower development through the project.

Liehman who is of the Swiss School of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences, said the university has drawn a workable curriculum that would help agricultural training institutes build the capacity of actors along the food chain.

Value chain expert, Dr. Ingrid Fromm also of Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), said agricultural businesses need to learn more about what their customers want in order to develop production strategies.

She said value chain training affords participants the opportunity to pool resources and gain efficiencies of scale as well as access to information.

She said United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) commissioned the university to produce a value chain tool for interventions at country level,adding also the institution conducts diagnostics of indus-

trial value chains to help grow national agriculture.

Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr Samson Odedina said the college has worked with farmers across the Southwest, helping them to adopt modern farming practices.

According to him, the college runs practical entrepreneurship programme that gives farmers a realistic picture of what it takes to run a successful small-scale produce operation—including capital, management, labour and other resources.

With support from West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), he said farmers are receiving training to practice commercial farming.

Odedina said improving capacities of small scale farmers to manage farms through a variety of methods is essential for ensuring the economic viability of the food sector.

For youth to be persuaded to take to farming, he said agriculture must be economically rewarding, adding that the development of the services sector will increase income and improve the efficiency of farming.

As part of the college’s curriculum, he said students are made to see how improved varieties boost yields on demonstration farms ,adding that this has helped the school to bring about a change in attitudes towards farming.

While calling for assistance to help the college sustain youth driven agricultural recovery, Odedina said the institution now places emphasis on value chain activities that promote prosperous agriculture.

He stressed the need to complement the government extension machinery and this needs active participation from all actors, besides the government.

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Chad and Niger, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel said the Swiss Government is assisting the government to address insecurity through agriculture.

Represented by the Migration Adviser, Andreas Broger, Hodel said the CBAEN project will help Nigeria explore its abundant agricultural potential, reduce unemployment, boost national food security and earn more foreign exchange.

The Director, Partnership and Linkages Programme, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria(ARCN), Dr Hassan Ahmed said there are tremendous efforts by the Federal Government to use the college of agricultures to promote profitable agric businesses.

He said the government is paying attention to their activities in order to improve agricultural production in Nigeria.

Country Representative, Harvest Plus Nigeria, Dr Paul Ilona said the nation needs to strengthen the value chain by prioritising modern farming methods, thereby bringing an overhaul of agriculture sector.

He urged the government to provide a systematic approach to rethinking food production, adding there are farming initiatives that could blossom into agri business ideas, at the end attracting widespread participation.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

‘Nigeria’s blue revolution capable of reducing N125b fish import’ P ROFESSOR of Fisheries, Martins Antekhai has said the fisheries sector is heading for a complete turnover with the blue revolution plan as multinational companies respond to government’s call to join the campaign to reduce the N125 billion annual fish import bill.

Antekhai, who is of the Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University, said the decision of fisheries multinationals to cut down on imports and embrace aquaculture will play a big role in increasing national fish production, thereby creating more jobs for Nigerians.

He said a lot of investors are going to tap into the vast unutilised land and inland water resources to address the shortage of quality fish seeds, adding that it will give a boost to the sector.

While the approach is going to deliver increased profitability in the long run, the don said reducing importation on the other hand will

Stories by Daniel Essiet

lead to the development of a virile fish export industry.

Already, Antekhai added that the level of fish consumption is big enough to support aquaculture.

In tandem with the Agriculture Transformation Agenda, Triton Aqua Africa Limited commenced its local harvest at Iwo, Osun State.

Its Director of Production, Mr. Yashpal Jain said the firm is going into local production in a bid to reduce fish imports for which the company has been involved.

Jain said the pilot phase of the project is located in Iwo, where it already had a poultry project in the past, but added that for the aquaculture scheme, additional 25 acres of land had to be secured.

The pilot stage at Iwo, Jain ex-

plained, is growing the African catfish of the Clarias Gariepinus species in ponds as big as two standard plots of land for one.

Overall, two large earthen ponds with the dimension of 100m x 80m, six of 100m x 40m and four nursing ponds of 80m x 25m are expected when the pilot fish farm infrastructure is completed.

For Tilapia, he said though cages in which they are kept are expensive and usually imported, the company would source and fabricate locally such number as would be needed in the course of establishing the farms.

From the existing ponds, 40 tonnes of catfish is expected at this instance; however, Jain explained that 2.2 cropping can be done in a year and would amount to 88 tonnes of full capacity at this stage.

Chief Executive Officer, Raju Santani said Triton Group, which came into business in the country in 1995 owns a two-million catfish fingerling capacity hatchery in Ikeja, Lagos State from where it sourced the stock for the Iwo project.

Santani said about $65million is planned for investment in catfish and tilapia production in the next five years to complement efforts of government to grow the local fisheries sector and create more job opportunities in Nigeria.

He said the plan is to establish

fish farms for both tilapia and catfish in different parts of the country. For this reason, various state governments were approached to partner with the company to grow fish, provide jobs and boost the economy.

For instance, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Ekiti states have been approached with applications, for working relationship that would release water bodies like in the various Water Basins and dams for fisheries activities.

The Tilapia to be farmed is specially improved breed, the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), which he said are getting wider acceptability worldwide.

US, Nigeria partner to combat bird flu

I

N response to the bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak in Nigeria, the United States (US) Agency for International Development (USAID) supported a workshop for poultry industry officials.

Over 160 participants from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Health and the poultry sector participated in the training in Ibadan on how to control avian influenza.

Last week, a similar workshop took place in Kano for northernbased authorities in the sector.

Speaking during the opening session of the workshop, the U.S Consul General in Lagos, Jeffery J. Hawkins said: “The United States is bringing supplies and training as part of our contribution to fight bird flu; but we cannot do it alone.

“The ability of Nigeria to quickly detect and respond to avian influenza will be enhanced by the partnerships, platforms, and knowledge built over the past decade.”

In addition to the training,

USAID/Nigeria will contribute personal protective equipment, surveillance gear and disinfectants to relevant authorities.

Bird flu is a viral disease that largely infects birds but rarely infects man. In 2007, there was one human case in Nigeria. However, there are no known human cases in Nigeria so far in the current outbreak. Globally, the majority of human cases of infection are associated with contact with infected live or dead poultry. Controlling the disease in poultry is the first step in decreasing risks to humans.

Since 2006, the U.S government, through USAID, the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S Department of Agriculture, has contributed approximately $1,750,000 in response to the bird flu outbreak in Nigeria.

USAID contributes $473 million a year to improve health and education, create jobs and improve public administration in Nigeria.

USAID also has humanitarian programmes providing emergency response in Nigeria’s northeast.

BATN empowers small farmers • Akande and Dr. Yarhere during the launch of New Canned Catfish Platform in Lagos.

NIOMR unveils canned catfish platform T

HE Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) has unveiled Catfish Canning Innovation Platform (CCIP) to improve fish production.

Its Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Gbola Akande, urged catfish farmers to embrace canning as a means of preserving their products.

At the ceremony in Lagos organised by the institute in collaboration with the Forum of Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Akande said many catfish farmers were recording losses due to poor preservation and lack of value chain.According to him, canning will boost the income of the fish farmers.

Canning of catfish, he noted would increase consumption, investment opportunities and product diversification, quality standardisation in the local and foreign market. “This is in addition to foreign exchange earnings through export of the canned catfish, “he added.

Akande said the catfish canning project was funded with $100, 000 grants from FARA. He noted that the objective of the innovation platform for the differ-

By Toyin Olasinde

ent aquaculture value chains was to facilitate dialogue between the main local players in the value chain, like the farmers, input suppliers, traders, transporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers, the regulators as well as research and development.

“Innovation platform identified bottlenecks and opportunities in production, marketing and the policy environment. The process is galvanised through discussions on market requirements which include quantity, quality, and the timing of sales, followed by an analysis of existing production strategies.

“The innovation platform identifies and implements technologies to improve production to attain market demand. In a parallel and similar process, the marketing system is analysed and improved to benefit all role players within the local context,” Akande added.

He commended the organisation for its support to the project.

In her presentation, Head of Sec-

tion of Extension Research and Liaison Services, NIOMR, Dr Mabel Yarhere, noted that the catfish canning platform must have potentials to meet the interest of stakeholders on board, adding that all stakeholders must have definite contributions to make and benefits to derive from the platform.

Yarhere stated that farmers, employees, materials- resources in the farm, policy makers, government and financial institutions, as well as the input (fingerlings) suppliers, brood stocks, feeds, water quality equipment and many others are to be managed.

“An idea must be replicable at an economic cost and must satisfy a specific need. Innovation involves a deliberate application of information, values from resources, and includes all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products.

“In business, an innovation often results when ideas are applied by the company in order to further satisfy the needs and expectations of the customers. In a social context, innovation helps create new methods for alliance, joint venturing, flexible work hours, and creation of buyers’ purchasing power.”

Yarhere submitted.

T

HE British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has reiterated its commitment to supporting the government’s poverty alleviation schemes with its strategic investments targeted at empowering small farmers, to improve productivity and earn decent incomes from their agricultural activities.

Its General Manager, Abimbola Okoya, while speaking at an interactive session organised by the foundation for its key stakeholders to map out new strategies to boost agricultural productivity with a focus on better ways of enriching smallholder famers, said their activities are focused on where they could achieve the most impact in the agriculture value chain.

“The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has recorded remarkable milestones through the deployment of strategic intervention schemes focusing on provision of potable water supply, vocational skills development, agricultural development, and environmental protection since its establishment in 2002,” said Ms Okoya, while addressing stakeholders at the conference which held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“These interventions have transformed the lives of beneficiaries through capacity building initiatives and creation of enabling environment for smallholder farmers to effectively distribute their agricultural produce,” she added.

The conferees discussed proactive approaches to increasing crop yield and enhancing natural resource through capacity building, technical assistance from reputable enterprise-based organisations as well as paving ways for easy access for the distribution of agricultural produce.

Okoya said: “This strategic meeting with the technical partners becomes necessary due to BATN Foundation’s yearning for sustainable agricultural development, enriching lives of smallholder farmers, providing periodic information on agricultural development, and sharing learning on agriculture-related matters. The BATN Foundation is particularly concerned about the impact of the interventions on the lives of smallholder farmers and other beneficiaries within the value chain.”

She said the organisation recognises the pivotal role of its partners in implementing the foundation’s corporate social investments. “All the stakeholders must adopt the BATNF’s new ways of working, one of which is ensuring that the interventions’ impact on the beneficiaries are easily measurable with respect to variables such as changes in average household, adequacy of level and stability of food supply and access, proportion of smallholder farmers and agro –entrepreneurs adopting new practices among many others,” Okoya said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

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

Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Chairman, Uffot Udeme has resumed duties. It is expected that he will continue with the reform started by his predecessor, Lolu Akinwunmi, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

W

ITH the inauguration of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) board penultimate week, much is expected of it in the ongoing reform in the industry which has been gazetted by the Federal Government.

Its immediate past chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, is optimistic that the new council, chaired by SO&U Group Managing Director Mr. Uffot Udeme, would ensure that the fifth advertising code is strictly enforced. The code is to standardise advertising practice in line with best global practices.

There are fears that the code may be circumvented by some interest groups that are picking issues with foreign shareholding in Nigeria advertising business concerns.

Those in the reform vanguard believe it will protect professionals from losing their jobs, enhance local content and talent development and prevent over westernisation of creative ideas. But, critics believe it is a protectionist reform that would not grow the industry.

Expressing his confidence in the new council to sustain the reform, Akinwunmi said: “Even when he (Udeme) was not the chairman, he did. He is a thoroughbred professional and was the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). He understands what the reform is about and he will be well advised by the council.

“Built into the council structure are also checks and balances that every chairman must respect. I should know. And at any rate, the reform status is definite, has been gazetted and presented to the President-inCouncil in Abuja. But we don’t foresee any challenges with the new chairman and Council.”

Road to reform Akinwunmi said the birth of the reform came with a price, noting what he went through while in office. He said: “First, when I was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 for a three-year tenure, I had been advised by one or two very senior practitioners that I should simply concentrate on the traditional role of vetting adverts, and endeavour to avoid potentially troublesome issues like the constant disagreements between the two major breweries, among others. I however disagreed because I felt the economy and the industry were at a stage where we needed to strongly intervene and strengthen the structures of APCON, so that the federal regulator would be further empowered to play its role more effectively, and do more than just vetting and setting syllabuses for higher institutions. This led us to embark on the review of the fourth code, which culminated in the fifth Code. The work on the Code demanded a lot of tact, diplomacy, political adroitness and the need to manage many interests.”

Foreign interests’ fear But it was not a smooth journey for the council. He said: “From when we started, foreign interests that did not want it attacked us ferociously.

They imagined that if we were able to put the reform in place, it would stop them from taking over the Nigerian advertising business. At some point, I was reported to the National Assembly that I was using my position in APCON to stop certain foreign interests from operating in Nigeria.

APCON: Surmounting the challenges of reforms

• Akinwunmi

“I had to appear at the Senate to clear this. Then they reported me to the then Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who investigated the allegation and found it to be untrue.

Then they went to the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission with the untruth that I was stopping foreign investors from coming into Nigeria. We showed the Commission proof that this was also not true.

“Then they went to the Corporate Affairs Commission with the same lie and we dispelled it. It took the Minister of Information hosting an all-party meeting in Abuja, where they were warned to desist from the campaign of calumny against APCON and I.”

How the reform sailed through Despite the challenges, he said

• Udeme

APCON was able to review the advertising code and implemented it as the fifth code with support from the sectoral groups in APCON council: “The Council successfully implemented the Fifth Code Review following an industry-wide consultation through the APCON Committee on Advertising Practice Reforms (ACAPR) from 2010.

The implementation commenced from January 2013,” he said.

Akinwunmi noted that through Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance level by over 75 per cent. “Vetting and approval of advertising materials is one of the core responsibilities of the Council through the ASP,” he said, adding that political parties also comply. “During the period, vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance

level by over 75 per cent. I am happy to report that even the various political parties send their materials in for vetting. While we still experience some leakages, the awareness is higher, and compliance is more regular,” he said.

To APCON, NBC, CPC and NAFDAC connection Akinwunmi said one of the biggest challenges faced by the drivers of the reform is the exposure of uncensored tradomedical advertisements, promising unsubstantiated reliefs for some ailments and diseases. “During the period, we commenced discussions with NAFDAC for a collaborative relationship, which was to ensure that all tradomedical advertising materials were simultaneously vetted by the three bodies. My council

could not conclude the project, and hopefully, the next council will continue where we stopped. He said the council worked closely with the Consumer Protection Council in ensuring that sales promotions were honest, and not abused, delivering on all the promises to the consumer.

The council through partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, United States, he said, was able to address issues relating to regulation of marketing of alcoholic and beverage firms.

“This has been one of the most successful projects undertaken by my council. We went into a partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, USA for the effective management of communication materials on alcohol beverage. Through this channel, APCON and the Beer Sectorial Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria successfully hosted the three international seminars and conferences in Lagos and Abuja, which involved delegates from many parts of Africa. The Beer Sectorial Group of MAN also sought our assistance and support for the provision of technical support for the setting up of it Self Regulatory (SR) Secretariat. Hopefully, APCON will hold a similar summit with the telecoms operators and other stakeholders within the industry to review overall communication and especially tactical campaigns and promotions,” he explained.

Professional forums To deepen the reform in the corporate communication settings, Akinwunmi said APCON also initiated and hosted various media and brand journalists fora, as well as interactive sessions with the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) to update them on the expectations and responsibilities of APCON. Also, he said APCON hosted a joint intervention through an Outdoor Forum involving the Outdoor Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (OAAN), other regulators and stakeholders.

Colgate introduces new toothpaste

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LEADING global brand, Colgate Palmolive has brought into the market Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser.

The toothpaste is described as the first and only family toothpaste with a sugar acid neutraliser technology and fluoride.

During the media unveiling, the Colgate Marketing Director East and West Africa (EWA) Mr. Chris Hall described the product as the most advanced cavity protection for the entire family’s oral health.

“The first toothpaste for the whole family with the exclusive Sugar Acid Neutraliser technology, it fights cavities by neutralising sugar acids right in the dental plaque,” he said.

According to Hall, the toothpaste is a major breakthrough in the treatment and prevention of tooth decay, noting that with twice daily use, the product which contains Sugar Acid Neutraliser formula works to neutralise harmful acids

that are formed by bacteria from sugar, to reduce early caries. He said the product also strengthens and restores enamel to help prevent cavity formation.

“Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser toothpaste has been demonstrated in various clinical studies to be more efficacious at reducing cavities than conventional toothpaste with fluoride alone,” he said.

Also, Colgate Professional Manager EWA, Mr Cheslin Twigg, said: “The fluoride in Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser works to reduce and prevent cavities by strengthening teeth and decreasing de-mineralisation by acids. The Sugar Acid Neutraliser technology works to create a healthy environment for the teeth by increasing the plaque pH and further preventing demineralisation and promoting re-mineralisation of the teeth. Together, Sugar Acid Neutraliser technology and Fluoride help arrest and reverse the caries process

by decreasing demineralisation and increasing remineralisation much more effectively than fluoride alone and these results in less cavitation than fluoride alone.”

He said Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser works in two ways. “It treats the cause of cavities by targeting acid produced from sugars by bacteria in plaque, in addition to providing the conventional benefits of fluoride.

In contrast, traditional cavity treatments based upon fluoride alone focus solely on treating the symptoms of caries by strengthening the teeth,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Colgate Palmolive Nigeria General Manager, Mr. Davis Kanyama noted that the company will continue to avail Nigerian market with quality and specially formulated products that ensure oral wellbeing of discerning consumers.

He said Colgate is known for continuous improvement, global teamwork and care, backed by over two centuries of experience and main-

tain number one market share in 146 counties globally.

“We have built a hallmark of exceptional global consumer products including toothpastes and brushes for our consumers, shoppers, customers and professionals in 223 countries.

Colgate products are being sold worldwide and we are committed to offering Nigerians the same world-class products that offer total wellness to everyone in the family.”

Colgate Palmolive Nigeria Marketing Director, Mrs. Hannah Oyebanjo explained: “Sugar Acid Neutraliser technology actually works biologically by targeting the primary cause of caries, the plaque biofilm, to reduce the effects of acids produced from sugars before they can harm the teeth. Specifically, it promotes the beneficial activity of arginolytic bacteria that convert arginine into ammonia to directly neutralise the “sugar acids” in plaque, creating a healthier environment for the teeth.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

Brandnews

‘Why LED may overtake static billboard’ S

TATIC billboards may be on their way out following advertisers’ preference for their mobile liquefied electronic display (LED) counterparts, advertising chief, Mr. Akin Adelegan, has said.

A static billboard is a form of outdoor advertising board stationed while mobile LED billboard is a new form of billboard that uses a liquefied electronic display to expose advert materials.

Adelegan, Chief Executive Officer of Advertange, said LED mobile advertising billboard’s technology would make its static LED counterpart look ordinary.

The LED mobile platform, he said, is better than static billboard because of its cost effectiveness and flexibility in field deployment.

Noting that the LED mobile platform is strategic to outdoor advertising, he said: “So, you must now strategise. If this is the new trend in the industry, I do not want my brand to look inferior, I also want to be there, but you must use your senses to decide how to get the best from

Stories by Adedeji Ademigbuji

what you are paying for. Rather than spend almost N100 million for a location, why not spend same for a mobile LED board that will move round Lagos,” he noted.

Adelegan said the growing need for a platform that can enhance brands’ exposure and the yearning of the market, attracted his company into the business with importation of about eight mobile LED outdoor trucks for would be clients’ use.

“The mobile LED outdoor advertising is a child of necessity because the industry is evolving and the latest technology in terms of outdoor is LED. People are fed up of just seeing the static billboard; they want something that could retain much of the attention.”

“What we had before now is the static LED but the challenge in that is that they are fixated in one location and it is not every route you can put static billboard. It is restricted to some highways and the cost of constructing them, getting approval from the Ministry of Environment, LASAA, FERMA, the process of constructing those giant

LED boards is a bit cumbersome.

“There are instances where some have even collapsed. There are instances it takes many months to complete. It is not a pick and go thing. It is intensive and when you have maintenance issues, the whole thing has to be shut down.

“We felt that there is vacuum, people want LED, but it cannot be in all location,that was why we started introducing the mobile LED platforms. It is a big screen and you can take it everywhere, big markets and different locations.

Though there are few mobile advertising agencies in the industry but his agency, Advertange, is out to provide mobile LED billboard that has cutting edge advantage over others already available.

“We wanted an edge in the area of LED; we brought in the one with sight and sound. Ours come with five thousand waltz speakers, bigger screen and it is elevating too.

“What we are saying is that apart from using it as a static medium, where you can just put ordinary billboard, it could serve as something

that could be used for brand campaign, road shows; slot in the video, anywhere the truck gets to, it will bring people round it with music playing and there could even be an interactive session with the brand.

Providing some specific advantages of his mobile LED boards, he said, “Our mobile LED comes in two versions; one side is LED screen, the other side is a scroller, that means, if one of the side is showing digital screen, the other side is a back lit LED Scroller, which could display more than ten messages of what the brand is about or can do.

“Then, the other one, both sides are LED screen. Another advantage of ours is that it has streamer on top of the screen. So aside the screen displaying video, it can be giving you messages about a product.

“The screens are also internet connected and this means we can be playing the message or video in Lagos, Abuja and PH. Our trucks could be used for concert; it is just plug and play. If there is a concert, you just drive in there.”

Stating another advantage of mobile

• From left: Brand Manager, PZ Cussons, Oluwaseun Ayeni; parents of the winning baby Mrs Funmi and Mr. Yinka Davies; Marketing Director, PZ Cussons, Sandy Griffiths and the baby, Morireoluwa Davies at the presentation of Cussons Baby Moment 2015 winning family and signing of agreement at PZ Cussons head office, Ilupeju, Lagos.

FirstBank sustains brand loyalty with Savings Promo

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HE has been banking with Firstbank of Nigeria for 28 years. She grew up to see her parents banking with the same bank. Mrs. Ebisan Onyema, opened up on her long relationship with the bank penultimate week when its Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Mr Bisi Onasanya, presented a new Toyota Corolla to her as the winner at the final draw of the bank’s Savings Bonanza.

Her story illuminates the meaning of customer loyalty and how the reward system of a brand can sustain such cult followership.

At this time of economic downturn, marketing professionals are looking for promotional tools to secure market share in the very competitive climate. They are using promotional incentives.

“This experience and winning the

prize has deepened my loyalty for FirstBank of Nigeria. How I wish other banks can support their customers through this reward system.

I have been banking with FirstBank in 28 years. I grew up knowing my father and my mother banked with the bank. So, there is a long connecting point between the bank and I. So, a bank should not expect loyalty when there is no reward system for their loyal customers. I’m excited with this prize,” she said.

Loyalty marketing is an approach to marketing, based on strategic management, in which a company focuses on growing and retaining existing customers through incentives. Branding, product marketing and loyalty marketing all form part of the customer proposition – the subjective assessment by the customer of whether to purchase a brand or not based on the integrated

combination of the value they receive from each of these marketing disciplines.

While the recent campaign by FirstBank has been predicated on renewed campaign theme, ‘You First,’ especially with the celebration of its 120 years of operation in the Nigerian market, the bank has gone on promo spree to champion financial inclusiveness through its marketing activities in recent times.

Speaking at the car presentation ceremony, Onasanya noted that the FirstBank Savings Bonanza delivers to the bank’s promise to put the customer first as it is designed to reward customers for their patronage and loyalty to the brand over the years. “FirstBank has been changing the life style of average Nigerians with its Savings Promo since 2008. We would continue to churn out innovative and tailored-fit

products to support customers’ needs and aspirations”, he stated.

“Few months ago, we gave out six bedroom house to winners of our promos. Today, we gave out brand new Toyota Corolla cars to winners of our promo is different locations.

Intending customers should go to our branches and open accounts and win lots of prizes,” Onasanya said.

While this is part of the bank’s continued drive to encourage savings culture in the youth and unbanked segments, the reward system is believed would deepen the bank’s customer base especially as the bank through a draw which took place on March 12, 2015 to produce the winners as promised.

The promo which kicked off in September 2014 has produced over 1400 winners including 12 winners of brand new Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla cars.

LED, he said the cinema can be reawakened through the platform, a new business opportunity he said his agency is looking at.

“Now, everybody has to go to Silverbird Cinema and other enclosed cinemas in the country. So we are looking for brands, which could say give me six of these LED trucks to show live matches or films to a selected audience,” he told The Nation.

PZ presents prize to winner of Cussons baby moments

I

T was a dream come true for the family of Mr. Yinka and Mrs. Funmi Davies recently when the management of multinational, PZ, presented the prize of the Cussons Baby Moments to they and their daughter, Morireoluwa.

At a presentation ceremony held at PZ’s office in Ilupeju, officials of the company stressed the need to actualise plans that can bring about the best in children.

According to Cussons’ Brand Manager, Ayeni Oluwaseun, the competition gives parents the opportunity to showcase amazing things their babies are made of.

“It made parents take amazing pictures of their babies. Children do interesting things when where are there and when we are not.”

Ayeni added that the prize entailed supply of Cussons products to the family and an all-expensepaid trip abroad.

Besides, Morireoluwa will be the face of the products in the next one year.

Mr. Davies thanked PZ for giving the family the opportunity. He recalled that he and his wife registered for the competition last December, when they bought the products at the Ikeja Shopping Mall in Lagos.

Also commending PZ, Morireoluwa’s mother said: “Whatever our daughter becomes in life, she will always remember that when she was a year old, she won this award. This is a great platform to start from.”

On the impact of the competition on the brand, Ayeni said it had improved on people’s awareness about Cussons as many want to associate with caring for children.

Series to engage 300 pupils on Children’s Day

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PTICOMM Marketing Company, a public relations and integrated marketing communications consulting firm, has unveiled TheRoleModelSeries Conference, a mentor-protege programme for teenagers in public secondary schools, to mark Children’s Day on May 27.

The series, which provides education, mentoring and inspiration using personalities in private, business, and public life, will hold at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The inaugural edition will feature over 300 pupils aged between 12 and 16 years.

There will be inspirational speeches, presentations, question and answer sessions, drama skit, and syndicate session. Prizes, awards, and plaques will be given to deserving individuals and organisations.

Upticomm Marketing Chief Strategist Olusegun McMedal, explained that the idea is driven by the need to create access for teenagers to learn directly from role models in the society.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

Who’s afraid of INEC Card Reader?

March of 28 •The world is watching; so Nigeria must get this exercise right

J

UST as well this editorial is starting with the twin trigger that could make or mar it: the electoral umpire and state security apparatus. Unfortunately, both agitate us ominously.

First, the electoral umpire. The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents and privies, has ruthlessly demonised Prof. Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as an integral part of their electioneering. The latest of such irrational attacks is a front page advertisement, in the Leadership Newspaper of March 25. It is headlined: “Exposed: How Jega plots to rig election for APC”.

In the advert, a body that calls itself The Sentinel Group, alleged that Prof. Jega had set up a body called “Presidential Election Result Collation Committee,” which would allegedly help Jega to “collate” the results of the presidential election. It also alleged that the committee boasted people allegedly sympathetic to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). An independent body should investigate this allegation and bring culprits, if any, to book. Indeed, anything that could cast a slur on the integrity of the elections should be discountenanced.

But aside from the alleged partisan tilt of the committee, how does a “collation” committee automatically amount to a “rigging plot”? Would the Jega body (assuming such a body exists) manufacture its own figures, independent of figures returned from the various polling zones, local governments and the 36 states and Abuja, which will then form the final tally? Therefore, if not, how could it possibly rig the “collated” figures, already in the public space, signed and countersigned by party agents?

This advertisement •Jonathan is, of course, the latest in a chain of reckless attacks on the INEC chairman. Earlier unproven allegations included that Jega had met with APC elements in Dubai to perfect a rigging plot, that registration of voters and collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) were higher in the North (even the war-torn areas) than in the South, that Jega must abandon the use of PVCs for temporary voter cards (even if money from the public till, time and efforts had been spent on this innovation), that Jega must not use smart card readers which, with the PVC chips, would authenticate genuine voters.

But pray, if everyone wants free, fair and transparent election, why would anyone protest measures to ensure democratic integrity — and on that account goad the likes of MASSOB in the South East, and OPC, in the South West, to protest these anti-vote theft innovations, and call for Jega’s sack?

Add all these to the now failed threat to sack Jega via the president ordering him to go on pre-retirement leave before a crucial election, the anti-Jega stance by the pro-Jonathan Southern Nigeria Consulta-

tive Assembly (SNCA), with otherwise respected elements like Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr. Femi Okunrounmu, Chief Olu Falae, all led by Chief Edwin Clark. They have also called for Jega’s sack for no less frivolous reasons.

On security, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), President Jonathan’s National Security Adviser (NSA), defiled his job with politics in London to fly the kite of poll postponement because of low PVC collection rate. In an absurd second act, security chiefs lined up behind him but on security and not PVCs. Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the OPC factional leader’s boast that he, with some unnamed others, forced the postponement from February 14, simply because they realised President Jonathan would lose, further speaks of a bubbling conspiracy, at which core may be the security forces.

Then Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba added his own voice. He gave an advisory that voters should, after voting, leave the polling zone to “cool down and relax” in their homes. Prof. Jega countered that, by the Electoral Law, voters

Of course, there is the perpetual threat, at times subtle, at times brazen, of possible militarisation of the polls. The courts have conclusively ruled twice (one of them, an Appeal Court judgment; and another, a definitive High Court injunction), saying the military have no role to play in elections. The military should stay neutral, resist being used for any lawless job and stick to their oath of service. Even with the unresolved Ekiti rigging audio tapes issue, we believe the military are patriotic enough to resist being led to any antidemocratic crime.

Now, a word for INEC itself. Since berthing in 2010, the Jega INEC has not conducted any “perfect” election. Yet, Prof. Jega’s personal credibility has somewhat engendered some confidence that, maybe, he could make a change.

But all that risks tragic change if Jega blows his swan song — the 2015 elections. The commission has always said it is ready. Now is the time to walk its talk. So, the smart card readers must be

could stay around, so long as they don’t disrupt voting, or disturb the peace. The Police later aligned themselves with the INEC position — only for IGP Abba to later go on Channels TV, indulging himself in the sophistry of loitering in the context of the Electoral Law. He virtually threatened that the Police were at liberty to interpret loitering however it suited them!

Since the IGP’s unfortunate raid on the House of Representatives, he has given the impression, of a rather disturbing penchant, to veer off partisan trajectories, just to impress the powers-that-be. But he should put himself in check for the elections, and lead the Police according to law and their oath of office, but not his whims.

well protected and work on the day. The materials should get to the polling zones in time. INEC officials must not only be fair, they must be credulously seen to be so. The innovations of PVC and corresponding card readers are laudable.

But they would count for nothing if there were any major snarl.

Indeed, INEC must acquit itself well. Global eyes are on Nigeria. Fear of possible civil rupture has compelled the United States, according to news reports, to station no less than 400 marines in neighbouring Ghana, with at least three helicopters, to ferret out its diplomatic staff and other US citizens, at the slightest sign of trouble.

News reports also speak of Nigerians in their hundreds relocating abroad till after the election. Those at home have been stocking up on foodstuffs and other supplies in the event of a national lockdown arising from any crisis. The tension is that high and palpable.

The Jonathan administration must not allow the nation to slide. We have the first republic and the June 12 sagas as sober examples. It will be tragic and foolish for us to travel those evil roads again.

But the simple antidote to this doomsday scenario is a free, fair and transparent election. The key has three handles: the INEC, the political parties and the people. With vigilance and insistence on the right results, democracy will triumph on March 28. President Jonathan must realise that any bloody recourse or major paralysis will be on his head as the nation’s leader.

A credible poll is the surest way to a renascent and democratic Nigeria.

‘News reports also speak of Nigerians in their hundreds relocating abroad till after the election. Those at home have been stocking up on foodstuffs and other supplies in the event of a national lockdown arising from any crisis. The tension is that high and palpable. The Jonathan administration must not allow the nation to slide. We have the first republic and the June 12 sagas as sober examples. It will be tragic and foolish for us to travel those evil roads again’

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IR: The discussions on usage or not of card reader for 2015 elections is an issue that has, for months, dominated the political space.

It has taken a dimension that warranted suspicion and therefore increases the inquisitiveness of an average Nigerian as to the importance and effects of introduction of card readers into our electoral system.

This republic has witnessed three presidential elections besides the 1999 election that brought in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; all the elections were characterised by heavy electoral malpractices.

Even, the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, a beneficiary of 2007 presidential election, admitted his election was flawed. The implication of electoral malpractices is grave and it has negative effect on the people and the nation at large. Indeed, electoral malpractices have impeded good governance in Nigeria. Professor Jega-led INEC conducted the 2011 elections and at different times later conducted gubernatorial elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.

The experience acquired equipped the commission with the ability to organise election in 2015 with especially the introduction of card reader machines.

Politicians during elections naturally want to outwit one another. They look for every means possible to make their candidates or party win, hence the need for the umpire to put in place a fool-proof electoral process. Card Reader, an electronic voter authentication system configured by INEC to each of the polling units to authenticate the commission’s PVCs and accredit voters is here to the rescue. Cloned cards will be rejected. The usage will be of tremendous benefits as it would confer credibility on the electoral process since multiple voting, impersonation and ballot stuffing that characterised previous elections will be eliminated.

The card reader, according to INEC, for the purpose of results audit from the polling units, will keep records of all cards read as well as those not verified and transmits the collected to a central INEC Server via GSM data service. The collation officers will also use information transmitted by the card readers to audit polling unit result sheets and determine whether accreditation figures have been altered. All should embrace this lawful marvelous innovation, as it would seriously minimize electoral malpractices in all elections.

Nigerians at different times have clamoured for transparent, free and fair elections. Why are the ruling party and the presidency now jittery?

Whatever may be the thinking of Mr President and his party on the 2015 elections, guaranteeing a united Nigeria should be of paramount consideration. Professor Jega had repeatedly promised Nigerians an improved 2015 elections using PVCs and card readers; let us support the commission to achieve the feat of organising a credible poll that we have long yearned for to regain the lost glory of a leading country in Africa.

• Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa is a former member, Federal House of Representatives.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: In 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were amalgamated.

Since then, the regions of Nigeria have been joined together in a marriage of inconvenience. Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other patriots led Nigeria to independence from her colonial masters with the intention of making the country an egalitarian society.

Since charity begins at home, Chief Awolowo as the Premier of the then Western Region, practiced and achieved the objective through the introduction of free education, free health care delivery, integrated rural development and industrial emancipation.

But he was prevented from replicating the same performance in the whole country. Before his death, he predicted that Nigerians will rescue themselves from their oppressors by taking their fate in their own hands.

In 1983, he cried out that the country was on the brink of collapse, unless a savior came to our rescue.

On the night of December 31, 1983, General Muhammad Buhari came to our rescue. The disease, which was inflicted on Nigerians by the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN), was cured immediately through the

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Buhari: The awaited Messiah change of currency and promotion of discipline.

Immediately, all foreign currencies bowed to the naira in terms of value and the standard of living of Nigerians was progressively transformed. But he was prevented from completing his good assignment by a palace coup in 1985 after which the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced, a policy that reversed the standard of living of Nigerians to the lowest ebb.

President Barrack Obama delivered an address in 2013 in South Africa where he identified the root of the malaise confronting Nigeria to include corruption, poverty, favouritism, nepotism, insecurity, Boko Haram and bad governance. All these had become the order of the day in Nigeria, where there is no middle class; you are either rich or poor.

When America was confronted by debilitating economic problems due to bad governance, Americans called on Obama to rescue them. Americans focused on his past good performance as a Senator and closed their eyes to his defects-Muslim name (Hussein), single parentage, African descent, black colour, former tout and drug user.

Americans went ahead and voted for Obama massively to become their President to rescue them from economic shamble.

We now want all the leaders and members of the progressive in the All Progressive Congress (APC) to focus on the discipline and good governance of Buhari’s government of 1984 and 1985 when he rescued Nigeria from possible collapse and not on the mistake he made by imprisoning the progressive leaders

The ongoing reforms at JAMB IR, Oyo State-born university don, Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, has halted the demeaning image of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Before his emergence as JAMB registrar, the board released candidates’ results three months after conducting examinations. But, in Ojerinde’s first year, the results were released within ten days.

The 2014 JAMB results were released within four days after conducting the examinations, while candidates got the results of the ongoing 2015 JAMB examinations within days via text message. JAMB is now computerbased. All hitherto JAMB miracle centres have been tactically closed down without deployment of security forces.

Their owners were captured without being sent to prison.

Ojerinde has killed corruption in JAMB without shooting a soul.

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Today, you can come to examinations’ centres with your mobile telephones and nobody would disturb you. Those making money by sending answers to candidates on examinations day via their mobile phones are now jobless. Their unholy business has been brought to a halt.

JAMB does not need a battalion of policemen and soldiers again at its examinations’ centres. Today, candidates are to enter examination halls and answer their questions on a well-programmed computer systems. Candidates are told not to bother about bringing pen or pencil into the examination hall.

You must read before you can pass.

If you don’t read, you can’t pass.

The era of non-appearance of candidates in JAMB is gone for good. With JAMB producing qualified candidates, Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions would certainly be producing quality products.

Professor Ojerinde has taught the younger generation and emerging leaders how to record meritorious feats without much talk and winning without propaganda. The late Dora Akunyili revolutionised the operations of the now derailed NAFDAC; Ribadu brought the now toothless EFCC to limelight; Babatunde Raji Fashola cleaned up the then criminal den called Oshodi; Adedibu Ojerinde kills corruption in JAMB; please whose name will enter the hall of fame NEXT? Without being sensational, my verdict today is that the Nigerian nation needs creative, patriotic, focused, committed and revolutionary leaders in the class of these patriots to deliver her citizens out of the current generational quagmire.

• Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Magodo, Lagos.

while trying to clean the Augean stables.

In 1984, Buhari was surrounded and advised by soldiers. Now, he is surrounded and being advised by civilians and democrats. The result will be guaranteed good governance without subjecting the progressive to hardship as experienced in 1984.

He is the only surviving and tested candidate who can rescue and lead Nigeria to the Promised Land after 100 years of wandering in the wilderness.

Secondly, giving General Muhammad Buhari the opportunity to revive his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) is crucial against the level of present corruption that has pervaded Nigeria. APC and all well-meaning Nigerians should insist on Buhari’s presidency; he is epitome of self-discipline and ac-

countability.

His experience as former Head of State, Petroleum Minister, and Finance Minister with optimal performances should not be wasted.

Providentially also, Buhari has never betrayed any form of religious fanaticism. I urge all APC Chieftain to shun politicisation of religion; total de-politicisation of religion is imperative for social equity and cohesion.

Another political leader whose talents should be seriously tapped is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I would propose for him the position of Finance Minister, for sustaining the economy of Lagos State even when the federal government seized the bulk of what Lagos should get from the federation account.

Pa Obafemi Awolowo helped to manage Nigeria’s post-war economy, as a Finance Minister, without any certificate in accounting or economics; Tinubu will not do less. Buhari and Tinubu are not associated with stolen oil wealth; they will be accountable.

• Ademola Orunbon, Ajanosi Street, Oke-Posun, Epe, Lagos State

Fayose must be cautioned IR: Who will help us tell Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state to desist from bringing disrepute to the office with his unguarded utterances?

He keeps on embarrassing himself, his family and his state in public by ascribing concocted ill-health to General Muhammad Buhari, the All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential candidate.

Mr. Fayose has consistently been describing General Buhari as too old and sick to be president of Nigeria, the latest being his allegation that the General travelled to the United Kindom (UK) on medical grounds. Fayose is busy denigrating the age and person of General Buhari to the extent of wishing him dead.

The rascally way of his campaign against General Buhari has not in any away added value to our democracy and politics, neither has it added value to the presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan. It is all about politics of

S

violence and thuggery, forgetting that all the presidential candidates have signed peace accord. No wonder, a member of the House of Representatives from his home state, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, described Mr. Fayose as a ‘cancer to today politics ’ and that he should be advised to play politics with decorum. Fayose’s rascality should have been a thing of the past, having claimed to be of age, refined, more experienced and more mature governor. But he was so reckless and crude in his approach of support to the outgoing incumbent president.

With this kind of rascality by Mr. Fayose, Ekiti state people are in real trouble under his leadership.

Let it be known to Mr. Fayose that it is a sacrilege in Yoruba land for younger ones to be disrespectful to their elders. Those wishing the General dead should note that death will come when it will come.

Let Mr. Fayose be warned.

•Adeyemi Omotunde, omodeyemi1@yahoo.com

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 16

21

COMMENTS

In March…

• (Youth and the ballot box)

Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

W

E say because we belong to the divide that everybody calls “have-nots,” there is nothing we could do to have our say and actualise it. We do not belong to the “have-nots.” Do we?

If we do, then let me make good to say that promising as we are touted to be, our promise has been tainted by perversion and shame. Our songs of hope are tainted by defeat and our most promising image is yet ravaged and austere.

For we have become unfaithful to a land that gave us life and sustains it, still. The hope we know still prospers as eternal defeatism – for we remain unfaithful to a land devoid of catastrophe and hopelessness save that which we have learnt to visit upon it, from our fathers.

Our best years hardly lie ahead.

Perhaps they do. Who knows…the hopelessness we swore to diminish may finally disappear. Our best years may truly lie ahead, if we could squeeze the juice of youth to nourish atrophy.

Today, a wonderful thing is happening to you and me. The chance we seek has landed within our reach.

It had always been within reach, we

have only been too cowardly to seize it.

Juvenile as we are, in character and mind; we get to enjoy such wonderful chances to play adult, again. How responsible shall we be, as adults?

Such rare opportunity which we get to rekindle starlight in our darksome skies hardly presents itself in several nations of the freeborn.

This March, shall we dispense our mandate as the freeborn who do not know how to be free? Shall we resort to genocide and war as our neighbours for whom the bullet resounds more than a thousand votes?

Shall we turn our neighbourhoods and public parks to theatres of devastation and the grotesque?

Or shall we dispense our affairs as ones who have learnt, finally, the wisdom in diligence and unselfishness? Shall this be the moment we get to put a lie to every manner of delinquency and hideousness that have been ascribed to us? Is this the epoch of the Nigerian youth?

It is. This is the moment in which we scorn the platitudes and benevolence of insufferable godfathers. This is the moment in which we court the bounteousness of hope astride the

‘Let him be the one whose blueprint for the provision and sustenance of good roads, electricity, standard health care and security, stable economy and quality education among others revalidates our hope in the supremacy of democratic ethos we are yet to enshrine’

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VER since 1959, general elections in Nigeria have always been turbulent because of the fierce competition by major ethnic nationalities in the country to take over power at the centre. This cannot be divorced from the divide and rule tactics adopted by the British Colonialist to maintain their stranglehold on the hitherto independent economic partners, which they cobbled together for administrative convenience to gain economic advantage.

The major political parties at the twilight of independence were formed on ethnic lines as a result of the mutual distrust and suspicion amongst the leading political elites who want to take over power from the British.

This development further polarised the country and do further damage to the psyche of the potentially prosperous state. Consciously, the British colonialist ensured that they handed over power to the most reactionary section of the emerging ruling class whom they felt are amenable to control.

Thus, Nigeria became a neo-colonialist state with a stooge as leader, a mere appendage of the British overlords and their Western Imperialist allies. Rather than work assiduously to heal socio-political and economic wounds, the ruling party at the centre the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) maintained the status quo and also embarked on the balkanization of the Western region to weaken it. And the needed drive towards nationhood was sacrificed on the altar of political expediency to maintain a numerical advantage for electoral domination.

The birth of the United Progression Grand Alliance established to wrestle power from the ruling party at the centre was viciously attacked; the opposition leaders were intimidated, witch-hunted, arrested and detained on trumped up charges. The 1964 general elections were fraught with irregularities and the election was manipulated in favour of the Nigeria National Alliance, which is a merger of the NPC and Nigeria Democratic Party (NDP) led by the treacherous late Samuel Akintola. The unfavourably rigged 1964 general elections in favour of the ruling party at the centre and its allies in NNA was rejected and resisted by opposition party supporters; this sparked off a chain of violence reactions particularly the ‘wetie’ led by peasant farmers -the ‘Agbekoyas’, and ultimately the 1966 military coup. The 1979 and 1983 general elections did not fare better; both were rigged in favour of the ruling party at the centre.

The Obasanjo military regime handed over power to their crony Alhaji Shehu Shagari in a disputed 12 2/3 calculation, which offends mathematics logic till date. The Shagari administration manipulated the 1983 elections in its own favour despite the people’s disenchantment with the regime and the clear clamour for change in leadership of the country.

The Shagari government profligacy, wastage and maladministration led to political economic retrogression before the Gen. Buhari/Idiagbon corrective regime took over power to arrest the drift to a failed state. The regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida wasted over #40 billion on an electoral process spanning almost eight years, eventually the election was conducted on June 12, 1993, the elections was

prick of faith. This is the moment in which we get to lead by our votes.

By our votes, we could get to choose the leader with a will to truly serve. By our votes, we could begin to unlearn every perfidy that we have learnt...we could unschool our hearts of the hypocrisy that drives us to beatify shams and delusions as the soundest of truths while we canonise reality as the genesis of farce.

By our votes, we could end our sojourn on the roads where our heartfelt hopes lay famished. It’s time we acknowledged that we had never known better. It’s time we cast our votes like ones who truly know better.

By our votes, we could choose our preferred candidate in the light of our most pressing goals, the possibilities of projecting them in time and achieving them via conscious and concerted efforts. One man to a vote, we could subject every platitude and cheap-talk to the scrutiny of exhaustive retrospection and candour.

We could show predators we ennobled with power that we shan’t be taken by their promises of free meals, free amenities and infrastructure anymore. We could help them to understand that we understand that in the normal conditions of existence, there is hardly any free meal.

We could tell them that it is the duty of every elected representative to provide among other things; good roads and electricity, security and a stable economy; for we do pay for them – quite painfully too. That is why they deplete our income by tax.

By our votes, we could substantiate the arguments we espouse. We could breathe life into the most brilliant chapters of Karl Marx and like the late philosopher and economist,

illumine the agonies of the working class.

Every man to his vote, we could command the workings of politics and materialism beyond feckless excitation and sham-talk. By our votes, we could propound that timeless political philosophy we never had.

This is the moment in which we actualise the success of a mass revolution, the triumph of the bread lines and the re-emerging middle class.

This is the moment in which we put lie to the claim that the bread lines are incapable of determining society by themselves.

This is the moment in which we defy the enticement of deep-pockets and their bromated loaves, cudgels, clubs and hard currencies.

It would simply not do to explode in rant and idle cynicism anymore.

It would no longer do to detonate in gripe and over-celebrated soapboxes. We owe it to ourselves to survive self-destruct by ideals much better than those our modern statesmen extract from impotent arsenals of misinterpreted politics and dogma.

This is the time to cast our votes in revolution predicated on the satisfaction of basic necessities: bread for the hungry, land for the peasants and peace to end the barbarism of the privileged few breaking our virgin foals roughshod.

Revolutions are born because spirited patriots decide to react. Then it spreads like wildfire in harmattan to incite the guts of latent spirits.

This time around, let it excite the conscience of even the most treacherous citizen.

Today, our talk is of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

There is nothing to be said, at this point in time. The hour of decision has stolen on us. Let us now elect

the one whose appreciation of our relative realities in the light of that which seems unknowable and irresolvable seems incontestable.

Let us now give our mandate to the candidate whose philosophy of governance repudiates and sufficiently resolves the predicament of those whose plight the State is incapable of improving – beyond timeworn rhetoric that it is socio-politically incorrect for such unquenchable terror to exist.

Shall we now appoint the one whose evaluation and projection of our given concretes unlike the other contestants’ exacts the most probable if not practicable outcomes in the throes of ruthlessly objective and rational processes of thought and actions.

Let us now elect the one capable of standing unbending before the interminable storm of our brutishness and impatience even while we pick him apart. Let us elect the one capable of repair in wisdom and action even as he braves the savagery of impatient citizenry and self-styled activists.

Let him be the one whose blueprint for the provision and sustenance of good roads, electricity, standard health care and security, stable economy and quality education among others revalidates our hope in the supremacy of democratic ethos we are yet to enshrine.

This is the moment in which we cast our votes with faith…faith in the ballot process, democracy and State. Let him be the one whose soul we have endeavoured to explore that we may be capable of trust.

Bet you will claim you have found the candidate of such principle, depth and character. Who? We shall get the type of government that we deserve.

2015 elections: OPC got it wrong

By Adewale Balogun clearly won by the late Business Mogul and Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party Chief MKO Abiola but was criminally annulled by the military junta headed by General Ibrahim Babangida. The annulment led to a crisis that Nigeria is yet to recover from till date. To assuage the pains and the bruised ego of Abiola’s kinsmen the Yoruba, the stopgap military dictatorship of Abdulsalam handed over power to General Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1999. Following the insidious path of the past, Obasanjo rigged the 2007 elections to install late Umar Yar’Adua. The 2007 general elections were adjudged by both local and international observers as the worst of its kind in any part of the world.

Late Umar Yar’Adua himself affirmed this assertion when he acknowledges the fact that the presidential election that brought him to power was flawed.

Today, patriotic and well meaning Nigerians who believed the Nigerian state is the hope of the black race despite her pseudo federal structure will be pained that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has worsened the ethnoreligious differences of the Nigerian People. Unconsciously, many appeal to ethnic and religious sentiments to drum support for Jonathan to become president when late Yar’Adua became incapacitated to further govern the country due to his ill health, and eventual death. Rather than work towards the unity of Nigeria since he became president through a flawed election in 2011, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has continued to ride on ethnic and religious cleavages to rule the country. On daily basis, Nigerians experience has been one type of lamentation or the other since President Jonathan comes on board.

Insecurity of lives and property is the order of the day, with the north east nearly severed from the rest of the country by Boko-Haram insurgents, albeit for the heroic efforts of the Nigeria Armed Forces in collaboration with the coalition force of Chad, Niger and Cameroun. Hopelessness, unemployment, joblessness, poverty, hunger and starvation pervades the land. Inarguably, unpaid salaries of workers all over the country and across party lines, unpaid pensions, wastage and mismanagement, stealing which is an integral part of corruption with impunity, youth restiveness and violence, kidnapping and other aggravated social vices must have informed why the Nigerian people clamour for change now.

While OPC as an organization has the right to support any candidate of its choice in the coming March 28th & April 11th general elections, it is however criminally wrong for the organisation to impose its own will on Lagos state electorate to follow its opportunistic and misguided support for a failed

and inept administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Te right to peaceful protest is an inalienable right in a democratic society, so far such did not infringe on the right of others.

OPC resort to intimidation, harassment and destruction of APC billboards and defacing of candidates posters is childish, unnecessary, criminally divisive and myopic.

The OPC support for a Goodluck Jonathan continuation in office premised on the president’s promise to implement the CONFAB resolutions is grossly misleading, a tactical error and strategic opportunism given Mr. President’s plethora of unkept promises. It has been observed all along that the leadership of OPC will compromise the struggle of the Yoruba for egalitarianism, true federalism, regional autonomy and freedom for all sooner than later, hence the most conscious and revolutionary wing of the group, that is YOREM (Yoruba Revolutionary Movement), pulled out of the sinking ship of the OPC to form YOREM in November, 1999.

Gani Adams represent political opportunism and blind gusto for material accumulation which is not an accident of history.

The Yoruba people are not gullible and are therefore not taken-in with the so-called CONFAB report because we know the talk-chop is an avenue to recruit would be Jonathan for president campaigners. Most Yoruba delegates to the CONFAB who lacks the mandate of the Yoruba people are now Jonathan campaigners who are ready to plunge Yoruba land into crisis; why will the implementation of a CONFAB report be a second term issue? Thus, the Fasehun/Gani Adams marriage that Obasanjo had put asunder, the Goodluck Jonathan millions of dollars has joined together.

All sons and daughters of Yoruba land should not to become a willing tool in the hands of the enemies of the Yoruba.

Also, Yoruba should not allow their land to be turned into theatre of war by Jonathan’s cronies. That the action of the OPC is capable of turning Yoruba people against one another and plunge the land into an avoidable crisis and bloodletting.

We appeal to all eligible voters to use their PVC to either elect or un-elect any government or Political party in the coming elections, our powers lies in our PVC. We disagree vehemently with those calling for the removal of the Chairman of INEC when elections are around the corner; we view the call for Professor Jega’s removal at this time as most unpatriotic, Criminal and unnecessary.

The self-determination and social emancipation of the Yoruba is not for sale to the highest bidder. The genuine quest of the Yoruba for regional autonomy within a reconstituted genuine federal union or outside it cannot be compromised for the personal interest of a corrupt ridden government that has compounded the harrowing experience of the Nigerian people in the last four years.

• Adewale Bally Balogun wrote in from Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27 , 2015

22

COMMENTS “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln quotes

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HE thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because of people’s determination for CHANGE; and dreadful because of status quo ante’s devilish plot to have its way-by whatever means.

So, tomorrow is presidential and federal legislative elections day when Nigerians with Permanent Voter Card (PVC), are expected to troop out enmasse and vote for the candidate of their choice, principally between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and General Mohammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the first time in memorable history of this country, majority of the people are fiercely focused on the presidential contest, particularly on a certain opposition candidate against an incumbent, without blinking an eye over the other elections coming up tomorrow. From all indications, ab initio, the apex contest looks like the incumbent is already out of office. The jitters in official circles has led to the question: Will the president and his hatchet men allow tomorrow to be truly for elections, or will it be a war of persecution and intimidation disguised as necessary security provisions for an election? This column has seen the signal of fruitless militarization of Lagos since last week.

The current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sulaiman Abba, set the tone of intolerance, through his flippant statement on what to expect from the federal police when he publicly declared that Nigerians should not wait at polling centres after exercising their franchise. Meaning that the police is coercively planning to shield them from protecting their votes. What he forgot to realise is that an election, being a process, is not completed until the votes, under close

‘Again, the thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because the people will have the opportunity of electing a more virile president to replace the inept Jonathan: And dreadful because of the barbarity that the Jonathan administration has put in place to circumvent and probably upturn the wishes of millions of Nigerians that would cast their votes against him tomorrow’

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Jonathan and tomorrow’s war against Nigerians

•Jonathan

• Buhari

surveillance by the people, are duly counted and properly recorded in the prescribed sheets by law through INEC personnel at polling centres. No wonder, Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle of human rights, once stated that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’ And since liberty only makes true sense under democratic governance, it would not be totally out of place by the people to keep vigil over their ballot so as to ensure that the candidate that they truly voted for is declared as winner in polling centres across the country.

But the IGP is now threatening that the people should leave their votes to the protection of mostly compromised security personnel that the experience of last year August’s Gubernatorial election in Osun state taught us were acting the scripts of Jonathan and the ruling party. But for the eternal vigi-

OPEFULLY the powers that be will allow the much anticipated elections to hold on March 28 and April 14. Of course the real Elections will be the Presidential, because all the powers in the land reside in the presidency as presently ordered by our wobbled Military-imposed Constitution.

It is the President of Nigeria who decides who becomes the Governor of the Central Bank. It is the President that appoints all the Military chiefs. It is the President who chooses the Inspector General of Police. It is the President who decides the appointment to the seat of the Chief of the DSS. It is the President who appoints the Comptroller General of the Immigration Services as well as the Head of Customs and Excise. Almost every arm of the federal powers is in the hands and firm control of whoever takes the Presidency. And this is why the position of the President is the most critical factor in the determination of the fortunes and misfortunes of the country. It is a position that cannot be left in the hands of a nincompoop or somebody who does not understand the language and proper definition and use of power.

The 2015 Elections are very different from all other elections that have been held in this country. It is the Elections that will decide whether a political party should be allowed to continue to dominate the political space of the country after 16 years of unbroken grip.

The 2015 Elections are meant to pass judgment on the performance of the government at the centre for the last sixteen years and deliver verdict on whether those 16 years have been a blessing or a calamitous curse.

The Elections holding on March 28 are not particularly about the leading candidates and contenders to the Presidential seat.

The elections are not necessarily about whether Jonathan has shown gross incompetence or whether he has failed to show his thesis as proof of the credibility of his doctoral degree.

The Elections are also not about whether Buhari jailed the whole world when he was head of a military government or whether the man Buhari has a running battle with those who wanted proof of his West African School Certificate. The Elections have nothing to do with the PDP Chairman, the APC Chairman or the national leaders of the two most prominent parties.

The issues at stake bother on the bad government Nigerians have been subjected to by the PDP-led government at Abuja.

In every aspect of government, Nigeria has been in gross decline in the last sixteen years. Electricity supply has been the worst advertisement for the PDP’s sixteen years in office.

Unemployment which can be directly linked with lack of power has been on the rise since 16 years ago. Today Nigeria has well over 65%unemployment figure, the highest of any oil-producing country in the world.

lance of Osun people and their endurance, there is no doubt that the winner of that election would have been shortchanged of his hard earned victory. Also, the revelations that came out of a video on how the state’s instrument of coercion in tandem with the ruling party’s top notch, plotted and actually intimidated and harassed indigenes of Ekiti state last years election is still roiling in the polity.

How can anybody in his right senses believe what the IGP had said? After all, Jefferson also said somewhere that "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty." The statement of the IGP smells of odious injustice and the citizenry have the right to rebel against such ranting, in a lawful manner because, Jonathan, through the IGP wants to use raw police/ military power on voting day to steal majority of votes for the benefit of himself and few opportunity seeking cronies. The duty of the police at election centres, on Election Day, is to maintain peace and be neutral and not to take side as experience has shown in past elections. How can this IGP that unilaterally and illegally withdrew the security details of Rt.Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, simply because he defected from the ruling party because of its in-house crisis, just to please Jonathan-his benefactor. Such IGP cannot be entrusted with the votes of Nigerians that are ready to endure any form of official frustration at polling centres, come rain or sun

shine, tomorrow.

Again, the thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because the people will have the opportunity of electing a more virile president to replace the inept Jonathan: And dreadful because of the barbarity that the Jonathan administration has put in place to circumvent and probably upturn the wishes of millions of Nigerians that would cast their votes against him tomorrow.

From all over the country, this column is enjoining all to say no to electoral tyranny.

Nigerians from all spheres of human endeavours witnessed the bad and ineptly corrupt governance under Jonathan and the beauty of democracy is that it offers opportunity for periodic elections. That opportunity comes up tomorrow and all must struggle to say No to intimidation and continuation of naira devaluation, insecurity, crude oil theft, insecurity of all shades, illegal arming and empowerment of ruthless militias for selfish reasons, degeneration of values in churches through wanton bribing of pastors and also corruption of traditional institution through pecuniary inducement, persistent fuel scarcity and price increment, land grabbing, astronomical unemployment and commercialization of employment that have all become the hallmark of the Jonathan presidency. Nigerians must stand up and be decisive in voting against these societal vices that Jonathan stands for in six years of his rulership over this country.

After losing tomorrow, it is obvious that more devilish plots might still come from Jonathan/ruling PDP tables. Whatever post election evil plan might be in the offing, the reality is that the world is watching and despite the evil plots of reactionaries, Nigerians, who truly want this country to move forward, are working tirelessly to ensure that the decision of Nigerians at tomorrow’s poll prevails. Permit me to end this piece with the inimitable quote from Abraham Lincoln’s November 19, 1863 Gettysburg address to wit: "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”

Whatever maneuverings Jonathan, his men and mostly compromised security leadership put up tomorrow, let them have it in their minds that, like the the prophetic Lincoln said, democracy will outlive their evil machinations in power. That in the end shows the vanity of the incumbent’s lust for power and lack of respect for democratic values. This Jonathan, like other power mongers before him has simply refused to learn from history. What a pity for a man that once had no shoes!

Before you cast your votes

By Tola Adeniyi The Nigerian youths in their teeming millions are disillusioned, helpless and near-hopeless because the certificates and degrees awarded to them after their studies are as worthless as used toilet paper.

Insecurity, another big by-product of mass unemployment has reached the highest and worst level ever since Nigeria became a country in 1914. All the maladies and woes that were never seen on our land have now descended on our country in droves. Ritual killings, kidnapping for ransom, mindless murders, bombing, maiming and heartless fraud have become the order of the day.

The PDP-led government at Abuja had enthroned corruption as its queen. Never in the history of Nigeria has there been as much looting as has been witnessed these past sixteen years. And in the last six years of a non-existent government and leadership in Abuja, the gates to the national treasury were left wide open. Billions and Trillions of Naira are reported stolen, missing or misappropriated on regular basis. Huge sums of money meant to provide basic infrastructure for the economic development of the country end up in private pockets.

The Elections therefore are not about whether somebody has a fine face or has an ugly wife. All pedestrian arguments have nothing to do with the Elections holding this season.

The elections are about rescuing Nigeria from total collapse.

We want Nigeria to be diverted from the path that is about leading us to Rwanda, to Somalia, to Doe’s Liberia and to Afghanistan.

Nigeria wants a leader that will restore hope and confidence to the 180-million strong suffering masses majority of whom are groaning below poverty line.

The PDP at the centre is tired and has lost focus. The Party has reduced governance to a child’s play and has brought the country down to its knees. And because of the obvious lack of exposure by its leadership, Nigeria has been ruled along very narrow parochial line where ethnicity, village ties, religious affiliation and nauseating bottom power dictate who gets what.

It should be pointed out however that neither the PDP nor the APC is made of all devils or all saints. The two political associations have in their midst brilliant and capable Nigerians that can rescue this country. But while APC has brought forth its first eleven, the PDP is weighted down by

the worst elements in its fold and thus continues to attract the worst reaction from the masses of Nigerians.

Abuja under the PDP has made itself the worst specimen of what good governance is all about. The longer the PDP stays in power in Abuja, the longer Nigeria continues to suffer depression, deprivation and oppression. Abuja is currently in the heartless grip of self-seeking blood thirsty cabal, and Nigeria needs to be rescued from this gluttonous lot before it can breathe fresh air.

Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has done his best. However his best is not adequate even for a local government leadership. And to make matter worse, Jonathan was encumbered by a terrible political culture which characteristically stifles even the best intentions. And because Jonathan was never able to free himself from the shackles of the political vultures that hold him by the jugular even if he spends thirty years in Abuja he can only be more beclouded and confused as the cabal had made him these past six years.

Nigeria must be rescued. The task to rescue Nigeria can only be performed by Nigerians themselves and it is March 28 that makes that task conclusive.

Nigerians must be resolute. Nigerians must be decisive.

And all those wearing the uniforms purchased with public money must and should remember that at the end of the day anarchy is no respecter of uniforms. Any one in doubt should go and ask the soldiers and police men and women who served under Saddam and Ghaddafi and what has now become of them!!!

• The pen is the tongue of the hand,the silent utterer of words for the eyes...Henry Beecher.

‘The PDP at the centre is tired and has lost focus. The Party has reduced governance to a child’s play and has brought the country down to its knees. And because of the obvious lack of exposure by its leadership, Nigeria has been ruled along very narrow parochial line where ethnicity, village ties, religious affiliation and nauseating bottom power dictate who gets what’

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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24

41

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Corps member trains 1000 students

Security agencies meet over polls

•PAGE 28

•PAGE 26

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

PAGE 25

Abia police cautions personnel •PAGE 40

•The widows who protested at Imo State Government House

T

HEY used to be withdrawn, their words measured as much as their steps. Society was expected to be kind to them but not many freely associated with them. They bore the burden of their husbands’ death, sometimes even accused or suspected of having a hand in it. In some

Metamorphosis of widowhood parts, there is a tradition that a widow be acquired as a wife by any of her late husband’s relatives.

Though this practice is waning, thanks to the spread of the Christian faith, widows are still denied access to their late husband’s property.

Those days of quietude seem over for the widows of the Southeast.

They have since cast off the cloak of dejection and found a voice on various platforms.

In Imo State, for instance, various political parties have their own groups of widows, funded and serviced as a tool to whip up public sentiment against their opponents.

For the fact that the presence of

,

No longer a solitary segment of the Igbo society, widows now seem to have become a veritable tool in the hands of politicians. But traditional rulers say it is a desecration of tradition, writes OKODILI NDIDI

Not too long ago, hundreds of widows were mobilised by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who is also a widow, to invade the Imo State Government House with a mock coffin in denunciation of Governor Rochas Okorocha over what was believed to be political disagreement

,

widows in their traditional black attire provokes pity even in the heart of the strongest, they have

been used in political protests, even over matters that do not in any way concern their welfare.

In Imo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to have taken advantage of the women to pursue their ambition. Not too long ago, hundreds of widows were mobilised by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who is also a widow, to invade the Imo State Government House with a mock coffin in denunciation of Governor Rochas Okorocha over what was believed to be political disagreement.

Another group of widows was also used to disrupt the state governorship debate organised by the Catholic Diocese of Owerri, when they stormed the venue in large numbers, adorning their trademark black as usual and disrupted the proceedings by protesting against the state Governor.

Also in so many other cases, these widows have been incited by politicians, who take advantage of their poverty and deprivation to breach public peace, while they watch from a safe distance.

Condemning what they called the desecration of the widowhood •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

26

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Security agencies gencies meet over polls T

institution, traditional rulers warned against further misuse of the widows by mischievous politicians to incite crisis and sow the seed of discord among the people.

The state chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, described the practice as a taboo and an insult to the memory of the husbands of the widows.

He said, “It is a dangerous desperation by politicians to use widows for their campaigns and this has to stop. It is a desecration of our tradition for widows that are still mourning their husbands to suddenly take to the streets to protest over political matters that does not concern them”.

Speaking further, he said, “We are not going to allow this to continue and very soon we are going to pass a law that will deal severely with

The exercise would enhance collaboration among all participants in the aspect of security. He expressed his gratitude to the General Officer Commanding 82 Division for his unflinching support, guidance and untiring efforts towards ensuring the success of the exercise

,

From Chris Oji, Enugu

in the state.

The exercise, which was attended by the members of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Airforce, DSS, Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration Service, Nigeria Prison Service, NSCDC, NEMA, NDLEA and FRSC, featured practical demonstrations on how to disperse crowd, cordon and search operations and road blocks demonstrations.

•Participants during the exercise

Metamorphosis of widowhood any politician or any other group that takes undue advantage of the widows in this state”.

Also condemning the act, Governor Okorocha, while reacting to the invasion of the Government House by the widows, said that the opposition party mobilised women from neighbouring states and dressed them up in mourning clothes to make them appear to be widows in order to breach public peace in the state.

He noted that the genuine widows in the state have been taken care of by his administration and could not be involved in any plot to disrupt the peace of the state.

Also condemning the development, Chief Cletus Ibezimako, expressed worry that if the growing

,

•Continued from page 25

•The military exercise apace

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HE 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu State, has organised a workshop for security agencies aimed at facilitating a peaceful atmosphere in the countdown to the election.

The workshop, tagged “Exercise Free Cast,” was to foster cohesion among the agencies by developing the ability of the military to operate in conjunction with the police and other security agencies.

It involved, among other things, security demonstrations.

The Commander, 82 Division Garrison, General Sani Mohammed said he was optimistic that the exercise would prepare all security stakeholders in the state on their expectations before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

He further disclosed that the exercise would enhance collaboration and esprit de corps among all participants in the aspect of security in the state.

He also expressed gratitude to the General Officer Commanding 82 Division for his unflinching support, guidance and untiring efforts towards ensuring the success of the exercise.

The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major General Shehu Yusuf who also spoke at the occasion, commended the commander of 82 Division Garrison for hosting the exercise, assuring that the division would continue to ensure better working synergy with security agencies within the division’s area of operational responsibility.

General Yusuf, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, 82 Division, Brig Gen Adebola Adefarati, urged participants to use the knowledge they gathered to retrain others who were unable to participate in the exercise.

Also speaking at the end of the exercise which took place at 103 Battalion, Awkunanaw Barracks Enugu, the Commander 337 Base Services Group Nigerian Air force, Air Commodore Sam Okwuokei noted that the exercise was timely.

He stated that the security agencies that participated in the exercise “now know their Dos and Don’ts during and after the general elections.

The Zonal Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service Enugu Command, Mr Kashim Ajia disclosed that time had gone when security agencies would operate independently, adding that the exercise has created a better understanding and working synergy among security agencies

Widowhood has now become a social club where women flaunt their wealth and position and this is worrisome and should be checked

,

influence of the widows was not checked it could lead to the death of many young men.

In his words, “if you look at what is happening today, widowhood has become a lucrative business.

Widows now make huge sums of money holding protests for politi-

cians and participating in fraudulent empowerment programmes.

This is so much that even women whose husbands are still alive now wear mourning clothes and join the widows in protest.

“Now the question is if these women whose husbands are still

alive could join widows in protest to collect easy money, where is the guarantee of their husbands’ lives?

Widowhood has now become a social club where women flaunt their wealth and position and this is worrisome and should be checked”.

A leader of one of the groups of widows, Mrs. Eunice Njoku, who defended the actions of the widows, said that they have decided to take their destinies into their hands instead of languishing in abject poverty and dejection.

She said, “We are not doing anything unusual. We are also part of the society despite the fact that we are widows, so when we see policies that affect us negatively or where we are exposed to any form of discrimination, we resist it through peaceful protests as a means to drive home our demands and no one can say that we have been violent in any way”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

27

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT MASSOB: A revolution betrayed

Erosion rehab project takes off in Enugu

By Joe Asogwa

T

•Continued on page 40

•Chukwuone (second left) handing over contract papers to the MD of the company Frank Nnaji

T

HE World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has inaugurated the control of Ajali water works gully erosion estimated to gulp over N250m.

The 8km-stretch erosion site is the second to be awarded among the 25 selected sites that NEWMAP penciled down for remedy in the state.

Handing over the site to the contractor at Nsude in Udi Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Nnaemeka Chukwuone said that the state government has approved a counterpart fund of N150m out of the N700m expected from the state to supplement the execution of the entire NEWMAP projects.

The commissioner said that it was not only the engineering works of the erosion management that would be executed but also a sustainable munching of the site, planted with economic trees that

,

HE reported MASSOB antiJega demonstrations in key towns across the five southeast states on Friday March 13, 2015, left a sour taste in the mouth.

Ten days before the demonstrations MASSOB leader Barr. Ralph Uwazuruike had called on INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega to resign. What has happened to MASSOB? Has Uwazuruike of late allowed rascals and ragamuffins in MASSOB to drive the movement?

This action of MASSOB defies logic.

It is curious theatre of the absurd.

In their desperate effort to find an excuse for their quixotic action, MASSOB said that they “are not hiding the fact that we are supporting Jonathan because of the honour he accorded our leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu”. The honour they were referring to was Jonathan’s personal attendance in Nnewi at the burial of Ojukwu. The group started on a wrong premise when they claimed that Ojukwu was their leader. The fact is that Ojukwu was never the leader of MASSOB and he never claimed to be so. Infact he described MASSOB as “Biafra of the mind” Uwazuruike is clearly and unmistakably the leader of MASSOB. It is unfortunate that a group of zealous young Igbo (sic “Biafra”) irredentists who have assigned to themselves the responsibility of championing total separation from Nigeria in preference for a Biafran State, suddenly found it convenient to dabble into the affairs of Nigeria such as election matters! One had expected, as they are won’t to do, that they should be calling on all Igbos to boycott the election since Igbos (as they claim) are not Nigerians but Biafrans! This act of irresponsible and incomprehensible youthful exuberance is totally antithetical to the antecedent of this self-appointed freedom fighters under the banner of Movement for the Actualisation of the sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

This ill-advised action raises a number of issues and questions. First is the movement now being compromised for bread-and butter-food-onthe-table? Or have some overzealous empty headed charlatans taken over the movement? MASSOB said it endorsed President Jonathan for the presidential election ostensibly on behalf of Ndigbo and went on to call on Ndigbo to vote Jonathan. It claimed that it was acting in the best interest of Ndigbo. Haba-a!

The 21 boreholes that used to supply water to Enugu and Nsude are located just down here and forms part of this Ajali erosion site. Part of the reason why they have not been functional for over 15 years now is due to erosion at the site

,

From Chris Oji, Enugu

would avert further degradation of the area.

Chukwuone noted that the project was dear to the state government

because of the location of the water works from where pipe borne water was retriculated to Enugu metropolis.ý Traditional ruler of the affected community, Igwe (Prof.) Kenneth Onyia, who mobilized his subjects

to the site expressed gratitude to the funding partners especially to Governor Sullivan Chime for extending the benefits of the administration to his community.

He alerted that another degradation the Okpuno erosion site starting from the head water of Nyaba river located in his community, has now got to Okpuno village and poses more danger to his people than the Ajali erosion site.

“The 21 boreholes that used to supply water to Enugu and Nsude are located just down here and forms part of this Ajali erosion site.

“Part of the reason why they have not been functional for over 15 years now is due to erosion at the site. So we’ve been buying tanker water ever since. Erosion is a big problem in Nsude,” lamented the monarch.

Managing Director of the contracting firm, Engr. Frank Nnaji promised to remedy the erosion site and expressed gratitude for being chosen to execute the job.

MASSOB warns Igbo against being used From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

swer Igbo names and become their in-laws during elections only to revert to their native names after winning elections.

MASSOB said such people should not be allowed to use their campaign of deceit to get the support of the people who they would later dump or relegate to political background after being elected or re-elected into office.

MASSOB’s National Assistant Director for Information, Sunny Okereafor said in Aba that it was annoying that Nigerian politicians were at it again; crisscrossing the entire Southeast to canvass votes, even when they had not done “anything for the people of the zone in the past”.

“Nigerian politicians are at it again;

,

T

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has warned Ndigbo to be wary of politicians who will use and dump them after the general elections.

Southeastern states of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu recently hosted the two major presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dame Jonathan and Femi-Fani Kayode who, at a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, solicited support for the re-election of President Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates at the March and April polls.

The group said they were advising Ndigbo against some politicians who had no agenda for them but who an-

Nigerian politicians are at it again; some of them are once more answering Igbo names and also claiming that they are our in-laws, wooing the people for their votes, but when they win the elections, they will revert to their native names, and abandon the people of the Southeast

,

some of them are once more answering Igbo names and also claiming that they are our in-laws, wooing the people for their votes, but when they win the elections, they will revert to their native names, and abandon the people of the Southeast.

“They have fooled Ndigbo for a long time and MASSOB will not allow them to continue to fool the people.”

According to Okereafor, it is only in Nigeria that someone would spend years in office, loot public fund and yet walks freely on the streets

without being compelled to account for his actions while in office. When he is leaving office, he would force on the people, his or her preferred candidate even when it is against the wishes of the people.

“It is in Nigeria that someone will occupy political position for four or eight years without tangible proof of achievement. Yet he will anoint a successor and force him on the people even when they refuse to accept such a person as their leader.

This they do to help them cover their acts while they (outgoing public servants) were in power. This is a criminal act,” he said.

While warning that Nigeria was at a crossroads, the MASSOB chieftain stated that the group would continue to use a non-violence means in pursuant of its campaigns for the emancipation of the people and the realisation of an independent state of Biafra.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

28

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia police caution personnel

A

BIA State’s new Commissioner of Police Habila Joshak has warned personnel in the command against any acts that may breach the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

Joshak who was speaking during his familiarisation visit at the Aba Area Command said that the Abia State Command would not hesitate to try, persecute or recommend the dismissal from service, any of its official found to be involved in any form of electoral malpractice.

Responding to a question, the Abia CP said, “Let me assure you that the policemen are only going to be posted to polling stations to ensure there is smooth conduct of election. We (police) don’t touch sensitive and non-sensitive materials. Our main duty is to make sure that criminal element or those that doesn’t want the elections to be free and fair will be brought to book. It is the end of the road and the game will be over for any police officer that will be caught in any act of electoral malpractice because we are

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

not going to condone such”.

The Abia Police boss who said that they were working in partnership with other sister agencies to ensure that electoral laws and guidelines were obeyed on March 28 and April 11 elections, also urged police, military and other security apparatus in the state to get the handbook on electoral guideline for people that would participate in the elections which was recently recommended by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba.

According to him, the police and other security agencies were working out modalities to ensure that electoral crisis before, during and after elections would be curtailed, hinting that they have designed a mop up measures for any electoral crisis outburst.

Joshak while lauding the cooperation existing between the police •Continued on page 40

•ACP Wagbara walks behind Habila Joshak during the inspection of a guard of honour

Corps member trains 1000 students BATCH B member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Omolekan Ajibola, serving with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State, has trained about 1000 secondary school pupils on career choices.

Ajibola who selected the students from three government secondary schools in Ebonyi Local Government Area said the training exercise was his contribution in the Community Development Service (CDS) of the NYSC. He said that he was motivated to organise the training having identified that students of government schools in the state lacked information and orientation about making sustainable career choices.

“That is why I have embarked on this CDS project to enlighten the students on how to choose a sustainable career,” said corper Ajibola.

Ajibola stated that he was hopeful that after the three days training, the participants would be able to choose a sustainable career by being a able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on themselves for the future.

Ajibola also donated 40-leaf exercise books to the students.

He appealed to government at all levels to employ teachers on career guidance and counseling so that students would be properly guided at all times on how to make sustainable career noting that in doing this the students would be fully developed to face the realities of life.

The training which were anchored on two themes: ‘How to choose a sustainable career in life’ and ‘Developing a successful career strategy’, were handled by resource persons.

In an interview with the Principal Inspector, Community Development Service (CDS) in state NYSC secretariat, Mr. Christian Obidimma noted that it was important to make a wise career choice in the sense that it helps one not to make a wrong step.

Mr. Obidimma who described the seminar as a rare opportunity for the students to boast their sense of belonging in building their future,

A

•Ajibola and his trainees

appealed to government to introduce skill acquisition programmes in schools to reduce unemployment in the country.

He commended the initiative of Ajibola for organising such a programme adding that teachers have a lot to do in guiding students toward making a right career choice just as he urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate from the organiser of the training programme.

During the training, the students

,

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Ajibola stated that he was hopeful that after the three days training, the participants would be able to choose a sustainable career by being a able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on themselves for the future

,

were urged to do thing that will help them achieve their objectives instead of wasting their career in

things that would not guarantee their future.

They harped on the need for

people to do things that they would be happy doing rather than considering its monetary value just as the students were educated on the need to know their value, personality and skills.

The students who participated in the training including Eze Marvelous applauded the training as according to them it has opened a new vista in their academic journey.

Eze Marvelous noted that the training has impacted her life and pledged to be guided by what she has learnt in making a sustainable career just as she advocated for similar training in schools across the state.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, MARCH

27, 2015

PAGE 29

AMNESTY

OIL SPILLS

GUNBO ATS GUNBOA

THE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta (OSAPND), Hon Kingsley Kuku, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the death of Cadet Godwin Ezebri, the amnesty trainee who died aboard a seafaring vessel, MT Guatemala in Panama.

AMNESTY International is blaming two oil giants for more than 500 oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in 2014. The area has been mismanaged for decades.

Could tomorrow’s presidential election bring in a government with solution to the rape of the environment?

THE days of oil thieves in the creeks of the Niger Delta are now numbered. The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is determined more than ever to flush them out. After taking delivery of new 30 gunboats, JTF seems motivated to smoke out the bad boys.

•Kuku

•PAGE 33

•Jonathan

•PAGE 30

•CDS Badeh

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Jonathan, Itsekiri and $16b EPZ • Power •Intrigues •Controversies •Challenges

•Itsekiri women protesting maginalisation under the Jonathan administration

W

HEN the idea of the $16 billion Export Processing Zone for Delta State was first introduced nearly four years ago, it was greeted with glee, backthumping and eulogies for the federal and Delta State governments by the benefitting communities. It was touted as a magic wand to tackle mass unemployment, youth restiveness. It was also expected to bring prosperity to not only the state, but the entire country. But four years on, the debate over ownership of the land and alleged victimisation of the smaller Itsekiri host communities by their more populous Ijaw neighbours and kinsmen of the President Goodluck Jonathan have brought several dimensions and polemics into the project.

The original site of the key project was Koko, an Itsekiri town and headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area. The home town of the famous Chief Nana Olomu, the famous Niger Delta nationalist, who put the town on world map in the late 19th century, is in need of positive development following the infamous toxic waste saga of 1987 and wanton destruction by ethnic

The proposed over $16bn Delta Gas City Project located in Ogidigben and the Gbaramatu Deep Sea Ports in the Escravos area of Delta State have been plagued by what many see as avoidable problems. Intrigues and controversies led to three delays of the groundbreaking ceremony. Now, a section of Deltans believe that the ceremony might have become more political than developmental and there are fears over its successful take-off, reports Southsouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL militias during the Warri crisis. The town has significantly lost its attraction as one of the major port cities of the state. Massive warehouses built by companies in its yore days have been converted into churches and other uses.

It was against this background that the July 25, 2011 visit by a group of foreign investors led by Mr Matouq Janna, Senior Vice President of Xenel/Safra Group of Saudi Arabi and PP Singh of Nagarjuna Group from India was received by indigenes of the town, including Chief Victor Nana, scion of the famous Koko pa-

triarch, with fanfare and expectation.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was also ecstatic as he enthused: “The benefits are quite huge. The completion of the plants will lead to the employment of thousands of persons and many of them will be Deltans. So, we have a lot of benefits from it and there are several industries that will spring up from these plants. Industries that will utilise the bye-products and others that will make parts for these plants will also benefit… the future is very bright.”

The hopes and expectation of the Koko people were cut short after the

visit as they were told that the project would no longer be sited in their town.

Information later emerged that the narrowness of the Benin River access to the Atlantic Ocean was the reason.

Mr Paul Odili, Communications Manager to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, and a key member of the think tank, told our reporter that more than $1billion was needed to dredge and expand the river to accommodate bigger vessels.

The unwillingness of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other stakeholders in the project to commit the fund scupper the

project. The search for a new site led to Escravos area, where Ogidigben, another Itsekiri community on the fringe of the ocean, was chosen.

Nearly four years down the lane, at least three false starts on, people of the area are wondering if the project is jinxed. The latest bump on the long tortuous road was last Monday’s failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ogidigben Gas City Project and Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.

The March 16 no-show was the third of such disappointment: in November 2014 over 200 foreign investors, local businessmen, community leaders and the state government were left red-faced when the Ministry of Petroleum Resource, in a terse statement, announced that the President would not be in Escravos for the ceremony. ‘Security report’ was cited as the reason for the abortion.

•Continued on page 32

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Oil spills keep devastating Niger Delta Amnesty International is blaming two oil giants for more than 500 oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta in 2014.

The area has been mismanaged for decades. Could the upcoming election bring a solution?

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T’S David versus Goliath in the oil-rich Niger Delta. On one side are Royal Dutch Shell - the fourth largest company in the world - and ENI, Italy’s biggest industrial enterprise. On the other side are the local people: 40 different ethnic groups, with 70 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

The companies have been conducting large-scale oil extraction in the Niger Delta for many years.

Amnesty International has leveled heavy criticism: A recent analysis has come to the conclusion that the companies are responsible for more than 550 oil spills within just one year.

“Last year Shell reported 204 separate oil spills, while ENI which operates in a smaller area reported 394 spills,” says Mark Dummett, a researcher on the business and human rights team of Amnesty International. “The number of oil spills occurring in the Niger Delta is really disturbing.”

According to the companies, 5 million liters (1.3 million gallons) of oil were spilled during that time. But Dummett doubts those figures are correct: “According to past research, companies underestimate the amount of oil that is spilled.”

Such spills can be caused by accidents, corrosion, or poor maintenance. Also sabotage plays a role - as oil is a valuable good, people sometimes tap the pipes to siphon it away - and then leave the holes without plugging them back up. While Shell in its statistics for 2014 lists the majority of spills as “sabotage/theft,” voices of local communities claim there are other reasons behind the spills.

Green to black The Niger Delta makes up more than 7 percent of Nigeria’s total land mass, covering an area of 20,000 square kilometers (12,000 square miles). It is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, comprising four ecological zones: coastal barrier islands, mangrove swamps, freshwater swamps and lowland rainforests.

Drilling here began in the 1950s.

By now, 2.5 million barrels of oils are produced every day. The delta makes Nigeria the most oil-rich country in Africa. But corruption and weak governance translate into little environmental oversight or regulation.

The impacts of oil spills on the Niger Delta are devastating: Mangrove forests are being obliterated, fish and shellfish are dying off, and whole ecosystems are collapsing.

This also affects local inhabitants, says Amnesty Internationals

Dummett, who traveled to the delta mid-March: “I met people who were forced to take their children out of school because they couldn’t catch the fish that they needed to earn a living,” he told DW. “The amount of harm that’s been done to both the environment, and the people who rely on the environment, is really enormous.”

Environmental groups are calling for the companies to properly clean up these spills when they occur. But activists say that time and time again, this isn’t happening. And the effects of oil spills especially since they are not remediated - last for a very long time.

Past success stories Besides demanding that companies clean up, communities are also seeking compensation. And one recent case has a documented legacy: After major spills in 2008 and 2009, Shell agreed in early 2015 to pay the residents of the town of Bodo in the Niger Delta 76 million euros ($81 million) as compensation for environmental pollution.

This represents the largest payout to any African community following environmental damage.

The amount that the individuals will receive is equivalent to several years of wages.

“Hopefully this will serve as a precedent, and other communities will come forward and bring similar suits,” says Drummet. However, whether the spills of Shell and ENI in 2014 will lead to similar successful claims by local residents is uncertain: The Bodo case was handled by a court in the United Kingdom.

According to Amnesty International, hundreds of cases have been brought against Shell and the other companies in Nigeria - but the legal system is very slow.

Upcoming elections This March 28, elections will take place in Nigeria. Drummet hopes that pollution in the Niger Delta will be among the topics the new president will work on.

“Both the major candidates President Jonathan and the main challenger Buhari - have talked about cleanup of the Niger Delta,” he said. “It is a major national issue, because it affects so many people.”

Amnesty International has now also asked the Italian Government to investigate what’s happening in ENI’s Nigerian operations.

There is general agreement that a long-term solution to environmental problems in the Niger Delta can only be solved on the political level.

•Culled from www.dw.de

•Mrs. Gesila (middle) with leaders of civil society organisations in Rivers State

All eyes on Rivers as INEC REC declare readiness for elections

A •A man in Bodo, Ogoniland, tries to separate with a stick the crude oil from water in a boat at the Bodo waterways (Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

•A boy with a fishing net standing on the oil stained bank of a creek in Nigeria (Photo: EPA/ MARTEN VAN DIJL)

Last year Shell reported 204 separate oil spills, while ENI - which operates in a smaller area - reported 394 spills. The number of oil spills occurring in the Niger Delta is really disturbing •Niger River Delta in Nigeria devastated as a result of spills from oil thieves and Shell operational failures (Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

Shell, ENI responsible for 550 oil spills in Nigeria last year L

ATE last year, it came to light that Shell had been warned repeatedly by its own staff that the Trans Niger Pipeline was at significant risk of failure well before a 2008 spill of 500,000 barrels of oil. It was also revealed that Shell had drastically understated the extent of the spill.

These revelations were made during the proceedings of a lawsuit brought by a group of 15,000 Nigerians over a second spill from the same pipeline and helped lead to a much heftier payment by the company to the Bodo community in the Niger Delta in compensation for the impacts of both spills.

It would appear that the company has still not managed to correct whatever problems are leading to its poor safety and environmental performance in Nigeria, however, as Shell was responsible for more than 200 oil spills in the country last year alone, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

As horrible as Shell’s record is, Italian oil

giant ENI managed to outdo the Hague-based multinational oil and gas titan. ENI’s operations caused nearly 350 spills last year even though it operates in a much smaller area, the report states.

“These figures are seriously alarming. ENI has clearly lost control over its operations in the Niger Delta. And despite all its promises, Shell has made no progress on tackling oil spills,” Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International’s Global Issues Director, said in a statement.

“In any other country, this would be a national emergency. In Nigeria it appears to be standard operating procedure for the oil industry. The human cost is horrific — people living with pollution every day of their lives.”

The companies claim that they only spilled 30,000 barrels in all of 2014, and “blame sabotage and theft for the majority of the spills.” But the Amnesty report does not give

these assertions much credence: “This claim is hotly contested by communities and NGOs and has been shown to be wrong.”

Gaughran goes on to say that the level of scrutiny applied to the two spills in Bodo was extraordinary, yet that’s what it would take to determine the true extent of Shell’s financial liabilities in Nigeria.

But holding Shell accountable is about more than just forcing it to pay up for the damage it’s done — it’s also about “a very serious human issue.”

“Shell is cheating people out of just compensation,” Gaughran says. “The Bodo case makes clear just what it takes to get this company to own up to the truth about oil spills — six years and UK court proceedings.

What about all the hundreds of other communities this company has potentially cheated?”

Incredibly, ENI’s 350 spills in 2014 is down slightly from previous years. The company

caused over 500 spills in 2013 and around 475 in 2012, prompting Amnesty International to call for both the Italian and the Nigerian governments to take “urgent action” in curtailing the company’s negligent practices.

The report notes that under Nigerian law, the companies are responsible for stopping and cleaning up spills, as well as remediating the affected area, though “this rarely happens” and as a result, “people living in the Niger Delta are living with the cumulative impacts of decades of pollution.”

Gaughran laid out some basic steps that would begin to address the problem: “As a matter of priority all oil firms in Nigeria must urgently disclose the age and condition of their infrastructure, carry out reviews of their operating practices, and make the findings public so that communities know what is going on.”

•Source: http://desmogblog.com

S Rivers people file out tomorrow to elect their President, National House of Assembly members and subsequently to elect their governor and members of State House of Assembly on April 11. It is obvious that the onus is on the shoulder of Dame Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible election.

Rivers State having been declared as one of the states to watch out for political violence in this year’s election by political analysts and other stakeholders, the Bayelsa State born Dame Khan was posted out of Delta state to Rivers state when the state was boiling.

The result of her peace initiation in the state is everywhere and she has continue, even at the last minute to engaged with the youths, women, security agencies, religion leaders, non-governmental organization and political parties on how best to achieve peace and to conduct free, fair and credible election in Rivers State.

Apart from going from one community to another on voters’ education, the Rivers REC has also initiated a security committee headed by the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature. In a recent stakeholders meeting at INEC office in Port Harcourt, she told her guests that if she could do it in Delta Central election which was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere under her watch, she was optimistic that Rivers election will be peaceful and credible.

She said INEC has done its part to stabilize the state and ensure that politicians do not see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters. She regretted that many innocent bloods had been shed in pre-political violence, pleading with shareholders especially the NGO to send the message across to politicians on the need to allow peace to reign.

She confirmed that all is set to conduct a credible elections in Rivers state: “The Commission in its bid to conduct the most credible, free and fair Elections in 2015 has embarked on so many programmes all of which will culminate in the success of the polls. These include the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for those who registered in 2011 and those who were captured in the Continuous Voters Registration in December 2014. The total number of registered voters in Rivers State is 2,537,590. As at March 18, 2015 a total of 2,469,383 PVCs have been received, and 87% of this number which is 2,148,289 has been distributed while a balance of 308,395 is yet to be collected. This figure includes both the PVCs for 2011 Registration and December 2014 Continuous Voters Reg-

‘

The Commission has embarked on rigorous voter enlightenment programmes through series of radio and television jingles, periodic announcements, talk shops, interview sessions and press conferences

‘

istration exercise.

“Card Readers have also been introduced in accreditation process to authenticate the voters and forestall any malpractices. A total of 6,818 Card Readers have been received and one each will be deployed to the 4,442 Polling units and 1,396 Voting points.

The balance will be used to augment where necessary.

“The PVC is swiped on the card reader and if it is INEC PVC, the Voter’s picture, VIN number and bio-data will appear on the screen of the card reader. And the card reader will give a command that the holder of the PVC should place his thumb on the reader and if accepted, the person then moves to next stage of the Accreditation process.”

On the area of late arrival of material, the Rivers INEC boss said the Commission had devised a means of reducing late arrival of personnel and materials to the polling units to the barest minimum. She said, that was done through the creation of Registration Area Centers (RACs) and Super RACs from where poll officials would proceed to their various polling units on Election Day. “We will ensure timely arrival of poll officials and materials before 8.00am on Election Day. By this the suspicions associated with late arrival of materials will be completely eliminated. A total of 76 RACs have been identified and prepared for the elections. The Commission has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Management to use the corpers for ad-hoc duties. It is to be noted that the enrollment of ad-hoc personnel in the forthcoming elections had been done online through INEC website for the various categories of person required for the conduct of the elections. And

Twenty six thousand (26,000) Adhoc Personnel is required for the exercise and they have all been trained and retrained for the 2015 Elections.

“Meanwhile, the Commission has embarked on rigorous voter enlightenment programmes through series of Radio and Television jingles, periodic announcements, talk shops, interview sessions and press conferences. Traditional media like town criers are also being utilised to reach the electorate at the grassroots. I and my team had carried out voter enlightenment messages to the traditional rulers in the state; women based groups, youth groups, religious leaders and market outreaches. Posters, banners and fliers were produced and distributed to all the LGAs.” The Rivers REC also inform the stakeholders that the issue of security has been handled, insisting that violence of any form during and after election would not been accepted. She said the Commission is conscious of the importance of security in conducting effective, free, fairs and credible Elections.

She noted that there is formation of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). “This body is made up of all military and para-military agencies in the State including INEC. The Agencies in this committee contribute their workforce together under the Command and control of the State Commissioner of Police who heads the Election security in the State. INEC in Rivers State has visited these security agencies to solicit their cooperation during the elections, and they have assured us of their support. The Committee (ICCES) has been meeting regular to analyze and workout security strategies for effective coverage of the entire State. About 12,228 security personnel are required for the 2015 election exercise in the State.

“The Commission is seriously concerned about the incidences of violence before, during and after elections and we have been appealing to all stakeholders to prevail on our youths to shun all forms of violence and avoid being used by politicians to perpetrate acts that may lead to disruption of the elections. The future of this nation belongs to them and therefore they must help to deepen our democratic process.”

The National coordinator, Women Initiative for Transparency and Social Justice, Dr. Jennifer Spiff who was in one of the interactive sessions with INEC and CSOs, said her 10-year experience in election monitoring shows that INEC was committed for free, fair and credible elections.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

High expectations in Otuoke over presidential poll A FEW locally-made campaign billboards, posters and other campaign materials praising President Goodluck Jonathan and drumming support for his reelection were sited within Otuoke. Early morning of Wednesday was calm and somewhat quiet in the community.

But it sounded boisterous few minutes before the Niger Delta Report got to the community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where Jonathan hails from. The indigenes and other residents seemed to have murdered sleep. They were jolted from their sleep by the forthcoming election.

Niger Delta Report learnt that Otuoke was woken up early in the morning by town criers. The community leaders sent the messengers to summon all the stakeholders in the community to a meeting at the community’s town hall.

It was a forum to educate the indigenes on tommorrow’s presidential election.

“This election is different from the past elections. There are card readers now and everybody is expected to come out early in the morning for electronic accreditation. It is not going to be like the previous elections so we need to be educated on the process,” one of the unnamed leaders was quoted to have told the people at the gathering.

Elders, women, young and old were said to have congregated at the town hall and listened attentively to the voter education and sensitisation by the conveners of the meeting. Different leaders took turns to clearly sound the procedures of the election to the hearing of the people.

They exuded with uncommon passion to massively vote for their kinsman. In fact, if it depended on Otuoke to return Jonathan, the community would have done it with ease and maybe the President would have no reason to be afraid.

Despite their misgivings especially the complaints of divide-and-rule method of distributing presidential dividends against the President and his family, most of the people from Otuoke still want their kinsman back to Aso Rock.

Some were adamant. It never mattered to them that most people outside their communities are blaming the economic woes, massive corruption, insecurity, unemployment and lack of electricity on the alleged incompetence of their son and brother.

They have even deafened their ears to the change and broom revolution sweeping across the country.

But most of the residents advo-

T

‘

We are expecting that the right leadership should be given to the person who deserves it in Nigeria. If Nigeria as a whole decides that Goodluck is the right person, that he will bring the right dividends of democracy, then the Otuoke man has no objection

‘

•Jonathan From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

cated peace during and after the election. No matter the outcome of the poll, they promised that Otuoke which is populated by people from different parts of the country, would remain calm For instance, a commercial motorcyclist, Nene Edesiri, who had re-

sided in the community for eight years was optimistic that Jonathan would retain his seat of the election.

He, however, said the victory depended on the grace of God. “By God’s grace, members of this community will come out to vote for Jonathan. I want him to come back so that he can complete the good work he has started in this community and

‘Welding no longer a dirty job’

HE Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), Mr Femi Ajayi, has promised to improve upon the training capacity of welders in the country in view of their contributions to the building of the economy through the oil and gas industry.

Ajayi who spoke in Port Harcourt during the Flag-Off of the Module ‘C’, Welders Training and Certification Programme also promised to send those who have graduated from the PTDF training abroad as well as to address the challenges the trained welders are having with their kits.

The flag-off of the training programme, which is the last leg of “PTDF’S Welders Training and Certification Programme (WTCP) Train 11", had about 400 graduands.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

The Executive Secretary of PTDF also disclosed that “a good number of trained welders are currently engaged in the industry while many of them are being used by the various training centres as qualified instructors of the International Institute of Welding” adding that the train-the-trainer approach that was adopted in the execution of the WTCP has lived up to expectation.

He recalled that “the industry-wide skills gap audit of 2001 identified capacity building in the area of welding and fabrication as quick wins or plucking low hanging fruits in the quest for the development of local content in the industry.”

“The audit,” he also said “identified the requirement of about 8,000 skilled welders to

effectively man on-going planned oil and gas projects in Nigeria” noting that by the year 2020 , Nigeria would need about 20,000 welders to enable it remain the 20 most advanced countries in the world.

Ajayi also said that in 2009/ 2010, the PTDF in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Welding trained 20 Nigerians in South Africa as International Welding Practitioners and Specialists while 11 others were also trained in Germany as International Welding Technologists and Engineers.

Also speaking, the President of Nigerian Institute of Welding, Mr Solomon Edebiri stated that about 1,200 persons have been trained by PTDF towards the acquisition of welding knowledge, pointing out that with this, the Fund is about to close the gap in the oil and gas industry.

in Nigeria as a whole. The man works hard a lot that is why we want him back”, he said.

Also, Joshua Gberedugo, first called our attention to the town hall meeting that was held early in the morning. He said the aim of the town hall meeting was to educate voters and preach the importance of peaceful coexistence.

“The entire community was at the meeting and we discussed about the elections. We insisted that the election should be peaceful. We love the president because he has really helped the masses and we know that if he comes back, he will do more.

“In fact, we are mobilising people for him. We want to make sure that all the votes here belong to him. I will never vote for any other person except Goodluck”, he said.

Furthermore, Ebeere Uche, a trader in the community said spoke against violence and pleaded with the people to have the fear of God. She, however, argued that to balance the north and south political equation, Jonathan should continue in the office.

“We need peace in our country.

Whoever will rule us, should have God first. Hausa people have ruled us much, let the east rule us and let us see. Let our political leaders stop their clashes over there and allow God to decide things. We need peace,”she said.

However, Isu Godgift said people should be allowed to follow their hearts and conscience in choosing their leaders. He said Otuoke being the community of President Jonathan will attract global attention during the election. He said Otuoke will not object to the outcome of the election no matter who wins.

“Whatever that goes wrong in Otuoke,goes wrong in Nigeria. And whatever that goes right in Otuoke, goes right in Nigeria.

“We are expecting that the right leadership should be given to the person who deserves it in Nigeria. If Nigeria as a whole decides that Goodluck is the right person, that he will bring the right dividends of democracy, then the Otuoke man has no objection. We are fully prepared to cast our votes here because it is our civil duty,” he said.

The Youth Secretary of Otuoke, Osain Francis, sounded more optimistic on the victory of Jonathan. He said town criers had been mobilised and paid to go round the community and communicate the outcome of the town hall meeting to persons who were absent.

“We just had a meeting at the town hall this morning. At the meeting, we emphasised on the need to vote. Right now, the sensitisation on accreditation and the whole process of voting is going on in the community.

“The town crier will go out later to inform those who were absent at the meeting about what was discussed.

“We are fully prepared for the election. Come rain,come sunshine,we are going to come out en mass to vote for our son,President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We the community leaders are working hand-in-hand with security agencies to ensure that there is peace during the election”.

A look at the community showed that Otuoke had in February sought divine intervention on Jonathan’s reelection. A billboard in the community showed that members of Otuoke Ministers’ Forum (OMF) embarked on a Three-day fasting and prayer for the reelection of the President.

As the much-anticipated election holds on Saturday, Otuoke thought generally prays for the victory of her son, President Jonathan, she has promised to remain calm if the result goes the other way.

Youth threaten showdown over Bonny Ring Road

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HE youths of Bonny in Rivers State under the aegis of Bonny Youth Federation, have threatened to shut down all the oil facilities and companies in the area over lack of developmental projects.

The leader of the group, Mr. Simeon Wilcox, a lawyer, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, lamented that 20 years after, the Bonny Ring Road remains uncompleted.

He said if the abandoned ring road is completed it would link the satellite towns and communities in order to facilitate economic activities within the communities.

Wilcox noted that the youths would not take it for granted anymore with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other companies operating in the area, if their policies cannot be favourable to the host communities.

He further stated that the youths are going to sustained protest against SPDC and other companies operating in the area if after two

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

weeks of this press briefing nothing happens.

“We gathered here today in order to highlight some of the incidences that have brought the gross neglect and blatant disregard for the community. We are not happy that in spite of the economic position of Bonny its people are still living in abject poverty.

“Bonny has earned the reputation of being one of the most peaceful communities in Rivers State. This is in spite of its socioeconomic difficulties such as unskilled workforce, massive youth’s restiveness, agitation, infrastructure deficit and insecurity.

“We are calling on the stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians to know that Bonny youths will always follow the path of peace and champion the mechanisms that will enhance the peace and harmony enjoyed by the people of Bonny Island.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER •Continued from page 29

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HAT event hurt Jonathan’s image before the people of the area, particularly the Itsekiri people to whom, he laboured to explain why he stayed away from the important assignment. Various Itsekiri groups, including the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT), accused him of playing ethnic politics and hiding under the threat of war issued by his Ijaw kinsmen from Gbaramatu Kingdom.

There has been no love lost between the two tribes since the end of the fratricidal Ijaw/Itsekiri conflict from 1997 to 2004.

Worried by the fallout, Jonathan made a private visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II and some Itsekiri leaders to assure them on the project. But a section of the people still harbour concerns over the delay.

Some believed that the President’s frenzy of visits to the Itsekiri monarch and other key Itsekiri leaders was sparked off by their threat to cast their bloc votes for his main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in tomorrow’s election.

Sources, who attended one of the meetings, said the president’s promise to perform the ceremony before the May 29 terminal date of his administration was rebuffed by the Itsekiri leaders who insisted that he must do it before the election or forget the about 600,000 Itsekiri votes.

Faced with the grim reality, particularly with eroding support base across the country, the President ‘ordered’ Uduaghan and the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani AlisonMadueke to give him a date within two weeks. The mandate was handed down in Asaba, the state capital on February 27, during another visit by the president to Delta.

When the latest March 13 date failed to materialise, Monday March 16 was chosen as the ‘tentative’ date. Sadly, like the other dates, March 16 failed to materialise and led to fears about the sincerity of the Federal Government about the project.

There were several rumours of an alleged plan to relocate the project from the state to neighbouring Bayelsa, a homogenous Ijaw state and home of the president. Akwa Ibom also emerged as a possible destination, with various gossips alleging that Governor Godswill Akpabio was working round the clock to ‘hijack’ the project to his state.

When feelers emerged that the President had again cancelled the ceremony, his strong associate in the state, former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), told reporters in Oporoza, Warri South West LGA on Thursday, “I can assure you that the President will come on Monday for the groundbreaking.”

Considering that he was instrumental to the November postponement of the ceremony, the ex-warlord’s zeal heightened expectations.

Tompolo’s kinsmen threat to attack their Itsekiri if the Federal Government went ahead with the ceremony was cited for the November debacle.

The bone of contention was ownership of Ikpoko, a community which the Ijaws claim they own and the Itsekiri say the Ijaws annexed during the Warri Crisis.

Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who led several Ijaws’ protest against the alleged injustice to their kinsman, severally averred that it was unfair that the Gbaramatu people who gave the largest portion of the land for the project was being overlooked in the naming of the project and sharing of the patronages.

As a way around the deadlock, the Federal Government and the stakeholders from Ijaw and Itsekiri divides decided to move the deep sea port into Gbaramatu territory and named it Gbaramatu Deep Sea Port while the gas project was christened Delta Gas City Project, Ogidigben.

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE Kuku: family got $87,500 over Amnesty trainee’s death

Jonathan, Itsekiri and $16b EPZ T

• Jonathan and Uduaghan during the groundbreaking ceremony of •Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) with Chief Ayiri Emami at Kurutie in 2014 before they were torn apart by the $16bn project. PHOTO: SHOLA O'NEIL NIMASA University in Okerenkoko

Explaining the terms of the peace deal during one of several meetings after the president’s mandate, Uduaghan, said: “The two groups resolved to make room for peace as well as ensure that the more than $16bn Gas City project takes off successfully.”

Mr Austin Oboroegbeyi, who spoke on behalf of Ugborodo people and Chief Godspower Gbenekama of Gbaramatu said they agreed that the Gas Industrial City would be named after Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port after Gbaramatu. NNPC’s Group Executive Director (Gas and Power), Dr David Ige, assured that this would not affect the original concept of the project, stressing, “They (projects) are inter-dependent projects.”

Still the March 16 ceremony failed to hold, ostensibly due to an advertorial placed by the Ogulagha Ijaws in a national daily barely hours to the ceremony. The advert was similar to the ones placed by the Ijaws of Gbaramatu before the November ceremony. The two advertorials produced the same results – deferment of the take-off of the strategic national project.

Mr Edward Ekpoko, Secretary of ILOT accused Jonathan of pandering to the whims and caprices of his Ijaw kinsmen, stressing that his action ex-

Look at the history of his Presi‘ dency, what has he done for us (Itsekiri)? Nothing. The only thing that could have been his achievement he has refused to commission...Has the president not been there for six years? Why is it now that he remembers the Itsekiri nation, the Olu of Warri and other Itsekiri leaders? poses his perception that the Niger Delta is synonymous with the Ijaws.

“Look at the history of his Presidency, what has he done for us (Itsekiri)? Nothing. The only thing that could have been his achievement he has refused to commission.”

Uduaghan, who is an Itsekiri like Ekpoko, debunked the claim, stressing that it was his love for the people that made the president site the project

‘

in the area. The President also explained that he took the decision to wade off possible violence that would have erupted after the ceremony.

But the ILOT scribe insisted that the project was located in Ogidigben, not because of Jonathan’s love for his kinsmen, but because the area is investment-friendly. “If it was something that he has total control over, I know they won’t take it there.”

Ekpoko is not alone in sharing that sentiment as the various delays in flagging off the project led to feeling of Itsekiri apathy towards the project and Jonathan’s re-election. Most Itsekiri youths and leaders who have hitherto backed the President are now sceptical, according to our investigation. A check at the influential Itsekiri Chat Room on FaceBook, indicates that the popularity of the President nosedived after the latest delay, with youths expressing concern over the fate of their ethnic group.

Some commentators see the president’s foot-dragging as a tactics aimed at postponing the ceremony until after the elections when he would have no further need for the votes of the Itsekiri or any other interests in the area.

“That was why we rejected his offer to commission the project after the election. Has the president not been there for six years? Why is it now that he remembers the Itsekiri nation, the Olu of Warri and other Itsekiri leaders? The answer is simple; it is because he now wants our votes,” an Itsekiri youth told our reporter.

Speaking in the same vein, Ekpoko said: “Since he is there he has refused to commission it because the Ijaws are making unfounded allegations that they are owners of the land,

which he knows is false but because of the Ijaw agenda which he has, people are now sponsoring the Ijaws to make this trouble.

“As a matter of fact, speaking from the bottom of my heart, I am no longer keen about President Jonathan coming to commission it. Somebody would commission it one day, but we are no longer keen about Jonathan,” he added.

Key issues over the ownership of the land persists. Bones of contentions include the land on which the NIMASA Maritime University is sited in Okerenkoko (Okerenghigho), a community which ownership is as contentious as Ikpokpo. The Itsekiri claim they have many court judgments that confer ownership of the land and several others on Omadino kinsmen.

Although Jonathan has already inaugurated the NIMASA University in the area, the bickering over the ownership of the lands around the gas project has led to concern that tussle over other controversial lands would be re-opened.

Already, Niger Delta Report learnt that a key actor in the face-off, Chief Ayirimi Emami intends to challenge the government action over the plan to cede Itsekiri land to assuage the Ijaws. Although he neither confirmed

nor deny the report when asked by our reporter, sources close to him said it was true.

“His position is in tandem with the views of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II that the Itsekiri would no longer pay for peace with their Godgiven land. He is going to challenge any part of the deal that is against court judgments and historic documents which showed that the lands in question are owned by the Itsekiri people.”

Alongside the debate over ownership of the land and the ethnic politics involved, are also concerns that paucity of fund owing to dwindling oil price and almost empty national treasury may have knocked out the project from top list of the Federal Government’s priorities.

It was also gathered that some of the investors in the project have developed cold feet as a result of tomorrow’s rescheduled presidential election, where the incumbent faces a stiff challenge from the main opposition candidate, Gen. Buhari, who has been projected by several local and international pollsters to oust Jonathan.

Now the talks have gone beyond inauguration of the project, the concerns are whether it will become a reality, with the bottlenecks on its way.

The odds against it are really high.

HE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta (OSAPND), Hon Kingsley Kuku, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the death of Cadet Godwin Ezebri, the amnesty trainee who died aboard a seafaring vessel, MT Guatemala in Panama.

Reacting to complaints of neglect of family, Kuku, who spoke through Mr Daniel Alabrah, Special Assistant/ Head, Media and Communications of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (OSAPND), denied that the family of the deceased has been abandoned, stressing that the case was resolved with the payment of compensation to the family.

He said, “Contrary to reported claims by some members of the deceased’s family, we affirm without any iota of doubt that compensation to the tune of Eighty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars (USD87,500) had been paid to the family through the deceased’s Next of Kin (names withheld). Leader of the family acknowledged receipt of the compensation via an electronic mail to the OSAPND dated March 11, 2015, in which the family confirmed that the issue of compensation has been settled.

“Also as part of efforts toward alleviating the pains of the deceased’s family as a result of the incident, the OSAPND offered the late Godwin’s younger sibling, who had just graduated from the School of Nursing at Eku, Delta State, full scholarship in any university of his choice anywhere in the world. It is, therefore, uncharitable for anyone to infer that the OSAPND might have abandoned the deceased’s family after his burial.“ Niger Delta Report learnt that the compensation was paid after the report, “Two years after, controversy over Amnesty trainee’s death unresolved”, was filed. Beyond the issue of compensation, the report looked at the circumstances and controversies surrounding Ezebri’s death.

Also exposing on the controversy, Alabrah said, “Mr. Godwin Ezebri was deployed in August 2011, after passing a medical examination, to the Gdynia Maritime University, Poland, to undergo Marine Navigation course through Global Oil Services Limited, one of PAP’s offshore training partners.

“He commenced his training on August 22, 2011 and after graduating as a Marine Navigator, he boarded the MV Green Guatemala Bahamas-flagged Ship on February 28, 2013 for his sea time programme. But unfortunately, he died on June 6, 2013 shortly after he reportedly complained of chest pain on board the vessel.”

Explaining further, he said on notification of Ezebri’s sudden death, the Amnesty Office promptly contacted members of his family, by which time the Panamanian authorities had already conducted an autopsy on his body to determine the cause of death, the outcome of which was stated in a report as “sudden death of cardiac origin”.

“It is however pertinent to note that the Panamanian authorities neither sought the deceased family’s consent nor that of the OSAPND before carrying out the autopsy.

“Consequently, our office initiated appropriate administrative and diplomatic steps on the circumstances of his death, even as arrangements were made for return of his remains to Nigeria on July 13, 2013 via Lagos, a decision that was taken in conjunction with members of his family.

“Thus, ahead of the scheduled arrival date, the office sent a team to Lagos to receive his body and hand over to the family. Every arrangement was put in place, including logistics by the OSAPND for the deceased’s family, four of whom were in Lagos with our team.

“But in a sudden twist of events, about 9pm on July 12, 2013, while the body was already airborne, the deceased’s family through Larry Ovwromoh & Associates, Legal Practitioners and Notary Public, informed the OSAPND’s team that owing to some irregularities surrounding the management of the death, the family will no longer be in a position to receive the corpse.”

The family, he said, demanded an inquest with their representative and appointed pathologist present to ascertain the cause of death due to contradictions on the time of death. “While the coroner’s inquest stated that Godwin Ezebri died at 9.15am on June 6, 2013, L. Sapelevics (Master M/V Green Guatemala) said he died at 20.45pm on June 6, 2013.

“On this ground, the deceased’s family members left in the morning of July 13, 2013 without seeing the aircraft or casket conveying their late son and brother.”

An OSAPND team received the body deposited the remains at the mortuary of the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Myhoung Barracks, Yaba (68 NARHY), Lagos.

“On July 22, 2013, we met with members of the deceased family, led by Elder Pax Ezebri, where it was resolved that the family should nominate a Pathologist to carry out an independent investigation of the cause of death.

While we awaited the nomination from the family, Marine Mutual Services Limited (representatives of the Ship Owners) sent a mail informing us that the matter had been reported to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is charged with the responsibility of dealing with all aspects associated with the death of a Nigerian seafarer as well as liaising with the ship owners and the family.”

Alabrah disclosed that the meeting with NIMASA held on August 12, 2013, with officials of the OSAPND, ship owners’ representatives (Louis Mbanefo & Co) and the

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As part of efforts toward alleviating the pains of the deceased’s family as a result of the incident, the OSAPND offered the late Godwin’s younger sibling, who had just graduated from the School of Nursing at Eku, Delta State, full scholarship in any university of his choice anywhere in the world. It is, therefore, uncharitable for anyone to infer that the OSAPND might have abandoned the deceased’s family after his burial

‘

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

deceased’s family.

Pursuant to the resolution at the meeting, he said the family nominated Dr. N. A. Awolola and Dr. C. C. Anunobi to lead other doctors/pathologists in determining the cause of Godwin’s death. The OSAPND, the ship owners and NIMASA also sent their doctors to witness the second autopsy, which was carried out on September 3, 2013 at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Lagos.

“Part of the report read: ‘It is our opinion the absence of vital organs of the body, particularly the heart (since the first autopsy claims death was due to cardiac origin), makes it difficult to confirm or refute the cause of death. By extension, it also limits our ability to consider the possibility of natural causes of death.’”

Explanation on the missing organs was requested from the Ship Owners through their representative (Louis Mbanefo & Co) while OSAPND also sent an official to Panama for enquiries concerning the missing organs.

The General Manager of the Funeral Homes Panama, Mr. Glen Hutchinson L. F. D explained: “In his body cavity and organs first stage of decomposition… the organs were not shipped with the remains because tissue gases, food and other substances which was found in organs would have contaminated the remains”.

The ship representatives later notified OSAPND that they had ascertained that the Funeral Directors did not dispose of the heart and brain, and that arrangements had been made to ship them to Lagos.

“The services of Prof. Williams Odesanmi, an internationally recognized Forensic Pathologist was nominated by the deceased’s family and engaged to lead other pathologists to do the DNA matching and determine the cause of Godwin’s death. All the expenses were taken care of by our office.

“The package said to contain the organs of late Godwin was received by the deceased family Pathologist, Dr. N. A. Awolola, in the presence of other doctors representing NIMASA, OSAPND and the ship owners. It was thereafter deposited at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital for custody and further analysis.

“A full DNA profile of the deceased was subsequently extracted from the tissues taken from his body. However, the tissues taken from the organs sent from Panama had no profile indicating that the tissues sent from Panama and received on April 6, 2014 do not belong to deceased.

Therefore, the cause of death of Godwin Ezebri could not be established.

“After due consideration of the circumstances, the family pathologist advised that the body could be buried since a full DNA profile of the deceased was available at the Genetic Laboratory, an advice the deceased’s family accepted unconditionally, paving way for his peaceful burial on December 5, 2014 at Egodor, Delta State. The Special Adviser’s office also took responsibility for the burial expenses, including provision of logistics for the deceased family members to attend meetings in Lagos and Abuja preparatory to the interment.”

Alabrah also debunked claimed by a family source that Kuku failed to condole with the deceased’s family when the incident occurred.

“The Amnesty Office is a responsible and responsive Federal Government department highly committed to the welfare and safety of all trainees/delegates within and outside the country. The office had not and shall never be complacent with the fate of its stakeholders, not the least an unfortunate incident such as the death of Godwin Ezebri aboard a foreign vessel.”

He vowed that it “will continue to work with the family of the deceased and other stakeholders to ensure that justice is seen to be done.”

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

JTF’s new 30 gunboats boost war against oil thieves T HE days of oil thieves in the creeks of the Niger Delta region are now numbered.

The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is determined more than ever to flush them out.

After taking delivery of new 30 gunboats added to its fleets by the Federal Government, JTF’s moral is high and it seems motivated to increase its patrols of oil facilities in its Areas of Responsibilities (AoR).

It was, indeed, a day of joy for the troops and officers of the JTF whose headquarters is located in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; the Chief of Army Staff; Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jubril were in Yenagoa.

They were joined by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson; Governor, Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alameseigha.

Others were the Commander, JTF, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe; representatives of Chevron, Shell, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Setraco, Daewoo, royal fathers and state’s security heads including the Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Desmond Agu. They were at the Government Jetty to witness the commissioning 30 gunboats acquired by the Federal Government to enhance the operations of the JTF. The gunboats were inaugurated by Badeh.

The Chief of Defence Staff said the acquisition of the boats underlined the determination of the Federal Government to holistically find a lasting solution to the problem of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria.

He said one of the steps taken to eradicate oil theft in the country was the establishment of a Technical Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control (TCCOTPC) by the National Economic Council (NEC).

He said through the activities of the committee, the NEC approved some funds for the Defence Headquarters to procure gunboats for the operations of the JTF which is saddled with the responsibility of fighting crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

He said the contracts for the construction of the boats were awarded to Messrs. Epenal Group of Companies Nigeria Limited and Messrs.

Roshanal Info Tech Limited.

He commended the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan for its undying commitment to providing needed support to enable the Armed Forces discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

He further said the Chairman of NEC and Vice-President Namadi Sambo deserved a special appreciation for approving the funding for the project. Badeh also appraised the ongoing war against insurgency in the North-East saying it was gaining momentum and achieving results.

He said: “These boats and indeed other resources allocated by the Federal Government of Nigeria would be judiciously deployed for the overall economic benefits of the country.

“It is pertinent to also note that the Nigerian Navy has continued to intensify its war against oil theft which has remarkably curtailed the high level crude oil losses.

“I make bold to warn all those criminals who take pleasure in stealing the nation’s crude oil and

Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (second right) assisted by Governor Seriake Dickson (left), Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (second left) and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (right) cutting the tape to inaugurate 30 gunboats procured by Defence Headquarters for the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shied in Yenagoa.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa vandalizing pipelines in the Niger Delta to desist from such unpatriotic acts.

“The receipt of of these gunboats has added impetus to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies’ campaign against oil theft and pipeline vandalism. To be forewarned is to be forearmed”.

In fact, Uduaghan who was a special guest of honour at the occasion beamed with smiles. He had every reason to be joyful especially following his known disdain for oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Besides, he played a significant role in the acquisition of the military assets.

Uduaghan is the chairman of the technical committee that approved the purchase of the gunboats. The governor said the decision to acquire the gunboats was taken after considering the challenges of the military in a NEC meeting adding that it was agreed in the meeting that the military should not be allowed to fight crime with bare hands.

He said: “When there is a drop in oil revenue, it affects everyone.

It affects the federal government and the states. We agreed at the NEC meeting that we must make some contributions as Federal and state government to the funding of the operation in this area because without funds we cannot be talking of security. Our military people should not use their bare hands to be dealing with security.

“So, the council after due approval by Mr. President put up a committee with state governors and I was privileged to chair that committee. I am happy today that we are here to commission these boats which is a big plus for the operations of this area.”

Uduaghan poured encomiums on the JTF and the Navy for making the region too hot for oil thieves.

“Even before these boats, I can testify as a governor of the Niger Delta, the operations of JTF and the navy

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If there is no destination for this stolen crude, this whole thing will reduce. Mr. President is doing his best. He is determined to wipe out crude oil theft and as states we are determined to work with him to wipe it out have been very uncomfortable for the criminals. We want to appreciate what you are doing in dealing with crude oil theft”, he said.

Despite the effectiveness of the JTF and the Navy, Uduaghan said there were still challenges in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which he said was affecting gas supply to power plants.

“We still have challenges in crude oil theft and even pipeline vandalism that is affecting gas supply especially yo our power plants.

“We are proud of Mr. President, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is on the driving seat, who is the commander-in-chief in dealing with all these issues, the issues of crude oil theft and the issues of Boko Haram.

“President Jonathan has done a lot in the power sector in terms of generation a lot of power plants have been completed and are fully ready for operation.

“In terms of distribution a lot of work has been done and are fully ready but the challenge we have now is sabotage to our gas pipeline.

It is sad that our people are involved in this type of sabotage. To stop this requires the participation of all of

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us.”

The governor also called for the cooperation of the international community in dealing with the issues of oil theft in Nigeria.

“There also other stakeholders in the business of crude oil theft and the most challenging one is international community. Over 80 per cent of the stolen crude is exported and used by refineries outside Nigeria.

“If international community cooperates with Nigeria, I am sure we will reduce this problem. If there is no destination for this stolen crude, this whole thing will reduce. Mr. President is doing his best. He is determined to wipe out crude oil theft and as states we are determined to work with him to wipe it out”, he added.

In his remarks, the host, Governor Dickson, said apart from maritime military assets, the state was in need of equipment on land to effectively fight crimes.

He thanked President Jonathan for investing in security and military assets saying that he had shown uncommon determination “to equip, armed, trained and kept the military better prepared than any of his predecessors”.

“Two weeks or so ago, Mr. President in June fell swoop provided four naval warships for our nation’s navy. This is in addition to several strategic investments of the federal government under the able leadership of our dear President.

“I would like to commend the prudence with which the resources are managed by various service chiefs.

“The boats that had been donated will go a long way to assist our men and women in uniform whose men and officers even as we speak are sacrificing their lives to keep our nation safe”, he said.

On his part, though excited over the gunboats, Atewe, the JTF commander, lamented the lives of gallant soldiers lost in the fight against illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of oil theft.

He said recently five soldiers attached to the outfit were heinously killed by armed oil thieves. Atewe called for minute silence for the departed heroes and asked God to help their families bear the loss.

Atewe thanked the dignitaries for attending the event and said the JTF had come of age. He said within the period he assumed the command of the outfit, over 157 vessels ad been seized. He said about 500 illegal oil pipeline vandals had been arrested while 300 boats involved in the illegal business had been destroyed.

He praised Dickson, Udaghan and the Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) for their support in the war against economic sabotage. He further commended the security chiefs for their assistance especially the new 30 gunboats they made available to the command.

Playing the Oliver Twist, Atewe asked the host governor not to relent in helping the outfit.

Atewe reinstated his commitment to zero-tolerance to oil theft and regretted the environmental impact of pipeline vandalism.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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when I read the last lines of The Dame of Our Time. I had never read it in such a record timesome of three hours,past being HE time was minutes ninea particularly slow reader. I soon went into some sort of day-dreaming and as I was coming out of it, my mobile phone came alive. First, I was startled. Later I picked it up and my guess as to who the caller was right.

“What is it again?” was the first thing I said to this friendly voice.

“Nothing much. Just to remind you of the deal…”

“I have told you times without number that I have got no deal with you…”

“My friend,” he shouted, “this is an important call, and it will be in your own interest not to trivialise it. I’ve called you to lend you the only money I’ve got. A word, they say, is enough for the wise. And whatever you do after now will tell me whether you are wise or not. I am giving you a last chance. The last chance to name your price or allow me to force one on you.”

He paused. Perhaps for emphasis. I was not moved by anything he had said. And not until later in my life did I truly understand the purpose of this particular call.

“So, what is your price?”

I felt he was insulting me. How could he assume that he could put a price on my intellectual property? I just did not answer him. And he got furious.

“In the part of this country where I come from, there is a wise saying that when you are trying to save a hen from death, it feels you are robbing him of the right to feed from the garbage dump. I can see clearly that you are not different from the hen. You are still blind now. But time will heal you of your blindness. And then it will be too late,” grunted the unfriendly voice.

As far as I was concerned, he was only trying to threaten me so as to sell my conscience. And I was not ready to do that.

Not now and not later.

“Bye. Good-bye.” And the phone was hung.

By now darkness had enveloped everywhere. The whistle of the nightwatchman could be heard from some distance. The weather was cool. And gentle breeze was ruling. My eyes were beginning to play some tricks on me when the phone rang. Who could it be again? After all, my tormentor had told me that he would never call me again. Perhaps he forgot to tell me something. I was convinced he was the one on the line. But I was dead wrong.

The next morning, a group of men from the Department of State Security came for me. I was accused of trying to blackmail the First Dame. I was charged to court and they made sure the case dragged on for months while I was remanded in prison.

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

No end yet to my dilemma (2)

‘

After months of time wasting, I was discharged and acquitted.

But it took some weeks later before it became clear to me that there was a link between my months in jail and my novella The Dame of Our Time. It never crossed my mind that my months in prisons had anything to do with my ex boss who lied and committed all kinds of atrocities After months of time wasting, I was discharged and acquitted. But it took some weeks later before it became clear to me that there was a link between my months in jail and my novella The Dame of Our Time. It never crossed my mind that my months in prisons had anything to do with my ex boss who lied and committed all kinds of atrocities. But the link was established one day in my house shortly after I regained my freedom. A young man I could not place his face came asking for me. I was damn sure I had not seen that face before but his voice sounded very much ‘familiar’ to me. I knew I had heard it before.

But whose?

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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The process must be reviewed to involve the interest of the communities. We had a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan ... At that meeting, it was agreed that 50 per cent should go to BAJERO, and 50 per cent to Izon Ibe

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––– Ijaw Youth Congress

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I could not answer that question until this young man started spinning the yarn, or more appropriately, spilling the beans.

He told me that he was the mysterious caller who was bombarding me with strange calls shortly before I was arrested and tried for a sin I knew nothing about. If that revelation shocked me, what followed left my mouth agape. He revealed to me that it was my refusal to co-operate with them by insisting on publishing the novella that made Mama Peace implicate me.

And more terrific for me was his revelation that the pictures, which led to the end of my relationship with my fiancée were his

handwork. He told me how they had trailed Kaira and me to that restaurant, taken the shots without our knowledge and how they had got my fiancée’s address and mailed them to her. According to him, they did all these to break me, to put pressure on me so that I would not be able to publish The Dame of Our Time which he told me Mama Peace felt would tarnish her image and deplete her followers.

At this stage, I could not but ask him how they got to know about the book. And this was another shock to me. He told me someone told them. When he mentioned the person’s name, it turned out to be the same person who had told me of Mama Peace’s many misdeeds.

Why he had gone back to them was a mystery I would never be able to unravel. Perhaps he was afraid Mama Peace would find him out.

Perhaps he discovered he had a stake in the First Family. Perhaps. And a whole lot of perhaps.

The young man would not leave my office until I told him I had forgiven him. Forgive, yes but would I ever forget? Certainly not!

Concluded

As we vote tommorrow

T

HE Niger Delta is the home of President Goodluck Jonathan. He hails from Otuoke in Bayelsa State, one of the six states in the Southsouth geopolitical zone. As you read this, Mr President should be in his Otuoke mansion or getting set to leave for his hometown.

For the president, tomorrow’s election is different from any he has had to face in his life. His main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is no stranger to him. Jonathan defeated Buhari in 2011. But what everybody, including Jonathan will not dispute is the fact that this is not 2011. The forces backing Buhari now are more powerful than the ones with him in 2011. It is with this fact at the back of his mind that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu said the era of landslide victory was over.

The strength of Jonathan’s challenger has generated a lot of interest in the Southsouth, especially Rivers State, which some consider Jonathan’s second home. His wife hails from Okrika, a key town in Rivers. The president worked and earned degrees in Port Harcourt.

Ordinarilly, Rivers should be easy for him to take. In the last election, he had almost all the votes there. The dynamics have since changed. Governor Rotimi Amaechi, one of his allies then, is now Buhari’s chief campaigner.

My plea to the people of the Southsouth is that in whatever they do during and after the elections, they should bear in mind Jonathan’s famous claim that his ambition is not worth the life of anybody.

FROM SHOLA O’NEIL, WARRI

Delta… My convoy is longer than yours

D

RIVING on any major road, street or highways in the twin cities of Effurun/Warri and other towns in Delta State requires a lot of patience and self-control. No, it is not because of the condition of the roads or the menace of reckless taxi or bus drivers and their tricycle (keke) counterparts, who drive at breakneck speed or pilot unworthy vehicles without the basic safety features like turn indicators, horns or windshield wipers. Most of the buses and taxis on the road don’t have headlight or tail lights, side or inner mirrors; the safety conscious ones among them simply use bits of their wives’ broken makeup glasses. The ‘mirror’ is placed on the dash board and the driver would conjure them when they need to look out before veering from one lane to the other.

But these drivers are no longer the biggest threat to road users because this devil the road users know is way better than the crazy security agents they don’t know. Security men attached to ‘big men’ and their wives are the biggest danger now for motorist and even pedestrians.

Taking your car for a drive on the roads, either for pleasure or when going about your normal business, calls for prayers and divine watch to save you from security and paramilitary operators attached to

government officials, top operators of the oil and gas industry, their counterparts in the illegal (bunkering) deals and local thugs.

The activities of these ‘security’ agents have turned every Toyota hilux van or any van favoured by these classes of moneybags into vehicles above the law so much so that the sight of one of these pick-ups releases adrenalin and send the hearts of other users of the road palpitating.

The menaces of these vans, which drive behind and in front of exotic cars and buses at breakneck speed even along narrow streets, have forced cost at least one life and uncountable destructions to other road users or even people lounging in front of their houses.

A friend once joked that most big men in Delta state move around with their own police station and army barracks; the bigger the men the bigger their escorts and troops.

In a clear demonstration of the lawlessness that has pervaded the country, this class of people is above the law and they drive even against traffic at the same speed. The irony is that FRSC official, police and other security agents at on the roads wave them, even kowtow with the hope of getting ‘something for the boys’, thereby legalizing the illegality.

“They are kill-and-go people”, lamented

one of their victims. “Even when they drive against traffic, they bring out horsewhip and flog anybody who stands in their way, not minding that the person has the right of way.”

It is not only with the common driver on the road that the big men clash, sometimes they clash among themselves. “It could be that one team has regular policemen on its convoy and the other has mobile policemen.

In that case the mopol usually win except when they are outnumbered.”

Similarly, the ultra-rich among them rich use soldiers. This class prefers to convey their security ’aides’ in heavy duty pickup trucks like the petrol-guzzling Ford F150, Toyota Tundra or Nissan Titan, just to prove that ‘my convoy is longer than yours, so my money is more than yours.’

The police’s involvement in this madness querries our belief in the rule of law. With the police and some other security agencies deeply involved in the commotion that driving in Warri has become, it remains to be seen who will save the society. It would have been a different ball game if the culprits are only the ordinary people. My last word here is that this madness must stop. The police and other security operatives must be made to respect the rule of law by their top hierarchy. Enough is just enough!

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Relief for 300 women in Anambra This gesture did not start today. I have been doing it but I used this opportunity to mobilise for APGA and our flagbearers including Chief Victor Umeh for Senate, Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo for Federal House of Representatives and Charles Azubuike Okoye for House of Assembly

,

By Emmanuel Udodinma

buying wrappers for widows.

“We are supporting his gesture with N100,000 and would be glad to do more if need be because he has supported us by campaigning for us and all other contestants in APGA despite the fact that his aspiration was not met. He did this as his way of supporting the government of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration and supporting APGA as a party to enable its candidate win the 2015 polls and you heard him mention that. I appeal to them to pray for Obiadi and the party for God to enable us win the election having worked hard’’.

Some of the beneficiaries including Juliana Eugene-Orjiakor from Amaolu village; Theresa Onwuka from Okpalaegbu village; Lucy Uzoaga from Etiti Nnukwu; Theresa Agupugo from Amata village as well as Paulina Okoye also from Amata village differently lauded the initiative of Mr Ndubuisi Obiadi for his magnanimity for widows on constant measures and prayed that his pocket would not run dry to enable him to continue remembering them , politics or no politics. They also prayed for the

•Obiadi presents the gift wrapper to a widow

•The widows at the presentation

candidates of APGA to win in all their constituencies and those who will contest under APGA. On his part, the Coordinator,

Chief Victor Umeh campaign organization, Adazi Nnukwu Ward 2, Ugonnabuo Alphonsus and Chairman APGA ward 11Adazi Nnukwu

, Nwako Christopher pointed out that women actually own the polling booths judging by the high number of women with PVC’s .

UNESCO, others seek safety for journalists From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

rassment, arrests, detention, battering, killing and other forms of violence assaulting the ears and eyes daily”.

The situation he said is worst in countries where there is civil war, where terrorism is holding sway or where there is war between two or more countries.

He listed some of the safety and security challenges frequently reported in the media to include the following: “Acts of impunity, including indiscriminate arrest and detention of journalists without charge; intimidation and harassment by security operatives in homes and offices; threats of arrest: seizures of publications, whole or in part at entry points and sale points.”

Others include: seizure of working tools such as cameras, computers and machines while on duty; closure of offices by police or SSS; abductions, kidnappings by police, SSS or militant groups; violence- battering and killing of journalists, bombing of offices “Prevention of journalists from car-

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HE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is leading a coalition of global bodies in a project to check attacks on journalists. Journalists working in the Southeast alongside their counterparts in the Southsouth attended a workshop in Calabar, Cross River State where organisers enunciated the safety project. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was also part of the event, as is the United Nations Development Programme’s Democratic Governance and Development Project.

Over 300 journalists attended.

The activities under this safety project include: Establishment of a national monitoring committee on journalists’ safety and 36 similar committees at state levels; development of safety a code for journalists; training of journalists in safety especially in relation to the electoral period; and general public awareness on the importance of journalists’ safety ahead of the elections 2015.

In a keynote address, a university don, Des Wilson lamented that journalists are fast turning into endengered species all over the world adding that “journalism practice is increasingly becoming a highrisk profession with stories of ha-

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O fewer than 300 of women have benefitted from the philanthropy of a lawyer, Mr Ndubuisi Obiadi.

Obiadi once contested for a House of Assembly seat on behalf of Anaocha Constituency 1 in Anambra State on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Every year, he presents various items to the needy.

This time, Obiadi gave out yards of cloth to widows, saying that the gesture was his little way of helping out the needy women.

He laos presented them with cash, urging them to go out and vote.

“This gesture did not start today,” he said.

“I have been doing it but I used this opportunity to mobilise for APGA and our flagbearers including Chief Victor Umeh for Senate, Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo for Federal House of Representatives and Charles Azubuike Okoye for House of Assembly.

“I pleaded with them too to continue to support our governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano in the good works that they are doing.

“We are mobilising for election and we utilised this opportunity to educate our widows and others more on how to vote and who to vote.”

The member representing Anaocha Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ebele Leonard Ejiofor lauded the initiative of Obiadi who he said continued his programme with widows despite not yet contesting any position.

Ejiofor described Obiadi as being consistent and disciplined in politics and party loyalty.

“It is a good development specifically because he is not contesting anything and for him to utilise the opportunity to mobilise APGA and the community for his political party shows he has character. It is a good development.”

A guest at the event and APGA candidate for Anaocha House of Assembly constituency 1, Charles Azubuike Okoye, said it was amazing that somebody not contesting will be spending money to campaign for his party this way and

Journalists themselves must begin to build a wall of respectability around themselves. A journalist that does not show self-respect cannot, in all honesty, expect respect from others…The reckless quest for money, especially cheap, filthy lucre, is largely responsible for the challenges within the profession. Some of us give ourselves out cheaply to irresponsible and lying politicians

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rying out their duties especially in public places; exploitation and abuse of judicial processes to impede journalists from working and judicial harassment, intimidation and jailing”.

“It has been documented by UNESCO that more than 600 journalists have been killed in the last ten years and that, on the average, journalists are now being murdered at

the rate of one each week. Such statistics are scary given the fact that the situation does not seem to abate” “The attitude of government is puzzling as journalists are left to the vagaries of the Nigerian Judicial system and the law as many mystery murders remain unsolved. Sometimes, the impression is given that the government itself with the situation as agents of state also organise

their own regime of violence-physical and verbal-against journalists”.

The varsity don said varying forms of infringement have been meted out on journalists in the zone over the years.

He said, “In June 2014, the police stopped the Bayelsa chapter of the NUJ from holding its congress.

They harassed and threatened to arrest the NUJ chairman. Again in July 2014 when the congress was rescheduled, the police returned to re-enact their show of shame”, “In Imo State, a political group harassed one Mr Iheanacho working for a global tabloid. In Delta State, so-called militants kidnapped fourteen journalists. This non-governmental organisation criminal group was said to be Tom Polo group. The journalists had been invited to inspect NDDC projects at the time of their kidnap. They were later released”.

“Two years ago, a Punch newspaper correspondent was arrested by the SSS for carrying out his lawful duties. In Akwa Ibom, there has been frequent harassment, arrest and detention of journalists work•Continued on page 38

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

UNESCO, others seek safety for journalists •Continued from page 37 ing for the Global Concord newspaper”.

“Across the nation, the following journalists have lost their lives in the line of duty: Eneche Akogwu (2014), a staff of Channels TV; Sunday Gyan Burede, Nathan S. Dabok (all ofThe Light Bearer) and Ikechukwu Udendu (Jan 12 2013), a staff of Anambra News”.

“Also in 2011, Akwa Ibom State Government gave the State Vendours Association N10 million to stop circulating Global Concord.

On occasions, newspapers coming from Lagos and elsewhere are seized at the entry points and paid for when they are known to carry reports deemed to be negative to the interest of the Government” “The Nation is known to be a frequent victim of this and in 2013 there were reports of seizures of some editions of this newspaper. Earlier in 2012, there was the case of harassment of one Kazeem of The Sun newspaper during Governor Akpabio’s birthday”.

“Global Concord continues to face the wrath of the Akwa Ibom State Government like co-wives haggling

over family inheritance. The issue is not as if the safety issues of journalists are in any way connected with issues of defense of democracy or the security of the state”.

“It is largely a matter of the rulers, governors, ministers, commissioners, and politicians fighting to maintain secrecy and ensure their self protection and survival while their criminal deeds go unreported or remain secret”.

While urging the general public to insist on preservation of freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitution, he also called for a legal scheme to be set utodos journalists.

He however maintained that journalists must be ethical in their practice and keep strictly to the ethics of the profession even as he maintained that proprietors must be ready to run their media outfits as professional institutions.

“Sine journalists are pen soldiers, they should be given training in security and safety so that they can defend themselves in emergency situations. For example in covering wars, they are usually embedded with soldiers, therefore they need some kind of paramillitary training” “ But it is not that simple anyway.

‘New deal for traditional rulers’ T HE factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia State, Chief Reagan Ufomba has promised that his administration would give priority attention to the traditional institution of the state if elected the governor of the state.

While addressing traditional rulers from Isiukwuato at the palace of Eze Ezu Ukandu at Imenyi Kingdom, Ufomba said, given a prioritised attention to monarchs would help to enhance good governance and to spread democratic dividends to the people who live in the rural areas.

According to Ufomba, bringing traditional rulers close to government would give them the opportunity to choose suitable plants for their communities in his agricultural revolutionary project, a cardinal objective of his administra-

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

tion.

The governorship candidate, who is contesting the legality of Otti as a member of the party owing to the commando style he (Otti) was imposed on the state party by Chief Victor Umeh in court, pledged to re-introduce the moribund marketing board which he said would serve as a link between the government and the communities to ensure that excess goods produced would be bought from the farmers by the government to avoid waste.

Ufomba, who promised that he would encourage indigenous contractors to execute some projects in their various communities through the help of traditional rulers, expressed hope that the process would also help to create jobs for the youth.

Responding, the chairman, Abia

•Some of the students listening to a corps member, at a training session

•Participants from Ebonyi State with the organisers Journalists themselves must begin to build a wall of respectability around them. A journalist that does not show self-respect cannot in all honesty expect respect from others”.

“The reckless quest for money, especially cheap, filthy lucre, is largely responsible for the challenges within North Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Okorie, thanked the candidate for the visit and for choosing his deputy from their area.

Eze Okorie also urged him to ensure he fulfills his campaign promises if elected.

They also offered a special prayer for Ufomba and for the success of the forthcoming general elections.

Ufomba, who later moved to Uturu Secondary School to address his supporters and people of the area, promised the people of Isuikwuato that the erosion menace in the area would be addressed as he would ensure that it was controlled by the use of ecological funds.

He said: “My administration would give free and quality education in the state, construct good roads, provide electricity and water and also create job opportunities. I urge you to cast your votes for APGA.” Also speaking, the Director-General Ochiagha Campaign Organisation, Prof. Mike Nwaubani who described Chief Ufomba as a rescuer who has come to transform •Continued on page 39

the profession. Some of us give ourselves out cheaply to irresponsible and lying politicians, so when these nonentities come to power, they employ the same illegal strategy which we used against their opponents in order for them to achieve their goals against us”.

“At this point, there is already mistrust and politicians always find that journalists who engage in u professional practices cannot be trusted.

This, then, forms the basis of their relationship with us, believing that all of us are the same. This is a case of one bad egg spoiling the rest in the basket”.

New leader for MASSOB soon T

HE crack in the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is getting wider as members of the pan-Biafra group have resolved to get a new leader to pilot their affairs. The new leader would be known at the burial of 69 members of the movement in Enugu.

A member of the MASSOB interim administration, Comrade Ndubuisi Igwekani (aka) Agu Biafra told Southeast Report that the fallen members were those killed during peaceful protests across “Biafran territories” and deposited in mortuaries in Enugu and Onitsha.

Igwekani said the Ralph Uwazuruike leadership has lost focus and no longer pursues the aspirations of what he called Biafrans and the Biafran Dream. He emphatically stated that “Ralph is no longer in control of MASSOB”.

While insisting that MASSOB was not factionalised, Igwekani stressed that “what we are saying is that those of us that hold MASSOB believe that the leadership of Ralph Uwazuruike has disappointed the Biafran struggle.”

Continuing, he said: “He has used the organisation to enrich himself and using our children the way he likes. He has diverted the resources which would have been used to advance the struggle. Our elders refused to understand initially, but by the special grace of God, many people have come to understand that he cannot continue to lead us.

“This is a man who even claimed that he is richer than the people that control the resources of the states. It is during the burial of these fallen MASSOB heroes that you people will see the new face of MASSOB. “The fact is that MASSOB is a movement that focuses on giving the Igbo the identity of Biafra. So, if we are not Nigerians and we are Biafrans, how can Uwazuruike now mobilise people and say “Jega must go?” Jega is not a Biafran. He is a Nigerian coordi-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

nating the Nigerian elections.

“It is for his selfish gains that he held the Jega-must-go march. In a week or two, we will know where we are heading to. We will give our people a new direction on what to do. We are not in support of our children roaming the streets.

“What we are after now is to ensure that after the election, no single Igbo man will be killed neither would their property be destroyed, especially in the North.

We know we are always the target. We are now sending signal that any state that allows its people to kill any Igbo man or destroy his property after the elections, we will hold that state to ransom.

“We will mobilise all our security forces to that state to protect our property. Enough is enough.”

On their preference between Jonathan and Buhari, Igwekani retorted: “We do not want to go into politics. But I can tell you that the devil we know is better than the angel we don’t know. We can’t come to the public to politicise issues. Every nation knows the best for them. Biafrans know the best for them. We have already communicated to our people on what to do. We have done our underground work and when the election comes, our votes will speak.”

Igwekani, who represented MASSOB at a recent meeting of the Southeast professional group, Concerned Nigerian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Forum held in Enugu said they collectively agreed to send people to other states and deliver the resolutions reached at the meeting.

“I was there as a representative of MASSOB. I was also invited to speak. What we are saying is that the Igbo living in other parts of Nigeria should send their wives and children home while they remain wherever they are to protect their property and also cast their votes.”

QUOTE The fact is that MASSOB is a movement that focuses on giving the Igbo

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

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‘How to curtail unemployment’ H

OW can we thin down the population of the unemployed? How do we get undergraduates to create jobs rather expect them?

These were some some of the questions that inspired a young man Otta Okoro Ukaha to write a book, which was launched in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

The book entitled: Construction and Management of Petroleum Retail Outlet, tries to inspire young people to think of the opportunities that will generate jobs and save them the horrors of searching for nonexistent white-collar jobs.

The book, he said, is an attempt to present an overview of the construction and management of petrol filling stations, adding that “it is beneficial to those in architecture and civil engineering.

“Students of petroleum engineering, marketing, economics and business management are expected to share in the benefit the book provides; so are the people engaged in the business of construction and management of filling stations.

“It is also a reference material for those who are proposing to run petrol filling stations to enable them to run a successful business. The book is the first of its kind in the history of Nigerian petroleum industry.

“Its major objective is to solve the challenges experienced by the players in the downstream sector of Nigerian oil industry and beyond,” he said.

On how young graduates would cope with huge capital outlay involved in establishing a petrol station, Ukaha said government should be involved in the area of granting loans to these graduates.

The author further noted that poor

•Continued from page 38 the state, urged the people to use the opportunity created by INEC on the extension of PVC collection, to collect their cards to enable them to vote for APGA in the forthcoming general elections.

Chief Ufomba also presented his running mate, Mrs. Christiana Duruoha to the people of Isiukwuato and Umunneochi.

In a related development, Chief Ufomba has promised that he would hold election for the 17 local government areas in the state within

Readership is the centre of civilisation.

Without it, it will be very difficult for our country to progress.

Business growth will only be achieved if our business owners imbibe reading culture and read extensively. A country like United States is a giant today because of the people’s reading culture

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

readership culture in Nigeria retards development.

“Readership is the habit of reading. When it comes to readership in Nigeria, our rating is very low. Because of our low rating, life tends to be very difficult for us. If you consider Nigeria’s population, you will discover that over 70 per cent of the population doesn’t read. That is why the country’s development is very low.

“Readership in this country is very poor and that is why majority of us don’t know what is going on in the world. The government has the responsibility to improve Nigerians’ readership.

“Readership is the centre of civilisation. Without it, it will be very difficult for our country to progress. Business growth will only be achieved if our business owners imbibe reading culture and read extensively. A country like United States is a giant today because of the people’s reading culture,” Ukaha said.

Reviewing the book, Mr. John Ihechukwu Oke of the Department of Marketing, Enugu State University of Technology advocated inclusion of entrepreneurial studies in Nigerian schools’ curriculum, especially institutions of higher learning.

He said such initiative would equip Nigerian graduates to be selfemployed after graduation.

“Though there have been recent yearnings for the inclusion of entrepreneurial studies in the curriculum of schools, which has led to some institutions of higher learning in the country complying to that effect, but we are looking forward to a holistic compliance to the yearnings,” he said.

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•The participants Continuing, Oke said: “We are looking forward to a situation where petrol filling stations will be established and managed by graduates to reduce the increasing rate in unemployment in the country.

“It is on this basis that the book should be introduced to institutions of higher learning.

“Taking into cognisance the current trend where Nigerian graduates, especially from the areas of petroleum and other engineering departments, business studies and marketing, among others, roam the streets unemployed, this book is handy to remedy the situation. The missing link in our academic curriculum is

blamed on lack of professionalism, and this has taken a toll on our economy.”

Oke said the book provides an indepth analysis of locating the site of a petrol station, saying that a prospective owner of a petrol station should avoid locating it along dual or three roadways, outside the metropolis. “This is because vehicles’ speed is always high along the highways.

He said petrol stations should be located after convergence of three roadways, where traffic makes room for only single road, even as he said petrol stations should be located within accessible locations.

The book also prescribed that mobile telephones are not designed and certified for use in explosive atmosphere.

“Rather than applying total prohibition on the use of mobile telephones on petrol forecourt which has resulted in some anomalies and frequent abuse to staff, the following controls are recommended: “the device is not to be used by customers and forecourt staff while dispensing petrol into fuel tanks or containers; they should not be used during petrol deliveries on those parts that have been designated as hazardous areas by the site operator or the driver; mobile phones should not be used during other petrol handling operations or during the maintenance of petrol equipment unless a specific assessment shows the risks are negligible.

It was the author’s view that there is need to restrict the use of mobile telephones, with respect to the safekeeping of petrol, at other times or in the other areas of the forecourt.

This includes the shop, motor vehicles parked on the forecourt or in other non-hazardous areas.

‘New deal for traditional rulers’ six months of his administration as the governor of the state.

Abia State was yet to conduct local government election since 2010 when the last elected local government chairmen served out their tenures.

At a rally at Alaoji, Ugwunagbor Local Government Area, at the outskirts of Aba, Chief Ufomba lamented that local government ad-

ministration in the entire council areas has suffered greatly because of the inability of the incumbent administration to hold elections, but instead have resorted using transitional committee chairmen.

He said such executive control was not in the interest of the people at the grassroots where development was needed, stressing that the independent of the local council

areas from executive control and being financially autonomous would ensure that development and dividend of democracy would be spread to the grassroots.

“We shall conduct elections for the 17 local government areas in the state in six months of our administration to ensure that there are duly-elected local government administrations in the state. We will also ensure that money meant for the local government areas is equally shared among them so that the elected local government chairmen will have funds to work with and to attend to the needs of the people at the grassroots,” he said.

Chief Ufomba, who reeled off some of the programmes he had in the offing which would be implemented as soon as his administration comes on board on May 29 also disclosed that he was going to establish grinding mills of about N10 billion in both Asa in Ukwa West and Arochukwu local government

areas respectively which he said would be of economic benefit to the people of the areas. They included job creation and a free and compulsory education for Abians and its residents He appealed to both his supporters, Abians and Abia residents who were yet to get their voters’ card to do so, vote and defend their votes on the days of elections, stating that if the change everyone yearns for would be realised if they get their PVCs and vote wisely on the election days.

He assured that Abians would enjoy more dividends of democracy when an APGA government which he would lead comes on board.

Some of his supporters, who spoke separately in an interview promised the candidate of their full support and assured that they were going to cast their votes for the party come March 28 and April 11 elections.

, •Some of the security agencies during the exercise at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu State

My administration would give free and quality education in the state, construct good roads, provide electricity and water and also create job opportunities. I urge you to cast your votes for APGA…We shall conduct elections for the 17 local government areas in the state in six months of our administration to ensure that there are duly-elected local government administrations in the state

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Abia police caution personnel •Continued from page 28 in Aba, the PCRC (Police Community Relations Committee) in various police divisions, army and among other security agencies called for more synergy to enable them nip crime in all place in the bud and to also ensure that the country’s democracy wasn’t truncated.

The commissioner who had once served in the state as a youth corps member and a police officer said he knew the importance of Aba to the economy of the state, southeast and the nation as a whole also assured Aba and Abia residents including visitors alike that police in collaboration with other security agencies were willing to make the commercial nerve center a safe haven for their businesses to thrive, warning hoodlums in Aba and the state to relocate to another place as he would make the state uncomfortable for their operation.

”I am encouraged when I learnt about the cooperation between the police and other sister agencies in Aba. Such is not even obtainable at the state capital. It is important that we deemphasise the attention on the superiority of ranks and come together and share ideas on how best we can fight crime and achieve a peaceful and habitual environment to allow business and economic to thrive. Crime fighting should be a collaborative efforts and I am going to ensure that the police will work together and synergize with other security agencies to ensure that we fight crime in Aba and Abia Sate in general”.

On the use of policemen by revenue contractors in their drive which has become a norm in the state, he directed that on no account should the police be used for revenue drive unless they were executing an order of court of competent jurisdiction, warning that any police officer used in revenue drive by any agent or contractor without

I am encouraged when I learnt about the cooperation between the police and other sister agencies in Aba. Such is not even obtainable at the state capital. It is important that we deemphasise the attention on the superiority of ranks and come together and share ideas on how best we can fight crime and achieve a peaceful and habitual environment to allow business and economic to thrive

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•Continued from page 27 Here again MASSOB goofed. Since when has it become the concern of MASSOB to champion the interest of Ndigbo through collaboration with the Federal Government which MASSOB sees as the principal malefactor, the monster that stands in-between them and their actualisation of sovereign Biafra? This posturing is ridiculous and childish in the extreme.

At first, one thought that a splinter group was springing up within MASSOB. But when the leader himself started to sing the same song, one was compelled to believe that something was wrong somewhere.

The question that immediately came

•Mr Joshak with Mr Wagbara at the Aba Area Command the knowledge of the State Command risk losing his job.

The CP who had earlier inspected some of the ongoing reconstruction and refurbishing of offices and police quarters in the Area Command called on DPOs (Divisional Police Officers) to emulate the pace set by the Area Commander, Peter Wagbara who despite the paucity of funds has improve the infrastructural condition of the command.

He assured them that their welfare and logistic challenges facing the command would be properly addressed and urged them to ensure that they use whatever little logistics that the IGP had provided for them opti-

mally to ensure productivity.

Earlier in the speeches, the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Aba Prison, Emmanuel Maduako and Prince Ambassador Emma Nwosu, state chairman, PCRC on behalf of other security agencies in Enyimba city and members of the PCRC expressed happiness over the progress recorded so far by the Wagbara led administration since he assumed office in the command.

Maduako noted that in the number of years he has put into service, it was in Aba under the administration of the Area Commander that he has witnessed the coming together of police and other sister agencies to a round table despite

their ranks and differences in job functions to discuss on how to improve security and work collaboratively to fight crime and other criminality, stressing that it has breached the gap and also make them see reasons why they should work harmoniously with each other.

The PCRC chairman also expressed their willingness to continue working together with DPOs of various commands in Aba and the state police command and assured that the lessons they learnt from the Aba Police boss will be replicated in other various police divisions in the state.

The police commissioner before departing the command held an interactive session with officers and men in the command which it was learnt bordered on their welfare, the March 28 and April 11 elections and how best they can work effectively to tackle crime in Aba. Some policemen who chose to speak off record described the CP’s visit as a morale booster and hope that they would enjoy better and improved working condition under the current leadership of the police in the state and national level, stating that they were committed to ensure that they work harmoniously with the state police commissioner while his stay in the state lasted.

MASSOB: A revolution betrayed to mind was: Could Uwazuruike, a seasoned lawyer, be part of this charade? How could a man who had all along been championing a separatist cause suddenly wake up and shoot himself on the foot? Or is he bewitched? By pitching his tent with the head of state of the same country which Uwazuruike and his MASSOB say is the enemy of their people, the man and his MASSOB have committed hara-kiri! They have put logic upside down. Their action defies rhyme and reason.

Let us flash back on the anteced-

ents of MASSOB. On the day Uwazuruike hoisted the Biafra flag and proclaimed the Republic of Baifra at Aba, 21st May, 2000, he clearly stated the goal of MASSOB thus: “Our mission is sovereign Biafra. Our duty is to ensure that the struggle does not die”. Unknown to the Nigerian authorities, MASSOB was using a weapon more devastating than guns – peaceful resistance- war by other means. Government searched for evidence of violence-guns, bombs, grenades, knives, ammunition and other offensive weapons – and found none.

Government then thought that MASSOB must be a hoax.

Slowly but steadily, MASSOB started to draw attention of Nigeria with its “sit-at-home order” to Ndigbo wherever they lived in Nigeria. The response by Ndigbo was spontaneous.

The result was that business and commercial activities were paralysed across the country on the first and subsequent days of the sit-at-home order. Government was compelled to take note and series of arrests, detentions, court actions and even extrajudicial killings of MASSOB mem-

•The APC Senatorial candidate for Anambra Central Constituency, Senator Chris Ngige during his campaign in Akwaukwu in Idemili South Local Government Area.

PHOTO: CLETUS OBI

bers became the order of the day.

Uwazuruike himself became regular victim of police and DSS detention.

Inspite of all this MASSOB continued to forge ahead. At one time they tried to stop Ndigbo from participating in national census, arguing that Ndigbo are not part of Nigeria! They are Biafrans! The rest of the story is now history.

What has really “transformed” MASSOB to the extent of being so much concerned with Nigeria’s affair as to bother about how Nigerian election is conducted, and to the extent of staging demonstrations across Igbo land?

It may be painful, but one is compelled to draw one of two conclusions about MASSOB. It is either MASSOB has been bought over by forces working for Jonathan or the “revolution” has lost its steam and bearing. According to MASSOB, their endorsement of Jonathan is in appreciation of his showing up at Ojukwu’s burial. These boys must be told that Ndigbo have long passed the stage of being teased and caricatured by mere tokenism or symbolism such as attendance at burials. They should be told that what Ndigbo want in Nigeria today, as always, is justice and equity in an environment that guarantees them security of life and properly – no more no less.

By this careless and badly thought out action, MASSOB has robed itself of whatever semblance of sympathy they hitherto might have enjoyed among some Igbos. Uwazuruike should take note that he has himself to blame if he turns his MASSOB into “food is ready” organisation. The spirit of MASSOB died the day it decided to wade into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. By so doing, MASSOB has betrayed its own “revolution” as a separatist movement.

•Asogwa, a lawyer and social commentator, sent this piece from Enugu

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Adeola Ipaye launched his book titled: ‘Nigerian Tax Law and Administration’ at Muson Centre, Onikan. The event drew judges and lawyers, reports OLATUNDE ODEBIYI.

•From left: Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu; Justice Augie; Mr Ipaye: Governor Fashola and Justice Kazeem Alogba presenting the book

Here comes the lawyer-author T

HE courtroom is the Lawyer’s playground, where he exhibits his skills, arguing cases. But the setting was different last Wednesday when Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Adeola Ipaye launched his book: “Nigerian Tax Law and Administration” at Muson Centre Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal (SAN), welcomed guests. He said the book is a contribution to the nation’s development and applauded the author for finding time to write it.

Justice Amina Augie of the Court of Appeal, said the author was goal-oriented, describing him as an accomplisher.

Book reviewer Tunde Fagbohunlu said the book has added a vital resource to the existing knowledge on tax law and administration. He described the work as “concise”, comprehensive and effective.

Presenting the book, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said payment of tax should not be taken for granted in any society because there is no way the government can embark on projects without taxes.

Renowned lawyer Prof Itse Segay (SAN), saluted Ipaye’s courage in writing the book.

He described Ipaye as reliable, efficient, intelligent and proactive. “He is a man of excel-

•Prof Sagay

•Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello (right) and Mr Obafemi Hamzat

lence, It has been a pleasure meeting him and I have benefited much from our relationship”.

The author said his experience as a teacher and the tax special assistant to former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu inspired him to write the book.

He said: “Tax law and administration is an

important topic, both in the legal and practical aspect.”

He explained that the law and practice of taxation are complex because people naturally don’t want to pay and there are laws to it.

“The book breaks down the topics into bits, such that people can understand; it can also

serve as a textbook for those studying tax law in the university.”

He said the book attempts a review of the major tax laws and the administration structures and processes by which they are implemented.

“It covers the essential background details, including contextual definitions of terms and the basic rules of tax assessment, dispute resolutions and enforcement,” he said.

•More pictures on page 43

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

43

SOCIETY HERE COMES THE LAWYER-AUTHOR

•Immediate past Attorney General of Lagos Shupo Sasore

•Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye (left) and Mrs Florence Oguntuase

•Dr Olufemi Osanyintolu (left) and Dr Wale Hamed

•From left: Alhaji Moshood Tijani; Ahaji Mustapha Kekere-Ekun and Senator Muniru Muse

•Mr Disu Holloway (left) and Gbolahan Lawal

PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

The convener of Single’s Platform, a non-profit organisation for young adults, Pastor Olaiwola Abiola, has presented three of his books: Understanding Marriage; The Mystery of the 5 Fingers and Sex! Kini Big Deal, reports NNEKA NWANERI

For a better society F

OR the man of God, it was a dream come true, after years of waiting and putting ideas together. Last Saturday, Pastor Olaiwola Abiola, the convener of Single’s Platform, a non-profit organisation for young adults, launched three of his books at the Protea Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Many of his friends, young and old, were there to support him.

The books are: Understanding Marriage; The Mystery of the 5 Fingers and Sex! Kini Big Deal.

The Single’s Platform music group ushered in chairman of the event and president, Simnet Outreach Ministries in the United Kingdom, Prophet Simon Idowu, to speak, with song praise.

The prophet and Abiola’s late father, were friends.

He is happy that Abiola has kept the flag flying.

“I see in him a man with zeal for the work of God, just like his dad who gave everything. This is a calling from God he is attending to.”

Deputy Secretary, Mushin/ Oshodi Isolo Province of the Pente-

•From left: Rev Abayomi Oduwole of Total Gospel Bible Church; his wife Tessy; Prophet Idowu; the author Pastor Abiola; his wife Ibironke; Rev Sunday Akingbelure and Pastor Ajayi displaying the books.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

costal Fellowship of Nigeria Austin Ameh reviewed books: The Mystery of the 5 Fingers and Sex! Kini Big Deal.

He said in the former, the author used the five fingers to explain the events that took place in Adam’s life.

The thumb represents purpose; the index finger for tasting, represents food; the middle, which is the longest finger, represents man’s potential and the shortest finger signifies man’s shortcomings.

Sex! Kini Big Deal comprises 88 pages and eight chapters.

The reviewer said the book gives insight into societal decadence.

‘The book presents sex in God’s view with relevant spiritual references that will make the young appreciate sex and practise it in the right sense’ The book, he said, presents sex in God’s view with relevant spiritual references that will make the young appreciate sex and practise it in the right sense.

Senior Pastor of The Incorruptible Seed Church, Magodo, Lagos, Morenikeji Ajayi spoke on the need to take the issue raised in the book seriously, because it is one of the treacher-

ous areas of life that makes the end time more scary.

The church, he notes, is facing challenges in raising the standard of God in these perilous times.

“Abiola is preparing the next generation through these books, because long after he is no more, these books will still be useful.

Reviewing Understanding Marriage,

by Daniel Asonye, likened marriage to driving a car on a long busy road, where there will be the need to observe traffic signals, speed limits and other vehicles and road users around.

“As you journey, there will be death traps and pot holes to avoid. Without doing all these, the journey can end up being fatal. The book is loaded with the myths and realities of marriage, for which many marriages fail because of the violation of the laws.

Abiola said his programme which holds every third Sunday of the month, has met the needs of youths outside the church, with many giving testimonies.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

SOCIETY Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Australia Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni celebrated his 60th birthday and retirement last Sunday at the national headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ebute Meta, Lagos, OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

I

T was a day of thanksgiving and praises to God for Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni, former Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Australia.

He celebrated his 60th birthday and retirement last Sunday at the national headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Throne of Grace Parish in Ebute Meta, Lagos.

He was clad in blue Agbada with a wine cap and a pair of black shoes.

He sat in the front pew of the church with his family members.

Many guests came to greet him on his seat.

The event began with praises. It was led by the church choir.

Kayode Ojo was the Master of the Ceremony.

After the praise session, BJ Sax led the gathering in another round of praises with his saxophone.

A musician, producer, songwriter and son-in-law of the celebrator, Cobhams Asuquo also led guests in praises, singing and playing the keyboard.

Special Assistant to RCCG General Oversser (Administration and Personel) Pastor Johnson Odesola, in a sermon, told the celebrator that life begins at 60.

He spoke on the need to be rightly positioned, saying it will determine possession in life.

“You must have something to offer; you must apply your heart to wisdom and we must ensure love among ourselves because with love, the world would be a better place,” he said.

The cleric, who is also the pastor in charge of Region 1, prayed for the celebrator and his family afterwards.

The celebrator said life is great at 60.

“I don’t feel 60, I feel 16 and I thank God for good health. I feel excited and I have begun another race. I still have a lot to do in terms of my contribution to the country.

“My retirement now gives me the opportunity to start a new life. Based on my experience in the Foreign Service, I want to contirbute to the nation in the area of development, culture, environment, education and may be civil society groups.”

His wife, Yemisi thanked God for His faithfulness and for the grace to build the family.

She described her husband as her dearest friend, soul mate, lover, baby, sweetie and all in all. She thanked him for being a wonderful and caring husband, and for being a loving father to the children.

She said their journey in marriage of about 45 years has been interesting, full of memorable experiences, great achievements and challenges and gave all the glory to God that they are still standing in Him as a family and as husband and wife.

RCCG General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife Folu were represented by their first son, Pastor Adeolu Adeboye. He congratulated the celebrator and thanked God for His grace and mercy on his life.

He said the celebrator loves dancing, adding that is one part of him that no one can beat.

“You travelled to different parts of the world while in the civil service; you should be a missionary in the second half of your life. We love you,” he said.

Ambassador Michael Ononaiye said it is the grace of God that has kept the celebrator till now.

According to him, the celebrator served excellently well in the civil service, he distinguished himself and he was an energetic worker.

“I am happy to have come across him. I wish him well and pray that he will continue in the blessings of God,” he said.

Dr Adegbenga Sun-Basorun told the celebrator that this is the time to serve God with all his strength having retired from service.

•Pastor Ituah Ighodalo

•Amb. Ononaiye

•Col. Akin Akinlabi and his wife, Yeside

Ambassador joins sexagenarian club

•From left: Pastor Paul Bankole; Pastor Adeboye and his wife

•The celebrator Amb Ayoola and his wife, Yemisi cutting the cake

•From left: Mr Ladi Cole; Mr Clement Ige and Mr Akinniyi Sowunmi

•From left: Cann Asuquo; Gladys Asuquo and Cobhams Asuquo

A friend, Mr Bunmi Makinwa, who has known the celebrator for over 45 years, said Olakanni is an entertainer.

“He loves dancing and no body can compete with him. When we were in St. Lawrence’s Grammar School, Ilesa between 1968 and 1972, he loved dancing like the late Nigerian multiinstrumentalist, musician, Fela Anikulapo. Ayo would dance in front of the class, in parties and he still dances up to today.

“He is a socialist and he would only be either first or second in every competition. He is a super star, he has done well for all and we want him to continue to serve us in a better way.

“He is a man that would never allow anything to go wrong, he is always ready to help, care and assist,” he said.

His first daughter, Mrs Ojuola Asuquo thanked God for the life

•Rev Rufus Fajemiroku and his wife, Christiana

•Otunba Odutola Ososipe

of her father and prayed that he would live for another 60 years.

She said her father is loving, nice, generous, open hearted, optimistic and practical.

“Words cannot fully convey

how full of gratitude I am for your love, acceptance and encouragement. May God grant you more wisdom, influence, new experiences and enjoyment,” she said.

Mr Asuquo said his father-inlaw is exceptional, special, and dear to him.

“He is such a man that you want to have a long relationship

•PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

with, I wish him the best. He has achieved so many things and I plead to him to share his words of knowledge to our generation,” he said.

The celebrator’s brother, Mr Dele Olukanni said him as warm, handsome, a giver, a mentor and approachable, adding that he can be looked up to.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

SOCIETY Olakunle, son of Bjeg Ventures Nigeria Limited founder Mr Bankole Jegede, married his beau, Tumininu, daughter of a Lagos State civil servant, Mr Oluwadayo Olaitan, last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victory Centre Parish in Agege, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

•Bride’s parents Mr and Mrs Olaitan

•Groom’s parents Mr and Mrs Jegede •The couple, Bankole and Tumininu

Love story with happy ending

I

T was a day of joy for Olakunle, son of Bjeg Ventures Nigeria Limited founder, Mr Bankole Jegede, and his beau, Tumininu, last Saturday when they were joined in holy matrimony at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Centre Parish in Agege, Lagos State.

They were the cynosure of all eyes.

The bride was a beauty to behold in her white flowing wedding dress.

The groom was handsome in a blue suit and sparkling white shirt.

Their parents wore light blue native attires.

Some of the guests wore the gold lace and blue head gear and cap chosen for the occasion.

Deaconess Catherine Ojekunle said the opening prayer; Pastor Wole Oluwasanmi took the Bible reading from John 2: 1-11.

The church choir sang the hymn “God give us Christian home”. Pastor Oluseyi Olaore joined the couple after they exchanged marital vows and rings.

In a sermon, Pastor John Ekundayo said marriage is a life time affair, urging the couple to embrace effective communication.

“You must learn to work on yourselves and say sorry at all times. Be friends and settle all quarrels between you, ” he advised.

A bevy of pretty women in black dresses, welcomed guests to the reception at LaOcassion Events Centre in New Oko Oba, Agege The hall was decorated in white.

Heads turned when the couple entered, smiling and dancing.

They were accompanied by friends and family members amid hip pop songs by the Disc Jockey Daniel Stephen.

The chairman on the occasion,

•Prince Balogun and wife, Omolara

•Mr Adesina

•Sola Ajakaiye

•From left: Mrs Idowu Adebiyi; Prof Olusola Fasubaa and Kolawole Oliwatuyi

•Mr Julius Ajayi and wife, Mojisola

Nigeria Guild of Editors President and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Mr. Femi Adesina congratulated the couple and their parents on the outing, noting that it is a blessing to witness such a day. He told the couple that if they hold on to the scripture all the days of their life, they would enjoy their marriage.

“Bring out the best of yourselves, so that your marriage will work. Do not provoke each other to anger; rather ensure love and good works just as the Bible says,” he added.

He urged them to desire to live together for over 60 years and to carry each other like an egg. He said: “Let your partner be your friend because there are certain issues you may not be able to resolve as husband and wife but you can resolve them as friends”.

The couple cut the cake and fed each other.

Samuel Akinyode, a close friend of the couple, proposed the toast. He said the groom married his first love,

insisting that it is possible to do so.

Seyi Michael and his Glorious Band entertained guests. Family members and friends joined the couple on the dance floor.

Prince Adeyemi Balogun told the couple to make God the corner stone of their relationship.

“They should have the spirit of forgiveness and their love must be evergreen at any point in time,” he told The Nation.

Bride’s mother, Mrs Toyin Olaitan, who works with Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, prayed God to bless the couple with children.

She urged them to manage their relationship with love.

Her father, Mr Oluwadayo Olaitan, said the secret of his marriage is patience, urging the couple to emulate him.

“For your marriage to be successful, you need patience and you need Jesus.

If you have the spirit of God in you, seek God and never rely on your own power, God will guide you,” he said.

•Pastor Olaore (left) and Pastor Ekundayo

Groom’s mother Mrs Bosede Jegede prayed that the marriage would be fruitful.

She advised the bride to submit to her husband, adding that the couple should encourage each other always.

She said they should hold on to God and be prayerful.

Jegede told his son to follow his footsteps in his marital life.

The groom said he felt elated, happy and fulfilled.

He thanked God that their 12-year friendship blossomed into marriage.

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

He described his wife as the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen.

“She is a virtuous woman with good character and a woman every good guy will want to spend the rest of his life with. I am so happy that she said yes to me, I love her so much and I will love her for the rest of my life,” he said.

The bride said she is filled with joy, excitement, happiness, adding that it was the best day of her life, which she has been waiting for.

She described her husband as cool, caring, hardworking and the best.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27 2015

46

COMMENTARY

“M

AN is history after his demise. Therefore, endeavour to be a pleasant history for others to read after you might have left the stage”.

By an Arab poet Preamble Man is both a product and a producer of history. He lives by history and leaves history behind as his legacy at the time of his departure from this ephemeral world. This confirms the fact that man and history are like Siamese twins. The one cannot do without the other. History makes man just as man makes history. The synergy between the two makes them look like a peer of scissors in which one blade cannot effectively function without the other.

This is a period in Nigeria when recalling history is a necessity. How did Nigeria come into being as a country and as a name? Is this name fitting and appropriate for the country that bears it? Can the name be changed and can changing it make any reasonable difference? These are some of the questions that ‘The Message’ seeks to answer today.

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Renaming Nigeria rian climate, Lugard felt obliged to leave Africa and accept a junior position of the governorship of Hong Kong which he held from 1907 to 1912. It was like stepping down as president to accept that of a governor. Only a very few Africans would accept such.

But the bushwhacker from Africa achieved a surprising degree of success and, on his own initiative, founded the University of Hong Kong. Thereafter, Lugard and his wife joined the southern and northern parts of Nigeria in an historic marriage that is yet to prove union right.

Accident of history On January 8, 1897, an article appeared in Financial Times which suggested a name for the vast land around river Niger which had then been colonised by the Royal Niger Company on behalf of the British Empire. The suggested name was Nigeria and the author of the article was one Miss Flora Shaw, a 45year-old journalist. She was then the colonial editor of Financial Times as well as the writer of a weekly column named ‘The Colony’ in that newspaper.

In coining the name Nigeria, Flora Shaw logically took many facts into consideration. One: the area in question had no specific name by which it could be called other than a protectorate of the ‘Royal Niger Company’. Two: She considered an earlier suggested name ‘Central Sudan’ as aberrational since that name already belonged to an area around the Nile River occupied by a population of Black Africans now called Sudan. She equally considered the name ‘Slave Coast’ which the colonialists had attempted to give to this area as derogatory and finally settled for ‘Nigeria’, which she coined from ‘Niger Area’.

Born at 2, Dundas Terrace, Woolwich, England on December 19, 1852, Miss Louisa Shaw (fourth of her parent’s fourteen children) was a novelist and frontline, versatile female journalist who gained fame through her pungent analyses of African colonial economy.

She was later to become ‘The Honourable Dame Flora Lugard, the wife of Frederick John Deatry Lugard of Abinger who colonised and amalgamated the southern and northern parts of what came to be known as Nigeria in 1914.

Flora was six years older than Frederick who was born in India on January 22, 1858. The two historic personalities married in 1902 and lived together without children for the rest of their lives.

Four historical facts are manifest here.

First: the name Nigeria had come into existence far away in England long before the country that now bears that name became a country.

Second: the name was coined five years before Flora Shaw married Frederick Lugard. Therefore, contrary to the general erroneous belief that it was Mrs. Lugard who named our country Nigeria, Flora was Miss Shaw and not Mrs. Lugard when she coined the name.

Third: it can be said that Nigeria came into existence through the efforts of a bachelor and a spinster who later became a couple.

Fourth: by sheer coincidence, Nigeria’s second First Lady, Flora Azikiwe, the wife of Nigeria’s first President, shared the same first name with the wife of Lugard: FLORA.

Lord Fredrick Lugard Baron Frederick Lugard was a military adventurer and an ardent administrator who played a major part in Britain’s colonial history between 1888 and

How far so far?

•Map of Nigeria 1945, serving in East Africa, West Africa, and Hong Kong. His name is particularly associated with Nigeria, where he served as High Commissioner (1900–06) as well as Governor and Governor-General (1912– 19). He was knighted in 1901 and raised to the peerage in 1928.

As at the time of Lugard’s incursion, most of the vast region of over 300,000 square miles (800,000 square km) was still unoccupied and even unexplored by Europeans. In the southern areas were mostly animists and in the northern areas were multitudes of Muslims with city-states and large walled cities.

Lugard’s intention was to merge these two people with diverse cultures and spiritual inclinations and manage them as a single people in a single nation. Within three years of his expedition, he had established a British control of the large territory by diplomacy or by swift use of his meager force.

Although in hastening to take the major states of Kano and Sokoto he engaged the hands of his more cautious home government, only two serious local revolts marred the widespread acceptance and cooperation that he obtained. His policy was to support the native states and chieftainships, their laws and their courts, forbidding slave raiding and severe punishments as well as exercising control centrally through the native rulers.

Historic marriage After his marriage to Flora Shaw in 1902 and the latter could not stand the Nige-

Ever since the exit of the British colonialists in 1960, Nigeria has remained a country without focus, despite the enormous resources at her disposal.

In less than half a decade after independence, the crude hands of African inexperience began to show vividly in her administration as ethnic and religious flavours were added to her republican ethos. Then came the insuperable mountain of corruption that kept overwhelming the citizenry and drowning all hopes till today. Then, a military incursion was introduced with sweet tongue to right the wrong but which eventually turned forlorn.

Now, after 100 years of absurdity called merger, Nigeria continues to wallow hopelessly in a paroxysm of despair as the last four years became unprecedented in the country’s history of corruption. Today, the language is no longer mere corruption but corruption with unbridled impunity.

As if in a nightmare, we suddenly found ourselves in a situation where figure 16 is said to be higher than figure 19 and theft is officially defined and treated as to outside the framework corruption.

Billions of dollars are said to be missing from our treasury just as our foreign reserves are daily being depleted even as ministers and other governmental cronies are living like princes and princesses under an unquestionable emperor.

Now, Nigeria is at a crossroads over where to go from here. Like Laurent Gbagbo’s tenure in Cote d’Ivoire Nigeria is anxiously waiting for a period of uncertainty but fervently praying that such period never comes. Typical of African greedy leaders, we now have a situation at hand where ‘the monarch must not be deposed democracy or no democracy. The rule of the game is either ethnicity or religion.

And to prevent the deposition of the

‘But since the uncheckable greed in us will not allow us to learn from good examples we must to listen to an American Obama who talks to Nigerians rather than talk with Nigerians. Whatever name we now give Nigeria, positive or negative, we shall not relent in saying: God save Nigeria!’

monarch, the military must be mobilised against the ‘bloody armless civilians’ for the purpose of election. Thus, election has become a war that must be fought and won with massive arsenal by the government in power no matter whose ox is gored. Where are we going from here?

Democratic tenure Four years is a long period in a democratic tenure of a nation. It is long enough to lay a solid foundation for a nation. It is long enough to build a formidable edifice that can be inherited from generation to generation. If 16 years of democracy cannot do any of these in Nigeria can one century do any? If a journey of one year cannot take a traveller anywhere who says 10 years will take him anywhere?

As an OPEC country, we have abundant oil wealth but we must import refined fuel for domestic consumption. We have a massive army of unemployed youths and we cannot provide electricity to enable them to be self-employed. Yet, we are insisting that we must continue like this even as billions of dollars are being stolen daily. Where are we going from here?

Obama’s counsel In his direct presidential address to Nigerian populace on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, the American President Barrack Obama said of tomorrow’s elections and the subsequent ones as follows: “Hello.

Today, I want to speak directly to you— the people of Nigeria.

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 elections 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.

Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent 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.

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”.

Ordinarily, such a cross-Atlantic presidential speech would have been unnecessary if we had learnt from the examples of great African leaders such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Sam Njoma of Namibia, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Ahmadu Ahidjo of Cameroon.

But since the uncheckable greed in us will not allow us to learn from good examples we must to listen to an American Obama who talks to Nigerians rather than talk with Nigerians. Whatever name we now give Nigeria, positive or negative, we shall not relent in saying: God save Nigeria!

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

47

48

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO Suit No.: FHC/S/CS/ /2015 Motion No.: BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE

-PLAINTIFF / APPLICANT

AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION 2. INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION - RESPONDENTS 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE 4. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

MOTION ON NOTICE

Brought pursuant to Order 26 Rule 7 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, Section6 (6) (a) & (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and under the inherent powers of the Court.

TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Court will be moved on the ___ day of _____2015 at the 9 O’clock in the forenoon or so soon thereafter as the Plaintiff/ Applicant or its Counsel may be heard praying this Court for the following reliefs:1. An Order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1 st , 2 nd, 3 rdand 4thRespondents and all theiragents and privies from harassing, arresting, detaining, any officer of the Plaintiff in the ministries or departments in connection with execution or administration of the appropriation laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in execution or administration of the appropriation laws of Sokoto State for the years – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

2. An Order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1 st , 2 nd, 3 rdand 4thRespondents and its agents and privies from commencing or initiating or causing to commence or continuing or maintaining any investigation relating to the appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in the execution or administration of the appropriation laws of the Sokoto State Government for the years – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to government policies, decisions, appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly of Sokoto State and signed into law by the Governor of Sokoto State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

AND for such further or other order(s) the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.

GROUNDS FOR THIS APPLICATION TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that this application is predicated on the following grounds: 1. The House Assembly of Sokoto State has the vires to legislate on the appropriation, disbursement, management, administration of the appropriation laws of the Sokoto State Government particularly for the years - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

2. That the Governor of the Sokoto State has signed into law the appropriation laws for the years - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

3. That the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents have no powers under the respective enactments establishing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents to harass, arrest, detain, initiate or cause to be initiated and continued any investigation of any official conduct of any official or officer of government of Sokoto State or departments of Government of Sokoto State in any matter pertaining to and concerning the said appropriation laws of Sokoto State for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

4. That the Attorney General of Sokoto State by virtue of Section 211(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) conferred with powers to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person in breach of the appropriation Laws of Sokoto State.

5. That by Section 211(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the Attorney General of Sokoto State shall in exercise of his powers conferred by section 211 (1) CFRN 1999 (as amended) have regard to public interest, interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

Dated this _________ day of March, 2015 ________________________ S. I. Ameh SAN, FCIArb. Sulaiman Usman, Esq (Plaintiff’s Counsel) PP: S.I. Ameh (SAN) & Co (Jubilee Chambers) 21 Onitsha Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street Area 11, Garki, Abuja. jubileelaw_office@yahoo.com +2347026404820, +2348036190550 Address within jurisdiction Sulaiman Usman, Esq. No. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate Arkilla, Sokoto.

FOR SERVICE ON RESPONDENTS 1. The 1st Defendant Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 5, Fomelia Street Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent Wuse II, Abuja.

The 2nd Defendant Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission Legal Office ICPC Plot 802 Constitution Avenue Central Area, Abuja.

3.

The 3rd Defendant Inspector General of Police Lois Edet House Asokoro, Abuja.

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF MOTION

I, ABUBAKAR MOHAMMED, Male, Muslim, Adult, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Animal Health and Agriculture, Member of the National Institute (mni) and Nigerian Citizen of Ministry of Animal Health and Forestry Sokoto do hereby Make Oaths and states as follows: 1. That I am one of the numerous Staff and a Permanent secretary of the Plaintiff/Applicant in this suit and by reason of that status I am familiar with facts and circumstances of this case.

2. That I have the consent and authority of the Plaintiff/Applicant to depose to this Affidavit on its behalf as well.

3. That all the facts herein deposed to are within my personal knowledge except otherwise stated.

4. That I know as a fact that 1st Respondent is a Law Enforcement Agency charged with combating Economic and Financial Crimes throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

5. That I know as a fact that the 2nd Respondent is a Law Enforcement Agency charged with investigation and persecution of Corruption related offences throughout Nigeria.

6. That I know as a fact that the 3rdRespondent is the Inspector General of Police and with general duties of crime prevention detection, preservation of public peace, law and order and protection of lives and properties of all citizens in Nigeria.

7. The 4th Respondent is one of specialized security institution in Nigeria charged with the intelligence responsibility in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

8. That on the 11th January 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose members and National Leaders control the Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Sokoto State Chapter Secretary caused to be published in Sunday Trust Newspapers of 11th January, 2015 vol.9 no.33 circulating throughout Nigeria and online at www.dailvtrust.com.nu/sundav a petition against the Government of Sokoto State requesting Defendants/Respondents and particularly the 1stand 2ndDefendants/Respondents and other agencies to investigate the Governor of the Plaintiff/Applicant and other officials of the Government of Sokoto State., The said petition published on pages 12 and 13 are hereby attached and marked as Exhibit A. 9. That part of the reasons behind the petition is not to fight corruption or expose corruption in the Government of Sokoto State but to use the 1st to 4th Respondents to arrest, harass, detain the officials and staff of the Plaintiff/ Applicant to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reclaim what they called in the said publication their ‘stolen mandate’.

10. That I am a Tax Payer and registered Voter who has voted in all the general elections conducted in Nigeria since the return of Nigeria to Democratic Civil Rule in 1999.

11. That as a conscious voter who has continually exercised his franchise to Vote in all Elections since the return to democratic governance and constitutionalism in 1999, I know as a fact that the 1st, 2ndand 3rdRespondent are used to advance the political interest of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)by being deployed during electioneering campaigns and activities to arrest key public officials of the State Government controlled by the opposition political party in order to enable the ruling party at the Federal Level to dominate the political environment.

12. That from my personal knowledge and report from the print media and virtual recent elections conducted in Ekiti and Osun States of the Federation, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) connived with 1st, 2nd and 3 rdRespondents to arrest and detain the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti and Osun States and have perfected plans to repeat the same by arresting and detaining the top Government Officials including myself and others in order to cripple the machinery of Government of Sokoto State with a view to intimidating the teeming supporters of theAPC in Sokoto State in their desperate attempt to reclaiming the so called ‘stolen mandate’.

13. That because of the tumultuous support our party (APC) command in Sokoto State which made the fortunes of the PDP to nosedive in the State, there are threats that the institutions represented by the Respondents are going to be used to revive investigation that were done several times in the past to nail us with a view to scuttling our contest by subjecting us and our supporters to arrest and detention.

14. That I know as a fact that the timing of the petition in the heat of political activities and campaigns is meant to destabilize and cripple the activities of the APC so as to give the PDP a field day in the forthcoming elections by intimidating top government officials of the Applicant.

15. That there are indications from Exhibit A that the respondents will be used again to investigate us with a view to embarrassing us and tarnishing our image hence the timing of the petition during political activities.

16. That unless restrained in very clear terms as prayed in this application, the Respondents have exhibited grim determination and capacity to incarcerate the officers, servants and staff of the Applicant by any means howsoever in total disregard for their constitutionally entrenched rights.

17. That if unrestrained, the Respondent will carry out the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) script and unlawfully arrest top government officials of sokoto State Government and the APC supporters with a view to frustrating them in the forthcoming election and the resultant effect of their unlawful action which damage and embarrassment cannot be assuaged in damages.

19. That the Respondents will not be prejudiced by the grant of this application as they are under a legal duty to ensure strict compliance and adherence with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

21. That I depose to this Affidavit in good faith conscientiously believing same to be true, correct and in accordance with Oaths Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. _____________ DEPONENT

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO Suit No.: FHC/S/CS/ /2015 Motion No.:

AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION

- DEFENDANTS /RESPONDENTS

20. The Applicant undertakes to pay damages should this action turn out to be frivolous and unwarranted.

The 4th Defendant National Intelligence Agency Off Murtala Mohammed Express Way Asokoro, Abuja.

BETWEEN 1. GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE

3.

4.

INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

18. That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

2.

4.

2.

Sworn to at the Federal High Court Registry, Sokoto This _________ day of ______________2015

BEFORE ME

- PLAINTIFF /APPLICANT COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO Suit No.: FHC/S/CS/ /2015 Motion No.: BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE

- PLAINTIFF /APPLICANT

AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION 2. INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES AND OTHER RELATED OFFENCES COMMISSION - RESPONDENTS 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE 4. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY My Lord, WRITTEN ADDRESS IN SUPPORT OF MOTION ON NOTICE 1.0 INTRODUCTION The applicant has before this Honourable Court an application brought pursuant to Brought pursuant to Order 26 Rule 7 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, Section6 (6) (a) & (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and under the inherent powers of the Court.

The application seeks the following: An Order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1 st , 2 nd ,3 rd and 4thRespondents and all their agents and privies from harassing, arresting, detaining, any officer of the Plaintiff in the ministries or departments in connection with execution or administration of the appropriation laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in execution or administration of the appropriation laws of Sokoto State for the years – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

An Order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1 st, 2 nd , 3 rd and 4thRespondents and its agents and privies from commencing or initiating or causing to commence or continuing or maintaining any investigation relating to the appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in the execution or administration of the appropriation laws of the Sokoto State Government for the years – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to government policies, decisions, appropriation, disbursement and administration of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly of Sokoto State and signed into law by the Governor of Sokoto State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

AND for such further or other order(s) the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.

The grounds upon which the application is brought is as contained on the face of the motion paper. The application is supported by a 21 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abubakar Mohammed and urge this Honourable Court to deem same as read.

49 3.4 The Plaintiff/Applicant, we submit, has also shown imminent threat; sorry: indeed actual threat to his legal right by demonstrating via paragraphs 12 – 21 of the Affidavit in Support.

We submit that by these depositions in the Affidavit in Support, the rights of the Plaintiff/Applicant are seriously threatened. Your Lordship is humbly urged to so hold. (iii) Serious question or substantial issue to be tried 3.5 The Plaintiff/Applicant in this case have set out its complaint/grievance in the Affidavit in Support of the Originating Summons. In the Summons itself, the Plaintiff/Applicant has set out some questions for determination. Your Lordship’s attention is humbly drawn to the said Affidavit and questions.

We submit that from the depositions and questions for determination contained therein, the Plaintiff’s suit raises serious and substantial questions of law of grave Constitutional importance.

In Onyesoh v. Nnebedum & Ors. (1992) 3 NWLR (Pt. 229) 315 at p. 318 the Supreme Court held as follows: “It is not the law that the applicant must show a prospect of obtaining a permanent injunction at the end of the trial. It is sufficient for the applicant to show that there is a serious question between the parties to be tried at the hearing”.

Your Lordship is respectfully urged to hold that the case raises substantial issues of law of enormous statutory/constitutional importance. (iv) Balance of Convenience 3.7 In Akapo v. Hakeem-Habeeb (supra) at p. 293, para. G, the Supreme Court held as follows: “The question of the balance of convenience is a matter between competing legal rights” The onus of proving that the balance of convenience is on his side lies squarely on the Applicant. See Missin & Ors. v. Balogun (1968) 1 All NLR 318.

3.8 In Buhari v. Obasanjo (supra) BELGORE, JSC (as he then was) set out the questions which a court faced with determining balance of convenience should ask itself. They are: (1)

Who will suffer more inconvenience if the application is granted?

(2)

Who will suffer more inconvenience if the application is not granted?

It is submitted that in view of the depositions in the Affidavit in Support the balance of convenience favours the grant of this application.

We respectfully submit further that by these depositions the Plaintiff/Applicant has amply shown that he has a right which heavily tilts the balance of convenience in its favour.

3.9 We further submit that if the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff/Applicant in this application are not granted, it is the Plaintiff that will suffer more.

In ACB v. Awogboro (1991) 2 NWLR (Pt. 176) 711 at p. 719, the Court of Appeal, per TOBI, JCA (as he then was) held:

2.0 ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION

“The balance of convenience (the opposite of inconvenience) between the parties is a basic determinant factor in an application for interlocutory injunction. In the determination of this factor the law requires some measure of the scales of justice to see where the pendulum tilts”.

The Applicant respectfully submits a sole issue for determination in this application –

We respectfully submit that the pendulum in this case tilts in favour of the Plaintiff/Applicant.

Whether having regards to circumstances of this case and the Affidavit in Support of this application, the Plaintiff/Applicant is entitled to an order of interlocutory injunction in the terms sought in this application.

(v) Delay or absence of delay

3.0 LEGAL ARGUMENT 3.1 In an application of this nature which seeks the grant of an order of interlocutory injunction, the applicable principles guiding its grant or refusal are well settled by a plethora of judicial decisions. Suffices if a few of such decisions are cited as follow: Kotoye v. Central Bank of Nigeria (1989) 1 NWLR (Pt. 98) 419; Obeya Memorial Hospital v. A.-G., Federation (1987) 3 NWLR (Pt. 60) 325; Akapo v. Hakeem-Habeeb (1992) 6 NWLR (PT. 247) 266 and Buhari & Ors. v. Obasanjo & Ors. (2003) 17 NWLR (Pt. 850) 587.

In the more recent decision in Buhari & Ors. v. Obasanjo & Ors. (supra), the Supreme Court restated the principles in the following manner: “An interlocutory injunction which is granted in the litigation process, is basically aimed at maintaining the status quo pending the determination of the issues submitted for adjudication by the court. It is an equitable jurisdiction which the court is called upon to exercise in the light of the facts presented before it by the applicant. And in order to enable the court exercise equitable jurisdiction, the application must present convincing facts which in themselves indicate the well laid down principles for granting the injunction. The injunction is not granted as a matter of grace, routine or course. On the contrary, the injunction is granted only in deserving cases, based on hard law and facts……………some of the principles or factors to be considered in an application for interlocutory injunction are: (a)

there must be a subsisting action

(b)

the subsisting action must clearly donate a legal right which the applicant must protect

(c)

the applicant must show that there is a serious question or substantial issue to be tried necessitating that the status quo should be maintained pending the determination of the substantive action

(d)

the applicant must show that the balance of convenience is in favour of granting the application

(e)

the applicant must show that there was no delay on his part in bringing the application

(f)

the applicant must show that damages cannot be adequate compensation for the injury he wants the court to protect

(g)

the applicant must make an undertaking to pay damages in the event of a wrongful exercise of the court’s discretion in granting the injunction”

3.2 Respectfully, we crave Your Lordship’s indulgence to take on each of these principles and show to the Honourable Court that the Plaintiff/ Applicant is deserving of the reliefs sought herein. (i)

Existing suit

We humbly draw Your Lordship’s attention to the Plaintiff/Applicant’s Originating Summons and Affidavit in support filed in this case. From these processes, it is beyond doubt that the Plaintiff/Applicant has an existing suit before the Court.

3.10 It is submitted that given the circumstances as presented in the Plaintiff/ Applicant’s Originating Summons and supporting Affidavit, the Plaintiff did not delay in filing the suit and bringing this application. (vi) Inadequacy of damages 3.11 In paragraph 17 of the Affidavit in Support of the application, the Plaintiff/Applicant deposed that damages will not adequately compensate it if this application is not granted. It is submitted therefore that having regards to the entire facts and circumstances of this case, damages will not sufficiently compensate the Plaintiff/Applicant in the event that he wins in the substantive suit.See FALOMO VS. BANIGBE (1998) 7 NWLR (PT. 557) 679 AT 699 PARAS. G-H. (vii) Undertaking as to Damages 3.12 In paragraph 20 of the Affidavit in Support, the Plaintiff/Applicant furnished in clear terms, an undertaking to pay damages if at the end of the day this Court finds that it ought not to have made the order sought herein.

See ADENIYI VS AKINTAN (2011) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1241) pg 554 3.13 On the whole, this Honourable Court is humbly urged to resolve the sole issue distilled above for determination in favour of the Plaintiff/Applicant.

4.0 CONCLUSION Your Lordship is urged to grant this application.

Dated this _____ day of March, 2015 ______________________ S. I. Ameh SAN, FCIArb. Sulaiman Usman, Esq (Plaintiff’s Counsel) PP: S.I. Ameh (SAN) & Co (Jubilee Chambers) 21 Onitsha Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street Area 11, Garki, Abuja. jubileelaw_office@yahoo.com +2347026404820, +2348036190550 Address within jurisdiction Sulaiman Usman, Esq. No. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate Arkilla, Sokoto.

FOR SERVICE ON RESPONDENTS 1. The 1st Defendant Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 5, Fomelia Street Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent Wuse II, Abuja.

2.

(ii) Existence of legal right and threat or imminent threat to the said right 3.3 An applicant for an order of interlocutory injunction must demonstrate by affidavit evidence that he has a legal right capable of being protected. In the instant case, the Plaintiff/Applicant has clearly stated through the deponent in the Affidavit in Supportthatit is the Government of Sokoto State created by Act of the National Assembly with legal rights capable of being protected.

On the strength of the above, Your Lordship is urged to hold that the Plaintiff/Applicant has shown that he has a legal right capable of being protected.

The 2nd Defendant Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission Legal Office ICPC Plot 802 Constitution Avenue Central Area, Abuja.

3.

The 3rd Defendant Inspector General of Police Lois Edet House Asokoro, Abuja.

4.

The 4th Defendant National Intelligence Agency Off Murtala Mohammed Express Way Asokoro, Abuja

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO SUIT NO.:FHC/S/CS/__2015 BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE - PLAINTIFF AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) 2. INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES - DEFENDANTS OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC) 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP) 4. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NIA)

ORIGINATING SUMMONS

Let the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Offences Commission (ICPC), Inspector General of Police and the National Intelligence Agency within thirty (30) days after service of this summons on them, including the day of such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons which is issued upon the application of the Plaintiff whose address within jurisdiction is C/O Sulaiman Usman Esq, Gamzaki Law Chambers, No. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate Arkilla Sokoto who claim to be entitled to the determination of the questions hereinafter set out and the reliefs thereafter appearing.

QUESTIONS FOR DETERMINATION 1. WHETHER by the combined and community interpretation of the provision of Section 120 -123, 125 -127, 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended and altered), the Defendants havethe vires to initiate, cause, commence and or maintain an investigation or inquiry into any matter or thing with respect to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has power to make laws particularly the official conduct of the affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government Departments, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to Appropriation, disbursement and administering of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in the execution or administration of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

2. Whether by the combined and community interpretation of Sections 120 -128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, Section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000 and the clear Principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and altered)the Defendants can cause the arrest and detention of officials and servants of the plaintiff, with respect to any matter or thing to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has exercised its legislative powers to make laws in particular the official Conduct of the affairs of any person, Authority, Ministry or Government, Departments, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to government Policies, decisions and appropriation, disbursement, administration of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly of Sokoto State and signed into Law by the Governor of the State by virtue of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 201, 2014 and 2015.

RELIEFS SOUGHT FROM THE COURT PURSUANT to the determination and or interpretation of the above questions, the Plaintiff seeks the following: 1. A DECLARATION that the Defendants have no powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into any matter, or thing with respect to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has exercised its legislative powers to make laws in particular the official Conduct of the affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or Government, Department, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to Official Government policies relating to disbursement, appropriation and administration of monies in the execution or implementation of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

2. A DECLARATION that the decision of the Defendants through its Employees, Servants, Agents, Officers and privies to direct or cause to be directed inquiry or investigation into the execution and administration of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 by detaining, coercing and intimidating the Plaintiff’s officials/ servants and Speaker and members of the House of Assembly of Sokoto State in so as it relates to the process for making and passage into law of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State for Years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 is unconstitutional, ultra vires, illegal, null and void.

3. A DECLARATION that the threatened arrest, detention and subsequent interrogation of the Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Accountant General of the Plaintiff or/any their officers and staff by the Defendants in relation to the Official execution, administration and giving effect to the process of the Appropriation Law of Sokoto State for years is unconstitutional, ultra vires, illegal, null and void.

4. AN ORDER of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants by themselves, their Officers, Servants, Agents and any person deriving order, command or directives from them from forthwith, harassing, intimidating and or detaining or physically restraining or abusing persons of all the officers, Officials, Servants and employees of the Plaintiff on account of any matter arising from, connected with and related to their official responsibility for executing, administering, implementing, disbursing of monies appropriated by Sokoto State House of Assembly in the Appropriation Laws of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

5. AN ORDER of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants, whether by themselves, itself, servants, employees, agents and or privies from further harassing, intimidating, monitoring or in any way interfering with the day to day operations of the Plaintiff and its officers, servants, privies by doing anything howsoever which infringes their dignity and rights to freely move about, own properties or any of the rights and liberties enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and altered) of Officials, Servants and employees of the plaintiff on account of any matter arising from, connected with and related to their official responsibility for executing, administering, implementing and disbursing of monies appropriated by Sokoto State House of Assembly in the Appropriation Laws of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

6. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER/other Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

Dated ____________day of _______________ 2015

S. I. Ameh SAN, FCIArb, FICMC Sulaiman Usman, Esq Akubo Zacchaeus Esq (Plaintiff’s Counsel) PP: S.I. Ameh (SAN) & Co (Jubilee Chambers) 21 Onitsha Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street Area 11, Garki, Abuja. jubileelaw_office@yahoo.com +2347026404820, +2348036190550 Address within jurisdiction Sulaiman Usman, Esq. GAMZAKI Law Chambers No. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate

50

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 Arkilla, Sokoto.

08035903799 gamzakilaw@yahoo.co.uk usmansulaiman@gmail.com

This summons was taken out by S. I. Ameh SAN, FCIArb Legal Practitioner to the Plaintiff whose Address is 21 Onitsha Crescent Area 11, Garki Abuja c/o GAMZAKI LAW CHAMBERSNo. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate Arkilla, Sokoto. gamzakilaw@yahoo.co.uk, 08035903799 for the Applicants.

The Defendant may appear hereto by entering appearance personally or by a legal practitioner either by handling in the appropriate forms duly completed, at the Federal High Court Registry, or sending them to the office by post.

NOTE: If the Defendant does not enter appearance within the time and at the place above mentioned, such orders will be made and proceedings may be taken as the Judge may think fit and expedient.

SEALED at the Federal High Court Registry, Sokoto _______________ Registrar FOR SERVICE ON DEFENDANTS 1. The 1st Defendant Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 5, Fomelia Street Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent Wuse II, Abuja.

2.

The 2nd Defendant Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) Legal Office ICPC Plot 802 Constitution Avenue Central Area, Abuja.

3.

The 3rd Defendant Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lois Edet House Asokoro, Abuja

4.

The 4th Defendant National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Off Murtala Mohammed Express Way Asokoro, Abuja

This Originating Summons is for service in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants in Abuja a place outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Sokoto Division, Sokoto State

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO SUIT NO.: FHC/S/CS/_______2015 BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE - PLAINTIFF AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) 2. INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES- DEFENDANTS OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC) 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP) 4. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NIA)

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF ORIGINATING SUMMONS

I, ABUBAKAR MOHAMMED, Male, Muslim, Adult, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Animal Health and Agriculture, Member of the National Institute (mni) and Nigerian Citizen of Ministry of Animal Health and Forestry Sokoto do hereby Make Oaths and states as follows: 1. That I am one of the numerous Staff and a Permanent secretary of the Plaintiff in this suit and by reason of that status I am familiar with facts and circumstances of this case.

2. That I have the consent and authority of the Plaintiff to depose to this Affidavit on its behalf as well.

3. That all the facts herein deposed to are within my personal knowledge except otherwise stated.

4. That I know as a fact that 1stDefendant is a Law Enforcement Agency charged with combating Economic and Financial Crimes throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

5. That I know as a fact that the 2ndDefendant is a Law Enforcement Agency charged with investigation and persecution of Corruption related offences throughout Nigeria.

6. That I know as a fact that the 3rdDefendant is the Inspector General of Police andwith general duties of crime prevention detection, preservation of public peace, law and order and protection of lives and properties of all citizens in Nigeria.

7. The 4thDefendant is one of specialized security institution in Nigeria charged with the intelligence responsibility in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

8. That on the 11 th January 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose members and National Leaders control the Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Sokoto State Chapter Secretary caused to be published in Sunday Trust Newspapers of 11th January, 2015 vol.9 no.33 circulating throughout Nigeria and online at www.dailvtrust.com.nu/ sundav a petition against the Government of Sokoto State requesting Defendants/Defendants and particularly the 1st and 2nd Defendants/ Defendants and other agencies to investigate the Governor of the Plaintiff and other officials of the Government of Sokoto State., The said petition published on pages 12 and 13 are hereby attached and marked as ExhibitGS 1 .

9. That part of the reasons behind the petition is not to fight corruption or expose corruption in the Government of Sokoto State but to use the 1st to 4thDefendants to arrest, harass, detain the officials and staff of the Plaintiff to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reclaim what they called in the said publication their ‘stolen mandate’.

10. That I am a Tax Payer and registered Voter who has voted in all the general elections conducted in Nigeria since the return of Nigeria to Democratic governance in 1999.

11. That as a conscious voter who has continually exercised his franchise to Vote in all Elections since the return to democratic governance and constitutionalism in 1999, I know as a fact that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4thDefendants are used to advance the political interest of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) by being deployed during electioneering campaigns and activities to arrest key public officials of the State Governments controlled by the opposition political party in order to enable the ruling party at the Federal Level to dominate the political environment.

12. That I also know as a fact that in 2013 our political leader His Excellency the Governor of Sokoto State and other 4 Governors defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

13. That from the manner in which the reaction of the PDP to the said defection of the aforementioned Governors was reported, it was very apparent that it was displeasing to the PDP and the presidency in particular.

14. That ever since the said defection the Sokoto State Chapter of the PDP in collaboration with the National body of the PDP, have been making insinuations that they would subject the finances of the current administration to scrutiny and at the forthcoming elections of 2015 they will use the instrumentality of the Defendants to arrest, detain and make the State ungovernable for the Governor, his Executive and members of the State House of Assembly with a view to causing disaffection among the Plaintiff’s teeming supporters and the entire people of Sokoto State.

15. That from my personal knowledge and report from the print media and virtual recent elections conducted in Ekiti and Osun States of the Federation, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) connived with 1st, 2nd and 3rdDefendants to arrest and detain the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti and Osun States and have perfected plans to repeat the same by arresting and detaining the top Government Officials including myself and others in order to cripple the machinery of Government of Sokoto State with a view to intimidating the teeming

supporters of theAPC in Sokoto State in their desperate attempt to reclaiming the so called ‘stolen mandate’.

16. That because of the tumultuous support our party (APC) command in Sokoto State which made the fortunes of the PDP to nosedive in the State, there are threats that the institutions represented by the Defendants are going to be used to revive investigation that were done several times in the past to nail us with a view to scuttling our contest by subjecting us and our supporters to arrest and detention.

17. That I know as a fact that the timing of the petition in the heat of political activities and campaigns is meant to destabilize and cripple the activities of the APC so as to give the PDP a field day in the forthcoming elections by intimidating top government officials of the Plaintiff.

18. That there are indications from Exhibit GS1 that the Defendants will be used again to investigate us with a view to embarrassing us and tarnishing our image hence the timing of the petition during political activities.

19. That the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants have no powers whatsoever to inquire, investigate or cause to be investigated any allegation concerning the acts of officers and staff of the Plaintiff which were made or taken in furtherance of the implementation of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 which were duly passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

20. That I know as a fact that and from my status as a permanent secretary in the employment of the plaintiff that there exist in Sokoto State and Sokoto State House of Assembly appropriate organs to investigate, expose and prosecute whosoever is found to have violated the provisions of the Sokoto State Appropriation Laws.

21. That unless restrained in very clear terms as prayed in this Originating Summons, the Defendants have exhibited grim determination and capacity to incarcerate the officers, servants and staff of the Plaintiff by any means howsoever in total disregard for their constitutionally entrenched rights.

22. That if unrestrained, the Defendants will carry out the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) script and unlawfully arrest top government officials of Sokoto State Government and their APC supporters with a view to frustrating them in the forthcoming 2015 general elections and the resultant effect of their unlawful action which damage and embarrassment cannot be assuaged in damages.

23. That it is in the interest of justice to grant all the reliefs sought in this suit.

24. That the Defendants willnot be prejudiced by the grant of all the reliefs sought in this suit as they are under a legal duty to ensure strict compliance and adherencewith the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

25. That I depose to this Affidavit in good faith conscientiously believing same to be true, correct and in accordance with Oaths Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. _____________ DEPONENT Sworn to at the Federal High Court Registry, Sokoto This _________ day of ______________2015 BEFORE ME COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE SOKOTO JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT SOKOTO SUIT NO.:FHC/S/CS/____2015 BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF SOKOTO STATE - PLAINTIFF AND 1. ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) 2. INDEPENDENT CORRUPT PRACTICES- DEFENDANTS OFFENCES COMMISSION (ICPC) 3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP) 4. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NIA) WRITTEN ADDRESS IN SUPPORT OF ORIGINATING SUMMONS 1.0 PRELIMINARY 1.01 This is an Originating Summons taken out by the Government of Sokoto State. It is dated the 20thday of March, 2015 and supported by 25 paragraph affidavit sworn to by Abubakar Mohammed. The Originating Summons is accompanied by one exhibit marked as Exhibit GS 1. We rely on all the paragraphs of the affidavit and the exhibit thereto. We urge this Honourable Court to deem same as read.

1.02 BRIEF FACTS 1.03 The Plaintiff is one of the 36 States of the Federation created pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended& altered).

The Chief Executive Officer of the State is His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako who came into office as Governor of Sokoto State in 2007.

The Governor as Chief Executive office of Sokoto State caused to be prepared and laid before the State House of Assembly of Sokoto State, estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the state between 2007 and 2015. This was in line with section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

The Sokoto State House of Assembly in discharge of their legislative and constitutional duties between 2007 and 2015 passed at various times within the aforementioned years Appropriation Bills presented to it, which were at such times assented to by the Governor and thereby became the Appropriation Law of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 and 2015 respectively.

1.04 In 2013 the Chief Executive Officer/political leader of the Plaintiff His Excellency the Governor of Sokoto State and other 4 Governors defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

That from the manner in which the reaction of the PDP to the said defection of the aforementioned Governors was reported, it was very apparent that it was displeasing to the PDP and the presidency in particular.

That ever since the said defection the Sokoto State Chapter of the PDP in collaboration with the National body of the PDP, have been making insinuations that they would subject the finances of the current administration to scrutiny and at the forthcoming elections of 2015 they will use the instrumentality of the Defendants to arrest, detain and make the State ungovernable for the Governor, his Executive and members of the State House of Assembly with a view to causing disaffection among the Plaintiff’s teeming supporters and the entire people of Sokoto State.

1.05 That on the 11 th January 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose members and National Leaders control the Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Sokoto State Chapter Secretary caused to be published in Sunday Trust Newspapers of 11th January, 2015 vol.9 no.33 circulating throughout Nigeria and online at www.dailvtrust.com.nu/sundav a petition against the Government of Sokoto State requesting Defendants/Defendants and particularly the 1 st and 2 nd Defendants/Defendants and other agencies to investigate the Governor of the Plaintiff and other officials of the Government of Sokoto State., The said petition published on pages 12 and 13 are hereby attached and marked as ExhibitGS 1.

That part of the reasons behind the petition is not to fight corruption or expose corruption in the Government of Sokoto State but to use the 1st to th 4 Defendants to arrest, harass, detain the officials and staff of the Plaintiff to enable the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reclaim what they called in the said publication their ‘stolen mandate’.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4thDefendants are used to advance the political interest of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) by being deployed during electioneering campaigns and activities to arrest key public officials of the State Governments controlled by the opposition political party in order to enable the ruling party at the Federal Level to dominate the political environment.

1.06 From recent report of the print media and virtual recent elections conducted in Ekiti and Osun States of the Federation, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) connived with 1st, 2nd and 3rdDefendants to arrest and detain the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti and Osun States and have perfected plans to repeat the same by arresting and detaining the top Government Officials including myself and others in order to cripple the machinery of Government of Sokoto State with a view to intimidating the teeming supporters of the APC in Sokoto State in their desperate attempt to

reclaiming the so called ‘stolen mandate’.

1.07 That because of the tumultuous support which the party (APC) commands in Sokoto State which made the fortunes of the PDP to nosedive in the State, there are threats that the institutions represented by the Defendants are going to be used to revive investigation that were done several times in the past to nail officers/servants of the Plaintiff and their supporters with a view to scuttling the contest by subjecting the Plaintiff’s officers/servants and their supporters to arrest and detention.

1.08 The timing of the petition in the heat of political activities and campaigns is meant to destabilize and cripple the activities of the APC so as to give the PDP a field day in the forthcoming elections by intimidating top government officials of the Plaintiff.

1.09 That there are indications from Exhibit GS1 that the Defendants will be used again to investigate us with a view to embarrassing the Plaintiff and tarnishing the image of the Plaintiff and members of the rulingparty in the State (APC) hence the timing of the petition during political activities.

1.10 That the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants have no powers whatsoever to inquire, investigate or cause to be investigated any allegation concerning the acts of officers and staff of the Plaintiff which were made or taken in furtherance of the implementation of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 which were duly passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

That there exist in Sokoto State and Sokoto State House of Assembly appropriate organs to investigate, expose and prosecute whosoever is found to have violated the provisions of the Sokoto State Appropriation Laws.

2.00 ISSUESFORDETERMINATION 2.01 The Plaintiff has submitted two questions before this Honourable Court for determination which for the purpose of this address in the Plaintiff’s respective view capture the issues for determination in this suit. The said issues are: ISSUE No. 1 WHETHER by the combined and community interpretation of the provision of Section 120 -123, 125 -127, 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended and altered), the Defendants have the vires to initiate, cause, commence and or maintain an investigation or inquiry into any matter or thing with respect to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has power to make laws particularly the official conduct of the affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government Departments, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to Appropriation, disbursement and administering of monies appropriated or to be appropriated in the execution or administration of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

ISSUE NO. 2 Whether by the combined and community interpretation of Sections 120 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, Section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000 and the clear Principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and altered) the Defendants can cause the arrest and detention of officials and servants of the plaintiff, with respect to any matter or thing to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has exercised its legislative powers to make laws in particular the official Conduct of the affairs of any person, Authority, Ministry or Government, Departments, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to government Policies, decisions and appropriation, disbursement, administration of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly of Sokoto State and signed into Law by the Governor of the State by virtue of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 201, 2014 and 2015.

ARGUMENT OF ISSUE NO. 1 2.02 2.03 The Plaintiff in arguing these issues relies on Section 4(4) (6) (9), 120128 and 129 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The purport of the above cited sections are to show beyond argument that: 1. The House of Assembly of the state shall exercise the legislative functions of the state and this includes passage into law of bills, authorizing expenditure from the state consolidated fund otherwise called Appropriation Bill. The legislature also has the power if satisfied to pass into law bills which raise expenditure for which no provision exists.

2. Where the legislature is satisfied that there are reasons for it to direct or cause to direct an inquiry or investigation into any matter or thing which it has power to make laws, including the Appropriation laws of the State, such powers are exercised independent of any person or authority.

2.04 These are the fundamentals of the independence of the legislature as an arm of government under the Constitution.

2.05 It is respectfully submitted that the exercise of jurisdiction or powers by the House of Assembly under Sections 128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) cannot by any stretch of imagination be subjected to any exercise of power, control or supervision conferred on the defendants and particularly the 1stdefendant under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004. The Defendants’ powers are conferred by virtue relevant Acts of the National Assembly and not by powers vested by the Constitution of the FRN (as amended and altered).

2.06 It is beyond argument that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 is the grundnorm and this has been judicially settled in plethora of authorities.

Suffice it to refer to Section 1(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states as follows: “This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities, and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria” Subsection (3) states: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of its inconsistency, be void.”

In expounding the Law on the above provision, Musdapher JCA (as he then was) opined in MUSA V – INEC (2003) 11 WRN 110 @ 140as follows: “Now it is trite that the Constitution of Nigeria is the basic law of the land. It is the Supreme Law and its provisions have binding...

POWERS OVER PUBLIC FUNDS 2.07 The court is urged to note that the constitution gave the legislature of the State full powers and control over public funds of the State and the provisions of section 120, 121, 122, 123, 128 and 129 made it clear that the duty to ensure good governance, discipline, transparency in fiscal administration and accountability for funds of the State, is not shared with the Executive, the Judiciary or any other person or authority. The authority of the House of Assembly is not subject to question, control or inquiry by any person or authority.

2.08 Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended, in particular is couched and designed to ensure effective checks and balances of the Executive and Judiciary in the income and expenditure contained in the Appropriation Laws.

The legislature is the body saddled with the responsibility to “investigate or cause inquiry” into various sums appropriated by it for the State.

Section 128 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 provides as follows: “128 – (1) Subject to the provisions of this constitution, a house of Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in case to be directed an inquiry or investigation into – (a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws; and (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for – i. executing or administering laws enacted by that House of Assembly, and ... ii. ......

(2) The powers conferred on a House of Assembly, under the provisions of this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling the House to – a. Make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and b. Expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it” (underline ours).

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 2.09 We submit this section is simple, direct, comprehensive and written in mandatory terms. This section puts the responsibilities for monitoring, accounting and correcting all anomalies or mistakes found and exposure of corruption, solely and squarely on the shoulders of the legislature. The imperative of this is that no other arm of Government or agency has the powers to investigate or launch an inquiry into the Appropriation laws of Sokoto State.

2.10 We submit that the key words in Section 128(1) of the constitution are; “the House of Assembly shall have powers ... to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into..”

And to show that there shall be no limitation to such powers of inquiry or investigation subsection (a) states ‘any matter or things’ It should be mentioned for purposes of clarity that inquiry as used in Section 128(1) of the Constitution was defined in Words and phrases legally defined.

Volume 3 1-N London Butterworth 1969 thus: “Inquiry shall mean any inquiry held within the authority of any Royal Commission, or by any committee of either House of Parliament to any statutory act, whether the evidence at such inquiry is or is not given on Oath” page 64.

The Black’s Law Dictionary 8th Edition, defines it thus; “FACT FINDING, A request for information either procedural or substantive” See page 808.

The same dictionary at page 844 defines Investigate in this word; “To inquire into a matter systematically to make a suspect a subject of criminal inquiry”.

Merriam Web senter College Dictionary 11th Edition defines “investigate” to mean; “to track, to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry or make systematic examination of – conduct an official inquiry into crime” page 659.

The same Dictionary at page 646 defined ‘Inquiry ‘to mean “examination into facts or principles, a request for information, a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest”.

The Court of Appeal in YAKUBU V FRN (2009) 14 NWLR (Pt 1160) 151 Augie JCA defined the word “investigate” to mean “to inquire into a matter systematically or to make a suspect the subject of a criminal inquiry.”

2.11 We submit that the investigatory powers or the authority conferred on the House of Assembly to compel obedience or attendance of a person to the enquiry is contained in Section 129 (1) and (2) of the Constitution.

Since the return to Democratic Government in Nigeria in 1999, each of the Arms of Government has strenuously endeavoured to protect and preserve its constitutional jurisdiction in such a way that parliament was never allowed to interfere with or encroach on the constitutional authority of the Judiciary or the Executive arms.

2.12 The Executive, notwithstanding its obligation to cooperate with the Legislature, jealously protects its independence and its guaranteed constitutional authority to be independent particularly in matters of oversight function.

Indeed the Judiciary has been much vehement in resisting all action of both the Executive and the Legislature which has the tendency or capable of interfering in matters preserved under Section 6 of the Constitution and such other laws.

Supreme Court made a very profound statement in ONI V FAYEMI (2013) All FWLR (Pt 696) 451 – 476 per Ngwuta JSC thus: “In other words, the appellants want us to rely on section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to invalidate or render inoperative, the finality clause in section 246(3) of the same Constitution.

In diverse decisions on appeals relating to section 285(7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this court has consistently declined to derogate from, close its eyes to, depart from, modify or set aside expressly or by implication, a provision of the Constitution under any guise or pretext: Ogboru and Anor. V. Uduaghan (2012) All FWLR (Pt. 610) 1206, (2012) 2-3 SC 66 at 96; Abubakar V. Nasamu (2012) All FWLR (Pt 630) 1207, (2012) 2 SCNJ 310 at 337-338.

A provision of the Constitution may seem out of touch with reality at any particular point in time, but in such cases, even when proven, the court is not competent to intervene. The court is bound by the doctrine of separation of powers under which the business of law-making is in the exclusive domain of the legislature made up of the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly. (See section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended).

I wish to emphasise that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as variously amended, is the ultimate yardstick for determining the validity of any act or decision in relation to any law in the country.

The court does not hunger after jurisdiction. It can expound, but should not under any circumstance, such as the one presented in this appeal, expand its jurisdiction”.

2.13 We submit that in a constitutional democracy, the Constitution is supreme and the constitutional provision under Section 128 and 129 is sacrosanct and must be preserved.

In the absence of a definition in the constitution the court should adopt the literal meaning of the words “inquiry” or “investigation” particularly having regards to subsection (2) (b) of Section 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

This further established the principle of Separation of Powers, the independence of the Three Arms of Government and the inherent checks and balances under the Constitution. These are basic attributes of democratic governance.

On the strength of the foregoing submission, it is our humbly view and submission that all investigations whatever name is called, in respect of the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, Ministry of Government or Department charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility of executing and implementing the Appropriation Laws enacted by that House of Assembly by disbursing or administering money appropriated or to be appropriated by the House of Assembly are the constitutional duties of the Legislature of the State.

2.14 We further submit that flowing from the above, we urge the Court to note, that the Legislature is also given wide powers of coercion, like that of the court of law, in Section 129 of the Constitution in other to strengthen the importance of the inquiry or investigation it is to undertake.

The powers conferred are exercisable for the purpose of exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws, in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.

The provision of Section 128 is specific on the persons, the subject matters and the purposes for investigation and procedure to be adopted by the House of Assembly. The subject matters, the persons and the purposes for which the defendants are threatening to conduct inquiry or investigation are the same. The Defendants’ officers are relying on the general powers to investigate crimes under their various laws and thereby usurping the constitutional responsibility of the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

2.15 From the facts as contained in the affidavit in support and Exhibit GS1, it is crystal clear that no crime has been committed by both the Legislature and Executive of Sokoto State.

Submit further, with respect, that where the constitution makes express provision in respect of or for any matter, thing or subject matter the National Assembly or House of Assembly cannot rewrite, reproduce or make provision by way of repetition, inconsistent with the constitution. Section 1(3) of the Constitution is relevant.

2.16 To clear any doubt, the Constitution provides that the powers conferred on the House are exercisable for the purpose of exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of law and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by the House of Assembly, What then is the purpose of the defendant’s investigation.

In the case of EL-RUFAI v HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (2003) FWLR (PART 173) 162, Hon. Justice G. A. Oguntade JCA (as he then was) had this to say; “One of the cardinal principles of the Nigerian constitution is that each department is sovereign within its own sphere of authority and can exercise its powers without let or hindrance from any other department or any other authority or person as long as it operates within the constitution and the law.

It is also a cardinal principle of the constitution that it operates on a system of checks and balances. Each department has in certain instances been vested with powers by the constitution ..... or check the exercise of powers of the ... .... ... the duty of each department to support the ... ... carrying out its responsibility under the constitution”.

The Court of Appeal went further to state clearly the circumstances which the legislature can conduct investigations. The Court, per Oguntade JCA (as he then was) stated the correct position of the law as follows: “It cannot escape notice that under section 88(2) above, the 1st Defendant can only conduct the stated investigation in two situations for the purpose of enabling it to: a. Make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and a. Expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated to” Underlining ours 2.17 It is submitted that in this case the laws in question are the Appropriation Laws for Sokoto State for 2007 to 2015.

In the circumstance therefore, the persons and authority charged with the functions of administering the law and or disbursement of the monies

51 appropriated are the Commissioners for Budget and Planning, Finance and the Accountant General of Sokoto State. They came directly as persons under Section 128 of the Constitution and in the case of any dereliction of duties on their part which violates the provisions of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State it is the Sokoto State House of Assembly and not the Defendants that has the vires to cause an investigation or inquiry into such violation and the Honourable Court is urged to so hold.

2.18 THE CONCEPT COVERING THE FIELD We submit respectfully, that the defendants under their general powers has no power or authority to cause or institute investigation or inquiry into the issues relating to the implementation and execution of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State duly passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

2.19 My Lord, The doctrine of covering the field arises where the issue is whether a Federal Law can be made on a subject matter conferring power on Federal Government Agencies to usurp the powers of a State Legislative body on the same subject matter where the Constitution has expressly or impliedly evinces an intention to cover the whole field, or to provide a complete statement of the law governing the matter. It is an established principle of constitutional law that, if a legislature enacts a law in identical terms with what has already been enacted by another legislature whose enactments have superior legislative force like constitution which is the grund norm, then the enactment of the subordinate legislature is void or at least inoperative. See the case of ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OGUN STATE V ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (1982)13 NSCC I at II 2.20 We submit, respectfully, that the defendants under their general powers have no power or authority to cause or institute investigation or inquiry into the finances of Sokoto State Government even if their respective establishment Act purports to give them the power to do so as that will do violence to the provision of the Constitution. Indeed, under the doctrine of Covering the field if a legislature enacts a law in identical terms with what has already been enacted by the Constitution the enactment made by the National Assembly shall be void or at least inoperative.

Section 128 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended provides; “128 – (1) Subject to the provisions of this constitution, a House of Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the official gazette of the government of the state to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into – (a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws; and (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for – (i) executing or administering laws enacted by that House of Assembly, and ... (ii) ...

(2) The powers conferred on a House of Assembly, under the provisions of this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling the House to – (a) Make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and (b) Expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it” (underline ours).

2.21 We submit this section is couched in clear and categorical terms. It squarely puts the responsibilities for monitoring, accounting and rectifying all irregularities or faults found and exposure of corruption on the shoulders of the State Legislature. The concomitant effect is that no other arm of Government or agency in Nigeria be it Federal or State has the powers to investigate or launch an inquiry into the Appropriation laws of Sokoto State save the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

We submit that the magic words in Section 128(1) of the constitution are; “the house of Assembly shall have powers ... to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into..”

And to show that there shall be no limitation to such powers of inquiry or investigation subsection (a) states ‘any’ In Hinds and other v. R. (1975) 24 WIR 326 at 330 Lord Diplock held: “A written Constitution, like any other written instrument affecting legal rights or obligations, falls to be construed in the light of its subject matter and of the surrounding circumstances with reference to which it was made.”

2.22 We submit that, the doctrine of covering the field applies between the Constitution and any other law whether Federal or State where the Constitution has completely exhaustively or exclusively stated the law governing a particular matter or set of rights and duties.

2.23 My lord, in a Federation such as ours one of the features is the recognition of separation of powers both vertical and horizontal. The purport of Federalism is succinctly put by the renowned constitutional lawyer and scholar Professor Ben Nwabueze in his book ‘Federalism in Nigeria under the Presidential Constitution’ Spectrum Book, 2nd edition at page 43 thus:“Federalism is an arrangement whereby powers of Government within a country are shared between a national, country - wide Government and a number of regionalized (i.e. territorially localized) Governments in such a way that each exists as a Government separately and independently from others operating directly on persons and property within its territorial area, with a will of its own and its own apparatus for the conduct of its affairs. Federalism is thus essentially an arrangement between Governments, a constitutional device by which powers within a country are shared among two tiers of Government.”

2.24 From the foregoing extract of the book, it is crystal clear that Federalism is, and clearly expresses the independence of Governments under a Federation, the powers of such Governments under a Federation, and the powers of such Governments to make laws that benefit their developments and wellbeing are unfettered, and these powers cannot be taken away from them, as long as they do not breach any Constitutional requirement. Consequently the powers conferred on the House of Assembly of a State such as Sokoto State House of Assembly cannot be fettered by any Agency of the Federal Government like the defendants in this case.

See the following cases; 1. AG – ABIA STATE V. AG – FEDERATION (2002) 6 N.W.L.R (Pt. 763) 264.

2. INEC V MUSA (2003) 3 N.W.L.R (Pt. 806) 72 3. AG – FEDERATION V. AG – LAGOS STATE (2013)16 N.W.L.R (Pt.1380) 249.

On the premises of the submission herein we urge the court to answer question no 1 adopted as issue no 1 herein in negative and against the defendants.

3.0 ISSUE NO. 2 Whether by the combined and community interpretation of Sections 120 -128 and 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, Section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000 and the clear Principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and altered) the Defendants can cause the arrest and detention of officials and servants of the plaintiff, with respect to any matter or thing to which the House of Assembly of Sokoto State has exercised its legislative powers to make laws in particular the official Conduct of the affairs of any person, Authority, Ministry or Government, Departments, charged or intended to be charged with the duty or responsibility for executing or administering the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in so far as they relate to government Policies, decisions and appropriation, disbursement, administration of monies appropriated by the House of Assembly of Sokoto State and signed into Law by the Governor of the State by virtue of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 201, 2014 and 2015.

3.01 We submit that the activities of the 1st Defendant (EFCC) in fighting corruption by public officers are sometimes over-bearing. As such the due process of law governing arrests of public officers is violated and this has led to the violation of the fundamental rights of officers. The EFCC on a number of occasions usurp the powers of the State House of Assembly to investigate the public accounts of states in order to arrests, detain and prosecute public officers of the state.

3.02 The argument therefore is whether the EFCC has powers to intrude into the financial expenditure of a State as agency of the federal government created by a federal Law or put differently can the EFCC enforce a Federal Law in a State? There is no doubt that EFCC Act under section 7 (1) (a) gives the Commission powers to cause investigation to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under the Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

3.03 However, Section 128 (2) of the Constitution of the FRN (as amended and altered) provides that ‘A State House of Assembly shall have powers to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into…..any matter or thing to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it. Section 125 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) also states that only the Auditor General of a State has the power to examine the public accounts of the State and report to the House of Assembly which in turn has the power to initiate investigation as to whether a Governor mismanaged public funds.

3.04 In AG ABIA STATE V. AG FEDERATION (2007) 6 N.W.L.R (Pt. 1029) 200, the argument was whether section 40 of the EFCC Act is not unconstitutional having regards to the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution; whether official corruption including corruption by functionaries

of State in the Federation comes within the purview of section 40 of the Act. In other words, do the powers conferred on the EFCC as an agency of the Federal Government extend to investigate into the financial affairs of a state Government? The Supreme Court held that the EFCC is an Agency of the Federal Government by virtue of the EFCC Act, 2004. It is not a state or federal government so it cannot be sued in the Supreme Court under any law. As such the merits of the argument were not treated by the court due to technical issues relating to the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the issue of proper party before the court.

3.05 Drawing from the decision of the Supreme Court in AG Abia State v.

AG federation (2006) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1005) 265 ( where the constitutionality of the Monitoring of Revenue Allocation Local Government Act 2005, passed by the National Assembly that was assented to by the president which empowers the Federal Government to closely monitor the disbursement of funds accruing to local councils nationwide was challenged by the consolidated suits of Abia, Delta and Lagos States) where the Court per Niki Tobi JSC (as he then was) held that the Federal Government had no Constitutional authority to oversee how funds disbursed to the 774 Local Government Councils are spent. It is obvious that EFCC’s activity in relation to states funds as in the present case would be unconstitutional and we respectfully urge the Court to so hold.

3.06 To further underscore the above point, the Supreme Court held in AG LAGOS V. AG FEDERATION (2004) 4 N.WL.R (Pt. 864) 580 that the federal Government’s withholding of fund accruing to Lagos State Councils was contrary to the Constitution.

3.07 It is respectfully submitted that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4(6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended and altered) and the letters and spirit of the constitutionally acknowledged principles of separation of powers, the legislative powers of a State of the Federation vest in the House of Assembly of the State 3.08 By the said section the State House of Assembly is imbued with powers to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State or any part thereof.

3.09 In furtherance of the said powers the Sokoto State House of Assembly passed into law the Penal Code Law which is applicable in Sokoto State.

3.10 The said Penal Code Law copiously identified acts that are criminal in nature and amongst such acts are those relating to fraud, corruption and financial crimes as provided in sections 115,116,117,118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 168, 169, 179, 181, 182, 271, 272, 273, 278, 279, 280, 281,311-315 of the penal Code.

3.11 By the provision of section 195 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the office of the Attorney General of a State was created and it provides thus: 195 “there shall be an Attorney General for each State who shall be the Chief Law officer of the State and Commissioner of Justice of the Government of the State.”

3.12 It is further submitted that the power to prosecute criminal offences is vested in the Attorney General of the State by virtue of Section 211(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution which provides thus: 211 (1) The Attorney General of a State shall have power: (a) To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria other than a court martial in respect of any offence created by or under any of the House of Assembly.

Section 212 (3)of the Constitution relating to the manner the Attorney general exercises his powers conferred by section 211(1) provides as follows: (3) In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney General of a State shall have regards to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

3.13 In the exercise of the powers conferred on the Sokoto State House of Assembly by section 128 and 129 of the 1999 CFRN any violation or breach of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State by any officer or servant of the plaintiff can be effected redressed by the appropriate organ of the Sokoto State House of Assembly or the Attorney General of Sokoto State by causing an inquiry or investigation to that effect and the ultimate prosecution of such offenders by criminal prosecution.

3.14 In the circumstance, the defendants have no constitutional powers to arrest, investigate or detain any of the Plaintiff’s officials as far as it relates to issues related to Sokoto State Appropriation Laws.

3.15 We submit respectfully that going by Exhibit GS1 deposed to in paragraph 8 of the affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, it is quite clear that the motive and ultimate goal of same is not to expose any purported corruption but it is geared towards furthering the antics of the PDP and a calculated attempt to intimidate, harass and embarrass, the Plaintiff’s officials/servants into hiding by threatening to arrest and detain them in other to have a filled day during the forthcoming 2015 general elections to reclaim what it called ‘stolen mandate’.

3.16 Respectfully, the Plaintiffs draws the attention of this honourable Court to the deposition in the affidavit in support of the originating summons paragraphs 9,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,20 and 22 of the affidavit in support of the Originating Summons the Deponent deposed to fact revealing the original clandestine intents of the Defendants decorated with threatened investigation and or inquiry of the Appropriation Laws of Sokoto State between 2008 – 2015 duly passed into law by the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

3.17 On the premises of the foregoing, we urge the Honourable Court to answer question number 2 which was adopted as issue number two in the negative and enter judgment for the plaintiff in terms of the reliefs claimed.

May please the Court Dated _______________day of ______________________ 2015

S. I. Ameh SAN, FCIArb, FICMC Sulaiman Usman, Esq Akubo Zacchaeus Esq (Plaintiff’s Counsel) PP: S.I. Ameh (SAN) & Co (Jubilee Chambers) 21 Onitsha Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street Area 11, Garki, Abuja. jubileelaw_office@yahoo.com +2347026404820, +2348036190550 Address within jurisdiction Sulaiman Usman, Esq. GAMZAKI Law Chambers No. 9 & 10 Nasarawa Estate Arkilla, Sokoto.

08035903799 gamzakilaw@yahoo.co.uk usmansulaiman@gmail.com FOR SERVICE ON DEFENDANTS 1.

The 1st Defendant Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 5, Fomelia Street Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent Wuse II, Abuja.

2.

The 2nd Defendant Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) Legal Office ICPC Plot 802 Constitution Avenue Central Area, Abuja.

3.

The 3rd Defendant Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lois Edet House Asokoro, Abuja.

4.

The 4th Defendant National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Off Murtala Mohammed Express Way Asokoro, Abuja.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

52

CITYBEATS Man, three kidsJonathan Fashola lashes in crashGlover Road asroad he opens A TOYOTA Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing a man and his three child r e n w a s d a m a g e d on Wednesday i n a n a c c i dent on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The SUV with numberplate KSD 990 CG was heading towards Oshodi when it collided with LAGBUS vehicle with fleet number D158 marked XQ 878 AGL. The motorist was trying to overtake the bus when the accident occurred.

According to Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials, the accident occurred around 1:35pm.

The car nearly jumped over to the other side of the road; it was caught in between the median.

The LAGBUS, LAST-

A

By Basirat Braimah

A

•The car...on Wednesday

‘I robbed to settle my case in court’

By Ebele Boniface

cially Indian hemp and cocaine for my master, Ifeanyi Okoye (aka Perfect man), who pays me N1, 500 daily at Ukwu in Anambra State. I later went to Umuahia, Abia State. Unfortunately, I was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and charged to Federal High Court, Awka, on October 23, 2013. I perfected my bail and went to Umuahia to meet my master to get money for my case. I had planned to steal his car if he refused to give me money, unfortunately, he ran away and his car was seized by NDLEA men.

“I came to Lagos and planned to rob with one Chima Tony Agomoh at Lekki. We saw two ladies in a Honda Accord and ordered the two ladies to come down at gun point. They started shouting thieves, thieves and Agomoh zoomed off, leaving me behind. The crowd pursued me, got me, beat me up and handed me over to policemen

Contractor stabs man to ‘dead’

A

‘My husband left me for another woman’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

MA said, was filled with passengers.

Nobody was hurt.

The vehicles have been taken to Ilupeju Police Station.

LASTMA Public Relations Officer Bola Ajao enjoined motorists to be safety conscious.

“We should be patient on the road; everybody wants to get to his destination in a hurry with no one trying to give way to another motorist, hence, they rush to overtake one another. It is when we are alive that we can drive home safely. Let’s always tolerate fellow motorists; no one will definitely sleep on the road, we will all get to our destinations at the end of the day,” Mrs Ajao said.

SUSPECT said that he took to robbery to get money to settle his drug case in court.

Ibik Emmanuel, 24, spoke after being paraded by Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives at Ikeja.

He was arrested on February 23 at Lekki, Lagos, where he and Chima Tony Agomoh, now at large, allegedly snatched a Honda Accord with number-plate EK 804 LSD from Mrs Dupe Agonoma at gun point.

Mrs Agonoma and her friend, who ran away, shouting: “thieves, thieves”.

Emmanuel, who thought the car was faulty when it didn’t start, started running away, leaving Agomoh behind.

The car eventually started and Agomoh zoomed off.

Emmanuel was pursued by a crowd who mobbed him before handing him over to policemen from Maroko Police Station.

Agomoh abandoned the car and fled when it stopped.

Emmanuel told reporters: “I used to sell drugs espe-

27-year-old building contractor, Okpoko Kingsley, has appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stabbing one Felix Mark, 24 to dead.

Kingsley from Edo State was said to have stabbed Mark with a broken beer bottle.

A fight had earlier ensued between the late Mark’s brother and Kingsley at a beer parlour.

Whe his brother reported the matter to him, the late Mark a beer bottle on Kingsley’s head.

Kingsley retaliated and Mark bled to dead.

The incident occurred

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

By Ruqayat Jimoh

last December 24 at 11pm on Mokoya Street in Olodi Apapa, Lagos.

Kingsley’ pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting police Inspector Victor Eruada said the defendant committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos.

Magistrate M.O. Tanimola ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) the case was adjourned till April 27.

from Maroko Police Station.

Later, I was transferred to SARS. “I bought N400 toy gun from Eke Awka market in Anambra State. I was working as a security man in Lekki before I became a drug seller and later car snatcher.

“I was the one that pointed gun at them. It was a toy gun operated with battery, it does not kill rather it makes tatatata noise and those victims who do not have liver tremble like cray fish. I could not escape with my colleague because I thought the car would not move but to my surprise Agomoh drove off with it and abandoned me.”

Command’s spokesperson Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), advised Agomoh to “surrender himself as the command has spread its dragnet to get him anywhere even if he runs into an anthole.”

•Emmanuel with toy gun

29-year-old woman, Tamurat Alao, has prayed the Customary Court in Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve her eight-year-old marriage to Adeshina Alao because of adultery.

The petitioner, a hairdresser, said her husband left her with their children to live with another woman.

“He left us for one Alhaja who lives in our neighbourhood. He only comes to the house to change his dress and return to his new home,” she said.

The mother of three said her husband moves around with the woman’s picture.

Mrs Alao said: “I hid the woman’s picture when I saw it in his bag. When he realised the picture was missing, he came home, accused me of taking it and beat me mercilessly.

“He is ungrateful. When he wanted to purchase a motorcycle, he borrowed N30, 000 from the cooperative where I stood as the guarantor. Till this moment, my husband hasn’t gotten any motorcycle let alone returns the money.

I have paid N29, 700 out of the money and whenever I ask my husband, he beats me.

“If he wants to continue this act, then I want the marriage dissolved.”

She told the court that her husband has stopped catering for the children’s needs.

Alao, 42, said: “It is true I packed out of the house for another woman. Since my wife and I had an argument I stopped paying money to the cooperative.

She hasn’t been the one paying it. My children are my priority so I cater for their needs. But, concerning the Alhaja issue, I promise to go back to my family.”

The court’s President, Mrs Shalewa Banjoko, adjourned the matter till April 22 for chamber discussion.

Police arraign three for alleged Jewelry theft

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58-year-old man, Shehu Musa, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly buying stolen jewelry.

He was arraigned with Precious Ogar, 19 and Francis Obok, 25 before Chief Magistrate A.O Komolafe on a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony and stealing.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eranus Ibekwe Nnamonu alleged that Ogar and Obok stole two sets of gold jewelry valued at N200,000 and N2,000 cash belonging to Hope Agbanoma.

Nnamonu told the court that the defendants com-

By Peace Iyere

mitted the offence on February 26, at Plot 16, Road 19, Isheri-North GRA in Lagos.

He said Ogar’s and Obok’s offence is punishable under Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos.

The Police prosecutor said Musa “dishonestly” bought the jewelry from the de-

fendants despite having reason to believe that they were stolen.

He said Musa’s offence is punishable under Section 326 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Komolafe granted them N500,

000 bail with two sureties in the like sum each.

She ordered that one of the sureties must be a relation of the defendants. The surety is to deposit N50, 000 at the court registry and their addresses be verified.

Chief Magistrate Komolafe adjourned the case to April 30.

Clerics warn against violence

T

HE Eti-Osa Muslim Elder’s Forum in conjunction with Eti–Osa Council of Imams and Alfas has warned electorate especially the youths to avoid violence during and after the elections.

At a meeting convened by the Baba Adinni of Eti–Osa, Alhaji Abdul Yekini Olawale Bakare, the religious group enjoined voters to remain calm and law abiding.

A statement by Eti-Osa Council of Imam Chairman, Imam Abdul Bari Yoosuph, condemned the incessant attacks during political rallies within the corridor of Eti– Osa and prayed for peaceful poll.

The Muslim community urged people to cast their votes, return home and avoid any act that could trigger violence, saying no benefit in violence but everyone is a beneficiary of peace.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

53

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Two lose hands in petrol tanker fire

•Some of the burnt cars INSET: One of the burnt motorcycles... yesterday PHOTOS: NAN

•The burnt tankers... yesterday

T

WO persons lost their hands yesterday when two fuelladen tankers exploded at a filling station in Lekki, Lagos.

Twelve vehicles, including the tankers, and two motorcycles were destroyed in the ensuing fire.

Thick smoke billowed from the tankers, which were said to be carrying 33,000 litres of petrol each.

No dead recorded in the incident, which occurred at 2:20pm. 10 of the burnt vehicles and the motorcyclists

•12 vehicles, two motorcycles burnt

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro, Wale Ajetunmobi, Olatunde Odebiyi, Basirat Braimah

were waiting to buy fuel at ASCON Filling Station on Lekki Road 13, off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 when the incident occurred. The station was not affected.

Eyewitnesses said the tankers exploded while discharging their content into an underground reservoir. They said people ran for dear life

when they heard a bang.

Kolawole Ayedun whose Toyota Camry car was burnt to ashes, said he was about driving into the station when the tankers exploded.

“I did not know how I ran out of the car when the heat got to me,” he said. All his personal effects and cash were gutted.

The injured lost their hands while attempting to put out the fire before fire fighters’ arrival.

An eyewitness, who gave

Suspected PDP thugs, OPC men invade Oshodi

S

USPECTED People’s Democratic Party (PDP) thugs and Odua People’s Congress (OPC) members went wild in Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday shooting indiscriminately and harassing passersby.

Commuters and traders scampered for safety in the melee.

Eyewitnesses said there was heavy shooting at Brown Street near OshodiMafoluku road around 7:30am. Some thugs coming from the nearby Cappa attacked commuters waiting for BRT buses. Some were robbed of their bags, phones and money.

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials said no fewer than 30 OPC and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members working for PDP were seen brandishing arms and ammunition.

They went on the rampage, destroying billboards and posters belonging to All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Those wearing t-shirts or caps belonging to APC were attacked and many injured,” another eyewitness said.

According to him, a group, Fire Two boys whose members work for PDP in Oshodi were among the thugs.

“The base of the Fire Two boys is directly adjacent to

•Scene of the incident...yesterday

By Tajudeen Adebanjo and Isaac Jimoh Ayodele

Akinpelu Police Station and the police did not do anything on the matter. Not a single arrest was made,” he said.

He said Igbehin Adun, Akinpelu, Balogun and adjoining streets were turned into theatre of war.

A LASTMA official said the PDP thugs were in mask, but the OPC members were unmasked.

“I saw about 30 of them with guns, shooting. They went through Oshodi road down to Boladale and from Boladale, they passed through under the bridge,” he said.

He said people were surprised that Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and uniformed Task Force personnel did nothing to stop the hoodlums.

He said the OPC thugs also destroyed properties

belonging to the NURTW faction loyal to APC. Some of them wore PDP vests; others wore OPC vests, he said.

He said: “The RRS and Task Force officials took one-way so as not to face the hoodlums; people were amazed, wondering why the security agents compromised their duty to restore peace and arrest the hoodlums. We later lodged a complaint at Mosafejo Police Station which mobilised their men with a team of military men and started shooting into the air to disperse them. That was when the hoodlums ran away.

None of the hoodlums was arrested.”

He said some people were injured while running away – they fell down and were trampled upon.

Calm was restored around 10am when soldiers took over the area.

his name as Ugochukwu, said the timely intervention of the fire men saved the filling station from being razed.

Oguchukwu said: “We learnt that it was fuel tankers. The tankers suddenly caught fire and spread across the road. As the fire raged, people ran in different directions for fear of the fire spreading to other buildings near the station. But the fire fighters succeeded in bringing it under control.”

Lagos State Fire Service, Director Rasak Fadipe told reporters that the fire involved two tankers laden with 33,000 litres of petrol each. He confirmed that two people lost their limbs.

Fadipe said one of the dispensing pumps of the station was affected. He said Eti-Osa Fire Station promptly re-

sponded following distress calls from residents.

“The magnitude of the fire prompted the mobilisation of other fire trucks from Onikan and Alausa fire stations to the scene. What you are seeing here has shown our capability and ability to tackle outbreak of fire in the state. The fire was massive, but we prevented it from

spreading to the filling station and buildings around.

Twelve vehicles, including the trucks and two motorcycles, got burnt.”

The injured were taken to hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

Fadipe said the incident brought to 12 petrol-related fires that the service has so far responded to this year.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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NEWS Countdown to March 28...One day to go

Jonathan versus Buhari: •Continued from page 5 as being too close call. However, such is the intensity of Buhari’s popularity across the North that just as he did in 2011, he would win again in Gombe.

That year he prevailed against Jonathan by 459, 898 to 290, 347 votes.

So far, a total of 1, 069, 635 out of 1, 120, 023 registered voters have received PVCs – a collection rate of over 95%.

Verdict: APC to win BAUCHI The war between Governor Isa Yuguda and the FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, since the stoning of the presidential convoy in Bauchi has further polarised PDP in the state. The leaders are now working at cross-purposes in a political terrain that is not entirely under the control of PDP. At a point, the governor was accused of producing both the PDP and APC governorship candidates in a deft political move to win either way during the general election. PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has been accused of not working hard enough for the victory of Jonathan. In fact, Mu’azu on Thursday was quick to tell party members that “…I do not see a landslide coming.” The state has always been a political stronghold of Buhari in the last 12 years.

In 2011 he won a landslide victory against Jonathan here by taking 1, 315, 209 votes as against the president’s 258, 404 votes. Out of the state’s 2, 054, 125 registered voters, 1, 778, 380 have picked up cards.

Verdict: APC to win comfortably.

BORNO Despite insurgency, the massive turn-out at APC presidential campaign rally in Maiduguri has destabilized PDP and Jonathan camp.

The PDP’s woes in the state worsened on Wednesday when a Federal High Court in Abuja declared Gambo Lawan as the authentic governorship flag-bearer of the party in Borno State.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the PDP to substitute the name of Alhaji Mohammed Imam with Lawan.

The judgment was a setback for exGovernor Modu Ali Sheriff whose candidate Imam was. A party source said: “We are in disarray; we were devastated by the judgment. Supporters of Imam will rather work for APC than Lawan.”

Though the state is still one of those classified as facing security threats at the last Council of State meeting, it remains APC territory. The campaign so far has revealed that the PDP is depending on federal might to capitalize on the insurgency in the state to manipulate the electoral process. The APC relies on the integrity and achievements of Governor Kashim Shettima, despite all odds, to retain the control of the state.

Buhari won here convincingly in 2011 – taking 909, 763 to Jonathan’s 207, 075 votes. At that election voter turnout was just under 50%. It remains to be seen what the impact of the insurgency would be on turnout. So far, of the 1, 934, 079 registered voters 1, 407, 777 PVCs have been distributed.

Verdict: APC to win.

YOBE With two out of the three senatorial districts in its kitty, Yobe remains firmly hooked to APC because the state had pitched tent with the opposition since 1999. Ex-Governor Bukar Ibrahim, the political godfather of the state, has been the pivot. With the achievements of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, retaining the state is easier for APC. The PDP, which initially had challenges over the choice of its governorship candidate, Adamu Maina Waziri, is coming up stronger but is unlikely to displace APC. The decision of Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, a

former CSO to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to lie low has diminished the electoral fortunes of PDP in the state. The permutations that AlMustapha will be an electoral asset have failed for PDP. Again, Buhari won here last time with 337, 537 votes to Jonathan’s 117, 128 votes. Voter turnout was 45%. PVC collection stands at 824, 401 out of 1, 099, 970 on the voters register.

Verdict: APC wins.

FCT The PDP controls the government machinery in the six area councils and has the biggest war chest for campaign in the territory. The subtle wooing and recognition of traditional rulers has also made the party to penetrate the grassroots. The Vice Presidential Candidate of APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo went on campaign tour of the six councils about a week ago. Last weekend we projected a PDP victory. However, that doesn’t take into consideration that a lot of Northerners live in the territory and the regional sentiment towards power-shift could change the direction of the race – making it unpredictable.

Last time, Jonathan won here by 253, 444 to 131, 576 votes. Out of the territory’s 881, 472 registered voters, only 569, 109 have received PVCs. In 2011 voter turnout was a lowly 42.2%.

Verdict: Battleground SOUTH-EAST Four years ago Jonathan enjoyed a landslide victory in this zone over Buhari. The latter’s fortunes have improved here given that he’s running on the stronger APC whereas in 2011 CPC was virtually nonexistent. That notwithstanding, the SouthEast’s embrace of Jonathan and PDP remains fairly strong. Religious politics and familial concerns of the First Family to the zone could also prove important.

ABIA In Abia State, President Jonathan and PDP are very hopeful of recording a landslide victory. This is because of his unshaken relationship with Governor Theodore Orji, who controls the party machinery. Aside the hope of utilising Orji’s incumbency factor, First Lady Patience Jonathan’s mother hails from the state and this has been used to mobilize support for Jonathan.

Also, the PDP has managed to dictate the pace in Abia State politics over the years mainly because of Orji’s style of governance. Until recently, he has succeeded in rendering opposition parties redundant in the state.

Even now that some of opposition parties are gathering steam, most of them like All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PPA are campaigning for Jonathan.

Our investigation confirms that while governorship and other legislative elections would be a close contest between the ruling PDP and the opposition, Jonathan is likely to win the presidential election here but not with 98 percent as was the case in 2011. In fact, most respondents are optimistic that APC’s candidate, Buhari may get 25 percent votes here unlike 0.31 percent he got in 2011.

That year, Jonathan received a lopsided 1, 175, 984 to Buhari’s microscopic 3, 743 votes. PVC collection is fairly high here. Out of 1, 396, 162 registered voters, 1, 177, 520 have received cards.

Verdict: PDP to win.

ANAMBRA Anambra State is an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)led state but for the presidency, the state has consistently voted for PDP. In 2011, Jonathan, the PDP flagbearer got 98.96 percent of all the votes cast at the presidential contest.

If not for recent political developments, one would have predicted the same trend, since APGA, as it did in 2011, has no presidential candidate but

has pledged to queue behind Jonathan. But unlike what happened in 2011, APC’s Buhari will get reasonable votes from the state.

As Ekwueme, a political father in Anambra State, pointed out, all is no longer at ease with PDP. The elder statesman said “Anambra and Igbo vote can no longer be taken for granted. This is even so as Senator Chris Ngige-led state APC has taken the state by storm thereby popularizing the opposition party there. There is no doubt that APC is very popular in Anambra State and so Buhari seems poised to take advantage of it. Buhari’s major setback in this state and most of the other South-East states is PDP’s continuous campaign that the former Head of State hates Ndigbo and singled out Igbo leaders like Ekwueme, Sam Mbakwe and Jim Nwobodo for imprisonment.

Anambra was another crushing defeat for Buhari in 2011. He polled 4, 223 votes to Jonathan’s 1, 145, 169 votes. A total of 1, 658, 967 PVCs have also been distributed out of the registered voter population of 1, 963, 173.

Verdict: Jonathan EBONYI Ebonyi State is a traditional PDP state which gave Jonathan 95.57 percent of its votes in 2011. However, some observers say it has become a major battle ground in this election.

The ripple effects from the crisis in PDP, which culminated in the political coup that dislodged control of the party from Governor Martin Elechi is poised to change the state’s political game.

It seems the only things that may guarantee Jonathan success here are Senator Pius Anyim Pius’ determination to market Jonathan’s ability to retain Elechi’s support for the presidency.

Left to the supporters of the embattled governor, who have already moved over to Labour Party, both Jonathan and his party would have been humbled in this state. Many of them would have gladly released protest votes in favour of Buhari. This would have been most feasible because of the increasing strength of the rival APC in the state, where Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s influence has come to play.

In 2011 Buhari received a ludicrous 1, 025 votes as against 480, 592 polled

by Jonathan. About 848, 392 PVCs have been collected out the registered voter population of 1, 074, 273.

Verdict: PDP to win.

ENUGU Following alleged reconciliation of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led faction of PDP in Enugu and that of Governor Sullivan Chime, Jonathan’s supporters are optimistic he will easily win in the state, where he got 98.54 percent votes against Buhari’s 0.36 percent in 2011.

While it may not be out of place for PDP to be optimistic in Enugu, insiders in the state’s politics said many interests have been hurt in the pre-election politicking. This includes but not limited to the bitterness of the Senator Ayogu Eze’s camp of the PDP. Added to this is the dynamic campaign of Okey Ezea-led APC, which is poised to serve as a boost to Buhari’s political fortunes in the state. With its Catholic dominated population, there is also the fear in the PDP camp that Father Mbaka’s recent sermon may sway precious votes to Buhari’s box.

Enugu was another massive win for Jonathan in 2011. He received 802, 144 votes as against a miserable 3, 753 for Buhari. So far 1, 223, 606 people have received PVCs out of 1, 429, 221 registered voters.

Verdict: PDP to win.

IMO Currently, Imo State is an APC state

•Gen. Buhari and Jonathan greeting during the signing of a peace accord in Abuja...yesterday.

where Governor Rochas Okorocha’s influence is a major boost for General Buhari.

But The Nation learnt that the PDP’s campaign has been tailored to diminish Buhari’s influence as he was lavishly described as an Igbo hater, who singled out Igbo leaders like Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, for jail. The former governor of old Imo State is so adored in the state that this singular campaign may swing the presidency to Jonathan in the state.

So, while APC seems certain to win the governorship election, the presidency may be too close to call or slightly in favour of Jonathan.

The projections for 2015 are a dramatic turnaround for Buhari who received a mere 7, 591 votes in 2011 compared to a massive 1, 381, 357 votes for Jonathan. In the South-East Imo has one of the highest PVC collection rates at 94%. So far 1, 707, 449 people out of the 1, 803, 030 registered voters have picked up their cards.

Verdict: Battleground SOUTH-SOUTH This zone is not only Jonathan’s home ground; it used to be a PDP fortress. That has been breached with APC governments in Rivers and Edo. Jonathan is expected to do well on the back of regional sentiment to back their ‘brother.’ However, a complex interplay of local ethnic politics in Delta, Akwa Ibom and Rivers could throw up some interesting results here.

AKWA IBOM As far as Governor Godswill Akpabio is concerned, President Jonathan can go to bed regarding the state. He has good reasons to be that optimistic. The state organised a boisterous and well-attended campaign event when the President’s team came

calling.

The state has also been a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning every electoral office since 1999. Having been elevated contentiously to becoming the highest earning state from the federal allocation, Akwa Ibom indigenes will consider voting for Jonathan a favour returned.

But it would be too simplistic to dismiss Buhari’s chances just yet. The APC has been making serious incursions in Akwa Ibom since Obong Umana Umana emerged its governorship candidate. The tricky politics of power-shift and zoning in the state has disrupted all political calculations.

Oron are to be found in five of the state’s 31 local government areas.

They are angry with Akpabio for reneging on a promise to zone the governorship to them. There is also the Abak 5 in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district. They are angry with the governor for trying to rob them of a senatorial seat. Their number could prove decisive. Umana is extremely popular in Uyo, the state capital, and other Ibibio-speaking areas.

Added to this is the fact that key political players like former Governor Victor Attah and former Minister Don Etiebet have openly broken with PDP by attending Umana’s APC rally and endorsing him.

Factors like South-South solidarity with Jonathan and the incumbent governor’s heavy war chest play in the president’s favour. Last weekend we suggested that PDP will win Akwa Ibom in its historic pattern. But the state’s complex ethnic politics suggest tomorrow’s polls would not be business as usual. We now project the state to be too close to call.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

55

Countdown to March 28...one day to go

How states, FCT will vote

Buhari lost heavily to Jonathan here in 2011 – managing just 5, 348 votes to Jonathan 1, 165, 629 votes. PVC collection is quite high at over 94%. So far 1, 587, 566 out of 1, 680, 759 registered voters have received cards.

Verdict: Battleground CROSS RIVER The state should be an easy pie for Jonathan. He is considered a son of the soil and a friend of the state. The proximity of his native Bayelsa state will be an added incentive for voters to pick him in the state.

The PDP has been dominant at all levels in the state since the return of democratic rule. An implosion during the party’s governorship primary that produced Senator Ben Ayade has been well-managed to the amazement of the opposition.

Jonathan, seen as a fellow Christian and South-South brother, will certainly garner massive votes in the state.

It is hard to tell how much weight the APC can pull to win votes for Buhari, a Muslim northern. It is even harder to contemplate him winning as much as 25% in the state. Given the ongoing scenario, Jonathan will carry the state without much ado.

Buhari recorded a dismal 4, 002 votes here last time compared to 709, 383 votes for Jonathan. So far 963, 929 out of 1, 175, 623 have received PVCs. Verdict: PDP to win.

RIVERS If there is a state that can define this presidential election, it would be no other than Rivers. The two leading candidates have gladiators here, sparing no effort or design to make them win. On the side of APC is Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari’s cam-

paign.

Amaechi, a dogged fighter, is a political veteran. He knows Rivers politics like the palms of his hands. He’s a two-time governor and an ex-Speaker.

It has taken nothing more than sheer willpower and doggedness to fight a President and then defect to the opposition party without as much as scratch. For every weapon fired at him, Amaechi returns the salvo with ten deadlier canisters.

The APC has gained much ground since the governor made it his new abode. The governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, has a followership capable of intimidating even the bravest opposition.

The party’s chapter has been giving the PDP a run for its money, insisting that Jonathan cannot win the state.

APC’s chairman in Rivers, Davies Ikanya, said Jonathan had committed 25 grievous sins for which the state will never vote for him.

The sins, according to him, include neglect, stalling of some projects envisaged to develop the state, lack of implementation of some projects, violence and corruption among others.

The party has been mobilising against Jonathan and pushing Buhari’s candidature with remarkable results, going by attendance at rallies and campaigns.

But the PDP is no pushover yet in Rivers. Not when its governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, is still around. Wike has fought Amaechi to a standstill, using federal might and presidential connections. He also attracts crowds.

Besides, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is also from the state. She has been mobilising for her husband among her people. But many are not happy with her role in the standoff in the state. There may protest with votes against Jonathan at the poll.

Intriguingly, the unscripted defection to the PDP of Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons. It remains to be seen whether this will tip the balance in either direction.

Being a cosmopolitan state with an incumbent governor rooting for Buhari, the APC presidential candidate may carry the state. Jonathan, on his own, will also make serious impact among voters based on ethnic and religious considerations as well as the influence of his wife.

Rivers was a massive votes mine for Jonathan in 2011 as he received a huge 1, 817, 762 votes as against just 13, 182 for Buhari. Of the state’s 2, 537, 590 registered voters, 2, 127, 837 have collected PVCs. Verdict: Battleground EDO That the 2011 presidential election in Edo State was a stroll in the park for President Jonathan is stating the obvious. The president garnered 542, 173 votes as against 17, 795 votes for Buhari.

The president’s victory in 2011 was largely due to the ‘home boy’ factor, coupled with the maximum support offered him by the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who mobilised the people in support of Jonathan.

But next Saturday’s election in the state is likely to be a different ball game, as the governor has turned his back against the President. In the last couple of weeks, he has embarked on a vigorous campaign for the APC presidential candidate and other candidates of the party across the nooks and crannies of the state.

While the Edo governor has intensified campaign for Buhari, no one seems to be doing same for the President, as the acclaimed leader of Edo PDP, Chief Anthony Anenih, appears to be spending more time in Abuja thus delegating the task of campaign-

ing for the president to less influential party chieftains.

During his campaign stumps across the state, the governor’s campaign message that the PDP-led federal government has neglected the state in terms of infrastructural projects has resonated well with the people, many of whom have keyed into the change mantra being propagated by the APC. The Jonathan campaign has been counting on South-South solidarity to prevail in Edo. Bearing this in mind we projected the state last weekend as being too close to call. But given current realities on the ground we now expect Buhari to take Edo. The PDP had a good outing here last time taking 542, 173 votes as against 17, 795 for CPC’s Buhari. PVC collection rate is modest with 1, 218, 734 have received cards out of the state’s 1, 779, 738 registered voters.

Verdict: APC wins DELTA In spite of recording a landslide victory in 2011, President Jonathan and the PDP are not taking anything for granted.

And this is understandable. The ruling party is facing some tough challenges ranging from gradual resurgence of the APC in addition to interethnic suspicion and rivalry in the state.

Indeed, if there is one factor that could impact negatively on the President’s electoral chances in the state, it is the alleged disenchantment of some ethnic groups including Itsekiri and the Urhobos against the Ijaws, the President’s ethnic group.

For the Itsekiris, their grouses are legion. First, is the controversy over the site of the $16 billion Delta Gas City project at Ogidigben in Warri South local government area with the Ijaws claiming ownership of the land said to belong to the Itsekiri.

The groundbreaking of the project suffered several postponements until a few weeks ago when the President visited Warri and reportedly appeased the Itsekiri with his commitment to the commencement of the project.

But not a few however believe that the President’s fence mending was borne not out of genuine love for the Itsekiri, but to win their votes in the presidential election.

There are also others who are not happy with how the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was “shabbily treated” by the PDP in the run-up to the party’s senatorial and governorship primaries early this year.

The governor’s desire to have his preferred candidate emerge as the governorship candidate not only failed, he was also compelled to step down for an Ijaw man, Senator James Manager, who is running for another term to represent Delta South in the National Assembly.

Among the Urhobos too, there is a sharp division within the influential Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), the umbrella body of all Urhobos. Some of its leading lights are reportedly drumming support for Jonathan, while others have allegedly pitched their tent with Buhari.

As the largest ethnic group in Delta State, the Urhobos have the numbers to determine where the pendulum of victory would swing in the election.

In 2011 the contest was one-sided with Jonathan taking 1, 378, 851 votes as against 8, 960 for Buhari. About 1, 921, 627 PVCs have been distributed out of a registered voter base of 2, 275, 264.

Verdict: Slim victory for Jonathan BAYELSA Four years ago, the opposition was practically non-existent in Bayelsa, the home state of the President. The result of the 2011 presidential election proved

But the situation is different today, thanks to the defection of notable politicians to the APC, including the immediate former governor of the state, Timipre Sylvia, a former senator, Fred Oboro, former Security Adviser to Sylva, Chief Richard Kpodo, former Youth Leader of PDP in the SouthSouth, Mr. Godwin Sidi and a former Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government, Timipa Orunemigha.

Since his parting ways with the President and PDP, Sylvia has slowly but steadily positioned the APC as a viable opposition, a development the Presidency is not comfortable with.

Sources say the former governor, who is also contesting for the Senate on March 28 against media entrepreneur, Ben Bruce, is determined to prove a point that he remains a factor in Bayelsa politics.

But more worrisome for the President’s camp, is the threat by some loyalists of the incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson, not to vote for the President over what they perceive as the overbearing influence of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, who has been at loggerheads with the governor.

The homeboy factor in spite of the incursion of the APC, analysts argue, would come handy for the President when the chips are down. Four years ago his kinsmen almost gave him 100% of the available votes. He received 504, 811 as against 691 for Buhari. So far 546, 372 PVCs have been collected. The state has 610, 373 registered voters.

Verdict: Safe bet for Jonathan SOUTH-WEST By moving its campaign apparatus to the South-West in the closing days of the contest, Jonathan and PDP obviously agree with those who say this zone would decide the election. The president won convincingly here in 2011. But four years later it is a different ballgame. Jonathan’s robust attempt to break APC’s stranglehold on the zone using monetary inducement, intimidation of the electorate by OPC members, as well as hate documentaries against opposition leaders like Bola Tinubu have backfired.

The major problem for the ruling party is the sense that the South-West has been grossly marginalized by the Jonathan administration as it has no representation in the nation’s top 50 political positions. Conversely, the zone now seems the chance of one of its own becoming Vice President as very distinct possibility.

In Lagos, PDP has tried to turn settlers against indigenes – especially believing that Jonathan’s popularity in the SouthEast could be transferred to the Igbos in Lagos. But this discounts the presence of other huge settler population like Hausa and other Northerners whose preference is Buhari.

Crucially, Lagos in which four million PVCs were distributed is controlled by APC. The party has proven time and time that in this sprawling megacity it has an unparalleled ability to get out the vote.

OSUN In Osun, which is firmly under the control of the APC, Jonathan will not have a good showing on election day.

All through the electioneering campaign, the President found it difficult to get listening ears. His visits to the state have receive no appreciable attention from the people considering the mammoth crowd that thronged the Osogbo City Sports Stadium to receive Buhari and his team twice when he visited the state in continuation of his presidential campaign.

This will be no surprise in Osun where, in spite of his good showing in the region in 2011, the President still lost to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate by a wide margin.

With Governor Rauf Aregbesola still in charge and the PDP declining in status by the day, Buhari is positioned to

win massively in the state.

Aregbesola’s convincing victory during last year’s governorship election and the rancour that saw PDP losing two former governors of the state, Isiaka Adeleke and Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Speaker Olubunmi Etteh, to the APC in quick succession will also work against Jonathan.

Osun was unique in 2011 as neither Jonathan nor Buhari won here. Instead the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, prevailed with 299, 711 votes. However, Jonathan still outperformed Buhari taking 188, 409 votes as against the CPC candidate’s 6, 997.

Verdict: APC to win.

EKITI During the June 21, 2014 governorship election held in Ekiti State, the APC failed to retain the state. The victory of Ayo Fayose was no doubt a surprise to many observers.

However, that governorship election and tomorrow’s presidential poll are two totally different things. The local factors that led to the defeat of former Gov. Kayode Fayemi are not expected to count this time around.

Interestingly, in the little time he’s been in the saddle Fayose has managed to alienate many in the state. But being an unrepentant Jonathan supporter the governor will do all that is necessary to ensure PDP carries the day.

APC is not likely to give up without a good fight. The fact that it was in charge of the state for four years barely months back, is also an advantage for Buhari. In addition, the reconciliation of Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, gubernatorial candidate of the LP at the last election with the APC leadership will give PDP more troubles.

Crucially, like in many parts of the South-West there is a strong desire for change at the center. That is a boost for Buhari. This alters our projection last weekend which gave Ekiti to Jonathan. We now project the state as being too close to call.

It was a woeful outing for Buhari as he only managed 2, 689 votes here compared with 135, 009 for Jonathan in 2011. So far, 511, 790 PVCs have been collected out of 732, 021 registered voters.

Verdict: Battleground ONDO The political drama that saw the massive defection of major political actors from one political party to the other, which started in 2014 and continued into the new year, climaxed yesterday with Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi crossing from PDP to APC. The unresolved intra party crisis that bedeviled the PDP in the state following the entrance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko into the party has given the APC a serious edge in the contest for presidential votes.

In quick succession, the Mimiko camp lost the likes of Hon. Gani Daodu representing Akoko North West and East Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Gbenga Edema representing Ilaje Constituency II and Hon. Folasade Olasehinde representing Ose Constituency to the APC. More defections were to follow as Mimiko battled old members of his new party for control of party structure.

Although the coming of Mimko into Jonathan’s party initially boosted the chances of the president in the state considering the fact that Ondo was before now a Labour Party (LP) controlled state, his unending face-off with leaders of the party made nonsense of the political gains of his defection.

•Continued on page 60

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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NEWS Work-free in Ogun

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HE Ogun State government has declared today a work free day to ensure that all eligible voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) .

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, who announced this in a statement, said the decision followed information that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received another batch of PVCs. “We appeal to all eligible voters to take advantage of the holiday to obtain their PVCs and carry out their civic duty by voting for candidates of their choice.

“Government also enjoins all stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully and eschew all forms of violence and tension during and after the elections.”

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (third left); Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (left) ; governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (second left); his running mate, Mrs Oluranti Adebule (third right) and others at the APC rally in Alimoso... yesterday

Lagos begins new taxi regime

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

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HE Lagos State government would begin the issuance of letters of Provisional Taxi Licence Allocation Approvals and badges to taxi and cab operators on Tuesday.

The licences would be presented

by Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

Announcing this yesterday, Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa said the letters will be issued only to taxi cab operators, who have been earlier accredited by the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) offices and captured on the database of the State Public Transport Management System (LSPTMS).

The issuance of the letters, he maintained, is in line with the agreement reached by the taxi cab operators and the governor during a stakeholders’ meeting last month.

He said the new initiative would enable the government pursue transformation in the sector, enhance professionalism and ensure the standard and safety of the people.

With the commencement of the New Lagos Taxi System, Opeifa said only licence holders will be able to operate taxi cabs in Lagos.

‘Remember your promise to voters’

By Bola Olajuwon

F

ORMER Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Osun State Fatai Akinbade has advised candidates not to take voters for granted, if they win.

He said voters have become more enlightened.

Akinbade spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He said: “Those contesting and those in government should know that they are being entrusted with the resources of the people and sooner or later, they will be asked to account for their stewardship.

“They should be careful about their manifestoes and pledges to the people.

“I don’t expect violence in these elections. But I know that Nigerians are not fools. They are more enlightened now. The average man knows what is happening around him.”

“The LP’s strength in Osun will be better measured by the performances of its candidates.

“We are fielding candidates in the elections. The candidates are members of our party as well as those who came into the party after they were maltreated by their former parties.

“We have better candidates in LP now with good political bases in their constituencies.”

He pleaded that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should allow LP to be run as a political party and should not allow labour intrigues affect the party’s chances.

Ex-governors condemn impunity in Ekiti

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HREE former Ekiti State governors – Adeniyi Adebayo, Olusegun Oni and Kayode Fayemi– have condemned the increasing violence and impunity allegedly unleashed on the state by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

The former governors, in a joint statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, deplored the invasion by hoodlums of the homes of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP members opposed to the political philosophy of Governor Ayo Fayose.

The hoodlums, according to them, are going about in three unmarked Hilux vehicles armed with weapons with which they are harrassing their targets.

They declared that they won’t tolerate unprovoked attacks on members of their party and the public by government-sponsored thugs.

The statesmen said the most recent attack was the beating and torture of the 90-year-old father of a former commissioner for finance, Dapo Kolawole.

The statement reads: “The hoodlums destroyed shops and property, including cars, belonging to some PDP members because of their perceived opposition to Fayose.

•APC petitions NHRC again From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

“This came barely 48 hours after we visited the commissioner of police and the director of the Department of State Security (DSS) on the security situation in the state.

“We urge security chiefs to prevail on the governor to end the impunity, thuggery, brigandage, political rascality and torture.

“We had warned that if push comes to shove, the party and all well-meaning people will resort to self-help to protect themselves, their assets and their rights.

“During the visit of the APC vicepresidential candidate to Ekiti on Monday, party members going to the reception venue in Buhari/Osinbajo and APC branded vehicles were attacked in Ado Ekiti.

“They were shot at and several of their vehicles, including those belonging to Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo and Amb Gbenga Olofin were destroyed by hoodlums.

“We want to state unequivocally that we will no longer tolerate any further unprovoked attack on and wilful destruction of APC branded vehicles and assets.

“Keeping calm thus far is not out of weakness or incapacity to re-

‘Many’ killed in Ondo banks’ robberies From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

GANG of robbers yesterday stormed some bank in Owo, Ondo State, killing an unspecified number of people.

It was gathered that the robbers killed the manager and his assistant during the operation.

Although the identities of the deceased bank officials could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the two officials failed to “cooperate” with the robbers.

The suspects, according to findings, stormed the town at 4pm, shooting sporadically into the air till they got to the heart of the town where they robbed four banks.

They were said to have used dynamite to break the security doors leading to the banks.

Sources said the bandits carted away an unspecified amount of money and injured several workers.

The incident caused pandemonium in the town as many residents, who read political meanings to the incident, protested round the town.

It was alleged that police officers, who witnessed the incident, did not challenge the robbers while the operation lasted.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said the robbers entered the town through the Owo-Abuja Road and moved to the town centre.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said his men had been deployed to the town to enforce orderliness.

He said: “Details of the incident are still sketchy. I can only give you details of the robbery when our man deployed to the town communicates with me.”

spond.

“We are only mindful of the lessons of history. We can no longer continue to live with a situation in which seven lawmakers are making laws for the state in gross violation of our constitution.

“It is alarming that this can be allowed to continue without anyone attempting to call the abnormality to order. Ekiti belongs to all of us and we will not allow any group of hoodlums to willfully bastardise our values and heritage.

“We remain committed to handing over to our children ‘a banner without stain’.

“We hope security forces will actively carry out their constitutional mandate and save this democracy from collapse.”

In a related development, the APC has again petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking it to present its complaints before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

APC, five weeks ago, petitioned the NHRC, listing various physical attacks against its members and leaders, including media blockade for the opposition activities and destruction of their billboards and

posters.

The Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that the party was taking the step, owing to the escalation of hostilities against opposition leaders.

According to him, attacks on APC leaders increased on Monday. Those attacked included Oluwole Ariyo, Jinadu Ayodele, Remi Olorunleke, Bayo Aina, former Commissioner for Environment and House of Representatives candidate, Dr Eniola Ajayi and Shola Fatoba.

Others include former Ijero Local Government Chairman Bode Agbeleye, whose car was riddled with bullets.

He said non-politicians perceived as having sympathy for the party were also threatened, citing the case of the Market Women's Leader in Ado-Ekiti, Chief Waye Osho, who was harassed by the governor for attending an interactive session with Fayemi’s wife, Bisi, at Fajuyi Hall in the state capital.

He added: "As we speak, Fayose has listed over 100 APC influential members for arrest.

"We hereby urge NHRC to focus attention on Ekiti State this weekend so that we don't wait until lives are lost before we call him to order."

Police arrest Ondo APC lawmaker

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HE lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Eniolorunda Omosule, was on Wednesday evening arrested by the police in Ondo State on alleged trump up charges.

The lawmaker, who defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been battling with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his constituency.

Omosule was detained at the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB), Akure, when he visited the station to bail his security guard, who was arrested when his house was invaded by security operatives last week.

Last week, the lawmaker petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II over alleged harassment and assault of his followers.

In the said petition, he accused the State Director-General of Jonathan/ Sambo campaign team, Tokunbo Modupe, as the brain behind the witchhunting.

The lawmaker said his house in Owo Local Government was allegedly invaded by six members of the anticultism squad, led by the PDP House of

•Party kicks From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Assembly candidate, Ayo Arowele.

In the petition, Omosule said his house was ransacked, following an allegation that he was harboring thugs in his house.

The lawmaker said at a time his house was invaded, he was having a meeting with a retired divisional police officer (DPO), Jimoh Dojumo, a retired police inspector, Mr. Ogundipe and other party members.

The APC yesterday urged the Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, to release all its detained supporters.

A statement by the Chairman and Secretary of the party’s media campaign team, Tunde Imolehin and Charles Titiloye, urged Eke to release Omosule.

The APC reminded the police boss of the rights of every citizen not to be unlawfully incarcerated or denied their freedom.

It said the progressives must not be intimidated, but must be allowed their freedom to vote for candidate of their choice during tomorrow’s election.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

57

NEWS REC: hoodlums snatched 5,599 PVCs in Akwa Ibom From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Rev Fr Stephen Dedua, during Mothers' Day Celebration

by Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt.

Jonathan: EPZ’ll address revolutionise economy

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said his administration is focused on programmes that would reduce unemployment, as well as refocus the nation’s economy.

Jonathan spoke yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gas Revolution Industrial Project (GRIP), also known as the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State.

The ceremony is coming after more than one year of intra and inter-communal crisis among the Itsekiri on one side, and Itsekiri and Ijaw on the other.

The president noted that the project, at various stages, would employ thousands, especially youths, just as it would revolutionise the economy, making Nigeria one of the world’s investors’ destination.

“Like in most parts of the world, the challenge of unemployment remains a prime focus of this administration. Only like this should we make progress.

This initiative will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and many more in construction. It is my in-

‘Itsekiri’ll vote for change’

P

ERFORMING the groundbreaking ceremony of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), notwithstanding, Itsekiri voters have been urged to vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow.

A chieftain of the APC and an Itsekiri opinion leader, Dr Alex Ideh, accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of attempting to blackmail him during the groundbreaking ceremony.

He said while Itsekiri appreciated Jonathan’s gesture in performing the ceremony, their resolve about tomorrow’s election had not changed.

According to Ideh, the governor’s attempt at ‘roping him in’ during the ceremony would not make either him, or the Itsekiri nation to abandon their views, which they had held of the president before now, urging the Itsekiri to go out tomorrow to cast.

He said: “This afternoon at Ogidigben at the grounds of the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the EPZ Gas Industrial Complex, the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan while making his remark singled me out twice for From Shola O’Neil and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

tention to make this industrial park a desirable location for investors.

“This project will meet world standards and would be accorded proper attention. I am setting up a central steering committee to be headed by the Minister of Petroleum and this

From Shola O’Neil and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

mention. He alluded to the fact that I am an APC cheiftian and hoped that now that Mr President has come for the groundbreaking he hoped I would join the train to vote for Mr President.

“Being an influential member of the Ogidigben/Ugborodo community on which this project is situated and out of sheer respect for the office of Mr President, I stood up and gave a bow. I believe that the governor, knowing I have always been a strong critic of the president, either wanted to embarrass my person or set me up in an environment where Mr Presidents supporters and kinsmen abound in huge numbers.

“In as much as I applaud Mr President for coming to do the groundbreaking, my views and the views of tens of thousands of Itsekiri have not substantially changed.

I urge our people to go out there and vote for the choice of change, which they have believed in all along.”

committee would report to the Federal Executive Council weekly,” the President assured.

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, expressed gratitude to the President for his patience during the crisis and finally consenting to the project’s take-off.

He said the Federal Government and the foreign

H

OODLUMS snatched 5,955 PVCs in Akwa Ibom State, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner Austin Okojie said.

Security agencies have helped the commission to recover 4,999 PVCs. Okojie yesterday said the commission received 4, 188 card readers with the excess of 538 as backups in case the card readers encounter problems at the point of verification and authentication of voters.

Okojie spoke with reporters at the INEC’s office in Uyo, the state capital.

The REC said the commission received 1, 692, 662 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) out of which 1, 599, 796 PVCs have been distributed by the commission.

According to him, 92, 866 PVCs have not been collected by voters in the state.

The REC said 15,452 INEC adhoc staff would be used by the commission for Saturday’s elections.

His words: “We received a total of 1, 692, 662 PVCs. As at today, we have been able to distribute 1, 599 796. The balance we have now is 92, 866. You are

T

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

aware that we stopped collection and distribution of PVCs. As at today, we have 95 per cent rate of distribution for the state.

“The total number of snatched card is 5,955. We have been able to recover 4,999 and yet to be recovered is 956.

Efforts are been made to ensure that we recover these cards. We received full consignment of the card readers. We even have excess.

The total numbers of 4, 188 card readers have been received from headquarters.

We are going to use these card readers in 3, 650 polling units for the general elections.

“The excess of 538 smart cards will be used as backups in case we have problems. We hope that we will not have problems. You are aware for the decisions to use card readers for the general elections. You are also aware of the position of the commission in terms of verification and authentication of the card readers. On training of ad-hoc staff, a total number of 15,452 ad-hoc staffs will be used for the election.”

U.S sends top envoy for polls

THE United States has sent Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield to lead its diplomatic mission for Saturday’s elections. She will arrive in today, according to a statement from the Department of State.

The statement said: “Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield will lead our official diplomatic observation mission for the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections.

“This is the latest example of U.S. support for a credible, peaceful electoral process in Nigeria.

“While in Abuja, Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield may also hold high-level bilateral meetings.”

Detained Al Jazeera journalists loitering, says military

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investors would work with the host communities to protect the project.

Dignatries present at the ground breaking included Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Dieziani Allison-Madueke, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga and Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo.

HE military is detaining two Al Jazeera television journalists in Borno State, where troops have been battling Boko Haram militants.

Defence spokesman Major Gen. Chris Olukolade said the pair were “found to have been loitering around areas where military operations are ongoing in the northeast and have been restrained in Maiduguri”.

The statement, posted on Twitter and the military’s website yesterday identified the journalists as Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy. They were “noted to have been moving around various locations including restricted areas in Yobe and Borno state (and) were also operating without any protection, accreditation or due clearance”.

Al Jazeera said on its website that Idris, a reporter, and Andy, a producer, had been “officially detained until further notice” since Tuesday and called for their immediate release.

•Started training in 2008, at Bremen and Arizona.

Training briefly interrupted - but deemed fit to fly •Working as co-pilot, or first officer, since 2013. Appeared pleased with his job •Lived in town of Montaubaur, near Frankfurt, reportedly with his parents.

Had many friends •Facebook profile suggests the active lifestyle of a keen runner, with an interest in pop music “At that moment, the copilot is controlling the plane by himself. While he is alone, the co-pilot presses the buttons of the flight monitoring system to put into action the descent of the aeroplane.

“He operated this button for a reason we don’t know yet, but it appears that the reason was to destroy this plane.”

Mr Lubitz was alive until the final impact, the prosecutor said.

Mr Robin said “the most plausible interpretation” was that the co-pilot had deliberately barred the pilot from re-entering the cockpit.

He added that the co-pilot was “not known by us” to have any links to extremism or terrorism.

FOREIGN Deliberate: Co-pilot ‘wanted to destroy plane’

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O-PILOT of the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps, named as Andreas Lubitz, appeared to want to “destroy the plane”, officials said.

Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin, citing information from the “black box” voice recorder, said the copilot was alone in the cockpit.

He intentionally started a descent while the pilot was locked out.

Mr Robin said there was “absolute silence in the cockpit” as the pilot fought to reenter it.

He said air traffic controllers made repeated attempts to contact the aircraft, but to no avail. Passengers could be heard screaming just before the crash,

Details are also emerging of the co-pilot’s past - although his apparent motives for causing the crash remain a mystery.

Mr Lubitz, 28, had undergone intensive training and “was 100% fit to fly without any caveats”, according to Carsten Spohr, the head of Lufthansa, the German carrier that owns Germanwings.

Mr Spohr said Mr Lubitz’s training had been interrupted briefly six years ago but was resumed after “the suitability of the candidate was re-established”.

The Airbus 320 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf hit a mountain, killing all 144 passengers and six crew, after an eight-minute descent.

“We hear the pilot ask the co-pilot to take control of the plane and we hear at

•Andreas Lubitz

the same time the sound of a seat moving backwards and the sound of a door closing,” Mr Robin told reporters.

He said the pilot, named in the German media as Patrick S, had probably gone to the toilet.

Co-pilot under scrutiny

Heavy fighting rages around Syrian city of Idlib

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EAVY fighting raged around the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria on Thursday as rebels pressed their offensive against the government stronghold.

An array of armed opposition groups have advanced through the outskirts of Idlib, the provincial capital and home to some 165,000 people, since launching their campaign Tuesday.

Rebels have long controlled most of the surrounding towns and countryside, but President Bashar Assad’s forces have maintained their hold on the city.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels have seized at least 17 checkpoints and military outposts from pro-Assad troops. It said at least 11 government fighters and 17 rebels have been killed over the past 24 hours.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

LENT NEWS APC accuses PDP of sewing fake uniforms for thugs

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sewing fake police uniforms and those of other security agencies for its thugs, alleging that it was a ploy to rig the elections.

But the police command said the allegation was false.

APC alleged that PDP packaged 1kg bag of poisonous garri, branded with APC logo and the photograph of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, in large quantity, for distribution across the state.

The party’s spokesman, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, decried “PDP’s desperation”, assuring the people that “the evil plans of the PDP will continue to fail.”

He said: “It is necessary to

•Police: allegation false The desperation of the drowning PDP knows no bound. This is a party with no manifesto, no ideology, no developmental plans for the indigenes, except desperation for power through violence From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

alert the people that the leadership of the PDP, Kwara State chapter, held a meeting on Wednesday where the party reviewed the activities of its thugs and discussed its rigging plans.

“At the meeting, among other decisions, the leadership of the PDP resolved to sew police uniforms and those of other security agencies for its thugs, with the hope of using the thugs to manipulate the polls in favour of the PDP.

“Another set of armed thugs will also be dressed in black suits and babariga, according to a credible source.

“The desperation of the drowning PDP knows no bound. This is a party with no manifesto, no ideology, no developmental plans for the indigenes, except desperation for power through violence.

“Thugs sponsored by the PDP intend to impersonate security agents before and during the elections to harass APC leaders and members, to kidnap and pick up our officials,

to intimidate voters at the polling units and manipulate the electoral process in favour of the PDP. “We have raised this alarm with the hope that security agencies will forestall it.

“PDP also intend to distribute bags of poisonous garri.

“We warn the people against taking such gifts because it is an attempt to kill as many Kwarans as possible and attribute it to the APC. “Kwarans should not be deceived by the logo of APC and photograph of Governor Ahmed printed on the packaged garri. Our party has no hand in it, as it is purely the handiwork of the desperate PDP. “APC is not distributing packaged garri as souvenirs or gifts.”

‘Why Fed Govt, AMCON must pay N132B to Bi-Courtney’

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FTER yet another victorious outing against the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) at the Court of Appeal in Lagos on March 25, Bi-Courtney Limited has explained why AMCON and the Federal Government (FG) must pay N132 billion for damages as earlier ordered by a court.

Demanding AMCON’s compliance with the order of Justice G.K. Olotu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 5, 2012, in the suit number: FHC/ABJ/ CS/50/09, in a statement yesterday, the Chairman of BiCourtney Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin, explains how AMCON had fraudulently attempted to take over the assets of his companies, how the agency has refused to obey a court order to pay N132 billion for damages, and how it had wasted tax payers’ money on propaganda deliberately misinforming the public about the facts of the issues.

Paragraphs three and four of the order say: “An order directing the Defendant/Respondent (Attorney General of the Federation), being the Chief Law Officer and legal representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria and all its agents/agencies, including the government institutions and bodies responsible for the payment of the sum due to the Applicant, to mandatori-

ly compel the said government institutions and bodies to immediately comply with the judgment of this Honourable Court by making without any further delay the payment of N132,540,580,304.00 to the Plaintiff/Applicant (Bi-Courtney) in fulfilment of the aforesaid order of this Honourable Court.

“An order directing the Defendant/Respondent, being the Chief Law Officer and legal representative of the Federal Government of Nigeria to set off from the above-mentioned of N132, 540, 580, 304.00, any claims agreed with the Plaintiff/ Applicant to be due from the Plaintiff/Applicant to any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including but not limited to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).”

The statement says: “This order is yet to be upturned by either a court of coordinate jurisdiction or a superior court till date. It is amazing that AMCON which is a creation of the Federal Government has refused to acknowledge its principals instrument as a means of repayment to it.”

According to Babalakin, BiCourtney had signed a Concession Agreement with the Federal Government on the second terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), but over 60 per

cent of the firm’s revenue was taken by the Federal Government through its refusal to honour the Agreement.

Bi-Courtney is expected to make its revenue from passenger traffic, cargo handling, parking space, advertisements, space rental, and fuel surcharge on every litter of petrol sold, among others, as these were the revenue streams on which a consortium of banks had based their financial projections and assumptions before they granted the firm a loan to build the terminal.

The concession agreement provided for a coordinating committee with three representatives from the Federal Government and three from the concessionaire.

Based on allegations that there were a series of breaches on the part of the Federal Government, the concessionaire approached the arbitration body, stating that it has been denied the exclusivity clause and several revenue sources in the concession agreement.

The firm also submitted to an arbitration body that the Federal Government was maliciously blocking its revenue streams by providing another terminal for the biggest airline operators.

Bi-Courtney added that the spaces being let out at the GAT should have been part of its revenue, and that the government

has also been denying it of revenue from advertisement space, fuel surcharge, and several other sources.

Although Bi-Courtney had never had up to 50 per cent of the revenue it was supposed to be making from the terminal, it had paid over N11billion of its debts to the banks before the debts were transferred to AMCON. AMCON had bought the debt from the banks at N19billion, and that was wrong. Most of the debts of AMCON were bought at discounted value, but that of MMA2 was bought at 100 per cent. No discount.

As it is known, debts are only bought at 100 per cent if the collateral is good. The development has proven that the collateral of MMA2 is good, as well as the structure and financing.

When the MMA2 dispute was resolved in favour of Bi-Courtney by the coordinating committee, the unanimous decision was that the Federal Government was in breach of the agreement; that it should hand over the GAT to Bi-Courtney, and ensure that all domestic flights originate from the concessionaire’s terminal.

Despite the fact that the Federal Government was adequately represented at the arbitration panel, its agencies refused to comply with the resolution. This development made Bi-Courtney to seek redress at the court.

Appeal Court rules on Niger East senatorial by-election today

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UDGMENT is reserved for today in a suit at the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja.

The case is filed by Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the nullification of his election in the Niger East senatorial by-elec-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

tion by the National Election Petition Tribunal.

The lower court quashed Nuhu’s election and declared David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner with majority of lawful votes.

The decision of the Appeal Court to deliver judgment today was conveyed to Ibrahim Majuheed, counsel to the defendant.

He said: “I’ve just been informed by the Appeal Court that judgment will be delivered tomorrow (Friday) in respect of the appeal case in-

Probate section destroyed in FCT High Court fire

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IRE yesterday gutted the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, destroying the Probate Section.

The Nation learnt that the inferno, which lasted about two hours, destroyed electronic equipment, documents and other office items.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Bukar, is to retire next Tuesday.

It was gathered that the fire, which started about 4:30 pm, was suspected to have been caused by power surge.

It was put out about 6 pm.

The court’s Information Of-

ficer, Mrs. Tabita Kangiwa, said: “All I can tell you is that the fire affected the Probate Section.

“I have gone home. I was recalled because of the incident.

“I learnt the chief judge and the chief registrar were in court when smoke was noticed at the Probate Section. The fire has been put out.”

‘One million votes for Buhari’

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GROUP, YAYI Fans Club (YFC), has promised to mobilise one million votes for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidate for Lagos-West Senatorial district, Solomon Adeola.

By Jeremiah Oke

The group’s president, Samuel Amosu, said youths in Lagos West believe in the APC’s ideology, its presidential candidate and have decided to mobilise for the party.

He said most of the voters in the district are

youths, who are expecting a promising future.

“The best thing that can happen to Lagos-West District is to support and cast our votes for this vibrant, articulate, and visionary presidential candidate of APC and Solomon Adeola.”

stituted by Zagbayi against my client, David Umaru, who was declared winner of the Niger East senatorial byelection by the tribunal, which sat in Minna.”

APC chieftain makes case for Buhari, Osinbajo

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HEAD of tomorrow’s election, Nigerians have been urged to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari and others in the next month’s elections.

The party’s candidate in Mushin Local Government, Lagos State, Hon Semiu Ishola Karaole (aka Kams), who spoke at his campaign office in Mushin, said Nigerians need to cast their votes for Buhari and Osinbajo for a change.

He said re-electing PDP will be another four years wasted for Nigeria.

He urged the citizens to vote for Buhari and Osinbajo, saying they are the Messiah that God sent to take the country to the promise land.

Theme: By this time tomorrow!

Text:”... Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel....” (2Kings 7:1)

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OLLOWING the besiegement of Samaria and the concomitant effect on the economy of Israel, things were so bad as price increases were out of control and the concept of inflation became meaningless. Things were economically so bad that an ass’ head was sold for 80 shekels of silver which would be $52 and a quarter of a cab of dove’s dung was sold for 5 shekels of silver which would be about $ 1. Cannibalism became a feeding option and the King of Israel was not only helpless but was hopeless concerning the future of Israel.

Suddenly, God, who dictates what happened yesterday, what is happening today and what He wants to happen tomorrow (Heb. 13:8) intervened and sent Elisha to go and inform the King of Israel that, against every economic indices, tomorrow shall be the beginning of things that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and things that are yet to come to human imagination (1Corinthians 2:9). He said that tomorrow, the land’s economy shall be taken away from man and the economic portfolio of the land taken over by God, and that within 24 hours, scarcity shall disappear for advent of prosperity, sicknesses shall be a thing of the past as divine health shall step in, roads that had hitherto been closed shall open of their own accord, help from above shall be available where support from abroad had been abated, sadness shall surrender to joy, the unmarried shall heave a sigh of relief for they shall locate the bone of their bones, marital problems shall die and barrenness of whatever sort shall give way to fruitfulness etc.

This new beginning promised by God in Isaiah 43:18-19 that “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” led into a debate between the King of Israel’s Personal Adviser, maybe a Prime Minister or his Minister of Finance and the servant of the King of Kings on what bordered on economic principles and what the One who directs life economies without a recourse to economic principles can do within 24hours. The learned man, who was adept in the things of the world carried out an empirical analysis of the political, social cum economic situation of the country, viewed and reviewed the prevailing indices juxtaposed them with global best practices and declared that it was an impossible stunt. He concluded sarcastically that such a feat was even beyond the capacity of the Unlimited God to perform. For doubting what God can do, the man of God replied him thus; “....thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof” (2 Kings 7:2 cf 1 Corinthians 1:20) The Almighty God, the God who has all powers, went into action, turned the unimpressionable ambulation of four lepers into deafening noises of chariots, horses and a great host in the hearings of the Syrian army. They consequently ran for their lives leaving behind food, clothing and other utilities thinking that the king of Israel had hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to fight against the Syrian army. By the time the lepers got to where the soldiers were, they didn’t meet anyone but food. On God’s promised morrow, all He said through His servant that “ two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria” came to pass. Besides that, the man who countered God’s word was trodden upon in the gate and he died.

Doubting God’s supremacy over human knowledge and political permutations has been from time immemorial. When Paul alongside other prisoners were being taken in a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy, using spiritual binoculars he said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives” but hence this was contrary to the postulations of the professionals, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than those things which were spoken by Paul. At last, the words spoken by Paul, through leading of the Holy Spirit prevailed over the professional counsel and they had no option but to surrender to the leadership and direction of Paul the Apostle after they had suffered unimaginable losses (Acts 27:1-36).

The Unlimited God has ability to turn the challenges of today to a glorious tomorrow. With Him, a cock that isn’t clinically dead still has hope to eat corn tomorrow. In fact, even a dead cock can be brought to life by the Resurrection and the life who raised the dead Lazarus back to life (John 11:25-44; Job 14:7-9). God can make a nobody of today into somebody for tomorrow. It is possible in Him to sleep as a miserable person and wake up the following morning with a change of story. As He lives, this shall be your testimony during this lenten season. All that you have hope of ever acquiring shall locate you in the name of Jesus.

Are you experiencing storms in your home, family, finances or health today, it is not over as in Christ, there is a better tomorrow.

Don’t lose hope concerning the things you are seeing and experiencing today because “weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Tomorrow is coming and it shall be the dawn of a new beginning - a beginning of peace, an advent of pervasive security, the baseline of economic revival, the kickoff of celebrations unlimited and the morning of unity of purpose, peace, joy and tranquility in the name of Jesus.

To experience this power of a new tomorrow in your life, family and work, you need to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the power of God and the author of creation, like Apostle Paul. You must be dead to yourself and be ready to say that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 cf 1 Corinthians 1:24; Hebrews 1:3; John 1:3). Secondly, you must allow the Holy Spirit take over the leadership of your life, ask Him to lead you and you follow His directives (Ephesians 1:19-22). You must also have faith in Him and His ability to do all things (Hebrews11:6; Philippians 4:13) and lastly, you must be ready to stand by His word, which is the truth (Hebrews 4:12), you must hold on to His promises no matter what (John 2:5) and confess what is written as against what you are seeing today for a glorious tomorrow, which is going to be the beginning of new things.

Prayer: Oh Lord, use what make you the Almighty to give me a better tomorrow in the name of Jesus.

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2015

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NEWS

16 parties endorse Buhari in Ekiti

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HE presidential aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has received a boost in Ekiti State as his candidacy was endorsed by 16 parties.

Rising from their monthly meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, the parties identified Buhari as the candidate with the pedigree, experience and integrity to salvage the country from the woods and turn its

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

fortunes around for good.

They resolved to work for Buhari’s victory tomorrow, urging their members and the electorate to vote for the APC candidate.

The parties which endorsed Buhari include Alliance for Democracy (AD), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), National Conscience Party (NCP), Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Democratic

People’s Party (DPP), African People’s Alliance (APA), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Mega People’s Party (MPP), United Democratic Party (UDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), KOWA, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).

They also condemned what they called “indiscriminate

arrest of opposition members by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in the state” calling on the government to stop the trend immediately.

Addressing a briefing on behalf of other party chairmen, ADC Chairman Tunji Ogunlola said they have confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to superintend over a credible, free and fair election.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed (third left); Chairman, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) Board, Mr. Taiwo Sebioba (left); Board member, Bimbo Onafowokan, an engineer (right); Executive Secretary, Mrs. Tanwa Koya and winners of the quiz competition, Master Chidiebere Wisdom of Agidingbi Secondary Grammar School, (second left) and Miss Ayorinde Rashidat, at the World Water Day Grand Finale Quiz Competition for secondary schools.

Polls: Group seeks probe of arms seizure in Ebonyi community

GROUP, the Ebonyi Patriots Coalition (EPC), has urged security agencies to investigate claims of alleged arms found in a community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

In a petition to the InspectorGeneral of Police, Suleiman Abba, the Director-General, Department of State Security (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Chief of Army Staff, it urged them to act fast.

The group wants the security agencies to undertake urgent and comprehensive investigation into the alleged discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition in the home of a retired army officer.

“Some of our members alerted us on how the cache of arms and ammunition were discovered at the country home of the retired officer and the frantic attempts to sweep the matter under the carpet,” it said.

EPF, through its National

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By Joseph Jibueze

Coordinator, George Elebe Nwankwo, said with the political space becoming more competitive, some desperate elements seem to insist on employing intimidation and violence as their strategy for electoral victory.

“The fact that the desperation by some politicians has reached alarming proportion calls for the vigilance of patriotic citizens. It is, therefore, against this critical need for vigilance and patriotism that when evil men conspire, good men should combine.

“We learned that around January 31, a detachment of soldiers led by a major arrived the country home of the retired officer.

“We also learned that the retired soldier was being investigated for his alleged involvement in illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

“After the search in his country home, a large cache of arms, ammunition and sums of money were carted away by the visiting soldiers.

“While we have confidence in the military to carry out its investigations thoroughly, we are alarmed that there has been no formal statement by the relevant authorities over the matter.

“Our concern is heightened by the campaign of violence being waged on Ebonyi people in a desperation to capture the top political position in the state,” the group said.

EPC said the police team from Zone 6 Police Command, after visiting a hotel owned by a brother of the retired officer, also removed a cache of arms and ammunition.

It said it was appalled that shortly after a community newspaper ran a report on the

ugly developments, nothing was done about it.

“In the light of the above, we hereby call on Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the nation’s security services to conduct an in-depth investigation into these serial discoveries of caches of arms in the state especially against the background of the plot to levy war on the state by desperate politicians,” the coalition added.

Fear and confusion were said to have gripped the Ohaozara community when over 16 vehicles conveyed by military men stormed the town.

The visiting soldiers, it was learnt, allegedly recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition, including hard currency as well as naira notes.

The soldiers, it was learnt, shot sporadically, probably to scare people away from ascertaining their mission, with villagers running for dear lives.

Group raises the alarm over election in Benue Northeast PRO-DEMOCRACY group, Benue Northeast Forum For Good Governance, has raised the alarm over what it called the desperation of a senator, who it said has “become a major obstacle to the right of the electorate to freely choose the candidate of their choice in the rescheduled elections slated for tomorrow.”

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Bartholomew Akpa and Secretary, Comrade Caleb Shinyo, the group said that members of a militia group enlisted to disrupt the elections have been trained, fully armed and also mobilised “to snatch ballot boxes with a view to causing mayhem and illegally

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abort the elections tomorrow both for the presidential and National Assembly.”

According to the group, which held a meeting in Abuja a few days ago, the senator planned to use the militia to disrupt the conduct of the elections in a district, adding that the deadly plot was conceived at a meeting held in Abuja.

The statement said after a “thorough investigation through support and cooperation from concerned indigenes from the senatorial district, the group was able to locate the training camp of the deadly militia group, which is in a village bordering Cameroun Republic,” adding that it “believes that the large cache of arms in possession of the militia

group were ferried into the country through the Cameroonian border.”

The group said apart from the procurement of sophisticated arms by the senator, which include pump action and AK 47 rifles, the law-

maker also bought over 30 Hilux pickup vans, “which will facilitate the movement of this deadly militia for the same purpose and will provide them with military and police uniforms, which are being sewn in Cameroun.”

Polls: ICC officials for Ekiti

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CORES of officials of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, the Netherlands, are expected in Ekiti State to observe the presidential and National Assembly elections in the stateý tomorrow.

A source at the Human Rights Watch disclosed that the presence of ICC officials followed the petition before the court over various reports of attacks on the opposition and alleged plot by Governor Ayodele Fayose to compromise the ballot to his advantage.

“ICC was shocked by the revelations contained in the Ekitigate tape. They are collating their findings and I think they are just coming to Ekiti to have first hand experience on how the governor operates,” the source said.

EXPRESSO

10 reasons to vote out Jonathan •Continued

from Backpage

THE US and Britain had to resort to working through a roundabout route via Chad, Niger and Cameroun to save Nigeria. To think that Chad and Niger are landlocked countries with no seaports; they are among the poorest in the world. Between them and based solely on their annual budgets, they cannot muster a modern fighter jet. These countries used to be under the sustenance and security umbrella of Nigeria. Today, their soldiers are on our soil liberating us because we have a president that does not just get it. We may not want to hear this, but our president has almost become a pariah among leaders of notable nations of the world.

Five: Where are the Chibok girls?: About six weeks ago when President Jonathan told the nation that the girls would soon be released; that the multi-national force was closing in on the Boko Haram hideouts where the girls were kept. Challenged again two weeks ago, he said he believed the girls were alive for their bodies would have been displayed in the manner of Boko Haram had they been killed.

Even if we overlook that morbid faux pas, how in good conscience are we supposed to vote President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow if over 200 school girls abducted nearly a year ago are still missing with no clue whatsoever as to their whereabouts? In other lands where there is honour this president would never have the face to stand an election; in fact, he would have resigned.

Six: How to wreck an economy: A country whose leadership has no honour, is weak, incapable, and the atmosphere festers with corrupt practices cannot expect to have a decent economy. Under six years of Jonathan’s rule, he has left the economy comatose and in disarray. Nigeria has earned the most revenue in the last five years than at any other time in her history. Yet no attempt was made at investing properly or diversifying the economy. Now crude oil prices have crashed, the naira has caved in with it and the so-called economy is in the throes of death.

Seven: The demolition squad of Dame, Diezani and Adoke: Apart from the perils that the president brought upon his administration, there are three people who lent him the most hand and the more reasons we should not vote for Jonathan tomorrow. They are his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, his Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and his Minister for Justice, Mohammed Adoke.

Dame Patience is as grasping and irrepressible as she is detestable.

Everywhere she goes and in all she does, she spreads ill-will like dark confetti. Diezani has curled around Nigeria’s most important asset (crude oil) in the last six years like a boa constrictor and has asphyxiated it. She simply made it the center of corruption and Jonathan is too weak to check or chuck her. Mr. Adoke is simply the minister of no justice, he has the EFCC under his belt and he makes sure all the big thieves in the land who are his friends are never prosecuted. In the last five years, Adoke has invoked so much havoc on Nigeria’s judiciary system and her fight against corruption yet he expects reasonable, patriotic Nigerians to vote for his boss tomorrow?

Eight: Desperation for power: Ironically, President Jonathan seems not to know how so poorly he has performed in his first term. Yet he would do just anything to return for a second term. He would burst our treasury and use up all the fund therein to ‘bribe’ the electorate; he would court the devil and all the criminals in the land; he would spring all the people standing trial for monumental fraud and draft them into his campaign. He would buy up traditional rulers, the clergy, students, militants and just anybody to return for a second term. He considers it his birthright, which is a dangerous notion. He has forgotten entirely that only yesterday, he had no shoes.

Nine: No Presidential charisma and aura: Presidential poise, gait, charisma and the ancient art of oratory and public speaking would be considered special gifts of nature. Though they may be learned and mastered, we will not crucify President Jonathan for sorely lacking these essential tools of leadership. By the same token, we won’t take the blame for becoming utterly discomfited each time our president faces the microphone. Having been in public life since 1999 and at very high levels, one would have expected him to have learned these crucial skills. Not even in the last six years has he shown remarkable improvements. A leader and a president at that must exude an over-awing confidence that inspires his people. Perhaps Jonathan is better off as a senior civil servant.

Ten: Raw deal to Ndigbo: I have kept this for last because it concerns me. Only goodness knows the spell Jonathan has cast on my people to make them follow him so foolishly. Not minding that the south-south alone will never give you any political advantage in the future; not minding that most of our people and businesses are in the southwest and north. Also, not minding the fact that President Jonathan has treated Ndigbo worse than any other president in recent history. A few examples will suffice. First, the southeast got the least - only 5% - of all the projects executed in Nigeria in the last six years. Just about N75 billion against the northwest that topped with N497 billion. With this, it is apparent that hardly any major project was done in the southeast by Jonathan. The 2nd Niger Bridge, a forgotten promise, hurriedly dusted a few months ago months ago at the onset of another election, is the only major project in Nigeria structured on public private partnership as if Ndigbo do not pay tax like any other people.

Only Igbo appointees were removed with indignity under Jonathan: Dora Akunyili whose rare courage ensured Jonathan’s ascendancy was shooed out. Prof. Bath Nnaji, brain behind the much vaunted power reform was not only disgraced, Jonathan ‘vetoed’ his power plant. Princess Stella Oduah whose monstrous work revived most of our airports in such short time was pressured out while a Diezani Alison-Madueke sits pretty. Rosemary Ukamaka of Immigrations was axed for employment racket while Abba Moro who staged a killer racket remains in office. Festus Odumegwu was promptly sacrificed and General Azubuike Ihejirika, the best COAS in recent times was hounded out.

Finally there is no single Igbo man in Jonathan’s 12-man National Security Council (NSC); no Igbo is heading any of the over a dozen military, intelligence and paramilitary organs today under Jonathan.

Igbo wu Igbo unu mukwa anya?

How Jonathan can win: Lastly, one could actually raise over a hundred reasons not to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow but that will be a pointless exercise. For any discerning Nigerian of conscience, Jonathan has failed woefully and we actually need to rescue him from himself by removing him from the job. But even in losing the election, he could still steal victory by organizing a good election and effectuating an orderly hand over. That would be his ultimate victory.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

NEWS APC: DSS arrests Card Reader’s supplier in PDP’s bid to rig Continued from page 2

rity agents that is, to cast all the ballots in the particular unit.

“This strategy, to be used mostly in the PDP controlled states in the North and the Southeast, will be repeated in many polling units in many states, because for each state and polling units, there is a calculated percentage which the PDP must win!

“Another strategy, this time for APC controlled states, involves the use of carrot and stick against APC agents. The carrot involves seeking to buy the agents over with mouthwatering sums of money. If this fails, security agents and PDP thugs will simply disrupt the voting and destroy election materials.”

The Publicity Secretary also spoke of plans by the PDP to subject Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to electoral terrorism.

He said: “There is also a worrisome development in the Federal Capital Territory.

In at least three locations around the FCT, Jere, along the airport road, Karu towards Nasarawa and Kubwa road, security agents have mounted road blocks and are stopping North-bound travellers supposedly for a routine search. But the real reason is to collect PVCs from passengers who have theirs on them.

“Those who refuse to surrender theirs are being molested. This runs against the pledge by the government to ensure free, fair, credible and violence-free elections.”

Mohammed alleged plans by the Federal Government to deploy troops, who will be decked in DSS outfits, in defiance court rulings. He said the soldiers will be deployed to the Southwest, with strict instructions to capture all states in the region, except Osun State.

The party official called on

the APC members to be vigilant and expose unpatriotic elements who may want to sabotage the elections, Mohammed also raised an alarm over plans to bomb major towns in APC states, including Rivers, Lagos, Kano, Imo and Edo, with a view to scaring away voters from the polling units, adding that Ekiti and Ondo have also been earmarked for card reader disruption.

The party official complained about the harassment and intimidation of members across the six geo-political zones.

He said: “Our members and supporters in Sokoto State are under siege from the PDP, using security agencies. Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Barafawa has openly threatened to take the state by force. We asked all election monitors and observers to take note of Barafawa’s open threat.

“The police and PDP thugs in Ondo State, acting under instructions from Gov Olusegun Mimiko, have laid a siege on the opposition in the state.

On Tuesday, Hon. Eniolorunda Omosule, a serving member of the House of Representatives, representing Owo/ Ose Federal Constituency, was arrested and detained by the police for no reason other than to keep him away until after elections.

“APC members who were staging a peaceful walk at Ukparamu Ward 1, Bolowo community of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, were attacked with machetes and brutalised by PDP thugs, sponsored by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, with full police and army protection.

“We are calling on the security chiefs to stop these harassment and intimidation and to call their men to order, before things degenerate into

a free-for-all.

“In Imo State, an aide of Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who is contesting the governorship election on the platform of the PDP, sent more than 30 armed mobile policemen to invade the homes of some APC youth members in his ward at Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

“The policemen fired indiscriminately, smashed doors and windows and arrested some of the youths, who were detained at the Uvuru Police Station and later moved to the police headquarters in Owerri “The Commissioners of Police in the Southwest were yesterday invited to a secret meeting in Ibadan, where they received a Presidential bribe delivered in bullion vans as incentives for them to scuttle the elections in the region by acts of intimidation, unlawful arrests, and turning a blind eye to all irregularities and illegality that the PDP may perpetrate during Saturday’s elections.

“The Minister of Police Affairs, Abduljelili Adesiyan, one of the star actors in Ekitigate, also attended the meet-

Hoodlums shoot at Amaechi’s convoy in Port Harcourt

ing. All serving military personnel and their wives, as well as everyone residing in the barracks across the country, who are eligible to vote, will NOT be allowed to exercise their franchise on Saturday. We do not know the reason behind this, but it runs against the grain of international best practices in elections.”

Mohammed said the neutrality of the security agencies is critical to the success of the electoral process, urging them to be above board. He urged trhe international community to beam a searchlight on the electoral process.

He said: “The reason security agents are behaving this way is because no one has yet been held to account for Ekitigate, where security personnel, including policemen, soldiers, DSS and Civil Defence agents - all of whom we have their names, service numbers and telephone numbers - were wantonly used to rig the June 21st governorship elections.

“We sincerely hope that, in spite of their oath of office, the security chiefs have not jettisoned every appearance of impartiality ahead of Saturday’s election.”

reconnaissance. The visit coincided with authoritative information that Governor Amaechi had been marked for assassination by a combined team of the army and state security service personnel.”

The Rivers government, according to Semenitari, reminded the security agencies that they owed their allegiance, first of all, to Nigeria and to its people, and must remember that they owed every Nigerian a duty of protection, regardless of the person’s religious, political or social affiliation.

Soldiers yesterday laid siege to the country home of Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Iyamho, Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area – an action seen by residents as an attempt to “intimidate him on the election day”.

Besides, there were unconfirmed reports that the military high command in Abuja had drafted a special unit to All Progressives Congress (APC) strongholds in Edo North and Edo South senatorial zones to work

change for a better tomorrow?

“I am not contesting this election because I want power and money. I am doing so because Nigerians believe I have what it takes to achieve the much-needed change. When the people express interest in your ability and integrity to lead them, you have a responsibility to answer the clarion call to national service.

“I am also worried about the increasing temptation by the government to drag the military into duties outside their professional training. This tendency makes Nigeria look like those banana republics where chaos is the order of the day.

“While I commend our soldiers in the current war against terrorism and threats to the

country’s territorial integrity, we should exercise caution in the deployment of soldiers during elections as the courts have severally warned. It puts their political neutrality and credibility at risk.

“Once again, let me use this opportunity to thank Nigerians for their tremendous support throughout this electioneering campaign period. The biggest challenge, however, is that we must come out en-masse to vote APC and its presidential and other candidates.

“Having done that, I expect them to do all that is within the law to protect their votes and ensure that the will of the people is not subverted or in any way undermined.”

Continued from page 2

I’m not in the race for money, power, says Buhari Continued from page 2

Millions of Nigerians are captives of fear because of insecurity; thousands of our unemployed youth are haunted by suicidal temptations because of uncertain future; the country cannot achieve progress because pervasive corruption guzzles huge resources meant for the welfare of the people. And finally, how can the economy do well when leaders are incompetent and corrupt? Can any economy grow under the feet of corruption?

“When the government lacks the will, the competence and the courage to handle these challenges, are Nigerians not legitimately entitled to demand for

against the ruling party in the state.

According to a statement by Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, last night, the aim is to manipulate the election’s outcome in favour of PDP. Odion said: “Family members of the Comrade Governor were shocked to find his country home taken over by soldiers this afternoon.

When asked, the invading force said they were acting on orders from above. We also have it on good authority that the Army high command in Abuja had sent some soldiers to Edo State on what they described as ‘special operations’. In order not to arouse suspicion, these soldiers were told to dress in suits and pose as SSS operatives and station themselves at polling units on Election Day, particularly in areas seen as APC strongholds.

They were told to harass and possibly detain polling agents of APC in order to clear the ground for rigging by agents of PDP who would be wearing special hand bands. It is a rehash of the rigging manual implemented in Ekiti last year.

“Two days ago, our campaign jingle on Channels Television in which Oshiomhole endorsed General Buhari was stopped abruptly after few exposures on orders from above.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to use this medium to tell the Army high command that Comrade Oshiomhole cannot be intimidated even with whole might of the Nigerian Army from insisting on the application of the principle of ‘One Man, One Vote’ on the Election Day. We hope that as patriots, officers and men of the Nigerian Army will not allow themselves to be used by political desperadoes to truncate this democracy.”

Jonathan versus Buhari: How states, FCT will vote Continued from page 55

Jonathan and Buhari will fight hard for votes in Ondo State. Proximity to the President’s native Bayelsa State as well as the large presence of Arogbo-Ijaws in the oil producing area of the state, will give the president a good showing in the southern part of the state.

But with Buhari running on the platform of the APC this time and the general feeling of marginalisation among the Yorubas, his performance in the mainland and other parts of the state will receive a serious boost from what it was in 2011.

The defection of the Deputy Governor is a psychological boost for APC. But Mimiko like Fayose are diehard Jonathan loyalists and would do anything to ensure their candidate prevails. Last weekend we projected a narrow Buhari win but we now believe the state is too close to call.

Ondo gave Jonathan 387, 376 votes in 2011 and a miserly 11, 890 to Buhari. As of today 1, 110, 844 PVCs have been collected. The state has 1, 524, 655 registered voters.

Verdict: Battleground LAGOS Although President Jonathan in recent weeks made tremendous effort at

swaying the electorate in Lagos in his favor, not much was achieved by his political maneuvers. If anything, the President and his team gave the people of the state ample opportunities to critically examine why they should vote for any of the two leading candidates.

Before now, Lagosians were disappointed that the President merely coming to Lagos when he launched his campaign, to attack personalities and not to discuss issues. The people, it appeared would have loved the President to tell the people about his achievement in office and how he intends to improve on the achievements.

Not even the recent attempt by the PDP to discredit APC’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appeared to have succeeded as polls continue to give the state to Buhari and his party. The near non-existing influence of Afenifere chieftains in the state is also a factor that made nonsense of the President’s effort to play the ethnic card in the state.

Thus, contrary to the posturing of people like Bode George, the most popular position is that Buhari will outshine Jonathan at the polls in Lagos State. APC’s control of political structures in the state is massive – from

state to local council levels.

This gives it an unparalleled ability to turn out the votes on polling day.

PDP’s attempt to play the ethnic card appealing to certain non-indigenous ethnic groups has been neutralized

by APC getting its governors and leaders like Kwankwaso, Na’Abba and Buhari to speak directly with other ethnic groups whose numbers are equally large in the state.

Another terrible miscalculation was the pro-Jonathan rally held in Lagos by the Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other supporters of the president. The event turned into an orgy of violence with motorists being harassed by gun-totting OPC members and billboards of APC members being vandalized. Public reactions to the outing have been decidedly negative for Jonathan and PDP. By the time all of the above are placed side by side with the unending crises that have rocked the PDP in the state for years, Buhari is in pole position to prevail on March 28.

In 2011 almost one million votes separated Jonathan and Buhari. The former polled 1, 281, 688 as against the latter’s modest 189, 983 votes. PVC collection has

been anaemic – with only 3, 799, 274 distributed out of a registered voter pool of 5.8 million.

Verdict: APC wins comfortably.

OGUN An array of PDP chieftains, including controversial Buruji Kashamu, former party boss, Joju Fadairo and Doyin Okupe, amongst others, are working round the clock to deliver the votes in the state to Jonathan. They are no doubt determined to beat the APC to second place.

But matching the popularity of the ruling party and the wide acceptance of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is a huge task for Jonathan’s men. Consequently, Buhari’s visit to Abeokuta few days back was a huge success that saw the people of the Gateway State trooping out to see him.

An earlier visit by Jonathan also saw a mammoth crowd but the frenzy that greeted the APC rally gave indication of where the votes may go. Amosun’s track record of achievements, especially in the area of urban renewal, which has seen the massive construction of roads and bridges will be an added advantage for his party.

Also, the seeming ‘siddon

look’ attitude of people like former Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Jubril Martins Kuye and a host of other aggrieved PDP leaders may work against Jonathan in the state unless something urgent is done.

The indisputable political place of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and his unhidden opposition to Jonathan’s aspiration, which peaked with his card-tearing exit from the party few weeks back, will also work in favor of Buhari and his party.

In 2011 Buhari lost Ogun – home of his then running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare – to Jonathan by 309, 177 to 17, 654 votes. PVC distribution has been problematic in the state in the run-up to this year’s polls. So far only 1, 125, 657 out of 1, 829, 534 registered voters have received cards.

Verdict: APC to win.

OYO In Oyo state, the tattered state of Jonathan’s party may aid Buhari’s victory. APC also controls the state government. Pundits also say that aside, Oyo is a core Yoruba state where the feeling of marginalisation is deep-rooted.

Although the likes of Jumoke Akinjide, Jonathan’s minister from the state, and

Senator Teslim Folarin, gubernatorial candidate, are of the opinion that the people will vote for the Presdient, indications that this may not be so are numerous. The daily defection of party leaders from the PDP, which started with the exit of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala remains an issue. Although it is believed that Ladoja and Alao-Akala are working for Jonathan’s candidacy unofficially.

With APC determined to hold on to the state, enjoying the support of all the first class monarchs including Alaafin of Oyo, Soun of Ogbomosho, Olubadan of Ibadan etc, Jonathan may find it difficult getting votes in Oyo. Jonathan took Oyo comfortably four years ago – raking in 484, 758 votes to outpace Buhari who could only manage 92, 396 votes. PVC collection stands at 1, 639, 967 out of 2, 415, 566 registered voters.

Verdict: APC wins.

CONCLUSION: General Buhari is projected to prevail in the North West, North East, North Central and South West, while President Jonathan would win in the South-South and South East.

•See National Polling Results on page 12

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3166

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Again, the thought of tomorrow is as sweet as it is dreadful. Sweet because the people will have the opportunity of electing a more virile president to replace the inept Jonathan: And dreadful because of the barbarity that the Jonathan administration has put in place to circumvent and probably upturn the wishes...’

MOBOLAJI SANUSI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HERE is a good reason that democracy is described as the best form of government. That reason is certainly not because democracy is the most efficient or effective means of getting things done. Dictatorship is far more efficient and effective. With a simple command, the dictator gets things done and almost always to his satisfaction; otherwise heads might literally roll.

Democracy is described as the best form of government because it is a system that involves all citizens in governance. On the legitimate assumption that every citizen has a stake in good governance, democracy gives them the opportunity to participate. But since modern republics boast of populations that are far too large to accommodate all citizens in day-to-day chores of governance, democratic systems come up with the practice of representative democracy whereby every citizen participates, not directly in governance, but in the choice of those who represent their interests in government, and in monitoring their performance.

Notwithstanding the aberrations, democracy and the party system that it features is still preferable to dictatorship. By granting electorates the right to vote for candidates of their choice, it places on them the responsibility to choose. If they choose to squander their future because they are deceived by a fleeting present, it is their prerogative and they would only have themselves to blame.

If voters choose on the basis of promises that fly in the face of good judgment, they can only live to regret it. And should they choose on the basis of sentimental attachment to a candidate because of affiliations of religion and/or ethnicity in the face of visible evidence that the one with whom they share these characteristic features doesn’t give a damn about their well-being, it is again their call.

Democracy has put the voter at the driver’s seat. Where they choose to go and how they choose to get there is their responsibility.

This campaign season has been nothing but disappointing. Issues have been left unattended to while political parties and their spokespersons have taken to negative and hate campaigns in ways that show contempt for voters. If voters are taken seriously, candidates and their parties would reach out to them with solid programs that aim at their welfare and interests. Instead we are treated to name-calling, hate-mongering, and silly tales in the name of campaigns. Promises that can never be fulfilled are made. Van-loads of dollar bills are dispersed to various groups in a bid to buy votes and delude the people. It is simply bewildering.

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

The responsibility to choose

•President Jonathan •Gen. Buhari

In a last minute move by the ruling party, it engaged the service of a foreign lobbyist— David Grenell—who wrote an op-ed piece in The Washington Times, a conservative leaning paper in the United States. PDP presented Grenell as a former United States envoy, implying that he not only has a good knowledge of Nigeria but is also close to the seat of power.

The gist of the piece is that electing General Buhari will be a disaster for Nigeria. What is amazing about this is that the argument is based on General Buhari’s religion and professional background and service as Head of State.

Grenell suggested, counter-intuitively, that Buhari will introduce Sharia throughout Nigeria, when in fact he had the opportunity to do so as a Military dictator but refused. How will he now opt for it as a democratically elected president and expect to get it through the National Assembly and State Assemblies? But the illogical mind disdains reason.

Shortly after General Buhari returns from his trip to Chatham House in London, the propaganda wing of PDP accused him of having entered into a deal with Western powers to legalize same-sex marriage in Nigeria. This is the same man they have accused of being an Islamic fundamentalist! But what is more incred-

T

HIS piece is perhaps the most difficult I have had to write. Why is it so?

It is the eve of a major election battle between two leading contenders. Even though readers of this column must know by now that my sympathy lies with the APC candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, it still appears unfair at this last hour to back one candidate against the other. This has been my tormenting dilemma for many days. I have had to cast and recast the above headlines in over half a dozen ways just to defang the piece and soften its bite.

Unfortunately, I had to return to my original and (if you like, primordial instincts). I fell for my conscience; I was suckered by the extreme love for my country. No other sentiment could win over my primitive conscience and the flag. I believe quite strongly that in the overall interest of our fatherland, Nigeria must move on now without Goodluck Jonathan. I adduce below, just ten reasons in my order of their gravity: One: The small matter of honour: This point has been flogged so much that one must not dwell on it, but that does not make it less crucial. Indeed, it is for me, the primary reason why Nigerians must not vote for Jonathan. He has proven not to be a man of his word. He is a president that we cannot trust or rely upon the words he speaks on his honour. He told us he would run for just one term. He has not only denied it, he challenges us to prove it. For me and for any decent person, presidents are made of nobler stuff.

Two: Not capable: This job is beyond President Goodluck Jonathan’s ken and that is the simple truth. It is Igbo wisdom that what a man does not know is always above his head.

ible in their latest negative campaign with the help of Grenell is that Grenell is an openly gay Republican who in 2013 submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case, according to Wikipedia. Yet with their possession of such information, neither Buhari nor APC has accused PDP of making a deal with foreigners to legalize same-sex marriage. Seriously, which of the two parties has a rational basis to make that accusation?

Campaign has ended. It is time to choose wisely because on several levels, the future is at stake. First, the future of a united Nigeria, where though tribe, tongue, and faith differ, we stand in brotherhood, is at stake. All these have been destructively exploited in this campaign. There is plenty of blame to go round, but an unbiased judgment will place a larger amount of the blame at the doorstep of the ruling party if only because much more is expected of it. Demonizing an opponent as a religious bigot and his political party as an Islamic party is beyond the pale in a multi-religious society in which adherents of every faith populate every party. Can a reelected Jonathan be expected to heal the wound of divisiveness that he has unabashedly inflicted on the body politic?

Second, the future of a corruption-averse nation is at stake in the face of the shameless use of filthy patronage by the president and his party in this campaign. Whether it is in the form of unmerited appointment to political offices (how else does one describe Obanikoro’s ministerial appointment?) or in the form of the rain of dollar on traditional rulers and ethnic champions, or in the form of contract awards to militants, team Jonathan has polluted the political terrain beyond imagination. That he still has the courage to mount the soap box and rail against corruption is the highest form of hypocrisy. Do we really expect a reelected Jonathan to seriously

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

10 reasons to vote out Jonathan ICG: The conversation Ndigbo want

A

NY knowledgeable Igbo man who is awake to this time must have seen the recent appearance unto the scene of an ad hoc body called Igbo Conversational Group (ICG). It is clearly the handiwork of former governor of Imo State Chief Ikedi Ohakim, an astute and thinking man.

The critique of ICG would be business for another day but suffice to ask just two questions today: why “Conversational” and not perhaps, ‘Dialogue’ or ‘Intervention’? Secondly, are we seeing in ICG the same kind of skirmishes by Chief Orji Uzo Kalu recently after he had roundly lost out of power? He made the same noises and raised the same questions about Igbo marginalization. So much sound and fury followed by cold dust.

Sadly, Igbo elite don’t seem to see the big picture. There is a huge vacuum; Ndigbo crucially need a leader now than at any other time of her history. But leadership of a people is not a poolside champagne party. It is a cross, it is a long distance race and it is selfless and thankless. But there is a crown. Who is ready?

The delicate art of the presidency of any country is too serious to be appropriated on base sentiments. After about six years on this job, any discerning and honest mind can tell that this president cannot grasp the magnitude of this office. While one loathes to throw in the word ‘clueless’, it is quite apparent that it did

not surface by chance. Our country is far worse off today than it was six years ago and it would be plain dishonesty to make excuses for him. If the country had flowered and bloomed, he would have taken full credits.

Another four years of Jonathan is sure to spell doom for Nigeria because the more he tried

fight corruption?

Third, while it is common thinking that politics is dirty, there is also a reasonable expectation on the part of right-thinking people that a holder of the most important office in the nation will stand tall above board, no matter the temptation. However, the stench that oozes out of the presidency in the last six years has been mind-boggling.

Recall the handling of the National Governors’ Forum election. Remember the use of the Nigeria Police in Rivers and Abuja. Reflect on the Ekitigate audio tape scandal.

How about the clampdown on APC lawmakers in Ekiti and the use of a minority to pass budget and approve commissioners?

Think about ministerial corruption and the president’s response. What about the final onslaught against the people through the selfish drive for the postponement of the elections? If that was not an in-your-face use of power I don’t know what is. In all of these actions that erode democracy and demean the people, President Jonathan just turned the other way. Everything is politicized and the presidency is no longer a bully pulpit for national redemption. Can a reelected president rise up to the self-imposed challenges to democratic norms?

Fourth, I have not referenced the issue of insecurity and the fact that despite the politicization of security in pursuit of a political agenda, Chibok girls are still held in Boko Haram camps and the Northeast still groans under the deadly grip of beastly and brutish insurgents. This week over 400 women were kidnapped in Damasak. Does this president have any new tricks up his sleeve?

If the answer to each of the questions I posed in the last four paragraphs can be truthfully answered only in the negative, is continuity a rational option? There appears to be a resounding affirmation of the need for change among Nigerians who want to send a strong message to leaders that citizens must be taken seriously.

The question now is this. If citizens vote for change, will their votes count or will the impunity that has characterized the regime in the last six years extend to the election?

Will the ruling party militants and security agents allow the election to proceed freely?

If the ruling party loses, will it handover?

Or will it opt for an interim government contraption or a military take-over? The world is watching.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 (and in fairness, he does try to improve) the more he fails. Pathetically, he appears like a man digging roundabout himself. He actually needs our help; to help him OUT. Three: How to run the most corrupt country in the world and be cool about it: How President Jonathan could sit pretty on the dungeon of a stinking, messy, corrupt, country without a nose mask is a wonder. It is either that he is congenitally corrupt whereupon he no longer knows what constitutes corruption or he has an entirely different definition all of his own, or both. For instance, most cabinet members have been on a binge in the last six years; nearly all MDGs reek and you need no forensic audit to perceive that. One can list over a dozen cases begging for attention.

Four: No fire in his belly: The Boko Haram saga is a glowing testament that President Jonathan is too weak and indecisive to run a country. And when weakness meshes with corruption the result is sure fatality for any country. For five years, the budgets for warwares and welfare of the military were being spirited away by the Presidency, the Ministry of Defence and the military brass. The country’s defence and security situation (like in all other spheres) were a torrid mess such that a rag-tag Boko Haram militia was dead on seizing the country from President Jonathan and his messy military. It was so pathetic that the Western world working through the US and Britain could not work with Nigeria’s military because everywhere stank.

•Continued

on page 59

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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