May 01, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Southeast to Buhari: give us SGF Page 4

•ANDMORE •Fayose agrees to pay 19 APC lawmakers ON PAGES •Kwara community protests arrest of members 8,56&61 •Role of methanol in Ondo strange deaths , by experts •Oyo APC suspends Akinjide, Adeseun, Balogun

NEWS

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3201 FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•SIX BANKS FAIL CBN’S STRESS TEST P11 LAGOS SPENDS N1.13TR ON PROJECTS P11

•Some women and children rescued by troops from some of Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest…yesterday.

•A woman and her malnourished child after their rescue from the forest

PHOTO: NAN

Army rescues 160 more women, children from Sambisa

STORY ON PAGE 4

APC: Jonathan is plotting against smooth transition Party alleges blackmail in reaction to parallel govt accusation

F

ROM the All Progressives Congress (APC), came yesterday a punchy reply to the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s accusation of running a parallel government.

Instead, the party accused the government of: •plotting to hinder a smooth handover; and •blackmailing the incoming Muhammadu Buhari

From Imam Bello, Abuja

administration.

President Jonathan complained on Wednesday about the terms of reference of the 19-man transition committee set up by the APC. The committee is to give an overview of some agencies, including Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nige-

ria Communication Commission (NCC) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

To the Jonathan administration, this is like running a parallel government. It kicked.

“The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government…the magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice,” Minister of National Planning

Suleiman Abubakar told reporters on Wednesday.

The APC defended its position yesterday in a statement by its spokesman Lai Mohammed.

It is, according to the APC, becoming apparent that the Jonathan administration will not co-operate with the incoming administration for a smoooth handover on May 29.

In the statement issued in

Abuja, the party also described as “an act of hostility and a patently-misplaced aggression” the “unnecessary vituperation against the incoming Buhari administration by the Jonathan government, ostensibly because of the terms of reference of the Buhari Transition Committee but in reality part of an orchestrated plot to sabotage the transition”.

It rejected what it called the

continued blackmail by the Jonathan Administration as a result of President Jonathan’s concession of defeat, wondering whether the concession, gracious as it was, has now become a shield for all wrong doings. ‘’We are sick and tired of being blackmailed by the Jonathanians. Gen. Buhari won the 28 March PresidenContinued on page 4

Mu’azu absent as President gets PDP’s report on polls •‘PDP defectors will return on empty stomach’

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan predicted yesterday that those defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will return on empty stomach.

He spoke in Abuja at the submission of a report on the PDP’s performance in the general elections. Party Chairman Adamu Mu’azu was not at the ceremony.

Dr. Jonathan said: “I encourage members

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

of our party to remain loyal to the party, not to be so disillusioned because we lost the presidential election and decide to go where they think they will fill their stomachs or something.

It’s not easy. I have been here for five years plus, you hardly satisfy even 15 per cent of those who work for you.

Continued on page 4

•From left: Sterling Bank Plc Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Yemi Adeola, Chairman Asue Ighodalo and Company Secretary Justina Lewa at the bank’s 53rd Annual General Meeting in PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID Lagos...yesterday

•MARKETERS GET N156B TO END FUEL SCARCITY P3 COURT FINES IGBINEDION N3M P57

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

2

NEWS

Nigerians groan as f L

•From left: Finance & Strategy Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Mr. Ron Plumridge; Head, Debt Capital Markets, FMDQ OCT Plc., Mr. Kobi Bentsi-Enchill; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc. John O'Keeffe and Executive Director, Corporate & Institutional Clients, Standard Chartered Bank, Oluremi Oyindasola Oni after the signing of N10 billion Commercial Paper at the Guinness Nigeria Headquarters...yesterday.

ONG queues for fuel continued at many filling stations across the nation yesterday.

No thanks to the oil workers’s strike which began on Monday.

The scarcity was already taking its toll on residents, who queued for hours and passed the night in their desperate bid to refuel.

Frustrated motorists recounted similar experiences in Abuja, Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states, where the search for petrol (premium motor spirit) had become more intense.

The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on April 26, began an indefinite strike over alleged non-payment of N20 billion owed them by major oil marketers.

Shortage worsens in Abuja

•From left: Marketing Sales Branch Manager , Oando Plc., Mrs Bukola Bankole; Distributor Ifeanyi Aronu; Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marketing, Oando Plc., Mrs Olaposi Williams; Best Distributor for 2014, Alhaji Hamisu Dantiki; Distributor Mrs. Chioma Anyanwu; Woopet Enterprise & the Head Lubes Department, Marketing, Oando Plc, Mrs Lilian Ikokwu at Oando Marketing Plc. Lubes Distributors Award.

•From left: General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge; Operations Lead, OLX, Funmi Ogutuga; Managing Director, Jumia Nigeria, Dr. Jonathan Doerr; Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Olubayo Adekanmbi and CEO, Kaymu Africa, Massimiliano Spolazzi at the inauguration of MTN Apptitude Campaign in Lagos...yesteeday.

•Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya (left) presenting gifts to Global Chief Executive Officer, TNS, Richard Ingleton at the Businessday CEO Forum in Ikoyi, Lagos...yesterday. With them is keynote Speaker Prof. Paul Collier.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), fuel scarcity, which had persisted in Abuja before the general elections, has worsened in the city following the tanker owners and drivers’ strike.

Many commuters were stranded at different bus stops as the few vehicles on the roads raised transport fares by 50 to 100 per cent.

Most of the filling stations within the Federal Capital City (FCT) were not selling. Only a few dispensed petrol from one or two noozles.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) admitted that the strike has affected the supply of petroleum products nationwide.

But its spokesman Ohi Alegbe insisted the corporation has sufficient stock at its coastal depots in Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Warri (Delta State) and Calabar (Cross River State).

Alegbe, who explained the stock excludes that at the national strategic reserves, stated that NNPC has enough to service the country for 27 days at a national consumption rate of 40 million litres per day.

According to him, the corporation has stepped up efforts to end the crisis in the fuel supply system which entered its fourth day yesterday.

“We are, however, working towards a speedy resolution of the issues to ensure a hitch-free distribution of products across the country,” he assured.

He appealed to NARTO and PTD to call off their strike in national interest and to prevent unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.

Itinerant petrol hawkers cashed in on the scarcity and sold four litres for N2, 500 and 10 litres at N5, 000 in some areas. They lined the streets with plastic containers filled with petrol to scout for buyers.

Many obscure filling stations outside the city, especially in Suleja and on Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, sold the product between N110 and N150 per litre, far above the regulated litre price of N87.

Only filling stations within the city and those belonging to major marketers in other areas dispensed product at the stipulated litre price of N87.

Most of the stations that dispensed products had long queues which created gridlocks in major parts of the city.

At the NNPC Mega Station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, vehicular traffic was disrupted as the threelane was impassable, thereby forcing motorists to drive against the traffic.

The situation was worse at the Conoil and Total filling stations, opposite the NNPC Towers.

Motorists on queues at the stations have been there for days, causing gridlock on the three-lane road which had been reduced to a lane due to the security barricade mounted by the NNPC. The situation was not different at

From Damisi Ojo, Akure, Tayo Johnson, Ibadan, Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo.

other places like Wuse and Berger as vehicles clustered around any station where fuel was available.

Most of the motorists said they had to pass the night in their vehicles at the stations before they could get fuel to buy.

A civil servant, Mr. Adeniyi Isaac, said all his efforts to get petrol over the weekend failed as most of the stations refused to sell.

Isaac said he had to wake up very early on Monday morning before he could refuel his car.

Another motorist, Mr. Amos Gabriel, narrated how he moved from one station to the other without any luck.

Many residents, who depended on public transport, lamented over the lingering fuel scarcity which made them to wait for several hours at bus stops.

They called on the NNPC and government to do everything necessary to end the crisis in the city.

Residents groan in Ibadan In Ibadan and its environs, motorists and residents groan under acute petrol scarcity.

The situation grew worse yesterday, after the expiration of the three-day deadline given by Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), to stop the lifting of petroleum products due to debts owed them by the Federal Government.

When The Nation went round the city yesterday, it found out that motorists besieged the few stations that had fuel, forcing the commuters to spend at least 10 hours.

Some attendants disregarded the N87 litre price displayed on their pumps and sold fuel between N150 and N200 per litre.

Buyers were seen struggling to buy petrol at Mobil, at Challenge, Ola Sheu, at Agodi Gate, Bovas Filling Station, at Bodija and TotalGarden respectively.

Some residents said the situation was uncalled for. They blamed the scarcity on “insensitivity on the part of government”.

They urged the government to address the situation before taking more debilitating tolls on the state economy.

A frustrated motorist, Michael Babalola, said: “I have been to Iwo road, Mokola, Challenge, Ring-Road and Ojoo this morning, there was no single filling station selling fuel. One cannot use water to fill the tank.

“Government should rectify the situation. I have been here since 10 o’clock and no hope of getting fuel,” Babalola said.

Mrs. Laide Olaosebikan said: “We are pleading with the government to do the needful to correct the ugly situation. I have been here for the past two hours; even if it is N200, I don’t have a choice than to buy but they may stop selling soon and hoard the commodity.”

Another motorist, Kunle Ayinla said: “It has become a burden too much to bear even if it is N150, you will still get there and queue. We urge the government to urgently find a solution to this problem.

“The people are suffering. We heard that the government owes petrol marketers, the price is unbearable.”

Alhaji Kabiru Olagbemi also expressed concern. He stated: ”We don’t know what the problem is. I wanted to buy petrol and saw the queue. I advise that they should make life easy for the citizens.”

Kehinde Atoyebi said: “I observe that the filling stations are hoarding product. This should not be encouraged because they are unjustly making life difficult for the people.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

3

fuel shortage worsens in Abuja, Lagos, other cities

•Traffic snarl on Abuja-Kubwa Expressway at Gwarimpa, Abuja ....yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

• A long queue of vehicles at the NNPC Mega Station on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

Fed Govt: we’ve paid over N500b to marketers in five months

T

HE Federal Government moved yesterday to end the lingering fuel shortage being experienced nationwide. It succumbed to pressures from members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), who got N156 billion.

In a statement signed by Paul Nwabuikwu, a Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Federal Ministry of Finance said yesterday’s payment was “in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritise payment to marketers in spite of revenue constraints.”

The latest payment, Nwabuikwu said, has two components. The first he said “consists of the cash backing of the N100 billion IOU which the marketers were given in March and the second is N56 billion in interest payments for the marketers according to the PPPRA (Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency)template.”

Despite the payments, Nwabuikwu disclosed that the markers were still being owed a balance of N98 billion certified by PPPRA. The statement reads: “The N156 billion is the latest in a series of significant payments made to the oil marketers within the last five months. These include over N300 billion in two installments in December last year and N31 billion in interest differentials recently.

In all, oil marketers have received over N500 billion within the past five months.”

According to the statement, Dr. OkonjoIweala appealed to oil marketers “to appreIn Sabo community, black marketers had a field day selling a container of five litres for as high as N1, 500. Others sold the same volume for N2, 000 depending on the quantity.

Tough time for commuters in Akure Motorists and travellers in Akure, the Ondo State capital and other major cities yesterday experienced tough time following the acute scarcity of PMS. Many commuters groan as there were few commercial vehicles on the roads and drivers charged rooftop fares.

There was no fuel in most of the filling stations in Akure.

Those that have fuel on the outskirts of the city sold for between N120 and N150 per litre.

A long queue of vehicles was noticed in the few stations that dispensed product.

The situation was the same in

•Oil majors get N156b to end scarcity From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

ciate the efforts being made by government to meet their demands, urging them to reciprocate with some understanding of the situation of Nigerians who should not suffer more.

“She urged the marketers to sustain the distribution and supply of fuel to end the suffering of Nigerians at fuel stations.”

The minister was reported as saying that, “the Federal Government has made maximum effort, in spite of the well-known fact that the fall in oil prices has significantly reduced national revenues, to prioritise payments to marketers.

“For the sake of Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of fuel scarcity, the marketers should reciprocate in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation in which we have always tried to engage them.”

Reacting to the released forensic audit report on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Dr Okonjo-Iweala said she heard of the suit filed against her before a Lagos High Court by SIAO Partners, a group of three accounting firms.

Her adviser said: “The minister is yet to be formally notified of the suit but from information gleaned from media reports, the

other parts of the state including Ore, Ondo, Owena and Okitipupa where a litre of petrol sold for N140.

The scarcity, which paralysed industrial activities, also took its toll on social and commercial activities in the state.

The NNPC Mega Station in Akure was locked when our correspondent visited there and none of the attendants offered to speak on the development.

It was gathered that the Mega Station had not taken delivery of fresh supply for more than a week.

Already residents have started paying more of goods and transport.

A petrol dealer on Oda Road, Mr Olatunji Dairo, urged the Federal Government to resolve its problem with the striking tanker drivers.

Police, petrol attendants clash There was pandemonium in Akure as petrol attendants locked up two anti-riot policemen, who attempted to forcefully get petrol

group is alleging that she appointed the global audit firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct the recently concluded forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) against the provisions of the Local Content Act.” Nwabuikwu described the court action as “spurious in the extreme”, arguing that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala did not appoint the PwC to carry out the audit.

The statement expressed shock “that professionals of the calibre of SIAO Partners can embark on this kind of legal action without taking the trouble to do the minimum amount of homework to confirm basic facts.

It urged SIAO Partners to “immediately drop this totally baseless suit or she will see them in court.”

Reacting to the payment, MOMAN’s Executive Secretary Obafemi Olawore told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone chat that the Federal Government’s gesture was appreciated by his association.

He commended the government for living up to its promises.

Olawore, however, said the association will not take any corresponding action until its members received payment alert from their banks.

According to him, members of the association will be ready to resume importation and distribution of fuel to end the pains be-

from a filling station in the city.

The two anti-riot policemen, who were on transit, reportedly entered the filling station located on Oba Adesida Road and demanded that they be given fuel, a request which the attendants declined.

One of the attendants reportedly told the policemen that they had not got supply in the past three months and therefore could not sell fuel to them.

Unsatisfied with the explanation, the policemen, according to an eyewitness, insisted that the attendants must refuel their car.

It was in the process that the attendants and the anti-riot policemen had heated argument that later degenerated into a freefor-all.

The eyewitness alleged that the policemen beat the attendants to a pulp.

It was gathered that one of the attendants, who ran into one of the

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

ing experienced at fuel stations once the money hit their accounts.

He foreclosed the resumption of importation by members with any paper promise without the corresponding cash backing.

Olawore had on Tuesday warned that fuel depots would run out of stock in three days.

offices in the filling station was pursued by the policemen.

One of the attendants, who was rescued by passersby padlocked the gates.

The owner of the station, Mr Tope Omileye confirmed the incident. He said it was evident that they have not received supply in the past three months, wondering why the policemen insisted on getting fuel from his station.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Ondo Police Command Wole Ogodo said he has not been briefed about the incident.

Students, workers stranded in Osogbo The acute fuel shortage in Osun State entered the second day yesterday, forcing motorists to spend hours in long queues in very stations that had product to dispense.

The state chapter of MOMAN claimed that lifting of petroleum

products was tasking because of the debts owed them by the Federal Government.

Yesterday, the situation worsened as petrol sold for between N120 and N150 a litre.

The situation pushed up transport fares and prices of some essential commodities, both in Osogbo, the state capital and other major towns in the state.

Stranded workers and students waited for hours at the bus stops for the few commercial vehicles and motorcycles that operated.

A commercial mini-bus operator, Mr. Jelili Kasimu, said that commercial drivers were left with no other option than to hike transport fares because “most of us bought fuel from the black market at a minimum of N130 per litre.”

About 90 per cent of the petrol stations in the state, including the NNPC Mega Station did not operate yesterday.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NEWS Army rescues 160 more women, children from Sambisa

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ORE hostages have been freed from Boko Haram captivity in the Sambisa Forest, the military said yesterday.

No fewer than 160 women and children were freed after the 293 rescued earlier on. The “hostages were held in atrocious condition”, Defence Spokesman Major-Gen. Chris Olukolade said.

The mission involved heavy fighting between the military and Boko Haram across nine of their camps, which, according to reports, destroyed part of the terrorist organisation’s hub and left several of its fighters dead.

“They (freed hostages) have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing,” Colonel Sani Usman, the Army spokesman, in a statement.

One woman died and eight others were injured in cross fire as troops stormed nine Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest.

A soldier also died. Four others were injured during the operation in which no fewer than

•A malnourished child after being rescue from the forest From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

nine insurgent camps local within the forest were destroyed.

Col. Usman said the operation, which was carried out by troops of the 7 Division, succeeded in rescuing more women and children from the insurgents.

According to him, the troops also killed several Boko Haram field commanders and foot sol-

diers and destroyed two Armoured Personnel Carriers, two Buffalo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles.

Also recovered were one Anti-Aircraft Gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Rocket Propelled Grenade and several AK-47 rifles.

“Please recall that we promised to keep you abreast of troops’ progress in respect of Nigerian military’s ongoing op-

•Soldiers talking to some of the rescued kids...yesterday

erations to rid the country of terrorists and their enclaves.

“In line with that, I wish to inform you that today’s evening, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army also cleared several terrorists strong points and training camps within Sambisa forest, Borno State, Nigeria.

“Sadly, one woman died and eight others sustained gun shot wounds. So far, the troops have destroyed nine terrorist camps

in the forest. This is in addition to the four destroyed yesterday.

“The troops have also rescued additional women and children. They have been evacuated to a safety zone for further processing. During the encounter, unfortunately we lost a soldier, while four others were wounded in action.”

He named Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai, Jigide, Kotorima, Lagara Bello

“So those people running and those already cross-carpeting, they will come back on an empty stomach because they will touch the primary members of their party, before they get to you. They know you are coming because you are hungry, before it will get to you the food will be gone.

“So let us be committed to the party. Yes we will have challenges at the beginning, but surely we will get to where we want to be.”

Dr. Jonathan received the report from the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC)’s Director General, Alhaji Ahmadu

A

Ali, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said the PDP is the dominant party despite losing the presidential election.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, noted that the party

Dr Jonathan reacted to the campaign Director General Dr. Ahmadu Ali’s address.

The CEO of Capital Oil wept and was sweating profusely inside the air-conditioned Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, where the ceremony took place.

TAN was a major financier of the PDP’s election campaign.

Party chiefs took turns to console him before he was taken out of the hall.

did not win the presidential election but won peace for the country.

He said: “We didn’t win the elections but we have a leader who made us to win peace.

Without peace, there cannot be development.

“There is a lot to be done. We need a very strong and vibrant party to be put in place now. I believe we are on the right path. Let us put behind us those who have betrayed the party and move forward.”

Continued on page 59

APC: Jonathan plotting against smooth transition Continued from page 1

tial Elections fair and square, having satisfied both constitutional and other statutory requirements. We have no apology for our victory, and the concession of defeat – while it may have increased the political stock of President Jonathan

No pressure on Mu’azu, others to resign, says PDP

Ubah weeps over Jonathan’s loss DRAMA played out at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday during the presentation of the report of the elections to President Goodluck Jonathan by the Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council.

A member of the council and Chief Executive Officer of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, gripped by emotion, suddenly burst into tears shortly after the president’s speech.

– has by no means diminished the historic and emphatic victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress,’’ APC said.

Justifying its statement that the Jonathan Administration is plotting to hinder a smooth transition of power, the party

said while the outgoing government had earlier issued a memo to all ministries, departments and agencies to ensure their handover notes are ready

by April 20th, the government has now reversed itself and said the handover notes will not be ready until May

and Lagara Fulani among the insurgents’ camps destroyed by the troops.

“I am glad to say that troops’ morale is very high as they are poised to accomplish the task of destroying all terrorists’ camps and rescuing all those held hostage by the terrorists,” the spokesman added.

“Whoever they may be, the important thing is that Nigerians held captive under very seContinued on page 59

Mu’azu absent as Jonathan gets report on election Continued from page 1

PHOTOS: DHQ

14th. ‘’With the new date, the Buhari Transition Committee will have little or no time to take a thorough look at the handover notes or seek clarification on knotty issues, effectively handing it (Buhari Transition Com-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

•Mu’azu

T

HE National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied media reports asking the party chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and his team to resign.

A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said neither the PDP Governors’ Forum nor any other organ of the party made such demand on the party executives.

Rather, Metuh said Mu’azu and his team enjoy the confidence of key stakeholders in the party, including the PDP Governors’ Forum.

“The NWC was never asked to resign by the forum of governors or any other organ of the party for that matter.

“For the avoidance of doubt therefore, the NWC states that at no time was the National Chairman of our great party, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, walked out of the meeting of the governors, neither was he in any way ill-treated at that meeting contrary to reports in some section of the media.

“To put the records straight, our National Chairman upon invitation by the governors, attended the meeting alongside our Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwon and left after a brief and fruitful discussion with the governors.

Mu’azu was not at any time asked to resign and nothing close to such was ever insinuated at the meeting.”

Continued on page 59

Southeast to Buhari: give us SGF position

L

EADERS of the Southeast caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday requested President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to give the Igbo Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Besides, they are also asking for the speaker of the House of Representatives or its deputy.

The Igbo leaders met with Gen. Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja, led by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is the only governor elected on the ticket of the APC in the zone.

They also presented a former Governor of the old Abia State and one-time Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr.Ogbonnaya Onu, as their leader. He could be considered for appointment as SGF, they said.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, which included

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

federal lawmakers and national officers from the zone, Okorocha said even though they were not able to deliver the Southeast to Gen. Buhari, they cut down considerably the dominance of the PDP in the zone.

Okorocha, who expressed confidence in the success of the Buhari administration, said: “We know that we’ve lost out in the position of senate presidency because we did not have a ranking senator elected to the National Assembly. We however appeal and we believe that you will be generous enough to consider the Southeast region to be considered for the position of the SGF.” He told Gen. Buhari that the zone had unanimously agreed that Onu should be elevated and be recognised as the leader of the party in the Southeast.

He said having produced three members of the House of Representatives, the Southeast should also not be left out in the scheme of things in the leadership of the House “We (Southeast APC) are more victorious than you are on your victory at the presidential election, many of us would have gone on exile if you had lost.”

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Okorocha said: “We are here on a courtesy call; first to congratulate the President-elect for a welldeserved victory and to reassure him that the Southeast will be behind him and to pray for God’s wisdom and health to enabling him carry out the task of governance in Nigeria.

“The Southeast played a very key role in the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, considering what happened in 2011 when the PDP returned about 7 million votes,

but this time around it’s no longer possible. In the next dispensation, the entire Southeast will be APC.” On their demands, Okorocha said: “We know that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari is a fair person. He is a man who believe in justice, equity and fair play.

The Southeast is one of the tripods upon which this nation stands and we believe that what is good for A is also good for B, it is not a specific thing but we know that Southeast will not be left out in the political equation of Nigeria in terms of distribution of infrastructure and the federal appointments.”

He dismissed claims that the position zoned to the Southeast was already generating a crisis among the leaders. “As it is now no position has been zoned to anyone. A committee has been set up to review the entire zoning thing; there has not been any zoning at all.”

Gen. Buhari praised the delegation for their doggedness, pointing out that both Okorocha, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole stood still and fought against impunity in the Southsouth and the Southeast.

He said that he had already asked the governors to document their experiences, especially how security agents prevented the use of card readers during the elections.

Gen. Buhari said all those found to have participated in electoral manipulations will be brought to book.

He thanked the Southeast APC for the role it played in ensuring that it reduced the deficit of votes the PDP gathered in the region. He assured that his administration will carry everyone along, irrespective of race, region and tribe.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu made a surprise appearance at the Defence

•Okorocha

House at about 4.00pm and met with the president-elect for about 20 minutes.

Ekweremadu was accompanied by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and Deputy Minority Whip Senator Abu Ibrahim. He refused to speak with reporters.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

5

NEWS Fuel subsidy: NUPENG threatens strike

President-elect condemns killing of Nigerien soldiers

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

M

EMBERS of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday put the Federal Government on notice on their readiness to embark on strike if their employers being owed subsidy failed to pay April salaries.

NUPENG National Chairman Tokunbo Korodo gave the warning while reacting to the lingering fuel scarcity.

Korodo, who is the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), wondered why President Goodluck Jonathan administration would be failing in its obligations to the oil marketers, who have already imported the products.

He added that should the government fail to pay the marketers latest today, as promised by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the union would be left with no choice than to down tools.

Indonesian envoy defends execution of four Nigerians •’Nigeria ‘ll not recall envoy over incident’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

HE execution of four Nigerians and other nationals on Tuesday by the Indonesia government followed due process, its ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Purwanto, has said.

Purwanto, who spoke in Abuja yesterday after he was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the execution was carried out strictly after completion of all legal proceedings.

Jamiu Owolabi Abashin, 50; Martin Anderson, 50; Okwudili Oyatanze, 41; and Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, 47, were executed on Tuesday in Indonesia for drug related offenses.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the ministry top officials, Purwanto explained that there was nothing that could be done to save the four as the court had ruled over the case and there was nothing the government could have done at that stage.

“There was nothing we could do for those four Nigerians because every legal process was completed and only then did the government of Indonesia implement the decision of the court.”

He said necessary opportunity was provided to the convicts for the last 10 years the case lasted, adding that his government suspended the moratorium on death penalty due to the gravity and dangerous impact of the drugs on their country.

In his reaction, the UnderSecretary, Economic and Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry, Ambassador Bokunolu Onemola, said the situation was not enough to instigate a row between both countries.

Onemola stressed that Nigeria would not recall its ambassador to Indonesia over the executions.

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•President Goodluck Jonathan (second right); Vice President Namadi Sambo (second left),Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (left); and Secretary General World Customs Organisation Kunio Mikuriya; when Mikuriya visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

Buhari hails workers’ sacrifices

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HE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has lauded the daily sacrifices of the nation’s working class in the face of economic tough times.

Gen. Buhari, in his May Day message to the workers, said he was aware of the hardships of the working class, which he said, was compounded by poor governance and large-scale corruption.

The workers, he said, were among the worst hit so-

cial groups on account of poor living standards, saying this was inconsistent with the country’s vast oil wealth.

The President-elect expressed dismay at the paradox of the oil wealth, which, he said, was characterised by rising poverty, with a few corrupt officials making themselves very rich at the expense of people’s wealth.

He regretted that honest labour has been relegated to the background.

He warned that a country

that sacrifices honesty in favour of quick wealth could not expect to achieve progress and respect in the eyes of other nations.

Gen. Buhari reassured the Nigerian workers that his incoming administration would be fully committed to boosting their morale to increase productivity and their income.

He explained that productivity is directly related to the development of the country’s economy, adding

that his administration would increase incentives for the workers to boost their income.

He, however, appealed to the workers to cooperate fully with his incoming administration to tackle corruption, which, he said, is the greatest enemy of development.

He advised civil servants against connivance with corrupt politicians and other public officials to divert public resources to private use.

HE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of 10 soldiers from Niger Republic by the Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by his media team, the President-elect said he was deeply saddened that soldiers from other African countries that came to help Nigeria to fight terrorism were targeted and killed by the terrorists.

According to him, Nigeria could never forget the sacrifices of soldiers from other African countries, mainly Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, who are part of the African Union Multinational Joint Military Task Force.

The President said the sacrifice of the soldiers from Niger Republic was a demonstration of their commitment to African peace and stability in the spirit of good neighbourliness.

Gen. Buhari warned Boko Haram that targeting Nigerien soldiers and troops from other African countries would only toughen the resolve of his incoming government to fight terrorism with all the resources at its disposal.

He conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the families, government and the people of Niger Republic over the murder of their soldiers by the Boko Haram bandits.

BBOG demands apology, accountability from Jonathan

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EMBERS of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group have demanded an apology from President Goodluck Jonathan for attacking them and denying the abduction of the Chibok girls.

They said the group and the citizenry would never forgive the President, if he refuses to apologise for the part he played in ensuring the girls remained in captivity for over a year.

A member of the group, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, spoke yesterday in Abuja at a symposium marking the one year anniversary of advocating for the girls’ rescue.

His words: “We demand an apology from President Jonathan for not only denying the disappearance of these girls, but for attacking innocent citizens who stood up to demand that he did his job.

“He owes every single citizen of this country an apology or we will never forgive him.”

Another member of the group and Secretary, Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Dr. Allen Mannanseh, said the Chibok community and parents of the girls have demanded for full disclosure on the rescue mission.

He said the “family and friends of the girls want to know what happened to the girls or where they are; so that they can stop mourn-

Jonathan: we ‘ll liberate territory from Boko Haram

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has pledged that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29.

He spoke when a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, visited him.

Jonathan said he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the Northeast had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while From Grace Obike, Abuja

ing”.

The community, Mannanseh added, has demanded for the prosecution of everyone involved in deceiving Nigerians on the ceasefire deal.

He said: “We are demanding that all those people involved in deceiving us and Nigerians on the alleged ceasefire deal be prosecuted in accordance with the law.” #BBOG, in a statement by former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala-Usman, said it considered the rescue of the 293 women and girls by the Nigerian Army from the Sambisa forest a healthy development in the counter-insurgency war.

operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

“We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one local government area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, he said elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.

The group, however, said its members were surprised when the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Col. S. K. Usman, said no Chibok girl was among the over women and girls rescued.

It added that its members were still overjoyed to welcome the rescued citizens, who were deprived of their freedom. #BBOG demanded to know from what part of the country the rescued girls and women came from and why the public was not informed of their abduction.

It stated: “We have in the last one year of our advocacy for our #ChibokGirls, persistently conveyed that we consider our #ChibokGirls the symbol of the suffering, killings, abductions,

destabilisation and degradation in the Northeast. Although, like others, we often read news of random abductions before and after the massive scale of the abduction of our 276 school girls of Chibok, we never imagined that a rescue of this magnitude of abducted people is possible without been our #ChibokGirls. The reason for this is simple.

“There was never a time in the last one year that the Federal Government or our military, directly executing the counter-insurgency war, informed the public that large catchments of our citizens other than the Chibok Girls were in terrorist custody.

“So, we join members of the public in asking for an immediate verification and

authentication of the 200 girls and the 93 women that were rescued.

“From what part of the country were the rescued 200 girls and 93 women abducted? When were they abducted? Why and who abducted them? How were they abducted? Was the original incident ever reported to or by our security agencies? Why were the public without information of his abduction?

Can the public have more disclosure surrounding the events of the rescue mission? Were there casualties during the rescue exercise?

Where were the terrorists that held the abductees in captivity? In what state were they found when the rescue took place?”

The group added that it has designed a verification, authentication and reuniting system that are holistic for rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of victims of abduction.

It hailed the military and the Multinational Joint Task Force for the positive turn in the counterinsurgency effort since the six weeks operation started on February 14 2015.

It, however, said: “For us in the #BringBackOurGirls movement, there shall be no retreat no surrender of our advocacy until our #ChibokGirls are rescued by the government.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

6

NEWS Odigie-Oyegun to PDP: be a formidable opposition From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be a formidable opposition by keeping the incoming government on its toes.

Speaking when he received a delegation of former governors led by former Anambra State Governor Chief Jim Nwobodo, Odigie-Oyegun said one of the major problems of the PDP was that they tried to destroy the opposition.

He said it was the desire of the APC to see a formidable opposition from the PDP, saying: “We want the PDP to keep us on our toe so that we don’t make the same mistake they made.”

Odigie-Oyegun said a nation moving from one government to another and from one party to another peacefully is a major success.

He noted that the justconcluded elections were quite unique not because President Jonathan conceded defeat, but because he did what nobody believed could be done.

He added that a lot of terrible things could have happened after the election, “but Jonathan was inspired by God to do what Nigerians thought will not happen”.

He expressed happiness that the former governors considered it necessary to visit him as their colleague.

Nwobodo congratulated the APC for emerging victorious at the elections, describing the process as historic.

He said Nigerians voted for Gen. Buhari because of his antecedents.

Former governors on the entourage include Second Republic governor of old Kaduna State Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, former Ekiti State governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Anambra State Governor Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju and former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Others are former Yobe State Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim, former Plateau State Governor Fidelis Tapgun, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and former Kaduna State Governor Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi.

Ensure varsities’ funding, UNILAG’s VC tells Buhari

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HE Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Rahamon Bello, has advised the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to find ways to protect funding of tertiary education from economic upheavals.

Prof. Bello spoke yesterday at the Day Three of the 2014 Convocation of the university during which honorary degrees were conferred on the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Lt-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, and Deacon Gamaliel Onosode.

He urged Buhari to ensure the continuation of theN1.3 trillion Needs Assessment funding to public universities.

“We would like to urge him, as he assumes office, to

•Adeboye, Danjuma, Onosode get honorary degrees

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

consolidate on the gains of higher education from the outgoing regime and entrench the path to its revitalisation through the implementation of the Needs Assessment Funding programme. We like to also draw attention of the incoming government to the need for a funding mechanism that will insulate higher education in Nigeria from fluctuations of the Nigerian economy. This is the only way universities, in particular, can become stable and maximally contribute positively to the economic development of the nation,” he said.

With 45 per cent (4,764) of the 10,600 graduands this year

coming from the postgraduate school, the vice chancellor said that UNILAG was gradually achieving its target of becoming a postgraduate university.

He explained that the consequence of this was that younger universities would be able to employ more qualified academics.

Giving a breakdown of the postgraduate students, Bello said 103 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy degrees (103); while 4,330 got Masters Degrees, and 331 postgraduate diplomas.

The convocation climaxed with the honorary degree recipients regaling the audience with stories.

Lt-Gen. Danjuma shared how the university wooed

him for years to donate and how when he finally did, later asked for a refund.

But, in the light of the conferment of the Doctor of Science degree (honoris causa) he received yesterday, Danjuma finally assured the university of his support.

On his part, Pastor Adeboye talked about the Mathematics of Greatness, a follow up to his earlier equations on the Mathematics of Marriage, which he shared with the university community in February.

Adeboye, who was the first Masters and PhD student of Mathematics produced by the university, explained that he was a testimony of the divine promotion of God, which he said surpasses human promo-

tion.

Prof. Olayide Abass, Prof.

Francis Fajemirokun, and Prof. Soga Sofola were also honoured with emeriti professorship at the event.

PhD and Masters graduands, who were outstanding in the various programmes, were also honoured with prizes. The overall best PhD student was Dr. Emmanuel Akpan, whose thesis titled: “Processing and Characterisation of Selected Biodegradable fibre - PLA Composites” won many awards.

Dignitaries at the event included former Military Head of State, Dr. Yakubu Gowon; Prof .Jerry Gana, Pro-Chancellor and chairman of council; Senator Daisy Danjuma; monarchs, vice chancellors of many universities, among others.

Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos Prof. Rahman Bello congratulating Pastor Enoch Adeboye (right) after receiving his award at the institution’s 2013/2014 Convocation ceremony at Akoka, Yaba, Lagos...yesterday. With them is the ProChancellor, UNILAG Prof Jerry Gana.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

How to end corruption, by ex-ICPC chief

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ORMER Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), yesterday listed ways to end corruption in Nigeria.

He said the factors, which encourage graft, must first be addressed, namely lack of political will and commitment; whittling of the capacity of anti-corruption agencies through denial of resources; inadequate legal framework and citizens’ indifference.

The legal framework, he said, needs reform, adding that the general culture of lawlessness must end for corruption not to thrive.

He spoke in Lagos at the yearly annual lecture of the firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, with the theme: “Anti-Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra-Territorial Applications and Lessons for

By Joseph Jibueze

Businesses and Government Agencies.”

According to Ayoola, who chaired the event, it is misconceived to think that the only method of bringing corruption to its knees is through the criminal justice option.

He said: “Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform the totality of the legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate resultoriented fight and engender inclusive and popular fight.”

The former Supreme Court justice said the government must realise that the modalities of criminality are not static.

“As the strategies of criminality become more sophisticated, agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend,” he said.

To Justice Ayoola, the fight

against corruption requires a more holistic and deeply thought-out strategic approach.

He said it must also remain a “running battle” backed by urgent commitment of resources to the fight and steadfastness in the course of the campaign.

He said rather than citizens remaining weak and indifferent to corruption, they must enthusiastically participate in efforts to end graft.

“Nigeria’s perception of the fight against corruption is strong in sentiment and emotion, but abysmally weak in action and commitment.

“As long as we, at all levels of society, pay lip service to the fight against corruption, it will take longer to rout it in our nation,” he said.

Justice Ayoola, who is opposed to the merger of ICPC with the Economic and Finan-

cial Crimes Commission (ICPC), said there was nothing wrong with having a “multiplicity” of anti-graft agencies.

The guest speaker, a professor of law at the University of Toronto, Mariana Prado, said having multiple anti-graft agencies, if sustainable, would create competition, lead to collaboration and result in complementarity.

She said despite the drawbacks of possible duplication of functions and one agency undermining the other, having more agencies would lead to increased enforcement in a situation of widespread corruption.

Besides, she said the judiciary must be strengthened so as not to be the weak link, to avoid a situation where criminal cases are frustrated in court.

Punuka’s Senior Partner Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) referred to a World Bank report

•Ayoola

that $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion is stolen annually through corruption, a sum equivalent to more than five per cent of the global GDP. “The fight against bribery and corruption by structured and purpose-built legislation is now a global affair and must enjoy active participation from every jurisdiction,” he said.

INEC to deregister parties after tribunals’ sittings

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it may begin consideration for deregistration of political parties that performed woefully in the just-concluded general elections after the review of the entire exercise.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Mr. Kayode Idowu, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, added that the commission’s immediate focus was to

have a comprehensive review of the elections before looking into other aspects associated with the electoral process.

Idowu said although the commission had the power to deregister political parties based of their election performances, it often waited for issues around the elections, especially petitions at tribunals, to be settled.

“For instance, some people have gone or will be going to the tribunal. We have to wait for the verdict that could ema-

nate from those kinds of things,” he said.

Section 78 (7) (I & ii) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, empowers INEC to deregister parties “either on the breach of any of the requirements for or for failure to win presidential or governorship election or a seat in the National or State Assembly elections”.

Idowu said the provision to deregister political parties was still in force, stressing that it had not been removed “even though the commis-

sion has proposed an amendment to it since 2012’’.

He added that INEC had proposed that rather than deregister political parties, they should be allowed to exist and “criteria for them to be on the ballot paper will be provided.”

“The proposal is that if a party wants to be dealing with climate change in the corner of a local government, even in a ward, let the party go on.

“But you provide the criteria not to have logistic difficul-

ties in just having long ballot papers of parties that are largely not functional.

“That has been the position of the commission before, but the provision of the law as we have it now is still that political parties can be deregistered; but that will come later.

“That is not what the commission will be thinking of in the immediate because it has to do a review of the election,’’ he added.

He stated that the commis-

sion had already begun the review process of the elections, saying: “As we speak, a committee has been inaugurated to write a report on 2015 general elections and that committee is at work.

“Only on Tuesday, the commission met to do a very decisive review on what has gone wrong.’’

Idowu added that the commission leadership would sometime in May meet with directors and electoral officers as part of the review process.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

7

NEWS PDP ‘ll bounce back Court stops panel on political in 2019, says President killings in Rivers A P FEDERAL High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an interim injunction, restraining the commission of inquiry on political killings headed by Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu, in Rivers State from operating.

The commission, which was set up by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, on April 16, was expected to begin sitting on Monday, May 4, having received memoranda from members of the public.

But the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state had, in the suit, moved against the setting up of the commission.

Justice H.A. Nganjiwa gave an order restraining the respondents from taking further action in connection with the sitting of the panel pending the hearing and determination of

the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction that was set by the 10th respondent (Amaechi) pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Nganjiwa stated that in view of the urgency attached to the matter, the court had abridged the time for the respondents to file their responses within three days upon service.

The judge said: “An order restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the sitting of the commission of Inquiry, instituted by the 10th Respondent (Governor Chibuike Amaechi), pending the hear-

ing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

“That in view of the urgency attached to this matter, time is of essence, the court has abridged the time for the Respondents to file their response within three days upon service.”

Respondents in the matter are Chairman of the commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, nine other members of his body, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Attorney General of the state, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police.

Justice Nganjiwa, however,

adjourned the matter to May 6, 2015 for hearing.

“That the matter is adjourned to 6th day of May, 2015, for hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction,” the judge said.

Amaechi had inaugurated a nine-member commission of inquiry to investigate politically motivated killings in the state.

Other members of the commission of inquiry are Prof.

Nlerum Okogbule, Professor Owunari Georgewill, Dr. Richard Ofuru, Mrs. Asivosuo Oriye, Dr. Joy Ejiofor, Mrs. Ayo Obe and Rev. Father Michael Akiri as members.

•Representative of Chairman, UPDC, Real Estate Investment Trust (Managed by FSDH), Mrs. Tokunbo Ajayi flanked by Managing Director, FSDH Asset Management, Mrs. Olumayowa Ogunwemimo (right) and Company Secretary, UPDL, Mrs. Bukola Olonade-Aganga at the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of UPDC-Real Investment Trust at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday in Abuja that if members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) remain committed to the vision of its founding fathers and work very hard, the party will return to power at the Federal level in 2019.

Speaking after receiving the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said that the party already had all that it will require to win the 2019 elections, but needed to return to the drawing board to re-strategise for the future.

“Whatever happened was like a slip. You don’t need to travel to America to know how power moves from the Republicans to the Democrats and from the Democrats to the Republicans.

“You can even go to Ghana that is very close to us. The present administration lost some years back and of course they came back, and won the elections. So, the problem is not whether we lost or won elections, which is already history, but how we can reconsolidate our party.

“If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will spring back,” President Jonathan told members of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Noting that the outcome of future elections will be determined by the party’s preparedness, President Jonathan urged members to be more united and remain

loyal to the party.

“We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.

“Let’s not judge PDP by the results of the presidential elections, because in some of the states where we saw the PDP score so low, it was probably due to problems within the PDP. “The party will come back stronger. PDP is still the most organized party.

PDP is still the party that nobody owns. PDP is still the party that whoever you are, you can get to any level that you aspire to through competence. I encourage members of our party to remain faithful and not be disillusioned,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Sen. Ahmadu Ali, praised President Jonathan for putting the nation before his personal ambition.

“Our great party will emerge from this debacle stronger, wiser and prouder.

Even in defeat, we are able to impart some valuable lessons to the Nigerian electorate.

“This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting Government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you,’’ he told President Jonathan.

I’ll hand over Nigeria totally liberated from terrorists, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck J o n a t h a n pledged yesterday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territories still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29.

Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the Northeast had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

“We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one local government area that they are still

•President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari (left) with Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at the 8th Induction Course for new National Assembly members in Abuja.

present. That is in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, President Jonathan said that elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.

“Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going.

If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it.

“I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death,’’ he said.

•Regional Representative, Ford Foundation; Mr Innocent Chukwuma (left), Executive Director, Project Alert, Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, President, Women Arise & Campaign for Democracy Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and Program Officer, Ford Foundation, Prof. Friday Okonofua at a sendforth organised by Ford Foundation for Prof. Okonofua in Lagos.

Army chief pledges to end terrorism

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S Nigerian troops record more gains in the war against terrorism in the North, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Keneth Minimah promised yesterday to end the menace.

He spoke at the inaugura-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

tion of the reconstructed 81 Division Officers’ Mess in Marina, Lagos, where he noted that the activities of extremist Boko Haram sect have threatened the nation’s unity and brought the army to disrepute.

He vowed to contain the menace, adding “never again will Nigeria walk this path where insurgency and terrorism will come to redefine our oneness as a nation and bring the Nigerian Army to a low level of concern to its own.”

Expressing hope that more Boko Haram captives would be rescued alive, Gen. Minimah stated that the 293 hostages found by troops were all located in one camp inside Sambisa forest.

He said: “We will continue

to push in major operations in the fight against insurgency to a close. It is achievable and we are working towards that.

“It is our wish that we find them (Chibok girls). It was in just one of the camps that were destroyed that we found that number of Nigerians.

“I am sure that as we edge further into the forest, we will begin to capture more camps.

We pray that we rescue more people. Every Nigerian looks forward to this.

“Let me commend the efforts of our gallant officers and soldiers who continue to make enormous sacrifices to ensure that Nigeria remains a safe, united and stable country.

“I wish to reassure all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army will continue to do what is in the interest of the nation in pursuant of our constitutional

•Gen. Minimah

roles.

“We will always rise to the occasion wherever and whenever duty calls. We will not fail Nigeria and Nigerians.

“May I express our profound thanks to President Goodluck Jonathan for his unwavering support for the Nigerian Army. He has in various ways, particularly his morale boosting visits to the North-east operational theatre, demonstrated unique leadership and solidarity.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

8

NEWS Lagos to power schools with solar

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said the government will generate five megawatts through the Lagos Solar Project, for schools and healthcare centres.

Fashola, represented by Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire spoke at the inauguration of the Lagos Solar Project in Lagos.

The governor said the project would provide five megawatts of the embedded solar power to education and health facilities.

“This project will deliver 213 sustainable solar power enclosures with an integrated battery bank and remote monitoring system to 172 public secondary schools.

“Also, 30 public secondary boarding schools and 11 public health centres in the rural and riverine areas in Lagos State will benefit,” he said.

The governor said the state recognised the importance of technology and the impact education and health care have in the development of the economy.

Fashola said the Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) embarked on a ground-breaking project to provide clean and sustainable power solution for schools and primary healthcare centres, with little or no access to electricity.

He said the project was financed by the government in partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID).

The Managing Director, State Electricity Board, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, said the project was managed centrally from the Project Management Office (PMO) located within LSEB.

Police, motorcyclists clash in Ogun

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OMMERCIAL activities at the Abeokuta Central Business District (CBD), Oke-Ilewo, were disrupted yesterday, following a clash between the police and hundreds of protesting commercial motorcyclists.

Banks, eateries, telephone booths and scores of businesses operating at the CBD hurriedly closed, as the angry commercial motorcyclists vandalised property, attacking policemen and residents.

The operators, who blocked the Lalubu Road, Oke-Ilewo, with scores of motorcycles, were protesting the killing of a man, who they thought was their colleague, by a bullion van.

The bullion van driver was said to be recklessly negotiating the OPIC circle within the CBD when the

•One killed •Banks, shops shut From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

accident occurred.

The Nation gathered that motorcyclists and sympathisers were appalled by the alleged “callous attitude” of the policemen attached to the van, who were said to have dragged the body of the victim from under the van, dumped it in a gutter and sped off.

The protest, which caught many motorists and visitors unaware, caused a gridlock that spanned over five hours.

Some vehicles trapped in the troubled district were vandalised.

A combined team of soldiers and policemen drafted to the area laboured to contain the protesters with “minimal force”, shooting canisters of teargas to disperse

them.

The driver was arrested and his bullion van impounded; over 70 motorcycles used to block the road were also impounded.

An eyewitness said the 22year-old victim was a carpenter, adding that he rode his brother’s motorcycle to Oke-Ilewo to buy a memory card.

He said the motorcyclists mistook him for one of them and went on the rampage.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the driver and some protesters had been arrested.

Adejobi said: “A bullion van driver attached to a new generation bank hit a motorcyclist. Sympathisers started protesting and attacking policemen. They vandalised vehicles and attacked resi-

dents too.

“The protesters took the law into their hands, hauling stones and other objects at police officers. We have to apply minimum force to disperse them to evacuate the body. We arrested the driver and impounded the van.

“The driver is not a policeman and we will ensure that justice is served. We heard that the people were angered because the policemen attached to the bullion van dragged the motorcylist from under the bullion van and dumped him in a gutter.

“We don’t encourage callousness or impunity in the police and we are going to look into that allegation critically.

“We are advising the public to shun jungle justice as you cannot correct one misdeed with another misdemeanour.”

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

SENATE Minority Leader George Akume has said he did not met with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos about the zoning of offices in the National Assembly, especially on the Senate Presidency.

In a statement, his Special Assistant on Media, Beckie Orpin said Akume and other senators-elect had received the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari at the Eighth National Assembly retreat at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, on Wednesday.

“The Senate Minority Leader held other meetings with his colleagues yesterday. He did not meet with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos or anywhere as published in a newspaper.

“Senator Akume is not preoccupied with positions for now but rather he is conferring with his colleagues on the need to work for Nigerians and to have a vibrant Eighth National Assembly.

“That notwithstanding, the point has to be made that Nigeria is in dire need of a National Assembly leadership that is purposeful, focused and result-oriented; one that is capable of providing a legislative agenda that positively complements that of the Executive.”

Reopen LASU, students plead

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

‘Ambode won’t delay council polls’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has debunked allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the Governorelect, Akinwunmi Ambode, will delay council polls.

APC’s Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the polls would be conducted at the scheduled time.

NAN reports that the Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, on Wednesday in a statement alleged that Ambode was planning to delay the yet-to-be conducted council elections.

The PDP also accused the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) of working with the APC to delay the polls.

It further accused the APC of deliberately frustrating the conduct of local council polls, which was due in October.

Igbokwe denied any connivance between the APC and LASIEC. “We know of governors who didn’t conduct council elections for eight years and nothing happened to them but we are not like that.

“The elections will be conducted when the APC-led government is ready.

“This shouldn’t be an issue, the council polls have been conducted before in the state, so these allegations are untrue,” Igbokwe said.

‘Akume didn’t visit Tinubu in Lagos’

•From left: Consultant Neurologist, Dr Mayowa Owolabi; Prof. Alonge and Jero at the briefing...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

How methanol killed Ondo victims, by experts

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HE Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Prof Temitope Alonge, has said the strange ailment that broke out in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, was caused by high consumption of methanol.

Prof Alonge, who spoke at a briefing yesterday, said on April 18, a consultant pathologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr Osasan, sought the hospital’s assistance in the management of five blind patients, who survived the Ode-Irele neurotoxicity saga.

“We agreed to care for the patients but requested the samples of the local gin they consumed with their blood and urine samples. I contacted the consultant neurologist, Dr Steve Oluwole, for a comprehensive evaluation of the patients.

“The clinical pharmacologist, laboratory scientist agreed to carry out researches on the cause of the illness.

“They worked tirelessly for almost two weeks to

•Survivor: I can see, walk From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

confirm the likely cause of the neurotoxicity exemplified by sudden blindness and correlate their findings with the toxicants in the blood, urine and local gin samples.

“This was a display of the excellent working relationship between clinical medicine and laboratory medicine.”

He confirmed that two of the five victims have recuperated, while others are recovering steadily.

Confirming the cause of the disease, the Laboratory Physician, Prof Segun Ademowo, said they collected urine samples from three patients and some of the gin they consumed.

“We discovered that there was high concentration of methanol in the gin beyond what the body can stand. It was up to 0.1 per cent to 12.5 per cent and ordinarily it should not be more than zero per cent in any alcoholic drink. Nigerians need to

watch what they take and consume,” he said.

One of the survivors, Olorunwa Jero, said he was brought to the UCH blind.

“After the intensive care I received here, I was able to see. I was carried from one ward to another on a wheel chair but I can now walk without assistance.

“I’m grateful to the UCH management. My colleagues can now see but they have not fully recovered but at least they are better than before.”

STUDENTS of the Lagos State University (LASU) yesterday protested the continued closure of the university.

Over 60 students dressed in their lecture room corporate attires marched on the Lagos State House with a petition, appealing to the government to intervene.

Clad in white shirt, black trousers and black tie, Students Union spokesman Fathai Adebanjo said: “The truth of any struggle is that when you consult, you negotiate, after that you fight for your right. We have consulted, we have negotiated and it has not yielded anything positive. That is why we took to the streets. We are not even here to protest, we just want the government to help us but nobody has attended to us since we got here.”

He said the union’s meetings with lecturers confirmed that the lecturers are ready to work.

“Our school is always having one crisis or the other and it has become a trend. We need the governor to find a lasting solution to this problem. We are tired of staying at home. They should reopen LASU now.”

Union President Adeyemi Wasiu said the continued feud between the management and lecturers has a deterrent effect on their academic progress.

Ogun Tribunal grants Abiodun leave to inspect materials

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HE Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, began sitting yesterday.

It warned petitioners not to contemplate trying to sway them.

Chairman of the three-man tribunal Justice Ebiowei Tobi said the body would observe zero-tolerance for corruption.

Other members are Justices Adekunle Lawal and

By Dada Aladelokun and Ernest Nwokolo

Quadi Adamu Usman.

The tribunal granted the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the March 28 National Assembly election, Dapo Abiodun, the right to inspect electoral materials at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office.

Abiodun is challenging the emergence of Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democrat-

ic Party (PDP) as the senatorelect of the Ogun East senatorial district.

The APC candidate said the election was rigged. He alleged that Kashamu induced voters with money.

“There were manipulations in some areas where the number of those who voted exceeded the number of those accredited for voting.

“The election results on Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8Cs did not correspond in many polling units in four

local governments - Ijebu North, Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne - where the election was massively rigged in favour of Kashamu.

“We have facts at our disposal, unknown to them. This is the people’s mandate, freely given to me. And no amount of dollar-induced manipulations can take away my mandate,” said Abiodun.

The Tribunal ruled that the inspection be carried out between April 30 and May 5.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital.

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs

Guinness Nigeria establishes N10b commercial paper programme

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• Director, Spectranet Limited, Chief Ezekiel Fatoye (3rd right) and Account Director, Hycent Nwabuisi Lowe Lintas (right), during the unveiling of Spectranet’s New Logo in Lagos. With them from left, are, Marketing Manager, Samson Akejelu; Head of Marketing, and a Director of the company, Mike Ogor.

Lagos spends N1.132tr on infrastructure

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AGOS State government yesterday said it has spent over N1trillion in its drive to develop requisite infrastructure in the last eight years. It said it budgeted N2, 749.498 trillion within the same period.

State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze who spoke to reporters in Alausa, Ikeja, explained that the money was spent on 8,961 projects certified by the ministry.

He said: ”The aggregate expenditure in the last eight years is N2, 749.498 trillion.

“The ministry in the last eight years certified, 8, 961 projects/programmes valued at One trillion , one hundred one hundred at thirty two billion , two and sixty nine million, seven hundred and seventy two thousand, one hundred and forty eight naira , thirty three kobo (N1,132, 269,

S

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

772, 148.33).”

Akabueze said the average budget performance in the last eight years was 79 percent adding that the total revenue that accrued to the state during the period was N2, 433.349 trillion.

He explained that the revenue represents 89 per cent of the total expenditure.

“The average sectoral allocation of the budget from 20082015 is general public service, 23.70 per cent , public order and safety 3.12 per cent, economic affairs 31.58 per cent , environmental protection 8.56 per cent, housing and community amenities 9.17 per cent, health 7.66 per cent, recreation, culture and religion 1.52 per cent, education 14.09 social protection 0.60 per cent.”

He added that in the last one year, the ministry issued prepayment certificates in the sum

of N39, 675, 634, 415.44 for 1, 246 projects.

“In order to ensure that the public get value for expended funds, the ministry monitors the execution of projects to ensure that they meet specification,” he said adding that projects valued at N500,000 and above require certification by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the ministry Harping on gains recorded under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme, he said the state government enjoyed donor support to the tune of N15, 134, 459,766 in the last eight years while counterpart funding for the same period stood at N27, 245, 687.

He explained that last year’s budget of N489,690 billion was slightly altered in August with capital expenditure reviewed downwards from N255.025billion to N247,825billion and recurrent

By Collins Nweze

The Deputy Governor said that under this scenario, 16 banks maintained CARs above 10 per cent, while five lenders had CARs less than or equally to 10 per cent but greater than or equal to five per cent.

Furthermore, one bank had CAR less than five per cent but greater than or equal to zero per cent and one other bank had CAR less than zero per cent.

CBN pegs CAR, which is the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk, at 10 per cent for banks operating only in Nigeria and 15 per cent for banks with foreign subsidiaries.

He said the stress test, conducted in December last year, captured the idiosyncratic nature of individual bank’s balance sheet and macro-prudential concerns, using both the bottom-up and top-down approaches specified in the modified International Monetary

Fund (IMF’s) stress test framework.

Nnanna said assessments of the resilience of the sector were done by applying a series of exceptional but plausible shocks and scenarios, which effectively translated single factor and multifactor shocks into banks’ balance sheets.

He said credit, liquidity, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and foreign exchange trading risks were some of the risk channels used in the exercise.

“The resilience of the banking system was assessed against a defined benchmark of 10 per cent CAR, 30 per cent liquidity ratio, and five per cent NPL. They were also assessed on the basis of return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE),” he said.

He said stress tests also showed that banks were, however, more sensitive to credit concentration and exchange rate risks than other risks.

Bentsi-Enchill, said Guinness Nigeria has shown industry leadership in taking up the CP. He said: “This transaction is a unique milestone event, and represents the first CP Programme to be established by a non-financial institution corporate issuer following the new guidelines on commercial paper from the Central Bank of Nigeria, published in 2009.

“In that regard, Guinness Nigeria has again clearly demonstrated its innovative approach towards executing the company’s financing strategy, in an increasingly competitive market environment. We at Stanbic IBTC are also proud to have partnered with Guinness on this landmark achievement.”

Representatives of the transaction advisors which include Stanbic-IBTC Capital Limited and Standard Chartered Securities Nigeria Limited as Joint Arrangers, Aluko & Oyebode as Legal Counsel, KPMG as Auditors to the Issuer, and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited as Issuing Calculation and Paying Agent, also attended the occasion.

Protest paralyses activities at ITF • Fashola

expenditure increased to N241.865billion from N234,665billion without any change in budget size.

The commissioner said the budget was adjusted to accommodate exigencies such as the Ebola outbreak, heightened security challenges and reversal of Lagos State University fees increase.

Akabueze pointed out that a lot of resources still remained untapped in the state, saying he expects the incoming government to widen the revenue base and bring more taxable Lagosians into its tax net.

Six banks fail CBN’s stress test

TRESS tests conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 23 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have shown that ‘six small banks’ Capital Adequacy Ratios (CARs) fell below regulatory threshold, its Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. O.J. Nnanna has said.

The report, contained in the CBN Financial Stability Report released yesterday, said that for systemic and peer assessments, banks were classified based on asset size into large banks, which are those with assets greater than N1 trillion; medium banks, those with assets greater than or equal to N500 billion but less than N1 trillion and small banks, those with assets less than N500 billion.

He said the unnamed small banks showed significant vulnerability to the shock of a 200 per cent Non-Performing Loans (NPL) increase as their CAR fell to 8.85 per cent.

UINNESS Nigeria Plc, the nation’s leading brewer, has said it will be establishing a N10billion Commercial Paper (CP) programme today, with a view to launching its inaugural CP issue under the programme within the first and second week of this month.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the initiative at its Ikeja, Lagos headquarters, its Managing Director, Mr. John O’Keeffe, said: “We are very pleased with the successful launch of this Commercial Paper programme for Guinness Nigeria Plc and the support received from our advisors to get us to this point.

“This will be the first corporate CP programme to be established in recent times, following the new CBN guidelines coming into effect, and we are pleased to be the first company to take advantage of this opportunity. We look forward to a robust uptake of this inaugural issuance imminently, whilst retaining the flexibility offered by the programme to tap into the CP market again in the nearest future.”

Speaking at the occasion, Head, Debt Capital Markets, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Kobby

He said the report highlighted the challenges to financial system stability in general, as well as, the implications for the banking sector soundness in particular.

“In ensuring financial system stability, the CBN employed not only macro-prudential policy instruments, but also adopted risk based supervision approach to strengthen banking sector resilience. The report focused on the resilience of the financial system to withstand unanticipated adverse shocks, while ensuring the continued smooth functioning of the system’s financial intermediation processes. A stable financial system should aim at facilitating sustainable economic growth and development necessary for improved standard of living and enhanced economic conditions.

The critical role of a stable and sound financial system in the growth and development of the nation, can therefore, not be over emphasized,” he said.

A

CTIVITIES at the In dustrial Training Fund were halted as students of the Model Skills Acqusition Center protested what they described as absence of training facilities at the nation’s foremost acquisition center.

The students ignored the presence of security personnel that were deployed to the premises to maintain peace..

They had earlier in the day marched to the National Assembly where a protest letter, calling for a full scale investigation into the activities of the school was submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In the letter , a copy of which was made available to The Nation, the students alleged that the lack of adequate facilities at the centre has made them to spend about four years for a two year program.

The letter reads in part, “We the trainee students of

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

the Model Skill Training Centre, are under a terrible situation in our training program and we need your intervention to carry out a full scale investigation of the programs in ITF. “Students that enrolled for a two year program since 2011, and the subsequent ones, are yet to graduate without any genuine reasons.

As at the time we applied for training, we were not informed that the school is not having enough practical equipment to start with.

“The incentives provided by the Federal Government are yet to be given to any of the students.”

The Director-General, ITF, Dr Juliet Chukas-Onaeko, while responding to the allegations, said a committee has been set up by the management of ITF to look into the grievances of the students.

PETAN unveils activities for U.S. confab

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HE Petroleum Tech nology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has released programme of activities for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) scheduled for next week in Houston Texas, United States (U.S).

In a statement, it said: “Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is an annual gathering of thousands of people from around the world with interest in oil and gas, comprising policy makers, operators, professionals, manufacturers, business executives, entrepreneurs

and visitors. It avails the attendees an opportunity for engagement with key players in the industry. Nigerian delegation includes the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), international oil companies (IOCs), independents, international and indigenous service companies, investors and representatives of government agencies.

“PETAN is again at the forefront coordinating the Nigerian Pavilion at the OTC May 4th to 7th at the Reliant Stadium, Houston Texas, USA.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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Experts have put their full weight behind the move to revamp the extension system to make agriculture a larger engine of inclusive economic growth, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Searching for home-grown extension system A

FARMER in the North, Musa Galingo, knew that the fertility of his land was exhausted. Crops produced less and less yields. He could not find enough manure to rejuvenate his plot. So, he decided to make his own compost. But this didn’t yield good result because he was not taught how to start a composting system with a small quantity of manure.

He did all he could to accelerate the composting process. At the end of the day, he couldn’t record a bigger harvests and, as a result, he lost a lot of money. Three months later, he met an extension officer that opened his eyes to the proper application of fertiliser to his farm land. His first harvest after applying fertiliser yielded so much that he was able to save enough to expand his farm land. Galingo is not alone. There are several farmers across the country who neither know what fertiliser is nor the method of applying it.

A lot of small-scale farmers use compost instead of fertiliser to restore soil fertility but, they don’t have access to extension workers.

There are farmers who planted high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties, yet they are affected by a new strain of disease called stem rust. Instead of a valuable harvest, their land produce only shrivelled grains.

Most farmers facing this problem could afford to spray their crops and attack the fungus.

But they don’t know what kind of pesticide to use to control stem rust, a strain of a dangerous fungus that causes severe losses. This is because there is no access to knowledgeable extension workers to explain things to them. These experiences are still prevalent in many parts of the country.

While some farmers still have access to extension officers, the concern nationwide is that the level of agricultural extension service delivery has fallen. This has been linked to the decline in foreign donors’ intervention.

Since the World Bank withdrew from funding the extension system directly, the Federal Government and state governments have not been doing enough to support the service to perform to optimum.

In view of this, some stakeholders believe the long-awaited “green revolution” may not be achieved if the government and the private sector are not ready to pull resources to revamp the extension system.

One of those who share this view is the National Project Coordinator, West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria, Prof Damian Chikwendu.

Chikwendu is of the opinion that achieving national food sufficiency will require better planning, including building a responsive agric extension system that will take research results and new technologies to the door steps of farmers.

At the workshop organised by WAAPP Nigeria on revitalising the agricultural extension in Enugu, Chikwendu said WAAPP recognised the deplorable state of the subsector and support the campaign to reform the system.

As a result, a committee was set up to develop a strategy document. A study of experiences and lessons from the agricultural extension and advisory services of selected donor agencies and private advisory service providers in Nigeria was commissioned.

He told the forum that the project sponsored a team to Cote ‘d Ivore to look at how they fund agricultural research and extension which has been on a sustainable basis.

It was to enable WAAPP Nigeria present a position on how to revitalise agric extension.

Consequently, using the best practices and emerging trends locally and elsewhere, the committee developed a report advising WAAPP on agricultural extension strategies that will promote technology adoption.

The study took cognisance of activities of donor agencies such as United States Agency for International Development(USAID) and

• From left: Oyebanji, Oyedipe, Edache and Chikwendu

private companies such as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) with existing extension services that have been acclaimed in some quarters to be effective.

His words: “The experiences of donor agencies have been documented and are to be brought to bear in the revitalisation of the agricultural extension in Nigeria.”

With the experts invited to the forum, Chikwendu said a synthesised document and roadmap towards revitalisation of agricultural extension in the country is expected.

Chairman, WAAPP-Nigeria Agricultural Extension Strategy Committee, Dr Oyesola Oyebanji, said the committee to develop agricultural extension strategy document for WAAPP)-Nigeria was inaugurated in 2013.

The Terms of Reference (ToR), he listed, included developing strategies for effective research-extension linkage, suggesting different institutional framework for extension delivery at state and local government levels, preparing a road-map for revitalisation of agricultural extension delivery among others. He said the committee in carrying out its assignment focused on the review of past extension methods in Nigeria and other countries.

Oyebanji said the committee also went on study visits to Songhai Centre at PortoNovo, Benin Republic, India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Funds Interprofessionnel pour la Recherche et le ConseilAgricoles (FIRCA) at Cote d’Ivoire.

According to him, the committee’s report was submitted to WAAPP-Nigeria in July last year.

In its recommendation, the committee said efforts should be made to put in place a legislated policy on agricultural extension that is pluralistic, farmer-oriented, demanddriven, participatory, well-funded and performance-oriented.

For effective coordination of agricultural extension service delivery, the committee proposed that at the national level, there should be a Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), well-staffed with experienced agriculturists, and extension spe-

cialists to formulate policy and coordinate extension service delivery in the country.

At the state level, the committee said Agriculture Development Programme (ADP) should serves as the agricultural extension service delivery arm of the State Ministry of Agriculture.

On funding, the committee observed that public sector funding of extension service delivery by state and local government councils has been on the decline.

As a result, some farmers have no access to extension service delivery, which is largely responsible for the low productivity of farmers.

The committee noted that there is no funding arrangement between the federal and state governments, local government councils and communities to support grass-root extension service delivery. The committee recommended that in order to revitalise the extension service delivery, there is need for cost sharing between federal, state, local government areas (LGAs) and communities.

The committee urged WAAPP to support the study of the ADP system with a view to assessing their current status, activities, strengths and weaknesses, and their relationship with state, LGAs, farmers and end-users of research result.

As regard e–extension, the committee said a lot can be achieved using e-extension, using mobile and computer applicationsthat run on mobile devices, such as smartphones.

According to the Committee, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Zaria has established farmers’ helpline and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development is expanding this to cover the entire country.

Some universities, the committee observed, have also established localised e-extension network to support farmers in their areas of coverage.

WAAPP-Nigeria,the committee noted has established e-extension network covering the West African sub-region using customised smart phones.

While bringing the private sector into extension was not seen as quick fix for agricultural development: the committee said if the sector can develop capacity and incentives

‘The experiences of donor agencies have been documented and are to be brought to bear in the revitalisation of the agricultural extension in Nigeria. Some universities have also established localised e-extension network to support farmers in their areas of coverage’

aligned with the government’s strategy , the system will benefit.

A consultant to the Ministry on Extension, Prof Tunji Arokoyo said one approach that will help the proposed reforms of the extension system to work is channeling efforts through the ministry of agriculture.

According to him, the approach should use existing institutions under the ministry of agriculture without undermining them.

He advocated strong linkages with partnering research Institutes to ensure that small-scale producers have the latest packages of improved technologies and practices to significantly increase their farm outputs.

Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof Emmanuel Oyedipe urged the forum to develop an agricultural extension system that is indigenous to the country.

Given the capacity constraints, Oyedipe, said agric extension will come to life when government, working with all interested parties, pursues selected initiatives that will help the system.

As an immediate measure, Enugu State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mike Eneh, said that various Colleges of Agriculture across the country should commence crash programmes on extension services.

He said there is a clear need for the extension system to be revitalised. This is because agricultural extension, which in the past was a mean to help alleviate poverty and improve food security, by promoting the transfer and exchange of information was failing in its responsibility.

A former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Oloche Edache, noted that agricultural extension services has been destroyed completely, resulting in a decline in agricultural productivity.

As most of the newly emerging farmers are ignorant of farming practices and crop production mechanisms, he stressed urgent need to revive the extension systems to ensure future food security.

For the services to be sustainable, he said they should be coordinated with the Federal and state-owned extension service organisations.

Director, Federal Department of Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Aminu Babandi, said existing institutes should be further strengthened, reformed while their roles should be redefined.

According to him, creation of new institutions will be complex as they will need much more capital and effort to ensure long-term sustainability.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

Nigeria’s fish import hits N125b , says Adesina

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IGERIA is importing an estimated 1.9 million metric tonnes of fish worth over N125 billion yearly.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who spoke while meeting the management of Triton Group in Abuja, said the huge budget on fish importation is not sustainable.

With a national fish demand of about 2.1 million metric tonnes per annum and a domestic production estimated at about 800,000 metric, he said the nation has a shortfall of about 1.30 million metric tonnes.

Stories by Daniel Essiet

To reverse this, Adesina said the government has evolved a plan which will ensure growth both in artisanal and industrial capture fisheries as well as in aquaculture.

To facilitate investment and expansion in the sector, he said the government provides an array of across-the-board investment incentives, such as tax holidays, waivers of customs duties, export tax allowances, and unrestricted repatriation of capital, dividends and profits as well as additional incentives above.

He hoped that there will emerge a new cadre of local investors, who will jump at the opportunities to create wealth from the production and trade of fish through aquaculture which there is significant and growing demand.

With marine fish stock declining, he said the government has to look at aquaculture to substitute traditional seafood sources and as a source of foreign exchange for the country.

Adesina said The Triton Group has committed $60 million in an extensive aquaculture investment

after successfully adding aquaculture to its fish importation business in Nigeria. This is a direct result of the government’s food import substitution policy.

The minister said the company’s efforts will create 70,000 metric tonnes yearly as well as 3000 direct jobs.

According to him, the company’s contribution will save the nation $85 million yearly.

Chairman, Ashvin Samtaru, said Triton Group owns a two-million catfish fingerling capacity hatchery in Ikeja, Lagos State, from where it

‘Rice is key to food security’

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•Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nteranya Sanginga and his wife during a visit to Japan to partner institutions and potential partners to explore new areas of collaboration.

‘Guide against flu, tick infestation’

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DEAN, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye has urged farmers to guide against tick infestations and treat animals promptly following the arrival of the rainy season.

This is because, he said, the change in weather could accelerate the rate of infestations among livestock.

According to him, increasing temperatures and fluctuating precipitation levels will cause the distribution of dangerous pathogens.

As temperatures and precipitation levels shift, he said, the health of animals is linked to

the ecosystems in which they live and influenced by the environment surrounding them, and climate change can have far reaching consequences on what diseases they might encounter.

According to him, a lot of animals are going to be affected and advised farmers to treat their flocks promptly to prevent losses. By monitoring wildlife and borders, he said the government could have an early warning system for where these diseases are likely to occur and measures could be put in place to contain their impact.

He stressed that animal health monitoring will help the govern-

ment, agencies, and communities detect and mitigate threats caused by such diseases before they become disasters.

He called on health experts to examine the effects of climate change on the health of animals and subsequent effects on human populations. Diseases such as Ebola and avian influenza, for example, originate from or move through wildlife populations.

He also urged stakeholders and government to pay priority attention to animal health ,adding improvement on surveillance and monitoring is needed if the farmers are is going to stay competitive in the business.

World Bank to Fed Govt: Invest in commercial agric

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ASK Team Leader, World Bank Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CADP), El-Hadj Adama Toure, has stressed the need for Nigeria to invest more on commercial agriculture.

Toure, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the first Post-restructured implementation project at Royal Tropicana Hotel in Kano, noted that there was there was need for accelerated action plan to assuage the sufferings of farmers affected by bird flu diseases.

He decried the extent of loses encountered by poultry farmers as a result of the spread of bird flu disease in the country.

According to him, people involved in the bird flu attack across the country are wallowing in poverty, pointing out that, “from Kano to Lagos and other parts of the country, farmers devastated by the bird flu disease

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

cry for help.”

Toure said: “There is a need to focus on commercial agriculture and with focus on the production of farm produce with global competition that is focused on quality and market orientation; such programme will be able to improve the welfare of the people and the country.”

He further stated that such steps will be able to improve statistics for the World Bank to assess and give support to farmers in Nigeria.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Muhammad Dankadai Ibrahim, Kano State, noted that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in food security, poverty alleviation and human development.

According to him, CADP is a project aimed at commercialising

agriculture and poverty reduction, adding: “It is our hope that, the restructured CADP approach will focus on addressing low productivity, paucity of opportunities for value addition. Ibrahim further hoped that CADP will ensure limited access to productive assets and inputs, inadequate support services, limited access to financial services, inadequate market and rural infrastructure; post-harvest losses and environmental degradation.”

Experts from across the world gathered in Kano for the four-day CADP event to discuss grants to small and medium scale farmers, original implementation strategy with emphasis on women and youth empowerment, farm access roads, cpost-harvest management, as well as project management, monitoring and evaluation and fiduciary, safeguard and strategic communication.

sourced the stock for the Iwo project.

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

He said the plan was to establish fish farms for both tilapia and catfish in different parts of the country.

For this reason, various state governments were approached to partner with the company to grow fish, provide jobs and boost the economy.

HE Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr Samson Odedina, has called for more investments in rice production to boost food security.

He told The Nation said a strategic rice production plan should lead to increased productivity, with larger buffer stocks to secure food supply.

While farmers are planting rice varieties, he said there was a need for breeding efforts to focus on higher yields and also adapting varieties to unfavorable environments.

In the face of pressure increasing demand for rice, also, Odedina said it was time to identify critical areas in rice production that can be strengthen.

So far, he said the Rice Transformation Agenda is promoting a value chain approach to production were farmers organised in a way that they could readily access inputs such as improved seeds, fertiliser, agrochemicals and learn modern methods of production from extension services.

On the whole, he said the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), has provided support to the country’s rice self-sufficiency programme, adding that improved rice varieties that produce more grain, are pest resistant and tolerant of the effects of climate change have been distributed to farmers.

Odedina also said improving the marketing of local rice could result in an increase in the production of the crop.

While he agreed that new technologies and innovation will contribute to increased rice production, the don said it would be greater if marketing problems were addressed.

The Managing Director, Farm-

fields Agro Allied Services, Taraba State, Zanau Hassan Maikasuwa, said a viable rice value chain capable of meeting the country’s rice demand as well as save the nation the foreign exchange spent on its importation.

He said rice processing is a major challenge facing the sub-sector, adding that there are opportunities for Nigerians to invest in the value chain activities relating to harvesting, threshing, drying, parboiling and milling.

With its high food self-sufficiency target, he said the government should support involvement private companies focusing on rice, as one of the food crops laid out in the self-sufficiency goal, and provide support for the whole processes from seeding to fertilising.

Meanwhile, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said it had set aside N1.5 billion to boost rice and cassava production by small farm holders in Nigeria this year.

IFAD’s Country Portfolio Manager, Mrs Atsoko Toda, who spoke in Lokoja at the opening of a twoday workshop on small farm holders’ productivity enhancement component, explained that part of the money will be used to train small farm holders in the areas of sustainable agricultural practices and production techniques.

According to her, access to fertilisers and agro chemicals as well as improved cuttings and certified rice seeds will also be provided for the category of farmers under focus.

She added that farmers will be trained on how to add value to rice and cassava production so as to enhance their income, create wealth and jobs for youths.

Agric to be revamped in Cross River

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HE Cross River governorelect, Sen. Benedict Ayade, has promised to revamp the state’s agricultural sector.

He made the promise at an interactive session with reporters in Calabar.

According to him, reviving the sector will ensure massive jobs creation and food security in the state.

He said his administration would make agriculture attractive for unemployed youths in the state.

“The agricultural sector is very lucrative, but youths have neglected this sector largely because of our inability to create opportunities through incentives for farms.

“We will give them the needed orientation, empowerment and incentives to enable them go back to farms.

“The provision of the right business environment for investment

in merchandise farming shall be our priority,’’ he said.

According to him, agriculture provides opportunity for wealth creation and also improves standard of life.

“We have large cocoa farms in Cross River and we must partner with the producers to improve the production of cocoa in the state.

“We will set up and maintain a farm city where every farmer will specialise in the production of at least one type of crop.

“Cross River has fertile lands, we produce rice and when it is taken to Ebonyi State for milling, it later becomes Abakaliki rice,’’ he said.

He said all those leakages would stop as the right people and facilities would be put in place to manage the sector for optimum result.

He said: “The same thing goes for our cocoa, it is being taken to Ondo State and when it is being processed and taken abroad it becomes Ondo cocoa.’’

14

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms : 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Why online products remain cheaper With the growing popularity of online stores in this part of the world, retail experts say technology-driven shopping platforms such as Jumia are likely to replace the bricks and mortar in the nearest future. They argue that it is because items on these platforms are affordable, available all the time and are of good quality in spite of the fact that they are cheap, TONIA’DIYAN reports

O

SATO Edebiri, knew only one way and place of shopping - the open traditional showrooms or markets such as Isale Eko. Edebiri who however loves exploring new ideas recently decided to try a new thing by visiting Jumia.com.ng, an online shopping store. because she is aware that with many online retail shops springing up in recent times, the price reduction has been motivated more by the quest to beat competition.

But what she is not sure of is if this has also meant some compromises on the quality of goods. In some unregulated online marketplaces, the prices are even so ridiculous that one only needs common sense to realise there has been compromise on quality. On the realisation of this, she sought advice from some shoppers who have patronised Jumia.

Most of them said from their experience, the quality of goods offered on the platform is never compromised regardless of the consistent price reduction the website is known for.

Edebiri’s friend, Esther Chukwuma shared her experience: “I was skeptical about this online deals especially the quality of the products since they are always willing to offer cheaper prices. Then came a day when I was to make a trip out of Lagos and needed a good laptop to go with. I saw a Lenovo laptop for N52, 499 on Jumia. I didn’t have the time to do a price check with an offline store, so I called an old retail customer who confirmed that I can buy same laptop for N60,000, but that I could pay N58,000 if I was ready with my cash. Immediately, I decided to buy online from Jumia. I have since used my laptop for a year, eight months and I have not had reason to take it for repairs. Everyone who sees my laptop tells me it is the original and that it might not need an engineer’s touch for a very long time. I am baffled at the way Jumia get quality products and still can afford to sell at the cheapest price in the Nigerian market. I won’t stop asking myself if they make profits at all. The firm is just too generous with their items. I love them and I won’t stop patronizing them” Another shopper, Derenle Awudu uses Jumia store often. She told The Nation Shopping that she found out that the Dolce &Gabbana light blue [DT125ml] perfume she bought for her husband cost N16, 999, which is the same amount it cost on the eBay website (an American online store). It’s the same case with Versace bright crystal perfume [DP90ml] perfume for women. The price is

‘Since inception, online store has been able to maintain a competitive advantage by keeping costs lower than the amount customers will pay, thereby, building higher profit than their counterpart’ the same on eBay and Jumia (N18, 995) as such she doesn’t see the reason for buying from a foreign online store Since inception, online store has been able to maintain a competitive advantage by keeping costs lower than the amount customers will pay, thereby, building higher profit than their counterpart. They are aware that if this continues year after year, even as costs and prices change, they would have the sustainable competitive advantage over others. However, online operators like jumia.com.ng have said they cannot become too comfortable with their advantage, and must continue to find ways to maintain a competitive advantage.

Retail experts say as the pioneer online store in Nigeria, Jumia is taking the lead in the online retail business because, it is able to offer products at affordable prices which are less than other online retail companies and those of brick and mortar stores due to its wide assemblage of brand partners from Apple to Infinix to Lego, Samsung, L’oreal and more. Also, the firm is one that has been able to forge lasting and favourable partnerships with the biggest brand who are able to offer them their products at reduced tariffs and sometimes even exclusively. These brands are happy and always willing to work with Jumia due to a proven track record of service delivery, customer satisfaction and guaranteed volume of sales.

Experts have advised other online stores to emulate Jumia.com.ng.

Saying owners of other stores may lose sleep over the growing influence of this store, as the competition may completely run them out of town and based on the demography and psychology of the Nigerian consumer, who naturally would love to buy very cheap and always available item, Jumia website will always be attractive.

This analysis seems to have struck a chord in Edebiri and indeed, other shoppers who are like her. She is now with the mind set of buying the right item from Jumia (Quality) at the best price (affordability). However, the con-

Chivita 100% connects soccer fans

I

N a bid to re-emphasize and add flavour to the partnership between Chivita 100% and globally admired football club, Manchester United, Chi Limited, maker of the leading juice brand Chivita 100% fruit juice, at the weekend, held a free screening of the football match between Manchester United and Chelsea FC. The event which took place at the popular Kingsize Restaurant located at Oregun in Lagos had in attendance a plethora of guests including several journalists, soccer fans and officials of Chi Limited who distributed free drinks of Chivita 100% to the delight of the audience.

The screening, organised with a view to increasing public awareness about the partnership between Chivita 100% and the English Premier League team, saw many fans showing their unalloyed support for the team and expressing their wishes to remain loyal consumers of Chivita 100% fruit juice.

Speaking at the event, Obinna Dike, who

is a Business Administration student at the Lagos State University and passionate Manchester United fan said “this is a good event organised by Chi Limited and the partnership between Chivita 100% and Manchester United is a great one that would possibly spur Manchester United to victory. It is also very interesting to see these brands connect with passionate soccer fans like me as I can now refresh with Chivita 100% fruit juice whilst watching my favourite club play” Another soccer fan, Rafiu Salami, a trader at Yaba Market, had this to say, “It is very nice for a proudly Nigerian company to be having such relationship with such a terrific club like Manchester United. I commend both brands for this initiative and know that the partnership would further trigger interest, excitement and patronage for these iconic brands” With the partnership signed in July 2014, Chivita 100% became the official fruit juice partner for Manchester United in Nigeria.

• Online products

sensus of retail experts is that price and quality of products and services would ultimately determine where the shopper goes.

Findings have shown that another clarification as to why one can expect to get the best deals on Jumia is the company’s fascination with sales promotions for customers. The online store is always happy when its customers are happy. Just about every week, one can expect to find a sales promotion on Jumia with products being sold at puzzling and ground breaking prices. Customers who take advantage of these deals are always quick to tell the stories of their endeavors on social media with the Jumia social pages Indeed, convenience is one of the major attractions for online shopping apart from good quality and affordable products which is peculiar with Jumia store. Afam Anyika, Jumia Offline Marketing head, once said, “Online platform is selling to people convenience with various methods of payment and most of all providing them with rich quality retail content all at fair prices. It is clear the experiences are better and assortment wider with online retail.

More Nigerians are shopping online by the day and in three years of our operations, I can tell you the Nigerian market has been waiting for this for a long time.”

Speaking of a guaranteed volume of sales, Co-Managing Director, Jumia Nigeria, Dr. Jonathan Doerr said, “He said, “Speaking of guaranteed volume of sale, in Economics, there is a concept called ‘Economies of Scale’.

This concept explains that there are cost advantages which certain enterprises enjoy due to their larger size, output and scale of operation. Being that Jumia Nigeria is the biggest online retail store in Nigeria, accessible and patronized daily by tons of Nigerians nationwide, it only adds up that unlike the others, Jumia Nigeria can now afford to plummet profit margins and provide lesser priced products to customers due to a reduced overall operating cost.”

He added: “Another clarification as to why you can expect to get the best deals on Jumia is the company’s fascination with sales promotions for customers. You can describe it as Jumia giving back if you may but Jumia is always happy when it’s customers are happy whether we are making profit or not. Just about every week, one can expect to find a sales promotion on Jumia with products being sold at puzzling and ground breaking prices. Customers who take advantage of these deals are always quick to tell the stories of their endeavours littered with testimonials.

Rosabon launches career website

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HE Concept Group Nigeria hass launched a career portal which is a developed innovative system for top talent across all levels of qualification and experience, to have access to a variety of career opportunities with various companies within 'The Concept Group'. This portal was created to enable a more streamlined, responsive recruitment process for candidates who apply.

The Concept Group is a holding company established in 1992. Subsidiaries under the Group include Rosabon Financial Services – Nigeria’s Leading Equipment Leasing and Financial Intermediary Company, Concept Nova –A Bespoke Enterprise Software Development Company and Percy Aitkins – A prominent foreign exchange company.

The Concept Group is currently experiencing exponential growth with focus on recruiting talents with not just the right set of skills but also with the right attitude and personality. Candidates who are goaldriven and are looking for an innovative and fast pacing working environment to apply their talents would be appropriate for the organisation.

Working with 'The Concept Group' sets candidates on an exciting and rewarding career pathway. In a typical work environ-

ment, career growth is usually constrained to a time frame. At the Concept Group, career advancement is purely merit based and is not time bound. The company’s ethos - “Great People make Great Company “exemplifies its passion and commitment to recruit great minds that seek to move the company to a great level of accomplishment than where it already is.

Typically, talents will be constantly engaged with worthwhile experiences, responsibilities and accomplishments.

This seamless online hiring process comes in four stages that enable the human resource (HR) team to identify candidates that best fit The Concept Group culture. One major advantage of this system is the career recommendation that comes with this hiring process based on candidates’ skill sets. Candidates are not just placed in any position that they apply for; rather personality test and selection process enables the HR team place the individual in a role where his/her skills and experiences can be best optimised.

This career portal is also optimised for mobile devices, so users can access job listings and other information on the go on www.conceptgroup-ng.com

15

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SEVEN-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

City People Publisher Seye Kehinde stood tall in Lagos last Friday when he turned 50. Two governors, a senator, a socialite and a fellow publisher spoke glowingly about him at the thanksgiving service/reception. It was all at the Times Square Events Centre on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and IBRAHIM ADAM reports.

•From left: the celebrator Kehinde; Sen. Amosun; Kehinde’s wife, Funke and children Oluseye and Oluwadunsin

Accolades for City People Publisher at 50 B

EYOND being publisher of the highflying soft-sell journal, City People, who is Dr Seye Kehinde as a person?

Eminent Nigerians, including Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Leadership Publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah wrote his testimonial when he turned 50 last Friday. They described him as humble, cultured and hardworking.

The parking lot of Times Square Events Centre in Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja Lagos, venue of the event, was filled with exotic cars. Others parked on the roadside.

Banners greeting the celebrator at 50 adorned the hall’s entrance.

Guests looked chic in classic traditional attires. The women made fashion statements with their stylish head gears.

Women in gold sequenced tops on black pencil trousers welcomed guests. The hall was decorated in gold and wine The celebrator wore gold native attire. He was all smiles as he went round to greeting and taking pictures with guests.

It all began with a service officiated by Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria Rev Sunday Makinde.

At the reception, Gbenga Adeyinka, dished out rib-cracking jokes as Master of Ceremony.

Amosun supervised the cutting of the cake.

The celebrator was assisted by some of his family members and distinguished friends to cut the cake after a random count of 50.

Kehinde said he is happy he made it to 50, adding that he did not feel any different.

He said: “Life is interesting at 50. I never knew it was this easy to be 50, because I see people of 50 as old men but now that I am

•Celebrator’s mother Mrs Ebun Kehinde

•Governor Fashola

Life is interesting at 50. I never knew it was this easy to be 50, because I see people of 50 as old men but now that I am 50, I have joined the club and I will continue to do what I am doing and be who I am’ 50, I have joined the club and I will continue to do what I am doing and be who I am.”

Amosun described him as hardworking, urging him to work harder.

Fashola said the celebrator has contributed to the development of Lagos State.

Kehinde, he said, was one of those who first interviewed him in any political manner when he refused to grant interview dur-

ing his four years as Chief of Staff in Lagos.

The governor described him as humble, easy to be with and polite.

The governor said: “Tonight, we celebrate Seye Kehinde and City People because City People is Seye Kehinde and Seye Kehinde is City People. I find it easy to associate with this brand because he was one of the people

who first interviewed me in any political manner because it was the period I served as the Chief of Staff when I refused to grant any interview for four years that I was in the Governor’s Office but in the heat of the campaign, somehow, Mr Kehinde tracked me down around 11pm. When I picked my phone, he said, ‘but they say you sleep at 7pm’. I said no, I don’t sleep until around 1am normally and we had the interview.

“He has been supportive; he has been critical, that is unusual of the tabloid he runs.

He has above all extremely contributed to development. On behalf of the government and the people of Lagos State and on behalf of my family, I wish you a happy birthday, I wish you many happy returns, I wish you long life but more profoundly, I wish you sound, solid and robust health. I hope all your team will continue to prosper; I’m sure that you will be around for a long time and the City People will be around for a long time.”

Abiola Dosumu described Kehinde as “a good and nice young man”.

Kehinde, she said, has just begun life at 50, wishing him the best in his endeavour.

The Erelu of Lagos prayed that City People “will grow from strength to strength and continue to be a perfect example of a successful soft sell magazine that can progress without demeaning humanity.”

Senator Solomon said the celebrator has made a mark in his profession.

He described him as a forthcoming journalist, a role model, a gentle man and a jolly good fellow.

Nda-Isaiah also described Kehinde as hardworking, and a role model. “He loves Nigeria and has created a very good brand, not just a soft sell, but one of the biggest brands in Nigeria.”

•More pictures on page 16

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

16

SOCIETY ACCOLADES FOR CITY PEOPLE PUBLISHER AT 50

•From right: Erelu Ojuolape Ojora; Otunba Adekunle Ojora; former chairman Punch Newpapers, Ajibola Ogunsola; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Senator-elect Lanre Tejuoso and Special Adviser to Governor Amosun on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama

•National Legal Adviser, All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Banire

•Nda-Isaiah

•Wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Funsho Amosun

•Senator Ganiyu Solomon (left) and Ovation publisher Dele Momodu

•Rev Makinde

•From left: Vanguard publisher Sam Amuka; Oloye Lekan Alabi and Chief Tola Adeniyi

•Gbenga Adeyinka (left) and Toyin Kolade

•Aare Bolu Akin-Olugbade

•Erelu Dosumu

•National Superintendent, Kings way International Christian Centre (KICC) Pastor Femi Faseru

•Dayo Adeneye

•Prof Gbenga Ashiru and his wife

•Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Media Hakeem Bello

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

17

S OCIETY

•Groom’s parents Mr Wasiu Bashorun and wife, Olufunke

•Bride’s parents Mrs Georgina Juwe and Mr Oluwaseyi Juwe

•The couple Aneez and Toluwalope

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HE All Season Multipurpose Hall in OPIC Estate, Agbara, Ogun State, was agog last Saturday when the families of Mr Wasiu Bashorun and Mr Oluwafemi Juwe, became one following the union of their children, Aneez and Toluwalope.

Bashorun is a Provost of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education at Ijanikin, Lagos.

It was a memorable day for the couple, with Gbedu Oba on the band stand.

Guests, were beautiful in their choice attires.

The event venue was decorated in orange, silver and white, matching the chairs set around tables, which were covered with gold and silver linens. The red carpet and flower vases at strategic points added colour to the hall. A projector, showing pictures of the couple and their families on their introduction, was placed at one side of the hall.

The couple’s parents wore tea-green lace with carton colour Agbada, and matching caps, headgears and Ipele.

The couple arrived in a black Avensis saloon car.

The engagement started with the Bashorun family dancing into the hall to beats from traditional drummers. They went to the bride’s family to pay homage.

The groom, Aneez, came next with his friends. He was handsome in a white lace attire with silver and red agbada and a matching cap.

Aneez pleaded to marry Toluwalope.

A bevy of women in yellow and green attire accompanied the bride, Toluwalope, into the hall. She was a beauty to behold in her white lace Iro, and silver and red Buba with matching headgear and Ipele. Her red bead complemented her beauty.

The couple took turns to prostrate, kneel, and sit with their parents for blessings.

Aneez and Toluwalope exchanged engagement rings, sealing it with kisses.

Reception followed with Abbey Wonder and

•Prince Abiodun Ogunleye (left) with Otunba Fatai Olukoga

PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

Toluwalope Juwe, a Computer Scientist, tied the nuptial knot with her beau, Aneez, last Saturday at the All Seasons Multipurpose Hall in Agbara, Ogun State, IBRAHIM ADAM reports.

‘Marriage is a jungle’ his juju band entertaining guests. A popular Yoruba actor and comedian, Hafeez Oyetoro, a.k.a.Saka, anchored the event. He dished out rib-cracking jokes. The reception almost became a political gathering of sorts, with guests chanting ‘Sai Baba’, ‘Sai Ambode’.

There was enough to eat and drink.

The couple’s parents also thrilled the guests with their dance steps and were sprayed with new naira notes.

When Aneez and Toluwalope made their entry into the hall, dancing to soulfyl tunes

from the live band, guests stood to honour them.

The bride, Toluwalope, clad in a flowing white gown and the groom, Aneez, radiant in his white shirt, red tie, grey trousers and jacket with a black pair of shoes, looked splendid.

Pastor Dare Abisoye said the opening prayer.

Former Lagos State deputy governor and Chairman,AOCOED Governing Council, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, who chaired the event congratulated the couple and their parents.

He said marriage is about patience; urging the couple to respect each other. “It’s a day of joy and our prayer is for them to live well till eternity,” he said.

Prince Ogunleye told the couple not to be angry, urging the groom to make money available for his wife.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Education Otunba Fatai Olukoga, supervised the cutting of the five-layer cake after the spelling of ALLAH. Otunba Olukoga also supervised how the couple fed each other before they sealed it with kisses.

Pastor Sunday Adeboye coordinated the presentation of gifts.

A close friend of the groom, Olasupo Bashorun, proposed the toast.

The groom, a graduate of Electrical, Electronics Engineering from Osun State University, said he met his wife during his industrial training at AOCOED. He described her as loving and caring.

Toluwalope, a graduate of Computer Science from Ekiti State University, described her husband as brave and everything to her.

“He is someone, who got me back 100 per cent and he is greatly important to me. I love him so much,” she said.

The groom’s father, Mr Bashorun, advised the couple to allow virtue, determination and perseverance to be their watch words.

He said life is full of ups and downs and prayed God to meet their needs.

He said: “Marriage is a jungle out there. It is a survival of the fittest and I pray to be there to guide them anytime they need my support.”

The bride’s mother, Mrs Georgina Juwe, described her daughter as a good cook and a good woman.

She advised the couple to be calm, patient and focused.

“I feel fulfilled for this day; she is a beautiful woman and I will miss her cooking so much,” she said.

Oloto of Oto-Awori Kingdom Oba Olanrewaju Aina (Kuyaniku 1) enjoined the couple not to beware of third party.

2015 SECOND SESSION OF 21ST SYNOD OF THE ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH OLUYOLE ESTATE, IBADAN

•From left: Lord Bishop Yewa Diocese, Rev. Michael Oluwaronbi; Bishop of Ogbomoso Diocese, Prof.

Mathew Ademoyegun and Chancellor of Ibadan Diocese, Justice H.M. Ogunwunmiju

•Liberian Delegates from left: Mr Bola Ogunkoya, Caron Grigsby and Priest in Charge of Liberian Mission, Rev. Olubodun Olusina PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

18

SOCIETY

•The children: from left, Olufemi; Kolawole and his wife, Susanne; and Temitope

•The widower, Chief Moradeyo

The remains of Yeye Aare Jagunmolu of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Chief Mopelola Margaret Moradeyo, were interred penultimate Wednesday at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens, Lagos, after a funeral service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Mazamaza. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

‘She was a virtuous woman’

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T was solemn as the remains of the Yeye Aare Jagunmolu of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Chief Mopelola Margaret Moradeyo, were interred penultimate Wednesday in Lagos.

Chief Moradeyo died on February 10. She was 74.

At her Mazamaza, Lagos home, sympathisers gathered in number to condole with the widower, Chief Israel Olufemi Moradeyo, and the children, before leaving for the funeral service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Mazamaza.

There, her remains were laid in a white casket in a room decorated in white and purple. She was dressed in white buba and iro with purple gele, ipele, neck beads and a pair of eye glasses.

The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Mazamaza auditorium and gallery were filled. Guests also sat under tents in the church.

Many were either in white or the uniformed purple ankara fabric chosen for the occasion.

The widower, wore white Agbada with a gold cap; his sons, Kola and Femi, were also in white; his daughter, Temitope wore pink lace.

The officiating priest, Canon Taiwo Olugbitan, asked the congregation to stand while some priests moved to the church’s entrance to receive the casket bearing her remains, from the TOS pall bearers.

In his sermon, Ven Festus Ademola said there is life and there is death.

“What you do with your life is crucial because we do not have life by our own power but God gave us life so that

•Deceased’s son-in-law, Leke Ogunbowale

•Deceased’s daughter-in-law, Mrs Idowu Moradeyo

•Elder sister of the deceased Olusola Kugbola and her husband Chief Emmanuel

we can serve him. Quoting the scripture, the cleric said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added to you.”

He added: “Death is inevitable, it is not a respecter of persons and it is the open door to eternity. The way you live now will determine where you will spend your eternity.”

The church choir sang the late Chief Moradeyo’s favourite hymn: “Through the love of God our Saviour” and the “Hallelujah chorus.”

Her remains were buried at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens about 2:39 pm.

At the reception at the Syrian Club in Ikoyi, beautiful young women dressed in gold led guests to seats.

Faith Music Band entertained guests.

The widower, in a tribute said if he had a second chance, he would marry his late wife again.

He said: “She was my inestimable jewel, my heartbeat, my joy, my strength; only God Almighty can fill the vacuum she left in my life.

“She was a mother in a million to our children and me. A courageous fighter who cheated death many times within the last 15 years until God’s will prevailed. I miss our togetherness, the laughter, the grief we cheerfully suffered and the grace of God we enjoyed in the last 50 years of our togetherness. She fought a good fight.”

BIRTHDAY

Her first son Kola described his mother as a gracious woman.

“Her advice, words of wisdom and encouragement gave me so much strength. Her daily phone calls to pray for me and the grand children will be greatly missed. Her outlook in life was positive and wanted people around her to be happy,” he said.

Her second son Femi was moved to tears as he spoke about his mother.

He said her death is painful. “It is so sad but, I think she has gone for the better because she had had health challenges for about 15 years.

“She was loving and caring, nice to a fault, God-fearing, kind and she is never bothered. Even at the end of her life, she was still in high spirit and she would continue to pray, she was a strong woman.

“I will miss her phone calls. She would call me up to five times a day just to pray and ask how the family is; but since she died no one has called me five times a day,” he said.

Her daughter Mrs Temitope Ogunbowale described her mother as kind, loving and prayerful. “She took everyone like her own, fought like a soldier and was a titan. She had always been strong, taught me to be kind, respectful and hard working.

“She was a strong woman who was kind to a fault,” she said.

•Mrs Comfort Orelaja (left) and Mrs Shola Abiona

•Dr Iyabode Koleoso (left) and Chief Olufunbi Adelami PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

A family member, Mrs Christiana Oladunni, described Mrs Moradeyo’s death as a shock, adding that she was a wonderful mother and everything to her.

“Despite the challenges she had,

she had time to call on every member of the family.”

Her younger sister Mrs Modupe Ogunsolu said the late Mrs Moradeyo was caring, loving and would be greatly missed.

SWEARING IN

Rev Mike Ohiorenoya and his wife Mary cutting his 67th birthday cake at Covenanters’ Vintage Church, Lagos •Imo State Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere (middle) with the newly sworn Chairmen of Local Government and House of Assembly Commissions from left: Chinyere Uwandu; Chairman, Oguta Local Government Emeka Okoronkwo and Commissioner Imo State Local Government Service Commission.

Dr Nonye Obodo

19

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

Ministering the ministries • Running a lean state goes beyond scrapping the office of minister of state

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HE outcome of the last general elections in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged emphatically as Nigeria’s new dominant party at the national and state levels indicates that majority of the electorate voted for the party’s pledge to bring about positive change in the country. In practical terms, this implies that the APC will be held to account as regards its promise to ensure that democracy becomes a vehicle for promoting rapid development and improving the quality of life of the citizenry through good, efficient and responsible governance.

It is obviously in pursuit of this objective that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has reportedly submitted to his party’s National Working Committee a proposal to cut the current prohibitive cost of governance by,

‘Moreover, public office has become an avenue not to offer selfless service to the people but to minister to the greed and vanity of elected and appointed occupants of public office. Against this background, Buhari and the APC will demonstrate that they are genuinely committed to the change agenda if a decisive break is made with the past and the incoming FEC is lean, efficient and its members chosen with strict regard to merit and integrity’

among other measures, abolishing the office of Minister of State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC). There is no doubt that the unwieldy size of government at all levels has bred massive corruption, wastage, bureaucratic lethargy and inefficiency, thus undermining good and purposeful governance.

Moreover, public office has become an avenue not to offer selfless service to the people but to minister to the greed and vanity of elected and appointed occupants of public office. Against this background, Buhari and the APC will demonstrate that they are genuinely committed to the change agenda if a decisive break is made with the past and the incoming FEC is lean, efficient and its members chosen with strict regard to merit and integrity. This must apply not only at the federal level but also to the states and local government councils.

In this regard, the proposal to streamline the number of ministers by abolishing the duplication and unproductive fractionalisation of ministerial responsibilities through the superfluous office of Minister of State is a sound one. For the most part, the office of junior minister is simply a device to provide patronage to political loyalists rather than enhance the public good. A good case in point is the external affairs ministry, which inexplicably has three ministers. This has not in any way resulted in a dynamic and vibrant foreign policy for the country. Indeed, the co-existence of two ministers in a ministry creates room for unhealthy rivalry and distracting politicking.

However, drastically cutting the cost of governance must go beyond preoccupation with the office of Minister of State.

There is the urgent need, for instance, to overhaul and streamline the number of existing ministries, departments and agencies to eliminate duplication of responsibilities and enhance the overall productivity of governance. Equally obstructive of good governance is the unwieldy number of special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants appointed by chief executives at all levels of governance.

President Goodluck Jonathan, for instance, appointed 18 special advisers responsible, among others, for energy, research and strategy, legal matters, technical matters, political matters, National Assembly matters, gender issues, social development, ethics and values, New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) as well as international relations, to name a few.

Most of these functions fall within the jurisdiction of existing ministries and it is difficult to ascertain what value the special advisers will be adding in these spheres.

We are aware of the need to balance the desire for efficiency and effectiveness in governance with the constitutional requirement that the structures of government at all levels should reflect federal character. If the latter goal is pursued at the expense of the former, however, good governance will be jeopardised and democracy in the country ultimately endangered. Also important is the need to decisively address the current obscene level of remuneration of public office holders in the country, which constitutes a huge burden on the economy and is clearly unsustainable in the long run.

A teacher’s new car •MTN’s surprise gesture at University of Ibadan merits emulation

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ORE than a publicity stunt, the surprise donation of a car to a university teacher, Prof Anthony Durojaiye Ologhobo of the University of Ibadan (UI), by telecom MTN Nigeria qualifies as a celebration of professionalism. It is instructive to note that Ologhobo of UI’s Animal Science Department was considered a positive influence by students who nominated him for a surprise reward in MTN’s Surprise Your Professor campaign.

It was understandably a surprise for Ologhobo who had no idea such an award was coming. He was quoted as saying concerning his new KIA car: “This is a gift from the Almighty God. I was not expecting anything from MTN. I was only told to come and present some gifts to my students. I don’t know how to explain this. This is a great surprise and I am eternally grateful to MTN for this gesture.”

Evidently, a major aspect of the beauty of this recognition is that students constituted the deciding factor. In a significant sense, the central involvement of students in the selection process gave the endorsement a ring of objectivity and credibility.

In addition, it is remarkable that Ologhobo was reportedly rewarded for his “diligence, moral rectitude and fatherly role.” Against the background of scandalous reports of sex-for-marks and money-for-marks epidemic in universities across the country, among other alleged unsavoury goings-on on campuses, Ologhobo’s story is truly a breath of fresh air. He noted the moral of the narrative:

“This is an encouragement for all of us at the University of Ibadan to put our best into whatever we are doing.”

It must be said that the MTN gesture is a commendable example and a reflection of positive thinking. It is striking that the company’s general manager, consumer marketing, Richard Iweanoge, who gave an insight into the campaign rationale, said: ”A Professor, within an educational structure, represents an icon; they touch people’s lives in meaningful ways. Ironically, their students become influential people in the society after graduation and forget their teachers who moulded them.

In an attempt to change this trend, we beckoned on students all over the country to nominate professors for pleasant surprises.” It is true that, in the modern world, an educationally disadvantaged country cannot hope to make much progress. What is education without teachers? This question underlines the distinct appeal of the MTN campaign.

It is noteworthy that MTN two months ago gave a new KIA car to a former Dean of Student Affairs, University of Lagos, Professor Harrison Oloruntade Longe, who was rewarded for his “consistency in the discharge of his duties, diligence and professionalism.” Longe was said to have been distinguished by his work in helping to resolve students’ welfare issues.

However, without discounting the potential of such car gifts to inspire and motivate academics, it is necessary to examine the happening more holistically.

What about considering the big picture of bigger projects that would have a bigger impact on a greater number of people in the university system? For instance, many universities would benefit from infrastructural development, and companies can think of making contributions in this important area.

Ologhobo’s comments can be interpreted as a pointer in this direction. He said: “I equally use this opportunity to call on other corporate bodies to promote academic excellence, and reward the moral rectitude of deserving dons.”

In other words, beyond publicity opportunity and public relations value, giant companies like MTN and even notso-big ones ought to give back to the society from which they make their gains, and one of the most socially transforming ways of doing this is by promoting education.

‘What about considering the big picture of bigger projects that would have a bigger impact on a greater number of people in the university system? For instance, many universities would benefit from infrastructural development, and companies can think of making contributions in this important area. Ologhobo’s comments can be interpreted as a pointer in this direction’

Minister Nebo and his demons

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IR: When Professor Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo was appointed as Minister of Power, he promised to dislodge all the demons and witches in the power sector. He boasted that,’ uninterrupted power supply is not a mirage.’ He reminded us that South Africa was generating 40,000 megawatts for her 40 million population while Nigeria was still battling with the generation of 4,000 megawatts for her 170 million population.

Also, while answering questions on the floor of the Senate during his ministerial screening, he cited his unparalleled achievements in the University Of Nigeria, Nsukka where he was vice chancellor.

Regrettably, barely one month to the expiration of this administration, I am compelled to humbly ask: ‘what are the current statuses of the demons and witches the minister met in our power sector?’ Are they still living or dead? If they are still living, have they increased, decreased or remained the same in number and in power? I do not want to believe that the demons and witches in the sector have overwhelmed/overpowered the minister. I am aware that Professor Barth Nnaji, his predecessor, an erudite scholar of international repute and one of the inventors of E-Design, might have seen the so-called demons and witches in the sector and since he was not a priest, he honourably resigned.

What happened to the prepaid meters that were once introduced in some parts of the country? Why are the prepaid meters not evenly distributed? Why are workers still distributing the old analogue meters in this 21st century? Why is it so that when somebody pays for a meter, it takes so long before it is delivered and installed? Has there been any improvement in the 4000 megawatts the minister promised Nigerians?

Many companies are leaving our country for neighbouring countries due to power failure in our dear country. Alternative sources of power generation will increase the costs of production for these companies. When these companies leave our country, the workers that are laid-off will add to our pool of the unemployed. Why will the much-touted Africa’s largest economy not boast of at least 18 hours of electricity per day?

Having superintended over our power sector for more than two years now, can the minister honourably retract his statement that ‘uninterrupted power supply is not a mirage.’

Yes, gas pipeline vandalism has really affected our power generation but my question is, ‘did the minister not consider that before declaring his ‘spiritual’ warfare on the demons and witches in the sector?

•Dr Paul John Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The last result of the Presidential election has thrown up new patterns and new cultural behaviour of the major nationalities that constitute Nigeria.

After 60 years, the pattern of alliance, rapprochement and governance has changed or is likely to change substantially if not completely.

Prior to February 1952 described as the golden days of colonial rule, Nigeria was governed by a strong unitary government manned mostly by expatriates. It was true that a handsome number of educated elites or professionals were ‘admitted’ into the public service of Nigeria. By this time, East or West, North or South Nigeria was ruled by one unitary government headed by a governor or governor general. I recall here as I did in my book “Political Gladiators of my time” that an easterner, Jerome Udoji was Assistant District Officer for the Ekiti Division of the then Ondo Province.

Following the so-called general elections (it was more or less a selection process among the educated elites of 1952), regional governments were established in Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna. To further emphasize the unitary nature of the government these governmental/political arrangements were called Group of Provinces. It was later that the political entities were given their real names – the Western Region with headquarters in Ibadan, the Eastern and Northern Regions with headquarters in Enugu and Kaduna respectively.

Because of the nature of the Nigeria society (a conglomeration of tribes, nationalities and clans) Dr. Azikiwe, the leading politician in English Speaking West Africa saw the necessity to go ‘home’, to the East that is, Enugu to head the regional government, East of the Niger.

The imperfections in the Nigeria political system and government thus took a firm root in the heyday of colonialism in Nigeria. Naturally because of the different culture, advancement and exposure, the three regions to which our country was divided proceeded and progressed at different pace. The British administrators willingly obliged political organizations and governments that wanted to proceed slowly on constitutional reform

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Nigeria: Back to pre-1952 era leading ultimately to what was then known as ‘self government’ and finally independence in 1960.

One spectacular pattern of cooperation or rather coalition was that consistently the eastern block comprising what is now South/South and South/East (minus Delta which was part of Western Region – the region extending from Eti Osa in Lagos to Asaba) have consistently allied with what was known as North. The eastern block has never been in opposition by whatever interpretation that can be given to that expression.

On the other hand, the West, then extending from Lagos to the fringes of Ekiti and Kabba Province has only joined the federal government peripherally on two occasions. The first time was when the Akintola Group which emanated from the Action Group, subscribed members

to the federal cabinet, hence we had Ayo Rosiji and some others representing the Western Block. The second time the Yoruba West was in the federal government was during the civil was when Gen. Yakubu Gowon invited Obafemi Awolowo to be the Finance Minister (they called him commissioner) and ViceChairman of the Federal Executive Council. In most liberal terms, Awolowo was de-facto Prime Minister under a military dictator Head of State.

It is appropriate to admit that other times some leading Yoruba politicians who were in the NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons or National Council of Nigeria Citizens) were ministers in an NPC – NCNC federal coalition government. That was the nearest time the Yoruba nation had been part of federal set up prior to the

operations of the 1979 constitution.

The pattern indeed, the nomenclature has always been an NPC/NCNC coalition with the former being senior partner and latter junior partner. It is therefore appropriate to say that for the period prior to the Obasanjo administration, the Yoruba West had always been outside the political pale. Yoruba leaders, almost all of them political doctrinaires, prefer that arrangement.

It was Akintola’s crusading that brought it home to the Yoruba that they could no longer be outside the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

The above illustration has been made to put the present situation side by side with our previous political experience. The Yoruba for far too long had been condemned or condemned themselves to knocking at the doors.

As of now, there is so much

imbalance in top political and public service positions in the M.D.As. In a country where citizens are assumed to be equal, this cannot continue. The outgoing Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has been fingered as contributing to the imbalance. The imbalance is so appalling, so brazen and in some cases crude and primitive that it offends against civilized behavior.

The last general election is a watershed and renaissance of Yoruba’s erstwhile position on national issues. For even though most of the South/South and South/ East are grouped into one political enclave, I don’t see the South/South, South/Eastern politicians not taking active parts or not taking prominent positions in the ensuing dispensation. By nature, by drive and by orientation our friends across the Niger will not, repeat, not be in opposition.

Having tested power for more than half a century, it is unlikely they will not gravitate to the new dispensation.

Finally, it is advisable for the incoming administration to think Nigeria, act Nigeria and live Nigeria.

• Deji Fasuan MON, JP Ekiti State.

NASS: Only President-elect can zone offices without rancour

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IR: In real political life situation, there is nothing like consensus. What many erroneously liken to consensus is tilt of influence. The false believe by the leadership of All Progressives Congress [APC] that they can actually zone offices in the National Assembly [NASS] to various power blocks in Nigeria without implosion in the party will soon give way to frustration, if the President elect, General Mohammadu Buhari fails to take a step in the direction of sharing the offices at NASS to those he feels can complement his effort towards repositioning Nigeria. If General Buhari thinks that his party, APC can resolve the issue of whom, which zone gets what at NASS, then, he is dead wrong. He may recall that in 1999 when democracy returned to Nigeria, the then President elect, General Olusegun Obasanjo offered the post of Senate President to former Vice President

Alex Ekwueme. Though, he, Ekwueme rejected the position and offered to bring his associate, Senator Onyeabo Obi, Obi’s candidature could not scale through as he was not an elected Senator then. The then President-elect had no other choice than to settle for late Senator Evans Enwerem. It was from Obasanjo’s offer of Senate Presidency seat to a Senator from Southeast that modern zoning was born in Nigeria. The point being made here is that former President Obasanjo felt he could work with Ekwueme to move Nigeria forward and did not hesitate in making public his decision. In any case, only an elected President can allocate offices to various geo-political zones without rancour and bitterness capable of tearing a formidable party apart.

By allowing his party, APC to come up with geo-political zoning of offices, the President-elect can only cause political trouble for him-

self. The reason is not far-fetched.

Any zone that comes top in the current scheming will surely boast of beating other zones to the coveted prize through body language and related ways. But if the President-elect gives Senator A from X zone the position of Senate President, he can effectively manage the fallout from his decision by promising commensurate compensation to other zone[s] that may feel it should have produced the Senate President.

Understandably, the President-elect may feel that by interfering and deciding who should be Senate President and so on, could present him as undemocratic President. The truth is that the cost of President-elect not deciding who and which zone gets what at NASS will be more catastrophic to APC as a party than his direct intervention. For instance in the extreme case of a PDP Senate President (remember the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal saga) being speculated in

some quarters, via alliance with APC lawmakers from a certain part of Nigeria who feel their zone should produce Senate President, will APC still remain the same as a party? General Buhari is reminded that the quality of cooperation he gets from the eighth NASS will determine the level of democracy dividend his administration can give to Nigerians. Already, expectations of Nigerians from in-coming regime are high. The Presidentelect cannot afford to start on a faulty note, dealing with strange bedfellows as leaders in both chambers of NASS. General Buhari can contain the apparent storm that may arise from doing what is needful now, than the real storm that will surely come if he fails to do what is needful - deciding who gets what at NASS! •Emeka Oraetoka, Garki-Abuja.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

Youth...like paper cups Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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N Ivy League education without ethics makes a trust fund ‘baby’ an expensive toy without batteries. Substandard education makes the middling youth even worse; it moulds him into a broken toy without appeal. They are both disposable but they enjoy patronage anyway – by the ones Wole Soyinka eloquently described as the wasted generation.

The Nigerian youth is a breed with all the personality of a paper cup. Thus like paper cups, we are used and disposed by men and women unfit to be elders. Yet whatever callousness we are forced to endure, our elders are not to blame.

They shall not be blamed, for we made ourselves unbidden offering on the altar of vultures.

It is the malady of this age that the youth are too busy preaching that they have no time left to learn.

In Nigeria, we are too busy dumbing down that we barely have time left to grow. It is a sad manifestation of stunted growth that we evolve into foetal adults and spend the rest of our lives seeking the comfort of debilitating “life boats.”

It is even more disheartening to see us adopt as a favourite past time,

the pillorying of our elders and the rapacious ruling class. Many a Nigerian youth love to prophesy the worst about our fatherland thus it is never surprising to hear the average Nigerian youth pronounce with emphatic pessimism and relish that “This country is doomed,” and “Nigeria is finished.”

The Igbo youth laments his persistent marginalization from the scheme of things/bounties. He believes Nigeria is skewed to work against him and fellow Igbo because his peers from other ethnic groups are wary of his towering acumen, industry, courage and political savvy. The Hausa youth believes he has inalienable right to statutorily and heavenly accorded rights to reign supreme and lord it over his peers irrespective of merit.

And the Yoruba youth, goaded by sentiments of his higher wisdom, towering depth in diplomacy, culture and politics believes that he is entitled to the best the country has to offer, on a platter of gold.

Every youth desperately perpetuates his sense of victimhood and entitlement. The idea is to keep whining until he gets lucky and corners an immense portion of the

‘We identify all that is wrong with our society but we are never specific about what must be done to correct them. It is relatively easy to join a picket line and tirelessly castigate our elders and ruling class for everything that is wrong with our lives but these actions, while they demonstrate frustration, in some instances even heroism, deal generally with symptoms of· our problems and not the solutions’

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ITH a population of 170 million people out of Africa’s 903 million total headcount, which represents one-fifth of the continent’s population, Nigeria is a huge paradox for global investors looking for opportunities in Africa.

When Nigeria’s huge potential is juxtaposed with unsavoury conditions which are detrimental to investment, such as corruption, excessive bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructure challenges, an investor is likely to face a huge dilemma. For instance, the World Bank’s 2013 “Doing Business” survey puts Nigeria at 185th out of the 189 countries it surveyed on ease of getting electricity. In addition to shortfalls in power generation, transmission and distribution, transportation systems and other critical support infrastructure are also relatively under-developed. This, coupled with the endemic corruption and the bureaucratic redtape make doing business in Nigeria tougher than in other climes.

Beyond these challenges, however, Nigeria offers a basket of opportunities for the intrepid. Nigeria is currently rated as the biggest economy in Africa, accounting for 26% of the economic output in sub-Saharan Africa and over 70% of the economic output in the ECOWAS region. Except for the year 2015, which has seen a reduction in growth projections because of falling oil prices and the anticipated crisis from the general elections, Nigeria has maintained an average year on year economic growth of 6% in the last 10 years. Other macro-economic variables have also remained relatively stable over this period.

Despite these positive indices, business in Nigeria is admittedly tricky, hence the departure of a lot of European and American trans-national corporations and the refusal of others to operate in Nigeria. Aside core investors in commodity and extractive industries - and a couple of players in manufacturing, who had been operating in Nigeria before its independence from Great Britain in 1960, a lot of European and American Technology and Consumer Goods businesses do not dare to take the plunge.

The loss of these European and American companies is the gain of South African companies. Operating in Nigeria despite the huge challenges, they are reaping huge returns on their investment. While the West sees the glass as half empty, Chinese and South African companies see the glass as half full and are therefore coming to the party with enthusiasm and a “can-do” spirit.

Despite the infrastructure challenges, bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption often cited as the bane of investing in Nigeria, South African businesses appear to understand the Nigerian business environment than their Western counterparts.

From the retail end, with players such as Shoprite and Game, to Hotel and Hospitality with the Protea Hotel chain (which was recently acquired by Marriot, the American Hotel chain), to Media and Cinema with companies like MultiChoice and Nu-Metro, banking and financial services - Stanbic IBTC Bank, First Rand Bank, Old Mutual and Nedbank (which recently acquired a sizable stake in Ecobank, the Nigeria led Pan- Africa Banking Franchise), and other mid-sized businesses dotting the Nigerian business landscape, South Africa today stands as one of the major players in the Nigerian economy.

The curious though unspoken question on the lips of international venture capitalists and investors, is how come the South

proverbial national cake – with minimal exertion and at no cost.

We used to be regarded as the promising youth, the gifted generation that would rescue Nigeria from the brink of irredeemable ruin. But that spell of hopefulness has dissipated now. Our “wasted” elders have seen through the swollen belly of our pride. They know we are increasingly handicapped by greed and lack of creed. By creed, I mean a coherent and specific set of goals, a consistent series of norms according to which society is to be remade.

Since we have learnt to blame the ruling class for everything, what is it that we want from the ruling class?

We don’t need their permission to make something of the world where they have failed but we still live our lives seeking their permission to evolve positively and mature.

It takes courage and an enormous reserve of decency to evolve a humane ideology and establish it. We haven’t the courage and will, and this interferes with our ability to accomplish progressive change.

More worrisome are our violent attempts to be radical; eventually they resonate too feebly as a kind of rudderless activism.

We identify all that is wrong with our society but we are never specific about what must be done to correct them. It is relatively easy to join a picket line and tirelessly castigate our elders and ruling class for everything that is wrong with our lives but these actions, while they demonstrate frustration, in some instances even heroism, deal generally with symptoms of· our problems and not the solutions. All the picket lines in the world will not resolve ills of fraudulent and impatient youth, perverted values, greed, racism, disillusionment with study and substandard education.

A broad wave of disillusionment

and darkness persists above the silver linings we desperately wish to succeed our darksome clouds. Yet with precision and unfaltering devotion, we work ourselves up into such a state that we can only see the volcanic flare of our destructive acts as glitters of grandeur. We have perfected the art of standing on barrel-heads to spout and be seen, while we engage in pursuit and acquisition of mostly unearned wealth and greatness. Eventually, we luxuriate and spread out like a green forest with sour fruits and severed roots.

Apparently, we suffer a throwback to the 70s – the era that launched a trend in which Nigerians became preoccupied with themselves more than the survival of the nation. Self preservation has become an inexorable obsession of many youths seeking to escape the slow, steady path with its craters of mishap and socio-economic vagaries. What Joshua Lubin identifies as the “Me” decade has indeed, recoiled inward rather than concern itself with crucial national issues, like national progress and ethical rebirth. Therefore, popular culture attracts dubious labels such as “narcissistic” and “decadent” from critics and the “wasted” older generation.

The Nigerian youth has become so self-involved that almost every action and train of thought perpetuated by him serves as an instrumental resource to situate this generation in historical context, as perfect illustration of the much-hackneyed and over-exploited “Lost Generation.”

Our inordinate quest for self-fulfillment further establishes us as the worst that could possibly happen to a heavily endowed nation like Nigeria.

But we aren’t actually so bad. If we could look inwards to summon

latent will and channel it towards the rejuvenation of outdated mores of morality and simple decencies, our lot might yet change, for better.

It shouldn’t hurt to evolve faith and be steadfast in it. If we could discard whatever sentiments we hold about Bukola Elemide aka Asa, we would find in the musician some worthy anecdote about the quality of faith. Asa believed in her dream of stardom. And she relentlessly pursued it through the stark streets of ambition, the wilderness of failure spasms and institutional adversities to become whoever she is and whatever she is today. If I had used Soyinka, or Late Babatunde Jose, many would claim they grew up when Nigeria neither smothered dreams nor murdered hope. Hence my choice of Elemide, the minion who managed to become a poster icon for generations of Nigeria’s music hopeful.

Yet many would read this and consider it “Pollyannaish.” To this lot, any hearty lunge at hope or belief in a brighter tomorrow manifest as blind optimism and a pathetic attempt to be patriotic even while it’s absolutely idiotic to do so. They would love to see the nation ruin in order to justify their inordinate cynicism and yearnings about the pointlessness of the Nigerian dream. They continually affirm their ill will and prayers of doom for the nation by tirelessly projecting separation and insurmountable bleakness on the Nigerian state. Individually, their contribution towards nation building is virtually non-existent or abysmally low, they are amazingly adept at sowing seeds of doubt and disillusionment amongst their peer and younger generation. But they love to be seen as heroes of truth and the new world.

Half empty or half full; story of S/African businesses in Nigeria

By Bolaji Okusaga Africans seem to be succeeding where others are failing? This question comes against the background of the noted challenges in the Nigerian environment which are compounded by the absence of a stable policy environment.

The history of international investments in Nigeria before the return of democracy was not particularly savoury, what with the indigenization decree of the 1970’s under the Military governments of Murtala Mohammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo, which saw a lot of foreign business interests in Nigeria ceding their stakes to Nigerian shareholders in a push for the localization of multi-national businesses in Nigeria. This move saw the exit of Shell Petroleum and British Petroleum from the downstream sector of Nigeria’s lucrative Oil and Gas market.

As if the set-backs of the 1970’s were not enough, the structural imbalance of the 1980’salso saw the plummeting of industrial capacity in Nigeria. This situation arose largely from the rationing of foreign exchange under a corrupt and highly politicized import licence order. Given this scenario, there were frantic calls for structural reforms. These reforms were soon ripe and ready, following the huge debts which Nigeria incurred from the London and Paris club of Creditors.

Initial reforms were thus undertaken in the late 80’s to early 90’s, tailored towards budgetary tightening and fiscal discipline with a view to raising industrial capacity in order to reduce dependence on imported finished goods. Prodded further by the Breton Woods Institutions, to undertake more reforms, given its huge sovereign debt, the Nigerian Military government under General Ibrahim Babangida, announced more fiscal reforms; starting with the Second-tier Foreign Exchange Market, which saw the devaluation of the naira, and the Structural Adjustment Programme which engendered a high-level of fiscal tightening in a bid to refocus the economy.

As all these reforms were going on, the Nigerian economy was still largely perceived as unattractive to Foreign Investors in Europe and America who only saw opportunities in the commodities and extractive industries and were uninterested in deepening their involvement in the Nigerian manufacturing and retail sectors having been scarred by the indigenization decree promulgated by the Murtala/Obansanjo Military regime. The conventional wisdom at the time was therefore to stay aloof to the reforms and the liberalisation of critical sectors of the Nigerian economy that followed thereafter.

The South Africans may have cashed in on the opportunities availed by the liberal regime bought on by the new democratic order in Nigeria and are making a kill where the west did not

initially see any prospects, but there are a couple of things South Africa is also not getting right.

One of these is the tendency of South African firms to only trade among themselves rather than patronize local options in Nigeria. It is usually alleged that MTN Nigeria, in giving out its banking and collection mandate, will prioritize Stanbic IBTC Bank, a bank with South African interest, above local Nigerian banks.

The same is said of the other South African businesses. This situation has tended to increase the mistrust between Nigerian local businesses and their South African counterparts. Given this situation, the prevailing feeling within the Nigerian business community is that the South Africans are not returning the friendly gesture of Nigerian businesses and consumers towards South African interests and are therefore not displaying ‘brotherly’ love towards Nigerian businesses.

Aside from this, there is also the issue of the monopolistic tendency of South African firms which creates industrial tensions, especially in the telecoms and pay- TV segments of the Nigerian economy where South African behemoths like MTN and MultiChoice are dominant. Accusations are rife about the deployment of arm-twisting tactics in the bid by these players to retain their dominant positions. Beyond this, there are also the allegations of over-pricing of services in Nigeria, in comparison to the prices these firms charge in South Africa.

Furthermore, there is also the issue of the non-reciprocation of Nigeria’s open door policy in South Africa. The poser often raised by cynical Nigerian business analysts is, ‘which major Nigerian company has made any inroads worth mentioning in South Africa even though South Africans are making a huge kill in Nigeria?’

Complaints about the non-reciprocity of the open door policy to Nigerian businesses in South Africa often creates inter-government friction, to the extent that bi-lateral relations between the two countries was nearly damaged in 2012 when 125 Nigerian business travellers to South Africa were denied entry into South Africa for not having valid Yellow Fever certificates. The Nigeria government, in retaliation, also expelled 56 South Africans. This situation led to huge tensions which were later resolved with the easing of travel restrictions The popular view that Africa stands to benefit more from trade among Africans than trading with Europe, America and Asia rings true when one considers the progress made so far in Nigeria’s partnership with South Africa and the benefits that have accrued there-from. However, more effort is required to take this to the next level.

•Okusaga is Managing Director of a Lagos based Public Relations Consultancy

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so’ - Charles de Gaulle

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HE Pull-Him-Down (PHD) syndrome is a common Nigerian factor that has greatly retarded inexorable progress of the country. And any time this column reflects on the syndrome, most especially at this period of the nation’s political history, what readily becomes a reference point is an interesting puzzle that many politicians across the country have found a hard row to hoe.

That riddle is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu – national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), the Jagaban of Borgu land, Asiwaju of Lagos and former governor of Lagos State. Despite the indignant blackmail of political buccaneers, he is still waxing stronger within the nation’s political firmament as a dependable torchbearer of the progressives across the federation.

Without sounding immodest, it would not be out-of-place to state today that, he remains the most-sought-after politician and perhaps, the most influential one of the progressive hue in contemporary Nigeria. At a point in the history of this country, the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, was the issue.

Even after the great man’s death 28 years ago, most dubious politicians in the southwestern part of the country still use his name, without success, to deceive the electorate during electioneering periods. Momentarily, Bashorun MKO Abiola appeared on the political horizon, but was cut short by the feudal military oligarchy that denied him his electoral mandate before the killer tea helped him into an early grave. MKO remains our man forever.

Since the passage of these two men, I doubt if there is any Nigerian that has taken the political emancipation of his people from the yoke of tyranny and poverty seriously as much as Tinubu has been doing. The political ignoramuses might deride him; the grovelers of centrist governments are used to impugning his character, but that is the man still standing like the rock of Gibraltar.

Asiwaju has the power and tactics of political liberation; he is imbued with a rare economic skill, being a shrewd accountant with vast international experience. This man of unquantifiable goodwill has this uncanny nerve for discovering a talent, which was reflected in the membership of his mostly well-endowed cabinet team, which he assembled during his eight-year rein as governor of Lagos State.

The man has greatly helped to secure the southwest and now the federation for the

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Rock of Gibraltar of progressive politics

• Tinubu

country, but few disgruntled element would still criticise him simply because they are oblivious of his steadfast commitment to finding solutions to the challenges facing the country.

Tinubu thinks Nigeria, dreams Nigeria, lives Nigeria and sleeps Nigeria. From the north, east, west and south, people call him at random to seek his help or input on knotty challenges. These men and women are not necessarily members of the political elite class.

The Jagaban is also at home with the downtrodden whose interests form the thrust of his concern for a better country that we all can be proud to call our own from May 29, 2015.

Some, out of sheer envy of his large heart and vastly spread goodwill, will query his source of wealth. Simply because the man is doing what they cannot ever do or are not privileged to do since they are not in a position to do it, they harbour the ache in their bellies. Some see him as being immoderate.

But Benjamin Disraeli had an answer for them when he said: ‘Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.’ There are empirical examples of Nigerians, irrespective of tribes and especially

SALUTE the working men and women of Nigeria and the world on the occasion of today’s May Day. This year marks the 34th anniversary of workers’ day as a public holiday in Nigeria and 35th anniversary in Kano, the first state during the second Republic (under the governorship of the late Abubakar Rimi of the People Redemption Party (PRP)) which declared the day as holiday in 1980. Of course, the observance of May Day is long dated; almost a century and half. In Chicago, police opened fire killing several demonstrating workers demanding for eight-hour working day. Subsequent workers’ protest, led to the death of some seven policemen. The police, without evidence, accused eight leaders of the Chicago workers movement of killing the police, convicting all. Four of the workers’ leaders were executed, and three were given life imprisonment!

And that was a ‘democratic’ America which had proclaimed a libertarian constitution but without due respect for workers’ rights. On May 1, 1889 the International Workers’ Congress in Paris declared the day as Workers Day in memory of the historic struggle of the Chicago workers!

This year’s May Day, like in 2007 and 2011, is taking place in an interesting time of political transition with all its controversies and challenges. Taking place against the background of a democratic transition, the critical question is; of what relevance is labour to Nigeria’s 2015 transition process? Globally, the debate had long shifted from the unhelpful and uncritical question as to whether labour had a role to play in a political process or not to a more useful perspective on what and how labour could participate in political process. The success of the 2015 elections is also shared by the working people who either as candidates or electorate participated in all the elections that have produced a President-elect, governor-elects and hundreds of legislators. Special greetings to both the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd),

among the Yoruba, the man’s cradle, that have benefited immensely from his largesse.

But sadly, these same people still hypocritically relish speaking ill of him. That is one of the inherent sacrifices of greatness, being paid by Tinubu.

Who doubts Tinubu’s progressive credentials? That person needs to embark on historical excursion. At a time that the Yoruba states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Osun and Ekiti were falling to the gangsterism of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003, it was only Tinubu’s Lagos that stood to absorb the heat of conservatism before eventually launching, single-handedly, the worthwhile battle that liberated the former western region but Ondo and later Ekiti states, from the grips of ruling party’s rampaging agents of neo-colonialism. The giant strides that the region is witnessing today are a consequence of Tinubu’s political sagacity.

Everything is falling in place in the west that has extended to Edo State and this gives credence to Walt Whitman’s statement: ‘Produce great men, the rest follows.’ Tinubu is that great progressive torchbearer! Who still doubts the fact that progressivism is indeed taking firm root in the west and beyond today in the country with the victory of the APC championed by Tinubu. Indeed, Charles de Gaulle was right by saying: ‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men and men are great only if they are determined to be so.’ Tinubu is a successful determined political risk taker of out time.

It is this uncommon determination to be great and to fully liberate the masses from the yoke of reactionary politics that compelled Tinubu to take with zeal the national progressive politics project, since the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with

other opposition parties - far beyond the west and to every nook and cranny of the country. The move is generating spite, covetousness as much as cynicism from those who always see impossibility rather than possibility in laudable initiatives. The victory of the party in the presidential election and its winning of 22 states in the just concluded 2015 general elections must have further frustrated his already dumbfounded enemies, both covert and overt.

The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others remain political jellies. His often-talked-about political superiority complex does not mean pride, although it might appear to be so in the eyes of the mischievous among politicians and the so-called pretentious technocrats turned overnight politicians that want to see it so. Tinubu feels a higher esteem over the obstacles he desires to surmount and he is blessed with the rare courage of overcoming them, with enough energy reserved for any eventuality.

Like Awolowo during his lifetime, Tinubu has, in contemporary Nigerian politics, become a thorn in the flesh of the electorally beaten outgoing centrist rulers and envious allies, who believe that despite their brazen ineptitude, it is a taboo for a Tinubu to continue to triumph on the political firmament.

This PHD syndrome is the major headache of outgoing current presidency and the enemies within. Tinubu, the statesman has proved to be deserving of an unassailable and conspicuous portion in the nation’s history book and now; Nigerians will henceforth have the golden opportunity of looking back and be able to confidently say: We are eventually free from the tyranny and ineptitude of the reactionaries, at long last!

‘The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others remain political jellies…He feels a higher esteem over the obstacles he desires to surmount and he is blessed with the rare courage of overcoming them, with enough energy reserved for any eventuality’

May Day in a transition year

By Issa Aremu the third and fourth democratically elected presidents, respectively, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I bear witness (because I am involved!) that organized labour appreciated their mutual statesmanship and patriotism, avoidance of despair and unhelpful negative triumphalism after the historic free and fair March 28 Presidential Election commendably conducted by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC. What then is the labour’s dimension of this transition? History records it that the out-going President Goodluck Jonathan commendably guaranteed freedom of association in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 87 and Protection against discrimination for joining a trade union and taking collective action and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, C098. The Jonathan presidency also improved on the legal minimum wage from N5,500 to N18,000, amended the 2004 Pension Act to increase the rates of contribution and inclusive of informal sector, introduced Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) which provides adequate compensation for employees who suffer injuries/diseases and stopped unacceptable incessant fuel price increases after mass protests of 2012.

However, economic growth under Jonathan did not translate into mass jobs. Indeed many factories collapsed due to poor electricity supply, smuggling, high interest rates and devalued Naira leading to massive unemployment and erosion of the purchasing power of the workers. Like other Nigerians, working people look forward with excitement to the

Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s huge market size is dominated by smuggled and counterfeit goods, killing local companies in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Guzau, Aba and Port Harcourt, and millions of direct and indirect associated local jobs. Smuggling denies the government the much needed revenue in unpaid custom duties. The real acid test of Buhari’s anti- corruption lies in how he frontally confronts smuggling.

swearing in of General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), GCFR as the fourth democratically-elected President on May 29. The President-elect must consolidate on the positive labour market policies of President Jonathan and correct the negative measures as identified above. Apart from endemic corruption, the greatest task at hand is the urgent need to transform a mono/oil dependent-economy to a diversified industrialized economy. The President-elect has commendably made revival of textile and garment industry as part of his party’s overall strategy to re-industrialize the county and create mass employment for the millions of unemployed. The incoming administration is right to seek to reinvent this sector which has propelled newly industrialized countries in recent times such as China, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia among others. Nigeria boasts of a large polyester base. Combined with the 170 million population rich in fashion and clothing and huge labour force of some 70 million potential workers, Nigeria has the potential of producing 1.2 billion metres of cloth per annum and create at least three million direct jobs in textile sector! The President-elect must realise that past presidents, including Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan made similar pledges to revive textiles with innovative policies including import bans and intervention fund.

The major threat to the realization of the great potential of Nigeria in textile production is high influx of counterfeit and smuggled goods. Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s huge market size is dominated by smuggled and counterfeit goods, killing local companies in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Guzau, Aba and Port Harcourt, and millions of direct and indirect associated local jobs. Smuggling denies the government the much needed revenue in unpaid custom duties.

The real acid test of Buhari’s anti- corruption lies in how he frontally confronts smuggling. All nations want to employ their youths, produce goods and services, overcome poverty and underdevelopment. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI) launched a comprehensive national Cotton, Textile and Garment policy within the overall new Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP). The in-coming Buhari administration should adopt this policy and ensure its prompt implementation.

Here is wishing Nigerians Happy May Day! •Aremu mni, writes from Kaduna

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Aba lawyers, court workers relish end of strike

Community pledges support for incoming administration

•PAGE 27

•PAGE 37

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

PAGE 25

New magistrates savour appointment in Anambra •PAGE 40

•The troupe in action

Grace, skills of Imo octogenarian dancers I

MO State residents know why watching the state royal dancers is a cherished privilege.

The youngest of the all-women outfit is about 60 years old, the rest almost all in their 80s. But it would be a mistake to think you are in for a boring show of the oldies.

They are so quick of feet that many wonder if they are propelled by some unseen hand.

They also play all their instruments, but when they are at it you may think their hands do nothing else. That is the magic of the Keleke Dinga.

The group comprises elderly

The youngest member of the Imo State Royal Dancers is about 60 years, yet their grace of movement and dexterity on the instruments never cease to amaze spectators. OKODILI NDIDI reports on the Keleke Dinga women who only entertain during royal ceremonies or high profile events at a great cost.

Age does not seem to be a barrier as they perform intricate dance steps with the ease and agility of youth. The Keleke Dinga dance is a delight to watch.

One of the dancers said the troupe was formed to exclusively entertain kings and their guests, adding that it is a great honour to watch them

perform.

The women have always mesmerised spectators with their near-impossible moves on the floor. Watching their sudden change of mood and acrobatic display, one may surmise that they are under the influence of spirits or under the influence of alcohol.

At a recent outing during the traditional marriage ceremony of the daughter of Governor Rochas

Okorocha in Ogboko in Ideato South Local Government Area of the state, the troupe held the audience spellbound with their sterling performance so much that security operatives had a hectic day controlling the surging crowd who pressed on to have a closer glimpse of the aged performers.

Apart from the dance steps, another uncommon feature of the Keleke Dinga dancers is the ability

of the old women to play the instruments which include iron gong of different sizes and shapes to produce irresistible tunes.

The enchanting voice of the lead singer is another selling point of the group. Combined with experienced backup singers, the soloist puts the charged dancers on fire by switching from one •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•The royal dancers display their prowess

song to another without interrupting the rhythm of the instruments.

Speaking about the dance troupe, Chief Alariebe Chukwueke said it has remained a unique part of the cultural heritage of the people of the state.

According to him, the ‘Keleke Dinga’ dance troupe, a name he said was derived from the combination of the sound of the instruments, only entertained royal families and warriors after a successful battle.

He added further that all the members are women who had attained menopause and can come before kings without any form of restriction.

In his words, “most of these dancers are great grandmothers but when you see them on stage, you will be amazed by their ability to move their bodies at such speed.

In the past, only kings and the freeborn were allowed to watch the women perform but this has changed now and everybody, irrespective of status can watch the ‘Keleke Dinga’ dance”.

A traditional ruler, Eze Agbakuru Onyema, held that the dance troupe is not an ordinary entertainment

Grace, skills of Imo octogenarian dancers amaze spectators

group but a reserved dancing group that is surrounded with myth and superstition.

He said, “the dancers who are selected by a special Council of Chiefs, are given a special training and most of their activities are shredded in secrecy. For example while on stage, it is forbidden to address any of the dancers by her real name as they all have unique stage names. And when any of them dies, the deceased is given a full royal burial.

“Also certain rituals are observed before a dead member can be replaced with another person who will assume his stage name. You can see that outside the stage the women look very frail because of their age but these challenges are defied once they put on their costume and mount the stage.

“Members of the group are also associated with power of prophecy.

In the past, while singing for kings, they predicate what will happen in the kingdom and as a result the audience often listens with rapt attention to the songs more than they

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•Continued from page 25

Most of these dancers are great-grandmothers but when you see them on stage, you will be amazed by their ability to move their bodies at such speed. In the past, only kings and the freeborn were allowed to watch the women perform but this has changed now

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watch the dance”.

The current leader of the group, Mrs. Udenma Ojiri also known as ‘Obuzo Egwu’, disclosed that the members of the dance group are bound by a set of rules which are religiously adhered to, adding that defaulters are severely punished.

She listed some of the rules to in-

clude, secrecy, purity, respect for fellow members and sincerity, stating that “no member is allowed to discuss the affairs of the group with non-members, or plot evil against any person and members have mutual respect for each other, irrespective of our different status in the group or outside”.

On the rare feats performed by the dancers, Udenma said, “it is one of the things that people marvel about but we are able to do those acrobatic feats because of the joy we derive from doing what we know best how to do. Outside the stage, most of us suffer acute arthritis and other ailments associated with old age but once on the stage every pain vanishes. Most people think that we do all these with the help of some invincible powers but the secret is the joy we derive.

“Like myself, there are days I feel very sick and my children know that the quickest cure I need is to dance or sing and they will play me some of our recorded performances and before you will know what is happening I will be on my feet dancing.

“The same thing applies to most of the members, who hardly fall sick for a long time. And apart from the matter of deriving joy from the dancing, it also serves as an effective way of exercising our bodies”.

•Continued on page 27

Peace back in Ebonyi communities

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•The dancers

HE combatants have laid down their arms and residents of Ezza and Ezillo communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State now enjoy peace.

Hostilities broke out in the area at the weekend, and for three days human and vehicular movement was halted on the popular EnuguAbakaliki Expressway which was sealed off by irate youths.

The situation forced motorists plying the route to take a detour in order to continue their journey.

The crisis, it was gathered, started when Ezza residents in prison custody for over one year were released last week.

They allegedly returned to the disputed land where they had lived for decades as settlers. But the disputed land had been declared a buffer zone by the state government.

Their action annoyed Ezzilo people who protested along the expressway leading to tension in the

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

community.

As the tension lasted, the state government through the Deputy Governor and Governor-elect Chief Dave Umahi summoned stakeholders of both Ezza and Ezillo to an emergency meeting in his office at government house, Abakaliki.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day meeting by leaders of the two parties and read by Secretary to the State Government, Chief Boniface Chima, the stakeholders ordered that status quo ante be maintained in the disputed land.

They also directed that anyone staying on the disputed land should vacate within 24 hours, warning that defaulters will be treated as criminals.

The communiqué read: “Ezza and Ezillo leaders should review the •Continued on page 40

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Aba lawyers, court workers relish end of strike T for it.

Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State chapter had embarked on an industrial action alongside their federal counterparts after the judgment of an Abuja Court approved the financial autonomy, and other emoluments, of the judiciary.

While their federal court workers called off the strike following an agreement between their union and the Federal Government, their counterparts in some states continued the action as no such agreement had been reached.

The situation in Abia State lingered until last week when stakeholders in the judiciary and a delegation from the state government led by the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu among others entered into an agreement with representatives of the workers union. Thereafter, the strike was suspended.

The suspension of the industrial action brought a smile on the faces of members of the workers’ union, lawyers practicing in the state, inmates awaiting bail and trial including members of the general public seeking justice.

Our correspondent who went round Aba to monitor the resumption of courts on Monday reports that members of JUSUN in the state urged its members to report to duty.

The workers complied with the directive.

In some of the courts visited, including Aba South Magistrate court, workers were seen clearing grass, while court clerks were issuing new dates to lawyers whose cases were adjourned.

Though the reporter was not able to speak with the Aba South Court I magistrate, His Lordship Chijioke Nwogu his car was spotted at its parking lot even as a staff of the court confirmed that he was in office for duties.

Some of JUSUN members who preferred anonymity said that though they were yet to see the

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

content of the MOU however expressed their happiness on the decisions of the state government and the judiciary workers’ body in the state to come together on a round table and agreed on certain conditions before the strike was suspended.

At Aba High, the situation was not different from what was witnessed at the Magistrate Courts as the place was packed full with many lawyers on hand as early as 8am waiting for Judges of respective courts to come to court.

Some of them that spoke to our correspondent said that they were happy that the court judiciary workers have decided to call of the strike and court expected to resume sitting.

They expressed concern over the growing number of inmates languishing in prison and police custodies especially people with criminal matters who would have either been granted bail or hearing on their matters to have commenced.

“Do you know what it means for somebody to be on awaiting trial for nearly four months? Do you know what it means for someone who having met his or her bail application to spend extra months in detention? Do you know what it means for an inmate who was supposed to have served out his sentence in the last three months or so to be delayed again because some judicial processes could not be completed because of the strike?

The truth is that the impact of the strike did more damage than good.

It is not that JUSUN members should not fight for what is their right or what belongs to them, but the inability of both the group and government to resolve their differences early enough, my brother it (the strike) did a lot of damage to the system,” a lawyer stated.

Emeka Nnaji, an Aba-based lawyer, in an interview, said, “The suspension of the strike is a welcome development. At least the courts are lively now. Some courts sat this morning (Monday), others

•Aba South Magistrate Court now open for activities

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HE four-month-long strike has ended and lawyers and court workers are the happier

The strike did more damage than good. It is not that JUSUN members should not fight for what is their right or what belongs to them, but the inability of both the group and government to resolve their differences early enough, my brother, did a lot of damage to the system

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are busy issuing dates and most lawyers in court taking date for their matters even though it’s a very difficult task for lawyers now, but we are thanking God that the courts are lively now. Some Magistrates were in court but for one reason they didn’t sit because you have to issue dates to the lawyers and even to litigants; they have to know the date their cases before the court can start sitting. So, I thank the JUSUN for calling of the strike, at least people that have problem will like to come to the court for their

matters. ”The strike made police stations congested; some of the criminal matters that were supposed to charge to court were there (police station) lying pending but as the court have started sitting, I am optimistic that within some couple of days some of those matters that are waiting to go to court will be pushed to court so that people that want justice will go to court and get justice. Then there are some people that are also at the ATM

(awaiting trial inmates) now, some of them had already processed their bail papers waiting for an order to be issued for their release, but for the JUSUN strike, they were still in the prison yard. ”So what we want now is to tidy up our own side (lawyers’ side) because the magistrates and judges are ready as some started sitting today but for one thing or the order some are doing matters in the chambers and they couldn’t come out today to preside, but we just thank God and every other person that is involved in resolving the industrial dispute between JUSUN and the state government. … “Everybody is still learning; both the senior and junior lawyers.

Each time you are in court, there is something new you must learn even if you don’t learn the law, you may even learn the psychology of the court and from there you will know how to approach the court when next you are coming to the court… in the area of knowledge, we all lost a very huge thing in the strike.

“My advice is that both parties should come to a round table. In every crisis, there must be a •Continued on page 28

Grace, skill of Imo octogenarian dancers

•Voters waiting for INEC officials at Okigwe Road Primary School, Aba, Abia State

•Continued from page 26 Asked about the benefits of belonging to the group, the octogenarian dancer replied that, “the benefits are enormous, for instance, we are given royal treatment and many preferences. We are exempted from any form of dues and communal labour and if any member passes on the burial expenses are paid by the community and as for the financial benefit, we are well paid before each outing and apart from our fee, we equally make good mone from the spectators who appreciate us with lots of money.”

Another member of the group and the lead instrumentalist, Madam Grace Uzodinma, described her membership of the group as a huge blessing, “I count myself blessed to belong to the group. Apart from the financial benefits, it has given a reason to be alive as I look forward to each outing with great enthusiasm”.

The visibly frail-looking dancer, disclosed that she replaced her mother who died as a member of

the group at the age of 102 years.

“I joined the group after my mother who was a member died.

But before she died I was already showing great interest in the group and I know I was going to be a member one day”.

She however expressed fear about the future of the group, “because of religion, most of the women don’t want to join even when we approach them. They see the group as fetish. For instance now we have positions that are yet to be occupied after the death of some of our members this is a very serious situation because the Keleke Dinga troupe may go into extinct after the current members have all passed on.

“But it is our culture and should be preserved. There is nothing fetish or ungodly about it. It is our identity and it pains me to know that it will cease to exist one day.

Most of us have travelled far and wide as a result of this dance troupe and everywhere we go we come back with laurel and people will want to know where we come from.

But all of these may end after us”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

How I’ll develop Abia, by governor-elect

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BIA State governor-elect, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has promised that his administration will be investor sectordriven.

Speaking to reporters in Umuahia, Abia State capital, Ikpeazu noted that “the revenue allocation from the Federation Account is on the decline. Therefore, there is the need for us to diversify •Continued from page 27 solution, so I want both JUSUN and the government to have pity on the masses. In every of their grievance let them look at the people that are suffering. I am not saying that JUSUN at not supposed to have that which they are entitled to but I am also asking them to look at the masses that are suffering. There are people that are at ATM in the prisons, there are people that their rights are being trampled upon that wants to come to court to seek redress, but unfortunately, because of the strike, they couldn’t come to the court. So what I am saying is for government and JUSUN officials to come to a round table and solve the problem by sitting in a roundtable so that everything will be well….”

Chidozie Ogunji the Aba branch chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is a chat said it was a good development and “it could have been also destructive if the time that we are entering into with the incidences of election and post-election issues which includes election petitions and also time to charge electoral offenders and other things. It will also keep the whole ambit of the profession running again after 4months of dormant engagement.

It is now ideal that people should go on and explore the content of the law for the less-privilege and of course it becomes an end to the anomaly of having three arms of government with two working and the one that should play the role of an arbiter between persons and persons, government and persons and government agencies and government. It is a good development and something that we are happy about.

Ogunji advising government and JUSUN said “To me it is two ways, when government entered into an agreement they should be able to comply with it. However it goes, people should understand that government is a continuum because in a month’s time there will change of leadership, so how I am looking at it is basically that it is a function of the party as much as possible having a meeting of mind. Let government be more open with the JUSUN, JUSUN should also be more understanding. All we want in the state is a harmonious working relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive where the Judiciary will be independent and the Executive is not interfering. ”I will suggest that the two

Contrary to the impression some people are having about me, I will owe allegiance only to the citizens of the state with whose mandate I will govern the state and not to any other person…The revenue allocation from the Federation Account is on the decline. Therefore, there is the need for us to diversify the economy of the state and look inward so that we will stop depending of federal allocation

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gratitude to the people of Obingwa Local Government Area for giving him bloc vote during the just-concluded governorship and House of Assembly election held on April 11and the supplementary election of April 25, saying that was the first time since the creation of the state

a candidate from that area was vying for the position of governor.

“So, my people saw it as an opportunity for their son to become governor of the state. In the past, previous governors had always picked their deputies from Obingwa, Osisioma or

Ugwunagbo. This is because of the numerical strength of these areas.

“Since the creation of the state, the area which was formerly known as Obioma Ngwa has always been voting massively for whoever is contesting for the position of governor of the state because of the selection of the deputy from the area.”

On why he received bloc or massive votes from Obingwa Local Government Area, Ikpeazu said politicians should study the political topography of their areas before making comments.

Ikpeazu, who hails from Obingwa Local Government Area received a total of 82,240 votes against APGA’s Alex Otti who received 1, 952 votes. He said his people voted for their son in order to produce the governor for the first time since the creation of the state.

The governor-elect said it was not strange that he received such bloc vote from his people who were having an opportunity of producing the governor of the state for the first time.

•Life returns to Abia State High Court, Aba

Aba lawyers, court workers relish end of strike parties should be open to each other, when there is that openness in terms of what is generated and what you do to the people, there won’t be much acrimony. So, I believe that the parties will be very much more interested in having the court than any of them either the government or JUSUN throwing up issues that will in any manner forestall or impede the administration of justice in the state.

Information at The Nation disposal has it that the judiciary workers union after series of meetings and consultations with officials of the Abia State Government signed a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) last week in Umuahia the state capital at the Office of Head of Service to suspend the industrial action.

A source who was at the meeting named Chief Umeh Kalu,Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, C.E Anyim,chief Registrar High Court of Abia State, Benson Anya,chief Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal,Abia State, National VicePresident, JUSUN, southeast, Mark Ifezue, Emmanuel Onyemeribeya,

Chairman, JUSUN, Abia State Branch, Umuahia NBA Chairman Chief A.C.R Onubuogu among other stakeholders were the people.

The group said that they wouldn’t hesitate to go back to strike by the end of this month if government fails to implement the content of the MOU. In the MOU made available to The Nation the Abia State Government said that they would implement the provisions of section 81(3) and 121(3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended with regard to seeing that all monies-personnel, overhead and capital costs, due to the State Judiciary as appropriated in the Judiciary Budget are released to Heads of Courts concerned through the accounting officers of the Judiciary on monthly basis on budget performance.

According to the MOU, the state Government shall issue all necessary circular and instruments to give effect to ensure that the content of the agreement would be implemented in accordance with the Abuja Federal High Court Order.

,

•Mr. Ikpeazu

the economy of the state and look inwards so that we will stop depending on revenues from the Federation Account.”

He said though he vied for the position of governor of the state, he explained that he was not desperate to become the next governor of the state, adding that there were things he cannot do or be subjected to do because of his quest to be the governor.

He said his promise was to give total allegiance to the people if he became the governor. This, he said, was because they would be the ones to give him their mandate to govern them and not to anyone, contrary to what people are saying.

Ikpeazu said: “Contrary to the impression some people are having about me, I will owe allegiance only to the citizens of the state with whose mandate I will govern the state and not to any other person.”

The governor-elect expressed his

,

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

To me it is two ways, when government entered into an agreement they should be able to comply with it. People should understand that government is a continuum because in a month’s time there will change of leadership

,

......”that the personnel emolument of the Judiciary staff based on CONJUSS as contained in the 2015 budget estimate be implemented.

That this Memorandum of Understanding shall take effect from January, 2015.

That all arrears in Overhead, Personnel and Capital Costs in respect of the months of January,

February and March, 2015 for the Abia State Judiciary (High Court, Customary Court of Appeal and Judicial Service Commission) shall be paid along with the April, 2015 release of fund. That the right of JUSUN to resume the industrial action in case of any breach if this memorandum is reserved,” part of the MOU read.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Dickson

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

PAGE 29

YEN AGO A YENA GOA

IKARALAND

DEL TA ST ATE DELT STA

THREE popular suburbs of Yenagoa - Agudama, Akenfa and Igbo-Gene- have been in darkness for over a month. Residents and workers in the areas have been battling with protracted power outage. They want the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to help end their woe.

•PAGE 35

OVER 18 months after oil spills from the facilities of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and fire outbreak ravaged Ikara in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, the people of the Itsekiri community are still waiting for succour

DELTA State government is set to kick-start a manufacturing and skills acquisition project in IsseleUku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area.

Many foreign investors are said to have indicated interest in the multibillion naira shoes factory.

•Oshiomhole

•PAGE 32

•Uduaghan

•PAGE 34

David versus Goliath •Octogenarian battles Delta govt over family land •We need it for public interest, says commissioner

T

HE inauguration of Effurun flyover was widely celebrated, not only by the people of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, but by other residents of the state and users of the federal highways passing through the community.

Owners of nearby property and businesses were optimistic that the development would open up fresh vistas of businesses, increase the value of their property and bring increase patronage and prosperity.

Property owners are already seeing jumps in the value of property and investments in the area.

But for Madam Modupe Edemirubra Ijeki and her family, the ceremony morning is bringing closer the fear of losing their multimillion naira heirloom. They watched the pomp and fanfare that marked the inauguration ceremony with feeling trepidation and uncertainty over their future because of an alleged threat by the state government to demolish the property, which already bore the dreaded ‘X’ mark of the state Ministry of Land and Urban Development.

The property is a rough diamond; outwardly it seems like a collection of shanties, dilapidated bungalows and makeshift structure. But they sit atop one of the most valued part of the business capital of Delta State.

The dualisations of the vital EffurunWarri Road and recent facelift for the busy Refinery Road and ongoing construction of an international shopping mall, among other developments have increased value of land and office spaces in the area.

But there is no joy for the Ijekis The octogenarian Madam Ijeki, a widow, said prior to the ceremony the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had personally visited her compound and ordered her, her children and grandchildren to seek alternative accommodation because the row of bungalows on the property have been marked as illegal structure, which would be demolished.

“How can the home that I have lived in even before the governor was born now become an illegal

‘

I have lived here since I was born; it is the only home that I know, except for when I was in my husband’s house.

I have brothers and sisters and relations who were all born here. Our forefathers were born, lived and died and buried here and now we must leave

‘

From Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Warri

structure simply because they want to forcefully take over the land and use it for their personal business?

“I have lived here since I was born; it is the only home that I know, except for when I was in my husband’s house. I have brothers and sisters and relations who were all born here. Our forefathers were born, lived and died and buried here and now we must leave!”

•Continued on page 30

•Madam Modupe Edemirubra Ijeki

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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35

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

David versus Goliath

How company’s negligence threw Bayelsa communities into darkness T

•Continued from page 29

S

HE told Niger Delta Report that a section of the property is also home to the Egbegbeje shrine and about nine graves where at least four generations of her ancestors were buried.

Our reporter’s visit to the site last Friday revealed that expansive compound and surrounding land is bordered by a similar property owned by the Aziza family at the edge of the Refinery Road on the East; EffurunSapele Road (Agric Junction) on the north and under-construction Shoprite (Delta Mall) on the South and West.

A valuation carried out by the renowned estate surveryors and valuers, Chris Oghene Omoru & Co, put the size of the property at 1,878.375square meters with approximately 31percent of it fully developed. “The remaining 69 percent of the site is used for landscaping, vehicular and pedestrian as well as aerial circulation for effective natural ventilation of the premises.” A copy of the report was given to our reporter.

A site layout plan contained in the valuation report indicated that the property contained five bungalows, seven auxiliary structures, a building foundation and several kinds of fruit trees and plants. The bungalows have a total of about 15 bedrooms and several living rooms as well as stores, warehouse and offices among others.

Independent investigation carried out by NDR revealed that the Delta State Government is acquiring the property and other adjoining land through the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development for “overriding public interest”.

The State Commissioner for Transport, Hon Ben Igbakpa told our reporter that the area is earmarked as the site of the Effurun Terminus of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) initiative of the state government, which has evolved severally since it was started about two years ago.

Igbakpa, who spoke in a telephone interview, clarified that the BRT, which is at an advanced stage on the Phase 1, starting from the flyover bridge to Enerhen Junction, was delayed because it had to be expanded to take three traffic at each sides of the road. As a result, he disclosed that the size of land needed increased from seven metres on either side to nine metres.

“The initial plan for the BRT was seven metres, but it had to be increased to nine meters in order to take three traffics at the left and right at the corridors of the BRT lanes.

“The present administration is still determined to carry on with the project and it will be complete to the first phase, which terminates at Enerhen Junction. We hope that the new administration, which is also PDP, will continue with the original plan (second phase), which is to end

at Ugbuwangue Market in Warri,” the commissioner added.

However, a male member of the Ijeki family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed reservation about the true reason behind government’s acquisition of their land and those of other families around the Effurun flyover bridge. He said the family suspected that the state government was hiding under the guise of ‘overriding public interest’ to hijack family land for private concerns.

“We all know that our land is close to the Shoprite that they are building; the construction is going at the same speed as most of government projects in the area because they want it completed before May 29 so that the governor can add it to the list of his achievements. The question is: ‘Why is the government so interested in the success of this private concern?’

“Shoprite is not even a Nigerian business concern; it is owned by South African firm and we are hearing that some government officials have stakesin it. So, could it be that Governor Uduaghan and his official are harassing us because they want to hijack our land for Shoprite?”

However, the Commissioner for Transport insisted in the chat with our reporter that the acquisition was for the BRT terminal. He said the Uduaghan administration’s vision was motivated by the desire to improve the economic wellbeing of the state and its citizens through development of infrastructure critical to diversifying the economy.

He assured that, contrary to fears of landowners in the area, no property would be acquired without payment of compensation. In fact, he said the issue of compensation payment had reached advanced stage, stressing that he was personally involved in the process to ensure it was speedily and fairly done.

“The matter is now in the Executive Council and we expect to have approval within the shortest possible time. It will be done transparently and will be fair to all concerned,” Igbakpa assured.

Despite the assurance, there are concerns that several loose ends abounds.

For instance, Mrs Clementine Erute, one of the descendants of Ijeki, who owns a bar in the compound, faulted the processes adopted by the government for the acquisition. She insisted that the government acted without the interests of its citizens.

She slammed the governor for allegedly referring to buildings within the property as illegal structure saying, “It is wrong to say that a place where our 80-year-old matriarch was born and where hundreds of other children have been born and raised for more than a century is illegal place. Nobody would like to hear.

How would he feel if we call the place of his birth illegal?”

•The disputed land

•ijeki land with ongoing construction of Shoprite in the

Similarly, our findings revealed a wide gulf between the families’ expected compensation and what the government would actually pay. For instance, the private firm commissioned by the Ijeki family for the valuation estimated the property at N165,327,195. Although NDR could not ascertain the figure approved for the property, reliable government sources said it was less.

Our findings further revealed that

background

in the highly unlikely situation where the compensation is amicably and swiftly resolved, the issue of time needed for relocation might be a snag.

Mrs Erute told our reporter that they were reliably informed that the government would allow them a mere three days for relocation as soon as they are compensated.

She accused the governor of taking advantage of her family’s poor standing to maltreat them. “It is because

he sees us as poor people that is why he is able to act with this level of impunity; if there was a mansion standing here he would not give us threeday notice to move out. How can you expect an aged woman with grandchildren living with her to get a place in three days and move out?”

Also, Madam Ijeki insisted that the graves of at least nine famous patriarchs and matriarchs of the family as well as the shrine must be relocated

after due appeasement sacrifices. The cost of performing the appeasement and actual relocation are put at over N25m.

Information gathered from experts and Uvwie elders revealed that the ceremonies, relocation of graves and appeasement of deity to enable the shrine allocation are processes that required up to several weeks and even months to be effectively done.

On the other hand, the octogenar-

HE popular suburbs of Yenagoa - Agudama, Akenfa and Igbo-Gene- have one thing in common : darkness. For over a month, residents and workers in the area have been battling with protracted power outage.

Though the power situation in the state is generally epileptic, the condition of the three neighbourhoods is pathetic. Even when the PortHarcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) rations its meager megawatts, the suburbs are denied their share.

The predicament of residents in the area started about four weeks ago when a crane said to belong to Daewoo Construction Company (DCC) fell and destroyed an electricity pole.

Samson, a resident of Akenfa recalled what happened on that day.

He said: “A crane carrying a caravan was trying to drop the caravan and then it got hooked to the electric wire and caused the collapse of a pole.

“Both the crane and the caravan fell. The caravan landed on a car that was parked by the roadside. Some people said the leg of the crane was not well positioned on the soil which was sandy.

“We’ve not had light for a month.

This is unfair. When I’m home I can’t watch television again. I can’t watch news again and the heat these days is terrible. I don’t know why it’s taking them this long to rectify the issue.

“Even MTN’s generator and gate were affected. I think PHEDC said they must be paid before they repair anything and the company that owns the crane has not been here to say something.This incidence affects the Naval Headquarters and the Nigerian Law School in Agudama”.

In fact, the law school and the naval headquarters have been thrown into darkness. Everybody is appointing accusing fingers at Daewoo for its nonchalant attitude towards the problem.

The Spokesperson of the Central Naval Command, Lt. Com. Ahmed wondered why some people’s negligence would be allowed to fester and cause a monumental problems to thousands of residents.

“It is affecting us both psychologically and economically. The streetlights are no longer functioning and this has increased the level of theft in the evening. Bad boys snatch bags and phones from people.

“You need to see the number of people that troop to the filling station here every evening. It is very serious. It is even worse that Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company(PHEDC) isn’t doing anything about it”, he said.

Also James, an auto repairer in Agudama confirmed the circumstances that led to the falling of the crane and caravan on electric pole.

“A company came here with a crane and caravan to drop it at this very site. The crane man took the caravan up to lay it down on one side, the crane’s leg bent and the crane and caravan fell on top of the car. The car was damaged beyond repair”, he said.

Niger Delta Report (NDR) gathered that the damaged vehicle belongs to one Mr. Sunny Osamuje. When NDR located Osamuje, he was livid with anger. He demanded an immediate replacement to his car which he said was a source of livelihood to him and his family members.

He said: “I am into transport business and it is this my car that I use. I am also the security man in charge of this telecommunication mast.

•The car damaged by the caravan

•The crane that collapsed on pole

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

“For now, there is no light and the company that damaged my car has not come to tell me whether they will buy me another car or not.

“The company was complaining when I went there that the bill PHEDC and MTN gave them is too much.

“My car has been lying there for one month and nobody has come to discuss anything with me. I am a family man who needs to feed his family.

“The driver of the crane was so careless that he wouldn’t listen when he was told to move the crane from the roadside. Luckily the crane crossed above my house but unfortunately came on my car before it was removed from my car.

“There was a day Daewood employees came to meet that the company wanted to buy me another car. We got to a car dealer’s shop here in Bayelsa state and the man said the car is about #500,000, but the company said the car

is too expensive and that we should go to Port Harcourt.

“We got there but could not buy the car. I won’t allow them to move this crane until they resolve my problem”.

Indeed, the development has affected business owners within the area.

They are complaining bitterly and pleading with all the parties involved in the problem to quickly resolve it.

For instance, Mrs. Isabella, a fashion designer, said she had spent a lot of money on fuel to run her generator since the incident occurred.

“This incident happened on 1st of April. Since then, there has not been electricity and I use N1,000 fuel to power my generator everyday.

“Nobody has even come to our rescue to look at what is happening. No information; no nothing. Just like that,we are in darkness.

“This has affected me badly in several ways. I cannot do what I’m supposed to do. Even in the night I cannot cut clothes. We close the shop by

‘

Nobody has even come to our rescue to look at what is happening. No information; no nothing. Just like that,we are in darkness. This has affected me badly in several ways

‘

7:00pm now because there is no light and all these bad boys are using that as an advantage to steal. We now sleep in fear”, she said.

Also, Chibuzor, a dealer on electrical appliances called for the intervention of the government.

“Honestly, this light issue has affected us so much. The company should do something about this. They don’t seem to care. The government should please come to our aid” he said.

To Mr. Ifeanyi, a refrigerator and airconditioner dealer, Daewoo should not abandon the communities.

“Actually,for the kind of work I do,I need power regularly. The company that owns the crane has come several times to remove it to no avail because of how the crane fell.

“We are still looking up to the company to come and do something but they cannot do it alone. So, the government has to assist them.

“I don’t like being idle,I should be busy by now but the work is paralysed because there is no power.”

But many of the residents appealed to Daewoo to remove the cranes, compensate owners of damaged property and ensure restoration of electricity without further delay. They also demand unreserved apologies from the company for making them pass through nightmare.

31

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Navy takes medical rhapsody to Bayelsa community

• A child receiving an injection

•One of the oldest community members receiving medical attention from the navy

“H

EALTH is wealth". The Central Naval Command (CNC) was on point in choosing the globally accepted maxim as the theme of its recently concluded medical rhapsody in Bayelsa State.

The command, whose Areas of Responsibility (AoR) apart from Bayelsa comprises Delta, Kogi and Anambra, took its medical mission to Ogboloma community in Yenagoa Local Government Area where its headquarters is located.

Ogboloma, the benefitting community, was very receptive. They were happy that free medical help came their way. Little wonder everybody came out to be part of the naval magnanimity. Children, youths, the aged and community leaders were not left out. Some clutched their ill ones to the chosen centre while others used motorcycles and other means of transportation to convey the sick to the area.

At the last count, over 3000 persons turned up for the medical mission. The naval medical crew emptied their drugs. In fact, they were inundated with many health complaints. They carried out eye examination on persons with optical problems; conducted dental checks, laboratory investigations and health talks.

The Acting Commander, Warri, Captain C.A Opara, who was the special guest and leader of the Naval medical team, said the mission is part of the naval community outreach programmes.

"The Medical Rhapsody in the Navy started about 2006 when the Navy decided that apart from being seen as one of the arms of the armed forces, that is the Army and the Airforce, there is the need to also reach out to the civilians, to provide a cordial civil-military relationship," she said.

Realising the importance of friendly civil-military relationship, she said that the navy decided that its medical department should have a Medical Rhapsody. She described the rhapsody as a kind of medical outreach designed for host communities and environs.

Before commencing any medical mission, she said the medical team prepares itself to handle any health

•Naval medical team with the Captain Opara in camouflage From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

problems.

She said: "In this instance, what we do is to give them health talks and medical checks. We find out that when this is done, often times we get to discover illnesses that even the individuals within the community are not aware of and we tend to start early treatment.

"We are aiming at making sure we reduce the mortality rate of individuals within the society and if there are instances of ailments or illnesses that can be spread communally, you teach them so that they can be aware of it.

"So preventive measures are therefore made. At the end of the day everyone of us come from a community and you will go back to that community on retirement."

On the response of people to the gesture, she said: "It's been wonderful. When I was in Calabar, we had it in three ocassions. We visited different places and we found out that people are positive about it. We get to see a large number of people and we have to control the crowd.

"Come May/June,we are going to have the Navy week. The Navy as a whole will have different Medical

Rhapsody in each command in different hospitals.Since we are still within the community, they come to our hospital for more medical information."

The captain encouraged the people to go for regular medical examinations. She said the medical education offered by the navy would help the people to identify and deal with health problems.

Addressing the people, she said: "We are here to educate you and this education will help the community to be aware of health problems .What we are going to do is to have different medical checks for the eyes, blood and we shall take the complaints of everybody here present.

"At the end of the day, there are sicknesses you have that you don't know, it is only through this test that you will discover it and treatment starts immediately. Let's not forget that prevention is better than cure".

Indeed, the Paramount Ruler of the community, His Highness, Chief F.K Tebepena, was excited. He appreciated the effort of the Nigerian Navy in his community and Nigeria as a whole.

"What I am seeing here today is just like a dream,which is not. It is real. I welcome the Nigerian Navy to my town. Thank you for coming

•Dental check being performed on a resident

to our community to help us with this medical assignment. This is a welcome development and a very unique opportunity. We are thankful to God for this", he said.

Shortly after the monarch's speech, the health talks started. The first health talk was on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. A guest speaker identified simply as Mr. James, enlightened the people on transmission and prevention of HIV. He emphasized that it could be transmitted through unprotected sex and the use of sharp objects. He pleaded with the participants to make themselves available for free HIV tests conducted by the medical team.

The second health talk on hypertension was anchored by the Principal Medical Officer of the Nigerian Naval Hospital, Warri, Dr. E. Ikwuagwu. He described hypertension as a silent killer and advised people He advised people who were above 40 years to always go for regular medical checks. He also advised that persons diagnosed of High Blood Pressure (HBP) should always take their drugs.

"Don't be too busy for your health.

Check your blood pressure at least once a month and take your medicine. No amount of money you pursue is equivalent to your health", he

appealed.

Children were not left out in the health talks. A Navy Warrant Officer identified as Akpan spoke on how child mortality could be prevented and the various types of vaccination given to children at different stages.

"Vaccinations are given to prevent various diseases. Mothers should help their children to live a healthy lifestyle. When your children are healthy, you save a lot of money and you are happy as a mother", he said.

Based on the spirits of the talk, the medical team isolated children above two years and gave them vaccines.

One of the beneficiaries and mother of two who identified herself as Mrs. Clement, poured encomiums on the navy.

She said: "I am happy about what the Navy is doing. I came with my son and daughter for free medical treatments and I also complained to the doctor concerning a pain on my left leg and I was given some drugs.

May God bless them.

Also, a woman in her 60s who preferred to be called Mama Grace, spoke of her experience in pidgin. She said: "I come tell the doctors say my waist and legs dey pain me. Dem do test for me come give me drugs wey I go dey use and all na free. Dem try for us o." .

32

33

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Oil spill: Itsekiri community in Edo tackles NPDC over incessant spills Over 18 months after oil spills from the facilities of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and fire outbreak ravaged Ikara in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, the people of the Itsekiri community are still waiting for succour, writes SHOLA O’NEIL VER 18 months after several crude oil spills from the facilities of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and fire outbreak ravaged Ikara, Ajatiton and Kolokolo communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, the people of Ikara, an Itsekiri community, are still waiting for the management of the national oil firm and the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA) to act on the spill.

It was learnt that the management of NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is resolute that it would neither negotiate with nor pay compensation to the communities, due to an extant policy of not paying for spills caused by “3rd Party Interference”.

The people of Ikara, one of the affected communities told Niger Delta Report that the spills, which occurred from late 2013 through January and February of 2014, wreaked untold havoc on the environment and ecology of their land. They said resulting fire from the spills later ravaged the forests, fish ponds and farmlands around the area, leaving in its wake gale of destruction, hunger and poverty.

It was learnt that a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) carried out by NOSDRA and other stakeholders on January 6, 2014, over one month after the first incident, recommended the immediate repair of the pipeline, environmental assessment, clean up and post-clean-up investigation of the impacted areas.

Our findings, collaborated by documents from NOSDRA and other agencies, revealed that the repair of the damaged pipeline was not properly done. One of the independent valuers said, “It was the clamps placed to contain the initial damage that ruptured and led to at least two other spills in the proceeding months.”

Just one month after, on February 18, 2014, there was another report of spillage from the NPDC’s Oziengbe/ Oredo 6" Export pipeline at Ikara swamps. Equipment failure and failed clamp was indicated as the cause of the spill.

The JIV which led to the revelation was carried out on March 13, nearly one month after, contrary to the NOSDRA regulation, which recommended that such investigation should be done within 72 hours (three days) after the spill is reported.

The investigation nonetheless iden-

O

tified oil stains on vegetation, fishing nets, dead floating fishes and withering vegetation as the nature of impact of the spill. Properties affected were listed as crops, fish farm and ponds and fishing nets, among others.

The document signed on behalf of the agency by Adanu Charles and I A Jonathan, remarked that the spill was caused by a previously clamped section of the pipeline, which was leaking and recommended that immediate repair of the facilities be effected.

“NPDC should intensify surveillance.”

Two weeks after the visit, a fire outbreak occurred on 27/03/14 at the same facility and around the same area. The impacted areas were delineated as within and outside the company’s ROW (Right of Way). A JIV, three days later remarked that “The cause of the fire incident is not known”. The report though conceded that “crude oil was all over the area before the incident, which was not cleaned-up.”

NPDC was asked to “Commence immediate cleanup and remediation of the impacted area”, by NOSDRA’s Olawumi Oladapo, who led the team along with NPDC and community representatives.

Just a month later, on 23/04/14, there was yet another spill from a “failed clamp” on the 6" pipeline. The remark on the JIV report, which was obtained by NDR read: “As at the time of visit, the crude oil was seeping out of the failed clamp.”

Although it noted that the spill was still within the confines of the firm’s ROW, the JIV report advised that “NPDC should respond to the spill immediately to prevent the oil from moving out of the ROW”. It also urged the company to do “immediate cleanup of the impacted area”.

One of the community leaders, Chief John Eyejamuro, told our reporter in a telephone chat that the company’s perceived “irresponsibility has led to suffering and hardship in the community”. He accused the company of neglecting the impacted community and shirking its responsibilities to them.

But NPDC source said the community members were responsible for the spill through sabotage of the company’s facilities because they wanted to be compensated.

An environmental consulting and engineering services firm engaged by the communities, Fredorosa Casolini Limited, petitioned the Speaker of the

•Ikara Community leader, Mr Austin Uwanikone, assessing extent of damage in Ikara

•Area impacted by spills in 2014

Oil exploration in Ogoniland: Firm signs agreement with communities From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

I

NDIGENES of Kegbara Dere (K-Dere) communities of Gokana local Government area of Rivers state have entered into agreement with with Belema Oil and Gas Producing Company to take over oil exploration business in their land.

The agreement which was brokered in a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday clearly spelt out terms of business between the two parties.

In their separate speeches shortly after the signing, the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director (CEO/MD), Belema oil, Tien Jack-Rich and the Paramount Ruler of K-Dere Communities, HRH. Chief Donald K.Gberesuu respectively expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the signing event and assured each party’s readiness to respect the term of the agreement.

Jack-Rich also used the event to meet and hand over the 300 bags of fertilizer and N10 million cheque to peasant farmers, youths and indigent members of the community, to support their farming projects for the year among other needs.

Jack-Rich said, “We’ve just signed agreement to assure K-Dere communities that they will have 10 per cent dividend from the profits we will make from oil exploration in their communities annually.

“This is the first time they are receiving such offer and they are excited about it.

“K-Dere communities have the largest bulk of oil produced in OgoniLand, spanning over 60 per cent of Ogoni oil. The agreement talks about the relationship between Belema oil and our host communities, it stated their acceptance of the company to come and take-over oil exploration in in OML 11 formerly owned by SHELL. “We have agreed to give the Ogonis 10 per cent of whatever we produce from their land, (Profit after tax) while we take eight per cent of it. The People are very eager and happy to sign this agreement with our company to ascertain their partnership relationship with Belema Oil, with the view of securing the future of their generation, because they will not just going to be dividend sharing partners but will also benefit from the technical and non-technical services of the business.

“Apart from oil and gas companies, wherein we are looking at setting up refinery, gas processing unit and Petro-chemical platform, we are also going to bring in local community type auto-mobile in Ogoni Land.

“Our plan is to transform Ogoni Land into an industrial hub which would translate into the creation of employments that will open up, develop the area. “ This will in turn empower every indigene of the area and wipe out criminality because everybody will have what to do to get going in life.”

According to him, his plan of transforming OgoniLand is not particular to KDere communities but the entire Ogoni, stressing that every part of the area paid the ultimate price for the mineral deposit in the area.

Clearing the issue of initial resistance in some quarters of the area said it has been addressed.

He explained that those who mounted the resistance thought that exploration would begin as soon as he(Belema) takes-over, but maintained that there would be no exploration until the impacted areas and other legacy issues that must be addressed first.

“My focus is not just K-Dere communities, but because they have the highest quantity of oil, they are heavily impacted by the mess that must be cleaned before any further production can begin.

“The resistance has been taken care of. There was a misunderstanding that production will start the moment the licence was issued, but not all. Taking over does not mean starting production immediately, there are legacy issues, clean-up and UNEP report issues that must be addressed before any other thing can be done in the area.” he explained.

Also speaking Chief Gberesuu expressed the hope that the agreement signed has ushered his community and their members into good fortune and urged the people to pray for sustained peace in their land to enjoy the good things to come.

UNIDO, Armani partner Delta govt

•Area impacted by spills in 2014

Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, urging for urgent intervention of the House to save the people of Ikara and other impacted areas.

The petition, dated 9th May, 2014 was signed by Eyimofe BrownDibofun. It decried “The consequences of the unwholesome environmental practices by the NPDC”, which he said resulted in “continuous pollution of surface and underground water which is the source of drinking water for the people; the unending pollution and degradation of rivers and creeks, mangrove and vegetation leading to a depletion of its flora and fauna.

The consultant also lamented the non-completion of Post-Spill Impact Assessment (PSIA), which usually ends in the damage assessment of resources and properties. “We are to mention that we are also disturbed that the mandatory PSIA, which must come before cleanup and remediation has not been done and yet the polluter (NPDC) is eager to clean-up the polluted sites and the waterways in order to obliterate scientific and visual evidence required for this matter.”

The petition demanded that NPDC

D

•Area impacted by spills in 2014

proceed to Ikara and other communities with stakeholders for the PSIA and Post-fire Impact Assessment of forest and resources as well as the cleanup and remediation work in the impacted area.

“NPDC must supply adequate relief materials (foodstuffs, water and medication) to be determined by NOSDRA to assuage the sufferings of the people occas0ioned by the oil spill.”

Several months after the 2013 spill, NPDC engaged the service of Mytec Links International Limited for the cleanup, remediation and restoration of the impacted areas. The company mobilized to sight in August 2014.

Apparently unimpressed with the processes leading to the planned cleanup, FREDOROSA, on December 30, 2014, wrote to NOSDRA’s Director General, Sir Peter Idabor, reminding the agency of the legal imperative to ensure the PSIA and Post Impact Assessment for Ikara” are done.

The letter stated that “It is a legal imperative that NOSDRA, as an Agency of the Federal Ministry of Environment, must ensure the assessments.” A further reminder was sent

to the agency on January 22, 2015.

The letters, our findings revealed, was the culmination of distrust between Ikara leaders, NOSDRA and NPDC. Before the petition to the NASS, the communities had also raised concern over purported attempted by the NPDC to “destroy JIV evidence”. They claimed that the oil firm tried to mutilate the JIV forms signed by the stakeholders “with a view to destroy evidence against them on their unwholesome environmental practices.”

Speaking with our reporter on Monday, Brown-Dibofun insisted that the ploy to destroy the evidence of the JIV was hatched in connivance with some official of NOSDRA who went for the JIV. “When we noticed this, we protested to the then Zonal Director in Warri, Mr Bunmi Akindele, who later queried some of the officials deployed for the JIV.” The FREDOROSA boss’ claim could not be independently confirmed because Akindele was no longer the Zonal Director at the agency’s Warri office at the time of this report. The result of the ‘query’ was also unknown.

Nevertheless, Eyimofe-Brown insisted that the NPDC spill management process was not transparent. He said, “Over 80percent of spills are wrongly listed by the company as 3rd party intervention in order to escaped liability.

“It is not only in the cause that they plan pranks; they also under report the quantity of crude oil spill. There was a case when the company said just 40 barrels of crude was spilled but when it awarded the contract for the recovery, the contractor was asked to recovered hundreds of barrels; where did the extra came from?”

Our problem with Ikara, others - NPDC Our reporter’s effort to reach the Managing Director of the NPDC, Mr. Anthony Ugonna Muoneke and other staff competent to speak for the company was abortive.

However, a very reliable and high ranking officer of NPDC, who spoke on condition that his name would not be mention in this report, explained the company’s position on oil spills and other issues in the area. The source said some inhabitants of the

areas were notorious for attacks on oil installations, stressing that it got so bad that the company reached out to prominent leaders in Itsekiri nation to help curb the attack on NPDC’s pipelines.

“When we notice incessant cases of vandalisation of our pipelines in the area – sometimes they put fire on the pipeline - we became concerned. We approached one Chief Johnson and asked him to take up a contract to guard our pipeline. Immediately they started writing petition that they want the contract broken into pieces. We said not because we want to be able to hold somebody responsible. We were sure that he could do it and he has helped us arrest a lot of suspect. “ Speaking on the process of cleanup and remediation of the spill site, the source debunked allegation that a JIV report was tampered, stressing that it was a desperate ploy to malign the company. It noted that the community leaders knew the channel of dealing with the issues .

“The truth is that in any oil spill, we invite DPR (Department of Petroleum Resources), NOSDRA, community for a JIV and they look at to find

out if its equipment failure or vandalism. It is DPR that issue report about the JIV it is the report of DPR that determines what happens. If we have done JIV and DPR decides its sabotage, then that is what it is. The DPR is an independent government organ saddled with the responsibility.

“The problem of the community is that they are not willing to accept the report of DPR. Communities are using the press to blackmail and forcing us to do what is not right. They should have reported us to the Ministry of Environment and the NOSDRA; why go to the press? The Ministry of Environment asks questions when there is disagreement and we respond with documents.

“The law is that if it is vandalism which we have been experiencing, no relief materials, no compensation and nothing will be provided. If after vandalizing our equipment, making us lose production, shutdown and spend money on repair they still expect us to give them relief material?”

ELTA State government is set to kick-start a manufacturing and skills acquisition project in Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who spoke on Wednesday, said many foreign investors had indicated interest in the multibillion naira factory in Issele-Uku. He assured that the state's drive for industrialisation was on course.

Uduaghan, who led members of the State Executive Council to inspect the progress of work in the factory, said: "You have seen a lot of machines that will be used in the production of leather works and akwu-ocha, these will be used for both training and production of leather works, our products will be used both locally and internationally as a lot of local and foreign investors have indicated interest in the products from this factory/centre."

The governor revealed that reputable English footwear manufacturer, Clark of England, international fashion designer Giorgio Armani, FIIRO, M.I.T, Massachusetts, Cambridge University were among some of those who want to use the products and partner with the state government on the project.

Uduaghan disclosed that the Delta State government provided the funds

From Shola O'Neil, Warri.

for the project while UNIDO is providing the technical expertise, including the construction.

He described the project as one of the gains of the 'Delta Beyond Oil' initiative, which he added would enable some of the beneficiaries of the state Micro Credit Scheme to become small and medium entrepreneurs.

The governor endorsed the production of agro products like garri as part of the factory, stressing that it would solve some of the challenges faced by farmers in the state. "The centre will bridge the gap between the farmer and the end-users as it will take care of the excess supply, encourage price stability and more production to take care of the factory export needs".

He said: "This training institution is part of the achievements in the area of Delta Beyond Oil, a lot of entrepreneurs will be trained here and we call on the youths to always protect projects in their areas."

Allaying fear about the sustainability of the project, he assured Deltans that "there is an agency backed by law which is overseeing the programme to ensure its sustainability and if anything, the incoming administration of Dr Okowa (Governorelect) will improve on it.

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT PERSPECTIVE

Who really betrayed the Niger Delta cause?

S

INCE the results of the Presidential election were announced with the emergence of the General Muhammadu Buhari, many people have voiced one form of concern or another. In particular, the results took many people by surprise, especially in the South-South and SouthEast. Although many of them knew that the incumbent President was unpopular, they were expecting that some last minute rigging and manipulative magic could happen that would turn the tide in favour of the ruling party. For me, I knew it long ago that such a thing would be difficult to pull off. Many of us had publicly supported the need for Nigerians to experience a change in government this time around, and told anyone who cared to listen that the reelection of President Jonathan was mathematically impossible. As someone from the Niger Delta region (whether you say oil producing state or NDDC state), I was called all sorts of names being called including, unpatriotic, betrayer, sell-out, traitor and others. Even some of the prominent leaders who promoted other political parties were described the same way. I remained and still remain unmoved. However, as I have done in the past, I am once again forced to ask – what, exactly, is the true Niger-Delta cause? How did we contribute to betray it?

I cannot claim to be an authority on the underlying problems in the region. However, anyone who attempts to reduce the Niger-Delta struggle or cause (whatever that means) to the Jonathan presidency is at best being simplistic and at worst being unfair to the people of the region. With a flashback, I remember the early days of the agitation for resource control which initially crystallised into the symbolic Ogoni Bill of Rights sometime in 1990, and the centrality of environmental concerns to the people of our region in that document. One will not forget the sacrificial role of many persons, including the late Ogoni political activist Ken Saro Wiwa, who brought international attention to the issues at that time.

Then almost eight years later in 1998, representatives of communities of Ijaw extraction met, re-echoed and amplified the same issues of neglect, environmental devastation and resource control raised earlier and agreed to the Kaiama Declaration.

The Declaration called for increased infrastructural attention to the peo-

• Adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) protesting over unpaid allowance in Calabar... on Wednesday.

By Uche Igwe

ple and ecological rehabilitation of the region. Those were the two issues uppermost on the agenda at that time.

In between these years, many of leaders were actively involved and made important contributions to keep the issue on the front burner, both locally and internationally. Others paid with their lives in many peaceful protests and non-violent struggles against the military and the high-handedness of multinational corporations.

Put together, the period of the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the Kaiama Declaration still represents the most intellectual and non-violent phase of the struggle. This was before the ‘struggle’ was hijacked by miscreants, criminals and conflict entrepreneurs in the name of armed struggle and militancy. Given the descent into nearly absolute anarchy, which grossly affected, in the negative, on the economies of the various producing states witnessed under this era, it remains debatable whether this phase of the struggle was really worth the while. Many observers agree that this era of the struggle, despite its “nuisance value” of further escalating the message about the plight of the NigerDelta people, remains the darkest days of the struggle. This era is characterised by increased oil theft, rape and kidnapping-for-ransom (in many cases of the same Niger-Delta people whose interests the militants claim to be protecting or furthering), and by disruption of oil installation and production.

One must admit that the Obasanjo administration gave some attention to the people of the region by establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Subsequently, the late Yar Adua extended an amnesty to the militants, which led to the cessation of the escalating conflict and hostilities.

What about our own son? With the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. First as Vice President and later as President, the Niger-Delta people heaved a sigh of relief. While the outgoing President could be said to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the struggle, he could not do much.

Many people who took it for granted that the issues of the region would be given priority attention under him, are now completely disappointed.

After almost six years of the Jonathan Presidency, the same issues contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the Kaiama Declaration still persist. Dur-

ing his campaigns a few weeks ago, he claimed that he deliberately did not give attention to the region until he is re-elected. Is that a sufficient explanation for the neglect? Now that he has lost the election, what are the options open to the Niger-Delta people?

As I write, the most important road in the region, the East-West Road is yet to be completed. The coastal road project is still a pipe dream. No concrete effort has been made to clean up the heavily polluted communities in Ogoniland or elsewhere in the Niger-Delta. Even with the effort of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), which published a comprehensive report with clear recommendations. The proposed clean-up programme mas marred by selfish politics, and the US$1 billion counterpart fund reportedly provided by Shell and other partners has not been utilised. The reluctant establishment of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) was staffed with incompetent people and starved of operational funds. The consequence is that no clean-up activity has taken place to date. Not in Ogoniland and not anywhere else.

It is sad to recall that there were sons and daughters of the NigerDelta like Chief Edwin Clarke, Mr Kingsley Kuku and even Ken Wiwa Jnr. that became cheerleaders for the President, but hardly pointed him in the right direction. I remember that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State once raised alarm about the danger in continuous neglect of the East-West road. He was later confronted by the then Minister of the Niger-Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe who quickly branded the governor a betrayer of the NigerDelta cause. Now, which cause was Orubebe referring to? The one that has brought public resources into the pockets of the few to the detriment of many?

Now that the Jonathan administration is coming to an end, it is safe for observers try to find out who are the real betrayers of the Niger Delta struggle. Is it President Jonathan, the chief beneficiary of the struggle, who neglected the region for almost six years? Or is it people like Edwin Clark, Godsday Orubebe, and Government Ekpumepulo aka Tompolo, Ateke Tom, Asari Dokubo, Ann Kio Briggs, and others, that benefitted from the neglect? Or is it Mrs. Patience Jonathan who made NDDC a

•Igwe

personal farmland (or is it fishing port or Bori-Kiri) rather than an interventionist agency operating in the general interest of the people in line with its mandate? Or Governor Godswill Akpabio who knew where the President was headed yet kept cheering him? Or others like Governor Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe who kept raising concerns about the issues of non-development of the Niger-Delta and warned about the unpleasant consequences? Or is it a few of us citizens that believe in change and managed to vote for General Buhari and his All Progressives Congress amidst intimidation?

Having lost the Presidency from the region, we know that our problems may likely persist, because we no longer have the morality to complain about marginalisation and neglect to other Nigerians. Everyone assumed that President Jonathan had all the time in the world to attend to our teething problems, but he refused, failed, and/or neglected to do so, preferring instead to pursue and advance his personal ambitions.

Many argue that if the outgoing president had spent half the energy and zeal that he exerted in the pur-

suit of his re-election bid in the pursuit of the Niger Delta cause, the Niger Delta would have been an El Dorado. Here we are with gaseous and often carcinogenic hydrocarbons still being flared all over the region, with the Petroleum Industry Bill still pending, our ecosystem still heavily polluted, and our people inexplicably impoverished.

So back to the question – who are the real betrayers of the Niger Delta people? We must take an excursion into history and set the records straight for our children and the coming generations. We must answer that question for the sake of posterity. In so doing, we must be truthful to ourselves. We have been, thus far, untruthful and hypocritical to ourselves. We elevated sycophancy to the next level and, in the process, missed yet another opportunity to move our region forward. It will be self-destructive to turn around now to continue to blame others for our misfortunes, for the heavens help only those who help themselves.

•Igwe wrote from the Department of Politics at the University of Sussex.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

OME 28 days from today, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will be addressed as former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By then, he would have been president for six years. Two of the six years were inherited from his late principal, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died in office.

He went on to win the 2011 elections. His attempt to have a second term and emerge Nigeria’s longest serving leader ended on March 28 when he was crushed by Hurricane Buhari.

Though he lost, Jonathan has no cause to mourn. God has been kind to him. And for the rest of his life, God deserves nothing from him but praise.

Some 57 years ago, Jonathan was born in Otuoke, a backwater community, not far from Yenagoa, now the capital of Bayelsa State. At the time of his birth, Otuoke was rusty. Life was not good and to make matters worse, his parents were not well-heeled.

Eking out a living was a Herculean task.

Luxury did not exist in the Jonathans’ dictionary. Or, it existed only in their imagination.

Shoes were prized possessions for Goodluck and his siblings. For years he had no shoes to wear to school and when he eventually had a pair, he cherished the footwear as though they were from an Italian factory.

Through thick and thin, Goodluck went to school. Lucky him, he had primary, secondary and tertiary education. His immediate environment did not limit him. He did not stop at just first degree. He earned second and third degrees.

He was contented working with the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) as a director.

Then 1999 came and that marked the beginning of a journey he obviously was not aware of. The military exited from power after the death of Gen Sani Abacha, who had wanted to transform to a civilian leader until death liquidated him.

Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who took over, hurried a transition programme.

In Bayelsa, a state carved out of Rivers State and occupied only by the Ijaw, needed a governor. A giant by the name of Diepriye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha was the clear favourite to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. He needed a running mate and he chose Jonathan. They won the election and were sworn in as governor and deputy governor.

Alamieyeseigha was not a quiet governor.

He was ubiquitous. He soon became known as governor-general of the Ijaw nation. He was not satisfied being just Bayelsa governor. So, he self-styled himself the governor of all Ijaw in the country. At the beginning, it appeared there was no stopping him from ruling the state for eight years. Jonathan obviously did not think of becoming governor so early. But Alams, as he later became known, soon ran into trouble with the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo. He was impeached and a reluctant Jonathan became governor.

He completed Alams’ term and won the

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Goodluck is not enough

‘

described the North in unsavoury terms and said Buhari was brain-dead. Many agree that Nigeria has never had it so bad and it appears her husband could not tame her.

As president, he did not forget his former boss, Alams. He ensured he got a presidential pardon, which clears him of the corruption baggage. He even tried to run for the Senate to prove he was not a free man until he was stopped.

One thing must be pointed out and it is the fact that no Nigerian has had the sort of luck Goodluck has had. Though I am reluctant to praise him for doing the right thing by conceding defeat, this feat has also made him some hero and it is bound to occupy a major slot in his resume. The international community will most likely also give him some respect for not playing Gbagbo.

My final take: I am not sure of what future awaits him. But his experience in the ‘cage’ in the last 16 years was the sort he never dreamt of. If he compares the last 16 years with the years of beginning in Otuoke, praise and worship songs should eternally come out of his mouth. If he chooses to stay in Otuoke, Port Harcourt or Abuja, it matters not. What matters is that he should find a way to be closer to God and worship him with all of his heart. He should truly accept Christ as his lord and saviour and not worship God and Mammon.

If anyone still wonders what is in a name, then the Goodluck story exemplifies it. It, however, also shows that good luck is not always enough. There is a limit it can take you. It has taken Jonathan to heights he never expected. Now, is the time to live for God and humanity. Perhaps a GEJ Foundation dedicated to positively affecting lives in tangible ways won’t be a bad idea.

Mr. President, I wish you good luck.

If anyone still wonders what is in a name, then the Goodluck story exemplifies it. It, however, also shows that good luck is not always enough. There is a limit it can take Rivers and Akwa Ibom you. It has taken ATEEF Fagbemi and Wole Olanipekun are two Senior Advocates of Nigeria Jonathan to heights he (SANs) who have the reputation of alwinning cases they handle at the election never expected. Now, ways tribunals. They are brilliant, no doubt. But, I told the secret of their success also lies in is the time to live for am the fact that they look at cases critically before accepting. Once there is no merit in a case, they God and humanity avoid it.

L

•Dr Jonathan

PDP ticket to fly its flag after shrugging off challenge from the likes of Timi Alaibe, who was Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). It did not take time before his name came to play again. Luck smiled on him and Obasanjo, who made him governor after ensuring Alams’ impeachment, nominated him as Yar’Adua’s running mate. He became Vicepresident without struggling.

As Vice-President, he was largely anonymous. The first year rolled by and the second was soon here. The thought of becoming the first minority to lead Nigeria never crossed

‘

his mind. But again, luck smiled on him.

Yar’Adua fell ill. After months of games, he became acting President. It did not take long before Yar’Adua kicked the bucket. And Goodluck became Nigeria’s president. It was a meteoric rise that could have been queried as unrealistic if it had appeared in a work of fiction.

His ascension to the Presidency proper was to show to Nigerians and that his wife, Patience, loves power and she threw her weight along until Hurricane Buhari stopped her. She insulted everybody possible while trying to secure a second term for her husband. She

LAST WORD

Fagbemi is leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) team of lawyers to seek the voiding of the declaration of Chief Nyesom Wike as Rivers Governor-elect. Olanipekun is leading the APC team in Akwa Ibom to challenge Udom Emmanuel's 'election'.

The elections in these two states remain the most controversial. Observers, local and international, have described the polls as sham. Violence, rigging and outright writing of results are some of the issues observers have raised about the polls in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the observers, insisting the elections were free, fair and credible. The tribunals are where to defend the credibility of the polls.

Will Fagbemi and Olanipekun repeat their previous magic? These two cases will be interesting to follow.

BY OUR REPORTER

Leader’s murder: Delta community treads on familiar path

E

VEN by its unenviable high level of violence and history of brutal kilings, the murder of the Financial Secretary-elect of the Ekpan Community Trust, Ekpan, Delta State, Mr Olomu Abraham Siesiri, was callousness taken a notch higher. The Monday evening bloodletting sent shivers down the spines of residents of the area and neighboring Effurun, headquarters of Uvwie Local Government area of Delta State.

Various eyewitness accounts indicated that the victim was shot at least five times at pointblank range during a minor fracas. The scene was around the Joceco Petrol Station area of the Urhobo community and the victim was driving in the company of three friends when he met his unfortunate end.

Ironically, his death came just hours before he was to be inaugurated along with others into the very influential ECT. One account of his horrific murder indicated that he was on his way to the inauguration ceremony into the trust when he met his untimely end.

It was learnt that trouble broke out between

him and his killer when the latter crashed a car into Esiesiri’s car along the recently dualised Housing Complex/Refinery Link.

“When the other car bashed his car, AB came down and a hot exchange ensued between him and the two persons in the other car. In the heat of the shouting match, Siesiri slapped the driver of the other car. The young man just rushed back to his car, opened the booth, brought out a rifle and opened fire on him. All this took barely one minute.”

When the gunman and his accomplice fled the scene, their victim was lying helplessly in a fast flowing river of his own blood. His friends who rushed him to a private hospital in the area knew they were fighting a lost cause. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Medical report later indicated that the deceased youth leader was shot five times across his body. The circumstances and brutality of his death led to concern that the accident was merely a cover for what was possibly an assassination.

Leadership tussle in Ekpan, like other oil-rich

communities in the Niger Delta region, are often a matter of life and death. The community is host to several oil facilities, including Chevron/ Texaco Nigeria Limited, the Warri Refining and Petroleum Company (WRPC), Pipeline Products and Marketing Company as well as other oil services companies. Those who lead the various communities enjoy substantial patronages from the companies and politicians in the area.

As a result, the struggle to assume the leadership of the community and of being a part of any juicy committee is taken by key players as a door-die affair. Sometimes overambitious members who cannot wait for the next round of elections, usually resolve to bloody coups in which the extant leaders are either killed or forced to flee the community.

It was against this background that the death of the youth leader led to panic in Ekpan and neighbouring suburbs of the council on Monday.

The fears of reprisal killings of his real and perceived enemies have also gripped the community.

“The hard way is the only way. On a bad day,

a good man died,” read a tribute posted on Esiesiri’s FaceBook page by a ‘friend and brother’.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the report to reporters shortly after the killing, vowed that the police would track down the killers and bring them to book.

She said: “The killers escaped before Police arrived; expended shell of ammunition were recovered. Our crack team is on their trail to unravel the killers”, she said.

Interestingly, our investigation showed that the scene of the killing was a few meters away from the Ekpan Police Station. Similarly, a few meters down road at the Ekpan Junction, there is an army checkpoint. The military post was one of the measures taken several years ago by the state government and security agencies to curb the youths’ lust for blood and incessant killings occasioned by similar tussle.

Uneasy calm reigns in the community. The days ahead will determine if it is a calm before the storm.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Community pledges to support incoming administration The Ukwa and Ngwa people would ensure that Ikpeazu works with the right people that share the same developmental passion for the state, a process he said was the first step to effective delivery of good governance to the people of the state

•Ngwa women and others chanting celebrating Okezie Ikpeazu’s electoral victory in Aba

,

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

works with the right people that shares the same developmental passion for the state, a process he said was the first step to effective delivery of good governance to the people of the state.

Rev. Leonard Romanus, a member of the Ikpeazu family also opined that the governor-elect’s victory was victory for the Ikpeazu family, the people of Umuobiakwa community and Ukwa na Ngwa people.

Romanus said that his victory had made them (Ikpeazus’ and Umuobiakwa Community) very happy adding that their family would give him all the assistance he would need to lead Abians with enviable record and remarkable achievements.

The victory of Ikpeazu had on Sunday morning sparked wild ju-

•Youths celebrating at Brass Junction, Aba after the governorship election bilations among PDP family in the state who defied police ban on fireworks and explosives as they light burn fire, shot different kinds of firework amongst others to express their happiness over the victory of Ikpeazu.

Various youth groups went round the commercial city of Aba

in a motorcade that bears a coffin which was tied to it a wrapper belonging to the candidate of Ikpeazu’s closest rival and former MD of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti.

Unconfirmed report has it that some members of the jubilant group of boys were severely in-

jured in the process.

Reports that emanated from Umuobiakwa, Obingwa had it that the house of the governor-elect had become a mecca of sorts as politicians and individuals jostling for position have been coming to pay homage to the new man that would be sworn in on May 29.

My victory an act of God, says Ikpeazu From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

for all irrespective of where they come from,” he said.

He pledged to improve the state’s infrastructure and perk up the development of all sectors of the state’s economy.

“I will ensure that the economy of the state is improved upon and also make Ndigbo to believe in and make Abia the economic hub of the Southeast,” he said.

The governor-elect further explained that there was no election in the state, but an endorsement by the people of the state.

“What happened in the state was an endorsement and not a battle or election which is the reason there is peace in the state,” he said.

He then urged those who contested with him to come forward with their positive ideas and join hands with him to ensure that there

,

T

HE governor-elect of Abia State, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said his success at the justconcluded governorship and House of Assembly polls was an act of God, even as he has dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state. He promised to justify the confidence the people reposed in him by working hard to enhance their well-being.

He expressed his gratitude to the people for their trust in him and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the April 11election and the supplementary election held on April 25, saying that the people have made a bold statement for progress.

Speaking with reporters at his Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa Local Government Area, Ikpeazu said for the first time the people had elected a native of Ukwa/Ngwa as governor.

Promising that as the incoming governor of the state, Ikpeazu said his mandate is for both citizens and resident.

“I pledge to protect and treat all equally as I am determined to cater

,

T

HE people of Umuobiakwa Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State where Governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu hails from, have pledged to support him for a successful tenure.

Ikpeazu became the first Ngwa person to be governor-elect after he was declared winner of the April 11 and 25 re-run by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Ben Ozurumba.

Some of Ikpeazu’s kinsmen who spoke to the press in Aba admitting that the governor-elect has an enormous work to do.

But they promised to assist him to deliver good governance, which he promised during his campaign.

Mr. Azuogu Nwachukwu stated that they were happy that Okezie won the electoral governorship race at last for every Ukwa na Ngwa man after a tough fight and described the governor-elect as a very humble and caring person who according to him, has what it takes to deliver good governance to Abia people as he promised that he (Ikpeazu) was not going to disappoint Abia people.

Nwachukwu, who is an uncle to Ikpeazu said he shared the view with PDP governorship candidate that he (Ipkeazu) came to serve Abia people, stressing that the urge to serve the people would move him to fulfilling all his promises.

Another Ngwa man and Aba based practicing lawyer, Elder Chibuike Nwokeuku said that Ikpeazu’s victory is victory for equity, justice, fair play and victory for every Igbo man to who Aba is his home.

He said that the Ukwa na Ngwa people were grateful to God for giving them the opportunity which had eluded them for many years both in military and civilian regimes.

Nwokeuku called on all Abians to join hands with the governorelect to build Abia state to the status of other neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and among others that have developed remarkably.

He said that the Ukwa na Ngwa people would ensure that Ikpeazu

I pledge to protect and treat all equally as I am determined to cater for all irrespective of where they come from…I will ensure that the economy of the state is improved upon and also make Ndigbo to believe in and make Abia the economic hub of the Southeast… I believe that those who lost against me will come and join hands with me for the development of the state and its people

,

is rapid development in the state.

Ikpeazu said: “I believe that those who lost against me will come and

join hands with me for the development of the state and its people as they professed love for the state

during their campaigns.”

On Otti, who intends to contest his defeat at the tribunal, Ikpeazu said: “His reason for going to the tribunal does not mean threat against me but the trait of a bad loser: I assure you that I will meet him at the tribunal as I have nothing to fear.

I wonder why there are still bad losers in the country and this shows that the APGA governorship candidate is very desperate. I expected him to have towed the line of President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat. Let him go to the tribunal.”

Ikpeazu said six hours before the supplementary election, the candidates of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP) had collapsed their structure into his, saying that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accepted the outcome of the election.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Activist hails reversal of AIT ban From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

their opponents. The PDP as an opposition party can even engage the AIT and give Buhari a vicious fight.

So, I commend the APC for reversing the decision. That is the beauty of democracy. Of course, they have good media strategists.

“Buhari is aggrieved over the way things had been in the media. I don’t blame him, but only expect him to live above personal interest. AIT played an ignoble role in airing those documentaries against Buhari in the course of the campaign. But for the fact that he is a national leader, he should overlook some of these issues. When he is sworn in, he should preside over policies that will regulate and instill discipline in the media, build institutions that will move the country forward,” he said.

Ubani accused the media of fail-

ing to play its role in setting the agenda and pace for the general elections.

Continuing, he said: “The media keeps talking about clan and religious sentiments. Even in the politics of Abia State, what dominated the last elections was the issue of tribalism other than the real issues of development. The media should play its role and rise above the lowest point and once it does this, it overcomes these problems.

“We all know that the media have not lived up to expectations. Some of them have been reckless and unprofessional in the discharge of their duties.

“The media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm should set an agenda.

What were the issues in the elections at the federal and state levels? For instance, Buhari has promised that fuel will sell at N40, but has any journalist asked him how he intends to achieve it?

“Does it reflect the realities? Yes,

,

A

HUMAN rights activist, Chioggia Ubani, has praised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for reversing the ban on the African Independent Television (AIT) on covering activities at Defence House.

In a statement issued by APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday, the party said all accredited media houses were free to cover the activities of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the incoming administration will not discriminate against any media organisation, irrespective of its role during the electioneering campaigns leading to the just-concluded polls.

Ubani, in a chat with reporters in Aba, Abia State, said though Buhari has the right to be aggrieved over the role AIT played during the electioneering campaigns, as a national leader, he should overlook the issue and forge ahead as the incident is now part of history.

“I commend the APC for reversing the decision, because they understand that isolating AIT now would mean trying to strengthen

We all know that the media have not lived up to expectations. Some of them have been reckless and unprofessional in the discharge of their duties. The media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm should set an agenda. What were the issues in the elections at the federal and state levels? For instance, Buhari has promised that fuel will sell at N40, but has any journalist asked him how he intends to achieve it? Does it reflect the realities? Yes, this is what we want, but is it realisable?

,

this is what we want, but is it realizable? Look at what is happening in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); nobody talks about labour and minimum wage.

“We have been following politicians. The press has been reckless; whether Buhari will tolerate the press or not depends on the latter,” he stated.

T

•Prof. Idike (third left) at a pre-convocation briefing

Achievements, challenges at Ebonyi varsity convocation

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

party “was really not a party and never worked hard to become a party”.

His words: “Successful transitions are based on the typology of the transition. Was it negotiated as it was in South Africa or is it an emergency transition? I don’t believe we have a transition in Nigeria, because I followed the circumstances that brought in Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and I know the story pretty well”.

“But what we had was really an attempt at becoming a democracy.

PDP has reaped the ill wind it sowed because clearly PDP was really not a party and it never worked hard to become a party, it became a distribution agency”.

“It is true that these elections could have swung either way.

Many would argue that president Jonathan and his PDP could have won the elections had they not succumbed to the hubris that has become the hallmark of the PDP. We all know the story of the peculiar circumstances that brought the

,

HERE was an understandable atmosphere of celebration at Ebonyi State University as it held a combined convocation ceremony covering three years.

But the weeklong event was not just about refreshment and confetti.

It was an occasion to come to terms with its challenges as well as celebrate its hard-won achievements.

At a pre-event briefing the VC Prof Francis Idike reeled out those achievements and challenges.

He said the school expelled a total of 131 students for various offenses ranging from exam malpractice to cultism between 2011 and 2014 The institution also suspended 459.

“Also sixty-one staff of the University were dismissed for misconduct, fifteen of them demoted, twenty-five had their appointments terminated while forty-two were warned,” he said.

He said a total of 7,956 students of the institution who graduated from 2011 to 2014 will be convoked during the 4-6th convocation ceremony.

Prof Idike revealed that eight persons will receive Diploma certificates while 7,316 will get Bachelors Degree.

Also 122 graduates will bag PGD and 341 will receive PhD certificates.

The Vice Chancellor said the school has been receiving a monthly subvention of N245m since April 2011 from the State Government.

“But this one single line subvention is hardly enough to carry our current salary bill of over N354m apart from Overhead and running costs of the University. The University is in dire need of additional funding from within and outside”, he added.

This was followed by a convoction lecture delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Mathew Hassan Kukah.

Kukah spoke on the topic: ‘transition to democracy: can Nigeria ride the wave?’

He postulated that greed and arrogance are the major reasons for the Peoples Deemocratic Party (PDP)’s loss of the 2015 general elections to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Bishop Kukah also identified lack of party cohesion,insensitivity to its supporters and inability to control its stalwarts’ excesses as other reasons for the party’s failure.

He, however, blamed these on the poor foundation of the party at its inception maintaining that the

Successful transitions are based on the typology of the transition.

Was it negotiated as it was in South Africa or is it an emergency transition? I don’t believe we have a transition in Nigeria, because I followed the circumstances that brought in Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and I know the story pretty well

,

party into being”.

“We also know that despite that, the party became an association of takers and buccaneers more than anything else. The party could not

deal quickly with the issues of greed and arrogance of some of its men and women in power”.

“The party could not control the excesses of some of its ministers

and henchmen/women. It simply saw itself as presiding over a distribution agency”.

“Many would argue that it became insensitive to the needs of its supporters. It had no mechanism for internal cohesion and simply believed that it was the elephant that could not be slayed” Bishop Kukah also charged the President-elect, General Muhamadu Buhari, to work hard to restore public confidence in government and politics.

Then came the D-day when all roads led to the permanent site of the institution for the award of the degrees.

Wife of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Nwanneka Ekweremadu was among the graduates who bagged PhD certificates during the convocation of the institution.

On the occasion, her husband Senator Ike Ekweremadu donated 18-seater bus to the University for graduating her.

Ekweremadu who was accompa•Continued on page 39

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Achievements, challenges at Ebonyi varsity convocation

•Continued from page 38 nied to the event by Enugu Governor-elect, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said he avoided contact with either the faculty or the department of his wife so that they will not be influenced, describing the staff of the University as very responsible.

He promised to partner with the institution to explore the potentials.

The Deputy Senate President called on the incoming government at all levels to make conscious effort and provide employment for the teaming youths.

He noted that opportunities in the civil service are limited but that it is where critical planning thinking

,

•Bishop Kukah

comes in. ‘’Government needs to partner with the private sector to establish industries and factories that can help check this army of unemployed youths. ‘’We are aware that government is not a good manager of industry but that is where partnership comes in and I believe that conscious effort will be able to provide employment for our young men and women so that they will add value to society.

“Every day I get a number of text messages and request of people seeking employment and my heart bleeds in such occasion”.

He called on the newly elected leaders in across the country to see the issue of youths unemployment as a concern saying ‘’as responsible leaders, this should be our concern in the next four years how to provide jobs for our people’’. ‘’It is irresponsible for any person to have three square meal and others don’t have, it is irresponsible for any person to have a shelter and others don’t have , it is irresponsible for any person to have water and others don’t have. ‘’We must share with our common wealth as a nation. So this is a challenge for both the incoming government at the federal, state and local levels and I believe we can achieve this’’, he stated.

The Deputy Senate President said he is fulfilled that his wife finally graduated. ‘’Am fulfilled more also when I realized the enormous burdern as a house wife and wife of a politi-

He called for a revolutionary restructuring of the nation’s universities curriculum to reduce the high content of theory and make them more practice-oriented with a view to encouraging entrepreneurship among the graduates

,

cian. ‘’She has been well focused, she is a very hardworking woman and she tries as much as possible to pursue her ambition and interest. ‘’Even as a local government Chairman, she kept her work as a teacher and when I was Secretary to a State government and Chief of Staff she also continued her work. ‘’She eventually completed programme leading to her acceptance as a chartered Accountant and now she rode in two Masters Degrees; an MBA and MSc and completed both and today she has accomplished her life dream of having a PhD. Speaking to reporters, Mrs. Ekweremadu said it was not easy

•Governor Rochas Okorocha with the wife at the church service at Government House Chapel following his success at the governorship election in Imo State

to achieve her success.

She disclosed that she started the programme since 2007 and commended her husband for encouraging her ‘’When I feel very discouraged, he kept encouraging me, he has been very good to me, he is really a husband and am grateful for his encouragement.

She called on women to have vision for themselves and not to depend solely on their husband. ‘’We should not heap our burdens on our husbands; it is not just about your husband. Tomorrow if when you husband leaves office, who are you? ‘’Our women have to work hard, I have worked hard for myself’’, she

said.

The university also conferred honorary degrees on the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah and former Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Chiweyite Ejike.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Idike said Kukah was honoured for his monumental impact on issues of religion, politics, justice, equity and unity nationally and internationally.

He described the bishop as a champion of Nigerian democracy, nationalism, identity formation, a friend of the media and a specialist on the terrible periods of Nigeria’s history.

Idike disclosed that the university honoured Prof. Ejike for his monumental impact on university administration, describing him as a unique university scholar, researcher and academic icon.

He said by the conferment, Kukah and Ejike will have become special Alumni of the university and will share in the pride, privileges and responsibilities that come with the status.

The chancellor of the institution and former Vice President of the country, Dr. Alex Ekwueme called on the university to engage in institutional transformation to attain jet age.

He called for a revolutionary restructuring of the nation’s universities curriculum to reduce the high content of theory and make them more practice-oriented with a view to encouraging entrepreneurship among the graduates.

•Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere congratulates Mr Okoronkwo Emeka, Imo House of Assembly commission after their swearing-in at Government House, Owerri...on Wednesday

•Some Ukwa-Ngwa leaders led by Elder Emma Adaelu (fifth right) at Government House, Umuahia after the declaration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as governnor

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Anambra speaker Nwaebili in dark glasses, and Anambra Chief Judge Umeadi (middle) with the new Magistrates

New magistrates savour appointment in Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Catherine, Maduakor N.G.C, Ani Nneka Loveth Nwadi, Ezeudeka Stella, Onyekwuru Gladys Moneke.

Also sworn in were Nduka Victory Chidnma, Onunkwo Ijeoma Ebere, Stanley Udo-Chizoba, Adumah Nnamdi Martins, Eke-Peter Nnamdi, Okosi Maureen Eyiuche, Udeze Uzoma, Agwunobi Rebeka, Anyaegbunam Nonye and Ogugua Ifunanya Clara.

Furthermore, Umeadi said that the state judiciary had been at the crossroads, following the four month-old strike embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for a better service.

The chief judge did not stop there; he commended Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the assistance he had given to the judiciary.

He added that the magistrates had

come at a time the state judiciary was being repositioned, adding that there is a synergy between the Obiano led administration and the state judiciary.

Again, Umeadi told them that out of the new eight judges of the high court appointed recently, that three of them came from the magistrates.

The new magistrates, 16 females and four males, according to the Chief Judge, went through a selection process done through examination by Nigeria Judicial Institute.

He further told them that they would assist the state government in making sure that Internally Generated Revenue of the state (IGR) was well secured.

Furthermore, the new magistrates would equally assist the police in running mobile courts, adding that there is need to bring back court room police officers.

According to Umeadi, “I tell you, there was no person that failed the examination that was considered in

,

T

WENTY new magistrates in Anambra State have hailed their appointment, saying they would work for a better judiciary in the state.

There was a traffic snarl on the high court premises in Awka, the state capital, when the new magistrates were sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi.

Security operatives had a hard time controlling the surging crowd, while everyone else lapped up the celebratory atmosphere. The new magistrates savoured the day, unmistakable in their dressing and carriage.

It was a new dawn for the state judiciary, as it was the first time such a number of magistrates were appointed in the state.

Another new Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), Agbasionwe Eugene Agbasionwe, was sworn in to replace Irene Ndigwe, who was elevated to a high court judge in the state.

The Chief Judge Justice Peter Umeadi warn hostile communities to be good to the magistrates, as he would not hesitate to withdraw their services if the environment is not conducive for them.

The new magistrates are: Arinze Ijeoma Juliet, Kanu Onyeka Moses, Ezebilo Nnedu Obiamaka, Igbokwe Ijeoma and Nwakanma Chika P. Others were Chigbo Chizoba

The new magistrates, 16 females and four males, according to the Chief Judge, went through a selection process done through examination by Nigeria Judicial Institute.... they would assist the state government in making sure that Internally Generated Revenue of the state (IGR) was well secured

,

this process, therefore, you should emulate those before you in their mode of dressing and conduct” Earlier, the chief registrar in the state, Dorothy Ezeani, had read out the names of the magistrates who in turn, according to seniority at the Bar, took their oath of office and allegiance.

Some of them expressed joy for being part of the new system and thanked God for what he had done in their lives.

Mrs. Okosi Maureen Eyiuche from Onitsha told The Nation that she would not disappoint her people es-

pecially her husband on her new portfolio.

Speaking after being sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Registrar, Agbasionwe Eugene Agbasionwe, told the Nation that he would help in taking the judiciary in the state to a greater height.

He thanked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chief Judge of the state for finding him worthy of being in the position.

Agbasionwe, however, promised to discharge his duties diligently by cooperating with the judiciary staff to achieve it.

Peace back in Ebonyi communities •Continued from page 26

•Voters waiting after casting their votes at GBO unit car park ward Industrial road, Aba with security operatives on the watch

government white paper on the crisis and submit a detailed opinion position on it and make suggestions for a way forward and pass it to the state government within six weeks”.

“A 27-man joint peace committee be immediately constituted to include eleven people on each side, one representative from the SSS, Civil Defence, Army and Police with the Permanent Secretary Office of the Deputy Governor as Chairman.

“Security agents must investigate the sponsors of the fresh hostilities and invasion in Ezillo and report same to the government within six weeks.

“On no account should any party take laws into their hands or barricade road again.”

The people of Ezza-Ezillo have been in serious crisis since 2008 with over 100 lives lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed.

The crisis escalated when 67 persons were massacred on December 31, 2012

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

44

SHOWBIZ

I

T was quite an enthralling moment on Wednesday, April 29, when a number of music enthusiasts from across Africa converged on the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to meet minds on the untapped economic potentialities in music, among other discourses.

The occasion also afforded the music aficionados another rare opportunity to brainstorm on how music could be used to change the narrative of Africa, which is erroneously described by the Western world as a model of poverty, diseases, xenophobia and other vices.

It was the first major event of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), as the awards scheme prepares for its sophomore edition.

During the two engaging sessions, participants, who were mostly artistes, music promoters, entertainment journalists, AFRIMA and AU officials, noted that AFRIMA must be encouraged to achieve the continental bond in areas where it appears the AU had failed, using the subtle, youth-engaging and fan-based music platform.

In his remark, Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union Congress (AUC), stated that one of the challenges of the AU was getting member states to ratify the African Cultural Renaissance Charter, adding that only eight of the 54 African countries had so far endorsed it.

Kalolo, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the AUC, Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, however, promised that the Commission would do more to ensure that other member countries ratify the Charter, an AU policy instrument that seeks to use enter-

• President and Executive Director,All Africa Music Awards,AFRIMA,Mike Dada;Commissioner,Social Affairs Department,African Union Commission,Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kalokol; Director,Sponsorship and Communication,AFRIMA,Matlou Tsotestsi at the unveiling of the 2015 Calendar of AFRIMA at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

• Olamide

AFRIMA, AU unveil plans for 2015 Awards •As officials host artistes, media in Addis Ababa

By Victor Akande, Entertainment Editor, from Addis Ababa

tainment, arts, tourism and other cultural products as instruments for economic development in the continent.

Speaking on the theme, “Music, Culture and Entertainment as Tools for a New Africa”, Dlamini-Zuma noted that investment in music would further promote some of the goals of the AU, which include integration, prosperity and a people-centred development.

According to her, the partnership with AFRIMA is important, especially at this time when the AU is drawing up its agenda for the next 50 years.

Also, the President and Ex-

ecutive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, who announced that submission of entries for the continental reward platform would open on May 18, said the international committee of AFRIMA had been mandated to identify a Nigerian city that has the capacity, in terms of security, adequate hotel facilities and the infrastructure, to host the event in November.

On the business side of the creative sector, participants expressed worries that most African governments had not yet begun to see music as an asset, unlike the Western world that sees entertainment, generally, as one of the backbones of its economy.

Interestingly, the disturbing issue of piracy in Nigeria and other countries was

also on the front burner while the participants jaw-jawed on how to raise the music bar in Africa. With specific reference to what participants believe could help individual member states that seem be helpless in the face of the marauding menace, Beat FM’s on-air-personality, Olisa Adibua, who was among the Nigerian delegates at the conference, urged the AU to evolve a more aggressive synergy, including cross border policing, on intellectual property theft.

From Nigeria to South Africa, Kenya and Francophone countries such as Mali, Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), African artistes are known to have cross-fertilized cultures

through music collaborations. Consequently, a more actionable policy, participants agreed, is required by Africans leaders in support of their own, rather than leaving the promotion of African artistry to foreign agencies like Goethe Institut, French Cultural Centre and the British Council.

The high point of the ceremony was the unveiling of the 2015 Calendar of AFRIMA and presentation of a 23.9 gold-plated trophy each to two winners who could not make it to the maiden edition of the award show that held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. They are Nigeria’s rave-of-the-moment, Adedeji Olamide, aka Badoo, who won the AFRIMA award for Best Album of the Year 2014 and Laurette La Perle of the

My wife loves Desperate Housewives – Airtel Nigeria boss

‘Fela never compromised his trumpet’

E • Afrocandy

My movies are not erotic, says Afrocandy

T

O her family, she is simply Judith Chichi Opara Mazagwu. But in the entertainment world, she is famously known as Afrocandy, an alias that has put her in the black books of some people who see her as being morally bankrupt. But this 44-year-old actress, director, producer, singer and model is unfazed.

In a recent interview with The Nation, Afrocandy, who is fast carving a niche for herself as the queen of Nigerian porn, boasts about having a desirable career. “I love acting, directing and producing any movie or project that I am associated with. I love the creative and production aspects. So, the experience has truly been good to me,” she

By Famuyiwa Damilare

said.

She also disputes the widely-held notion that her movies are majorly erotic as, according to her, her productions have storylines and are well scripted.

“The storylines are subject to the movies. The only thing that should be drawing attention is the storylines in my movies. My movies narrate some stories. The message is in the narration of the storyline and how it plays out in the movie. My movies are endorsed in Nigeria; they are viewed everywhere in Nigeria. So, I don’t know what you are talking about because my movies are viewed in Nigeria and I am making money from them.

IGHTEEN after the death of Afrobeat legend, Fela AnikulapoKuti, he is still the subject of discourse among music pundits. Though a lot has been said, written, sang and even acted of the legend, a lot still remains unknown about him.

Addressing a gathering of jazz lovers on International Jazz Day at the Freedom Park yesterday, Benson Idonijie, a former manager of Fela disclosed that the late music icon had never compromise his trumpet within the context of the highlife music of his band, the Koola Lobitos and the Afrobeat. According to Idonijie, Fela never compromised his jazz oriented music for money.

“He will not play for an au-

dience just for financial considerations. I still remember an incident that happened to the Koola Lobitos in the 60s with the management of a hotel.

Koola Lobitos was invited to perform on a Friday night.

The fee was sizeable. Sizeable enough to pay the salaries of the boys who

By Ovwe Medeme

were being owed for lack of funds. But Fela rejected the offer. Why? The hotel was patronised by an exclusively white audience of men who loved Nigerian women.

Rather than listen to the music, they were preoccupied with lovemaking and negotiations for the night,” he revealed.

According to Idonijie, Fela was not comfortable with the atmosphere and he expressed his distaste by pulling out of the job.

The lecture, which kicked off the Lagos International Jazz Festival, 2015 had Rashid Lombard, founder of the Cape Town international Jazz Festival as Guest Speaker.

DRC, who won the Best Female Artiste in Central Africa.

Other notable personalities at the conference include Morocco’s Ahmed Soultan who won the Best Male Artiste in North Africa and Zimbabwe’s Cindy Munyavi who won the Best Female in Southern Africa.

Others are: Head, Information Division, AUC, Esther Tankou; Matlou Tsotestsi, Director, Sponsorship and Communication, AFRIMA; Steve Ayorinde, Chairman, International Media Committee, AFRIMA; Mike Strano, Regional Director/Co-Producer, AFRIMA; Angela Martins, Head of Culture Department, AUC; Ambassador Wlale Maiyegun, President, Social Affairs Department, AUC and Kingsley James, Country Director, Nigeria.

By Joe Agbro Jr

• Ogunsanya

A

S Desperate Housewives Africa, the African adaptation of Desperate Housewives, the American drama series, began airing yesterday, some Nigerians have revealed their love for the compelling and multiple award-winning television drama.

Chief among them was Segun Ogunsanya, the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, headline sponsors of Desperate Housewives Africa.

Speaking at the premiere of the series which

held Tuesday, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, Ogunsanya said lightheartedly that, one of the reasons his company agreed to sponsor the series was because of his wife’s love for the original American version of the series.

“My wife is a fan of Desperate Housewives’, he said, adding that,”The second reason why we are a part of this is that some few months ago when Mo Abudu came to my office, I saw the passion, and was convinced that she had some good stuff. And she can tell stories. And Desperate Housewives Africa is about stories. Stories paint pictures – picture about families, pictures about offices. And we are so pleased to be part of this.”

Desperate Housewives Africa airs every Thursday by 10pm CAT on EbonyLife TV, DStv Channel 165.

45

FRIDAY MAY 1, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Given the successes of his predecessors in office and the expectations of Lagosians under the new direction of “change” being charted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, has a task on his hands. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI looks at the challenges facing the incoming administration.

N

O governorship election in Lagos State since the return to civil rule in 1999 has been as competitive as the recent one. The stakes were high. After losing the presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was desperate to take over the prime state.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not want to lose the state it has been controlling in the last 16 years.

At the end of the day, the APC proved its mettle once again, with its standard bearer Akinwunmi Ambode defeating Jimi Agbaje, his PDP counterpart, by 811,994 to 659,788 votes.

Now that Ambode has put the sweet victory of April 11 behind him, he must begin the onerous task of sustaining the noble legacies of his predecessors the moment he is sworn in on May 29. On that day, Ambode will become the 14th governor of the state. He will be taking over from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Given the precedent set by his predecessors, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Fashola, Ambode no doubt has his job cut out for him.

All eyes would be on him to sustain the lofty achievements of Tinubu and Fashola. Ambode in his acceptance speech acknowledged that the task ahead is an enormous one; though he noted that it is not an insurmountable one. “With wisdom, creativity and strength of purpose we can accomplish great things for this great state. By God’s grace, we shall make this our way,” he added.

One thing that he has going for him however is the fact that Lagos, for the first time, will be controlled by the same party at the federal level. The expected collaboration with the APC-controlled Federal Government should engender the drive for attaining the long-awaited special status.

Lagos should be given special funds by the Federal Government to maintain its status as the commercial capital of Nigeria and the state that carries the burden of catering for citizens from the four corners of the country.

This, among other things, will make Lagos one of the fastest developing cities in the world.

Unarguably the most populous and cosmopolitan state in the nation, Lagos is a major driver of the country’s economy. Despite being ruled by the opposition party since 1999, the state has prospered with increasing of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through which it has managed to keep the state comparatively viable. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the state has an IGR of over N219billion yearly, with Rivers and Delta states trailing at a far distance with N66billion and N45billion.

The incoming governor has inaugurated a transition committee to ensure a seamless transfer of power to his government. The committee is headed by the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule. The transition committee is expected to submit its report prior to the inauguration on May 29. But, as the handover date draws nearer, citizens and stakeholders have started setting agenda for the incoming administration.

The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, says it is crucial for the incoming governor to sustain the infrastructural development programme of his predecessor as a necessary climate for business to thrive. “We need to improve productivity in the economy and so it is important for the incoming governor to sustain what Governor Babatunde Fashola has done in the area of infrastructural development. He will also need to look in the area of taxation and tackle multiple charges imposed by some of the state’s agencies. It is also important for him to sustain dialogue with the private sector so that he can get feedback on the impact of government policies,’’ he says.

Recently, the Chairman, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Tunde Fowler, said the state has a monthly IGR of N23bn monthly.

APC chieftain Mr. Fuad Oki believes the challenge that will confront the governor-elect will be that of wanting to do much and not having enough. The Lagos Central Vice Chairman of the party said it is not for nothing that Ambode is called the consolidator. He said: “The challenges that will confront Ambode will be the challenge of wanting to do much and not having enough. It is not for fun that we call him the consolidator. In 1999, we decided that we will take Lagos to the Victorian era that it used to be in the ‘40s and ‘50s, ‘60s and during the civil war.

“We have been doing that consistently. Even, PDP leaders have come out to say that Lagos is working. We want to keep it working. We want to do much, but, we have less. As a result, we have embarked on serious financial engineering and re-engineering in making the state a Triple A in the reckoning of international financial institutions. Lagos State government is reputed for best

Ambode: Beyond sweet melody of victory

•Ambode

The challenges that will ‘confront Ambode will be the challenge of wanting to do much and not having enough. It is not for fun that we call him the consolidator

’

practices in terms of prudence and financial management.

We have financial blueprint for the management of resources. In terms of service delivery, mega city status, Lagos is becoming the third.

“We are reviving the abandoned rail line project. But, there has been lack of understanding by the Goodluck Jonathan, led Federal Government. We are developing our

waterways. We must promote our eco system in this state of aquatic splendour. We want to continue to add value to the lives of the people,” he averred.

On the new things that Ambode will do for Lagosians, Oki said the incoming governor will implement the APC manifesto as well as continue to build on the legacies of Tinubu and Fashola.

His words: “He is a party man who subscribes to the party manifesto. He will continue to b he build on the legacies of the Tinubu and Fashola administrations. He will take Lagos to a higher level. He will create jobs and defend all the sectors. He will implement our manifestos.”

One of the critical areas that Ambode must consolidate on is security. Here, he does not have to reinvent the wheel; Fashola has already put in place a Security Trust Fund.

Stakeholders expect Ambode to consolidate on what is on the ground by, among other things, embarking on the acquisition of the latest advanced security communications technology. These would help to track and monitor the daily activities of citizens.

Ambode has promised free education up to secondary school level, as a basic right for the child. He has also pledged to continue the current schools renovation programme, upgrade of libraries to e-libraries as well as making Lagos State University, LASU, and the Lagos State Polytechnic as centres of academic excellence. Lagosians earnestly await the fulfilment of this noble promise.

The new administration is also expected to do something to curb the menace of ‘area boys’ and youth restiveness generally. While urging the governor-elect to tackle youth restiveness when he assumes power, the Coordinator of the Young Achievers Campaign Organisation of Nigeria (YACOON), Temitope Adewale, said the youth voted for Ambode because of his pledge to tackle unemployment and social decadence in the society. Adewale added that youths take to crime because of the lack of an enduring programme to keep them busy.

The Ambode administration must also do more in health and housing. The governor must improve primary health care system to make it more affordable and accessible.

According to experts, one thing he must do in this regard is to establish medi-parks and bio-parks in collaboration with health experts and organisations. This would stave off the capital flight occasioned by overseas medical trips.

On affordable houses to Lagosians, stakeholders are of the view that the incoming administration must not only expand the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS) to involve more people, but also focus on affordability. In this regard, the administration is expected to embark on mass housing scheme to target the lower cadre of the working class.

In transportation, Ambode is expected to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessors. Though the Fashola administration, which actualised the blueprint fashioned by the Tinubu administration, made giant strides in road construction, the incoming administration should build new roads while old ones and ongoing road projects must be maintained and completed. This will help to reduce traffic jams, which is the bane of the city.

Nowhere is the traffic jam more pronounced than Lekki.

Movement along the Lekki corridor, which is otherwise known as the ‘New Lagos’, with its sizzling real estate, huge construction projects, seaport and airport projects, during the rush hours is traumatic. According to stakeholders, to decongest the road, the Ambode administration will need to build overhead bridges and prevent people from trading at bus stops. The incoming administration will also need to increase the usage of waterways for public transportation through channeling and dredging.

The incoming governor should know. He is from Epe, which is located within the corridor. The traditional ruler of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, expects Ambode to complete the projects already started by the outgoing administration. “We know he has been part and parcel of the APC administration in the state and he knows what to do,” he said.

Oba Animashaun enumerated the demands of the people of Epe: “One, electricity; two, water; three, roads; and, four, creation of employment opportunities for youths.

We also want Ambode to facilitate the completion of the development projects initiated by the outgoing administration in and around Epe. These include: the Lekki-Epe International Airport project, the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Lekki Deep Seaport.

“We also expect Ambode to support Dangote to complete the refinery project. Once all these projects are completed, there would be a lot of rooms to create jobs for our youths.”

46

THE NATION FRIDAY MAY 1, 2015

is still very much alive; it is not dead. In fact, I believe ‘PDP the PDP will rise again. Our defeat at the recent general elections by the APC should not discourage our members ’

A social critic, Mac Durugbo, in this piece, highlights the Lalong to fight corruption in Plateau challenges that will confront President-elect Muhammadu LATEAU State Governor-elect From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos Simon Lalong has pledged that Buhari when he assumes office on May 29. he will emulate the President- mission as a people.

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‘How Buhari can succeed’ O N Tuesday, November 11, 2014, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, delivered what I may call a very incisive lecture titled “Building a New Nigeria by New Nigerians”, at the 2014 Youth Summit organized

by Act Now, a non-governmental organization, at the Muson Centre Lagos. Like in all his lectures, especially on leadership, the Governor spoke extensively about belief in and commitment to Nigeria. In trying to portray the futility of seeking refuge in other lands in the name of seeking greener pastures, the Governor asked one relevant question: “Where would we have escaped to if those citizens of those countries had run away from their own problems?”

This question is central to the topic of that lecture principally because it touches on the core of the problem of Nigeria today. I also consider it central to the task before the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, which is to fix Nigeria. There is no country in the world today where Nigerians cannot be found; from the skilled and highly prized professional to even those who have neither qualification nor skill. For the first category, they either apply for jobs in foreign lands or travel to such countries where their skills are highly prized. Today, many Nigerian doctors, engineers, architects and other professionals have transferred their services abroad. The unskilled take the greatest risks in order to leave Nigeria as if there is war. Sun-scourged bones and skeletons often mark the desert trails of those attempted to escape across the Sahara. Many Nigerians have also reportedly drowned in their attempts to cross into other countries. Others have been arrested as illegal aliens and clamped into prisons in foreign countries from where they are either deported at the end of many years service or died.

These young Nigerians “escape” only to find out that life there is not easier and sometimes tougher than in Nigeria and, like the Governor said, without papers and a work permit, they will do menial work and almost slave and will barely find enough to survive. Those who have survived today are some of the best brains that this country has ever produced. They are out there in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, United States of America, Britain, India, China, Russia, and even African countries, doing what they ought to be doing in Nigeria. The unskilled take unimaginable risks in the countries of their sojourn, preferring face any consequences of their activities than to return to Nigeria. However, one thing common to them all is that they still long for their country of birth. They are not immune, as it were, to the age old saying of “East or West home is the best”. Even those of them who have become part of the countries of their sojourn, as well as their children, oftentimes encounter discrimination among their peers in work places, in schools, and even in places of fun and play. Without exactly being told in words that they don’t belong, they feel it. But yet they prefer to live among people who despise them, no matter how subtly, and treat them as second class citizens.

This raises the first question: What is wrong with Nigeria? With large

•Buhari

human and material resources that are the envy of the rest of the world, why is Nigeria still tottering like a giant walking with the spindle feet of a mosquito? All over the world today, Nigerian professionals form a large percentage of the workforce, enriching other economies while their country lies prostrate. Citizens of other nations come here and use the vast human and material resources in our land to enrich their countries while we slave for them.

We do a lot of things to even attract them to come and invest here – tax holidays, rebates, free trade zones and 100 percent transfer of profit. Nigerian investors prefer to invest outside our economy. They build refineries outside the country and take our crude oil there for refining from where they import the petroleum products into the country after receiving huge amounts from our government as fuel subsidy. We have four refineries across the country but none works. Attempts to repair them over the years have failed, not because they could not be repaired but because some influential people in and out of the government would not want it so.

From the foregoing, therefore, the answer to the first question is obviously corruption and lack of focussed and committed leadership.

Nigeria, as a nation, has suffered the scourges of corruption and inept leadership. The twin evil has destroyed the high hopes, brought by Independence, of a nation where diversity should be a source of strength. Instead what the nation has had are opportunists who have sought power for selfish ends. They have mortgaged the nation among

Nigeria of ‘ The our collective dream must be a Nigeria which every Nigerian will be proud to serve to the extent of laying down his life for her

’

themselves and seized her vast human and material resources as their private estate. From the Military interregnum from 1966 to the final return of democracy in 1999, Nigeria lay prostrate; raped by self appointed leaders, who came as selfacclaimed messiahs and left later after using their positions to amass wealth for themselves at the expense of the ordinary Nigerian. From 1999 to date, not much has changed. Our Presidential system of Government is rated the most expensive in the world today with members of Parliament fixing outrageous salaries and remunerations for themselves and governors arranging life pensions of sometimes 300 percent of their salaries while in service and remunerations to take care of themselves and their families out of service. That is why in the last 16 years the annual budgets of the Federal and most state governments have consistently recorded over 70 per cent of Recurrent Expenditure with less than 30 per cent (sometimes as low as 14 percent) of the budget left for Capital Expenditure. The nation has witnessed situations in some states where half of the monthly allocation from the Federation Account (a substantial portion of the revenue of some states) went to political godfathers who installed governors of such states during elections. The practice, I suppose, is still going on in some states today. That is why some states can neither pay salaries of their staff nor carrying out any developmental projects.

The second vital question is: Who will rebuild Nigeria from the rubbles of the present “unliveable” Nigeria where nothing seems to work. The answer lies again in leadership; a focused and determined leadership which is sufficiently passionate about the Nigerian Project. The Nigerian Project, by the way, represents the original quest of our founding fathers encapsulated in the first Nigerian National Anthem at Independence; Nigeria we hail thee; Our own dear Native Land; Though tribe and tongue may differ; In Brotherhood we stand; Nigerians are proud to serve; Our Sovereign Motherland.

That is the Nigerian Project and whoever must lead this nation must be sufficiently passionate about it.

The Nigeria that must emerge is one which every Nigerian will hail as Native to every Nigerian, no matter what part of the country he or she lives or what language he or she speaks. The new Nigeria must be one in which every Nigerian must be proud to identify with in any part of the world. It must be a Nigeria in which every Nigerian is his or her brothers keeper, standing in brotherhood against external aggression. Finally, the Nigeria of our collective dream must be a Nigeria which every Nigerian will be proud to serve to the extent of laying down his life for her.

All these requirements do not need any elaboration. For example, as it is today, Nigeria cannot be said to be Native to every Nigerian with people being discriminated against in some states on account of tribe and tongue. In some states, it has even led to loss of life. Not many Nigerians are proud to serve this country or identify with her beyond her shores.

elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by fighting corruption.

Lalong, who polled a total of 564,627 votes to defeat his closest rival who scored 520,913 votes, said: “The declaration of results of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) marks a significant milestone in our political and democratic journey as a people.

“The result actually tallied with the wishes and aspirations of the people yearning for change.

“I will not say this is my victory, this is our victory because we archive this victory together.

Lalong added: “Our people really made me humbled and indeed honored to accept this mandate. I belief that God who started the journey on the Plateau will surely lead us to the full realization of our vision and

“Consequently we must drive strength in our diversity even as we build the Plateau of our dream. Peace building and even development will be one of our core values.

“To INEC as well as other important stakeholders including the media, security agencies, civil society organization and organized labor etc, I salute your courage and dexterity in upholding the tenets of your profession which has contributed significantly to the success and peaceful conduct of this election.

“To the citizens of the state, particularly the youths, I cannot afford to lose you in the name of post-election celebrations bearing in mind that there should be no harassment of others, no intimidation and provocative statement against any person s in the course of our celebrations.

‘Tinubu has achieved Awo’s vision’

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Chief Tajudeen Jaiyesimi, has described the victory of the party in the recent general elections as historic.

Speaking in Lagos, he said the APC has fulfilled the dream of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who nursed the idea of forming the government.

According to him, although Awo could not achieve the vision in his life time, he would no doubt be happy that the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, did the magic.

Jaiyesimi noted that the feat, which was not achieved on a platter of gold was a testimony to Tinubu’s love for progressive politics.

“We all saw how Asiwaju fought gallantly, committing human and material resources to a project he so much believes despite several attempts to cage him.

“The story of the struggle is for another day, but we in Lagos APC will, never forget the roles played by Governor Babatunde Fashola, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr Muiz Banire, Cardinal James Odunmbaku and Mr Akin Ambode.

•Tinubu

“Solomon for instance showed the signs of a great leader by rallying his troops to support Ambode, and by extension, Asiwaju Tinubu, which is, no doubt, commendable,” he said.

Jaiyesimi who is the Bashorun of Ipakodo, Ikorodu, assured that the APC would do its best to restore the country’s lost glory.

According to him, having come this far, the party cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians who voted massively for the party.

He said as a progressive government, the APC will provide the people dividends of democracy which has eluded them for several years.

‘Defectors from PDP to APC are political harlots’

M

EMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the latter’s victory in the recent general elections, have been described as political harlots, who do not believe in democracy and party politics.

A PDP chieftain and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, who made the declaration in Lagos, implored the defecting members to return to the party to help rebuild it.

Akinlaja noted that the defeat of the party does not mean that it has collapsed. He added: “PDP is still very much alive; it is not dead. In fact, I believe the PDP will rise again.

Our defeat at the recent general elections by the APC should not discourage our members. Defection is not the answer. The best thing is for us to re-strategise and fight back as a formidable political party, to challenge the APC and make the PDP a viable alternative for Nigerians.’’

Akinlaja, who represents Ondo East/Ondo West Constituency, said

By Raymond Mordi

that the PDP will strive to become a stonger political party adding that it needs the contributions of all its members to do that. He said: “I don’t want the defectors to see politics as bread and butter affair alone.

Politics is also about principle. Why should you cross carpet or defect simply because your party lost an election? Election is about losing and winning. When you win, you celebrate and when you lose, it is not the end of the world; you only need to go back to the drawing board to plan for the future. If you jump ship anytime your party loses an election, then you are a political harlot and that is not good for your image.”

The lawmaker appealed to PDP members to co-operate with President Goodluck Jonathan and other party leaders in their efforts to reposition the party, saying President Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat to his opponent, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC is something worthy of emulation.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1 2015

47

COMMENTARY

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REAMBLE This article is not new. It was first published in this column in 2013 as a reaction to an outburst of some Nigerian political demagogues whose aim was to strengthen the confusion in the land. It is being repeated here today due to popular demand by ardent readers because of its relevance. Here it goes: “Conscience is an open wound; only the truth can heal it”. By Usman Dan Fodio Nest, to the hornet, is a sanctuary. Whoever wants to stir it must be ready for some painful stings. It was the words of Nigeria’s lotus eaters against those of the former American President, Bill Clinton, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, sometime in December 2013 where the latter was the guest speaker at ThisDay’s award ceremony. The theme of the lecture was something like ‘Causes and Solution to Insurgency and general insecurity in Nigeria’.

When Bill Clinton opened up on the causes of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly concerning Boko Haram, hardly did he realise that he was stirring the hornet’s nest. As a man who knew because he was in a position to know, Clinton emphatically identified poverty as the main cause of insecurity in Nigeria. He was frank in canvassing some ways by which Nigeria could effectively deal with Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity in the country without caring about whose ox might be gored.

Among the ideas he suggested as solution were poverty alleviation, thorough education at all levels, equitable distribution of wealth and job creation for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths.

Highlighting some desired programmes urgently necessary for curbing the spate of violence and general insecurity in the country, Clinton said: “You have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have it. You already have all these political problems — and now violence — that appears to be rooted in religious differences as well as all the rhetoric of Boko Haram and others, but the truth is that poverty rate in the North is three times that of Lagos”.

Economic Management Counseling on the need to re-design the country’s economic management to the delight of all and sundry while pointing out that “too much inequality” was capable of limiting growth and opportunities among the citizens of a country, Clinton stressed that only a redistribution of wealth would go a long way to address the prevalent violence and insecurity in Nigeria. He went further to say: “You have about three big challenges. First of all, like 90 per cent of the countries who have one big resource, you have a number of ways with your own money. It shows you have different ways. Now you are at least not wasting the natural gas, you are developing and selling it through the pipelines. You have to do better job of managing the natural resources.....”

“Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunities to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem peculiar to Nigeria. In almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas. So you have all these political problems for now even violence. There appears to be political and religious differences and now, the rhetoric of Boko Haram and all that. You have to build a powerful state and local governments as well as a national policy that works along. If you just keep trying to divide the power into loosening strategy, you have to figure out a way to devise a strategy that will help share the prosperity.” The President-Elect may find some of these ideas useful in his blue print on governance in Nigeria.

Clinton then went further to advise that education should be used as a tool to tackle poverty among Nigerians, saying that if citizens were well educated they would be economically empowered and hence have less inclination towards violence. He added that: “Nigeria, which earns billions of dollars from her oil industry and is a major supplier to the US, must not take a “divide the pie” approach towards attacking poverty”. He therefore advised that governments at all levels needed to tackle youth unemployment which, according to him, is a major source of instability across the world.

Bill Clinton was not the first experienced

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

The Hornet’s Nest international figure to make such truthful but painful comments about Nigeria and her style of governance. As far back as January 27, 2010, the former US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, who incidentally is the wife of Bill Clinton had spoken in the same manner about Nigeria in Nigeria. And the reactions that followed her statement were not in any way dissimilar from those that greeted Bill Clinton’s statement of 2013.

While the wife spoke in official capacity, the husband spoke in private capacity. But the coincidence in their speeches was not just in the similarity of their thoughts but also in the similarity of the reactions that greeted both speeches. Speaking in blunt terms at a “town hall” in a meeting with Nigeria’s State Department officials in Abuja Mrs. Hillary Clinton said: “....The most immediate source of the disconnect between Nigeria’s wealth and its poverty is a failure of governance at the federal, states and local levels … Lack of transparency and accountability has eroded the legitimacy of the government and contributed to the rise of groups that embraced violence and rejected the authority of the state.”

Government’s Failure “Nigeria”, she continued: “Africa’s biggest energy producer and second-largest economy, “faces a threat from increasing radicalization that needs to be addressed.

Describing corruption in Nigeria as unbelievable, she reiterated that the government’s failure to deliver basic services helped foster extremism in young people...adding that: “The failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can’t just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others”. She lamented poor governance and deteriorating living conditions which she said made Nigeria’s disaffected young people ripe targets for militants looking for recruits to attack the West.

Substantiating her assertion, Mrs. Clinton said, when she met with a group of Nigerians in the capital city of Abuja, “people were … standing and shouting about what it was like to live in a country where the elite was so dominant, where corruption was so rampant and criminality was so pervasive”. And “that”, according to her, “is an opening for extremism that offers an alternative world view”. After all, poverty knows no tribe, religion, gender or age. It cuts across all strata of human life. That was the idea imbibed by one time Chinese leader, Mao Zedong, in the 1960s, which came to transform China into a formidable nation today.

Official reaction However, rather than pontificating on Mrs. Clinton’s analysis some members of the then ruling party virtually told her to shut up and mind her own business by leaving Nigeria alone. The arrogant resentment particularly came through the mouth of the then Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who, in a swift statement, said Mrs. Clinton’s remarks were baseless.

In his words: “Although the ‘ruling party’ saw Mrs Clinton’s “visit to Nigeria as a further expression of the age-long strong cordial diplomatic relations between both countries, we are at the same time concerned that some of her remarks are not only way off the mark but also based on misinformation.

Her sweeping statement on what she calls a ‘failure of leadership’ does not correspond with the reality of present day Nigeria where

a committed leadership operating within the realm of the rule of law holds sway”.

Professor Alkali said the ‘ruling party’ found Mrs. Clinton’s “condescending statements against our country and leaders not contextualised,” adding that she “seems to have taken her briefs from individuals or groups and other failed politicians who have an axe to grind with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

He added: “It is a fact that the present administration inherited a lot of challenges that were entrenched in the body polity for a long time since assumption of office in May 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has demonstrated a rare but firm commitment to right the wrongs of the past, using constitutional instruments in order to strengthen democratic governance in the country”.

Observation Despite leaving a bad taste in the mouth, Alkali’s statement did not bother Mrs. Clinton who knew Nigeria better than the respondent Nigerians. Her reaction was a reminder of a Yoruba adage which says ‘a dog that refuses to respond to the warning whistle of the hunter is surely destined to stray into permanent perdition’. That adage has now proved to be a prevailing destiny on the then so-called ruling party that took impunity for law.

Were Bill or Hillary Clinton a Muslim, some fanatics especially in Nigerian media would have characteristically accused him/her of wanting to ‘Islamise’ (sic) Nigeria just for telling the naked truth. However, to the great delight of reasonable and patriotic Nigerians, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), in a statement signed by its then President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said it wished “to align itself with the statement credited to the US Secretary of State the summation of which was that corruption, amongst other factors, has caused failure of governance in Nigeria”.

Akeredolu concluded that: “We cannot agree less and note that President Yar’Adua admitted that Nigeria was facing challenges in its war against corruption and bid to reform its electoral system, which has underscored failure of governance at the federal, state and local government levels,” it said, adding: “This intervention could not have come at a better time than now when agents of the government are on the prowl, deploying viciously the weapon of blackmail against the leadership of the NBA who has long identified this and continues to clamour for change”.

He continued: “Secretary Clinton having reiterated the position of the Bar, it would, perhaps, not be out of place for those who are quick to stand logic on its head to satisfy greed, to conclude that the top diplomat, being a lawyer, must also belong to Action Congress or any of the opportunistic organisations dubbed parties.”

Nothing is strange

It is not strange therefore, that the comments by Bill Clinton in 2013 drew similar parochially partisan reactions from those who are benefitting directly from the then ongoing rot in the country. It seems that politics in Nigeria is like an animal carcass on which idle vultures must feast without caring about the pollution which the odour there from would cause to the environment. Even a blind person can perceive the poverty in Nigeria or smell its odour. It is rather an added assault on the public to say that Mrs. Clinton in 2010 and Mr. Clinton in 2013 must have been briefed by certain individuals who

were antagonistic to the ruling government. Such a statement could only have come from people of feeble minds who exemplified the ineptitude of Nigeria’s government of the time.

In retrospect On December 22, 2012, the Nigeria Muslim Forum, UK, held its 22nd Annual Winter Conference at Stamford Court, University of Leicester. At that conference, retired General Abdur-Rahman Dambazau delivered a paper that electrified the Hall. The paper which was entitled ‘Poverty Alleviation, Security and Stability’ addressed the Nigerian situation from social, economic and political points of view. In the paper, he made the meaning of poverty clearer, using verified statistical indexes to buttress his arguments. The retired General also looked at the ranking of Nigeria on the poverty table which showed Nigeria as one of the 20 most poverty-stricken countries in the world; and the Northwest as the most hit and Southwest of the country as the least affected. Generally, the situation is by far worse today than it was then.

Religious Angle “In his own contribution to the discussions the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Mathew Kukah stressed that poverty was one of the main causes of intolerance in the society, which in turn often leads to conflict and insecurity. He said people react to poverty in various manners and that they respond to conflict in ways they feel would bring them justice. He also blamed the deterioration of the situation in Nigeria on injustice and warned that injustice would continue to breed violence in the country unless something was quickly done to ensure equitable dispensation of justice. He explained that diversity should be seen as an advantage to the society as it enhances growth, “although in Northern Nigeria the reverse is the case due to the failure to manage it well in view of the crises the region now faces....”.

Frank Talk In an earlier similar statement he made in January 2012 about Boko Haram and causes of insecurity, Bishop Kukah said inter alia: “We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions. Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals as criminals have created the illusion that there is a conflict between Christians and Muslims. In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch Christians against Muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption. As Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, we must stand together to ensure that our resources are well utilised for the common good. This is why, despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the Fuel Subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy”.

“Religious leaders across the faiths must indeed stand up together and face the challenge of the times by offering a leadership that focuses on our common humanity and common good rather than the insignificant issues that divide us. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of our collective survival....”.

Conclusion With all these issues still prominent on the national table it may be interesting to ask a very vital question as the so-called National confab was put on the front burner as a matter of priority despite the overwhelming opposition to it by the well informed sectors of the society. Now, besides wasting another colossal sum of money on mere political patronage what has become of that jamboree? There is a great lesson for the incoming government to learn from all these. For things to take a proper shape, not as it is but as it ought to be, a ‘CHANGE’ for the better must be vivid and practical. The euphoria of the recent electoral victory has created such an unprecedented hope in the generality of Nigerian populace that the new government must not allow such hope to end up in another paroxysm of despair. God guide our leaders aright.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

48

SOCIETY Managing Director of Mud Cosmetics former Miss Stella Onyinye Onwugbenu got married to her heartthrob and Information Technology specialist Bosah Ikenna Chukwuogo on April 18, in Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

•Bride’s parents Chief Onwugbenu and wife Patricia

•Groom’s parents Keluo Chukwuogo and wife Ifeoma •The couple Onyinye and Bosah

‘She makes me happy’ T HEY met last year through a mutual friend. They became friends culminating in their marriage on April

18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The traditional marriage of Onyinye and Bosah took place on April 7, at Chief Louis Onwugbenu’s Uruagu, Nnewi hometown in Anambra State. Onwugbenu is the Managing Director of Louis Carter Industries - which is into manufacturing, real estate, agriculture and importation.

The groom’s father is the Managing Director of Boskel Nigeria Limited, an engineering firm in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The bride, with her bridesmaids, arrived in the church at noon in a white Infinity Limousine. She stole the show in her flowing gown as she was led into the church by her father. Bosah was seated on one side of the church waiting for her.

The ceremony was presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Rev Dr Martin Uzochukwu.

In a homily, Rev Dr Alphonsus Okonkwo of Nnewi Diocese urged the couple to replicate the Trinitarian love.

“This is an institution of divine level and not man made. In this union, you have to take up your responsibility and be a man of faith, who lives a life of communion and union with Christ. It is no longer your life, but the life of Christ. If you are faithful to Christ, you will be faithful to each other,” the cleric said.

He urged the couple to always pray together so as to attract grace from God. He said prayers and mutual understanding were key in marriage.

At the Grand Ballroom of Oriental Hotel in Lekki where the reception was held, there was cocktail on the corridor before people entered, a pianist played nice tunes. Pictures of the couple were displayed; their friends signed on plain spaces of the pictures.

The hall was breathtaking. Nollywood actor Okey Bakassi was the Master of Ceremony.

He also cracked jokes in-between anchoring the event.

There was plenty to eat and drink. The allrosy cake was suspended from a chain. It soon became a spectacle as people struggled to see

it.

Onyinye outshone Bosah in dancing into the hall. Guests stood to have a good look at the groom’s funny dance steps. The invited band, Adrenaline, was supported by a DJ, who churned out contemporary tunes to guests delight.

It was fun all the way when the son-mother and father-daughter took to the dance floor.

The moving moment was when Onyinye broke down and wept during a solo dance with her father. Her father fought back tears before handing ther over to her beau.

Bosah was born in Warri, Delta State and grew up in Port Harcourt. He had his secondary school education in the United States (US) and studied Computer Science.

Thirteen years after a fulfilling career as a software engineer, he returned to Nigeria in 2011 to begin his IT business, Hamot Integrated Services, specialising in network infrastructure and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Oyinye read accounting in America and worked with Ernest and Young as an accountant. She came back to Nigeria to live her dream as a cosmetics and make-up expert.

She runs a cosmetology school, where she trains young stars in make-up and hair styling.

Bosah told The Nation how he found out that he had a lot in common with Onyinye after months of dating.

“I proposed to her when she was in New York on holiday last year. I went there with a ring to see her, but it was straightforward when I asked her to marry me. I’m lucky she accepted because she makes me feel happy and fulfilled. She makes me feel like I’ve never felt before. She’s the only one that makes me feel that way,” he said.

Bride’s mother Patricia described her daughter as an industrious and hardworking adding that she loves doing house chores and ensuring that everyone is comfortable. “There is no dull moment whenever Onyinye is around. She can even sacrifice herself to ensure that everyone is happy,” she said.

She advised her to keep up her good character and respect her husband.

Mr Chukwuogo described his daughter-inlaw as a good girl whom he is proud of.

•Former chairman of Diamond Bank Chief Emeka Onwuka

•Chief Executive Officer of Chisco Motors Chief Chidi Anyaegbu

•From left: Board Chairman National Hospital Abuja Dr Tony Okam; Chief Emma Nweke and Chris Obuekwe

•Chief Theophilus Nnaji flanked by Henry Nnaji and Genevieve Nnaji PHOTOS:NNEKA NWANERI

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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SOCIETY The Iyaloja of Odua Market in Ojota, Lagos State, Chief Oluwasimidele Fadayomi, clocked 70 on April 14. She celebrated her birthday at her Ojota, Lagos home, after a thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Ikosi-Ketu. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

‘At 70, I feel fulfilled’

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VER seen a strong woman at 70? Iyaloja of Odua Market in Ojota, Lagos, Chief Oluwasimidele Fadayomi demonstrated the strength of a septugenarian penultimate Sunday, at her 70 th birthday at her Ojota, Lagos home, after a thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Ikosi-Ketu.

Mrs Fadayomi, a retired nurse, hardly sat down for the over five hours that the celebration lasted.

She was filled with joy, dancing to beautiful tunes by Victory Live Band and moving around her compound to greet her guests.

She was a beauty to behold in her pink lace Buba and Iro, with matching Gele and Ipele; her simple but beautiful make-up with the gold jewellery and royal beads made her look much younger.

Her husband Chief Abiola Fadayomi looked resplendent in green agbada, with beads on his neck and a pair of glasses. Their male children were all in white; their daughters wore uniformed blue ankara fabric with pink head gears.

Family members and friends sat on chairs set at tables under tents.

The waiters, assisted by family members, ensured that guests had a lot to eat and drink.

Taiwo Ade-Lawal, a.k.a. Bountiful, anchored the event; Mr Abiodun Adedeji said the opening prayers. Guests said nice things about the celebrator.

Mr Fadayomi said he was excited that he and his wife is alive. He described her as a woman in a million, nice, truthful, gentle, decent and trustworthy.

He said: “I really thank God for our marriage, which has blossomed into over 20 individuals including our children, their spouses and grand children. If we are coming back to this world, I will prefer to marry my wife than anybody else.

My wife is a very good woman; God specifically gave her to me and I cherish her so much. She is a good mother.” Her first daughter, Mrs Omolara Ete, described her mother as wonderful, loving, understanding, beautiful and gorgeous.

She said: “My mother is the best mom anyone can have. She is someone that will not pamper you, but then, she will show you love as a

•From left: Mrs Soria Fadayomi; Mr Henry Fadayomi; Mr Patrick Ete; Mrs Lara Ete; celebrator’s husband Chief Fadayomi; The celebrator Mrs Fadayomi; Mrs Busola Fadayomi; Mrs Tope Fadayomi and Mr Seyi Fadayomi

• From left: Mr Ajibayo Akinmuko; Mrs Joyce Ukeje and Mr Segun Akintemi

•From left: Chief Folorunso Akinsola; Otunba Yomi Odutayo and his wife Yemisi PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

•Funso Salako (left) and Margaret Akinmuko

mother. I appreciate and thank her for her advice, training and for making me what I am today. I wish her many more years in sound health and beauty as she is today.”

Her first son, Mr Henry Fadayomi, said his mother was incomparable, adding that he cannot do without her.

He said his mother was able to cope with him in the midst of all the problems he gave her. He

•From left: Alhaja Amori Bamikole; Chief Stella Akinsheye and Alhaja Abibatu Esuruoso

wished her long life, prosperity and good health.

In her thanksgiving, the celebrator thanked God that she is alive, saying that 70 is a long journey. She also thanked her guests attributing the secret of her young looks to God. She added: “In the midst of all ups and downs in 70 years, I thank God that I am alive and my children are celebrating it for

me.”

Mrs Fadayomi said one of her memorable days was when her first child gave birth, adding that now she is 70, she wants to live happily.

She said: “I want to go out, sit down and eat the way I wish. I also like going to parties, dressed up and with that I will feel younger”.

The celebrator described her husband as a darling, who will always be there for her and someone, who

hardly gets annoyed.

A family member, Mrs Margaret Adepegba, described the celebrator as an epitome of beauty; a woman of virtue and a good mother.

A family friend Otunba Yemi Odutayo described the celebrator as a woman people use as a prayer contact.

He added: “She is a woman to be proud of; a woman among women and a role model.”

MARRIAGE

BIRTHDAY

•The couple Nneka Agnes and Ugochukwu Henry flanked by their parents from left: bride’s father Elder Paul Okoro; groom’s mother Mrs Ogwumike; groom’s father Chief Augustine Ogwumike and bride’s mother Mrs Okoro after their wedding at Rescue Mission Church, Sururlere, Lagos last Saturday

•The birthday ‘girl’ Iya Ewe of Ikeja Christiana Ayodele Morohundiya (3rd left), assisted by from left: Mr Olu Ogunjobi; Dr Winifred Adefolahan Awosika; Mr Olubankole Awosika; Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho and Mrs Tinuola Aboyade to cut her 89th birthday cake.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY OF MOST SENIOR APOSTLE DAYO DOHERTY’S DAUGHTER AT ALAUSA, IKEJA

•Superior Apostle Dayo Doherty (left) and Mr Oladele Doherty

•Mr Abayomi Sonaike and Mrs Gbemi Sonaike

•The couple, Oluyombo Doherty and Oluwaseun Olaleye cutting the cake

•Mr Kola Fasina (left) and Chief Samuel Doherty.

UNION OF LOVEBIRDS

•From left: Mrs Funmi Olaleye; Mrs Dorcas Olaleye and Mrs Fola Sotunde

•From left: Prophet James Odularu; Mr Ademola Kuku and his wife, Bimpe.

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

CONJUGAL BLISS

WEDDING

•Former Chidimma Bibian Okafor and Patrick Nnaemeka Agu after their wedding at Rhema Deliverance Mission, Ojo, Lagos

•Mr Felix Edegware and his wife, former Miss Oluwatoyin Ewenla during their wedding at Old Alimosho Local Government Secretariat Ikotun in Lagos.

Former Miss Oluwaseun Fadare and her beau Deremi Adekunle during their wedding in Adalemo, Ogun State

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

SHOPPING NEWS Konga.com ugrades paltform with Self-Fulfill Model

• From left: Key Accounts Manager NBC, Chidi Akubuiro; Finance Executive-Mr Biggs, Muftau Fasasi ; Mr Biggs Partner, Pauline Nwana; and Operations Manager, Mr Biggs, Jacques Theunissen at the event.

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Mr Biggs’ Make a Difference campaign for children

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T is that time of the year again when businesses celebrate the Nigerian child. Mr Biggs, the number one quick srvice restaurant (QSR) brand that focuses on children and family has launched this year’s children’s day activation tagged Make a Difference Campaign.

It’s a two-pronged campaign aimed at connecting with children on their special day and rewarding loyal customers to the brand.

This marketing initiative leverages on corporate social responsibility (CSR) values to create the needed vibe and hype which resonates with the brand’s target consumers and pull foot traffic to the restaurants.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the brand’s Marketing Manager, Mrs Eustesia Ogunsusi said: “Giving to charity is an age long initiative and as children-friendly and family brand, Mr Biggs seeks to lend credence to this move in a unique manner riding on her expansive network of restaurants to touch

By Ekeowa Patience & Latifah Ochu-Ohunene

lives across the nation in a one– swoop activity. This implies that charity homes benefitting from this event will cut across all regions of the Mr Biggs operations simultaneously. This initiative will be sustained as an annual national campaign.”

She added that during this year’s campaign, Mr Biggs will partner with Coca-Cola to excite consumers through a combo meal offer. “Customers can enjoy their great tasting Mr Biggs rice and chicken meal with a 50cl Coca Cola PET drink for just N1000.It is a discount offer. And anyone who participates in this activation stands the chance of winning a Mr Biggs meal ticket worth N4,000. This will be decided via an in-store raffle draw.”

Ogunsusi added that Mr Biggs change collection boxes are also available at the restaurants for customers to drop their change after

products are purchased, stating that the proceeds will be collated and given to charity homes. “We are assuring our esteemed customers that all processes will be transparent and customers will be updated regularlythr ough the use of the media.This campaign is driven through traditional and newmedia channels. The brand will enjoy maximum exposure on Facebook given its target market to pull foot traffic to the restaurants. There will be alot of in-store communication to reinforce the message and induce buying decision.”

There will be online activities where customers will earn reward by tagging along, liking the Mr Biggs Facebook page or activities that will be posted on-line for customers’ participation.

Customers are therefore advised to

get connected at www.facebook.com/ mrbiggsonline and be alert for all updates.

The Campaign begins today and ends May 31.

IGERIA’s online mall, Konga.com has announced a major upgrade that is set to change the face of e-commerce in Nigeria. The new move has been tagged the ‘Self-fulfill’ model.

Its CEO, Sim Shagaya, said:“This upgrade to our service offering heralds a myriad of online shopping benefits toKonga’sbuyers and sellers and will further advance Konga’smission of becoming the engine of trade and commerce in Africa.”

Since the launch of the Konga Marketplace in April last year, over 12000 sellers have registered and are actively trading from their stores on Konga.com. This online marketplace growth surpassed even Konga’s expectations and is particularly noteworthyas the platform was only open to sellers in Lagos.With the Self-fulfill model launched by Konga this week, theplatform is now opening up to sellers all across Nigeria.

‘Self-fulfill’basically means that all sellers on Konga.comhavetheoption to adopt more efficient, time-saving methods of shipping their orders directly to customers. Konga would however continue to support its merchants with its proprietary shipping platform called KExpress and viacompetitive shipping agreements negotiated by Konga with reputable courier partners. In this model, sellers now have more flexibility and control in the management of their stores from the point where an order is made till it get into the hands of the customer.

With the pay on delivery option in the Self-fulfill model, Merchants can now receive payments directly from the buyer when deliveries are made, ensuring more liquidity for their

A food outfit, Eat’N’Go, was established about four years ago. It has the exclusive master franchise for Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery in Nigeria. Its Chief Executive Officer Jean-Claude Meyer speaks about Domino Pizza’s brand identity, its battle among competing brands, varieties and its projection in the nation’s fast food market, among others. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA met him.

‘The customer should be king always’

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HAT is Domino Pizza’s brand identity?

The Domino’s Pizza brand is known globally for being the leader in pizza delivery, it’s what we do. We strive to be number one in every neighborhood. As such, the brand is known for delivering quality products and services while putting people first, demanding integrity, striving for customer loyalty, delivering with smart hustle and positive energy and ultimately, winning by improving results every day.

What decides your location and what are those considerations?

There are a number of factors impacting management’s decision on where to establish a Domino’s Pizza restaurant. We consider things such as area demographics, spending power, logistical issues and proximity to our commissaries; and once we have set our mind on an area, we then look for a site within it, which ideally would gather as many ideal criteria as possible, like being on a high street or being of adequate size, with minimal construction, we also look at the parking size, etc.

Could you tell us the various types of pizza available?

We carry a rich menu of pizzas and other meal accompaniments such as Stuffed Cheesy bread, Chicken Wings, Chicken Kickers, Bread Sticks, to mention but a few. Going back to the pizza types available, I can guarantee that we have a pizza for everyone depending on their taste or convictions. For example, we have the Margarita, Caprese, Veggie or Veggie Supreme Pizzas for the vegetarians, BBQ Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Deluxe, Pepperoni Supreme or Chicken Supreme for the meat lovers, Hawiian Pizza if a more fruity taste is what you fancy, and also Chicken Suya and Chicken Bali for

those who like it hot and spicy.

However, one of the uniqueness and beauty of Domino’s Pizza is that no one should be restricted to which ever recipe we came up with. Customers are entitled to request for half and half, so half BBQ Chicken / half pepperoni for example, or even better, create their own entirely by selecting any number of toppings in our list and let their creativity run wild. If you like chicken, cheese, hot peppers and olives, then why should you be denied the right to delight yourself with just that?

Are sure of breaking even in view of the competiton?

At this stage in Nigeria, we believe we are pioneers in our field, as we honestly do not consider any other eatery as competition. Not that we disregard or underestimate them, but that the demand still far outweighs the offer.

As such, we have the “first mover’s advantage” but then again it is now about educating the market on how our products make for a suitable alternative for their meals. Another unique advantage we have is investing in our team members. We strive to make every staff working for Domino’s as part of the family and not just an addition. Finally, what will always make us confident about our ability to break even is our dedication to our guests and we are relentless. There shouldn’t be any reason for our restaurants not to succeed when we provide the best quality at the best price in the industry, without sacrificing quantity.

What marketing techniques are you adopting to woo customers?

One strategy we have adopted with Domino’s Pizza is to ‘Nigerianise’ the product. We have been able to roll out a couple of pizzas, for example the Chicken Suya

pizza, which is a good seller and accepted very well in the market here.

We have also worked hard to ensure the quality, the pricing and the different promotional offerings done as correctly as we can to try and convince the market to have a slice of our pizza.

Our best marketing strategy is again, to provide the best price to quality to quantity ratio in the market, and you can verify this. We recently started ‘A Prove Us Wrong’ campaign with us making the declaration that we are bigger, better and cheaper. We are urging anyone to prove us wrong and get a free pizza; we are that confident. Our medium sized pizza is what others sell as their large pizzas at an outrageously high price. In addition, we will deliver for free, anywhere within our range, in an average time of about 25 minutes from the moment you order.

More generally, our idea is that customer is king and deserves to feel that way, whether through our services, our product, our affordability or our environment. Of course, we can’t be always successful in that but we certainly strive to make it happen over and over, on every occasion we get for each of our guests.

Our goal is that not one guest leaves our restaurant without a smile on his or her face.

Would you convincingly say you provide for every social class?

Everybody needs to eat, so everybody is our concern. We strive on a daily basis to cater to more and more people not only by opening stores but also by developing new products with reasonable costs to our guests or launching promotions on various occasions.

I wouldn’t say we provide daily for every social class just yet, but it is our goal.

•Meyer

What are the standard hygiene processes (from beginning to finished products) considering that pizza are often prepared with bare hands?

Hygiene is one of our primary focus! The difference with us is that we mean it, and thus we show it.

In all our restaurants, we made the kitchen not only central but entirely open so every guest can see for their eyes the cleanliness of our work environment, the freshness of our products, and is therefore guaranteed that their meal was prepared with utmost care.

Furthermore, all our open kitchens feature wash hand basins and our rule is that every crew member must wash their hands on a regular basis. We sometimes encounter the argument of bare hands versus gloves and we prefer washing our hands because it is much more efficient against germs, as how often does one wash the gloves they are wearing?

What do you have to say to your customers in the country?

We would like to thank Nigeria for having accepted us warmly and we promise to continually strive to make everyone happy with our products and services. We urge everyone to expect nothing but the best, as we do have a number of projects in the pipeline which we are confident will please everyone. Watch out for innovation, new menu additions, ever attractive promotions; all designed to keep every guest smiling.

businesses andbettercontrol of their finances.

The move is also poised to be a game changer in terms of timelines for orderdeliveries; shoppers on Konga can expect faster and more flexibledelivery, with the elimination of some processing requirements that were necessary with the old operating model. Furthermore, delivery charges would now be set

by Konga sellers and would be largely dependent on the weight and size of the order.As the forces of market competition come into play, we expect to see some items with ‘cheaper or free’ shipping offers.

To support the new model, Konga.com has been revamped with a clean new look and several new features designed to promote trust and safetyfor its users. Some new features on the site that are designed to give its users more security include indicators thatshow what locations a certain product can be delivered to,the number of successful sales made by a seller, the number of a particular item sold, and product reviews from other buyers. Customers also have the opportunity to rate a product, its seller and his/ her overall experience.

Carmudi wins Best Automobile Portal of the year awards

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ARMUDI, Nigeria’s fast and revolutionary solution for people looking to sell and buy cars online, has been awarded the Automobile Portal of the Year at the 2015 Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Distinguished Awards. Organised

by Nigeria Communications Week.

The award is the biggest industry event that aims to recognise and reward companies that have contributed greatly to the country’s growing e-commerce field.

Over 80,000 readers of Nigeria Communications Week participated in voting for all 46 awards categories.

The BoICT Distinguished Awards took place at the the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos. Executives from Telecom, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and CBN attended and delivered keynote presentations.

Launched in late 2013, Carmudi.com.ng has continued to grow rapidly and has over 33,000 car listings available on its site. Fast on its way to becoming Nigeria’s largest and best online vehicle marketplace, Carmudi secured over 50,000 votes to grab the Best Automobile Portal of the Year award.

With more than 170 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) growing at between 4.5-9per cent each year, Nigeria is Africa’s largest population and economy.

The number of players in Nigeria’s ecommerce space has grown significantly, providing Nigerians with online solutions for all their needs.

An annual increase of 30 per cent in Nigeria’s mobile app usage has visibly helped surge Carmudi’s growth in the ecommerce space. Carmudi provides customers in Nigeria with an extremely smooth and hassle-free platform to fulfill all their car related needs be it looking to sell or buy cars, auto news, and car tips.

The Managing Director, Carmudi Nigeria, Christian Keller, who received the awards said: “We are extremely happy and honored to have won the Best Automobile Portal of the Year title. It shows that our efforts in providing our customers with the best car shopping experience has paid off and is well received by the general public. We would like to thank our customers and voters for making this happen and will continue to expand and improve our services to bring home the same award next year”.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

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

Dabur Toothpaste stormed the oral care market over a decade ago, stamping its feet in herbal oral care offering. It, however, disappeared, following the entry of other brands, igniting questions about the whereabouts of the herbal toothpaste, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

Where is Dabur?

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HE last time it appeared in the news was October 19, 2011 on Nairaland Forum, and in the September 7, 2012 edition of a national newspaper.

While the discussion of the brand on Nairaland is uncomplimentaryDarbur herbal Toothpaste’s Dengerous Side Effect, the other report was the advocacy drive of the toothpasteDabur embarks on free oral health care project, to commemorate the World Oral Health Day. However, what appeared to be the brand’s appearance on social media when it displayed Dabur Herbal Toothpaste with Basil (175g) on mobofree.com, could not be attributed to any major newspaper, hence far from the brand’s former position in the media.

Besides, the brand once posted a 10-second ad on Youtube in 2009, announcing a new pack. But experts could not recall the brand that brought other leading toothpastes to the herbal oral care market.

Remembering one of the brand’s old advert, an analyst with an online platform, 360nobs, could recall a Dabur ad on NTA Network sometimes ago and quried its creative copy-cat: “Dabur Herbal Toothpaste’ advert that aired similar to the Harpic cleaning solution advert where some of our favourite Nollywood celebrities went from door to door with a camera crew asking household related questions, Dabur Toothpaste ad features Muna Abii former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria turned acclaimed hip hop rapper, mechanically marching into a restaurant and accosting a customer if they had bad breathe.

While the latter had a better approach to home owners, as stated earlier, Muna had a mechanical style, and if she was meant to be a

• Dabur Herbal protect toothpaste 125ml

superhero or the solution provider to all bad breath issues (this is because of the wind that seemed to be blowing at her hair)her role was truly icy coupled with her pair of contacts, which was really troubling and definitely scared the crap out of the customers approached.

Well, maybe this was the strategy for Dabur, ‘Icy queen/solution provider to bad breath issues’, but that lines were not even in sync with the movement of her lips on NTA – not sure of other stations – also made viewing the advert terrible.

To share my excruciating pain with you guys, I searched YouTube, Facebook and even IrokoTV for the advert to upload for your viewing pleasure or displeasure, but I guess non-availability of the advert is also a strategy.

So, at this junction, I would like to say to agencies and advertisers, the use of social media tools like Facebook and YouTube is a good avenue for you to measure what people think about your adverts before deploying to electronic mediums like television or radio.

Through this method, you actively engage customers and get their

view and eventually, become a brand that cares about what your customers or potential customers think of you.”

However, with the brands fast dimming visibility on retail shelves despite its efficacy in enhancing oral care, the brand appears to have surrendered its unique selling point to the big marketing budget brands such as Close Up and McClean who are now doing well in herbal oral care offerings.

Rated behind Close Up and McClean by Bestnaija toothpaste brand rating in Nigeria, Dabur used to enjoy great patronage when it was introduced into the Nigerian market by Dabur International Limited, trading in Nigeria as African Consumer Care Limited (AFCC). With the inability of the leaders of the pack to enhance effective oral care, the USP of Dabur which used herbal extracts from India to offer solutions to oral issues became an instant success.

Realising its success as an imported brand after its launch of the oral care brand Dabur Herbal Toothpaste in December 2004, it

was followed by that of Dabur Herbal Gel in April 2007. The maker of the brand moved their plants to Nigeria, promising to spend about 15 per cent on its earnings on campaigns. “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing overseas markets for Dabur. We have already seen our business in Nigeria triple during the July-September quarter of 2007, and with this new facility in place, African Consumer Care Ltd (AFCC) is confident of further boosting its presence in the Nigeria and neighbouring markets,” Dabur India Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Duggal, said in a statement.

The inability of the brand to sustain its innovative product has enabled other big players to have a field day in the market. For instance, Unilever has expanded its share in the oral care market and give consumers more options.

The global brand offers herbal variant, such as Close Up Complete 8, Close Up Complete 8 White and Close Up White Now toothpastes. Also, Colgate has four variants one of which is herbal.

In addition, “CloseUp Naija

Herbal is joining a long list of CloseUp variants in the market. As at last count, there are more than seven of these variants. These include Red Hot, Menthol Chill and the Herbal variants. Others are the CloseUp Complete 8, CloseUp Complete 8 White and CloseUp White Now toothpastes. This did not include the CloseUp FireFreeze launched about a year ago,” said Analyst-in-Chief at Brandish.com, Mr. Ikem Okuhu .

Meanwhile, when The Nation called Dabur office in Nigeria to enquire about the brand seeming silence in the marketing communication landscape and the competitive oral care market where the likes of Close-Up, Oral B, Pepsodent, Sensodyne, McClean, MyMy, Colgate now bestride like colossus, the non-ringing tones from the telephone raises concern if the brand has stopped producing in Nigeria; it perhaps, may have opted for importation.

Whichever the case, experts advised that Dabur should return to re-ignite its brand irrespective of what might have informed the brand’s silence.

LASAA compensates brands for outdoor ads’ disruption

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O compensate some brands, whose outdoor ads were dis rupted by political advertising campaigns, the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has extended by three months.

LAASA noted that the move was borne out of the agency’s understanding of the advertisers loss of share of exposure, hence, decided to make up for losses and inconveniences some of the brands and outdoor advertising practitioners must have suffered as a result of the disruptions.

LASAA’s Managing Director Mr. George Noah, explained that while the agency is committed to the growth of the industry, it also feels the pain and bore the brunt of excesses displayed by political agents against regulatory framework for outdoor advertising in Lagos State during the elections.

“As an agency deeply committed to the growth of the outdoor advertising industry and well-being of our stakeholders, we also feel the pain and bear the brunt of ex-

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

cesses perpetrated on the outdoor advertising industry, by political agents who showed a blatant disregard for existing outdoor advertising contractual agreements and guidelines we issued to regulate the use of outdoor political campaign materials.”

He said the acts made the clients and outdoor practitioners loose more money, hence, the need to pay the stakeholders some incentives

to cushion the effect.

“These brazen acts cost us and our esteemed stakeholders’severe losses.Consequently, we are obliged to come up with incentives that could cushion the impact and help restore confidence and jumpstart investments in the sector, following the lull recorded in the build up to the general elections,” he said.

Some outdoor ad practitioners in Lagos, especially those with Streetlamp poles contracts, it will

be recalled, suffered huge losses, when the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a support group for the re-election of Nigeria’s outgoing President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, deployed campaign materials in streetlamp poles already paid for by some practitioners.

This resulted in losses worth millions of naira and the termination of contracts by some leading telecom firms, such as Globacom and Huawei.

•Noah

Firm joins online marketing

A

FIRM, Riela Direct, has joined the online marketing delivery service in Nigeria.

It focuses on food, clothing, electronics, gifts, parcel shopping as well as home delivery.

Riella Direct addresses and establishes a new culture in online shopping and delivery which will have a strong impact on customer attraction and retention, its founder/ Managing Director Gabriella Azonabor said.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

He said it’s unique selling proposition is to focus on customer lifestyle.

Established this year, Azonabor said the site has dual responsibilities - to provide a shopping experience for those who can’t get out’, as well providing a shopping experience for those who don’t have time.

He added: “We believe a lot of people are busy and therefore seek-

ing modern solutions that save them time.Riella Direct was founded to redefine the shopping experience with an innovative alternative; so our customers can get what they need from their favourite stores, when they need it without having to go through the hassle of google.”

Also, Azonabor said Reila Direct allows clients to select and pay for items online or on delivery, then either picks same up at the store or

have it delivered to their doorsteps.

Services offered are housed in mini-sites with catchy names, which includes food court, gift lounge, Riellaonline (shopping mall), wedding registry, speedy movers’ and errand express’, Azonabor added: “The objective is that by having personal shoppers select items based on your preferences create that human link which makes the internet more personal.”

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NEWS ‘Nigerians need information’ From Tayo Johnson and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

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ORMER chairman of the Ibadan chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, Oluseun Abimbola has said Nigerians need information about the law so they can curtail the excesses of law enforcement agents.

Abimbola spoke yesterday, at a book launch ‘Learning the law in Nigeria’ written by Kehinde Adegbite, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While reviewing the book, Abimbola said it would address the ‘emerging issues as plea bargaining, parade of suspects before trial, cyber crime, and the evolving criminal justice reform, as pioneered by the Lagos State administration of criminal justice law of Lagos State’.

According to him, the book would help protect the interest of women, indigents and children who are deprived because of their gender, even as it would assist prospective lawyers in sharpening their legal skills.

Adegbite said the need to make non-lawyers closer to the law inspired him to write.

•Lagos State University (LASU) students protesting against the closure of their school in Lagos…yesterday

Students protest school’s closure by NUC

S

TUDENTS of Borough College, Igboho Study Center, Oyo State, Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest against the continued closure of the school by the National Universities

Five quick wins for General Buhari •Continued

on page 56

One such, a sure bet, is the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation AGF). If President Buhari reactivates this office and puts a diligent and honest man at its helm, he would have by that singular stroke, without lifting a finger, reduced corruption by about 50 per cent in Nigeria. The other leg is to revamp ICPC and make it follow-up on all audit queries emanating from the AGF’s annual report and deal with them openly and to a quick conclusion.

This is a quick-win because all the president needs is a memo directing. He should simply make the AGF’s office the most important in the land; make it fiercely independent and mandate it to do its job thoroughly and release annual reports to the public (and the Assembly) promptly.

Two, he should accept no excuses for late annual budgets.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his crew toyed with our budget all through his tenure. This document epitomized his lackadaisical attitude to statecraft and presented him as one not understanding the magnitude of the office he occupies. Jonathan and his team treated the budget with so much levity. But after the constitution, the appropriation bill is the next most important document in the life of any country. Serious governments would send the draft budget to parliament by the end of the first quarter each year. It must not only be prompt, the numbers must be skewed in favour of capital expenditure.

Number three, block the leakages: All revenue-earning agencies of government must render annual report and accounts publicly without fail. Some of these include, NNPC, NLNG, NIMASA, NPA, NCC, FAAN, FIRS, JAMB, WAEC, NECO, Railways, name them. They are also to remit to the CBN all earnings and are not to spend even a dime without express authority; they are to have a uniform accounting period of the year.

The accounts are to be placed in the public domain on a stipulated date.

By this simple measure, you will be amazed how much money we have in this country. By this, managers of these public companies will be on their toes just like in the private sector as they would have targets to meet. This move is sure to put the lie to the claim that government cannot run businesses.

Four, insist that LGAs must work. This may be a tough call in the immediate term but the message needs be passed from day one that you will not live with the grand larceny that have been perfected by governors across the land in the last 16 years.

What we have today is that one third of the country is in perpetual shutdown as their resources are kept in private pockets.

This is why terrorism, kidnapping, human-trafficking, baby factory and all sorts of vices fester in the hinterland unfettered.

Any president who must make any impact must address the current LGA aberration in the country. Remember we are talking about our people and country here and not some self-serving federalism arguments.

Five, make the right appointments; appointees must declare assets. The kind of team he selects will define the tone and character of his administration. This is actually his first litmus test; his toughest first task. Of course assets declaration is statutory but more important the depositions must be accessible to the public on request.

In summary, these are simple but far-reaching actions he can take without breaking a sweat or upsetting the system. As the days go by, more complex actions requiring institutional tinkering would have to follow. For instance, the activities of some critical sectors of the economy in the last few years will have to be scrutinized if only to correct the ills; he will be expected to take a look at the continued importation of all sorts of things we can produce in abundance here – from food crops to petroleum products and all sorts of junks. Nigeria has simply become the dumping ground of the world. This must stop.

By Seun Akioye

Commission (NUC).

The students appealed to NUC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to reopen the study centre so academic activities could resume.

The NUC and operatives of the ICPC described the school as an ‘illegal institution’ and had on March 26, closed it down, following a petition that the school was operating without NUC’s approval.

The Dean of the school, Dr. John Ayodele Ayeni, addressing the students, said the issue had been resolved and

the management was appealing to the ICPC to reopen the school.

“They called us to Abuja and when we got there, we showed the letter from the Oyo State Ministry of Education, granting us approval to run a study centre of Borough College London. They are satisfied with our certificates and we expected them to have opened the school.”

Ayeni debunked stories about the school running illegal courses, saying the school is a study center, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Ministry of Education.

“Borough College, London

is a registered institution in the United Kingdom. What our students are doing now is foundation courses, successful students will be registered on our Degree Programme; there is nothing hidden in this,” Ayeni said.

The Administrative Manager, Solomon Durojaiye, also appealed to the students to exercise patience as the management was expecting the school to be reopened shortly.

Also speaking, the solicitor to the school, Ade Asudemade, called on the NUC and the ICPC to reopen the school so that the student’s future would not be jeopardised. He said the in-

Kwara community protests members’ arrest

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ESIDENTS of Oro-Ago community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have protested to the government the arrest of their members, following their face-off with Fulani herdsmen (Bororo) a fortnight ago.

The community has petitioned the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) over the matter.

The clash reportedly led to the death of two persons and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

The names of the residents allegedly arrested on the order of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) include Chief Omotayo Abidogun (chief hunter), Ganiyu Ibrahim, Dauda Ibrahim, Chief Sunday Odeyemi, Chief Ajibola Adeoti and Mohammed Ologemo (aka Anisere).

Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, President of OroAgo Development Union (ODU), Chief Richard Olaniyi, decried the police action, which he said amounted to supporting one side against the other.

Olaniyi added: “What is strange about the police action in the tragic and unfortunate incident is that while none of the Bororo, who precipitated the crisis loses his freedom, the indigenes, who were trying to defend their

•Residents petition DSS From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

community from the assailants, have ironically now become victims of police intimidation, harassment, arrest, detention and torture.

“The action of the police officers, who came from Abuja and whisked away six of our indigenes, is provocative and not in the interest of peace, particularly because none of the Bororo perpetrators was whisked to Abuja.

“The above scenario leaves much to be desired. It has created an impression that the Bororo settlers in OroAgo have godfathers in Abuja who are ready to stop at nothing to impose the Bororo perpetrators on OroAgo community at whatever cost. Needless to say that this attempt will be vehemently opposed.

“These criminal activities of the Bororo settlers are not the first of its kind. We had borne their excesses for the sake of peace. Some of their

past nefarious acts include constant encroachment into indigenes’ farmlands with their cows, thereby destroying agricultural produce; intermittent robbery, shooting/macheting indigenes while working on their farms for challenging them for allowing their cows to graze on their farms and raping.

“This development necessitates our petition to the DG of DSS in Abuja to intervene and help to release our sons illegally detained by the police.

“Also, all the Bororo settlers mentioned in the petition should be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law for perpetrating the dastardly act.”

The ODU president alleged that “the leader of the Bororo perpetrators of the ugly incident, known as Sarkin, through their umbrella body, Miyetti Allah Association, has stopped at nothing to boast that they have the police at their disposal”.

stitution had complied with necessary requirements to operate a study center and should be allowed to operate.

Oyede for burial

T

HE funeral of High Chief Jacob Atonyebe Oyede takes place today

at Okpe land. There will be a service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Okpe Isoko, at 10 am.

Oyede was born on December 30, 1930, to the family of the late Chief Daniel Oyede and Mrs. Rehab Eziorobor of Opia family in Okpe Isoko, Isoko North Local in Delta State.

During his lifetime, Oyede served as deputy chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Isoko-North; chairman, Headmasters’ Association, President Isoko Club, Chairman NLC Isoko LGA, Chairman Local government Education Authority, Isoko North.

•The late Oyede

Funeral for Princess Adebayo PRINCESS Adenike Adebayo, who died on January 20 will be buried today at her husband’s compound in Are-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekti State.

The late matriarch is survived by children, among who is Mr. Toyin Anisulowo of the Hallmark, Ekiti State.

She was 89.

Church holds talent hunt for youths HE youth wing of The Vineyard Church will hold a youth talent hunt programme.

Auditions will hold between May 16 and July 12 (seven Saturdays) while the main exhibition will hold during our Sunday service at 34/36, Osolo Way, Off International Airport Road, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

Application form is N500.

Prizes include: N100,000 (1st place), N50,000 (1st runner up) and other consolation prizes.

T

•The late Mrs Adebayo

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

57

NEWS Youths to Buhari: give us appointments

By Joseph Jibueze

•Minority and Environmental Day solidarity rally in honour of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, the late Oronto Douglas, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State PHOTO: NAN capital...yesterday

Fraud: Court jails Igbinedion, others

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USTICE Mohammend Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday sentenced Patrick Ebogboidin, a former aide to former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, to 20 years without an option of fine.

Michael, a younger brother to Lucky, got six years. They were found guilty in a N25 billion suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against them and their companies.

It dragged for four years.

Michael and the company were arraigned on 81count charges of money laundering, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and abuse of office.

The companies are Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PMI Securities Company Limited and PML (Nigeria) Limited.

Justice Liman asked PML Nigeria Limited to pay a N10 million fine.

But Gava Corporation, Romrig Nigeria Limited and PMI Securities Company Limited were discharged and acquitted.

Patrick and PML Nigeria Limited were found guilty on 10 counts, while Michael was found guilty on three counts.

Their counsel pleaded for leniency and an option of fine before the judge sentenced the accused.

Counsel to the first and sixth convicts (Patrick and PML Nigeria Limited), Richard Ahonanuogho, urged the judge to fine

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

PML Nigeria Limited.

He said the first accused was a first offender and would be 59 in July.

Richard said Patrick had shown remorse, adding that he would not commit a similar offence, if given a second chance.

He said: “He has not made any personal benefit from the alleged offence.

The court is a court of law and equity. We pray your Lordship to admit the first accused to an option of fine or suspended sentence.”

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woman, suspected to be a student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State, was crushed to death yesterday by a tipper lorry.

The incident, it was learnt, happened on the Uhumudumun Road in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.

Sympathisers gathered

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

on the scene to catch a glimpse of the body and learn more about her death.

There was a gridlock, following the accident, for hours.

An eyewitness said a commercial motorcycle (Okada) carrying the woman attempted to overtake

another Okada.

They were said to have collided.

The woman reportedly fell off the motorcycle and was crushed to death by the tipper.

Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the Iruekpen Division, who were on ground to ease traffic, took her body to a nearby mortuary.

$16b project: ‘Fed Govt must resettle displaced persons’

A

FORMER Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)

Delta in Warri, Commodore Musa Gemu, has urged the Federal Government to resolve the displacement of some Ugborodo indigenes to enable the $16 billion Delta Gas City Project at Ogidigben to run smoothly.

Gemu spoke yesterday at a farewell parade in his honour.

The former naval officer said his time at the NNS Delta reduced criminal activities in the oil sector.

He said the groundbreaking ceremony of the Delta Gas City Project by President Goodluck Jonathan was a landmark during his tenure at the naval base.

Gemu said he successfully managed situations that could have caused serious crisis by engaging all parties in peaceful discussions,

Arayela now FUTA’s Deputy VC, Academic HE Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, has confirmed the appointment of Prof Olatunde Arayela as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

Arayela, whose appointment takes effect from April 1, will occupy the office for a term of two years.

In the appointment letter, Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Modupe Ajayi, said Arayela would be responsible for academic administration, curriculum development, examination, admissions and other senate

A

Lorry crushes suspected AAU student to death

matters.

Arayela, 57, brings to his position a rich experience in academic and administration. He obtained B.Sc. (Arch) and M.Sc. (Arch) in 1981 and 1983 respectively from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He obtained a M.Sc. (Urban and Regional Planning) from the same institution in 1996.

Atayela bagged a Ph.D. (Architecture) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2000.

Until his appointment, Arayela was the Director of Academic Planning.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

saving several community/ company relations.

He said: “Unless the Ugborodo people address the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the realisation of the project is still a long journey the Federal Government must address as quickly as possible, putting in mind the constitution, which surpasses any customs and tradition of any community.

“In dealing with oil companies and host communities, I applied the wisdom of talking on tables to resolve issues rather than holding companies to ran-

‘In dealing with oil companies and host communities, I applied the wisdom of talking on tables to resolve issues rather than holding companies to ransom or using violence to drive home a point’ som or using violence to drive home a point. It is on record that because of this approach, no life was lost during my tenure.”

Gemu recalled that in his

14-month stay at the NNS Delta, five ships laden with illegal crude were arrested, 230 boats and over 3,500 illegal refineries destroyed.

Continuing, he said over 34,000 metric tonnes of illegally refined petroleum products were seized and destroyed.

Gemu said: “It is on record that under my watch, NNS Delta arrested and destroyed over 230 wooden boats laden with crude oil. ‘’Similarly, five ships were arrested for crude oil theft and over 3,500 illegal oil refineries destroyed with over 34,000 metric tonnes of crude oil and other petroleum-related products in over 19 camps.”

Delta High Court sacks APC exco

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USTICE M. N. Obi of a Delta State High Court, sitting in Asaba, the state capital, has nullified the congress that produced the Jones Erueled executive of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The nullification followed judgment in a suit filed by Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh, who contested the legality of the congress in April, 2014.

He was challenging the congress held at the Hope Christian Centre, saying the venue was not a public place.

Chief Okotie-Eboh added that members were not duly informed about the change of date and venue, as stipulated in the APC’s constitution.

However, Justice Obi

•Party to appeal verdict From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

held that Hope Christian Centre is a public place where a congress could be held but said the APC constitution, which provides that the change of date and venue should be published in the media four days before the congress, was contravened.

He declared the state congress illegal, null and void and of no consequence.

The judge restrained the state APC Executive Council from parading as leaders in the state.

Justice Obi ordered the a fresh congress in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Okotie-Eboh said the

judgment was a vindication of his claim that the congress was breached the APC’s constitution.

The former APC state chairman said the outcome of the case made it imperative for members to unite.

The party, last night, said it would appeal the ruling.

In a statement, state Publicity Secretary Prof Isaac Adakpo said although it had not received a copy of the ruling, it instructed its solicitors to appeal the judgment and get a stay of execution at the Federal High Court in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Adakpo urged party members to be calm, adding that APC would follow the legal path to set aside the judgment.

A NON-governmental organisation (NGO), the Youth Empowerment and Leadership Foundation (YELF), has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to make youths relevant in his incoming administration.

In a statement by Chinedu Ugochukwu and Chukwuemeka, its President and Secretary, the group congratulated Buhari and Lagos State Governorelect Akinwunmi Ambode on their victory.

YELF said: “We seek an all-inclusive government that comprises qualified young Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe and tongue.

“We urge you to make policies that will engage credible youths in the process of reforming Nigeria, while providing suitable environment for economic empowerment, through wealth creation and establishment of social securities.”

The group hoped Buhari’s administration would enforce the protection of rights ownership of intellectual properties and create opportunities for young Nigerians to work and earn a livelihood.

Court adjourns Rivers suit indefinitely From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

A

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has adjourned indefinitely the suit asking it to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the government for the local government elections.

Justice Lambo Akombi adjourned indefinitely yesterday, following the report of the counsel to RSIEC and the government, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN), that an appeal was before the Court of Appeal challenging the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court in a matter concerning a council poll.

Nwofor said there was a motion on notice restraining further injunctions/ proceedings on the matter by the High Court, until the higher court would have determined the matter.

According to him, a Federal High Court has nothing to do, by jurisdiction, in a matter concerning local government and is not qualified to hear it.

Addressing reporters after the sitting, counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emma Aguma, confirmed that his clients were in court to restrain INEC from handing over the register to RSIEC or the state government for the conduct of a local government election.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

58

NEWS

Suspected herdsmen kill six soldiers in Taraba •Three others missing S uspected Fulani herdsmen yesterday killed six soldiers on patrol in Karimlamido Local Government Area, the home of Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi.

The killings took place between Amar and Kambari settlements, which share a boundary with Plateau State.

It was learnt that the nine vic-

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

tims in the attacks were peacekeepers.

The bodies of the slain soldiers were taken to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo, the state capital.

There was tension yesterday

in the area when the news of the attack flittered to town.

But three other soldiers on patrol with the deceased were declared missing.

“They (the soldiers) were taken unawares, overpowered and killed. Of the nine soldiers, we don’t know the where-

abouts of the other three. We pray they are alive,” said an eyewitness in the local government area.

Police spokesman, Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), declined comments on the incident.

The spokesman said he was not obliged to speak for the army.

Karimlamido Local Govern-

ment Chairman Bobbo Bello Bendu confirmed the incident when our reporter spoke with him on telephone.

The chairman said Fulani herdsmen had been on rampage in the area in the last few years.

He said: “I have been reporting to the appropriate authority the security situation in my council, especially on the men-

ace of Fulani herdsmen.”

The local government chief said he was waiting for the authority to take appropriate action on the incident.

He said many residents were fleeing the area for fear of a reprisal by the army.

Bendu said: “We are in fear now because we suspect that soldiers may want to attack back.”

Jonathan condoles with Yuguda over mother’s death

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and members of his family on the death of his mother, Hajiya Hauwa Yuguda.

The President said he joined the governor and the Yuguda family in mourning Hajiya Hauwa, “whose modest, cheerful and compassionate disposition and lifestyle will remain a source of inspiration for her offspring and all who knew her”.

A statement in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Dr Reuben Abati, said Jonathan expressed the belief that Yuguda, his siblings, members of their families and all others whose lives were positively touched by Hajiya Hauwa “will forever treasure the memories of her exemplary motherliness as well as her benevolence to the less privileged”.

The President prayed Almighty Allah to receive Hajiya Hauwa’s soul and grant her eternal rest.

Hisbah board arrests 67 street beggars in Kano

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HE Kano State Hisbah Board said yesterday it has arrested 67 beggars in Kano metropolis as part of its renewed efforts to enforce the anti-street begging law.

The board’s spokesman, Malam Mohammed Yusuf, spoke yesterday in Kano in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Yusuf said the beggars were apprehended during two separate operations on the streets in the metropolis.

He said: “Some of the beggars were arrested at beer parlours while others were

caught roaming the streets, looking for alms.

“We will screen them and keep them in our custody for further investigation.”

Yusuf stressed that the board would continue to carry out similar operations to rid Kano streets of beggars.

The spokesman said the board recorded 248 cases on issues bordering on matrimony, prostitution, rape and theft, among others.

He urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children to check social vices among them.

ACP escapes as gunmen kill corporal in Lafia

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HE police confirmed yesterday the death of a Corporal attached to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ibrahim Tarfa, the officer in charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Nasarawa State.

Police spokesman, Ismaila Numan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident to reporters in Lafia, the state capital.

He said the corporal was killed on Wednesday by gunmen.

Numan said Tarfa sustained bullet wounds during a gun battle between his attackers and the police.

The police spokesman said the gunmen, suspected to be assassins, stormed the ACP’s home on Shendam Road in Lafia at 2am, scaled the fence and shot the corporal dead.

He added that Tarfa was responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Benue monarch deposed

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HE Chairman of Gwer-West Traditional Council, Chief Daniel Ayua Abomtse, has been deposed by the state government.

But the monarch said he was removed because he voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

Abomtse spoke on phone yesterday with reporters on his removal from the stool.

The monarch said his removal was “huge joke”.

He pledged to review the situation, adding that God would vindicate him.

Asked if he actually worked for APC, Abomtse said: “I did not work for APC but I voted APC and the votes multi-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

plied.”

The monarch also said that Governor Gabriel Suswam evicted him from the Government House lodge, following the declaration of Dr. Samuel Ortom as governorelect.

Abomtse had been at daggers drawn with the Suswam administration because of his hard stance against the policies of his government.

Gboko youths protested yesterday the deposition of the monarch.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as: “Suswam, leave Abomtse alone”; “Suswam, you are shameless, you do not have regard for traditional institution”.

•Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda (sixth left); Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (fifth left) and others during the funeral PHOTO: NAN prayer for the governor’s mother, Hajiya Goggo Hauwa Yuguda, in Bauchi...yesterday.

Another Buhari ‘walker’ arrives in Gombe with over 70 requests A NOTHER walker, Malam Abubakar Umar, 43, who started trekking from Yola, the Adamawa State capital, last Saturday, to celebrate the victory of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja arrived Gombe yesterday, where he spent the night.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar said he was carrying more than 70 letters of requests from people of the Northeast to Gen. Buhari, which the people gave him on his way.

He told NAN that most of the requests he received from the people urged the Presidentelect to address insecurity and rebuild the region.

Umar, popularly known as African Duduwalle, said some women also asked him to appeal to Gen. Buhari not to scrap the Office of the First Lady.

According to him, the women said the office provides

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

them the opportunity to benefit from empowerment, appointments and other benefits.

“My bag is full of letters and requests from people who said I should give Gen. Buhari.

“Women also told me that I should appeal to the Presidentelect not to scrap the Office of the First Lady, which affords women the opportunity to air their views as well as benefit from the government.

“Some people also told me to appeal to the Presidentelect to do something about Boko Haram. They even said they would bring photographs of the insurgency to take them to the General,” he said.

The man, who said he had been an ardent supporter of Gen. Buhari since 2003, when

he was a youth leader on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was happy to hear that Gen. Buhari had won.

Umar explained that his walk to Abuja was also to identify with notable Adamawa indigenes, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha and wife of the President-elect, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, among others.

The walker said he had planned to ride a bicycle to Abuja but was encouraged by the trekking of Mr Suleiman Hashimu, who trekked from Lagos to Abuja to celebrate the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate’s victory in the March 28 election.

On his experience on walking a long distance before now,

he recalled an instance where he trekked from Adamawa to Cameroun.

NAN reports that officials of Airtel Nigeria received the man and provided him with a smart phone to enhance his communication as he proceeded to his destination in Abuja.

Umar thanked Nigerians from for giving him water, food and other forms of assistance on his way.

Also, the Northeast Zonal Business Manager of Airtel Nigeria, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, said the company was proud to identify with the man for being the company’s customer.

Ibrahim said as a social responsibility of the company to the customer, who was embarking of such heroic action, the company believed it should support him with means of communication, hence the gift of a smart phone.

Govt recognises Adamawa Assembly’s new leadership

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HE Adamawa State Government yesterday said it recognised the new leadership of the House of Assembly.

But it denied the allegation that the governor was instrumental to the impeachment of the Speaker and his deputy on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that nine lawmakers, of the 25 in the Assembly, sat at a “plenary” at a hall in the Government House in Yola, the state capital, and announced that they had impeached Speaker Ahmadu Fintiri and Deputy Speaker Loari Kwamoti.

They immediately replaced the “impeached” officers with Jerry Kundisi as Speaker and

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Umar Abdulkarim as Deputy Speaker.

The Director of Public Affairs to the Governor, Mr Phineas Elisha, told reporters in Yola that the governor believed that there was a change in the leadership of the Assembly.

The governor’s aide noted that the new Speaker was Jerry Kundisi.

He said: “As far as His Excellency is concerned, the new Speaker is Jerry Kundisi and, for now, that is the government’s position.

“This clarification has become necessary, following what happened. His Excellency, Bala Ngilari, wants to state

clearly that what happened in the House of Assembly is its internal affairs.

“There is no interference from the state government or the governor...”

On the sitting by Kundisi’s group in the Government House, he said it was due to the continuous closure of the Assembly.

According to him, the lawmakers looked for a secure place and it was the reason they chose the Government House, for security reason.

Elisha described the sitting at the Assembly’s complex, on Wednesday, by Fintiri’s group, as unnecessary.

The director said the resolutions it passed at the sitting, including the one directing

the government to recall the dismissed director-general of the state’s Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), was of no effect.

He said the Adamawa State Government believed that Fintiri had become a former Speaker and that any sitting of the Assembly, presided over by him, would not be recognised by the government.

Elisha denied allegation that the sacked BPP boss, Mallam Bello Umar, was removed for querying dubious contracts by the administration.

He said that the man was sacked for revealing official secrets to the media in violation of his oath of office.

59

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NEWS APC: Jonathan plotting against smooth transition Continued from page 4

mittee) a fait accompli as far as the handover notes are concerned. This does not augur well for a smooth transition and gives the impression that the outgoing Administration is trying to hide something. ‘’By its dillydallying on the date for the readiness of the handover notes from the MDAs, the administration’s posturing that it is ready to hand over has been exposed as nothing but a smokescreen,’’ it said.

APC described as illogical and strange the claim by the Jonathan Administration that the President-elect is trying to set up a parallel government simply because he has set up his own Transition Committee and given it terms of reference meant to guide the members on the discharge of their duties as members of that Committee, wondering how on earth those terms of reference have become the concern of the outgoing Federal Executive Council. ‘’In case the Federal Executive Council has forgotten, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress was declared the winner of the March 28th Presidential Election by INEC. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is therefore today the President-elect and the All Progressives Congress the incoming government. It is therefore illogical to accuse the President-elect and the incoming government of setting up a parallel government. ‘’It is either the outgoing Federal Executive Council has something to hide or is bent on sabotaging the incoming government. There can be no other reasons for the misplaced aggression that was exhibited in that ill-intentioned, unpro-

I will fight quacks in journalism, says NUJ Presidential aspirant From Grace Obike, Abuja

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IGERIAN Union of Journalism (NUJ), Presidential aspirant, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, has promised to fight the quacks infiltrating the journalism profession.

He said that his aim is to ensure that journalists in the country are professionally qualified in terms of training and certification because according to him, the quacks are giving the profession a bad name.

Odusile added that the union needs to be mindful of the leaders that are elected to lead the union, because the organisation is in need of a better leadership.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja, when he collected the nomination form at the NUJ secretariat.

Odusile, a Managing Editor at The Nation, said: "We should be mindful of the quality of leaders that we put at the helm in NUJ because in the past we have had instances where our leaders in the NUJ had not lived up to expectation, now that we have the opportunity, we should not fall below the standard expected of us and to be able to go higher, we must look for a better leadership to take the union higher.

"NUJ is a big organisation that has given birth to a lot of bodies.

Those other bodies probably have learnt from our mistakes and learnt to do things better but it doesn't mean that NUJ is worthless, we are the father or mother of those organisations, we will do better.”

voked and vitriolic statement from the Jonathan government,’’ the party said.

To put the matter beyond doubt, said the party, it decided to publish in full the terms of reference in question so that Nigerians can judge for themselves whether there is anything suggestive of intimidation or running a parallel government in the document.

APC warned the “Jonathanians” not to overstretch the goodwill which the President has earned by his gracious concession even before INEC officially declared Gen. Buhari winner of the March 28th election, saying while it was momentous, it was not unprecedented in Africa, where power has changed hands peacefully between the ruling and opposition parties in several nations.

Said the APC: ‘’Are they now saying that because the President conceded defeat, the incoming administration can no longer ask legitimate questions or seek clarifications that may arise from the handover notes? ‘’We will not surrender to any blackmail, subtle or otherwise. We shall ask questions and ask for explanations and clarifications whenever and wherever we deem such necessary. We cannot run a transparently honest government or fight corruption if we are prevented from asking legitimate questions and seeking clarifications from the outgoing government during the transition process. Let the Jonathan Administration not tie our hands behind our back just because he conceded defeat after losing an election.”

Mu’azu absent as Jonathan gets report on election Continued from page 4

Party chairman Adamu Muazu was absent at the event and no reason was given for his absence.

The president added: “PDP

is still the most organised party; it is still the party that is not owned by anybody; it’s still the party that whatever you are you can get to any level with your competences and so on,” he said.

The President said he did not consult anyone before making the phone call to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari even before the final tally of results.

“Yes I did not consult anybody before I made that phone call but I made that phone call on behalf of all of you and on behalf of the PDP. “I made the pronouncement but some of us are paying the price. Some people pay more price than I do. I know how some of you are already being persecuted and the kind of situation

facing you.

“The key thing is that we must continue to unite. As a party we must continue to work hard so that as we go into subsequent elections 2019, 2023 and so on and so forth, PDP will continue to come up strong. Even in the interest of the nation, we need PDP. “I still believe though we have lost presidential elections, some National Assembly elections, governorship elections, especially in the North, PDP is still the dominant party. Let us not judge PDP by the result of the elections for the presidential elections.”

Jonathan likened the 2015 elections to the civil war which had various accounts written by various people.

“Of course the issues of this 2015 elections will be similar to the civil war because different people gave different account of the civil war. The first book on civil war that I read was My Command by Olusegun Obasanjo, which is his perspectives on

what he saw and observed. I recall Ojukwu’s own was Because I’m Involved. If you read it, the dimensions are sometimes tangential to the first.

“If you ask the various observer groups, each will give you a different perspective. Even among ourselves, whenever we talk, ýsometimes I laugh when people draw some of their analysis but by my privileged position I knew a little more about elections than others,” he said.

President Jonathan said countries that sent vessels in case of an urgent need to evacuate their nationals from Nigeria were disappointed because there was nobody to evacuate.

“The country was so tense but everything has gone down and I think that is the most important thing because the conviction is that you must have a country before you can run for an office.

Nigeria is a very complex country and you must manage with care.

“So let me thank you all for

joining us to carry the cross.

Thank you for the various roles you played and I charge you toý be even more committed to the development of the party. Definitely, PDP will become stronger and united,” he added.

Aliý said: “You made the world proud by conceding defeat even when you had several options. You proved to the world that you are committed to your credo that no one’s blood is worth your political ambition.

“By that singular act, you pulled Nigeria back from a seeming pre-determined precipice and you made us proud.

While you assuredly lost in the ballots, you won the biggest victory in defeat by that historic phone call.”

“This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you,’’ he told President Jonathan.

160 more women, children rescued from Sambisa Continued from page 4

vere and inhuman conditions have been freed by our gallant troops,” Gen. Olukolade said.

He told reporters in Abuja that the army would “comprehensively” clean out the forest, adding: ”There is great hope for the recovery of more hostages of the terrorists.”

The rescues raised hopes for the liberation of the 219 girls snatched from their school in the Borno State town of Chibok on April 14, last year, which caused a global outrage.

The military released photographs of some of the rescued women and children in an undisclosed location, huddled on the

ground and watched over by soldiers.

A child in a photograph appears to be in a state of malnutrition.

Gen. Olukolade said Air Force jets had been bombarding the forest, which he described as Boko Haram’s “last bastion” in the Northeast after being pushed out of captured towns.

He said in the last few days, more than 13 camps had been captured ”including the notorious Tokumbere camp. Other camps overrun and destroyed by troops include Wulari Bukar, Gangala, Anguwar Bakwai, Jigide, Kotorima, Lagura Bello, Lagina Fulani, among others.

“Several field commanders

and foot soldiers of the terrorist group have lost their lives, some armoured personnel carriers, Bufallo vehicles mounted with Anti-Aircraft guns, a truck and several Hilux vehicles were destroyed by troops. Also recovered from the fleeing terrorists are a number of Anti-Aircraft guns, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and several AK 47 rifles. Unfortunately though, we lost one soldier in the course of the operation while 10 others have so far been wounded.

Equipment such as armored personnel carriers, pick-up trucks and weapons were

seized.

“The true identity of some of the rescued women and girls are yet to be ascertained,” said Gen. Olukolade.

“At the moment, what is uppermost and of priority is their movement to a conducive place where they are now undergoing thorough profiling to verify their true identity, where they come from, how they found themselves in the forest etc.

“Additional numbers of persons are still being recovered from the forest. Until such comprehensive profiling is done, nobody can confirm whether they are among the Chibok girls or not.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS Jonathan, Zuma reaffirm nations’ cordial relationship

U. S. partners Ebonyi, Rivers on potable water

Symbol of hope

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RESIDENT Jacob Zuma has had a telephonic discussion with outgoing Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan after the two countries’ relationship took strain during xenophobic violence in South Africa.

This followed a decision

by Nigeria to recall diplomats in the wake of xenophobic attacks in South Africa in the past few weeks.

“The two presidents reaffirmed the warm and cordial relations between South Africa and Nigeria and pledged that the two countries will continue to work together for the good of their peoples and the continent as a whole,” presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement on Thursday.

“President Jonathan expressed his support for the efforts of South Africa to arrest the attacks on foreign nationals and to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including foreign nationals and those from the African continent, in particular who bore the brunt of the attacks earlier this month.”

Maharaj said Zuma would attend the inauguration of Nigerian’s president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari next month

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•A photo of baby Sonies lifted from the rubble after 22 hours has become a defining image of a disaster that has devastated Nepal PHOTO: KATHMANDU.COM and given hope to a nation. Faint cries led to an unlikely rescue — and now recovery

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Baby pulled from Nepal quake rubble after 22 hours

S Rasmila Awal walked home from the store on Saturday, the earth began to shake. A few moments later, she saw the building she lived in collapse.

And inside, under all the debris, Awal knew, were her children — Soniya, aged 10, and Sonies, only 5 months old.

“I started screaming and asking neighbors for help,” she recalled in an interview Thursday.

It looked at first glance as if the children could not have possibly survived.

“I went numb,” said Awal, who is 35. “I didn’t hear anything, didn’t know if they were alive or not.”

Her husband, Sham Krishna Awal, 34, a microbus driver, was working when the quake shook the region. But Soniya

and Sonies were at the family home in Muldhoka, Bhaktapur, east of the capital, Kathmandu.

Baby Sonies Awal spent 22 hours buried in the rubble of his home.

Sham Awal rushed home and scrabbled frantically through the rubble, searching for his children. Neighbors came to help. But Rasmila Awal became despondent.

“I had very little hope that they had survived,” she said. “I didn’t hear any sound at all.”

And then, a blessing: After two hours, Soniya, a fourth-grader, was found alive. But the baby was still missing.

The father also began to lose hope of finding his son alive -- until, from under the rubble, he heard faint cries.

But night had fallen and there was little that could be done.

"It's destiny," a neighbor told Rasmila Awal. "If he's destined to live, he will. Or else God will take him away."

The family went to sleep in a nearby field. Others were sleeping there, too -some because they were afraid of being trapped indoors, some because they had no homes left at all.

Nepali soldiers had given up their search on Saturday night but returned when

Sonies' father heard cries.

And they heard the joyful sound they had prayed they would hear. Their baby was crying.

"We came back and we heard the voice again," Rasmila Awal said, her eyes widening at the memory.

The soldiers, having returned as well, resumed digging. And, miracle of miracles, 22 hours after the earthquake, the mother saw a soldier pull her baby out of the debris.

His face was coated with dust.

But he was alive.

A photo of him being lifted from the rubble has become the defining image of a disaster that has devastated the country.

UK:Cameron, Miliband woo voters in last week of campaign

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RIME Minister David Cameron has said he remains convinced the Conservatives “will get there” over the final week of the election campaign but added it was time to “throw caution to the winds”.

In a Guardian interview at the end of a hectic day of campaigning, the prime minister acknowledged that people are hesitant about voting Conservative because they need to think hard after seven years of struggle in the wake of the recession.

The substance of the campaign remains the same but the change in tone is unmistakeable. The prime minister says: “I think it is time now to turn up the dial markedly because I see what is at stake, what is at risk and I want

to put that across as strongly as I can.

Meanwhile in another political event, the labour party leader Ed Miliband said voters have “seven days to take your chance to run Britain for working people once again”.

Launching his party’s final week of election campaigning, he told voters: “This is your time and your chance.”

And he claimed that Labour has had “four million conversations” with voters on the campaign trail and set a target of one million more.

With one week to go, polls show Labour and the Conservatives neck-and-neck.

The latest BBC poll of polls put the Conservatives on 34%, Labour on 33%, UKIP on 13%, the Lib Dems on 9% and the Greens on 5%.

HIS week, in response to the problem of access to potable water for millions of people in Rivers and Ebonyi states, the United States Government in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, supported two separate closeout workshops on urban water reform. Nearly 200 public-utility workers met to discuss implementation challenges of water reform policies. They also reviewed best practices, and identified opportunities for improving water services for residents in the two states.

Matthew Burton, Director for Economic Growth and Environment at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said, “Access to clean water can save children from diseases and deaths, improve learning capacities and increase income producing options.” Burton continued, “Investing in water can provide enormous returns in terms of the benefits throughout society.”

Rivers and Ebonyi states have made significant progress in their urban water reforms. The water reform law and the institutional framework in the two states align with international best practices meant to improve the financial viability, independence, and accountability of utility services.

Since 2011, U.S. government investments in Nigeria’s water sector have focused on improving efficient management of water resources by utilities, communities, and consumers.

A strong foundation has been laid to achieve sustainable water services, with Ebonyi, Rivers, and Bauchi states introducing new billing and accounting systems, updating customer information, monitoring pipe networks, as well as breakdowns.

Although the current project is closing out, USAID is committed to working with state public utilities in Nigeria to help identify sector-specific constraints and to systematically address identified issues to improve the overall performance of the water sector.

10 Malala attackers jailed for 25 years

•Malala

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COURT in north-west Pakistan has jailed 10 men for life for the attack on education activist Malala Yousafzai.

Ms Yousafzai, who was 15 at the time, was shot in the head on board her school bus in the Swat valley in 2012, in an attack that shocked the world.

She was awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for children’s rights, despite the risk to her life.

Officials say the 10 men, who do not include the man named as chief suspect, belonged to the Pakistani Taliban.

Ataullah Khan, a 23-year-old militant, was identified by a police report at the time of the shooting - but he did not appear in the list of 10 men convicted on Thursday.

They were tried in an antiterrorist court in Swat.

Also not included in the list of the 10 sentenced, according to an unnamed security official quoted by Reuters, were the

gunmen who boarded the bus and shot Malala.

The exact charges the men faced remain unclear.

A lawyer from the local District Bar Association told the BBC that this was “not an open hearing”.

Pakistani officials believe local Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah ordered the attack.

He is thought to be in Afghanistan.

Ms Yousafzai, now 17, was treated for her injuries in the UK and currently lives in Birmingham with her family.

They are unable to return to Pakistan because of Taliban death threats.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

NEWS EKITI PEACE PARLEY

•From left: Dr Olajide; ABUAD Vice-Chancellor Prof.M.O.Ajisafe; Aare Babalola; Fayose; Chief Fasuan; Chief Ayo Ogunlade; Prof.l.O.Orubuloye and Olugbemi...yesterday

Fayose agrees to pay 19 APC lawmakers

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has “shifted ground” to ensure the resolution of the tussle between him and the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

Fayose said: “If not for the experience I have garnered, my government would have been history.”

The governor spoke yesterday at a peace meeting brokered by Ekiti elders, led by eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola.

He accused the media of propagating the crisis, saying Ekiti does not deserve the uncomplimentary headlines being foisted on it.

The meeting, held at Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), was shunned by the APC lawmakers, led

by Speaker Adewale Omirin.

The lawmakers alleged plots to arrest them and keep them out of circulation, until the end of their tenure.

Four of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, led by factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi, attended the meeting.

Other elders present were Chairman, Standing Committee, State Council of Elders, Chief Deji Fasuan; former Minister of National Planning Chief Ayo Ogunlade and former Secretary General of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide.

RESOLUTIONS •That all participants agree that peace is paramount •Security chiefs will be impartial and maintain law and order at all times •That the meeting regrets that the 19 APC lawmakers did not attend •That it was agreed that peace will be restored with the cooperation of all and the other party must be present in subsequent meetings •That the 19 APC lawmakers should return to base and attend other meetings to be organised and their return will be championed by security chiefs

•That the governor is to shift ground if that will produce peace •That the body would hold regular meetings •That if the other side agrees to come to peace meetings, our governor is prepared to shift ground on all contending issues •That the meeting agrees from available materials and evidence of the Commissioner of Police and Director of Department of State Services that there was no arrangement or directive that any of them (opposition legislators) will be arrested •That it was agreed that the media should correctly and accurately report what transpired at the meeting

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

‘Fayose begs’.

“They are looking for technicalities to remove Fayose and it shows that there is a motive to consume this state.

“How can 19 people sit in one corner saying they want to undo what the people have done?”

The governor also denied the APC lawmakers’ allegation that he wants to arrest them at the meeting.

He said: “I am ready to shift ground to see that they finish their tenure successfully and pay them all their dues.

“I’m ready to work with them and make them happy.

“It is not only during crisis we should be having a forum like this.”

Babalola regretted the absence of the APC lawmakers, saying he had made necessary arrangements for their

Despite the absence of the APC lawmakers, the elders resolved to continue with the meeting in which they reiterated their call on the warring factions to embrace peace.

The ABUAD campus witnessed an overwhelming presence of armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The governor said the experience of his 2006 impeachment was brought to bear in “protecting the mandate given to him by the electorate”.

He said his call for peace was not out of cowardice but to show the character of a leader.

His words: “I am not a first-time governor, I am better informed now to know the difference between the

executive and the legislature.

“If not for experience, this PDP government would have become history. The difference between the last time and now is the experience I have.

“The last time, they came and took off my neck, should I look on for them to cut my head again? No. “It is wrong for people to keep saying to me that you are the father. Should I as a father sit and allow someone cut off my nose and hand.

Then later return to remove my eyes and finally cut off my head?

“What will I turn to? I want to appeal to the media because they have done enough damage to the state.

“Tomorrow, you will see headlines, such as ‘APC lawmakers shun Afe Babalola’; ‘APC lawmakers accuse Fayose of trying to kill them’ or

safety.

He said former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, was on his way to the meeting before receiving information that the meeting had been cancelled, which made him to return to Lagos.

Babalola said his prayer was that peace should reign in Ekiti to set it on the path of development.

Fasuan raised alarm on what to expect from the two sides in the next 30 days, which he described as “landmines”. He urged them to consider the future of the children.

Ogunlade said conflict resolution comes with “give and take”, urging the factions to be ready to give up certain principles.

Olajide said Ekiti problems would be solved inter-

Why we shunned meeting, by APC lawmakers

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HE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly said they shunned the peace meeting because they believe Governor Ayo Fayose was not ready resolve the crisis.

They said they were not comfortable with the security arrangement.

The APC lawmakers wondered why the peace effort would include provision of security to escort them out of the state instead of to the House of Assembly to continue their legislative duties.

The lawmakers in a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, said their resolve on the rule of law and defence of the constitution should not be subsumed under the need to pay them their entitlements.

They said: “We cannot hold any meeting on the basis of monetary settlement in isolation of the consideration of the constitutional breaches by the governor.

•G19 lists fresh conditions From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

“It is amazing that the truce terms will not include resumption of our duties, but just to settle us monetarily and escort us out of Ekiti State.”

Picking holes in the arrangements, the lawmakers wondered why the governor was announcing the peace meeting intermittently on the state media while secretly mobilising thugs to storm the venue.

“What is this all about if not coded incitement for mob attacks?” the lawmakers queried.

They also insisted that the security agents told them that they could not guarantee their safety.

They added that the discovery of a plot to arrest them confirmed their fears that even though the convener, Chief Afe Babalola, might not know Fayose’s mindset, the revelation was enough to call

off the meeting for a safer venue outside the state capital.

“Our Government House sources are always credible and reliable. Details of what they revealed on the governorship election conspiracy were later confirmed by Capt Sagir Koli in his Ekitigate tape.

“The sources also gave accurate information on how Fayose planned to storm the Assembly to illegally impeach Speaker Omirin and install Dele Olugbemi.

“This was the same way they gave accurate information on the attack on our secretariat, including the types of guns, number, colour and vehicles to be used for the attack.

“Fayose was popping champagne in the Government House on Wednesday after supervising petrol sale at a filling station on Ilawe road.

“His loquacious lifestyle

gave him away as he sat with his aides celebrating the end to his impeachment moves, boasting that two lawmakers would be arrested and kept in detention until June 1, thereby depriving APC lawmakers the needed quorum for his impeachment,” the statement explained.

The lawmakers proposed that the meeting be moved to Babalola’s Ibadan office while members on the committee must be non-partisan elders.

Listing their terms, they demanded the removal of all illegal structures that aided the activities of thugs and miscreants in and around the House of Assembly.

Restoration of the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, and other principal officers illegally impeached back to their lawful positions.

The G19 should be allowed unfettered access to and fro the House of Assembly to perform their legislative duties, until the expiration of their tenure.

Others include cessation of

•Dr Ominrin

political arrests and vendetta against APC members.

The lawmakers urged the governor to facilitate these demands before May 4.

They thanked the elders and urged them to consider holding the meeting at a neutral and safer venue.

Also in a position paper by the lawmakers yesterday, they also expressed reservations on the open support for PDP lawmakers by the governor.

They also said the governor had been using security agents to hound them.

nally.

Olugbemi alleged that he was part of a meeting held with senior APC leaders where a plot was hatched to remove Fayose.

The factional speaker said he would prefer a face-to-face meeting with the APC lawmakers alleging that “those sponsoring them have nothing against the governor other than to remove him”.

Commissioner of Police Joshua Ibine and Director of DSS said the security agencies had no plans to arrest the APC lawmakers.

According to them, their resolve was to abide by their constitutional roles to ensure security of lives and property and preservation of law and order.

Oyo PDP suspends Akinjide, others From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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INISTER of State for the Federal Capital Territory Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Ayoade Adeseun and a former factional chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa were yesterday suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State for alleged anti-party activities.

Also suspended was a PDP leader in Ogbomoso, Chief Saka Balogun, a former House of Representatives member, Dr. Maroof Akinwande and a host of others believed to have supported Rashidi Ladoja’s Accord Party or Labour Party’s Adebayo Alao-Akala during the April 11 governorship election.

Their suspension was said to have been unilaterally authorised by the state leader, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo.

For the first time since 1999, Oyo PDP performed woefully. Save for a single House of Representatives seat won by Segun Odebunmi in Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa constituency, the party did not win any seat in the senatorial districts.

It also lost the 32-member House of Assembly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (18), Accord’s eight and LP’s six.

This is coming 24hours to the zonal meeting of the Southwest PDP leaders in Ekiti, which was said to have been convened by the duo of Ekiti and Ondo states governors.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

One-Day Lagos governor wants roads rehabilitated

Toy gun exposes suspected robber

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MAN is being held by the police for allegedly robbing residents of a Lagos Street with a toy gun.

His accomplice was said to have escaped on discovering that the suspect was holding a toy gun when they were stopped by the police.

Stanley Ifeanyi Okorie, 20, who is being detained by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was arrested after the operation along Badagry Expressway in the Satellite Town area.

The police said tenants raised the alarm on the March 28 about 2.30am The alarm attracted a crowd that attempted to lynch the hoodlums, but they escaped.

Luck ran out against them when they were stopped by operatives of Satellite Police Station for routine check.

On realising that Stanley was holding a toy gun, his accomplice, Chijoke ran away. The police arrested Stanley on finding the ‘gun’ on him and transferred him to SARS for investigation.

Yesterday, Stanley, who said he resides at 44, Orege Street, Dustbin bus stop in Ajegunle, said: “I completed my secondary school education in 2008. When my mother died, my father had stroke and died a month after. There was no money for me to continue with my studies and

By Ebele Boniface

take care of my sisters - Nneka and Tochukwu - and my brother, Chinedu. When a woman from my town wanted to go to Lagos, I followed her to Iyana-Ipaja, where I met a friend, Chijioke, who lured me into armed robbery.”

On the Badagry Expressway operation, he said: “Chijioke and I entered a house and found out that the man, his wife and children were sleeping.

Chijioke told me to open the man’s door to enable us enter and operate.

The moment I opened the door, the man rushed me, grabbed me and started punching me while the wife was shouting “ole, ole, ole” (thief, thief, thief). Her shout attracted neighbours who joined in beating me. I escaped but the Satellite police on patrol caught me and later transferred me to SARS. “I had operated four times before I was arrested. The first one was at Igando where we got N13,000 cash and handsets. The second operation was also at Igando where we got three Nokia phones and N15,000. The third was at Agbara where we got N25,000.

The fourth was in Lekki where a woman went and withdrew money from the bank; we went after her and collected it. Chijioke did not tell me the amount.

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•Ifeanyi with a toy gun...yesterday

“We don’t use gun to kill. I use toy gun. After operations, I tie victims’ hands and legs to prevent them from pursuing us. We also tie their mouths

to stop them from raising the alarm.

Chijioke uses locally made gun to distract people who want to pursue us after operation.”

Children injured by monkey hospitalised, say police

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HREE children injured by a monkey in Ilado, Ikorodu, Lagos, are in hospital, the Police said yesterday.

They are: Funmilayo Gbadegeshin (8), and two siblings - Rhoda and Emmanuel Alombo.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the monkey is owned by one Mrs Daniel, popularly known as “Iya Ibeji’.

Mr Babatunde Oyesola, a resident, who said he witnessed the incident, said the monkey left the owner’s house and went into the Gbadegeshin’s home.

It attacked Funmilayo in her home shortly after she returned from school.

Oyebola said after Funmilayo was rushed to a nearby hospital, the monkey moved to the Alombos’ home and attacked Rhoda and Emmanuel, who had also just returned from school.

He said on hearing the girls’ shout, neighbours felt she was being scolded by her older sister.

“The incident happened at about 4.30 p.m. when the children had just returned from school.

“I heard Funmilayo shouting and crying, so, I felt her sister was beating her for something she did, but when the cry did not stop, I decided to check what was happening myself.

“When I got there, I saw blood all over the place and saw a monkey jumping out from the window but because of what I saw, I had to save the girl first.

“We noticed that the vein on her right hand has been cut off and the blood was seriously rushing out of it,’’ he said.

Oyesola added that while Funmilayo was being attended to in the hospital, other children who were attacked by the monkey too were rushed in.

Another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the monkey had been attacking people in the area, adding that necessary precautions had not been taken by the owner.

The victim’s father, Mr Mojeed Gbadegeshin, who was away when the incident occurred, said he was called from work that the monkey had attacked his daughter.

“When I got to the hospital, I met a crowd and I was asked to go inside and see the state the monkey left my daughter.

“Afterwards the owner of the monkey came without uttering a word of sympathy and she only left with the monkey,’’ he said.

Gbadegeshin the case was reported at Igbogbo Barracks Police Division by neighbours.

The police were said to have ar-

rested the monkey and its owner.

Lagos State Police Command’s spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said the owner and the monkey were in custody.

“One of the children was badly injured and the other two were mildly injured but they are currently being treated.

“Also, necessary precautions will be taken to check such attacks by animals reared by people in communities.

“Necessary tests will be carried out on the children to ensure that the monkey is a healthy animal and that the children are free from any form of disease,’’ he said.

Bus conductor stabs passenger over fares

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BUS conductor, Ademola Segun, who allegedly stabbed a passenger with a broken bottle was on Wednesday brought before a Badagry Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos.

The 18-year-old accused is charged with assault.

The prosecution said the accused stabbed Abraham Shedrack, a passenger, with a broken bottle following an argument over fares.

Police Inspector Innocent Uko told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 6 at Ajido Bus Stop in Badagry.

He said: “The accused stabbed the passenger on the stomach during an argument between them over the fare to pay. When the conductor asked the accused to pay his fare, the accused gave him a torn note which led to an argument between them.

“In the process, the accused took a bottle and stabbed the passenger on his stomach. The passenger is still on admission at a private hospital in Badagry,” he said.

Uko noted that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos.

He pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel Bosipo Awuwu pleaded for his client’s bail on liberal terms.

Magistrate Abioldun Etti granted the accused N100, 000 bail with a surety in the like sum.

He said the surety must provide evidence of tax payment and adjourned to May 4.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology Adebiyi Mabadeje (middle); Special Adviser to the Governor on Informatin and Strategy, Mr Lateef Raji (right); and (from left) LASRRA General Manager Ms Yinka Fashola; Special Adviser Forensic Mrs Loretta Koyi; Director of Finance and Administration Mr Kehinde Ajayi during the ministry yearly Ministerial Press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

HE 15th One-Day Governor of Lagos State, Master Idowu Sonoiki, yesterday urged the government to rehabilitate the roads leading to his school.

Sonoiki, an SS2 student of Ikotun Senior High School, won the 2015 Spelling Bee Competition in Lagos State to emerge One-Day Governor.

He said the roads leading to his school in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area was bad, and needed urgent attention.

Sonoiki also pleaded with the government to construct additional classrooms in his school to ensure adequate accommodation for the students.

“As a One-Day Governor, I will change everything that is bad in my state. I want the government to construct more classrooms, build a standard and well-equipped library and provide more furniture in the school,’’ he said.

Sonoiki also urged the government to pay more attention to his council’s development area with regards to provision of adequate infrastructure.

Sonoiki said he was thankful to God for emerging winner in the competition.

Student slumps, dies

A

STUDENT of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) died on Wednesday after collapsing at the institute’s hostel in Lagos.

An official of the institute told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the woman, simply identified as Tina, died while being taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The official, who pleaded anonymity, said Tina was a worker in the institute’s Abuja office.

“Tina had been very ill and needed some financial assistance to get medical attention.

“The management had granted her permission to go for treatment and had also promised her some financial assistance before she died,’’ the official said.

According to the officer, the deceased, who hailed from the North, had been on medication for an undisclosed ailment.

A top official of the institute, who also did not want to be identified, confirmed the student’s death.

She said members of staff had concluded arrangements to take her body to mortuary.

“LASUTH by its policy will not accept the corpse of a patient that did not die in the hospital.

“This is a rude shock to us, it is quite painful,’’ the official said.

NAN learnt that a cleaner died earlier this year while on duty.

•Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary Lagos State Education District VI Mrs Iyabo Osifeso (second right) with (from left) Ransome-Kuti Memorial Senior Grammar School Principal Mrs Folake Omosule who emerged as Second Best Principal Senior Category; Igbo-Owu Senior Secondary School Vice-Principal Mrs Bolanle Olufowobi (Third Best Vice-Principal Senior Category) and Eko Boys Junior High School Vice-Principal Mrs Moriam Subair (Best Vice-Principal Junior Category) during the 9th Annual Merit Award organised by Education District VI at Ikeja Grammar School, Oshodi, Lagos... yesterday

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3201

We identify all that is wrong with our society but we are never specific about what must be done to correct them. It is relatively easy to join a picket line and tirelessly castigate our elders...’

OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

T is time for action. That was the import of the message that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari delivered to the members of the 8th National Assembly at their induction ceremony early this week. It is a timely message to an arm of government that has had an ambivalent relationship with the executive wing since the beginning of this republic. Even when the same party controls the legislature and the executive, it has not always been a positive working relationship. Now we stand at the threshold of history as the President-elect observed and the question is: will the legislature be a dependable ally of the executive in the making of the change that is deserved and desired?

Reading the text of Buhari’s clarion call to action is reassuring. It is clear and simple. It is logic-driven and integrity-motivated. Yet it is important to see the fundamentals of the address for what they are. I see three broad areas touched by the President-elect.

First, there is a fundamental assumption which underlies everything else. The assumption must be true or at least its truth must be pursued for everything else to follow. The assumption is that Nigerians are a united people and they stand resolute to protect their growing democracy. I will come back to this fundamental assumption.

Second, there is a declaration of fact and a statement of belief. The fact is that the “legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance.”

This fact can be understood in various ways, the most straightforward of which is that the constitution makes an unambiguous provision for the legislature as an oversight institution in our democracy. Without the legislature, we run a dictatorship not a democracy. I think this is also the understanding of the President-elect.

But of course, it doesn’t follow that a legislature guarantees that we run a democracy. If the legislature is in dictatorial cahoots with the executive we would effectively have a dictatorship on our hands.

It appears to me that the President-elect also has this ugly side of the fact in mind when he noted an additional point concerning the democratic credential of the legislature. The “legislature by nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people.” While I understand the sentiment behind this statement, I would like to observe that it is only half true. What do I mean?

It is true that the members of the legislature in our system are elected representatives of the Nigerian people. I am not even going to qualify this with any provisos regarding free and fair

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

The mission and the call to action

•President-elect Buhari

elections. Let’s take it as a matter of fact. Yet, that Nigerians freely elect their representatives is only the beginning. The legislature that is constituted by these Nigerians thus elected may choose to jettison democratic norms and embrace dictatorship in their dealings with one another and with the Nigerians who elected them.

The metamorphosis of a legislature elected democratically into a dictatorial body is not unique to our political system. About two centuries ago, Rousseau noted it in his characterisation of the British parliament and the freedom of Britons. For him, British people were only free on the day of election. Thereafter, he opined, they became slaves to their legislators.

We have seen Rousseau’s observation confirmed in many instances in our own clime.

Therefore, I interpret this aspect of Buhari’s declaration as a statement of belief. And this is confirmed when in the next paragraph he observes thus: “As President-elect, I recognise this fact and believe (my emphasis) that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves.” It is on the basis of this belief that Buhari can conscientiously pledge his commitment to “working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance.”

Why is this important? We have seen even in

“…It grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.” – Nehemiah 2:10 (KJV)

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

T

HOSE who know a bit of the Holy Scripture would find some similitude between Nehemiah in the Old Testament and General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s soon-to-be President. Nehemiah was among the surviving remnant of Israelites carried into captivity to Babylon and then Persia. He was merely a cup bearer in the palace of the great King Artaxerxes. But because Nehemiah was on a divine mission, this king whose kingdom stretched to India would be moved to look his ‘cup hand’ in the face one day and ask him: “Why is your face sad?”; whereupon Nehemiah would answer that the news emanating from his homeland Judah – a conquered territory – troubleth him to no end as the place lay waste, and its gates burned with fire.

Now even if a king would care about his servant, is he also required to endorse the rebuilding of a distant vassal territory? But Artaxerxes did not only allow Nehemiah to go rebuild the walls of Judah, he granted him leave, written authority, security and munificence for the project.

But this is the better half of the story. The other half is that when Nehemiah got to his homeland he found that the authorities at home and some of the elite of his people were profiting from the ruins and they resisted change vehemently. And Nehemiah

advanced political systems that legislators sometimes pander to very narrow and parochial interests at odds with the interest of the nation as a whole. These interests may include their own misconceived egoistic interests, sectional interests, and business interests. These are misconstrued in the sense that if the national interest in say, security, transparency, economic buoyancy, and freedom from corruption is not secured by the concerted efforts of all branches of government working with citizens, the parochial or selfish interests are in jeopardy.

This is where the fundamental assumption of President-elect Buhari that Nigerians are “a united people” who “stand resolute to protect its growing democracy” is crucially relevant to his mission and clarion call to action. As Buhari also noted, going by “the doggedness of Nigerians and their commitment to ensuring that their wishes are represented and respected”, I think it is clear from the just-concluded election that they are resolute to protect their growing democracy.

The last election tested the unity of the country and she undoubtedly passed the test in flying colours. While there are still pockets of frustration and angst over the results, I think we have turned the corner. It is now important for the fragile unity to be strengthened not with platitude but with genuine action. This makes the clarion call from the President-elect a timely one.

This takes me to the third broad area of Buhari’s message, the proverbial meat of the text where he identifies the fundamentals of his mission. He emphasises three specific areas: security, including human, physical and environmental; economy, including youth employment; and corruption, including high cost of governance. Anyone that has followed the campaign promises of the President-elect and the manifesto of APC will not be surprised by this statement of mission which features the three priority areas that both the party and the Presi-

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Five quick wins for General Buhari Amosun’s Ogun: the great leap forward

W

HILE many of his colleagues are still basking in re-election euphoria, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun seems to have put that ‘distraction’ behind him.

While many would see their second term in office as ‘cool off’ period, it’s morning yet in Ogun State, it seems.

Again, if you thought that big thicket projects like bridges and expansive highways the Amosun team actualised in the last four years were really big, then as the Americans say, “you ain’t seen nuthing yet,” Early in the week, Gov. Amosun moved to eclipse all records when he signed a contract with a Chinese firm to build an inter and intra-city rail line. The project which must be the first of its kind by any state government in Nigeria will traverse the major towns and cities of the state. The project, estimated to cost $3 billion and scheduled to be completed in three years is a product of a big heart and great vision; it’s a great leap forward for Ogun State and indeed, Nigeria. noted pointedly that: …It grieved them exceedingly that a man had come to help the people.

Coming home to now, why would an aging, and perhaps ailing old general contest four times in Nigeria’s grueling presidential

election? He had ruled the country before so he is unlike some who wistfully wish they could sit on the gilded seat if only for a day.

He is not in great lack; in fact he could probably get anything money can buy that he needs. He is not rapacious like some of his

dent-elect have always emphasised.

The challenge of security includes tackling the insurgency in the Northeast and environmental degradation in the Southsouth. The Presidentelect will need the National Assembly to objectively and dispassionately examine his proposals without bringing sentimental sectional interests to bear. Thus, as an example, I do not expect a Southwest legislator to bring up the matter of OPC when considering a legislation that targets insurgency in the Northeast. Neither would it be appropriate for a Northern legislator to bring up the matter of Lake Chad when considering the matter of environmental degradation due to the activities of oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta. Comparing apples and oranges in such matters would be a disservice to the progressive agenda.

The economy is in serious crisis despite assurances from the outgoing administration.

With dwindling oil revenue and our inability to break out of a mono-economy despite warnings, it is now certain that unless we come up with new ideas and develop new economic agenda, our hope for the future of our children is in jeopardy. The realisation of this important fact must stir every political office holder to action.

The President-elect has called for appropriate policies to be put in place and translated into laws. Now is the time to revisit those actions and policies that have not worked thus far. Why do we still have so much failure in the energy sector despite billions of investment? Why do we still feed the fat and greedy fuel importation industry despite dismal results? Can we now build on the tangible results that we are experiencing in the agricultural sector as a foundation for our economic take-off?

Whatever we try to do towards the rejuvenation of the economy will amount to naught unless we block the leakages that the Presidentelect has referenced ad nauseam during the campaign. In the restatement of his mission to the 8th Assembly, he reiterated the centrality of this matter when he invited the legislators to “collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development”(my emphasis).

On this last matter, a good place to start is for the National Assembly to work with the Executive Branch to review and trim the recurrent budgets, including compensation and allowances, of all branches of government. That is progressivism in action.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 contemporaries. I once was in his Kaduna residence during the June 12, 1993 crisis to interview him for The African Guardian. His abode was a simple, single, one-storey duplex apartment which in my youthful eye then, was not befitting of a former oil minister and head of state. So to what can we put Buhari’s relentless quest to rule Nigeria than to say that like Nehemiah, it is a divine call especially at a time when the nation is in ruins and it profits the elite of the land so much that it remains so.

Surely, it would grieve them exceedingly that this wiry old man has come to seek the welfare of the Nigerian people.

Now what is to be done? One does not pretend to know the answers any better than the next guy; besides, Nigerians have inundated him with ideas since he was declared winner of the March 28 presidential election. Had he been collating them, he would have enough materials to make such tome of a book that the mere thumbing of it would take some time and effort. I will loath to add to his troubles.

So here are five quick, simple, actions (low hanging fruits) I think General Buhari can take to set the tone for his administration and hopefully make the change Nigerians desire.

One, don’t ‘fight’ corruption, let the system do the fighting. Yes, contrary to what many people have been clamouring for that he must fight corruption to a stand-still. We say no, you are not a pugilist; you must let the system fight corruption. There are simple, basic rules for tackling corruption in the system, just dust them up and put them to work.

•Continued

on page 56

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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