The Nation May 03, 2015

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

American sues Florida hospital after his leg found in the garbage

CAPTURED

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SOUTH Florida man in the United States of America (USA) is suing a hospital for emotional distress, saying his leg was amputated and thrown in the garbage with his name tag still on it.

John Timiriasieff, 56, had his right leg amputated below the knee in October at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables.

“Rather than properly disposing of the plaintiff’s limb as expected and as required

by Florida law, Doctors Hospital threw the Plaintiff’s amputated limb into the garbage, with tags indicating it belonged to the Plaintiff,” according to the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

A month later, Timiriasieff said his family was contacted by homicide detectives investigating if he had been the victim of foul play.

When the family went back to the hospital to find out what happened, they were told it would “provide no explanation for what had occurred,” the lawsuit said.

Doctors Hospital Inc, part of the Baptist Health South Florida Inc, said it could not discuss the incident in detail because of patient privacy considerations.

Normally, amputated limbs are incinerated by hospitals, said Clay Roberts, a lawyer for Timiriasieff.

Roberts said he wrote to the hospital in January but got no response.

In the lawsuit, Timiriasieff described the hospital’s conduct as “outrageous and beyond the bounds of human decency as to be regarded as odious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.”

The leg was discovered at a waste management facility and reported to police.

It's a princess!

Another British royal birth saga ended joyfully yesterday with the announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge had been delivered on a baby girl. She and her husband, William, the Duke of Cambridge are pictured here leaving the hospital in London with the new princess.

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ARLY last week, security aides of Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari barred the African Independent Television (AIT) media crew from covering the activities of the newly elected president. They hinged that drastic measure on security and ethical concerns, both for the presidentelect and his family. The AIT ban engendered deep emotions and hullabaloo. A day after the ban, the All Progressives Congress (APC) clarified and tempered the action of the president-elect’s security team.

There were indeed security concerns and ethical issues involved in AIT’s conduct during electioneering, argued the APC, but these should not be enough to bar any media establishment from carrying out its constitutional duties.

While helping the president-elect to backtrack from a potentially damaging conundrum, the APC admonished the media to reactivate its code of ethics in order to place a lid on the buccaneering tendencies of some of its errant members. The president-elect, who was apparently not privy to the action of his security team, on his own warned his aides to both steer clear of media matters and leave anything connected to the media to members of his team and party designated for media relations. He did not explain who those media aides were, for after all, one of his media aides, Garba Shehu, had been asked on Tuesday why the president-elect took that precipitous step.

Mallam Shehu had seemed to defend the temporary ban.

Reacting to what he concluded was an indication of the president-elect’s totalitarian streak, the sulking

sunday@thenationonlineng.net

Buhari’s AIT dilemma

Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, gloated that Nigerians would begin to realise in whose hands they had misplaced their democracy, and regret it. It then sanctimoniously counselled the presidentelect and his party, the APC, to imbibe the culture of democracy and not endanger press freedom as guaranteed by the constitution. Said Mr Metuh: “The PDP as a party that have nurtured the nation’s democracy in the past 16 years cannot afford to fold its hands and watch the constitutional rights, media freedom and personal liberty of Nigerians, the basic tenets of democracy being demolished. We ask, is this a beginning of the feared erosion of the freedom and personal

liberty the media and Nigerian citizens have been enjoying in the last 16 years under the PDPled administration?”

Not done gloating, Mr Metuh then added: “The APC and the president-elect may have one or two lessons to pick from President Goodluck Jonathan, who though the most maligned and abused President in the history of our nation, even by the APC, allowed his actions to be sufficiently guided by humility, tolerance and the rule of law.” It is not clear where Mr Metuh got the wild impression that President Jonathan humbly, tolerantly and lawfully allowed the media to operate without molestation of any kind. Nor is there anything in the past 16 years of PDP presidency to justify the

statement that the defeated party nurtured democracy.

President Jonathan had once described himself as one of the most abused presidents anywhere. That he chose to ignore correction when many analysts faulted his exaggeration does not make him right; nor does it give Mr Metuh the latitude to repeat the fallacy.

President Jonathan was well travelled, but nothing in his frequent trips suggested he at any time and at any point acquired the education and the cosmopolitanism that often accompany and festoon travels. As this newspaper can attest, President Jonathan and a few members of his cabinet, particularly the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, did their utmost to stymie the

operations of The Nation newspaper and starve it of advertisements on account of its unrepentant opposition to the ruling PDP. Moreover, President Jonathan, in direct subversion of the constitution, hid under security excuses to execute the

NNPC audit and PWC’s semantic acrobatics

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HE controversial PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report on NNPC has since been ordered released by President Jonathan.

He had nothing to hide, he said. That may be true, but neither his confident statement nor the PWC’s report itself has

attenuated the unfavourable impression most Nigerians have of the maze the Nigerian petroleum sector is entangled in. The report is full of pointers to the many warrens that crisscross the NNPC. So, rather than quieten down the anxiety of sceptical Nigerians, many of whom need little prompting to disbelieve NNPC and its stories of financial utopia, the report has raised more questions and fears than answers.

But what is most aggravating about the PWC report is the semantics being employed by everyone with something, including reputation, to lose on the NNPC matter. As if it never expected the report to be made public, PWC has debunked popular impression about the NNPC assignment, saying

what it did was not forensic audit but a mere review. So, now, we must begin to contend with various kinds of audit engagements and their semantic differences, and determine what kind was ordered, and what kind was executed. Dr Okonjo-Iweala had in the heat of the missing billions controversy, and before PWC was engaged to do the job, told Nigerians repeatedly that forensic audit would be done, for in her opinion, little was missing from NNPC remittances, let alone $49bn, or even $20bn.

However, after the published report burst their bubble, the Finance minister let it be known she was not the one who gave PWC the job, let alone asked them to conduct forensic audit. All this because

it is now obvious that Nigerians were sold a dummy when all along the government wanted nothing more than a review. Of the many audit engagements known to the public, nine of which are fairly familiar, it is curious that the Petroleum Resources ministry asked for a review, not forensic audit. But no harm is done.

Since it is now known that what we thought was done was not done, President-elect Buhari was right to say he would again look into the issue of the missing money in the NNPC, perhaps this time, using the facility of forensic audit. It is then it can be determined whether President Jonathan had anything to hide or not.

most brutal repression ever against this newspaper. Mr Metuh was wrong, blatantly wrong. And his party, the PDP, did nothing in terms of media freedom to promote democracy. Worse, in its 16 years in office, the PDP did precious little to nurture the democracy it has so vauntingly tried to smooth talk.

In a documentary entitled The Real Buhari broadcast during the campaigns, AIT portrayed Presidentelect Buhari and a few APC leaders whom the television station identified as the brains behind the Buhari phenomenon in brutally unsavoury light. It allegedly fabricated facts and proofs, and dredged the bottommost part of propaganda to undermine the APC and its leaders as well as defame their persons. What is even more worrisome is that AIT and its owners simply and flagrantly refused to draw a line between political partisanship and media ethics, misdeeds that sadly did not attract any significant censure from regulatory bodies.

But President-elect Buhari and his team will have to learn to live with the media frenzy and fusillade expected to open against him in the coming months. He will remember that more media establishments supported President Jonathan during the campaigns than favoured him. He should simply encourage professional regulatory bodies to carry out their functions in accordance with the constitution. In a democracy, there is not much else he can do.

We believe him when he said he was not aware his aides placed a ban on AIT. But in democracy and government, the buck stops at the president’s table.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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N African countries transiting from colonial rule to full political modernity, regime change involving a switch from ruling party to the opposition was until recent the exception rather than the rule. In many of these countries, transformation often takes place within the context of power changing hands between different factions of the same ruling party and between one generation of rulers and the other without the prospects of inter-party transition.

In Nigeria’s fifty fear years of post-independence, this is the first time the nation will be witnessing an inter-party regime change. As Nigerians saw during the regime switch over from Umaru Yar’Adua to Goodluck Jonathan, even regime change between different factions of the same political group can be quite a tense and stressful affair, sometimes taking the nation to the edge of disaster. In the case of an inter-party change over such as we are currently witnessing, things can become very turbulent and tumultuous indeed.

Rather than this being viewed with sorrow, despair and a generous dose of Afro-pessimism, it should be viewed from the perspective of a longer span of history and of societies in a state of traumatic transition from traditional authoritarian modes to some form of political modernity.

In this respect, African countries have done quite well.

While there have been inter-party transition in several African countries, notably South Africa, Zambia,Senagal, Botswana, Malawi, Ghana, Benin Republic, in some other African countries, particularly in the West African sub-continent, military interventions have been swiftly terminated in favour of multi-party civil rule by a combination of local and international agencies. The recent experience of Mali, Guinea and Ivory Coast comes to mind.

As the long period of power transfer finally enters its final four weeks in Nigeria, there have been some fearful hiccups and intriguesoaked dramas playing out even as they cast a dark shadow over the smooth and seamless transfer of power from one state party to the other. After such a bitter, hate-suffused campaign and the subsequent ouster of a ruling party long accustomed to power, only a political innocentwould expect the ruling party to depart quietly and without some rancorous fuss.

Not unexpectedly therefore, the mood of cheery optimism which accompanied President Jonathan’s graceful concession of defeat has

COLUMN

Regime change and its discontents

•Malam Ahmed Joda

given way to grim and often brutal political calculations and unseemly wrangling as the reality of drastic recomposition of state personnel and the termination of tenancy gradually sinks in. Since this is the first time this momentous and epochal transfer of power is taking place in Nigeria’s history, nobody has a road map or a compass to navigate the turbulent waters and the rude currents.

Yet it is imperative for the political class to find within itself the inner strength and resolve to make sure that nothing untoward happens between now and the May 29 th handover date. Perhaps the lay over or interregnum itself is too long which makes power transfer very vulnerable to anti-democratic forces which abound in the Nigerian political society. In the nearest future, we may have to take another look at the constitution and our foolish fondness for American presidential rituals which sits oddly with the imperative of an authoritarian state and society yet to naturalize and domesticate the essence of western liberal democracy.

In parliamentary-type democracies, the winner takes over immediately. Such is the haste that in Great Britain, which is the global exemplar

of this type of liberal democracy, the victor often arrives at Ten Downing Street beaming triumphant smiles while the loser sneaks out through the backdoor. On May 2nd 1997 and hours after losing the general election, John Major was sighted at his favourite Oval Cricket grounds spotting dark goggles as he lapped at a pint of warm beer. Life resurrects after political death.

In our own case, both the president elect and the president deposed are consigned to a whopping eight weeks in political limbo; a warehouse for political mischief and incalculable villainy. It doesn’t get more disruptive and destabilizing.

With Goodluck Jonathan rightly insisting that he is in charge till the very last second even as he is busy hiring and firing left, right and centre while General Mohammadu Buhari is also busy making ex-cathedra pronouncements about a presidency yet to mature, may God help us all.

The deck is being loaded with the administrative, economic and human debris of the old order. General Buhari may have to spend valuable weeks and even months clearing institutional impedimenta. We must find a creative hybrid between the American and British models which fits perfectly the reality of our situation and circumstances.

It is important for us as Nigerians to get this vital transition right.

Institutions are nothing but the herculean efforts of human beings which involve repeated gestures and rituals burnt into the human consciousness. They then become invaluable pathfinders acting with impersonal rigour and abstract impartiality.

Even though this is the first time in the history of the country that we are having a power transfer from an ousted ruling party to the opposition, all those who wish Nigeria well above partisan politics, all those who believe in the manifest destiny of this gifted country as a potential haven for the Black soul must wish that it

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu happens ever so often so as to teach political parties who abjure their covenant with the people a memorable and unforgettable lesson. This country will never be the same again.

Except in the post-revolutionary momentum of a popular uprising, it is rare in Africa to find a ruling party that has held power for sixteen years being so comprehensively trounced at the polls by an opposition party that is barely two years old. What this means in political seismography is that the earthquake which brought the ruling party to grand ruination is merely dormant and may yet erupt again. Beyond the surface placidity, one can almost feel the frightening tremors.

The ouster of the PDP is not the end of a process but the beginning of a working out of national contradictions which may eventuate in the birth of a totally new Nigeria or the dramatic dissolution of its present iron format. As a group, the Nigerian political elite have been too preoccupied with ephemeralities to see the latent manifestation beyond the surface pathologies. This is more than mere electoral victory or loss of power. Something else is brewing somewhere. The contents and sum total of the country in all their roiling contradictions appear to have outstripped the current form and framework.

As it is natural in the circumstances, the PDP is in a state of denial. When its obtuse diehards talk of reorganizing the party and repositioning it for power retrieval, just what do they mean? Do they really know what has hit them? In order to even broach the possibility of survival the party must be completely reinvented and must come up with a totally new paradigm of service to the people. As it is at the moment, the party is a political brand soiled beyond soap and water.

As a party, the PDP was meant for another epoch. That era has given way before our very eyes. The PDP was conceived as a party of big men and pan-Nigerian powerbrokers who exercised a veto power over

their subjects in what is supposed to be a modern nation-state. But when a nation in itself is driven by power hubris to become a nation for itself, the very notion of big man enters into a fatal contradiction with people’s power. All the remaining party big wigs have to do is to take a casual or casualty roll call of its big men that fell in the last election. The political graveyard is filled with the bones of big men.

As for the victorious APC, it seems that it also too preoccupied with new found spoils of office to do a reality check. What brought the APC to power is not an endorsement of its platform but a rejection of the platform of the PDP. Anything but the PDP was the national battle cry.

It all boils down to what we propose as the politics of negative memory.

In order to cultivate and gain the positive affection of the Nigerian electorate, the APC must put its strategic wits to work so as to come up with a far reaching charter with the Nigerian people and a comprehensive blueprint for transforming it into an organic and cohesive organ.

If the APC is not to suffer the same fate as the PDP, it is in the interest of the party and the nation that has given it so much to demonstrate how and why it is different from the PDP. The current unseemly and unsightly scrambling and jostling for office and position do not portray it as a party different in quality and orientation from the PDP. The APC must remember the fate of the incongruous coalition which unseated the ancien regime in Kenya and brought Mwai Kibaki to power.

Four years in power and as election loomed, the alliance disintegrated into its component parts and ethnic particularities. The result was a brief civil war from which Kenya is yet to recover. For starters, both parties must refrain from acts capable of jeopardizing the national date with destiny on May 29th or conduct themselves in a manner that can endanger the historic victory of the Nigerian people over authoritarian misrule.

The loveliness of the long distance trekker T

HERE is no killing the Nigerian spirit in its sheer indomitability. While officialdom is squabbling about the niceties and nuances of what is becoming the political equivalent of a hostile takeover, while a nasty dogfight about the details and dark spots of regime change appears to have commenced, Nigerians are not about to let go of the euphoria of seeing off a deadly political scourge. There is still magic in the moment. The national feel-good mood has received adrenalin shot in the arms. It has never felt better to be a Nigerian.

Or fellow country people, how else can one explain the hype and hoopla, the whooshing and swishing over Suleiman Hasheem, the long distance trekker and latest hero to descend from the famished pantheon of national heroes? If this is a stunt, it is a typically brilliant Nigerian stunt full of bravura and a hint of chutzpah. By the time the Katsina indigene arrived in Abuja last week to swooning adulation and rousing public reception, he had seized the national imagination of a land looking for heroes.

The outline of the heroic saga is as curious as it is compelling. In a fit of abrasive confidence, the itinerant

construction worker had vowed to trek to Abuja were his hero, General Mohammadu Buhari, to win the presidential sweepstakes. The unexpected and unexpectable suddenly became extant reality. Without any further prompting, Suleiman decided to make good his promise. Taking a leave of absence from work, the hardy fellow who might have been foolhardy to the bargain, began his arduous slog towards Abuja from Lagos.

It took him just under twenty days. Give or take, at seven hundred and seventy eight kilometers, that is like doing an average of thirty something kilometer per day. Snooper is wondering whether Suleiman employed the services of a crack Yoruba herbalist and the ancient potion known as kanako, or space constrictor, a heady concoction which dulls sensory perceptions and induces a hallucinatory conquest of pains and physical exhaustion.

On the way, according to Hasheem, he encountered the hospitality and generosity of total strangers who gave him shelter and encouragement; fought off wild beasts bent on making a meal of him and a gang of penitent armed robbers who gave him money upon discovering who he was. On the whole, he ex-

pended six pairs of canvas shoes.

Words went ahead of him as he arrived at every historic milestone.

In the event, it was an incongruously fresh-looking and ruddy-faced Suleiman who arrived in Abuja to wild public adulation and jubilation even as he swigged from a bottle of water. Everybody loves a hero who has conquered the threshold of pains.

What a lovely way to enter the history books! On his own terms, Suleiman has entered the Nigerian Hall of Fame.

There are curious gaps and enigmatic silences in this heroic saga, and it takes a generous suspension of disbelief. But what does it matter? It is an ancient morality play, a delectable yarn brimming with heroic resolve

and a typically Nigerian can do spirit; a labour of love and admiration which ought to serve as an inspirational motivation for generations to come. Unhappy may be the land that needs heroes but if Suleiman does not exist, we might as well invent one as a trope for the redemptive resources available to this country, warts and all.

Okon commences a walk to Daura

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S it is to be expected, the Hasheem example has spawned many imitators and overweening wannabes. The Red Cross is hereby placed on Red alert.

Among the imitators is the fey and impossible Okon who barged into snooper’s room late on Friday with his trademark basket brimming with mischief and gamey humour.

“Oga, I wan begin dem trek to dem Daura make man give dem Buhari man dem fura de nunu and dem kulikuli. I go buy dem oranges when man reach Fiditi”, the mad boy announced.

“I see, but what are the papers in the basket?” snooper asked with mirth and incredulity.

“Na dem NNPC audit report. He

get one Oyinbo man who come give Okon. He get names of all dem oil thieves and dem petrol ponsanponsan as Sikira him mama dey call am”, the crazy boy crowed.

“I thought you were a Jonathan supporter”, snooper asked the boy.

“Oga, I been dey support am before before but if him hand dey dis roforofo make dem Buhari flog am well well. Man pikin no be man pikin for dis one”, the crazy boy screamed.

“But you took money from the transformation ambassadors?” snooper queried.

“But dem transformer come burn”, the boy retorted.

“Do you know General Buhari?”

“Ha na my man for dem civil war.

I come trek from Itigidi to Biakpan,

to Ohafia , small time man reach Uturu Junction and Afikpo. Naim I come reach am for Abakaliki.” The boy sang.

“You say you are thirty six and the civil war ended forty five years ago”, snooper chortled.

“Ha oga, official age no be facial age. Obudu monkey dey sweat na hair dey hide am”, the mad fellow crowed.

“Okon tell me your real mission to General Buhari”, snooper demanded.

“Ha oga, I wan make him consider Okon for him kitchen cabinet.

Abi no be dem people who dey cook for kitchen be kitchen cabinet?”, the boy asked with a sheepish mien. It was at this point that the mad boy was chased away.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

NEWS

HE embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Adamu Mu'azu, yesterday threw his hat into the ring for a showdown with governors elected on the platform of the party.

He told them they could not use and dump him the way the party had treated his predecessors.

The PDP governors and many other top members have blamed Mu'azu for the party's heavy defeat in the recent elections, the latest attack coming yesterday from leaders of the party in the Southwest.

They demanded his immediate resignation and that of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) for the poor outing.

The NWC, apparently oblivious of the Southwest PDP's position, yesterday launched an unusual verbal attack on unnamed presidency officials for allegedly causing the party's defeat.

The same officials, according to the PDP's national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, now want to use their closeness to President Goodluck Jonathan to cause further damage to the party.

Mu'azu, in a statement in Abuja through his Press Secretary, Chief Tony Amadi, declared that the PDP could not continue to change its chairmen on the whims and caprices of a few misguided individuals and groups.

"The developing culture of using and dumping has reached fratricidal proportions in the PDP and it must end.

"You cannot be changing Chairmen and NWC every year and still have cohesion which is a vital ingredient of winning," he said in a veiled reference to moves by PDP governors in the Southeast and the Southsouth to sack him and take over the running of the party ahead of the 2019 elections.

Mu'azu, making a case for why he should remain as chairman said the party "produced calamity" when it changed five Senate Presidents between 1999 and 2007 in contrast to the "harmony between the presidency and parliament" when it has had one Senate President between 2007 and now.

He said that the PDP could improve its fortunes in the years ahead if it avoids candidate imposition and seeks to deepen internal democracy.

His words: "The result of the 2015 presidential election is the elixir the party needs to reinvent itself and retake power in 2019 instead of wasting time and energy mudslinging and blame gaming over the party's failed bid to win a fifth consecutive presidential election victory.

"Stories spreading like wild fire in the social media about schisms in our great party can only energise the incoming administration of the APC and their wish list that include the burial of the PDP. "But we can shock them with our usual resilience and ability to turn the tables particularly as they are already developing a tottering ineptitude in their transition progression to power.

"It is therefore time for our great party to reinvent ourselves, show great maturity and map out a strategy that will return us to power in 2019.

"Despite losing our dominance in the National Assembly, our party has the largest number of experienced legislators in both chambers and will surely be calling the shots there.

"We will, however, help to reduce the imminent issue of learning process occasioned by

•Women and children rescued from Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest by soldiers arrive an Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Yola, Adamawa State… yesterday PHOTO: REUTERS

You can't use and dump me, Mu'azu warns PDP govs From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja; Dare Odufowokan and Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

the horde of inexperienced APC members in both houses because of national interest.

"It is also time to end the spate of in-fighting and blame games currently dominating the political discourse among our membership and the leadership.

"It will do no one any good.

The present leadership has until next year to run their course. The party will then decide how to deal with the zoning of the next leadership and strategies for winning the 2019 elections."

He described the gale of defections of PDP members to the APC after the presidential election as stupid, although he claimed it does not personally worry him.

He wanted the PDP to "provide a virile opposition to the new government, which we have already graciously given a lifeline by conceding defeat and avoiding a calamitous battle in the courts," adding that the international community has "noted this great act of statesmanship on our part and we shall continue in this mode to show our commitment towards entrenching democracy in our country."

The PDP national secretariat, in an unusual tirade at the presidency, yesterday blamed unnamed aides of President Goodluck Jonathan for causing his defeat, and by extension, the party's poor outing in the just concluded Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly polls.

The same officials, according to the PDP's national publicity secretary,Chief Olisa Metuh, now want to use their closeness to the president to cause further damage to the party.

Oliseh said the NWC was "aware of the clandestine activities of such aides and associates of the president including their unholy alliance with some elements in other parties to undermine and weaken the PDP by attacking its leadership."

He said the NWC was also "aware that these same individuals who mismanaged the presidential campaigns are now desperately seeking to cause crisis

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Party attacks presidency over electoral loss Blames Jonathan's aides for defeat Says they are bent on hijacking, ruining party Southwest PDP demands Mu'azu's resignation

in the PDP with a view not only to diverting attention from their misdeeds but also to ensuring that they remain politically relevant by hijacking the party structure for their selfish purposes."

The PDP vowed to expose such individuals and make them face the full weight of the party disciplinary measures should they fail to immediately retrace their steps.

The presidency officials, he added, "have been trying to armtwist the president to summon a meeting of party leaders at the Presidential Villa in the coming days where the NWC members would be put under pressure to resign thereby triggering a crisis in the leadership at the national level.

"The party is aware that the same group has been sponsoring series of amorphous bodies and negative publications in a section of the media to peddle false allegations against the NWC to back their heinous and unconstitutional demands that the President should sack the NWC before the handover date of May 29, 2015.

"However, for the purposes of clarity, especially for those making uninformed demands on the president, the PDP National Working Committee is duly elected and its tenure ends in March 2016 in line with the provisions of the party's constitution.

"The PDP is a party built on the rule of law and democratic ethos. Its NWC is elected and not appointed and as such cannot be sacked at will or by an executive fiat.

"Besides, no section of the party constitution prescribes that the NWC should quit if the party loses in a general election.

"Furthermore, the PDP constitution is clear on the process of summoning a meeting of party leaders and the role of the NWC in that regard is well-defined.

"Anything outside the laid

down rules and the provisions of the constitution in this respect is completely of no effect.

"Moreover, President Goodluck Jonathan has amply demonstrated his strict adherence to the rule of law and the tenets of democracy even on issues of party administration and should not in any way be hassled by these selfish and greedy elements to destroy his legacies.

"Consequently, the leadership of the PDP by this statement makes it very clear and in an unambiguous terms too that it will no longer condone such divisive actions by the same unscrupulous individuals who in their selfishness ruined the fortunes of our great party in the general elections.

"The NWC will no longer tolerate actions that tend to undermine discipline and the supremacy of the party and its constitution, as it will henceforth not hesitate to apply full disciplinary measures for infractions "Our advice to these ambitious aides and associates of the president is to leave party matters and concentrate on the Presidential transition and smooth handover of power to the incoming administration as well as preparing for post-handover issues that might arise regarding the administration in which they served."

The PDP NWC said it has no case to answer in respect of allegations that it caused the party's woeful performance in the elections and that it mismanaged funds for the campaigns, "as Nigerians already know the truth regarding those who managed the campaigns including the funds."

"Nigerians are not at a loss as to the fact that the PDP NWC did not manage the campaign and its fund. Those who managed the campaigns have already submitted their reports to the president who in his wisdom gave them the mandate and they have been applauded for a job well done at that level,"

Metuh said.

The Nation gathered that several aides and associates of the president within and outside the presidency are up in arms against the current leadership of the PDP. On the side of the presidency officials are PDP governors from the South who plan to wrestle control of the party from the Adamu Muazu-led NWC. "The dismal performance of the party in the North is one major reason why some people want the leadership to return to the South where the party is still popular," a source said yesterday.

"It is assumed that party chieftains in the South are in a better stead to return the party to its glorious past since they still have so much at stake.

"But the northern chieftains and the current leadership of the party think otherwise and there is an imminent struggle for the soul of the troubled party," the source added.

The Nation gathered that as part of the plot to sack Mu'azu, two meetings of major stakeholders have been held already.

One of the meetings reportedly x-rayed the party's performance in each of the six geo-political zones while the other was allegedly used by the President's men to pointedly advise Mu'azu and his executives to agree to the planned change of leadership.

It was the second meeting, The Nation learnt that prompted an emergency meeting of the leadership of the party where the decision to call the president's men to order was reached.

Our source said: "The calculation of the PDP leaders is that while it may still be dangerous to go all out against the governors and other leading chieftains backing the plot to remove Mu'azu, it is important to make public the role of the presidency in the entire plot."

Rising from a meeting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday, the Southwest lead-

ership of the party demanded the immediate resignation of the PDP National Chairman to allow for the rebuilding of the PDP following the last elections.

The Southwest PDP passed a vote of no confidence on the Mu'azu-led NWC, arguing its exit would pave the way for reconciliation and reorganisation of the party to restore its lost glory and prepare ahead of the 2019 elections.

The Southwest PDP also warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against using its position as the ruling party from May 29 to harass its members and against the planned impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State or any other PDP governor.

The communiqué was read by the former Deputy National Chairman (South) and exChairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Olabode George.

The Southwest PDP commended President Goodluck Jonathan for acting like as a statesman by conceding defeat after the March election despite the "noticeable flaws" in the poll.

They hailed Jonathan for his belief in transparent elections and appealed to members who have defected to the APC to return for the purpose of re-building the PDP. They commended Fayose for "resisting intimidation" in the face of intimidation by the APC and hoped that he and his Ondo State counterpart, Olusegun Mimiko, will continue to work together.

George said: "People like President Jonathan are very rare to come by. He accepted a flawed election for Nigeria to stand united. Can those who have not been sworn in and have started threatening to impeach a PDP governor do this?

"PDP lost the elections because of unresolved issues and due to the handiwork of enemies within coupled with the conspiracy of the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, who wisely made Nigerians to have the impression that the elections were free and fair when they were not.

"As at the time Prof Jega said he was ready for elections, about 2.1 million PVCs were yet to get to Lagos State and likewise Ogun. If you check the election, there was no cancellation of results and voided votes in the north.

"In spite of all these, the president said it should be allowed to stay. The conspiracy was too obvious against our party, but President Jonathan showed civility, this was quite commendable".

Fayose vowed nobody "can harass me because of my political belief."

"They (APC) were in opposition and they effectively stood up to us that time, so they should expect same now. Nigeria will progress, if the APC can respect the rights of every Nigerian".

Mimiko, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, described PDP's ouster from power as a "fouryear holiday".

He was optimistic that it would bounce back in 2019.

Others at the meeting were former Southwest zonal chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo; Senator Bode Olajumoke, Chief Segun Adegoke, Senator Lekan Balogun, Ogun State PDP governorship candidate, Gboyega Isiaka; former envoy, Ambassador Toye Olofintuyi; ex-PDP Chairman in Ekiti, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo; Senator Femi Kila and Hon Duro Faseyi, among others.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

NEWS

5

Ekiti APC lawmakers allege plot to kidnap them T

HE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti House of Assembly yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plan to kidnap them and members of their families.

They accused Governor Ayo Fayose of commissioning thugs to trail and abduct them to stop them from proceeding with their plan to impeach.

But the governor dismissed the allegation as false, saying the legislators were merely desperately looking for attention to keep themselves in

the news.

The lawmakers in a statement on their behalf by Speaker Adewale Omirin's Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said Fayose remained the main obstacle to peace in the State.

He wondered why a governor seeking peace should be on their trail and planning to kidnap some of them or in the alternative seize their children for a ransom.

Olujobi cited what he called "the surveillance activities of the

• Fayose: They are afraid of their shadows governor by the accurate and inaccurate accounts of our movements as posted on the Facebook wall of his aide, Lere Olayinka.

"We can't ?ignore the information by our usually reliable sources about this kidnap plan.

"The governor is capable of any evil. We have it on good authority that he is on our trail just to arrest some of us so that we don't have the quorum for

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

his impeachment.

"The alternative is to kidnap members of our families, particularly our children in their schools, by a faceless gang calling themselves a concerned Ekiti State non-political ?group to hide their political identity.

"They are to insist that the lawmakers must drop their impeachment plan or the

children will be killed."

They asked the security agencies to take note of their complaints and challenged the governor to "swear with his Bible, a real Holy Bible, and not a copy of English Dictionary draped with the hard cover of the Holy Bible that he has been using to deceive the public when he is planning his evils."

But Fayose denied the claim of the APC legislators whom he accused of feeding the public with lies to impress their paymasters.

He warned them to stop throwing stones at home from exile.

The APC lawmakers called the attention of security agencies to the threats posed by the governor's activities, saying the latest move? on their kidnap plan had exposed the insincerity of the governor in calling a truce meeting last week to seek an end to the Ekiti State House of Assembly crisis.

However, Fayose reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said: "We have seen this as one of the usual false rants of people afraid of their own shadows against their state and a popularly-elected governor that has on many occasions proven them as liars.

"It is either they have always wanted to entertain their uninformed and gullible listening audience? or to make themselves happy by saying everyday that they want to impeach Governor Fayose.

"Ironically, many Nigerians not on the same page with them have realised that they a bunch of outcasts throwing stones at home.

"The APC lawmakers have to come up with this falsehood to cover their shameful desecration of the status of Ekiti elders, whose genuine efforts at peace they have spurned only to continue in their despicable lies against their state."

Boko Haram: 275 women, children rescued from Sambisa arrive Yola

T • . From left: Wife of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr Rachael Dickson; Gov. Seriake Dickson Of Bayelsa; President Goodluck Jonathan; widow of the late Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas, Mrs. Tarinabo Douglas with the children, Ogiel and Daniel at the commendation service for Douglas in Yenagoa… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan, Dickson mourn as Douglas is laid to rest

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R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, mourned yesterday as the late presidential aide and environmental activist, Oronto Douglas, was buried in his Okoroba hometown, Nembe Yenagoa, Local Government Area.

The president acknowledged the pivotal role Douglas played in the sustenance of the Niger Delta struggle for resource control and environmental restoration.

Jonathan spoke at the funeral service in honour of late Douglas at the St. Peter's Anglican Church in Yenagoa.

He said Douglas introduced intellectual activism to the Niger Delta

•Latepresidentialaide'schildrengetscholarship From: Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

struggle for economic inclusiveness.

He described the late Douglas as an academic icon, idealist, proactive, strategic and courageous humanitarian who never retracted, once committed to a cause he believed in.

The President who poured encomiums on his former aide further stated Douglas' unique personality was worth more than silver and gold.

The President said: "By his contributions, he is worth more that silver and gold and he is leaving at a time he is most needed as he has impacted positively on the people of the State,

the Niger Delta and the entire country within the short period of his life on earth."

Dickson announced the award of scholarships to the two children of late Douglas to university level in appreciation of his selfless contributions to the development of humanity and the Niger Delta environment.

The governor also directed immediate employment of all the teachers of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory school in Okoroba, founded by the late human rights lawyer.

He pledged to support Douglas' foundation and other legal projects initiated by the late icon.

"The State government

will give every necessary support to the children to have their education to university level, the government will support all his dreams and what he lived for," Dickson said.

In his sermon at the service, the Anglican Bishop of the Niger Delta West, Diocese, the Right Reverend Emmanuel OkoJaja, described death as the last enemy of mankind that will be defeated on the last day by Jesus Christ.

He admonished everyone to fear God in whichever position they find themselves and always eschew evil.

Pupils of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory School, Okoroba also delivered special renditions in praise of the late human rights activist.

Niger deputy gov's younger brother kidnapped

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ALAM Ayuba Ibeto, younger brother of Niger State deputy governor, Ahmed Ibeto, was kidnapped at about 10 pm on Friday at Ibeto, Magama Local Government Area of the state.

He was taken away from the deputy governor's family house by a six-man armed gang.

A source close to the deputy governor said the kidnappers sporadically

From: Jide Orintunsin, Minna

shot into the air on arrival at the Ibeto's in a Golf car and a Toyota Hilux van to scare away people who might want to confront them, before seizing their target.

The hoodlums later called the mother of the victim by phone demanding an undisclosed ransom.

It was gathered that

Ayuba pleaded with his kidnappers yesterday morning to speak with his aged sick mother but was turned down.

"Instead, the kidnappers used Ayuba's phone to call his mother and told her that her son was safe but they told the old woman all they needed was money," the source said.

Attempts by the family to call Ayuba's line later failed as his captors had switched

off as at the time of filling this report.

Contacted, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Ibrahim Gambari said the police were not aware of the incident.

According to him: "I am not aware of any such incident but I will investigate".

Efforts to get the deputy governor failed to yield result as he refused to pick our reporter's calls.

WO hundred and seventy-five of the women and children rescued by soldiers from the Sambisa forest camps of Boko Haram in Borno State arrived Yola, the Adamawa State capital, yesterday amidst tight security on the first leg of their rehabilitation.

They were handed over to the authorities of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by the acting Commander 23rd Armoured Brigade, Colonel ABA Popoola for "proper welfare."

The army, according to him, has no facilities to take care of the rescued people hence their transfer to NEMA. The Director, Search and Rescue Operations of NEMA, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade (Rtd), who received them said the agency would leave no stone unturned in making life comfortable for them in terms of accommodation, feeding and

From Barnabas Manyam,Yola

medicare.

Twenty two of them were taken to the hospital for the treatment of ailments, fractures and dislocations.

He commended the troops for rescuing such a large number of people.

Many of the women and children had to be assisted to get down from the vehicles that brought them to Yola as they could not walk on their own owing to exhaustion and hunger They were conveyed in about 10 Toyota Land Cruisers.

The military on Wednesday announced the rescue of the first batch of 293 women and girls held captive by Boko Haram in its Sambisa stronghold.

Another 196 were later rescued and 234 others on Thursday.

There is no a single Chibok girl among those already rescued

Family of six burns to death in Jos

A

woman, three of her children, a relation and her housemaid were yesterday burnt to death in a fire outbreak in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The incident, which occurred at their Ibrahim Taiwo road residence, was apparently caused by a power surge.

Neigbours said the fire ensued shortly after power was restored to the area following an outage the previous night.

A gas cylinder reportedly exploded as the fire spread.

Attempts by the victims to escape were hampered by the

fortified security barricade in the house, which has only one entrance.

All occupants of the two bedroom apartment were burnt beyond recognition before men of the Fire Brigade Service and residents could render any assistance or extend any help to save them.

The victims all died while the head of the house was away on official duty.

In line with Muslim tradition, the victims were buried shortly after prayers were offered for the repose of their souls.

Buhari sympathises with Yuguda

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HE president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has condoled with Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, over the demise of his mother.

Buhari said he was deeply touched by the death of the governor's mother.

In a statement by the Directorate of Media & Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign, Garba Shehu, Buhari said losing one's mother is one of the most

painful and stubborn memories in the life of children.

He said anyone that has lost a parent before could easily appreciate the pains of Governor Yuguda and his siblings.

He prayed to God to give Yuguda and the entire family the fortitude to overcome the grief.

He also prayed to Almighty God to grant the deceased eternal peace and reward his good deeds with paradise.

6

Rivers faults PDP on workers’ salaries From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

NEWS

IVERS State has debunked claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it owed civil servants backlog of salaries.

Its Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, stated that the report was misleading and mischievous.

Semenitari, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, declared that the falsehood and mischief were meant to shatter the cordial relationship between the workers and the Rivers government.

She said: “We find it ridiculous that the PDP and Nyesom Wike’s media managers are showing a lot of mischief and deliberate distortion of facts.

“We thought that if they lied during campaigns and elections, with the polls over, they ought to have switched over to the basic media style of information sourcing, verification and analysis.

“We wonder where the PDP leaders got their information of months of salaries being owed Rivers State civil servants.

“Rather, it is PDP that owes Rivers people the return of its revenue diverted by the federal government to other states and the millions of naira spent by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to fix the Federal Government roads in the state.”

The commissioner explained that Amaechi “has paid Rivers State civil servants up to the month of March 2015, with plans to commence payment for the month of April.”

She maintained that Rivers State was one of less than five states in the federation that had been able to keep up with salaries’ payments in the face of empty federal coffers.

While apologising for the recent delays in payment of salaries to civil servants, Semenitari reiterated Amaechi’s stand that civil servants must receive their wages for each month.

She traced the ugly situation to the collapsing national economy due to PDP’s mismanagement.

She further explained: “PDP leaders are crying wolf where there is none. In its fatal admittance that it is approaching May 29 with more liabilities than assets, PDP sold the dummy to unsuspecting Rivers people and friends of the state to create an impression that Governor Amaechi is leaving behind a pile of indebtedness.

“The Amaechi’s administration has nothing to hide. We must put the records straight as to the root cause of PDP’s paranoia.”

The commissioner assured that Amaechi remained committed to the well-being of civil servants and would pay all due salaries before leaving office.

US offers France $35 million to fight Boko Haram P

RESIDENT Barack Obama of the United State of America (USA) has approved the disbursement of $35 million in military and defence support services to France as part of Washington’s contribution to the war against the terror group, Boko Haram.

The White House said the aid is on account of the Paris active support for Nigeria’s French speaking neighbours—Niger and Chad—in their fight against Boko Haram insurgents as well as Mali, which is battling Islamic extremism.

The three Frenchspeaking have been in the forefront of the war against Islamic terrorism.

No reference was made to

Nigeria, which is the worst hit

by Boko Haram’s terrorist assaults.

The outgoing Jonathan administration has not enjoyed the best of relations with President Obama over the Nigerian leader’s initial questionable response of the US to the Boko Haram menace.

Agency report yesterday said a US government official simply reaffirmed that the $35 million funding was in support of French operations, which are not taking place in Nigeria.

Some diplomats expect that once President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, assumes office on May 29, the White House will announce some new initiatives to support the overall fight against terror groups in Nigeria.

Recently at Time magazine’s 100 influential people gala in New York City, top US government officials, including Samantha Powers, promised that the US would do more to support the search for the Chibok girls and the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Titled “Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,” the White House statement noted that President Obama had authorised Secretary of State John Kerry to facilitate the US assistance to Mali, Niger and Chad, significantly omitting Nigeria, where terror groups had captured significant territories and killed thousands of people in suicide

attacks and military operations.

In the White House statement, President Obama delegated to the Secretary of State “the authority under section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the drawdown of up to $35 million in defense services of the Department of Defense to provide assistance to France in its efforts to secure Mali, Niger, and Chad from terrorists and violent extremists and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.”

US-Nigeria relationship on Boko Haram has been rocky, leading the Nigerian Ambassador to the US openly stating the American government had not given

Nigeria the needed support especially in the area of weapons.

The US government refused to sell US-made Cobra fighter-helicopters to Nigeria.

It was gathered that even when Nigeria decided to purchase the helicopters from Israel, Washington declined to give its consent for the deal to sail through.

Under the terms of USIsraeli ties, the Israeli government cannot transfer the military helicopters to a third country unless the US government okayed the transaction.

A US military training of a unit of the Nigerian military was also abruptly ended late last year as the Americans said Nigeria asked for the training to stop.

Duchess Kate gives birth •Palace: Mother, child well

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•L-R Senator Domingo Obande, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma and Minister of Agriculture and Nigeria's candidate for president for African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina at the Presidential Residence in Durban, South Africa on Saturday, 02 May 201

AfDB Presidency: Buhari sends Atiku to lobby Zuma for Adesina

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IGERIA has commenced a high-

powered diplomatic shuttle to drum support for the candidacy of Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, as the next President of the African development Bank (AfDB).

The tenure of the bank’s president expires on May 25 with a replacement for election at the Annual General Meeting of the Bank scheduled for Abidjan.

Eight candidates, four from West Africa, have been cleared to contest the presidency by the Steering

From: Tony Akowe, Abuja

Committee of the Board of Governors of the bank.

Those contesting the position are Akinwumi A. Adesina (Nigeria); Sufian Ahmed (Ethiopia); Jaloul Ayed (Tunisia); Kordjé Bedoumra (Chad); Cristina Duarte (Cape Verde); Samura M. W. Kamara (Sierra Leone); Thomas Z. Sakala (Zimbabwe) and Birama Boubacar Sidibé (Mali).

In line with his pledge to support Adesina, President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has dispatched a high powered delegation led by former

Vice President Atiku Abubakar on a diplomatic shuttle to some African countries to lobby for the emergence of the Minister as the next AfDB President.

“Atiku’s shuttle diplomacy to shore up much-needed support for the Nigerian candidate follows a mandate from President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari to the former Vice President to leverage on his contacts to lobby for the emergence of Adesina,” a statement from the Atiku Media Office in Abuja said.

The statement said that the former Vice President has already held discussions

Ebira condemns attack on radio station

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HE Ebira Community Association (ECA) of Lagos State has expressed outrage at the recent bombing of Tao FM radio station at Kuroko, in Ebiraland, Kogi State.

The president of the association, Chief Salau

Sulieman; his deputy, Alhaji Yusuf Musa and Secretary, Sadiq Abubakar, said in a statement that the bombing was ‘callous, cruel and inimical to the socioeconomic development of Ebiraland.”

They condoled with the

bereaved families and supported actions taken so far by Anebiras on the matter.

The leaders hoped the police would live up to the promise to fish out and bring the perpetrators of the crime to speedy justice.

with South African president, Jacob Zuma, on the directive of Buhari.

The president-elect last month conveyed his support for Adesina to the President of Ghana and current Chairman of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, John Mahama, when they met in Abuja.

According to the statement, Atiku travelled with Adesina to South Africa over the weekend where the two met with President Zuma at the Presidential Residence in Durban.

It said: “His Excellency former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met President Zuma in the company of Dr Akinwumi Adesina during which the directive of President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari was conveyed to Zuma.

The issue of South Africa and the Southern African region support for Nigeria’s candidate was exhaustively discussed and well appreciated.”

HE Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, was delivered of a baby girl yesterday.

The new arrival is the couple’s second child and a sister to one-year-old Prince George.

The royal family’s newest member was born at 8:34 am local time, some 2-1/2 hours after Kate Middleton was admitted in the early stages of labour to St Mary’s Hospital, West London, the couple’s Kensington Palace residence said in a statement.

The baby princess will be fourth in line to the throne behind her brother George, father William and grandfather Prince Charles, pushing her uncle Prince Harry down a place in the royal hierarchy.

The baby, whose name has yet to be announced, weighed 3.76 kilogram (8 lbs 3 oz) and William was present at the birth, the palace said.

“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,” it added.

Both families of the couple had been informed, including the new baby’s greatgrandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

She becomes the 89-yearold queen’s fifth greatgrandchild.

William left the hospital later in the afternoon and soon returned with young George to introduce him to his new sister.

“I’m very happy,” he told reporters and the large crowd of royal fans, some of whom have been camping outside for days.

The birth will provide a welcome distraction for many Britons from the country’s knifeedge general election campaign, which comes to a head with the vote on Thursday.

Britain’s leading politicians took time out from the election trail to send their best wishes.

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl. I’m absolutely delighted for them”.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

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Dickson, PDP set to expel First Lady's men for anti-party activities • Await committee's report

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HE Governor of Bayelsa State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have insisted that Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, a domestic aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, should be punished for anti-party activities.

Paulker who won his reelection for a third term and Dudafa have been on a running battle with Dickson and the state chapter of PDP for allegedly sponsoring candidates in other political parties against PDP's candidates.

Mr. Ebiye Tarabina, a candidate believed to have been sponsored by Dudafa in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), defeated the PDP candidate, Mr. Ongore, to win the Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency II House of Assembly election.

Dudafa and Paulker are close allies of President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

Irked by the development, Dickson had inaugurated a committee comprising members of his cabinet to investigate the activities of Dudafa, Paulker and other Abuja-based politicians during the concluded elections in the state.

But groups loyal to the senator faulted the committee and said it was a mere witch-haunt against persons opposed to the second term bid of Dickson.

The governor said on Friday that despite the smear campaign against him, the party had through the committee commenced investigations against Dudafa, Paulker and others who were accused of anti-party activities.

Speaking to party members at the PDP secretariat Yenagoa, Dickson said, if indicted, the senator, Dudafa and his cohorts would be expelled from the party.

He said the party would no longer treat indiscipline with kid gloves adding that the leadership of PDP was waiting for the committee's report to wield the big stick.

"Those found culpable would be expelled from the party," he said.

He added: "The era of indiscipline and disloyalty that has bedevilled this party in this state is over for good. People should take this message home.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

"We want honest and genuine members who understand the meaning of being a party man or woman and being a party official means subordinating personal interest for group interest.

"I have come to deliver a message of hope. The state is solidly PDP. The issue of indiscipline in the next couple of days the report will be out and they will all be gone."

He said the government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, would work to reorganise the party with a view to regaining political power at the national level in 2019.

He said that PDP remained the only well-coordinated party with a focus to deliver the dividends of democracy in the state.

Dickson flaunted the achievements of the party in the just-concluded elections, saying it won 20 out of the 22 seats declared so far for the State House of Assembly, three senatorial and the five House of Representatives' seats.

He urged members of the party to be hopeful and trust in the party's ability to win the two remaining constituency seats in the state House of Assembly that were declared inconclusive in the last election.

Dickson noted that the meeting was arranged to encourage PDP members not to despair in the face of the party's defeat at the national level.

The governor promised to hold consultations with the party leadership to organise a thanksgiving service to acknowledge the role of God in the affairs of the state.

He expressed happiness that the state has been enjoying relative peace and stability since he came on board.

He also said the government was working closely with the party leadership to organise a rousing reception for president Jonathan.

He called on members to come out in their numbers to give Jonathan a heroic welcome on May 29th.

"It would be an emotional event for some of us receiving the President of the country, who is from the state," he said.

Akpabio: We’d recall 17 sacked lawyers if…

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

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HE seventeen lawyers sacked by Akwa Ibom might be recalled before the May 29 handover date, Governor Godswill Akpabio, has assured.

He stated this while responding to questions from labour leaders over the weekend during the Labour Day celebration in Uyo. Akpabio said the sacked lawyers might be recalled if they withdraw the suits against government first.

The governor agreed on the need to review salaries of workers, stating that what they currently earn was not commensurable with economic realities.

The Senator-elect promised

to support salary increment when the 8th National Assembly takes off.

On the alleged punitive transfers of 65 workers at the International Airport, the governor directed the Head of Service, (Mrs.) Cecilia Udoessien, to regularise everything within the next 14 days.

On the workers’ Estate, Akpabio asked the labour leaders to pick up the Certificate of Occupancy on Monday from his office.

The Governor- elect, Udom Emmanuel, promised to implement labour-friendly policies.

He assured pensioners of better deals and improved welfare.

•L-R Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Boboye Oyeyemi, Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner Of Transportation, Lagos State and National President NURTW, Alhaji Usman Najim Yasim during the mega rally with transport unions on the introduction of speed limit device in Lagos at the weekend.

Missing $20bn: DPP backs Buhari on probe of NNPC, others T HE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has thrown its weight behind the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to fight corruption in all sectors, especially within the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC).

Buhari early this week vowed to probe the alleged

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Stella Ayom, Abuja

missing $20billion from the NNPC. The Acting National Chairman of DPP, Garshon Benson, who read the resolution, told newsmen “The most important thing in the mind of the president-elect is to eradicate corruption and to deal with security because we do not want to be living in

fear. We are supposed to be sleeping with our eyes closed.

“We know that Buhari will tackle corruption at all level.

We support him to probe the NNPC, among others. Buhari we know can fight corruption. I commend President Goodluck Jonathan; it is only in his regime that NNPC account is becoming a public topic.

“Former President

Obasanjo was there for eight years and he was Minister for Petroleum. This was coupled with the saga of third tenure, among other issues.

“Even before Obasanjo, the military did not expose this.

We will also advise the president- elect on this issue because we are part of him. We will do the needful. He should also probe the Agric sector.”

Gunmen abduct construction worker

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UNMEN at the weekend abducted a staff of Setraco Construction Company working at the Auchi Gully erosion reclamation work.

A large part of Auchi in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State has

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

been swallowed by gully erosion.

The abduction stalled works at the erosion site since Friday.

Security operatives attached to the construction workers were said to have run

away when the gunmen started shooting sporadically.

It was also gathered that the gunmen, rather than escaping, ran with their victim into the bush towards Owan East Local government.

Sources said local vigilantes and security operatives

have been combing the bush with a view to rescuing the victim.

Spokesman of the Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, could not be reached for comments.

Calls made to his mobile phone were not picked.

World’s largest clean-up, restoration underway in Ogoni HE world’s largest concluded litigation process.” clean-up and restoration •Shell, community sign MoU He noted that the effort in a tropical man-

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grove environment will commence in July at Bodo-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Two reputable international firms have already been contracted for the clean-up of the polluted area.

The companies emerged from a transparent and competitive technical bidding process, which started in July 2014.

The clean-up was disclosed yesterday in Port Harcourt at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with representatives of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Bodo community and other stakeholders.

SPDC and Bodo community reached an agreement on the modalities and scope of the

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ESS than one month to the expiration of their husband’s tenure, nine first ladies have been shortlisted for the Most Valuable Governors’ Wives Awards (MVGWA) in Abuja on May 19.

Former First Lady of Nigeria and the Chief Justice of Niger State, Justice Fati Abubakar, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the award ceremony.

The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

clean-up, remediation and restoration of the environment, devastated by the 2008 oil spills in the area.

The agreement followed mediation efforts by a former Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Bert Ronhaar and the National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND) headed then by Inemo Samiama.

SPDC’s General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Igo Weli, signed the MoU on behalf of the oil giant while the team leader of Bodo, Prof. John Alawa, signed for the community.

A former Chairman of the Provisional Council of the

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Prof. Ben Naanen, and Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. John Groffen, witnessed the signing ceremony.

Ronhaar said: “By signing the MoU, the Bodo community and SPDC have successfully concluded the first phase of the mediation process, which has recorded a number of concrete results so far.

“The shoreline of and the creeks in and around Bodo, an area of approximately 1000 hectares, are at this stage still heavily impacted by two oil spills in 2008, for which SPDC has acknowledged responsibility.

“The Bodo community and SPDC have mutually agreed to take the clean-up, remediation and restoration out of the now-

Nine first ladies for awards From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Muhammad, will be the guest speaker.

A statement for the organisers by Tom Obulu said MVGWA is designed to lead a new phenomenon in the assessment and recognition of the governors’ wives, who are providing complementary achievements to the governors’ achieve-

ments.

Obulu said 36 governors’ wives and the FCT Minister’s wife were assessed based on their NGO projects available in the public domain and impacts on the people.

The criteria adopted were sustainability, empowerment, impact, change agent and corporate branding (SEICC), he added.

The awardees include Hajiya Hauwa Yuguda, wife of

remediation process was financially supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Nigeria, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and UNEP. Ronhaar pointed out that the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) also provided valuable guidance.

Weli said the people of the community were quite pleased to note that SPDC agreed to clean up the oil-polluted environment and the Bodo creeks, while expressing gratitude to the Netherlands embassy in Nigeria for helping to facilitate the entire process.

Bauchi State governor; Deaconess Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, wife of Delta State governor; (Dr) Aisha Bala Mohammed, wife of the FCT Minister and Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, wife of Imo State governor.

Others are: Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Kwara State governor; Hajiya Jummai Aliyu, wife of Niger State governor; Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, wife of Ondo State governor and Hajiya Asma’u Yari, wife of Zamfara State governor.

8

Row over restructuring of Lagos Airport Hotel

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

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HE board and management of the Odu’a Investment Company are on a collision course over the reorganisation of one of its subsidiaries, Lagos Airport Hotel.

The bone of contention is the alleged refusal of the Group Managing Director, Mr. Adewale Raji, to heed the advice of other members of the board on the running of the company.

Chairman of the board, Dr. Isaac Akintade, and the GMD are said to have disagreed over the preferred approach to salvaging the Lagos Airport Hotel, which had recorded losses for five consecutive years until 2013.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, Akintade accused Raji of not fully keying into the vision of the board to return the hotel on the path of profitability, adding that the board would not sit by and allow the situation in the company to degenerate before taking action.

Confirming this development, a staff who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak for the company said: “The manner in which the members of the board of the owner company, Odu’a Investment Company, want to concession the subsidiary company without due diligence has pitched them against the GMD. The source further revealed that the board had earlier sought the advice of Greenwich Trust Ltd and KPMG Advisory Services to critically look at the challenges of Lagos Airport Hotel and come up with solutions.

The Nation learnt that the consulting firms offered some recommendations, which include amongst others affiliating the hotel to reputable international brands like Marriot, Radisson and Protea.

But the Akintade-led board, it was learnt, allegedly preferred a relatively unknown brand to take-over the hotel. In the bid exercise, the board reportedly disqualified Messrs ARM Investments Ltd, the owners of Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos, which was adjudged as the best bidder.

Don advocates severe punishment for corruption From Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2014

NEWS

OR Nigeria to return to its glorious days, the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari has been tasked to ensure that all those who enrich themselves at the expense of the nation face the full wrath of the law.

A university don, Prof.

Oyewale Tomori, said this at a lecture he delivered titled 'Transforming Nigeria into a Changed Nation,' attheannualMayDaydistinguished lecture of The House of Lords in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While expressing optimism that Buhari would solve some of the challenges confronting the country, Tomori, however, advised the president-elect not to priortise his programms, adding, "The incoming administration should not tackle all the problems at the same time. It should be one after the other.

The president should pick out the most crucial ones, the first thing being corruption."

Tomori also called for called for moral reorientation of Nigerians, because according to him, the negative attitude of most Nigerians rather than the government has further compounded the country's woes.

2015 May Day: Be part of solution to Nigeria’s challenges, Fashola charges labour

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has challenged the organised labour to make sacrifices and be part of the solution to the challenges confronting the country.

The governor, who spoke at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos before a gathering of labour union members and their leaders, in commemoration of Workers’ Day, added that the organised labour must also choose negotiation and dialogue to resolve industrial disputes over strikes and lockouts.

He stated that he recently directed a low scale study to be carried out on strikes between the year 2007 and 2014 and the results showed that almost 30 different strikes took place

within that period with about 1,279 days lost to the action.

“Let me explain what that can mean if it took place in Lagos alone. This state generates an approximate N20billion every month. So, everyday, it is about N600million. If you do it in Lagos, it would amount to N852 billion. Imagine what that would have done in your lives,” he stressed.

He added that while embarking on strike is not wrong in its entirety, he believes that everything is wrong with deploying the wrong solution to a problem. “What we need most is to deliver power, to revive our economy, to create jobs. Strikes will not revive the Nigerian economy,” he said.

He emphasised that the wel-

fare of workers must be bigger than the political ambition of members or its leaders, adding that because the new governments at the state and federal levels need a united labour force to make them deliver on their mandate.

Fashola said since the organised labour has now voted for change in government at the centre, their attitude and strategy must also change and that it is only through this that everyone can experience change in their lives.

He added that one of the things that should be considered for change is the way the May Day is celebrated every year, saying despite the holding of yearly rallies, no national communiqué has been produced from the

yearly rallies.

He suggested that instead of standing in the sun for rallies, the funds expended for buying caps and T-shirts can be used to rent a hall where a one-day workshop would hold on how to solve one of the major problems in Nigeria whether it is housing, power or education among others.

“Let us change the strategy and everybody here can still be there by representatives of your unions; let us have experts come and sit down with us, share experience with us and then communicate a final solution. That, for me, is one thing that I think should change. I am also guilty that I thought of this only this late, but it is never too late to learn,” he said.

The governor reiterated that

labour must stop fighting, because, according to him, it is part of the structure and must be a part of making that structure work, since all strikes have eventually ended on the negotiation table, adding that there should be no limit to the time that can be spent to negotiate.

He reiterated that the challenges facing labour in Nigeria are no different from those encountered by labour organisations in other parts of the world where every worker wants a better deal, better working hours, better welfare, better wages and working environment, adding that what differs from place to place is the progress that has been made in one place and the distance that needs to be travelled in other places.

Expatriates threaten local engineers’ survival- NSE boss From Tayo Johnson, Ibadaan

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•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (2nd right); CEO/Principal Partner, Adetokunbo Obayan & Associates, Mr. Adetokunbo Obayan (right); Country Manager, Accenture, Mr. Niyi Yusuf (2nd left) and Managing Director, Complete Sports, Mr. Mumin Alao (left) during the 7th Edition of the Annual Leadership Seminar of Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria in Lagos…yesterday

Speakership: APC leaders’ decision will be final- Famurewa O NE of the contenders for the position of Speaker of the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, has dismissed media reports that he was going ahead with his ambition with or without the support of leaders of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the South West.

In a telephone chat with our correspondent, the lawmaker said he has been endorsed by some of his colleagues from the north for the seat, but appealed to his supporters to exercise restraint in the manner they carry out their campaign on his behalf. He, however, added that he would abide by the decision of his party on the matter.

He said: “As a party person,

T

I have leaders both at the state and zonal levels, and I have to wait on the party’s decision on the zoning arrangement. Even if the Speakership position is zoned to our zone (South West) and the leaders say no, we prefer my brother, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as a core progressive who has imbibed the norms and values of the movement, I will bow to their wishes. Not only that, I would equally mobilise all my supporters to rally round the party’s preferred candidate.

“At the senatorial and state level, Governor Rauf Aregbesola will determine who gets what, while the National

Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, holds sway for whatever position in this region. Do you think I will raise an eyelid against the decision of these two experienced men?

That is not possible! They are my political leaders, who I hold in very high esteem.”

Famurewa, who is a member of the House Committee on Diaspora, argued that the major challenge before the 8th Assembly is far beyond the issue of zoning of positions, saying that part of the core values of its mission is to ensure that it refocuses the nation’s foreign policy in order to stop the maltreatment of Nigerians in foreign

lands.

He said, “We must re-address our foreign policies so that Nigerians outside the shores of the country would not be subjected to slavery like we just witnessed in South Africa and Indonesia. We must collectively work together to ensure we bring sanity and discipline back to the system.

“We must, as a matter of urgency, boost the power generation, so our teeming unemployed youths can get jobs when new and collapsed companies come on stream. Our economy must be rejuvenated and infrastructure all over the country must be functional to the extent that the common man will know that government exists.”

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, has said influx of expatriates into the Nigerian engineering industry is threatening the survival of local practitioners.

Olorunfemi made this disclosure at the induction ceremony of new graduates of the Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan. He was represented at the event by Engr.

Oluyemi Morakinyo.

Assuring that the NSE is making efforts to address the anomaly, Olorunfemi said the association is planning to advise the incoming government to take the issue of local content more seriously as a way of assisting indigenous practitioners to thrive.

In his inaugural speech, the Country Manager of Schumberger Nigeria, a major oil servicing multinational company, Engr. Muyiwa Akinpelu, who was the guest lecturer, said the challenges facing the engineering profession today are global in nature, adding that finding solutions to these challenges would make the world more technologically advanced and make life more sustainable, safe, healthy and joyous.

He advised the inductees to be more proactive and not reactive in order to achieve success in their career, in addition to understanding and actively participating in public policy process.

In his address, the state chairman, NSE, Engr. Rauf Salawu, said the society expects a lot from the budding engineers as they are seen as the symbol of development and better life.

New OPC boss carpets Fasehun, promises new direction have died in the cause of this

HE new President of Oodua People’s Congress, Comrade Dare Adesope, has berated its founder, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, for derailing from the vision and objectives of the organisation.

Speaking at a press briefing at the headquarters of the organisation in Lagos, the new OPC boss accused Fasehun for failing to lay an enduring legacy for the group, in addition to treating the welfare of members with levity.

Adesope said these reasons, coupled with the resolve of concerned members to chart a new direction for the organisation, led to his emergence as the new

By Remi Adelowo

president.

Giving an insight into the circumstances that led to his election as the new OPC president, Adesope disclosed that Fasehun’s alleged refusal to fulfill his earlier promise of handing over to a new crop of leaders during the 20th anniversary of the organisation and in October last year, led senior members of the group to convene a meeting where he was unanimously elected as the new president.

He said: “A few years ago, Dr. Fasehun announced that he would hand over the baton of leadership during the 20th anni-

versary of the OPC. But surprisingly, he reneged on his promise. Again, he said a new leader would be announced for the group last year, but that never came to be. OPC needs to chart a new direction to enable it face future challenges. I’m well equipped to provide this new direction for the group. I was Secretary General of the organisation for 10 years before I was elected as president, so I know what to do to move the group forward.”

Adesope blamed the poor welfare condition of members on Fasehun, who he alleged, has only used the OP to feather his nest, saying, “Many of our members

struggle, while other are suffering from permanent disability, yet the organisation could not assist them. This has to stop.

Though we still recognise and respect Dr. Fasehun as the founder of the organisation, we believe this is the time for a new set of leaders to step forward and refocus the organisation for the tasks ahead.”

In response to media reports that he allegedly held a secret meeting with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to instigate crisis in OPC, Adesope said, “What is the big deal if we met with Asiwaju

Tinubu? Is he not a Yoruba leader worthy of emulation? Unknown to many people, Asiwaju Tinubu gave OPC money to buy this landed property for our headquarters way back in 2001, but, unfortunately, our leaders have failed to develop the land. Tinubu has always been there for us and anytime he calls, we would oblige him.”

On the outcome of the general elections, Adesope congratulated President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and the Lagos State governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, on their victory, while extending his group’s hand of fellowship to the incoming government.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

• Mark

• National Assembly

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HE dilemma of power balance in the soon-to-be inaugurated National Assembly is proving to be a delicate puzzle that must be unraveled with care. The situation is especially dicey in the Senate where the APC is battling to ensure that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) doesn't claim the prize by default.

With APC's majority of 60 against PDP's 49 members in the Red Chamber, election of Nigeria's next Senate President would appear easy and straightforward.

Instead it has become a very tricky assignment primarily because of the current political equation and the standing complexities of National Assembly politics.

Some of the puzzles are the existing zoning policy which would have sought to resolve the balance on the basis of the traditional Nigerian tripod and the failure of the South-East zone to elect a single senator on the ticket of APC, which, according to some political analysts, would have made power sharing in this dispensation easier.

The argument is that if the South-East had elected a ranking senator on the platform of APC, the search for the next Senate President, the number three citizen, would have become easier for the party as it would have been narrowed to such a senator so as to balance the power sharing arrangement, since the North-West and the South-West had produced the President and Vice-President respectively.

As it is, the search, according to reports, has been shifted to the North-Central and the North-East zones, where some historical realities have made the task even more complex and intriguing. Our investigation, for example, shows that the North-East geopolitical zone, which has since 1999 been in the opposition and has therefore never produced a Senate President is insisting that the zone should be compensated with the position of Senate President and made to feel be part of the Nigerian project. Their demand, according to some political stakeholders, "is made more persuasive both by the current devastation of the zone by the Boko Haram insurgency and by the fact that the zone delivered the second largest number of votes to APC."

Inside the race for Senate President With a clear majority in the Senate process of selecting the next Senate President should have been a walk in the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). But sundry factors and the ambitions of aspirants who have shown interest in the job mean that choosing David Mark's successor would not just be a simple case of arithmetic. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo and Sunday Oguntola report on the intrigues and factors working for and against the leading contenders.

So, today, though many influential APC senators-elect are interested in the plum position, it seems the search has been narrowed to three leading contenders from the North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones.

They include Senator George Akume, a former governor of Benue State in the NorthCentral zone, Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State also from NorthCentral and Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan from Yobe State in the North-East zone, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999, first in the Green Chamber before moving over to the Red Chamber in 2007.

These frontline runners are, however, not the only contenders from the two zones.

From the North-East zone, for example, the likes of former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje; Ali Ndume from Borno State and Binta Garba Masi from Adamawa State are also in the race.

AHMED IBRAHIM LAWAN Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, representing Yobe North constituency has been at the National Assembly since 1999.

He is probably the most experienced lawmaker amongst all the current contenders to the position of Senate President.

First elected into the House of Representatives in 1999, he was re-elected in 2003 and he served in that capacity up till 2007. In 2007, he again returned to the National Assembly, but not as a member of the House of Representatives but as a senator. He has since been in the Red Chamber as he was re-elected in 2011 and 2015.

Factors in his favour As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Lawan enjoys the respect of his current colleagues, including returning Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators.

It is common knowledge that he has a

close relationship with current Senate President, David Mark. So, observers of National Assembly politics believe that if Lawan is presented by APC, old PDP senators, especially Mark's close associates, may not withhold their support from him.

Also, notwithstanding the current disagreement over his endorsement within the North-East APC caucus, it is on record that if he would get the plum job, he will first get solid support from his North-East zone, comprising Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Gombe, which boasts of 15 senators.

Perhaps because of his experience in the politics of the National Assembly, there is evidence that he has made significant effort to go beyond his immediate geo-political zone. It would be recalled that earlier in the week, the North-West APC senate caucus endorsed him at a meeting in Kaduna, attended by 20 of the 21 senators from the zone. The meeting, convened by Senator Abu Ibrahim, evidently had the support of powerful political forces from the zone.

Although, Governor Kwakwanso was not physically present at the meeting, those present said he sent a goodwill message.

Former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Yerima, who was also absent at the meeting was said to be bereaved.

Besides North-East and North-West, Lawan has also been endorsed South-West APC senators. Such a backing will amount to another 13 votes in his column. So, with at least 45 votes in his kitty from these three zones, Lawan will surely be a strong candidate for the office of Senate President.

A winner needs 55 votes to emerge.

Lawan is also likely to pick some votes from the North Central zone as Niger State senators are likely to give him support.

However, the zone seems poised to be a battle zone in this contest as two of his rivals - Saraki and Akume - are from there.

Another factor that may work for Lawan is the fact that in his 16 years at the National Assembly, he has not been dented by any scandal and as a result is one of the few baggage-free contenders for the office.

Factors against him Until 12 senators-elect from the North-

•Contd. on page 10

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NEWS REVIEW

Who'll preside over next Senate?

•Contd. from page 9

East geo- political zone called a press conference during the week to deny reports that they had endorsed Lawan for Senate President's office, many thought he had nothing to fear. But now, it seems he still has to tidy up his home support if he hopes to wear the crown.

Indeed, the vehemence of the protests led by Senator Goje should worry Lawan and his backers. Speaking as leader of the North-East All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators' Caucus, he told reporters in Abuja, during the week that the group had not picked any candidate for the position yet since it had not been formally zoned to the area by the national leadership of the party. Alluding to the backing for Lawan from the North West and South West, he said no zone will be allowed to impose any candidate on them.

Members of the caucus at the press conference include: The Chairman, Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Secretary, Isa Ahmed Gusau (Bauchi Central), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe Central) and Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central) Others are Senators-elect Binta Garba Marshi (Adamawa North), Ahmed Abubakar (Adamawa South), Usman Bayero Nafada (Gombe North), Abubakar Jare (Borno North) and Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North). Senator Ahmad Zannah (Borno Central) was said to be indisposed.

Also, some senators, who still insist on power balance and fairness say, Lawan is a Fulani from the North-East and that it may not be right to elect him the Senate President, now that another Fulani, General Muhammadu Buhari, is the President.

GEORGE AKUME Former Benue State Governor, George Akume, has not hidden his desire to succeed Senator David Mark as the next Senate President.

In the last few weeks, he has embarked on series of consultations with different political interest groups, including some of the old and returning senators across all party lines and leadership of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, he has more than three other formidable contestants to contend with to clinch the nation's number three seat. How far can he go?

South-West support crucial Fully aware that the endorsement of South-West caucus in the Senate is crucial to his election as the next Senate President, sources disclosed that the former governor has been reaching out to many of his colleagues (both old and new) asking for their support.

Banking on his long association with members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) caucus now in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akume, it was learnt, has left no stone unturned to get this group behind him. In his calculations, once this caucus backs him, he is almost home and dry for the Senate Presidency.

Sources, however, disclosed that the South-West caucus is being circumspect in supporting Akume for a number of reasons, which include among others, feelers from the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the incoming Senate that it would not under any circumstance support Akume, who is the Minority Leader of the outgoing Senate.

The Nation gathered that in the event that APC endorses Akume as its consensus candidate for the Senate Presidency, the PDP had allegedly hatched a plot to "pay APC back in its own coin" by throwing its weight behind another candidate in APC or within its fold. One scenario could see the incumbent David Mark who is also from Benue State throwing his hat into the ring.

This likely scenario would have been a reenactment of the "Tambuwal magic" in 2011, during which the defunct ACN, in alliance with some PDP members in the outgoing House of Representatives voted for Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the Speaker in contravention of the Presidency's and the PDP leadership's

• Lawan preference for Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

Competent sources disclosed that left to the South-West APC caucus in the next Senate, it would have fully backed Akume in line with the practice in advanced democracies like the United States where the Minority Leader automatically assumes the position of the Majority Leader once his party assumes a numerical advantage in the chamber.

Alternatively, the party could have called the major contestants an organized a straw poll to choose who to back. But this is out of the question because none of the candidates is willing to back down and the PDP is waiting in the wings to capitalize on any wrong move by APC. Other factors against Akume Beside the aforementioned reasons, perhaps the biggest factor allegedly against Akume is lack of bloc support from his home base of Benue State.

The former governor and the outgoing Senate President, David Mark, sources say, don't see eye to eye. Their frosty relationship dates way back from Akume's days in the PDP and as governor.

The relationship got worse even after Akume's election to the Senate and his decision to contest against Mark for the Senate Presidency in 2007 despite not being a ranking member and in apparent defiance of the endorsement of Mark by majority of the power blocs in the Upper Chamber. Mark and most PDP senators are yet to forgive Akume for this "effrontery," it was learnt.

Though Akume later emerged as the Minority Leader, he never got on well with Mark up till now.

So strong is the anti-Akume feeling among the PDP caucus that sources disclosed that if the APC insists on the former governor running, Mark may also throw his hat into the ring or, in the alternative, back a neutral APC candidate to defeat Akume.

Speaking on the disposition of Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to Akume's aspiration, a source said the former has insisted that he has nothing against the former governor, and that he would align with any decision arrived at by the APC leadership on the issue of the Senate Presidency.

But from all indications, the former Benue governor may not lose out completely if he misses out in the race for the Senate Presidency.

Sources in the know claimed that he may be compensated with a principal officer's position if he loses the Senate President's race.

BUKOLA SARAKI Supporters of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Bukola Saraki, believe he is the best man to preside over the 8th Senate due for inauguration on June 6, 2015. They say he is well-loved and charismatic.

They argue that he has friends across party lines in all the nooks and crannies of the nation. They also point to the achievements

• Akume

• Saraki

of the former Governor of Kwara from 20032011.

As Chairman of Nigerian Governors' Forum(NGF), they said he achieved so much for the nation, chief of which was the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity, which enabled President Goodluck Jonathan to function as Acting President during the latter days of late President Musa Yar'Adua.

For sure, Saraki is determined to vie for the position. He has openly declared interest in the senate presidency with many of his foot soldiers already mobilising support nationwide. Saraki's lieutenants have been lobbying senators across party affiliations to support his aspiration for the position.

Going by his body language, Saraki is not prepared to step down for anybody. It is also hard to imagine him accepting a consensus arrangement by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senate presidency that does not favour him. For him, it is an ambition that can only be truncated by votes of fellow senators.

Factors in his favour At just 52, Saraki has an appealing youthfulness for the post. He matches the agitation for a youthful representation. The agitators believe that a young Senate President, like him, will add glamour and class to the office. He would also have the energy and zeal to handle the physically demanding job. That, to many, is a great factor that might swing votes in his favour.

In his political career, Saraki has always attracted interest across the country. He mixes and socialises freely, giving him the image of a smooth politician. Cosmopolitan and suave, Saraki will be able to fit in at any gathering and make lasting impression. For digital-friendly youths, Saraki is a darling with his appealing tweets and presence in the social media. That image of a borderless politician will resonate with many senators and stakeholders.

His administrative acumen came to the fore as chairman of NGF, which he restructured and transformed to become a major powerbase in the nation during the Yar'Adua's presidency. As governor, he also proved himself as a brilliant administrator, winning several accolades in power sector, agricultural reforms and infrastructural development.

Factors against him But his strengths can also be his undoing.

Though he is a ranking senator, critics say he is only on his second-term and does not yet qualify to preside over the senate when there are more entrenched members. His capacity to elevate whatever office he occupies to an influential status could also count against him in the race to the senate presidency.

Many say he would be too powerful as a Senate President, going by his antecedents during the NGF's chairmanship. Saraki, they allege, turned the Forum to a powerful pressure group without which nothing

moved in the nation. The possibility of having "a power monger," as one critic described him as the number three man is too difficult for some to imagine.

Also, among those opposed to his ambition are leading Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) senators, who have not forgotten Saraki's role in the fuel subsidy scandal.

In 2013, Saraki had blown the lid on the N2.7 billion fuel subsidy scandal in the senate.

His whistle-blowing revelations unsettled many powerful interests. They retaliated with a grilling by the Economic and Financial Fraud Commission (EFCC) of the senator, who spent hours answering questions on how the defunct Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), where he was a director, became liquidated.

Many have still not forgiven him for his leading role in the subsidy scandal. PDP senators are also angry that Saraki dumped the party and allegedly destroyed its power base in the North-Central, especially Kwara and Kogi states. Sources said they may fight tooth and nail to stop someone like Saraki from emerging Senate President.

So, there is the possibility that if APC should adopt Saraki as its preferred candidate, the PDP caucus, which has 45 senators, may resolve to back another person to clinch the senate presidency. That is a scenario many interest groups in the APC do not want to emerge. It will create another Tambuwal-like power structure that ultimately led to the demystification of the PDP in the outgoing administration.

Sources said APC will not want to take off on such a faulty foundation. We gathered that party leaders are keen to ensure that whoever they would back emerges winner come June 6, if not for anything, at least to establish party supremacy and guarantee a supportive Upper Chamber.

For now, Saraki's support base is mainly Kwara State with three senators. He can also count on the two APC senators from Kogi State. He needs a major power structure to swing the votes in his favour. This is more so because many senators from the North-East seem set to support one of their own to win the position.

Though the APC has stated it has not zoned the senate presidency to any region, most analysts and sources said the NorthEast is currently favoured to grab the slot.

The mood generally is that the region has never produced a senate president and deserves to be rewarded for giving the second highest numbers of votes to the Buhari-Osinbajo's ticket.

In this light, Saraki is considered a Yoruba from the North-Central region. The SouthWest already has the Vice President's slot.

To give another Yoruba man, Saraki in this case, the post of the third citizen may be described by critics as over representation for the Yoruba nation.

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Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

‘I

F only babies could talk’, that was the catchphrase of a popular advert in the country sometime ago. If only we could have access to Ifeanyi Ubah’s mind, then we would know the real reason he wept like a baby during the submission of the report of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation to President Goodluck Jonathan, at the new banquet hall of the Presidential Villa on Thursday. According to Daily Sun in its Workers’ Day (May 1 edition) , Ubah started weeping after President Jonathan’s address, which drew a thunderous applause and standing ovation from the audience.

The report added that he wept uncontrollably such that at a point, he had to excuse himself from the gathering, after some party chiefs had taken turns to console him, to no avail. Apparently, those party stalwarts must have understood the reason for his weeping. The report added that Ubah was sweating like a Christmas goat (please pardon my embellishment) at the occasion. When a billionaire weeps or sweats profusely in public, it is not a laughing matter.

Chief Ubah is the founder and chief executive officer of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), the body that was at the vanguard of the president’s reelection campaign. That organisation meant nothing to most Nigerians and if it had any meaning at all, it was to those making money from it in the PDP and deceiving President Jonathan that the whole of Nigeria was behind him. As a matter of fact Ubah and Co. claimed they had 12 million signatures of Nigerians who wanted Jonathan to continue in office, after travelling all over the 36 states of the federation. In Nigeria, cooking figures is one of the easiest things to do.

Ubah, lest we forget, is also the chief executive officer of Capital Oil. He and his firm have been in the centre of several messy deals, the most notorious being their involvement in the oil subsidy scandal. In 2012, Cosmas Maduka, President of Coscharis Group, accused him of duping him of N21bn in the course of some business transaction.

In saner climes, the First Citizen would keep people like Ubah at an arm’s length. But, in a country of anything goes, and under a man like President Jonathan, the Ubahs called the shots. They are the president’s frontline allies. This is a man that we knew little or nothing about until he turned 40 a few years ago and celebrated his birthday in almost all the newspapers in the country; some of which gave out their front page for the vainglory.

As a major player in the oil sector, Ubah must have been instrumental to the oil and gas sector’s donation of N5billion to the Jonathan campaign. Meanwhile, these are people, like the power sector owners, who are complaining that they have problems accessing funds for their operations and that banks are not granting them loans again. I wonder which responsible bank would give loans to such unserious characters who can only be successful business men in Nigeria because of our warped sense of doing business.

So, contrary to the newspaper report

Ifeanyi Ubah: weeping for his sins Subversive generosity.com

• Ubah

that Ubah wept over President Jonathan’s loss in the election, it is possible that the man was weeping over his personal loss arising from the president’s defeat at the polls, and more importantly, over the questions he may, including others like him, have to answer regarding oil subsidy, which only a complicit government like President Jonathan’s could have treated with kid gloves. Add to his long list of woes, his ambition to become Governor of Anambra State is now gone with the winds. It is possible that was one reason he was so close to the president.

Otherwise, why would he be the one to weep over the president’s loss? What is his own? Why would he weep louder than the bereaved? Even President Jonathan who lost the election is not weeping; at least not publicly. Not even our own ‘Mama Peace’, his wife. Not even those close aides of the president.

So, I must be dead right when in my piece immediately after President Jonathan conceded defeat, I wrote that he must have consulted no one or only a few persons before taking that decision. President Jonathan confirmed that much when receiving the campaign organisation’s report.

“Yes, I did not consult anybody before I made that phone call (conceding defeat to Gen Buhari) but I made that phone call on behalf of all of you and on behalf of the PDP”, he said. You can imagine what would have happened if the president had sought the opinions of the likes of Ubah on the matter! So, the question again, what is Ifeanyi Ubah’s own? I won’t want to speculate far into why the emergency oil mogul wept, but I am sure President Jonathan is not deceived that he was weeping for him (Jonathan). The man must be weeping for

Ubah must have been thinking of where to recoup the investment he made into the president’s failed reelection bid. He must have been weeping internally for long only for him to weep in the open when he could no longer contain it. There are many like him who are in such tears now. And they will weep for long because it is the ordinary Nigerian that they are putting in pains to have their comfort

himself. The newspaper got it wrong when it said Ubah wept because he “could not contain his emotions”.

My people will say ‘owo jona’ (money goes down the drain!) If Ubah and his fellow money-miss-road who donated more than generously to the PDP campaign made their money through a dint of hard work alone, they would have been cautious in the way they gave cheerfully, even if subversively. There are thousands of their fellow Nigerians out there who cannot boast of where the next meal would come from, their own generosity does not extend to such people.

Apparently, Ubah must have been thinking of where to recoup the investment he made into the president’s failed reelection bid. He must have been weeping internally for long only for him to weep in the open when he could no longer contain it. There are many like him who are in such tears now. And they will weep for long because it is the ordinary Nigerian that they are putting in pains to have their comfort. Some of them will soon start to visit hospitals abroad to have their blood pressure examined. Some of them will, like our Andrew, check out of the country to seek asylum abroad. And there is every cause for them to worry when a new government that is not likely to condone granting them access to the kind of easy money that they stumbled on is about coming to power.

Ubah cannot imagine that he would now be an outcast at the Villa that he used to enter and exit at will because the day the incoming president is seen with people like Ubah, that is the end of Nigerians’ trust in him. And I am sure General Muhammadu Buhari knows that. “Show me your friends, and I will tell who you are”.

CHIBOK GIRLS. STILL IN LIMBO. SINCE APRIL 15, 2014.

otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net

08050498530(SMS only)

Let journalism thrive

H

AVING a cordial relationship with the media is a must for any government, organisation or individual who occupies a public or private office.

The popular definition of public relations

by Frank Jenkins aptly captures what is required - the relationship must be deliberate, planned and sustained.

You don’t have to like journalists or what they publish and broadcast, but you must learn to savour good reports about you, when you are reported the way you want, and tolerate what you consider occasional excesses.

I dare say that the media can sometimes be a necessary “evil” that has to be understood for the important role it plays in informing, eduating and entertaining the public.

The recent controversy over the ban on the African Independent Television (AIT) which has been resolved is an example of the need for restraint in reacting to perceived negative reporting by the media.

Whoever gave the instruction that AIT should “step aside” from the coverage of the official assignments of the President- elect to resolve “ethical and security issues” concerning the organisation, without clearance from Gen. Mohammadu Buhari committed a major blunder.

It was a needless controversy which even before being sworn in has given the wrong impression that the new administration may not be tolerant of criticisms.

AIT’s broadcast of the infamous hate documentary titled: The Real Buhari, is particularly reprehensible and could be enough justification to be wary of the organisation, but not to ask its staff to stay away from the public functions of the President-elect.

Indeed, AIT was not the only organisation that was guilty of ethical breaches in the coverage of the just concluded elections.

Virtually every print and broadcast organisations in the country violated the code of conduct for election coverage and advertisement for political, ownership, commercial and other reasons.

Apart from AIT and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) that aired the controversial documentary, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission indicted several other government and private stations.

According to the NBC, “the contraventions include breaches of the rules on the broadcast of sponsored electoral campaign materials, which must conform to the standards of truth, decency and good taste, and requiring the sponsor to be clearly identified.”

Some of the adverts published in some newspapers couldn’t have been approved for publications if they had been screened by the Advertising Standard panel.

My verdict on the election coverage is to quote the bible verse that all have sinned and come short of the ethics of the profession on this matter.

I am not sure what the penalty for the NBC indictment is, but it has to be really punitive enough to prevent reckless violations in future. Aggrieved persons have to be sure that broadcast stations will not easily get away with defamatory and false broadcasts as it seems in the present situation.

As much as the media should be free to continue to enjoy the freedom to publish and broadcast without any government restriction, they should do so within the limits of the law and ethical demands of the profession.

If journalism is to continue to thrive in accordance with the theme of the World Press Freedom Day marked today, (Let Journalism Thrive) there will be need for better reporting based on the principles of truth, fairness, objectivity and respects for the rights of those being reported.

14

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

COMMENT

Implications of Change Manifesto (3) The ethic of change requires that those who fought murderously against change are not allowed to become decision makers in the party of change

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AST week, we concluded that fighting corruption would require addressing the facilitation of corruption by a political structure that creates utter alienation between the citizenry and government, in particular the destruction of the country’s tradition of federal governance and installation over the years of a unitary governance structure and culture. We also warned the new president against surrendering to any effort to blackmail him by those who want to be seen as heroes of the Jonathan national dialogue of 2014 and of the cosmetic devolution in the constitutional amendments recently rejected by President Jonathan.

The argument in this respect is that recommendations from the Jonathan national conference and the amendments from the departing legislature lack proper democratic participation by citizens, especially that both lack opportunity for citizen participation by the way of referendum. Following the axiom of “What is worth doing at all is worth doing well,” the president should be given the opportunity to employ a proper process and move away from the notion that any respectable federal system can be sustained with federal allocation to federating units from rents collection. The column today will continue the discussion of implications of Change Manifesto for the way the country is governed by the new president and the All Progressives Congress in the next four years.

Given the mass defection from the PDP to the APC since the presidential election, it is important for the new president and his party to be cautious about politicians who are afraid of opposition and thus need to rush to every new party that is in power. It is normal for the wary to pay attention to the rush to the new governing party by those who served as cheer leaders in the last sixteen years to the PDP in its personalisation of the state.

A Yoruba proverb: Agbara ojo ko nioun o nii w’ole, onile ni ko nii gba fun un (Flood from rain does not shy away from destroying houses, it is the landlords that must guard against this) is worth the attention of the new president and his party. Those who participated in encourag-

ing the PDP to disregard and misjudge the citizenry to the point of losing citizens’ confidence may not be coming to the president’s party because they believe in the platform of change. The exodus from the party of yesterday to the party of today may be because the defectors or carpet crossers, to put it euphemistically, are afraid of not having immediate access to a new political patronage network.

The ethic of change requires that those who fought murderously against change are not allowed to become decision makers in the party of change. Defectors would need to be watched, not necessarily by leaving them with “empty stomachs” as President Jonathan has feared while APC members are overfed from the loot of office, but principally because there should be no room for feeding even APC party members from what in normal circumstances is meant to be used to make life easier for all citizens.

It is reassuring that the president-elect has already announced to those running around Abuja, Kaduna, and Daura for ministerial positions that he will require that every minister in his government declare his or her assets. But care must be taken to go beyond asset declaration as a mere symbolic action. Each candidate for ministerial position must be made to show proof of how he or she came about the assets declared. This should include proof of taxes paid by candidates for ministerial positions.

Many of our ministers and governors in the past had declared assets without showing any proof of source of the property they claimed on their asset declaration forms. Such requirement is likely to keep those who had benefited from corruption in the past from becoming major public policy makers in the government of change.

Since the most visible aspect of governance by the PDP in the last sixteen years has been the rule of impunity as distinct from the rule of law, the new president must lead by the power of example, rather than the example of power, which was the core characteristic of PDP’s governance style from Obasanjo to Jonathan. There should be no room for the politics of vindictiveness and marginalisation in the government of President Buhari. Regardless of who voted for

whom, General Buhari has become the president of Nigeria the moment he had the majority required for gaining that office. No section of Nigeria must be made to experience the marginalisation that the Yoruba region experienced in the last six years in particular.

In the character of democracy, every citizen has a right to have a preferred presidential or gubernatorial candidate. But once a leader has been chosen by a majority of voters, the leader is obligated constitutionally and morally to govern for the benefit of all citizens. But nothing in being president of and for all requires the president to form a nebulous government of national unity that many PDP politicians have been canvassing for during their visits to congratulate General Buhari. A government of national unity may bring benefits to individuals calling for it but it is dangerous for the polity, as it is capable of leading to a one-party system that suffocates or muffles political opposition necessary to keep the governing party on its toes.

A PDP governor in the Southwest has been quoted by one of his aides as whispering that what appeared to be desperation during the campaign was necessary to prevent an opposition party from becoming the party in power and with the opportunity to use power the way PDP had used it in the last four years. It is therefore conceivable that those begging for a government of national unity and those rushing to obtain APC membership cards during the interregnum are doing so in order to avoid experiencing a negative use of power by the Buhari/ APC government. Without doubt, such persons have very little understanding of the politics of change. The new president and his party cannot afford to imitate the government they have displaced electorally. Citizens are still around to take note of such unwholesome governance. A party that is committed to change knows more than any other group that it needs to be in power for more than four years, if it is to be able to make sustainable changes to a polity and economy damaged by personalistic and patrimonial governance in the last few years.

The toxic character of the polity in the last six years requires a responsive governance capable of healing the country, instead of a con-

tinuation or a variant of a government that pumps venom into the polity.

With or without loss in revenue from petroleum, the governance of the country for the past few years has been marked by waste, greed, and disregard for sustainable policies on remuneration for political appointees and lawmakers at the three levels of government. It is not just the severance benefits for state governors that need the attention of the new president; more than this, the existing severance benefits for the president, vice president, and lawmakers are plainly irresponsible. This is the time for the practice of paying fat salaries and benefits (too fat for legislators to acknowledge publicly) to be re-examined and pruned down. There is no reason why the lawmaker should earn more than a permanent secretary.

There is no justification for lawmakers’ constituency allowance that is not subjected to the process of accountability. Lawmakers should just be made to do oversight for the executive and create laws to improve governance and the welfare of citizens; they should not be saddled with community projects which are basically part of the functions of the executive branch of government. This is also a good time to reconsider what is referred to in political or bureaucratic vocabulary as security vote for those in political office. It is difficult for citizens to understand why huge sums of money are given monthly to local government chairs, governors, and presidents as security votes in a country that has military intelligence group, SSS, national intelligence service, regular police etc., not to talk of owning the largest military in sub-Saharan Africa. Any funds given to political office holders that are not subjected to periodic scrutiny and accountability by impartial auditors smack more of pork and should be discontinued in the era of change and accountability.

It is not enough to diversify the economy and thus increase the sources of revenue to the government. It is important that revenues that accrue to the government(s) are not wasted or thrown as pacification inducements at political appointees, civil servants, and lawmakers.

Revenues that flow to government coffers belong to all the citizens and should be used to improve the welfare of all. That is what the manifesto of change is expected to do.

To be continued

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

COMMENT

15

Severance allowance, so severe Plans to pay more than N3.4 billion as severance allowance to public officials should be reviewed

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BOUT one month to the inauguration of the Buhari administration, news of heavy drawdowns on the national treasury has become frightening. The latest is the plan to pay senior officials of the departing Jonathan government as much as N3.4 billion as severance pay, after just four years of service. Many were in office for much less. This has called to question the principles that govern disbursement of public funds.

How it became a culture that office holders who only served for four years are qualified for such whopping sums is difficult to determine. In the First Republic, realising that there was so much to do if the country was to bridge the gap with the developed countries and shore up the living standard of the people, Nigeria opted for a part-time legislature. The parliamentary system of government adopted ensured that ministers were also members of the parliament, thus reducing the cost of running the administration. After the death of the first set of leaders, it was discovered that they lived for the country. Men such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Abubakar TafawaBalewa, Alhaji Inuwa Wada, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu and Sir Kashim Imam in the North did not live on the state.

Similarly in the East, even the great Zik, given his accomplishment, lived modestly as evident in the estate he bequeathed to the beneficiaries at death.

Sir Akanu Ibiam, Professor Eyo Ita, Mazi Mbonu Ojike and Dr. Michael Okpara, too, left worthy legacies in imperishable ideas and concern for the public.

In the Mid-West, the first premier, Chief Dennis Osadebay, followed the same path with members of his cabinet and the legislators. A few who stepped out of line such as Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh who was the finance minister, could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

And, in the West, Chief Obafemi Awolowo rather

R

ECENTLY, a group of Nigerian Nollywood artistes took their protest against piracy to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Their goal was to seek the assistance of the Governor in curbing the evil activities of pirates who are bent on taking them out of business. The actors, who were led in the protest by leading cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, complained bitterly against what they described as the menacing activities of pirates in the country. As part of their demands, the actors requested that a state of emergency be declared on piracy in the country. They also demanded a declaration of piracy as an economic crime. This is in addition to making those who buy and sell pirated works accountable to the law.

They equally wanted more government commitment to the copyright law in Nigeria.

Of recent, the onslaught against piracy has taken a global dimension. Across the globe, various strategies ranging from raids, seizures, destruction of pirated works and arrests are geared towards curtailing the global plague that has cost individuals and organisations billions of dollars in income losses. The subject of piracy, which centers on unlawful and fraudulent production and circulation of original works, cuts across almost every sector. Before now, discussions on piracy are often restricted to works of art.

worked very hard to live decently. Others who were either for or against him were not found to have engaged in looting spree or lived flambouyantly. Chief S.L.A. Akintola, Chief Jonathan Odebiyi, Chief Ayo Rosiji, among others, were engaged in political disputes only on the basis of principles and values.

The fundamental principle behind occupying high offices of state is public service. It should not be a means of fleecing the people. Many of those who worked as President, Vice-President, Senators, members of the House of Representatives, ministers and presidential aides are people who have lived on the state for years, if not decades. President Goodluck Jonathan was deputy governor in 1999, then Governor, Vice President, Acting President and President.

Senate President David Mark has been in the senate, benefitted from the monetisation policy of the Obasanjo administration that enabled him buy off his official residence, only to be settled in another when he was re-elected the Senate President. Before then, he had served in the military, attaining the MajorGeneral rank; he was a minister and governor in a military administration Does he draw his pension as a retired General? Was he similarly paid huge severance pay in his previous assignments?

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

•Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile

•Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye

•Associate Editor Sam Egburonu

•General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

The truth is, the Nigerian state cannot survive these huge liabilities. This is the time to focus on baking the cake. Nigeria is one country where there is abundance of solid and liquid minerals, yet more than 70 per cent of the people live on less than two dollars a day. They are forced to work out formulae for the feeding pattern of their families. Granting 300 per cent of the annual basic salaries of office holders to them at the point of departure is to take out values from the service they were meant to render. It is unfair that public officers who have consistently argued that payment of the minimum wage could cripple governance would now turn around to make such scandalous provisions for themselves.

We call on the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to take another look at the rule. It is patently anti-people. It is even the more so when it is realised that most of the legislators do not even show up at plenary let alone participate in law making. At the committee level, too, they show no interest in playing their constitutionally assigned roles.

This is perhaps the point to review the size and emoluments of the executive and legislative office holders. They should be paid only what is commensurate to their contribution to governance. No more.

As it is at the federal level, so it is at the state level.

At both levels, hundreds of aides are engaged as public officials. In some states, there are more than 1,000 special assistants. The constitutional provision that mandates the President to appoint at least one minister from each of the states of the federation should be reviewed. Equity and justice could be better served by other means.

The in-coming Buhari administration has a duty to revamp the value system. Good governance starts from ensuring that public fund is dispensed judiciously.

LETTER

Pirates and the audacity of criminality

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

But, the reality is that piracy rears its ugly head in such sectors as fashion, manufacturing, media and films, pharmacy, medicine, technology, publishing among others.

However, for the purpose of this piece, emphasis would be placed on piracy of movies. In Nigeria, piracy of works arts, especially movies, has become a serious clog in the wheel of progress of the movie industry. It has grown to become a big money spinning industry for perpetrators of this nefarious act and their collaborators. The result is that while pirates often smile to the bank for stealing another person’s intellectual idea, the original owners of the work wallow in misery and poverty. Pioneer theater icon, Moses Olaiya Adejumo, popularly referred to as ‘Baba Sala’, is one of the numerous movie producers in the country that has become victims of the wicked activities of movie pirates. No thanks to pirates, Baba Sala’s fortune has nosedived so remarkably that many do not even know that he still very much alive. The truth, however, is that Baba Sala is still alive only that he is yet to recover from the dis-

tress and anguish that the piracy of his popular movie, ‘Orun Moru’ , has brought upon him.

Unfortunately, rather than being curtailed, there seems to be an upsurge in the activities of pirates across the country, especially in the last few months. According to Kelani: “Previously, those involved in piracy wait for the release of films before they pirate hem.

But the new trend now is that the films that are still in the cinema and not officially released by the producers, are pirated and sold openly on the streets unhindered”.

Of recent, it has been one tale of woes or the other from movies producers in the country. Highly rated movies such as ‘October 1’ and ‘Phone Swap’ by Kunle Afolayan, ‘Arugba’ and ‘Maami’ by Tunde Kelani, ’30 Days in Atlanta’ by Ayo Makun, ‘The Meeting’ by Rita Dominic, ‘Tango With Me’ by Mahmood Balogun , to mention but a few, have been profoundly pirated to the dismay of their original owners.

From the way things cur-

rently stand, it seems as if pirates have learnt the art of beating not only the law of the nation but equally the custodians and enforcers of the law.

Or else, how does one explain a situation where vendors of pirated movies hawk such on the streets of Lagos and, indeed, other cities across the country, with such amazing audacity and bravado? The situation becomes even more worrisome considering the revelation by some of the Nollywood actors that they know the particular place where the piracy of their work take place on a massive commercial scale in Lagos, but have tried unsuccessfully, even with the aid of law enforcement agents, to deal with the culprits.

This, of course, is a dangerous trend which if not properly tackled might be sending a bad signal that crime pays while hardwork counts for nothing. In an already battered economy and a nation where creativity is not well appreciated, giving pirates the freedom to operate without restraint could

destroy the promising Nollywood industry in the country. Doing this would be counterproductive as the movie industry has the potential of generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for different categories of people in the country. In the United States of America and India, for instance, the movie industry is pivotal to the survival economy of both countries as it has become a multi-billion dollar venture.

There is, therefore, an urgent need to strengthen the various laws against piracy in the country. It is, for instance, rather ridiculous that the few pirates that have been prosecuted, after over six years of money and time consuming legal tussles, were sentenced to just three months of imprisonment with an option of N10, 000 fine. With a weak legal framework like this, piracy would certainly continue to thrive. In India, piracy is a capital offence that carries death penalty. Also in the United Kingdom, there is an anti-piracy squad that regularly clampdown on pirates. In America, anyone found guilty of piracy is sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. As

it has been demanded by the movie producers, piracy should be elevated to the status of an economic crime, which it really is in reality, and should be made to attract stiffer penalties.

However, as it has been rightly observed by Governor Fashola, tackling piracy will require a lot, especially given that it is a technologically empowered crime. Efforts should be made to develop applications or softwares that would make piracy a complex and tedious enterprise. One other strategy that can help in checkmating piracy is development of community cinemas.

Since pirates could only tamper with movies that are in DVDs, massive investment in cinemas by relevant stakeholders could save movie producers from the pains of piracy. This is the trend in nations where the movie industry thrives.

On a final note, since piracy has become a veritable source of livelihood for those who indulge in it, getting rid of it will be as difficult as getting rid of corruption from the Nigerian socio –economic and political system.

But, it is a task that is possible. All we need is the political will to tackle this scourge. After all, it is often said that where there is a will, there is a way.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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16

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

COMMENT

War Against Indiscipline (?): Some areas to interrogate (2) If you discover someone on phone lying about his location: shout change #

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T his first coming as head of state in ‘84, with his stern-faced deputy, General Tunde Idiagbon, standing ramrod by his unsmiling self, General Muhammadu Buhari launched what one now hopes would be only the first phase of his War Against Indiscipline (WAI1). If WAI was in 1984 conceived as a crusade, essentially against general indiscipline, and targeted, essentially, at the problem of idleness in the work place by public servants and to address some social laxity amongst the citizenry at large; which then resulted in Nigerians queuing up at bus stops, a Second Phase War Against Indiscipline, in the year of our Lord 2015, when Nigeria has turned full scale, a Sodom and Gomorrah –no thanks to PDP’s congenital profligacy spanning 16 years – must be much deeper, more encompassing and must interrogate far more areas than it did in its first coming. It must enlist all, and every Nigerian, and have no go areas even if it appeared to dovetail into the functions of some other agencies of government.

In the article: ‘Nigerians Talking About The Change We Need’ (Sunday 12 April, 2015), I showcased those things that could be regarded as WAI’s underpinning fundaments and they can very well be repeated here; though there are much more as we shall see shortly: CHANGE STARTS WITH US: When somebody in the car ahead of you throws wastes on the road, drive next to him, roll down your window and shout, “change!” ,#ChangeNigeria.

When you are on a queue and someone tries to force his/her way in front of you, scream “change!!”. #ChangeNigeria.

At the point of entry, either at an air

or sea port, or at a border with our neighbours, a custom or immigration official shows up asking for bribe, shout Change. # Change Nigeria.

If you see display of fake products in a supermarket or drug store or spare parts shop: shout Change. #Change Nigeria.

To any lecturer that is hell bent on collecting bribe, in cash or in kind: harass him with Change. # Change Nigeria.

To any public/private servant stealing from our national heritage, shout Change! # Change Nigeria# When a police officer stops your car and says “Oga, anything for the boys?” tell him, “change!” #ChangeNigeria When you walk past any Nigerian who throws paper or banana peel on the floor, stop him and tell him, “change!” #ChangeNigeria.

If the church opposite your house is using a loud speaker to disturb the neighbourhood, visit the pastor & say, “change sir!” #ChangeNigeria If you are in a bus and the driver is driving like mad, shout “change!” #ChangeNigeria.

If the mosque opposite your house is using a loud speaker to disturb the neighbourhood, visit the Imam & say, “change sir!” #ChangeNigeria.

When somebody is trying to jump a queue either at the bank, fuel station or at an ATM stand: shout Change. #Change Nigeria # When an electricity official cuts your light unjustly, trying to extract a bribe: shout Change. # Change Nigeria#.

If you discover someone on phone lying about his location: shout change #

If you discover a man or a woman cheating on the spouse: whisper CHANGE! When a fuel attendant wants to under dispense fuel into your vehicle, remind him about “Change” #Change Nigeria# Nigerians, in all spheres of life, must be ready to talk, even shout, when we observe any acts of indiscipline and, in particular, when agencies of government, are seen to be under-performing or their chief executives are committing serial acts of illegality as I have personally done in the past concerning some agencies and would also do in this piece about another high profile agency.

In the article: ‘Defending Bigotry And Cant At INEC And FCC’ , (September 16, 2012 ), I took the two commissions to task over a series of issues relating to membership of committees in INEC. Though it must be stated early that Professor Atahiru Jega reacted very quickly to the issues raised by immediately re-jigging the committees, the culpability of the latter commission remains till date because, as I shall show below, other agencies of government are still neck deep in nepotism – which was, of course, not the problem with INEC. In the article under reference, I had written as follows: ‘ … INEC and the Federal Character Commission have to do more to convince Nigerians that they have no ulterior motives. Nothing can be more indicative of the synergy between the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Federal Character Commission in their determined bid to protect inequity at INEC than the fact that while Prof Jega had caused Kayode Idowu, his Chief Press Secretary, to do a lengthy defence of INEC’s indefensible management composition, Prof Oba has, himself, resorted to granting newspaper interviews to

achieve the same result. But only the unwary can be deceived by either of these two professors who head very vital, indeed strategic, national institutions’.

I expect that when I cite another public agency, allegedly committing, and has committed, massive irregularities in its employment system, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission would have a different explanation from what he said in the INEC case. Said Professor Abdulraheem Oba then: “the Federal Character Commission is essentially focused on the public service recruitment at the entry point only. That is when we ensure equity of opportunity of all persons to be able to enter into an establishment by drawing the benchmark for merit.” Speaking further, he said: “at the management level, we encourage all establishments that when it comes to management positions, there must be a practice of equity of distribution of offices among the various interest groups in Nigeria. Our circulars say that that for all establishments, all management positions must be advertised and made public.”

If the above position is true, then he must be ready to explain to Nigerians something about the veracity, or otherwise, of the following information which has gone viral on the internet as it concerns the National Communications Commission (NCC). Readers should please not rush to the conclusion that I am affirming what, as at now, is only an allegation. And, if of a fact, the named Chief Executives committed those out rightly illegal acts, they will, in my view, not be more guilty than those in charge of the Federal Character Commission for permitting such impunity as none was known to have been reprimanded or punished during their tenure. It should therefore be appreciated if the named, former and serv-

ing NCC Chief Executives, and the Federal Character Commission, would respect Nigerians, and take time out of whatever it is they now do, to react to the following allegations contained in an e-mail captioned: ‘The Shocking Roll Call Of Nigeria Communications Commission’s (NCC) Executive Vice Chairman’s/CEO’s’.

1. Engr. C. IROMANTU(1993 to 1999)-6 yrs from S/EAST..he employed 168 new staffers..149 from S/EAST 2. Engr Emmanuel NNMA(1999 to 2000) 6months; from S/EAST..he employed 79...66 from S/EAST. 3. Engr Earnest NDIKWE(2000 to 2010)10 yrs; from S/EAST..he employed 310 ...288 from S/EAST 4. Dr. Eugene JUWA (2010 to date)5 yrs; from S/SOUTH..he employed 188..110 from S/SOUTH, 60 frm S/EAST! 5. From 1993 to date ALL major Contractors, Consultants, Contracts & Interventional Capital Projects are 90% tilted in favour of S/EAST & S/SOUTH Let me quickly say that whoever knows where Chief Executives from other parts of the country have done, or are doing the same thing, he/she should kindly, very quickly, inform the columnist so we could also advertise their iniquitous and shameless behaviour. It is also my sincere hope that this unfair treatment meted out to Nigerians from other parts, and perpetrated by individuals from sections of the country at the helm of affairs in not less than 70 percent of regulatory agencies in President Jonathan’s Nigeria, is not symptomatic of what is happening in the other agencies.

It is also hoped that in the new spirit of CHANGE, this write-up will not be subjected to the usual scurrility which the likes of Sam Omatseye, Chairman, Editorial Board of this newspaper, and, lately Ambassador Bade Afuye (Retd), and Remi Oyeyemi were subjected to

by Igbo readers for doing no more than express their opinions on matters that concern us all.

Of crooked brains and flabby brawns To consider the comforts of only the politicians … is as good as saying that the larger populace in the country works to keep the very few (politicians) in their cups and comforts. We will do well to remember that it was situations like those that bred (and buttered) French, Russian, etc., revolutions in Europe

W

HEN I heard about the Three and a half billion Naira severance pay that this nation’s foremost executive members had awarded themselves – president, vicepresident, etc., — I literally did a flip.

Now if you know me, I do not know how to do a flip, plus I consider that I am greatly disadvantaged by age and weight factors. So, you can imagine that what will make me do a flip must be a very serious thing indeed. This one was. Listen now while I tell you how it was.

Two days ago or so, I was in another city in Nigeria. Not being very familiar with the terrains of the place, I had to do most of my commuting by public transport. You remember what one wise man said: those who do much travelling are not given to sainthood.

I’m sure I have muddled it up but never mind. If you want to retain your sweet temper about life, stay in your house. That reminds me of something else someone said: the only one not stepping on anyone’s toes is standing still.

Anyway, there I was walking down the road when, right in front of me, was this old woman. Normally, on their days out, old women carry little faded handbags, flat sandals, and shawls flung loosely around their shoulders as they wander around visiting those family members who in-

sist on forgetting they are still alive.

On the way, they could stop to admire the traffic in consternation as it whizzes past them and make comments about how you couldn’t get such things in their days and also wonder whether these things are as dangerous as they look. They might also offer pieces of advice to passersby who care enough for them, the advice that is, not the old women.

You are right; I am talking about how I would like to see the average old woman in Nigeria. Unfortunately, that is not the reality. The reality is rather like the one I saw that day. She was old, bent, thin, raggedly clothed and had on her head a tray of yams which she was hawking from door to door, street to street, and nothing to comfort her poor feet. I felt bad for my country. Now, we all know good yams are heavy; and I felt whatever had this woman at her age hawking these miserable things around (a dissipated youth, her care-free children, a childless condition) was not half as bad as what her country was doing to her.

Yes, she was at her job, plying her trade, but in no less way than Jonathan was doing. So what made her to qualify for less than what Jonathan got as president and now as out-going president? You could tell me she had no brains or brawns or even op-

portunities. I could very well tell you that most of us are probably not half as intelligent and definitely not as strong as that woman was. What you and I are enjoying wherever we find ourselves are opportunities dropped on our laps by Lady Providence, and you know how blind she is. Now, my problem is, how is it that we forget this as soon as we find ourselves occupying these somewhat exalted positions? Not only do we fail to do what we are expected to do there, we forget the core ethos that supports the spirit of the society: there is only one way to do a job – the right way. This is what makes the other credo meaningful: to do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. However, after providence has visited us in Nigeria, most of us prefer to do a day’s work for a decade’s pay.

Our cities are unfortunately filled with (old) women and men earning their livings in ways that do not pay compliments to our sanity. The situation represents our national shame and horror story when you contrast it with the incredibly humongous pay earned by our politicians because they know how to be elected and lie down by their swimming pools. And, oh yes, because they know how to do the midnight meetings thing too, when all human beings are asleep.

How on earth are we expected to improve our work ethos in this country when each day brings in more shocking revelations about what the leaders at the top are doing with the nation’s money? The labourer is wor-

thy of his hire, not more. Yet, we all are not equitably remunerated according to the day’s work. The national assemblymen who have awarded and obviously continue to award themselves unimaginably huge pays in spite of all the national and international cries against them are really showing us how not to work.

Last week, on the 1st of May, we celebrated all workers; and that means celebrating us all, since we are all workers, from Jonathan down to the old woman. But we cannot celebrate our work attitude. People have repeatedly noted how this country is going under mostly because people are not doing their work. People are going around chasing things that they have no business chasing because those responsible are not doing their work; mostly because, I don’t know, flabby brawns?

The other day, someone reported that he had spent the entire morning of a day he was sure he would never get back staying at home to supervise the people who had come to sink a well for him in his house. The reason was simple. Water had never as much as spluttered into his pipes since he built the house. Some people on his street have water from the public mains all right; it was just that the water works decided to stop the supply at a certain point, just as public works department distributes amenities to only ‘big men’.

Someone somewhere did not do his work.

I have always believed that national remunerations should be in full consideration of the comforts of both

the least earning power and the highest grossing power to keep the economy balanced. To consider the comforts of only the politicians (because they have the ability to hold midnight meetings) to the detriment of the larger economy is grossly unfair. It is as good as saying that the larger populace in the country works to keep the very few (politicians) in their cups and comforts. We will do well to remember that it was situations like those that bred (and buttered) French, Russian, etc., revolutions in Europe. If it happened before, believe me, it can happen again.

Yes, that’s true, it happened on March 28th; but that was a revolution of the ballot box. We can have worse ones like the revolution of the gun.

We pray it will not come to that. You and I both know that prayer is not enough. The country must find ways of helping the people at the top realise that their needs are no more special than those of the old woman in our story just because they have access to the tap controlling public funds and she doesn’t.

The way they think at the moment (the politicians at the top that is) gives me the impression that there are too many crooked brains in our midst. So, there we are, floating between crooked brains and flabby brawns without a leg to stand on. I think our main job now, with Buhari fully on board and all, is to find how we can make all them crooked brains straight and flabby brawns strong. Let’s get down to business. Happy Workers’ Day.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

COMMENT

17

(114) Jega, Ekiti-Gate and the highly suspicious election results from the South-south and the Southeast I

N response to last week’s column, I got a long email from one of our country’s most respected professors of law and an eminent voice for egalitarian democracy in Nigeria. In essence, in his email this legal and civil rights luminary expressed great dismay at the praise I gave the INEC Chairman, Atahiru Jega. He drew my attention to the murderous violence and charade of the elections in Rivers State. How could Jega have accepted the results of the elections in that state, my dismayed interlocutor asked me? And what of the open, crude and barbaric rigging of votes in Akwa Ibom states, as shown in many video clips that have indeed gone viral on the internet? What of the absurdly inflated results from many of the South-south and Southeast states that gave PDP winners millionplus votes and opposition parties losers a few hundreds or thousands of votes? As a final expression of his great dismay, the writer of this email to me posed the following question : given these happenings and circumstances in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states in particular and many other states of the two identified zones in general, how could I have gone ahead to shower praise on Jega in last week’s piece in this column? In this piece, I am making public and expanding the scope the response that I gave to this passionate email that raised many issues concerning the recent presidential and gubernatorial elections that we cannot ignore.

In the first place, the column last week quite deliberately linked Jega with the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, thereby - I had hoped – giving an indication that the piece was dealing with an issue that is much bigger than the 2015 election cycle. In essence, that issue is this: how have Nigerians who have let it be known that they belong to the Left and have committed themselves to values and practices that work selflessly for equality, social justice, peace and unity between our peoples and communities, and the interests of the majority of the looted and disenfranchised in our country, how have such Nigerians actually behaved when they have found themselves in the moral and psychological wasteland of our political elites, especially since the end of the Nigerian-Biafran war? My unequivocal answer to this question was that consistently, such Nigerians have found themselves isolated in the morass of the values, attitudes and behavior of our political elites.

As a result of this isolation, these otherwise idealistic and dedicated Nigerians have often been overwhelmed by the problems and crises that they have confronted.

This was the essential issue that I explored with a great deal of moroseness in last week’s column.

Thus, everything that I said both in praise and in criticism of Jega

•Jega and INEC’s unfinished business

concerning his performance before and during the recent elections was framed by my concern with this larger issue. Permit me to now concretely and specifically deal with how this very broad issue pertains to the specific issues of murderous violence and blatant and crude election rigging that took place in some parts of the country during the recent elections. Specifically, we might ask the following questions: What could or should Jega have done about the violently murderous election charade in the Rivers State? Why was Jega not only silent about the revelations in the Ekiti-Gate scandal, but actually went ahead to assure the nation and the world that the 2015 elections would be free, fair and credible when the revelations of EkitiGate gave clear indications that the same electoral malpractices and atrocities would be repeated in 2015? Finally, why was Jega silent about the crude voting charades involving collusion between INEC officials, the police and PDP thugs that the whole world saw on the internet in the Akwa Ibom elections, with the INEC Chairman actually accepting the results declared by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of that state?

In a literal understanding of the term responsibility, the only person who can and perhaps hopefully will one day answer these questions is Jega himself. While we await that possibility, we can only speculate. For myself, I divide my speculation philosophically between the imperatives of “ought” and the actualities and limitations

of “could”. In life, in lived experience while we are constantly and forever beset by the imperatives of what we “ought” to do, we often settle for what we “could” do among a variety of options. For the most morally upright among us, this constitutes a real dilemma.

Unfortunately, most human beings of past and living generations easily settle for options available to them beyond the imperatives of what they “ought” to do. In societies dominated by political elites who operate with impunities of brutal, callous and cynical predatoriness, the scope for doing what one “ought” to is severely restricted to the point that it becomes almost non-existent in official or institutional settings. Which country in the world typifies this state of affairs in which “ought” has been almost completely eliminated from official affairs than the Nigeria of the PDP era?

From these abstract musings, let me come to very concrete observations. Let us not be complacent in our thinking on these issues.

The most that we can say in criticism of Jega’s effective non-response to the violent and fraudulent electoral charades in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states is that he “could” have stated his regrets and dismay about them more forcefully than he did. Beyond that, if he had rejected the results from these and other states “won” by the PDP where the “victories” were laughably suspicious, he would have played into the hands of the PDP hawks that had control of the party and wanted nothing

more than the scuttling of the entire cycle of the 2015 elections. The organized calls by official PDP spokespersons and paid hacks, the protests and demonstrations all alleging Jega’s partiality against the PDP and asking for his removal were deliberately calculated to make use of any “blunder” by the INEC Chairman. And nothing would have served more as a “blunder” than Jega’s rejection of the victories claimed by the PDP no matter how absurdly improbable the “victories” were. The EkitiGate revelations constitute the ultimate proof of this assertion.

Didn’t Fayose admit that his voice was the one heard in the audio clip of Ekiti-Gate and didn’t he declare that there was nothing anyone could do about the rigging revealed in the audio clip?

For me, one of the most crucial fictions of the recent elections was the belief, the faith that Jega, as INEC Chairman, was in control of things and as such would or could completely deliver on his promises and desires for clean, fair and credible elections. How much Jega himself believed in this fiction, I do not know. But INEC was and is not located in a netherworld in which the institutional bases exist for delivering promises made for credible and fair elections; INEC was and is still located in PDP’s Nigeria in which the entire institutional order is in an advanced state of decay. This was reflected in many of the surprising shortcomings of INEC in its organization of the recent elections, especially the considerable delay in production

of the PVC’s and glitches that occurred with the card readers. To this day, I am still in great shock as to why Lagos, one of the world’s most populous cities with an estimated population of 21 million, recorded votes that were fewer than the votes returned in many states that have less than a quarter of the population of Lagos. These are all signs of the fact that INEC is a part of the dysfunctional institutional order in PDP’s Nigeria. And in a way, most of the things that baffle us about what Jega could do and did not do as INEC Chairman pertains to this perverse institutional context.

I have been deliberately using the term “PDP’s Nigeria” in this piece. This is because I believe and hope that significant institutional reforms should and can be made in a post-PDP Nigeria. As part of such wide-ranging reform, INEC can and should become completely insulated both from control by incumbent governments and intimidation by the police, the army and their agents. This in fact will be one of the cardinal indicators of the genuineness of the APC’s promise for change and reform: will it let go of all forms and expressions of control or manipulation of the electoral process in our country or will it stick to what every single government in this country has always done, that is use incumbency in one way or another for electoral advantage over its opponents?

Meanwhile of course, there remain the concrete and unacceptable cases of what happened in Rivers State and the revelations of the Ekiti-Gate scandal. They must not be allowed to stand as evils that we have to live with as relatively tolerable prices we had to pay for the overall victory of the sound defeat of the PDP. I suggest that their cancellation, through due judicial processes, should be first signs of the reforms that we demand and hopefully will get in the months and years ahead.

Erratum: In last week’s column, I erroneously stated that I arrived at the University of Ibadan as an undergraduate in 1968. 1967, not 1968 was my year of matriculation. I have no idea where this error came from as my class of 1967 is actually the most dynamic and vibrant among all the sets of the alumni of UI. It was my friend, Dr./Chief/ Chairman Yemi Ogunbiyi who arrived at UI in 1968. Perhaps I was thinking of him because he has been accorded honorary membership of our class of 1967 through sponsorship by his wife, Mrs. Sade Ogunbiyi and myself. Apologies to my co-members of the class of 1967; I have not migrated to the class of 1968!

Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

COMMENT

sms only: 08116759748

E-mail: festus.eriye@gmail.com Twitter: @EriyeFestus

Jonathan battles withdrawal symptoms F

EW things are more addictive than tobacco because of the chemical – nicotine – that it contains. Once it takes a hold on the smoker it requires super-human effort, even divine intervention to break free.

In that transitional period between the decision to quit and total abstinence, the repentant smoker’s body begins to make the forced adjustment to tobacco denial. The internal chemical reactions as a brain that wants to quit battles a body that longs for its normal nicotine fix results in anything from irritability, anxiety, insomnia to depression – a collective known as ‘withdrawal symptoms.’

Like tobacco, power is an even more addictive opium. It produces in men changes that the most mindwarping chemicals can’t. It is not for nothing that the famous English writer and politician Lord Acton wrote: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Great men are almost always bad men.”

Those addicted to exercising power don’t give it up easily – even if hanging on could cause them to wind up in a casket. That addiction is what has produced the likes of Robert Mugabe who has been president of Zimbabwe since 1980. Cursed with uncommon longevity he has outlived a long line of conspirators and conspiracies. If he had his way he would probably want to govern from the grave.

It was the power addiction that drove Laurent Gbagbo to do stupid things in Cote d’Ivoire after it became evident that his rival, Abubakar Ouatarra, had defeated him in the elections. Rather than go quietly his supporters tore the result sheets on national television.

It was the same thing that seduced former President Olusegun Obasanjo to succumb to the third term scheme.

He only gave up when the whole fraudulent arrangement collapsed on the Senate floor. Many still argue that his reluctance to surrender power led him to install Umaru Yar’Adua who he thought would be a pliant president – allowing him to drive things from the back seat.

Now in outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan we see the classic case of withdrawal symptoms manifesting. In the last four weeks we’ve seen two sides of the man manifesting. First, he meekly surrendered and conceded victory to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. The implication of that act was that he had accepted the outcome of the elections – warts and all – and was willing to allow the process play out in the national interest.

In the last two weeks, however, a totally different side has been unveiled. It is that of an irritable and angry man. As the reality of losing the power of almost life and death sinks in, he’s suddenly having second thoughts about the results of the March 28 polls.

We can make our guesses about a man’s thoughts and body language, but when he begins to verbalise his innermost feelings then it is time to take him seriously. While receiving

•Buhari

•Jonathan

the report of the Dr. Ahmadu Ali-led Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation at Aso Villa, Abuja, Jonathan said: “the Peoples Democratic Party couldn’t have got those kinds of scores” it had in some places.

This sort of statement isn’t something to be dismissed lightly.

For while his concession phone call has been credited with dousing tension that had built up as the nation followed the long-drawn process of releasing the presidential election results, this latest outburst not only draws a cloud over the transition – it restores some of that dissipated anxiety.

It doesn’t make sense that a man would aspire to wear the toga of statesman and at the same time be doing things that make him no better than the average politician driven only by selfish interests. What exactly is Jonathan trying to achieve with his recent actions and statements?

Briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, last week, National Planning Minister, Abubakar Suleiman, accused the APC leadership of trying to stampede the administration out of office because of some terms of reference given to the transition committee of the incoming government.

To underscore the depth of anger felt by the current regime, the minister warned that the president’s ‘magnanimity should not be mistaken for cowardice.’ Anyone

reading those words would think that Buhari and Jonathan had a wrestling match scheduled for the village square.

But nothing that entertaining is on the agenda this May. The issue at stake is managing a transfer of power from a lame-duck administration to its successor. So what does ‘magnanimity’ have to do with it?

Since the minister is educated his choice is very revealing.

Has the president been magnanimous in constituting a transition committee to interface with that of Buhari? Whoever thinks so needs to be reminded that 2015 isn’t the first time power has changed hands between administrations in Nigeria, and whenever this has occurred teams from both sides have dealt with the business of the hour without drama.

In what way does conceding defeat translate to magnanimity? Was this a personal favour from Jonathan who owns the presidency as a birthright to Buhari the undeserving?

Isn’t there the little matter of the expressed will of millions of Nigerians that must be respected and upheld by all? Some may suggest that the minister misspoke but I am unconvinced. This sort of misplaced arrogance has been evident in PDP ranks for months. We’ve heard some of its governors boasting before the elections that they would not hand over power to ‘blackmailers and supporters of terrorism’ – whoever they meant by that. In that loose talk

“A final evidence of Jonathan’s battle with withdrawal from power is the frenzy of sackings and appointments of the last fortnight. The only thing he’s not done is name a cabinet for Buhari just to prove that he’s still in charge for the next four weeks. But the president also knows that everything he’s doing can be undone in a couple of weeks by the man taking over. So what’s the point?”

there was no room made for voice of the ordinary voter.

After March 28 Jonathan always had two choices: accept defeat or contest the results. For me, he chose the first option in his best interest.

Even if he had decided to challenge the outcome the sky wouldn’t have caved in over Nigeria.

It wouldn’t have been the first or last time a loser would challenge the result of a Nigerian election. From the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo over the twelve two-thirds verdict in 1979 to Buhari in recent years, candidates have contested poll outcomes and the system always resolved things. Even when 1,000 plus were killed following post-election violence in 2011, there was a resolution and the country moved on.

Let’s stop making a monument out of Jonathan conceding victory. He wouldn’t be the first to do so neither would he be the last in Nigeria or on the African continent. I have pointed out on this page that former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi conceded after losing the gubernatorial election last year.

All the self congratulation over tension that was doused by the singular act of concession is just overdone. Elections always generate tension and anxiety anywhere. A people’s temperament could result in this occasionally spilling into violence.

But even then this tension never lasts forever. Such situations are not sustainable and people invariably return to peace and normalcy.

In any event it is not too late for Jonathan to recant. Instead of boring us with his bellyaching he can still take his grievances to the tribunal.

He’s still well within the 180-day window for doing so. If he truly has the courage of his convictions he should be consulting his lawyers now.

At the same event where he questioned Buhari’s victory, the president expressed his belief that PDP was still the ‘dominant’ power and would bounce back in 2019.

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming. Politics, on the other hand,

•Suleman Abba

is a game of numbers.

How can you be the dominant party when you opponent now controls 22 of the nation’s 36 states – leaving PDP and APGA with 14 states between them. How can you claim to dominate the landscape when APC now has a healthy majority in the Senate, and a bomb-proof difference in the House of Representatives?

The president also sniffed at the 2.5 million votes that separated him and Buhari when the dust settled on March 28. He’s within his rights to do so. But even if the gap had been 2,500 votes – as long as the APC candidate met the constitutional requirements in 24 states, he was duly elected.

It is not only when the difference is 10 million votes that a mandate is valid. In the 2000 United States presidential election, the Republican candidate George Bush didn’t win the plurality of votes. However, because his then Democratic Party’s rival Al Gore didn’t win the Electoral College contest Bush was still adjudged the winner after a recount and legal challenge at the Supreme Court.

In the light of all of the ruling party’s well-documented shenanigans and attempts to hang on to power, 2.5 million votes is enough to secure this country a fresh start.

A final evidence of Jonathan’s battle with withdrawal from power is the frenzy of sackings and appointments of the last fortnight. The only thing he’s not done is name a cabinet for Buhari just to prove that he’s still in charge for the next four weeks. But the president also knows that everything he’s doing can be undone in a couple of weeks by the man taking over. So what’s the point?

After his dignified conducted in the days after the presidential elections, it looked like Jonathan wanted to exit office with his head held high. But we appear to have misread his intentions once again: with every new move and utterance the man seems determined to ride into the sunset as the caricature of a president.

LIFE

SUNDAY

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

•Continued on page 19

19

20 SUNDAY LIFE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

•Continued from 19

Three Nigerians share their stories of lucky escape and survival at the hands of xenophobic South Africans with Sunday Oguntola and Taiwo Alimi.

•Continued on page 21

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

SUNDAY LIFE 21

•Adekunle

•Continued on page 24

•Continued on page 21

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

22 SUNDAY LIFE

By Ambrose Nnaji

•L-R: National Director, Special Olympics, Nigeria, Naomi Saliu-Lawal; Community Affairs Manager, Coca Cola Nigeria, Emeka Mba and Executive Director, Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), Anu Ishola at the 2015 World Malaria Day Football Tournament in Lagos

Olabisi Kehinde beams her searchlight on the heaps of plastic bottles that have continue to find their ways into our drainages, posing serious health and flooding dangers to the environment.

•Gov. Fashola inspecting a blocked drainage in Itire Ikate Surulere

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

SUNDAY LIFE

For fun-seekers willing to enjoy nature to its full limit, Mauritius is indeed a tourist destination.

OLALEKAN OKUSAN, who visited the Ocean Island recently, explores the Island endowed with a lot of attractions.

•Flic En Flac beach

•Mauritius Overview

TRAVELOGUE

23

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

24 SUNDAY LIFE

•Mordi

•Continued from page 21

•Adekunle

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

It was a scene to behold recently, as Dr. Moses Iloh, 85 and wife, Edith, 75 celebrated 50 years of fruitful marriage, and crowned it with a wedding vow renewal. Taiwo Abiodun, who was at the utterly romantic event, reports.

OUT AND ABOUT

•The couple, Dr. and Mrs Iloh,

29

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

Modern mythology •Or ‘The country between’

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

Fact or fiction; myth or reality; the physical or virtual: determining which better describes the government’s performance in service delivery occupies the writer.

VIRTUAL: 4, 000 Megawatts (Mw), rising to 6, 000 Mw and, ultimately, 10, 000 Mw or more.

Actual: Plus or minus 3, 000 Megawatts, as corroborated by consumers. Hardly ever less on paper, 6, 000Mw is government’s everlasting wish for a powerstarved population minus the required sincerity of purpose and efficiency in method. Compared to South Africa which at about a third of Nigeria’s population generates roughly 10 times more electricity, 6, 000Mw is a primitive target. Yet, deficiency comes at a high price. ‘Crazy bill’, crooked metering and indiscriminate disconnection define services while outage and outcry describe consumption.

Assumed: Oil-rich country.

Otherwise: Oil-cursed country. Never mind the rhetoric of development projects spawned by the discovery and tapping of ‘black gold’, the Niger Delta with its oilon-water background remains dark matter for all and sundry. But what happens to the oil money? Mostly turned into slush funds by corrupt officials and their cronies in the private sector.

Prescription: N97 per litre of petrol.

Abuse: Usually N97; now and then anything from N120 to N300 from Kano to Calabar and from Yola to Yenagoa. The matter remains intractable, regardless of official explanation. For every damaged oil pipeline, gas turbine explosion and delayed importation, read rampant bunkering and smuggling, official sabotage, fuel subsidy scam and fuel price hike.

Fable: ‘Security is under control’.

Verity: Rather trite these days, the government’s rallying cry in the face of overwhelming crime hardly reassures. Try ‘Terrorists rule!’ or what better describes the campaign of terror waged across the land by armed robbers, kidnappers, assassins, fundamentalists cum terrorists and, it bears telling, archaic and inept policing sustained by clueless leadership? Really, it seems that the government is in wonderland and the citizen in no-man’s-land.

Model: Federal character; quota system; zoning.

Reality: Despite the posturing of the civil service or party officials in power, the three unifying ideals barely exist. At best practiced in some bastardised form, the concepts are abandoned when they are most relevant. Consider the oft-criticised composition of the executive arm of government and recent recruitment by ministries and the armed forces, for instance.

Imagination: Vision 20: 2020.

Existence: Illusion 20: 2020. Eradication of poverty? Health for all? Basic education for all? Not with health tourism in vogue and the annual S.S.C.E. exam pass rate hovering around 30 per cent. And not when the average Nigerian grapples with poverty described by a standard of living below $1 dollar a day and life expectancy of between 53 and 55 years based on World Health Organisation (WHO) figures for 2012. Yet, government officials are preoccupied with plundering the national till and muffling whistleblowers.

Saga: 18, 000 naira minimum wage.

Obtainable: Outside government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and some states, anything from less than 10, 000 naira for teachers in private primary and secondary schools to less than 20, 000 naira for casual, yet hazardous positions in factories mainly run by foreigners.

Ideal: Free and fair elections.

Usual: ‘Do-or-die elections’, the Nigerian-style elections known for free-for-alls.

The Anambra 2013 governorship election fiasco formed the benchmark for flawed and fiery polls until President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s combustible approach to the 2015 elections with the Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers outcomes exceeded the worst-case scenario by far and more. The orgy of blood-letting, ballot-snatching, vote miscount and voter disenfranchisement raised the bar for violent elections.

Real: Neglected national parks.

Myth: Sambisa Forest. If ever Nigeria parades a no-man’s land, Sambisa Forest is it. To national consternation, the dark-robed, rocket-launching, mine-laying bogeyman stalks the army on the colonial era game reserve located in the Boko Haram-ravaged Northeast.

Fallacy: Nigeria, Giant of Africa.

Truth: Nothing could be farther from the truth. Despite warnings of socioeconomic and climatic catastrophe, Africa’s most endowed country in human and material terms continues to squander resources and play catch-up to minnows. Until a government of hope stimulates renaissance, the spectre of a failed country forever looms.

Jokes Humour

Brain Types IT IS the year 2050.

A group of husbands and wives went to a scientific program. The woman doctor there was showing them brains from real people and telling how expensive it would be to buy one. She said it was five million naira for a female brain and ten million naira for a male brain.

The men smiled, thinking they knew why. Then one of the women said, ‘’Well, why is that, doctor?’’

The doctor said, “The men’s brains cost more, for they are hardly used.”

Psychiatrist’s Best Friend WILLY walked into the office of an eminent psychiatrist and sat down to explain his problem. “Doctor, doctor! I’ve got this problem,” he said. “I keep hallucinating that I’m a dog. It’s crazy. I don’t know what to do!”

“A common canine complex,” said the doctor in a soothing voice. “Relax. Come here and lie down on the couch.”

“Oh no, Doctor,” said a nervous Willy, “I’m not allowed up on the furniture.”

The Balls ONE MAN had three testes or ‘balls’ in his scrotum, so he went to the doctor to complain. Too shy to tell the doctor his unusual story, he said, “Doc, let’s just say me and you together have five balls in total.”

The doctor says, “What! You’ve got four?”

The Good Doctor HAVE you heard of Doctor Dooby?

He’s so good he leaves his patients in stitches!

Mathematical Manny Q: WHY couldn’t Many add 10 and seven on a calculator?

A: He couldn’t find the 10 key.

Dirty Knees Q: WHAT do you call a nurse with dirty knees?

A: The head nurse.

QUOTE Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

—George Jean Nathan •Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain IPS for the beginner: Try short exercises to overcome more lasting than simply copy and paste on a writer’s block. Try doing exercises such as computer and it engages your brain which listing ten nouns in one column and ten allows you to emulate the things you are abstract words in another column in order to writing down.

Proofread. This is usually a writer’s least come up with new metaphors. If nothing else, favorite step but it is important. Many people just keep writing. In order to write something good, you have to write a lot of bad in get so caught up in writing that they make mistakes or have inconsistencies in their between.

Keep a journal. Whenever you read work. Proofreading is essential to writing something profound, a quote you like, etc better. After all, all good writing is really just copy it by hand into a notebook. The effect is rewriting.

Don’t edit as you go. It’s tempting to correct a sentence or reword an awkward Rocket-quick science: phrase while you are still writing but it •Any free-moving liquid in outer space will disrupts the flow of your idea. Just get it all form itself into a sphere, because of its surface down first and go back later to rewrite it. tension.

Study. Boring people write boring things.

•According to Einstein’s Special Theory of Study as many topics as possible as often as Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light possible. The more you know, the more your and faster than light, but it is impossible to go characters and your story will know. at the speed of light.

Learn how to break up paragraphs. Many •Just 20 seconds worth of fuel remained when people arbitrarily break up their work into Apollo 11’s lunar module landed on the moon paragraphs without really understanding that for the first time. Laika the dog was the first each paragraph creates a flow and a rhythm. living thing sent to space.

Don’t just end a paragraph because it looks •Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at too long. Make sure it’s a good place in the room temperature. story for a break.

T

PAGE 31

MAY 3, 2015

APC: Breaking into South-East

• Okorocha

• Onu

• Ngige

• Mbadinuju

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

32

Ondo: APC, Mimiko shift battle to 2016 governorship

• Mimiko

T

IME and again, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, always prove to anyone who cares to know that he takes no prisoner in his approach to politics.

Within the last 15 years when the medical doctor-turned politician gained prominence in politics, he has unarguably acquainted himself as a good student of Machiavelli who believes strongly that the end justifies the means.

The impeachment of Alhaji Ali Olanusi as the Deputy Governor of the Sunshine state by the Ondo State House of Assembly a few days ago clearly attests to the fact that the governor is poised to take the battle to his political opponents, particularly in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has not hidden its desire to take over the Alagaka Government House come next year.

Olanusi's impeachment was not unexpected after all. Shortly after he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a few days to the March 28 presidential election (a move which sources say embarrassed the governor), there were whispers in several quarters that the governor would bid his time before getting even with his former deputy.

If the governor was initially shocked by his former deputy's defection, he however did not betray his emotion. In its reaction to Olanusi's move to APC, the state government in a terse statement by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said though the news came as a surprise, "government acknowledges his (Olanusi) right to determine his political affiliation and wish him well."

This move by Olanusi was to receive a boost few days later when the APC in the state swept five of the nine House of Representatives seats, two of the three Senate seats and also defeating the PDP

• Olanusi

• Boroffice

The impeachment of Alhaji Ali Olanusi as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State last week may have reshaped the battle on who succeeds Governor Olusegun Mimiko come next year, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo by 299,889 to 251,368 votes in the March 28 presidential election.

To make matters worse for the governor, notable leaders of the PDP, including the governorship candidate of the party in the 2012 election, Chief Olusola Oke; former Head of Service, Alaba Isijola; former Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Oladunni Odu and Demola Ijabiyi, all joined the APC immediately after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, winner of the poll.

Jolted by the outcome of the National Assembly and presidential poll and aware of the consequence of the APC winning the House of Assembly poll, which was just two weeks away, the governor quickly went to work.

The governor, it was learnt, went on air, pleading with the people of the state to vote for candidates of PDP in the Assembly, arguing that a vote for APC would endanger the peace and stability of his administration.

That was not all. Sources disclosed that he went further to make personal contact with some aggrieved members of old PDP and his former party, Labour Party (LP), appealing to them to help save his job, which he may lose if the APC wins the majority seats into the Assembly.

Mimiko had earlier met with a section of civil servants, teachers, market women and men, and artisans in the state to beg for their votes and that of their immediate and extended families.

The governor's efforts paid off. The outcome of the assembly polls saw PDP winning 19 of the 24 seats, while APC won five.

For some days, the governor and the PDP basked in the euphoria of this victory. But

the APC cried foul, claiming the poll was marred with brigandage and open inducement of voters before and during election.

As earlier predicted, the first causality of the fallout of the April 11 poll in the state was Olanusi, whose impeachment process lasted for just one week.

Battle shifts to 2016 governorship With the 2015 general elections already won and lost, and with the governor winding down his two term tenure next year, the next phase of the battle for the political soul of Ondo State has shifted to the 2016 governorship election in the state.

Handing over to his anointed candidate come next year might turn out to be the governor's biggest political battle, even as the APC is poised to give Mimiko and his party a run for their money.

Sources disclosed that the Ondo PDP, which is in the firm grip of the governor, may zone the 2016 governorship ticket to the North Senatorial District made up of Akoko and Owo, in response to the alleged plan by the APC to also cede its ticket to the zone.

Mimiko keeps everyone guessing Who is Mimiko's anointed candidate to succeed him next year? This is the big question on the lips of many in the state, including the governor's close aides, all of who are in the dark of their boss' succession plan.

The governor's unpredictable nature, it was learnt, has further made taking a bet on his proposed plan a risky venture that no one in his camp and even outside is prepared to take at least for the time being.

Take the choice of Mr. Lasisi Oluboyo as his new deputy as a case study. A prominent PDP stalwart, Mr. Saka Lawal, was initially touted as the man likely to replace Olanusi

based on his reported closeness to the governor.

Lawal, who hails from Akoko, was also once mentioned as a possible Chief of Staff to the governor, but that later turned out to be a hoax.

Despite the governor's ambivalence on his succession plan, a school of thought argued that his choice of Oluboyo as the new Deputy Governor clearly reveals his thoughts on who is likely to succeed him in 2016. Until his appointment as Deputy Governor, Oluboyo was the Commissioner for Agriculture and was least expected within the governor's camp as Olanusi's successor.

Following his emergence as the new Deputy Governor, attention has shifted to Oluboyo as a likely contender for the number one seat, with some sources arguing that the governor would likely prefer a person with a low key character and profile as his would-be successor.

But another school of thought has dismissed this scenario in its entirety. The governor, they argued, would hand over to someone in his image who would run with his vision for the state.

One name being bandied in some circles and who is said to fit this bill is Tokunbo Modupe, a Public Relations consultant and one of the closest confidants of the governor. The governor's implicit trust and confidence in Modupe, sources say, necessitated his appointment by the former as the Chairman of PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Ondo State for the last general elections.

Modupe, who hails from Owo in Ose Local Government Area and also the Convener of the Orange Family Initiative

•Contd. on page 42

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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33

Rumpus on the Plateau over Jang, Lalong face-off T

HE atmosphere is tense, politically, in Plateau State. And it is so in a way that is creating anxiety ahead of the May 29, 2015 handing over from the current government of Governor Jonah Jang to the incoming administration of Governor-elect, Simon Lalong.

The initial verbal exchange between Governor Jang and Barrister Lalong over allegations of last minute looting of the state treasury by the outgoing administration has snowballed into renewed hostilities between the supporters and political parties of the two gladiators.

Coming few days to the expiration of Jang's tenure and at a time when the two camps are supposed to be working together to ensure a smooth transition of power from the current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state to the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) government, political observers say the spat is creating political anxiety on the restive Plateau.

The Nation recalls that Lalong had accused the outgoing PDP administration of looting the state's treasury and planning to sell-off government properties. But Jang denied such allegations and in turn accused the incoming administration of plotting to distract his government from completing its tenure peacefully.

"The spat created a situation where the two political rivals sort of called on their supporters to resume hostilities.

There is need for both camps to be cautious of what they do as we approach the handing over date considering how volatile the state is.

As we speak, we hear that the transition committee in place is unable to work as the members are bickering over these same allegations and counter allegations. I even heard that Lalong's nominees in the transition committee have stopped attending meetings after certain documents they requested for were not made available to them.

On his part, Jang is insisting that the governor-elect cannot dictate for his government. According to him, he is still in charge till May 29 and should be allowed to run the government until his term expires. Even party elders and community leaders have taken sides over the matter, creating an anxious situation for us here on the Plateau," Andrew Dabin, State Coordinator of African Leadership Foundation (ALF), said.

The governor-elect, had, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Festus Fuanter, accused the outgoing administration, led by Governor Jang, of plans to hurriedly sell off government properties particularly the Plateau Supply Company Warehouse and Mini Housing Estate along Dogon Dutse Road; PIPC Duplexes in Gwarinpa, Abuja and other locations as well as the looting and carting away of government properties, including vehicles, household furniture and other items.

He also alleged that the Jang-led administration was engaging in massive and lopsided employment, replacements, falsification of civil service placements and promotions in the civil service as well as engaging in huge and questionable withdrawals from government accounts, demands for loans as well as the illegal engagement of accounting and auditing firms to balance the books of accounts of agencies of government used for the funding of elections of government sponsored candidates warning that any such transaction will not be respected by the incoming administration .

But Jang, in a statement yesterday, described the allegations as "spurious" and wondered why an incoming administration would begin to peddle unsubstantiated claims in order to further malign the person of the governor whom he said has done his best for the good of Plateau State.

Following hot verbal exchanges between Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and Governor-elect Simon Lilang, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on the tension in Plateau State ahead May 29, 2015 handover date

• Jang

• Lalong

The statement, which was signed by the Executive Assistant to Governor Jang, Mr. Garba Clinton, advised the incoming administration to concentrate on having a smooth transition process and going further to surpass the Jang administration because the bar of leadership has been raised instead of making unfounded allegations that are not true It said: "The same Plateau people who gave the mandate to the incoming administration graciously gave the Jang administration the opportunity to serve and this they have done to best of our abilities as evident in the numerous projects that dot the Plateau landscape, adding that now that Plateau people have decided that another person should be at the helm of affairs, "Our advice to the incoming administration is that it should concentrate on having a smooth transition process and going further to surpass the Jang administration because the bar of leadership has been raised. Plateau people now know what it means to taste meaningful development and will not accept anything less.

"We on our part will remain a vibrant opposition anchored on x-raying the policies

and programmes of the incoming government vis-a-vis what we have to offer.

Ours is going to be an issue-based opposition which will criticise the programmes of government not an attack on personalities who we may have fallen out with.

"We call on all peace loving people to therefore ignore rumours and fallacious statements being peddled either in the media or by word of mouth. The Jang administration is putting together a comprehensive hand over note with all its actions as contained in the Plateau State Strategic Development Plan; a document which is the guide for the development of the state.

Following the spat, 45 communities in the state said they were solidly behind the governor-elect and his party in their quest to ensure that the treasury of the state was not looted ahead of the exit of the current administration. They also urged Lalong to do everything possible to stop the sales of government properties under whatever guise.

The communities spoke through a group known as the Plateau Development Forum

(PDF) at a press conference held in Jos, the state capital. The spokesperson of the PDF, Comrade Idris Muktar, made the position of the communities known. Muktar was flanked by many community leaders, among whom were Garba Shehu, Abdullahi Masalla, Isreal Dabin, Peter Pwajok, Istifanus Kasai, among others drawn from across the various local government areas of the state.

The group said under no circumstance should the treasury of the state be pillaged by politicians on their way out of office. The group insisted that as governor-elect, Lalong can question certain activities of the current government he may find suspicious.

According to them, "this demonstrates the readiness of both the governor-elect and his party to take charge of the affairs of the state. It is a good sign that they are conversant with the day-to-day running of state government and are ready to hit the ground running whenever they are sworn-in to office.

"All our communities as represented by the signatories are in support of Barrister Simon Bako Lalong, the governor-elect and the APC as our representatives empowered by the April 11 election to defend our interest henceforth and as such should do everything possible to safeguard the treasury of Plateau State," the group said.

Sensing danger as tension mounts, the Chairman of African Democratic Congress, (ADC), in Plateau State, Alhaji Sabiu Musa Ibrahim, however appealed to Governor Jang and the Governor-elect, Lalong, to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and progress in the state.

He advised the two politicians to concentrate on having a smooth transition process and going further to surpass the PDP administration instead of creating tension in the state through allegations and counter allegations.

The ADC chairman, who expressed worry over the development in a chat with journalists in Jos, urged both leaders to exercise restraint and allow peace to reign.

"This is not the time for exchange of words. Now that the election was over, what Plateau people want from the outgoing administration and incoming one is cooperation and understanding so that together we can move the state forward."

Only death can retire me from politics - Tukur F

ORMER National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has dismissed claims that President Goodluck Jonathan's defeat at the presidential election would mean his retirement from active politics.

Reacting to reports that he is one of the politicians the defeat of Peoples Democratic Party at the polls would retire forcefully, Tukur said, "I will remain in politics till I die, no retirement or retreat."

In a statement signed by his SA Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, Tukur said he is in politics to serve the nation and so he does "not see any reason for retirement when the nation is in dare need of the experience and wisdom of veteran politicians and elder statesman" of his like.

According to him, "politics is a game in which individuals choose to participate and be involved and so the issue of retirement does not arise".

Tukur, who is also the Nigeria Ambassador-At-Large, also said he will remain in politics in order to continue to advise young politicians on the need to institutionalise party discipline, supremacy and internal democracy in our

• Tukur

body politics, that only death can separate him from politics.

"So long as things have not been put in their rightful places and perspectives, elder

statesmen like me will remain in politics to bring sanity and show the way forward to our young politicians,' he said.

The elder statesman also advised young politicians to always seek and corporate with elder statesmen in terms of advise and performance in the overall interest of the corporate existence of our country Nigeria.

It would be recalled that Tukur, a former governor of old Gongola State, was the immediate past National Chairman of PDP. His tenure was very eventful as his emergence coincided with a period of internal crisis in the ruling party. His critics said while he was expected to employ reconciliatory approach to resolve the crisis, he adopted a headmaster attitude. But his associates insist his approach was in tune with the realities of the time as the party had a robust history of indiscipline, which according to them peaked just before Tukur's emergence.

So, when the PDP lost the presidential election, some reports suggested that he may be forced to retire from active politics.

Tukur said they were wrong as only death will retire him from politics.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

Wamakko - A formidable political force T

HE recently concluded general elections have thrown up salient issues and personalities in our political landscape, especially in the northwest geopolitical zone. Before now there were numerous insinuations as to who controls the political nerve of the zone. The contention was more pronounced in Sokoto where political vampires denigrate Governor Aliyu Wamakko as either a neophyte or lightweight. Because Wamakko remained modest and taciturn in the face of unnecessary provocation, it was assumed as weakness on his part.

Wamakko was a quiet and loyal Deputy Governor for seven years under a dictatorial boss. The way he tolerated and managed the frustration of that epoch became strength of political zeal, and building of cult-like followership by the masses of Sokoto State. It was the beginning.

He started his governorship election bid in 2007 under ANPP against DPP candidate, of course PDP. He was very popular among the masses that victory was imminent for him and his party (ANPP). However, PDP, the party at the federal level, desperate to capture the seat of the Caliphate, sensing another humiliating defeat, approached the popular candidate, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for a working arrangement for him (Wamakko) to contest under PDP. The arrangement was accepted in good faith. Wamakko won the election under PDP, based on his personal popularity and wide acceptance by the masses, and not because of PDP sponsorship. In fact, it was PDP that gained in relevance in Sokoto State, after eight years of limbo. However, the litigations that trailed Alu's victory were as a result of that PDP fusion. The governorship election was nullified and still Governor Wamakko overwhelmingly won the Kaduna Appeal Court's ordered re-run.

• Wamakko

By Mohammed Umar But since then, the PDP quislings in Sokoto State turned irritants and hegemonic.

They resorted to blackmails and mudslinging in their operations at PDP headquarters in Abuja. It climaxed during the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur when some PDP members from Sokoto State orchestrated the suspension of Governor Wamakko from the party. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur became a tool in the hands of these game spoilers who are virtually irrelevant in the political definition of Sokoto State.

They belonged to the fold of selfish and avarice individuals entrenched in chase of contracts in Abuja at the expense of home base political and economic sensitizations.

Those that alienate their political root are huge liabilities to a political party.

Governors, as chief executives of their states, feel the political pulse of the masses. They alone can easily manage perceived local dissents or open a new political ground in the interest of a ruling party.

Wamakko with other colleagues tried much to make Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, albeit President Jonathan, see reason in the interest and survival of PDP, but it became imperative to abandon the sinking ship in the interest of the country and citizens; more so, in the face of prevalent selfishness by the party machinery that encouraged monumental corruption in the general administration of the country. Ubiquitous Poverty and shrinking opportunities precipitated restlessness, suspicion, violent character and despondency among Nigerians. Statesmen like Wamakko, desirous to rescue the nation from structural collapse against citizens of Nigeria, worked assiduously to bring back hope and trust in the system. It can always be very painful to juxtapose personal successes at state level with little resources to central government with enormous resources in palpable under performance and deceits.

In Sokoto State, the performance of Governor Wamakko remains a template of success many progressive administrations shall emulate. Wamakko introduced a concept of bottom up strategy of development that opened up the rural areas through interconnectivity of roads.

He adequately provided potable and clean water as well as electricity to the rural areas. Farmers have been empowered through needed input, equipment and cash. The effort resulted in increased food production for local consumption and sale of surplus produce. Farming is the strength of the northern part of Nigeria. Wamakko exploited this opportunity maximally. The youth population was empowered through resuscitated educational infrastructure, construction of new ones with provision of teaching and learning material, and institution of motivational

dynamics which stimulated tremendous increase in school enrolment of boys and girls. The administration constructed a new university that is now functional in academic activities. Wamakko's administration through the successful skills acquisition programme made the adolescents self reliant and major contributors to the growth of the economy. It has roundly been applauded that target of the youth in employment generation has turned around economic and social stability of Sokoto. It is a government that has been expansive in the scope of provision of opportunities in the state. This method of development is a radical departure from filial culture of recycling wealth and opportunities espoused by PDP apologists.

Remarkably Governor Wamakko through the completion of the Independent Power Project (IPP) of 30 mega watts has strategized for industrial growth of the state from beneficiaries of the N10 billion the administration loaned to traders, farmers, groups, associations and individuals to increase commercial and socioeconomic activities in the state.

The profile of development strategies of Governor Wamakko bestrides every sector. Therefore, the incoming administration of Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has his job well cut out in solid foundation of active development framework.

Wamakko, as the campaign coordinator of the northwest zone of APC, has effectively delivered overwhelming number of elective offices to the party. He did it for PDP in 2011. It is attestation of his leadership capacity and capability unappreciated by PDP and the disgruntled old brigade PDP politicians in Sokoto. The emerging political hurricane of Wamakko, who is now a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, has swept the cynics and sceptics to inevitable retirement. The recent general elections have finally settled the unfounded polemic of the generalissimo of Sokoto State politics.

That is Sarkin Yamman Sokoto.

–Umar is the President, Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation (SOLID)

‘Ndigbo need leader like Tinubu’

T

HE 2015 General Elections have come and gone but the ripple effects still reverberate across the length and breadth of the nation. What is your take on the conduct and outcome of the elections?

I will say that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria; this is the very first time we are witnessing such level of maturity in this nation and within our neighbouring countries where an incumbent president concedes defeat and quickly congratulates the winner of the election.

The underlining understanding of the whole exercise is that Nigeria is fast developing in governance and democratic norms and I hope the coming generation will emulate this commendable trend.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's obvious leading role in the victory of the APC in the presidential election has been emphasized by some. What do you make of his person?

The only way I can describe Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he is a political enigma. He is a king and also a king maker.

He has the well being of his people in mind and his people realizing that, gave him all the support. He's a great leader.

Tinubu is a bridge today between the south and the north because of his political charisma. So, I will say that Tinubu has done creditably well.

Being an Igbo man, do you think Ndigbo are lacking a leader like Tinubu?

Greatly! There is nobody like Tinubu in the entire Igboland and it didn't start with this political dispensation. The problem with the Igbo started during the colonial era.

When the colonial masters came to Nigeria before the amalgamation, they used the leadership in the Northern Protectorate provided by the Sultan of Sokoto and other Emirs to govern them; they came to the West and the Obas were on hand to assist in governing the people of the region because the people are subjective to what the Obas

Deacon Iyke Kanu was a governorship aspirant in Abia State on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA.) In this interview with Innocent Duru, he said the Igbo need a leader like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Leader to move to the next level, politically. Excerpts say, so it was easy because of the trust and confidence they reposed on their Obas, but in the East, there is a popular saying that "Igbo enwe Eze", meaning Igbos have no King.

Everybody is a king in his father's compound; so it will be very difficult for them to come together and say let us listen to one man. This or that man can take us to the Promised Land.

No! That is lacking in Igboland.

I think it is high time the Igbo political think tank should start thinking of the best possible way out of this quagmire; otherwise the Igbos will continue to lag behind in the politics of Nigeria.

What do you think is the place of the Igbos in the coming political dispensation?

We are pure first class citizens of this nation and we still have our pride of place. Secondly, I don't believe General Muhammadu Buhari's administration will marginalize any part of the nation for that matter. That we don't have APC Senators from the whole of South-East, though regrettable, does not stop us from having part of the national cake. There could be important appointments and I think in future, the Igbo will align with the national government.

How would you rate President Goodluck Jonathan's reign over Nigeria?

I think Nigeria has been together without encumbrances and he has been able to come up with a clear democratic process. I give him kudos for that. At least to the best of our knowledge, he never tried to manipulate the democratic and electoral processes like most of his predecessors did.

Beyond that, every government in Nigeria has been characterized with corruption and his administration is no exception.

• Kanu What in your analysis could be responsible for his losing the election?

I think the people where fed up of PDP and secondly, this Jonathan's tenure was rooted deeply in corruption. Evidences abound here and there to buttress the claim.

So, I think one of the major factors that made him lose was bad governance and

corruption in high places. He was unable to control those working under him. He's so soft that even when corruption is stirring him in the face, he lacked the will to either question or bring the culprits to book.

Recall that in the past six years that his tenure lasted, nobody has been taken to court or jailed for corruption in spite of the massive outcry of looting that was the order of the day. Does it mean that all was well; everybody was upright or that everybody is now saint in Nigeria? No! I think Nigerians don't want that anymore; we want to protect the sanctity of our nation.

Do you see the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the much anticipated messiah this nation yearns for?

Judging by his past records, I think he is an anti corruption crusader that could bring the hydra-headed corruption in this country to it's kneel. You know people are judging him based on his military era where he has a knack for high level of discipline but you know he is coming back as a democratically elected president who does not have all the autocratic powers to carry out what he wants.

He has the House of Representatives, the Senate and other agencies of government to pass through appropriately, who will contribute to the day-to-day running of government as required under democratic setting.

Now the question is who are these people? What is their aim in government?

What are their antecedents and social values?

These and many more should be considered to determine if they share the same vision with the President. We pray that he will live up to the expectations of the whole nation who voted him.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

35

Why I lost Kogi governorship seat in 2003 -Audu D

URING the just concluded general elections, APC won the three senatorial districts and many other National Assembly seats in Kogi State.

How were you able to achieve this?

The secret of success is hard work and that has always been my contention. We worked very hard and time will tell virtually all the stories. People were given the opportunity to compare and contrast between my administration and the successive administration of PDP since I left office. I governed the state between 1999 and 2003 and PDP rigged me out using all manner of forces that have never been seen in any democratic sector. They brought Air Force personnel from Air Force base and the military from barracks in Lokoja which harassed and killed. For the first time, I saw military personnel carrying ballot boxes. That was how they rigged us out in 2003. They brought in a governor that spent nine years and has not commissioned one single project. It is where I left Kogi in 2003 that Kogi is up till this moment. It is not political rhetoric, neither am I praising myself. You can confirm this from any Kogi man. After spending nine years instead of eight years as stated in our constitution, another PDP governor took over and I don't think he has done much; again, I leave everything to the electorates to judge. This time the electorates said it is time we bring Audu back. If you are a regular visitor to Kogi, at the Kontokafi Bridge, you will see a billboard where the masses are crying, saying 'where is Audu?'

We won all our senate seats, we won about six or seven out of the nine Federal House of Representatives seats and out of accredited 400,000 voters in Kogi State for the presidential election, we won almost 300,000 and you know we are not in government in Kogi State; even a councilor, we don't have because it was a clean sweep but now people have been placed in a position to know the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly, so they have spoken and God in his infinite mercy has exonerated me. That is the secret of the success we achieved in Kogi State because people want me back and they have seen what I did for the four years that I was in the office; they have been given the opportunity to compare and contrast and this is the first step of the 1000km journey and I think by the special grace of God we shall arrive there safely.

After the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, there appears to have been a bandwagon effect across Nigeria. How would you describe his victory after three failed trials and getting it at the fourth one?

In 2003, he got the first shot. He contested and won but he was rigged out.

In 2007 and 2011 they robbed him but in 2015 all the robbers went to sleep and God took control. Everyone knows the kind of person Buhari is; a very disciplined and gentle man, a man who is highly principled, a man of proven integrity. I am not singing his praises but that is exactly how he is and everybody that knows him knows he is like that. The economy of this country has been battered badly; look at unemployment, look at the decay in infrastructure, and look at the security aspect, insurgency, kidnapping and all sorts of notorious things. We need people with experience, people that have the ability, people with the right intellectual capacity to save us; this is why God directed most of the electorates in Nigeria to bring him in. So, we have every reason to thank God and celebrate. Both Muslims and Christians voted for him, even the tradition religious people voted for him; men and women voted for him and that is why he records a landslide victory.

One of the things that General Buhari has said consistently throughout the campaigns is that there are high expectations from Nigerians, especially the youths, saying he is scared by these

Former Kogi State governor and leader of the All progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi, Prince Abubakar Audu, in this interview with Tony Akowe in Abuja, speaks on how APC managed to win almost all the positions contested for in the state during the just concluded elections, what Gen. Muhammadu Buhari should do. He also believes that President Goodluck Jonathan deserves a Nobel Peace prize. Excerpts

• Audu

expectations from the youth. Now as he prepares to take over government, how would you advice him to go about handling these expectations so that he will not disappoint the youths and Nigerians who have come out to express their confidence in him?

A square peg in a round hole is not the answer. Have the right people on the right job; people that have been loved and accepted by the people of Nigerians.

Secondly, have people of integrity who are not clamouring for a position because of the dividends that comes from it. In my own case for instance, I worked in First Bank Nigeria for over 25 years and I left as an Executive Director. I was General Manager of Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York. I was a training officer in London and I have done all these things and if you compare me as a governor with just a school leaver and someone who is doing that job for the first time, you will know that there is no basis for comparison. This is why it is good to bring technocrats to Nigeria, those who know and have the love of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart and those who will be able to separate the weed from the shaft and I am sure General Buhari is going to do that because during his military rule, when he was Head of State, there was some measure of improvement in virtually all the sectors in Nigeria because of discipline. You can never achieve anything without self discipline. You must be able to enforce discipline on others if you are disciplined yourself and you know that he is a very disciplined man; so once again Nigeria is lucky and Nigeria has taken the right decision to have voted him in and this is the first time after 1999 election that our electoral system has been judged as free, fair and credible and peaceful. That is why there is less acrimony.

What will be your advice if your party tries to zone principal offices?

We believe that if we want peace to prevail in Nigeria, the winner takes all should be very minimal and we believe that it should be all embracing government.

Every segment of Nigeria should be given a role to play if we want peace. We are not

I governed the state between 1999 and 2003 and PDP rigged me out, using all manner of forces that have never been seen in any democratic sector.

They brought Air Force personnel from Air Force base and the military from barracks in Lokoja which harassed and killed going to run a reclusive government but all embracing government and so far so good; based on newspaper publications you will see that most of the positions that have been shared out so far there has been an even spread even where he didn't get votes he has given them a position, a very powerful position; all with the view to making sure that at the end of the day, peace prevails and everyone is given a good chance of belonging.

Sometimes, managing success is more difficult than getting it. How is APC going to manage this success it has achieved?

It is more difficult to manage money than to make money; just as you said; it is more difficult to manage victory than achieving the victory first. Once you have the right person in position, all these things are no problem. Having the right leadership has always been the problem in this country; people with balanced outlook, people with balanced judgements, people who have the fear of God at the back of their mind and if you talk about that, Buhari will score a very high mark if not the highest mark in the

entire country. I try not to over exaggerate; I try not to embark on political rectory but on the fact of the situation.

We all know that this is Africa and some presidents won't want to easily relinquish power. Would you commend President Goodluck Jonathan the way he reacted when he saw that it was obvious that he was losing the election and he quickly made a call to the president-elect even before the result finally came out?

I don't want to pre-empt what Buhari can do but as far as I am concerned, President Goodluck Jonathan deserves to be recommended for a Nobel Peace prize.

You know what has been happening around African countries, you know that once a leader is in a position, he wants to stay put, they won't like to relinquish the position. Look at what happened in Ivory Coast and other places; in the case of Jonathan, we have seen a lot of maturity and love; he said it is not worth shading any blood for the position of the presidency; how many people in Nigeria, in Africa, in the third world reason that way? They want to perpetuate themselves in power and for the mere fact that he has shown the difference, he deserves a Nobel Peace prize.

There have been calls for you to come back to rule Kogi State, but many are wondering what you forgot in the Government House that you want to go back and take? Many also believe that you didn't lose your governorship seat to nonperformance. This has been attributed to arrogant disposition in your leadership style. Will you say that you have learnt a lesson that you will take back to office?

Instead of me learning a lesson, they have learnt a lesson that the accusation heaped on me was unfounded. I will tell you the offence I committed and this is why the Kogi you know in those days is not the Kogi you know today. I have a background of private sector concept efficiency and prudent management of available resources but the people I met in the political arena said no! That this money isn't meant to develop the state; that it is meant to be shared and I said I don't have that background and they said if you don't have that background, we will show you the exit road and we will deal with you and you can't convince anybody in Nigeria that I am not developmentoriented, that I didn't develop the state because even the PDP government gave me seven awards out of 12, courtesy of media tour headed by Professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister of Information and National Orientation. I was named as the best performing governor in Nigeria and my own people say they don't want that; that that wasn't the purpose of voting for me. All they wanted was for me to bring the money and let them share and I said I won't subscribe to that, and then they said they will give me a bad name like a dog in order to hang me. So they said once I am sitting on a chair everybody on the floor, some will say before you see me you will crawl on your kneels for 15km and much later when they had seen the differences between the good, the bad and the ugly, they said it is better to have an arrogant performer than a humble failure. In Nigeria if they don't want you they give you a bad name.

Experience isn't something you go to the classroom to read and people have natural ability, if you don't have that ability, there is no way you can measure up. So, I don't want to praise myself but I have given the opportunity for people to see and differentiate between me and my other colleagues.

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POLITICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

T

HE concern over the fortunes of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East geo-political zone is not new. It, in fact, predates the birth of the party itself.

So, since July 30, 2013, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after deep intrigues, announced APC's registration as a political party, keen political observers have expressed concern over its likely fortunes in the South-East zone. Their initial concern was mainly because of the failure of the top leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to agree on the merger details. The result of the disagreement between the Chief Victor Umeh-led APGA's National Working Committee and the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led radical elements within the party was APGA's inability to join the merger as a whole. Only the faction led by Okorocha eventually merged with other parties to form APC. So, from onset, the leadership of APC in the SouthEast zone constituted only of Okorocha, leading the APGA arm of the progressive bloc, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as the then National Chairman of All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) leading the ANPP and ACN's only senator from the zone, Senator Chris Ngige. The three, in a way formed the major anchor that nurtured the mega party in the zone.

As would be expected, because of Umeh and former Governor Peter Obi's negative response to the acceptance of APC in the zone then, not many political leaders in the zone gave the party a chance. This, more than any other singular factor helped to muzzle the young party in the zone. But because of the persistence of these APC leaders, described by their supporters as dogged and determined, it seems the party has weathered the antagonistic attitude, occasioned mainly by PDP's propaganda that APC was anti-Igbo and that the leaders of the party from the zone were poised to sale Ndigbo to their political rivals in the national political equation.

This, coupled with APC's historic success across the nation, made it possible for the party to attract the attention of the people of the zone.

Today, the party did not only field candidates in all the categories of elections in the zone but can boast of prominent leaders that include Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, whose mandate has been renewed on the ticket of APC, former National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu from Ebonyi State, Senator Chris Ngige, who was also a former governor of Anambra State, National Vice-Chairman of the party for the South-East, Mr. Nyerere, who contested the governorship election in Abia State, Senator Julius Ucha, who flew the party's flag in Ebonyi State and Barrister Okey Ezea, the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State.

Imo as the party's base in the zone Even before All Progressives Congress (APC) was officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially after the merger plan was made public by the national leadership of the party and the governors involved in the original merger, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who was part of that pioneering team, took charge in the South-East zone, mobilizing other leaders of the progressive bloc in the zone to join and support the new party.

In one of the earliest meetings he held with the leaders of the party at the Government House Owerri, Okorocha told them that the party was "a child of circumstances" and that it became necessary for Ndigbo to be part of it because PDP has failed Ndigbo. He also prophesied that the party will take over power from PDP as it is the party of the future.

In that meeting, the Ebonyi State delegation was led

by Chief Ben Nwaobasi, who is today the party's state chairman, while the Enugu delegation was led by General Joseph Okoloagu (Rtd).

Okoloagu had told Okorocha that "We, the political leaders from the opposition parties from Enugu State are looking forward to your encouragement and support; we have come to identify with you and solicit for your support to build APC in Enugu State."

Nwaobasi also said his team came to solicit his support for the success of APC in Ebonyi State.

His position as the only APC governor in the SouthEast geopolitical zone has since then positioned him as a form of arrow head for the development of the party not only in Imo but also in all the neighbouring states in the zone.

But his political opponents, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, however insisted that APC did not exist in either the state or any part of the South-East.

Pointing out that he won his seat on the ticket of APGA, they swore that he cannot win any election on the ticket of APC. Their claims became more threatening to Okorocha's ambition and the future of APC in the zone when, during the presidential and National Assembly elections, PDP recorded a stunning landslide in the state.

Okorocha's former party, APGA, which did not feature any presidential candidate, mocked APC, alleging that the state remains an APGA state and that the party will win the state elections. PDP, which won the presidential and National Assembly elections also made the same claims.

POLITICS

Though Obiano has not officially defected to APC, he is determined to work with APC-led federal government.

This development, according to Uko, means that in reality, APC may have gained two Government Houses in the SouthEast: Imo and Anambra. This is just the beginning

APC: Breaking into South-East

• Okorocha

• Onu

Following All Progressives Congress' victory at the last governorship election in Imo State where Governor Rochas Okorocha was re-elected and the current moves by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to be counted with the party, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the future of APC in the South-East zone But the result of the last governorship election in the state has since debunked the claims as the incumbent governor, Okorocha, emerged winner in the election that dragged to a supplementary election.

At the supplementary polls, the candidate of APC won in 20 out of the 23 local government areas, polling a total of 31,326 votes. Okorocha's closest challenger, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of PDP got 13,624 votes.

It would be recalled that Ihedioha also trailed Okorocha with 79,525 votes in the substantive election the result of which was declared inconclusive by the Returning Officer, Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, two weeks earlier because the margin of victory between the top two contenders - the APC and the PDP - was less than the number of registered voters in areas where elections did not hold or was cancelled due to irregularities, thus necessitating a supplementary election, as required by the electoral law.

For observers, who reckoned on APC using Imo as its foothold, it was a period of tension.

Announcing the total result (substantive and supplementary) polled by the candidates however, Obe declared Okorocha the winner, "having polled the highest number of votes and having satisfied the requirement of the law.

He polled a total of 416,996 votes out of the total 806,764 votes cast in the election, leaving PDP's Ihedioha at the second slot with 320,705 votes and Emmanuel Ihenacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in a distant third with 28,434 votes.

Even before the governorship election, Okorocha's henchmen and ordinary supporters have been boasting that PDP cannot snatch Imo from Okorocha and APC. They insist that the government of Owelle Okorocha performed too well to be defeated through a free and fair election.

Commenting on why PDP cannot snatch Imo from Okorocha-led APC, shortly before the election, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere said "When we came into office in 2011,under the rescue mission government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, one of the things the governor appealed to the Imo people for while delivering his inaugural address was to have patience because he is in a hurry to develop Imo state. Due to the state of decay of the infrastructure in Imo, Owelle Okorocha quickly declared a state of emergency on Infrastructure."

Pinpointing some of the infrastructural developments of their administration, Madumere, who started out as Okorocha's Chief of Staff, said, "I can tell you that there is no local government area that does not have a minimum of 20km-asphalted road. There is no local government in Imo State that does not have state-of-the-art General Hospital that is 75 percent near completion and that brings them to a total of 27 Hospitals. Each of the 305 wards in Imo State has modern primary schools, which are 80 percent completion. When you come into the city of Owerri, you will see tremendous infrastructural work; we have international conference centers. Apart from the Conference Centre at the heart of Owerri, there is another conference center at Oguta Blue Lake of Leisure that has long been completed with A Class Motel. Again, we have Concorde Hotel, which has been massively renovated. Anyone who visits Owerri will testify the illumination of the city with stainless solar streetlights."

Given what supporters of APC in the zone described as Okorocha's well deserved victory, his developmental strides are fast becoming a reference point for other SouthEast states. Most political groups and leaders that have congratulated him made references to his performance in the state and how it will impact on the fortunes of the APC in the zone.

• Ngige

For example, the South East chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) while congratulating the people of Imo State for voting Okorocha again as governor described his performance as a proud reference point to what the party can do.

South East spokesman of the party, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said Imo people's vote for Okorocha was "a worthy reward, which demonstrates the maxim that election is a referendum on the performance of the incumbent."

He explained that by Okorocha's victory, Imo State had enlisted the South East in the hall of fame of Progressives Governors Forum.

"We had appealed to the good people of Imo State to reelect Governor Rochas Okorocha, the candidate of our great party, which they graciously heeded.

"We had urged the good people of Imo State to complete the good works they have started, for a vote for Owelle

• Obiano visit Buhari

Rochas Okorocha is a golden vote to retain the only egg Ndigbo have in the basket of the new Nigeria General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) is constructing; we are happy with Imo State people," Okechukwu said.

Explaining the import of Okorocha's victory and the position of Imo in the future of APC in the South-East, Dr. Francis Udodirim Egu, a political scientist and an activist, said, "Imo has truly become the launching ground for APC's growth in the South-East and we need not over-emphasise the position of Okorocha in the whole matter. What has happened in Imo will ultimately jolt the hitherto conservative posture of Ndigbo's politics. Check back in a year or so and you will see a remarkable difference from what our politics has been since 1998, when we all followed either Dr Alex Ekwueme's PDP or Dim Odumegwu ojukwu's APGA without asking much questions or daring to challenge certain things. The theatre is becoming more

37

amenable with the arrival of Okorocha and the APC in Imo." Anambra, a fertile ground As the state that boasts of Senator Chris Ngige, the only ACN and later APC senator from inception, observers acknowledged the importance of Anambr State as a fertile ground for APC's development and growth in the South-East.

A former governor of the state, Ngige's popularity was further emphasized when he flew the governorship flag of APC in the last governorship election in the state.

In that election, which observers said was marred by mass rigging and irregularities, APC, Ngige's party, though relatively new in the state, was a major contender in the race. "His superlative outing," said Pastor Israel Uko in Onitsha, "confirmed Ngige as the true leader of APC. We see him as a man that has what it takes to grow this party in the zone. He made APC very popular here."

That was before this year's general elections, when APC emerged the next ruling party at the centre by winning the presidential race and crowned it by winning Imo State governorship election. With its current status, the importance of the party in Anambra State, as in all other states in the country, has appreciated significantly.

Obiano's factor If Ngige's looming image is an obvious advantage to the growth of APC in the state, recent reports that Governor Willie Obiano's body language confirms alleged claims that he is on his way to defecting to APC. Until Friday, April 24, 2015, his interest to associate with APC was dismissed as mere rumour. But since that day, when Obiano visited the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari in his Aso Drive residence it heightened speculations of his plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA where he was elected.

Speaking to journalists at Buhari's premises, after a closed door meeting, the governor said his mission to the president-elect was to congratulate him.

Asked if was leaving APGA, he said he was still in APGA but would work with Buhari.

"It is not correct. I will remain with APGA and work very closely with Mr. President", he said, adding, "I came to congratulate His Excellency, the President -elect, on his victory and I am also here to reassure him that Anambra and the South-East would support him. I also pleaded with him on some pressing problem that are of importance to the South-East like the second Niger Bridge and some of the federal roads.

"We also pleaded in the area of appointment for the people of Anambra and of course for people from the South-East; be it ministerial, ambassadorial and what have you. So, basically it is to congratulate the presidentelect on his well deserved victory."

The governor also confirmed reports that he was in touch with APC top leaders from the South East."Yes most of them have actually paid a courtesy call on me and yes we are talking and I suspect that the President is not going to give appointment to only people from his party because everybody would support him and so he has to consider people from the other parties so that we can all embrace the change," he said.

Although Obiano and most of his associates and aides insist he is not going to defect to APC, insiders to the politics of Anambra State after former Governor Peter Obi's defection to PDP, say Obiano may be making a wise political choice to defect to APC in order to fortify himself against his PDP opponents who may want to hijack political power from his hand.

Pastor Uko explained that Obiano is currently fighting a grave political battle in Anambra State against Obi and other formidable PDP chieftains who, after losing power at the centre, will return home to contest for political relevance and control in Anambra. Some of these political opponents are too formidable for Obiano to handle. So, for him to survive, he will need the covering of a big party like APC, which now has federal might. It is on this understanding that I see his current moves to be linked to Buhari as a wise political step. Otherwise, his political interest would continue to be under serious threat," Uko said.

A source in the Government House in Awka, confirmed that though Obiano has not officially defected to APC, he is determined to work with APC-led federal government.

This development, according to Uko, means that in reality, APC may have gained two Government Houses in the South-East: Imo and Anambra. This is just beginning.

Besides Imo and Anambra where the fortunes of the party is looking up, our investigation shows that states like Ebonyi, where Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Senator Julius Ucha hail from, other South-East states like Abia and Enugu, where some important politicians have also shown interest in the party, are awaiting for the inauguration of Buhari's cabinet to determine the level of their acceptance in the scheme of things. As a top APC stalwart in Imo, who pleaded not to be named hinted, "Once our people debunk the lie that Buhari will marginalize our people, many will declare their interest to join us. The future is bright for us here in the SouthEast."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

Why I'm best for Lagos Assembly speakership -Tejuoso Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuoso, lawyer and four term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is in the race to lead the Assembly when it is inaugurated in June. She told reporters in Lagos that her experience in the 12 years she has spent already in the House; her exposure as Deputy Speaker, her close rapport with her fellow legislators and their backing, as well as loyalty to her party -All Progressives Congress - should weigh in her favour for the position of Speaker. Excerpts

W

hy do you want to be Speaker of the Lagos House Assembly?

I want to serve, not only my constituents but also Lagos people. I believe I am experienced. I have the qualification to lead the House. My colleagues have approached me to hold that position and I am very sure that with the various things I have done since 2003 in the House, they (colleagues) are very confident that I will be able to lead them. I am sure that, by the grace of God, I will be able to carry them along as a team player and, together, we will be able to move the House to the next level. In Lagos, we talk about continuity, but continuity has to do with improvement, making sure that you are not static in a particular position; improving our state, continuing the oversight and being effective. Our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, will tell you power is not served a la carte.

You have to work hard to get what is due to you. That is why I am not saying, as a woman, the speakership should not just fall on my laps. I am saying that, as a woman, I should work hard to achieve it, and get what I believe it is that I can do. I am a lawyer by profession. It wasn't something that was given to me. I had to work hard to become a lawyer. I believe that with my background, the experience that I have already in the House, I will be able to hold that position of speakership with integrity, and with honour, carrying my colleagues along.

There are five or six of you in the race at the moment, and you are the only woman.

What is your cutting edge?

People always say what a man can do, a woman can do better. But I always say that what a woman cannot do, cannot be done. I feel that in terms of experience, I have gained a lot of that over the years. I was the Deputy Chief Whip in 2003 when I first came into the House. After that, I became Deputy Speaker. Those are two principal offices as compared to my fellow lawmakers also aspiring to become the Speaker. As Deputy Speaker, I served as Speaker several times when Mr. Speaker was not available. Even when I was Deputy Whip, I served as Speaker when Mr. Speaker and the deputy were not around. I have handled my work with diligence. I continue to strive for perfection even though, as human beings, we cannot be perfect. Apart from that, my colleagues who understand how much effort I put into everything about my work in the House have come together to support me.

So you have been consulting? What has been the response?

The response has been impressive. Even when I don't initiate meetings, some of my colleagues in the House do; that we should talk to the fresh people, and so on and so forth. You can see the zeal in my colleagues that I should lead them. I have also spoken to several notable people in the society and the response has been very encouraging.

What about the party leadership? Are you also reaching out to them?

I have reached out to them and the response is very good. Being a woman who

has been very loyal to the party, being somebody who has been steadfast and always of help to make sure that Lagos continues to be on the world map as a centre of excellence, I have been sufficiently encouraged by the party leadership to become the Speaker of the Lagos House.

Zoning is a factor in government offices' allocation. The Deputy Governor is from Lagos-West, your senatorial district. Can the district have the numbers two and three offices with you as Speaker?

We must appreciate that we have West, Central and East Districts. But Lagos West District is very large. The district is divided into two divisions - Badagry and Ikeja. The Deputy Governor-elect is from Badagry Division. I am from Ikeja Division. That is working in my favour. The senatorial district is very large, and, being that large, that is the only district that is divided into two in Lagos.

Being from Ikeja Division, I am entitled to ask for the position of Speaker. However, there is no fast rule to the speakership being zoned to a particular area. We are talking about the competence of the office holder; we are talking about experience, somebody who can provide effective leadership. If some people are favoured in terms of where they are coming from, the rule of the House says as a first timer, you can't be Speaker. We need somebody who is competent and experienced to lead the House to the next level. And I have these qualities.

You are in the House for the fourth term consecutively. You must have struck the right chord with your constituents. What is the secret?

I want to thank God that they (constituents) appreciate what I am doing. It is one thing to work hard; it is another for your constituents to appreciate it. I believe I have been able to bring dividends of democracy to my constituency. We see development in OdiOlowo/Ojuwoye Local Government, that is Mushin Constituency 1, and we see how Lagos State Government has been able to do a lot of roads, put street lights, ensure water is running in the taps in the constituency. I have been able to provide transformers for several streets in the constituency. I arrange GCE and JAMB forms free to students wanting to write the exams. I pay for their coaching and most of them do well in the exams. I buy school bags for young children. My constituents appreciate it because I was doing it even before I became a legislator in 2003. As a legal practitioner, I give them my services free. I help them to get employment not only in the public service, but also in the private sector. We have a lot of graduates in my constituency and we know how difficult it is to secure jobs. All these have helped to endear me to my constituents who believe I should continue to represent them.

The name Tejuoso rings a bell. Many Lagosians are itching to know this woman who wants to be their Speaker?

I started off in politics as Mrs. Tejuoso, but my father, Chief (Dr.) Smith, of blessed memory, was from Lagos. I am married to the Tejuoso family, a royal family in Ogun State.

The royal family has achieved so much. I also want to do more. I have four children.

Everything you do, you think about your

• Tejuoso family, you think about where you are coming from. In fact, my father told me to always remember the child of whom I am. That has actually kept me happily married for very many years. Some of my in-laws are also in politics. I have a brother-in-law who is a senator-elect in Ogun State. Obviously, I am portraying the family name in good light. I thank God that I have been able to serve the people of my constituency; I thank God that I am married into a family that is well known.

But there is a lot of pressure on you to always do the right thing, but with the right upbringing, it is not difficult for you to do it.

You are aspiring to break the jinx that has seen men as Speaker of the Lagos House. What do you think the state stands to gain by having a female Speaker?

We have so much to gain. Any position of authority you put a woman in, she tries to put in extra effort to ensure she does not disappoint.

She knows that all eyes are on her.

First of all, the home has to be intact. The children must be educated. You must set good examples from the home front. From the example of being able to manage the home front, a woman can manage the public office.

People say when you train a woman, you train a nation because everything we do, there is a ripple effect on the people around us.

Giving the office of Lagos House Speaker to a woman will open the doors for other women to excel. If you look at other states, they try to emulate Lagos. But many other states have had women Speaker - Ogun, Oyo, Ondo.

For us to be able to highlight the efforts of women, Lagos is where we can actually show what we can do as women if positions of authority are given to us. Definitely, we will make laws that will impact the home, impact the society.

We have a lot of challenges of young girls growing up in Nigeria today, and when they see a woman in a position of authority, you become some role model. This encourages young girls to aspire. And their focus begins to shift from things that don't have meaning in their lives. We should focus on things that will make our female children to excel. We still don't have a woman governor. We were thinking of getting one from Taraba.

Something like that encourages us, it gives us hope as women that 'if that woman can do it, I too can'. We need that balance in the society; we call it gender equality. But we should not only talk about it, we should do it.

I am sure you have a blueprint for the job you are aspiring to get. Can you let us into it?

This is a blueprint for a House of 40, a blueprint that will not discriminate on the

basis of governing party - opposition. We cannot be like the PDP - led government where Lagos State was victimised because we were in the opposition. Every local government is important, and where you have a local government that is not getting attention, you have people migrating to the one that gets attention. That is not pleasant.

We must thank Asiwaju Tinubu because when the local government allocation was withheld by the federal authorities, we were able to look inward to generate revenue internally. In the House, we have to work as a unit so that we can move the state forward.

We must continue to make laws not only for women and children, but also for the whole society.

We must recognise those in the minority, the less privileged, the physically challenged, women, children.

We need that balance in education, health, commerce and industry so that we can provide for all these people. We need an insurance scheme. At the moment, there is a bill before the House on medical insurance. This, among others, is crucial to the survival of a nation. Medical treatment must be available for all and sundry, not just for children under five and over 60. We must have a social security system in place to cater for the people. We thank God we have the Office of the Public Defender where people can go to for free legal services, but we need to have a system where we can save people money that they can use for other things. We appreciate the fact that the incoming government wants to provide free meals for school children.

This is important because if a child is hungry, what he is being taught will not be understood. All these things, as lawmakers, we need to put the machinery in place for the executive to act on. We must look at our laws. The criminal justice system of Lagos State is very good compared to other states, but we are still looking into it to make sure it is even better. We know about rape. We have the Child's Right Law. We have child marriage and so on and so forth. Despite the Child's Right Law, we still have female genital mutilation. This is something we should include in the law. I have spoken to our Muslim sisters who told me FGM is not in the Quran. The society should accommodate the needs of the less privileged. Our laws should look at the issues and balance them. This does not mean we cannot accommodate some of our traditions that are not harmful.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

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Chukwumerije: My father, the comrade F ROM MY earliest recollections, two paintings have occupied pride of place in my father's collections - a framed outline of the unmistakable profile of Lenin, and a full length, full colour, as tall as a grown man painting of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. With him, I am certain, my father was in love. They first met at Our Lady's High School Onitsha, sometime between 1952 and 1956, when in the company of Abdel Nasser of Egypt; Nkrumah fired my father's mind with the idea of African revolution and continental unity. Scientific socialism would not come until 1957 in Kuti Hall, when helped along by two friends at the University College Ibadan, Daddy embraced Karl Marx.

These were life-changing meetings for him, as significant as 30 odd years later, when he met Jesus Christ. As an eye witness to the transformations that followed that particular encounter - the night virgils, daily devotions, Christmases spent at fasting 'banquets' - I can confirm what everyone who has ever met Uche Chukwumerije says, the man didn't half do things. So, till he died, in spite of the collapse of the USSR, and the global triumph of the Washington Consensus, and his grudging acceptance of SOME merit in market-led economic theories, he remained intuitively wary of what he termed 'bourgeois capitalism'. And I would tease him, "Look at the house you live in, Daddy, and you call yourself a Comrade?" Those were the types of jokes that brought the brightest sparkles to his eyes.

For, you see, it was not a title, at all, for him - 'Comrade' - for he had nothing but utter disdain for crass materialism. Once, curious about the impact of the ÂŁ20 policy on him after the war, I found a moment and asked. It brought on a look of amusement, followed immediately by his rumbling laughter - "Should you not have asked if I even had a bank account in the first place?"

What would he need it for? When he lived on a diet of (as I liked to call it) nuts and berries, and the occasional bottle of Stout (a lingering habit from the early days as a desk reporter in Lagos). A wardrobe full of identical plain white clothes, simple shoes, and an unbreakable habit of carrying his own bag - Uche Chukwumerije was a proud and conscientious citizen of Sparta.

Not always amusing. I remember the earthmoving arguments we had before he would allow me to take a deck (i.e cassette player) to school, with a small piece of carpet that had already been so used it was without third-hand value. In his mind, these modest furnishings were proof of my developing 'big headedness'. And in my defense I pointed out that the children of his mates brought cars to school, and lived off campus. He said - "Okay then, but I do not want any of my children prancing around like peacocks with raised shoulders, puffed up over imaginary achievements. The future belongs to those who are so obsessed with it they forsake the pleasures of today." You see, it was a trait he had the deepest and most sincere respect for, simplicity, and one of the primary reasons for his undying devotion to Mallam Aminu Kano, second only to Mallam's dedication to the cause of the talakawa.

For that too was something that always troubled my old man,

• Chukwumerije

By Dikeogu Chukwumerije social injustice and what he called the inequitable distribution of wealth. It didn't start in the Senate, where he conceived bills like the Corporate Social Responsibility Bill and seriously toyed with proposing one to cap rents in Abuja. I remember our arguments in his office in the Senate, because I stood on the opposite side of the ideological divide, arguing that capping rents and slapping CSR taxes on companies was not the best way to proceed in the 21st century; trying to drag an old socialist a bit more towards the center. And he did make adjustments, as he was always respectful of the wellargued case, but his ideological soul was constantly troubled with that singular concern - how does one make life better for the people?

Not many people can boast of the same consistency, for my father was already an active socialist by 1961, when fresh out of University he plunged into groups like The Nigerian Socialist Movement and Eskor Toyo's Socialist Workers and Farmers Party. His ideological framework - undergirded by giants like Nkrumah, Nasser, Marx, and Lenin - was, essentially, doublebarreled. Politically he was PanAfricanist. Economically, he was Marxist. Both strands of thought were linked by the prominent place given to the ideal of Unity the unity of African states and peoples in the first instance, and of the oppressed proletariat in the second. So, believe me, when I tell you that in 1966, when hostilities first broke out, my father was a reluctant Biafran. But - like I heard him say once at a family meeting, just after he had damned the collective and decided to shoulder the burden of burying his elder brother alone - "what is ours is ours, and what is mine is mine".

His engagement in Biafra was, first and foremost, that same visceral decision to stand with his own in their darkest hour, for who should keep the gates but the owners of the house? But the objective facts of the situation also fired his socialist angst - the massacre of innocents, the bombing of civilian targets, the use of starvation as a weapon of war and in that rugged crucible he began to form his life-long conviction that if we must have one Nigeria, it should not be over the systemic and violent suppression of his, or any other, ethnic or social group. In his mind, Nigeria could only flourish on the socialist foundation of justice to all her component parts,

or as Igbo people would say, "Biri ka m biri".

This conviction supplied the ideological fire for his consistent defense of the Igbo cause. For him, the path to one Nigeria could either be revolutionary or evolutionary. He would have, of course, preferred the former where the nation was led by a series of high minded, totally detribalised leaders who, like Jerry Rawlings of Ghana or Kemal Ataturk of Turkey, would lay socio-political foundations for true integration. If we could not have that, then we would have to settle for a slower, more organic process with the different ethnic groups constantly negotiating and re-negotiating access to the center. If this process was allowed to continue in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect, and with the constant reaffirmation of the long term goal of de-tribalization and integration, THEN - he would say with the sigh of a man impatient for change - "in the lives of these your children perhaps, or, much more likely, of their unborn children, we will have what we hope for today".

But he was already an elderly man when he began to talk like this. After the War, just 31, he was still burning with pan-Africanist zeal, a zeal that empowered him to engineer his own reintegration. For the War had barely ended, when with the financial aid of the late M.D Yusuf, Daddy launched his magazine. Within a few years, Afriscope had developed into a behemoth. Rifling through the pages of this Monthly that ran from 1971 till he closed it down in 1983 to fully face commitments in the Peoples Redemption Party, I still shake my head in deep nostalgia. For I have met legends on the dusty pages of Afriscope from Kenneth Kaunda to Amilcar Cabral; from the shift to the metric system, to the debates around the Indigenization Decrees, my father's magazine gave me a front row seat to the definitive happenings of those times. But when Aminu Kano called, he dropped it all - success and material security - and answered.

For, I remember, it was one of the first Bills he worked on when first elected to the Senate in 2003 the Election Campaign Finance Regulation Bill. It was what made Aminu Kano so different from the others, he always said, the fact that Mallam - whether with NEPU or PRP - won hearts, and minds, and electoral seats without splashing millions around. "But today" - my father wrote this in 1999 - "there is hardly an elected executive who spent less than a million Naira to buy his seat.

When one's access to power is so morally flawed, probity is compromised from the very beginning. Today, the system has completely destroyed every incentive to selfless service and encourages a new ethos of selfservice in all breeds, whether new or old. But the system forgets one historical fact. The system that seeks to abort the birth of future Aminu Kanos only hastens the pace of its own destruction."

He believed it. And from where I sat and watched him for many, many years, I know that he lived it. Yes, I will miss him, for he was my ideological fountainhead - my father as well as my Comrade.

Ishikaraka, adieu! –Chukwumerije sent this piece from Abuja

Salute to the General HERE may be controversy over whether he is a gentleman or not. This would be resolved when his government takes form and effect.

What cannot be controverted now is that Muhammadu Buhari, a retired General and former Head of State, has done what perhaps only Chief MKO Abiola nearly accomplished in 1993. The man Buhari certainly deserves a good study by a historian or biographer.

This is beyond the scope of this piece. What has caught my attention is how the man has become a living legend even before assuming power.

By his political exploits, he has shattered many myths. Myth 1.

There is a permanent dichotomy of interests between the North West and the North East. By the result of the 2015 presidential election and the other elections that followed, owing largely to the Buhari appeal, this myth has exploded. Not only did the General personally win in the seven North West states, but also in five of the six North East states.

Going by the final figures, he recorded a landslide victory in both geo-political zones.

When contrasted with previous elections, it is a significant feat. In the First Republic, the Action Group, through its ally, the Bornu Youth Movement, made waves among the people of the North East, while the North West was largely located on the conservative orbit controlled by the Northern Peoples Congress. The story was similar in the Second Republic when the people of the North East identified with the Great Nigeria Peoples Party established by a son-of-thespoil, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim. He controlled Gongola and Borno States, conceding only Bauchi to the National Party of Nigeria.

In the North West, the NPN held sway, save Kano and Kaduna States. Even then, control of Kaduna was shared between the NPN and Peoples Redemption Party. While the NPN had control of the state legislature, the PRP controlled the executive.

In the "Third Republic", the National Republican Convention held sway in the North West, while the Social Democratic Party was largely in charge at the North East. It could be said that the SDP only had control of three of the five states- Borno, Yobe and Taraba, but a careful study of the political structure in Adamawa would show that both parties were strong there and the SDP would have had the upper hand but for bickering within the party. Only Bauchi stood out and even then, the SDP for the first time won more than one-third of the votes cast there in the presidential election.

In the recent elections, Buhari swept away whatever remained of that myth. If the votes were put into compartments of the old Borno, Bauchi and Gongola States, Buhari won in all. The suggestion

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that the people of the North East, particularly those of the Kanuri stock and those sympathetic to them loathe the Hausa-Fulani could not withstand the Buhari hurricane. The point is significant because the dichotomy could not be explained away by religion as both Borno and Yobe States are predominantly Muslim.

Myth 2.There is a North WestMiddle Belt dichotomy. This has also melted. Buhari won with ease in Benue and Adamawa. He lost narrowly in Plateau and Taraba. .

It was not surprising that Plateau came into the basket in the state elections, while disputes over the Taraba governorship election resylt would be resolved at the tribunal. It would have been unthinkable in ages past.

Myth 3. In the North Central States of Niger, Kwara, Kogi,and Benue States, Buhari sang the victory song, and were it a race, he would have taken the lap of honour. Only in Plateau and Nasarawa States did he narrowly lose to Prersident Goodluck Jonathan. It was, for him, on the whole a landslide victory in what used to be a strange territory.

Myth 4. There used also to be a political dichotomy between the North West and the South west. It appeared that they were parallel lines that would never meet. But, in Buhari, they have met. While Buhari stamped his authority on the North West, only Ekiti State in the West resisted the change he had promised. Even Ondo State where Governor Mimiko coordinated the Jonathan efforts in the zone did the APC candidate lose. He unusually raked in raked in votes in the presidential and National Assembly elections. By his performance in the West, the president-elect has broken the myth that prominent politicians of both zines can only operate at opposite angles.

The only remaining CHALLENGE IS THE OLD Eastern bloc. It hitherto found it natural to team up with the North, thus isolating the West. Bur, now, the old East (South South and South East) is naked and in the cold. Unfortunately, whereas the West was used to standing alone in opposition and cultural empowered to stand the consequences because it was undergirded by principle, the current Eastern experience is borne out of a costly miscalculation.. Since this is not the focus of this piece, it would be addressed another day.

Buhari has achieved feats no politician before him could. He had to scale hurdles and overcome obstacles. It came as reward for diligence, resilience, determination and commitment to a cause. But, what lies ahead is a huge challenge. He is now the man dancing at the market square. He has won the war, is he equipped win the peace?

For now, I cannot resist this salute to an unusual General

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

I would be governor of Ondo in 2016 - Akeredolu IGERIANS' expectations for Buhari's government are huge.

How can these expectations be met vis-Ă -vis the reality on the ground based on the society's socio-economic underpinnings?

There's no doubting the fact that the people's expectations are very high. And there are reasons for them to have very high hopes. They've invested in Buhari's election and they want to reap the dividends of that investment in terms of good governance. But the reality on ground is clear to all of us that Buhari's government might not be able to meet their expectations in the short run because of the plundering that have gone on for so long in our economy. We cannot run away from the fact that our finances today are at ground zero. Because of this, and short of a miracle, there's not much that anybody can do. You need time to plug holes here and there and correct things. Things have really gone bad. I believe that when Buhari's government comes to power, it will be honest with the people. Buhari's government will show the Nigerian people the stark reality on ground and let them know that they're going to work at these problems. But it will take time before they start reaping the work that we are going to do. The people would be able to see what the Buhari government will have to contend with before turning the country around.

You can see that the price of oil---which is our primary income earner---is about half of what it used to be less than a year ago. Don't forget that Buhari, who will come in May, must still operate a budget put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan. His own budget will not come on steam until this present one ends in December. The expectations are high.

They will be met. But it cannot be in the short run.

Let me play the devil's advocate here.

Let's assume that you're the government and I am the Nigerian public. What if I tell you that you're making another attempt to prepare me once again for another round of excuses that I have heard before from previous governments? What if I tell you that I am simply not ready for any more excuses? What will be your response?

My response will be to urge you to face the reality. Look, a destruction of 16 years cannot be mended in two years. It's not possible. This destruction has gone on for many years. Anyone that tells you that you will get a reprieve in a year is not being frank with you. I will implore you to watch my lips and the things I am doing and see how I progress. For as long as I am being honest with you, for as long as you do not see me as saying one thing and doing a completely different thing, you see that I am transparent. It's not that you see me amassing wealth. It's not that you always see my hands in the till and feathering my own nest. If these are not the issues and you see me working at the problems honestly, I am sure you will appreciate it. It's not just giving excuses.

I hope you'll agree with me that the judiciary is as bad as the Nigerian nation.

It's not an institution that is completely devoid of societal vices. If we're talking about corruption, the judiciary is also a repository of this vice. If we're concerned about impunity, it also thrives in the judiciary. The rot in the government also has a comfortable home in the judiciary.

Can the judiciary be reformed?

You do not divorce any institution from the society in which it operates.

Unfortunately, a number of things that affects society also affect the judiciary.

Yes, I agree that there're lots of things that needs to be done about the judiciary. The first thing is for us to have introspection

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Rotimi Akeredolu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC). He was the gubernatorial candidate of the then ACN in the last governorship election in Ondo State. The recently concluded general elections were particularly interesting in his state. Buhari had a landslide victory but the APC could not take over the state's House of Assembly. In this interview with Femi Odere, the legal luminary shed light on why the party was unable to upset the PDP and other issues. Excerpts:

• Akeredolu

about our judicial system. We need to sit up, between whoever is appointed as the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Chief Judges of the various High Courts and the Bar Associations--most importantly---and say let us put a stop to all appointments. Let us sit down and have a stakeholders' conference to discuss those things that are wrong with us.

We cannot talk about the judiciary and all its problems without talking about the legislative arm of government because it's the laws that they make that the judiciary interprets. How do you rate the quality and effectiveness of the laws made by the legislative arm of government?

I pity the legislative arm of government.

But I pity the Houses of Assembly more which are in most cases castrated by their various governors. They're a pitiful sight. I pity the National Assembly because of all the inadequacies of the executive branch which are clear to all of us, they have concentrated more on oversight functions than on legislation. You hear them more when it comes to their oversight functions because they make noise about inviting some Director or Minister to do some explaining.

That's all they do. If you have a disciplined executive, there would not have been much running up and down in the name of doing oversight and looking for faults and so on.

They would have had more opportunities of concentrating on legislation. Probably more than 70 percent of the bills that the National Assembly passed in 16 years are Executive bills. I do not see why any of our legislators should have anything less than two lawyers working for him or her. They must employ a minimum of two legislative assistants who're lawyers, who would help in drafting and preparing bills for them.

The general elections in your home state were particularly interesting. Governor Mimiko was routed despite being Jonathan's South-West coordinator in the presidential election. But the House of Assembly election was in the reverse. What happened?

I am in it for the long haul. I am not only going to run but I am going to win. I never had any doubt about the fact that I would be governor of Ondo State come 2017 and I have no doubt about it The March 28th presidential election was principally and in all honesty propelled

by Buhari's name. People were ready to fight for a change and were committed to that change. They came all out to vote. They were going to fight intimidation and they did. So, they did it effectively because they were convinced that there must be change. The April 11th election was a different thing. You would find out that the turnout was low because the people did not feel too concerned about it. There was not much commitment like they had for Buhari's election. That was what happened. More importantly, a lot of money was spent by the governor to turn the April 11th election in his favour. Since people did not come out much and they were not ready to fight and people were ready to take money, the House of Assembly election turned out the way it did. Money and lack of interest played a major role in the April 11th election. That was what caused the reversal.

Again, let's face it, contestants in the Assembly election are known in their

communities. It then became who was the most popular in his community among the contestants from the various parties.

These people were able to reach their own people in their own ways better than anybody could reach these same people for Buhari or Jonathan.

You were the gubernatorial candidate of the then ACN in the state's election. That election was yours to lose because you and the party had a lot of momentum. People defected into your party. But suddenly, the election turned against you. In retrospect, what caused you to lose that election?

I do not agree with you that there were defections. There were people who came into the party mainly for a purpose and when they couldn't realize their purpose they left. There were many who did not fully integrate into the party. They were neither here nor there. I have said it severally that ACN then made a big impact in that governorship election. Prior to that election, the party could not have scored 30,000 votes, but after those of us who're stakeholders of the party in the state went round to canvass for votes we had well over 130,000 votes. To me, that was an improvement. It was a great improvement and we should not dismiss it with a wave of the hand. There're mistakes made, no doubt. These were mistakes and miscalculations in terms of our preparation for the election. I want to believe that we did not properly accommodate our agents in that election.

Our failure to do that left the polling booths open for the Labour Party to carry out their rigging. You needed people to man the polling booths. But the way we handled the preparations of our agents was nothing to write home about. Again, we were faced with what I would call modern day rigging---technologically speaking. This is a situation where they had injected into the voters' register close to 160,000 voters and virtually those whose names were injected claimed to have voted because their names were ticked that they voted. But again our people are pauperized. Somebody said before the election that except there's no poverty in the land that Labour would not win. Even in my polling unit, people were given N2, 000 to vote. It was a rigging done in collusion with INEC itself and there was nothing anybody could do.

The conventional wisdom adduced to your failure was that you're not a professional politician. Now that another governorship election is drawing near in the state, is it safe to say that your participation in the race then was a one off or are you in this for the long haul?

I am in it for the long haul. I am not only going to run but I am going to win. I never had any doubt about the fact that I would be governor of Ondo State come 2017 and I have no doubt about it. The accusation then would no longer hold water. Nobody is a born politician.

Because some people contested an election and won did not make them professional politicians. People came from various professional fields to contest for elections. That does not make them politicians. All of us have our first time. I have been in it for over four years now.

So, that accusation would no longer be tenable. I think I am known. I think the people accept me. I know that with God on my side I am in it for the long haul. I will run and I am going to win.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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HO is afraid of Tinubu's "war chest, vast network and very effective political structures"?

These are valuable outstanding points that the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has used to achieve results that are being widely applauded today. In the slimy terrain of politics, it is possible that insiders can paradoxically play oppositional roles, and the media can be used to carry out a programme to discredit a power player of distinction such as Tinubu. Could this be the case in the developing drama of Tinubu denigration?

Whether the stones are being thrown from within his camp or from outside his circle, it is futile because the individual they seek to bring down is up and standing like the rock of Gibraltar.

Ironically, the renewed smear campaign targeted at Tinubu, following his phenomenal role in the political reengineering project that produced president-elect Muhammadu Buhari, is a blotch on the campaigners themselves.

The timing of the obviously orchestrated hate business suggests that an extreme form of denialism consumes the operators.

It is an essentially irrational response to realities that can't be denied, which are that power has changed hands in the country and Tinubu can't be discredited by demonization for significantly helping to bring about the CHANGE. This approach is unproductive and useless in the eyes of a discerning public. It is an old trick, and its promoters are obviously ignorant of the wisdom that the best trick is to avoid obsolete tricks.

The re-launched campaign of calumny against Tinubu may be more properly situated in the context of oppositional vacuity, whether encouraged by insiders or outsiders. Such is devoid of creativity but merely reeks of spite and malice, which could be the hallmark of the hooded promoters of the failed media plot.

The negative labels pinned on the APC National Leader are unpersuasive and betrays the frustration of the unscrupulous powerless. It is revealing that the purpose of the labour is to demystify Tinubu by those hidden technocrat-turned politicians within the APC fold and outside it that he has turned to somebody in life. But can it work?

Buhari's acknowledgement of Tinubu's creative contribution to the APC's success could be considered predictable. However, when no other person than the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, pays an implied tribute to Tinubu, there must be something to his accomplishment. Muazu was quoted as saying, "I was unable to deliver Bauchi State; so was everybody unable to deliver because of the tsunami that has happened in the North. There was a political tsunami. But for what has happened we remain thankful. This is not the end of the world. A man may be defeated in a war but we will live to fight another one tomorrow."

It is no news that Tinubu was a driving force in the events that culminated in the "political tsunami". And no envious spirits can erase this. It is a testimony to Tinubu's centrality that he has lately earned the tag "game changer." It needs to be understood that to be a game changer, it takes a game player who is a game planner. The scale and scope of the sweeping wind can be grasped from the results of the general elections. Apart from winning the presidential poll, the APC is in the saddle in 22 states, the PDP in 13 and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in one.

The beauty of the mega force forged by an unlikely merger of major parties opposed to the PDP was not immediately clear, and the construction was expected to collapse. At a critical stage, Tinubu demonstrated impressive selflessness by playing down his ambition so that the new party could present more politically correct election candidates. Those who continue to look for a crevice in his armour

POLITICS

Tinubu: Asset to progressive politics and country

• Tinubu

By Hakeem Adisa are playing blind to this supremely sacrificial factor in the APC's victory, Tinubu selflessly yield his own interest is in the overriding interest of the party, and by implication, the higher interest of the country.

How Tinubu was able to sell his vision of a mega opposition party unlimited by ethnicity, religion or region must be a subject of wonder in a country where diversity is often exploited for narrow political and unpatriotic advantages. The tsunami is a reflection of the man's pan-Nigerian imagination and has the potential to improve the country. No one can take that away from Tinubu.

His patriotism and nationalistic vision perhaps date back to his days as a prodemocracy activist during the despotic military era of General Sani Abacha in the 1990s. His steadfast voice was unmistakable, particularly in the epic battle to reverse the unpopular annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). There is no doubt that Tinubu can be numbered among the genuine heroes who fought for the restoration of the democratic space in the country, when others were passive in the face of oppressive military rule. It is on record that, while the anti-dictatorship battle lasted, he lived in exile for safety reasons. In other words, he paid a price.

By the time he was elected governor of Lagos State in 1999, Tinubu was well positioned to unveil his roadmap for good governance in what is known as the Centre of Excellence. The former federal capital witnessed a positive redefinition during his two terms, which ended in 2007. It is to Tinubu's credit that his successor, Babatunde Fashola, whom he solely backed for governorship when nobody wanted that political greenhorn, has taken the megacity to a higher developmental level based on plans that were drawn up in Tinubu's visionary period in office. The demonstrable progress inspired by Tinubu is expected to continue under the governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode who will govern on the APC platform. To his credit, the entire southwest, except Ondo and Ekiti states, are under the firm control of the progressives.

Ekiti fell to the conservatives because of the guile of the outvoted APC governor who wasted the efforts, toil and resources of Asiwaju that brought him to power, ab initio.

At the federal level, the stage is set for a possible actualisation of the Lagos developmental model, which is admired by many across the country. One fundamental angle to Tinubu is his relentless advocacy of "true federalism", which his party now has an opportunity to pursue. With functional federalism, it is easy to see that certain manifestations of dysfunction in the polity would become history to the benefit of the people. This is the big picture that Tinubu represents, and small minds can be pardoned for not catching the view.

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It is relevant to focus on a familiar metaphor of the jungle associated with Tinubu. It is not for nothing that Tinubu has come to be known as "Lion of Bourdillon", referring to the name of the street where his residence is located in Ikoyi, Lagos. Lions are recognised as territorial kings, and Tinubu has shown a kingly capacity that may not be appreciated by his traducers, or perhaps more appropriately, that may be the envy of his attackers.

Envy is petty, but it is undoubtedly very available to those who would be ruled by it as typified by the unscrupulous elements behind Tinubu's cheap blackmail. In certain quarters, immediately it was clear that Buhari had won the presidential election; quite a few expressed the thought that Tinubu had become the de facto controller of the central government, arguing that he was the godfather of APC. It was an uncharitable conclusion and one that credited the elected individuals with little or no capacity for independent thinking.

It is remarkable that Tinubu has shown that he can keep his head while others are losing theirs, and this virtue will prove important in the new era. It is noteworthy and worth stressing that Tinubu was never found guilty of any wrongdoing in office as state governor, whether related to official corruption, money laundering or abuse of office. It is curious that eight years after he left office as governor, and in spite of the strides he has made in national politics since then, his detractors are still busy looking for something to nail him. What has been achieved is unprecedented and unparalleled in the history of political associations and mergers in the country, particularly in terms of the convergence of the North and the Southwest. It is remarkable that since the redefining elections, the APC has continued to attract defectors from other parties, especially the PDP. All of a sudden the party, through the political ingenuity of Tinubu, Buhari and others, has become, in a profoundly metaphorical sense, the new umbrella, even though its emblem is a broom. The PDP with its battle torn umbrella emblem has been swept out of power.

The APC tsunami may be regarded as the icing on the cake for Tinubu who turned 63 in the same month that change came. Buhari said at the Seventh Bola Tinubu Colloquium to mark the birthday: "I have great respect for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; he does not consider himself; he is a selfless person who made a lot of sacrifice and commitment to ensure the merger was successful."

On the same occasion, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, now Vice-President-elect, described Tinubu as "a team player and astute leader". It is instructive that Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), put up an informal but telling defence in connection with the controversial hate documentary against Tinubu, which alleged that "he owns the whole of Lagos including Oriental Hotel in Lekki."

Osinbajo said: "I know surely that he does not own the hotel because I know the owners and if he owns it, everybody will have a room there." Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi described Tinubu as "a strategist and a tactician". In his own description, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said Tinubu was an "an icon through whom many great leaders had risen". These tributes generally reflect who Tinubu is and what he represents; and it is clear that objective observers see him more as an asset to his party, progressive politics and the country.

While Tinubu continues to grow from a Senator to governor and to architect of return of southwest and Nigeria to the hands of the progressives to his now elder statesman status, his envious traducers are out of frustration groaning under suffocating indignation and malice. Ride on Tinubu! –Adisa is a keen observer of Nigeria's political events.

42

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

POLITICS

The many forces against Dakingari

Kente in dilemma on defection

C

HIEF David Kente, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Taraba State in the last general election is in a dilemma of sorts right now. Until he joined SDP, Kente, a former Director of Finance at the National Assembly, contested for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to Darius Ishaku, who is now the governor-elect of Taraba State. Kente, sources say, is allegedly under pressure to leave SDP, but is faced with two options: to return to PDP or join the All Progressives Congress (APC). For now, the former bureaucrat is critically weighing all his options before deciding on his next move.

• Dakingari

O

• Kente

Battle for Oyo speakership begins

PPOSITION against Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State by some powerful forces in the state appears not to be abating. A few days ago, the state House of Assembly served the governor an impeachment notice just a month to the end of his tenure. If the planned impeachment sails through, it would be a double setback for the governor, who lost his senatorial election and also failed to deliver the state for his anointed governorship candidate, Gen. Sarki Yaki Bello. Powerful forces opposed to the governor, it was gathered, are determined to humiliate him out of office for allegedly sidelining those who reportedly facilitated his emergence as governor in 2007.

T

HE battle over who succeeds Senator-elect, Monsurat Sunmonu, as the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly in June has begun in earnest. Oyo and Oke Ogun/Ibarapa zones are in contention for the exalted seat, it was learnt. The outgoing speaker hails from Oyo town. Though the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is yet to take a final decision on the issue, those canvassing for the Oke Ogun axis to fill the seat argue that the zone deserves the slot based on its massive support for the APC in the last general elections, while advocates of Oyo town retaining the seat premise their stand on the consistent support of the zone for the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in the last four years.

• Ajimobi

•Contd. from page 32

Ondo: APC, Mimiko shift battle to 2016 governorship

(OFI), is alleged to be interested in the governorship seat and is working behind the scene to actualise his ambition.

Other potential governorship aspirants in the PDP include Victor Olabimtan, a Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly; Sola Ebiseni, former Chairman of Ilaje/Ese Odo Local Government; Tokunbo Kayode, a former Minister of Defense and Senator Bode Olajumoke, to mention but a few.

Boroffice for APC ticket The re-elected Senator representing Ondo North in the National Assembly, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, who stepped down for Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu in 2012, is one of the frontline leaders in the race for the APC 2016 governorship ticket, The Nation has gathered.

The public rating of the lawmaker has shot up in the last few years, a development not unconnected to his popularity within and beyond his Ondo North constituency.

Barring any last minute change in his plans, Boroffice, sources say, would announce his intention to contest

• Akeredolu

the governorship seat before the end of the year.

His closeness to prominent leaders of his party may work in his favour, it was learnt.

Other APC chieftains allegedly interest in the governorship ticket are Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, the current State Chairman of the party and Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, who was the party's candidate in the 2012 governorship election.

An unconfirmed report, however, indicates that Akeredolu may not run for the governorship.

For Mimiko, PDP and the APC, the battle for the soul of Ondo State may have just begun.

• Audu

Audu fights back S

IGNS that the battle for the 2016 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State would be fierce have begun to manifest. In recent weeks, some APC stakeholders in the state had embarked on a surreptitious campaign against a former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, who is reportedly plotting a comeback to the government house come next year. But the former governor is already taking the battle to his opponents, with his supporters confident of victory in the APC primaries.

However, fears are being expressed among some APC faithful in the state that the support for or against Audu may create an avoidable crisis, which could affect the party's chances in next year's governorship election.

IN VOGUE

By Kehinde Oluleye

Tel: 08023689894 (sms) E-mail: kehinde.oluleye@thenationonlineng.net

Raising a voice for the Nigerian girl With Temilolu Okeowo temilolu@girlsclub.org.ng 07086620576 (sms only) Please visit my blog www.temiloluokeowo.wordpress.com for more inspiring articles. Twitter@temiloluokeowo

c l ‘It is

to be African’ Continued from Page 52

•Osuofia

smile weapon My

is a

on my

male admirers

55

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Invasion of Lagos by an area boy .

F

OR once in many years, the theatre sector was quite agog with life as many thespians and theatre buffs were indeed excited. The excitement was mainly occasioned due to the ever presence of Professor Wole Soyinka, Africa’s foremost theatre practitioner, playwright and director. As the Lagos Black Heritage Festival went on uninterruptedly last week, Soyinka was seen in his natural and familiar element putting everything in order to ensure that his play, The Beatification of Area Boy came out beautifully well.

From every corner of Freedom Park, Lagos, venue of the event, his well-trimmed baritone voice could be heard as he shouted instructions to the artistes during rehearsals. The play ran for three consecutive days and before it came on stage the first day, the playwright himself was on hand to direct proceedings. His orders were obeyed to the last latter because the artistes themselves also wanted to get it right. It is not always that the calibre of Soyinka comes out to direct one of his works. It is also not in his element to be seen mixing so freely and walking the paths for almost one week nonstop. So, when the cast and crew noticed how precious this play was to him, they quickly made the situation more pleasant and appealing to him and others.

Written during the turbulent days of Nigeria, when the Late General Sani Abacha held the reins of power, The Beatification of Area Boy which is making its debut in the country, chronicles the tenets of the military style of governance. Not only that, Soyinka is deliberate in his choice of themes, events, concepts and atrocities in the play. His concept was to relate the genesis of Nigeria from the moment she discovered oil in the Niger Delta.

What did the military do with the oil and what it supposed to yield to the nation?

Where is the pride of Nigeria as an oil producing state? Has oil really been a blessing, a curse or a mixed grill of confusion? At the height of the oil wealth when Nigerian leaders were supposed to invest and develop the nation, what did they do? All sorts of benefits and promotions were being given to civil servants who in connivance with the powers that be, busied themselves siphoning and plundering the resources of the nation.

From oil wealth to oil boom and then the advent of oil doom, Nigeria has now fallen from her utopian heights as poverty, crime, backwardness and more have taken over the soul of the society. In situating the story and carving out the different scenes, Soyinka made the metamorphosis real and evocative. Here the role of different types of individuals like the trader – turned-area boy, the judge, the policeman, the mama put, the job seeker, the ever-insatiable and deceitful Nigerian young lady and more, became a clarion call to periscope deeper into the voices of the society.

Almost all societies of the world use their wealth to build infrastructures and provide for the masses, but in Nigeria wealth is used to further impoverish the poor and make the ruling class richer. Now the people themselves sit idly by and encourage the government to continue to plunder the nation by not doing enough to task their leaders. Who will now bail the cat? Who should be the final arbiter?

How would the society function well if the people do not task and query those in power to give them what they deserve?

In using the circuit type of rotating theatre stage, Soyinka further ensured that the rudiments of the play permeated the audience.

As people sat in circles, they were made to shift their seats and move to different directions as the play progressed. This was permissible, for most of the scenes were made to represent and register serious flashbacks and introspects that dug deep into the fabric of the nation. This type of setting which is not common in Nigeria, further gave the play an undue aesthetics that indeed created so much hype and excitement in the minds of the audience.

For three hours, the likes of Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, Sam

•Cast and crew of The Beatification of Area Boy.

PHOTO: EDOZIE UDEZE

•scenes in the play

At last, Professor Wole Soyinka’s The Beatification of Area Boy was premiered in Nigeria. Written and directed by the Nobel Laureate himself, the play formed part of the just-concluded Lagos Black Heritage Festival plays held at the Freedom Park, Lagos, last week. It is a play written in 1990 to indict the leadership of Nigeria over their indifference to the people’s quest for development, for the alleviation of poverty and the seemingly glorification of everything bad in the land. Edozie Udeze, who watched the play reports Omatseye of The Nation Newspapers, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Olaokun Soyinka, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Kunle Ajibade and such other high calibre theatre enthusiasts sat to watch the play to relive the sorrowful historical stages of a nation in dire need of leadership. The Area boy himself who was in the habit of being in the know about everything that happened in the country was at the centre of the play. He controlled his retail business as he liked and increased prices whenever he felt duty-bound to do so. He waited for every action of government to hike the prices of his wares. And he would invent all kinds of tricks to ensure that people patronized him. Moreover, he would tell his people how government’s senseless economic policies have been destroying the image of the society thereby making him and others unable

to survive. The area boy syndrome was all over him as he mesmerised the stage and forced the audience to rely on him for the latest information about the state of the nation.

In tow was the policeman who was to keep order but was also weighed down by the evertroublesome and recalcitrant people around him. He moved from stage to stage, from one corner to the other to pester the audience and ensured that decorum was maintained. He himself was equally piqued by the situation of the country where hunger is a serious nightmare, where the payment of salaries was a huge problem and insecurity has become the order of the day.

At a point the playwright narrowed the story down to Lagos. To him, Lagos is a symbol of Nigeria. The story of Lagos, is the story of Nigeria. With the Lagoon around, with the

array of issues and masses of people in the city, what has the place become in the annals of Nigeria? In order that the beauty of the play is made manifest and more appealing and entertaining, Tunji Oyelana was brought in to sing his popular and evergreen track ‘I love my country I no go lie’. The interlude equally made the audience go back into the labyrinth of time when Soyinka first composed the song to spite leaders. Fortunately, Oyelana sang it with renewed vigour and mandate that people joined him in the choruses. In all, the profundity of the play, proved that Soyinka was the best to have directed it. All the issues of the nation within the period periscoped in the play were brought to the fore.

However, the play has been seen by many as being on abridged form of the original text.

The playwright may have done it on purpose to save time and keep the audience wholly entertained. Besides that, it would have been more instructive too if the playwright had incorporated the latest style of political thuggery into the play. The system of area boyism in Nigeria keeps evolving. Their manner of operation gets more sophisticated day in day out. The ease with which political leaders engage them for their selfish motives is endless.

Today, many of them have guns. Some have even become too powerful for their masters to control. After elections, they now constitute themselves into powerful forces that become a big headache to the society. If, in the process of the presentation of this play, the director had updated this to suit the current situation it would have attracted louder and more pleasant applause from the people. The mood of the nation now is for the people to know how the political thugs had fared and operated in different locations in Nigeria during the just-concluded elections.

Even though the play harped seriously on austerity measures, military interregnum, transport problem, the menace of social miscreants, bad leadership, oil pollution, bicycle allowances and later car allowances and such other monstrous issues that tend to keep Nigeria down, The Beatification of Area Boy is still an evolving theme. It is a play that has to be done in a comprehensive manner to espouse in totality all the ugly and monstrous issues tearing Nigeria to shreds.

The hilarious responses of the audience showed how they followed the sequences and how they felt that the issues truly touched on their psyche. This is one of the effects of live theatre, which its primary motive is to appeal to the conscience of the people. It is a lesson and that was why when it premiered in Leeds, England and other parts of Europe, the play was well received.

The cast and crew included Dr. Tunde Awosanmi, Ropo Ewenla, Wole Oguntokun, Makinde Adeniran, Tunji Oyelana, Peter Badejo, Ijeoma Agu. Others were Wale Ojo, Toyin Osinaike, Jennifer Osammor, Taiwo Adeyemo, Tunji Sotimirin and many others.

56

THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

W

HETHER traditional or contemporary, realistic or abstract, an artist choice is guided by expressive purpose. And Stanly Dudu’s numerous drawing attest to this.

His works revolve around women and children, which are done by memory and imagination. “Basically, my works are works that reflect the society, particularly women and children because I tend to favour them more,” he said.

Dudu interprets every day activities of women. The resulting images thus reflect the artist’s feelings about the subjects, which are worth discussing. The woman in the village, the woman who sells food by the roadside, the house wife who attends to children and market women are the subjects you come across in his drawings. “The connection between me and market women is that I find them very interesting. I find it very hard to walk pass them. I want to look at them, the arrangement of the baskets, the gesticulations, the transactions; all these things are what inspire me about the market women. I kind of drawn to that,” he asserted.

His works are lavishly composed and they offer bigger than life experience that paradoxically lead viewer away from the real world and its surface appearances into the inside spaces of the mind and spirit; though Dudu said his works are not spiritual.

He achieves this inward view by balancing a realistic drawing technique with addition of symbolism and allegorical elements. His true ambition is to remind us of where we are coming from,

MAY 3, 2015

Magic of charcoal drawing

•A large Family Await Supper

By Udemma Chukwuma

where we are and where we are going.

Dudu mainly work with paper and charcoal, but introduced colour to his works last year during his second solo exhibition: Next Episode.

His works were generally monochrome, an identity he created for himself before he decided to add colour to his works. “I realized I needed an identity and fortunately it was at the period people got tired of seeing coloured works everywhere. By the time I was showcasing more of these, I was welcoming, I was receiving accolades,” he hinted.

Dudu depicts a lot of children participating in all sorts of plays, such as playing “mummy and daddy.” He asserted that these set of works were inspired by his childhood experiences.

His major influence he said: “Is my brother, Emmanuel Dudu. He is one of my major influences. I grew up seeing him doing drawing, attempted the ink, do creative things. It wasn’t just him alone; I had another brother though he fell by the roadside. I saw the two of them work. With his (Emmanuel Dudu’s) own little achievements, I was able to pick up from there. I must confess he has been a very big

influence in my life,” he said and described his brother as “my mentor” He is working towards presenting something to his viewers which said: “In the next five years I want to move beyond this, I want to experiment things. I want to do arts that the society can associate with; I mean art that can reach out to the whole society, even beyond because I am equally nursing the notion of doing art internationally. Like in residency programmes, even participate in the auction they do abroad.”

Since 2009, Dudu has been producing captivating works which people often ask if they are paintings. Like

Going to Chibok C

ATCHING them young has always been a philosophy that has helped humanity to make for continuity. In certain professions or areas of human endeavour, it is usually advisable to ensure that children are made to learn certain things of life on time. In theatre, drama, musical performances and visual arts, this is even more noticeable in Nigeria. There have been series of programmes and creative endeavours aimed at targeting the children thereby encouraging and empowering them to begin early enough to find their rhythm in life.

During the just-concluded Lagos Black Heritage Festival held in the state, the event planners did not forget to include a variety of shows that involved children. One of such and a very topical one at that was the play titled Seizing Sambisa. Apart from the fact that it was an all-children drama, choreographed and dramatized by them, it proved that if given the opportunity and the right atmosphere the children can always be at their best.

Seizing Sambisa was a dance – drama woven around the ravaging story of the 226 female students kidnapped in the night of April 14 – 15, 2014, from Government Secondary School, Chibok town, Borno State. Members of the notorious Boko Haram sect later claimed respon-

By Edozie Udeze

sibility for the kidnap. The girls were said to have been taken to the Sambisa forest – a former colonial forest reserve – said to cover about 60,000 square kilometers.

It straddles the whole of North-Eastern States or Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi. Even though some of the girls were reported to have escaped, about 219 of them are yet to be accounted for – one year after.

On stage the play brought into focus how the scene was enacted. A teacher was on hand to teach as the students swayed to and fro. The joy in their hearts was boundless. As the teacher led them on, they equally responded with unbridled enthusiasm. They were all girls between 14 and 17 years and indeed full of youth and life. That was on the first day.

Soon it was time for break. At the end of the lessons, the girls all retired to their hostels, tired and ready for a blissful night.

Well into the night an uncommon euphoria of fear and hatred enveloped the premises. Apprehension was the norm. The sudden quietness of the night was pregnant with meaning.

Deep in their sleep, the students began to feel restless and numb. It was at this time that the devils struck, hooded from head to toe, shouting words of assurance, ‘we are soldiers of

peace, sent by government to rescue you beautiful girls.

While confusion reigned supreme, the students scampered here and there. There was no protection or explanation as to why and how this operation was necessary or otherwise. In the interim, some of the students acting on instincts, decided to disappear to safety. When the operation was over, uneasy calm reigned while fear resurfaced as the escaped ones reappeared to assess the situation.

It was a well-rehearsed drama, infused with enough choreographed dance patterns to thrill the audience and register the scenes. In it, folklores, dance and music were calculatedly engaged to enthrall the audience.

Written by Francesca Emmanuel and Promise Ugochukwu and conceptualized by Segun Adefila, it was dramatized by children of Footprints of David Art Academy.

Formed in 2005, the Footprints of David has been helping to form kids in the area of performance arts.

Music has been one of the foremost means through which they have been projecting themselves. The children lived up to expectations with the Seizing of Sambisa, a play that drew tears from most parents as they watched the dancedrama on stage.

•A scene in Seizing Sambisa

•The Chibok girls

•Words of Counsel

most artist, Dudu asserted that his has challenges. “The materials I work with, people will say they are cheap, just paper they will say. The papers are not easy to come by. I travel abroad, to Spain, to acquire papers,”

He is an Auchi Polytechnic graduate with Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in General Art in 2003 and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Painting in 2006.

He is a full time studio artist.

57

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

'Why incoming government must use technocrats'

Page 58, 59

What hope for Nigeria’s unbanked population?

•Gambo

Page 59

-- Page 53

•Barrow

‘ICT inevitable for old, new businesses’

Page 60

Shareholders ratify appointment of Chams' Plc GMD-designate

I

• From left: Representative of awardee, Chief Festus Marinho, Gbenga Marinho, Founder, Centre for Values In Leadership (CVL) Prof. Pat Utomi and Dr. Thomas Asuquo, during the 22nd CVL Leader without Title colloquium in honour of Chief Marinho’s 80th and Dr Asuquo’s 76th birthday anniversary in Lagos recently.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Investors, CBN square up over cash reserve ratio I

NVESTORS and shareholders' group are spoiling for war over what they described as the unpalatable effects of some policies against their business interests, especially the cash reserve ratio by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Nation can authoritatively report.

It would be recalled that the CBN the Monetary Policy Committee MPC had, at its 98th meeting in Abuja in November last, devalued the naira from N155 to N168 against the dollar, increased Monetary Policy Rate from 12 to 13 per cent, and also increased the private sector Cash Reserve Ratio from 15 to 20 per cent, among other policy decisions.

Speaking on behalf of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), in Lagos, its National Coordinator, Sir Sunny Nwosu condemned in strong terms the biting effect of the policy. Raising a poser, Nwosu asked: "Why do you want to punish investors?

Unfortunately, most of the issues that have been discussed at the Annual General Meeting those who are representing the CBN do not discuss and therefore the governor will not be able to feel the pulse of the investors.

"It is very important that whoever is representing the CBN must report exactly what happens at the AGM. And let me place it record here that henceforth any AGM we attend, we are not going to be violent, and we are going to be very civil protest.

Anywhere they mention CBN we will give them thumbs

• Shareholders' group plan protest match to Buhari

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf down."

Added to that, Nwosu said is the introduction of a policy by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. "FRC came up with a gazette that for every financial inclusion by banks or companies will attract N5billion. I spoke with the Minister of Trade and Investment, I said, you say you're looking for investment in one hand and driving away investors in the other hand. We must speak out."

"The latest one is the corporate governance framework. I have never seen a place where exposure document stays about one month. However, we cannot continue to fold our hands. All companies, banks, everybody must contribute to the exposure document. We have about 7-8 corporate governance rules in this country today. Everybody shareholder must be enlightened to make a contribution to every regulations fashioned out by the regulators. That is the way to go," he stressed.

Echoing similar sentiments, the President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Farouk Umar observed that the CRR policy was counterproductive. As far as he is concerned, the CBN is just warehousing money with complete disregard for the progressive and development of the economy. "First Bank for

instance has over N570billion with the CBN, which is not earning any interest. We must make sure that we don't give our monies to bank and somebody is taking the profit.

Regarding the CRR, 75 per cent is quite huge. We were told by the CBN that they took that decision because politicians were borrowing the money but elections are over. Why are they still keeping our money?

They should give us our money back. I don't even believe the CBN understand this whole concept of organic growth. How do you define public sector fund? First Bank, for example, was making over N40 billion on COT alone that is no more. We should collectively write a memo to the National Assembly to protest this. This has to stop."

To Brigadier Emmanuel Ikwue (rtd), Chairman, Coordinating Committee of the Zonal Shareholders' Association, a proactive action is required to whip the CBN to order. "Most investors are groaning in pains. CBN policies have been stifling investors and shareholders.

This does not bode well for the economy. We may have to stage a protest match from Lagos to Daura, in Katsina to make our grievances known to the President-elect before we die in poverty," he lamented.

Mr. Boniface Okezie, National Chairman Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) and President of Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association ((NISSA) Chief

Timothy Adesanya are also on the same page with other shareholders' group.

According to the duo, there is an urgent need to get things right in the interest of the economy.

But the CBN said the policy decisions were meant to save the economy from a precarious situation of a sliding naira and excess banking sector liquidity.

Justifying the need for the introduction of the policy at the time, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency that: "The decision of the MPC was the best we could do under the circumstance the economy is presently. We noticed that a lot of things contributed to the pressure on the naira. Firstly is the declining revenue from oil.

"Our source of revenue in this country is just oil and when oil price declined by about 25 per cent in the last one month, we expected that there would be pressure on the foreign reserves. We believe that the pressure on the naira, apart from the declining oil prices, is also as a result of the liquidity in the banking industry whereby a lot of frivolous demands are being made by customers."

"The only thing to do to stop bank from granting loans to these customers is to mop up more of the monies available to the banks. That was why we increased the CRR on private sector deposits. We believe it will reduce the pressure on the foreign reserves."

N what could be described as an imprimatur of support for the board and management of Chams Plc, shareholders of the company has hailed the appointment of the Group Managing Directordesignate, Mr. Olufemi Williams.

The shareholders gave their vote of confidence shortly after the announcement of Williams' appointment by the company's chairman, Very Rev. Ayo Richards at the 31st Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the shareholders, Mallam Shehu Mikail, National President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said the appointment of Mr. Williams was well-thought out, adding that the shareholder group would rally round the new management.

In his opening remarks, the chairman, who noted that the last 12 months has been a period of consolidation for the company, recalled that: "Sir Demola Aladekomo has been a very strong leader, the only Group Managing Director and CEO in the company's great and nearly 30-year history, and one who has managed the company through challenging times and market transitions.

The board is grateful for his innumerable contributions to the company and his distinguished tenure as CEO over the last 29 years."

The board chair also said the directors recommended

payment of dividend of 2 kobo per ordinary share of 50 kobo held, just as the outgoing GMD, Aladekomo hinted that the company has set new corporate objectives for the new financial year.

Among other things, he said the company would focus more on training and development, boosting staff welfare, improve customer base, pushing brand awareness, growing revenue targets, paying dividends by the end of the 2015 financial year among others.

Until the announcement of Aladekomo's retirement, Williams was the Deputy Managing Director, and a Chams Plc veteran having joined the company in 1990 as a Computer Engineer.

He rose to the position of General Manager in January 2001, and held same until he joined SuperCard Limited as Managing Director in March 2004. Olufemi was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Chams Plc in January 2012 after the merger of SuperCard Limited with Chams Plc. Other appointment ratified by the board and shareholders was Mr. Lukman Balogun as new Deputy Managing Director, he is currently the MD of CardCentre Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chams Plc. Founded in 1985, Chams transited from a privately held company into a public liability company in 2008.

T

also part of the factors."

Proffering solution to their plight, the group demanded that the present National Assembly should pass the Postal and Courier Services Commission Bill it sent to the hollowed chamber.

The group which recalled that it sent the bill to the 6th and 7th assembly for debate and subsequent passage regretted that the bill was not passed until the two assemblies wound up.

"It is our demand that the present assembly passes the bill before it winds up. This is necessary as the Universal Postal Union, UPU, has embarked on a global reform of the sector. Nigeria being a signatory to UPU, will do better by keying into UPU reforms which includes establishment of a Postal Regulatory commission by member countries.”

Courier operators lament poor fortunes

HE Association of Nigeria Courier Operators has expressed concerns over the declining fortunes of its members, especially the indigenous ones, in recent years.

The group, in a statement, regretted that the decline fortunes, has resulted in loss of jobs, loss of government revenue and closure of many courier companies.

"293 courier companies were registered in the country.

Out of this, only 80 are active.

Many have closed down in recent years and many more are on the verge of closure. The dwindling trend is attributable to lack of regulation channel and absence of proper regulation. Inimical activities of local government employees on Nigerian roads and non recognition of viability of courier industry by the Federal Government are

58

BUSINESS

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F every 10 Nigerian adult, chances are that only about three have bank accounts. This was the outcome of a recent survey by the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) which showed that about 80 per cent of Nigerians do not have bank accounts with financial institutions which make them financially excluded and lack access to finance.

As it stands, only about 28.6 million adults in Nigeria have bank accounts and this represents 32.5 percent of the adult population, EFInA stated.

Damning verdict According to the survey, 85 per cent of the unbanked populations are females and 86 per cent of them are among the rural population. Besides, many in these categories lack information about banks, just as most of them cannot read or write, and prefer dealing with cash. But 55 per cent use bank for savings purposes, while 19 per cent use it to prevent theft. Three per cent use microfinance banks.

Commenting on the challenge of financial exclusion in Nigeria, Ayodele Othihiwa, Partner and Head of Financial Services for KPMG in Nigeria said: "Our view is that the greatest opportunity to grow revenue will not only come from just new markets or products, but also from the ability to deliver a high quality and a differentiated customer experience."

"Keeping current market share is critical, but growing it is even more so, which is why tapping into the unbanked Nigerian population becomes a crucial element for the industry to explore going forward," indicates Othihiwa.

Practically there are correlations between access to finance, economic growth and poverty alleviation, and it is supported by the federal government, who in October 2014 divulged intentions to explore the network of the Nigerian Postal Service to reduce the unbanked population in the country to 10 per cent by 2016.

Othihiwa further notes that: "This is certainly a very aggressive target by the federal government if we consider that in 2012 approximately 46.7 per cent of the adult population of the country (+/- 90 000 000 then) was unbanked. Even if we work off this number - as the latest available statistic - the federal government is talking about reducing 40 000 000 unbanked to 9 000 000. To do this, even within three years, is not an easy task. That said, the target is attainable."

Need for financial inclusion Centuries ago, the number of

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

OU are the Chairman of the Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI), an initiative in the forefront of advocacy for financial inclusion in the country.

What should Nigerians expect?

Last year, we did finalised an MoU with the Central Bank, National Identity Management Commission, and the Ministry of Agriculture that would allow people in the agric sector, especially those who are financially excluded now, a chance for instant financial inclusion.

It means, first of all identifying the person and then giving them some basic financial services because the National ID itself as a payment solution on it, a prepaid card solution.

They can instantly get a mobile money account solution and also get a basic transaction or no-fees account, savings account. So, both instantly, the smallholder farmer becomes, or at least enters the door of financial inclusion. And that would facilitate other things like basic credit, basic insurance, which are the three legs of financial inclusion: savings, credit and insurance, to start with. And that can begin to grow whether it's from the microfinance side of things or even from the commercial banking.

Like I told, you we have a payment system strategy that there are some areas where you would get rapid adoption, some sectors of the economy, where if you promote it, you will get rapid adoption. Agriculture is one but we also have health, education, transport, or what

What hope for Nigeria's unbanked A new World Bank report says Nigeria, like many countries within sub-Sahara Africa has a growing population who are excluded from the financial services compared to their counterparts abroad. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf examines some of the unresolved issues

• Account holders by regions and continents banks that existed were too few to warrant any inquisition as to who are underserved.

But today, governments and private sector players all over the world are making moves in quick succession to boost what has now come to be widely accepted as "Financial Inclusion."

Financial Inclusion is simply about making more financial services available to the financially underserved and excluded.

This has become a priority for governments and international agencies such as the International Monetary Fund and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank because of the significant upside that comes with higher levels of financial inclusion.

Development finance experts estimate that, on a global scale, some 2.5

billion people are financially excluded and totally unbanked.

Currently, this statistics stands at 39.7 percent, indicating that efforts to bridge the financial inclusion gaps in the country have been yielding fruits.

The most recent Financial Access Survey results from the IMF show a strong link between financial inclusion and economic growth. Specifically, the results show a vivid correlation between the number and use of commercial bank services (a measure of financial inclusion) and an increase in GDP per capita (a measure of economic growth). In Africa, depositor data from commercial banks reveal that depositors per 1,000 adults grew five-folds between 2004 and 2013 and translated to a 40 percent growth in real GDP per capita. This is a strong reason to drive further financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Source: Ventureburn.com Financial inclusion by regions According to statistics, a total of 39.2 million adult Nigerians (46.3% of the adult population) were financially excluded in 2010. Further analysis revealed that 54.4% of the excluded population was women, 73.8% were younger than 45 years, 34.0% had no formal education, and 80.4% resided in rural areas.

Interestingly, financial inclusion is most advanced in Nigeria's urban areas, especially in the southern parts of the country.

Northern Nigeria is particularly disadvantaged, with 68% of adults excluded in both the North-East and North-West regions.

Formal inclusion rates range from 49% in the South-West region to only 19% in the North-West region. The "informally included", primarily live in the North-Central region, where

23% of adults have access to only informal services.

Concerted efforts to encourage saving culture It is against the backdrop of this realisation that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently rolled out guidelines for the country's Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Nigeria is a member of the 100 nation Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), a network of financial inclusion policy makers with the core mission to encourage the adoption of inclusive financial policies in developing nations, to lift 2.5 billion citizens out of poverty.

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) was launched three years ago in Abuja by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The NFIS is a document that provides the road map for the activities of all stakeholders in the provision of financial services for the growth and development of the economy.

President Jonathan stated on the occasion of the launch of the document in Abuja, that lack of access to financing has been one of the major factors militating against Nigeria's economic growth and development.

The President who was represented by Vice-President, Nnamadi Sambo said the successful implementation of the strategy would place the nation on the path of sustainable economic growth.

He said the programme was meant to create additional job opportunities as well as provide favourable investment climate that would promote private enterprises development to accelerate the pace of growth and economic development.

Jonathan said that the policies and programmes were targeted at creating more job opportunities, provide favourable investment climate and promote private enterprises development and positively contribute to helping Nigeria become one of the largest economies in the world by 2020.

On its part, the CBN has developed

'Most Nigerians will own bank

Mr. Walter Ahrey, a former Director of Strategy and Performance at the Central Bank of Nigeria, currently consults for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Rural Finance Institution Building project and also doubles as Chairman, Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI), an initiative focused on facilitating access to finance for the rural poor as well as encouraging inclusion of the nation's unbanked population in the banking space. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, he expresses optimism that the growing unbanked population will soon be a thing of past we call smart cities, the likes of Eko Atlantic, hospitality and tourism. In these areas for rapid adoption, we decided to create committees that would allow that to happen. I head the one for agriculture. So that is one area. But if you're looking at it from agric side, Federal Ministry of Agriculture also has the enhancement scheme projects, where they use the e-wallet for giving subsidy on fertiliser, seeds and machinery and using electronic money to redeem the subsidy itself. They also were doing that. And so, it was a merger of these initiatives that gave rise to the Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI). And that's why we're working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to make it happen. And to enable it happen, we decided that for those people who have been excluded, we would need to find a very reliable way of identify-

•Ahrey ing them and that's why the National Identity Management Commission came on board.

It appears to be a well-thought

out scheme no doubt. But from a survey conducted by Enhancing Financial Inclusion & Access (EFInA), a financial-base initiative, it did find out that Nigeria still has a humongous population of the unbanked. To what extent would the NAPI initiative help to fill this gap and what's the time frame you are looking at?

If you take agric for instance, our projection is that by the end of next year we would have had about 10million farmers at least have these facilities for payments. Now, that would make it easy for them to actually continue to now begin to get access to finance, access to other financial services like insurance. For instance, just because we have started this thing as a pilot, already the Nigeria Agric Insurance Corporation (NAIC) is already giving a very

simple insurance with every two bags of fertilisers that they give to farmers, they added N500. They gave them N20, 000 insurance for their cropping season, okay. So, you would see that large scale inclusion with new product just because of this.

Because of mobile money, already telecommunication companies are beginning to introduce, number one, thinking about a shred agent network that would not only do their typical time top-up and so on, but would also provide agent banking services and so on. But more than that, even they themselves sell micro-insurance with airtime top-up and so on. So, it is going to become a huge growth area in the next couple of years.

I know that the financial inclusion objective is to reduce financial exclusion to 20 per cent by year 2020,

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

ed population?

•CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele a multi-prong attack that will reduce the percentage of adult Nigerians that are excluded from financial services from 46.3% in 2010 to 20% by 2020.

The number of Nigerians included in the formal sector was expected to increase from 36.3% in 2010 to 70% by 2020.

The approach includes; the transformation of existing Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations into a simplified risk-based tiered framework that allows individuals who do not currently meet formal identification requirements to enter the banking system; development and implementation of a regulatory framework for agent banking to enable financial institutions to bring banking services to the unbanked in all parts of the country; development and implementation of a National Financial Literacy Framework to increase awareness and understanding of financial products and services, with the ultimate goal of increasing sustainable usage.

In the view of an investment analyst, Esiri Emmanuel, laudable as these initiatives are, their success would be measured by the proliferation of small scale enterprises and other micro business across the nooks and crannies of the country capable of taking the jobless youth off the streets.

Breakthrough A World Bank report has revealed that 700 million people became account holders at banks, other financial institutions, or mobile money service providers between 2011 and 2014.

The report released recently also

showed that the number of "unbanked" individuals dropped 20 per cent to two billion adults.

"Access to financial services can serve as a bridge out of poverty. We have set a hugely ambitious goal - universal financial access by 2020 - and now we have evidence that we're making major progress," the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim said.

"This effort will require many partners - credit card companies, banks, microcredit institutions, the United Nations, foundations, and community leaders. But we can do it, and the payoff will be millions of people lifted out of poverty."

Between 2011 and 2014, the percentage of adults with an account increased from 51 per cent to 62 per cent, a trend driven by a 13 percentage point rise in account ownership in developing countries and the role of technology.

In particular, mobile money accounts in sub-Saharan Africa are helping to rapidly expand and scale up access to financial services. Along with these gains, data also show big opportunities for boosting financial inclusion among women and poor people.

The findings was published in the latest edition of the Global Findex, the world's most comprehensive gauge of progress on financial inclusion.

Financial inclusion, measured by the Global Findex as having an account that allows adults to store money and make and receive electronic payments, is critical to ending global poverty.

Studies showed that broader access to, and participation in, the financial system can boost job creation, increase investments in education, and directly help poor people manage risk and absorb financial shocks.

The report also hinted that in subSaharan Africa mobile technology has the potential to vastly expand financial inclusion. 34% of adults now have an account, an increase from 24% in 2011. 12% of adults in the region have a mobile money account compared to just 2% globally. Kenya leads with mobile money account ownership at 58%, while Tanzania and Uganda have rates of about 35%. 13 countries in the region have mobile money account penetration of 10% or more.

accounts by 2020' but I'm optimistic that we can do a lot more than that.

By 2020, I can see everybody in Nigeria who is bankable, who is an adult, having a bank account. It is not rocket science. At least the fact that you have access to save your money and get credit against that either as an individual or as a group, for me, is a big quantum leap to financial inclusion across the nation.

Talking about interventions, in the time past, government have announced humongous sums for one intervention or the other which didn't succeed at the end of the day so much so that people have since grown apathy to some of these socalled intervention funds, especially because of the sometimes stringent or complex criteria for accessing these funds. As somebody who has been in the system, may be you want to shed more light on that?

More and more, particularly for those that the Central Bank has engineered, they are packaged with a lot of consultations. They are never cast in stones. The good thing about Central Bank is that as the Central Bank becomes more and more mature as a Central Bank, is the fact whatever it puts out there, it sends an exposure draft so that people can contribute. But even it is in the process of implementation and it sees areas of improvement or areas that

people can contribute to make it more applicable, they do it.

So, as we speak something like the intervention funds Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Fund, for instance, they are still continuing the discussion and whenever they get inputs that require that they adjust it, to allow that they are more applicable, they want to do it. I think there is a good intention behind it. And even though initially because of issue of risk management, if you're a bit relaxed about some of these things, they get captured by the wrong party and applied in the wrong way and you will just see huge non performing credit out there. So, like I said, it's best to start with very tight environment but have a listening ear to be able to adjust to allow that some of the people who are disadvantaged by the policy requirements can begin to access it.

If you take for instance, this particular fund, now that the state governments want to be part of it, they are already allowing that they can come on board on behalf of their rural communities and other people. And so this is already beginning to happen. And so long as the right kind of vehicle is created, there is always a listening ear to do it. That's what special advantage Central Bank entails because they allow collaborative action.

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'Why incoming government must use technocrats' Comrade Seyi Gambo, Convener, Good Governance Group and the former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in this interview with Justice Ilevbare sets agenda for the incoming government

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WHAT Good Governance Group is all about?

It all started during a discussion at a friend's house in Ikorodu mid last year. We discovered that we need a non partisan group that can work with government at all levels to achieve socio-economic development and qualitative service delivery to the Nigerian people. It is a fact that we can't all be in government, but we can all contribute to the success of same.

For anybody in position of influence in Nigeria, we have at least one hundred people qualified to man that ministry or institution.

So what we seek to do is through our network of specialists and intellectuals, develop alternative policies, or reinforce the prevailing policies where needed. We will also inform the public about what they should expect from government, be it federal, state or local government.

When those in position know that the people have an expectation, they will be compelled to act more responsibly.

The local government's chairmen will use their budget for what it is set for; internally generated revenue will be closely monitored.

However, the group is still at its consultation stage. We held talks with former president Olusegun Obasanjo late last year, and it was an experience of a life time. He demystified our so called leadership challenges. Other prominent Nigerians who have been privileged to serve in government are also billed to be interviewed by the group as we seek to know the reasons behind our monumental failure as a people.

Need for technocrats in key sectors Technocrats and professionals with proven records should be appointed to man key ministries and departmental agencies (MDAs). ?Like in the case of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the incoming government should appoint a policy bias individual - someone who knows about policy formulation and an analytical mind. Probably someone with sound Monetary Policy background and an Economist, probably with a PhD will do. Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo and His Royal Highness Sanusi, we're very good.

Sanusi as you'll agree with me was not a core banker; he was more of a regulator in the system. Commercial Banking is totally different from Central Bank role. CBN job is not deposit and lending, it's a policy thing.

The president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari might need to look in the direction of research institute, World Bank and indigenous consultant with sound policy background. We have a lot of them - we need to get this right.

We need people who "think globally and act locally" they must have a sound knowledge of Nigeria market or environment.

On the oil and gas sector In my view to start with, oil revenue should no longer form major revenue to fund the budget. Revenue from the crude should go to a special fund or a sinking fund as reserve fund.

Effective tax system should be put in place using Lagos as model. Citizens paying taxes will now be demanding for value for money and system of "national cake" will no longer be there.

Agriculture should be subsidised by the federal government.

A lot have been said about how to get the refineries working and removal of subsidy. What is your take on this and profile of the personalities needed as minister of petroleum?

Transparency of this sector is very

•Gambo important. Nigerians are looking forward to a credible individual as the Petroleum Minister. Deregulation should be done and FG should probably sell like 30% of their stake in the JVs and deploy the proceeds into critical sector of the economy.

Fall in oil price provides ample opportunity for the subsidy to be removed. FG should put the current refineries into good shape and then sell off. However, the unions should be part of the process from the beginning to the end as partners not observers. We have seen where government under BPE got core investors that ran hitherto profit making government agencies aground, stripping them of their assets and sending the workforce away with peanuts. A perfect is example is NICON insurance. Hence, the type of privatisation, the choice of buyers should be debated with the union representatives. Greenfields should be encouraged as well as Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) should be passed to law.

This is even more important than the restructuring as recommended in the Steve Oronsaye report, especially for critical government regulatory agencies in the hydrocarbon industry.

This will keep government away from removing one problem and creating more problems on the other hand, the Nigerian way.

Fighting corruption One man alone cannot fight corruption in Nigeria, but one man can lead the crusade. Office of the Nigerian Head of State is a very powerful one and therefore body language of the President gives the direction. Corruption with impunity was at all-time high during the administration of GEJ as all the anticorruption agencies were moribund as a result of perceived GEJ's body language to fighting corruption. The system is already responding to emergence of Buhari as the PresidentElect and consequently everybody is sitting up. His zero tolerance for corruption is already getting people jittery. We are going to witness institution functioning with all anticorruption agencies ready to go for kill. He who must come to equity must come with a clean hand. It takes one

without history of corruption to fight corruption.

On security Most of the security challenges in Nigeria can honesty be attributed to a self induced and self destruct process.

Terrorism in the United States of America as a perfect example is more of offshore driven by people or what we can say ideologies that see America as a subversive nation-state, Islamic fundamentalists and others, who now have sympathisers within the system.

However, in the case of Nigeria, we have a critical mass of people that are disenchanted with the way the country is being run. Suffering in the midst of plenty with attendant poverty. So we have millions of jobless youths who are idle hands and minds, prey to politicians and hate preaching religious clerics. In the religious fanatism example, we have youths whose disillusion in leadership have made them a ready army in the hands of wealthy African nations who are envious of Nigeria's status, like Libya under Gaddafi. In the fight against Boko Haram insurgency, for years our armed forces were overwhelmed by a rag tag cult. Like it's said in the IT world, garbage in, garbage out. Our men were ill equipped physically and mentally, whereas the defence budget kept soaring.

We need to get seasoned and patriotic Nigerians to look into operations of our security agencies.

Take the Department of Secret Services (DSS) for example, the spokesperson of that highly respected organisation have brought the DSS into disrepute by her often times outlandish statements which are not followed with arrest and persecution in the courts. You say people are Boko Haram sponsors and they are not arrested? The worst thing I have ever heard the head of an arm of the nation's security network said was when the Director General of DSS said the service have decided to move on by forgiving the murderers of ten DSS operatives along with forty-six policemen. If DSS operatives can be killed in cold blood while carrying out a national assignment by Ombatse cult members, what is the fate of the common man?

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BUSINESS

OUR division manages some of the more strategic services in the telecoms sector. Can you give us an insight into some of the things you do?

MTN Business is the Enterprise Business Unit of MTN Nigeria and we are focused on delivering technology solutions that enable businesses and the public sector to efficiently optimize their operations and connection to their customers. Our focus markets include SMEs, Large corporates and the public sector.

Our purpose as a business is to enable and inspire growth and we do this by providing innovative and customised solutions that help businesses reach more customers, serve these customers faster and better, and reduce cost, while at the same time maximizing profitability.

So whether its connecting a bank's head office to all its branches and ATMs nationwide via our expansive fibre-optic network, or hosting an oil firm's critical seismic data in our Tier 3 data centre or providing a platform for SMEs to access affordable software from the MTN Cloud, to mention just a few, our solutions are designed to enable businesses serve their customers better and by so doing grow.

How would you describe the level of investment made in the network to make it ready to provide solutions for modern businesses? How is MTN Business really geared up to support businesses?

MTN has made considerable investment in its network over time and continues to invest in the technology; infrastructure and human resources necessary to deliver innovative technology solutions for the enterprise.

Our Data Centre is an example. We have a Tier 3 certified data centre from where we deliver a broad range of platform services as well as co-location, hosting, disaster recovery and cloud services to customers across the different verticals.

In line with our vision to be the choice ICT partner for geographic and market expansion, we made huge investments in being part of the WACS consortium.

This has afforded MTN the opportunity to provide ultra-high speed connectivity and broadband services to locations beyond the shores of Nigeria. In addition, we are able to deliver high speed broadband through our Fibre to the home/Office solution to gated and multi dwelling communities notably VGC Estate and 1004 Estate.

These are just a few investments that have helped position us to serve our business customers better.

SMEs are regarded as the bedrock of any strong economy, providing the quickest areas of growth.

'ICT inevitable for old, new businesses' Omatsola Barrow is the Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria. In this role, Tsola has oversight for MTN business, the business to business arm of MTN Nigeria that caters to corporate customers, SMEs and is responsible for deploying core ICT solutions to enterprises that drive a substantial part of the Nigerian economy. In this interview with Bukola Aroloye he speaks about what makes MTN Business tick, as well as its value offerings for the Nigerian business class. Excerpts: However, in Nigeria, it is one challenge after the other besetting SMEs. What are some of the initiatives you have introduced to help small and medium enterprises function better and more profitably, and how impactful have these initiatives been?

SMEs are very dear to us in MTN and our goal has been singular: to provide the SMEs with technology solutions that are relevant, accessible, affordable and easy to use. Thinking in this manner has allowed us innovate and provide a broad range of SME-focused solutions that SMEs have found very useful. One of these solutions is the MTN Y'ello Directory. This is a business directory listing of over 300,000 SMEs in Nigeria. The service offers free listing to SMEs allowing them to be found by prospective buyers.

Understanding the plight of SMEs not knowing how to go about getting and maintaining their own websites, we recently upgraded the MTN Y'ello Directory to allow SMEs also host mini sites within the directory as well as build a community for interaction and networking.

This means SMEs can get their businesses on the web for free and have their prospective buyers reach them anytime from anywhere and at no cost at all. One of the other many SME-focused initiatives is MTN Y'ello Biz. This is a micro insurance service offered in collaboration with Mansard, targeted at shop owners and small office owners. For just N300 a week a shop owner can enjoy an insurance cover of over N1m. This cover protects the goods in the shop against fire or flood.

Another area we have thought to focus on is the area of software as a service.

Time was when a small business owner would have to spend a lot of money if he/ she wanted to buy original software.

This was accompanied by the complexity of hardware requirements and installation know-how.

Today, we are able to provide Accounting, HR, Supply Chain and CRM software to SMEs over the Internet. The SME only needs to subscribe to the software on a monthly basis making it more affordable and yet less complex to use.

Working in partnership with the Computer

•Barrow

Warehouse Group, we have also built a core banking application platform for micro banking services (MTN XaaS). This is software as a service solution targeted at the Micro finance banks and co-operative societies to help ease the initial CAPEX required to start off as a bank. The microfinance banks provide a huge funding platform for the SMEs. Therefore enhancing their service

delivery makes access to funds easier for the micro enterprise and enhances their contribution to the economy. These are just a few of the many initiatives we have deployed for the SMEs. There is still a lack of awareness on the benefits of cloud services as well as the mistaken perception that cloud computing is very expensive and beyond the reach of many businesses.

How is MTN Business bridging these identified gaps? Is cloud computing for SMEs in Nigeria considering the fact that we are still battling with brick and mortar issues?

The Cloud is a very interesting phenomenon.

Simply put, cloud services relate to services that can be accessed over the Internet at anytime, from anywhere most of which are device agnostic. We understand that the more people understand the benefits the Cloud offers, the more adoption there will be.

This was the reason behind the SME Forum we held in Q4, last year. The forum focused entirely on the Cloud services and how they benefit SMEs in practical use cases. It featured speakers from Government, an OEM and an SME. We shall be holding many more of such forums to further drive understanding of the service and its many benefits to SMEs. You have recently announced a partnership with Intarget to provide a robust mobile advertising service for businesses. What value is inherent in this service for business owners?

Mobile advertising is an innovative new way brands and businesses can engage more directly and more cost efficiently with their prospects and customers.

Since we launched MTN Mobile Ads a few years ago, we have continued to see increased interest in the service.

To begin with, brands can now complement their traditional advertising with Mobile advertising which gives them more robust, measurable marketing campaigns. This is basically because brands and companies can direct their adverts to a pre-profiled audience given them a much higher conversion rate.

Particularly for SMEs that don't have the resources to fund lofty campaigns, this service holds the key.

With access to our over 60million base and the ability to effectively profile and target accordingly, we are able to deliver the service via various channels.

What is your vision for the Nigerian enterprise business landscape?

Our vision for the Nigerian business landscape is platform on ICT, driving communication, collaboration and a network of economically viable business connections.

What general advice do you have for businesses in Nigeria?

Technology is not a distraction but a fundamental business enabler.

The right technology partner can make all the difference between success and failure. Seek out technology partners that are able to offer partnership rather than a transaction-based relationship. At MTN Business, we will partner with you to exceed your business goals and define new goals.

• From left: Financial Secretary, Mr. Ranti Sobande, Vice President, Mrs Lara Okuneye, President ANCO, Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo, Gen Secretary, Okey Uba, Asst Secretary, Tolu Omamadagan all of Association of Nigerian Courier Operators during Association's meeting in Lagos‌recently

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WOULD not have been writing on this subject today, but I seem to be getting into argument on it all the time. Honey is good for me but sugar is not.

I am surrounded by people who love sweet things and feel safe submerging themselves in honey but speaking against and declining table sugar.

My dear Mrs. Ekwom, my very dependable friend, who picks my daughter from school any time I am held up, believes that her family of lovely four boys and husband are better off with honey and not sugar.

My own husband who secretly heaps sugar into his tea/coffee and cereals but eats honey openly and smugly and, of course, my lovely mother who all her life preaches against refined table sugar while indulging in honey and calorie counting.

Don't get me wrong, honey is good. I am not here to write against it.

But if you are running away from sugar because of its negative health consequences, then you should also run away from the god's food 'honey'.

A visit to the dietician department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) revealed that about over fifty patients are attended to weekly by nutritionists and other health personnel.

"We do not recommend honey for any of our patients because it has more calories than even sugar; many people are not aware of this, but that is a fact," said one of the senior officers whose name I cannot mention because of the civil service code.

"Most of our patients are people who are diabetic and others who are suffering from different weight-related diseases, so we do not treat them with sugar or honey, two of which can make their case worse," explained the LASUTH nutritionist.

"Rather, we recommend sweeteners that have no sugar and are caloriefree." True to what she said, I saw some packets of Tropicana Slim sweeteners which she said sells for N500 per packet and the big packet goes for a higher price.

Though the LASUTH staff I interviewed stated that Tropicana Slim sweetener is zero calorie, further research reveals that it contains aspartame. It contains 10 calorie per serving (2.5g) but provides the same sweetness as 10g sugar (sucrose) containing 40 calories.

From research findings also, some people who have been using artificial sweeteners for long have complained of gastrointestinal problems, seizures, dizziness, migraines, blurred vision, allergic reactions, blood sugar in-

Beware, honey has more calories than table sugar

•Honey

•Sugar

creases and weight gain.

The major ingredients in most artificial sweeteners are sorbitol and sucralose, while they contain no saccharine, cyclamate, sugar, it still provides the taste of real sugar without all the calories of sugar or honey.

Loading honey unto a bowl of pap, porridge or breakfast cereal is not much better for our bodies than layering that cup of tea of cereal with granulated sugar; it is not benign. It has a knock on effect on the body like refined sugar.

"You will be surprised to know that honey is higher in calories than table sugar." I actually made a double take

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N a bid to satisfy the needs of customers across Nigeria as well as ease their online shopping experience, Konga, Nigeria's largest online mall, recently launched a new campaign called 'FoundOnKonga' to flaunt the over one hundred and fifty thousand products in its stock and demonstrate its claim of having the largest pool of products in the online mall segment in Nigeria.

The 'FoundonKonga' campaign enriches the lifestyle of shoppers and makes their dreams of finding any item they need on the site come

when Dietician Ngozi Ajero of Eko Hospital Lagos said this to me.

Yes, I did a double take. I have a niece who has been working assiduously on her weight. She goes to the gym regularly but comes back to laden her toast and cereals with honey. Of course it never occurred to her that honey is high in calories. Poor girl.

"A teaspoon of commercial natural honey contains about 22 calories, while a teaspoon of sugar is around 16 calories," she explained.

Unfortunately, most people who swapped honey for sugar, like my own husband, pour it onto their foods liberally, believing it to be superior to

table sugar. When people think that something is low in fat, they eat it more.

Where are the health benefits of honey so often talked about? While raw, unrefined varieties of honey do contain trace vitamins and minerals; niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin Bb, they only make-up about the two percent of honey's total content.

Researchers from Jahrom University of Medical Science in Iran monitored a range of symptoms, including runny nose, muscle pain, fever, coughing and sneezing. At the end of the study, which was reported in the Archives of Medical Research, the re-

Konga excites customers through, irrespective of the uncommonness of the item.

Gabriel Gab-Umoden, Konga'sVice-President, Marketing, informed that the campaign is to show young aspirational Nigerians that everything they need to live their dream lifestyle could be 'FoundonKonga', no matter how uncommon the item is.

According to him: "The objective of the campaign is to get the fans of Konga and the general

public to embrace the ease that comes with shopping on a platform that gives them access to everything they need to achieve their dreams and live their dream lifestyle."

As part of the campaign, the celebrity ambassadors, Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage, have already started generating some social media buzz, with tweets and posts about the interesting and amazing things they have 'FoundonKonga', and recruiting their fans into the

searchers found a significant difference in duration of all symptoms with the honey group faring much better.

It's thought that this is due to compounds in honey such as phenolic acids and flavonoids.

However, many big brand honeys and other natural sweeteners in super markets have been processed, heated and fitted to rid them of pollen and naturally-occurring bacteria in raw varieties, in the process inadvertently removing vitamins and minerals.

According to Dr. Fred Onyeachonam of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH, people believe that honey is better than sugar because honey is made of 55 percent fructose (fruit sugar) or the kind of sugar you find in fruits.

"Refined table sugar (sucrose) is processed in our bodies by insulin which is produced by the pancreas.

Honey is about 55 percent fructose that is processed by the liver," he said.

Continuing, he explained, "despite the chemical difference, our bodies still react to honey in much the same way as it reacts to sugar that is with a blood sugar increase."

This, he said, "encourages the pancreas to produce insulin, which leads the body to store fat and gain weight.

When eaten in excess, products containing fructose contribute to obesity, heart problems and liver disease just like products with refined sugar."

According to one report, "it is all about the language. When you think of honey, you think of nature; farms, bees, while when you think of sugar, images of factories, processing, churning out of white granules fill the mind."

But who says that everything natural is good to health. Table sugar does not fall from the sky. It comes from two sources, which are sugar cane and sugar beets. When honey is refined, it's no longer natural, just as refined sugar cane and sugar beets.

Just be aware of what you are taking in. Reactions are very much welcome. fun movement. Just a few days into the campaign, FoundonKonga has been a number one twitter trend in Nigeria.

Olatomiwa Akande, Head PR & Brand Management for Konga, said: "The campaign is designed to create a community of shoppers who would prefer a one-stop online mall for everything they need to going the extra mile in sourcing the various items they need from multiple online sites. It goes to exemplify to our customers that with Konga, you can find just any item you desire."

Split vs Window Air Conditioner

A

N air conditioner comprises of three main parts, which are condenser, evaporator and compressor.

In a split AC the condenser and the compressor are placed in the outdoor unit.The evaporator is located in the indoor unit which cools the room.

The window air conditioner is a single unit installed having one face inside and the other faces outside in a window or a gap. The inside part contains the filters, evaporators, fans and control panel whereas the outside portion contains the compressor & condenser.

The split AC and window AC are both equally efficient. The efficiency depends on various factors, like atmosphere, insulation and not on type of the AC. Below are some of the differences which should be kept in mind before buying an AC.

•Split ACs

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPLIT AC AND WINDOW AC Design In Window air conditioners heat exchangers, compressors, condensermotors and connecting pipes are placed on the same base.

•Window ACs

Split ACs consist of indoor and outdoor unit.

Space Window ACs occupy more space than split ACs. Installation Window AC installation is easier

than Split AC. Cost of equipment and installation cost A split AC costs more than a window AC of same capacity and similar energy star rating.

The installation of a split AC costs more as you need to install two unitsone indoor and one outdoor, which then need to be connected through copper tubing. There are other costs for accessories which might be needed for split ACs which include copper tunes and mounting tubes.

Unistallation of split AC and installation of the AC actually needs to refill gas. This also adds to the cost of installation. Window ACs do not refilling of gas when it is uninstalled and again installed at a new place.

Split Air Conditioner Window Air Conditioner Multiple Units

Multiple cooling units are in split ACs, single outdoor unit can also cater to multiple indoor units. Window ACs have only one compact unit.

Electricity costs The running cost of window and split for same energy rating is similar.

There is no benefit of AC type, the split AC might use a little bit extra electricity but the difference is not enough to affect buying decision.

Noise level The split AC makes lesses noise as the compressor is located in the outdoor unit that is not in the room. If you are light sleeper, prefer split AC over window AC. Service Window AC is easier to service than Split AC. Capacity Generally the maximum capacity of Window AC is 2.0 Ton whereas for Split AC there is no such restriction.

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

T

HE stories of most cooperative societies in Nigeria are anything but encouraging. If officials are not stealing the funds blind, they are running it to failure. Many people I know have preferred to distance themselves from workplace cooperative societies, all thanks to the negative trends which pervade the operation of the companies in many places of work.

There is no doubt however that a well managed cooperative society can be the workers' fortune changer.

Experts say cooperatives only thrive and soar when the leadership is honest, transparent and committed.

The NNPC Port Harcourt Cooperative, Thrift and Credit Society, has risen in the past four years to be the most profound in terms of creativity, ingenuity and business growth ever known in that sector in the history of Nigeria.

The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Cooperative which held recently at Aztec Arcum Event Centre, Ken Sarowiwa Road in Port Harcourt was as revealing as it was an eye-opener in many respects.

The achievements recorded by the Muhammed Musa Maikaya presidency in its two-term tenure spanning years 2010 to 2015 will go down in history, probably as the golden age of the organization.

In these four years, the NNPC Port Harcourt had a massive drive through injection of new, brilliant ideas and practical implementation leading to

G

UINNESS Nigeria Plc has announced plans to launch a N10billion Commercial Paper programme. The inaugural issue under the programme will hold on or before Friday, 8th May 2015. The announcement was made at the signing ceremony which held at the company's headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. John O'Keeffe, the Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria, commented: "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

How to run a successful cooperative society

By Oseni Momoh

unparallel success in the cooperative sector in Nigeria.

The kind of innovations introduced into the running of the cooperative business have made it impossible for any research into the running of successful modern cooperative societies in Africa today to do without drawing references in the activities of the NNPC Port Harcourt Cooperative Society, especially in the era of Maikaya leadership.

It is often said that management is about bringing together men, machines and materials. I dare add that the effective interplay of the three factors is what has partly accounted for the huge successes witnessed at the NNPC Port Harcourt Cooperative Society. The credit goes to Muhammed Musa Maikaya Management Committee for providing hitech, knowledge-based leadership.

The executive team led by Mr. Maikaya inherited eight staff in 2010 when it assumed office. As at 2015 when it left office, the staff strength hired by the cooperative society had grown to twenty nine. The cooperative staff of the NNPC Port Harcourt are probably the most motivated in terms of improved take-home pay. The staff have Housing Allowances and Contributory Pension Scheme initiated to promote

the workers' welfare.

Some staff of the cooperative and members were exposed to training within the period to make for effectiveness at work. As expected, the workers' attitudes have changed for the better just as registered membership grew from 342 in 2010 to 1, 095 at the end of Maikaya's tenure! This increase in staff strength and membership enrolment has gone a long way in tremendously enabling the corporate performance, expansion and success.

Through team spirit building and leadership ingenuity, Mr. Maikaya initiated the Oil Spring Housing Estate in LugbeAbuja, a dreamy housing plan for members to own their own houses in the nation's capital, Abuja, which has become a reality! All members who applied have received their allocation papers. Most of the houses are presently being readied for occupation. In fact, 224 out of 350 units of the houses are at various stages of completion, including road networks, electricity, etc.

The Oil Spring Housing Estate in Lugbe-Abuja is most certainly the biggest and most beautiful estate ever conceived or built by any cooperative society in Nigeria. The quality of the project received an excellent commendation at the 7th AGM.

Also at the AGM, the management of Property Finders Limited based in Abuja received kudos for its creativity which has transformed the estate into an exquisite complex also for choosing to use their own funds to move the project forward whenever there were slight delays from the project owners. Not many property companies in Nigeria could afford to push so hard to realise a client's dream, for, indeed Property Finders is in a class of its own! Good governance is essentially a catalyst for rapid development. This initiative represents no less!

The Maikaya exco went into Transport Business, purchasing four buses, three of which earn N20,000 a day and the fourth reserved for car hire services and also netting in good revenue into the cooperative's accounts.

A filling station in a busy hub in Port Harcourt, acquired in 2011 by the cooperative and run by it was recently reequipped with new pump machines and a new stand-by generator.

The same turn-around maintenance and re-injection of capital was carried out in the cooperative's farm sector, initiated by the Maikaya administration in 2010. The repositioned farm business is now yielding profits beyond members' expectations. The NNPC Cooperative farm located in Port Harcourt has

become a star example of success where others now visit to take a lesson or two from.

Leveraging the high performance, good name and credibility which the NNPC Port Harcourt Cooperative Society has acquired for itself over the years, lending organisations, especially commercial banks have thrown their gates wide open to do business with the cooperative.

During the four-year reign of the Maikaya administration, over N10bn of funds obtained from banks, savingscontributions and internally generated funds were disbursed to members who desired funds to meet urgent financial needs The cooperative bookshop was also positioned by management to optimally perform in the period under review which has made it a reasonable income stream to the society. Gone also is the era in which the cooperative's super market posted 'reduction in losses' annually as business outcome reports. Determined to hear nothing of the sort, Mr. Maikaya personally saw to it that the story changed. The supermarket now posts a profit of over N4m from the hitherto comatose business unit, annually.

Maikaya's management will be remembered for initiating e-transactions into the cooperative business

thereby making the location of members a non-issue. This is also as e-ticketing and holiday packages are being concluded with partners.

Following a disagreement with Union Bank of Nigeria over the cooperative's account with them, Maikaya's management which operated zero tolerance to corruption and cheating, engaged Idra Consulting Ltd in 2012 to do a forensic check on the account.

The matter dragged before the Bankers' Committee in Lagos.

At the end, the society recovered what could have been a written-off sum of over N11.5m The recovery of the 'byepassed' income itself tells its own story of the good governance posture of the Maikaya Management. In a country where corruption walks on four legs, where even our leaders fail to bring back into government purse, monies recovered from the foreign accounts of corrupt past leaders, this is a feat!

In 13 years the cooperative battled to achieve a capital base of N240million before Maikaya's team took over. In the four years of Maikaya's intervention the capital base had been raised to N1.174bn.

By any record of assessment, this is one Nigerian story for which one can heave a sigh of relief.

Little wonder, the Rivers State. Director of Cooperatives, Mrs. I.O Otu suggested to the 7th AGM the need for the incoming exco to appoint the outgoing president, Muhammed Maikaya as exofficio in order to keep him close and to continue to tap into his vast business ideas, creativity and initiatives.

Guinness Nigeria launches N10bn commercial paper programme the CP market again in the nearest future."

Witnessing the signing ceremony were representatives of the transaction ad-

visors 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 Cal-

culation and Paying Agent.

Also in attendance were officials of FMDQ OTC, a Securities and Exchange Commission licensed over-

•From left: MD/CEO Guinness Nigeria Plc. John O'Keeffe, MD/CEO FMDQ OTC Plc. Bola Onadele; Finance and Strategy Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc. Mr. Ron Plumridge; and, Sumbo Akintola, Partner, Aluko and Oyebode at the N10billion Commercial Paper signing ceremony held at Guinness Nigeria Headquarters

the-counter market operator for fixed income securities.

Also speaking at the event, Kobby BentsiEnchill, Head - Debt Capital Markets, of Stanbic IBTC Capital stated that Guinness Nigeria has shown industry leadership in taking up the CP. "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," Bentsi-Enchill said.

63

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

INTERVIEW

‘We must never play religious politics again’ Bishop Charles Ighele is The General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission (Happy Family Chapel) read Political Science at the then University of Ife. He spoke with David Lawal on the lamentable roles of religion in the just-concluded general elections. Excerpts:

• Ighele

H

OW have you been able to use your background in political science to advance religion?

After graduating in 1980, I have seen that my background in political science and history has helped me to see how decision-making brought about a lot of suffering to families in different parts of the world.

You now see that the way government is run, the way government is advised to do things, the quality of the citizens and how much the citizens are ready to be a part of the system. All these helped me. When I studied bureauc-

T

HE various opportunities of social media for effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery are imperative for the growth of the church in the 21st century.

This was take-away of the three-day annual Conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Administrative Officers and Computers Secretaries last week at the Youth centre of the church on the LagosIbadan expressway, Lagos.

racy in the university, it made me understand bureaucratic bottlenecks.

It is helping me so much in the ministry, and when you look at the bible; in the New Testament, in the Acts of Apostles, you will see people sell parts of their properties to take care of the poor and this is what the church has always stood for.

This is how it supposed to be because it is not about we men of God getting extremely rich and the people getting extremely poor. We were not anointed just for us to feel good and be rich. We were anointed because God

has other people in mind.

That is what I keep telling people, it is not about us - it is about the people.

Can religion and politics walk together for the good of the people?

Well (smiles) you know as a preacher when you look at the Old Testament, you would see the mixture. You see religion and you see politics or should I call it governance. People like King David. You can’t divorce the two but the church has to be interested in the quality of the leaders that are arising.

So you can’t separate the two. As far as I am concerned, I don’t believe in this is spiritual and this is secular; everything goes together.

So, you are saying that religion and politics go together. You didn’t mention that clearly enough.

Well, I didn’t really talk about partisan politics. Consequently, there is something known as partisan politics. What is politics? I don’t want to go into defining what politics is. But you see, man critically cannot be divorced from governance; man cannot be divorced from the people in charge unless you want to live on an island like Robinson Crusoe.

So, there is also one known as partisan politics.

Personally, I am interested in politics; I follow it to the minute details, just as I also follow football. I am not a footballer but I follow it and then I am not a politician but I follow it. I am interested in politics but I am not in partisan politics.

What do you really mean when you say partisan politics?

Well, partisan politics is when you decide to join a party then be a politician in

that particular party, which I have personally said I will not go into. Now, I’m not saying that some of my colleagues who have gone into it have done anything wrong.

As far as I am concerned, there are two groups of pastors, two groups of preachers.

There is a group of pastors called to go into partisan politics just like somebody can also be a journalist and a pastor. Somebody can be a medical doctor and also a pastor. Somebody can be a pharmacist and also a pastor; somebody can be a footballer and a pastor. So, somebody can be a pastor and also be into partisan politics.

I don’t condemn them at all but there is yet another group. This particular group, God has taken them to a status and God has put them in a place whereby their own is to act as fathers in the land but it does not mean that a father cannot support any of the children. People like Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop Mike Okonkwo would not go into partisan politics; they belong to this other group I am talking about.

How do you assess the last general elections?

I did not like the last elections. I am not talking about those who won and those who lost. I am not going into that at all but you see the forces of religion and ethnicity. These two forces played a major role. Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido, said during the campaigns that if you were campaigning for Jonathan in the north they will call you a pastor.

In the north, people were told to vote for Buhari. Now in many churches in parts of the south, there was a lot of

campaign also in the churches. People were told not to vote for a Muslim. In the north, Muslims were told not to vote for Christians.

So, that is what I didn’t like at all and you see this is taking us back to the days of Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), NCNC and Action Group when the election was terminated through the January 16, 1966 coup. That is the element I did not like at all. I liked what happened during the SDP and NRC days when Abiola and Tofa contested. I like it that way because religion did not play a role.

When religion become a major issue in campaigning in any nation, it is dangerous. I didn’t like it at all.

I cannot see what happened during the 2015 election as political progress. It is not political development.

I didn’t like it. I don’t want this country to turn to another Lebanon.

Our two main parties have been stained with religious garbage. Those clothes need to be washed. I am not a preacher of doom but all I am saying is that corrections can be made. The APC-led federal government can begin to see how it can fill the religious gap for us.

This is what I believe would be in the interest of our nation. Religion is worse than Indian hemp; it makes people go crazy and makes people not to think again. Religion is more than opium. It makes people to kill.

Were you pleased with the roles religious leaders played in all of these?

What happened in the last elections was that APC was smarter than PDP in playing the religious card.

Both parties played the reli-

gious card heavily. They were able to rebrand General Buhari from the way he had been known even four years ago. So they were able to put their hearts together.

He brought his brain box and put it in APC to iron the whole thing. They did a very smart campaign and played a better job with the religious card.

It was silently played in some sections of the north while some of the Christians were busy making noise about it. You won’t see the Muslim core North, you won’t see the Imams talking in papers vote for this. It was not so but here it was so because you will find out that the Muslims were highly well organised and I really commend them for that. The Christian community does not know how to move as one body under Christ to achieve what they want to achieve.

What will be your advice to the incoming government?

My advice for this incoming government is that they should make sure they deliver what they promised during campaigns. When I look at their package, I look at the area that they lay emphasis on being corruptions and that seemed to have struck a chord in an average Nigerians because there is corruption in this land. And so many Nigerians have now seen General Buhari as a symbol of fighting corruption.

So hopes are high. The people are beginning to see that perhaps within six months corruption should be off from Nigeria. The first 100 days, there should be light everywhere but I think that as I speak as a leader and I want to plead with Nigerians to go and learn how to speak as leaders.

If this government really means business, instead of just handling corruption from the top, there should be what I will call a socialisation progress - from the grassroots. In the village there is corruption, secondary school there is corruption, everywhere there is corruption. So there should be a team of think tank that should be quietly assembled and this team should be asked to produce a blueprint on how to fight corruption.

NEWS

Leverage on social media, church administrators told

By Adeola Ogunlade

Over 500 administrators and IT staff of the church within West Africa coast participated in the conference.

Church administrators were told at the conference with the theme leveraging on social media platforms for workplace efficiency to embrace the marvellous opportunities of the social media.

The Special Assistant to the General Overseer of RCCG on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said that information dissemination was one of the key functions in corporate administration.

Effective information management, he added, can contribute to the overall strategic operations of the Mission in this information -

driven age.

Adesola said: “Information and communication is necessary to run a corporate entity such as RCCG as it enables management to make informed decisions on strategic or operational issues.

“Without information, these decisions would be taken in a void and be completely arbitrary.”

Odesola noted that social

media are computer – mediated tools that allow people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, pictures cum videos in virtual communities and networks.

He pointed out that social media depend on mobile and web – based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co – create, discuss, and

modify user generated content.

The cleric stated: “Now is the time to leverage and strive for greater productivity and enhance quality.

Now is the time to pursue excellence at all stages with climate of continuous improvement.

“Now is the time to promote best practices and strategic fits in our automating or paperless activities in an effective and efficient manner.”

64

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

WORSHIP

COLUMN

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Understanding the demands of success!

W •Martins supervising the foundation laying ceremony

Buhari’s emergency, an act of God, says Cleric T

HE general overseer of Mountain of Grace and Glory Ministry, Lagos, Prophet Nonso Stephen, has urged the president –elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, not be distracted from fulfilling his electoral promises.

He said those who are defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after he won the election, are doing so on the basis of what they could get from the national cake.

He said if they were serious with genuine contributions to the development to the country, they could do that as opposition because Nigeria is not a oneparty state.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, Stephen said Nigerians, who voted for him,

By Musa Odoshimokhe

should be the corner piece of the reform his administration will champion.

He said the people should equally pray for the incoming government to enable it succeed.

The Prophet said he was not surprised by the results of the elections, noting that God wants to use the president- elect refocus the country because of the enormity of damages caused by the outgoing leaders.

He said those who tried to label Buhari as religious fundamentalist are shortsighted, stressing that his emergency is an act of God. The cleric said efforts to disabuse the minds of some people on the religious bias

whipped during the elections fell on deaf ears. “When the message came we were discussing with the people but they were not accepting it,” he stressed.

Stephen said Buhari should tackle corruption, noting that no nation makes progress under the atmosphere the country is operating.

“Buhari needs to sanitize the system. I believe with him, something good will come out of Nigeria because with the revelation of God. Buhari has the capacity but should be wary of people around him,” he maintained.

He warned Buhari to be careful because God revealed that there will be little challenges with some of the people that will surround his government.

‘How women can be agents of change’

C

HRISTIAN women have been challenged to become agents of change to facilitate all-round transformation in the nation.

This was the focus at the Women of Destiny conference, which ended last week at the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos.

One of the speakers, Pastor (Mrs.) Nkoyo Rapu, urged women to move from rhetoric to actions.

She told them to start taking actions to make a difference.

“Women should understand the riches of the glory of inheritance, their hope and calling in Christ as well as the exceeding greatness in women thus, releasing Christ in them, which is their hope of glory,” Rapu said.

She stated that the change needed was not about a political mantra or party but embracing the kingdom of God for societal transformation.

The convener, Pastor Nike Adeyemi, said no nation can truly progress without the active contributions of women.

She tasked women to step out of their comfort zones and become what they should be to their husbands, children and the nation at large.

Adeyemi said women can become agents of change if they dare to lead extraordinary lives offered to God. Describing women as gifted and creative, she urged them to support the incoming administration by paying their taxes and obeying laws to smoothen the long awaited change.

the Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of Lagos, His Grace Most Rev Dr. Alfred Martins.

The Archbishop blessed the oil of catechumens, the oil of infirm and holy chrism oil, which will be used in administration of sacraments throughout the year.

The Catholic lay faithful

came out in large number for the Mass and also presented gifts to the Archbishop.

Prayers were offered for the Archbishop, priests and religious who are the ministers of the Sacraments in the parishes that they may be the humble and generous servants of the Lord.

By Sunday Oguntola

Chrism Mass ends in Lagos

P

RIESTS, religious and Catholic lay faithful in old Badagry and Apapa Deaneries gathered recently at Saints Michael, Raphael and Gabriel Catholic Church, Satellite Town Lagos to celebrate the 2015 Chrism Mass.

The Mass also attracted

Martins lays church’s foundation

T

HE Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Revd (Dr.) Alfred Martins has laid the foundation of a multi-million ultra modern auditorium for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Igbogila in the Ipaja Deanery of the Archdiocese.

He performed the exercise during his maiden pastoral visit to the church.

Accompanied by the

Dean, Ipaja Deanery, Very Revd. Fr. Stephen Enearu, Martins congratulated the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Andrew Edogbo; his Associate, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cyril Ogunsusi and members for translating their dream into fruition.

He also prayed for the successful completion of the church.

Edogbo drew his attention to the monumental financial, moral and spiritual contributions of Pa. Robert Ughutevbe of the Catholic Church of the

Arch Angels, Bada; Sir (Chief) Joseph Akpan, St. Pius, Ayobo and Mr. Jude Obiorah of St. Jude Ashipa all outstations of the main parish as well as Architect Biodun Bamidele, who designed the building.

He also lauded the recent appointments of his parishioners, Prince Joseph Eyeowa as Chairman of the Archdiocesan Laity Council and Ezine M.O.D. Ewumi as the Secretary of the Lagos Provisional Catholic Women Organisation (CWO).

ELCOME to the month of May. The blessings of the Lord shall reach and overwhelm you in this new month! From scriptures, we understand that we are in the last days of the Church of Christ and every redeemed child of God is ordained for unstoppable and evergrowing success (Isaiah 2:1-3). This is because, as believers, we are redeemed as cities set on hills that cannot be hidden; thus, we are pacesetter in our fields of endeavours. We are the light of the world. That means we are assets to this world. We are also the salt of the earth, which implies that we are channels of blessings and people of value to be sorted after (Matthew 5:13-15). Therefore, success is our birthright and every child of God is ordained for distinction and unusual success.

But, what is Success?

Success is not just getting results, but getting them in successions, making satisfactory progress and experiencing a change of levels in our various pursuits. However, we must know that just as nothing rises to the top and remains there without conquering gravity, no one succeed without doing anything. That is why success in life is not a promise, but a covenant and if it is a covenant, that means until our part is adequately played, God cannot be committed to perform (Psalm 89:34; Deuteronomy 28:1-3; Joshua 1:8; Luke 5:1-8; John 21:5-6).

Again, we must under-

stand that success carries certain demands that we must subscribe to before our success san become a reality (Ecclesiastes 10:3-18). One of such demands in the school of success is spiritual empowerment.

What is Spiritual Empowerment?

This is what distinguishes the Church of Christ from the common success motivation that the world teaches. We can record some level of success by our efforts, skills and capacity, but it would take the power of God to preserve and expand true success. For instance, David only became a nation hero, after he was empowered (1Samuel 16:13, 17:34-57; Psalm 89:20-24; Psalm 112:10; Luke 9:1-2,6-10; Mark 6:7, 12-13; Matthew 10:1; Luke 4:14,18,37).

Why do we need Spiritual Empowerment?

It is the gateway to supernatural exploits: Jesus was born of the Holy Ghost; yet, had no expression until He returned in the power of the Spirit. How must more we, who are born of human spirit?

When Jesus returned, the Bible says, His fame went round about all the region. What this means is that until we are empowered, our mission cannot find expression (Matthew 4:24, 9:31, Mark 1:28).

To be in command of what others need: We are in the era of global impact and exploits, and God’s children are ordained to be in command. Furthermore, the saints are not only influencing the church, but also impacting the world around them (Joel 2:23-32; Matthew 5:13-15).

The adversaries will only bow to power, not to grammar, skill or efforts:God has ordained us for exploits and

success, but we have to be empowered to contend with the devil and take possession of what rightfully belongs to us. Otherwise, though God has given it to us, we would not posses it (Luke 9:1; 1Corinthians 16:9; Deuteronomy 2:24; Zechariah 1:17-21). That is why spiritual empowerment has no substitute.

However, we must understand that no one ever gets empowered without a thirst or desperation.For the Bible says, God will only pure water upon him that is thirsty. Again, we understand that prayer and fasting, among others, are platforms for spiritual empowerment.

For instance, Jesus prayed and fasted, and He returned in the power of the Spirit.

Thereafter, His fame went through the regions round about. In other words, until Jesus was empowered, His destiny remained hidden.

Therefore, we must desperately seek for empowerment for our next levels (Luke 4:14; Isaiah 41:17; 44: 3-4).

Friend, empowerment is the birthright of every believer. However, until you confess your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, empowerment will remain a daydream. If you want to accept Jesus Christ, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins.

Cleanse me with Your precious blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” I will continue this teaching next week.

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Exploring the Secrets of Success, Success Buttons, Success Strategies and Success Systems.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

NEWS

Members honoured on Mother’s Day

T

HE Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) of St Monica Catholic Church Ikorodu, Lagos has honoured some members as parts of activities marking the 2015 Mother’s Day celebration.

Among those honoured were the parish priest and a grand patron of CWO, Mr. Vincent Omovusu.

Others were Chief Godwin Ebitea, Alex Tobi, Clement Olaleye, Patrick Ogbangwor, Mrs. Nnkechi, Bridget Ejenta and several other who contributed positively to the growth of the church and to the women association.

The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nworuh, called on Christian women to show good examples at

By Sunday Oguntola

all times.

He admonished them to follow the footsteps of the Blessed Virgin Mary in caring for not only their biological children but also children of others.

Nworuh charged Christian women to be partners in progress with their spouses, noting that only a peaceful family enjoys progress and gives their children good upbringing.

According to him: “Motherhood is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. A loving, committed mother is an indispensable person in our development.

“Mothers instill powerful social and nurturing characteristics in each generation.”

He said mothers should not be discouraged by some of the

challenges facing many homes today but be strengthened by their faith in Christ.

The Parish Pastoral Council 1st Vice Chairman’s, Engr Emmanuel Ogbu said: “Personally, it would not be too daring for me to say that mothers are the pillars of the church.

“The significant roles mothers play in the church cannot be undermined. It is your day so I feel very safe to say mothers keep the wheels of the church well lubricated to function properly”.

The chairperson of the Planning Committee, Mrs. Carolyn Biachi, said: “Mothers define creation; a woman giving birth to a child, bringing him up, making her a cocreator of a human being. God is the creator and she, a cocreator.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

65

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME

OKEOWO

OKEOWO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeowo, Kuburat Modupe Oritoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aluko, Oritoke Modupe. All former documents remain valid. University of lbadan and general public should please take note.

AKOTEYON I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akoteyon, lyabo and lyabo Akoteyen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amosu, lyabo Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AWALA

I formerly known and addressed as Oritsetimeyiwa Estella Awala, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oritsetimeyiwa Estella Orugboh. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

TABEMONSO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Tabemonso, Bertille Enow, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bertille Bernard Ntui. All former documents remain valid. School of Midwifery, MoniyaOgoja, CRS, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Calabar and general public take note.

OPARAH

I formerly known and addressed as Uzoamaka Winifred Oparah, now wish to be known and addressed as Uzoamaka Winifred Afolabi. All former documents remain valid.

Corona Schools, Trust and general public should please take note.

DADA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dada, Kehinde Oyetu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dada, Kehinde Oyetu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to notify the general public that Ebenezer Ore Aje is one and the same person as E.O. Aje. All documents bearing the the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to notify the general public that Adebimpe Taiye Aje is one and the same person as Adebimpe Taye Aje, A. Taiwo Aje, T. A. Aje and A. T. Aje. All documents bearing the the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

OSAJI

I formerly known and addressed as Marian Anwuli OSAJI, now wish to be known and addressed as Marian Anwuli BABATOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

GINIKA-EZEABII

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ginika-Ezeabii, Somtochukwu Oluchukwu O., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyegwa, Somtochukwu Oluchukwu O. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

GINIKA-EZEABII

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ginika-Ezeabii, Somtochukwu Oluchukwu O., now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyegwa, Somtochukwu Oluchukwu O. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADEBOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeboye Tejumade Omolara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajayi Tejumade Omolara. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JULIUS NWAFOR, now wish to be known and addressed as JULIUS NWADUNMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DURU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Duru Nwabugo Susan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adedeji Nwabugo Susan. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AMUZIE I formerly known and addressed as Amuzie Emmanuel Ugochukwu Damian, now wish to be known and addressed as Cletus Emmanuel Ugochukwu Damian. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMUZIE I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Amuzie Roseline Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cletus Roseline Ngozi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AMUZIE I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Amuzie Blessing lhekeremma Afuajuba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cletus Blessing lhekeremma Afuajuba. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMUZIE

I formerly known and addressed as Amuzie Jessica Chinasa, now wish to be known and addressed as Cletus Jessica Chinasa. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMUZIE

I formerly known and addressed as Amuzie Ruth Tochukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Cletus Ruth Tochukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UJA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Uja, Lillian Ham, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idoko, Lillian Ham. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UMEH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Umeh, Ogechi Lovina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchendu, Ogechi Lovina. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

IKEAGWUONWU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikeagwuonwu, Gloria Nwanneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gloria Unyime Sunday All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IFEOBU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Ifeadikanwa Ifeobu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Ifeadikanwa Agbogu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODIAGBE

ENYELU

I formerly known and addressed as Ozoigbo Chibuike Isaac, now wish to be known and addressed as Nnaemeka Chibuike Isaac. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

TAJANI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olubukola Tijani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olubukola Badipe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IYAKNDUE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss CATHERINE LINUS IYAKNDUE, now wish to be known as Mrs. CATHERINE PROMISE NWIKOGBARA. All former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

IROEGBU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss IROEGBU CHIDINMA JUDITH, now wish to be known as Mrs. CHIDINMA JUDITH ANYANWU. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

EKEKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss IHEOMA GRACE EKEKE, now wish to be known as Mrs. IHEOMA GRACE ANUCHA. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

UDOH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss ROSE AKPAN UDOH, now wish to be known as Mrs. ROSE NKEREUWEM MOSES. all former documents remain valid general public please take note.

EZE

AMUZIE I formerly known and addressed as Amuzie Sopuruchukwu Prisca, now wish to be known and addressed as Cletus Sopuruchukwu Prisca. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyebuchi Jennifer Enyelu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyebuchi Jennifer Esiobise. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EKWONNA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekwonna, Chisom Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mgbeonyere, Chisom Grace.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLAYINKA

I formerly known and addressed as Olayinka Rofiat Olawunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Fatai Rofiat Olawunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

BODUNRIN

OLUWADARE

SALAKO: I, formerly known and addressed as Salako Titilayo Aduragbemi Junaid Sherifat, now wish to be known and addressed as Junaid Titilayo Aduragbemi All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Bodunnrin Ganiyat Adedayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adigun Ganiyat Adedayo. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwadare Olubunmi Funmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Baipe, Olubunmi Funmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adeiya Anuoluwapo Adeyinka is the same person as Adeiya A. Adeyinka, now wish to be known and addressed as Adeiya Anuoluwapo Adeyinka. All former documents remain valid Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Paul Okojie, now wish to be known and addressed as Paul Okebor. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

UGWE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss HELEN UGWE, now wish to be known as Mrs. HELEN IKENGAH. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME PAUL OVIE IGBE and PAUL OVIE IROROSA. refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known as PAUL OVIE IROROSA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Amuzie Mary Sybill, now wish to be known and addressed as Cletus Mary Sybill. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IROEGBU

OZOIGBO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss NGOZI .M. DURUEKE, now wish to be known as Mrs. NGOZI .M. AMAECHI. All former documents remain valid Union Bank and general public please take note.

AMUZIE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odiagbe, Ejeleosemene Lynda, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rejoice Ejeleosemene Ikenna Onuoma. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Iroegbu Chidinma Gloria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obike Chidinma Gloria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DURUEKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss EZE NNEKA EVARESTA. now wish to be known as Mrs. ONWUKWE NNEKA EVARESTA. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Babalola Abimbola Zainab, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tobi-Babalola Abimbola Zainab. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BABALOLA

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Omilakin Oluwafemi Ayobami is the same person as Omilakin Oluwafemi A. Now wish to be known and addressed as Omilakin Oluwafemi Ayobami. All former documents remain valid, Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ogunfuwa Oluwafunke Damilola is the same person as Ogunfuwa Oluwafunke D. Now wish to be known and addressed as Ogunfuwa Oluwafunke Damilola, all former documents remain valid, Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Laleye Oluwayemisi Mary is the same person as Olaleye Yemisi M. Now wish to be known and addressed as Laleye Oluwayemisi Mary, all former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Alabelewe Ismail Opeyemi is the same person as Alabelewe Ismail , now wish to be known and addressed as Alabelewe Ismail Opeyemi, all former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

OKOLO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Akinsola Abimbola T. Is the same person as Akinsola Tanimol Abimbol, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinsola Abimbola T. All former documents remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

OKPALA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adegoke Festus Oluwaseun is the same person as Adegoke Festus Oluwasehun now wish to be known and addressed as Adegoke Festus Oluwaseun, all former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLO MAUREEN OGECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ENENTA MAUREEN OGECHI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKPALA ONYINYE ADAOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZE ONYINYE ADAOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKPALA

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYISHI NKECHI FELICITAS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ONYEASOR NKECHI NKEM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JULIUS I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Julius, Aduragbemi Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluyemi Aduragbemi Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

APELOGUN I, formerly called and adressed as Miss Apelogun Bolaji Mariam, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Abolaji Mariam Anike. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public should please take note.

APELOGUN

I, formerly called and adressed as Miss Apelogun Bolaji Mistura now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Abolaji Mistura Omolara. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AFOLABI

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS AFOLABI OLUYEMI MOJISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUWAROTIMI OLUYEMI MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. St. Francis Abiodun Atiba Nursery and Primary School, Oyo and general public should please take note.

ADEDIJI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ajibodu Olamide Esther is the same person as Ajiibola Olamide I. now wish to be known and addressed as Ajibodu Olamide Esther, all former documents remain valid Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

ADEDUNTAN

I formerly known and addressed as Adeduntan Yetunde Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odebiyi, Yetunde Titilayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

THOMAS

I formerly known and addressed as Thomas Kehinde Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Jimoh Kehinde Bola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EBOSIE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebosie Eucharia Chinwendu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agumadu, Eucharia Chinwenda. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

GOLD

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Gold, Michelle Akimbode, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Gold Michelle Bamgbose. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BAMGBOSE

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Omolara Bamgbose, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Omolara Medinat Omotayo Bamgbose. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ETU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ese Sharon Etu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ese Sharon Amado. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADETOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Adetola Abibat Mojisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Adetola Abigail Mojisola. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

IBRAHIM

CONFIRMATION OF NAME Afolabi Afeez Tope is the same person as Afolabi Afeez Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Afolabi Afeez Tope, all former documents remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Bilikisu Oshosanya, now wish to be known and addressed as Adewunmi Bilikisu Ajoke. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME Mrs. Mfon Friday Osaroeba and Mrs. Mfon Joseph Udoaka is the same person as and now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mfon Joseph Udoaka. All former documents remain valid.

Management of Ecobank Plc, Board of Universal basic Education and general public take note.

ELEGBELEYE

IJOMAH

I formerly known and addressed as Prince Elder David Adeoye Elegbeleye, now wish to be known and addressed as Prince Elder David Adeoye Elegbeleye Oluwayemisi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OJUBANIRE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojubanire Oriyomi Aishat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idowu, Oriyomi Aishat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known as Vera Chika Ijomah now wish to be known as Chika Vera Jeremiah-Smith. The University of Jos and the general public should please take note. All former documents remain valid..

NWAIWU I, formally known and addressed as Miss Chinomso Onyinyechi Nwaiwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinomso Onyinyechi Samuel Onwuka. All previous documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

MOMOH:

AFOLABI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Hauwa Afolake Momoh , now wish to be Known and addressed as Mrs Hauwa Afolake MomohAjibola. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

GEORGE

I formerly Known and addressed as Miss Chinwendu Chinweokwu Offorsata , now wish to be Known and addressed as Mrs Chinweokwu Obinka. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

EBURUE

IBEAKAEZE I formerly known and addressed as Sheila Ebele Ibeakaeze, now wish to be known and addressed as Sheila Ebele Royal-Chukwuma. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank, Abia State University, Uturu and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi, Olubukola Selimot, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibitoye, Olubukola Selimot. All former documents remain valid. Osun SUBEB and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Glory Godhas George, now wish to be known and addressed as Glory Stephens Abel. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adediji, Oluwakemi Dolapo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Babalola, Oluwakemi Faderera Dolapo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Queen Olayinka Eburue, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwagbemisola Favour Eburue. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

AKIN

I EHINOLA ALEX ADELEGAN when i wrote my SSCE my name was errorneously written in 2002 has ADELEGAN EHINOLA ALEX. My rightful name is EHINOLA ALEX ADELEGAN and is the same person as ADELEGAN EHINOLA ALEX, Osun state polythenic Iree and general public should please take note.

OKOJIE

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Akin-Awobodu, Victoria Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awobodu, Victoria Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. AOCOED and general public should please take note.

OFFORSATA:

AKANNI I formerly known and addressed as Akanni Nimota Motunrayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Akanmu Nimota Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. c/o tunde

OTOKI: I, formerly known and addressed as,Miss Yetunde Evelyn Otoki, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Annabel Nwakaego Mrs Yetunde Evelyn Arabi. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

UKUEKU: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onomeh Ukueku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekoya-Ukueku Onomeh. All former documents remain valid.

Access Bank and the general public should please take note.

OFFOR: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maryann Chidimma Offor now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Martann Chidimma Onoh . All former documents remain valid.

Enugu State government and the general public should please take note.

FADEYI: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fadeyi Sherifat Abolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akintoye Sherifat Abolanle. All former documents remain valid.

Ogun State college of health Technology, ilese ijebu , NYSC and the general public should please take note.

OJUBANIRE: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojubanire Oriyomi Aishat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idowu Oriyomi Aishat. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AJIBOYE: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajiboye Rebecca Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs olowoselu Rebecca Folasade. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ABASS: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abass Opeoluwa Olayinka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ikumapayi Opeoluwa Olayinka.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

OMIDIJI: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omidiji Mujidat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Osuolale Omidiji Mujidat. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Local Government Service Commission ,Osogbo ,Boripe local Government Iragbiji and the general public should please take note.

KAMMELU: I formerly known and addressed as MISS KAMMELU CHIAMAKA BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MBAJEKWE CHIAMAKA BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKUBUE I formerly known and addressed as Miss. AKUBUE ENDALINE SALOME. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. EGBUJUA ENDALINE SALOME. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MGBEMENA I formerly known and addressed as Miss. CHISOM OGECHUKWU MGBEMENA. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. CHISOM OGECHUKWU NWACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

IDEREGHI I formerly known and addressed as IDEREGHI ONYEZE or IDEREGHI ONYEZE FRANCIS IGONI JR. Now wish to be known and addressed as FRANCIS ODEREGHIA RIGHTSIDE IGONI ONYEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ELENWO I formerly known and addressed as Miss. ELENWO OROMA VICTORIA. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. NWANKWO OROMA VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

OSAJI I formerly known and addressed as Marian Anwuli OSAJI. Now wish to be known and addressed as Marian Anwuli BABATOPE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

OGUNSANYA I formerly known and addressed as Ogunsanya Olawunmi Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Matanmi Olawunmi Temitope. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

66

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Wordsworth One Media gaffes L

ET us welcome Leadership to this column after a long time-out.

Its editorial (Our Stand) of April 24, 2015, fumbled two times (not twice): “…who has been on (at) the helm of affairs in NDPHC since 2005 will continue in office.”

“Yet, we know that subterranean moves are on to dispose it off (dispose of it) before the handover date.”

Still on the above medium: “ACF hopes that the newly elected (newlyelected) State Governors and Legislators (unnecessary capitalization) will justify the confidencde reposed on (in) them….”

(Full-page advertorial signed by IGP (Dr.) Ibrahim A. Coomassie (rtd) (sic) GCON (Sardaunan Katsina), Chairman, ACF, NEC, Leadership Friday, April 24) “Your victory at your elections symbolise (symbolises) the hope and aspiration of Benue State and Nigeria in general.”

“Ekiti impeachment suffers set back (setback).”

“Gentlemen of the Press, the Concerned Professionals in the North East hereby congratulate the APC for (on/upon) a decisive victory….”

“Court frees ex-Lagos commissioner, others over (of) murder charges” “Taraba: APC/SDP in secret pact to cause chaos, Reps-elect (Rep-elect) alleges” “The giant strides you have taken in areas of…has (have) led to this land slide (landslide) victory.”

“Akwa Ibom Faithfuls” ‘Faithful’ is uncountable.

“NFF excited with (about) NIKE partnership” “Q1: Africa ranks second in pirates (pirates’) attack” DAILY TRUST also stages a come-back. Its April 24, 2015, edition goofed: “Include Igbos (Igbo) in your government, traditional ruler urges Buhari” “PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover (take over) power in 2019" “House of Representatives pass (passes) N4.5tr budget without fund for subsidy” “And as they say, ‘he who pays the piper dictates (calls) the tune.’” (THE NATION EDITORIAL, April 24) Vide elucidation on this below.

“For the general public (sic) who are also affected

by the strike action (just strike or industrial action….)” ‘Strike action’ is padding. A reader called me and declared that a particular dictionary (2010 edition) contains the faulty phrase.

That listing/inclusion does not make it right. Personally, I interrogate many entries in dictionaries and bibles.

There is no written work that is perfect—not even my forthcoming book entitled Media Gaffes & Essays which would be presented publicly next Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Bolaji Akinyemi Hall, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, 13/15, Kofo Abayomi Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. Full details next Sunday….

“There has (have) to be consequences” “I lost my seven-year-old son…to the accident that occurred few (a few) months ago.”

Next on our focus is WEEKLY TRUST of April 25, 2015: “Stakeholders were surprised at the revelation and passed a confidence vote on (in) Mu’azu who they exonerated of the allegations.”

The following elementary blunders are from a twopage congratulatory advertorial signed by Barrister Yusuf Nuhu, mni, Fnge, published in the WEEKLY TRUST under review: “Congratulations on your well deserving (well-deserved) victory at the Gubernatorial (governorship preferably) Poll recently.”

“This is a testimony of your political powers and the passion to change the political and developing landscape of the Katsina People (sic).” Get it right: political and developmental landscape of Katsina State—not the people.

“This victory testifies (testifies to) the believe (belief) in your advocacy for a better Nigeria.”

“We are sure in-sha Allah that you will bring to bare (bear) in (on) Katsina your sterling quality.” “…on his experience and the various fallouts of the long trek.” This way: ‘fallout’ is non-count.

“Managing Niger: “A candid advice to Governorelect” A rewrite: Candid advice THE NATION SUNDAY of April 26, 2015, circulated five errors: “Nigeria recalls ambassador over S’Africa (S’African) talks” (Front Page Banner Kicker) “Women who hit Ven-

ezuela (Venezuelan) leader with mango rewarded” “Xenophobia (Xenophobic) attacks: Nigeria recalls ambassador” “Miners (Miners’) association seeks FG’s intervention” “Sani poised to stir hornet (hornets’) nest” “Same (The same) climate, same (the same) weather….”

“Wike, others receives (why?) Certificates of Return” “For Wike, its (it’s) time for work” BOOK ON WORDSWORTH A compilation of this column since 2010 has been collated into a book (plus other interventions) and will be unveiled presently. As mentioned earlier, all the details for issuance next week.

FEEDBACK AND as they say, “he who pays the piper dictates the tune”. – THE NATION MAIN EDITORIAL, April 24, 2015. That is a Nigerian proverb! The English proverb is, “he who says the piper calls the tune”.

Elucidatory note: “To pay the piper”, meaning “to provide the money for something and, therefore, be entitled to have a say in the organization of it”, is a formal (fixed) idiom. E.g. Our father should be allowed a say in where we go on holiday.

After all he is paying the piper.

The idiom refers to the English proverb “He who pays the piper calls (not dictates) the tune”.

There are some errors – bad solecisms or schoolboy howlers – that must not appear in print, let alone in an Editorial. This is one such error. It is a national tragedy, for a whole University graduate to write such nonsense. I repeat, nobody has the right or poetic licence to change, restructure, alter or rearrange a formal idiom or proverb. For instance, “Practice makes perfect” cannot be changed to “Practice makes perfection”; “Health is better than wealth” cannot be changed to “Health is wealth”; “Cut your coat according to your cloth” cannot be changed to “Cut your coat according to your size”!

We are looking forward to May 12, Cheers!

BAYO OGUNTUNASE (Soloade12@yahoo.com) 08056180046

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

Burundi calls opposition protesters 'terrorists'

Houthi re Yemen crisis: Saudi Arabia 'repels Houthi border attack'

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HREE Saudi troops and "dozens" of Houthi rebels were killed as Saudi forces repelled a major attack from inside Yemen, Saudi officials say.

The rebels attacked near the town of Najran, reports say, in what would be their biggest assault on Saudi soil since a Saudi military campaign began.

A Saudi-led coalition has staged air strikes against rebels since late March in support of Yemen's exiled president.

Meanwhile aid groups say a lack of fuel is threatening their operations there.

A statement by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, said the overnight attack happened on its southern border.

Identifying the attackers as Shia Houthi rebels and groups allied to them, SPA said Saudi ground troops exchanged fire with them and called in air strikes.

The rebels - who control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa have been fighting forces linked to the government for several months.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab states have been carrying out air strikes over the last month, with the declared aim of restoring exiled President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Earlier on Thursday, a Saudi border guard was killed by a mortar shell close to the border with Yemen in the south-west Saudi province of Jizan. Seventeen Saudi troops have been killed in attacks by Yemeni rebels during the last five weeks.

Pope defends soon-to-be saint vs Native American objections

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OPE Francis has praised the "holiness" and "zeal" of an 18thcentury Franciscan missionary he'll make a saint when he visits the United States this fall but whom Native Americans in California contend brutally converted indigenous people to Christianity.

Francis yesterday praised the accomplishments and qualities of Rev. Junipero Serra during a homily at a Rome seminary training future priests from North America.

The pope will elevate the Spanish native to sainthood in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in Sept. 23, during his U.S. pilgrimage.

Native Americans have held protests in California, saying instead of being honored, Serra should be criticized for what they say is his role in wiping out native populations in a brutal campaign to impose Catholicism.

Francis says Serra defended natives against "abuses by the colonizers."

• More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Yemen following attacks by Houthi in the last six weeks

Thailand police 'recover 26 bodies' from jungle camp T HAI police say they have recovered 26 bodies from shallow graves at an abandoned jungle camp in southern Thailand.

A police spokesman said it was not clear how those found had died, but that tests were being carried out to establish their identities.

The camp was found on a route regularly used to smuggle Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).

One very ill survivor

was also found.

Police General Jarumporn Suramanee told the AFP news agency that one of the 26 bodies recovered was a woman.

"There are no more bodies," he went on. "Every hole has been searched. A police spokesman said earlier that human traffickers were believed to have abandoned the sick man a few days ago, as they moved people across the border from the camp, in Songkhla province.

The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Myanmar says that it is not

immediately clear how the people died but that, from looking at the remains, police officers believe that many perished from disease or starvation.

The purpose of the camp is also unclear but our correspondent says that smugglers are known to hold people in camps for months while ransoms are demanded from their families back home.

Every year thousands of people are trafficked through Thailand and into Malaysia.

Rohingya Muslims in

particular have used the route to flee persecution and sectarian violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

In 2012, more than 200 people were killed and thousands left homeless after violence broke out between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar. Anti-Muslim violence has flared several times since then.

In December, the UN passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give access to citizenship for the Rohingya, many of whom are classed as stateless.

Kate and William leave hospital with new baby girl T HE world's newest princess has been introduced!

Just hours after giving birth to a baby girl, the Duchess of Cambridge stepped outside a London hospital with husband Prince William and their newest bundle of royal joy. Neither Kate nor William said anything, but smiled and waved to cheering crowds.

Kate, dressed in a yellow flowery dress by U.K. fashion designer Jenny Packham, was holding the sleeping newborn, who was wearing a knit bonnet and covered in a white shawl from GH Hurt and Son

Ltd. - a company that has given similar shawls in the past to Prince George, the couple's first child, and the Duke of Cambridge when they were babies.

The royal family then departed the hospital, with William loading the baby's car seat into a convoy that awaited them. They will return to their Kensington Palace residence for a couple of days, then will go to their country mansion in Norfolk, eastern England, according to Reuters.

The tiny highness was born at 8:34 a.m. local time, weighing in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Her name has not yet been revealed. She is fourth in line to the throne and bears the title Princess of Cambridge.

She left the hospital with her parents shortly after 6 p.m.

Kate, 33, gave birth in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital just two and a half hours after William drove her to the hospital. Both mother and

baby are "doing well," Kensington Palace said earlier.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, William briefly left Kate to go bring George to the hospital for a visit. On his way in, George, who will be 2 in July, delighted the crowd by giving a little wave when prompted by his father.

Kate, William and George - who was born at the same hospital as his little sister went home a day after his birth in 2013. Many women at the time praised Kate for not trying to hide her postpartum baby-bump as she introduced George to eager onlookers.

Death toll in Syria continues to rise after US-led air strike

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HE death toll from an air strike by US-led forces on the northern Syrian province of Aleppo has risen to 52 including seven children, a group monitoring the conflict said on yesterday.

Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the British-based Observatory for Human Rights, said the death toll from Friday's strike was the highest civilian loss in a single attack by US and Arab forces since they started air raids against hardline Islamist militant

groups in Syria such as Islamic State. US-led forces are also targeting the group in Iraq.

The Observatory said the raid had mistakenly struck civilians in a village on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River in Aleppo province, killing members of at least six families.

US-led strikes had killed at least 66 civilians in Syria from the start of the raids on 23 September until Friday's strike, which brought the total to at

least 118. The campaign has also killed neaSuicide car bomb attack kills 6 troops outside Baghdadrly 2,000 Isis fighters, the Observatory said.

The group said at least 13 people were still missing after Friday's raid.

The US has said it takes reports of civilian casualties from the US-led strikes seriously and investigates each allegation.

The US-led air strikes have had little impact on the

hardline Islamic State group, slowing its advances but failing to weaken it in areas it controls. The group has built its own government in Syria's city of Raqqa, where it is most powerful.

Washington and its allies say their aim is to support what they call moderate rebels fighting against both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Isis. But four years into Syria's civil war, no side is close to victory.

URUNDI'S government has promised to crack down on a wave of protests, accusing opposition groups of providing cover for a "terrorist enterprise".

The security minister also said that an attack which killed three people, including two police officers, was linked to the demonstrators.

Meanwhile, protesters have called for a two-day halt in their campaign against President Nkurunziza's re-election bid.

It is the biggest unrest Burundi has seen since a civil war ended in 2005.

The deadly attack late was carried out in the capital Bujumbura by unidentified gunmen using automatic weapons and grenades.

Yesterday Security Minister Gen Gabriel Nizigama linked the incident to six days of protests by opposition and civil society groups.

"These demonstrations provide cover for a terrorist enterprise," he said.

Security forces, he added "will do everything to stop this uprising". From now on, he said, the demonstrators would be regarded as "criminals, terrorists and even enemies of the country Also yesterday, protest organisers announced a pause in their campaign against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in elections in June.

Afghanistan begins trial in killing of woman HE trial of 49 suspects, including 19 police officers, on charges relating to the mob killing of an Afghan woman began in the capital on yesterday.

The start of the trial at Afghanistan's Primary Court was broadcast live on nationwide television. The suspects all face charges relating to the March 19 killing of a 27-yearold woman named Farkhunda.

A prosecutor read charges against 10 of the defendants, including assault, murder and encouraging others to participate in the assault.

The police officers are charged with neglecting their duties and failing to stop the attack, although some are suspected of actually participating in the assault.

Prosecutors have said that Farkhunda, an Islamic law student, was beaten to death in public after she was falsely accused of having burned a copy of the Quran.

The killing shocked many Afghans, though some public and religious figures said that it would have been justified if she had damaged a copy of the Muslim holy book.

Cellphone video of the assault circulated widely on social media. It showed Farkhunda, who like many Afghans went by one name, being beaten and run over with a car and her body being burned before it was thrown into the Kabul River.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

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Rivers alleges PDP plans anti-Amaechi documentary

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EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to air false documentary on Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State Government alleged yesterday.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Sementari, said the ploy was part of desperation to smear the focused administration and ridicule his years of hard work in transforming the state.

She also alleged the antigovernment documentary is also meant to incite Rivers people through photo-shopped lines of “uncompleted” projects to be “abandoned” by Amaechi.

Semenitari, who spoke with reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, condemned the planned documentary.

She described it as nothing but a bundle of lies meant to discredit a season of Amaechi’s hard work, which has a global rating.

According to her: “We suspect this documentary, a project in itself anti-government and reactionary, is targeted at rubbishing the years of hard work Governor Amaechi had committed himself to, in the course of his stewardship.

“In the face of this evil endeavour is a scorecard of a governor acknowledged worldwide as a workaholic.

“Rivers people know their governor and how he has constructed model secondary schools, hospitals, kilometres of road, bridges, interchanges and other graded projects.

“Rivers people know that Governor Amaechi has employed

From: Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt thousands of their sons and daughters into the teaching system and the civil service, long before election time.

“They know also that their governor had undertaken and completed projects that have hugely positively impacted on their lives.

“So, any other photo or image that presents them with what they have not known these years of Governor Amaechi’s service is a lie.

It should be ignored, dismissed and rejected.”

The commissioner also gave the lead of how PDP leaders would procure the images they intended to air on major national stations.

Semenitari said: “PDP members in Rivers State have been busy taking still photos and video shoot of Rivers State Government’s projects, ongoing and completed, after which they will employ the services of an IT expert to use devices for photo, video and graphic editing to distort the images and present them to the world as ‘Amaechi’s uncompleted projects in Rivers state.’

“As not to be caught in their own trap, the masterminds have already discussed with a television station to broadcast it on its network service.

“Nowhere does an incumbent regime complete every project. Even incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan has ongoing projects, which the incoming administration of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will inherit for completion.”

QUOTABLE “People have to explain, for instance, if you are a public servant, that how come you have 50 houses, somebody needs to ask you those questions and some of the reasons people get away with that is our criminal justice system.”

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3204

—Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on how the incoming administration will prosecute the anti-graft war in the country.

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FTER voting the All Progressives Congress (APC) into office on March 28, Nigerians will not be able to resist the urge to set agenda for the in-coming government of Muhammadu Buhari.

There will indeed be dozens of items on the collective agenda, many of them argued vigorously and persuasively to make them rank high on the president-elect’s priorities. Given the mess made of the country in the past one decade and more, and especially in the past two or three years, everyone will be justified to focus on those critical areas of national life that have become a nightmare for the country. Gen Buhari himself has zeroed in on about four priorities: insecurity, economy/unemployment, corruption, and power. There is little doubt that if he accomplishes these priorities, he will be an instant hero.

A few analysts may go ahead to proffer ways and methods by which the new government could resolve the mess, and they will be right to feel concerned that while there may be a consensus on the problems, it is unlikely there will be a consensus on how best or how less painful the agreed goals can be achieved. In fact, as a columnist with this newspaper observed, in voting Gen Buhari, it is not clear whether the electorate knew what they were doing, or what to expect from him, or how far his abrasiveness could impinge or grate on their worldview, whether political or social. The scale of the mess is truly staggering, and everyone is waiting with bated breath to see which way the Buhari cat will jump.

The aroma of change wafts enticingly in the air, and everyone, not the least the president-elect himself and his All Progressives Congress (APC) party, is giddy with excitement over the dramatic political earthquake that occurred during the last polls. Gen Buhari knows that when he hunkers down to begin the massive work of regeneration and renewal, he will step on huge toes, and his popularity, which is sky-high at the moment, will take a tumble depending on how suavely the new ruling party and its leaders execute their goals.

Gen Buhari’s agenda are consistent and logical spinoffs from his party’s programmes and manifesto. The general in turn also acknowledges huge public expectations, a significant part of which is simple and moderately ambitious. And should president-elect meet these simple expectations, and in ways that neither provoke the poor to irritation and irrationality nor instigate the rich to exasperation and desperation, he will reinforce his image as the man for the times, solidify his party’s change mantra, and enrich and nurture democracy in Nigeria on a truly stupendous scale.

However, if he and his party have their eyes on history, if they wish to make their achievements sustainable in the long term and hope that from their efforts world-class governance and democracy would emerge and develop great tap roots, they will have to soar beyond the atmosphere of ordinariness and predictability to the ethereal world of the idealistic and the philosophical. How successfully they manage this greater and more demanding objective will determine how high they climb in public esteem and the lasting impression they will make on Nigeria and the wider world.

Gen Buhari will be confronted with arguments on the need to moderate his ambition for the country on account of the low level of sophistication of Nigerians. They will tell him that if he accomplishes his three or four main goals, not only will the people be satisfied and reassured of a great future, he will be applauded for laying solid foundation for the growth, stability and future greatness of the country. This line of argument is sincere and plausible, and any president wary of the complexities of idealistic undertakings, such as this column is proffering, will yield to its persuasiveness.

If Gen Buhari plays safe, as he seems inclined to do by limiting himself to the understandable and the uncomplicated, he will have done well, that is assuming he manages his safe goals successfully. But if he takes the deeper and more difficult road, that is, the obviously more complex, per-

Major agenda for Buhari

•Buhari haps even philosophical and encompassing alternative, it will be assumed he understands its many nuances, and is capable of midwifing the dream, and summoning the courage and the discipline to stick with it against all odds.

This column therefore offers the presidentelect this complex option as a non-binding alternative, for travelling that road requires both profundity and vision. It also must come from deep, intuitive conviction, eliciting great passion and commitment. That alternative road does not preclude Gen Buhari’s priority programmes; indeed, the complex option feeds on them. The priority programmes are the ammunition needed to channel the country’s energies to a lofty and philosophical end, far beyond the commonplace existentialism that traps many nations in either ordinariness, if they are yet to achieve greatness, or decay and decline, if they are already great.

This lofty alternative road must inspire the president-elect to recognise that his priorities, which are also invariably our priorities, must be seen as means to an end.

•Osinbajo It is not enough to achieve the set goals of fighting corruption, creating employment, and battling insecurity, among other things.

These goals are laudable, but their full potentials will not be realised if they are not integrated right from the beginning into the visionary dynamics of developing a great and powerful nation, rivalling some of the best countries around sociologically, politically, technologically and economically. If that template or superstructure of a great and powerful country is not envisioned right from the beginning, it will mean that there will be no enduring and consistent frameworks for today’s and tomorrow’s leaders to apply as models for the task ahead. (Compare and contrast France and Italy after World War II). It will mean that present and future elections will be conducted merely routinely in consonance with the amorphous, conflicting and inconsequential yearnings of the electorate. It will mean tolerating rulers like former president Olusegun Obasanjo who lacked vision and depth, and others like President Jonathan to

whom the ordinary art of governance proved inaccessible. It will reawaken the debate on what the purpose of government is, using the Singaporean and American models as examples. Finally, it will also mean that for a long time to come, Nigeria will be satisfied with rudimentary and existential objectives.

The APC and Gen Buhari have done well to articulate their redemptive programmes for the country, but it is not certain how high their ambition is, which great countries or empires serve as their role model, whether their ambitions have irredentist components, if not spatially, at least ideationally, whether all they aspire to is just to copy one country or the other, with all their limiting attributes, or whether in their study and understanding of empires and empire builders, from Pax Romana to Pax Brittanica and to Pax Americana, and from Julius and Augustus Caesar to Genghis Khan, they see themselves and the country it is their turn to lead as a future role model and pacesetter to other countries and peoples. This kind of ambition is not alien to modern Africa.

Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Gamel Abdel Nasser of Egypt dreamt far beyond the limitations and developing economies of their countries. While war cannot be discounted as an agent of change and expansion, and will still occur on a large scale in the future, the change agents of today are economic and ideational influences.

Gen Buhari and his party must determine where they want to locate themselves in the developmental and historical continuums. Hopefully, their ambition may be much more sublime and engaging than they have stated publicly. Let them, therefore, develop another richer position paper, other than their current blueprint, in which these deeper, inspiring goals are reconstructed as the superstructure on which the general and mundane yearnings of the people are to be realised. If the APC does not produce and execute something much deeper than they have publicly stated, and notwithstanding the fact that their opponent, the PDP, appears incapable of doing any better given their woeful 16 years performance, somebody or another party will rise and fill the yawning gap — if not now, then sometime later.

Jonathan embarks on phantom post-mortem

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IKE everything else about President Goodluck Jonathan’s approach to critical issues, his post-mortem of the general elections is as superficial as his shambolic reelection campaign. Last Thursday, while reacting to the post-election report presented to him by the head of his campaign organisation, Ahmadu Ali, a former minister and denizen of the PDP, the president attributed his defeat to anything but his failings and his party’s lack of great ideas and cohesion. “The PDP is still the dominant party,” the president boasted. “If you look at the results, the difference is just 2.5 million votes, and if you look at the areas where it is perceived that the PDP scored so low, the PDP couldn’t have got those kinds of scores. But the elections are over, so the country first.”

By narrowing his defeat to just one area out of the many-sided beatings he took on both March 28 and April 11, he gave the impression of a politician who liked to clutch at straws.

What is obvious to everyone who has taken the pains to analyse the results of the presidential and other polls is that, far beyond the about 2.5 million votes that separated the loser from the winner, and far beyond the fact that he was beaten virtually everywhere and on all fronts, the country could not wait to angrily repudiate Dr Jonathan as leader. He was no longer liked, and the electorate blamed him for all the things that had gone wrong with the country, be it insecurity, declining economy, Chibok schoolgirls abductions, bad external image, etc.

Strangely, the president still manages to describe his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the dominant party. Dominant where? Did he take care to look at the statistics of his defeat at all? He and his party lost on all fronts, and their dominance has been taken away from them so comprehensively that no one is left in doubt which is

the dominant party today. In addition, Dr Jonathan disputes the margins by which he and his party lost in many states. Yet, it is precisely in the states where he and his party won that voter turnout was implausibly high, far above the national and even world averages.

The president was of course not done with deriving cold comfort from his quaint interpretation of the merciless beating he took. Said he while trying to encourage his demoralised party: “Our duty is to go back and identify areas of challenges so that the party will come up strong and play the role as a very strong party. The PDP is still the most organised party, is still the party that is not owned by anybody, is still the party that whatever you are, you can get to any level with your competencies and so on.” Here, the president again submits to very wild, unsubstantiated claims. There is no proof, in the face of the APC’s devastating electoral showing and tight organisation, that the PDP is the ‘most organised party.’ But the president makes the claim notwithstanding.

Dr Jonathan follows up by describing the PDP as not owned by anybody. It is not clear what he had in mind, whether actually he thought he did not himself dominate the PDP so brutally that those who could not endure his suffocating hold had no choice but to disengage themselves from the party. He confuses dominant party philosophy, as exemplified by the APC, with personal, idiosyncratic dominance, as symbolised by what he and a few others did to the PDP. For a party that precluded many aspirants from even con-

testing the presidential primary, and one that enthroned a few vicious, uncouth and ruthless politicians in key positions at the federal and state levels — men and women who had become gods that could not be challenged — it is surprising that Dr Jonathan talks of his party as not having a glass ceiling.

The president regrets his defeat, and is bitter at the manner he was humiliated and repudiated. He may not regret conceding defeat, for it saved him and his wife much trouble, local and international, but he has clearly not got over the March and April losses. His inability to reconcile himself to his new status has led him to vicious retribution against some of his appointees, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, whom he recently fired. If he and his party will continue to live in denial and blame others for their defeat, they will be unable to do the clinical post-mortem required to understand why they failed and how to recover lost grounds. Judging from Dr Jonathan’s reaction and his party’s uncoordinated assessment of the debacle, the PDP will need new faces untainted by defeat, hearts and minds not shattered by the terrible electoral losses, and judgement not coloured by face-saving rationalisations. None among those who lead the PDP today has shown the kind of depth, dispassion and sobriety the party requires for the politics of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

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Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE