The Nation March 3, 2015 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

...87 D AYS TO GO DA

•AND MORE ON PAGES 2-7,47&53

•APC, PDP, LP in battle for control of Kwara •Our role in eliminating elections’ fraud, by U.S. •Tinubu threatens to sue AIT for alleged defamation •Eight arrested for violence on Oyo Accord supporters

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3142 TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Dangote remains Africa’s richest •Adenuga, Alakija, Rabiu, Otedola make Forbes’ list

ILL Gates has been declared the world’s richest man for the 16th time in Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of global billionaires. The Microsoft founder once again beat Mexican businessman Carlos Slim to the top spot in the 2015 ranking released yesterday. Continued from page 4

•Dangote

•Adenuga

•Alakija

•Otedola

•Rabiu

•INSIDE: JONATHAN GIVES 164 NYSC AWARD WINNERS JOBS, SCHOLARSHIP P5

INEC commissioners shun push to back anti-Jega plot Court refuses to stop Card Reader From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

HOSE pushing for a new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) helmsman may have lost the battle to cause disaffection within the agency, The Nation learnt yesterday. There have been calls for Prof. Attahiru Jega’s removal. Prominent among such callers are Ijaw leader Edwin Clark, former presidential adviser Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and National Conference Planning Committee Chairman Dr. Femi Okurounmu. But, an attempt to enlist some National Commissioners into the Jega-must-go plot has collapsed, with the officials resisting pressure to have him replaced. The “enraged” commissioners vowed to swim and sink with Jega instead of rocking the boat, a source said. Two of them have openly threatened to take legal action against the media associating them with moves to replace Jega. Most of the National Commissioners yesterday resolved to stand by Jega because, according to them, the INEC boss has been a team player. They reportedly met with Jega to pledge their solidarity with him. Jega’s tenure is to end in June, but there are moves to force him to go on a terminal leave – a plot lawyers have dismissed as illegal because the INEC chairman’s tenure is not covered by civil service rules. The commissioners, said another source, Continued from page 4

•FUR Y OF FIRE: A building engulfed by fire in Ereko, Lagos Island...yesterday •FURY PHOTOS: AFP

STORY ON PAGE 52

Fire razes three-storey building in Lagos

•One of the traders...yesterday

? APC, PDP row over fuel scarcity

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

STORY ON PAGE 4

NNPC: we’re owing marketers PDP blames it on APC It’s reckless, says APC •TRANSPORTATION P12 •SPORTS P20 •ENERGY P43 •PROPERTY P44 •POLITICS P47

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

MAY 29 ...87 DAYS TO GO

NEWS

Our role in e

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second right); United States (U.S.) Consul-General, Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins (second left); U.S. Political/Economic Chief, Tom Hines (left) and Political Officer, Erica Chiusano (right) when the envoys visited the governor at the Oke-Mosan Office, Abeokuta...yesterday.

United States (U.S.) Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in an online briefing with reporters, spoke on the elimination of fraud in polls, Boko Haram and other issues affecting Nigeria. WALE AJETUNMOBI was there.

•From left: Director Aceptance, West Africa, MasterCard, Kamil Olufowobi; Head, Infornation Technology (IT), Zenith Bank,Francis Ghukwuyem; Head, e-Business, Zenith Bank, Juliet Nwangwuma; Area Business Head, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide; Head, Retail Banking, Zenith Bank, Chioma Nkechika and Head, IT Engineering, Zenith Bank, Chudes Okoh at the award presentation by Mastercard to Zenith Bank in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

•From left: Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa; winner, Airtel TRACE Music Star, Onajite Okotete; Managing Director, TRACE, Sam Onyemelukwe and Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo at the presentation of the cheque to the winner in Lagos .

•Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha (right), Managing Director, Petroleum and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh (left) and some oficials of the agencies during the GMD's monitoring of sales of petroleum products at the Conoil Filling Station, Herbert Macaulay Way, Abuja...yesterday.

HE U.S.’s role in encouraging electronic voting and elimination of fraud That’s a great question to start with. As you know, promoting peaceful, transparent and fair elections on the continent of Africa is a high priority for the United States (U.S.) government. So, we have been supporting the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission of (INEC) as they move toward electronic electoral cards. We have provided support since 1999 and we will continue to support their efforts. We understand that for this election, they’ve gotten out now about 75 per cent of the electronic voting cards, and we hope that during the next few weeks (they have until March 8) that additional cards will be picked up. In fact, we encourage listeners here to pick up their voting cards. This is going to be a key election for Nigeria. We are watching very closely as the preparations go forward for the election that will take place on March 28, and I look forward to seeing you there. Is Nigeria making sufficient progress against Boko Haram to safely hold their elections on March 28? We have been assured by the government of Nigeria and by INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega that the elections will take place on March 28. And we are seeing very active work being done by Nigeria’s security service, working closely with the government of Chad, Cameroon and other neighbours, to fight Boko Haram. We are all watching this election. This election will be a bellwether for the entire continent. The world is watching, the continent is watching, Nigeria’s neighbours are watching this election. And our hope is that the election will be free and fair, that it will be transparent, it will be peaceful, and that the results of the election will reflect the will of the people of Nigeria. I will be in Nigeria on the 27 of March, as an observer for the election on the 28. As you know, Secretary Kerry visited Nigeria a few weeks ago, and again, expressed our concern that there will not be violence. He met with both candidates. He met with President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), he had a conversation with Chairman Jega, he met with the press, and he made it very, very clear that Nigeria is a strategic partner of the United States, we want to see this election go well, and we want to continue to work with Nigeria in the future. Boko Haram, African Intervention Force and the Peace-keeping Office In fact, we worked very, very closely with the African Union (AU) as they moved toward setting up these peace-keeping forces. We were part of their efforts in Somalia, setting up AMISOM, we worked

.Dr. Jonathan

very closely with the African Union as it set up the peace-keeping force in CAR (Central Africa Rpublic), before that turned over to a UN (United Nations) Peacekeeping Force, and we are working closely with the African Union that just approved the Multinational Task Force to support the efforts against Boko Haram, so our efforts are multi-faceted. We work directly with the African Union, we work in supporting bilaterally, countries that are making contributions to peace-keeping forces, we work directly with the UN if it is a UN peacekeeping force. So, we don’t have a single route for supporting these efforts. The point that I want to leave you with is that we do support Africa’s efforts to provide peace-keeping support, and Africa has been a very good and close partner of ours over the past many years. Military assistance against Boko Haram. Let me start by expressing my condolences to all of the people in the region who have lost lives, their family members affected by the attacks on them by Boko Haram. We have been working very closely with the government of Nigeria for more than a year, in fact, even longer, in supporting their efforts against Boko Haram, in terms of providing training, in terms of providing equipment, as well as providing information through our programme of information sharing, and we are very actively involved in the information fusion cell that exists in Abuja right now. We are also working closely with the neighbours, and I commend the AU’s decision during the AU Summit to support the Multinational Task Force, and support the countries in the region as they organise themselves to fight against the terror that Boko Haram is posing throughout the region. We have...I have met with your President, met with your Foreign Affairs Minister, and your Minister of Interior, who was here last week. We are, again, providing support to the government of Cameroon. We just delivered, I think, earlier this week, some equipment directly to the military, and we are looking at additional equipment requests that have been made to us by your government, as well as by other governments in the region. We want to support their efforts to end the terror that Boko Haram is committing throughout the region, and we are committed to ensuring that these efforts succeed. The position of the U.S. on terrorism activities in Africa Our commitment is categorical. As you know, last week we hosted the Countering Violent Extremism Conference, the White House Conference on Countering Violent Extremism, and we brought together twelve

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

MAY 29 ...87 DAYS TO GO

ensuring fraud-free polls, by U.S. ,

We are all watching this election. This election will be a bellwether for the entire continent. The world is watching, the continent is watching, Nigeria’s neighbours are watching this election

•Gen. Buhari

• Prof. Jega

African...thirteen African countries and the AU, along with countries from around the globe, to discuss how we can work together as partners to fight terrorism, not just in Africa, but around the globe. The issue in Africa is one that we are very much taken with. It’s a high priority. We are working very closely with African partners in Somalia to fight against Al Shabaab, we are supporting the efforts of African partners in West Africa to fight Boko Haram, we work closely with partners in Mali and Niger, in Algeria and Mauritania to fight AQIM, and we will continue to put resources toward the efforts of supporting our African friends and partners to ensure that we end terrorism attacks that are having a negative impact on growth, having a negative impact on peace and security, and keeping young people from pursuing the

• Greenfield

goals that they want to achieve, in terms of education and prosperity on the continent of Africa. Our commitment is a strong commitment, and again, it’s one that we can’t do by ourselves, and African countries can’t do alone. We have to work as partners. The vision of the U.S. for Africa by 2020 I think our vision is clear. Our vision is the African vision. It is a vision of peace; it is a vision of security; it is a vision of prosperity. And in order to achieve that, we have to continue to pursue good governance; we have to continue to pursue transparency and the end to corruption; and to help build economies in Africa that provide jobs, and provide prosperity for all of the African people. It’s a tough job. It’s the vision we have today. It will not be something that we can accomplish over-

night. So, by 2020, I hope that we are able to see this vision start to develop into something that is concrete on the African continent. Stabilising any instabilities that may occur during the election process As you know, in 2015 and 2016, there are over a dozen elections on the continent of Africa, and we are working closely with every single country where there are elections to ensure that these elections are peaceful, they are free, they are fair, and they are transparent, and that they represent the will of the people of these countries who are going to the polling stations to vote. The one that is coming up right now in Nigeria, we have provided immense support to the INEC in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission. As you may know, I spoke to Chairman Jega in Nigeria last week, to encourage him in his efforts to continue

to courageously support peaceful elections in Nigeria, and we feel the same about elections elsewhere on the continent. So, we will be there in every country, through our embassies, through our support to political parties, to our support to providing civic education to citizens who may be voting in elections. We will be there in every single case to ensure that everything that we can do, everything within our power, to support peaceful, transparent elections, will be done. Corruption in Africa Corruption, as I have said many times, is a cancer all over Africa, and corruption has kept Africa from really moving forward in this century in terms of education, in terms of infrastructure, in terms of growth. And there are a lot of people across the continent who are affected by the tens of billions of dollars that have been

stolen from their economies. Following the African Leaders’ Summit last year, or during the Summit, we announced an illicit finance initiative, where we are working with African countries to help them to deal with the issue of corruption. The government of Senegal has agreed to work with us on this effort, and we are also working very closely with the AU. As you know, the AU had a high level commission looking at illicit finance last year, this was led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and they have determined that these billions of dollars are really having a negative effect on Africa. So, this is something that we all have to work on, it is something that populations have to work on, it is something that the press has to take strong positions on, but it is important that when people go to the polls to vote, that they also vote against corruption, and they let their politicians know that they do not support the continued corruption of their economies that have led them to the place where the education systems across the continent are no longer providing good education for the people of Africa, that jobs are not being provided. We know that there are some amazing young people on the continent. Through our YALI programme, we had more than 50,000 young people apply for the YALI programme last year, 30,000 this year. We are looking forward to announcing the 500 who will be in the YALI programme, the Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme, and we see the number of young people who are logging onto the YALI website. So, I would disagree that corruption is leading people to be involved in crime. I think it is leading young people to take a stand, and to show leadership, and to be involved so that they can ensure that the next generation on the continent of Africa does not suffer as this generation has.

Troops liberate Yobe communities from Boko Haram • Chadian army kills 207 insurgents

HE Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday said troops were dominating operations in Yobe State. A statement on the Defence Headquarters’ website said: “Troops are dominating operations in Kukawa, Geri, Gujba in Yobe, to rid the terrorists on Sunday.” According to the statement, troops, on Sunday night, entered Kukawa Geri, Gujba, in Yobe and were determined to flush out the insurgents from their remaining hideouts. Most of the local government areas and communities previously occupied by terrorists in the affected states have been freed. The Nigerian troops routed terrorists from Bara, headquarters of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe and Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa. The statement listed other locations that were cleared during the operations as: Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa. They include: Monguno, Marte, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa and Baga, among other big towns and communities. There were reports yesterday that 73 terrorists were killed by troops in fresh attacks on Konduga. The insurgents allegedly attempted to recapture the town, 35 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. A soldier reportedly died in the battle.

Ex-Chibok panel member warns against relocating IDPs from camps

MEMBER of the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on Chibok School Girls, Mr. Mike Ejiofor yesterday advised against the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to communities freed by the military.from Boko Haram control. He said the communities might not be safe because of the likelihood the insurgents might planted Improvises Explosive Devices (IEDs) in different corners. According to him, bomb experts must be allowed to properly sweep the area and certify the reclaimed territories safe for re-occupation by displaced persons. Ejiofor, who was a former director in the Department of State Security Service (DSS), gave the warning on a live programme on “Kakaaki” in Abuja. He said the best alternative at the moment was for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to go with its plans to ensure voting by all displaced persons through special arrangements He said: “Let me first salute the gallantry of our troops, they have done well and I am happy with the way Nigerians are coming out in solidarity with the military like we saw happening Also at the weekend, soldiers from Chad clashed with Boko Haram insurgents in a Nigerian border town. According to Reuters, the fighting took place near Garambu, a community located near the Nigerian/ Cameroonian border. The Chadian Army claimed to have killed 207 Boko Haram militants with only one casualty on its side. The Chadian Army reportedly seized from the militants a large cache of weapons and ammunition as well as

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

in Cameroon when citizens came out to protest Boko Haram attacks in support of their armed forces. “ You see, we shouldn’t play politics when it comes to security; we all have to rally round our security agencies. I think also, we need to commend the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, he is doing well in separating governance from politics and that is commendable. “He is the only the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader that came out to give so much credit to the Nigerian military. He said credits should go to the Nigerian military for 90 per cent of the successes recorded so far while the multi-national forces take rest of the credits, it is good, the military needs every support especially from leaders across political divides. “On the issue of IDPs returning to their communities, I think it is too early to start talking about internally displaced persons’ return to these communities. You cannot rule out the possibility of explosives planted by Boko Haram in places they occupied, the military has to take time to clear these

two pick-up trucks. Reuters said that Chad’s claim was not immediately verified. Chad is a major player in the escalating regional conflict with the Islamist group, which has terrorised communities in Nigeria’s Northeastern region since 2009 and recently expanded its attacks to border towns in Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Chad sent thousands of soldiers to the Cameroon-Nigeria border following Boko Haram’s first recent incur-

communities to ensure they are safe. “We also know that water is fundamental to human existence but most of the wells which these communities rely on, Boko Haram killed people and stuffed them inside. There has to be efforts to even clean the communities and sanitise them to avoid health issues and then create access to water.” Ejiofor also expressed the importance of allowing the Victims Support Programme (VSP) to rehabilitate those displaced by Boko Haram. Ejiofor added: “The victims support programme initiated by the Federal Government raised some money they have to come in to provide relief. “The sate governments have to live to their responsibilities with the support of the Federal Government to reconstruct houses destroyed, hospitals, markets and schools so, that the communities can be habitable before displaced persons return and when this is done, traditional rulers have to come in to mobilize people to return. “For now if it is about elections, we understand that INEC has assured us of preparations for the IDPs to vote in camps. That should go on while communities are fixed.”.

sions into Cameroon, and was involved in a February offensive with Nigeria and Cameroon that reclaimed the towns of Mafa, Mallam Fatori, Abadam, Marte and Gamboru from the extremist group. Its significant role in the multi-regional offensive resulted in a Boko Haram attack on the Chadian town of Ngouboua on February 13. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), about 30 Boko Haram sect members crossed Lake

Chad in motorboats to carry out the attack that resulted in the death of a village chief and five Chadian soldiers. They managed to burn several residents’ homes before the military responded with infantry and airstrikes, eventually repelling the militants back. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened Chad’s President, Idriss Deby, in a video in which he challenged the Multi-national Task Force to face his members.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS Dangote remains Africa’s richest Continued from page 1

•Vehicles queuing for petrol as scarcity of the commodity persists in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

APC, PDP quarrel over fuel scarcity

UEL scarcity persisted yesterday across the major cities as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) battled to stem the worrisome tide. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) blamed it all on the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which described the call as “totally unconscionable and, indeed, an admission of failure”. Most of the petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were shut. The queue at the NNPC mega station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way stretched over two kilometres. The Oando Petrol Station on the same way was shut. The Total Petrol Station near the Customs Headquarters was besieged. The row of vehicles blocked half of the road from Customs to Wuse market. The Total Petrol Station opposite the NNPC was closed. The Conoil station beside it had a queue from Bolingo Hotel Road and Wuse Market Road. Black marketers sold 10 litres for N3,000.

PDP blames it on APC From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the fuel scarcity. A statement yesterday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, accused the APC of infiltrating the ranks of fuel marketers, who are protesting the non payment of their subsidy arrears by the Federal Government. According to Fani-Kayode, the marketers have taken a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies of petrol to fuel stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity. He continued: “We know who the fuel marketers are. We know the relationship that exists between one of the biggest fuel marketers and a national leader of the APC. “These unconscionable opposition elements infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers, whom they have contracted, in a calculated attempt to frustrate the good efforts of government. “Why have they taken this time when all hands are on deck for Continued on page 53 By Emeka Ugwuanyi , Akinola Ajibade and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Fuel queues became more pronounced yesterday within the Lagos metropolis. There were queues everywhere in the commercial capital where petrol sold for between N97 and N110. In some places, a litre was sold for between

N140 and N150. At the MRS filling station in Lambe, Akute on the outskirt of the city, a litre of petrol was sold for N147. An official of an Oando retail outlet in Mushin, Olorunsogo, on Lagos Mainland, said most marketers were selling from their old stock as they had not been loading.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) spokesman Babatunde Oke said the body had advocated for improvement in operations to prevent scarcity. He said petroleum scarcity would continue until Nigeria grows the downstream sector. The NNPC has given two ships laden with 40 million petrol (premium motor spirit) to Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) members and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) 18 million litres for distribution as short term measure to tackle the scarcity. The Nation learnt that the 18 million litres for the IPMAN were supplied to the Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCo Plc) and Aiteo Marketing, members of MOMAN, after a meeting yesterday agreed to tackle the supply challenge and make petrol available before weekend. MOMAN Executive Secretary Mr. Obafemi Olawore told The Nation that they (marketers) Continued on page 53

Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote retains the top spot as Africa’s richest although he lost a lot of cash due to the meltdown in Nigeria’s economy and the reduced demand for cement, his chief product. Dangote is credited with being the year’s biggest loser in dollar terms. His fortune dropped to $14.7 billion from $25 billion last year, propelled downward by a weaker naira. Four other Nigerians – Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Mr Femi Otedola and Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu make the list. Dangote worth $14.7b, is rated number 67. Globacom Chairman Adenuga, worth $4.2b is ranked 393, Mrs Alakija ($1.2b) is number 949 and Otedola/Rabiu, both rated as worth $1b, are ranked joint number 1741. Mr Gates’ net worth rose by just over $3bn in the year to $79bn. There are a record 1,826 billionaires in the world, Forbes said, an increase of 181 in the past 12 months. Legendary United States investor Warren Buffet regained third place on the list, with a net worth of $72.7bn, from Amancio Ortega, the founder of Spanish fashion chain Zara. The funds required to make it into the top 20 in the list have

fallen by $2bn to $29bn this year. The founders and chief executives of US technology firms dominated the list again, accounting for six of the top 20 richest men in the world. The first woman on the rich list is Christy Walton, the widow of John Walton, one of the heirs to the Wal-Mart retail empire. She has been declared the richest woman in the world for five of the last six years by Forbes. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg moves up five places in the rankings to number 16, with a net worth of $33.4bn. This is the first time he has been included in the list of the world’s 20 richest people. The youngest billionaire in the world is 24-year-old Evan Spiegel, the co-founder of messaging app Snapchat, with a fortune of $1.5bn. Silicon Valley has produced 23 new billionaires this year, including co-founders of carhailing service Uber, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp and their first employee, Ryan Graves. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of blood-testing firm Theranos, has debuted on the global list as the youngest self-made woman at age 31, with a fortune of $4.5bn The US also dominates the top 20, with 15 of the world’s richest Continued on page 53

NNPC: we’re owing marketers

OLLOWING the Federal Government’s intervention, Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Executive Secretary Farouk Ahmed yesterday said the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had approved that the Sovereign Debt Notes (SDN) be payable on March 30 to the oil marketers. The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph Dawha, said the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) promised that there would be normal supply of products in Abuja and its environs today. With him were Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the corporation’s subsidiaries during

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja an inspection of petrol stations opposite the NNPC towers in Abuja. Dawha said: “We are here to see how thing are going on, we know that there is enough supply to cover all the filling stations but I wanted to see things for myself with the NNPC and things are getting back to normal. ”The PPMC has told us that by tomorrow (today), there will be normal supply in Abuja environment.” He added that more trucks are coming from the Suleija depot and more are coming from Lagos to clear the queues as quickly as possible.Tracing the root cause of the scarcity, Ahmed said Continued on page 53

INEC commissioners shun push to back anti-Jega plot Court refuses to stop INEC from using Card Reader

Continued from page 1

also expressed their determination to thwart efforts to frustrate the conduct of the March 28 presidential election by causing disaffection within INEC. The commissioners specifically said they are opposed to any move to tamper with the leadership of INEC at a ‘critical period’. A source said: “None of the INEC National Commissioners is ready to replace Jega. These commissioners have resisted pressure to either move against Jega or replace him. Most of them were yesterday furious over reports linking them to succession intrigues in the commission. “Two of the commissioners opted for legal action to demonstrate their disinterestedness in the leadership of INEC.” One of them was quoted as saying: “I prefer to leave INEC with my shoulders high instead of being used against Jega.” A National Commissioner said: “Well, all I can say is that we have been doing a lot of teamwork here and Jega has been extremely transparent.

OME opponents of Card Reader Machines (CRM) yesterday lost their legal battle to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from deploying the equipment for the general elections. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja in a ruling yesterday, declined to grant a prayer by four political parties - United Democratic Party (UDP), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) – for, among others, an interim order restraining INEC from proceeding with plans to use the CRM. The judge noted that although the parties had made out a case for the granting of their prayers, sought ex-parte (without the knowledge of the other party), the balance of convenience, was not in their favour. “There is no loss that the plaintiffs will

“We are actually working round the clock for the conduct of the poll; we are not distracted in any way. “None of us will do anything differently from what Jega has done because we have been part of the team work. I can tell you that most of us are uninterested in replacing Jega.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

suffer if the defendant (INEC) is given the opportunity to respond to the issues raised. This court feels that it is fair that the defendant be given the opportunity to be heard,” the judge held. He, however, granted the plaintiffs’ prayers for abridgment of time for the defendant to respond and an order for accelerated hearing in the case. He ordered INEC to within four days of the service of plaintiffs’ processes on it, respond and serve it responses on the plaintiffs. He adjourned till March 10 for hearing. The parties had, in the motion ex-parte, argued yesterday by Alex Iziyon (SAN), leading two other SANs, sought an order •of interim injunction restraining the defendant, its agents, servants, privies or assigns, by whatever name, from imple-

Some of us have met Jega to tell him our position to back him till the end.” The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said: “The commission considers the rumour about people seeking to replace the INEC chairman as distracting.

menting or commencing or further implementing or further commencing or directing or further directing the use and preparation of the Card Reader Machine or any name of like nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. •abridging time within which the defendant may file and deliver all responses to the plaintiffs’ originating summons and motion on notice to four days from the date of service of plaintiffs’ processes; and •an order granting accelerated hearing of the matter. Iziyon argued that INEC’s decision to deploy card readers for the election was a violation of the provision of Section 52(1)(2), which prohibits the use of any electronic method of voting in the country. He contended that the deployment of card reader for voters’ verification

“The commission is one, the decisions are collectively taken and there is no division whatsoever.” INEC yesterday named the 12 states where it will conduct mock elections to test run the use of Card Readers. INEC released the list in its bulletin No. 726 on the prepa-

Continued on page 53

ration for the general elections. The statement said: “ Ahead of the general elections rescheduled for March 28th and April 11th 2015 and taking advantage of the six weeks period of extension from the previous schedule, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is to fur-

•Prof. Jega

ther conduct field testing of the functionality of the Smart Card Readers to be deployed for the accreditation of voters on Election Day.” “According to the Commission’s Decision Extract issued on 26th February and signed by the Director(Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the field testing will take place in two states of each of the six geopolitical zones of the FedContinued on page 53

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS

Jonathan gives I64 NYSC award winners jobs, scholarship •Nine injured Youth Corps members get N23.5m

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given automatic employment to the 164 award winners of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 batches of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Jonathan, who spoke at the President’s NYSC Honours Award at the State House Abuja, said those still unemployed would be absorbed into the Federal Civil Service. The corps members were said to have been selected from the three batches, “based on their outstanding performances during their service years”. The President also announced automatic scholarship for any of the 164 awardees who wants to advance their education. Nine corps members, who became physically-challenged during their service year, were given N23.5 million cash under the NYSC Hope Alive programme. They had varying degrees of permanent disabilities ranging from amputated arms to amputated legs and disfigured burns from accidents. Ibeto Group donated N5 million to one of the nine injured corps members, who could not attend the event because of the injury. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio donated N5 million to the nine corps members and Heritage Bank donated N1.5 million to each of them. Three best overall female corps members, one from each of the three batches, also received plaques and cash reward from the National Council of Women Society. Jonathan said: “Once again, I congratulate all awardees on your well merited

President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth left); Vice President Namadi Sambo (fourth right); Minister of Youth Development Mr. Boni Haruna (left); NYSC DirectorGeneral, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi (second right); Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo (right); Overall Winner NYSC 2014 Ojii Scholastica Chinenye (second left); Overall Winner NYSC 2012, Ikudehinbu Oluwaferanmi Justina; and NYSC 2013 Overall Winner, Jacob Williams Okpe, cutting a cake at the President’s NYSC Honours Award In Abuja...yesterday. From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

recognition and honour. The entire nation salutes the determination, courage, discipline, commitment and hard work, which you exhibited during the service year. “In line with our policy of encouraging our youths to always strive for excellence, including serving and prospective corps members, I hereby announce immediate employment of the award winners in the Federal Civil Service, as well as automatic scholarship up to doctorate level in any university of their choice across the globe. “I urge you to always be good ambassadors of this great country, and we shall continue to look up to you for greater vision and accomplishments.” He added: “On our part, we will continue to accord prior-

ity to youth development through policies and programmes that will empower them not only for economic survival, but also for future leadership roles in our nation. “The Federal Government will continue to initiate policies and programmes that are focussed on our youths. So far, we have put in place the National Schools Agriculture Programme, the YouWin! Programme, the youth empowerment component of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) and in no distant time, we will establish a National Youth Development Fund to ensure that our vision for empowered youth is firmly irreversible. “As part of our Transformation Agenda, government gave approval for the NYSC to establish a Department of Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship De-

client (Bola Tinubu). Clearly pre-occupied with political resentment and hatred neither warranted, necessary, proper, or justified, you published several false allegations against our client... More disturbing is your misrepresentation that the said documentary was “sponsored” without disclosing the “sponsors”. You cannot under law hide under media freedom to maliciously injure a citizen’s reputation”. The letter also demanded N20 billion as cost of damage done to the reputation of Asiwaju Tinubu, failing which the client will sue the company.

•Asiwaju Tinubu

“To affirm the right of our client against your defamatory publication, we demand that you confirm to us within 24 hours of receipt of this letter, an apology and retraction of the said publication/documentary,” the letter added.

Jonathan: nobody can intimidate PDP

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot be intimidated by any party as it has performed well in the last 16 years. He spoke yesterday at a one-day workshop and strategic meeting for members of the PDP Ward Volunteers Scheme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

According to him, his administration has opened up the various sectors of the economy and enabling more Nigerians to be involved in the economy. He said: “On behalf of all of us who are contesting, I thank you because when you market

scheme addressed issues of national emergencies had also been demonstrated in the way it successfully keyed into the global campaign against the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease. But he said the ceremony would be the last combined function for more than one batch that he would entertain as the scholarship being offered now might be belated to many of the awardees, who must have furthered their studies since they completed their NYSC two years ago. He directed that awards for any particular batch should be given not too long after the end of the batch’s service. Minister of Youth Boni Haruna hoped that the gesture would spur the awardees to continue to give greater service to the country. “This is a challenge for you

to strive towards excellence in all endeavours,” he said. The Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi said the 164 winners included 55 corps members from the 2012 batch, 52 from 2013 batch and 57 from the 2014 batch. He said they were selected by a committee made up of people of proven integrity and that the NYSC Hope Alive programme was aimed at sustaining corps members who sustained injuries during service. Elections in Nigeria, he said, had become more credible since corps members started participating in their conduct. Jonathan presented medals to the 164 corps members and took group photographs with each of the batches and the injured winners. He also cut a cake baked for the awardees.

APC faults Ribadu on change of C-in-C

Tinubu threatens to sue AIT over defamatory documentary LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has threatened to sue the management of Daar Communications Limited, owners of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) for the defamatory content of a documentary aired on Sunday. His counsel Mr. Tunji Abayomi has, through a letter delivered to Daar Communications yesterday afternoon, asked the organisation to apologise for the content and stop its airing. The letter reads in part: “...You aired an hour-long documentary focussing on our

velopment. It is encouraging, from all indications, that the corps members have eagerly embraced this programme. “The NYSC Hope Alive Programme (NYSC-HAP), which seeks to identify and recognise Corps members, who had the misfortune of becoming physically-challenged as a result of injuries they sustained in the course of their National Service to our fatherland, is one programme that is very dear to me. “The concern demonstrated by the NYSC in identifying and recommending some of them for appointment into the Federal Civil Service, while also assisting others financially to enable them cater for their needs, is highly commendable. We must take care of the needy without hesitation.” He also said that the prompt response and pragmatism with which the

the party, you are marketing the candidates. You are doing well for our party. “PDP is not just the largest party in Nigeria, but it is the only party that has members at all voting units. There is no other party whether two, three four, five parties coming together, they cannot reach that level. PDP has members in every voting unit in this country.”

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation has faulted statements credited to the Adamawa State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, that countries don’t change commander-inchief during war. The party’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mr. Dele Alake, said yesterday in Lagos that Ribadu’s statement flies in the face of history and concrete reality. He said: “Contrary to Ribadu’s proposition, history and the concrete reality of the Nigerian situation have proved that the way out of the endemic insecurity in the country, especially the Northeast, is the change of the Commander-inChief. This is the change that the APC’s presidential flag bearer, General Muhammadu, eminently offers with his superior security strategy for Nigeria. Indeed, the March 28 election is primarily about electing a competent commander-in-chief who is prepared to take ultimate responsibility for the war.” The APC said the constitu-

tion says the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, but the tragic reality of Nigeria today is that the nation lacks a competent commander-in-chief to perform this constitutional duty. “What we have on display is an astonishing abandonment of responsibility in which President Goodluck Jonathan literally cedes his powers to service chiefs. President Jonathan has demonstrated his unmitigated inadequacy to secure Nigeria.” Noting the implication of Ribadu’s alibi for not changing the commander- in-chief, APC said many mature democracies would not have changed the party and persons running their administration, if this was true. “If Ribadu’s alibi for not changing Jonathan as commander-in-chief is extrapolated, there should be no need for elections when a nation is at war. Yet, the fact of election assumes the possibility of changing the incumbent commander-in-chief. “Former American President, George W. Bush,

launched the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. If we go by Ribadu’s curious logic, Americans should have extended his tenure for a third term in 2008 when his time was up. Americans did not do such a thing. They rather elected another commander-in-chief on the platform of another party, President Barack Obama, to consummate the war. So, the war continued after Bush had ceased being commander-inchief.” The APC reminded Ribadu that even leaders who led their countries to victory in war have also been changed. Citing the examples of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Britain after World War II and President H. W. Bush in the United States after the Gulf War, the APC said the issues of insecurity, corruption and the worsening state of the economy with the free fall of the Naira were germane to the outcome of the election. It urged Ribadu and the leadership of the PDP to prepare for a free and fair election and abide by the verdict of the people.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS

2015 elections: Jonathan covering his Buhari greets Adeboye at 73 A tracks, says APC T

HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation has alleged that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was beginning to cover its tracks for fear of losing the rescheduled presidential elections. The campaign organisation said some of the Federal Government’s programmes being implemented by ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) ahead of the presidential election were aimed at protecting the Jonathan administration from the inevitability of General Muhammadu Buhari winning the presidential election and because of his zero-tolerance for corruption. Director of Media and Publicity of the Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that one of such policies was the independent revenue e-collection scheme under the Treasury Single Account initiative. Shehu described the Federal Government’s beginning of the initiative as “too little, too late” and only predicated on the anticipation of an inevitable win by Gen. Buhari in the March 28 presidential elections. He said: “These are obvi-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

ously last-minute attempts by the President Goodluck Jonathan government to plug loopholes in federal revenue collection by centralising the process, a clear reaction to their expectation of Gen. Buhari’s coming to power.” He said the directive that all revenue collections of MDAs, which used to be deposited in banks, should now be sent directly to the Consolidated Revenue Fund at the Central Bank of Nigeria through electronic payment channels was suspicious. His words: “They didn’t do this all these years, and now with barely four weeks to go, they suddenly think this is essential. It is even more suspicious when viewed along with the report of the inauguration of the Automated Aviation Revenue Project by the Ministry of Aviation. These people are clearly plugging the loopholes, obviously having stolen enough. “The idea to plug loopholes is on its own desirable, but it should worry any well-mean-

ing Nigerian that it has taken this administration the better part of nearly six years for it to realise that the bane of this government is outright stealing, waste and mismanagement of resources.” Shehu recalled Gen. Buhari’s declaration at a Lagos town hall meeting last month that corruption would drop a significant percentage immediately he was announced winner of the elections, even before he began to take formal measures to stem official graft. “This is a clear manifestation of what the General said. They know they have only four weeks left in government and they have started covering their tracks.” The APC campaign organisation, however, said the president should blame himself for the poor quality of aides and advise that he has benefited from since his days as deputy governor of Bayelsa State. According to Shehu, the recent statement credited to the president on the quality of advice he has been receiving from his aides amounts to self-indictment and a revelation of

the quality of person of the president. He added that the revelation by the president was an indication that since he had been in leadership positions, the people have had to cope with mediocre, insincere and poorly thought-out and un-coordinated leadership, adding that it was no wonder that leadership by Jonathan at the national level has been in “fits and starts, lacking coordination, depth and vision and unable in the past six years to lift the country from where he (Jonathan) met it”. Shehu noted: “We in the APC consider it an act of God, especially a few weeks to the March 28, 2015 presidential polls that President Jonathan who insists on his re-election should make this revelation which to a large extent gives a deep insight into his person and character. “The president or the leader of the country selects his aides and the reason behind the selection is to enable him understand the country and govern effectively. In the case where aides or advisers fail in their duty, the president or leader ought to accept responsibility as the buck stops on his table.”

•From left: National Treasurer, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers John Adaji; Vice President,Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Issa Aremu and General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers Sylvester Chimeze, at a news conference on the NLC general elections in Kaduna...yesterday.

Party: we’re concerned about Fani-Kayode’s mental status •Threatens legal action against PDP, campaign spokesman

ONTRARY to information being peddled by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the party does not wish him any ill-health, “even though it is seriously concerned about his mental state”. APC’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Dubai yesterday, said: ‘’No, we have never and will never wish anyone any ill-health. “However, we are seriously concerned that Mr. FaniKayode may have unhinged, perhaps as a result of a relapse into an unhealthy lifestyle of substance abuse. “Our concern stems from the series of incoherent statements, outlandish claims and inconsistent behaviours exhibited by Mr. Fani-Kayode in

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

recent times, which call into question his state of mental health. “We wish Mr. Fani-Kayode well and call on him to tell Nigerians that he remains clean, despite the massive pressure of work, and that he will not do anything that will see him needing a prolonged reformation in a foreign land.” The party said it was only an unstable mind and someone teetering on the brink that would conjure up the kind of improbable scenarios that had been put out there in quick succession by Mr. Fani-Kayode, and still believed strongly that he was doing the right thing. It said the APC did not harbour the kind of disturbed personalities, who abound in the PDP, and who would not hesitate to publicly wish fel-

low Nigerians ill or dead, as long as they believe such illwill would endear them to their masters and guarantee their political survival. The party has, however, urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fani-Kayode to produce evidence on their purported claims that the APC vice presidential running-mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, entered into a pact with APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resign as vice president after the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, might have won the presidential election. Director of Media and Publicity, APC presidential campaign organisation Mallam Garba Shehu said the PDP and Fani-Kayode should provide evidence of the oath-taking and resignation of Prof. Osinbajo for Asiwaju Tinubu or retract the libellous claims

within 72 hours or be ready to be sued to court. He said: “For the PDP, through Fani-Kayode, to state publicly that an erudite professor of law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a reputable pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God swore to an oath to vacate his seat as the vice president for Asiwaju Tinubu, should the party win the forthcoming election, is an attack on the hard-won integrity and the reputations of these great Nigerians and APC stalwarts. “We view this as both slanderous and libellous and, therefore, will not leave the matter to chance. To this effect, we hereby give Fani-Kayode and the PDP 72 hours to produce evidence or in the alternative issue public apology to Pastor Osinbajo, Asiwaju Tinubu and our party, the APC, or be prepared to be charged to the court of law.”

LL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Gen Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on his 73rd birthday. In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity APC presidential campaign organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, Gen Buhari described Pastor Adeboye as a peace-loving citizen, saying: “Your role as a nation-builder is being acknowledged by all, and I enjoin you to continue in your service to God and humanity.”

ThisDay chairman Obaigbena’s brother dies in U.S. •NPAN, Tinubu mourn

HE death of Mr. Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena, a prince of Owa, Delta State, has been announced. Prince Obaigbena died on March 1 in San Digo, California, United States (U.S.). A statement announcing his death said: “It is with a deep sense of loss that His Royal Highness, the Obi of Owa, Efeizomor 11, announces the sudden, untimely and painful death of Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena - a prince of Owa Kingdom - in San Diego, California from a sudden brain aneurysm on March 1. “He was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on July 27, 1958. Prince Obaigbena attended Edo College, Benin City and Howard University, Washington DC and practised as a Certified Public Accountant. “He is survived by his wife, Sheri; his mother, Margaret Obaigbena; brothers and sisters, including Benjamin Obaigbena, Alan Glory Obaigbena, Mrs. Isioma Ukwa; President, Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Nduka Obaigbena and Mrs. Ogochukwu Aneke. “He will be buried in San Diego, California, with a commendation service celebrating his life in Nigeria. “May his soul find peace, perfect peace.” Reacting, the NPAN, in a condolence message, expressed shock over the untimely death of its president’s elder brother. In a letter by its General Secretary, Comfort Obi, on behalf of the NPAN Council, the association said: “It is with utmost shock that we received the news of the death yesterday, March 1, 2015, in San Diego, California, of your brother, Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena. “A brilliant professional and Certified Public Accountant, the circumstance of his passage, which was sudden, having died from a sudden brain aneurysm, made his exit more painful. “First, the death came at such a young age, about five months to his 57th birthday. He also left behind an everloving mother. “Painful as it is, we are, nevertheless, consoled by the fact that though he bowed out of life’s centre-stage at such an unripe age, he did leave behind visible imprints in the sands of time - rising to the pinnacle of his well loved profession as a Certified Public Accountant and in the process, touched several lives, positively.” NPAN said though Rotimi Obaigbena would be sorely missed, it assured the Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers and ARISE News that its prayers were with him in his moment of great loss. “We shall continue to pray that God, in His infinite mercy, grant you and all other members of the family left behind, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Our special prayers also go out particularly to your mother, Margaret, his wife, Sheri and your siblings. “We pray that God grants him eternal rest,” NPAN said. Also, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described as sad and shocking the death of Rotimi Obaigbena. In a statement by his media office, Tinubu condoled with the Chairman of THISDAY and his family on the passing of their brother and prayed to God to comfort them in their moment of loss. “At a moment such as this, I stand with you in your loss and sorrow. May you find peace and consolation in the knowledge that he lived a fulfilled life,” the statement said. Tinubu prayed that God strengthens the Obaigbena family and protects them from all ills.

EFCC gets suspected oil thieves

OMMANDING Officer, Forward Operating Base, Brass Navy Captain Noel Madugu has handed over 11 suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crime’s Commission (EFCC) for prosecution. Captain Madugu broke the news in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He said the suspects were on board the vessel “MT Redemption”, which was arrested by Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) in Badagry. The commander added that the vessel was subsequently transferred to the Naval Base in Brass. The naval base is saddled with the responsibility of handling oil theft-related matters and the impounded vessel is being held there. Captain Madugu said the vessel was laden with 100,000 litres of stolen crude, weighing about 1,000 metric tons. He said the captain of the ship, on interrogation, claimed that the content of the tanks and drum was bitumen. The commanding officer stated: “The captain of the vessel said that the cargo in the drum was bitumen. But what we discovered was petroleum product suspected to be crude oil.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS Eight arrested for Accord violence

HE police in Oyo State yesterday paraded eight suspected political thugs, who allegedly attacked an Accord rally in Ibadan, where two people were killed. Addressing reporters, Commissioner of Police Mohammed Musa Katsina said his men were on an official assignment when they ran into the thugs and arrested eight of them. He said one person died on the spot; the other died in hospital. The commissioner said one of the alleged masterminds, Yusuf Ogeoju, aka Ese water died in hospital. The suspects are Afeez Ishola; Olamide Ijaola; Sikiru Tunayese; Sunday Balogun;

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Lekan Ogeroju; Kazeem Ajibola; Kehinde Emiola and Musibau Akinola. He warned politicians and their supporters against the breakdown of law and order. Emiola, on who some charms were found, said he used them to protect himself as he was from a masquerade family. He said he went to the hospital with his friend, Kazeem Ajibola, to visit a patient who is their relative, when they were arrested. Akinola said he was coming from a football viewing centre when he was arrested. Katsina said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

Ekiti to spend N2b Ecological Fund HE Ekiti State governon dredging ment has said the N2

billion Ecological Fund received from the Federal Government will be used to dredge eight waterways in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Conducting reporters round the project sites yesterday, Special Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose on Environment Bisi Kolawole said the allegation of diversion of the funds was not true. He said the government would use the funds to pre-

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

vent ecological disaster in Ado-Ekiti, adding that ecological problems in other towns would also receive attention. The governor’s aide identified communities to benefit from the second phase as Efon, Ifaki and Ilawe. The waterways undergoing dredging include Adere, Ureje, Isinla, Elemi and Omi Olori.

Aregbesola greets Adeboye at 73

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described Pastor Enoch Adeboye as a detribalised Nigerian. In a congratulatory message on the 73rd birthday of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the governor said Pastor Adeboye had lived a truly inspiring life dedicated to service in the vineyard of the Lord worthy of emulation. “We want to use this occasion of Pa Adeboye’s 73rd birthday to remind Nigerians that he symbolises peace and truth and that he has lived a truly inspiring life of dedicated service in the vineyard of the Lord. “On behalf of my family, government and the people, we wish Baba a happy birthday. We pray that God will grant him long life and the grace to continue to do that which will benefit Nigeria and the world.”

1,073,904 PVCs collected in Ondo

HE Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, has said 1,073,904 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been distributed in the state. This, he said, represented 71.8 per cent while 420,265 representing 28.1 per cent were yet to be collected. He spoke at the town hall meeting of a non- governmental organisation “Say No

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Campaign” in Akure, the state capital. He said: “Everyone must take a stand against electoral violence; we cannot afford to be on the fence. “You and I have a role to play if we must say no to violence.” The group’s Southwest Coordinator, Abiodun Ajila, said the elections must be free and fair.

More knocks for Fani-Kayode From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

MEMBER of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, has lashed out at the Director of Media, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, for his allegations against Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Fani-Kayode, in an attempt to disparage the APC, condemned the choice of the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket, alleging that it was a plot by Tinubu to become president through the back door. Ibikunle said Fani-Kayode should be taken for a psychiatric evaluation. “The APC ticket has come to stay. The combination of Buhari and Osinbajo remains the best to ensure change and bring back credibility, good governance and development.

• Fani-Kayode

“The PDP knows there is no way out, so it resorts to destructive politics. But it will surely fail. “Let Fani-Kayode and PDP know that Tinubu is not their match. We believe in him, we believe in his leadership and we trust him and he has not disappointed us. “Fani-Kayode and his paymasters are drowning but he can’t destroy a towering reputation as that of Tinubu.”

•Some of the suspects...yesterday.

‘Ekiti has no attorney-general’

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Ekiti State has no attorney general and commissioner for Justice. It urged the occupier of the office, Owoseni Ajayi, to stop parading himself as such. The party urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ignore Ajayi’s presentation of the defence of allegation of human rights abuses levelled against Governor Ayo Fayose. The Ekiti APC, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, maintained that Ajayi’s appearance at the NHRC to defend the Fayose administration amounted to “impersonation and flagrant impunity to trample on the sanctity of the constitution”. Olatubosun said Ajayi should have represented Fayose in his private capacity instead of “in borrowed robes of the attorney-general to mislead the rights’ watchdog”. The party spokesman reminded the NHRC that Ajayi was “screened” and “rati-

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

fied” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the House of Assembly, which fell short of the constitutionally-required one-third of a legislature with 26 members. Olatubosun drew the commission’s attention to the violation of the constitutional provision in Owoseni’s purported screening and confirmation as the attorney-general and commissioner for justice, saying all the processes leading to his purported screening and confirmation were not known to law. He said: “We wrote to the attorney-general and minister of Justice about the illegalities involved in his purported confirmation and warned that such illegalities cannot legally produce the state’s chief legal officer. “We were explicit in our letter that Section 96(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that ‘the quorum of a House of Assembly for such exercise shall be one-third of all

members of the House. “One-third of Ekiti State House of Assembly is nine, but seven PDP members aided by the governor were given security cover to ‘illegally remove’ Speaker Adewale Omirin and replace him with Dele Olugbemi in a brazen breach of the constitution. “We also referred to the constitutional provision for the impeachment proceedings against the Speaker. “The legal quorum of twothirds of all members of the House of 26 members is needed for impeachment proceedings against the Speaker, which is 18 members, but seven members illegally impeached the Speaker and imposed a member of their faction as their speaker, who conducted Owoseni’s confirmation.” APC spokesman also drew attention to the breach of Section 192(2) of the 1999 Constitution in the purported confirmation of Owoseni, saying there was no screening session where

Oyo APC accuses opposition of HE All Progressives fomenting trouble Congress (APC) in

Oyo State has said there is a gang-up among the opposition parties, especially Accord, Labour and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to instigate violence. The party, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Olawale Sadare, said: “We do not need to join the emergency advocates of peace which Rashidi Ladoja (Accord), Adebayo Alao-Akala (LP) and Teslim Folarin (PDP) have been since they started campaigning to come to the Agodi Government House. They are all one hand of violently leprous fingers. “We do not have to convince the people that ours is not a violent government or party. “In the three and half years of our being in government, we have demonstrated that we hate violence. “Can Ladoja and Alao-Akala say the same about violence? Their govern-

ments almost grounded Oyo State. They are like the proverbial Ebolo vegetables, which cannot but manifest its smelly antecedent. The APC said having identified that the election would be between a government that stood for peace against successive administrations where there were political murders, arson, violence and brigandage, the opposition parties were struggling to paint the APC “as a violent party too”. According to the party, the violence in Ibadan South East which reportedly led to the death of one person, as attested to by the police, was a gang war between Accord thugs, and had nothing to do with the APC. “If our people don’t know anything about Ajimobi, they know he can’t stand violence. He ordered a Pilgrims Board member sacked and charged to court for being violent. That violent

man is with Alao-Akala now. “He is one governor who does not go about with thugs. Let them tell us their antecedents. Luckily, the world knows the truth,” said the APC. On the allegation of capital flight, the party said it was an attempt by the opposition to profile its government, stating that no government had patronised local contractors as the Ajimobi government. “Our party-led government will soon publish the names of all contracts awarded in Oyo State wherein we have Ladoja, his wives and campaign director as beneficiaries. “Let them explain to the world how that amounts to capital flight. The truth of the matter is that, in about four years, non-local contractors are less than five, the rest are sons and daughters of Oyo State,” the party said.

Owoseni was assessed as capable of holding his purported position. Olatubosun said for that flagrant abuse of the constitution, Ekiti State, for now, do not have a commissioner for justice in the person of Owoseni Ajayi and could not act on behalf of the Ekiti State government. Dismissing Fayose’s defence of his alleged right abuse as an afterthought, Olatunbosun said the governor would have made his complaints at NHRC against Fayemi if he was convinced that abuses were committed by his administration. “At best, Owoseni is a busy-body and an overzealous supporter of Governor Fayose who, as a legal practitioner, allowed himself to be part of reckless politicians, who are gangraping the constitution to deny Ekiti people their rights to have a duly elected speaker. “He is an impostor and part of the illegitimate products of human rights violations in Ekiti State.”

Hausa community endorses Buhari

HE council of Arewa chiefs in Agege, a suburb of Lagos, has declared its support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), its presidential candidate, Muhammudu Buhari and other candidates in the forthcoming elections Rising from a meeting at the Palace of Seriki Hausawa of Agege, the chiefs, led by Alhaji Sani Shuaibu, the Sardauna of Agege, denied endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan or any Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Alhaji Sani Kabiru, the acclaimed Seriki Hausa leader in Lagos, last week, announced the endorsement of President Jonathan at the State House, Marina, after a meeting with the President. Shuaibu said: “However, we want to tell the world that we are not part of the endorsement. We reject the call as well as the endorsement. We remain committed to APC’s victory.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS

Durojaiye, Mamora, Fasanmi blast Afenifere, YCE

MINENT Yoruba leaders have berated leaders of the Afenifere and Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) for turning themselves into the foot soldiers of President Goodluck Jonathan in the Southwest. Afenifere leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Afenifere chieftain Senator Biyi Durojaiye and former Senate Minority Leader Olorunnimbe Mamora said the elders had no mandate to speak on behalf of the Yoruba and could not decide for them which presidential candidate to vote for on March 28. Leaders of Afenifere, YCE and members of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to mobilise support for Jonathan’s re-election at a post National Conference Summit at the Premier Hotel. They hinged their decision on Jonathan’s willingness to implement the recommendations of the National Conference held last year. Durojaiye said he did not understand the criteria or the rationale for endorsing an administration that had been criticised by Afenifere leaders for marginalising the Southwest. “What has changed now that they want the Yoruba to overlook? Is it because Jonathan has engaged some Yoruba elements to castigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo? “I am amazed that some Yoruba leaders are asking our people to support a govern-

By Leke Salaudeen and Bisi Oladele

ment that cannot guarantee security, that lacks good morals, that has the tenacity to hold on to power at all cost, that changes the rule of the game at its convenience, that plots to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega. “We must be consistent with the principle of protecting the general interest of our own, which the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo stood for all his life. That principle made him more popular in death. “Awo is revered because of his landmark achievements in education, health and rural integration that stood him out among his peers. People should just have a rethink and stop ridiculing themselves.” Mamora said: “No person or group of people in Yoruba land can claim to be the custodian of the collective will of the Yoruba. The Yoruba are well educated, knowledgeable and cannot be led by the nose. They know what is good for them and how to get it. “The directive of the Afenifere and YCE leaders will not sway the Yoruba from voting for the candidate of their choice. They cannot be swayed by any grandstanding. “I know the Yoruba will vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu

Buhari. We are not unmindful of the alleged exchange of money here and there that is making people to act against their conscience. We are not bothered. We still have majority of the Yoruba who understand the issues at stake and will never compromise.” On the claim of the Afenifere leaders that only Jonathan can implement the National Conference report, the former Minority leader said: “No one can claim exclusive ability to implement the report. They should not confuse people. The implementation cannot be done outside the National Assembly. “It may interest you to know that true federalism and devolution of power are contained in the APC manifesto. Suffice to say that if Buhari is elected, he will ensure the implementation of the National Conference report.” Fasanmi appealed to the people of the Southwest to ignore the self-serving endorsements by a few in the region. “The people of the Southwest should be consistent with their progressive tradition, vote for Buhari who will adopt and implement policies that will benefit Yoruba and all Nigerians.” The YCE had earlier distanced itself from Jonathan’s endorsement by Afenifere. Members of the group also met with the President in Lagos recently during which

they demanded good governance. The YCE President, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, was present at the Ibadan summit. Afenifere leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who chaired the occasion, traced the history of the Yoruba struggle for true federalism to the colonial period, which he recalled eventually led to the birth of the three regional constitutions used in the three regions during the First Republic. According to him, Awolowo and his compatriots insisted from the start in allowing each region to move at its own pace ,which paid off when practised in the First Republic. He said: “We are not here because of the interest of political parties but because of the Yoruba race. Many of those shouting ‘Buhari’ today don’t know what we went through. Our duty is to educate them about the past.” “It is in the interest of the Yoruba to allow Jonathan return to change the constitution. “The change we need is not a change of personality but a change of the constitution.” The National Leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti and other speakers concurred with Adebanjo. In his welcome address, the convener and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the programme was to map out the future of the Yoruba in Nigeria. He explained that the choice

of Ibadan was informed by its strategic political and social importance among the entire Yoruba race. “We, Yoruba, are one of the most blessed in the world. This was demonstrated in the First Republc that we can lead for others to follow, hence, we are campaigning for the implementation of the recommendations of the conference. At the summit were former governors Adebayo AlaoAkala (Oyo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Peter Obi (Anambra); former PDP governorship candidate in Osun State Iyiola Omisore; Oyo PDP governorship candidate Teslim Folarin; Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the president Dr Doyin Okupe; retired archbishop of Methodist Church, Ayo Ladigbolu; Sen. Hosea Agboola, Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, factional leader of the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams; Sen. Femi Okunronmu, Prof. Dupe Olatunbosun; Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun; PDP National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo; Chief Abiola Ogundokun; Chief Isola Filani; Sen. Lekan Balogun; Chief Richard Akinjide and his daughter who is the minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; Dr Kunle Olajide, Dr Frederick Fasehun, Prof. Niyi Akinnaso, UCH CMD, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Prof. Bola Omotoso and Mr Tony Uranta.

Five filling stations shut From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

THE Ekiti State government has shut five petrol stations for alleged sharp practices. Pump attendants were caught selling petrol above the official price of N87 per litre and hoarding the commodity. Chairman of the State Petroleum Products Consumers Protection Agency (PPCPA) Adeyemi Adebayo said a penalty of N500,000 was imposed on the erring stations. The stations include Prosperous Oil, Isan-Ekiti; Iropora Filling Station, IroporaEkiti; Ferbason Petroleum, Ado-Ekiti; MNPC, Ado-Ekiti and Montel Filling Station, Ado-Ekiti. Adebayo said the affected stations would not be reopened, until they reverted to the government-approved price and stop further hoarding of the product.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 555 of the 1,795,794 registered voters in Ogun State have died. The Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Timothy Ibitoye, said the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) belonging to the dead people have been set aside. Ibitoye said INEC was compiling the statistics of people who registered for PVCs but were unable to collect them before they died. Speaking on how the commission discovered the PVCs belonging to the dead people, Ibitoye said it was discovered shortly after the display of the names of those who were yet to collect their PVCs. He said: “We got the figure (555) from all the local governments, we got it from our electoral officers and we have put their PVCs aside. That is the information for now. We are still collating by the time we get the figure we will let you know. “The community leaders also assisted us, when they saw the list, they identified some of these names as those who have died.” Ibitoye said the state Headquarters had collected from Abuja, 1,370,340 PVCs while 860,076 had been distributed to the owners. The REC said the correct figure of the registered voters remained 1,795,794 and not 1,829,534. Ibitoye said: “We are expecting 425,454 PVCs from Abuja. The PVCs yet to be collected are 510,264.”

AOCOED matric tomorrow

HE Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos, will hold its 2014/2015 matriculation for full time and evening students tomorrow. The event, which begins at 10am, will be held at the DPP hall. Matriculating students are to pay N1, 000 at the Bursary unit. The academic board members are also to collect gowns at the Academic Affairs office.

‘I’ll care for monarchs’ From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan •From left: Adediran Ayodele; Adenekan Ayodeji; Folusho Adebayo Dipe; Jemilade Longe; Mrs. Ogunmola Omobolanle and Mrs. Folashade Ogunnaike at the swearing-in of Lagos State permanent secretaries at the Exco Chamber, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Ambode endorsed HE Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) in Lagos State, Musa Mohammed, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Mohammed said the APC candidate had what it takes to lead the state to the next level. He said: “He is a technocrat; a civil servant whose wealth of experience will add value to Lagos State. “He has worked closely with Governor Babatunde Fashola and I believe he is in a good position to continue the excellent work. “We in the RTEAN are ready to maintain peace and order as we have been conducting enlightenment campaigns.”

INEC: 555 registered voters in Ogun dead

Stop lying, Oyo warns Akinjide, others

HE Oyo State government has warned supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan to desist from lies, half truths and fallacies in their futile attempts to hoodwink the people. Reacting to a statement by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, on the funding of tertiary institutions in the state by the Federal Government, the government said it was mere fabrication aimed at scoring a cheap political point. A statement by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu, described Ms. Akinjide’s claim as the latest in the series of lies by the minister in her futile attempt to mobilise support for the President’s second

term bid. In a report credited to Akinjide, the minister claimed that the Federal Government contributed more to the infrastructural and educational development of state-owned tertiary institutions than the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration. But the commissioner said the purported N5 billion alluded to by Akinjide merely existed on paper, since the affected institutions had not been able to access the fund. Olaniyonu said the state spent N5.2 billion as capital expenditure on state-owned tertiary institutions namely: The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso;

Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo and State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora in the last three years. Debunking the bogus claims on the amount allocated to the institutions, the commissioner said the minister could not dress Jonathan in borrowed robes to curry the sympathy of the people. “That N1 billion was allocated to The Polytechnic, Ibadan is a lie. The true position is that N661 million had been allocated since last year and the amount has not been released. “The normal intervention for LAUTECH for projects in 2013 was N356 million and last year was N552 million. It might interest you that the

university is yet to access the funds,’’ he said. The commissioner wondered why the minister would deceive the people when, in her own words, she said the money was only “allocated’’, which is not tantamount to “release’’ as it is in the instant case. “It is so disturbing that a minister of her status could be conjuring figures that are half truth, total false or fallacy and unnecessary innuendoes. The statement by Ms. Jumoke Akinjide should be taken with a pinch of salt. “To put her statement in proper perspective, what the minister was talking about is the normal intervention to all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. So why isolating Oyo State?

HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, has promised to care for traditional rulers, if elected. The former Senate Leader, who also promised to tackle youth unemployment, said he was going to care for the aged. Folarin spoke when he campaigned in Ogbomoso. According to him, youth unemployment, if not quickly checked, could disrupt the growth of the state. The former Senate Leader said rather than the one per cent being given to the monarchs, he promised to implement the five per cent entitlement of traditional rulers as provided by the law. “We are going to implement the five per cent of the entitlement of monarchs in Oyo State. The issue of unemployment will also be addressed as soon as we get to the office.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

Election shift: ‘Nigeria lost over $2b FDI’ N

IGERIA lost over $2billion worth of foreign direct investments to other countries due to the postponement of the general elections, the Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Aviance Plc, Norbert Bielderman, has said. He said the postponement of the elections resulted in the loss of foreign direct investments and the move-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

ment of such investments to other foreign destinations. Bielderman, who spoke in Lagos yesterday at the Nigeria cargo summit organised by NAHCO, said the business environment in Nigeria had become more challenging due to the high cost of doing business and the devaluation of the naira. He said: “The election postponement impact on the

economy is analysed to be worth over $2billion. There is high cost of doing business and loss of investor confidence for existing and new Foreign Direct Investment that may have to other countries.” He said 2015 is a crucial year because of elections and its associate intrigues. “It’s therefore no surprise that our economy has been badly hit and worsened by the election postponement,”

he said, adding that there has been travel ban from many European countries and this has negatively impacted the aviation sector. He said Nigeria’s foreign reserves is significantly depleted and our national account is in deficit. “The crash in oil price and consequent impact on the nation’s revenue earnings, exchange rate moved from N155/$ to N205/$ within a six month period at the interbank, and

Central Bank of Nigeria’s final closure of the Royal Dutch Auction System is a testament to the fact that all is not well with the economy,” he explained. Implicitly, naira has been devalued to between 30-40 per cent and this will necessarily cause inflation if government does not put in place deliberate measures to mitigate against an upsurge in price across industry. We expect inflation to rise

up to 10 per cent or more soon. Furthermore, the cost of fund have also significantly risen with bank interest rates now up to about 26 per cent .This will lead to massive job losses within the private sector and for them to survive this trying time.” He said :” In Aviation, the domestic airlines would be worst hit because of current ticket prices are not in sync or responsive to current realities.

OneCard Nigeria partners EKEDP

NECARD Nigeria is partnering Eko Elec tricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) to give postpaid and prepaid electricity customers instant recharge for their meters, using scratch cards, web and mobile technology. Postpaid and prepaid EKEDP customers would be able to recharge their electricity meters instantly, using the One1Card multipurpose recharge cards, as well as OneCard’s Direct TopUp (DTU) vendors. They will in turn recharge electricity meters from anywhere in the country, using

• From left: Head, Workflow Automation and Enterprise Integration, United Bank for Africa Plc, Onyebuchi Akosa, Founder, Afrikazi, Organisers of Social Media Week, Ngozi Odita and Divisional Head, Information Technology Business Solutions and Automation, UBA Plc, Olugbenga Osofisan, at the just concluded Social Media Week, supported by the bank in Lagos ... at the weekend.

FIRS begins online tax payment

AX payers can now pay their taxes online by logging into the internet banking platform of any commercial bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), has said. It described the process as “the product of the electronic tax-pay solution, an ease of tax payment initiative of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Systemspecs Limited.” The Director, Communications and Liaison Department, Emmanuel Obeta, said the Acting Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, explained that the e-Tax Pay Solution, “is a self-service FIRS channel available on all commercial banks’ Internet banking platforms.” He said once a taxpayer logs into any bank’ s Internet banking platform, he can click the FIRS link to pay his

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

taxes and, or submit necessary documents, the same way he may choose to pay other bills. He said: “It is that simple. It is that convenient. It is that accessible and it is very secure. Taxpayers do not have to go to any tax office before taxes are paid. Tax payment is just a click away. “It is this quest for simplification of tax payment process and ease of access to tax services that led FIRS to recently roll out the electronic filing service under the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS).” he stated. Mashi explained that the method serves as a means of reducing time and cost of compliance for the taxpayers, and reducing interface between the taxpayers and tax authorities. He listed the benefits, as

providing added convenience for taxpayers who will now sit at the comfort of their homes and offices and uploading their tax returns on the e-Tax Pay Solution platform. The FIRS boss urged the taxpayers to cultivate the use of the e-Tax Pay Solution or efiling platforms as these are created for their convenience and ultimately engender a transparent and efficient tax system that optimises tax revenue collection and voluntary compliance. “We therefore hope that taxpayers will respond positively to these innovations and utilise them to a large scale,” he said, adding that this will not only ease compliance for the taxpayers, but would also enable FIRS to ensure greater transparency in its operations as taxpayers will have full access to their records, which they upload and also use for payments.

Govt, firms, sign pact on rice mills

HE Federal Govern ment, has signed an agreement with Flour Tech of Indian and Alvan Blanch, UK to acquire and instal 10 integrated rice mills across the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, made this known at the agreement’s signing at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Dr. Adesina said the deal with Flourtech Engineering PVT, India, is to engineer, procure and construct 10 rice processing plants under EPC contract, while that of Alvan Blanch was on the establishment of 25 Grain Aggregation Centres (GACs). He said the rice mills would be owned and managed by the private sector, adding that

several states have provided land for the establishment of the proposed rice mills with full certificate of occupancy (CO) and commercial rice farms to be established to produce and supply rice paddy. He said: “The capacity of each of the rice mills is 36,000 tonnes per annum, with the processing capacity of the 10 integrated rice mills totaling 360,000 tonnes.”

By Busola Adesunloye

handheld devices. Corporate clients and individuals will also be able to use the company’s online platforms to set up automatic, recurring recharge for their meters. The service, which went live on 2nd of March, is the first of its kind in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, and uses technology to enable individuals and businesses make instant top up to the power distribution company. OneCard says it developed this service to empower Nigeria’s electricity customers and ensure they never have to

spend a day in the dark due to lack of credit. Chief Commercial Officer, EKEDP, Sam Nwaire, said: “Our partnership with OneCard will greatly enhance our service delivery to customers, while enabling us to collect revenue 24/7 and power EKEDP for decades to come. “We are pleased to offer our customers the added convenience of recharging their meters from the comfort of their own homes or from recharge card vendors close to them without having to travel to our service centres if they don’t need to,” he said.

TUESDAY, MACRCH 3, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

A bill to amend the Nigerian Railway Act 1955 is before the National Assembly. Its passage is expected to bring a new lease of life to the railway corporation, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

Is this railway’s wonder pill?

HINGS may start looking up soon at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) following the government’s plan to amend the 60-year-old law establishing it. The Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 1955, widely perceived to have outlived its usefulness was was sent to the National Assembly for a repeal. The law, seen as an hindrance to railway operations made the corporation government’s exclusive property. Its over 30 provisions are said to have outlived their relevance. Section 29 of the Act, which addresses the construction of railways by persons other than the corporation, for instance, says: “It shall be unlawful for any person without the consent of the corporation to construct or operate a railway for public carriage of passengers or goods within Nigeria.” This provision stopped many institutional, public and private investor from investing in the railway. Yet, the corporation has been grossly under-funded and neglected by the government, limiting its capacity to deliver on its mandate.

Long history of neglect The Nigerian Railway Corporation began operation in 1898, when the British colonial government constructed the first rail road in Nigeria. On October 3, 1912, the Lagos Government Railway and the BaroKano Railway were amalgamated and the Government Department of Railway was formed to give rail service national spread. In 1955, it became known as the Nigerian Railway Corporation through an Act, with exclusive legal right to construct and operate rail service in Nigeria. The network was expanded in 1964, four years after independence, and as at 2003, the NRC had constructed 3,557 kilometres of tracks, 19 kilometres of which were dual gauge and the remainder, standard gauge. Originally meant to have three arterial lines – the Western, the Eastern and the Central - government was able to develop two, the West, which connects Lagos in the Southwest to Kano, and East, which connects Port Harcourt in the Southsouth, to Maiduguri in the

Northeast and capital of the state of Borno, while the third remained on the drawing board until recently. The corporation may seem to have jettisoned the ambitious transborder connection, meant to link Nigeria to Niger, (which ought to have materialised in 2006, while the Eastern Line meant to link Cameroon, was put on hold following the October 2002 International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) verdict which ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. Trains operated at maximum efficiency until shortly after independence in 1964. The services declined due to inept management, and was eventually grounded by lack of maintenance of its assets including lines, locomotives, and coaches. In 1988, NRC became bankrupt, and all rail traffic was stopped for six months. Passenger services were discontinued in 2002. Skeletal services resumed in 2006 with the government restoring rail lines and buying new locomotives. In November 2012, passenger services was restored on the Western Line as the Lagos to Kano intercity train service became regular.

Infrastructure The NRC owns nearly 200 dieseldriven locomotives of which almost 75 per cent is obsolete. There are about 54 shunters, 480 passenger coaches and 4900 freight wagons with less than 50 per cent of these in serviceable condition. A standard gauge network, the dream of modern train service is slowly progressing with its main line extending over 217 kilometres from Oturkpo to Ajaokuta. A further 51.2 kilometres of standard gauge is also emerging between Itakpe mines and Ajaokuta, while government plans to add more standard gauge lines to these ones: Ajaokuta to Abuja and Ajaokuta to the Warri, about 500 kilometres and from Port Harcourt to Makurdi, a distance of 463 kilometres. The NRC offer new rolling-stock consisting of couch-type sleepers, air-conditioned first class sitting coaches and non-air conditioned economy class coaches as well as mass transit trains to and from Lagos to Ijoko, in Ogun State, a distance of 48 kilometres.

•A modern train

Reinventing the wheel The pressure on government to source new ways of funding the huge infrastructural deficit occasioned by the long years of neglect gave rise to options, such as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and privatisation. Policy makers said with dwindling revenue from the government, these options which aims at drawing funding from local and international firms, remain the way out of another relapse into neglect. To them, the efficiency and profitability of the railway can only be guaranteed by privatising the Nigerian Railway Corporation or permitting private sector players in areas considered its exclusive preserve. Government decided to begin the privatisation march by getting the railway back on track again. With the Western Line in operation for three straight years and the Eastern Line eventually on stream last month, the NRC board believes the corporation is ready for the next phase of its development. “We are telling the whole universe with this inauguration that our railway that was hitherto comatose is fully back…the sleeping giant is awake,” said the NRC Chairman Bamanga Tukur, at the launch of

Gombe-Kafanchan-Port Harcourt rail line in Gombe on January 31. Under the privatisation plan, three separate concessions of between 25-30 years are expected to be granted to private-sector operators/firms to run train services in the western, central, and eastern lines. The corporation said it invested about N4.1 billion in the acquisition of new train sets that include 12 coaches and two DMUs. NRC Managing Director, Adeseyi Sijuade described the investment as a milestone in the corporation’s quest for modern rail transportation. While acknowledging that no substantial arrangements had been made in the past to sustain investments, he said, part of the arrangement for the sustainability of its investment, is the retention of technical skills needed to maintain the newly acquired trains. “We don’t put much emphasis on maintenance. So, you find out that when you move around the various locations of Nigerian Railway all over the country, you see all our rolling stocks littered all over the place. These were due to inadequate provision of spare parts and inadequate provision for maintenance “But we have learnt a lot of les-

FRSC takes campaign to churches, mosques

HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has sought divine intervention in ensuring sanity on the roads. At a church service at Rhema Christian Church in Sango, the Ota, Ogun State Unit Commander of FRSC Mr. Olufemi Olonisaye said taking safety campaigns to churches and mosques were part of the strategic measures for meeting the Corps’ 2015 target of reduction of crashes. He said: “Members of the corps have been mandated to embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign that would include churches, mosques and schools. We have to ensure that motorists know and adhere to the safety tips while driving and should not violate traffic rules and regulations.” Olonisaye urged motorists to always drive to stay alive, saying the non-use of seat is of concern to the

By Olalekan Ayeni

commission. Seat belt, he said, have proved to reduce injuries as they are designed to hold people back on their seats during a crash. Seat belts also minimise contact between the occupant and vehicle interior and significantly reduce the risk of ejection. The commander said rear seat occupants, should also wear their seat belts for their safety as this poses serious challenge to the corps’ concerted efforts to address the menace of crashes in the country. Motorists, he said, should also observe child safety precautions both inside the vehicle and on the road. He said the Corps is promoting children’s acquisition of safety skills on the roads which would come handy while using or crossing the road. Olonisaye advised the expectant

mothers to always wear seat belt, saying the best way they should wear it is: “to place the diagonal strap between the breasts with the strap resting over the shoulder, not the neck; and to place the lap belt flat on the thighs, fitting comfortably beneath the enlarged abdomen and over the pelvis not the bump.” It is wrong, he said, for them to wear “lap-only-belt” as this is known to have caused grave injuries to unborn children in the event of sudden accident. Olonisaye also warned road users against: overspeeding, wrongful overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol/drug, indiscriminate parking, poor vehicle maintenance culture and contending with big lorries especially on the highways. He urged drivers to always concentrate while driving, noting that some drivers engage in things that

•Olonisaye

distract them, such as, talking with passengers, answering phone calls, eating and gesticulating. Bishop Taiwo Akinola hailed the FRSC for their efforts in reducing crashe. He urged road users to always obey rules to ensure safety of all.

sons from such failures and that is why on this particular occasion, we are engaging the company on twoyear deal for those six technicians.” Sijuwade said.

A law to the rescue A lead transport consultant Ayuli Jemide in a paper: Relevant legislation issues arising from NRC Act on key railway assets; presented to the Central Working Committee on Nigeria Infrastructure Regulation Commission (NIRC) in 2009, said a repeal of the law would usher the railway into another phase of its development. He listed investment opportunities to include network development and expansion in the following areas: the opening of access from Onne to Port Harcourt. The opening of all the sea ports to be linked by rail network as only two seaports (Apapa Quay and Port Harcourt) out of seven are presently linked, the solving of the Abuja–Kaduna gridlock and the linking of Minna– Abuja–Lagos by standard gauge. Other according to Jemide, are the linking of emerging industrial/ commercial zones in suburban areas and urban centres by rail and the building of air–rail links as none of the 20 airports are served by railways. Also speaking the NRC spokesman Abdulafeez Akinwoye who described the move as a good omen for all Nigerian said fresh investments would be expected on all areas especially track modernisation, and the upgrading of railway facilities, wagons and locomotives. “For Nigerians to enjoy the best train service, all obstacles must be removed. We look forward to the era of a new Nigerian Railway as real investors would now be able to come in and invest for profit. Recently a feasibility study was done on how to link all state capitals by railway and this can be made possible as not only private firms but even state and local governments can also play active role in the sector”, he said. Akinwoye and other stakeholders belive the injection of private funds into the Nigerian Railway system will boost the economy. A sustained investment in a Nigerian railway network which would be made possible with the new law could pave the way for development of a sub-regional international railway corridor in West Africa.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Firm sues govt over directive to NPA, A NIMASA, NIWA on funds SHIPPING firm has launched a legal battle against the Federal Government over its directive to some maritime agencies to pay their money into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). Elshcon Nigeria Limited is contending that the directive to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

(NIWA) negates their enabling laws. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala directed NPA, NIMASA and NIWA, among other agencies, to close their accounts and transfer them into the Treasury Single Account (TSA)

before the end of last month. Elshcon’s counsel Mike Igbokwe (SAN) said the directive should have excluded NPA, NIMASA, and NIWA – in line with their enabling laws. In a suit filed before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos, last week, the

•From right: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello and the Chairman, Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kule Folarin at an interactive session with reporters in Lagos. PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Attorney-General of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Minister of Finance are named as defendants. After filing the suit, it was gathered, Igbokwe wrote to NIMASA, NPA and NIWA, not to take any action in furtherance of the directives pending the determination of the case. Igbokwe told The Nation that he wrote the agencies in order not to stifle the court from exercising its jurisdiction on the pending case before its determination. “The essence of the letter is to draw the attention of the agencies to some of the relevant judgments of the Supreme Court showing the attitude of courts in such circumstances as this and as they relate to persons that are ‘servants and agents’ of the parties to the suit that may knowingly assist the parties in stultifying the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction on the matter because as sought in the motion and originating summons, the substance of the matter is that the defendants are to be restrained in whatever method they may use in committing the prohibited acts. “It is also to ensure that the rule of law prevails, abuse of court process is avoided and the court is not presented with a fait accompli by any of the defendants or its agents or servants since the agencies have become aware of the re-

liefs on the motion on notice and originating summons filed by our client and that they are not just pending, but a date has been fixed for the hearing of the said Motion,” he said. Igbokwe added: “The Supreme Court held that any action or conduct of one or the other of the parties to the action taken whilst an application is pending in court for the obvious or subtle purpose of stultifying the exercise by the court of its jurisdiction and its duty to consider the application on its merits, must not be countenanced by the court and the court would ensure that at the stage of the proceedings, it is not possible for any party to present it with a fait accompli. “The same court also held that the court still has jurisdiction to commit any person, whether as a servant or agent of the party restrained or even a stranger, who knowingly assists in the breach of the injunction of the defendants.” Igbokwe said the plaintiff has applied ex parte for an order restraining the 1st Defendant either or his agents from implementing the directives pending the determination of the case. The plaintiff, it was learnt, is seeking six reliefs, including an order that the defendants should stop forthwith, the implementation of the directives. The court has directed the plaintiff to serve the defendants the motion for interlocutory injunction and originating summons. It also granted accelerated hearing of the case which comes up on Thursday.

Customs trains officers on use of AK47

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is training its person nel at the Western Marine Command in Apapa, Lagos, on how to handle Ak47 rifles. It is all in the spirit of the renewed anti-smuggling war. Officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A in Ikeja, it was learnt, are in charge of the exercise. The Marine Command Controller, Umar Yusuf, said the training would be in batches. He said the service has changed from using G3 to AK47, adding that it is to make the officers more effective when dealing with smugglers. “At a follow up meeting held in Abuja two weeks ago with Deputy Comptroller General in charge of enforcement, inspection and investigation, we deliberated at length and I talked on the need to get my officers trained on AK47” “As we await the arrival of the sea going vessels, we also need to equip our officers on some equipment to checkmate illicit acts on waters; like bunkering and other anti-economic activities. “There is need for officers to be well equipped with sophisticated weapons because the dare-devil sea robbers are also using modern weapons and that is why we need it,” he said. A total of 37 officers of the command, he said, would be the first set to undergo the training. He said the training by men of the Federal Operations Unit is in line with the synergy that exist

within the service. Its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ngozi Okwarra, said with the training, officers and men of the command wouldl be able to deal with smugglers at sea. She said the G3 rifles are manually operated and assured that with the AK47 training for officers, the command will make more arrest of the smugglers. “The presence of our officers on waters will be more effective than before,” she said. The Deputy Comptroller-General, Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Mr Musa Tahir, also said the service has increased its anti-smuggling campaigns to arrest and prosecute smugglers “For us in the NCS, we prefer to make seizure with the defendants, because we sincerely believe when you convict people, it serves more as a deterrent than when you confiscate the goods and dispose them off. “When you do that, they don’t feel the pain because many smugglers are rich people, they don’t feel the pain. So, we prefer to convict you, send you to court of justice, so that when you come out tomorrow and you want to be a senator in your village, you will not be allowed because you are a convict. “When officials of the service intercepted any good, the first thing we do is to check whether that item, cargo or whatever it is, is absolute prohibition,” he said. Thair said absolute prohibition include commodities not al-

lowed into the country, even if it was a piece like firearm, used clothing and hard drugs. According to him, goods in such category are always seized immediately, while unaccustomed goods are often detained for a maximum period of 30 days to allow the owner defend it. He explained that “unaccustomed goods’’ are goods that do not fall into prohibited category, but are brought in without payment of necessary duties. “Whatever you bring in, even if it is something that is legal, you cannot import into the country, provided you have not paid the duties, it is uncustomed and it is an act of smuggling. So, the customs is supposed to seize it and apply the appropriate law. “But in this kind of situation, you need to check whether it has been declared; whether there is

documentation on it; whether duty has been paid on it. So, you need sometimes to check. “These days, it does not take long for us to find out whether there is documentation on it and whether duties have been paid on it or not because our systems are completely automated,” he said. The Customs chief added that where it proved difficult to verify the goods immediately, the law provided that the NCS could detain up to 30 days for investigation to be carried out. He said if after 30 days the defendant did not show up, the goods would be converted into seizure and taken to the Federal High Court where a competent judge would condemn it. “And when it is condemned, the cargo, the vehicle, the goods or whatever it is, becomes a government property and it is dis-

posed by the service,” he said. On why Customs still impounded goods bought within the country, he said smugglers are clever people, who could hide their goods anywhere before selling them to unsuspecting traders. He said if there were credible information that a particular vehicle was carrying smuggled goods, customs officers would stop such vehicle and check. “If there is credible information that a particular cargo has not paid duty, we crosscheck and if we find out that you have paid duty, we release you with an apology. “But if we crosscheck and you have not paid any duty, we will keep you in the same offence like somebody who brought it from the border and you will face the music,” Thair said

NIWA to build more jetties in Lagos

HE National Inland Water ways Authority (NIWA) is constructing more jetties to boost water transportation in Lagos. The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Mu’azu Sambo, said the jetties would be built on Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. He said the jetties will help in providing infrastructure for water transportation. “NIWA has close to seven jetties in Lagos, owned by NIWA, built by NIWA, managed by NIWA, for the purpose of aiding

our water transportation. “Remember that jetties are like airports. Jetties are to water transport what airports are to air transport; and therefore, they are the most critical in terms of infrastructure. “There is a large volume of passengers moving between Maroko and Ikorodu; people who come from Ikorodu to Lagos to work. “There is also movement between Ikorodu and CMS. So, these jetties are helping in providing the infrastructure for water transportation in Lagos. “That is not to say, however,

that we do not require more jetties, we do. “Now, because of the limited resources of government, what we have adopted is the policy of PPP, for infrastructure development and enhancement,” he said. Sambo said that the agency presently had about 126 jetties, and described them as massive, even in terms of costs of maintenance. He said greater priority would be given to areas like Liverpool and Coconut in Lagos, among others, in the construction of the new jetties, while the CMS jetty would be given a face-lift.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Naira devaluation: Ground handling firms to hike tariff

HE devaluation of the naira may force ground handling companies to increase cargo tariff for both inbound and outbound goods at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, investigations have revealed. The decision to hike cargo tariff by the firms, it was learnt, is hinged in the rising value of the dollar, which is exchanging at the moment for between N210-N225 in the parallel market. Among the affected firms are, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) Aviance Plc, Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) and Precision Aviation Handling Company Limited ( PAHCOL). A source close to one of the firms, said the decision of the firms to increase cargo tariff, flowed from increasing costs of operations being experienced by the ground cargo handling companies, pointing out that such expenses are tied to increased costs of procuring spare parts, acquisition of operational equipment, as well as that of recurrent training overseas .” They said that new equipment would be bought with the new exchange rate which is heavily tilted

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

against the naira. Investigations also revealed that the ground handling companies now pay more for apron passes which rate was recently increased by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) from N50,000 to N150,000 at the Lagos Airport . The source hinted that ground handling companies are groaning under a huge charge regime as FAAN in Port Harcourt now charges over N250,000 per vehicle as apron pass, and in addition, that major concessionaires are groaning under the yoke of exorbitant charges at the toll gates around the airports. It was learnt that the last time ground handling companies increased cargo tariff was about three years ago, and since then, the naira has been devalued by more than 150 per cent. Ever since, operators have been experiencing steady increment in operating costs , in some instances rising between 150 and 250 per cent .However, the spokesman of NAHCO Aviance, Tayo Ajakaiye told The Nation that he could not confirm any plans by ground operators to increase cargo tariff,

saying any plan to that effect, would be done after wide-range consultations with all stakeholders. Ajakaye said any information about increase in tariff now should be liken to mere conjecture, until all stakeholders have been actively engaged. He said NAHCO Aviance is operating within industry approved charges, but however noted that ground handling companies are faced with rising operating costs , which have become obvious in the face of the rising exchange rate of the dollar against the local currency. He said if there are plans to increase such charges, NAHCO Aviance will carry out constructive industry engagement with relevant stakeholders before implementing such plans . But, spokesman of SAHCOL, Basil Agboarumi , said he is not aware of any plans by ground handling companies to raise cargo tariff. The General Manager, Corporate Communications, SAHCOL said : “ I am not aware of any plans to increase cargo tariff .” A source close to one of the firms,

who asked not to be named, said : “The plan to increase cargo tariff has reached an advanced stage . This will become clearer this week. That may have informed plans to convoke a cargo summit to achieve stakeholders engagement, where issues concerning the need for operators to make sacrifices for the growth of the industry will be unveiled.” The Chief Commercial Officer, Nahco Aviance, Seyi Adewale, in a statement last week, said : “ Air cargo is a major driver of Nigeria’s economy and a potential high earner of foreign exchange for the nation, given that earnings from oil exports are on a downward push. There are sacrifices to be made in the days ahead from our estimation and we could all agree to the sacrifices that must be made to assure safety, security and efficiency. The fall of naira against the dollar also is a big issue. It is now much more expensive to replace new equipment, or buy spare parts. It costs so much more to send staff for overseas training in equipment and applications. New charges come up almost on daily basis at the airports. These are part of the reasons why ground handling com-

panies want to increase cargo tariff,” he said. Last year, FAAN released new charges for airlines, ground handling companies, airline catering outfits in Lagos which were expected to pay N2,000 per square metre as opposed to the old rate of N1,500 per square metre , representing an increase of over 33.33 per cent. Ground handling companies, airlines and other service providers in Lagos are expected to pay N60,000 as opposed to the old rate of N30,000 representing one hundred per cent increase. Also, operators in Lagos, are to pay N150,000 for apron pass as opposed to the old rate of N50,000. In Port Harcourt, ground handling companies , airlines and other operators are being charged N2,000 as ground rent per square metre as opposed to the old rate of N500 per square metre representing three hundred percent increase. For Apron pass in Port Harcourt, the affected companies are expected to pay N1.2 million as the new rate as opposed to N250, 000 representing over three hundred and eighty percent increase.

Chidoka assures on revenue automation project

HE Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has assured that the Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP), aimed at automating all aviation-related activities at airports will be implemented . Chidoka, who gave the assurance when he met with the Chief Executive officers/CEOs of the ministry’s parastatals and agencies in Abuja, said there was no going back on the project. He warned that any Chief Executive who fails to comply with the project’s implementation will be seriously sanctioned, stating that ARAP is part of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, to assure regularity of revenue in the industry. It is also intended to improve workers’ efficiency in the aviation industry, and enable agen-

cies in the sector deliver higher quality services, he said, adding that it also create a credible data source for the aviation industry. He explained that ARAP is structured and empowered to bring to reality the vision of the aviation industry, which is to make the industry a world Class provider of safe, secured and comfortable transport industry that is self-sustaining and pivotal to social economic growth. It is to transform the sector into an efficient, profitable and preferred mode of transportation. Chidoka urged stakeholders to embrace the project and support the government in taking the sector to the level of meeting international best practices. The Minister constituted an inter-agency management committee to see to the success of the project

•Captain Habib Diakaby (middle) being decorated by Deputy Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, MedView Airline, Engr. Lookman Animashaun (rignt) and Head of Operations Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu during the decoration of Captain Habib Diakaby as the first in-house trained Captain of Med-View Airline held at the company's Corporate Affairs Office, Ikeja, Lagos.

Operators fault planned recapitalisation for domestic carriers

LANS by the Federal Government to raise the capital base of domestic carriers has received knocks from experts who described the proposal as an inappropriate measure in addressing the challenges of airlines .The chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said recapitalisation by airlines is not sufficient evidence that the carriers are in sound financial health. He said pegging a fixed amount for any airline is insufficient evidence that the carrier has the technical wherewithal to operate safe flights . :”’ I am in support of any policy by government that would make the aviation sector stable . Any policy that would make airlines operate very safely. I have not heard anybody in government talking about anything about recapitalisation of airlines . But we are hearing rumours that they are proposing about N5 billion recapitalisation for domestic air-

lines . It is strange to me that figures are being thrown about. The airline sector is not like the banking sector. It is strange to hear this in Nigeria, it is unusual in other parts of the world to propose this. “Airlines are not banks that had to recapitalise because they need to give out depositors money daily The reason is that banks need more money as back-up to give out . The same model cannot be said of airlines. Banks need solid financial base because they daily have to give money to people to trade with . Airlines do not trade with money , so the whole idea of requesting them to have a N5billion recapitalisation base is not ideal,” he argued. He said when government is proposing recapitalisation in aviation, the model for the banking sector should not be applied to aviation. “What I think government should do is to put In place poli-

cies that would assist airlines to source cheaper access to funds, ease the problem of aviation fuel , by reducing the taxes , the new airlines should be given four years tax holiday,” he said, stating that there is no gain In the airline business. He said what should be paramount is to ensure that airlines are categorised to operate according to the number of aircraft they have. For instance, airlines should be restricted to operate limited routes according to the number of aircraft in their fleet . To me this is the best form of recapitalisation .Airlines operations should be restricted to the number of aircraft they have . Not to set N5billion by the side, he said. Onyema warned that If government’s plan is to forge mergers in the industry, this proposal will not materialise, saying that mergers are not forced. He

called for the creation of a conducive environment that would encourage collaboration among the carriers. He said partnership among airlines is the way to go, as against the recapitalisation that is being proposed. On his part, an Aviation analyst and the Director, Zenith Travels,. Olumide Ohunayo argued that the planned recapitalisation of domestic airlines is not a solution to the several challenges facing local operators. He said, instead of embarking on another round of recapitalisation, he said the Federal Government through the NCAA, should strengthen its regulatory functions regarding the issuance of Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs), to local carriers. Also speaking, an Aircraft Engineer and Executive Director, Centre for Aviation Research

and Safety, Sheri Kyari, said the recapitalisation will lead to the death of some of the airlines that are currently struggling to survive due to several challenges confronting them. He said this is not the time to recapitalise as it may not lead the industry anywhere, adding that this may be a ploy by the authorities to force the domestic airlines to merge. On the minimum capital base he thinks the Federal Government is looking at, Kyari said that government may be thinking of raising it from N500 million to N5billion. In April 2007 , after the spate of air crashes in 2005 / 2006, the Federal Government raised capital base of airlines flying domestic routes to N500 million, while regional operators were required to have N1 billion, and those on international routes were required to recapilise with N2 billion.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

No end in sight? •President Jonathan should not play politics with phony power project commissioning

XPECTING that flicker of light in the dark tunnel that the current administration has thrown the power sector is increasingly akin to waiting for Godot. Having spun so many fables about performance and delivered far more alibis than electricity, the Jonathan administration seems to have been inextricably caught in the maze of its contradictory spins. Being an electioneering season, it is not unexpected that the administration would seek to showcase its achievement – if any. That perhaps explains why the president has ramped up his campaigns in the South-west for the most part of the past fortnight. With pretty little to show after nearly six years in the saddle despite repeated pledges to make darkness history, power-starved citizens ought to find it amusing that the under-achieving Jonathan administration has embarked on an orgy of commissioning make-believe power projects in the twilight of its first term. One such is the 750MW Olorunsogo Phase II Power station, in Olorunsogo, Ogun State, commissioned by the president on February 20. The other is the ‘new’ turbine unit at the Egbin Power Station, near Lagos, inaugurated the next day – February 21 during which the Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo gleefully announced that the nation’s generation/ transmission capacity currently hovers around 5,000MW – which he touts as achievement – using the 2011 output of 2,800MW as baseline. Clearly, if we are any confounded at the

fraud now in-built into the computation of the power sector arithmetic and the perennial celebration of under-achievement that has become its companion, more confounding must be the administration’s amnesia coming after serial promises to cross the 10,000MW by December 2013. Jonathan’s Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, had in the course of a presentation to the Presidential Action Committee on Power in January 2013 claimed that the nation’s power generation capacity as at the end of 2012 stood at 6,442MW with peak quantity generation of 4,517.6MW recorded on December 23, 2012. Her projection at the time was that the nation would have achieved the 10,000 Megawatts of electricity generation by December 2013. That was after President Jonathan had stated times without number that the power sector conundrum would be cracked long before the end of his first term. Two years after that projection, the situation is hardly better. In major respects, it may have gotten worse. One proof is the claim attributed to the Federal Ministry of Power that the actual energy sent out to electricity consumers average 3,424.11MW – an output far less than the 5,000MW claimed by the minister in charge. Beyond the arithmetic, what must be of particular interest is that the challenges facing the sector, and which have long been diagnosed, have hardly changed in any substantial sense from what they were five years ago. Then, we were told

that a gas-endowed nation cannot find gas to power its thermal plants; that investors would not bring their money into the gas sector because fiscal terms were unfavourable. The Federal Government has since procured another headache: pipeline vandalism – a problem which the Jonathan administration has framed as an alibi, to buy time even as the nation continues to languish in darkness. It ought to be obvious by now that the administration has neither the capacity nor the will to tackle the power problem. This in itself is tragic considering the over $20 billion sunk into the sector by the different Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations. And while the darkness lingers, the ill-served power consumer is still forced to bear the brunt via the avenue of the crazy, inequitable bills. It is a classic case of double jeopardy, which we might remain in, unfortunately, at least until the government begins to think out of the box.

‘It ought to be obvious by now that the administration has neither the capacity nor the will to tackle the power problem. This in itself is tragic considering the over $20 billion sunk into the sector by the different Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations’

Laughing at the dead •Without firing Moro and Paradang, a new immigration recruitment exercise lacks moral example

NCE again, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is in the process of recruiting to boost the organisation’s capacity to patrol our borders. This ordinarily should be cheery news to the numerous graduates roaming the streets in search of jobs. But we doubt if it would, given the sad incidents of last year in which no fewer than 18 applicants died in various recruitment centres while waiting to take the test into the service. Many others were injured. That was precisely on March 15, 2014. So, in about two weeks, it would be one year since the tragic incidents. To date, nothing has happened to show that the government regretted the unfortunate deaths of the youths who died in the course of looking for their daily bread beyond the usual immediate lamentation by government officials who promised

‘When the jobless youths died last year, Mr. Abba Moro was the Minister of Interior just as Mr. David Paradang was the Comptroller-General of NIS. Both men, regrettably, still sit pretty in office today, about one year after fellow compatriots died as a result of bad planning that led to shoddy handling of the interviews’

heaven on earth when the incident was still fresh and Nigerians were seething with rage. How many of the promises have the Federal Government fulfilled? What investigation did the government conduct into the incidents and what are its findings? Moreover, who has been punished for the negligence or incompetence that caused the tragedy? It is against this backdrop that we view with suspicion, the report that the government had set up a committee to oversee the ongoing recruitment into the NIS, when the incidents of last year remained an unfinished business. We are worried because the Federal Government had consistently proved that it lacked the capacity to punish where some of its own are concerned, no matter the crime committed. When the jobless youths died last year, Mr. Abba Moro was the Minister of Interior just as Mr. David Paradang was the Comptroller-General of NIS. Both men, regrettably, still sit pretty in office today, about one year after fellow compatriots died as a result of bad planning that led to shoddy handling of the interviews. We wonder how the government wants the relatives of the dead to feel seeing that no one was punished for the loss of their dear ones. It is like mocking the bereaved. Interestingly, it is the same Mr. Paradang who is urging young Nigerian graduates to take keen interest in the service. The NIS comptroller-general said in Abuja during a visit to him by the Africa Youth Patriotic and Development

Mission, led by its Executive Director, Mr. Adefila Kamal, that “Nigerian graduates interested in the NIS job should take advantage of the new recruitment exercise because the NIS would ensure that the new recruitment is fair and credible. According to him, “Nigerian youths are needed to patrol the country’s borders and hence the need to recruit capable hands into the service. Nigerian graduates should have faith in the ongoing recruitment into the NIS; a committee has been set up to oversee the exercise for credibility sake.” The committee should not only ensure the credibility of the exercise; it should also look into the safety of the applicants. It is not reassuring enough that the government had set up a committee to oversee the process; what is important is the rigour that goes into the exercise. We are happy that Mr. Paradang himself appreciated the deficiencies in the last recruitment as this was evident in his statements during the visit of the youth body to his office. The point ought to be made that while a genuine recruitment of job seekers is desirable, it does not make any moral sense that Moro and Padarang should preside. It only forgives a sinner who has not repented. It is cynical, and a bad precedent for wrongdoing in office, and it is like rewarding the bereaved with compensating efficiency. That undermines the values that firing them would have added to public service in Nigeria. It comes across as desperate political move.

Why change is inevitable

IR: If you have been following recent happenings in our polity objectively as it concerns the general elections in the past three months, you will understand it is now clear to the discerning, obvious to the dissenting and acceptable to the pragmatic that change has become inevitable in our polity. Rewind back to 2011 presidential election, we were so carried away by the circumstances surrounding President Goodluck Jonathan's emergence that we ignored many things and forgot to ask necessary questions. He gathered all the sympathy, popularity and attention through his "I had no shoes while growing up" quote. Thinking he's the Moses of our time, people defied ethnic and religious affiliations to vote and ensure he emerged president. Fast forward to 2015 presidential election; every thing has changed. The once trusted and popular Jonathan had become the rejected stone. It is an irony that same process that ensured the emergence of a younger president in 2011 is same process that has kept him on the verge of losing the 2015 presidential election. President Jonathan has shown little willingness to tackle corruption. He identifies with the corrupt and presides over a government that embezzle public funds with reckless abandon. After much criticism of his government, the president in an attempt to demystify corruption made a political gaffe: "What is being referred to as corruption is common stealing". Right now our nation is hemorraging from all sides, the bleeding is imminent and inevitable, with the daily decline in our economy, there hardly seem to be anyone who is not feeling the economic hardship this government has reduced us to. Many unfulfilled campaign promises of the ruling government have contributed to this inevitable change. The fact that Nigeria is yet to generate more than 4000 mega watts of electricity after expending billions of dollars in four years in the power sector is beyond comprehension. Until recently, security is near zero with insecurity and insurgency taking a lead in wanton killings and destruction of lives and properties in the North East. With its little and infinitesimal performance, the attack dogs of the ruling government have been obfuscating in defence that President Jonathan in the last six years has performed more than all our past rulers. They pretend not to know that under President Jonathan, Nigeria has generated more funds per annum from the sale of crude oil alone in the past six years than we have made in the past years. It is saddening that nations of equal promise have left Nigeria in its elementary level while at different levels of advanced development, hence the need for a change of government. The opposition APC may have its flaws but as the Economist aptly puts it, "Sometimes there are no good options... a former dictator is a better choice than a failed president". Nigerians will make change possible come March 28 and we will be happy again. The words of U.S President Barack Obama comes to mind here: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time, we are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. •Joe Onwukeme, Enugu

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: It was Mahatma Gandhi who said he admired Christ not Christians. I guess he said this to remind people that most Christians are definitely not Christlike. One cannot claim to be a Christian when his attitude is opposite of the principle that we are called to live by. There is no middle ground in this race. It is either you are living like Christ or you are a pretender. People like pretending to be what they are not. It is for this reason that one writer defined hypocrisy as a tribute that vice pays to virtue. There is absolutely nothing Christ-like in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. His policies are harsh towards the common man. He has done absolutely nothing for the poor of the land. Rather, he has done a lot to favour the rich and eminent personalities. Any true Christian knows that God loves the poor and is earnestly seeking to do them good. He is seriously looking for those to use to render service to the poor. It can only take a wicked

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Buhari, better Christian than Jonathan man to increase the prices of petroleum products on a New Year day thereby causing immense hardship to numerous poverty stricken citizens. Any government that is antipoor is anti-God. Jonathan has refused to go after those who are squandering our patrimony. Corruption is rampant and he is pretending that all is well. You cannot be a follower of Christ and allow evil to run rampant around you. How long can we continue this dance of death? How long are we going to allow these men from the forest of thousand demons to continue to desecrate our land? It is about time we

chased them away. We need discipline and decorum in governance. And that is what Muhammadu Buhari is about. Buhari is everything that Jonathan is not. He is disciplined, painstaking and has a visceral dislike for corruption. He has promised to confront corruption and he is just about the only politician that has the credential to do that. He has done it before and he will do it again. The man cares passionately for the poor of the land and wants to do his bit to help them. Buhari showed leadership when a dangerous Islamic sect known as Maitatsine threatened our peace. He

refused to register Nigeria as a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries and banned government sponsorship of pilgrimages to Mecca. It is a wellknown fact that his personal aides and domestic workers are mostly Christians and under him no one was victimized on the basis of religion. It is on record that Jonathan is the first President to lead Nigerian delegation to the Organization of Islamic Countries in February 2013. He has spent an average of $14 billion on 26, 000 Haji pilgrims annually from 2010. From all ramifications, Buhari has more Christian qualities than Jonathan.

Buhari’s government will focus on building a society that would begin to move the powers of a smothering federal government back to states and local government. Government will be closer to the people and better aware of their real needs and wants. As a transformational leader, Buhari is sure of what he wants happen and is extraordinarily strongwilled about it. He has one thing in mind instead of a variety of passing impulses. He wants a society full of opportunities. In short, the key to a successful transformational leader is to keep your eyes focused on your goals. And the people’s general has a knack for ignoring unproductive criticism and feels neither threatened nor moved by it. He is not one of such politicians that display so much pettiness and hostility that is simply not productive. Surely, Nigeria will be better under him. • Ikechukwu Orji, ikechukwuorji@yahoo.com

Why north has higher PVC collection rate While we praise our armed forces

IR: Recently, while flipping through pages of newspapers, I saw an advert questioning the high rate of permanent voter cards (PVC) collection in the north. This sentiment has also been expressed by the presidential campaign team of President Jonathan and some analysts sympathetic to his candidacy. I don’t think anybody that has lived in the core North will ever doubt the fact that level of political awareness in the region is very high. I will narrate a personal example. I spent one year in the North – Sokoto, for my NYSC. My service year started shortly before the 2007 elections, where Umaru Yar'Adua slugged it out with Muhammadu Buhari for the Aso Rock seat, while Attahiru Bafarawa and his protégé Maigari Dingyadi battled the hugely popular Wammako at the gubernatorial level. The latter evoked more interest. I had lived in the South all my years before this time, and I must say I never witnessed half of the political enthusiasm I saw on display in the city ahead of the polls. It appeared the whole of Sokoto was one politi-

cal rally ground. This massive political enthusiasm was not limited to the state capital, it was probably more intense in the villages - from Rabah to Tangaza to Balle, Gidan Madi to Illela, Sabon Birni to Yabo, Tureta to Tambuwal, the story was the same! I dare say that the most unlettered northerner is probably more politically aware than an average educated person down here. If that is not exactly true, it will be close to it. Anyone wonder what northern youths - even the ones that scavenges the crumbs on the refuse dumps in Lagos - does with that transistor radio? To listen to Olamide as our boys do here? To listen to results of Barclays Premier League? No; it serves sole purpose: to know the latest developments in politics, not just in the North, but even globally, through BBC Hausa and other news sources. It should be noted that at least seven international news media (BBC, VOA, Radio Deutsche Ville, Germany, Radio China etc) have Hausa service. A friend from Kebbi state told me how his illiterate maternal grand-

mother knows about everything that happens anywhere in the world, be it Lagos, Syria or Ukraine, sometimes before he, the educated young man gets to hear them. And these are the people you think will not go and register to vote and collect their PVCs? Don't forget this: It is in the South that we fancy private sector jobs that much; majority of the workforce over there work for government – local and state governments. These are people that don't mind skipping work for one week to go and queue to collect their PVCs; not here where majority are private sector-professionals or blue collar workers, who have only Saturday to register or pick PVCs, with a lot of other programmes (like parties) competing for that Saturday. Did anyone also notice Buhari emphasizing "go and pick your PVCs" in all his campaigns? From what I know of the North, I do not doubt the percentage of PVC collection at all. • Suraj Oyewale Ajah, Lagos.

IR: Nigeria’s armed forces are today getting a lot of praises from the general populace because of their positive inroad in the fight against insurgency. I always knew that our soldiers are not cowards; something went wrong along the way. I grew up in an army barracks and saw many soldiers give opinions about the Nigeria’s civil war even though they felt sad fighting a war against fellow citizens and many were ready to fight in wars outside this country. Soldiers who fought in the Biafra war poked fun at soldiers back then called 79NA who had not gone to battle. I saw many of this 79 NA later lobby to go to Liberia, Sierra Leone where their companions were being slain by snipers because of unfamiliarity with the terrain in those countries. Despite deaths in those battles and the resultant wailing by spouses in the barracks, we didn’t hear stories of soldiers’ who besmirched their commanding officers openly or even refused orders to go to war. An ideal military is like a happy

organised family which grooms disciplined and responsible citizens for the future. The dispiritedness of today’s soldiers is caused by the poor welfare policy of the military which makes many soldiers today not to care to any further extent about their country. The military needs to know that there are distresses within the ranks which border on staff welfare and lack of motivation. It is time to examine the main concerns of the soldiers to ensure that they are not only happy but the tools required for work are provided for them. The Nigerian military over time has displayed skill, courage within and outside the country. Its members in-and-out of service must not be left to suffer dishonour. The institution needs to have an advisory board to receive complaints from serving and retired soldiers, advising on what’s happening, asking for feedback, solving them without resorting to mutiny as had been witnessed in recent past. •Simon Abah Port-Harcourt, Rivers State

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

COMMENTS which you probably don’t OUR Excellency, Mr. President, speak. But I have not read I respect your high office. But I anywhere, Mr. President, that insist on my republican right to you rebuked your deputy engage you and ask questions, no matter against such rabid and vile how unpalatable. campaign lines. Nigeria is no monarchy: some form of There are also these cultural impunity, where some nobles allegations that the Christian seize power and lord it over the rest. Association of Nigeria (CAN) Neither is it a theocracy: some had received, from your Olakunle ecclesiastical impunity, where some campaign, between N6 billion religious order seizes power and claim lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola and N7 billion to help they rule on behalf of God. purchase Christian votes. It is rather a republican democracy, in Governor Rotimi Ameachi (no which everyone is equal before the law. friend of yours) claimed it was It goes from there to codify that the N6 billion. But Maidugurimajority of votes, of these equal citizens, based Pastor Kallamu Musadetermines whoever would be president, dishonour in losing elections. If you in 2011 enjoyed the joy Dikwa (no foe of yours) also alleges it is N7 billion! Any the chief servant of state. To be sure, I didn’t vote for you, of victory, you can in 2015 endure the gall of defeat. In any truth to these allegations, Mr. President? back then. But my “no” vote, only validated the “yes” of the case, that is the lawful thing to do — and Your Excellency, law Whatever the truth, two things should worry you. That a majority. That is the majesty of democracy! Besides here, rules in a democracy. sitting president is alleged to spray about money-for-vote law rules; not arbitrary power or impunity. But many of your opponents have alleged you were gives your image, and your government’s, no spruce; So, Mr. President, you are there today. I could be there particularly with the not unfair allegation that yours is about planning to go a wee smarter than Gbagbo; that your camp tomorrow. Another citizen, the day after. So, republican the most corrupt government Nigeria has ever had. was perfecting its rigging plot. Indeed, they swear the lastdemocracy is nothing but citizen mutual respect, under the Then the Christian-Muslim divide, which no government minute postponement of the February 14 election; the initial operative laws of the land. before has ever inspired, or even wilfully promoted, more whoops of hysteria, at that coup, by your campaign platform; You may wonder why the title of this letter, “So frank a than you. Even if you win, you want to rule over a bitter, your hyper-activity at the Boko Haram front thereafter, where letter” echoes so much So Long a Letter, a fictional work by religiously divided country? And if you lost, and your creek you were busy playing the all-conquering commander-inMariama Ba, that dead Senegalese brave. militants walked their talk on their threatened war, and an chief, complete with military camo and chutzpah; your camp’s Don’t wonder far, Your Excellency. Madame Ba’s “letter”, ethnic quarrel degenerated into a religious inferno, can you scaled-up demonization of Attahiru Jega, the chief electoral with pathos, reflected the throes of the educated, modern honestly live with your conscience as the man under whose umpire, for no noble cause; your camp’s campaign for the African woman, operating under the strictures of ancient presidency Nigeria finally unravelled? Think of it, Mr. junking of permanent voter cards (PVCs) for temporary voter African matrimony! President! cards (TVCs), your campaign’s seeming fixation with using My own letter also bears the throes of modern Nigerian And while at it Mr. President, I must say your desperate the military for electoral duties, when the courts have voters. We voted you in as democratic president. But we are ethnic divisive strategy is working wonders in Lagos! No demurred; and your alleged dollar-blitz visit to Lagos, are all pained at your ardour for an ancient African potentate — no one is discussing your glaring deficiencies as president again. tell-tales of softening the grounds for a most horrendous disrespect intended. This is no citizen “abusing the president”! Everybody is rather receding to their tribal laager, either for rigging your camp is allegedly planning. More worrying, you seem to be flirting with shredding our or against you. But as you know, Your Excellency, there is I hope, Your Excellency, these are just mere speculations. If law-bound covenant of periodic elections. life after election. O, lest I forget: those South West hustlers they were not, you would have set in motion a chain of Would you, by any means, Your Excellency, be dodging who are promising you Yoruba votes. They love you not, reactions you yourself cannot comprehend. If in doubt, Your elections, for fear of defeat, as former President Olusegun they only hate another! Excellency, read Nigeria’s contemporary history books. Obasanjo has alleged? He claimed you were trying out the By the way sir, congratulations on your successes against Since I’m hoping for the best, while I prepare for the worst, Gbagbo formula. Laurent Gbagbo, former president of Cote Boko Haram. That is good news! I wish though you could I wish to discuss your electioneering. Even before formal d’Ivoire, postponed elections many times for fear of defeat. follow that up with the rescue of the Chibok girls. Their electioneering, Mr. President, you were in churches, from Eventually, he met his nemesis — no dishonour. But the parents, and we, traumatised co-citizens, would be very which pulpit you launched subtle political bazookas. Since villainy was that he stonewalled after the people had pleased. Success is sweet, Your Excellency, so I won’t begrudge formal electioneering, you have visited about every church withdrawn their mandate. He had no right to do that. He you your new-found derring-do, as all-conquering worth its name. Mr. President, what’s the idea — that you are was no monarch. He was an elected president — who voted commander-in-chief. But take it easy on the drama. It is our a Christian president about to be unhorsed by ravaging in, could be voted out. military, and you are just the extant commander-in-chief. Don’t Nigerian Muslims? So, please, please, don’t go the Gbagbo way! There is no act as though it was an Ebele Army, which some of us are Even at that, you were on the stumps when Namadi Sambo, against, simply because we have principled disagreement your running mate and sitting vice-president, said in Dutse, ‘Please, please, don’t go the Gbagbo Jigawa and Minna, Niger, that yours was the “Muslim” party, with you. Until we meet at the polling zone on March 28, please stay way! There is no dishonour in losing while the opposition was the “Christian” party. So, in the well. I won’t vote for you. But others will. All I want from elections. If you in 2011 enjoyed the South, your party is “Christian”, but in the North, “Muslim”? you, as a civic and law-abiding citizen, is to make every vote Sambo’s proof? Yemi Osinbajo, the All Progressives count — and let the lawful majority win. joys of victory, you can in 2015 endure Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate was a pastor, who Yours patriotically, the gall of defeat’ boasted 5,000 churches! Sure, he reportedly spoke in Hausa, Lawful Citizen.

epublican ipples

E must thank the House Public Accounts Committee for finally waking up to the duty of reminding us of one terrible absurdity that is less talked about – and yet inextricably linked to the nation’s crisis of public finance and by extension, governance. I refer here to its latest finding that the combined financial expenditures of some powerful “statutory and extra-ministerial departments” actually outstrip the federal budget by a ratio of one to four. Much as I would love that the issue be elevated, being an inescapable aspect of the discourse of the nation’s future, I suspect that the issues may have come too late in the day. For not only does the charged atmosphere of electioneering makes it an unlikely subject of interest at this point in time, (which is tragic really considering the mess that the current administration has made of the finances), it seems even more unlikely that our politicians would have the stomach for serious debate when the atmosphere is suffused with issues of stomach infrastructure. To say that the federal behemoth is awash with cash is hardly saying anything new. We have heard it over and over again from its hierarchs that the federal government is not broke. We know what they mean - the huge pool available to service all manners of purposes under the sun – excepting everything that matters to the ordinary Nigerian. The good thing is that we are finally getting around to determining the size of the fiscal operation of that parallel arm of the federal government not known to be subject to the strictures of parliamentary budgetary process. Having said that, I must confess that I have quite a bit of a problem in the attempt by the committee– after nearly 15 successive cycles of budget – to present it as serendipity finding. To the extent that this is the way the business of government has been run over the years, someone surely must be kidding to imagine that the subject will suddenly excite Nigerians only because the federal purse is shrinking! Does that take anything from its legitimacy as a subject of interest? Hardly. Look at it this way: this year – no thanks to the slump in oil prices – the entire federal budget is projected at N4.3 trillion. Even with two months of its 12-month cycle already gone, that budget is still at the mill – undergoing processing at the two chambers of the National Assembly – a picture of what the process entails. Merely from what is indicated in the dry figures, the signs are that 2015 will be a very difficult year for everyone. For instance, we know for a fact that there will be little left for you and me for capital projects after removing the wages and salaries of bureaucrats and political actors – including the vote for their choice toys. If I may decompose the figures for the 2015

So frank a letter

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Taming the behemoth budget for better comprehension: Imagine that for every N91 the federal government earmarks for its operations, it plans to leave a left-over of nine naira to deliver on projects for the rest of us – themselves inclusive! Picture the same federal behemoth, now with a vastly shrunk budget –having a parallel one – four times as big, superintended by select appointees or nominees of the federal executive. Could there be a better infrastructure for the silent killer of corruption? Does anyone still wonder where all the cash moving around for all manners of purposes under the sun – including the slush for political activities are coming from? Perhaps the House PAC has been deaf and mute to the cries by stakeholders about the sheer outlawry of agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which prefers operate in defiance of the laws of the republic in the last 16 years. Had the House done its duty in those years, that monstrosity would have been long curbed. This is where, if you ask me, the committee’s finding – if it is any finding at all, is a decade and half late. I say this because, Section 162 (1) of the Constitution is

explicit: “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the federation account” into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the government of the federation, except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the armed forces of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or department of government charged with the responsibility for foreign affairs and the residents of the Federal capital territory, Abuja”. Section 162 (3) also makes clear that; “Any amount standing to the credit of the Federation account shall be distributed among the federal and state governments and the local government councils in each state on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. Of particular interest here is Section 162 (10). It says “For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the government of the federation from any source and includes– (a) Any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law; (b) Any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the government of the federation; (c) Any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the government of the federation in any company or statutory body.” Let me be clear at this point: as it is in the federal behemoth, so it is in the 36 states of the federation. Across the board, the tradition is to treat the operating surpluses of revenue-earning agencies as piggy-banks – exclusive fiefdoms of the executive arm! Do I hear that somebody is still thinking of where to find the money to fund the 2015 budget? A good way is to bring the operating surpluses of Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration and those of the scores of agencies into the pool to start with. It seems to me a surer, more productive way to fund the budget than the endless chase for loans that ends up shackling future generations. As important as that is however, it comes nowhere the business of taming the monster known to bleed the treasury of billions annually.

‘Imagine that for every N91 the federal government earmarks for its operations, it plans to leave a left-over of nine naira to deliver on projects for the rest of us – themselves inclusive! Picture the same federal behemoth, now with a vastly shrunk budget –having a parallel one – four times as big, superintended by select appointees or nominees of the federal executive. Could there be a better infrastructure for the silent killer of corruption?’

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

COMMENTS

ULY 5, 2013 was a busy day on the LagosIbadan Expressway, particularly at the Sagamu interchange. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in town and as is customary with presidential movements in Nigeria, every other motorist had to wait for the president to conclude his business on the road. And what did he come to do? To flag off the reconstruction and expansion of the 120kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a project that had been on the drawing board for too long that people were beginning to think it would never take off. Not a few who ply that road almost on a daily basis were critical of the federal government for neglecting the only major road that links Lagos to the rest of the country and arguably the most important road in the south west region. The neglect did not start with Jonathan; even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ‘son of the soil’ didn’t touch the road during his eight years in power and so were his predecessors. So, nobody is blaming Jonathan solely for the sorry state of that road. But when the president suddenly decided about 20 months ago that the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway was to be given a facelift, not a few applauded his government for this gesture heaving a sigh of relief that their sufferings on that road were about to end. But in the euphoria of the flag off, some discerning members of the public, particularly in the south west cautioned the people not to be unduly carried away by the president’s promise of a brand new LagosIbadan Expressway as he might just be playing politics with the project with his eyes set on the 2015 presidential election and the millions of votes available for grab in the region. Twenty months on and they have been

‘I pity Jonathan. It is too late in the day now to pretend to be a friend of the Yoruba, the people have seen through his deceit. Enough is enough’

OW that there is a break, half time break, in political campaigns or a postponement of the elections by six weeks, it is time therefore to take stock of the various political activities, and possibly prepare for a more refined, purposeful and positive approach contrary to what some have taken as “do or die”. Let the truth be told, we have simply behaved as if there is no tomorrow for Nigeria. The campaigns or advertisements of mudslinging and derision which we have allowed to appear on the screens have not been helpful to the cause of this nation. It has indeed helped to divide us as a people. The media are expected to be the unifying factor for all interest groups but unfortunately some of us have come out to be brazenly partisan. When I see such, the question I ask myself is, are these media houses aware that they have viewership across the various political divides? What happens to their viewers who do not agree with their new position? It is only natural that they will switch over to a more objective and balanced station. Has this helped the cause of the station? The advertisements are to say the least, banal, puerile, uncultured and primitive. One of the greatest values the Nigerian is identified with is respect. Our morals, and indeed our religious institutions teach us to honour our elders and our leaders. The two major political party presidential aspirants fit very well into the category of those we should respect and honour, as elders and as leaders. The advertisements have not in any way reflected it. What examples are we giving to the younger generations? Aggression and abuse of elders would not earn votes. Rather, they evoke sympathy, and indeed a vote for the victim. The National Broadcasting code has ample provisions for elections. Among them are: 4.2.2Broadcaster shall (a) Not broadcast a programme which violates social values, shows disrespect for law and order or

Jonathan’s new found love for Yoruba proved right. That road is not anywhere near completion even within the time frame given by the government for its completion, though work is going on albeit at snail’s speed. And given the present state of that road, the people in the region are surprised that Jonathan could even have the guts to come to them and ask for their votes for another term in office. In the south west, people are very sentimental about that road and they have their reasons. Lagos is the commercial backbone of the region and every family in Yoruba land has one form of connection or another with the megacity. So, if the road connecting the hinterland to Lagos is ok, whoever was responsible would be ok with the people. And if it was in bad shape whoever was responsible would be punished for it at the right time. May be that time has come now and the people are ready to take their pound of flesh. Apart from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, there are other federal roads in the south west, as there are elsewhere in the country begging for Jonathan’s attention. My focus on Yoruba land is because the president has made more visits to the region in the last few weeks meeting with interests groups making promises and campaigning for re-election than probably all his entire visits since his presidency began. This is not saying the region is more important than the other regions, no, but Jonathan has been paying too many visits to Yoruba land pretending to be a friend of the region that many are

beginning to wonder why. Is it because of our votes? If yes, then he has failed as he has done nothing here to deserve even one Yoruba vote. He has met with the Alaafin of Oyo many times in the recent past and even visited the monarch in his palace at Oyo, where as usual his convoy/entourage disrupted the socio economic life of the people while his visit lasted. What is he looking for? Has he just now realized that there is an Alaafin in Oyo? Is he not aware that the Ibadan-Oyo-Ilorin Expressway, a federal government project has been abandoned for decades, especially the portion between Oyo and Ogbomoso which has remained a death trap? Does he seriously think the people in that area would be foolish to give him their votes after doing nothing for them? Politics or public service to an average Yoruba person is not about what he can benefit from the office holder personally, although a few hungry people from this region surrounding Jonathan have resorted to doing that, but what that office holder can do for the larger society. When Yoruba voted overwhelmingly for Jonathan in 2011, it was with the expectation that he would do something meaningful with that office to benefit the people. But what has he done for them? Nothing! Having squandered the little goodwill he got in the north four years ago, he cannot go back to that region now expecting their votes. The East-West road, the only road that

Presidential elections and broadcast media By Tom A. Adaba departs from an honourable life-style; (g) avoid the use of foul and blasphemous language; 5.1.6Archival or library materials where used to illustrate a current event, shall be used with discretion and clearly identified to avoid confusion or causing emotional pain, offence, embarrassment or defamation. 5.2.5Political broadcasts shall be in decent language 5.2.7A broadcaster shall, in using a political material for news, avoid taking Inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form; 5.3.6A live broadcast shall take cognizance of the cultural and religious sensibilities of all Nigerians, and avoid offensive inputs. What, in our coverage, commercials or news clips, have exonerated us as objective stations, and non defaulters in the provisions listed above? The documentary that was transmitted in two major networks recently was, to say the least, in bad taste. Though designed to demonise a political opponent, its inaccuracies and the very obvious “runhim-down” line-by-line production, are not only nauseating but could do the very reverse of the intention – evoke sympathy for the central character in the production, as an underdog. One of the advertisements, in which the same presidential aspirant was transformed into a leopard was, to me, most despicable, and disgusting. This is a person running for the highest position in the land – the Presidency. That visual nollywood voodoo style production is an insult on our collective carriage of the

presidency. Even if he were the least of all the aspirants in terms of followership, that office must be respected and the contestants given their due honour. Permit me to ask if it is the vogue these days not to preview what is to go on air. Even if the producers come in with such raw and indecorous content, is it not the station’s responsibility as professionals, to determine what will suit the sensitivities and sensibilities of Nigerian viewers by either editing the advertisement or outrightly dismissing the producer to go and refine his production? What has become of our ethical standards? If a poll is taken today, are these stations, in all sincerity, sure of retaining their level of audience or viewership. I very much doubt. Another area that bothers me is the Outside Broadcast activities of the stations. There is undoubtedly a very pressing need for serious training of the crew ranging from the cameramen, the on-air presenters right on to the producers and directors. The earlier this is done against future events, the better it is for our profession and the viewers. By the way, I want to believe the watchdogs or regulators of broadcasting – The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as well as the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) have done and are seen to have done something by way of sanctions to these errant stations to serve as a deterrent against the second half of the political campaigns. Both stations and the regulatory bodies must be seen as a servant of all. Elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain. Nigeria will remain as what – a nation infested with hatred, distrust and demagoguery? This is certainly not

traversed the entire south-south region where he comes from has remained uncompleted even after six years in office. And as he recently admitted at his campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he has done nothing for his people back home and yet he wants their votes. The people of the south east that are ready to die for and with him politically, I do not know what Jonathan has done for the region that the people are ready to commit political suicide on his behalf. The roads in the south east are not better than the death traps called federal roads elsewhere in Nigeria. I am using roads to illustrate Jonathan’s failure as a president because they are about the only public infrastructure that is shared by everybody, rich and poor, old and young. While the rich can provide houses for themselves, provide the light, water, education, health and even security, they cannot build the roads on which their expensive and exotic cars will travel; they still have to use public roads. So, with these roads in terrible shape, it means Jonathan has failed both the rich and the poor across the country, if only in that aspect. So, where does the president expects to get the votes from on March 28 for a second term in office? This is the million-naira question. In addition to the decay in infrastructure in the north, there is insecurity there, so not much to expect from that region in terms of votes. If he managed to get the south east and south –south votes in the bag (which is doubtful), he would need the votes from the south west for the sums to add up. And as the second highest voting bloc in the country, Jonathan needs the Yoruba to back him if he is to return to the presidency on May 29, 2015. But will he get their votes? I don’t think so. He has offended the people in so many ways apart from the infrastructure question mentioned above. The characters he has chosen to be his friends in Yoruba land are not the kind of people we consider as leaders here and as such they cannot influence votes for him here. I won’t mention their names, but you know them; the failed politicians who are only interested in their pockets. I pity Jonathan. It is too late in the day now to pretend to be a friend of the Yoruba, the people have seen through his deceit. Enough is enough.

what we envisage for a country so heavily endowed by God to make us prosper as brothers, sisters and our brothers’ keepers. How shall we see one another after an election campaign so richly studded with hate, bitterness and indeed venom, all in the name of winning the election? At the end of the day, only one out of the 14contestants will be sworn in as the President, whose constituency is the whole of Nigeria. This is the time to present an acceptable platform for some soft landing for both the winner and the losers. The broadcast media has an immeasurable role to play in this. Though a lot of harm and hurt feelings have been engendered by various broadcast segments, this ‘half time’ is auspicious for us to mend fences and resolve to be better, fairer and more professional in the second half. If we preach hate, we shall reap hate and destruction. If we preach love and peace, we shall reap same. Let us endeavour to preach the latter with our media for the good of this nation and its wonderful people. Nigeria needs peace for progress and development. The broadcast media must be in the vanguard for its promotion. • Dr Adaba, OON is Pioneer Director General, National Broadcasting Commission.

‘Elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain. Nigeria will remain as what – a nation infested with hatred, distrust and demagoguery? This is certainly not what we envisage for a country so heavily endowed by God to make us prosper as brothers, sisters and our brothers’ keepers’

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

21 enjoys a constitutional term of five full years. Unless the proce’ Jega dure for Jega’s removal from office as spelt out in section 157 of the

Constitution is scrupulously complied with, upon the reasons for such removal as also adumbrated therein being strictly construed, Jega’s period can only come to an end five years after he was sworn in

’

- See page 42

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Speculation is rife that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega may be sent on pre-retirement leave this week. Will it be legal for President Goodluck Jonathan to do that? No, say lawyers, who argue that Jega is not bound by civil service rules, writes ADEBISI ONANUGA.

Jega and the forces of darkness •Lawyers: INEC chief can’t be sent on leave

INSIDE:

URING last month’s Presidential Media Chat (PMC) Dr Goodluck Jonathan denied that there were plans to send Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega on terminal leave. Despite his denial, the issue keeps popping up. Last Thursday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators raised the alarm about a plot to force Jega on terminal leave this week. The caucus said the plot to send Jega away before the rescheduled March 28 presidential election was being orchestrated by some members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others in high places. It said those behind the scheme intended to serve Jega a letter from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, directing him to proceed on leave. The senators said the President lacks the power to remove Jega under any guise without the Senate’s consent. The Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, told reporters in Abuja that the plot would be resisted. Akume, who described the plot as unwarranted, said: “We oppose the removal (of Jega) because it is criminal, illegal and unconstitutional.” The handwriting has been on the wall that PDP is no longer comfortable with Jega conducting the general elections. The party, it is believed, is bent on removing him before the March 28 presidential and National Assemblies the elections. Akume referred to an Office of the Head of Service of the Federation’s memo dated August 11, 2010, titled: “Re: Request for clarification on pre-retirement leave”, which states the categories of officers involved in pre-retirement leave. Paragraph two thereof states: “I am to further inform you that paragraph 1 of the Circular clarified that the content of the circular is only applicable to core officers who run their Civil Service to retirement at thirtyfive (35) years of service or sixty (60) years of age and not for a definite tenure as is the case under reference.” Akume noted that terminal leave is only applicable to core civil servants who retire after 35 years of service or 60 years of age and not for those who have a definite tenure as in Jega’s case. He said Jega could only be removed, if he had done anything to warrant such action - with the consent of twothirds majority vote of the Senate. Does the President have powers under the constitution to remove Jega or ask him to proceed on terminal leave? Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution as amended states: “(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the

Judgment in Abuja market dispute March 23 - Page 33

office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct. “(2) This section applies to the offices of the Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Federal Character Commission, the Nigeria Police Council, the National Population Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Police Service Commission.”

Activists oppose bid Anthony Cardinal Okogie and other prominent Nigerians have condemned the plot. Okogie said: “If he is not due or not meant for terminal leave, which then would be an illegal move, then the court will have to look into it. Prof Jega has his fundamental human right. If he is not meant to be on terminal leave, then he can fight for his fundamental human right.” Activist lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) said it would be rash and irresponsible of the government to remove Jega. “If they do that, they will scuttle the election and that will slide the nation into a political and constitutional crisis.They should leave things the way they are. The polity is not owned by one person. It is owned by all of us,” he said. Retired Police Commissioner Abubakar Tsav also feared that forcing Jega out “will create a lot of problems. If Jega conducted elections in other states very well, especially Ekiti State and the PDP hailed him, why are they scared about this?” he said. “Any attempt to remove him will create confusion in the country. It will make the international community to see the country as unserious. In fact, it appears the ruling party is scared of General Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity.” Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said of the alleged plot: “First of all, Prof Jega is not subject to civil service rules. So, it will be wrong to send him on terminal leave based on civil service rules. Second, this would be the second brazen attempt to destroy the sanctity of the forthcoming elections, the first one being the postponement of the election, and this would be the second brazen attempt. And it will be a second one too many.” A constitutional lawyer Fred Agbaje berated Federal Government for not debunking the rumours which, according to him, has been flying around for over a month.

•Prof. Jega

•Dr. Jonathan

“The citizens are justified in their perception of the intention of the government to remove Jega under the guise of terminal leave. It has grave implications for the country. The fears are justified going by the antecedents of the government at denying things of this nature or matters that bother on national interest.”

Half-hearted denial? But the supervising Minister for Information, Edem Duke, said the government is not planning to remove Jega before the elections, adding that he would leave office in accordance with laid-down service rules. Duke said: “On the issue of the INEC chairman, I align myself with what the president said that he has no plan to sack the INEC chairman. That is not to say that if it is time for the INEC chairman to naturally exit his office, then the natural course of things will not take place. “It is like talking of a civil servant who has done 35 years or achieved the age of 60; we now begin to say that he must not retire or he must retire. I think all of that is in the terrain of the presidency and he has spoken.”

Other lawyers speak Lawyers agree that the President cannot unilaterally ask Jega to proceed on terminal leave, which amounts to removal. The appointment, tenure and removal procedure of other public servants are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution as in the case of the INEC chair. In

‘If the president takes such a measure, it will be seen as a coup against the democratic process and a subversion of the will of the people’

other words, say the lawyers, Jega is not subject to the letters of the civil service rules. They said it would be unconstitutional for the President to ask Jega to proceed on terminal leave without valid reason(s). They said the 1999 Constitution specifically provides that the INEC chair can only be removed if there is evidence that he is unable to discharge the functions of his office or for misconduct. Besides, they noted that Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution provides that Jega can only be removed by the President with the support of two thirds of the Senate. Asking him to go on terminal leave before the expiration of his term, they said, equates to removal from office and unless there is evidence that Jega is infirm in mind or body, or has engaged in gross misconduct, he cannot be removed under any guise before the end of his tenure. A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said it is unimaginable that Jega would be removed in the middle of an electoral process. “I do not think the President will do it or even contemplate it. Not at this period. “Prof Jega’s tenure as INEC chairman is regulated by the constitution and under the same constitution, the INEC chairman is the returning officer for Presidential election. If Jega is sent on terminal leave now, it will amount to sabotaging the already scheduled elections. “The President will have to nominate another person who will be subjected to security screening. After that the name will be forwarded to the National Assembly for approval and all this cannot be done within the weeks we have to conduct the elections. “Let us assume they are able to conclude •Continued on page 26

The profound anti-corruption framework - Page 34

Endangered police, endangered democracy - Page 35

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LAW COVER CONT’D

Jega and the forces of darkness •Continued from page 25

the clearance process. When does the man settle down to plan for election if May 29 is sacrosanct? There are a lot of logistics problem that will be involved and so, I have serious reason to believe that no president will contemplate such a thing at this time. “The inherent dangers are limitless and if that is done, we should as well forget about holding elections and the May 29 handover date. If May 29 is sacrosanct, INEC chairman’s tenure is sacrosanct. People arguing that it is line with civil service procedure for a public officer who haven’t gone on annual leave should proceed on three months terminal leave should tell us if the President’s Ministers will also proceed on three months terminal leave. I think it is better not done.” Abuja-based lawyer, Sebastine Hon(SAN) submitted that it would amount to a flagrant breach of the Constitution to force Jega to proceed on terminal leave. “In the first place, Jega as INEC chairman is not a civil servant but a creation of the Constitution of Nigeria. This, then, removes him from the control, overt or covert, of civil service bureaucrats like the Secretary to the Federal Government or the Head of Service of the Federation. Consequently, neither of these bureaucrats has any scintilla of power to order him around. “In particular, they cannot lawfully ask him to proceed on terminal leave as being speculated. He should ignore such directive if it is ever issued. Secondly, Jega enjoys a constitutional term of five full years. Unless the procedure for Jega’s removal from office as spelt out in section 157 of the Constitution is scrupulously complied with, upon the reasons for such removal as also adumbrated therein being strictly construed, Jega’s period can only come to an end five years after he was sworn in.” According to Hon, “It must be borne in mind that section 155 of the Constitution is the federal equivalence of Section 201 of the same Constitution, which has created five-year tenure of office for similar ‘independent’ bodies established for the states. “The Supreme Court, in voiding the dissolution of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, held in Governor of Kwara State vs. Ojibara (2007) All FWLR (Pt. 348) 864 that the framers of the Constitution deliberately donated a five-year tenure to the members of the Commission - one year more than the fouryear tenure of political office holders – ‘with a view to create continuity and stability in the electoral process and governance’ and that membership of that Commission is not meant to ‘change with the fortunes of the political parties in a state.’ It concluded that the conditions stipulated in the Constitution for the removal of members of the Constitution must be strictly complied with and that removal based on ‘the general interest’ of the State or due to change in government policy is not permissible. The Court of Appeal was to strictly follow this decision in Dangana vs. Governor of Kwara State (2011) All FWLR (Pt. 593) 1851, wherein it voided the dissolution before the expiration of their five-year tenure, of members of the Kwara State Judicial Service Commission. See, also, Okungbowa vs. Governor of Edo State (2014) All FWLR (Pt. 753) 1975". Hon contended that it would amount to a flagrant breach of the Constitution and a gross abuse of power for anybody to contemplate the removal, by whatever means or name, of Prof. Jega from office. Such move, he said, would send wrong signals to all impartial observers and will definitely, as is already apparent, overheat the system. “This ill-intentioned move must be vigorously resisted by all persons of good will,” he said. Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said since Jega’s appointment enjoys constitutional flavour he cannot be sent on sabbatical or terminal leave. He, however, recalled that his last media chat, the President gave the erroneous impression that he could hire and fire the chairman and national commissioners of the INEC. “With respect, the chairman of INEC has renewable five-year tenure pursuant to section 155 of the Constitution. The appointment of the chairman of INEC is subject to the ratification of the Senate. Since Jega has declined to

•Prof. Sagay

•Olanipekun

•Hon

•Falana

•Shittu

•Ubani

would be the second brazen attempt ‘This to destroy the sanctity of the forthcoming elections, the first one being the postponement of the election and it will be a second one too many resign as demanded by some leaders of the PDP he can only be removed with an address of the President backed by a resolution supported by not less than two thirds majority of the members of the senate.” To him, there is no basis for the fear of the ruling party over Jega’s neutrality or loyalty. He conducted the 2011 presidential election which won by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. And he was so returned and declared. Regardless of the fear or anxiety of certain principalities it ought to made abundantly clear that Professor Jega is not a civil servant. His appointment is

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not at the pleasure of the President or the ruling party. A member of the Ogun State Judicial Council, Abayomi Omoyinmi said it would be absurd for the President to want to remove Jega. According to Omoyinmi, “Section 157 of the constitution is clear on grounds upon which any Chairman of bodies established by Section 153 of the Constitution which includes INEC may be removed by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of senate. Such grounds include inability to discharge the functions of the office or for mis-

conduct”. Said Omoyinmi: “Jega cannot be removed from by the president unless it can be proved that he, Jega has been unable to discharge the function of his office arising from infirmity of mind or body. Jega has not exhibited this neither can any misconduct offence prove so far against him in the course of his duties. “Any attempt to sack Jega based on terminal leave is illegal and unconstitutional because terminal leave is only applicable to core civil servants under the civil service rules and not definate tenure rule as in Jega’s case. The Federal Judicial Service Commission like INEC is one of the bodies listed under section 153 of the constitution. Can you then imagine if the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission who is the Chief Justice of Nigeria is told to go on terminal leave before his tenure ends at the statutory age of 70years”, he argued. A legal scholar Wahab Shittu said Jonathan removing Jega under the guise of retirement leave weeks to the election in which he is a contestant is like a team changing a referee before a football match kicks off. “My answer to that will be to draw an analogy. The president is a contestant in the forthcoming presidential election. He’s an interested party. If you likened that to two football teams who are competing, can one of the teams just before the game starts decide to send the referee on suspension or on leave? “The president cannot do that because he is in the race. If the president takes such a measure, it will be seen as a coup against the democratic process and a subversion of the will of the people. “I want to believe that it is a speculation. It is in the realm of conjecture. It is something that can never happen because the president will not ordinarily toil with the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people. “Jonathan cannot even ask Jega to proceed on leave without getting the support of twothirds of the Senate. Again, every law derives it’s legitimacy from the will of the people. Nothing has been done by Jega to deserve any such treatment,” Shittu said. Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani said the President and the ruling party should know that they cannot employ civil service rules that are applicable to civil servants to ask Jega of INEC, whose appointment is tenured, to proceed on any terminal leave before disengagement. He argued that Jega of INEC is not an employee of the President for him to be removed in such a lackadaisical manner. “My submission is that neither the president nor any of his aides have the legal right to ask him to proceed on any terminal leave and they do not have the right to terminate or sack him without complying with the express provisions of the constitution that created the body of INEC in the first place”. According to him, the chairman of INEC can only be sacked by the president if has the consent and approval of at least two third majority of the members of the upper chambers(the senate) and the grounds must include that he the INEC chairman is unable to perform his constitutional duties which grounds must be verifiable. The constitution of Nigeria is the supreme law of the land and it binds all authorities in Nigeria including the office of the president, “In fact the president swore to uphold the provisions of the constitution on the day he was sworn in. The president can be impeached if he refuses, fails and or neglect to uphold the provisions of the constitution. Therefore it is my belief that the president or any other person will not toy with the supreme law of the land by violating any of the sections especially the one that applies to INEC in an election year. The president has stated that he has no reason to tamper with the office of INEC chairman and we echo amen to that statement believing that the president of Nigeria will not lie to his citizens. He said the consequences of illegal removal of Jega from office will create unnecessary crisis in the country, the end of which nobody can fathom. Every political actor/actress is advised not to stress the foundation of this country which everyone knows is not very strong. Undue stress of the nation’s foundation could be catastrophic. Former Chairman, NBA Ikorodu, Kazeem Adebanjo, said: “Constitutionally, Jega cannot be sacked just by a stroke of the President’s pen.” He hinged his position on Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution which, he said, prescribed the circumstances under which he can be removed from office. He noted that none of those reasons is applicable in his case. “It, therefore, beats one hollow to hear this rumour. Perhaps the APC predicated its suspicion on the antecedents of the President and his penchant for sidetracking the provisions of the law with impunity.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

Lawyers back colleague’s governorship bid

HEAD of the April 11 governorship election, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Jos branch have backed the governorship bid of their colleague Simon Lalong, who is running on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform. Lalong informed the branch of his ambition last Thursday. Lalong, former Plateau State House of Assembly Speaker, was the branch’s Assistant Secretary. He believes lawyers are the society’s leading lights, adding that he would implement his party’s laudable policies in the state. He vowed to use his wealth of experience in governance to ensure that all segments of the society are transformed under his administration, assuring that the masses’ welfare and youth employment would be foremost in his agenda. The branch Chairman, Mr. Ledak Dazuk Dafer assured Lalong of the branch’s unflinching support. He said: “We have about five of them contesting and we have given all of them opportunity to address us. “My expectations from them is that they will excel because they will apply the unique training of a lawyer in addressing socio-economic and political problems of the country “You know that the legal profession is a respectable one because it trains people in character and in learning and by the grace of God, I expect all the best from them. They should perform well like we already have templates across the country. They had done well as lawyers, so I am sure that they will definitely perform if elected in their respective offices of aspiration.” He added: “Lawyers are agents of change, we have gone around educating voters to make good use of the forthcoming elections by participating massively and voting for candidates of their choice.” Immediate past NBA Vice-President Mr. Steve Abar said Plateau State was privileged to have Lalong as a governorship candidate. “I say this because he is a quintessential leader, a gentleman per excellence, an epitome of humility, a selfless leader who cherishes the virtues of honesty, modesty, truth and genuine service. He is an apostle of the rule of law, justice and equity, a rare breed politician not given to graft and self aggrandizement or the primitive acquisition of wealth which is the hallmark and characteristic of most politicians of today. “Lalong is a person passionately committed to the growth and development of Plateau State, a passion he has demonstrated in the various opportunities in leadership he has had in the state. He has been tested and proven as a practicing lawyer and a committed member

of the NBA. In the past, he creditably served the NBA Jos Branch as an Assistant Secretary before hearkening to the call of his constituents and was elected to represent them in the Plateau State House of Assembly. “In the House, he rose to the enviable position of Speaker, a position he occupied for about seven years and his era witnessed unprecedented stability and high level of legislative enactments, notwithstanding the destabilizing efforts of the Federal Government and its Agencies. “He excellently passed the true test of character by resisting the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the Economic and Financial Crimes’ (EFCC) offer to aid the illegal impeachment of Chief Joshua Dariye and benefit therefrom by being rewarded with the Governorship of Plateau State at the time. “The courts eventually vindicated his stance when it nullified Dariye’s illegal impeachment. The subsequent Federal Government/EFCC sponsored attempt to recall him from the House of Assembly was also stoutly resisted by his constituents who overwhelmingly voted for him in the referendum organised for that purpose. “If elected as Governor, Rt. Hon. Lalong will be bringing to the stable of governance his wealth of experience garnered overtime in the judicial and legislative arms of Government, both as a practicing lawyer and as member/Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. “Another critical benefit of his election is that it will be a re - unifying factor and rallying point for a just, equitable, peaceful and progressive Plateau State. It will also restore the harmony requisite to galvanize unprecedented and even development of the Plateau State. It is an indisputable fact that the candidacy of his major opponent has left the citizens of Plateau State in a fractious and disunited condition. “To my mind, a Lalong and Prof. Trodden governorship will restore Plateau State to an era of unprecedented peace without which there cannot be the critically needed development. This why lawyers in Plateau State and I in particular are rallying around and rooting for him,” Abar said. Aformer chairman of NBA Jos branch, Mr. Caleb Dajan said Lalong would be following in the footsteps of the state’s former governor Chief Solomom Lar. “We very confident that a lawyer will do better as the Plateau State Governor because we have seen lawyers in Lagos, in Akw Ibom, in Enugu State and we have seen how they performed, so we don’t expect anything less from Rt. Hon Lalong in Plateau State,” he said.

•Dr. Benedicta Daudu

•Kekemeke Tom

By John Austin Unachukwu

•From left: Dajan, Dafer and Prof. Clement J. Dakas.

•From left: Mr. Yusuf Ali, Lalong, Abar and Director Legal, Lalong and Tyoden Campaign Directorate, Mr. Jonathan Mawiyau

•From left: Danjuma D. Rindam, Mrs. Chibundu Edwin Ijeoma and Okey Akobundu

•From left: Boniface Ibekaku, Samson Karaum and Mrs. Georgina

•From left: Joel Tahran, Osaro Rosemary and Fasua Omolola

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY

•From left: Emeka Albert, Pinhero (SAN), Anga Fubara and Rev. Fr. Joseph Nwobi

•Jude Eluemunor and his wife, Ngozi

•From left: Clifford O. Atekere (left) and Jeff. Ekeh

•From left: Mbanugo Udenze, Mazi OCK Unegbu, Wey, Martin Ogunleye and Chukwuma Ezeala

•From left: Simeon Nwuguru, Nwiwu Ihuoma and Deputy Institute Secretary, NIALS, Mrs. Sena Jerry-Imaghiagbe

•From left: Unegbu Chinweizu, Okwara Lawrence and Suzanne Erhimedafe

Embrace new areas of practice, lawyers urged T HE Lagos Archdiocese branch of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) has urged lawyers to embrace new strategies and emerging areas of practice to improve their income and remain relevant in a globalised world. At a seminar organised by the group, titled: “Alternative Income Generating Strategies for Lawyers in Practice” held at the Lagos Resources Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, NACL’s President, Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala, said the seminar was aimed at exposing lawyers to other sources of income. He said the country witnessed strikes at the Judiciary as well as slow movements in litigation, adding that the Police and other law enforcement agencies had taken many of lawyers’ jobs. He said: “Above all, many non-lawyers are gradually making great incursions into our sacred areas of practice such as arbitration, mediation and other alternative disputes resolution mechanisms. Our younger colleagues who have not been fortunate to get placement or spaces in law firms are increasingly becoming prey to the uncertainties pervading the system. Unfortunately too, some of them that made attempts at 419 are facing the music while others have taken a leap into political thuggery and other unwholesome acts.’’ Speakers at the seminar were Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Chief Tony Idigbe (SAN), Lawrence Fubara Anga, Emeka Oscar Albert, Mazi Okechukwu Chris Unegbu and Mrs. Abimbola Olufemi. Pinheiro (SAN) said while looking for alternatives and strategies to make more cash, a lawyer or law firm, one must remember the restriction placed by ethics that a lawyer cannot advertise or charge excessive fees. “This is unlike lawyers in the United States

By John Austin Unachukwu

of America and Solicitors in England who are allowed some measure of advertisement in moderation. Likewise, the rules of professional ethics specifically discourage the issue of excessive charges by the lawyer. In any event, as it relates to litigation, a client has a right to challenge our excessive billing before the Master i.e. the Registrar. However, a lawyer is permitted to negotiate his fees. A smart lawyer would do well not to over invoice his client, if he is to keep the client. “It is to be assumed that before a lawyer seeks alternative income generating strategies; such a lawyer must have a functional chambers or office from where to operate. “The practice of law will involve setting up an office moderately equipped with up to date library and e-library modern facilities such as computers, photocopiers, telephone and other equipment to make for efficient execution of assignments for his clients “Before a lawyer will think of alternative income generation, presumption exists then that there must be an existing income for the lawyer in legal practice. Having regard to the restrictive context of this discussion, and in order to fully appreciates the scope, the question will invariably be asked, what then is

legal practice”. Pinheiro stated. On whether a lawyer should specialise in litigation or in other solicitor’s jobs, he advised that a lawyer must have a solid base. The firm or chambers will be a veritable asset to carry out the instructions of the client, Pinheiro added. Mazi Unegbu said: “Over the years and until recently, legal practice and lawyers have depended on what I call a mono-practice life. The issue of alternative dispute resolution was hither to not popular with legal practitioners and most lawyers when this came up, were very skeptical of the effect on their legal practice which is mainly litigation. In fact, at a seminar organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice on mediation in 2005 in which I was a facilitator, the question for most lawyers was whether the suggested alternative dispute resolution would not curtail their income. An alternative income generation for lawyers requires rigorous, conscious planning with many variables and signposts such that you can juggle the contents with ease. We think that by now and what is happening in the legal profession that a multi-disciplinary approach to law practice is the way to go. Most lawyers specialise in property management competing with estate agents who practice their trade without integrity and can undercut lawyers in this area.”

‘The rules of professional ethics specifically discourage the issue of excessive charges by the lawyer ... A smart lawyer would do well not to over invoice his client, if he is to keep the client’

He urged lawyers to acquire more skills, saying: “In other to diversify your sources of income you must be ready to diversify your skills and you must be ready to open up yourself to competition. Gone are the days when certain functions were the preserve of some professions. These days, most professions have some aspects of other professions. For example, if you are studying estate management in the university, you may be required to take certain courses from the law faculty and this is why estate managers have cut into preserves of lawyers. The competition among law firms have increased tremendously and there is also competition, particularly in Nigeria among firms owned by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in areas, such as litigation, property management and formulation of legal opinions and individual lawyers or small law firms compete with these ‘giants’. Why not let us leave the giants and consider other means of increasing our bottom line? Why not let us evolve businesses from legal issues so called? There is no business existing from birth to death without a legal attachment. Of course in delving into non-legal businesses you would need to acquire new skills; this will mean paying some money to attend courses organised by relevant professions. In going into non-legal businesses we should keep in view the rules on conflicts of interest and ethical behavior.’’ The Chairman of the Organising Committee of the event, Geraldine Wey, said the seminar would be of interest to young lawyers to enable them avail themselves of the opportunities to expand their frontiers in their practice.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

PAGE 25

Hope for threeyear-old’s sight •PAGE 26

Relief in Taraba

•PAGE 26

•Some of the freed captives

ERHAPS, the relief materials will cheer them up a bit. When Boko Haram insurgents released some 158 captives in Yobe State, there was probably as much joy as grief. One man, for instance, was happy to have his wife back with some of their children after three weeks, but not all their offspring were set free by the militants. That was the picture in Damaturu, the state capital, as the freed captives reunited with their relatives. Now, help has come for them. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) some relief materials. NEMA Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Mohammed Kanar presented the materials, saying, the intervention was “to compliment the efforts made by the Yobe State government”. He praised the state for setting up a good structure which he said will enhance care for victims of disaster in line with NEMA standards. Kanar also said that the agency had been directly distributing relief materials to victims of insurgency in the state, pointing out that the agency was ready to assist the state government in identifying the the medical and psychological needs of the victims and how to manage them. The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Alhaji Idi Jidawa who received the items on behalf of the state government, thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, assuring that the materials would get to the victims. He said, ”This is the first time that NEMA is making a formal presentation to SEMA for onward distribution to victims of insurgency in the state.” Items distributed included bags of

Help for freed Boko Haram captives Emotions were mixed when insurgents released 158 captives unconditionally in Yobe State. Why? The joy of freeedom was undercut by the agony of children still held back by the extremists. But relief materials donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) may cheer them up a bit, DUKU JOEL reports rice, noodles, vegetable oil, tomatoes and cloth, among others. The 158 victims comprising 62 adults and 96 children were abducted early January after an attack on Katarko community. Out of the 62 women, 15 lost their husbands to the attackers. It was a pleasant surprise, for the insurgents were under no apparent pressure. The 158 victims were set free unconditionally, with no apparent physical injuries. Most of those released were women and children. Sometime in early January, the insurgents launched a heavy attack on Katarko village some 20km away from Damaturu where they killed all able-bodied men on sight and abducted about 200 people mostly women and children. After their release on January 24, the eve of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign visit to Maiduguri, some unconfirmed reports filtered in that government secured their release. Another version had it that the insurgents could not cope with the cost of feeding the women and their chil-

dren hence the decision to release them unconditionally. It was gathered that some of the grownup boys kidnapped along with the women were either killed and dumped in wells or dropped by the roadside. The stories went on until they were freed. Most of them had said their last prayers for themselves and their children. Fannam Bukar who was abducted with her five children, was freed with three of them while the remaining two are still in the hands of the insurgents. “Myself and five of my children were taken away by Boko Haram,” she said amid tears. “I came out with only three of them (pointing at three small girls by her side). My two sons are still with them. My first son is 15 years old and the second one is 13. Only Allah knows what they are going now. I pray that Allah will bring them back safely to me.” Another woman, Aisha Dauda, saw her husband brutally murdered by the insurgents before she was whisked away with her three children to a place she described as “a

big building” that she had never seen before in her life. “On that day when they came to our village,” she said, my husband and I were in the house including my children. When we heard the gunshots; we wanted to run but it was too late. My husband came out of the house and he was surrounded by the Boko Haram boys. One of them put a gun in his head, asking him where he was going to. I was hiding in the room but I could still see what was going on between my husband and the boys. I was praying for his life and the next thing I heard was his head on the ground.” As she narrated, Aisha often held her breathe, fighting back tears. Were they manhandled? Not quite. Most of the women attested to the fact that they were treated with dignity. One of the victims, Fanta Mohammed, said, “To say the truth, they did not maltreat us since they took us away. Throughout the three weeks that we stayed in their camp, they provided us with enough food •Continued on page 26

Infrastructure renewal at accountants’ host community •PAGE 27

City of bulldozers

•PAGE 30

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Hope for three-year-old’s sight

FTER a playmate seriously wounded three-year-old Hope Dimlong in one eye on November 20, 2013 there is a chance that she could regain sight in the eye. A whiff of Christmas was already in the air when Hope was playing with her mates near her house in Ner, Pankshin Local Government of Plateau State and, quite accidentally, a mate stuck an object in her eye. Since then, she has been in excruciating pains, while her financially challenged parents have been unable to pay for any major treatment. Hope’s mother Mrs. Christiana Dimlong, said, “They were playing around the house when one of her mates mistakenly put a stick directly into her eyes. The accident caused a deep tear on the outer lens of her eye. Since then she could no longer see with the affected eye. She has been managing to see with the other eye. We have tried to seek medical attention to treat her but we are so poor to afford the cost; we were told the treatment would require a major operation and we cannot afford the cost. The affected eye sheds water in the day; at night she passes through severe pains. She cries endlessly and if you ask what the problem is, she will say, ‘My eye’. She has these pains all night but we are helpless; we can only give her pain relief drugs to enable her sleep; that’s all we’ve able to do. So we left her to her fate until this Senator came.”

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

That Senator is Gyang Pwajok, who is running for governor of Plateau State. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in Ner on campaign and stopped by the school to shake hands with the pupils. And there on the line was little Hope with her mates. Pwajok caught sight of her eye and asked what happened. It was there the story was told and immediately he decided to save the Primary One pupil’s sight. The school authorities and her parents were directed to travel with the Senator to Jos, the state capital, for immediate surgery. In Jos the following day, Pwajok directed the girl be taken to an eye specialist hospital anywhere in the country. The Chief Press Secretary to Pwajok, Chuwang Dung said, “Luckily for us someone recommended Angel Raphael Eye Centre in Jos to us.” After examining the girl, the Medical Director, Dr. Jonah Wuyep said, “The case of the girl has been complicated due to delay; we have to subject her to a major eye surgery after consulting with children’s eye specialists for appropriate medical advice.” According to Chuwang, “Senator Pwajok is not just interested in restoring the eyesight of the girl; he has made up his mind to offer the girl a scholarship to cover her pri-

•Hope

•Pwajok

‘The girl’s case has been complicated due to delay; we have to subject her to a major eye surgery after consulting with children’s eye specialists for appropriate medical advice’ mary, secondary and tertiary education considering her poor parental background. Senator Pwajok represents Plateau North senatorial zone at the Senate.

The mother of the girl, Christiana, the entire family and the school management were full of gratitude to the Senator. Mrs Dimlong said, “The coming of Senator Pwajok is like a miracle

to me; he is God-sent; I’ve hardly slept since the accident. I keep praying for help because it is beyond my power. Because of the psychological trauma I’ve been passing through over my daughter’s case, her grandmother was to come and pick her to the village. But God caused a delay so that divine help would come. If not for God, the girl would have been taken away and the Senator would not have meet her, but God had arrange it to happen this way for her to get help, so I thank God. I thank Senator Pwajok, I never know the senator before now, he has touched my life, that of my daughter and the entire family.

Help for freed captives •Continued from page 25 and drinks. They gave us soap and water to bathe through some small, small boys in the camp. Sometimes they even gave us perfumes to spray on our bodies. “Anytime they entered our apartment to preach their ideologies to us, they asked us to avoid looking at them. They will always call us pagans. When they were releasing us, they asked us to prepare and join those pagans in the town. “We thank God that we have reunited with our family members after three weeks of being in captivity,” Fanta said. Bintu Lawan gave an insight into their release. She said they asked them to decide whether to join their religion or leave to join other pagans outside of their camps. “They asked us to join their religion and we told them we will not practice their style of religion. So they agreed to release us, saying we should go and join the pagans who have the symbol of the green-whitegreen flag in Nigeria, vowing that they will meet with us one day. But we then told them we would rather join the pagans.” She added: “They often provided raw food items to us and we cooked them ourselves. They gave us soap, perfume and any other basic needs you can think of. It’s only God that released us from the hands of these dreaded militants,” she said. Abdulrahaman Dauda was the first person to receive a call from his friend who sighted the freed victims at a village called Kasaisa near Damaturu. He informed security personnel because his two wives and five children were among the victims. Despite his re-unification with his family, his joy was not complete as his two grownup sons were still held by the insurgents. “I thank God because today I have my wives and three of my other children back. I am happy I have seen my

family again but my two grownup sons are still in the hands of Boko Haram. I only pray that they return safely,” Abdulrahaman said. Aisha Dauda said: “I am happy because I came out alive to see my husband and other members of the family. My husband has informed me that two of our children are still missing. We are not sure what happened to them.” The freed captives were presented to their families at a ceremony organised by the State Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Victims of Insurgency in the state headed by Mr. Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, a lawyer, who is also the state Commissioner for Justice. He said that all the freed victims were in sound health, maintaining that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in conjunction with his committee and medical experts have examined the mental, psychological, and medical state of the victims. The event was also co-organised by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Relief materials were presented to the freed victims. Goniri during the presentation, said, “Out of the 158 that are freed, 62 are adults and the rest are children of the victims. Of the 62 adults, there are 15 widows among them. The Yobe State government as part of her resolve to cushion the sufferings of the victims has decided to give each of the widows two bags of rice; one bag of sugar; two cartons of noodles, wrappers and N50,000 cash while the remaining will receive the same quantity of items with N30,000.” He thanked the parents for their patience during the period the victims were screened by the security operatives. The voluntary release of these detainees was the first since the insurgency started in the Northeast six years ago. Over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the insurgents last year were yet to be freed.

•Some of the equipment

Health relief in Taraba Patients agonised when there were no facilities at the hospitals. Suddenly, some state-of-the-art tools were shipped in, but no skilled personnel to operate them. Now, the challenge has been overcome and everyone is happy. FANEN IHYONGO reports on what has been dubbed a quiet revolution in the northeast state

HEN 25-year-old Aisha Musa, a resident of Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, took ill with appendicitis, a disease caused by a blockage of the hollow portion of the appendix, she was quickly taken to the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, the state capital. In a few minutes, the medics did their job and she was well again. John Buba, 30, was also at the hospital with the same complaint, and like Aisha, got prompt attention and was discharged. Both patients were treated

through laparoscopic surgery or Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), a procedure in which a surgeon inserts a very thin tube called laparoscope, a tiny video camera, into the abdomen. With that equipment, the surgeon can view the insides of the abdomen, observing such organs as oesophagus, stomach and large and small intestines on a monitor. The tiny instrument responds to the movements of the surgeon’s hands and the appendix is removed through small abdominal incisions. The surgeon can also see whether these tissues have can-

cer or not. Thanks to the precision of the operation, minimal loss of blood, and the need for very small incisions, the patient recovers much faster and with less scarring, compared to traditional open surgery. In most cases it is no longer necessary to open the patient up with a large incision. Soon after the process, Aisha and John became so well that they could eat and even talk to reporters. “I wasn’t myself, but now I am •Continued on page 27

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT Infrastructure renewal at accountants’ host community

HE relocation two years ago of the headquarters of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) to Kwall in Bassa Local Government of Plateau State is paying dividends. A police post has been built there, as has a motor-park. There is also pipe-borne water, even a market boasting 40 stalls, among others, all thanks to the association. Not only the headquarters moved; a college of accountants also run by ANAN was equally relocated to Kwall, although the college itself took off in the state since 1982. It had been operating on a temporary site in Dogon Dutse Jos. The relocation of the college to its permanent site in Kwall has afforded it more space and even roomier offices and accommodation for staff and students. Kwall residents could not conceal their joy at the inauguration of the market. They were not just happy with what ANAN has done for them; they even hoped that with the college in their community, there was more to come. While commissioning the project, the association’s president, Alhaji Sikirudeen Tunji Labode said the college was simply fulfilling its corporate social responsibility or CSR to their host communities. The market is located near the motor park, both next to the 382-acre college complex. Also nearby is the police station which ANAN built. The ANAN President said, “ANAN identified the projects to be key needs of our host communities. The association has also executed these projects as a mark of its commitment to fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.” Director-General of the Nigerian College of Accountancy, Dr Joseph Femi Adebisi, in his remarks, said, “The community modern market and motor park, among similar projects executed earlier, were meant to uplift the infrastructural development in the college’s immediate communities; the college will continue to be responsive to the needs of its stake-

‘Kwall residents could not conceal their joy at the inauguration of the market. They were not just happy with what ANAN has done for them; they even hoped that with the college in their community, there was more to come’ From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

holders especially our immediate communities. The paramount ruler of Kwall and surrounding communities, the Brra Nggwe Rigwe, Rev Ronku Aka thanked ANAN for donating the market and motor park, a gesture which he said his people were not even dreaming of. He said, “This is a big day for us. In Irigwe land, nobody would have dreamt that this would happen. It is my promise that we will keep this place neat to the glory of God.” The college of accountancy does not limit its corporate social responsibility to its immediate community alone; they have taken their goodwill beyond Plateau State and as far as Nasarawa State. For instance, the college has built a post-graduate research centre in the University of Jos, Nasarawa State University and also in Kogi State. According to the Principal, Public Relations Officer of the college, Associate Professor Cyril Ummoh, “The college authority will soon unveil its proposed community projects for the year 2015 because the college carries out community service projects every year and this year will not be an exception.”

•Some of the acountants at the inauguration of the market

•The market being inaugurated

Health relief in Taraba •Continued from page 26 OK,” Aisha told The Nation. The Specialist Hospital was a classic parting gift from former Governor Jolly Nyame who bowed out of office in 2007, after 10 years of service. Nyame, the first elected governor of the state, was in office from 1992 to 1993, came back in 1999 before leaving in 2007. The hospital was however not equipped when the former governor commissioned it in 2007. Governor Danbaba Suntai, a pharmacist, equipped the hospital with stateof-the-art facilities when he took over the baton of power from Nyame. Some of these facilities are said to be found only in few hospitals. But despite these ultra-modern facilities, something seriously was missing at the Specialist Hospital: the skilled manpower to operate the machines. The hospital was like a ship without a sailor. The facilities were lying waste like a community with a river blessed with fish, but without the technology to catch the fish. The new Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Joel Rimande made the difference. How did he do it? Rimande, a consultant radiologist, employed the services of expert doctors from Jos, Plateau State, who came and taught

‘In two weeks, Dr. Misanu and his team trained the resident principal doctors of the specialist hospital. Dr. Anuye Rimamskeb learned fast and trained the hospital staff. Some see the development as a revolution. the resident doctors how to use the facilities. The doctors were led by Michael Misanu, a surgeon with expert knowledge in Endoscopy and Laparoscopy. Rimande’s wisdom reminds us of a Chinese proverb in which a man turned down a fish gift, preferring instead to be taught how to catch fish. In two weeks, Dr. Misanu and his team trained the resident principal doctors of the Specialist Hospital. During the training, Dr. Anuye Rimamskeb, who served as what could be described here as a class prefect, learned fast. He in turn trained the hospital staff. Some see the development as a revolution. When The Nation visited the hospital during the training, a 38-year old woman who had gallbladder disease was being treated. The gall-

bladder is a little sac that stores bile from the liver, and it’s found just beneath the liver. It releases bile, via the cystic duct, into the small intestine to help break down the foods eaten —particularly fatty foods. The gallbladder may seem okay to forget about it, as it stays tucked away doing its job, but watch out when something goes wrong with your gallbladder. Thus, this lady was in excruciating pains when she was brought. But in a few minutes, the process was over and the lady was well again. Another patient, a man with stomach disorders, was also treated with the modern science healthcare facilities. Soon he recovered and was discharged that same day. Other problems such as cysts, adhesions, fibroids , and many in-

•Dr. Michael Misanu (left) and Dr. Anuye Rimamskeb at the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo fections can be found using laparoscopy. Tissue samples can be taken for biopsy through the tube (laparoscope). The medical director spoke to journalists on the training. He said the hospital would now provide modern science healthcare delivery on a regular basis. “And we are doing it at the barest minimum rate for patients. We have adapted the Danbaba Suntai philosophy that we must not allow a person to die here because of lack of money,” he said. Remande advocated for “attrac-

tive” salaries, emoluments and incentives for doctors at the Specialist Hospital to avoid losing their manpower to hospitals with better pay packages. The Specialist Hospital, just resuming from one-month strike, is hoping to intensify its efforts in offering to Taraba people the best of modern healthcare services. Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi is expected to ensure the staff get all their allowances to enable them work to the best of their abilities.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 30

City off zers bulldozers Its glitzy highrise buildings and paved streets are wellknown, as is the fact that it hosts the high and mighty. But Abuja is also known for bulldozers tearing down buildings and leaving people in tears, reports OLUGBENGA ADANIKI

ESIDENTS of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) know their environment well. They are aware that it is the seat of federal power, glitttering and awe-inspiring. But they are also conscious of the fact that bulldozers can roll in anytime to pull down structures ostensibly to keep the capital city neat and tidy. Many have watched their homes reduced to rubble. Shopkeepers have wailed as earth-moving vehicles demolished their bases of business. Several have cried, petitioned and sued, but the bulldozers have kept moving. For a whole week, traders at the Main Market in the FCT agonised because the bulldozers rolled into their market and started pulling it down. At the scene were armed policemen, army and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to carry out the exercise. According to investigations, the market was undergoing a major transformation and modernisation by private developers known as Green House Ventures Limited. Government said the market had to be pulled down for developers to build a better one under a build, operate and transfer contract scheme. On January 13, the chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr. Shaban Tete signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the modernisation of the market. In the MoU, the developers would re-build the market and transform it to an international standard with modern facilities. The company is expected to rebuild the market, manage it for 25 years and hand over to Kuje Area Council Administration. The contract is an example of the Federal Government’s publicprivate partnership (PPP) initiative designed to promote development of infrastructure in the country. According to the developers, the market will have 532 lock-up shops, two warehouses, 500 open shops, banks and a security unit, 72 plaza stores, modern abattoir and a day-care centre. Mr. Sunday Yaro, the Secretary of the Committee on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project/ Quantity Surveyor of the Area Council, said series of meetings

•A scene of the demolition were held with the traders before the demolition began. “The area council has tried to evacuate the traders from the market to a temporary site to enable the developers start work but they refused to move. “Construction cannot begin without evacuating the traders from the market due to congestion and obstruction caused by shanties in the market and the road side. “When the project is completed, it will also help the council to properly check and balance the revenue generated from the market. “Recently, the chairman signed a memorandum of understanding and asked the traders three times if he can sign the MoU and the traders gave him the go-ahead to sign,’’ he said. The chairman of Kuje Traders’ Association, Alhaji Yunusa Isah, said the traders had series of meetings with the council over the project and were informed of the demolition exercise. Isa also said the traders would have been given a few days to properly evacuate their goods from the market before the demolition exercise. He therefore appealed to the traders to be calm and see the demolition as a blessing for the future development of the market. One of the traders whose shop was demolished, Mrs. Charity Onu, said the project is a good development and has evacuated all her goods before her shop was pulled down. She, however, pleaded with the developers to hasten up the project to enable the traders move in on time. All efforts to get the council chairman, Mr. Shaban Tete for comments on the demolition exercise were futile. Some traders hurriedly evacuated their belongings in trucks, personal cars and wheel-barrows. The demolition exercise caused traffic gridlock along KujeGwagwalada Road. But the exercise did not go down well with many of the traders. Mariam Abudurasheed, a seller said: “They just came and started demolishing the market. They have

• The dreaded bulldozer

‘The issue of the new market has been ongoing for a long time. We never had any date in mind. The notice to vacate the market was given last December. Based on the mutual understanding we had with the Kuje Area Council, the way they came was not the way we expected’ been saying it since last year but they did not give us the particular date. They were here on Tuesday as early as 8am. People are not happy with the development.” Another trader, who was identified as Mary, said: “I am not happy with the manner they came to demolish the market. I lost almost N200,000 as a result of the demolition. And I do not know when I will recover the funds. I have been selling in this market for over six years. I am waiting to see how to organise myself for the next line of action. “What government did here is not good. Now that they have demolished the market, where do

they want us to go? In this country, only God will help us. They have not built any shop anywhere. We need prayers; I do not know how I will move my belongings around now that there are no shops to pack things into. All my children need money for their schooling which comes from my sales. Is this Abuja meant for only the rich? We are suffering.” A buyer, Mrs. Romoke Rashadt lamented, saying “I buy things here every day. I am just speechless. It is not easy. Why will they take them unawares? They should just build shops for them because not all of them have money to rent shops.” Rose Oyenma who sells foodstuffs

said: “I am tired. Government should help us. We are under the sun. See this umbrella, it is sold for N6, 000 and I do not have money to buy it. I am not feeling fine.” Happiness Njoku told Abuja Review of her pathetic story about how her husband was killed and he has no helper to run to. “I am the one that built my shop, and it cost me about N200, 000. If we were told on time, I will not buy goods again. Some of my goods were crushed in the shop. I do not have anyone to help me. I have no husband; hired killers killed him December last year. They broke our door; they slapped me and killed him. I have three children and I am two months pregnant. I lost almost N8, 000. I am tired. I do not know how I will move my goods back to my house. My house is far from here. They have disorganised me,” she said. John Onu was not happy with the development. He said: “Where do they want me to start from? Tomorrow they will say we should come and vote for them. How can I vote? I lost almost N200, 000. It is •Continued on page 32

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

•A doctor attends to a patient

HEY were simply at the mercy of diseases. Their main source of water is a well or a stream. The community borehole has since packed up. Any surprises that residents of Kwaita, a community in the Federal Capital Territory, are afflicted with River Blindness and other diseases? Help has come. A staff of the Buhari Support Organisation, Aisha Ojene Abu, who initiated the medical mission, said she and her colleagues saw a Channels TV documentary on the plight of Kwaita and decided to intervene. They visited on a market day and set up their stand at the palace of the community leader. She said, “We watched this documentary on Channels Television where they reported that Kwaita community is impoverished and they suffer from River Blindness. So, we thought of a way of lending a helping hand by giving them drugs. That is what brought up this idea. We are conducting various tests; the doctors do the diagnosis while the pharmacists dispense the drugs”. Speaking further, she said the mission was “different from the normal rallies that we are used to. We are impacting directly on the lives of the individuals and to achieve the sixth goal of the MDGs. We intend to reduce the prevalence of malaria and other diseases in this community. We realised that they have a stream which is the point of infection. The aim of

•Patients wait for their turn

Help for disease-stricken community After a medical outreach team visited Kwaita in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the traditional ruler Abuhumudi Garba and his people have heaved a sigh of relief. TONY AKOWE reports how the Buhari Support Organisation tackled River Blindness and other ailments in the community this programme is to reduce these diseases and make them better people”. Head of the medical mission, Dr. Maina Elijah, a general surgeon, told The Nation that they came to “to support the people who have been having the problem of River Blindness and other ailments. Because of the changes General Buhari wants to bring when he comes to power, he has encouraged his support organisation to come and provide free medical aid to the people of this community. This is a small step in a bigger project regarding the changes General Buhari wants to bring when he comes into power. The people here are very appreciative of this gesture. They have been receiving consultations and been given drugs completely free and I think this is something laudable. I think this will continue on a larger scale when General Buhari comes to power.” Dr Elijah said further that they are “expecting between 100 and 200 people to benefit from this. Today is a market day here and we have al-

‘I am aware that not too long ago, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association said that none of the presidential candidates has said anything about health. I want to say that we have been saying something about health…We realised that most illnesses could be prevented’ ready had quite a number of people coming for consultation. In addition to the diseases I have mentioned, we have been able to get some drugs like anti-malarial and others drugs which we will leave behind for them to use. This is just to prove a little point about what the health sector will be like when General Buhari comes into power.” He said further that the team has identified two cases of River Blindness among those attended to and “we have been able to give them the rel-

evant drugs for it. Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to see everybody. Like we said, this is just a pilot project. At the end of the day, when we have the resources and Buhari gets into government, we will do even bigger projects. There is going to be a lot of improvement in the health sector. A lot of money has been spent on medical tourism abroad and we have to stop that”. Why did the team decide to use the palace instead of the health centre in the community? He said, “The health centre is a small place and we chose to use the palace for logistical reasons. First, it is near the palace and today is a market day and with the permission of the traditional ruler, we have been able to use his palace here”. Head of Media of the Buhari Support Organisation, Dr. Chidia

Maduekwe also told The Nation that they embarked on the medical mission to create some sensitisation and awareness on the need for people to seek western Medicare as a platform to redress maladjustment in their health status. “This is just a pilot project which is starting today in one of the 774 local government areas in the country,” Dr, Maduekwe said. “We are starting it with the hope that when the General assumes power, the leadership of this country will do a national launch of this programme of reaching the unreachable on the platform of the Buhari Support Organisation. Today is a day that marks that one step of the journey of a thousand miles”. Where is the money for the project coming from? “We are running a volunteer-based organisation,” he said. “From the money we realised from those who have volunteered to support Buhari candidacy, we have decided to put a part of it into this aspect of health care. That is the source of the money and it is devolving the same benefit back to the people in the area of health care. I am aware that not too long ago, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association said that none of the presidential candidates has said anything about health. I want to say that we •Continued on page 32

City of bulldozers •Continued from page 30

•Aisha Abu and her team

not fair. Some of us have been rendered useless now.” Godwin Adamu is the Secretary of Kuje Main Market Traders’ Association. He said: “The issue of the new market has been ongoing for a long time. We never had any date in mind. The notice to vacate the market was given last December. Based on the mutual understanding we had with the Kuje Area Council, the way they came was not the way we expected. Nobody was informed. It took the intervention of some of us to plead for us to move our belongings out of our shops. We are expecting them to commence building so that the traders can have hope. “The discussion we had with government was to relocate the traders to somewhere. They agreed that

they will relocate them first before demolition. We are still waiting to hear from them while they took this step. They came with Army, police, NSCDC, and we want to know why they came in that manner. “Some of us have been here for more than 30 years and many do not have another means of livelihood. My family has to eat. I am expecting them to commence work. Our traders are suspecting that we the leaders knew that they were coming. The development also took the chairman of the traders unaware. We are waiting for the way forward. We have lost millions of Naira. They should do something on time. The rainy season is fast approaching.” The question is: when will government commence the building of the new shops? What will become of the traders after the shops have been built?

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

ABUJA REVIEW

ATHER than abate, the unemployment rate has continued to rise despite various efforts by successive administrations to check the trend. According to a report from the National Bureau of Statistics, unemployment rate which was 5.30 per cent in 2006 averaged 14.60 per cent between 2006 and 2009. It increased from 21.10 per cent in 2010 to 23.90 per cent in 2011. The regimes have not been able to put in place proper measures in collaboration with the private sector to absorb the high turnover of young graduates being thrown into the labour market every year. A Nigerian Institute of Social Economic Research (NISER, 2013) report showed that graduates from tertiary institutions make up about 20 per cent of youth unemployment in the country and they mostly remained unemployed for upward of five years after graduation. If not properly handled, some have warned, it could be the basis for a major revolution in the country. Many Nigerians have already attributed unemployment as contributory factor to the insurgency being witnessed in the country. Many Nigerians also believed that the many years of corruption and mismanagement, military rule and the civil war had, in no small way, hindered economic growth of the country, despite its endowment of natural resources. There is also the problem of inadequate information and data on unemployment which have adversely affected effective planning to tackle the unemployment. All these are part of the factors that gave rise to the high unemployment and poverty rates in Nigeria. President Gooduck Jonathan, who said his administration, in the past two to three years, has created 1.4 million jobs yearly, hoped to increase it to two million jobs annually. Speaking at the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy and the Nigeria Youth Entrepreneurship Network in Abuja, he said: “At the inception of this administration, we clearly identified unemployment, especially among our youths, as one of the biggest challenges we were set to tackle. “Our administration took a number of unique steps to appropriately tackle this challenge. First, we recognised that the transformation of our economy from an oil-based economy to a non-oil economy presented the greatest opportunities for job creation in our country, and as a result, we embarked on diversifying of our economy. “Today, I am happy to report to Nigerians that this effort has yielded positive results to date, with the creation of about 1.4 million jobs on average per annum for our youths, and we are working hard to improve on this. “Secondly, given the depth of the unemployment problem, we understood from the onset the need to directly intervene in job creation

Jonathan and the two-million jobs through a number of carefully designed programmes. As you all know, our labour market is stratified, consisting of youths with different skill set and capacity. So, to ensure no group is left out, we designed programmes tailored to the various skill-sets.” “We started with the implementation of the Community Services Scheme, under the SURE-P Programme to cater for unskilled youths, and so far, over 120,000 young Nigerians, including 42,000 women and 4,700 physically-challenged youths across our country have been engaged in various projects such as road maintenance, community security, sanitation, and so on. “Several of these youth are also being trained in various skills so that they can succeed in the labour market. “In the same spirit, we started the Graduate Internship Scheme, targeting university graduates with one year internships in private sector-led enterprises, so that they can acquire requisite skills and experience that can improve their long-term employability. “We also have programmes such as YouWin and Nagropreneurs to support highly skilled youths and budding entrepreneurs. “These programmes have been designed to ensure that young Nigerians get training, mentoring, and more critically access to finance through grants, which had been difficult for them to access in the past, to set up their own companies, which will then employ their fellow

From the Villa By Augustine Ehikioya youths.” Towards creating the two million jobs annually, the National Presidential Jobs Board, chaired by VicePresident Namadi Sambo met at the State House on Tuesday last week to map out strategy. The Minister of Trade and Investment and member of the Board, Olusegun Aganga, who spoke with State House correspondents said there are lots of incentives to encourage the private sector, just as a bill on job creation will soon be forwarded to the National Assembly for passage. He said: “We deliberated on a number of issues. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) updated members of the board on the status of jobs creation. The NBS which is an independent source confirmed that the government has, in the last two, three years, has created an average of about 1.4 million jobs ev-

ery year. There were sectoral analyses of where the jobs are coming from. “The objective of this board as directed by Mr. President is that the it must work with other agencies and the private sector to create a minimum of two million jobs. So, based on what has been created for the first two months of this year, we are moving in the right direction.” he said. Though some Nigerians believed that creating two million jobs yearly is like a drop in an ocean considering the high unemployment rate, others felt that it is a good point to start from.

Jonathan as Val to fallen heroes’ widows Although the widows of Nigeria’s fallen heroes no longer have husbands to celebrate the

yearly Valentine’s Day, President Goodluck Jonathan was available for them. He hosted them and their family members to a valentine dinner at the Banquet Hall of the State House to mark the 2015 Valentine’s Day. The President, who called for one minute silence for the repose of their husbands’ souls, also promised to boost the widows’ welfare in the hall richly decorated in the valentine’s colors. He said: “Let me sincerely commend the wives and children of those people who, in the course of their duty, paid the supreme sacrifice because it is not easy to be a widow, it is not easy to be an orphan, especially when the children are still very young. “Because you have shown commitment to this nation, they have shown patriotism. But you have taken it kindly. I want to assure you this evening that government will continue to support you. “That is one of the reasons that we called this meeting to use this platform to re-inforce our total commitment to you so that we will be held responsible if we are unable to do what we promised that we will do to see that we give assistance to the widows and children of those who paid the supreme sacrifice to keep our country together.” The women, who turned up for the dinner in their hundreds, were not only happy with the treatments they received at the seat of power, but also had their spirit lifted.

Help for disease-stricken community

•The village head, Alhaji Abduhamudi Garba

•Continued from page 31 have been saying something about health. “We realised that most illnesses could be prevented. So, when government is investing money on curative approach to healthcare, something is wrong with that health care system. So, we are going to concentrate of preventive health care which will involve provision of potable water because health and water work hand in hand. Most of the diseases are water-borne. So, if you don’t have potable water for the people, you end up creating more diseases.” Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the medical team for the assistance. Abubakar A. Abubakar, who claimed to have come to Kwaita from Bosso in Niger State, was full of

praises for the team for coming to their aid and giving the drugs free and called on the government to emulate them. For Mary Alayi, medical team was a godsend. Even though she was yet to be attended to when she spoke, Mary who said she was suffering from diabetes said, “We thank them for what they have brought to us. It is of great help to us. Many people heard about it and they came here and we are very grateful”. An elderly woman said, “I have seen drugs and I am going home happy. They have given me drugs for ulcer. I pray that God will grant them their heart’s desires. I want to appeal to others to come forward to receive this same treatment.” The Village head of Kwaita Hausa

whose palace was used for the exercise, said “I am very happy for the drugs they brought to us. I have never seen this kind of thing before. I pray to God to let the person that will help Nigerians win the forthcoming elections. The person that has done this, may God help that person. You have seen the crowd of people here. Nobody has gone out to call them. They are just coming on their own”. Hajia Zainab Akilu who heads the mobilisation team of the Buhari Support Organisation said, “This wind of change that is going on is amazing. These young medical personnel have volunteered on their own and this is inspired by the integrity of the person of General Buhari and they are doing this out of inspiration and the value they attached to his person”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

FROM THE COURT

Why court discharged Babalakin, others The Lagos State High Court has held that the criminal charges filed against BiCourtney Chairman Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) and others were ‘incurably bad and defective’ and, therefore, could not stand. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reviews the verdict.

WO years and three months after criminal charges were filed against Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) and four others, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on February 23, discharged them. Babalakin and his companies Stabilini Visinoni Limited and Bi-Courtney; and Alex Okoh and his company Renix Nigeria Limited, were first charged in November 2012 before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who was later transferred out of the court’s criminal division. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them with 27 counts of fraud, alleging that the defendants fraudulently assisted convicted former Delta State governor, James Ibori, to transfer about N4.7billion through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of an aircraft. Ruling on the application by Babalakin and his co-defendants to quash the charges, the judge formulated four issues raised by the defendants: whether or not the EFCC can prosecute a defendant in a State High Court without valid fiat; whether Ibori is a public officer; whether two prosecuting authorities can jointly sign a charge, and whether the charge on the surface contains sufficient information to meet the mandatory requirement of Section 36, Sub-Section 6a of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Justice Lawal-Akapo resolved three of the issues in the defendants’ favour. His ruling was in respect of five consolidated applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the competence of the information (charges). The defendants, through their counsel, filed separate applications praying Justice LawalAkapo to quash the charges. Represented by Dr. Biodun Layonu (SAN), Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and Mr. Oladapo

Akinosun, they argued that the EFCC, as a federal agency, lacked valid fiat to prosecute them in a state High Court. According to the defence counsel, all the charges against the defendants were predicated on repealed laws of Lagos State and, therefore, should be quashed. Besides, Akoni submitted that from the face of the charge, no public officer was disclosed on account of whose action any benefit wasý offered. “What we have here is a situation where the defendants are brought to court blindly. The essential details that constitute offence are not disclosed to them. We submit that the particulars of offence do not constitute offence as prescribed in written law because there is no public officer,” he said. Counsel to the third defendant, Otaru, also prayed the court to quash the charges against his client on technical grounds. He noted that while the prosecutions’ amended information indicated that the suit was jointly instituted and signed by the EFCC and the Attorney General of the Federation, the reality was that one A.M. Yusuf signed the document. Akoni also argued that since counts two to 13 did not disclose any offence in the eyes of the law, counts 14 to 27 had no foundation to stand on. He urged the court to quash the charges and discharge the defendants. EFCC’s lawyer Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), while opposing the applications, said the agency has the constitutional right to prosecute them before a State High Court, adding that Section 286 of the Constitution permits the court to enter-

tain federal offences. On the issue of general fiat issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Jacob said the only person who could complain about not getting a fiat was the Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and not any of the parties. Ruling, the judge held that the EFCC had the power to prosecute any criminal matter in court without fiat. Justice Lawal-Akapo held the EFCC failed to disclose enough information to sustain the allegations made against Babalakin and his co-defendants. According to him, the EFCC, for instance, did not disclose the particulars of the offences allegedly committed and when. The judge also held that Ibori, who was alleged to have corruptly conferred the N4.7billion on Babalakin, was not a public officer as stated in the charge. Discharging the defendants, Justice LawalAkapo said: “I have examined provisions of Section 98 of the Criminal Code Law. It does not describe the governor of a state as a public officer. I’ve also examined the provision of Section 98b to which reference was made by Section 98. It also did not describe the governor of a state as a public officer. I have read the Court of Appeal case cited by Akoni in Anthony Abiodun Dada against Prof. Olusola Adeyeye. I agree with the submission that the governor of a state is not in the public service of that state within the meaning of Section 218, Sub-section 1... “I, therefore, find and I hold that the existence of public officer has to be disclosed on the charge and predicated on Section 98a, 1, of the Crimi-

‘I, therefore, find and I hold that the existence of public officer has to be disclosed on the charge and predicated on Section 98a, 1, of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 217 laws of Lagos State’

Judgment in Abuja market dispute March 23

HEN, in February last year, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugaurated the sprawling commercial facility known as Wuye Ultra-modern Market in Abuja, many had thought business activities would commence immediately. But that has become impossible as the facility, containing 1,700 shops, built on a 7.3 hectares space and valued at about N6.5billion, remains unutilised owing to a dispute between the facility developer - All Purpose Shelter Limited (APSL) - and about 706 traders who claimed to have earlier been issued allocation letters. Trouble started when, shortly after the facility was commissioned, the traders demanded for keys to their shops from the property developer. Rather than handing out keys, APSL asked the traders to make further payments on the ground that the provisional letters of allocation earlier issued them do not entitle them to shops. APSL said based on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement in signed with the land owner, the Abuja Investment and Property Development Company Limited (AIPDCL), it (the developer) was to build, operate and transfer to AIPDCL later after recouping its investment. It said while the market was being built, provisional offers of allocation were issued to the traders, who were expected to make some further payments before they could access shops for their businesses. This position by APSL infuriated the traders, who spelt a rat, and subsequently headed for the court. They sued the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), APSL and Abuja Property Development Company.

Falana: Use of hijab a right

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Shortly after the case was filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and upon an application by the plaintiff, Justice O. A. Musa, granted an order in February, last year restraining the defendants from allocating any of the shops or offices in the market, pending the determination of the substantive suit. Parties later went into trial, during which they all tendered evidences to aid their cases. One of such evidence tendered and admitted by the court was the BOT agreement, submitted to the court by APSL’s lawyer, Rotimi Ojo. The plaintiffs are by suit, challenging the refusal of the developer to allocate shops to them even after they were issued provisional letters of allocation. They contended that the offer letters were released to them because they had met the terms of their allocation. They urged the court to among others, order the defendants to allocate shops and offices to them. But the APSL, in a counter-argument, told the court that the plaintiffs were yet to meet the terms of allocation. “The letters released to the plaintiffs were clearly marked ‘letter of provisional offer of allocation of shops/open space,’ which is dependent on other conditions stipulated in their letters of provisional offer,” the company said. APSL stated that it built the market with bank loan, and on which now attracts interest on every day. It added that the time within which it ought to recoup its investment has started running since February6, 2014 when the market was commissioned. APSL urged the court to hold among others, that the plaintiffs are

•Babalakin nal Code Law, Cap 217 laws of Lagos State.” The judge added: “Section 36, Sub-section 6a of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides, and I quote: ‘Every person, who is charged with a criminal offence, shall be entitled to be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail of the nature of the offence. The nucleus in the case is the word ‘detailed’.” The judge added: “The expression ‘criminal conduct’ is so wide, unqualified, vague, and indeed open ended. It is capable of many interpretations and the consequence of which it does not give the specific details of the offences allegedly committed... “I also find, and I hold, that for the case of judicial and statutory decisions, James Ibori is not a public officer. I, therefore, resolve the issue in favour of the applicant... The amended information filed on May 7, 2013 is incurably bad and ineffective.”

•FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Bukar not entitled to shops in the market; order that the shops be allocated to those, who have paid for the value of development, and order that business transactions be commenced to avoid dilapidation of facilities in the market.” Ojo said beside the loan secured by his client for the project, which has started attracting interest, the funds contributed by others, who had fully subscribed to shops, are also tied down because the management of the market could not allocate shops to them because of the pending case. He said: “The letters of allocation for those, who had already paid, are ready in our office, but we cannot distribute them because of the closure of the market. But by the grace of God, once we get the court case behind us, we will begin to distribute the allocation letters.” On the last hearing date, Justice Musa fixed judgment for March 23 after parties adopted their final written addresses.

AGOS lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has said there is nothing wrong with the use of hijab by secondary school students. He disagreed with a judgment of a Lagos High Court which banned the use of hijab by female muslim students in Lagos schools. Falana spoke at the Law and Religion Conference held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, with the theme: Towards law and religious freedom in Africa. It was organised by the UNILAG Centre of Human Rights, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos and Ikeja branches and African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies, South Africa. Among the guests were UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rahmon Bello, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court, Former ViceChancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof Is-haq Oloyede and National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Sheik Abdur-Rahman Ahmad. On the hijab controversy, Falana said: “It’s a way of dividing our people and denying the people of their rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution. “I think it is hypocritical here. The undergraduates are allowed to use hijab. So, there is nothing wrong in secondary school pupils using the hijab in their respective schools.” The SAN expressed displeasure over religious related crises in the country said the religious leader and political class should focus more on how to improve on the people and society as against religious crisis. He wondered why people now use religion as a tool of political sentiments, divide and terrorist attacks. “If you want religious harmony to the thrive, stop recognising any particular religion over the other.

By Peace Iyere

This is what secularism dictates,” he said. Reminiscing on Nigeria of the 70s, Falana said the people of the country lived together peacefully while religious tolerance and national cohesion prevailed. He wondered why people now use religion as a tool of political sentiments and terrorist attacks. He advised: “ Our leaders need to promote religious harmony. If you want religious harmony to thrive, stop recognising any particular religion as a state religion over the other. Focus more on recognising the fundamental human right to freedom of religion. “When you find a President going from churches to churches to preach the gospel and a Muslim President also going from one mosque to the other, it is dangerous for our nation,” he added. Falana, who said the provisions of Nigerian constitution guarantee the right to freedom of thought and religion, stated that expression of religion, however, must not infringe on the rights of the members of the neighborhood. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State noted that religious societies and the leaders shoulder much responsibilities on issues of law and religious freedom in Nigeria. Fashola, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner Mr. Ade Ipaye, also said it was unfortunate that religious societies have been a regular offenders of physical planning laws and tax laws in the state. He said: “They have been offenders in terms of demolision of religious centres,”adding that this has made the state government to make some laws to cushion the effects of religious intolerance.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY One thing is clear. The 2015 presidential election is about Nigerians’ frustration with the failure of successive governments to attack and defeat corruption in our public life. But the Nigerian Law itself has many loopholes through which it aids corruption, writes IWILADE AKINTAYO.

The profound anti-corruption legal framework Nigeria needs T HE Nigerian citizenry obviously yearn for an end to the odious corruption that has retarded the country’s progress for too long.The law, stripped of all its niceties,will remain complicit in our underdevelopment crises until it is fundamentally restructured to promote, as against stifling, this legitimate yearning. But in what ways can a more profound anti-corruption and legally enforceable framework be formulated for Nigeria if this anti-graft war is ever to be properly conceptualised, fought, and won? Outright theft of public resources, misappropriation, conversion, diversions, the criminally insensitive but dubiously‘now almost legalised’ irrational pay packages for public officials at the expense of dire public works, contract inflations, bribery, kickbacks, prebendalism, nepotism and several other similar terminologiesall describe varied shadesof corruption by whatever definition we codify it. For Nigeria, it is easy to cite the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Advance Fee Fraud Act, the EFCC and ICPC Acts,etc as having largely made provisions against some of the corrupt acts covered by the mentioned terminologiesand prescribing prosecution and punishments for same - even if the adequacy of some of the so-called punishments are deeply questionable. But there are still some protections for corruption advertently being promoted by Law itself which must be urgently deconstructed, to make the Nigerian Law more profoundly intolerant of corruption, especially in public life- in the coming period. Some of the ways the Law itself currently engenders corruption in public life begins with the structure of the 1999 Constitution (even as so far amended), given its rabidly consumerist, prebendalist and unproductively unitaristdisposition which, pretend as we may, remains a fundamental drag on Nigeria’s development prospects. To start a genuine anti-corruption war, public office must first be adorned in genuine garbs of probity, prudence and an inspiring modesty that emphasizes honest service far above the insatiable material gluttony that currently underlies the habits of the political class. Thus, in addition to the massive looting that has become commonplace, anarea that unarguablyreflects the legitimation of corruption in public life is the unchecked irrational salaries and allowances the current political class mindlessly allocate to itselfin complete contempt for the miserable quality of life of the people it purports to represent. These clear cases of ‘legitimised’ corruption are points from which any sincere anti-corruption combat must decisively start. Unfortunately, the Law is yet to expressly criminalise this utterly insensitive but dubiously ‘legalised’ irrational pay packages being dishonestly paid to public officials. The Law must urgently place a rational limit on this rapacious looting being disguised as legitimate pay while also fiercely criminalizing any crossing of the set limit. It must do so urgently if the anti-corruption war is to be sincerely waged and if it is to gain unprecedented traction and momentum within a pretty short time. Let’s take but only one of the criminally insensitive examples- i.e; the much indignantly analysed pay packages of Nigerian Legislatorswhich is still, to complicate the assault on the people’s dignity, even shrouded in secrecy. The figures are disparate but there is almost universal consensus that Nigerian Legislators are one of (if not) the highest paid in the world. Given that the people they purport to represent are among the poorest of the world, it is beyond debate that it smacks of unprecedented legitimation of corruption to allocate such disproportionately large chunks of scarce resources to irrationally enrich Legislators and other public officials who pretend to be representing some of the world’s poorest people. The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act clearly provides for the Commission’s powers under Section 6 as fol-

lows: “The Commission shall have powers to determine the remuneration appropriate to the holders of the offices as specified in Parts A and B of the First Schedule to this Act”. Now that we are faced with situations where public officials now create parallel Laws across the States and even plain administrative decisions to circumvent the powers of the RMAFC, to allocate clearly undeserving rewards to themselves, outside the figures already fixed by the RMAFC in line with powers given to it in Section 6, the Law cannot continue to stand helpless in the face of such unbridled desecration of public life. A simple amendment to Section 6 of the RMAFC Act will immediately water down these circumventions. Or, in addition, an outright enactment of a separate Act to limit the remuneration to be received by all categories of public officials could also be considered so as to properly spell out the philosophy of service and to also criminalise the festering ideas, and irrational remuneration practices,that have made public office essentially a platformfor primitive acquisition in Nigeria. For instance, an additional phrase to provide that in the exercise of the powers of the RMAFC under its enabling Act, the Commission shall not fix the total salaries, allowances, pensions or other remuneration package by whatever name called, and of any public official of whatever designation, whether serving or retired, including the President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, beyond N30 million per year, which value shall at all times be determined by the purchasing power and value of N30 million as at January 2015,(or something of sort)will be a vital addition to the RMAFC Act. Also, a provision that it shall be an offence, under the Act, for any public official to earn or draw from the public treasury any further salaries, allowances, pension or other remuneration package by whatever name called, and under whatever guise, beyond the limit provided by the Act, and beyond the limit provided for in the category of the said public official under the relevant guidelines issued from time to time by the commission, will also be essential. If the maximum limit is fixed at the value of N30million for instance, it will mean the highest paid public official, which is Mr. President, cannot draw beyond N30 million from the public purse for salaries, allowances and other remuneration by whatever name called. That stands to reason that all other public officials down the line from the Vice-President to ministers to legislators till the councillors at the lowest Local Government Ward Levels will earn lower wages relevant to their service and status. This is fair enough for the long oppressed Nigerian people to drastically cut their ‘leaders’’ untenable appetite for earning in ways that mock the extreme poverty already inflicted on the majority of citizens. If the United States President, despite sitting on the largest government budget on earth, and being in charge of the world’s biggest economy;still earns a maximum annual income of $400, 000 (approximately N80 million) by Law, no President of Nigeria deserves to earn beyond a maximum yearly income of $150,000 (approximately N30 million) in view of the wretched state of the average Nigerian citizen. How much will be saved from such drastic cuts in public officials’ pay will be almost unimaginable. More so, the revolutionary impact of such

drastic reforms on dismantling the psychology and perception of public office as the place to earn undeserved wages will be phenomenal. To immediately render sterile the irrational aspects of various Pension Laws for former governors and other public officials that have been surreptitiously passed across the states, the RMAFC Act and other reformatory Acts that may be pushed for enactment, need to fundamentally provide that where there is any conflict between the State Laws and the reformatory Acts and guidelines, the State Laws to the extent of their inconsistency must stay void. We should also have a provision that shall make it mandatory,for any relevant body, to make available to the public, on request, any details about what any public official receives as salaries, emoluments, pensions and benefits by whatever name called. There are some finer legal and economic details to be worked out beyond this article of course but the bottom line is that public service must be urgently rid of its current obscene ostentatiousness that continues to push recurrent expenditure to unsustainable limits and making it almost impossible to develop critical human capital and material infrastructure without which we are headed nowhere. The racket going on in the name of ‘jumbo’ pay is festering because there is no consequence for such and the Law probably never envisaged such a rapacious bunch. But now that we are faced with such embarrassing legitimation of corruption, the Law can wade in since persuasions and criticisms have apparently achieved nothing so far. Anybody guilty of contravening the limits set by Law should be liable on conviction to fines double whatever extra amounts drawn in addition to mandatory jail terms of not less than 15 to 20 years. Such Laws will no doubt be a sword in the hands of a truly anticorruption government to activate its antigraft agencies to impartially prosecute the hundreds of members of the political class who had no business aspiring to political office in the first place anyway. Other corruption prone laxities being promoted by Law include the patronage system of the 1999 Constitution, and supporting Laws that continue to create an over-bloated and pointless bureaucracy. An example is Section 147 (3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides for appointment of Ministers from every State of the Federation. The provisions in many enabling Acts and Regulationsto the effectthat appointments into boards, parastatals, even judicial appointments, etc must have representative from every state or region of the federation also promote the corruption of public life in disguised ways. A society founded on patronage above rational merit cannot be corruption free. We just must find a way, by Law, to end this patronage system currently being run in Nigeria in order to bring forth the creative energies of all people without regard to wherever anybody comes from, which God they worship or don’t worship, the genitals they possess, the biological, ethnic, sociological or ancient cultural circumstances of their birth etc. Definitely it will require a lot of political will and tact, but we just have to someday end our queer style of statutory federal character application in Nigeria and gradually embrace rational merit to stop the corruptive influences of entitlements based more on so-called places of origin as against actual conscientious effort and capacity in our public life. Singapore was a nation riddled with cor-

‘Anybody guilty of contravening the limits set by Law should be liable on conviction to fines double whatever extra amounts drawn in addition to mandatory jail terms of not less than 15 to 20 years. Such Laws will no doubt be a sword in the hands of a truly anticorruption government to activate its anti-graft agencies to impartially prosecute the hundreds of members of the political class who had no business aspiring to political office in the first place anyway’

•Akintayo ruption at about the period of Nigeria’s independence but not again. Different fundamentals have been attributed to how that country moved from having corruption as a way of life (as Nigeria currently is) into dislodging it almost totally from its public life. The foundation was political will which is obviously currently lacking in Nigeria. Other fundamentals include proactive and firm anticorruption Laws, an effective and impartial anti-corruption Agency, a Judiciary that supports the anti-corruption movement with well reflective jurisprudence and of course, an effective government that delivers on its service responsibilities to the citizens. Nigeria too must adopt stiffer anti-corruption laws with provisions like those in the Corruption Prevention Act currently in force in Singapore. Some useful provisions of Singapore’sCorruption Prevention Act include a presumption clause whereby public officials found in custody of sums suspected to be proceeds of bribes or misappropriation are to be presumed to have corruptly obtained it except they could prove to the court’s satisfaction that such sums derived from honest earning. This is similar to the proposal in Nigeria for Court ordered Assets Confiscation pending satisfactory explanation of honest source of acquisition in situations where there are reasonable suspicions of corruption, especially when someone is not known to have engaged in any meaningful trade or calling and yet possesses assets in excess of what can reasonably accrue from what he purports to do for a living. On corruption, our Evidence Act and jurisprudence have to shift the absolute burden of full presumption of innocence in such instances where public or private citizens come into sudden wealth without rational explanation. The State should be empowered to wade in to satisfy itself, through an impartial judicial system, that the wealth is product of honest earnings, failing which same should be liable to forfeiture. The Singapore model, of course with necessary modifications if need be, is highly recommended for Nigeria. Indeed, asides the statutory provisions, there are strictly enforced codes of transparency and accountability for every public officer in Singapore and the private sector is also not spared of the stringent anticorruption battle. And with political will as the sub-structure, it has so far worked to the extent that Singapore, a once rabidly corrupt Country like Nigeria, is now one of the least corrupt countries in the world. All said, if our development is not to remain a mere lousy wish, the need to frontally attack, and dismantle corruption; long entrenched in our public and private governance, is one of the fundamental questions that should determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential election. Whatever the provisions of the Law or the adoption or modification of our prescriptions here, if enforcement is lax and a deficit in political will remains prevalent, the Law framersand thinkerswouldonly have labored in vain- and Nigeria will remain corrupt and primitive. But hopefully, if the envisaged strong political will to courageously confront corruption is truly the choice of the majority this crucial ‘fourth’time, Nigeria may well be getting ready to become corruption free while we deal with other immanent contradictions as we move along. •Iwilade Akintayo is a Lagos-based Legal Practitioner.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LEGAL OPINION

Group sues Mbu

GROUP of legal practitioners under the aegis of Lawyers for Change, has sued the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Mr. Joseph Mbu at a Lagos High Court. They are praying for the enforcement of their fundamental right to life. The applicants are Adesina Ogunlana, Isa Buhari, Gbenga Ojo, Dave Ajetomobi, Islamiyat Adesola, Patrick Onuoha and Anthony Ebeh on behalf of themselves and Lawyers4Change. Joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Commisssioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The applicants sought a declaration that Mbu’s directive to officers that the police should kill 20 people for every officer killed during this year’s general elections was reckless, illegal, inciting, unconstitutional and capable of leading to gross breach of the fundamental rights to life, dignity of person, liberty of the applicants. They also asked the court for a declaration that the first respondent does not have the power, authority under the constitution to issue such a directive or to give

By Adebisi Onanuga

such an illegal order capable of depriving innocent Nigerians their rights as guaranteed under the constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act. They further prayed the court to hold that the illegal order is an affront to the provisions of Article 7(2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act which provides that punishment is personal and can only be imposed on the offender. The applicants sought an order of perpetual injunction against the respondents, their officers, agents, representatives, from executing, implementing or otherwise enforce the illegal directive of the first respondent made on February 12, this year and an order that the first respondent be made to withdraw his illegal directive of revenge killing complained of afore and for him to issue an unconditional apology to the applicants in five national dailies, especially The Nation, Punch, The Guardian, This Day and Vanguard. The reliefs they sought was

based on five grounds . They contended that the directive of the first respondents was capable of leading to the breach of the fundamental right safe guarded by Chapter 4 of the constitution. They averred that the rights enshrined in the constitution and other enactments relied upon in their application are fundamental to the existence of a peaceful and orderly society hence any attempt to deprive any citizen any of the rights must be legally resisted. They averred that being activists, members of the Lawyers 4Change do hold walks and rallies in public places to enlighten members of the public on their rights and to provide free legal consultancy and services to the less privileged members of the society. They further averred that the directive by the first respondents has already put fears in the mind of many members of the public and who have made up their minds not to come out on election days for fear of being killed by the police using the directive of the first respondent to engage in extra-judicial killings. A Lagos lawyer and activist, Mr Tope Alabi had also filed a similar suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, praying the court to strip Mbu of his rank for being unfit to be a police officer.

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), left, cutting the tape at the inauguration of the new High Court/ Magistrate building at Ikeja GRA. With him are Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right), Chief PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN Judge Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (third right) and Ayodeji Omotoso (second right).

Eligibility suit: Obanikoro knows fate March 5

LAGOS State High Court in Ikeja has fixed March 5, 2015 for judgment in a suit seeking to stop a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, from ever contesting for any electoral office in the country. Justice Kazeem Alogba fixed the date after taking submissions of the applicants and defennce in the matter. The three plaintiffs in the suit are members of the PDP, namely: Michael Ogun, Suleiman Saheed and Wasiu Odusan. Other defendants sued alongside Senator Obanikoro are the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The applicants had filed the suit before the January 8, 2015 primaries of the PDP held for the election of gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State. In their originating summon, the applicants alleged that the former minister of state for Defence had at one time or the other falsified his age and had submitted a forged birth certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the purpose of contesting governorship election in Lagos State. They had prayed the court to determine whether Senator Obanikoro was still eligible to contest any election in Nigeria having “voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United

By Adebisi Onanuga and Peace Iyere

States of America in addition to the citizenship of Nigeria.” In an ex parte application filed by their counsel, Wahab Shittu, they urged the court to stop Obanikoro from standing for the PDP governorship primary in Lagos State. The judge, however, declined to grant their prayer stopping Obanikoro from participating in the said primary which produced Mr. Jimi Agbaje as the PDP candidate for the state. Wahab Shittu, had argued that the matter was one that bordered on constitutional infringement. He added that whatever judgment arrived at by the court would become an important reference point on the nation’s political landscape. “A democracy is principally founded on the rule of law. At all times there are two choices to make, whether you want to be guided by the rule of law or by the culture of impunity. Your Lordship will decide this issue for history and for posterity,” Shittu said. According to him, the allegations against Obanikoro’s were contrary to Section 182(1) (a) (j) of the 1999 Constitution and sections 31 (2), 50 (6) and (8) and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. But Obanikoro, through his counsel, Gbanga Ojo, described the suit as

speculative and an abuse of court processes. He urged the court to dismiss the suit for failure to disclose any reasonable cause of action. Ojo had contended that all the documents tendered as exhibits before the court by Obanikoro’s accusers were either uncertified public documents or documents that were printed from the Internet, the authenticity of which could not be substantiated. Besides, Ojo argued that the case had been overtaken by events and had thus become merely academic exercise. This, according to him, was because the PDP governorship primary had already been held and Obanikoro had stood for the election. Wahab however asked the court not to look at the exhibits presented by the plaintiffs in isolation but to consider them in concert with the averrments in the plaintiffs’ affidavit.

LEGAL DIARY Eastern Bar meets Saturday THE Eastern Bar Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will meet on Saturday at the Finotel Classy Hotel and Suites, Okpuzu Junction, opposite Juhel filling Station, Agu Awka, Anambra State. Agenda include the adoption of the EBF amended constitution and discussion on national issues.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Endangered police, endangered democracy

HE report by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Com mission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, that about 28 policemen have been killed in politically-related violence, in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, should arouse a national upheaval, if truly Nigerians understand the implications for our fledgling democracy. In his speech, the Chair of the human rights organ, pleaded with the two leading presidential candidates, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to call on their supporters, to stop the killing of police officers, across the country. He listed the states and their share of the 28 policemen, killed within February. Surprisingly, Nigerians, particularly the media, have not shown deserved angst, as they did, when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Joseph Mbu, made the unlawful assertion that for every policeman killed, his men should murder 20 Nigerians in retaliation. While Mbu’s recipe is an invitation to commit mass murder, the killing of policeman on duty, by miscreants acting for politicians, is no less a heinous crime, which should be denounced by all and sundry. But for Mbu’s unsavoury history of delusional histrionics, over his powers as a senior police officer, his recent call for plundering of twenty eyes for each single eye of his men plucked, could have been described as the lamentations of a frustrated hen, whose chicks have become an easy prey for the hyenas of the political underworld. Regardless of Mbu’s careless past, if truly 28 policemen have been murdered for daring to protect our democracy in the current tumultuous match of our democracy, then a declaration of national emergency, in place of his bizarre strategy to save the constitutional protectors of our democracy, is reasonable. Mbu’s recommendation of multiple asphyxiation of innocent Nigerians for any single criminal act by political nitwits, could be likened to a call that frustrated electricity consumers in Nigeria should commander one transformer, for every criminally induced crazy bill, issued by the distribution companies for unsupplied electricity. Talking of electricity, the Nigerian consumer has been done in, in a manner that beggars understanding. The criminal expropriation going on in the name of electricity supply, by the pseudo-private entrepreneurs, can only be compared to the criminality going on as governance in Nigeria. Just like in the days of NEPA, except that the electricity bills are now looking trendier, the various distribution companies across the country simply supply nothing, but crazily reap bountifully through their crazy bills. To assuage Nigerians in this era of politics, the Jonathan administration sells the dummy that they would do Nigerians the favour of supplying them with pre-paid metres, even when the distribution companies are supposed to be private enterprises. The Minister for Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, who has become overwhelmed by the result of the underhand deals of his party, who sold the electricity companies to party-men who posed as business promoters in the electricity industry, keep shouting at every opportunity, sabotage!, sabotage!, just like an innocent child would shout, UP-NEPA!, whenever there is a glimpse of that scarce resources. AIG Mbu’s bizarre recommendation of maiming 20 limbs, in lieu of each one of his own unlawfully destroyed, can also be likened to the unconscionable interpretation of the Fifth Schedule, Part 1, section 2, by President Jonathan and his estranged godfather, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Just because the constitution allows a public officer to engage in farming, the two Presidents, regarded that as a licence to engage in a licentious infamy, or criminal appropriation of our commonwealth, in a manner that beggars any decency. For President Jonathan’s handlers, the only justification for the outlandish abuse of power by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, in appropriating to his private company, 40.4 hectares of public land, and handing to the President’s company, another 94.04 hectares of public land, is that former President Obasanjo, under the voluble former Minister of the FCT, Mallam elRufai’, also dishonourably gained a similar humongous 100.12 hectares of prime public land, all in the name of farming, when they were in power. Interesting, since the tit-for-tat diatribe, Mallam el-Rufiai’ and Baba Obasanjo have been unusually quiet. Just like AIG Mbu has shown by his recent outbursts, nothing is unusual or beyond the contemplation of our men and women in power, in our dear country that sometimes looks like, one big joke. Even for the policemen who were murdered in the line of duty, the fact that they are not nationally mourned or acknowledged shows that they may have died in vain, despite our pretences. Indeed, if their death is a mere inconsequential dot, in the national data of those who died while defending the motherland; how on earth would their colleagues who are lucky to be still alive, be willing, to lay down their lives to defend the forth coming national elections? To show how convoluted the public space has become, many are stringently arguing that only the police should protect the forthcoming general elections, without a whiff of empathy about the faith of the policemen, murdered in cold blood, during mere campaigns. While the Appeal Court has held, albeit obiter, that those who “unleashed soldiers on Ekiti State disturbed the peace of the election on June 12, 2014; (and) acted in flagrant breach of the constitution and flouted the provisions of the Electoral Act”; nobody has told Nigerians why despite nearly 16 years of our democracy, our Police, is glaringly incapable of protecting our democracy. I have no doubt that many policemen will rather go AWOL, than proceed to the general election’s war front, without the back-up of the fire power of the military. Same for some electoral officers and the electorate.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

LAW REPORT

State electoral commissions must be properly constituted IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF KOGI STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE KOGI STATE JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT KOTONKARFE THIS MONDAY 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2014 BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE ALABA OMOLAYE-AJILEYE SUIT NO: HC/KK/002 CV/2013 Between: ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) -CLAIMANT And 1. KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT 2. ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, KOGI STATE 3. KOGI STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (KOGIEC) 4. BARRISTER ABRAHAM A. OLANIRAN - DEFENDANTS 5. HON. DAVID O. APEH 6. HON. HARUNA IBRAHIM 7. HON. AHMED A. SAMARI 8. HON. AMOKA SUBERU 9. PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) JUDGMENT

•Continued from upper week

HERE is no doubt that as at May 4, 2013, the 4th defendant, was the chair man, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission while the 5th defendant was a member. The uncontradicted evidence before me has established that both the 4th and 5th defendants are members of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The evidence shows that the 4th defendant even contested the primaries for the Kabba/ Bunu constituency under the platform of the 3rd defendant on 4th January 2011. The INEC report of the said primary (exhibit 8) reads: “The PDP primary into Kogi State House of Assembly Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area chapter was held on January 4, 2011 the primary was observed by the following the INEC, the SSS, the police and other Security agencies and the State representatives of the party. There were 344 delegates that attended the primarily election from all the 15 wards on the Local Government. There are also 7(seven aspirants into the State House of Assembly. They are as follows: 1. Barr. Olowomoran D. Kayode. 2. Taiwo Ojo Nathaniel 3. Barr. Abraham A. Olaniran 4. Barr. Michael James 5. Aribido Funsho 6. Femi Obalemo 7. Buramoh Folorunsho. The primary was conducted in a peaceful manner and condusive atmosphere. Throughout the duration of the primary, the activities (sic) was like a marriage ceremony with pomp and pageantry. Below is the result. Names of Aspirant No of votes Cast 1. Barr. Olowomoran D. Kayode 13 votes 2. TaiwoOjo Nathaniel 203 votes

3. Barr. Abraham A. Olaniran 10 votes 4. Barr. Michael James 15 votes 5. Aribido Funsho 1 vote 6. Femi Obalemo 80 votes 7. Buramoh Folorunsho. 14 votes Total 336 votes The total votes cost 336 while 8 votes counted void. Above is hereby submitted. Ayilara Olarewaju Uhuami O. Usman Monitor Monitor 71. It is significant to note here that as at 4/1/2011 when the primaries held, Section 200(1) of the Constitution had been amended to bar members of political parties from becoming members of State Independent Electoral Commission. Mr.Akubo, SAN, has argued that the amendment to section 200(1) of the constitution does not have a retrospective effect. He is very correct and I agree with him. What this means is that from July 10 2010, when the amendment took effect, no member of any political party can be a member of any State Independent Electoral Commission let alone its chairman. It also implies that by the application of section 200(1) of the Constitution (as amended) the 4th defendant already stood disqualified as chairman of KOGSIEC as far back as 2011. 72. In respect of the 5 thdefendant, his membership of KOGISEC, which was still in force as at the time of 4th May 2013 election, as the evidence before me reveals, is a reward for his patronage and membership of the 3rd defendant. This is in addition to his earlier membership of Federal Hospital Management Board, a position he was said to have held for four years. Upon the amendment of Section 200(1) of the Constitution, the 5th defendant also stood disqualified from being or remaining a member of the 3rd defendant. 73. It has to be appreciated here that a body like KOGSIEC has a very special role

to play in our constitutional democracy. It is the organ that is constitutionally empowered “to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to local government councils within the state” (item 4 Third schedule to the Constitution (as amended). 74. The amendment of section 200(1) of the Constitution, in my humble view,is designed by the law makers to promote the principles of fairness, independence and transparency. It also expresses the notion of neutrality. These are not abstract notions. For instance the notion of independence reflects in the name of the 3rd defendant (Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission). As an umpire, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission must not only be neutral but manifestly be seen to be so neutral. Given the centrality of these notions of neutrality and transparency, embedded in the work and functions of a State Independent Electoral Commission, it will be inappropriate to interpret section 200(1) of the Constitution (as amended) in a way to suggest that the chairman of such a commission can go completely out of his way, not only to join a political party but proceed to contest the primaries of an election under the umbrella of a political party and come back to organise an election involving his party and other political parties, as it shockingly happened in this case. And this is after the Constitution had been amended in terms of section 200 (1) of the Constitution (as amended). Any claim to neutrality, integrity, transparency and fairness in favour of such body headed by such a person goes to no issue. The truth is that, the Constitution has, by that singular act, been violated with a tincture of impunity.I, therefore, hold that the membership of the 4th and 5thdefendants of the 3 rd defendant, including the contest of primaries by the 4thdefendant under the platform of the 9th defendant (PDP) compromised, irredeemably, the integrity and neutrality of the 3rd defendant to hold the May 4, 2013 local government election in Kogi State.The claim of the retirement of the 4th to 8thdefendants in February 2014 only begs the issue. It also shows that they were being clever by half, having waited to conduct the election before their retirement. By the time of the amendment of the Constitution in 2010, they already had their hands soiled with partisanship, as the evidence before me demonstrates, by which they stood disqualified from membership of the 3 rd defendant. From the foregoing, I, therefore, hold that as at 4th May 2013, the 3rd defendant was not properly constituted in accordance with section 200(1) of the1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). 75. The direct consequence of this is that all the acts and actions of the defendants

in relation to the local government election conducted by the 3rd defendant on May 4, 2013 become a nullity. When a constitutional body like the 3rd defendant is not properly constituted as required by the relevant provisions of the Constitution, it is like a court or tribunal that is not properly constituted. Any process issued or trial conducted is a complete nullity ab initio. (See Madukolu v. Nkemdili (1962) 2SCNLR 341). Accordingly, I pronounce the election of 4th May 2013, conducted by improperly constituted commission, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), the 3rd defendant a nullity. That is to say, the election is hereby treated as void as having never been conducted. 76. As regards the effect of this conclusion on the elected chairmen and councillors, there is no way those elected under the void election can be allowed to benefit from such flagrant breach of the Constitution. It is settled beyond any conjecture that one cannot put something on nothing and expect it to remain there. It will collapse (Macfoy v. UAC (1961) 3 NWR 145). So it is in this case. 77. In order to fill the vacuum that may be created by this conclusion, I hereby make an order directing that the most senior director of the local governments assume responsibility for each local government pending when another local government election is conducted. Conclusion 78. Under our constitutional democracy, the Constitution is the supreme law, the grundnorm. (Section 1 (3) of the Constitution as amended). It is binding on all authorities and persons. This court has been given the responsibility of being the ultimate guardian of the Constitution and its values. Section 1 (3) of the Constitution (as amended) stipulates that if any action is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, the court will be obliged to declare such an unconstitutional and invalid as I have done in this case. The primary duty of the court is to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and the law which must be applied impartially and without fear, favour and prejudice. Hon. Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye Judge 08/12/2014. Counsel Representation Ocholi James, SAN for the claimants(Isaac Ekpa Esq, and S.J. Akos (Miss) with him). P.A. AkuboSAN for the 1st – 8th Defendants (J.A. Akubo Esq; D.I. Ugbe, Esq; L.C. Ani (Mrs) Alaji Jacob Esq and U.S. Ovaasa) with him). EmejeAruwa Esq for the 9th Defendant (Alex Audu Esq with him).

•President, African Bar Association (AFBA) Hannibal Uwaifo (fifth right) with some officers of the association after the maiden briefing in Lagos.

•Concluded

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorses the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following numbers on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

190TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

he Kano State Government solemnly acknowledges, prayerfully meditates and condemns the recurrence of yet another bomb blast at the Kano Line Terminus/ former Silver Jubilee Roundabout, Kano on Tuesday 24th February, 2015. In cue with the entire Government and good people of the State, the Kano State Executive Council commiserates with the bereaved families of the deceased victims and prays for quick recovery of the injured. May the Almighty Allah, in his divine mercy put a stop to the perpetuation of this barbaric sporadic killings orchestrated by the mentally deranged and grossly ungodly perpetrators no matter their skewed reasons. Life continues with the protection of the Almighty Allah and his guidance on the State Government’s efforts towards the provision of security to the lives and properties of the citizenry. Courageous and confident to deliver public spirited/ oriented services toward positive transformation of the lives of the citizenry, the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and ninetieth (190th) sitting under the chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE on Thursday 26th February, 2015. Thirty three (33) memoranda from eleven (11) MDAs were tabled for deliberation of which Council approved the execution of eighteen (18) cutting across four (4) sectors with an expenditure of Fifty Nine Million, Six Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four Naira, Twenty Kobo (N59,619,444.20) covering fourteen (14) projects while the remaining four (4) are on policy issues as follows; 1. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR Empowering the entire citizenry of Kano State towards actualization for self reliance (promoting and advancing their socio – economic status) is a cardinal preoccupation of the present administration. Series of approvals are continually granted for the execution of projects/schemes/ programmes by a cross – section of relevant MDAs under the empowerment sector. It is on authentic indelible and easily retrievable records that this administration approves execution of multitude projects/schemes/programmes on empowerment aspects related to the following and more; • Provision of Access to Professional/Academic Education:The present administration uses its resources judiciously and approves the execution of schemes/programmes/ projects related to this aspect of the empowerment sector more than any other State in Federation. Examples include the following; i. Over N12,000,000,000.00 invested as scholarship to sponsor over 2,600 Kano State Indigenous Qualified Students for studies at Colleges/Universities/Institutions in fourteen (14) Countries abroad. ii. Over N1,000,000,000.00 expended to sponsor the education of close to 34,489 Kano State Indigenous Qualified Students in higher institutions of learning across Nigeria. Accordingly, majority of the courses are at under or post graduate levels in professional/applied required areas such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Piloting, Marine Engineering, Architecture, etc. • Provision of Access to Capacity Building for Serving Civil Servants:Series of approvals are continually granted for the conduct of/attendance to capacity building workshops/ seminars by serving civil servants across MDAs in Kano State whenever required, courtesy of the present administration under which the number of beneficiaries is superlative as available records show. • Provision of Access to Training on Acquisition of Employable Skills:-

i. Twenty six (26) Employable Skills Acquisition and Manpower Development Institutes established majority of which have already graduated numerous batches of trainees allocated with take – off capital free of charge – examples are; the Corporate Security Training Institute; the Poultry Training Institute; the Fisheries Training Institute; the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute; etc. ii. The series of empowerment schemes approved for execution under the supervision of the State Community Reorientation Council (CRC), the Hisbah Board, the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, etc. •

Provision of Access to Support the Needy:-

Approvals are continually granted on all aspects related to the provision of support to individuals, organizations, corporate bodies, etc. as the need arises. In the same vein, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of thirteen (13) memoranda under the empowerment sector amongst the eighteen (18) at its one hundred and ninetieth (190th) sitting which can further be sub – divided into three (3). Viz; provision of access to support for the needy = 7; provision of access to professional/ academic education = 5; provision of access to training for the acquisition of employable skills = 1. Total = 13. a) Provision of Access to Support for the Needy:i. Request for Funds for the Settlement of Hospital Bill of Twelve (12) Victims of Kano Central Mosque Bomb Blast Admitted at Dala Orthopedic Hospital:Since the first unfortunate incidence of Jan 20, 2012, the Executive Governor directed that all victims of such brazenly unGodly, unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on innocent citizens, both Muslims and Christians, be treated free of charge in all hospitals in the state whether Public or private and the Government will settle the bills. The contents of memorandum is from the Ministry of Health requesting for the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 as Government assistance in respect of the treatment of twelve (12) victims of Kano Central Mosque bomb blast admitted at Dala Orthopedic Hospital. Accordingly Council considered and approved as requested. ii. Presentation of Report on the Need for the Establishment of a State Steering Committee on Child Labour (SSCCL):The members of Council were notified through contents of this memorandum on the need to establish a State Steering Committee on Child Labour in line with National Action Plan (2013 – 2017) stipulated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. Details were presented as endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government for consideration. Accordingly, considered and approved the establishment of the Committee. iii. Request for Funds to Assist the Bereaved Families of the Late Police Transport Office Attached to Government House:A report on the death of a Police Transport Officer attached to Government House was presented to Council from the office of the Chief Security Officer, Government House and endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government along with a request in the sum of N1,000,000.00 as financial assistance to the bereaved families. Accordingly, Council commiserates with the bereaved family of the diligent gallant deceased officer and approved the release of the stated sum. Equally, Council prays for the mercy of the Almighty Allah to grant late Officer eternal peace and residence in Jannatil – fir – Dausi. iv. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of the Monthly Sitting Allowance in Respect of Five (5) Private Members of Committee on African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for the Period of Eight (8) Months:The contents of this memorandum submitted from the office of the Secretary to the State Government recalled members of Council that, the above Committee received it last monthly allowances on April, 2014.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso The sum of N1,360,000.00 was requested for the settlement of sitting allowances in respect of the Committee for the period of eight (8) months. Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the stated sum for the commitment. v. Presentation of Report on the Death of Chief Electrician, Government House:The Honourable Commissioner State Affairs notified Council of the demise of Mustapha Usman (Chief Electrician), Government House (Friday 20th February, 2015). Council commiserates with the bereaved family of late Mustapha Usman, approved the release of the sum of N500,000.00, allocation of House No. 278 at Tiga Junior Staff WRECA Quarters to the bereaved family and pray to the Almighty Allah to grant eternal peace and residence in Jannatil – fir – Dausi for the deceased officer. vi. Request for Funds as Reimbursement in Respect of Out of Pocket Expenditure Incurred by Government Arabic College, Gwale for Participation in an International Football Tournament held in Dubai:The Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture recalled Council of its earlier Approval in the sum of N10,001,427.20 in respect of the Government Arabic College, Gwale for participating in an international football tournament in Dubai. Consequently, an additional expenditure resulting from flight cancellation, visa charges and flight revolting in sum of N5,922,933.00 was requested for release by Council. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the stated sum for the undertaking. b) Provision of Access to Professional/Academic Education:i. Request for Funds to Facilitate the Conduct of Entrance Examination into JSS/Air Force Military School, Jos (2015/2016) Academic Session:The contents of this memorandum is from the Guidance and Counseling Board, endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government requesting the sum N270,000.00 to enable the conduct of the Entrance Examination into JSS/Air Force Military School, Jos (2015/2016) academic session scheduled for 11th April, 2015. The details were summarized and presented as follows; S/N i.

PROFILE Accommodation to the Examiner

ii. iii. iv. v. vi.

Publicity – General Invigilators Allowances Refreshments to the Team Allowances to Desk Officers Fuelling of Vehicles TOTAL

AMOUNT (N) To be provided by Protocol Directorate 100,000.00 100,000.00 50,000.00 20,000.00 270,000.00

Council noted, considered and approved as requested. ii. Request for Funds to Facilitate the Conduct of Entrance Examination and Admission Exercise for 67th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA):The content of this memorandum is from the Guidance and Counseling Board, endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government is requesting the sum of N4,540,000.00 to enable the conduct of the Entrance Examination and Admission Exercise for the 67thRegular Course at the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA). The submission is presented to Council along with identified seventeen (17) items of two (2) categories activities ranging from general publicity, fueling of the vehicle during the exercise, purchase of computers to thirty (30) candidates, allowances to invigilators and duty tour allowance to

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 Government officials who will escort the candidates for the smooth running of the programme slated to hold on 25th April, 2015. Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. iii. Presentation of Report on Matriculation Ceremony for the New Students of Northwest University, Kano:It is on record that, the present administration has established Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil during its first (1st) tenure and the Northwest University which is among the twenty six (26) newly institutes established during the second (2nd) tenure of the current administration all with the aim of improving the educational standard of the citizenry. The memorandum is from the authorities of the Northwest University endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government notifying the Council that, registration of students for the 2014/2015 academic session has been completed on Friday 27th February, 2015. In line of the foregoing, the management of the University has decided to conduct the third (3 rd ) matriculation ceremony for the 1,500 newly admitted students slated to hold on 17th March, 2005 hence requesting Council approval for the hosting of the event by His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State. Council noted, considered and approved the presentation. iv. Request for Funds to Facilitate for Continuation of Training in Respect of Nineteen (19) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Nigerian Seafarers Training Programme:Reportedly, nineteen (19) out of 25 Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for the Nigerian Seafarers Training Programme (NSTP) initially in India that later proceeded to United Kingdom under the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have completed course work and are now in the country for practical training in sea faring. To this effect they will proceed to Lagos and this require the release of the aggregate sum of N2,353,300.00 to enable the provision of seven (7) items to facilitate continuation of their training to completion. Details were summarized and presented as follows; S/N ITEMS i. Return ticket for the nineteen (19) Students ii. Return ticket for the one (1) officer accompanying the students iii. Accommodation (7 – rooms at N22,000.00) iv. Feeding @ N900 per day x 3 x 19 v. Local transport vi. Marine and Medical Exam @ N25,000.00 x 19 vii. DTA for one (1) officer @ N15,000.00 x 3 nights TOTAL

AMOUNT (N) 1,216,000.00

39 administration such as widow and spinster marriage program, training Women on various skills and granting of take-off capital to start business and continuous education and upholding of moral standards. The State Ministry of Health requested for release of the sum of N4,481,211.00 to enable procurement of Public Enlightenment/Information Equipment for use by the State Agency for Control of Aids (SACA). The three (3) items endorsed by the office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented for consideration were acknowledged. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N2,240,605.60 to enable the procurement of the needed equipment. ii. Request for Funds to Enable the Provision Motorized Borehole at College of Nursing, Madobi:The content of this memorandum is from the Ministry of Rural and Community Development notifying Council on the need to provide potable water at the newly established College of Nursing Madobi, which is among the 24 Manpower Development Institutes. Against the background of foregoing, the sum of N4,500,000.00 is estimated to cost the construction of one (1) motorized water borehole at the College. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the stated sum to facilitate the smooth conduct of the project. • Provision of Roads/Related Structures:Request for Funds to Enable the De-silting and Construction of Conduit Drainage along Gyadi – Gyadi, Zaria Road:The present administration has taken giant stride in the provision of accessible roads; interlock tiling along the walkways; pedestrian bridges as well as urban beautification within the metropolis. In this regard, Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) submitted a request in the sum of N12,595,032.70 for the desilting and construction of conduit drainage along Gyadi – Gyadi, Zaria Road by Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Flyover which was endorsed by the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport and presented to Council for consideration.

462,000.00 51,300.00 40,000.00 475,000.00

•

Reintroduction of the activities of sanitary inspectors (Duba Gari).

45,000.00 2,353,300.00

•

Accordingly, Council noted, considered approved as requested.

Reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

•

c) Provision of Access to Training for Employable Skills Acquisition:-

Reintroduction of Daily Street sweeping in Kano Metropolis.

•

Procurement and allocation of heavy duty equipment for use by REMASAB to ensure evacuation of heaps of refuse around Kano Metropolis.

•

Establishment of extensive shelter-belts against desert encroachment, etc.

Request for Funds to Enable the Conduct of the 2015 Women’s Day Celebration/Women Voter Education:Approval was granted for the release of the sum of N3,808,000.00 to enable the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development conduct the 2015 International Women’s Day Celebration/Women Voter Education. The details presented were considered especially the main theme of the activity – “Empowering Women is Empowering Humanity” which is congruent with the policy of the present administration. 2. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/ MAINTENANCE SECTOR The envious but copious physical developmental achievements recorded and upheld as the main identification banner/signature of the present administration legacy was maintained at the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) of the Kano State Executive Council sitting during which three (3) more memoranda were approved for execution under the infrastructural development/maintenance sector. Thus; provision of public utilities = 2; provision of roads/related structures = 1. Total = 3. •

Provision of Public Utilities:-

i. Request for Funds to Enable Procurement of Public Enlightenment/Information Equipment:The state has progressively recorded appreciable decline in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS since the establishment of State Agency for Controls of Aids (SACA). With the winding down of the activities of Donor Agencies, the state Government stepped up interventions in this sector by providing all necessary logistical and administrative support to the agency such that the rate of infections dropped from 3.4% to now less than 1.3%. Many factors attributed to this sharp and impressive decline. Among these are the genuine concern for women Development and various empowerment programs by this

Cognizant to this, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of one (1) more memorandum under the information/communication sector at its one hundred and ninetieth (190th) sitting. Thus; Presentation of Proposal and Request for Permission to Establish an Emergency Communication Center (ECC) Using Code 112 of Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC):This request from the office of the Director General Special Service Directorate was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration. The details involved were summarized and presented precisely in two (2) items which Council acknowledged as practicable and granted approval for immediate implementation of the proposal based on its envisaged impact regarding emergencies.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 190TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS RECORDED ON SOME OF THE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION Council acknowledged the successful conduct of the celebration ceremony of achievements on Educational Development and Empowerment Programmes in the State held on 26th February, 2015 at Government House during which the numbers of beneficiaries attended S/N ASSOCIATIONS NO. OF at the occasion are as follows: PARTICIPANTS

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 to enable the execution 1. of the stated project. 3. THE ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION / PROTECTION SECTOR This sector is among the priority consideration of the present administration which continually grant approvals for the execution of projects/schemes/programmes related to aspects/issues to do with environmental sanitation and protection sector which include the following, among others;

64,000.00

of governance and all issues of significance to their socio – economic, political, spiritual, etc. wellbeing. This medium is among the glaring/tangible proofs of the efforts dissipated toward disseminating information as an important ingredient that makes consuming the Dividends of Democracy more palatable.

Maintenance of the commendable trend determined Council to approve the execution of yet one (1) more memorandum under the environmental sanitation/protection sector. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Production of Two Million (2,000,000) Seedlings for the Year 2015:The Ministry of Environment notified Council through the contents of this memorandum that, trees plays many roles and confer multitude benefits to the socio – economic development of the society such as food, shelter, shed, timber, conservation of our soil and water resources toward improvement of air quality. Accordingly, the memorandum further point out the imperative nature of sowing the seedlings is timely conscious and weather dictating, hence the need for the early commencement in advance of the plant been needed. In line with the above, the sum of N20,000,000.00 was requested for the production of two million (2,000,000) assorted tree seedling of various species across the eighteen (18) nurseries centers of the State. Council noted, considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 for the stated purpose. With this the administration has so far raised and distributed over 4 million seedlings to the public and government institutions over the last three years. 4. THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR This Sector is the main custodian of the transparency policy of the present administration and ensures adoption of international best practices in keeping the general public abreast/informed of on – goings especially on the activities

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

/ BENEFICIARIES Corporate Security Institute Gabasawa/Kusalla KAROTA PILOTS Graduated from Jordan Graduates of IUEA UGANDA Kwankwasiyya Tailoring Associations Poultry Trainees Horticulture Livestock Fisheries Entrepreneurship TOTAL

4,700 1,500 100 197 46,000 5,050 1,050 2,149 1,300 5,198 67,244

2. COMMISSIONING OF BANDIRAWO CITY BY CHIEF EARNEST SHONEKAN GCFR ON MONDAY 23 RD FEBRUARY, 2015 Council acknowledged the successful commissioning of Bandirawo city by Chief Earnest Shonekan GCFR, (former Head of Interim Government) on Monday, 23rd February, 2015 in the State. The event marked the full commissioning of the three (3) modern cities – Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo, two (2) of which were commissioned earlier by Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd) and Gen Yakubu Gowon GCFR (Rtd). In a related development, Council appreciated the impressive turn out of good citizens of the State that received the august visitors during the respective commissioning ceremonies. 3. ACHIEVEMENT RECORDED BY THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION IN CURBING THE SPREAD OF THE DEADLY HIV/AIDS DISEASE:Council acknowledged the achievements recorded so far in curving and reducing the Spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS disease to a minimum level (from 3.5% in 2012 to 1.3% in 2014) in Kano State. This was attributed to the efforts of the Present Administration in Formulating and implementation of Positive policies toward eliminating spread of the disease. 4. ACHIEVEMENT RECORDED BY KANO PILLARS FOOTBALL CLUB IN CAF CONTINENTAL COMPETITION Council acknowledged the achievement recorded by Kano Pillars Football Club in the pursuant of their continental competition. The Club has won both their home and away matches against Malikiya Football Club of South Sudan. Council further prayed for the continuous success of the Club in the continental engagements.

SIGNED: HON. COMMISSIONER, INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTH, SPORTS & CULTURE, KANO STATE

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Psychiatric hospital now market, says MD •Facility gets 40 patients daily

ORE patients are checking into the Federal NeuroPhyschiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos Mainland. The facility attends to between 35 and 40 patients daily, according to the Medical Director, Mr Rahman Lawal. He said: “The number of patients we receive on any day at the Emergency Unit has increased. We now see 35 to 40 new patients, per day. It is like a busy market each day, here in the hospital premises. That is why we had to relocate our Emergency Unit to another part of the hospital. This has helped us to get more consulting rooms, bigger and more comfortable waiting areas and rooms for the patients. That initiative has considerably reduced the waiting time of the patients. At the moment, the hospital has a total of 576 bed spaces. There are 127 at Oshodi annex. There are 449 here at Yaba. The difference between Yaba and Oshodi is that the Administrative Block is situated here. So administration flows from here and cascades into different departments and units at Oshodi.” On the high patients in-flux, he said: “The reason why there is in-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

crease in patients’ attendance in our hospital is one; this is the only psychiatric hospital in Lagos. Luckily for the state, there are psychiatric facilities in the two teaching hospitals and the several general hospitals. So they have reduced the patients’ population load on us. But the fact remains that, this hospital remains the one with admission facilities for patients that need care in mental health. In addition, we are in a developing country, where malaria can be an accelerated factor that can cause psychiatric disorder. Infectious conditions can lead to psychiatric disorders. All these - malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) and other airborne diseases - are highly prevalent in developing countries like ours. This is taken for granted in developed world where they had fewer or no case of malaria, for instance. “Two, compared with 10 years ago, the population of the country has increased, side by side, increase in the population of any country. That translates to the fact that psychiatric population of such communities would have in-

•Dr Lawal

creased in number. The percentage may not increase, but the population would make the number to increase. So we may be talking of 12 percent for example, but when you look at 12 percent of our population 10 years ago and now, you will realise that the number has increased. And we should not forget the socio-economic reasons, too. The saving grace is that we now have the facilities to meet up with

•Dr. Kerim Munir of the University Centre for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), a Division of Developmental Medicine, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA conducting a training for some health workers at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatrric Hospital, Yaba on multidisciplinary tertiary care.

Don seeks better equipment for pathology

PROFESSOR of Anatomic Pathology at the University of Lagos (Unilag),Fatimah Abdulkareem, has appealed to the government to provide facilities in all departments of Pathology for the training and re-training of pathologists and histoscientists in specialised techniques. Prof Abdulkareem made the plea while delivering an inaugural lecture with the theme: Is it all about the dead? Nay! It is the living that benefits, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) auditorium. She said: “Pathology has gone beyond mere diagnosis, hence Pathologists and other health professionals should be motivated and government should be fair in dealing with them so as to reduce the rate of brain drain.” The lecture, which featured results from various researches she conducted in the areas of renal, gastrointestinal and liver pathology as well as common death-

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

causing illnesses, was aimed at revealing the importance of pathology to man’s continuous existence and survival. Fatimah also advised Nigerians to modify their lifestyles towards healthy living in order to avoid cancer. Her words: “Lifestyle modification in avoiding contact with risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco, good diet low in red meat and animal fat but rich in fruits and fresh vegetables, regular physical exercise, prompt treatment of infections and vaccination against virus infections, will reduce the risk of most gastrointestinal and liver cancers.” According to her research, major causes of death in Nigeria are preventable, as long as people embrace regular medical check up to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar, while individuals diagnosed of these diseases should understand that treatment is for life

and thus, should be encouraged to comply with treatment to prevent complications. She endorsed reduction of childhood mortality by improved antenatal care, prenatal care, good nutrition, environmental hygiene and immunisation. On her contributions to environmental and societal health, Prof Abdulkareem said aside teaching, she has organised workshops for pathologists and laboratory scientists in collaboration with local and international bodies; while her researches have contributed to minimum dataset for reporting colorectal and gastric cancer in Nigeria and more. She said pathology has more to do with the living than ‘just the dead’, saying: “where he or she deals with the dead, it is the living, such as you and I that benefit”. Prof Abdulkareem advocated that the public should stop calling pathologists doctors of the dead.

the rising number, unlike in the 70s, when it used to be just Yaba or Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). There are more facilities, more doctors and more hightech equipment available.” Lawal has been coping with the increasing hospital attendance because, according to him, he has been working in the hospital for years. “I did my residency training and consultancy here. So, I am familiar with the problems facing the hospital. That made it easy for me when I became the MD to identify the challenges and attempt to proffer solutions.” Lawal added: “Some of the challenges had to do with the physical structures, because our hospital is ageing, it is 107 years old. We had challenges with parking space for both staff and visitors to our hospital and need for more consulting rooms. We worked round those daunting challenges. But the greatest challenge was the human management. I discovered that the staff easily misunderstood, misinterpreted moves by the management, even if the step will benefit them and move the system forward.” Describing mental health as the bedrock of holistic health, he said:“If you are physically well but not mentally well, one is not holistically well. Mental health is taken for granted here in the country, unlike in foreign lands. It is when you have good mental health that you can boast of good health. Mental health is the bedrock of good health. If you are physically well but mentally unstable, you are not well. Mental health is important; it goes hand in hand with physical health.” Mental illness, he said, is perceived by what people experience, noting: “We can say there is major mental ill health, where sufferer has problem with perception and claims to see, hear or feel what is not real. This means that, such see, hear, sense or feel what the rest of us cannot see, hear, sense or feel; some may even smell what others like us cannot smell.” On how the hospital is coping with the demand for specialists/professional care, Dr Lawal said: “In the olden days, when people had psy-

chiatric problems and they were not violent and they went to see doctors and all diagnoses were exhausted, medics would then say, ‘why don’t you go and see Lambo. That was then. Now, there is improved diagnosis. And this hospital has stepped up in this area by introducing ‘Biological psychiatry’. Whatever we diagnosed here, such as depression, will be diagnosed elsewhere as depression. Just as it is with disease, anywhere malaria, Ebola or cancer is diagnosed, take the result to anywhere; it will come back the same. Our challenge then in diagnoses was that we did not always have the causative factor, but now, we have improved and further mastered our profession,” he assured. He said Biological psychiatry was a pioneering collaborative research work between the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America. Dr Lawal shed more light: “Before now, many people for instance associate the moon with mental illness. And they say once there are lunar changes, i.e, the phases of the moon affect the mental being of a person. Indeed, that is an erroneus belief. The lunar phases have nothing to do, when the illness manifests in some people. That is where the word ‘lunatic’ or ‘lunacy’ originates from, but this is not true. It is simply a myth. There is no relationship between the moon and mental illness. That is where the Biological psychiatry comes in, it is designed to improve on the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in the country, the initiative is first of its kind in West and Central Africa. Statistics show that Nigeria has less than one psychiatrist per million of the population and only one in 10 persons who requires psychiatric care and treatment, eventually obtains it.” “The essence of the Biological psychiatry”, according to Dr Lawal, is to: “Couple practices with research to improve quality of service to patients. The end point is that we have entered into a new age of psychiatry in Nigeria and we are proud of this achievement.”

Ebola: WHO approves 15- minute test

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the first rapid test for Ebola in a potential breakthrough for ending an epidemic that has killed almost 10,000 people in West Africa. The test, developed by US firm Corgenix Medical Corp, is less accurate than the standard test but is easy to perform; it does not require electricity, and can give results within 15 minutes, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said. “The test was evaluated under WHO’s emergency assessment and used procedure established to provide a minimum quality, safety and performance assurance for diagnostic products in the context of the Ebola emergency,” he said. The standard laboratory test has a turnaround time of 12-24 hours. While the Corgenix test is not failsafe, it could quickly identify patients who need quarantine and make it much easier to verify rap-

idly any new outbreaks. “It is a little bit less accurate than a standard PCR test that we are currently using, but it’s easy to perform, does not require electricity and it can be therefore used in lower health care facilities, or in mobile units for patients in remote settings,” he said. Jasarevic added that when possible, results from the Corgenix test should be checked against the standard laboratory test. Procurement and roll-out of the test kits will not begin immediately because the company is still working out costing and needs a week or two more to finish administrative procedures with the US Food and Drug Administration, Jasarevic said. The health charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, which has been at the forefront of the fight against Ebola, had expressed an interest, he said. •Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

10 power plants may get gas by Indigenous firm acquires Shell’s oil field June, says NNPC chief O •Host communities to get 10% derivation

HE 10 power plants built under the National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) initiative will be connected to gas pipelines either by June or the end of the year, Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. David Ige has said. Speaking on the sidelines of the 12th Aret Adams Memorial Lecture in Lagos, at the weekend, Ige said the connection would enable the plants to access gas for improved electricity generation and distribution. Aret Adams was former Group Managing Director of NNPC. Ige said the plants would add 5,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity to the national grid upon completion. The plants are Geregu 11 (334Mw); Calabar (630Mw); Egbema (378Mw); and Ihonvbor (504 MW). Others are Gbarain (252Mw); Sapele( 504Mw); Omoku (252Mw); Alaoji (1030Mw); Olorunsogo II (750Mw) and Omotosho ( 500Mw). He said: “Plans are underway to connect gas pipelines to the 10 power plants constructed by the Federal Government to ease electricity problems and further en-

By Akinola Ajibade

courage economic growth. Gas is critical to the growth of the power sector and the government is working to ensure that enough gas is channelled to the power generation plants.” Ige also stated that the government has made arrangement to provide gas to the privatised power generation plants formerly owned by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria. He said there is enough gas waiting for Omoku power plant but noted that pipeline vandalism is a major problem in the industry even as the government plans to reduce or stop it. “A lot has been done to bring huge volumes of gas to the power plants. But each time, we try to breach the shortfall in gas supply; our efforts are frustrated by vandals who break the pipes at will. Since the beginning of this year, we have not had one week of respite. There have been consistent attacks of pipelines. When we have these attacks, the pipeline pressure drops immediately because of the off-take. If we shut down to repair the pipelines, it takes about 10

days to repair. Thereafter, you need some days to build up the pressure. By the time you are building up the pressure, people are attacking the pipelines again,” he added. The Acting Head, Public Communication, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, said the government is working hard to provide gas to the plants. The spokesman, Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Yakubu Lawal, said the company was not delaying the sale of the plants which investors bid for in 2014. He said the firm has completed the building of the plants, with Olorunsogo being the latest one commissioned a fortnight ago in Ogun State. “The goal of the company is to build the 10 power plants, which we have done in line with the mandates given to us by the government. It is the responsibility of NNPC to provide the gas. So, how did we cause the delay in the sale of the plants as rumoured in some quarters? he asked. Yakubu said gas supply was not part of the mandate given to the company and would not concern itself with that. He said the court would determine the fate of three of the plants that are under litigation.

IL producing communities in Rivers and Abia states have given Belema Oil and Gas Producing Limited the nod to resume exploration on oil mining lease (OML) 11 abandoned by Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell. Shell Oil Development Company (SPDC) withdrew from onshore exploration, especially within the Niger Delta, because of security challenges. The communities have been shopping for a new company to take over production. Belema Oil, an indigenous company of Rivers State origin, is one of the seven local and foreign companies jostling for the deal. Belema Chief Executive Officer Tein Jack-Rich promised, among other incentives, 10 per cent of the company’s net profit for the development of the host communities and their youths. He also said the communities would own part of the company’s assets and also bear part of its liabilities. In an eight-point communiqué jointly signed by stakeholders including traditional rulers, elders, youths and women groups from the communities, the communities accepted JackRich’s request to bid for the oil block, expressing satisfaction with the derivation and partnership terms. The communities are: Etche Cluster 1 and 2, in Etche, Oyigbo/Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State and Ukwa West LGA in Abia State. Communities in Ogoni, also in Rivers State have since begun the process. Some have signed up for the local firm, while others are still negotiating. SPDC stopped oil activities in Ogoni since 1993. No other company has been allowed to operate in the place. The communities expressed their resolve to lock their gates against any other company that is making any move for

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

OML 11. They advised other companies to stop lobbying as they have taken decision. The communiqué reads: “We the oil producing communities from Nkali Imo River Abia State, Etche Clusters 1 and 2, Afam communities hereby pass this resolution this day in the presence of our Ezes, Chiefs, elders, women and youths as follows, that we have resolved and hereby endorse and declare our partnership with Belema Oil and Gas Producing Limited for the takeover of operation and ownership of Shell’s OML 11. “Just as the Ogoni oil bearing communities have done, our people cannot afford to be in the hands of unknown company that we cannot have friendly access to, or too big for us to grow with. Belema Oil is a growing and well-focused company we admire and we have resolved to partner with for mutual development of our communities and youths”. “It is a Rivers State company from the Niger Delta with so much passion to creating wealth for our growing sons and daughters; thus we hereby accept and present Belema Oil to Shell as our partners. “On this note we hereby accept, endorse, declare and present Belema Oil producing Limited to SHELL Africa and to the government of Nigeria. All other bidders are no longer acceptable to us, and should desist from further lobbying of our stakeholders; especially our royal fathers and youths. Our OML 11 is not for money bag lobbyists.” During the agreement signing, HRM, Eze Samuel Amaechi the Monarch of Igbo Etche Kingdom appealed to the company to ensure they kept to the terms of agreement reached, to ensure peaceful business environment.

Eunisell, Ammasco unveil new engine oil

FRICA’S specialty fluids management company, Eunisell Chemicals, has manufactured a new motor engine oil. The production was made of group IV synthetic base oils with an advanced additive molecules, chemistry and technology, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The new technology formulated for Ammasco International Limited, an indigenous and independent lubricant blender, and marketed by Eunisell and Lubrizol Corporation, was unveiled over the weekend at Ammasco blending plant in Kano. Addressing reporters at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer, Eunisell Chemicals, Mr. Ken Amadi, stated that the new Ammasco Synthetic Oil “was formulated by Eunisell and Lubrizol

•An integrated power plant

NSA, Ministry, NNPC to tackle vandalism

HE National Security Adviser (NSA), the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have initiated moves to curb pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft through digital surveillance. The initiative will also ensure that operators deploy sensors where there are pipelines to check the menace. The mechanism will connect every centimetre of the pipeline and ensure that operators are informed of any act of vandalism on any pipeline. The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, said the industry is at a stage where opportunities in technology are being explored to stop pipeline vandalism and other untoward practices. He said efforts are ongoing to use sensors, adding that the involvement of NNPC in the fight against pipeline vandalism and other untoward practices was in line with its responsibil-

By Akinola Ajibade

ity to develop the upstream and downstream sectors. He said the corporation distributes petroleum products to its depots through pipelines, and at the same time uses the channel to provide gas to the end-users, especially the power generation companies (GENCOs). He stated that pipeline breakage and other problems are critical to the growth of the sector, adding that the government is not leaving any stone unturned to stop it. He said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki( rtd) is the only competent person mandated to speak on the technology, in view of the importance the Federal Government attaches to the issue of pipeline vandalism. Alegbe said information regarding the use of the technology are sensitive, and is therefore, being protected

from the public to enable the government achieve its desired results of reducing pipeline destruction. Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Gas to the Minister of Power, Dr Frank Edozie said the ministry, National Security Adviser and NNPC are involved in the scheme to tackle pipeline vandalism through digital method. He said the Ministry of Power does not own pipeline, but only uses it as a channel through which gas is transported to the power generation companies (GENCOs) for electricity production. Ownership of the pipelines, he said, revolves around the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and NNPC, adding that the development underscored the reasons behind the involvement of NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the fight against pipeline vandalism. Edozie said the government has deployed military and para-military de-

tails to monitor pipelines and arrest vandals. He said the Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising the army and the police have arrested and prosecuted vandals, stressing that the devices are going to complement such efforts. He said: “In the past, efforts were made by the government to secure pipelines. The Army, Navy, Police and the Nigerian Civil Defence Service Corps (NCDSC) monitored pipelines but now, the government has put in place measures to complement the physical protection of the pipelines by ensuring that sensors are deployed into pipeline areas or zones. The effectiveness of the sensors depends on the number of operators deployed to check vandalism.” The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the government has zero tolerance for vandals, stressing that a more proactive measure would be used to curb the practices.

•Solution for marginal fields to meet and exceed all the requirements as specified by the American Petroleum Institute, European Automobile Manufacturing Association, International Lubricants Standardisation and Approval Committee, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and indeed all the other bodies responsible for engine oil specifications across the world. We are happy to be the first company in Nigeria to have introduced this new technology and can confirm that with this, your automobile engines will last longer than you will expect.” The Chairman, Ammasco International Limited, Alhaji Mustapha Addo expressed satisfaction with the quality and high standard of the product, adding that the fully synthetic oil will further position Ammasco as the number one quality conscious lubricant blender and marketer in West Africa, with Nigeria as a hub. The General Manager, Quality, Ammasco, Mr. Joseph Idume, expressed satisfaction with the standards put in place in the blending of the Ammasco Synthetic Engine Oil. Idume said: “There was absolutely no compromise in the quality of additives used in this product. As an organisation that believes in quality as seen in all of our other products, we have consistently ensured a high quality standard, this is why we decided to enter into the next level of engine oil manufacturing with the launch of the Ammasco synthetic oil as witnessed here today.” The officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) representatives of lubricant distributors nationwide and the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association were at the launch.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

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Minister lauds agency over desertification HE Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has praised the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) for the development of shelterbelts in the North to curb desertification. She spoke at a stakeholders forum organised by NAGGW in Katsina State, last week. Mrs Mallam praised the agency’s for providing improved seedlings, alternative cooking devices and potable water to the communities within the GGW corridor; development and management of orchards and other measures that have helped to reduce desertification scourge in the North. The minister, represented by the coordinator of the Afforestation Programme Coordinating Unit (APCU) Kano, Mr. Ado Saminu, said she was glad to be part of the steady and progressive activities of the young and dynamic National Agency for Great Green Wall. She further noted that the determination, commitment and focus in the pursuit of excellence as well as the symbolic relationship in the management and harnessing of land resources for the betterment of the people was vital to the achievement of success in the fight against desertification in the north. She explained that the GGW programme is a holistic approach being undertaking in which stakeholders are encouraged to contribute their quotas through popular participation. The Katsina State Commissioner for Environment, Abdullahi Aliyu, disclosed that the state has established 26 kilometers of shelterbelts, and assured that the state will support the federal government’s efforts at fighting desertification and environmental degradation challenges in the north. The Director-General, NAGGW, Mr. Goni Ahmed, who was represented by Head, Community Mobilisation and Sensitisation, NAGGW, Hajia Bintu Kolo Mohammed, said the outcome of the conference will be handy in addressing the status, challenges and prospects of the NAGGW, in other to ensure that it contributes to sustainable development through employment creation, product development, income generation and poverty reduction.

•FHA Northbank Estate, Makurdi, Benue State.

Strengthen FHA for housing delivery, say stakeholders T HE Federal Government has been urged to strengthen the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to enable it deliver on lowcost housing. Arising from a FHA management retreat, stakeholders urged the government to transform the authority into a regulatory agency so as to have better control of the housing sector. In a communique issued after the retreat held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre in Abuja, the participants said the envisaged transformation would enable the FHA make the desired impact as government’s foremost housing agency. They further advised that the proposed private sector driven Federal Housing Corporation, which the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) reform document recommended as a successor to FHA, should inherit the commercial housing component of the Authority’s mandate. In the communiqué, the participants drawn from the Authority’s Technical Board, Interim Management Team and other critical stakeholders, recommended that the reform document be realigned to meet with the current realities in the country. The three-page communiqué enjoined the government to provide

Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

adequate financial power for the FHA to enable it deliver on its responsibilities as enunciated in the social housing components of the reform package. The communiqué decried the 18-month tenure given to the Interim Management Team and advised that the current interim structure be upgraded to a full tenure of four years to enable the management pursue the reform process to its logical conclusion. Noting that the government was not mulling the FHA privatisation, the participants said the restructuring and commercialisation of the agency deserved the support of all. Stressing that the reform of the FHA for effective housing delivery was an imperative action, it called attention to the misalignment between population growth and the nation’s urban development and called for the prioritisation of the provision of social/affordable housing in the country. FHA’s Managing Director, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin, in an exclusive chat with The Nation, said the Authority’s desire

to go into social housing for which a special task team comprising professionals and experts have been set up to study the partnership system and come up with a template for social housing. “Social housing involves houses for low income earners; houses that are very much affordable of which a lot of Nigerians belong,” he said, adding that the partnership system that was in place before his appointment focused more on the commercial system. Al-Amin, however, admitted that government cannot go into social housing alone, hence, the need for partnership. But having such partnerships, he reckoned, the FHA has to come up with new realities, which requires that other private sector social housing driven companies be invited. “We can partner several government organisations, unions, trade unions, trade organisations and others in this area. This will then enable us to fashion out a way of bringing down whatever the interest rate is to a single digit and negotiate with the government at all levels to come into the provision of infrastructure in housing because most of the cost or the high percentage of the cost that translates into the final market cost of a house is being risen by the

• Prof Mohammed Al-Amin

cost of infrastructure being built into it,” Al-Amin said. He assured that social housing would be embedded in the reform going on in the sector, saying that what the Authority is looking for is to provide shelter for Nigerians at low cost. Other participants at the retreat included Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki; members of the FHA’s Technical Board and the Interim Management Team; the National President, Senior Staff Association of Corporations, Transport, and Communications (SSACTAC) and representatives of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUCPTRE).

Firm to build 1,000 houses in Southwest

ORE private sector participants are joining the government in providing affordable housing for the public. The latest entrant is Le Venue Property Development Company (LVPD) Limited, a member of the Le’ Venue Group, which has concluded plans to build 1,000 housing units yearly across the Southwest. Le’Venue, whose vision is to be a “One- Stop Shop” for real estate solutions, said it is embarking on a partnership with major financial

institutions and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to ensure a seamless mortgage scheme for buyers, who need mortgage to fund their acquisition. Besides, LVPD is also partnering with registered cooperatives to cater for their needs in terms of pricing, location and implementing flexible, long-term payment plans for various classes of income earners. The Group Managing Director, Le’ Venue Group, Mr.

Jemine Adollo, said measures were being taken to complement government’s efforts, which he said is aimed at boosting the housing stock across the southwest region at an all-time low. “Le’Venue Property Development Company is determined to play a vital role in the provision of affordable housing for all across the southwest region for a start and across the federation over the next five years. To this end, we have started the process by shortlisting contractors for the construction of

various house types at our existing properties including Clara’s Court Estate in IbejuLekki and Rose Court Garden Estate in Ikorodu, both in Lagos State and Eden Park Estate in Magboro, Ogun State,” Adollo said. He added that LVPD would soon deliver over 200 units of semi-detached four-bedroom duplexes, semi-detached threebedroom bungalows and fullydetached two-bedroom bungalows at its estates in Lagos and Ogun States.

•Mrs. Mallam

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 03-03-15

NSE defers stock suspension rule amidst bullish trades

HE Nigerian Stock Ex whether or not trading in the Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor change (NSE) yester issuer’s securities should be day suspended the suspended. it was reviewed at the SEC implementation of a new The new rule places the Rules Committee meeting of rule that would have alonus on the issuer that reJanuary 30, 2014. lowed quoted companies to quests a suspension of tradHead, legal and regulation, ing in its securities to satisfy apply for suspension of trading on their stock. The sus- Nigerian Stock Exchange the Exchange that a suspenpension came as the stock (NSE), Tinuade Awe stated sion would be necessary. market continued its bullish that the implementation of Many stakeholders had rally with investors gaining the rule was deferred to al- criticized the ambiguity of N55 billion in the first trad- low further engagement the rule with regard to full with stakeholders. ing session of the week. suspension and technical sus“The effective date of the pension as well as the discreAggregate market value of rule has been delayed to a quoted companies on the tionary power it gives the NSE rose from its opening date to be announced subse- Exchange. They noted that value of N10.045 trillion to quently in order engage in the absence of predeterclose at N10.099 trillion. The stakeholder sensitization re- mined reasons for suspenAll Share Index (ASI), the garding the rule,” Awe sion of trading exposes Exbenchmark index at the NSE, stated. change to undue discretionThe new rule, otherwise ary power, which may be also indicated average daily gain of 0.54 per cent to close known as Article 23 of the abused by officials of the Exat 30,267.18 points as against Amendments to the Listings change. Under the previous its opening index of 30,103.81 Rules of the Exchange, stipu- practice, technical suspenlates that any request for sus- sion-suspension of movepoints. The NSE had earlier indi- pension of trading must be ment of share price, used to cated that the new rule titled made to the Exchange in writ- be granted for any issue that “Request for Suspension at ing by the issuer or the affects the capital structure of the Instance of the Issuer” issuer’s authorized represen- a company such as share iswill take off yesterday. The tative or financial adviser. suance among others while The application for suspen- full suspension were being rule had been approved by the Securities and Exchange sion must however be sup- granted for weightier transCommission (SEC) but its ported by the specific rea- actions like mergers and acimplementation was de- sons which the issuer wishes quisitions, reconstruction layed. The rule was approved the Exchange to take into ac- and restructuring among by SEC on May 19, 2014 after count in its determination of others. DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 03-03-15

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

MONEYLINK

Naira gains on dollar sales by IOCs

HE naira, yesterday, strength ened by 1.13 per cent against the dollar on the interbank market in thin trade, supported by dollar flows from two International Oil Companies (IOCs), traders said. The naira closed at N199.7 to the dollar compared with N202 on the interbank market on Friday. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had set its intervention rate at N196.8/N197.8 to the dollar on, but the regulator had not yet sold dollars to lenders by afternoon. The Nigerian unit of Royal Dutch Shell sold an undisclosed amount of dollars while Eni sold $15 million, lending support to the naira. Recently, the naira has suffered its

Govt ‘won’t withdraw’ from SWF

Stories by Collins Nweze

biggest monthly fall in over five years last February arising from concerns over political uncertainty and the CBN’s ability to manage a currency hammered by weak oil prices. “There was not much of activity in the market today, apart from dollar sales by the two oil companies which boosted liquidity a bit and supported the naira,” said a trader. Traders expect the local currency would be driven by availability of dollar inflows through anticipated month-end sales by oil companies during the week. Sub-Saharan Africa Economist at Renaissance Capital and co-Author of the Fastest Billion, Yvonne Mhango, said the CBN has shown absolute commit-

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele ment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira. She said that while Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability.

N25.7b charge: Atuche gets April date

USTICE Lateef Lawal- Akapo of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja has fixed Monday, April 13, for ruling on an application filed by a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche. Atuche is seeking leave of court to quash the N25.7 billion theft charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Lawal-Akapo fixed the date for ruling on his application after hearing arguments from the defence and prosecution lawyers. The EFCC had charged Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, to court for allegedly stealing the money from the bank. They are being prosecuted alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu. Arguing the application, Atuche’s

By Adebisi Onanuga and Peace Iyere

counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), asked the court to quash the charge for want of jurisdiction. Oyetibo said the application was hinged on a judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Lagos on November 21, 2014 which struck out the theft charges preferred against a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu and others. Oyetibo argued that both Nwosu and Atuche’s cases were similar, stressing that the lower court has a judicial duty to follow the decision of the appellate court. The Court of Appeal in Nwosu’s case held that “the Lagos State High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the charge because it emanated from capital market transactions. “The appellate court held that such capital market-based matter was an ex-

clusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court”, he added. He also urged the court to take judicial notice of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos delivered December 31, 2014 in the case of Erasmus Akingbola against the Federal Republic of Nigeria before arriving at its decision. According to him, the appellate court struck out the case against Akingbola, a former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc on the same grounds. However, the EFCC counsel, Miss Chinenye Ugwuagu, in her notice of preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the application for being frivolous and vexatious. Ugwuagu argued that the Court of Appeal’s decision in Nwosu’s case was not applicable to the case of Atuche .

HE Federal Government is unlikely to make withdraw als from the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Managing Director/CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji, has said. He told Bloomberg Television at the Global Financial Markets Forum in Abu Dhabi that withdrawals will be an option in future years once the fund is larger. The government has proposed cutting the oil-price benchmark to $52 a barrel from $65 a barrel suggested in December as a result of slumping prices. The plan, sup-

ported by the Senate, must be approved by lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Nigeria relies on oil exports for more than 90 percent of foreign exchange income and 70 percent of government revenue. Revenue raised from oil sold for more than the budgeted benchmark is saved in the Excess Crude Account. The NSIA, as the sovereign fund is known, has around $500 million to invest in Nigeria, Orji said. The fund will focus on allocations to Nigerian power, real estate, agriculture and health care this year, he said.

UBA takes banking to Facebook

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced an online banking solution called “U-Social”, which offers flexibility and convenience to customers who desire to do banking transactions on social media, using their Facebook account. The product, it said in a statement, is designed to promote financial inclusion and to make the bank’s services available to customers regardless of the time and their locations. U-Social comes as onlinebased application on Facebook, it is easy to download and immediately syncs with the user’s Facebook account. U-Social is also an easy-to-use and secure banking solution, which is accessible to all UBA customers who are on Facebook. With the product, users can also pay for all cable TV bills right on their Facebook page without having to disengage from any interesting conversation thread that is on-going. It also gives users opportunity to UBA’s U-Social users

can also buy airtime right from their Facebook page and have cheques confirmed, cancelled and initiate new transactions while logged into their Facebook account. “The beauty of U-social is that it has simplified banking and made it part of the social media space.” Yinka Adedeji, UBA’s Divisional Head, e-banking said. “With UBA’s U-Social, Facebook is not just where people connect with friends and family, it is also the place anyone can do his or her banking with ease” he explained. U-Social has added a new dimension to UBA’s social media banking space. The bank is also the only pan-African bank to have a twitter notification transaction alert for its customers. The bank, in 2014, introduced transaction alerts on twitter, which enabled customers to receive notifications of any transactions on their account as direct messages on their twitter handle. This is applicable to all of the bank’s customers in the 19 countries in which UBA has operations across Africa.

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are warming up for the governorship election in Kwara State. It is the first exercise in the post-Olusola Saraki era. How will Kwarans vote? Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH beams a searchlight on the parties, the candidates and the issues that will shape the contest.

APC, PDP and LP battle for Kwara T

HE image of the Kwara political kingpin, the late Dr Olusola Saraki, still looms large as the general elections draw near. The Saraki dynasty, as it is fondly called, is now being led by the late politician’s son, Senator Bukola Saraki. The late Saraki was political colossus and godfather to many in Kwara. He was initially touted to be a multi-billionaire until after his demise, when it became apparent that the man left behind only two houses: one in Lagos and the other one at Ilorin, the state capital. This post-humus revelation, further endeared the man to his numerous followers and, perhaps, it could be the most striking factor in the choice of his biological son, Bukola, by his admirers as the new political leader. Many believe that all is well with the dynasty. In addition, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has lived up to expectation. Therefore, he will win a second term. However, there are two political blocs in the state: those who believe in the retention of the status quo and those are radically opposed to it. Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Saraki are on one side, while the two major opposition parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) are the other side. Another factor affecting Kwara politics at the moment is the presidential candidate of the two major parties. There are those backing the APC because of its presidential flag bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. There are also those rooting for the PDP because of President Goodluck Jonathan. The governorship candidates of the PDP and the LP, Senator Simeon Ajibola and Dr Mike Omotosho respectively, are campaigning for the President’s re-election. At the governorship level, the pertinent question is, what is the chances of the opposition in the election? Ajibola, a senator for three consecutive terms, emerged as the PDP candidate against all odds. He defeated other aspirants, including former presidential aide Senator Makanjuola Ajadi; former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN); ex-Sports Minister Alhaji Bio Ibrahim; former Federal Character Commission chair Prof. Shauib AbdulRaheem; Senator Gbemisola Saraki and Deacon John Dara, a crony of former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma. Ajibola’s emergence initially generated bad blood among coaspirants. But, a reconciliatory meeting convened by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party Chief Tony Anenih in Ilorin, made the ag-

•Governor Ahmed campaigning in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital

•Senator Saraki

•Omotoso

•Ajibola

‘The image of the Kwara political kingpin, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, still looms large as the general elections draw near. The Saraki dynasty, as it is fondly called, is now being led by the late politician’s son, Senator Bukola Saraki. The late Saraki was political colossus and godfather to many in Kwara’ grieved contestants into burying the hatchet. The Chairman of the PDP Chief Iyiola Oyedepo said: “We are one big family and we are happy going into election with this oneness of spirit.” In the same vein, during the inauguration of the Campaign Team, the Minister of National Planning, Olanrewaju Suleiman said that “the PDP is one in Kwara and that we must vote for President Jonathan and our governorship candidate, Senator Ajibola.” Despite these assurances, many PDP supporters believe till date that the campaign style of Ajibola does not portray him as “a serious governorship candidate.” A source, who pleaded anonymity said: “When you offer him advice, he will not listen.

Even when you call him on phone, he doesn’t pick calls. I am sure he has not committed his resources into this project apart from the money allegedly released to him by the Presidency. So, is that person a serious candidate?” Another source said that Ajibola could just be an agent “serving as a mole to a political power broker in the state.” He added: “From his behaviour, he may just be pretending to be a candidate of the opposition party. But, only time will reveal how he would fare.” Dispelling these insinuations, Oyedepo said the PDP poses a serious challenge to the APC, adding that the campaign strategies could never have been the same. “We are serious with our cam-

paigns, which is led by no other person other than Dara. We are working very hard on daily basis and we do these based on the available funds at our disposal. The spokesman for the Simeon Ajibola Campaign Organisation (SSACO), Tajudeen Kareem, said its state-wide campaign tour would resume this week, after a brief break necessary to perfect its strategies and tidy up security arrangements. Besides, Dara said local government and ward campaign coordinators have been engaged in house-to-house consultation in the last two weeks, taking the PDP message of freedom and prosperity to the grassroots.” Dara also said there is no iota of truth in the insinuation that some PDP members are ag-

grieved because, in line with the PDP flag bearer’s policy, the organisation is running an all-inclusive campaign. “We have deliberately taken care of all interests in our party and that is why all our former governorship aspirants are fully involved in the campaign. If you notice, we have an unusually large campaign organisation. This is to ensure that all major stakeholders and all interest groups are carried along,” he explained. Many observers even see Omotosho as a more viable alternative. According to Abdulmumeen Onagun, former Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the LP candidate represents “an ideal choice for the type of governor that Kwara needs.” Onagun added: “Here is Omotosho, a trained pharmacist, an industrialist per excellence, one who has no godfather, but has the true God as his father. He is young, vibrant and widely travelled. If you look at his manifesto, you will see that he is the right man for the job.” Omotosho has touched the lives of many Kwarans with his scholarship schemes. Besides, he has taken his free medical missions to over 50 communities across the state, just as he remains the only governorship candidate in the state with supports for youth development and supports for the aged and people with special needs. He has equally procured over one million cooking stoves for the needs of women across the three Senatorial districts of the state. Omotoso said: “I pledge to submit my monthly salary to this noble scheme that shall be implemented with the true sense of service to God and humanity. Our social security scheme will directly affect three categories of people namely: the aged, the pensioners and the handicapped. “The government shall be committed to a monthly allowance to elderly ones beyond the age of 70. Kwara shall be the first state in Nigeria in the area of ensuring that those who served the people with the strength of their youth are not subjected to ridicule at old age. However, many perceive the governor to the strongest candidate. The impregnability of the Saraki dynasty, which is solidly behind Ahmed, coupled with his numerous achievements in the last four years in office, have put him in a better position to beat his rivals. Analysts say the governor would win on April 11 convincingly. Again, people’s desire for a change from the President Jonathan’s years of impunity, insecurity, corruption and misrule and the Buhari bug that has caught the electorate in Kwara is the icing on the cake for Ahmed.

THE NATION TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2015

‘

Ogboru is an iconic brand in politics trusted by majority of our people for his excellent track record in global business and sound political convictions

‘

... 87 D AYS TO GO ...87 DA

Scandinavia APC mobilises for Buhari T

HE Co-ordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Scandinavia, Europe, Lawal Ayoola, has described its party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the best man to make Nigeria a better place for all. Ayoola said in a statement in Lagos that Buhari is the best candidate desired by Nigerians, because he is a man of integrity that can be trusted to deliver on his promises. He said other Nigerians in the Nordic countries of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, left their businesses to join the bandwagon for change because of the credentials of the standard bearer. On the effects of the postponed elections, Ayoola said that it sent a wrong signal to the international community. “The postponement is a very dangerous step for our democracy because it sent a wrong signal to Nigerians in Diaspora and the international community general,” he added. The coordinator said Nigerians

By David Lawal

in Diaspora are not comfortable with the attitude of the present administration and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because “they tend to do things for personal interest without considering the ripple effects in a larger perspective.” He added: “I think they are very myopic in their thinking and this is one of the reasons why Nigerians should say no to this present administration” According to the APC coordinator: ”The general perspective in the Scandinavia is that if anything goes wrong in Nigeria, it may affect almost the whole world. This is a general view of the superpowers

since Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world. “When things are normal in your country, many foreign countries will be willing to trade with you, but otherwise, like it is now, expatriates will keep moving to other countries with stable economic outlook.” The Interim Secretary, APC Scandinavia, Finland Chapter, Balogun Kamorudeen, said that political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is totally unacceptable. He said: “It runs contrary to the principle of making INEC an independent electoral umpire, which had in a seven-hours meeting with the Presidency and the National Council of State assured on its

‘The general perspective in the Scandinavia is that if anything goes wrong in Nigeria, it may affect almost the whole world... We live in the paradise on earth, but we are always sad when we remember our country’

•Gen. Buhari

•Prof. Osinbajo

readiness for the February 14 and 28 general elections. “In actual fact, the INEC chairman stated in a press conference that they have made provisions for displaced electorates in the Northeast to exercise their civic duties, towards electing their candidate of choice.” Kamorudeen also said that many Nigerians, civil society groups, human right activists, as well as the U.S. Department of State frowned

at this unfortunate coup-like postponement, stressing that countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq conducted general election despite facing more violence than Nigeria. Lamenting the insecurity and the alarming rate of corrupt practices among public office holders, Ayoola said: “We live in the paradise on earth, but we are always sad when we remember our country.

Yuguda to support INEC

AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda has assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his government will support the agency to perform its constitutional duties. He said Bauchi is enjoying relative peace because it has invested in security. The governor urged other states to emulate his state. Yuguda, who was speaking while receiving the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Hamman Tukur Sa’ad, at the Government House, hailed the commission for distributing 84 per cent Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in the state, describing the achievement as unprecedented. He, however, complained that some communities in Toro Local Government were yet to access their PVCs due to some challenges. The governor appealed to the REC to créate a level playing

•Voter education for the physically-challenged in Enugu

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi.

ground for political parties and their candidates, in compelíance with the electoral process. Earlier, the REC assured the people of the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections. Sa’ad, a Professor of Archetecture and former Resident Commissioner in Borno State, allayed fears over the polls. “I conducted elections in Borno in 2011 and when I was leaving the state, all political parties and stakeholders were happy that I gave everyone a levelplaying field,” he said. Sa’ad promised to abide by his oath of office to make sure that no one is shortchanged in the forthcoming general elections. He solicited for the support and cooperation of the people and government of Bauchi State, to “ensure that the elections are not only credible but violence free.”

Ogboru ‘ll win governorship poll, says aide

HE Director-General of the Great Ogboru Campaign Organisation in Delta State, Peter Omaruaya, has said that the party will win next month’s election. Ogboru is the LP governorship candidate. He told reporters in Lagos that the LP candidate, will have an upper hand in a free, fair and transparent election. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to live up to its responsibilities. He said: “Ogboru is an iconic brand in politics; he is trusted by majority of our people for his excellent track record in global business and sound political convictions.” Omaruaya said that the candidate is a grassroots politician

By Musa Odoshimokhe

whose records cannot be rivaled by other candidates. He said: “Ogboru’s grassroots political machine is equal to none and even his opponents know it.” The campaign manager urged the people to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), to enable them to vote during the election. “If INEC gets the e-card reading system right, that would be the game changer that would incapacitate those have been rigging in the past,” he said. Omaruaye, who declined to comment on the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, said his “duty is to run Chief Ogboru’s grassroots cam-

paign efficiently for victory and not to be distracted by the antics of traditional election riggers.” He said Ogboru is determined to bring value to public leadership in Delta State and lift the standard of living of the people. He added: “We will create employment through massive industrialisation; we will bring back companies to this state; and we will ensure that our seaports come back to life and drive this state’s economy. “We will build modern schools, health facilities and sports facilities. We will establish the first social security system for the elderly in our state. Religious leaders will have a place of pride in governance. Ogboru’s Equal Opportunities Development Initiative has been refined to develop the entire

state on an equitable basis. “We will create corporate development vehicles to be manned by the best and finest amongst us. Let me tell you with all sense of responsibility that a massive developmental revolution is coming to Delta with Chief Great Ogboru as our next Governor. “I am just privileged to be saddled with the responsibility to lead the crusade of telling our people about the revolutionary transformation that is coming and the need for everyone to be part of it.” Omaruaye explained that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has done his best, but the people deserve something better than what they have got. “Our principal has no personal quarrel with him. They may disa-

•Ogboru

gree or may have disagreed on the best way to ensuring good governance, but modern people do not live in the past. We must move on. The common good of the greater majority of our people remains our primary concern.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS

Corruption: Senate recommends new terms for plea bargain T HE Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has recommended new guidelines for plea bargain as part of efforts to strengthen the nation’s anti-graft war. The Upper chamber said henceforth plea bargain must be in national interest and listed nine conditions to define same. It has also asked for an amendment to the nation’s criminal laws to assist the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). These recommendations are contained in the report of the committee on a “Bill for an Act to make provisions for the Administration of Criminal Justice and for Related Matters in the courts of the Federal Capital Territory and other Federal Courts in Nigeria.” The new guidelines on plea bargain followed criticisms which trailed the granting of such a judicial reprieve to some Politically Exposed Persons and their relations, who had allegedly looted public treasury in the past. Most Nigerians felt the terms of plea bargain were skewed in favour of the accused persons because of the weakness of the nation’s criminal procedure system. The critics also alleged that the plea bargain terms were not in national interest. Some beneficiaries of plea bargain are ex-Governor

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; exGovernor Lucky Igbinedion; Mohammed Abacha; a former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, former Oceanic bank MD, Cecilia Ibru; Julius Berger Plc and six others implicated in the $130m Halliburton bribe cash. Apart from recovering about N446.3billion from Mohammed Abacha, the nation raked in over $329million from those implicated in the Halliburton scandal including Julius Berger ($26million); Snamprogetti (SAIPEM)$30million; Halliburton ($32.5million). Technip ($30million); Shell ($9milion) and Siemens ($40, 619,261.74). Grand total in USD is $168,119,261.74million. Concerning the 17.5million Siemens bribery scam, the company paid N6, 052,270 000billion as fines. The plea bargain recovery from some of the foreign firms was alleged to be a pittance compared to fines paid to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US. But the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters has come out with fresh guidelines on plea bargain after collaborating with the Attorney-General of the Federation

and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN). The bill reads in part: “The prosecution may enter into plea bargaining with the defendant with the consent of the victim or his representative during or after the presentation of the evidence of the defence, provided that all of the following conditions are present: (a) the evidence of the prosecution is insufficient to prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt; (b) where the defendant has agreed to return the proceeds of the crime or make restitution to the victim or his representative; or (c) where the defendant in a case of conspiracy has fully cooperated with the investigation and prosecution of the crime by providing relevant information for the successful prosecution of other offenders. “Where the prosecutor is of the view that the offer or acceptance of a plea bargain is in the interest of justice, the public interest, public policy and the need to prevent abuse of legal process, he may offer or accept the plea bargain. “The prosecutor may only enter into an agreement contemplated in subsection (3) of this section: After consultation with the police responsible for the investigation of the case and the victim of his representative, and

“With due regard to the nature of and circumstances relating to the offence, the defendant and public interest. The committee listed nine factors which could guide the court to determine what constitutes public interest. The report said: “Provided that in determining whether it is in the public interest to enter into a plea bargain, the prosecution shall weigh all relevant factors, including: • The defendant’s willingness to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of others; • The defendant’s history with respect to criminal activity; • The defendant’s remorse or contrition and his willingness to assume responsibility for his conduct; • The desirability of prompt and certain disposition of the case; • The likelihood of obtaining a conviction at trial and the probable effect or witness; • The probable sentence or other consequence if the defendant is convicted • The need to avoid delay in the disposition of other pending cases; and • The expense of trial and appeal. • The defendant’s willingness to make restitution or pay compensation to the victim where appropriate.

8,000 displaced in Southwest

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said about 8,046 persons have been affected by fire and windstorm in the Southwest. The figure, according to NEMA, was recorded in January and February in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. A statement by the agency’s Southwest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, recorded 1064 fire victims with 652 being residents of Iwaya, the slum community which has witnessed incessant fire outbreaks and 412 persons being victims of various infernos in Eko Market. He said NEMA has given relief materials to the traders through the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). Farinloye said the agency has delivered relief materials to victims of Iwaya fire disaster through the Lagos State Government, including 300 bags of cement, 400 bundles of roofing sheets, 500 pieces of wax fabrics for women and 200 pieces of Guinea Brocade for the men. “Others include 100 pieces of children wears; 100 bags of garri, 40 cartons of tea; 60 packets of zinc nails, 60 bags of 3” nails, 150 bags of rice, 500 pieces of blankets, 500 pieces of insecti-

Akwa Ibom, Cross River indigenes back APC

•Mrs Eyo

cide treated net. “NEMA has also released 400 bags of cements, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 100 bags of rice, 100 bags of garri, 250 pieces of insecticide treated nets, 500 ceiling boards, 100 bags of 3” nails, 20 bags of sugar and 75 cartons of noodles to LASEMA to be distributed to the victims of fire disaster at Berlin Street, Marina. “In Ogun State, Igbo Aje Market, Ilaro of Yewa South, had 306 traders affected by a market fire outbreak that occurred on January 27. “About six thousand, six hundred and seventy-six persons were affected in four different incidents of wind and rainstorm disasters that occurred in 6 communities in Afijio Local Government; Lagbondoke and Agunpopo communities of Atiba Local Government; Irewole and Isokan communities in Oyo West Local Government and Oko town in Surulere Local Government in Oyo State. “One thousand houses and two hundred and fiftyone shops were affected in all the three states.”

Akwa Ibom grants financial autonomy to judiciary From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

GROUP, the Confederation of Akwa Ibom and Cross River Indigenes in Lagos, has endorsed all the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) candidates in Lagos State. The convener of the group, Mrs. Lizzy Eyo, said: “We the indigenes of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in Lagos, see ourselves as Lagosians as many of us in my generation were born and raised here in Lagos, not to talk of the many others who daily migrate to live in Lagos in search of better opportunities. We understand the indigenous culture and can even speak the language fluently as well and invariably we make up a sizeable population which cannot be ignored by any serious political party. Lagos is the centre of excellence where opportunities are provided for every Nigerian to thrive,as such we will support the continuity of progress so far made in Lagos State, by fully supporting the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) all the way”. A town hall meeting organised by the group at the Mende Town Hall in Kosofe Local Government Area had in attendance, big wigs of the party, such as likes of Chief S.A. Sunmola, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, Kosofe constituency 1 House of Assembly Candidate, House of Representatives candidate for Kosofe Federal Constituency, Hon Rotimi Agunsoye, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon Bosun Jeje and other party stalwarts.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

•Peterside greeting physically challenged supporters at the popular Ojukwu field (Rumuwoji playground) during a ward rally in Port Harcourt.

Count Peterside out of violence, says Campaign Council

HE Greater Together Campaign Organisation (GTCO) has debunked claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, had a hand in the alleged attack on its governorship candidate last Saturday. The campaign organisation not only described the allegation against Dr. Peterside as “tissue of lies and libellous provocation”, but accused PDP of seeking an infamous route to escape its summons before Nemesis. A statement by its Director of Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the PDP stage-managed the “at-

From Precious Dikewoha, Portharcout

tack” – if it ever occurred - to rope in APC and its governorship candidate. The statement reads: “This tissue of lies and libellous provocation is wicked and callous, and should be disregarded. PDP couldn’t be visiting gross violence on Rivers State and its people only to turn back and pass the buck. We state categorically that Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, who has run an issuebased campaign, has no reason to direct his supporters or participate directly in any sort of pre-, during and post-

election violence, let alone organise armed attack. The PDP, with no agenda for Rivers people, has resorted to mudslinging, but as responsible as he is, Dr. Peterside would not be caught in their trap. The APC governorship candidate remains what Rivers people know him to be – a gentleman with no record of violence; a decent man who respects the sanctity of life; a Christian who believes that God makes kings; a governorship candidate with the change message.” “PDP must have envisaged that ongoing police investigation into armed attacks, assassination of APC

supporters and members and other politically-motivated violence in Rivers State, would turn in a damaging indictment on it, and so as a diversionary tactic to misdirect the police, had stagemanaged the said Bakana attack. PDP in Rivers State is never tired of mischief and can fabricate any to achieve its aim. We are the least surprised at this new tale”. “We blame PDP for presenting such a liability that is Wike for an exalted office as that of Governor. If Wike was the best PDP could present to Rivers people to elect as their governor, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should reconsider its status as a political party.”

HE Akwa Ibom State government yesterday granted financial autonomy to the judiciary as the state’s chapter of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) suspended its strike. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Uwemedimo Nwoko and Special Adviser to Governor on Labour and Productivity, Godwin Udom, said all outstanding vouchers of the judiciary for capital projects in the Office of the Accountant General would be released. Nwoko consented to the clause which said that no member of the judiciary would be penalised on account of having taken part in the industrial action. Their outstanding salaries for January and February will be paid.

Lagos gets 12 new perm secs

WELVE Permanent Secretaries were yesterday admitted into the Body of Permanent Secretaries of Lagos State to fill the available vacancies in the Civil Service. The permanent secretaries, made of six men and six women are Adediran Joseph Ayodele; Adenekan Ayodeji Adebayo; Dipe Foluso Adebayo; Longe Jemilade Adegoriola Rotimi; Mrs. Ogunmola, Omobolanle Modinat; Mrs. Ogunnaike, Folasade Oluwatosin; Mrs. Oladimeji, Grace Ebunola; Mrs. Onabolu Folake Folashade; Salami Nurudeen Mabayoje; Sanuth Jafar Babatunde Adewole; Mrs. Soname Aderinsola Abosede and Mrs. Umar Abimbola Shukrat.

THE NATION TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS Candidates vandalise JAMB office in Makurdi From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HE JOINT Admission and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB’s) zonal office in Makurdi was yesterday vandalised by candidates, who demanded a print out of their centre and examination date. The candidates converged on the zonal office on Abu King Shuluwa Road, near Makurdi International Market, Makurdi from 7am. They said they came to get their print out to know their centre and examination date. A candidate, Miss Mwuese Okoh, said they were asked to wait outside the gate in the scorching sun for almost six hours, and nobody attended to them, adding that the next thing they saw was a vehicle carrying armed policemen. “Immediately the policemen arrived, they fired canisters of tear gas to disperse us. Some even shot into the air,“ she alleged. The Nation learnt that the over 300 candidates blocked the road leading to the JAMB zonal office in Makurdi, made bon fires and smashed the office window. They also vandalised cars parked outside. We gathered that over 60 candidates were arrested and taken to the police headquarters for questioning. The Coordinator of JAMB zonal office, Mr. Samulel Omoru, described the incident as unfortunate. He said they were awaiting signals from Abuja before they would begin the print out.

Indian who staged own kidnap gets one year

SENIOR Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, yesterday sentenced Mishal Vishwanath, an Indian, to one year imprisonment for staging his own kidnapping. The Indian was found guilty with his Nigerian accomplice, Pascal Nosori, of joint act and giving false information with intent to mislead a public servant. Senior Magistrate Aliyu Shaffa sentenced Vishwanath of Bassan Plaza, Central Area, Abuja and Nosori of Mararaba, Nasarawa State, to one year imprisonment each, after they pleaded guilty to the charges. Shaffa, however, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N30,000 each. The prosecutor, Mr Simon Lough, told the court that on February 10, Amol Sohont of Bassan Plaza, Central Area lodged a complaint at the Office of the Commissioner of Police, FCT. Lough told the court that the convicts conspired and falsely informed the police that one of them, Vishwanath, was kidnapped. He said the convicts demanded N10 million ransom and the police negotiated it to N5, million. The prosecutor said the money was deposited into a Sterling Bank account, while the convicts were apprehended when they attempted to withdraw the money from the bank.

200 PDP members defect to APC at Yero’s ward K ADUNA State Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Abubakar Rilwan, has said over 200 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the APC at Kaura Ward in Zaria Local Government. He spoke with reporters after APC members swept major streets in Zaria. Rilwan said the defectors, from Kaura Ward, joined APC last Friday ahead of PDP’s governorship campaign in

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Zaria Local Government on Saturday. According to him, about 6,000 defectors have concluded arrangements to register as APC members in local governments in zone one ahead of the elections. Rilwan, who is also the zonal chairman (North) in Kaduna State, enjoined

traditional institutions to shun partisan politics, adding that they should encourage political leaders to liberate Kaduna. He said: “Traditional institutions should remain as an authority that should always encourage members of the community towards achieving goals devoid of sentiments or political affliation.” Rilwan said APC cherished

positive change and was determined to liberate Kaduna from poverty, non functional education and corruption. He said their candidates would win all positions in the elections, and promised to prioritise security, education, farming, health, youth and women empowerment The APC vice chairman enjoined eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which would enable them to vote.

•A cross section of the mammoth crowd that attended the pro Elechi/ Jonathan rally in Abakaliki

Gbemisola Saraki to dump PDP

HE daughter of the late kingpin of Kwara politics, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, may dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was learnt yesterday. The shabby treatment meted out to the former Kwara Central senator and her supporters during President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential rally, it was learnt, left a sour taste in her mouth. A source close to the daughter of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki confided in The Nation that “between you and I, the senator will definitely dump PDP. Very soon she will make public her next line of action.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

“Can you imagine, during that presidential campaign, the senator, though out of the country, was given a paltry N50,000 to mobilise her supporters.” In a statement, PDP Secretary, Hassa Razaq, urged her to shelve her rumoured bid to dump the PDP for another party. The statement reads: “Although we are relieved by the assurance that the rumour of the possible defection of Senator Gbemi Saraki is false and unsubstantiated, nevertheless, we consider it expedient to implore Senator Saraki and her support-

ers not to allow the voices of division to overwhelm them. “At this critical time in the life of our party in the state, we believe all hands must be on deck to sustain the party and lead it to victory at the polls. “As a party, we believe Senator Gbemi Saraki has made invaluable contributions and sacrifices for the PDP in the state and beyond. We particularly noted her maturity and sportsmanship before, during and after the primaries, which produced distinguished Senator Simeon Ajibola as the party’s governorship candidate for the April 11 election. “It will therefore be sad if such an individual, who

has immensely uplifted the party in the state, abandons the house she has built at its time of need. This is Kwara PDP’s time of need and we urge Senator Saraki to remain in the party and see through the struggle for the liberation of Kwarans. “Although it may not be impossible that there are areas of grievances, we believe it is not enough to allow such to derail our focus ahead of the polls. “We reiterate that genuinely aggrieved members are being sorted and the leadership of the party shall do its best to ensure that cases of genuine grievances are addressed before the elections.”

‘No UNIJOS student died in blasts’ From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

HE VICE Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Haward Mafuyai, has said no student died as a result of explosions. It was reported in some media that 12 students of the university might have died in the blasts. Prof Mafuyayi debunked the report, saying no student died in the attack. He was addressing reporters in Jos. Said he: “Some media establishments reported that 12 students died. I wonder where they got that from. There was absolutely nothing like that. I contacted school and state security and we have been liaising with them. The dean of students’ affairs went round, and we are still monitoring the situation to ascertain the number of casualties. “From our records so far, only one student (a 100 level medical student) was injured and the injury was not fatal. The student has been treated and was discharged on February 27.” Prof. Mafuyai urged reporters to help allay parents’ fears. He assured of students’ security and safety, as the STF, Police and Civil Defence personnel were on the site of the incident. Plateau State government has said it has viewed with utmost disgust and sadness, the twin bomb blasts, which occurred last Thursday evening on Bauchi Road in a terminus. It said 13 people died in the twin blasts, while 14 were injured. The government sympathised with the families of those who died and appreciated the roles of the security agencies, NEMA and Red Cross.

‘Deputy governor’s office uninhabitable’ From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

A MOVE to evict Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto from his office in the Government House, Minna, failed yesterday, as the new office was found to be uninhabitable. An aide in the deputy governor’s office said: “The relocation order is nothing but politics. Why did they not relocate the protocol staff or others. Efforts to get the deputy governor to comment were unsuccessful.

Court upholds Ugwuanyi as PDP’s governorship candidate

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday dismissed a suit filed by Senator Ayogu Eze, challenging the emergence of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State. Eze sued the PDP, its National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), seeking, among others, to be declared the candidate for the governorship election. He claimed to have been given the authentic ticket of

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the party, having emerged from one of the two primary elections conducted in the state last December 8. While the suit was pending, Ugwuanyi, who is enjoying the support of the national leadership of the PDP, applied and was joined as an interested party. In his judgment, Justice Evoh Chukwu noted that from the averments made, it was only one governorship primary election conducted in Enugu State on December 8 under the watchful eyes of

the national officers of the PDP. “The plaintiff’s suit did not succeed as he failed to show how any section of the constitution or the Electoral Act as well as PDP guidelines for the conduct of governorship primary election was breached or violated,” the judge held. Justice Chukwu, who earlier dismissed the preliminary objections of the defendants, agreed with the defendants that it was only a political party that could choose its candidate in an election. The judge held that the

power to conduct party primaries rested solely on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and not the state Executive Council. Eze had, in a supporting affidavit, said PDP conducted ward congresses in Enugu State last November 1 as a result of which a list of delegates for the conduct of primary election for the governorship candidate of the party emerged, consisting names of the elected delegates. He said the list was sanctioned and authenticated by

the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a suit, which judgement was delivered last November 24. Justice Chukwu held that the sister court “never sanctioned any delegate list. The plaintiff has variously tried to import into the judgment of the sister court what the court did not say.” He believed that Eze failed to show any evidence indicating that the NWC of the PDP conducted the primary, which he claimed was the authentic one.

THE NATION TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2015

NEWS Youths get advice on chastity

HE Ladies of the Order of Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lekki Sub-Council, Archdiocese of Lagos, has advised youths to shun immorality. More than 500 Catholic youths were tutored at a seminar on the need to be morally upright. The President, Ladies of Saint Mulumba, Lekki Sub Council, Lady Nkiru Ezeh, said the one-day seminar followed their maternal conviction that chastity was a great virtue. The seminar, titled: “Chaste Youth, Happy Adult”, addressed the secular culture as reflected in the media that not only accepted sex outside marriage but encouraged it. Welcoming participants to the Catholic Church of Transfiguration, Victoria Garden City, Lagos, venue of the seminar, Lady Ezeh lamented that although chastity and purity were not valued as they used to in the past, “God still values purity.” She attributed the decline in societal value for chastity and purity to separations and divorces, urging youths to embrace chastity. Lady Ezeh said: “The youth, we believe, are the backbone of every society and if we don’t train them as we should, then the future is not certain. Chastity is all encompassing and it is not old-fashion. If you are pure in whatever you do, then you will succeed. The Internet is there bombarding our children with lots of things, but we as mothers and caregivers have the primary responsibility of training our children to be responsible adults. We should not close our eyes to these facts”. Urging youths on the need to embrace chastity, the Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Transfiguration, Rev. Father Mike Okonkwo, said a child who embraced chastity would become a happy adult. The cleric, enjoining youths to make good use of what they have learnt, said it would make them happy adults. One of the facilitators, Dr. Onyeka Iwuchukwu, who addressed the youth on the ills of living unchaste life, said: “Sex is celebrated everywhere, but I will tell you emphatically that chastity is still cherished. As a youth, you need to preserve yourself according to God’s injunction. Your relationship with God is very important in whatever you do and I think you should ask yourself constantly, who is worth destroying your relationship with God through fornication? Consider many things before you sin and don’t allow yourself to be tossed around by Satan.” Iwuchukwu advised youths to embrace chastity by being the master of their body. Speaking on the spiritual benefits of chastity, one of the facilitators, Mrs. Chineze Ofodile, said chastity was not only about pre-marital sex, but something to be treasured.

20,000 youths oppose impeachment move against Elechi

VER 20,000 youths yesterday staged a peaceful rally in support of Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi. They warned against his removal from office. The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “Elechi is man of peace”, “Elechi has fulfilled all his electoral promises”, “Burning of Ebonyi State House of Assembly will not make someone governor”, “Ebonyi is not for sale”, among others, were guided by security operatives. The rally, which started at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, was attended by a crowd, which caused a gridlock on the old Enugu Road. Members of parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) attended the rally. They decried the impeachment threat, resolving to, however, support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

•Lady Ezeh welcoming Rev. Fr. Okonkwo, and Rev. Fr. John Nutayi, Assist Parish Priest, Catholic Church of Transfiguration, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

Workers shut Niger Delta Ministry

HERE was tension yesterday at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs office in Imo State, when disengaged youths locked up the premises and demanded their salary and other entitlements. The youths, who were recruited as security men five years ago under a contract approved by the former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godday Orubebe, were sacked after the contract was said to have been revoked. Speaking with The Nation,

Jonathan, PDP governors, candidates meet at Aso Rock

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

the President of the Imo State chapter of the Niger Delta Youth Forum, Mr. Luck Obi, said: “It is inhuman to ask the youth to go home without paying them their four months’ salary. They have been replaced with retired military personnel.” He said the ministry was established by the late President Umaru Musa

Yar’Adua to empower Niger Delta youths and eradicate restiveness, adding that the disengaged youths were those who lost their land and other property to oil exploration. According to him, “some of these youths are married, have children and other dependant. It is unbelievable that the ministry sacked youths and replaced them with retired soldiers, who are

receiving pension.” Obi urged the ministry to rescind the decision, saying: “It will be sad to hear that what took the late President a lot of efforts to set up will be dismantled without considering the plight of youths, even when our brother is the President.” Efforts to speak to the officials of the ministry were unsuccessful, as some of the workers, who were seen outside the premises, declined comment. They referred our reporter to Abuja, the headquarters of the ministry.

‘Yoruba ‘ll not vote for Jonathan’

FENIFERE Deputy Leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi yesterday said that the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term by a section of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, was a ruse, adding that Yoruba will not vote for an incompetent leader. The Second Republic senator lamented that his colleagues, including Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, spearheaded the endorsement without sparing a thought for the future. He said the foremost Awoists, who have called on the Southwest to support the President, have mocked their antecedent and rich history of struggle for a better Nigeria, adding that they are not leaving behind worthy legacies. Fasanmi spoke with our correspondent on phone on the endorsement, the general elections and issues that will From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja shape the contest. He said a RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night met behind closed glorious dawn was imminent, doors with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors at urging Nigerians to gird their loins. the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Fasanmi, who was the PresiThe governors were led to the meeting which started about 4.p.m by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Akwa dent of the Action Group (AG) Youth Association in the 1960s, Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio. They were joined at the meeting after about two hours by the lamented that his colleagues and disciples of the late sage, PDP governorship candidates in all the states. Details of the meeting were unknown as of press time as the Chief Obafemi Awolowo, have derailed by supporting meeting was on going. But a source said that it was not unconnected with strategy for an inept government. He said: “The purported enthe March 28 and April 11 presidential and governorship elections. The governors at the meeting included Godswill Akpabio dorsement is unfortunate, il(Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa); logical, embarrassing, and misleading. It is confusing. It Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa). Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); Usman Dakingari is artificial. It is not profound. (Kebbi), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Thy are my colleagues in the days of the Action Group Idris Wada (Kogi) attended the meeting. Spokesman for the protesters, Leonard Igboke, said: “The political crisis in the state borders on the ambition of one man to be governor. That particular ambition has been overstretched to the extent that all manner of mischief, lies, propaganda, vendetta, brigandage, scavenging, innuendoes, cultism, killings, maiming, blackmailing have been employed to achieve this ambition.” They described the impeachment plot and the burning of the House of Assembly as a threat to peace in the state and country and urged the National Assembly, civil liberty organisations, international community and the Nigeria Bar Association to intervene. Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Boniface Chima hailed the youth for supporting Governor Elechi “at this trying moment” and enjoined them to sustain the support.

•Demand payment of salary

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Youth Association. What legacy do we want to hand over to the next generation? When you are endorsing an incompetent person, a government of rot, a government that has failed, it is worrisome. I am dejected. “This is the lent season. I am praying for my colleagues, my party and Nigeria. My prayer is that Gen. Buhari will win. Our leader, Awolowo, predicted that the progressives will come together. This is the time. Buhari is a disciplined Person. He is incorruptible. He is fit to rule this country. he is a better person.” Fasanmi challenged the Afenifere chieftains to list the achievements of President Jonathan in the Southwest that could warrant their endorsement of his candidature. He said the Federal Government has marginalised the region in the distribution of appointments and amenities, wondering why the Afenifere chieftains are rooting for his

second term. Fasanmi described the promise by the President to implement the National Conference Report as a fallacy, stressing that the report will be considered by the National Assembly before any action can be taken. He added: “They said that they are supporting Jonathan because he has promised to implement the National Conference report. Jonathan cannot implement it. It must go to the National Assembly. When Gen. Buhari wins, APC legislators in the National Assembly will do the job. “Under Gen. Buhari, Nigeria will witness that glorious dawn predicted by the late chief Awolowo. There will be a dawn of the new era. They are attacking Buhari. But, Buhari is a disciplined and incorruptible person. Buhari is not a soldier again. He is now a democrat. He has demonstrated it. On three occasions, he lost the presidential elections and he went to court. He is a different person. Awo will never support ineptitude like my colleague

•Fasanmi

are doing. But, Yoruba will not heed their call to support Jonathan.” Fasanmi warned against further postponement of the general elections, saying that it could lead to a crisis of monumental proportion. He added: “The people are ready for the elections. But, they are dragging their feet. They are postponing the doomsday. This government has failed. It cannot restore insecurity. It cannot curb corruption. It cannot provide employment. And they want a second term. It is very unfortunate.”

Old Students Alliance-Badagry to receive Ambode

HE Old Students Alliance Badagry (OSAB), an amalgam of alumni of secondary schools in Badagry and environs, have concluded arrangements to welcome the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Akinwumi Ambode and his running mate, Dr Oluranti Adebule, to the historic town of Badagry. OSAB is the umbrella body of former pupils who graduated from the 11 secondary schools in Badagry in the early/mid eighties. The association, in a statement, outlined activities to mark the visit. According to Mr Felix Shadare (chairman) and Otunba Yomi Olomofe (secretary), “we have listed

a couple of mobilisation and sensitisation programmes as our own contribution to the success of the APC candidates who we see as being in the best position to take Lagos state, our centre of excellence to even greater heights. “We are convinced that continuity is key in the resolve to sustain the enviable strides Lagos state has made in all facets of development. There is no gain saying the fact that a substantial percent of our members are beneficiaries of the free education policy of the progressive forebears of the all progressive congress in this state.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

CITYBEATS Fire destroys F IRE swept through Lagos yesterday, razing a three-storey complex at Ereko Market and portion of a two-storey building in Lekki. This incident is coming barely a month after fire engulfed about four plazas in Mandelas, another big market in Lagos Island, destroying wares worth millions of naira. Another inferno also razed a two-storey building at Baruwa village, Igboefon, off Chevron, Lekki, yesterday, affecting three flats on the last floor. The market inferno, eye witnesses, said affected the second and last floors of the building located at 12b Kosoko Street, Ereko, Idumota. It started at about 10am. It was learnt that the affected building was carelessly stacked with textile materials. Although the cause of the outbreak could not been ascertained at the time of filing this report, The Nation learnt that electrical surge or the storing of petrol inside the shops were likely causes. Confirming the incident both the Director Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe and National Emergency Management

two buildings in Lagos

•The scene of Ereko Market inferno. INSET: Traders lamenting By Precious Igbonwelundu

Agency’s (NEMA) southwest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye said there was no casualty.

Four arraigned for alleged phones theft

OUR persons, Sakiru Olanrewaju, 43; Segun Idowu, 45; Robert Ade, 49 and Ibrahim Abdullahi, 48, have been arraigned in an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing three smart phones and N100, 000 cash from a Naval Officer. The phones worth N112, 000, according to the prosecution. The charge reads: “That you, Sakiru Olanrewaju, Se-

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

By Safiyyah AbdRazaq

gun Idowu, Robert Ade, Ibrahim Abdullahi and others at large, on the 5th day of February, 2015 at about 2:30pm, at Idi-Araba, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did rob one Lt. Babatunde Adebayo of one Samsung S4 phone valued at N75,000, one Tecno M5 phone valued at N37,000 and a sum of N100,000 total value being N212,000 and thereby committed an of-

Fadipe said five fire trucks were deployed to contain the outbreak, adding that firemen got to the fence punishable under Section 295 (1) (2) (B) of the Criminal Laws of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011” The accused pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting police Sergeant Esther Adesuwa told the court that the defendants committed an offence punishable under Section 295 of the criminal law. The defence counsel, Mr Ola Ogunbiyi, urged the court to grant his clients’ bail liberal terms. Magistrate M.O Tanimola granted the defendants N500,000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum. She adjourned the case till March 23.

scene at about 10:30am. Farinloye said the number of shops affected could not be ascertained

He stated that rescue workers were still on ground to prevent the fire from reigniting.

Court orders suspected policemen’s killers to defend selves

USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday directed 20 suspected pipeline vandals who allegedly killed nine policemen in Arepo, Ogun State, last year to defend themselves. He gave the order following his dismissal of their nocase submission. The defendants prayed the court to free them because the police failed to establish a prima facie case against them. The judge compulsorily

Council chief compels residents to clean homes

COUNCIL chief played the enforcer last Saturday, getting some residents of Ikorodu, Lagos, to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation. Princess Adunni Oyefusi, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary Stormed Houses 2 and 4B Olayinka Jumbo Street to compel the residents to join in the exercise. Residents of House 4B argued with her; those in House 2 ignored her. She threatened to get them arrested before some of them saw reason with her. A resident told the council chief that he swept House 4B. “Can you imagine a house where a man sweeps the surroundings while the female are standing aloof? The women in this house don’t

as investigations into the cause of fire and extend of damage has not commenced.

By Joseph Jibueze

closed the prosecution’s case when it called no more witnesses after the first two. Dissatisfied, the police appealed the ruling and asked for a stay of proceedings. Justice Abang dismissed the no-case submission and the application for stay. He said the defendants must respond to the evidence of the witnesses, who claimed they saw them chanting war songs while killing the policemen who tried to stop them from stealing petrol from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline. The judge struck out some of the defendants’ names from a kidnapping charge. The suspects allegedly killed the police officers last May 24, while attempting to escape with stolen oil. They are Felix Yayu, Ijo Ufaya, Yakubu Ebiwei, Augustine Ebiwei, Tamara Dembofa, Owei Atile, Agbara Tiewei, Rufus Godwin, Tiery Koiyetin, Ebis Sobijoh, Ibori

Lawrence, Eberebu Ibori, Atinuke Odewale, Fatai Ishola, Ahmed Bashorun, Odewale Waheed, Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei, Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail Abdullahi. They were arraigned last August 7 on a 14-count charge of conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful killings. They pleaded not guilty and were denied bail because, according to the court, the offences are grave. The slain policemen are Assistant Superintendent Abdullahi Bature; Inspectors Raymond Oriere, Usman Mohammed, Tijani Jimoh, Oguntihemen Kolawole; Corporals Elogbamen Timothy, Yakubu Aliyu, Usman Abdukarim and Dauda Mohammed. The offences contravene Sections 3(6), 4(a), 7 (a) (b), 17 (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 and Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004 Trial resumes on March 10, 11 and 12.

Lecture holds at UNILAG •Princess Oyefusi (middle) in a hot argument with some members of the residents By Tajudeen Adebanjo

bother to join the exercise. I was the one that swept this compound earlier on,” he said. Princess Oyefusi warned the residents against incurring the government’s wrath with their attitude. “I learnt the residents in

those houses constitute a nuisance to the community. They even dare to remove government seal on their houses. I will report their matter to the state government should they fail to heed this last warning for sanction,” she said. At Ipakodo, Princess Oyefusi lamented the commu-

nity’s refusal to stop dumping refuse indiscriminately. “This same place,” she said, “was cleared of refuse last month; the residents have dumped refuse there again. People should be concerned about their health.” She vowed to bring the Mobile Court to the community to handle the matter.

HE Chairman of Rodot Nigeria Limited, Remi Adeseun, will be the Guest Speaker at the 2015 Alumni Lecture Series of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos today. Second in the series, the Alumni Lecture is aimed at giving the graduating pharmacy students proper foundation and link to the profession as well as preparing them for the task ahead. An alumnus of the institution and an accomplished pharmacist, Adeseun will speak on “New Graduates as Agents of Transforming Pharmacy Practice”. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy Fellow, is the National Consultant to One Family Health, an international healthcare organisation. The maiden edition of the Alumni Lecture Series had Wale Oyenuga, also a Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy Fellow, as the Guest Speaker.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

FOREIGN

LENT

Iraq 'seizes districts from IS' in Tikrit advance

RAQI government forces say they have retaken some districts around Tikrit in their fight to recapture the city from Islamic State (IS). A force of about 30,000 troops and militia are said to be attacking on different fronts, backed by air strikes from Iraqi jets. A commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards is taking part in the operation, a Shia militia commander told the BBC. Tikrit, north of the capital Baghdad, fell to IS militants last June. Security sources told the BBC that pro-government troops had seized control of the two districts of al-Tin, near Tikrit university north-east of the city, and the district of al-Abeid, in the west. Earlier, fighting was also reported in al-Dour, south-east of Tikrit, as well as in al-Alam, north of the city, and nearby Qadisiya.

There were few details of the operation but army and medical sources were quoted as saying that five soldiers and 11 militia fighters had been killed. The Pentagon said that the US was not providing any air power in support of the operation. A senior official told reporters: "This is Iraq, this is their country, their military, their fight against Isil (IS)." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the start of the operation late on Sunday, as tens of thousands of troops and militia massed in the central town of Samarra. Tikrit, in Salahuddin province, lies on the road to Mosul Iraq's second city which was also seized by IS last year. Correspondents say the current operation is crucial to any Iraqi plans to retake Mosul.

Mo Ibrahim prize: Namibia President Pohamba gets $5m award

HE outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the world's most valuable individual award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership. The $5m (£3.2m) award is given each year to an elected leader who governed well, raised living standards and then left office. But the previous award was the fourth in five years to have gone unclaimed. Mr Pohamba, a former rebel who fought for his country's in-

dependence, has served two terms as Namibian president. He was first elected in 2004, and again in 2009. He is due to be succeeded by President-elect, Hage Geingob. Salim Ahmed Salim, the chairman of the committee that awarded the prize, said that under Mr Pohamba, Namibia had cemented its reputation as "a well-governed, stable and inclusive democracy with strong media freedom and respect for human rights".

Theme: When fasting is not an hunger strike Text: "..... If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove... this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matt. 17:20-21)

HE pervasive lethargy across the length and breadth of the body of Christ to critically study (and not only read) the Holy Scriptures has led to a gradual erosion of truth of His word and permanent tenancy with ignorance and falsehood (2 Timothy 2:15). There are lots of facts of the Scriptures that have been distorted because of 'microwave Christians' - people that are desirous only of having the shortest cut to everything in life - forgetting that our God is the Lord of order and due processes. To receive anything from Him, obedience to His order or command is very key (Is. 1:19; Deut. 28:1-13 cf 1 Sam. 15:1-23). One of the maladies of the Christian faith is with regards to fasting which is now being bandied as a mantra to resolution of problems or challenges. It is very common nowadays for ignorant people to be quick to recommend fasting whenever any ignorant believer comes up with an untoward issue of life. Not only that, lots of congregation's spiritual ego is massaged and lifted to high heavens when long days of fasting is declared either for a specific program, to climax a year or at the start of a new year among many others. It is instructive to note that lots of people even engage in different shades of fastings like white fasting, fruit fasting or fasting without food or water. It is needful to note that fasting had been since time immemorial and has the support of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the passage where we picked our text, a man brought a report to Jesus Christ concerning his son who was a lunatic and would usually fall into fire and water. The man brought his son to His disciples to heal him but all their efforts were in vain. With a word, Jesus Christ rebuked the demon and the son was healed instantly. The disciples now asked Him why they were unable to heal the boy. Jesus then said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matt. 17:20-21). Beloved in Christ, any fasting that is devoid of faith and prayer is merely a hunger-strike and perhaps a weight reduction tool, loss of appetite mechanism or detoxication method. For your fasting to have an effect on any mountain, it is

imperative to first have faith in the Almighty God, that He is and that He has power to save and deliver for "..without faith, it is impossible to please Him" (Heb. 11:6). Then, you can embark on the fasting and must lade it with serious regular prayers. It might be necessary to digress here that for prayer to be effective brethren, you must ensure that you don't have sin in your life, you must have also genuinely forgiven all that have erred against you and come to Him in penitence ( Is. 1:15-18, 59: 1-3; Matt. 6:1214). When you have done this, whatever mountain before you shall be lifted up at your command. And, this shall be your portion, as you embark on this fasting, in Jesus' name. What is a mountain? A mountain is that frightening 'Goliath' in your life; it is that problem asking, 'where is your God?'; it is that power that is behind aimless life journey; it is that problem that is capable of turning a 40 days trip to a 40 years journey; it is that power that has introduced strange sicknesses into your life or problems into your family, education or staff of bread; it is that issue that you have prayed about but which has decided not to shift but abide with you; it is that drug or life challenge that people have agreed will be with you as long as you live. A mountain can also be an animate being (Zech. 4:7). When you fast with faith and prayer, it doesn't matter for how long the mountain had been with you, it shall relocate of it's own accord and your life shall experience peace, in the name of Jesus. Besides that, Jesus Christ had promised that nothing shall by any means be impossible with you - what an awesome promise! Lastly, during this Lenten season, and in your desire to allow it have a meaning, you must forsake every act of wickedness, commit yourself to doing good, be charitable to the hungry, attend to the poor, pay attention to the lessprivileged, assist brethren and be a blessing to your community. God has promised that "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward". (Isaiah 58:8). Prayers: Oh Lord, help me during this time of lent to do your will and do not allow me to fast in vain, in Jesus' name.

NEWS PDP blames it on APC Continued from page 4

the March 28 elections to cause this artificial fuel scarcity? The situation is so bad that they are not importing the product. “They are even threatening tank farmers not to release any fuel in their depot in order to sustain the shortage. We are aware that the tank farmers have reported the threat to the police and other security agencies. “This shows how desperate and wicked the opposition APC can be in their quest for presidential power. Must they make Nigerians suffer simply because they want to rule? They must desist from this act of sabotage. “The opposition should not take delight in celebrating over the pains and sufferings (sic) of Nigerians as they have continued to do with the Boko Haram attacks on our people and na-

tion.” The PDP also accused the APC of being behind the poor electricity situation in the country. Fani-Kayode said: “The PDPPCO also wishes to use this medium to alert the nation on the lingering plot by the opposition elements who have been sponsoring their agents of destruction in the power sector to vandalise critical infrastructure in order to reduce the megawatts of electricity that is being generated and reverse the gains that government is making in the sector.” The PDP chief did not provide any proof of his allegation. PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu also alleged in a series of tweets that opposition leaders and some vested interests were behind the hoarding petrol. But he did not mention the names of the opposition

leaders. The PDP chairman said the fuel scarcity was engineered to undermine the profile of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the elections. Mu’azu tweeted: “Concerned Nigerians have drawn our attention to the fact that some opposition leaders and vested interest are behind hoarding of fuel. “Concerned Nigerians also draw our attention to plans by those who control the Southwest disco to sabotage electricity in the zone. “We assure Nigerians, they will fail. All their plans to tarnish the image of government will fail like all other previous attempts. We want to assure concerned Nigerians, especially all of you here on social media, that we will reverse this trend soonest.”

Court refuses to stop Card Reader But APC spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, said: “It is totally unconscionable and, indeed, an admission of failure, for a sitting government and ruling party to blame the opposition for their failings. “These guys have simply abdicated their responsibility to the people. ýThey can as well throw in the towel and head home. “The questions to ask are: who runs the NNPC? Who pays subsidy to fuel marketers? Who has used federal resources to bribe individuals and groups to such a level that there is no money to run the government, not to talk of paying subsidies? “The moment a ruling party starts transferring its responsibilities to the opposition, it is clear that the market is over.”

APC, PDP quarrel over fuel scarcity Continued from page 4

took delivery of the supplies from the NNPC yesterday and promised that from today the queues would ease in Lagos. He said the Abuja situation would start to improve from Thursday because of bridging time. The product is

being supplied from Lagos and will be trucked to Abuja, Olawore said. Olawore said the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reassured members of MOMAN that subsidy payment for outstanding imports, which is N264 billion, will

start this week. IPMAN President Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo said the government promised to pay its members, adding that depots owned by IPMAN members were selling fuel. Okoronkwo said: “There is fuel now, but as usual the ripple of one day scarcity can last for

many days. The current upset in distribution will take some days to normalise. The current economic recession is a global thing and the continued drop of the naira to the dollar is a factor to the supply problem but all these have been discussed and taken care of. Everything will normalise very soon.”

We’re owing marketers, says NNPC chief Continued from page 4

that commercial banks’ reluctance to issue letters of credit to marketers for importation fuelled the petrol scarcity.He said the devaluation of the naira caused confusion in the banking sector that further worsened the scarcity. His words: “The problem actually started with the banks who were reluctant to issue letters of credit to marketers for importation and this was compounded by the naira devaluation by the

CBN and that brought some confusion into the banking sector. ”Ahmed said Mrs. OkonjoIweala had approved Sovereign Debt Notes payable on March 30 to the oil marketers.He noted that the agency is expecting about 8000 metric tonnes which is about one billion litres this month while other marketers are bringing in products this weekend. PPMC Managing Director Haruna Momoh said: “If we had our pipelines fully in shape,

within two days, we would have had this situation cleared because our supply is much more robust, as at today. We have quite a number of vessels that have arrived over the weekend and we are expecting much more to arrive before the weekend.Regretting that the pipelines are not working, he said that the quickest, safest and most environmentally friendly and easiest way to transport petroleum products in a country that is as large as Nigeria is

through the pipelines. Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Director George Osahon said marketers were hoarding fuel in anticipation of price increase by the Federal Government.He said that: “The issue now is people hoarding fuel so that price will go up. Over the course of time, several things will come up to enable pinpoint who is hoarding, but now, we still use the dip stick system to determine the volume of product in tanks.”

Continued from page 4

could pass as electronic voting. The parties are among the 16 that supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in objecting to the conduct of the elections as earlier scheduled – on February 14 and 28. They have adopted President Jonathan (the presidential candidate of the PDP) as their candidate.

The parties argued that the use of Card Reader Machine for the forthcoming election is not in conformity with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and that their members who have been enlightened on the accreditation procedure as contained in the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) would be disenfranchised as they were not educated on the use of Card Reader.

INEC commissioners shun pressure Continued from page 4

eration simultaneously on March 7. “The states selected for the exercise are: Ekiti and Lagos(South-West); Anambra and Ebonyi(South-East); Delta and Rivers(South-South); Kano and Kebbi(North-West); Bauchi and Taraba(NorthEast); and Niger and Nasarawa(North-Central). “According to the Decision Extract, the Resident Electoral Commissioners(RECs) of the selected states are charged with the following tasks: •Selecting one Registration Area with full complement of the PVCs and with appreciable distribution level of such PVCs for undertaking the field test;

•Ensuring that the Register of Voters in respect of all Polling Units(PUs) in the selected Registration Area is printed for the conduct of the exercise; and •Carrying out engagements with key stakeholders at the state level, and in particular, stakeholders in the selected Registration Area where exercise would be conducted to ensure massive participation by registered voters. “The Decision Extract further directed that National Commissioners are to supervise the conduct of the exercise in their zones and that Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) who are not selected for the exercise should observe the conduct of the exercise in their zones in conjunction with the National Commissioners.”

Dangote remains Africa’s richest Continued from page 4 altogether. Most notable of these

people coming from America. This list includes 290 newcomers, 71 of whom come from China. There is also a new record of 46 billionaires under the age of 40. One hundred and thirty-eight people from last year’s list dropped out of the ranks

is current Ukrainian President and former “chocolate king” Petro Poroshenko. Guatemala has a billionaire for the first time in Mario Lopez Estrada, who owns Comcel, which has about half of the mobile phone market in the country. He ranks as 1741 on the list.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

SPORT EXTRA

Adamu wins first international bout at Luxor Taekwondo Opens in Egypt

ITHOUT winning any fight at the maiden African Taekwondo Union (AFTU) Opens last week, Nigeria’s Abubakar Isah Adamu recorded his first victory at senior competition after beating Sweden’s Fredrick Lindstrom in the first round encounter at the just concluded Luxor Opens in Egypt. The Commonwealth gold medallist competed in the

adult category of an international tournament, when he featured at the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) G-2 ranked Luxor Opens, which was held in Luxor, Egypt February 28 to March 1, 2015. In a tense opening round, Adamu displayed great attacking prowess to defeat the Swedish fighter 8 – 4 before losing [14 – 2] to the experienced three-time European

Champion, Levent Tuncat of Germany. On Adamu’s performance, three-time Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije who coached him at the event was unfazed by the results and content with the experience gained. “Adamu just turned 18 years old two weeks ago. This is the first time he is competing in the adult category. Despite his enormous

talent, he has to pass through the fire. I am extremely pleased he had a tough draw – it will only hasten his learning process” The veteran went on to praise Adamu’s courage and attacking flair on the field of play, despite the huge credentials of his German opponent. “Adamu’s courage and composure against a highly decorated competitor on the

•Adamu during the fight in Egypt international circuit was impressive. We will continue to work to sharpen his attacks, and improve his defensive abilities, especially on the counter-attack”. Vice-President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), and double All Africa Games gold medalist, Margaret Binga Elizabeth, who was an International Referee officiating at the premier event was also pleased with the exposure.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘I pity Jonathan. It is too late in the day now to pretend to be a friend of the Yoruba, the people have seen through his deceit. Enough is enough’ VOL.10

NO. 3142

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

N Nigeria where there is never a dull moment, where incident follows incident at a furious gallop, the glut of occurrences can overwhelm even the most pertinacious chronicler or analyst. As a way of coping with such moments, I patented back in my Rutam House years a rubric I named Matters Miscellaneous, under which I try to examine the day’s intelligence in short takes, working from no particular design. It is also my way of attending to those who might otherwise feel neglected. So, here goes the miscellany, all protocols observed.

Boko Haram on the Run

Barely a week after he orchestrated the postponement of the presidential election and inveigled the electoral body INEC into accepting same, Dr Goodluck Jonathan finally gave a damn and went after Boko Haram (BH). Since then the marauding terrorist band has been in retreat and disarray. Until the armed forces began regaling the public with their exploits and an inventory of just how many towns and villages and entire local government areas they had freed from the pernicious clutches of BH, few outside the Northeast had any inkling of the size of the territory over which it had proclaimed sovereignty. And in just one week, the outposts fell one after another, like ninepins. It was hard to believe that this was the same BH that enlisted men were loath to engage, the same BH that had ravaged entire communities, sacked police formations, taken the fight to troops in their barracks, destroyed fighter aircraft on the tarmac, and roamed the entire region virtually unchallenged, its grisly business to conduct And Dr Jonathan, newly seized of his responsibility as commander-in-chief, has been touring the front, taking a victory lap as it were, decked out in combat gear as befits the office and vowing that not one inch of Nigerian territory will remain under BH’s infernal thrall. You can’t begrudge him his new jauntiness. But the question remains: What are the armed services doing now in the Northeast that they could not have done three years ago? Or two? Or even a year ago? Dr Jonathan says he had underestimated B H’s menace. He sure did, big-time, and despite warning from General TY Danjuma, chairman of the since-dissolved Presidential Adversary Council. How many other clear and present threats to vital national interests has he underestimated? If Jonathan had taken that advice and lived up to his oath of office instead of thrilling rented crowds with his azonto dance moves

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Matters miscellaneous

‘

But to the extent that Dr Jonathan could — and indeed should — have done what he is now doing at least three years ago but did not, it has to be said that, at the very least, he bears moral responsibility for the slaughter of innocents, and the benumbing misery and agony wrought by BH •Jonathan

and carrying sacks of money around to bribe traditional rulers and all manner of opportunist groups to buy support for his re-election bid, the casualty list from BH’s depredations would have been much shorter, and so would the roll of internally displaced persons, now numbered in the millions. One cannot go as far as the commentator on one of the so-called social media sites who with Old Testament rage placed squarely on Dr Jonathan’s head the blood of the thousands killed by BH and the pain and agony of the millions forced to flee their homes. But to the extent that Dr Jonathan could — and indeed should — have done what he is now doing at least three years ago but did not, it has to be said that, at the very least, he bears moral responsibility for the slaughter of innocents, and the benumbing misery and agony wrought by BH. One more thing we must not allow them to forget in all the chest-beating: The Chibok 219. The military high command has been saying that it knows where BH is holding the girls but would not close in on the camp for fear of putting them in harm’s way. With their new fire power and enhanced intelligence capability, this is the time go in for the rescue. Forward, gentlemen, to the

RIPPLES

I WON’T STOP ATTACKING BUHARI, says Fayose

•••even as you are not MAKING SENSE?

OLE Soyinka’s Jero plays, Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis, are world famous. The two plays are a satire of how a prophet, a beach hustler, really, upped his act. Jero himself would appear a grand symbol of free-wheeling hustling in Nigeria’s power universe. “After all, it’s the fashion these days to be a desk general!”, was Jero’s last mischievous blurt in Jero’s Metamorphosis. It was the era of military rule, where by the grace of coupmaking, people, just like that, became desk generals! But Hardball, this morning, is not discussing literature or even military rule, that bestforgotten era of Nigerian public life. It is rather intrigued by the sudden metamorphosis of President Goodluck Jonathan, less than six weeks to an election he correctly gauged he would have woefully lost, had it held on its original date of February 14. Indeed, there is a bit of the Jero in our Jonathan. If Jero pimped and hustled for survival, using religious trickery, Jona too jumps and hustles for re-election, turning 360 degrees from a Boko Haram dove scared stiff even to visit grieving Chibok parents, whose 278 daughters were carted away by Boko Haram, to a hawk glad-handing the

’

location you’ve had on your radar since the girls were abducted.

Calling all Septuagenarians

Like a dutiful helpmeet, The Iron Lady of Okrika, most recently Permanent Secretary Without Schedule in the Bayela State Civil Service, and in the normal run of things Patience Faka Jonathan, First Lady of Nigeria and distinguished chair of the African First Ladies Peace Mission has been on the hustings, deploying her charm and well-honed communication skills to make a strong case for her husband’s reelection And what a wave she has been making! “A72-year-old man has nothing to offer Nigeria,” she declared the other day at one of her campaign stops. Do you hear that, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, whom her husband is forever importuning for divine blessings? Do you hear that, John Cardinal Onaiyekan? Do you hear that, General Danjuma, General Alani Akinrinade, Chief Segun Osoba, Dan Agbese, Brigadier-General Ike Nwachukwu, Senate President David Mark, Felix Adenaike, Onyema Ugochukwu, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, Dr Dayo Shobowale, Dr

HARDBALL Jona’s metamorphosis troops at the fronts. Why, our new beloved General-Field Marshal even did a dramatic stick-sit, just like the original! God, drama would never end! Whatever has stampeded our president into this act of emergency general, even if in truth, he were ceremonial commander-in-chief of the armed forces? Fear of — indeed, blind panic about — woeful electoral defeat! Still, it is interesting to see our president grandstanding as a compassionate general, who cares about his troops. Maybe he does. The problem though is that he is showing it too late in the day, and too close to election to suggest that he only cares about the vote that he hopes the drama would harvest. Well, no crime, even if well and truly annoying. But it is only fair the new general is put on notice that Hardball is not fooled by his latterday theatrics — neither would most Nigerians. By the way, the Jonathan presidential campaign, during the unfortunate Buhari certificate saga that never was, gave the impression Gen. Buhari was an “illiterate” who had “no school certificate” result.

WAHEED ODUSILE

Haroun Adamu, Professor Idowu Sobowale, Duro Onabule, Kole Omotosho, Ropo Sekoni, and other worthy compatriots in that age range? Do you hear that, members of the National Council of State, to whom her husband always runs for the political equivalent of covering fire whenever he has another odious scheme to inflict on the public? I am not going to let my generation down. I have asked my attorneys to commence, for our group, a class-action lawsuit for gratuitous infliction of emotional distress and mental cruelty against the Iron Lady of Okrika in her official capacity as wife of the President, unless she issues within seven days an immediate and unconditional apology for the gross libel and promises never to go there again.

Attahiru Jega: The Arbiter as Villain

Alas, poor Attahiru. This genial, shy professor of political science and former president of the university teachers union ASUU, must now be ruing the day he agreed to serve as chair of the Independent (ha) National Electoral Commission, the most treacherous job in the world. Those who appointed him expect him to do their bidding at every point. If he does not, it must be that he has been bought by the Opposition. And if he does not apply the rules the way the Opposition thinks they should be applied, he is carrying out the Government’s agenda. It is an ordeal, even in the best of times. When it is compounded by contrived distractions from the government and its surrogates – when they express confidence in him one day and none the next day; when one day they say that his time is up and hint darkly that it will not be renewed, and say the following day that he will indeed preside over the forthcoming election; when they suborn the media to publish scurrilous and fabricated charges of sleaze against him – how can he concentrate on the job at hand? How can he — or indeed the public - even tell that there is a job at hand? Why can’t Dr Jonathan just do whatever he wants to do, and as usual not give a damn?

A Frustrating Countdown

Ayo Fayose – he of the dubious mandate, on which he runs Ekiti when he runs it at all like a schoolyard bully gone berserk–has been at pains lately to assure the public that there is nothing personal to his ghoulish death-watch on General Muhammadu Buhari. “I have nothing against Buhari,” he declared the other day. Right, Governor. You only want him to drop dead and are distressed that he has not obliged. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Though he rose to be a Major-General, what they hinted at was that military education was worthless. Yet, the commander-inchief was all too happy scrambling into a camo for his battle front drama. As a PhD holder and sound academic, he ought to have donned his academic gown and mortarboard before diving for the front! So, military education is not useless, after all? Another irony: it is amazing how Jonathan so much grandstands to be a general in charge, even though he be a civilian, and how Buhari remains supremely proud of his military past while being comfy with his current civies. If you call it the titanic imagery of perception, you won’t be wrong. But again, our folk know which of the two is fake and which one is real. Still, the president would have averted all the panic had he done what he was paid and feted to do. Instead he virtually slept, for some five years, only to jerk awake! A Rip Van Winkle once slept for 20 years, only to jerk awake to see everyone had left him behind. President Jonathan tells himself he is no Rip Van Winkle. But we’ll see about that on March 28!

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