The Nation May 14, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Son’s murder in Dubai: Aisha seeks justice

Jonathan extends state of emergency •Yobe govt, others kick

NEWS

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•Activists urge Fed Govt to intervene

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•Huge crowds welcome Fayemis to Ikere-Ekiti •AND •Fayose has no electoral value, says youth groupMORE ON •APC to opposition: stop copying our candidate PAGE 9

•ALL FOR THE GIRLS: An army of All Progressives Congress (APC) women protesting in Lagos...yesterday. Leading them are: (from second left) Mrs. Rahmatallahi Akinola-Hassan, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, Fibisola Akande, Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Mrs. Funmi Tejuoso and Toun Adeniran.

•SEE ALSO PAGES 2-8

Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video Govt considers talks with sect U.S. planes on surveillance

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday that 77 girls had been identified in the video clip released

by Boko Haram on Monday.

The girls were identified during a verification conducted with some parents of the abducted girls, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government led by the Chief of Staff in the Government H o u s e , Abubakar WHERE ARE Kyari.

The verificaTHE CHIBOK tion was conGIRLS KIDNAPPED ducted twice in ON APRIL 15? Chibok and at

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SOME IDENTIFIED CHIBOK GIRLS

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the Government House in Maiduguri.

The 267 girls were abducted in Chibok, Borno State on April 15.

The clarifications were made in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Alhaji Isa Gusau. He said the verification would be continue throughout last night.

He initially released the names of 54 of the girls after being identified by their parents.

The governor’s spokesman later announced that 23 more girls had been identified.

The statement he issued before he gave the additional figure, said: “The Continued on page 4

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Agnes Gafane Saraya Stober Hauwa Bitrus Hajara Isa Na’omi Philimun Hauwa Abdu

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Magret Yama Shitta Abdu Jummai Muta Ladi Paul Roda Peter Filo Dauda Godiya Bitrus Saratu Tauji

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15. Ross Daniel 16. Hauwa Ali 17. Hajara Isa •All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (right) and Guild of Editors President Femi Adesina joining the campaign in Lagos...yesterday

(Amira 3rd Speaking)

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•LIFE P15 •SPORTS P23 •MONEY P26 •INVESTORS P37 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P61

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

Jonathan seeks e P

•Vice-President Namadi Sambo (middle), former Special Adviser on Power, Joseph Makoju, President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group’s Filipe Nuno and Minister of Information Labaran Maku during PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN. a meeting on the power sector at the State House in Abuja...yesterday.

• From left: Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Edem Vindah, Marketing Director, Mr. Walter Drenth, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem and Marketing Manager, Star, Goldberg & Exports, Mr. Tokunbo Adodo at the launch of Star Football, at Bheer Hugz Bar, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODEL.

•Director, Voice of Salvation, Charitable Foundation, Onyagu Paulinus (left), the foundation’s matron, Mrs.Ngozi Onyagu (second left), Senior Public Relations Officer, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Suzan Obi (middle) and Public Affairs Adviser,Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Clement Iloba (right) at the presentation of cash to the foundation in Lagos.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

• From right: Principal Manager, Shared Services of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Aaron Yaduma; Chairman of Wilson and Weizmann Associates, Dr Chidi Amuta; Business Development Director of Travelex in Africa, Mark Smith and the Vice Chairman of Travelex in Nigeria, Gudson Evulukwu at a seminar by Wilson and Weizmann Associates in Lagos.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday asked the National Assembly to approve another six months extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Jonathan’s letter which was read at plenary by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is the third in the series of such requests.

The two previous ones were approved by the Senate.

In a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and dated May 5, Jonathan said that despite heavy presence of security forces in the affected areas through the imposition of emergency rule, the situation remains “daunting.”

However, the Secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), opposed the request.

He said even though the military needs more hi-tech equipment to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, it would be wrong to extend the emergency rule.

Jonathan, in the letter entitled: “Re: Extension of the period for the proclamation of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States” noted that the security situation in the three states remains daunting.

The letter reads in part: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the State of Emergency Proclamation 2013, in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, which was approved by the National Assembly.

“By virtues of the provisions of section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the Proclamation aforementioned would have elapsed after six months from the date of approval of the National Assembly.

“However, after due consideration of the representations made of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to that effect, while substantial progress had been made to contain situation that necessitated the proclamation of a state of emergency was yet to abate.

“It would be recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had upon consideration of the realities of the security situation in the affected States that had been placed before it graciously approved by resolution, the extension of the State of Emergency for a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the subsisting period.

“The security situation in the three states remains daunting, albeit to varying degrees, in the face of persistent attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect on civilian and military targets with alarming casualty rates.

“In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request Distinguished Senators to consider and approve by resolution, the extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States by a further term of six months from the date of expiration of the current term.”

However, Chairman Senate Committee on Public Account and Secretary of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Ahmad Lawan, kicked against a further extension of the state of the emergency in the three states.

The Senator, representing Yobe North in the Upper Chamber, said he can only support more armament and funding for the troops already deployed to the states.

Lawan, while responding to a question on the request for further extension of the emergency rule, said: “The state of emergency had been operated for 12 months now and will end on the 19th of this month. I think that should be the end.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

“The Senate President, David Mark, who spoke on our behalf last week, told President Goodluck Jonathan that the Senate was prepared to approve supplementary budget to further equip the military and boost the morale of the soldiers.

“Therefore, I am completely opposed to the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, but I support further funding for the military operation in the area.”

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano) while speaking under with Rule 47 of the House ( personal explanation), opposed the President’s request.

But, the Speaker interjected that he should put his explanation in writing.

Another member from Kano, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano) spoke with reporters on the issue after plenary.

According to him, the state of emergency has so far achieved nothing.

His words: “One year after, has the situation changed? What have they done with the huge sums budgeted for? These are a million Naira questions they need to answer. They need to justify the amount spent so far.

They may have to explain to us why it should be extended,” But, a member, Hon. Kaka Kyari Gujbawu (PDP, Borno) said the President’s request is in order.

“If not for the state of emergency, only God knows the state we would have been in now. It would have heightened and gone out of hand, so I support the extension and sustenance of emergency,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

3

CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

ks extension of emergency in Borno, others Yobe rejects extension of emergency rule

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LA GOS Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) •LA LAGOS protesting the Chibok girls’ abduction in Lagos... yesterday.

•JOS JOS Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Plateau chapter and Civil Societies protesting the abduction of the Chibok girls in Jos...yesterday.

OBE State yesterday rejected the extension of the state of emergency in the state by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It faulted the President for “repeating a stale and sterile measure” which has failed over the last 12 months A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, said: “The Yobe State Government takes very strong exception to this move by the President.

“We believe that extending emergency rule is not the answer to the prevailing security challenges in the three affected states in view of the apparent failure of the same measure over the last 12 months.

“As some may recall, Governor Gaidam supported the first emergency declaration made by the President back in May 2013.

He did so because he believed a more heightened effort was needed to deal with the escalating security challenges at the time.

“Six months on, emergency rule was a mixed-bag that was marked more by failure than by success. So, when the President went back to the National Assembly in November 2013 to ask for an extension, Governor Gaidam was among many leaders across the country expressed reservations and asked for a change of strategy. “For instance, over the six months of emergency rule and later over the second, we have seen some of the worst attacks by Boko Haram in Yobe State. From GSS Damaturu to GSS Mamudo to College of Agriculture Gujba and FGC Buni Yadi, more than 120 students were killed by insurgents. There were many other attacks in Gujba and Damaturu local governments.

“Although the security forces on the ground have done and continue to do their best under the circumstances, insurgents and criminals have always carried out attacks when they wanted to and have almost always got away with their barbarous and

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

despicable acts.”

The state government raised a poser for President Goodluck Jonathan and revisited its recommendations on how to tackle insurgency without emergency rule.

Yobe State said: “As the President now asks for another extension, it is time to ask whether any lessons have been learnt over the previous 12 months and whether the very patriotic suggestions made by the Yobe state government, other affected state governments and Nigerians generally, have been taken into account in the ongoing effort to deal with Boko Haram insurgency.

“First, Governor Gaidam has suggested, as did his Borno and Adamawa states counterparts, that the military and security forces on the ground need to be fully and properly kitted with superior weaponry and advanced communications equipment.

“The governor has particularly stressed the need for more technology-driven intelligence gathering and surveillance procedures to be able to detect and prevent attacks.

“Second, the Governor has stressed the need to carry the people of the affected states on board in the fight against insurgency. This suggestion was borne out of the fact that the very doctrine of counter-insurgency, as propounded by US military generals in Afghanistan and Iraq, was conceived as a means of winning the support of local, affected populations as much as scoring a military victory against insurgents.

“We have seen over this period, however, that the federal government has neither provided the advanced weaponry and communications gear needed to defeat Boko Haram nor worked to build and sustain the confidence of the people in the affected states.”

Swapping guerillas for girls W

ITHOUT doubt, the latest prisonerexchange proposal by the Islamist militia Boko Haram further introduced complicating factors to the Jonathan administration’s anti-terror campaign. This particular move is strikingly different from the group’s reported 2011 demand for the release of its detained members in an open letter to the Kano State governor. This time, it has bargaining chips that cannot be ignored, specifically the over 200 students of the Girls Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, whose abduction on April 15 triggered global outrage and condemnation.

Certainly, it is imprecise to describe the girls as prisoners, except perhaps in a loose sense, for they were seized in their school environment in non-combat circumstances. However, this reality does not make them any less caged, perhaps like prisoners. So, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was evidently contemptuous of nomenclatural niceties when he unveiled his current swap scheme.

He said: “All I’m saying is, if you want us to release your girls that we kidnapped, you must release our brethren that are held in Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos states, as well as Abuja. We know that you have incarcerated our brethren all over this country (Nigeria).”

According to him, “There are some of my brethren who have spent five complete years without seeing their wives, without seeing their children. For God’s sake, even for ensuring their release, will I not kidnap? After all Allah says I should kidnap. You that seized and detained my brethren for five years, you arrested and kept a woman without getting married for four, five years, you seized and hold our children... They are staying with us. We will never release them until our brethren are released.”

Indeed, the concept and practice of prisoner exchange or prisoner swap are not strange, and

By Femi Macaulay

according to historical records date back at least to the Arab- Byzantine prisoner exchanges between the late 8th century and the mid-10th century. Following ceasefire, both sides regularly exchanged prisoners on the river Lamos on the border between Byzantium and the Caliphate. It was a manfor-man swap and two bridges were built over the river, one for the prisoners of each side. Each of the sides released one prisoner at a time, and both walked simultaneously across the bridges toward their different camps. Although it is unclear whether Boko Haram would favour this approach or a modified form, it is obvious that the model will present difficulties.

In more recent times, the perennial ArabIsraeli conflict has had its share of prisoner exchanges. Notably, the first of such exchanges took place after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when Israel swapped all its Palestinian prisoners and prisoners of war (POWs) from Arab armies for all Israeli soldiers and civilians captured during the war.

Sometimes, the dead are involved in an exchange, although it is hoped that such swap will not be the case in this instance. In the example of Israel, this has happened on quite a few occasions. In June 2008, Israel released the Lebanese prisoner Nissim Nasser to Hezbollah, in exchange for the remains of 20 Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 Lebanon War. Also in July of the same year Israel released long-incarcerated Lebanese Samir al-Quntar, four Hezbollah fighters captured in the same war and the bodies of 199 fighters captured by Israel in the past 30 years. Hezbolla, in turn, released the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, captured in

a cross-border raid in July 2006. More recently, in October 2011 captured IDF tank gunner Gilad Shalit, who was held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in 2006, was set free in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Despite the paucity of information about the nittygritty of the process, the most important actuality is these swaps happened.

Interestingly, perhaps more relevant to the abducted Chibok girls is the Humanitarian Exchange or Humanitarian Accord., which was popularised by the experience of Colombia. It also has significant parallels with the Jonathan presidency’s battle with the religious insurgents on account of the dimension of guerilla warfare adopted by Boko Haram to the perplexity of government forces. The Humanitarian Exchange in Colombia involved an agreement to exchange hostages for prisoners between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerilla organisation and the Government of Colombia.

The FARC began kidnap operations in the 1970s to pressure the government into releasing its jailed members.

It is noteworthy that the accord was basically driven by the families of the hostages, some Colombian politicians and a number of governments, including France and Venezuela. It would be interesting to see whether the Bring Back Our Girls campaign could eventually push such agreement. Following years of armed conflict with the government, the FARC abducted several highproflie government officials, politicians and military and police personnel as a means of forcing the release of its members jailed by the government. Initially, the FARC guerrillas gave a major condition for participation in the swap, and demanded that the government must demilitarise a zone, namely, the municipalities of Pradera and Florida in the southern Department of Valle del Cauca.

This aspect of the narrative is enlightening

against the background of the Nigerian experience in which the government introduced emergency rule in three affected northeastern states, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, in May last year. Emergency conditions were extended for six months in November, and there has been intense controversy over a possible further extension since the last one expired last month. It is remarkable that unlike the FARC, Boko Haram has not explored the condition of demilitarisation.

It is instructive that the government of Colombia firmly rejected this demand and insisted that it was impossible and could not be a subject of negotiation. The rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and three American contractors in July 2008 changed the picture, and the FARC abandoned the condition mainly because they had lost their most valuable captives. The guerillas eventually released their last political hostages in April 2012, without any mention of prisoner exchange.

In particular, the group’s 2008 release of three civilian hostages, Luis Eladio Perez Bonilla, Gloria Polanco and Orlando Beltran Cuellar, kidnapped in 2001, to then Venezualan President Hugo Chavez on humanitarian grounds is of relevance because of the detail about the process. Under the arrangement, the trio and Jorge Eduardo Gechem Turbav, who was set free for health reasons, were transported by a Venezuelan helicopter to Caracas, Venezuela, from San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, with the participation of the International Red Cross.

In the case of the Chibok girl-hostages and their Boko Haram captors, swapping guerillas for girls, or girls for guerillas, is likely to come with challenges that the two parties involved may not completely anticipate.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

U.S. Commander meets NSA, CDS

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•President Goodluck Jonathan with a bouquet of flowers during his arrival at the Olombo International Airport, Oyo, Republic of Congo, during his visit on Monday. On the right is Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

PHOTO: NAN

UK sends minister to Nigeria

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RITAIN’S Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds will meet with Federal Government officials today for high-level meetings to discuss further assistance.

The meeting will explore what further assistance and advice the United Kingdom (UK) can provide in support of Nigeria’s efforts to secure the Chibok girls’ release and to deal with the threat posed by the extremist group Boko Haram.

The UK team of experts, in Abuja since May 9, is co-operating closely with the gov-

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ernment and other international partners to provide assistance to Nigeria in dealing with this abduction and addressing longer term challenges.

Simmonds said: “This is a horrific and heartbreaking situation and the UK wants to do all it can to offer support to the Nigerian efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped girls. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and all that they stand for.

Yesterday’s callous and shocking video of some of the missing school girls will only

make it harder for their families to deal with this agonising ordeal. This shows exactly why the UK and others have sent teams to help the Nigerians in their efforts to find them and bring them home.

“Continuing murders and abductions of school children, particularly girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram are a stark reminder of the threat faced by women and girls in conflict prone areas. Young children are being denied universal freedoms such as an education. They are being

denied opportunity and the ability to live their lives as they choose. Girls are being threatened with sexual violence in forced marriages.

“I look forward to discussing further ways that the UK and international partners can work with Nigeria in helping them secure the girls’ release, as well as how we can assist with economic and developmental solutions to address Boko Haram in the longer term.

British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock, said: Continued on page 5

U.S. surveillance aircraft join hunt for girls

NITED States (U.S.) surveillance aircraft were flying over remote areas of the Northeast as part of an international hunt for the girls kidnapped a month ago by Boko Haram militants who stormed their school.

Thousands of Nigerian

troops have been sent to the region, while the United States and Britain also have teams on the ground to help with the search.

The mass abduction of the girls from their boarding school in Chibok has caused international outrage and President Goodluck

Jonathan’s government has faced criticism from parents and others for its slow response. It has also brought global publicity to Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of Nigerians since it took up arms in 2009 to fight for an Islamist state.

The group had initially

threatened to sell the girls into slavery but on Monday offered to trade them for detained militants. The U.S. State Department said Washington had sent military, law-enforcement and development experts to Nigeria to help search for the missing girls. “We have shared Continued on page 5

NITED States African Command (US-AFRICOM) Commander Lt.-Gen. David Rodriguez met yesterday with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on modalities on how to rescue the 276 abducted girls.

A military source said the meeting was an indication that the rescue operation would begin “any moment from now”.

Boko Haram has proposed that its fighters in custody be released in exchange for the girls.

The US Department of State has said America is opposed to payment of ransom and the sect’s proposal.

The US, however, allow Nigeria to take the lead on the matter.

A source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media, said: “With the coming of the Commander of United States African Command (US-AFRICOM), Lieutenant General David Rodriguez, tactically the rescue operation has started.

“From the body language of Rodriguez, the US experts and other Allied Forces are ready to swing into action.

“What we are doing now is to give the team briefs on our operation in the Northeast, the gains we have recorded and how far we have gone with the rescue plans for the abducted girls.

“They will also exchange ideas with us on necessary back up, which they want us to provide to make their intervention successful.”

Another source, who also spoke in confidence, said Rodriguez and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki compared notes on intelligence available to the two countries on the abducted girls.

After talks with the NSA, Rodriguez met with the CDS on modalities for rescuing the girls.

“So far, there is synergy between Nigeria and the US on this operation which the international community is looking forward to.” said the source.

A statement by the Director

Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video Continued from page 1

Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has confirmed that young girls shown in a video released by the Boko Haram sect are part of schoolgirls abducted at Government Secondary School, Chibok, following a night attack on April 14,2014.

“Fifty four of the girls of the video have been identified by their names at an exercise that involved some parents of the girls, fellow students that include escapees from abduction, some teachers, security men and some officials of the Borno State Government, led by the Chief of Staff to the Government House, Abubakar Kyari.

“The parents and students were conveyed to the Government House in Maiduguri to make for an open identification exercise.

“Governor Shettima announced this in Abuja today during a news conference held after a peaceful procession by coalition of civil society bod-

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My testimony on the girls’ abduction, by Shettima

ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima spoke yesterday on the abduction of the Chibok girls, the insurgency in his state and his efforts at restoring peace.

He also chided the Federal Government.

Shettima spoke while receiving the Citizens Group – which has been protesting against the abduction of the girls in Abuja.

The protest was taken to the Borno State Governor’s Lodge.

Shettima, who received the protesters said: “When that video became public, this gentleman made copies of them and we directed the local government chairman to summon some of the parents in Chibok to come and identify their wards. So far, they were able to identify 54 students by name and they were very sure that all the girls were students of the school.

“I am a leader who is ready to accept reso-

ies and activists under the Bring Back Our Girls initiative in Abuja. “ Shettima said the figures of those identified by their names were climbing as the exercise went on at the Government House in Maiduguri. He was

From Gebenga Omokhunu, Faith Yahaya, Grace Obike and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

ponsibility for my actions and inactions. I don’t want to say so much in order not to scandalise federal authorities.

“After bringing back our girls alive, we can open the can of worms, we can tell you who and who are privy to information and I can even give you the time, but I am a leader I am not supposed to overheat the polity; I am to partner to see that we bring back our girls alive.

“Leadership calls for respect otherwise, believe me, I know a lot but I have to restrain myself from speaking too much because discretion is the better part of dialogue. Believe me, if I am to speak, a lot of heads will roll.

“I will speak at the appropriate time.

This country, ladies and gentlemen, be-

briefed every 30 minutes. “ Initially, while he was addressing the BBOG group, 36 names had been identified but before his briefing an hour later, the number had climbed to 54, which he then told reporters.

longs to all of us and we have to do whatever it takes to protect it.

“By overheating the polity, I am not adding any value to the system, hence it will result to something worse. We will allow others to do the talking...comment is free but facts are sacred and that is why I am not bothered about the insinuations and accusations because they cannot stand the test of empirical verification.

“All the girls in that video were identified to be students of Government Secondary School, Chibok and 54 of them were identified by names by their parents. Once they see a face that is familiar, they identify.

“The students from Chibok; we were able to get 53 of those students. Some of them fell off the vehicles; quite a number of them escaped from the hands of the insurgents; nobody rescued them, and they rescued

“Shettima had on Monday directed the identification to be conducted. Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area and other government officials were made to mass produce the video and play before parents of the abducted girls, oth-

Continued on page 5

er students, especially those who escaped from captivity, teachers and management of the school as well as other community members in Chibok.

“But after the exercise in Chibok, Governor Shettima direct-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

of Defence Information, Maj.Gen. Chris Olukolade, did not give much detail on Rodriguez’s meeting with the CDS. The statement said: “The CDS welcomed the international support for the counter insurgency operation.

“He stressed that it will complement ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military to find and rescue the missing Chibok girls.

“He revealed that the Nigerian military is already restrategising its operational doctrines to match the emerging trend of asymmetrical warfare currently confronting the nation.

“Air Chief Marshal Badeh expressed appreciation to the United States on behalf of the Federal Government for responding positively to the call for assistance in the search and rescue of the abducted school girls.

“Earlier in his remarks, Gen Rodriguez stated that he was at the Defence Headquarters to discuss modalities in furtherance of US support to Nigerian military to put an end to insurgency in the country.”

The statement also said the CDS reviewed the military ties between Nigeria and the US. It added: “The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as mutual and strategic.

“According to the CDS, the Continued on page 5

•Air Chief Marshal Badeh

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Fanta Lawan Zainabu Yaga Aisha Lawan Zanna Dokas Yakubu Kabu Mala Maryama Bashir Hauwa M. Maina Mary G. Dauda Susana Yakubu Maryam Abbas Laraba John Hanatu Nuhu Na’ omi Bukar Rifkatu Galang

ed for another round of verification to be conducted at the Government House in order to cross check findings so as not to mislead the public.

“The second exercise confirmed the preliminary exercise in Chibok.

The following names of schoolgirls have been estabContinued on page 5

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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NEWS

CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

•Christians and Muslims ladies protesting in Bauchi…on Monday.

U.S. Commander meets NSA, CDS Continued from page 4

Nigerian military has over time benefited immensely from the bilateral relationship between the two countries particularly in the area of training and military hardware.

“He noted that Nigerian Navy, for instance, has received a number of operational equipment and support, as part of United States support to the Nigerian military in combating oil theft and other maritime threats.”

The spokesman for the US Department of State, Jen Paski, in a chat with reporters on

Monday in Washington, stated the country’s position on ransom.

The transcript was obtained yesterday from the US Embassy website by our correspondent.

Psaki said: “In terms of the question you had about the reports of a trade offer, as you know, Nigeria is in the lead.

We are simply supporting their efforts.

“We, as you know – also, our policy is to deny – the United States policy, I should say, is to deny kidnappers the benefits of their criminal acts, including ransoms or conces-

sions, so I don’t have any other particular update on this report.”

Asked if Nigeria opted to swap, she said: “I’m not going to speculate on that. It’s – you’re familiar with our position. Obviously, again, the Nigerian Government has the lead here.

“We are providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support. We do have a team on the ground, as I spoke about a little bit on Friday.

“Of that team, 26 of the 27 members – that includes some who have come in and some

who are already on the ground – are on the ground in Nigeria digging in on the search and coordinating closely with the Nigerian Government as well as international partners and allies.

“So we are, as you’ve heard the President and the Secretary say, doing everything possible to assist in their effort.”

Rodriguez revealed has won about 36 military awards and medals with participation in operations against insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military explains vigilante involvement in terror fight

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HE spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Major General Chris Olukolade has explained the involvement of local vigilante groups in the search for the missing schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.

Gen. Olukolade was speaking on the Cable News Network (CNN) over an allegation that the army abandoned security in Chibok to the local vigilante groups. He denied that the army

has not provided protection to Chibok residents.

“The whole element in this operation has been to cooperate with the locals, they will not dispute that we always cooperate with them by having their vigilante available to us to provide information. One thing in Chibok is that it is the character of this operation

to have the locals participate.

So in this instance it is not out of place to have the locals to be supportive of the operation that is on ground,” he said.

CNN accused the Nigerian military of not protecting the civilians in Chibok, abandoning the town to the ill-equipped vigilante groups. The Defence spokeman in turn accused the CNN reporter of being judge-

modest accomplishment that we were able to record in this counter insurgency period would not have come to fruition”. “The military and the civilians had a rough beginning.

“We were able to establish a rapport and that led to the creation of JTF. The JTF is a salutary effort. The JTF transformed into Borno Youth and Economic Empowerment. We are paying them N15,000 for community policing and they work handin-hand with the military. They help us with information gathering and they really guide the military in going to places because they are sons of the soil.

“If you only have one river from which you are drinking water, you will not dare to poison that water and for that reason, I might withhold some of the information, but believe me, Borno government has over the four years spent over N10billion assisting the security agencies in the state and if anybody says we are not assisting or partnering them, ask that person? Just two months ago, we bought 100 Hilux vehicles for the Nigerian Army at the cost of N500 million.

You can go and verify from the Army Headquarters whether we did it or not.

“For the police, we bought 20

APCs for them and we are the only one in the federation that has done that for them.

“If anyone says the Borno state government is not partnering with the security agencies, it is just one of those tales by moonlight. They are people that want to divide the society that is together. So, we are solidly behind the military.”

The governor described Boko Haram’s ideology as “devilish”.

“They do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion. If they see me or Oby Ezekwesili, they will kill us. They are not intimidated by anybody. The ideology of Boko Hram is very devilish. They don’t discriminate, they are just a bunch of lunatics bent on a suicidal mission and may God crush them for all of us,” he said, adding: “They have so far identified 54 of the girls. It is an ongoing process and they might identify more because it is an exercise that is currently going on at the Government House in Maiduguri.

“The last time, I made a simple remark and it was taken completely out of context, but I was saying this because I am the man on ground and can talk favourably on any issue concerning this issue more than any-

By Seun Akioye

mental. “ I think you are being judgemental , you already concluded we are not protecting the people,” Olukolade told the CNN reporter.

In a fierce defence of the position of the network, the reporter said it was to clear the allegations by many Chibok residents.

“We have not ruled out the fact that there is complementary effort from the locals in this operation, “ the spokesman said.

My testimony on the girls’ abduction, by Shettima Continued from page 4

themselves.

“Testimonies of our girls revealed that some of them were asked to cook. Some were asked to go and fetch water from the river and they ran away.

“We are giving the girls counseling. We moved them over with the help of the Nigerian Armed Forces and they are completing their exams today, the SSCE. They will go on a twoweek break. For the NECO, we are bringing them down to Maiduguri and we are going to keep them in the most secured of locations in Maiduguri for them to sit for their exam.

“When the incident happened, my wife and I went to Chibok. It was after the international outcry that the Federal Government decided to give it attention; 19 days after the incident. I believe that if people are going to be fair to us, they will tell us that we have exhibited a lot of sympathy and support for the people of Chibok.

“Chibok is a community that I have personal likeness for, you can ask any Chibok person.”

Shettima spoke also on civilmilitary relationship, saying “without the relationship, the

one sitting comfortably in an office in Abuja here. I know that the security forces are doing their best under the circumstances they find themselves.

“What they did was that when the video became public, a gentleman made copies of them and sent to us in Maiduguri. I directed the local government chairman to summon some of the parents to come and identify their wards. They were brought to Maiduguri and so far it is an ongoing exercise, where we have been able to identify 54 students by name and it was identified that all the girls in the video are students of the Government Secondary School Chibok.

“The Federal Government’s claim about Borno State opening of schools in Maiduguri is absolutely nonsense. The Federal Government Colleges in Maiduguri is right now open with students undergoing their final examinations. Are they not Federal institutions? We are not a unitary state; we are a Federation and if we are to permanently close down our schools, what message are we sending to the world? That Boko Haram has won? We met and discussed at length with WAEC who were subsequently intimidated into withdrawing their wards. I have documentary

UK sends minister to Nigeria Continued from page 4

“The abductions have been traumatic for the Nigerian people. Britain, as a friend of Nigeria, is working urgently to help the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to find the girls and tackle longer term challenges in the North, such as education and stability.”

Brigadier Ivan Jones said: “The Nigerian military have welcomed our arrival and we

are working together closely to build the information picture and establish where else we can co-operate.

“No one should underestimate the scale and complexity of this incident and environment. But it is clear that there are areas where we can have a real impact on their capability, building on the close co-operation and training that already exists.”

U.S. surveillance aircraft join hunt Continued from page 4

commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government’s permission,” a U.S. official said. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said U.S. teams on the ground “are digging in on the

search and coordinating closely with the Nigerian government as well as international partners and allies”. The girls’ exact whereabouts and whether they are being held in one or more groups is not known.

Chibok is close to Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, Niger and Chad in a sparsely populated area of the Sahel region.

Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video Continued from page 4

lished from the video. They are: 1. Agnes Gafane 2. Saraya Stober ; 3. Hauwa Bitrus 4.

Hajara Isa; 5. Na’omi Philimun

•Shettima

evidence that WAEC agreed to the examination in Chibok and other communities including Maiduguri, but I don’t want to drag it. The issue now is how to get our daughters back.

“We know the whereabouts of the girls, in the context of the fact that we are the closest to the people. We have a very robust platform and a security alert system, where we have sensitised the communities about alerting us when they notice unusual movements. I will not go further on the locations of where they were sighted or seen due to security reasons. If I do so, I will compromise the safety of those innocent girls. Anytime we get information and we do get information, we relate it to the relevant quarters for them to investigate further.”

6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking) ;7. Magret Yama ; 8. Shitta Abdu ; 9. Jummai Muta 10.Ladi Paul ;11. Roda Peter ;12. Filo Dauda ;13. Godiya Bitrus ;14.

Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking) ;15.

Ross Daniel ; 16.Hauwa Ali ;17.

Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking) ;18.Luba Afga ;19.Na’omi Luka ;20. Saraya Emos Ali ; 21.

Bilkisu Abdullahi ;22. Mairama Ali ; 23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga ;24. Dabora Abbas; 25. Kabu Mala ; 26. Halima Ali ; 27. Yana Bukar ; 28. Solomi Pugu ; 29.

Lydia Emmar ; 30. Luba Sanda ; 31. Saraya Samuel ; 32. Comfort Habila ; 33. Rejoice Shanki ; 34. Gloria Yaga ; 35. Mary Nkeki ; 36. Moda Baba ; 37.

Hauwa Isuwa ; 38. Patient Jacob ;39. Ladi Jajel ; 40. Abigel Bukar 41. Fanta Lawan ; 42.

Zainabu Yaga ; 43. Aisha Lawan Zanna ; 44. Dokas Yakubu; 45. Kabu Mala ; 46. Maryama Bashir ; 47. Hauwa M. Maina ; 48. Mary G. Dauda ;49. Susana Yakubu ; 50. Maryam Abbas ; 51. Laraba John ; 52. Hanatu Nuhu ;53. Na’ omi and Bukar 54. Rifkatu Galang “The names are currently being compared with school records as well as names published some days back to ensure accuracy.

“The exercise continues at the Government House and it is hoped that more names will be established by parents, students and teachers as well as management of the affected school.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION Protest in Jos

Negotiation can’t be made public, says Keyamo

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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From Frank Ikpefan Abuja

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UMAN rights activist-lawyer Festus Keyamo yesterday said it would be wrong for the Federal Government to make public its negotiation with Boko Haram.

Although the lives of the girls are precious to the country, Keyamo advised that no government negotiates with terrorists.

The lawyer spoke with our reporter in Abuja in a phone interview.

He said: “Even if the Federal Government wants to do something like that, it is going to be secret. It is not really a matter of public consumption. There is no government in the world that openly negotiates with terrorists. I accept that the lives of the girls are so precious.

“Government should just bring our girls back. I don’t know how they are going to do it.”

Beauty queen pleads for girls

By Joseph Eshanokpe

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HE Most Beautiful Girl in the Niger Delta, Miss Gwendolyn Okutele, has called for the release of the over 200 girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect from their secondary school in Chibok in Borno State.

In a statement by her Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Tuya, she said the abduction was unreligious and an uncivilised.

Okutele said it was wrong for a group that hates western education, to deploy guns, cars, bombs and the television to terrorise, noting that Islam abhors their obnoxious activities.

The statement reads: “The abduction of the school girls in Chibok is the most barbaric, evil uncivilised act and a dark plot by some anarchists to take Nigeria back to the stone age.

“My heart bleeds for the pain and anguish these innocent school girls will be passing through in the hands of those satanic bigots whose activities clearly defer from the teaching of Islam and only portray them as agent of satan.

“My plea is that these girls should be released unconditionally without further delay.

“President Goodluck Jonathan should deplore crack military operation to rescue the girls who the abductors may have turned into sex slaves.”

•Miss Okutele

•Amir (Head) Ahmadiya Muslim Community of Nigeria, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola (left) speaking at a news conference on the state of the nation in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Deputy leader, Special Duties, Alhaji Ahmed Al Hassan Naib Amir, and Missionary-inPHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN charge, Abdul Khalique Nayyar (right).

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Do everything to secure release of girls, say Northern delegates

ORTHERN Delegates at the National Conference have asked the Federal Government to do everything possible to secure the release of the school girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram extremists.

Spokesman of the delegates Anthony Sani told The Nation: “I do not know the government’s stand on the offer made by Boko Haram that it is ready to exchange the abducted girls with the sect’s members who are prisoners.

“Yet I would like to say it is the position of Northern Delegates Forum that government should go as far as effort can go and secure safe release of the abducted girls. More so that experts,

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

from across those countries experienced in such difficult tasks, have offered to help Nigeria secure the release of the girls safely.”

Sani expressed disappointmnt about reports of disagreement among some Nigerians about the involvement of foreigners in Nigeria’s search for the abducted girls, describing it as upsetting. “ Upsetting because there is no basis for the disagreement, considering the over riding urgent need to rescue the girls which our efforts alone have not yielded the desired result, and the fact that terrorism transcends national boundaries.

“Northern Delegates Fo-

rum, therefore, welcomes the offer of other countries to join the Nigerian government’s effort to rescue the abducted girls.

There is no room for national pride being hurt in this matter. After all, Nigeria has been helping other countries sort out their security challenges. More over, it does not matter whether the cat is black, is white,is brown or it is spotted, as long as it can catch the rat.

“And that was why when foreign missions visited Arewa Consultative Forum in the past, the forum appealed to them to come to the aid of Nigeria in the campaigns against the insurgence through sharing of intelligence, training, employment of counter ter-

rorism strategies and operations of security personnel.

“Northern Delegates Forum therefore wishes to appeal to our leaders at all level (be they political, religious and community leaders) and all public spirited individuals and groups with patriotic courage not to bring matter of security challenges into the political cock pit.Nigerians should all come together and confront this national malaise with all sense of seriousness.

“And finally, Northern Delegates Forum urges the abductors of the Chibok girls to release them in the over all interest of Islam as a peaceful religion,and certainly not a religion which does not promote violence.”

Jonathan, N’guesso seek more action against terrorism in Africa

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and President Denis Sassou N’guesso of the Republic of Congo yesterday called on African leaders, the African Union and its Peace and Security Council to eradicate Boko Haram and other terrorist groups on the continent.

They issued a communiqué at the end of Jonathan’s visit to N’guesso for consultations on regional security ahead of the today’s meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council in the Congolese.

According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, both leaders condemned the mass abduction of college girls from

S

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Chibok and demanded the unconditional liberation of the girls and all others being held against their will by Boko Haram.

Both leaders also expressed their support for all initiatives aimed at restoring peace and normalcy to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They also welcomed the ceasefire agreement in South Sudan and urged both parties to the conflict to respect the commitments they made in Addis Ababa on May 9.

APC women protest for Chibok girls

CORES of All Progressives Congress (APC) women yesterday stormed the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to protest the abduction of 234 girls on April 15 in Chibok, Borno State.

They were led by the Senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu and the APC women leader in Lagos, Mrs Kemi Nelson.

The women, all dressed in a red T-shirt and a big banner with inscription ‘Bring Chibok Girls Back Now’, began their protest at 9am at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja GRA and marched through Ikeja to Alausa secretariat where they presented a letter to the governor for transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan.

•Abduction shows govt’s ineptitude, says Senator Tinubu

By Leke Salaudeen and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Speaking on behalf of the women, Senator Tinubu said the abduction of the girls had exposed the ineptitude of the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and unemployment.

She said:“We thank God for the situation of Chibok girls; if not for them, the insecurity problem we have in Nigeria would not have been globally addressed. We thank God for that.

“We are concerned because of all that is going on in the nation. We are glad that people are praying for the nation, enough of bloodshed and thank God this case has drawn a lot of attention

to the things happening in this country.”

Mrs Nelson, who read some of the contents of the letter entitled, ‘Bring Back Chibok Girls Now and Alive’, said the women were disappointed that the President had not shown enough leadership to secure the lives of the future of the country.

She said the Chibok girls were not the first victims of kidnap, recalling that 54 girls from Borno State were abducted on January 14.

“That Tuesday night, most Nigerians were astonished that your government rather than cancel the centenary dinner in honour of the kidnapped girls, went ahead to wine and dine while our

girls a few hours earlier were taken into captivity,” the letter said.

She urged President Jonathan to institute a judicial enquiry into the kidnapped Chibok school girls and other related issues with a view to exposing all hidden acts of conspiracy and negligence surrounding the recent incidents.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba, who received the letter on behalf of Fashola, said all efforts should be geared towards helping security experts to bring the girls back unhurt.

Ibirogba said the group’s message would be conveyed to Jonathan.

EMBERS of the Nigeria Labor Comgress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other civil society organisations in Plateau State took to the streets of Jos yesterday in protest of the abduction of Chibok girls.

The protesters moved from the state secretariat of the NUJ to the House of Assembly where they delivered their protest message.

The group demanded the immediate release of the over 200 girls abducted from the Government Girls’ Secondary School Chibok in Borno State.

Yesterday’s procession which commenced at 9am included members of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The crowd was addressed

by Deputy Speaker Joyce Ramnap.

The state president of FIDA, Ladi Madaki, said: “Posterity will not forgive us if we keep quiet. Our appeal is for the girls to come out alive, unharmed and reunited with their families and the hope of all children in Nigeria that there is a right to education, survival and exercise of free will.”

Ramnap urged citizens to unite and fight terrorism, irrespective of ethnic and religious difference.

A one-minute silent prayer was observed for the return of the girls.

Kano Christian women join call From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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HE women wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano State chapter yesterday called for the release of the Chibok girls.

The chairman of CAN, Bishop Ransom Bello, also said he believed God would expose the evil doers and their collaborators.

The protesters bore placards, with inscriptions, such as: ‘’Chibok girls are innocent, release them’ we want our girls back; Listen to the voice of Women; We will continue to be in pain until they are release;, what are the offence of Chibok girls.”

Most of the women cried and rolled on the ground.

Reading the protest letter at the state CAN secretariat, Kano, the chairperson, Mrs Ann West , said: “ As mothers, we are here to draw the attention of our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the governor of Kano state , Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the entire global community on the callous abduction of the Chibok girls. ‘”Without prejudice, we are condemning the abduction, adding that it is an act of wickedness, inhuman and barbaric.

“As concerned mothers, we have been seeking the face of the Lord for divine intervention, of cause which we know He will answer us.

Bishop Bello, said: “We as CAN, we are in support of your crusade, just as we have been and still feeling the pain of what happened.”

He promised to hand over their letter to Kwankwaso for transmission to Jonathan.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION Only North’s leaders can stop insurgency, says Oke From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Presiding Bishop Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan, Oyo State, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has said only northern leaders and politicians can end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The cleric urged the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Saad III, other emirs and North’s political leaders to put heads together to end the sect’s insurgency within a week.

Oke addressed reporters yesterday at the church headquarters, at the Old Ife Road, Olaogun, Ibadan.

He said: “The church in Nigeria is putting it to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, to call his emirs and political leaders in the North to come out and disown Boko Haram, if their hands are clean.

“The church in Nigeria is putting it to them that their hands are not clean. “...Let them sincerely come out and say, ‘Boko Haram, we disown you’. I tell you, the sect will disappear in one week.

“If they (insurgents) don’t have a place to hide, they won’t be there again. The Sultan is the only person who can play the role of Desmond Tutu (South African Nobel Peace prize winning Bishop) in Nigeria today.

He should come out and do this.”

The cleric also accused the insurgents of smearing Islam as a religion.

According to him, the sect’s action has impacted negatively on the image of Islam, known as a religion of peace.

Oke said: “Boko Haram is on a three-dimensional mission in Nigeria. First, they have declared a war against the people of Nigeria; they have declared a war against the church of God and thirdly, Boko Haram is on a smear campaign against Islam. It has portrayed that it hates the church, Western education and Christians.”

‘Girls’ abduction is extreme terrorism’ From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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CLERIC, Rev. Dachollom Datiri, has said the abduction of the over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, is an extremely wicked form of terrorism.

Rev. Datiri, who is the President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), spoke yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State, when he opened the 84th general council meeting of the church.

The cleric was confident that Nigeria would survive the Boko Haram turbulence.

He said: “Nigeria is passing through a turbulent, trying period and I called on Christians, Muslims and every citizens of this nation to seek the face of God so that this dark night will turn to day.”

The cleric condoled with the families of Nyanya bombings.

He said: “My heart goes out to victims of the Nyanya bombings, the relations of the abducted school girls and others whose ordeals have not come the limelight”.

He hailed the Federal Government for trying to fight the Boko Haram insurgency but “called on President Jonathan Goodluck to do more, especially in the area of fishing out bad eggs from among the armed forces”.

•Emir Of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle), Chairman, North East Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Shuaibu Byal (holding a newspaper) and Chairperson, Protest Groups in Bauchi, Malama Nafisa Haruna (right), during Christians and Muslims ladies’ peaceful protest on the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in Bauchi...on Monday.

PHOTO: NAN

APC: converting abducted Christian girls to Islam unacceptable

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the conversion to Islam of the Christians among the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram terror group four weeks ago in Chibok, Borno State.

The party described the development as “totally unacceptable and downright unconstitutional”.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, after an emergency meeting on the Boko Haram problem, the party also described as “utterly barbaric”

By Olamilekan Andu

the action of the girls’ abductors in forcing them to make statements against their convictions.

It reminded the abductors that Nigeria is a multi-religious state where the constitution recognises the rights of the citizens to any religion of their choice, hence “it is patently wrong and unconscionable to force any citizen to convert from one religion to another”.

APC added: “This whole abduction saga has hit at the

very soul of our nation. But just when we felt we had all witnessed the worst atrocity by the primitive and brutal group called Boko Haram, we are confronted with a totally repulsive scene of teenage girls, literally with guns to their heads, being forced to say they have converted to Islam.

“This is appalling, distasteful and unacceptable under any circumstance and we condemn it with all the strength we can muster.”

The party urged the government to critically study the

latest video by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to see what other measures could be added to the ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls.

“We have consistently said some form of negotiation cannot and should not be ruled out to pry our nation from the grip of these terrorists and ensure the safety and security of our citizens.

“In this regard, we consider as prudent the government’s reaction that ‘all options are on the table’ to safely reunite our girls with their families,” APC said.

Senate opposes negotiation with Boko Haram

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ENATE President David Mark has said the Federal Government will not negotiate with Boko Haram insurgents for the release of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Borno State, exactly a month ago in exchange for some of their operatives in government detention.

The sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a video released on Monday showing the girls for the first time since their abduction, vowed that the children would only be released if the Federal Government agreed to swap them for detained Boko Haram operatives in various cells across the country.

Shekau said: “These are the girls abducted by us that the Nigerian government has been calling for their release. We won’t release them to you and you can’t take them away from us, no matter how (hard) you try.

“We will only release them if you, the government, release our brothers you have arrested and detained for four to five years now.”

Reacting in Beijing, China, to Shekau’s demand, Mark said the Federal Government would not negotiate with the terrorists.

The Senate President insisted that negotiating with terrorists over the abducted girls would not help the nation.

According to him, it will give the insurgents room to wreak more havoc on Nigeria and its people without fulfilling the terms of agreement with the sect.

Mark said: “Nigeria will not negotiate with terrorists under any circumstance because you don’t negotiate with criminals, which Boko Haram insurgents

Yobe Speaker: negotiate for girls’ release

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OBE State House of Assembly Speaker Adamu Dala Dogo has said negotiation with Boko Haram is a step towards the release of the schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State.

The Speaker urged the sect to send its emissaries to the Federal Government for negotiation, adding that the government would not negotiate with faceless people.

He said: “Let them (insurgents) come out and talk with the Federal Government. The government should negotiate with the sect and bring back our girls. But Boko Haram should also send their delegates to negotiate with the government because the government cannot negotiate with faceless people. I think negotiation is another way of solving the problem while the government is considering other options.

“The use of force will put the lives of those girls on the line. That is the least the parents of the girls and other Nigerians expect.

“The Federal Government must act responsibly and fast too because time is running out on this From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

are.

“We are going to bring the girls back safe and sound to their parents without any negotiation with Boko Haram. Every effort towards that, which cannot be disclosed in the public, is being made to rescue the girls.”

The Senate President recalled that when insurgency started in 2010, the Federal Government did not realise that Boko Haram had links with international terrorist organisations.

He said the lack of adequate intelligence on the sect made the government’s position then to be largely centred on dialogue, with the belief that the insurgents were mainly Nigerians.

From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

matter.

“One other big solution to the abduction is for all and sundry, irrespective of our religions, to pray for the safe return of the girls. Only prayers can work here. So, I believe Nigerians should intensify their prayers for the release of these girls.”

On the presidential committee of the abducted Chibok girls, Dala Dogo said: “If soldiers who have weapons cannot rescue those girls, how can a mere committee, comprising of politicians, bring back the girls.

“In my opinion, only prayers with military action can bring back the girls to their parents. The best the committee will do is to visit Yobe and Borno states and Chibok to meet with the parents of the children. It will then go back to Abuja and submit its report. That will be the end of the story.

“This is a waste of time, energy and resources.

Prayers are key as far as I am concerned.”

The state is divided on the need for negotiation. Many people do not believe in such a move though others support it.

Mark said the Federal Government had no option but to use its military strength to wipe out the insurgents, especially with the ongoing collaboration with developed countries to fight terrorism.

He added: “We didn’t realise on time that they (insurgents) had international connections.

But now that we do, we are already mobilising all the resources and weapons at our disposal along with needed expertise and intelligence sharing from other countries to frontally tackle the insurgents.”

The Senate President said if a situation demands, he might join the military reserve in the war against terrorism.

He urged Nigerians to give the

Federal Government and security agencies information on the insurgents and their sponsors.

Mark added: “The cooperation the nation needs from Nigerians now is for everyone having vital information on the insurgents and their sponsors in and outside the country to make it available to the government through relevant security outfits in the interest of all.”

The Senate President assured the over 60,000 Chinese nationals living in Nigeria of their safety.

He said the Federal Government had put in place security measures to guarantee not only their safety but that of other nationals in Nigeria.

NGO to rehabilitate girls From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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NON-governmental organisation (NGO), Lightup Foundation, has said it will rehabilitate the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.

The foundation’s Executive Director Olasubomi Aina said the organisation had begun plans to rehabilitate the girls when they are freed from their captors.

She said the foundation, a registered charity organisation in England and Scotland, regretted the sad experience the children have been going through.

The director described it as a highpoint of inhumanity.

Aina said: “The recent abduction of over 200 Chibok girls has left us and other organisations and communities unbearably sad. Lightup Foundation strongly condemns the wicked act perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect.

“The organisation encourages Nigerians to stay together in this war against Boko Haram. Nigerians have had enough. I thank all the Nigerians, who have been on the streets and on the web, protesting daily for the girls’ freedom.

“We also wish to acknowledge and appreciate the leaders of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) for their immeasurable support for Nigeria.

“There is no excuse whatsoever for criminal activities; all perpetrators of criminal activities must face the consequences of their actions. The ugly incidents of the past few years in Nigeria must now come to an end. We cannot continue to allow some ignorant and selfish groups to destroy the joy of our great nation Nigeria.

“These people sit down daily to do nothing positive to move our great nation forward. How can people continue to strategise schemes that will make others mourn on a daily basis?

“They have done their worst and every Nigerian is set to fight back now. We all have been pushed to the wall.

“Women and men of Borno State, we need to come together as a team as there is a common cause. One of the major goals of these heartless oppressors is to divide Nigeria with their selfish ideas. For us to fight this group, we need to first ensure that we defeat their plans by ensuring that we are not divided in our strategies and plans.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS ABDUCTION Nigeria is ready to talk to Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 abducted school girls, a minister was quoted by the BBC as saying.

Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki said if Boko Haram was sincere, its leader Abubakar Shekau should send people he trusts to meet the standing committee on reconciliation. Many Nigerians – politicians, lawyers, public affairs analysts and others - are for dialogue to free the girls – should the need arise. Some are, however, opposed to “talking with terrorists”.

Fed Govt ‘ready for talks with Boko Haram sect’ Sir Olaniwun Ajayi said: Afenifere chieftain and delegate to the National Conference Sir Ajayi rejected the sect’s proposal, saying that it is devoid of logic and no basis can be found for it in law and morality.

He queried: “Which country is that practiced? People offended the state. Their ring leaders who sent them on an unlawful errand to invade a school and take the innocent girls are giving conditions. They are saying that their members in detention should be released before they release the girls. Where is that done in the world?

“A thief invaded a house. Then, the thief is saying that, before what is stolen can be returned, you have to pay money to the thieves. No government can do that. Our government should not do that. In other countries, the sect members would have been apprehended by now”.

Another Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said: “The government has done the right thing by exploring dialogue as route to the solution to the problem. But, it is legally and morally wrong to propose the release of the Boko Haram suspects in prison in exchange for the innocent girls. That is not acceptable”.

A delegate to the National Conference, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, said: “The people terrorising the country cannot give terms and their demands are irritating.”

He stressed: ‘It is the height of ignorance. You have harmed people and you are asking that some people should be released from detention before you can release the girls. They are trying to ridicule the government and our nation. I am not happy about the whole situation. There are experts who can handle the negotiation with the sect. But, their condition is not right”.

Former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa said: “The Federal Government should accept it, if it will encourage dialogue. The two sides are holding hostages, although the Federal Government may say it is holding criminals. It may be the beginning of peaceful settlement of the problem. The Federal Government has no alternative than to dialogue. The offer should be accepted as it will give room for meaningful dialogue.”

Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo said: “It is unfortunate and uncalled for. Icannot support that. The children have nothing to do with their claims, what they want

and what they are fighting for. If they want to fight the government as terrorist, they can fight the government. But, they cannot be seizing girls. Why should they go to schools to disrupt the peace of the place?

“I don’t support the idea of unconditional release of the innocent girls. Let them release the children to their families and embrace dialogue. Why should faceless people give conditions to government?

Lagos state House of Assembly majority leader Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye said: “While nothing would be too much on the side of the government to ensure that the girls are released and reunited with their families. The government should however be weary of succumbing to demand by terrorists as it would send a wrong signal in future to others who would want to blackmail the nation when it is faced with such situation in future. I think the Federal Government should follow the lead from the release video about the girls and track them down while it buys time with the exchange proposal.

Rights activist Mike Ozekhome said: It was former President of America JF Kennedy, who said you should never negotiate out of fear. There are times that we have to stoop to conquer. We are talking of lives here; we are talking of little children, fairly between the ages of 10 and 16 years, taking into the wilderness by Boko.

The parents of these little children are traumatised, they cannot sleep, and they cannot eat. They do not know the fate of their children. Shekau has said initially that he will sell the girls into slavery; he has changed his position to exchanging them for the arrested Boko Haram people. The question now is what is the way out? The Turaki Committee’s primary purpose is to see how they can negotiate, so as to end the insurgency. I therefore, do no say that the idea of negotiation with Boko Haram is so alien to the government, that it is suddenly a taboo. The government has been accused that it was playing a game of stick and carrot. We are now talking about human lives. This is one area where I throw my weight behind the government of Nigeria, to negotiate with these people to release these little innocent girls. Some of who will become ministers, governors and top government functionaries in Nigeria.

Abubakar Tsav, former commissioner of police, Lagos States has mixed feelings about the matter. He is fully in support of negotiation with the insurgents “for the sake of the girls, who are innocent and should not be made to suffer for what they did not cause.” He added:

“One could also consider this from the point of view of their parents who are now in trauma and do not know what next to do. So, on humanitarian grounds, yes, I am for negotiation. In the interest of peace, anything we can do to bring back these girls would be welcomed.” He said America at one point or the other exchanged prisoners with people they considered as terrorists, to effect the release of their citizens.

But on the other hand, Tsav insists such an idea is arrant nonsense. His words: “These people have killed a lot of Nigerians; they have destabilised this country; and they have bombed churches and mosques. Seen from that perspective, it is not proper. If we do it, we would be indirectly supporting terrorism.”

The former police commissioner said Nigeria’s problem was that when President Goodluck Jonathan was advised to negotiate with them at the outset, he refused, saying he cannot negotiate with ghosts. “Now these ghosts are disturbing the whole country. So, I think those who are advising the President are not advising him well,” he added. Besides, he said the area where the girls were abducted is under emergency rule, and that the security agencies failed in their duty to protect the citizens. Tsav wondered whether there is any sort of connivance between some of the soldiers and Boko Haram members.

Chief Niyi Akintola said: “Boko Haram demand as unjustifiable, unreasonable and should be rejected by the Federal government.

“The Federal Government should not succumb to blackmail. It should not compromise anything. Those who had committed crimes against humanity cannot dictate terms of their release from detention. They should account for their crimes.

“On what basis should the government negotiate with them. Their demand is totally unacceptable. The whole world is against them, everybody is angry with them.

We should condemn Boko Haram’s act.

Afenifere chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, said: “Even though human lives are involved, government should not negotiate with murderers.”

Mr. Chris Uche (SAN) advised government to leave every option open. He urged the Jonathan administration to explore all options and possibilities to get the girls back to their parents.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Second Republic politician said: “This does not necessarily mean that

government should accede to all the demands of the terrorists. I believe in the course of negotiation, a middle course may be found,” he said from his base in Kano on the telephone, adding: “It is important that the door of negotiation should not be shut.”

Yakassai, who was special adviser to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Affairs, said the Federal Government had not entirely ruled out negotiation, and that his understanding of government’s position is that it may resort to negotiation when the need arises.

Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, an Enugu lawyer and rights activist said: “The whole idea is absurd.”

He argued that Boko Haram insurgents cannot be compared with Niger Delta militants in anyway. He said: “We were able to negotiate with the militants because we saw them, but these insurgents who are they?

“Secondly, what they have done to fellow Nigerians without justification is heinous; how can we be negotiating with such elements? In fact, I’m beginning to think that the whole thing is being orchestrated.

These girls have been in the custody of the terrorists for only three weeks, but they can now recite lengthy passages in the Quran; majority of these girls are Christians, I don’t think it is possible.”

Former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh said: “In my own personal opinion and as a Nigerian, I believe that the President is in a big dilemma. If he refuses to negotiate and any of the children dies, people will not forgive the President.

“The President himself said he does not want to win an election, if the blood of one person would be shed. People will be looking at those areas, personally, I believe in communication.

“Communication is the only way crisis can be resolved not through war. At a particular time, in the affairs of men, if there is war, there must be talking. In this regard, my own policy at any time an issue arises or there is a disagreement, I would like to achieve peace through talking.

“I don’t believe in war, so with that mind set and we have these kids being held by Boko Haram and they are saying the only way to release them is through negotiation, I will negotiate. To say you will not negotiate, people will put the blame on you if anything untoward happen to them.

“So, if I was him, I will reach out behind the scene to them to have these girls brought back home. That is the main

thing. If any of them dies and we look at the situation, the President will never escape an accusation of intransigence. If they are strong enough to be in possession of our 200 daughters, I will insist on negotiation. If they say release our prisoners, will they go and seek asylum outside Nigeria? If that is the condition to bring back our children, we must not be big headed to say we will not negotiate. If those children die Jonathan will never be forgiven.”

Former President Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Olasupo Ojo said: “A country like America’s standing policy is that you don’t negotiate with terrorists, no matter who the President is.

Nigeria has no clear policy, so, it means it is at the discretion of who is the President, to decide what happens. This is the approach that President Jonathan will follow. He is not courageous, he is not bold, he is not a firebrand, and he does not have the gut. So, you can be assured he would prefer negotiation.”

Yobe State House of Assembly Adamu Dala Dogo, said: “Negotiation with Boko Haram is another solution to the release of the abducted girls.”

“The Federal Government should negotiate with Boko Haram and bring back our girls. But the Boko Haram should also send their delegates to come and negotiate with the Federal Government because government cannot negotiate with faceless people.

“I think negotiation is another way of solving the problem while the government is considering other options. The use of force will put the life of those girls on the line and that is the least that the parents of these girls and any other Nigerian expect.

“The Federal Government must act responsibly and fast too because time is running out on this matter.”

Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties: “What I said is that we are willing to dialogue with them. And that's why the Government set the Presidential Committee on a Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges even before the abduction of the Chibok girls. We want to have comprehensive discussions with them through dialogue, that will lead to the peaceful resolution of all issues, including but not limited to the release of the abducted girls. I didn't say negotiation because that is too restrictive in the present circumstances.”

Lawyers to Fed. Govt: explore negotiation option

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OME senior lawyers urged the Federal Government to explore the negotiation option in the bid rescue the abducted school girls.

They said if it means trading detained Boko Haram members for the girls, the government must do all in its power to free the girls.

According to them, the victims are too young to be left for too long in the hands of the terrorists.

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said: “My view is that the government should not close any option in the light of the people the terrorists are holding.

“You’re talking about young schoolgirls. That in itself will inform a different consideration entirely. We should not toy with them.

“They should consider the fact that these are young girls that are with these terrorists,” he said.

Professor of Law, Itse Sagay (SAN) said the government has no choice but to negotiate with the terrorists, noting that the lives of the innocent girls were more valuable than those of Boko Haram

By Emmanuel Oladesu; Adebisi Onanuga; Joseph Jibueze; Raymond Mordi; Precious Igbonwelundu; Leke Salaudeen; Musa Odoshimokhe; Duku Joel, Damaturu

suspects in prison custody.

“Is keeping the Boko Haram detainees in prison custody more important than the lives of those innocent girls?

“Government should negotiate with Boko Haram, if at the end of the negotiation, the way out is to surrender some of the detainees for our girls, so be it.

“I am not saying the government should take Boko Haram’s demands for it. There should be negotiations with the group,” he said.

Elder Paul Ananaba (SAN) said while it is no longer fashionable for government around the world to come out openly to say they are negotiating with terrorists, all options should be explored in this instance.

“The fact that they said some parents have recognised some of the girls and they can be rescued, my advice to government is to

study thoroughly the offer of the swap and weigh the possibilities.

Getting the girls rescued must be the priority.

“In essence, what I am saying is that if the best option available is to negotiate, they should weigh it carefully and come up with the best approach of going about it in the best interest of the girls, the parents and the country.

“There are people who are specialised in negotiating with terrorists and I think we should tap from their experience in this situation.

“If you are a parent and your girl is there, you would want to be on the side of the devil for negotiation and get your girl rescued.

“So, if it is the most viable thing to do, they should go ahead. I would give an example in this case. They are still searching for people in the Malaysian plane that crashed weeks ago even though there is no hope.

“So, rescuing the girls must be the primary thing to do. Any other step can follow.”

Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) said Nigeria shoud make any sacrifice to free the girls.

“The life of these children are

•Akeredolu

more precious than that of any suspect or prisoner. It is better to release all these prisoners to their groups in exchange for these girls who have so many years to live and too young to be in that situation.

“They should be rescued and after that government can then face them, all these criminals. Whatever sacrifice Nigeria can make to get these girls released is not too much.

“Let these people (detained Boko Haram members) go and for the girls to be released. We can go and confront them later because

we are afraid for the lives of these girls,” Fagbohungbe said.

Some lawyers, however, hold a different view. Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN) said: “I see the demand as a cheap blackmail. It will set a dangerous precedent to trade criminals for innocent underage secondary school children!

“We must not sacrifice decency on the altar of expediency.”

For Professor of law, Akin Oyebode, trading off the girls for terrorists in detention would be a sign of failure and downright helplessness by the government.

He stated that only Prisoners of War (POW) are traded and the said exchange is usually arranged

by Red Cross.

“It is sacrilegious and a sign of weakness which should not be encouraged because it will encourage other armed groups to see mass hostage taking as an avenue to meet their demands from government.

“It is tantamount to surrendering to evil forces. Boko Haram have no conscience and an insatiable appetite for violence. How are we sure they won’t make more far reaching demands?” He

queried.

Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr Yinka Farounbi, said: “I am a father, so I can imagine the feelings and the pains the parents must be going through. But honestly, and this is my candid opinion, you don’t negotiate with terrorists. When you negotiate with terrorits, you are giving them more powers; you are conferring legitimacy on them. What they did to these children is criminal.

“I am a parent and I can feel what they feel and I know that they want their children back. But when a government of a nation is negotiating with terrorists, it is a dangerous thing.

“Other ways, other means should be deployed to get these children released from the claws of the terrorists. We have gotten assistance from USA, Britain, France, China among others.

“It is only when these prove to be ineffective that the issue of negotiation can come and it should last option. Government should look at the other side of the coin and not engage in negotiation now. It should deploy other means,” Farounbi said.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

NEWS EKITI 2014

Ikere-Ekiti locked down for Fayemi’s campaign visit firmed that the governor has done enough to merit a second term in office, promising to give him maximum votes to win re-election.

Meanwhile, the Hausa Community in Shasha located on the outskirts of Ikere also endorsed Fayemi’s candidature, promising to cast their votes for the APC standardbearer in the June 21 election.

The governor also visited residents of Obasanjo Estate at Fagbohun on Ikere-Ado road, where he solicited their votes.

However, the residents assured Fayemi of their support at the governorship poll.

Residents of the estate, led

by Mr. Jide Ogunluyi, requested the governor to approve the construction of perimeter fencing, pipe-borne water and rehabilitation of the one-kilometre road within the estate. The governor, who advised them to direct the requests to the Office of Chairman, Ikere Local Government Council, said he would execute the projects with dispatch.

As Fayemi headed for Ikere township shortly after soliciting votes in Shasha, the journey to the Ogooga’s palace, which should have taken 10 minutes, took about two-andhalf hours. Party officials,

•Ex-PDP Majority Leader defects to APC •Hausa community endorses governor members and supporters lined the road, a situation that caused a gridlock on the dual carriageway.

On sighting the governor’s convoy, members of the Hausa community chanted various slogans including “Fayemi Tazarce”, which means “Fayemi continue in office” and “Ko Duro S’oke (Stay on top), among others.

At Shasha, Hausa traders at the Fagbohun market, led by Alhaji Adamu Imam, praised Fayemi for building a primary school and approving the extension of electricity in the community.

Imam explained that Fayemi had identified with the Hausa by providing facilities in their community and giving their association a brand new bus, which has become a source of pride to them in their native land.

The community leader described the APC as the party they love so dearly, adding that Fayemi is the only candidate they trust. According to them, the governor has lived up to expectation and fulfilled his prom-

ises.

Fayemi described the Hausas as important stakeholders and contributors to the Ekiti economy through their payment of taxes and commitment to peace.

The APC candidate told his hosts that he was in Kano earlier in the week for the APC governors’ meeting.

He disclosed that the APC governors would be in Ekiti next week and are expected to visit the Hausa community during their stay in the state.

The governor thanked the Hausa community for donating a bus and 10 motorcycles for his campaign, saying he was touched that the community believes in his cause and shares in his dream to transform the state.

Fayemi added: “This election is not about Fayemi alone.

It is the pointer to 2015. So, we must not joke with it. We must do everything within our power to mobilise our people in the markets, mosques, on the streets and I believe that God is on our side.

“This is a party of truth, in-

‘Fayemi’s promises to teachers political’

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ORMER Ekiti State governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ayodele Fayose, has described the promises made by Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay teachers in Ekiti State 27 per cent allowance as “an attempt to hoodwink them and a mere political statement”.

Fayose, who was reacting to the promises made by Fayemi to the teachers, implored the teachers not to fall for the promises, which he alleged were fake, saying that the All

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Progressives Congress (APC), which emerged from Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has no record and reputation of being upright or faithful to promises.

Speaking through his spokesman, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in a statement made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Fayose told the teachers and people of Ekiti State that returning “Fayemi and APC to power is another

four years of hunger, deceit, retrogression and capital flight”.

On dualisation of Ikere road, Fayose told Ikere people to ask Fayemi why he had to wait until Fayose had said that he would embark on the work.

Fayose said: “This is a deceit of the 21st century and only a fool would believe Fayemi, but Ikere people and Ekiti in general are wiser.”

He urged the people to reject APC and vote for him to bring back to the state an era of economic boom and progress.

APC to opposition: stop copying our candidate From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T •Fayose

Fayose has no electoral value, says youth group

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SOCIO-political organisation the, Ekiti Youth Emancipation Movement (EYEM), has described the PDP standard-bearer, Mr. Ayo Fayose, as a character that is not fit to govern the state again, owing to his alleged woeful past.

The group added that everyone in Ekiti knows that it would be suicidal to give Fay-

ose another chance to unleash terror on the state.

It said the PDP governorship candidate has lost his electoral value since he was chased away from Ekiti State in October, 2006, adding that the decision of the PDP hierarchy to give him its ticket was not based on his electoral, but as a result of his anti-democratic and vi-

olence credentials, which the party believes would greatly fester its rigging plot.

In a statement by its president, Mr. Taiwo Olatunji, and secretary, Mr. Kunle Adewumi, the group said Fayose himself is aware of his lack of electoral value, hence his decision to buy a N750 million worth of house

tegrity and progress and all of us will be beneficiaries of what our party stands for.”

The Ikere rally, which was held at the Post Office Roundabout, saw Babade who once served as State PDP Secretary, Commissioner and PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary for SouthWest urging the people to vote for Fayemi withy a view to continue his good works.

Babade said: “The person we want and whom God wants to return to office is John Kayode Fayemi. We don’t want a violent person as our governor.

We don’t want somebody bearing five names; and we don’t want a governor who is a drug addict.

“We don’t want a governor who will be detaining obas inside the booth, who disrespects elders, who mismanages resources. We want a cool-headed person as our governor.

“We don’t want a governor who beats his wife and father. I want you my people to vote JKF, vote APC. Troop out on election day and we will ensure that PDP has no vote in Ikere.”

Addressing the mammoth

crowd, Fayemi expressed gratitude to the people for their massive support and solidarity, urging them to come out en masse and vote APC for the good work to continue.

Describing Ikere as the gateway to Ekitiland, Fayemi said the commencement of work on the dual carriageway underlines the importance attached to the town by his administration.

He urged the people not to be intimidated by the opposition’s threat that Ekiti election results would be declared from Abuja, saying such a step won’t work.

Fayemi said: “Some people are threatening that they will be declared as governor from Abuja. Tell them that will not happen here. On election day, be vigilant and stand by your votes.

“Ikere wants somebody that will represent it well and I am a son of Ikere. Not somebody who will lock obas inside the booth, not somebody who will kill College of Education students again , and not somebody who will disrespect elders.

“You have seen what we have done-payment of stipends to the aged, construction of roads, renovation of schools, and we have not increased fees in our institutions.”

out of the N1 billion allegedly given by the presidency.

According to EYEM, Fayose was initially deceived by a few okada riders who used to follow him around, not knowing those motorcyclists were using him as comic relief.

He was, however, shocked when Ekiti people shunned his campaign rallies in most communities he visited in the state.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second right) receiving royal blessing from the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Adegboye at his palace during Fayemi’s reelection campaign tour of Ikere Local Government Area...yesterday.

With them is wife of the monarch, Olori Margaret.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State Why they must rehas advised rival contenders in the June 21 governor- peat Fayemi is just ship election to stop making campaign promises along Dr. that our own candiKayode Fayemi’s record of date is a performer. achievements.

They are not wrong to In a statement issued yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state cap- associate with Fayeital yesterday by the party’s mi’s success by spokesman, Mr. Segun Dipe, APC accused the candidates of promising along the the Peoples Democratic Party line of his achieve(PDP), Mr. Ayo Fayose and the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Opeye- ments. mi Bamidele, of “systematically stealing ideas from Governor Fayemi’s achievements on the Eight-Point Agenda”.

Dipe explained that the current administration’s achievements “have attracted our political rivals and they have started telling people they would do things which Fayemi had already done and through which Ekiti has become one clear example in responsible and responsive governance”.

Noting that “ideas rule the world”, Dipe said the opposition lacked useful and workable ideas upon which they could anchor independent campaign promises in their preparations towards June 21 election”.

The APC spokesman maintained that “the oppositions’ weakness became apparent as a result of Fayemi’s wholesome and allencompassing delivery in Ekiti State”.

Said he: “We are not blaming them (the opposition parties) for repeating Fayemi’s achievements in form of promises each time they mount the podium to campaign. Why they must repeat Fayemi is just that our own candidate is a performer. They are not wrong to associate with Fayemi’s success by promising along the line of his achievements.”

Dipe said both Fayose and Bamidele have promised to embark on employment generation and create jobs, rejuvenate agriculture and establish industries, promises around which, according to Dipe, Fayemi had “scored the very highest performance marks”.

“They (Fayose and Bamidele) have promised to boost agriculture which Fayemi has done through the now popular Youths in Commercial Agricultural Development (YCAD), empowerment of various private interests in the state across segments of agricultural specialties.

“Given the seeming passion they display regarding how they will run the state if they won the election, it is clear they have no new things to add to what Fayemi has done in the state. If this is academics and not politics, it will be straight plagiarism which carries a prison sentence.

“We now await them to make promises that they would construct roads to enable us remind them that out of a total of the about 1,700 kilometres of both federal and state roads in Ekiti, Fayemi has completed nearly 1,200 kilometres while new contracts are being awarded on the remaining roads.

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HUGE crowd of residents and party supporters welcomed Governor Kayode Fayemi to IkereEkiti yesterday. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s campaign train for the June 21 poll hit the town.

The Ikere rally was a huge carnival in which indigenes of the town defied the scorching sun and trooped out in their thousands to welcome Fayemi and his entourage amidst singing, dancing, drumming and trumpeting.

At the carnival-like gathering, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered more decimation as former Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Mr. Kayode Babade, joined the APC. The governor also flagged off the dualisation of the Ikere carriageway, which links the town with the state capital, AdoEkiti and Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Live bands stationed at major junctions in Ikere thrilled residents, many of whom carried placards and banners bearing pro-Fayemi messages as well as brooms - the APC party symbol.

Residents of Ikere, who said they were impressed with Fayemi’s performance in office, af-

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

• L-R: Okei-Odumakin, Funke Akale, the late Toba’s sister; Falode and Keyamo at the conference ... yesterday

• The late Oloruntoba

Dubai must reopen my son’s case, W says Aisha Falode

report indicated and it revealed a weak attempt by the authorities in Dubai to hide facts that showed my poor son was murdered.

“I was told that sometime in December 2013, the said AlNasser stormed my late son’s apartment and ordered Ms Evans (his supposed girlfriend) out of Toba’s apartment, accusing her of having an affair with Toba.

“A fight was to have ensued from this confrontation, but for the intervention of other mutual friends. Since then, there was no love lost between Toba and Al-Nasser. In the evening of February 14, Toba with his friends - Ebele Oladeji Onwugbufor, Nick Allison and Joachim Santene - went to a club in Dubai, which is known as M Deck, Media 1 Hotel, Media City.

“At the club, they met AlNasser and Ms Evans. That again, an argument started at the club concerning Olivia and shortly after, Al-Nasser and Olivia left. And Toba and his friends also left shortly after the other two left. On the trio’s return to Toba’s apartment, they were shocked and surprised to find Al-Nasser and Ms. Evans outside Toba’s door, waiting and Ms. Evans was crying and appeared frightened while Al-Nasser appeared calm, with a determined look on his face.

“After they all entered Toba’s apartment, he, AlNasser and Ms. Evans entered his room to sort things out and the three of them later exited the room and moved to the balcony of the apartment on the 17th floor.”

Continuing, Falode said she was told that there were signs of serious argument coming from the balcony with raised voices.

“After about 20 seconds, AlNasser and Ms. Evans came back into the room and announced that Toba had

•Keyamo, Okei-Odumakin, other activists seek justice

By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

House Committee on Diaspora Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa were copied. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged receipt of the petition and also told Mrs OkeiOdumakin that she had forwarded it along with her own letter to the Embassy.

“Toba’s death should put a stop to murder of Nigerians abroad. Government must ask questions and demand answers. We must show that we care about the lives of everyone. Some students have died under mysterious and unfortunate circumstances in the UAE and no one asked questions.

“We have taken up this case and will not rest until justice is done. For every single tear drop for Nigerian citizens outside this country who are seeking better lives as a result

of government’s failure to provide same, justice must be served,” she said.

Keyamo, lawyer to the Falodes, urged the government to take over the matter and expose what the Dubai police are hiding.

He said: “We want the government to be proactive when it comes to lives of citizens; the government has no regard for the lives of Nigerians. It is the lack of action on their part after we have written several letters and petitions that has forced us to hold this conference.

“We learnt in Dubai that Faisal Al-Nasser, son of an influential Saudi Arabia man who has heavy investments in Dubai has scuffles with Toba.

That suggests that they are doing everything possible to protect him and we need our government to mount pressure on them so that they will know

it is human life that is involved.

“We demanded the footages of the CCTV camera on the building and were told the camera does not cover the floors. Then, we demanded to see the footages on the day Toba and his friends entered and how they left; they told us it might not have been recorded.

How is that possible when it is common knowledge that Dubai has security cameras on all streets, buildings and malls?

“We also observed that there were alterations on the incident book for that fateful day. It is obvious people are trying to cover up. Moreover, one of the security men on duty that night, a Pakistani was transferred immediately the thing happened.”

Agony of a bereaved mother Falode could not hold back tears when video evidence was aired during the conference. It indicated that the deceased must have been pushed or thrown from his 17th floor apartment at the Manchester Towers in Dubai Marina, contrary to the Dubai Police’ claim that he slipped from the balcony of the building.

Findings revealed that the deceased was not in the balcony with his girl as claimed by the Dubai Police, but the primary suspect, Faisal Aldakmary AlNasser, a son of a Saudi Arabian rich man, with major investments in Dubai, had a fight there with the late boy.

It was revealed that Al-Nasser, who had in December 2013, had scuffles with the deceased over a British girl, Olivia Melanie Richards Evans, left his apartment that day with blood stains on his cloth and knuckles and repeatedly told his friends that he would serve a maximum jail term of 27 years.

Falode’s helplessness is compounded especially because international law does not allow for private investigation and it is only the federal government that can compel the government of Dubai to reopen the matter and possibly, invite Nigeria’s security agencies to work with them.

Falode said: “We travelled to Dubai in April and met with some of my son’s friends who were present in the apartment on that fateful day. The summary of their accounts (which they voluntarily gave as written statements) were totally different from what the police

,

AS there a foul play in the death of 19y e a r - o l d Oloruntoba Oluwadamilola, son of ace broadcaster Aisha Falode, in Dubai, where he was schooling on February 15?

The mother believes he was killed, citing what she calls the lack of interest of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to investigate the case.

Yesterday in Lagos, some right activists joined Falode to call on the Federal Government to pressure its UAE counterpart to probe Toba’s death.

Addressing reporters on the circumstances of Toba’s death, President of Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and activist lawyer Festus Keyamo, among others, urged the government to place premium on the lives of Nigerians, any where in the world.

They accused the Nigerian Embassy in Dubai of treating Toba’s death with levity.

Mrs Okei-Odumakin said her organisation on May 12, wrote to the Nigerian Embassy, seeking a probe of Toba’s death. President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman,

The loss of a son is not what any parent should have to suffer, let alone a brutal murder ... the pain is not only excruciating but almost unbearable

,

fallen off the railings. However, Al-Nasser had blood splattered all over his shirt and had bloody knuckles with a noticeable cut on his finger.

“They said at this point, they all rushed downstairs to see Toba’s dead body lying approximately 12 to 15 metres away from the building, and the position of his body was not consistent with someone falling from a balcony as it was not close to the building.

“They said the police arrived and arrested them all and took them to the station; before and during the journey to the station, Al-Nasser repeatedly said to the hearing of everyone that his maximum punishment would be 25 years. He told the other boys not to worry, but Ms. Evans remained hysterical.

“Suddenly, the police took him by the side and told him in Arabic to stop making the statement and at the station, Al-Nasser and Ms. Evans were kept away from the rest and were interviewed separately while the other three were kept in another room and interviewed separately.”

“The witnesses were clear that the above account was what they narrated and wrote as statements at the police station, a vital piece of information deliberately omitted in the police report which did not make any reference of to AlNasser or Ms. Evans at the balcony. Al-Nasser was released without taking the blood stained t-shirt from him as should have been done in any investigative matter,” she said.

Falode said all she wants for her late son is justice, adding that justice must prevail not just for Toba, but for all other young lives that have been cut short brutally.

“I am appealing to the government that I have done much more than I should do as a grieving mother who was left with no option but to start investigating my own son’s murder by myself. I implore the Nigerian Government to prevail on the authorities in Dubai to re-open investigations into the murder of my son to bring Al-Nasser and Ms Evans to book.

“The loss of a son is not what any parent should have to suffer, let alone a brutal murder.

I do not wish this for any one because the pain is not only excruciating but almost unbearable.

“I am asking for justice for my son and prayers from everyone that God in his infinite mercy gives my family and I the strength to bear this great loss,” she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Davido makes Nollywood debut

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HE president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, has debunked the rumour making the rounds that she visited the Presidency recently to seek a political appointment.

For some weeks now, the actress has been under attack, particularly from her colleague, Clarion Chukwura, following the recent visit of some members of the guild to the Presidency.

Clarion Chukwura had attacked the AGN president for not seeking Presi-

By Ovwe Medeme

dent Goodluck Jonathan’s support on the issue of a legislation that could bring all actors in Nigeria under one body during her visit.

She also alleged that Ibinabo had gone to discuss the possibility of building a national secretariat in Abuja, while excluding the veteran actors during the visit.

However, Fiberesima, in an open letter, which has been generating mixed reactions, said: “I didn’t ask Mr. President for “a political appointment” as you have been

mouthing. I thanked Mr. President for the few considerations he has made in appointing some practitioners into key government positions and requested for more of such appointments in line with our expressed desire to have more of our creative people in government and in politics, so we can be able to have people who will influence legislation that will be for the betterment of the industry.

“Ordinarily, I would not have replied you openly because I personally do not join issues with my colleagues-

AMAA holds May 24

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HE Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency has concluded arrangements to host the 10th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Yenagoa on May 24, at the newly refurbished Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre.

The AMAA is the most authentic and widely acclaimed awards ceremony in Africa, as it brings together movie producers and other practitioners from across the globe to interface and share ideas, while celebrating excellence in filmmaking annually.

Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu Brown, the Director- General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, said: “AMAA awards, this year, is going to be unique and special in several ways. This is because we intend to use the occasion to showcase our rich cultural heritage and promote

By Victor Akande

the tourism and investment opportunities in the state. This is the 10th year Bayelsa State is hosting AMAA, so we will go the extra mile to ensure that we put together a grand ceremony, which will remain a reference point in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.”

She also emphasized that the coming awards show is being bankrolled by the public sector and some public-spirited individuals who share in the vision of Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson in transforming Bayelsa State into the tourism haven in Africa.

According to her, AMAA had provided a veritable platform to train Nigerian youths in various departments of filmmaking in line with the capacity building and empowerment programme of Governor Dick-

•Anyiam-Osigwe

son.

“This year, about 500 youths will again be trained as cinematographers, producers, cameramen, vision mixers, makeup artists, script writers, directors, actors and many more.

“The essence of the training aspect of AMAA is to provide Bayelsa youths the opportunity to participate in the production of movies in Nigeria, thereby reducing the burden on government as the sole employer of labour in the state,” she added.

Seyi Alesh warms up for concert

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OPULAR singer, Seyi Aleshinloye, a.k.a Seyi Alesh, is set to organise his annual concert tagged “Seyi Alesh and friends in concert” on May 30, in Lagos.

Seyi Alesh, who is based in the USA, has been making efforts to re-define and change the face of gospel music. He is dexterous with the saxophone, which he uses to minister to souls at his shows.

“This concert will be the first of its kind and will be a medley of sorts. Several soulful and prominent gospel artistes will also be joining me on stage in Nigeria, while we worship and praise God on the occasion,” he said.

He had performed with a

•Alesh

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

number of known acts, including, Kunle Ajayi, Sammie Okposo and Tope Alabi, among others. He had also been on stage with popular international artistes like Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Hugh Masekela and Israel Houghton.

The show, which is scheduled to hold at the RCCG Court of His Majesty Zone, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, will feature Psalm Ebube, Pita, D Bass Dayo, Bukola Bekes, Don Praizzy, Lade King, Psalmos, Segun Oluwayomi and Toeyorsea, among others.

whether junior or senior on the pages of newspapers or on social media. Besides, as president of AGN, I should be seen to be uniting members of the guild and not causing disaffection, as your unfortunate outburst set out to do.

“It is for the purposes of correcting the falsehood and erroneous impression that your very unfortunate and jaundiced views might create in the minds of members of the guild, stakeholders and the public that I have written this letter to you.”

ENSATIONAL Hip hop singer David Adeleke, a.k.a Davido, has landed his first role in a Nollywood movie titled: John Zerebe.

His cousin, Ikechukwu Ojeogwu, who is the producer of the flick, said: “The proposed budget is N10 million for the flick. The money may be small, considering the director of the movie, Teco Benson, and a cast member like Genevieve Nnaji, who is being considered for the lead role.”

However, Ojeogwu said the budget was exclusive of cameras and other equipment needed to set up his production company.

He also expressed his challenge in bringing Genevieve on board. “I have not yet decided on the female lead. But my eyes are on Genevieve Nnaji. Having her and Davido in the same movie will surely be a huge hit. The major challenge now is that Genevieve is younger and may not fit-in well, as the character of the lead actress demands,” he said.

When the producer was asked to explain his choice of Davido, he said: “The choice of Davido is not to make the film to be accepted by the general public. I believe that my cousin, Davido, really fits the role. This is not favouritism. Although Davido may have become a huge success

•Davido

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

in the music world, this is his first time in a movie.”

He also added that the choice of Teco Benson was to realize the potential of the script as an “action-packed” movie. He said: “The choice of Teco is obvious. John Zerebe is action-packed and the best person to direct the movie is no other person than Teco. I will be playing the lead role, even as the producer. I put everything together to make it unique.

John Zerebe is about a young and smart guy who wants to live a big life at an early age. He wants to achieve everything within the twinkle of an eye. This leads him into different abuses, doing all sorts of things for quick money.”

Ojeogwu, who expressed gratitude to his mother for supporting his career, said Davido was quite delighted and supportive of this project. “He has a lot at stake. Apart from the financial stake, his image is also at stake, so he’s taking this as serious as any other business.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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Life

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Nigeria may host World Travel Market – Page 17

Seraph Voices in glorious celebration – Page 47

80 garlands for Elebute – Page 50

‘My vehicle is a moving library’ •Osomu

– SEE STORY ON PAGE 16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Augustus Elliot Osomu of ImiringiOGUNDE: Kingdom in Bayelsa State wears many caps. He is a politician, an advocate, a HUBERT ADEDEJI TWO-AND-A-HALF DECADES AFTER motivational speaker, an avid reader and a preacher. He believes that education is key to development. He has a chain of degrees to show for his scholarship. This childhood friend of President Goodluck Jonathan shares his thoughts on royalty, politics and Christianity with EVELYN OSAGIE. Excerpts:

‘My vehicle is a moving library’

H

of wisdom God has endowed me with. In any organisation that I belong, I have always turned out to be the peacemaker. While people are thinking of how to resolve crisis, God always inspires me with the solution. By the time I table it before the people, it becomes generally accepted. They’[[ follow it and the crisis would be resolved.

When you are transparent and open, people will respect and honour you. That has been my story.

And as a man trained in six disciplines – management, law and arbitration, computer and others – I bring all these experiences and training to bear on any situation and they have helped in managing people.

You said you are a ‘man of six disciplines’.

Does it mean you have six degrees?

OW do you cope with your duties as a monarch, a husband, a father and a politician?

Yes. I read and write a lot. I am working on 30 different books and have already finished six of them. I am a motivational speaker, who writes motivational works. I have already completed six and they are ready for publication. They are: Life-changing Letter to My Daughter; Life-changing Letter to My Son; A Devil in the Toga of an Angel; Before You Marry; Reading: Key for Self Development and 25 Ways of How You would be under-developing yourself.

I love reading. I read every day. When you go to my vehicle, you would see it as a moving library. If I don’t read a day, it seems as if I have not eaten.

When you are endowed by God, what people think is difficult becomes easy.

But, also you must be knowledgeable and employ wisdom. I hardly quarrel with anybody. Even at home, anytime there is tension, as a graduate of Theatre Arts, I will dispel it with a joke and the person who is angry will burst into laughter. And I win their hearts.

What has been your experience as a monarch and politician?

How would you rate the level of literacy in your region?

It takes a lot of energy and time. And, most times, one eats very late. Like today, I represented another royal father all day. If not for the refreshment they served, I wouldn’t have eaten anything today. And it is almost 6pm. Before going for the programme, the previous night, I attended a vigil that ended at 5am. I did not even sleep well before heading out. I had also gone to visit my little children at the boarding school before rushing to meet up with this event. All these take time and are energy-consuming.

They connect! Both institutions are interwoven.

They involve rendering service and managing people and resources. In both, you are expected to resolve communal disputes. Also, I read management at MBA level; and I’m an arbitrator by training. I am also a voracious reader who learns every day.

As a born again and a child of God, He (God) gives one the grace to do all things. So, with all these as background, it makes it easy for me to manage people.

It is general knowledge that we are educationally disadvantaged. But, in my community, I am proud to say that we have nothing less than 400 graduates. And this is as a result of the college there. The community prides itself on having one of the earliest colleges in the region – the Mater Dei High School, established in 1962. So, when you have a secondary school in your home, there is the tendency for you to go there.

And we, the leaders and elders, have continued to encourage the young to go to school. While I was at the House Assembly, I trained 20 people in the university, including my two sons. I believe in education. I have asked my children to go and get their Ph.Ds. If they don’t, I would reserve my money and use it to go back to school. (Laughs.)

Are you going back to school at your age?

I have even enrolled online.

To study what?

How do you blend traditional practices with Christian religion?

Laughs. To get more Masters’ degree. It is borne out of the desire to acquire knowledge. I have applied online abroad. They even asked me “why?” and I said “to acquire more knowledge”. People say: Oya read, if only for certificate sake because they feel I have too many degrees already.

Education does not only improve one’s mind-set, it also boosts one’s political status.

There is no big problem in that. With modernisation, a lot of the harmful traditions and cultures have been done away with. We have done away with all sorts of fetish practices and now channelling the people to God. We have now introduced the use of ‘anointing oil’ to anoint those to be inaugurated into any traditional office.

This is because we have a Supreme Being that supersedes every other god. The day I was to be inaugurated as a royal father, I asked my Bishop: “Should I accept it?”

He said: “Accept it so that we impact men with Christ.”

So, does that mean you still celebrate festivals?

Festivals? In my community, I don’t celebrate any old, traditional festival! It is only in Otuoke that they are still doing that. But, they have changed the system. But some of us are of the opinion that it should be erased completely. They call it Odemimom Festival. Odemimom is one of the gods of the land. It is demonic.

Were there human sacrifices?

No, but that day is free-for-all. There would be lots of food to go around and lots of drinking, chanting, singing and dancing. Some of the songs are very sensual and, at some point, the dance could get very erotic. Such doesn’t bring glory to God because it is demonic. So, we want to sanitise the community in such a way that God would reign supreme.

I’d rather we organise crusades to change the lives of people because it is appointed unto a man to die once, and thereafter judgement. There is hell and there is heaven, whether you believe or not. The spirit doesn’t lie, you have one option when you die. If you are a sinner, you’d go the way of the sinner. If you are a saint, you’d go the way of a saint.

It is, indeed, interesting to find a monarch preaching! Has there been any opposition to your new-found faith?

Many believe it is part of the culture for royal fathers to marry many wives, what about you?

Well, it depends! But it is not a culture that you must marry more than one wife.

How many wives do you have?

•Osomu

‘I have asked my children to go and get their Ph.Ds...I read and write a lot. I am working on 30 different books and have already finished six of them. I am a motivational speaker, who writes motivational works. I have already completed six and they are ready for publication’ I do not just preach, I have built churches for God. What people see as very difficult, daring and dangerous appears to me as very easy. That is the kind

I had two, circumstantially, but lost one last month. And I don’t intend to marry another. Mine was circumstantial because when I was still a young man struggling in Port Harcourt, the first one decided to divert. And after several years, I had to remarry. And after about 10 years, the one who had left retraced her footsteps.

And you took her back…

Yes, because of the children. This is because divorce affects the children more.

So, you are an advocate against divorce?

Yes. Immediately you’re divorced the first victim is the child or children, as the case may be. This is because they would feel as if they don’t have parents or as if their parents have disorganised their lives. It is not a good thing, at all. Let there be peace in the home for the sake of the child. But, for what happened, which I’ve explained, I never intended to marry two wives. Now, I have one and I’m okay.

I would say except it involves death, where one party is set at killing the other, couples should work on their marriages. No marriage is easy. You say your neighbour is luckier than you, go and wear his shoes.

But if the taste for blood is borne out of anger for one reason or the other that does not involve witchcraft, then let them be separated for some time. If one party is involved in witchcraft, then you can’t enjoy the marriage because you are on the verge of the grave.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Director, National Council for Arts and Culture, Rev. James Oveahon; Mrs Mbanefo and Marketing Mgr, Arik Airline in Sounth Africa, Isla Moffet at the World Travel Market, Cape Town

•Mrs Abimbola Fashola at the Lagos canival

Nigeria may host World Travel Market Alaafin advocates national registers

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IGERIA may be considered a possible host of the next World Travel Market Africa after South Africa, it has been learnt.

At the first WTM Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, met with the Managing Director, WTM Africa, Reed Exhibition, Carol Weaving, on the possibility of hosting the next WTM in Nigeria.

“I held a fruitful discussion with Carol Weaving, Managing Director, WTM Africa, Reed Exhibition and we are working on the possibility of hosting WTM in Nigeria. I also mid-wived deep commitment of interest in promotion of Nigeria domestic tourism from Mr Derek Houston, who is interested in building Convention Centre,” she said.

The NTDC boss also held meaningful discussions with the Expedia Group on collaborations with the corporation on tourism education, awareness and information dissemination with international buyers and sellers.

She also talked with Javago.com, a money generating online search, which will have a stake on NTDC’s website cultivating money and revenue for the corporation.

Mrs Mbanefo said she dialogued with representatives of Euro Sports on tourism partnership, to promote sport tourism and carnival in Nigeria.

Sales Director of Euro Sports Mr Gideon Reeves, who described Mrs Mbanefo as n ebullient and passionate promoter of Nigerian tourism, expressed Euro Sports willingness to partner the NTDC to promote sports tourism and sport carnival in Nigeria.

Reeves said: “Nigeria, no doubt, stands tall at the fore front of football not only in Africa but in the world; hence we are willing to partner the NTDC, which implements tourism policies in the country to practically promote sports tourism and carnival.”

Euro Sports Sales Manager in Africa, Prevoni Naicker, who corroborated the views of Reeves, added that the partnership between NTDC and Euro Sports will make Nigeria a hub of sport tourism and carnival soon.

National Council for Arts and Culture which was also present at the WTM Africa, expressed eagerness to collaborate with the NTDC. The council described Nigeria’s outing at the event as phenomenal, assuring of unprecedented development in the Nigerian tourism and improvement in the country’s economy with the domestic tourism promotion initiative of Mrs Mbanefo.

NTDC’s participation at the WTM Africa according to Mbanefo was facilitated by the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. “The event was sponsored by Arik Airline and Eko

Hotel,” Mrs Mbanefo disclosed.

She reiterated her earlier policy on travel market attendance and participation, saying: “Like I said and which has become a policy at the NTDC, we will not just participate in any travel fair for participation sake. We will not attend trade fair where Nigeria will not benefit or which we believe will not add value to what we are doing here at NTDC.” Mrs Mbanefo who was voted the most attractive, captivating and well patronised said that as an artist ‘I do not think it is good news to learn that NTDC commissioned or contracted out our stand’s design. So, I put pen on paper and sketched it out. And to God be the glory, those who mounted it did a good job of it.’

Chief Executive Officer, Leisure King Travel and Tours, Mr Remi Olayemi, who was at the market, said he is impressed and proud of Nigeria’s stand and conduct of all who exhibited at our stand. “I am particularly happy that it was declared the best here. The Nigeria’s stand stood like a colossus as the designer who I learnt is the Director-General, NTDC herself, really demonstrated that she is a master in stand packaging and presentation. The stand speaks volumes about Nigeria and portrays to all that we are indeed a nation ready for tourism growth,” he noted.

Continuing, he said: “I learnt from an impeccable source that this beautiful and spectacular stand was constructed at a fraction of what it used to cost.”

Mr Olayemi pointed out that “Nigeria tourism sector is reaping the benefit of appointing a round peg in a round hole. The turnout of exhibitors at the Nigeria’s stand here is a reflection of the drive of Mrs Mbanefo who has successfully served as the bridge between the public and private sector.

He described the composure of the NTDC Director-General, as a dutiful woman whose passion is geared towards Nigerian tourism and concentrated in selling domestic sites to buyers.

“Her mode of dressing which accentuated and showcased our national colours of green-whitegreen as typified by her cap and dress made her the cynosure of all eyes and an attraction herself,” the Leisure King Travel and Tours boss said.

Mr. Olayemi said: “Going by performance rating, Nigeria’s outing this time around is good and commendable. The outing is not only wellcoordinated, but also very colourful, of teamwork of both public and private sectors participation. In fact, I am happy and proud to see the NTDC making inroads into the forays of international tourism market and caucus beyond propaganda and noise making.”

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has called for national registers of historic cultural properties and objects of cultural importance.

He said the documentation is necessary because as the country grows, there is the tendency to destroy objects and places of historic importance in the quest to ‘catch up’’ with the rest of the world.

Oba Adeyemi spoke at the installation of Chief Alarape Saidu Oyagbile as the Olugbon of Alelerin Oke-Apo Quarters in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Stressing the importance of national registers, Oba Adeyemi argued that while ‘’we cannot deny the advantages of rapid expansion in our modern world, such progress on the other hand imperils the irreplaceable heritage of nature and culture , especially to the equilibrium and happiness of mankind.”

He said: ‘’The point should be stressed that the same phenomenon of progress, if not properly handled, leads to the destruction of archaeological sites, destruction or mutilation of buildings in towns and villages, destruction of, or uprooting of countless mobile elements demonstrating

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

pre-industrial technique and arts. This, in turn leads to a situation where cultures vanish with the disappearance of the economic and social systems which brought them into being.”

Oba Adeyemi advised the Olugbon to dedicate his life to the service of his people and enhance the cultural values of Oyo chieftaincy institution.

The Alaafin title, said, was very significant because of its has historical pedigree, urging the new chief to enhance the value inherent in the title.

Responding, Chief Oyagbile thanked the Alaafin for the honour done him, promising to be loyal. He described the Alaafin as a wonderful father and custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition.

A member of Olugbon family, Pa Olayemi, an octogenarian, said he was overwhelmed by the magnanimity.

He said: ‘’How the Alaafin was able to resuscitate the chieftaincy and traced its origin to Olugbon of Igbon-Ile is one of the best things that has ever happened to our family and we shall be eternally grateful to Oba Adeyemi.’’

Reconnect hosts Dialogue of forms

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GROUP art exhibition, Dialogue of Forms, by the Explorators will hold at the Reconnect Art Gallery in Lagos, from May 24 to June 11. It will showcase works by 15 artists, who will feature a three pieces each.

The gallery curator, Mrs. Yemi Madu, said the collections were from young artists showcasing different genres of works, media and styles. She noted that Nigerian art institutions produce artists yearly and as such there is the need to create more of these kinds of opportunity for budding graduate artists.

To sustain the potential of such artists, Reconnect Art Gallery provides studio space where they can carry out their practice.

Mrs Madu disclosed that the gallery is committed to doing the following for artists and the art community: repositioning of visual art through promotion and cre-

By Linda Ogudo

ating new directions towards its better development, organising programmes that encourage skill acquisition among students of secondary and other special institutions, organising art competitions to develop potential art talents in the societies, carry out outdoor exhibition and execute special project and commissions.

Dr. Kunle Adeyemi said the group, Explorators, was founded to bound artists together using art, and that they do not want to mimic people, but to create a new thing by working together. He noted in the group, there is no imposition of styles adding that in 100 to 200 years, the Nigerian art landscape will not forget who the Explorators are. The Reconnect art gallery is dedicated to selling modern and fine art works.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Ganee Adewuyi is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough Television Services.

In this interview with BABATUNDE SULAIMAN, Adewuyi, who is also a pastor, shares his grass-tograce story, among other interesting issues.

First Bank, Rotary donate water, books

By Nneka Nwaneri

‘I was a ‘bush’ man when I married’

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OW did childhood and growing up impact your lifestyle today?

I was born in the early ’60s in Ibadan, though I hail from Ila Orangun in Osun State. I first attended St. Martyrs Primary School, Olorogun in Ibadan, Oyo State, before I went back to Ila Orangun to complete my primary school.

Thereafter, I came back to Ibadan, then Ijebu-Ode and finally Lagos. I sat for the ‘O’ level GCE when I went back to Ibadan in the’70s. Later, I went to the Kaduna Polytechnic, where I obtained a national diploma in secretarial studies.

When did you get into journalism?

I started journalism as the editor of the defunct Romance, a pictorial magazine.

When I was very young, I loved to read newspapers and magazines like Sketch, Entertainer, Nigerian Tribune, Sunday Times, Drum Magazine and Spear Magazine. Before I became a journalist, I had learnt how to repair radio and television in 1975. After some time, I obtained the RSA and PITMAN certificates in shorthand and typewriting. To the glory of God, I became a journalist, when I edited Romance magazine. It was from there I joined Complete Sports published by Mr. Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase. He was also the publisher of the defunct Climax Magazine. I worked with people like Moji Danisa, Frank Ilaboya, Ehi Buraimoh, Taye Ige and Mumuni Alao, among others. I was the personal assistant to Mr. Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase, but he gave me a column in the defunct Climax as a marriage counsellor.

At a time, I worked in a mortgage bank on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, before I went to the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos for a post-graduate diploma in journalism. I tried to get a job in AM News when it was being set up, but I was not considered in the end. Then, I joined Segun Odegbami, who had a TV production company called Worldwide Sports, in 1985. So, from there, the passion for the profession blossomed and today, I thank God for His grace. In 1999, I set up Breakthrough Television Services with two TV programmes: Sport Circuits and Check It Out, an entertainment magazine programme. We started the programmes on BCOS TV, Ibadan in 1999.

But today, we are on 11 stations in Nigeria.

Who were you closer to between your parents?

My father lived in Ibadan, while my mother was at Ila Orangun. However, they were not separated.

Why were they living apart then?

I can’t really say because I was barely eight years old then. However, I remember we left Ibadan for Ila Oragun in 1969 when I started my primary school education. I loved my dad, but I loved my mum more because she raised me till I was 13 years old when I moved to live with my late sister.

Your former boss, Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase, created a column for you…

Yes, he did. He was initially writing it , but he later ceded it to me.

I am sure he must have seen some qualities in you to have assigned the column to you.

I was already married then. I actually got married at 24. My first daughter will be 29 this year and she works here. I would say it was probably because of where I was coming from. I had been editor of a romance magazine before that time. But when the sales dropped and salaries were being owed, I wrote a letter to Mr. Ojeagbase and he replied that I should see him in the office the

•Adewuyi

INTERVIEW following Monday. He took me on that same day I went to see him.

Why did you get married at 24?

I left my mum at 13 and was staying with my sister, a wife to a policeman. We went to Ijebu Ode and within a year, her husband was transferred to Lagos. So, I came with them. Later, he was transferred to Ibadan and I also went with them. It was then I started learning typing and shorthand. After that, I joined a company as a secretary/ typist. And eventually, I landed at Leventis Stores, Ibadan. I started living alone when I was 18 in a one-room apartment in 1979. Four years after, I found a lady I loved-she’s my first love. So, I said: ‘What are you still looking for?’ I was living alone and I didn’t want to indulge in any bad thing then.

Are you sure you never did?

No, I didn’t. My focus then was to go to school. I applied to a school of journalism in London, but I didn’t have the money to pursue it; it was about 5000 pounds then.

There was no need to obtain a visa then. I got the information from the West Africa magazine, a subsidiary of Daily Times.

Why were you attracted to her?

We met in Ibadan. At that time, I was living at Dugbe in Ibadan, Oyo State, while she was in a school at Waasimi in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She used to come home to her parents during the holidays. Before our relationship developed, I had been seeing her around. But I used to think she was proud.

When I asked about her from one of her friends, she said she would ‘yab’ me. I remember my landlord, Mr. Fasugba, used to organise an end-of-the- year party in our house then. So, on December 31, 1982, he held another party from 11p.m. to usher in the New Year. I had been eyeing her for some time, but she didn’t know. Immediately I saw her at the party, I went towards her and engaged her in a dance. Then, I told her that I loved her. She looked at me and said: “Is that the way to love? I don’t know you.” And that was it! She is trust worthy.

Looking back now, I don’t have any regrets.

In January, we marked 30 years as husband and wife.

Were you her first love?

No, she was in a relationship before we met.

So, how did you win her heart eventually?

Funny enough, the other guy’s mother lived around that area. But I told her (my wife) that within a month, she would pick the better lover between us.

So, how did she eventually know?

Maybe the way I was relating to her. I recall that at that time, there was scarcity of some commodities. But because I was working with Leventis Stores, I had most of these items. Maybe that was part of it, I don’t know. So, I was taking some of these items to her, in addition to money-my salary was N140.00.

How did your parents receive her?’

Oh, they loved her! You know, she is not even Yoruba; she is from Agenebode in Edo State.

But wasn’t there any opposition from her family?

No, there wasn’t. Before then, the mother used to take care of her, but suddenly, everything stopped from their end because I was providing for her. It wasn’t that they wanted to stop, but she would tell them that she didn’t need anything. However, they warned me that I must allow her to finish her education, which I did.

As a young couple, you must have encountered some challenges from the onset, how were you able to overcome them?

At the initial stage, we agreed that no matter the nature of the misunderstanding we might have, she would not go to her house, even to sleep for one day. I remember that, out of youthful exuberance after we had our first daughter in 1985, she was still calling me by my name, Shina. I remember I once reported her to her mother that she should be calling me Daddy Yinka. But I have stopped that now. In fact, I love it when she calls me by my name. Now, she sometimes calls me by my name or Daddy Yinka. So, that was one of the challenges we had then, which I would attribute to immaturity.

Apart from that, what other challenge did you have at the initial stage?’

Well, another was finance. Before we had our first daughter in July, 1985, my appointment with Leventis Stores had been terminated-she was just seven months pregnant.

It was the first major challenge we had. But my friends rallied round to provide necessary things during the naming.

That brings me to the issue of pre-marital sex…

Oh, that one had been in existence before my father was born!

So, what’s your view about it?

The Bible preaches against it, but people still do it. At times, they say you must be pregnant before you can be married. In our kind of church, you must not be pregnant before your wedding, but people do it.

Why didn’t your wedding hold until you became a pastor?

I would say I was a ‘bush’ man then. I needed somebody by my side then. I was a Muslim, so it didn’t even cross my mind.

But she has always been a Christian. But I think in 1997/98, we went to Mushin Local Government registry to formalise our wedding, even before the church wedding.

Looking back now, do you have any regrets not having your wedding before she moved in?

I would have loved it to hold before she moved in and that is what we wish for our children now. What we did much later should have come much earlier, though I have no regrets.

‘I saw her at the party, I went towards her and engaged her in a dance. Then, I told her that I loved her. She looked at me and said: “Is that the way to love? I don’t know you.” And that was it!...Looking back now, I don’t have any regrets. In January, we marked 30 years as husband and wife’

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HE Rotary Club of Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos, in partnership with First Bank Nigeria Plc, has donated seven notebooks to each child in Lamgbasa Primary School, Ajah, Lagos. The school got a borehole.

The N5million water project, which was commissioned last Thursday will serve the needs of the school and community.

President of the Rotary Club of VGC, Mrs Victoria Kuteyi-Ogundemuren said the club keyed into the need of the school and the bank responded to their call.

Set of taps were located outside the school premises to serve members of he community.

It also distributed a N500,000 worth of educational materials to the school.

“The exercise books, drawing materials we gave these pupils will encourage and equip them for better learning,” she said adding that the club is systematically touching all other areas of focus of the club.

Head, Corporate Responsibility Marketing of First Bank Plc, Mr Ismail Omamegbe said the project, being the core focus of its CSR is an opportunity for the bank to foster the wellbeing of residents, thereby complementing Government’s effort in educational infrastructure.

“Health and wealth are critical to the development of a community and that is why we are here to provide a conducive environment for education,” he added.

The initiative was championed by the former General Managing Director of First Bank, Mr Joseph Sanusi.

At the commissioning, some Rotary community corps were inaugurated to monitor and sustain the projects. It is a mini club to oversee and monitor the projects.

Head Teacher of the School, Mrs Ayo Okebiorun commended the Rotary Club noting that that axis of Lagos experiences critical shortages of water annually during the dry season.

Radio Nigeria honours distinguished staff

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S part of efforts to reposition broadcasting in the country, the management of Radio Nigeria, Lagos Operations have honoured deserving staff who distinguished themselves in various categories as part of the welcome party for the new Director General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Mallam Ladan Salihu.

The D G described the Lagos centre as the flagship of radio broadcasting in Nigeria, stating that it is successful, reliable and dependable.

“What we do when our programmes generate money is to send the head of that department for a week holiday abroad. It is a way of supporting the general manager of that station and also giving our services a greater character as the first radio station in Africa,” he said, noting that all staff of the station must work very hard to earn themselves promotion and greater productivity.

He congratulated Ifeoma Okpala (Editor of the year), Banabas Hunjo (reporter of the year), Obaseki Uchenna (Producer of the year), among other awardees. The General Manager of Metro Fm, Mr. Ike Okere thanked all awardees for their relentless efforts in the new innovations to move the station forward.

BRIEF

CBAAC DG gets chieftaincy

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HE Director General of Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof.

Tunde Babawale and his wife, Tola •Prof Babawale will be installed as the Bobagunwa and Yeye Bobaguna of Inisaland on May 17 at New Inisa Town Hall, Olunisa Palace Arcade, Inisa.

Reception follows at Methodist Primary School, Okun Road, Inisa, Osun State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Unauthorised charges •CBN should sanction banks involved in the unethical conduct

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HE threat of unauthorised charges on customers’ accounts by banks might soon be a thing of the past if effort by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to nip it in the bud is effectively sustained. The apex bank’s consumer protection department, at a recent media parley to mark the consumer financial literacy awareness campaign in Enugu rattled the public with disclosures that it recovered N13 billion illegal charges fleeced from customers’ accounts by commercial banks in the last two years.

Hajiya Khadijah Kasim who held forth for Umma Aminu Dutse, director of the department during the parley reportedly disclosed that these untoward sharp practices have led to CBN’s introduction of important banking system reforms to stabilise and sanitise the system. One cardinal component of the reforms is the creation of a consumer protection office in the CBN since 2010, and its subsequent upgrade into a full-fledged department in 2012. The department is expected to help CBN promote a sound and stable financial system as enshrined in its Act, by regulating the conduct of financial service providers to ensure that they deal justly and even-handedly with customers.

Further steps, according to Kasim, have been taken by the apex bank to also engender a bank-friendly environment, including its intervention in ensuring that Commission on Transaction (COT) charges by commercial banks dropped to N2 per thousand naira while plans have been worked out to make sure that it drops to N1 before the year runs out.

The goal of the apex bank, according to

her, is to achieve zero COT which has been proved to be one of the avenues for shady bank deductions, by 2015.

Without equivocation, bank customers in the country need more of consumer financial literacy awareness campaign that would create a public engagement platform for the apex bank to get important feedbacks and also create awareness and promote financial literacy among bank customers. The current enlightenment campaign is important and should be spread across the country because it will imbue bank customers with the requisite knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed choices and take effective actions that will enhance their financial and economic well-being.

In recent times, the avoidable turmoil in the financial sector of the economy has waned public confidence in banks. And now that the sector is gradually picking up, the idea of consumer protection through a serious beaming of regulatory searchlights on illicit banking activities against customers’ accounts is a move in the right direction. For banks to survive, they need public trust and confidence in their activities. But to achieve this goal, banks also need to be honest in dealings with customers which is currently lacking, especially in view of the scandalous discovery of illegal bank charges on unwary customers’ accounts.

But the discovery of such corporate theft by banks should not be swept under the carpet. There should be specific sanctions if only to serve as deterrence to others contemplating such unethical act.

In our view, those banks caught in the

act of this corporate theft should be severely punished for they ought not to have made the deductions, without customers’ notice, in the first place. Their unethical acts constitute a flouting of CBN guidelines which might be the reason behind declarations of outlandish and unreal banking profits by some banks in the country.

Henceforth, bank inspectors should be more vigilant because, unlike what obtains in better managed climes, banks in the country have consistently shown no respect for the significant principle of uberimei fidei (utmost good faith) that should exist between them and their customers. This sharp practice should not rear its head again because it is antithetical to economic growth and development.

‘But the discovery of such corporate theft by banks should not be swept under the carpet. There should be specific sanctions if only to serve as deterrence to others contemplating such unethical act. In our view, those banks caught in the act of this corporate theft should be severely punished for they ought not to have made the deductions, without customers’ notice, in the first place’

Assault on academia •We deplore police handling of poly, COE teachers’ protest

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ILL this democratic leadership ever purge itself of the better forgotten tyranny of the military era?

This question becomes pertinent in view of its unleashing of state instrument of coercion on harmless protesting lecturers over non-payment of their dues by government. Their students from across the country that joined in the protests were also victims of this official highhandedness in a country where the law guarantees the right to assemble and freely express grievances.

The Federal Government, through some errant policemen in Abuja, wantonly deployed hot water cannon and teargas to disperse striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, their College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU counterpart, and their students who went public to protest the government’s failure to

‘The government should realise the incontestable importance of tertiary education that is being put in jeopardy through its unpardonable apathetical attitude to the teachers’ demands.

The government should realise before it is too late that no degree of oppression has successfully stifled an unquenchable urge for education in human history’

implement agreements reached with the unions.

The distraught lecturers and their home-weary students got to the labour ministry’s end of the Abuja federal secretariat carrying placards bearing, among others, instructive inscriptions such as ‘Wike must go now’, ‘Spend money on tertiary institutions’, ‘Give priority to teacher’s education in Nigeria’, ‘Adequate funding, democratic management of all higher institutions.’ This kind of public procession is not alien to our laws just as the court has also reaffirmed its legality.

The protesting lecturers could not be unduly crucified given the justifications behind their actions. The ASUP and COEASU as academic trade unions have been on strike for the past 10 and four months, respectively, without any show of concern from the authorities. The government has been lethargic to their demands, which among others, include the appointment/constitution of governing councils for the institutions, release of the white paper on the visitation panels to the institutions, implementation of CONTISS 15 for lecturers and the setting up of the NEEDs committee. Nothing, in our view, shows that these demands are illegitimate, unlawful or unreasonable.

Despite the fact that the protest was peaceful, the protesters, after being addressed by Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour, were inexcusably waylaid by security forces on their way to submit their protest letters to Senate President David Mark and Aminu Tambuwal,

Speaker of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly. Their reported regrouping caught the attention of some overzealous security men that forcefully dispersed them in various directions. The lecturers reportedly used cold water and kerosene to palliate the offensive effects of the tear gas.

We wonder why the police at this age and time could be so uncivilised against eggheads engaged in orderly protest for their dues. They were peaceful during the protest. We are not in doubt about their vulnerability and peaceable conducts as nothing shows that their actions provoked or threatened public peace as confirmed by the executive through Wogu’s observation while addressing the lecturers: ‘I am happy about the way you conducted yourself; you are not violent, so allow your leaders to discuss with me at the end of the procession. Before evening, you will get an answer,” the minister reportedly declared. This is an indictment of the Federal Government’s iniquitous handling of the teachers’ protest by its own, which makes the situation more damnable for the government that enjoys trampling on citizens’ rights with impunity.

The government should realise the incontestable importance of tertiary education that is being put in jeopardy through its unpardonable apathetical attitude to the teachers’ demands. The government should realise before it is too late that no degree of oppression has successfully stifled an unquenchable urge for education in human history.

Quit playing games with Benghazi

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HE deaths of four Americans — including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens — in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012 was a tragic (though sadly not unprecedented) loss of life as well as an indictment of security measures at the U.S. mission there. But Benghazi isn’t a mystery that needs to be plumbed by yet another congressional investigation.

The select committee offers Republicans another opportunity to bloody Clinton.

Benghazi has already been investigated by the independent Accountability Review Board and several congressional committees, including four House panels and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Reams of documents have been produced. The evolution of the “talking points” used by then-Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice in television appearances a few days after the attacks has been meticulously documented and deconstructed.

Yet many Republicans can’t let go of conspiracy theories about Benghazi, and on Friday the House authorized the creation of a select committee to investigate the issue yet again. House Republicans are especially transfixed by the idea that President Obama and his political aides, knowing that the attack was an Al Qaeda operation, nevertheless concocted a story that the siege was inspired by outrage over an anti-Islamic video that had sparked violent protests in Egypt. In this GOP theory, the Obama administration blamed the video to divert criticism that the president’s foreign policy generally, and his war on Al Qaeda specifically, were failing.

In fact, the idea that the Benghazi attack was inspired by the protest in Egypt over the video was mentioned in the earliest version of the talking points, which were prepared by the CIA, not by Obama’s political advisors.

The new committee is unlikely to add much to that record.

Its origins lie not, as Republicans maintain, in “lingering questions” about what happened before, during and after the attack, but in partisan politics.

Benghazi was to have been the issue that would ignite Mitt Romney’s challenge to Obama in 2012. In a televised debate, the Republican nominee claimed that “it took the president 14 days before he called the attack an act of terror,” only to have Obama and the moderator direct his attention to a statement by Obama in the Rose Garden the day after the attack in which the president said, “No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation.”

(Republicans then complained that the statement fell short of labeling the attack “an act of terrorism.”)

The 2012 election is history, but as Washington measures time, the 2016 election is just around the corner, and the presumptive Democratic nominee is Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was secretary of State on the day of the Benghazi attack. The select committee offers Republicans another opportunity to bloody Clinton.

Election politics aside, the creation of this committee reflects Republicans’ resentment over what they see as executive branch arrogance — especially the administration’s recent release of an email from a White House aide that Republicans say proves their contention that the administration deliberately misled the nation about the origins of the attack.

The administration should have released the Sept. 14, 2012, email from deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes long ago. That said, it’s anything but a smoking gun.

Referring to protests over the video throughout the Muslim world, Rhodes suggested that Rice stress that “these protests were rooted in an Internet video and not a broader failure of policy.”

At most the Rhodes email is a footnote in the history of the administration’s public relations response to Benghazi.

It proves nothing. The revelation that Rhodes urged Rice to deny that there was a broader failure of administration policy does not lend credence to, much less prove, that the video explanation was concocted.

But the committee is going forward anyway, even as the fundraising National Republican Congressional Committee is capitalizing on its creation by asking visitors to its website to sign up as “Benghazi Watchdogs.” It’s a sign of the Republicans’ credibility problem that House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) felt obliged to promise that the committee would not be a “sideshow” or a “circus.” Somehow we’re not reassured.

- Los Angeles Times

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: As a young adult, more than a decade ago in high school, full of dreams for the future – a very big dream of a big house with a big living room with high windows to let in sunlight and air every day. I wanted to have kids, watch them grow to responsible citizens. A very big dream indeed.

Then the bombshell: A religious disturbance had erupted in Kaduna. Houses that belonged to non-Muslims were either vandalized or razed to the ground and people that were not fast on their feet were either brutalized or burnt and their corpses left by the road side and houses in the wake of this wanton destruction.

The peace and tranquillity of the lovely city where people of different tribes and religions worked and co-existed as one before was shattered and leveled to the ground all in the space of weeks.

I was devastated! It was like my world had crumbled and I could not begin to imagine what had happened to make friends and neighbors suddenly become enemies. Non indigenes and visitors were being preyed on and killed and their houses and belongings destroyed in the wake.

Children and women were killed in large droves and corpses littered the once clean and beautifully lit streets and I could just

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Kaduna crisis: Let’s learn from the past hear the “ghosts” of the dead crying for mercy and justice.

I wondered in my little mind which couldn’t really comprehend this man’s inhumanity to man. Did people consider the consequences of the war before they embarked on it? Did they realize that destruction takes the fraction of a second but reconstruction can take a lifetime? Did they realize the legacy being left behind for the younger generation? Why is love which is preached by all religions hard to give? All religions are from God, then why the segregation?

All these questions burdened my poor fragile mind and brought buckets of tears to my face. I shed tears for my Kaduna of yesterday which is lost and gone forever. But my young mind refuses to give up because I know it is time for the people to live and co-exist in peace for the young ones to have a brighter future.

However, in the last few days, hostility has gradually returned to threaten the fragile and rela-

tive peace of Southern Kaduna.

The peace in Kachia, was disrupted on Sunday, as adherents of the two major religions were embroiled in crisis, following an alleged demolition of places of worship by Christians and Muslims from different communities in the Kachia locality. The crisis had led to a forceful demolition and burning of mosques and churches in the area, causing tension and panic across the state.

On Saturday when the youths saw damage in the prayer ground, hell was let loose; the youths suspected members of a nearby church to be responsible for the continuous damaging of the prayer ground and descended on the church, causing it to be demolished. The alleged suspects did not take the demolition of the church lightly as they went burning and demolishing mosques in the area.

Security agencies, religious leaders and indeed elders should all be on the watch in order to prevent a re-occurrence of the

massacre and bloodshed that swept lives and properties more than a decade ago. Church and mosque leaders should preach and teach the adherence of their religion on the need to see their neighbors as an extension of themselves in order to uphold the sanctity for human lives and to ensure and atmosphere for peace and tranquillity without which development cannot be achieved. Forgiveness and tolerance is what we should all imbibe.

Nelson Mandela has exemplified forgiveness and tolerance and for black people to live and co-exist together in mutual love and respect. We owe it to him to carry on his legacy as he had enjoined us to do and we don’t necessarily have to wait for our leaders. The onus is on us and we have the responsibility to create a future we want for ourselves and our children • Dr Hussain Obaro, Ilorin

Boko Haram and Nigeria’s future

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IR: The Boko Haram has lately assumed dramatic and most dangerous dimension with the recent abduction of innocent and harmless girls at Chibok Unity School in Bornu State by the Islamic sect.

Presently, the U.S. was reported to have arrived in the country with sophisticated military hardware and intelligence for the rescue operation of the abducted girls and for tracking

their abductors. Israeli security experts are also expected to assist in the military operations.

Other nations have offered similar assistance to Nigeria thereby internationalising a crisis which under normal circumstances ought to have been handled by the Nigerian authorities.

It is common knowledge that the Boko Haram insurgency has become a threat to the corporate

existence of Nigeria. The terrorist organization is already holding Nigeria by the jugular waiting to strangulate her at any moment.

One issue that has so far eluded both the Nigerian authorities and foreign collaborators however is the issue of unmasking the insurgents’ local and foreign sponsors. The Nigerian authorities should take advantage of the foreign inter-

vention to unravel the mystery surrounding the true identity of both the local and foreign sponsors of this terrible phenomenon known as the Boko Haram with a view to tracking them to face the full weight of the law for their heinous crime against their fatherland and humanity.

• Nze Nwabueze Akabogu (JP) Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

CBN and dirty notes

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IR: One of the core functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is issuance of legal tender currency for the nation. A time was when it discharged that function creditably with what was then the clean notes policy whereby once notes went into circulation and came back through the banks, they were sorted into clean and dirty notes.

The clean notes went back into circulation, while the dirty ones were destroyed. The bank had a note processing process for ensuring the successful implementation of this policy and bore the entire cost!

I was therefore amazed to read in the papers that licensed banks are now being asked to do this sorting or pay a penalty for not doing so!

This has resulted in the stinking, ragged notes we are now being saddled with and the racket of our currency notes being hawked like ‘akara’ at parties and motor garrages, with banks’ cash managers smiling to the bank.

The CBN should put a stop to this mess by ensuring that it resumes its mandate of supplying the needed notes without burdening the licensed banks. The CBN is not a profit making organisation, which is why its enabling act only talks of operating surplus, NOT,profit It should not therefore shirk the responsibility to commit funds to fulfill this function.

As for the currency hawkers, they remain in business because some people are foolish enough to throw their money away because they want to make a show.

If one must present an individual with a gift, why not put the amount in an envelop to give the person rather than pay as much as N200 per N1000 to procure mint-fresh notes?

• Abiodun Sopitan Oregun, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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COMMENTS

‘Our Girls’; $10m school aid; Simple Solar; Dangote/ Dajuma/Glo/MTN Foundation $5million grants

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HERE are ‘our Girls’, kidnapped on the April 15, 29 days ago? The management of the case seems worse every new revelation from inaction on an Tony early warning to a deMarinho lay of weeks in scientific pursuit. Is this not a job creation opportunity in spying? Were the escapees, school workers and the citizens properly interviewed for recorded concrete usable evidence in terms of names called, languages used, facial and clothing and body and weapons characteristics to build up multiple criminal or terrorist case files for future questioning of Boko Haram suspects for complicity in this kidnap? Of course, abi? Or are we expecting foreigners to interrogate them for us? Of course not.

Nigerians watch television and are not stupid. Nigerians know how other countries fight terror. Nigerians are outraged at the high cost of security and ‘security votes’ or slush funds for no returns. Nigerians know the abused word ‘welfare’ used in the armed forces to disguise cash payments for ‘whatever’. Nigerians are shocked at the apparent lack of commitment and urgency in the anti-terrorist actions of government and its usually heavy-handed security organs. Nigerians know there is more to national and state security than guarding politicians and millionaires while forcing citizens off the road with rough government driving, sirens, koboko whips and batons and accidental discharge of weapons. Nigerians deserve better.

Sadly, expected plans to rescue ‘Our Girls’ suggested by citizens through the media including studying local and international satellite imaging and paying informers, were not immediately implemented. It has taken our women and international outrage to get a response. Pity. And by outrage I do not mean the theatrical Chi or is it Kai, there is God O! from Mama Jonathan deserving a ‘Worst Performance’ Oscar. Did her handkerchief have onions to bring on Presidential tears? Everyone knows that the first 24 hours

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T last, faced with the grim reality that the Boko Haram terrorists are bent on spreading terror everywhere in Nigeria, especially in their strongholds in the north-east of the country, the United States, Canada, Britain, France, China and some other foreign countries have decided to assist the country to fight the menace. Apparently, the world is united in wide condemnation of the recent activities of the terrorists who have resorted to large-scale abduction of children, especially schoolgirls. On April 15, more than 240 schoolgirls were abducted from their hostels at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Since then, the fate of the innocent, little girls have been subjected to mere apocalyptic guesswork.

In a recent video posted on YouTube, Abubakar Shekau, the self-styled leader of Boko Haram, admitted that his group actually abducted the girls. He also boasted that the girls would all be sold out as there was a thriving market for the sale of women. Perhaps, it is this open admission by Shekau that has fuelled condemnation and indignation all over the world. Now, help has finally come for Nigeria. I am sure many people may be tempted to say that the offer by the international community, particularly the Americans, is coming a bit late. The reason is that Nigeria is America’s strategic linchpin. America believes Nigeria’s military could contain the spread of Islamic militancy. But for four or five years now, the country has been facing so many odds in its campaign against terrorists, especially Islamic terrorists operating in the North.

Help may have taken time in coming because Nigeria has, in the past, rebuffed attempts by America to

is key in any chase. Nigeria thought that this was being done. Do the security forces not train for security threat scenarios? It is inconceivable that the Nigerian military did not initiate an immediate ‘Hot Pursuit’ they cannot reveal for security reasons. Nigerians are disappointed and 280 of ‘Our Girls’ are still in Sambisa Forest. Things should be in top gear at all times, not because of the World Economic Forum, but because of Nigerians living ordinary lives. Nigerians deserve better. They deserve similar security to the WEF. The same level of security should be extended to the rest of the country and not just politicians.

The $10m international grant for education in 500 schools is well meaning but must be seen in the light of a country that abandons its schools and waits for foreigners to come and replace the money Nigerian state and LGA and Federal governments mismanage, misappropriate and steal. The grant rewards those who steal with even more money to replace the stolen funds. Will they steal the $10m also? The 500 schools will be lucky to see 10%, $1m, or less unless the money is converted to material like teacher training scholarships, posters, books, sports equipment and science equipment from the foreign countries.

There are existing and future solutions to Nigeria’s huge electricity power problems which will eventually be able to light many homes in villages across the world off the grid. No doubt Nigeria’s faculties of technology and engineering in our universities and their students are burning up the internet and on fire from studying the new electricity creations worldwide to solve our own power problems. Anyone interested in the business angle or the technical angle of this area of development should for example check out BBC’s Horizons programme on 11-52014 for details of a few new suggestions like the Gravity light as an alternative to kerosene lighting and the football light which stores power by being kicked around and then can be plugged to a light for reading at night.

Remember that the main problems of night lighting in villages are smoke and fumes and cost of renewables like fuel. And do not forget to research the Indian Grandmother Solar Engineer Project which has been around for

some years and has reached many African and Asian countries but as usual has not yet Nigeria. As usual the main issue is funding.

The recent award of $5million by Danjuma Foundation for a Nigeria South Africa Law Link Project is good. So are Dangote’s promises of progress on job creation from a multibillion dollar investment in industrial development.

May we recommend to them that they fund the domestication of some of the many good solar and other lighting and power generation ideas flying around worldwide to lighten up the miserable lives of Nigerians and quickly empowering them through lighting solutions. Light at night is power and there are many millions of children in darkness. Imagine Dangote Foundation or Danjuma Foundation or Glo Foundation or MTN Foundation separately or coming together to deliver 10m such footballs/ Gravitylights/Indian solar lights to 10m village homes and off-grid city homes every year as part of a ‘Light is Life Project’. Children deserve light at night. The scientists have done their work, now it is time for the philanthropists and business to bring the new light to the people in need. But will that happen? After all, Nigeria has never harnessed the sun and solar power before. And anyway, these new power sources will cut kerosene imports and some people will fight this. So will we make progress?

‘The $10m international grant for education in 500 schools is well meaning but must be seen in the light of a country that abandons its schools and waits for foreigners to come and replace the money Nigerian state and LGA and Federal governments mismanage, misappropriate and steal’

The drones are coming train its military whose history of shooting freely and widely has raised eyebrows in Washington and other places. This has, rightly or wrongly, led to a conclusion that Nigerian soldiers actually fuel the very terrorism they are supposed to counter by this operational blunder.

Even at that, Washington has struggled for years to cement close ties with the Nigerian military. About nine years ago, the African Command of the US’ military invited the Nigerian military to participate in a joint military exercise codenamed “Operation Flintlock”, an annual multinational counter-terrorism exercise. Surprisingly, Nigeria’s generals balked at sending a large contingent of soldiers. The US later proposed setting up a specialised counterterrorism unit within the Nigerian military, but it floundered.

However, since Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, otherwise known as the “Underwear Bomber”, tried to blow up an airliner approaching Detroit on Christmas Day way back in 2009, the US has been working with Nigeria on creating an “Intelligence Fusion Centre” for rapid sharing of information collected by various Nigerian security agencies.

The US views this as an important first step to see whether Nigeria can handle security threats themselves.

Unfortunately, after two years of effort, the plan has only inched forward due to mistrust among Nigeria’s security services reportedly over funding.

Besides, as I said earlier, American officials are really worried that the Nigerian security forces’ free shooting ways may have worsened the security situation in the coun-

‘The point is that the US officials are wary of sharing highly sensitive intelligence with the Nigerian government and security services for fear that it cannot be properly safeguarded’

try. That is very true. Military and police heavy-handedness in the North is core to the story of Boko Haram’s emergence. In July 2009, Mohammed Yusuff and a good number of his lieutenants were summarily liquidated by Nigeria’s security forces even after they had been arrested and paraded on the streets. The effect of that brutality cannot be easily discounted from the mindless conflagration that has engulfed that part of the country.

All the same, it is good that the Americans and others have decided to intervene and stop the naked madness of these terrorists who, as it seems, are determined to overrun a section of the country. It is almost certain that the American Special Forces which will participate in the operation might be deployed from the US Drone Base in Niger, the Gulf of Guinea, the sea of Somalia and other bases in Africa under the US Africa Command, while additional equipment required for the sensitive operation could come from the US Department of Homeland security.

The US Military Base in nearby Niger Republic could provide drone surveillance, logistics and intelligence support for the operation. What this means is that the drones are coming.

I am not sure the Americans may want to commit much or any ground troops for this campaign. This is so because after a decade of troop-intensive land wars that have strained the US budgets and left the country war weary, the Americans may rely on using Nigerian soldiers for the campaign. The only problem here is that the US and Nigerian authorities don’t fully trust each other. This may put a limit to cooperation against the present threat. The point is that the US officials are wary of sharing highly sensitive intelligence with the Nigerian government and security services for fear that it cannot be properly safeguarded. This is more so since it is almost glaring that the terrorists have informants within the government and security agencies.

All these notwithstanding, one way or another, both the US and Nigeria must cooperate in this war against Boko Haram. Nigeria is America’s largest Africa trading partner and its fifth-largest oil supplier. Canada, Britain, France, China and other foreign countries also have interests in Nigeria. Furthermore, Nigeria has, by far, the biggest army in the region where AlQaeda’s influence is spreading rapidly. As a result of this, America, Europe and the world surely need Nigeria to curb the rising influence of Islamic extremists and this can only be safely done if the country can be extricated from the stranglehold of terrorism perpetrated by religious extremists. In actual fact, the bitter truth is that countries with common borders with Nigeria that are providing sanctuary for the terrorists and pretending as if nothing is happening should realise that they will be the next target, once the terrorists are routed from Nigeria. I am talking about Cameroun, Chad, Niger and others.

It is important to note that terrorism is used by extremist to scare the public into meeting their unfathomable or weird demands. They do this because they believe that if they can spread fear among the populace and cause some sort of panic, then they can exert force and have power over them. It is universally acknowledged that their tactics are generally extremely violent and they will do whatever is necessary to strike fear into the hearts of those they perceive to be their enemy. This now brings us to what can be done to combat terrorism. Is there any way that we can keep ourselves safe from these extremists?

As we all know, combating terrorism is no tea party. It is a task that cannot be achieved overnight.

It is a long struggle that could be quite dangerous as well. However, one of the basic things to do is to find out all of the methods that these terrorists use and understand their

Dele Agekameh strategies. How do they launch attack? In what ways have they been most successful? If all the ways they may attack could be understood, it will be much easier to set up defences and stop them in their tracks before they inflict any harm. Once where they will attack is known, then strategies could be mapped out to either stop them or neutralise them.

Above all, one of the greatest weapons that can be used to combat terrorism is to simply get citizens involved and make sure they understand how important it is to report anything that is out of place. That is what is called Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative in the US. Having the citizens get involved is one of the most powerful ways to combat terrorism. It can give the authorities thousands of eyes and ears to watch for suspicious behaviours. In addition, terrorism is something that can be stopped.

When a terrible act occurs, it is important that the act does not go unpunished like it happens in Nigeria.

If the terrorists believe that they can successfully attack and escape without harm, they will become emboldened and more vicious. That is why Boko Haram has festered to this monstrosity.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

22

COMMENTS ‘There are two events so far that President Goodluck Jonathan would never take for granted when either he leaves or retains his presidency: Increasing fuel pump price by clandestinely removing subsidy and treating kidnappers of any type and terrorism, with kid gloves. However, there are many kitchen cabinet members who are guiltier than Jonathan. Such members think less by pretending to have come the second time to alleviate poverty! The others think only about supplying fund to prosecute elections. The kitchen cabinet I know of worldwide would have resolved the Chibok girls’ abduction before the intervention of the world powers’

•President Jonathan

For Olatunji Dare Dare, what pains me about most of our columnists is their penchant to harp on the negative side of every issue without suggesting the way out. Should conferences stop holding simply because the previous ones did not produce much results? Are economic indices not computed by the whites based on their preferred parameters? Was HIV in Africa before? Could it not have been exported to Africa by the same whites through their unusual sex habits? Who are the manufacturers of fake products, Africans? One would have expected you to provide solution to every problem you discussion in “Economic Summitry: Getting Back To Basics” rather than tread the negative terrain usual of our columnists on issues. Nothing is gained from spotted problems without offered solutions. As long as Africa’s economic

O

NCE upon a time, there lived a man named Okoloigwe in the land of Umuigwe. Okoloigwe was one of those men who left the village early in life to the city in search of greener pastures. This exposed him a lot as he acquired experience particularly in the construction industry where he worked for many years and rose to the position of a foreman. He later retired to his hometown and engaged himself in the business of building construction within the locality. His popularity grew as he acquired a new title of ‘Engineer’ which became even more popular than his real name. Nearly every successful young man within the environ sojourning in the city or abroad engage ‘Engineer’ to construct his village house. He was doing very well and enjoyed a lot of respect from both the young and old.

One day, his town decided to build a Town Hall and it naturally fell on him to handle the project. The town union raised money through levies and donations from their wealthy indigenes and ‘Engineer’ was given a free hand to handle the project because of the seeming trust he enjoyed from most people who believed that he will not only perform but also give a good financial account after the project. The project went on smoothly to completion. Everyone was happy and full of praises and commendation for him for a job well done. The town union then set a date for the for-

‘We all agree that Mr. Peter Obi did very well in terms of development in Anambra State but he should also end well by rendering proper accounts to the people of the state’

advancement is tied to advanced countries, so would status quo remain.

Preach that and see what next. From LAI ASHADELE Re-Economic summitry: Getting back to basics. Economic, political, social or/ and religious summits have nothing wrong with them only if the affected country and its leadership have been up and doing to his citizens before hosting whatever summit! That, however, was/ is not the case for African leaders aside Morocco, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal. And I do not know whether questions about what other country participants read about the host(s) are always asked especially regarding corruption, poverty, illegalities/ illegitimacy, need for African honest oneness etc. Quite unfortunate that Nigerian government now has one or two World Bank former workers who take delight in deceiving the government that there is any merit in Nigeria hosting a World (AFRICA) Economic Forum.

From Lanre Oseni.

I love your article, it has a meaning.

Keep it up. From Chief Oloro, Ilupeju-Ekiti.

Sir. Your article is special to me. Good health to you. From Ayodeji Ado-Ekiti.

For Tunji Adegboyega Re; The Power of Protests. Funny Tunji.

Were you aware that the state government and the commissioner for education failed to act on the letter from the Minister of Education for relocation of WASCE candidates to Maiduguri or safer places? The first time a man from the minority is leading the country and the Yoruba press cannot give him a breathing space, the reason being that Jonathan is not Fashola of Lagos State.

We expect more of this from you people … Well done. Pastor Vincent Chiagoro, Enugu.

Although I hate Jonathan’s government, the removal of oil subsidy is long overdue, my brother! You journalists should not play politics with fuel subsidy matter at all. Anonymous.

The protests are good; we should continue the exercise against bad governance. Also, it is a welcome move for foreign nations to indicate interest in rescuing those girls abducted from the

Peter Obi and burden of accountability

By Ndubuisi Onuigbo mal handover and rendering of financial account for the project. This was where his problem started. He was not only careless with the town’s finances; he also helped himself with a large chunk as he was at the same time also developing his private residence.

On the appointed day, the people were disappointed because ‘Engineer’ could not give a good account of the public funds left at his disposal. All he could manage to say, without much confidence, was that the money he received was able to complete the project and that the town was not owing him neither was he owing the town. This did not go down well with the people as many demanded a proper account while some began to call him uncomplimentary names. The story of ‘Engineer’ and the town hall soon spread like wildfire to far and near. Within a very short time, his popularity nose-dived. He lost his integrity amongst the people and became a laughing stock. The once vibrant, ebullient and respected man was totally deflated and could no longer raise his head up. When the situation became too unbearable, he ran to the city.

The problem with Engineer was not about performance. It was that he forgot that in dealing with public funds, accountability is usually more important than performance. He passed the performance test but failed the crucial test of accountability and that relegated his much taunted performance to the background.

Mr. Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of Anambra State is my man. He scored so many firsts in his eight years as governor and continues to receive accolades and commendations from the

high and mighty in the society for his superlative performance and development of all sectors of Anambra State. I am also one of those who believe that ‘Okwute’ as Peter is fondly called, came, saw and conquered. But perhaps what I consider the most significant aspect of Obi’s tenure was the seeming character, integrity and transparency he brought to governance. He has sold himself as a man of very strong character and high integrity. To prove his transparency, he attempted to render an account of his stewardship with a breakdown totalling N75 Billion which he claimed he left in the coffers of Anambra State. This is the point of departure between Obi and the story of Engineer. I must confess that I and most Nigerians who had shown interest in the affairs of Anambra State are guilty of being blinded by the performance of Peter Obi to the extent that we lost sight of the accountability angle.

In recent publications in major Nigerian newspapers, a group called Anambra State Concerned Professionals took Peter Obi’s public accounts to the cleaners, raising a lot of critical and relevant questions on the financial scorecard presented by the former governor.

For instance, Mr. Obi had told the whole world severally that he has kept aside money for the completion of contracts he awarded as well as two years salary for the newly recruited graduates into the state civil service, but no mention was made about these in Obi’s breakdown. The publication posed questions as regards the number of shareholding

by Anambra in the investments made by the former governor which was not disclosed and therefore subject to abuse.

Such investments include; INTAFACT — N3.5 Billion, Onitsha Hotel —

hands of Boko Haram sect. Our security agents should cooperate with the foreign countries to get result in the country. It is for our good to have peace in Nigeria; so, all hands must be on deck to find a lasting solution to insecurity and other social vices plaguing our country because investors do not like to invest in places where security cannot be guaranteed. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

Dear Tunji, today, Nigeria is a country of lions being led by a sheep while Boko Haram consists of a few sheep led by a lion. From Reuben O., Port Harcourt.

Re: The power of protests. There are two events so far that President Goodluck Jonathan would never take for granted when either he leaves or retains his presidency: Increasing fuel pump price by clandestinely removing subsidy and treating kidnappers of any type and terrorism, with kid gloves. However, there are many kitchen cabinet members who are more guilty than Jonathan. Such members think less by pretending to have come the second time to alleviate poverty!

The others think only about giving out fund to prosecute elections. The kitchen cabinet I know of worldwide would have resolved the Chibok girls’ abduction before the intervention of the world powers. Accepting to help by the U.S. , U.K., France, etc., remains Nigeria’s fault of hardly rewarding meritorious brains either militarily or, socially, politically and or economically. Sacrificing merit for mediocrity; this is the result. From Lanre Oseni.

But how much is fuel sold in other Nigerian cities? Here, in Ogbomoso, it is N110/N115 per litre. What other subsidy are we talking about? From Simon Oladapo.

Thanks, Tunji. I strongly believe we workers have no leader. Our elected leaders in NLC are politicians, and you know, nothing good can come from them.

From Oloyede, Ondo.

N1Billion, Agulu Hotel — N1Billion, Awka Shopping Mall —N0.9Billion, etc.

The publication also raised questions on the business interest of NEXT International, a company allegedly owned by Peter Obi, in these investments made by his administration. The group further alleged that Obi diverted Local Government SURE-P Funds for security purposes whereas he collected about N450 million monthly as security vote and that instead of the declared surplus of N75 billion, Obi rather left commitments and liabilities in excess of N12O billion. Another point of controversy raised by the group was the N10 billion federal government approved refund ostensibly for federal government road rehabilitation project in Anambra State.

Rehabilitation works on the Amansea - Amawbia on the Enugu/Onitsha Express Road was commenced about two weeks to the end of Peter Obi’s administration and of which less than 20 percent mobilization was paid to the contractors. It would be wrong and deceptive to include the entire sum of N10 billion as savings whereas the state government still has outstanding of more than 80 percent to pay before the completion of the project. All these are very weighty questions and allegations that if not well addressed would cast doubts on the integrity of the former governor.

We all agree that Mr. Peter Obi did very well in terms of development in Anambra State but he should also end well by rendering proper accounts to the people of the state. Here lies the burden of accountability in public office. He must not allow his good name to be dragged to the mud by questions of corruption and compromises here and there. He should clear his name of any wrong doing because good name they say, is better than silver and gold. Peter Obi should speak out now so that his case does not end like the story of Engineer and the town hall.

•Onuigbo wrote from Abuja

41

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

25 NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Capital Hotel gets deadline to restructure capital

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has directed the Board of Capital Hotel Plc, the owner of Sheraton Abuja Hotel, to restructure its issued share capital to dilute the existing concentrated shareholdings of the core investors and allow more investments from the public.

In the latest report on public shareholding status in quoted companies obtained

by The Nation, the NSE indicated that Capital Hotel is in violation of the listing requirement, which compels companies quoted on the main board of the NSE to ensure that a minimum of 20 per cent of its issued shares is in the hand of the public.

The management of the NSE stated that it has notified Capital Hotel of the deficiency in its shareholding structure. Companies listed on the Exchange are required to maintain a minimum free float for the set standards under which they are listed in order to ensure that there is an orderly and liquid market in their securities. The free

By Taofik Salako

float requirement for companies on the main board is 20 per cent while companies on the second board, otherwise known as Alternative Securities Market (ASEM) are required to have 15 per cent free float.

Free float, otherwise known as public float, refers to the number of shares of a quoted company held by ordinary shareholders other than those directly or indirectly held by its parent, subsidiary or associate companies or any subsidiaries or associates of its parent company; its directors who are holding office as directors of the entity and their close family members and any single individual or institutional shareholder holding a statutorily significant stake, which is five per cent and above in Nigeria.

Thus, free float’s shares do not include shares held directly or indirectly by any officer, director, controlling shareholder or other concen-

trated, affiliated or family holdings.

The report indicated that Capital Hotel has 2.23 per cent of its issued shares in the hands of the public, implying that the core investors will need to sell down about 17.77 per cent to the public or undertake a dilution through new capital issue.

According to the report, the management of the NSE has given Capital Hotel a deadline of April 20, 2016 to complete the share restructuring.

The deadline was in deference to application by the management of Capital Hotel for some period to comply with the free float. However, the company is required to provide quarterly disclosure reports to the NSE on the efforts being made to fully comply by the deadline.

By the expiration of the deadline, Capital Hotel is mandatorily required to have completed partial divestments or dilution of the ‘non-public’ shareholdings to free 20 per cent equity stake for public holding, unless the management of the NSE grants

fresh waivers and extensions for the companies. In the extreme instance, a company with deficient public float may opt to delist its shares.

Incorporated in January 1981 as a limited liability company, Capital Hotel became a public limited liability company in May 1986 and was listed on the NSE in August 2008.

Its hotel, Sheraton Abuja Hotel started business in January 1990. Capital Hotel is a member of the Ikeja Hotel Plc, which included Tourist Company of Nigerian (TCN) Plc, another quoted subsidiary that has filed for voluntary delisting due to similar free float deficiency.

Ikeja Hotel is also quoted on the NSE. As earlier reported by The Nation, the report indicated that three other companiesDangote Cement Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc and Wema Bank Plc - are still below the 20 per cent minimum float.

The report indicated that Wema Bank is slightly under the 20 per cent free float

with a free float of 19.64 per cent. Wema Bank is expected to adjust its shareholding structure to free 20 per cent of its equities for unrelated shareholders by July 31, this year.

Dangote Cement has up till October, this year while Union Bank of Nigeria has up till June 2017 to comply with the free float. The updated free float record of the NSE indicated that Dancem has a free float of 7.19 per cent, 12.81 percentage points below the minimum requirement of 20 per cent.

Union Bank has a free float of 14.94 per cent, 5.06 per cent below the minimum standard.

Stock markets maintain minimum public float to prevent undue concentration of securities in the hands of the core investors and related interests, a situation that can make the stock to be susceptible to price manipulation.

Besides, it provides the general investing public with opportunity to reasonably partake in the wealth creation by private enterprises.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil

-$117.4/barrel

Cocoa

-$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb MARKET

CAPITALISATIONS NSE

-N11.4 trillion

JSE

-Z5.112trillion

NYSE

-$10.84 trillion

LSE

-£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation

-8%

Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-1%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$45b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

•From left: Director of Flight Operations, Discovery Airways, Capt. Henry Zebere; Executive Director, Mrs. Olushola Odubunmi and Managing Director, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed, after receiving their new B-737-800 aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE Airport 2, Ikeja, Lagos.

Oil services firm Caverton set for $197m listing A N indigenous oil services company Caverton has received stock exchange approval for a planned N31.8 billion ($197 million) listing on May 20.

Caverton, which provides marine and aviation services to multinational oil companies, including Shell, Total and Addax, said it will list 3.35 billion ordinary shares on the Nigerian bourse at N9.50 per

CBN insists on OMO for liquidity management

- P 26

share.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Onyema told Reuters last month that he expected more oil and gas listings to follow Seplat’s market debut in Lagos and London via a $500 million initial public offering (IPO).

Nigerian IPOs dried up after a 2008 crash wiped more than 60 per cent off the market’s capitalisation. The index has since recovered, gaining 35 percent in 2012 and 47 percent in 2013, but new listings are still only trickling in.

Caverton did not announce plans to raise fresh

PFAs invest N2.7tr in FGN bonds, bills

- P 27

equity capital but said it wants to broaden its ownership base as it expands its shipping and helicopter services and diversify into new markets within West Africa.

Profits at the oil servicing firm rose to N1.04 billion in 2012, from N60.37 million a year earlier. Revenue grew to N16.13 billion naira in 2012, against N10.93 billion in 2011, the company said.

Investment improves network performance, says report

T

HERE is an increase in investments in network quality and performance and this has created sustained competitive advantages and improved financial returns for operators, a report has said.

The study, which was inaugurated by Ericsson, was has just been released2. It demonstrates that investments in network quality do translate into better financial returns for operators, not only from cost savings but also from increased revenue.

The study, carried out by the President of Telecom Advisory Services, and Director of Business Strategy Research, Columbia Business School, Dr. Raul Katz, explored the relationship between capital investments in mobile telecoms networks and the technical, commercial and financial performance of operators.

Dr. Katz performed extensive statistical analysis, across a large set of metrics, on three years of quarterly data from three different markets — Brazil, Mexico and the United States (US).

According to the report, simulation model was constructed to estimate the effects of increased capital expenditure on mobile operators’ free cash flows, allowing operators to assess the commercial and financial gains attributable to the increased investments.

The study found that a 10 per cent increase in capital expenditure for a Brazilian operator resulted in increased market share, a significant boost to ARPU and reduced churn. Given this enhanced commercial performance, the operator should experience a 5.5 per cent increase in service revenues, a 6.4 per centage point improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margin, and a 6. 7 per cent increase in free cash flow from operations.

The analysis of Mexico and the US showed the same relationships between investments, performance and finances as in Brazil, but Dr. Katz also found differences exist in the way the causality works under different market conditions.

Head, Tactical Marketing, Business Unit Networks at Ericsson, Johan Haeger, said: “The results from the quantitative study clearly demonstrate what our ‘gut feeling’ and discussions with leading operators has told us for quite some time: that appropriately targeted capital expenditure leads to improved network performance. This translates into better market performance which is shown to boost financial returns.’’

Making a living selling information

- P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

26

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

CBN insists on OMO for liquidity management T HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it will continue to rely on Open Market Operations (OMO) auctions as the major tool to control liquidity in the system.

The OMO entails the buying and selling of government’s securities in the open market to expand or contract the amount of money in circulation.

In a circular, the CBN said the OMO will be discretionary and will involve the sale or purchase of Treasury Bills and CBN Bills through the market that would include auctions and two-way quote trading, adding that the securities will be of specified tenor and volume, linked to assessed liquidity conditions in the banking system.

Participants at OMO auctions would be the authorised Money Market Dealers (MMDs) comprising commercial and merchant banks, non-interest financial institutions and discount houses.

Stories by Collins Nweze

Also, based on market liquidity conditions and the subsisting Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), OMO will be complemented by repurchase agreements (repo/reverse repo), at the applicable rates.

The CBN said commercial and merchant banks will continue to maintain a minimum Liquidity Ratio (LR) of between 20 and 30 per cent. Discount houses will continue to invest at least 60 per cent of their total borrowings in government securities while the ratio of individual bank loans to deposits was retained at 80 per cent.

It said the discount window at the CBN would remain available to give authorised dealers access to effective management of their

temporary liquidity shortages or surpluses. Thus, standing facilities would continue to be open to them on overnight basis in line with subsisting guidelines. The facilities would be in the form of Standing Lending Facility (SLF) to address temporary shortfalls in liquidity, and Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) to aid effective management of short-term liquidity surpluses.

The CBN said it will determine the applicable interest rates on the facilities and allow rediscounting of eligible securities at the discount window at its rates.

The CBN said it would continue to adopt the risk-based supervision (RBS) approach in the supervision of institutions under its regulatory purview.

$1b Eurobonds good for economy, says DMO chief T in place.

Continuing, he said to understand the risk taken last year by DMO, when it offered two Eurobond in tenors of five and 10 years, each for $500 million, is to know that the Fed was buying $85 million fixed-income securities on the open market monthly during that period through the QE policy.

“Yet our bonds were oversubscribed. One factor that accounts for the success of the offer was the confidence investors have in Nigeria’s economy. And as we all know confidence is always earned,” he said.

Nwankwo said the issuance of the Eurobond was part of the DMO public debt management strategy which decided to look up to the ICM to diversify Nigeria’s source of funding its developmental programmes to introduce the country into the highly disciplined international funds markets.

“In January 2011, Nigeria made its debut in the ICM through issuance of $500 million 10-year

F

Eurobond. Since then, the confidence of the investors in Nigeria’s bond has been on the increase. Most of the funds generated will go into financing the upgrading our power infrastructure, which the country badly needs for its economic growth and development,” he said.

While handing the award to Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jim Cowles, said DMO was bold in taking the Eurobond decision.

“If you look at the timing , this (Nigeria’s issued Eurobond) was the first sovereign bond that was issued at the beginning of last year and there was quite a bit of turmoil in the market place because of the discussion on tapering the quantitative easing.”

He praised the professionalism with which the DMO is managing Nigeria’s debt profile. The DMO has been advising government on terms and conditions of loans, restructuring and refinancing; maintaining a complete and accurate database of all government borrowings among other roles.

• Acting CBN Governor Sarah Alade

$40b infrastructure deficit threatens Africa’s devt

ORMER Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O’Neill, has urged African governments to bridge the $40 billion investment deficit on the continent.

From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Chief Executive Officer, Standard Bank Group, Mr. Sim Tshabalala; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Atedo Peterside; UNIDO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa and Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakili, during the Power Forum Breakfast at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abuja.

HE $1 billion Eurobonds raised by Nigeria from the International Capital Market (ICM) has added value to the economy, the Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO) Dr. Abraham Nwankwo said.

The DMO chief, who spoke after Nigeria was awarded 2013 Best Sovereign Bond in Africa Award, said the agency’s decision to issue the bonds despite the risk the pronouncements of United States (US) Federal Reserve tapering of the Quantitative Easing (QE) may have on the pricing of the bonds at that particular time was commendable.

In a statement, he said the award was given to Nigeria by the Emerging Market, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Finance, adding that the bonds were over-subscribed vindicating the right judgment of the DMO. He explained that QE is a bondbuying programme of the Federal Reserve, which was designed to depress long-term bond yields in order to stimulate the US economy. He explained that so far, the QE has kept yield below levels where they would trade if there had not been the QE policy

“The objective of the RBS approach is to provide an effective process to assess the safety and soundness of banks and other financial institutions.This is achieved by evaluating their risk profile, financial condition, risk management practices and compliance with applicable laws and regulations,” it explained.

It enjoined banks to pursue profitability in their business models through efficient operations, adding that they should charge competitive rather than excessive rates of interest in the course of their transactions. The lenders are also expected to disclose their prime and maximum lending rates as fixed spreads over the MPR.

Spaeking during the African Finance Corporation’s (AFC’s) conference on infrastructure in Lagos, O’Neill said infrastructure has been estimated to add an average of two per cent to economic growth over the next decade as its deficit is reduced.

He said Africa’s future depends on the continent’s policy makers to do the right thing by working to create better governance, reducing crime, fight corruption and delivering improved infrastructure. Infrastructure development is both a defining challenge and a standout investment opportunity for Africa and investors around the world, he said.

He said Nigeria is growing at seven per cent despite poor ac-

cess to power,, noting that adequate power supply could boost economic growth to about 12 per cent, adding that there is no reason why the country should not become one of the G20 members.

The conference attracted more than 500 experts.

AFC’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Alli said there are potentials in Africa which investors can key into.

“Our vision at the AFC is to bridge the infrastructure divide and seek a strong return for our shareholders at the same time.

We believe our core role comes at the earliest stage of project conception and development.

While international capital will be fundamental in bridging the investment divide, that capital will have nowhere to go if Africa does not focus on the development of bankable, sustainable projects,” he said.

China’s forex reserves may stoke inflation, a ‘big burden’, says Premier

C

HINA’S war chest of foreign currency reserves has become a headache as its continued rise could stoke inflation in the long term, Premier Li Keqiang has said, pledging to cut1 the country’s trade surplus.

China’s foreign exchange reserves, the world’s largest, grew by $130 billion (77.14 billion pounds) in the first quarter, to a record $3.95 trillion.

The central bank has pledged to keep foreign exchange reserves at reasonable levels, partly by reducing its intervention in the currency market.

“Frankly speaking, foreign exchange reserves have become a big burden for us, because such reserves translate into the base money, which could affect inflation,” Phoenix New Media Ltd quoted Li as saying during a visit to Kenya.

“From China’s perspective, macroeconomic controls could face tremendous pressures if the

overall trade is imbalanced.”

China will take steps to reduce its trade surpluses with the rest of the world, including Kenya, Li was quoted as saying.

Large foreign currency purchases by China’s central bank, which regularly intervenes to cap yuan rises, amount to creation of base money and can fuel inflation unless the central bank soaks up the excess yuan injected into the system.

In recent weeks, the central bank has been suspected of engineering a fall in the yuan in a bid to punish speculators betting on yuan rises.

Vice central bank governor, Yi Gang, said in November that the cost of holding the reserves would surpass earnings from them when reserves exceed a certain level.

China’s inflation has been benign in recent months as its economy slows, but analysts point to long-term pressures as the government loosens its grip on utility and resources prices.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

27

THE NATION

BUSINESS PENSION

A

PFAs invest N2.7tr in FGN bonds, bills

BOUT N2.7 trillion out of the N4.21 trillion pensions fund assets has been invested in FGN Securities as at March 31, 2014

by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), representing 63.39 per cent investment of the fund, The Nation has learnt.

The PFAs also invested N602 billion in shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the period under review.

This represents a 14.3 per cent investment of the fund.

The volume of traded shares in March was a little lower compared to the N619 billion traded as at February 28, 2014 out of the N4.12 trillion pension fund assets recorded in the month.

This was revealed in a document obtained by The Nation from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) titled: ‘Summary of Pension Fund Assets as at March 31, 2014’.

A breakdown of the report showed that a volume of Domestic Ordinary Shares of N548.7 billion was traded in March while Foreign Ordinary Shares of N53 billion was also traded.

Similarly, N195.2 billion and N79.9 billion was invested in State Government Securities and Corporate debt securities respectively while N1.7 bil-

lion was invested in Supra-National bonds.

A total of N228.4 billion was invested in the Real Estate Properties while N9.3 billion was invested in the Private Equity Fund.

The report further showed that N335.2 billion was invested in the Local Money Market Securities, N286 billion in Foreign Money Market Securities and N22 billion in Open/ Close End Funds.

The Commission had N46.2 billion in cash and other assets during the period under review.

The Acting Director-General, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu, while speaking on Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets said Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) shall only take written instructions from licensed PFAs with respect to the PFAs investment and management of pension fund assets held in the custody of the Pension Fund Custodian (PFCs) on behalf of the Contributors.

She said the PFCs, in discharging their contractual functions to PFAs, shall not contract out the custody of pension fund assets to third parties,

except for allowable investments made outside Nigeria.

Furthermore, she said that the PFC shall obtain prior approval from the Commission before engaging a global Custodian for such allowable foreign investments.

She said: “The PFAs, in discharging their contractual functions to Contributors under the new Contributory Scheme shall not contract out the investment or management of pension fund assets to third parties, except for open or close end or hybrid funds and specialist investment funds allowed by the regulation.

“The PFAs shall maintain RSA ‘Active’ and ‘Retiree’ Funds, as provided to govern the investment of pension fund assets until effective implementation of the Multi-Fund Structure. In addition to the requirements of other guidelines issued by the Commission on corporate governance, ethics and business practices, each PFA shall establish an Investment Strategy Committee as well as a Risk Management Committee, in compliance with Section 66 of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 (“the Act” or “PRA 2004”).

“The Investment Strategy Committee, in addition to other functions specified in the Act, shall formulate

lamented the non-remittance of their pension with their former and present employers.

An employee, who simply identified himself as Stanley and works in a construction company, lamented how his former employer did not remit his pension for two years.

He said the experience with his new employer too was bad, adding that his pension is not remitted to his PFA until after four months.

Mrs. Ogundele said her employer, who is into manufacturing business, has not joined the Contributory Pension Scheme.

She said he told them that he would pay in bulk anytime they leave the company.

Director-General, the National pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said 498 employers have been with Certificate of Compliance for complying with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, 2004.as at May 2, 2014, has fully complied.

Mrs Anohu-Amazu noted that two

weeks after default, payment of not less than two per cent of unpaid contribution should be paid to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) account, stressing that continuous default for one month after issuance of letter of advice, a letter of caution will be issued to the erring employer.

She said after one month of failure to adhere to the letter of caution, a letter of warning, will follow and thereafter, one percent of the outstanding payable will be paid as monetary penalty if the default persists after three months. It said continuous violation after monetary penalty, will attract naming and shaming and thereafter legal action if violation persists.

Chief Operating Officer, AIICO Pension Managers Ltd, Banjo Adedokun, said the defaulting employers would be penalised by PenCom. He however said the new bill which has been passed by the National Assembly when implemented would bring stricter conditions on erring employers.

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

Just Retirement to cut jobs, target new revenue

J

•Mrs. Anohu-Amazu

internal investment strategies to enable compliance with this Regulation, taking into cognizance the macro-economic environment as well as the investment objectives and risk profile of the PFA Funds.”

The PenCom boss said the internal investment strategies shall be approved by the PFA at a board meeting at least once yearly or as frequently as changes occur in the macro-economic environment that may affect pension fund assets.

Non-remittance of pension deductions worries employees

S

OME employers’ reluctance to remit pension contributions deducted from employees to Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) as required by the Pension Reform Act, 2004 is disturbing employees.

Pension Reform Act (PRA 2004) provides that the employer shall not later than seven days from the day the employee is paid his or her salary, remit an amount comprising the employee’s and employer’s pension contributions to the custodian specified by the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of the employee.

Section 11 (7) of the PRA 2004 further provides that any employer who fails to remit the contributions within the time prescribed shall, in addition to making the remittance already due, be liable to a penalty to be stipulated by the Commission provided that the penalty shall not be less than two percent of the total contributions that remains unpaid for each month the default continues.

Some employees, who spoke with The Nation on condition of anonymity,

AIICO Pension launches live smart radio programme

T

HE need for workers to make smart choices that would secure their future has become pertinent, Chief Operating Officer, AIICO Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Banjo Adedokun has said.

Based on this, Adedokun said AIICO Pension, a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), has launched the second season of a brand communication campaign on making smart choices and smart moves on a Radio Programme on the Morning Drive Time show to be aired on Classic FM. He explained that in the PFA had in 2012 launched a brand communication campaign on “making smart choices and smart moves”, an idea he said became the centrepiece of their ideology as a business.

He said: “We have redefined our proposition to inspiring people to make those smart choices and smart moves to secure their future.

“Among other initiatives that are being used to execute this proposition, the Live Smart Radio Programme was an integral part of delivering our proposition of Living Smart. It has afforded us the opportunity to address a wide range of audiences, while providing them with tips on those simple acts that help them live life better and smarter.

“Sequel to a successful first season on the Breakfast Jam Show with Dan Foster on Inspiration FM, we are launching the second season of our Live Smart Radio Programme on the Morning Drive Time show with Sly and Bukola, to be aired on Classic FM.” He noted that the first season of the Live Smart Radio programme was a series of inspirational and educative talks on the important issues that affect the quality of people’s lives.

“By providing useful tips, audience gets to reflect on those simple acts that

He said: “We have issues where we have delay in payment or nonpayment. This is why PenCom started working with recovery agents a year ago. The agents have been going around companies to work on the records and ensure they remit outstanding pension.

“PenCom did a test run with the agents for three months and have gone back to its Board to modify a few things and see how enforcement can be done faster.

“On our part as PFAs, we attend quarterly meeting with PenCom on issues like this and also engage the employers on quarterly basis talking to both the employer and ensuring that pension desk officer are set up in the companies.”

Head, Risk and Compliance, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Idu Okwuosa, said defaulting employers sanctioned.

She added that one of the important parts of the new bill is penalties for people that embezzle pension fund. It is now clearly stated of what will happen to anybody that still pension fund.

UST Retirement Group Plc (JRG) said it’s cutting jobs as part of a 14 million pound ($23.7 million) cost-saving initiative in the wake of government plans to overhaul the annuities market.

According to Bloomberg, the insurer, which reported a 50 per cent drop in annuity sales since the government unveiled its plan in the March budget, announced cost savings for the next financial year, according to a statement. The shares rallied.

“It will include redundancies,” Chief Executive Officer Rodney Cook said on a conference call with journalists, without giving details. “Activity levels appear to be stabilising at around half of pre-budget levels. That is not good, but it’s not nearly as bad as the forecast of the death of the annuity industry.”

Shares of Just Retirement have slumped 39 per cent since Chancellor Exchequer George Osborne scrapped rules in his 2014 budget that pushed retirees to buy annuities with their pension savings. The shares rose as much as 5.9 percent and were up 2.7 per cent to 161.5 pence at 11:25 a.m. today in London trading as the Surrey, England-based company said it will look to other retirement products to recapture lost revenue.

As with U.K. competitors including Legal & General Group Plc (LGEN), Just Retirement reported higher revenue from the de-risking market. This is where it assumes liabilities from defined-benefit pensions on companies’ balance sheets.

The insurer today reported 37 million pounds of revenue in the third quarter from such de-risking and said it remains confident that it will write at least 80 million pounds of defined-benefit premiums for the full year.

“There is huge number of small defined-benefit schemes that need to de-risk, and we see that as being a much larger portion of our sales” going forward, Cook said The company still reported a 34 per cent increase in individual annuities in the third quarter and a 128 per cent jump in life time, or reverse, mortgages to 159 million pounds.

•From left: Senior Marketing Manager, Classic 97.3 FM, Adiele Emmanuel; Head, Corporate Services, AIICO Pension, Chris Ukachi; Adedokun and Head, Sales and Business Tunde Ottun at the event.

help them live life better. The second season of the Live Smart Radio Programme is taking our audience from the point where they are reflecting to the point where they are making achievements. This season is a series

of educative and inspirational talks that will empower our audience to act and enable them accomplish their goals and objectives.

“The Live Smart Radio programme will be aired every Monday between

9:00 and 9:30am starting from May 12. The topics range from finance, health, fashion, relationships and so on. There will also be guest appearances of industry experts and professionals,” he added.

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS Caverton Offshore Support Group will list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on May 20, 2014. Ahead of that, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, chairman and founder of the company, spoke to a group of journalists on why he is taking the company public, the company’s growth trajectory, and the prospects of indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector under the local content regime. LUCAS AJANAKU was there. Excerpts:

‘Why Caverton is going public’ Y OUR company would be the first indigenous oil and gas services company to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This is coming after Seplat’s recent listing. How important is this record to you and what are your thoughts about the future of indigenous companies in this very important sector of our economy?

We are proud of our achievements thus far and humbled to be a reference point in such a tasking sector.

The year 2010 was a major milestone for us. This was when we won the single largest contract ever awarded to an indigenous company. After the euphoria, we realised that this record also thrust an enormous responsibility on us as a company.

Essentially, we felt that we were unwittingly made ambassadors for indigenous companies in the sector and that there was a need for us to demonstrate that indigenous companies with commitment and focus could achieve the same result as foreign competitors. In our minds, it simply meant that failure was not an option.

So I would say that our listing is a follow up on that burden of responsibility. Just that this time the focus isn’t only on operational excellence and adherence to standards but more about the sustainability of our growth and the institutionalisation of the company.

I think that the oil and gas sector still has tremendous growth opportunities with enough capacity to enable the emergence of other technically sound indigenous companies, and with the right economic policies the possibilities are boundless.

You won the single largest contract awarded to an indigenous firm in 2010. What’s the value and from which company?

This was with Shell and the value is $648 million. It’s a contract for five years plus. We were to buy six helicopters to do the operation but it has been increased to seven with a fixed wing to enhance production. Apart from Shell, we also have contracts with Total, Addax, COTCO (ExxonMobil) in Cameroun. These are the major ones that we are concentrating on. We also operate Lagos State government helicopters.

Why did you decide to list the company and why now?

The decision to go public was signed-off by the board of directors as far back as 2008. We felt that given the significant opportunities in the market and our positioning, the use of debt-financing to fund our growth will be limiting and so we decided to carry out global case studies on companies with similar growth trajectories. We decided that the equity funding route will ultimately give the best return on capital. So the journey to tapping into the Nigerian equity market began with our private placement in 2008 which culminated in the imminent listing. The timing was determined by a combination of the prevailing market conditions and the company’s current growth stage.

What do you mean by that?

The company has got to that stage where it needs to access more capital in the sense that more contracts are coming in. We also need to train more people and ensure that Nigerian engineers and pilots derive greater benefits from the evolving opportunities and that instead of hiring people from abroad and taking out the money, we can help Nigerians to acquire the necessary capacities and hire them.

Most family businesses hardly want to go public. Is it that you don’t have the anxieties that others have in terms of possible take-over or losing control?

Not in the slightest. When the company was founded there was a clear vision to establish a legacy business and that has always been the focus. In addition to this we operate in a very niche space within the oil and gas sector which requires a distinctive set of skills in the day-to-day management of such operations. So we pride ourselves as possessing these unique management skills and if a takeover were in the offing, I am pretty certain that the progenitors of the business would still be required to sit at the table.

So, to answer your question, we have no anxieties about any possible takeover. And I say that with the greatest sense of humility. Moreover, going public does two things: it enables you to inject fresh blood into your company and it forces you to observe good corporate governance practices.

That was why we engaged the services of KPMG to marshal out various aspects of the regulations and rules that will control the company and also put in place a proper corporate governance structure. Also, going public will enable members of the investing public who want to be part of the company to invest and benefit from the growth opportunities and dividends provided by local content policies. It’s more of value added.

You said from the start you had a vision of establishing a legacy business. How do you mean?

Yes in the sense that most familyowned businesses mostly die with the founder. My intention has always been to ensure that this company proves two things: one, that Nigerians can establish companies that will propagate proper corporate governance; and two, that Nigerians can establish companies that will outlive them. So my concern has always been if companies in other places can be in existence for hundreds of years, why not Caverton?

You started out as a banker and you decided to go into a different arena.

Why did you choose to do that and how did you overcome the initial challenges of being in a different field?

After decades in the banking sector, as with most things, there was a yearning for change. The type of services within the oil and gas sector was a specific area of interest for me. I had a first-hand experience about the dearth of operators’ assets in the service sector and felt that the opportunity that existed could allow for a longer-term

‘We felt that given the significant opportunities in the market and our positioning, the use of debt-financing to fund our growth will be limiting and so we decided to carry out global case studies on companies with similar growth trajectories. We decided that the equity funding route will ultimately give the best return on capital’

•Makanjuola

‘My intention has always been to ensure that this company proves two things: one, that Nigerians can establish companies that will propagate proper corporate governance; and two, that Nigerians can establish companies that will outlive them. So my concern has always been if companies in other places can be in existence for hundreds of years, why not Caverton?’ business and so the journey began.

As with most start-ups, the greatest challenge is proving that you have the competence and capability to sustain the business. In addition, I had chosen a capital-intensive line of service and so funding the capital expenses was going to be a challenge. But with a lot of determination armed with decades of banking experience I was able to present the business in such a way that the projected cash flows and the growth feasibility were able to convince leasing companies, technical partners and the banks to commit resources and funds to bring things to fruition.

Many people heard about Caverton for the first time when Caverton Helicopters launched the intra-city shuttle in Lagos. Over time the two major companies in the Caverton group have grown tremendously. So, what would you call the major milestones and critical success factors of the group?

Unknown to many people, Caverton started out as a Caverton Marine in 1998 operating a fleet of LPG and petroleum tankers as well as supplying equipment to the Nigerian Ports Authority. In 2002, Caverton Helicopters was born and we commenced the intra-city shuttle in 2004.

I will say that the major milestones and the critical success factors for the group will be inextricably linked to our commitment to safety and the frequent audits that keep us on our toes.

In 2009, we passed the Shell audit which allowed us to qualify technically to tender for contracts and this opened the floodgate of opportunities. This was essentially because the Shell audit is considered one of the most tasking in the oil industry. As

such, passing it was a vote of confidence that brought Caverton into reckoning with our peers and other prospective clients. Moreover, Caverton Marine, had been awarded contracts from Shell UK (STASCO) and our vessels MT Ashabi and MT Lolade were engaged in their petroleum transportation activities in West Africa. So they were familiar with our ethos on safety and professionalism. They were only surprised we were branching into other aspects which they found refreshing.

The two subsidiaries of Caverton were set up before the passage of the Cabotage Act and the Local Content Act. How did you set yourself up to compete in a sector that was dominated by foreign firms?

The enabling laws you mentioned are protectionist in nature and this type of laws is not unique to Nigeria.

There is the Jones Act in the US, which is very similar to our cabotage law and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the Middle East also have similar laws to our local content law.

While these laws have created the enabling environments for the emergence of indigenous companies, core competence is still a basic requirement by the clients. As such, competing in the sector for us as a company is essentially holding ourselves to a higher standard than our competitors in everything we do. This cuts across, from the conditions of service, training standards, aircraft comfort to investment in facilities that would complement our overall service offerings.

How have these protectionist laws helped the company and how have you positioned yourself to take advantage of the opportunities that they provide?

Whilst these laws are there to “protect”, promote and encourage indigenous investment it is not a free pass to walk in and win any contract because you are a Nigerian company.

Yes the laws and policy have helped and in a big way because when you bid for any contract one of the conditions is that your company must meet all local content requirements. How-, ever this doesn’t stop on being Nigerian alone. As a company you must show capacity to train Nigerians and invest in Nigerian infrastructure. Plus the obvious ability to show technical competence which we have shown time and time again.

Caverton is seen as a success story of and as a champion for the local content. What are you doing to deepen local capacity in the country?

We take pride in our achievements in terms of developing and training young Nigerian professionals. We have had over 50 Nigerian seafarers operating our vessels from cadet to chief engineers, even a captain. We currently are planning a training and recruitment programme for seafarers in conjunction with our partners RK Offshore of Singapore. This is to enable our national staff members imbibe global best practices. As at 2009, we had 160 staff in the group. But we are now over 700, of which 603 or 86 per cent are Nigerians.

We have trained 58 Nigerian pilots and 40 engineers. Inclusive is the initial pilots and engineering training given to fresh graduates. We have been justifiably recognised as a poster child for national content policy. But we dare say that even though we are proudly Nigerian, safety, quality and service efficiency are the trademarks that have brought Caverton to this junction. We actively promote the development of managerial skills of our nationals. Some have been sent to Harvard, some to other training institutions to develop their managerial skills and we are also putting them in positions of responsibilities to sharpen their leadership skills. When we started the contract with Shell, our first contract manager was a foreigner.

But one and half years down the line, we got a Nigerian, Captain Josiah Choms, who is now the contract manager and doing such a fantastic job that Shell is very pleased with him and they saying we should train more people for such positions.

Also we are doing our best to make sure that Nigerian universities and colleges are linked to us and for us to also help develop their capacity. A case in point is the Federal University of Technology, Minna, where by 20th of June we will hand over a 500seat lecture theatre to the university.

We are also working with the National College of Aviation Training in Zaria, Kaduna State as well to ensure that when the students finish their Private Pilot License training they don’t end up being air hostess or stewards instead of being pilots. We also have seen hindrances that are preventing us from training more people and we are looking into that to ensure that we have the facilities that can be used to train Nigerians in our country thereby saving time, increasing productivity, and saving foreign exchange for the country.

The company is listing by introduction. Do we expect Caverton to go to the market soon to raise capital?

Yes. The listing by introduction is a precursor to our public offer which we expect should happen between the fourth quarter of 2014 and the third quarter of 2015. We decided to list by introduction because we felt it would be expedient to ensure that the market is fully familiar with the company, its past and present performance prior to its fund-raising and also to ensure that we are seen to have a proper corporate governance culture.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

•The women traditional rulers

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

PAGE 29

Royal rumble

Women traditional rulers complain of neglect, suppression

Female traditional rulers across the country have mostly been seen and not heard, but that may soon end as they have found their voice through a university don, Dr Fatai Olasupo, of the Department of Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who is championing a cause to get official recognition for them and end years of neglect. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

F

INSIDE

OR the no fewer than 20 women traditional rulers who left their kingdoms for the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State to explain their plight to the world, the long years of suppression and neglect could be about to end.

Thanks to a varsity don, Dr Fatai Olasupo, a renowned re-

Dawn of a new era in Ijebu-Ode •PAGE 32

searcher at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, a campaign to get official recognition for them and improve their welfare is underway.

Olasupo, who has been researching for over 20 years on the existence of women traditional rulers across Nigeria, made public last week the result of his research and

it was shocking. Not only are most of the women Obas, Obis and Emirs not officially recognised by government at all levels, many of them receive as little as N500 (five hundred naira) as monthly salary.

He wants the authorities to reverse what he described as retrogressive system and barbaric trend, and legislate on the existence and

Succour as Lagos rural school gets ICT centre •PAGE 34

recognition of female traditional rulers.

Among the women traditional rulers at the press briefing called

by Olasupo to announce the findings of his research and draw attention to their plight were High Chief Fakewa Fawoyi (Eyewule of Ipogun) and High Chief Titilayo Awomewe (Eyewule of Ero).

‘Osun is least on poverty index’ •PAGE 36

Others are some women Emirs from the North, including Hajia Hawa Sulaiman, Hajia Mariam Ibrahim, Hajia Mariam Ishlak, and Hajia Ramota Isaq.

Also present were Osemowe of Ijare, Oba Idowu Aladesanmi; Eyewule of Igbaraoke, Oba •Continued from Page 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT •Continued from Page 29 Rachael Olawumi; Osamowe of Ikota, Oba Celina Folorunso and Eyewule of Ibulesoro, Oba Olayiwola Victoria.

Many who saw the female traditional rulers in their numbers at the briefing at Premier Hotel Ibadan, last Friday thought it was another Beijing conference. They may be right as the event was about injustice being meted on these female kings.

They came in their full regalia to underscore the fact that female traditional rulers actually exist in different part of the country, with vast kingdoms and their subjects. Yet, there was little or no recognition from the federal, state and local governments.

The Osemowe of Ikota, Mrs Selina Folorunso from Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State voiced out against the discrimination and suppression against female traditional rulers, not only from their male counter-parts but government at different levels.

“In my domain I have Iyalode, Iyaloja, and other chiefs. The people made me what I am. I did not wake up one day and make myself a traditional ruler. The existence of female traditional is not new in Ikota.

The institution of female traditional ruler here is as old as the people of the community. And no one can remove that. That is how it has been since the days of our ancestors. What we are saying is that female traditional rulers in Yorubaland exist just as male traditional rulers.

“We should be given equal treatment as traditional rulers in our communities. It is only when it comes to getting certain things from the government that they put the institution of female traditional rulers at the background in Yorubaland. And this should not be,” Osemowe said.

Royal rumble

The same sentiment was expressed by Mrs Victoria Olayiwola, the Eyewule Ibulesoro, in Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State.

According to Olayiwola who accompanied the Osemowe of Ikota, the essence of their campaign for recognition was to tell the world that there are female traditional rulers in this part of the country and should be accorded all rights.

From Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, is His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulahi Idris, the Sinadunwiru of Okuta, spoke with passion and affirmation on the existence of female traditional rulers up North, but are being suppressed due to religious dictates.

“Female traditional rulers are part and parcel of our traditional system in most parts of the North.

So, I am surprised that many are still finding it difficult to recognise their importance for reasons best known to them. But whether they like it or not they cannot change the ways of the people, they have been living with that system for years,” the Emir said.

Speaking on what led to his research on female traditional rulers, Dr. Olasupo, who expressed dismay over the denial of female traditional rulers in the country said, “Well, I have been researching on this for more than twenty years because my Doctorate Degree programme is on traditional rulers under the military.

“In the process, sometime around 2003, a female professor, Professor Afonja requested that I do some research work on regents. In the

process of doing that, every morning, I will go to newsstand, reading virtually all the newspapers taking notes of places with regents or kingdoms where regents were newly installed. These regents normally should not be in the office for more than three months before they appoint a substantive king, but some of them end up spending up to five, ten, twenty years and more.

If these people are there for this number of years and the communities are not complaining, then why can’t they be converted to substantive traditional rulers?

“Later, I discovered that female traditional rulers actually exist ev-

erywhere, in most places in Ekiti State, in Ondo State and even Oyo State. In Maya very close to Ogbomoso, there is a female Oba there and the throne is alternated there and that one is superb. That is exactly what we have on ground.“ He further called for the upliftment of female traditional rulers, adding that ”If you are well read and you are up to the task you should be able to become an Oba. The person that left office in Maya was a female. She spent 37 years as an Oba before she died. After her they now appointed a male. Even the male that was appointed contested the throne with a female, who

‘

The institution of female traditional ruler here is as old as the people of the community. And no one can remove that. That is how it has been since the days of our ancestors. What we are saying is that female traditional rulers in Yorubaland exist just as male traditional rulers

‘

was advised to step down because the immediate past Oba was a female. It was during the tenure of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala that they were upgraded to Oba in that community.”

The varsity don, who related his experience in the course of his research across the country advised delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to ensure that female traditional rulers are accorded their rightful place in the constitution.

He described as gross violation of human rights and unacceptable, the monthly salary of N500 being paid to some female traditional rulers, and called for immediate review and upgrading of the monthly salary.

He said: “In fact, we are lucky that the National Conference is on and before they end the conference we want the information to get to them that female traditional rulers exist in virtually every part of Nigeria but they are under suppression. Those who are not female traditional rulers, who are just Iyalode, Iyaloja, Iyalaje, they are the ones, particularly in Yoruba speaking areas, being promoted over and above those that are natural female traditional rulers.

“We want people, we want government in particular to see to this issue, to uplift them in virtually all the areas of needs particularly their salaries. Most of them as they are seated here earn N500 per month as traditional rulers, not as Iyalode, Iyaloja but as traditional rulers.

“In fact, all of these ones are under them. Yes, the government knows all these but they don’t want them to see the light of the day.”

Crisis in Ilaje over constitution of oil funds committee From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•Oba Obateru Akinruntan

C

ONTROVERSY is trailing the list of the executive council members of Ilaje Regional Development Council (IRDC),an organisation saddled with the responsibility of relating with oil companies operating in the oil rich Ugbo Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Already, some members of the community have rejected the list which has been sent to Chevron Nigeria Limited, the major oil producing company operating in the area for the purpose of implementing some community development projects.

The development has attracted the attention of the State House of

Assembly committee on Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) which has summoned the stakeholders on the issue following a petition forwarded to it written by the aggrieved persons.

The petition signed by eleven leaders representing each of the communities under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) signed with Chevron, alleged that the names sent to the oil company did not emanate from the communities.

They said the GMoU was community driven and did not need the input of government or traditional institution before an executive committee could be constituted.

The stakeholders alleged that the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Frederick Akinruntan unilaterally picked the people on the list and forwarded the names to OSOPADEC, which in turn sent the names to Chevron.

The petitioners explained that the monarch connived with the government and the OSOPADEC to ensure that their cronies were chosen to represent the people on the board of the IRDC. However, the Ugbo Council of Chiefs and Elders in a letter to the Acting Speaker of the House faulted the invitation extended to the Olugbo on the issue.

They alleged that the chairman of the House committee on OSOPADEC, Gbenga Edema was an interested party in the issue.

The letter signed by the Chairman, Council of Baales of Ugboland, Chief A.T. Oyetomi and 10 others, said the monarch has the power to superintend over matters within his domains, saying Ugboland has associations that interface between host communities and oil companies without interference by the assembly.

The letter reads, “It behoves the traditional rulers in Ugboland under the paramountcy of the Olugbo to determine the dissolution and composition of executive committee of these associations who are representatives of Obas, Baales and communities under the control of Olugbo”.

It explained that after the dissolution of the last executive committee of IRDC, a nine-man committee was inaugurated with the mandate to demand list of representatives from Baales or heads of the communities.

The letter noted that the Baales sent the list of their nominees following which they were screened, putting into consideration their educational qualifications and exposure.

But while denying he has an interest in the matter, the Chairman,

House Committee on OSOPADEC, Edema explained that on April 28, there was a petition that the Olugbo was trying to impose new members on the committee especially in Awoye and Molute axis that have greater stake in the oil production.

Edema said the Assembly thereafter wrote a letter of acknowledgement of the petition based on the authorisation of the acting Speaker, Hon.Dare Emiola and also sent letters of invitation to all stakeholders including OSOPADEC, IRDC, Chevron and Olugbo in the interest of fair hearing.

According to him, the Assembly thereafter appointed two committees on Public Accounts, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption headed by Barrister Fatai Olotu and that of OSOPADEC which he is the chairman to handle the case.

He said on May 6, there were similar petitions sent to the Assembly by three other groups and individuals including the Frontliners, Palace of Olubo of Obenla kingdom and Alagho of Odo-nla on the same issue of imposition of Committee members.

Edema said “there is another petition from Ugbo Council of Chiefs signed by High Chief E.O Omotoye, the Ojomo of Ugboland and nine others alleging that my-

self as the Chairman, House Committee on OSOPADEC had earlier canvassed that the merger of Ugbo with Mahin and Aheri oil Associations under the offshore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering all the activities of Oil issues be brought under one umbrella like what happened in other states where Chevron has offshore operations, based on this they alleged the likelihood of bias on my part”.

“But since I do not have any vested interest in the outcome of this investigation concerning Olugbo and IRDC issue, and in the interest of justice which must not only be done, but manifestly seen to have been done, and also to allay the fear of any of the parties especially those who alleged likelihood of bias, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw my further participation in the panel looking at the petitions” Edema said the panel is now being headed by Olotu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, stressing that he has confidence in his ability to do justice to the matter.

His words: “I have no doubt in my mind that he would be fair and unbiased in the handling of the issue on behalf of the people in the oil communities.

The Lawmaker commended the people for not resorting to self-help, urging them to cooperate with the Committee and the State Assembly for the resolution of the lingering dispute.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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HE royal battle over who succeeds the late Oluwo of Iwo, in Osun State, Oba Ashiru Olatubosun Tadese, is threatening to tear the five ruling houses eligible to ascend the throne apart as no fewer than ten princes from three of the royal houses have thrown their hats into the ring.

The number of the contestants is expected to rise when princes from the two other ruling houses show interest in the throne which became vacant in February 2013, when Oba Tadese joined his ancestors.

But wrangling among the ruling houses could delay any effort to install Oba Tadese’s successor soon as the princes and princesses continue to dispute the actual number of families eligible to contest the throne in spite of the government putting the number at five.

Historically, Iwo had three ruling houses namely – Alausa, Adegunodo and Gbaase. But with the amended of 1988 Chieftaincy Declaration, the number was increased to four with the carving out of Ogunmakinde Ande ruling house from Alausa ruling house. And by this declaration the throne of Oluwo of Iwo was to be rotated among the four ruling houses in the following order: Adegunodo, Gbaase, Alausa and Ogunmakinde Ande.

So, after the demise of Oba Samuel Omotoso Abimbola, from Alausa ruling house who reigned from 1958 to 1982, the next ruling house, the Adegunodo, being the first in the new order of rotation in the Amended 1988 Chieftaincy Declaration produced the immediate past Oluwo, Oba Asiru Olatubosun Tadese.

And following the demise of Oba Tadese last year and the need to appoint a new Oluwo of Iwo, the expectation is that the Gbaase ruling house, being the next in line of succession would be asked to produce the next Oba for the ancient town, but this does not seem to be the case as a fifth ruling house, Tadese, introduced in 2008, by the previous administration has thrown that arrangement off balance.

The Amended 2008 Chieftaincy Declaration during the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration which approved Tadese ruling house, carved out of the Adegunodo, altered the order of succession/rotation as follows: Tadese, Adegunodo, Gbaase, Alausa and Ogunmakinde Ande.

The then state government in a letter dated February 21, 2008, and signed for the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development by K.A. Adesina, communicated the approval of the new declaration by the Executive Council to the Iwo Local Government.

In the letter, the state government requested that the local government inform the concerned ruling houses to endorse the declaration within twenty one days as stipulated by the law. But in reaction to the declaration, three of the ruling houses namely Gbaase, Alausa and Ogunmakinde Ande went to court to challenge the declaration, particularly the rotation order in suit no: HIW110/210.

In the suit, Ganiyu Adio, Azeez Adio of the Adegunodo ruling house, Olasunkanmi Olawuyi of the Tadese family, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and the

Princes at war over the throne of Oluwo

Fifteen months after the death of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Asiru Olatubosun Tadese, the kingmakers are not closer to chosing his successor as the ruling houses fight over who will produce the next Oba, ADESOJI ADENIYI reports

•Oluwo Palace

chairman of the Iwo Local Government and the then Oluwo, Oba Ashiru Olatubosun Tadese were defendants.

Three years after Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed office in November, 2010, Oba Tadese passed away and the race for his replacement began among the ruling houses. Initially, appeals were made to the state government to kick start the process. Some indigenes of the town even organised peaceful protests at different times to create public awareness on the town’s plight without a king. Many appealed to the fourteen kingma-kers including the Oosa, Aro, Balogun, Oloya, Jagun, Olukotun, Odofin, Olukosi, Onju, Orunto, Asape, Agoro, Olosi and Esiki, to expedite action, but the kingmakers insisted the issue was beyond them.

Even, before the death of Oba Tadese, the state government told the ruling houses that took the matter to court to withdraw the suit on the rotation which they did through their lawyers, Emmanuel Abiodun and Co., who filed a notice of discontinuance order in the High Court, Iwo Judicial Division on April 2, 2012.

When the resumption of the process reached a deadlock, many prominent indigenes of the town, including Asiwaju of Iwoland, Barrister Adedeji Gbadegesin, the Ekerin of Iwo, Chief Bayo Aremu, Alhaji Lateef Katayeyanjue and others mandated the ruling houses to go and resolve which particular ruling house should fill the vacant stool of Oluwo within ten days.

The Nation learnt that on June 27, 2013, Gbaase, Alausa, Ogunma-kinde Ande ruling houses and Tadese family of Adegunodo ruling house held a meeting chaired by Alhaji Lateef Katayeyanju, a respected community leader at the Oluwo Palace.

At the meeting, the participating ruling houses resolved that the 1988 Amended Chieftaincy Declaration be used for the process through which the new Oluwo would emerge. They also resolved that the rotation order in the declaration which approves four ruling houses: Adegunodo

•Mr. Gbadegesin Adedeji

(from which immediate Oluwo, Oba Tadese got to the throne), Gbaase, Alausa and Ogunmakinde Ande be used.

So far, no fewer than ten princes from three houses have shown interest in the vacant stool. From Adegunodo, Femi Adebayo and Azeez Adio, father of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), under Oyinlola administration and clearing and forwarding magnate, have shown intention. A Professor of Mathematics and Provost of the Post Graduate College of the Osun State University, Wasiu Gboladage, from Ogunmakinde Ande is also in the race.

Seven contestants are from the Gbaase ruling house, believed to be the next to produce the Oluwo.

They are Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, a Defense contractor and Canadian industrialist, Uthman Abdulsalam Akanbi; a university lecturer at Alkimah Islamic University, Ilorin, Adio Omotoso

•Prince Abdulrasheed Adewale Atanda

Adedapo; a retired teacher, Nafiu Isiaka Alani; Lagos-based, Ashiru Kazeem Adewale; a bakery operator, Jolaoye Sobaloje and Konigbagbe Abioye; both teachers. Of all those fighting to become the next Oluwo, only Prince Azeez Adio, contested with the late Oluwo Oba Ashiru Olatubosun Tadese, in 1992.

As the town remains without a monarch more than a year after the late Oluwo passed on, the issue of the order of rotation remains contentious. The other three ruling houses except, the Adegunodo, which produced the immediate past Oluwo and from which the Tadese ruling house was created following the 2008 Chieftaincy Declaration, are opposed to present rotation order.

They are asking for the rationale behind amending the chieftaincy declaration which they said was meant to be reviewed at fifty years interval. They said the tradition and the process of select-

ing the Oluwo should be sacred and bigger than any indigene of the town.

The three houses are asking the appropriate authorities to take time to understand the dynamics, culture and tradition of Iwo in reference to Oluwo stool. They insisted that “social injustice must not be allowed to thrive in Iwo in order not to create an atmosphere of hatred among the people.” Even with the amendment of the 1988 chieftaincy declaration, they said the Adegunodo which produced the immediate past Oluwo must not be the one to produce the next Oluwo. They faulted the rotation order in the 2008 chieftaincy declaration which puts the newly created Tadese ruling house first followed by Adegunodo, Gbaase, Alausa and Ogunmakinde Ande.

They are also saying that the tussle if not handled well and urgently could put Iwo behind among communities in Osun State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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•Ijebu-Ode road

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HINGS are looking up in Ijebu-Ode, the traditional headquarters of the Ijebu people in Ogun State and royal home of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who gracefully turned 80 recently.

Aside from being home to all Ijebu at home and in the Diaspora, the city is equally the administrative seat of the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, of Ogun State.

Believed to have been founded by Obanta, the first Awujale of Ijebuland, Ijebu-Ode is strategically located and served as a major artery to most Ijebu communities spanning across over five local governments. And for a long time equally provided link roads to Ondo State, as well as the southern and eastern parts of the country for those travelling from the Yoruba inter land.

Over 70 small and medium scale enterprises operate in the city, which is also home to pioneer indigenous entrepreneurs and industrialists such as late Alhaji Jimoh Odutola, his brother, late Adeola Odutola and a host of others. The Ijebu people are also avid investors in transportation business and this is linked, in part, to their high level of mobility - social and economic.

Heavy human and vehicular traffic are common sight in Ijebu-Ode, most weekends and this doubles a dozen times over during every Ojude Oba cultural festival, marked once in a year during the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Adha, by Ijebu sons and daughters to pay homage to their traditional head and paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Attempts have been made in the past to improve upon the roads networks within the town to enhance seamless movement of goods and persons.

For example, the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, when he was the IjebuOde Local Government Council chairman, did try to build roads to ring the town around but the project appeared terminated at the first phase.

The immediate past government of Gbenga Daniel did dualise the Ejirin Road linking the town from Mabolufon junction and also dualised the old Ondo Road to decongest heavy traffic often experienced at the Lagos garage area of the town but as the town population surged over time and coupled with the avalanche of tertiary in-

Dawn of a new era in Ijebu-Ode Flyovers spring up in ancient city

Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State is wearing a new look, thanks to the urban renewal programme of Ibikunle Amosun administration, writes ERNEST NWOKOLO stitutions located there as well as its emerging new industrial belt, existing facilities such as roads proved not only over stressed and inadequate but also not the kind that could support Ijebu - Ode 20 or 30 years away from now.

According to an Ijebu-Ode based lawyer and businessman, Mr Gani Adefulu, the roads need to be renewed to cope with the demands of today and future.

Adefulu said, this is why the urban renewal project of the Ibikunle Amosun administration in the state did not only come handy, but also something that should be supported.

A petty trader, who identified herself simply as Mama Ibeji, told The Nation that though her shop was brought down over road construction but she admitted that the pains and temporary setbacks experienced by the loss cannot be compared to the long term benefits of spacious and motorable roads in the town, aside the aesthetic value it adds.

Last year, Amosun awarded contracts for the construction of two flyovers located at Mobalufon junction, along Sagamu-Benin expressway and Bobasua/Lagos Garage.

He equally awarded contract for the expansion of the FolagbadeIbadan road, and as would be expected with developments, people’s home, shops, worship centres were demolished to pave way for the six-lane roads and even the dead too, also lost their habitat to the road project as they were evicted from their graves.

It is believed that when completed, the Mobalufon bridge would put a halt to the regular carnage on the expressway as vehicles moving to Ijebu-Ode from the Itoikin-Ikorodu road will now use the flyover instead of risking headon collision with those coming from the Benin-Ore end of the ex-

pressway.

That lives are lost to traffic accident and properties destroyed at that sharp junction is beyond dispute. On a particular day, in the month of September, 2012, a truck trying to make way for another one veered off the expressway at the Mabolufon junction and swept pedestrians and street traders away, killing no fewer than 24 persons in the process.

Now, that flyover which descends into the six -lane international stan-

dard Moblufon-Folagbade-ImepeIbadan Road would check such occurrence.

Also, commuters along the old Ondo-Benin Road will not experience any traffic gridlock at Bobasua/Lagos Garage and the attendant accidents particularly Okada - vehicle accidents, would be eliminated drastically as another flyover is being constructed at the T-junction.

Amosun who inspected the multibillion naira bridges few months ago, promised to transform the old

Ijebu-Ode city through provision of modern infrastructural facilities.

The roads and the bridges are expected to last over 50 years and with the complementary usage that would come from the ongoing Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye road project, when completed, they would all boost commercial activities in Ijebu-Ode and the whole of Ijebuland This is predicated on the presence of Apoje Farm in neighbouring Ijebu-Igbo and the proposed Cassava and Rice Mills in that axis.

Such quantum and standard of roads are needed to enhance the movement of goods and people as well as link major Ijebu towns and communities easily.

Last December, Obasanjo lauded the changing face of Ijebu-Ode being initiated by his Owu brother and son, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, when he noted that things were now getting better in the state under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former president, who spoke at the Ogun State Christmas Carol in Abeokuta, noted that such massive road construction as embarked upon by Amosun would cause businesses to thrive, and that the projects are such that even those opposed to the governor can’t deny it.

Obasanjo said: “Things are get-

ting better every day; getting better every time in Ogun. When I was talking of roads in Abeokuta, they said I haven’t been to Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu.

“On getting to Ijebu-Ode, I saw (if not better) bridges than that of Abeokuta being constructed. What about the ones in Ilaro; what of Ayetoro? If we have good infrastructure, business will thrive, economy will increase and that is what you are doing across the state.”

Also, Oba Sikiru Adetona equally lauded the administration of Ibikunle Amosun for the wonderful work it is doing and prayed that God would grant it more successes.

But Adefulu who spoke to The Nation at the weekend, captured the essence of the project succinctly when he said the development tak-

And we enjoyed the concept up till today but there is supposed to be a renewal, I’m just being objective, but to some people, it is why is Amosun’s building roads and not building our stomach? Somebody must do it (build the roads and bridges).

“I’m telling you, Ijebu-Ode is going to be better for it, if he is able to finish all the road projects here.

It is going to boost the outlook and the economic activities here.

“If people are saying we the Ijebus don’t need the roads and the bridges, the question you as a journalist should ask is: who are the people saying it? Look, when you go to Sagamu, before the beginning of this administration, it was a big village. You can’t compare Sagamu with Ijebu-Ode despite the economic activities there. They have the NNPC there and the cement company but you can’t compare the outlook there with the cosmopolitan outlook of Ijebu Ode because of the roads. The road network in Ijebu-Ode is better.

“Those saying we don’t need roads and bridges are not the real people. It is these hungry politicians that are saying roads are not necessary and are going about destroying the man’s name and the viable projects being executed.

“I’m not saying Amosun is a Saint, he has his shortcomings but the truth is, he is performing within the limited resources that he has compared to an era where nothing was done, and only money was shared.

“I’m going to give you an analogy. If an engineer could construct a road that did not last for six months, what can you make of that?

What he (Amosun) did on this road affected my properties, I wasn’t compensated. How much are they going to pay me? But it is for the general purpose, it is for public use.

Something must give way for development to take place.”

According to Adefulu, an average Ijebu person, the technocrats and the market women are supportive of the roads projects in Ijebu-Ode and also praying for the initiator but it is the “paid politicians” that are averse to it and are in “remote minority.”

Interestingly, Governor Ibikunle Amosun had last Saturday, named one of the flyovers in Ijebu-Ode after Oba Sikiru Adetona, in appreciation of his fatherly support to his administration.

Amosun noted the contribution of Oba Adetona to some of the achievements recorded in the last 35 months by his administration saying such could not have been possible without the monarch’s royal support and blessings.

Amosun said: ”We are grateful to God on your behalf for coming thus far. You are a role model and a monarch that respects all offices. My administration will not have achieved all that we have been able to record if not for your advice and fatherly role in ensuring that we did not fail.

You are an experienced Oba and we are honouring you today which mark your 80th birthday with the naming of the first flyover bridge in the town after your name.”

‘

On getting to Ijebu-Ode, I saw (if not better) bridges than that of Abeokuta being constructed.

What about the ones in Ilaro; what of Ayetoro?

If we have good infrastructure, business will thrive, economy will increase and that is what you are doing across the state •The Ijebu-Ode flyover

ing place in Ijebu-Ode affected his properties but remained unperturbed without compensation because it was a sacrifice for the general benefits of all Ijebu people.

He said: “It is called urban renewal. You see what makes IjebuOde different from other parts of Ogun State is the same urban renewal done during the Olabisi Onabanjo tenure, when he was a local government chairman. That time, he was breaking down houses for roads expansion and that was what made Ijebu-Ode to be different from other parts of the state.

“Onabanjo was a local government chairman during the military era, that was when Folagbade street and the concept of ring road came about, he wanted to build a ring around Ijebu-Ode with roads from where you have Yisade Hotel. If you are coming from Ibadan, you will just go through Yisade and that was supposed to be the first phase of the project but they didn’t continue with it.

“The concept was such that when you are coming from Ibadan you just pass through Yisade and link the Sagamu-Ore expressway without entering Ijebu-Ode town. That was the concept. You can see all the roads in Ijebu-Ode, the new road, Abeokuta road, Bonojo they are all widened and big roads despite the fact that they are all single lanes, they are better than some double lanes you see in some parts of the country.

“Those were the visions of the people who governed at that time.

‘

•National Leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle) greeting Bishop Ayinde Fasina, Catholic Bishop of Ijebu Diocesean Ogun State during the 80th birthday ceremony of Oba Sikiru Adetona in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State ... last weekend. With them is House of Representatives member, Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi.

•Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III (second left) and his Royal Ambassador, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin on Sunday in Oyo town, coming out from a council meeting with Oyo Meesi’s.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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HERE was muted jubilation among residents of Olodo area of Ibadan over the weekend following the arrest of a notorious former factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila, also known as Auxiliary.

Auxiliary, who had been an object of terror, not only to the 3,000 or so residents of the area but the entire city of Ibadan since 2009, was arrested and whisked away to Lagos in the early morning of last Saturday at his Olodo, Ibadan residence by the police.

But even in detention, and about 120 kilometres away, Auxiliary still radiates fear in the faces of Olodo residents as they discussed his arrest in hushed tones refusing to disclose their identities to this reporter when their views were sought on the development.

But they were unanimous in their belief that he deserves to pay for his ‘sins’ against the people. They have also expressed the hope that peace will return to the area now that he is in police net. They are, however, demanding a clean-up of the area by the police to rid the place of touts who parade themselves openly, molesting the innocents in the service of their master.

Some of the residents who spoke with The Nation on condition of anonymity thanked God that Auxiliary has been arrested.

“This should be a warning to the rest of them that you cannot commit a crime and go unpunished. See, they have caused a lot of harm to innocent people. Some have been killed while others remained maimed when they suddenly unleashed violence on the people.

“Since 2008, during and after the impeachment of Senator Rashidi

Relief in Ibadan after Auxiliary’s arrest From Oseheye Okwuofu

Ladoja, the people of this city have not known peace until the present administration of Governor Ajimobi came on board in 2011. I think this is the time for him to answer for his atrocities committed during those years.

“The other ones - Eleweomo also paid with his life, I know the third one ... Alhaji Lateef Akinsola a.k.a.

Tokyo will one day be called for accounting,” one of the landlords at Olodo said Auxiliary, along with his late friend Alhaji Lateef Salako a.k.a.

Eleweomo, who was killed in December, 2010 at Ona-Ara in an attempt to waylay the then Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, were trained as ‘motor boys’ by Tokyo and served as security guards for him during his days as state Chairman of NURTW. Auxiliary and his group came into limelight during the administration of the former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in Oyo State.

They were empowered, fully armed and primed to deliver the state power for Akala during the controversial impeachment of Ladoja in January 2006.

It was alleged then that Eleweomo and Auxiliary who camouflaged as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, with the pro-Adedibu G18 - lawmakers to impeach the sitting governor.

They served as terror machine in the hands of late Ibadan warlord, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, and unleashed violence on the state.

Succour as Lagos rural school gets ICT centre R

ESPITE came for students and residents of Lakowe, a rural community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos State with the commissioning of a new Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at Iwerekun High School.

The Omotayo Olusesi Ojomu ICT Centre was donated by Mr. Akorede Ojomu, to the school which served about 20 communities in the area.

Ojomu said he was motivated to establishment the centre in the school as a way of promoting knowledge of ICT among the students and ensure best practices. ”I was propelled by the need to bridge the knowledge gap which I have identified in the indigent youths of this community and which I know could make them uncompetitive in their future endeavours.

“Secondly, the driving force in me to help the helpless through the natural leadership instinct and conviction that I am sent to help in the emancipation of my people,” Oluwasesi said.

He said, “There is need to inculcate the spirit of communal self-help in our people both upcoming ones and those who are already established.

“I am beginning to think and see that my dream to contribute to the development of my people and our communities cannot be

The state patronage enjoyed by Eleweomo, Auxiliary and Tokyo from ex-governor Akala suffered setback when Tokyo dropped out of favor. As a result, there was faction in the state NURTW, pitching Auxiliary and Eleweomo against Tokyo the then sitting chairman of the union.

The in-fighting between the three with Auxiliary enjoying the backing of Akala left the state bleeding as many were killed in the heat of violence.

Auxiliary, who was declared wanted by the state Police Command in an attempt to check breach of the peace, was said to have been whisked away straight to Lagos last Saturday.

‘

The man is sick and is likely to die in the police custody if his case is not addressed on time.

His NURTW supporters had been driven away from many motor garages

‘

His arrest and disappearance, according to the Oyo State Command took place without the knowledge of the command.

“The Oyo State Police Command is not aware of the arrest. We don’t have that information,” the state police spokesperson said.

It would be recalled the a handsome price was placed on Auxiliary head by the police for anyone who could provide information that could lead to his arrest following a surge of violence visited on the state by Auxiliary and his rivals in the NURTW. Auxiliary, along with his main rival Tokyo especially were declared wanted following the bloody gun attack on many innocent travelers at the Iwo Road, Ibadan motor garage on June 4, 2011.

When the news of arrest of Auxiliary was however broken, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and High Chief of Ibadanland, Senator Lekan Balogun, remarked that the arrest was political and allegedly orchestrated among by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government with the support of the state police command and a chieftain of the party in Lagos.

Confirming the arrest, Balogun said, “Auxiliary was picked up early this morning at his Olodo residential area in Ibadan. He was immediately driven to Ikeja in Lagos.

But, why Ikeja? Don’t we have SARS in Oyo State? It is connivance among Tinubu, Ajimobi and the Oyo State police commissioner ahead next year election.

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

restricted by political limitations and uncertainties.”

Ojomu explained that the area, over the years was regarded as backward in terms of modern infrastructural development, assuring that through the communal effort of the indigenes the situation will change. ”It is my appeal that all hands must be on deck and take our own destiny in our hands to make the educational and infrastructural development of our land a reality.”

He said the idea of the ICT was conceived and executed in order to expose the students to emerging world.

“We live in an age where vast amount of information passes from one side of the world to the other in seconds. ”Today’s world is a global village and market place of ideas.

Ideas, as we all know rule the world.”

In her remark, state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said ICT will help enhance teaching and learning in schools.

Represented by the Tutor General, Education District 111, Mr. Yinka Olaniyi, the commissioner said the government has given serious attention to the teaching of ICT to keep race with global technological development.

•The students

•Omotayo Olusesi Ojomu ICT Centre

“They see him as a threat to them in the 2015 election that is why they want to get him out of circulation.

The man is sick and is likely to die in the police custody if his case is not addressed on time. His NURTW supporters had been driven away from many motor garages.

“Meanwhile, Auxiliary and Tokyo had at certain times been taken to the Inspector General of Police in Abuja by Oloye Jumoke Akinjide (FCT Minister) and the duo later set free. Why the arrest now and why is the Oyo State Police Command not in the knowledge of Auxiliary’s arrest?” Balogun asked.

But, the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi described the allegation by Senator Balogun as incoherent and senseless.

The media aide to governor Ajimobi, Dr. Festus Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of his boss said: ”It doesn’t make sense. In fact, we don’t want to join issues with Senator Balogun.”

Adedayo said: “Senator Balogun’s allegation sounds like an absurd speculation, especially against a government which is the first in the history of Oyo State to abhor and openly demonstrate hatred for violence. It lacks logic and is inconsistent with the pedigree of our government as one of peace. He is apparently still in a slumber and thinks this is the Akala government against which he used to manufacture all manner of street gossips.

But, come to think of it, when did the Osi Olubadan become the mouthpiece of a known notorious criminal? Something must be wrong somewhere!”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

35

SOUTHWEST REPORT As the Toastmasters Nigeria District 94 prepares for its annual conference in Lagos with the theme Leadership and communication, Mike Omotoso, the District Governor, is engaged in teaching confidence in speech to young people towards effective leadership. SEUN AKIOYE met him ahead of the Lagos conference

When the Toastmasters come to town

M

IKE Omotoso came into the room using the same measured and dignified steps often employed by magistrates in entering the court of law.

His entrance, like that of a judge was not without notice because he carried with him not just the bearing of a man with purpose but also the appearance too. Standing at about six-feet with broad and comely figure, it is not difficult to spot out the distinguished toastmaster in the midst of a crowd.

Omotoso had been a champion orator throughout his educational career and as such many of his mates look up to him. It was not unusual, for many people to come up to him with congratulatory messages after giving a speech, “That was a fantastic speech,” they would say. Omotoso lapped up the accolades and basked in the glory.

That was until he met the toastmasters.

“People have remarked how fantastic I am when I speak, so I naturally believed I was a champion until I came to a toastmasters meeting and found out I knew nothing,” Omotoso said with a smile.

That meeting five-years ago changed his life. Since then, he had learnt the rudiments of effective communication, the use of body movements, gesticulations and facial expression. He excelled in all and in five years he rose from a club member to become a Distinguished Toastmaster and now the District Governor.

The Toastmasters are an organised group of professionals dedicated to teaching effective communication and public speaking. Everything about the toastmasters is using effective communications to train for leadership. At the club level, it is a role playing engagement where members are taught how to speak with confidence and purity. Omotoso believes Nigeria’s inability to produce leaders is due to lack of effective communications.

“When you communicate effectively, we will have good leadership that is the reality. A leader with effective communications skills will be able to pass across his vision to the people and will listen more to them. As we speak, there are over 25 conflicts going on around the world and when you look at the cause, it is lack of communications. So, it is important that we equip our youths with the right communications skill to prepare them for effective leadership in the future,” he said.

Omotoso and the Toastmasters have walked their talk. Last year, they organised the National Championship for Public Speaking for Nigerian universities. It was such a success that the National Universities Commission (NUC), has indicated interest to be part of subsequent editions. The Toastmasters have also successfully trained many young Nigerians in the art of com-

•Omotoso munication which they believe is the key to the future. In the Toastmaster, a club consists of 25 members, where there are four clubs, they form an Area, and four Areas make a District.

“I want to have 250,000 members in Nigeria spanning across four districts. In the United States, you will see a small community with five districts. It is possible here once we can get the message out there,” he enthused.

The Distinguished Toastmaster believes Nigerian public officers must imbibe the habit of making good speech to be effective. “In America, a policeman would ask you sir, can I see your license and while you are busy making excuses he will say sir, I will have to book you. He says it in such a manner that you will almost enjoy it.”

That is the thrust of the coming National Convention of the Toastmasters with the theme Leadership and Communication, which will take place in Lagos, between May 23 and 24, 2014. The coordinator of the event, Akindele Semowo, while inviting Nigerians to the conference said it will be a trail blazer and one that will bring out the leadership skills in the participants.

But being a Toastmaster is not the only thing that makes a deep impression on Omotoso, one of the core codes he lives by is holding out a helping hand to the needy. He achieved this sentiment through the Sustainable Healthcare International, a non-governmental organisation he has run for five years.

“Our generation is lagging behind, many cannot afford to go to school and those who went came out without jobs. The take home pay for those who have jobs can’t take them home, so we realise that the strength of any economy is in the entrepreneurs and that is what we are teaching young people,” he said in a low tone.

The real driver of Omotoso’s life is altruistic philanthropy. He believes one must be able to give a helping hand without expecting anything in return. For a capitalistic and materialistic society this

‘ You have to develop the capacity to give without expecting back. Giving is the real source of fulfillment and we don’t have to wait to amass a lot of wealth before you give.

You don’t have to want to get back before you give

‘

may be a dangerous, almost suicidal policy to imbibe let alone implement but Omotoso would have none of that.

“Altruism is the real source of fulfillment,” he said with a look that depicted his seriousness. ”You have to develop the capacity to give without expecting back.

Giving is the real source of fulfillment and we don’t have to wait to amass a lot of wealth before you give. You don’t have to want to get back before you give.”

So, Omotoso again has been practicing what he preached in the last decade. His organisation has empowered thousands of Nigerians to acquire skills that would prove to be the economic stronghold for them. Over 500 youths have been empowered, not only with economic and life saving skills but also with a new mindset.

“What we try to do is to help young people increase their vision; we expose them to what is happening globally because you can only grow to the size of your vision.

When they see it happen in other countries, they can dream it for their own future. After that we give

them the life skills they need to achieve their potentials,” he explained.

But an underlying factor for Omotoso is sustainability. “After you have given the drugs and the skills, what happens next? The most critical question we ask is how do we sustain this initiative? So, we go a step further. Many of the PLWHA have been helped to secure soft loans at reduced interest rates to begin their trades, we go all out to ensure whatever initiative we have is sustainable and have a lasting impact on the people,” he said.

The Toastmaster believes there are no less privileged persons – we all need help – he said, but the degree of our needs vary. And the most important thing in life is to touch lives in whatever capacity.

“Take polio eradication for instance, you may not have money to contribute, time to go out to meet people but you come across someone with a baby, you can engage that person and tell them the importance of polio vaccination.

There, you see we all have the capacity to make impact.”

So how does Omotoso sustain his

initiative? “I don’t go cap in hand to beg for sponsors because if you do, you are setting yourself up for failure. I will rather have people see what I can do and then get excited and ask to be part of it. That is my policy.”

His activities have also not gone unappreciated. Omotoso is a proud recipient of three traditional titles of Ononadiano from Edo State, Omeruolia I and Omepruohai 1 from Imo State. All the three titles connote a free giver.

As busy and engaging as he is, Omotoso said he has never worked a day in his life. His model for activity if copied by many Nigerians may soon attract universal reputation. According to him, his model is hinged on doing what you love best as your work. “In that case, you will never have to go to work for one day. Touching lives is what I love to do, so I never feel the strain of work,” he said.

This has also impacted on his outlook on holidays. “I don’t take holidays; I don’t live with that mentality. If you are working and travelling in the plane that is the time to rest. Once you are doing something you love, it is holiday for you.”

He sees himself as a busy man who engages his time well. “If you want to get something done, give it to the busy man,” he said. Now with his altruistic philanthropy, is Omotoso looking towards politics in the future? Is he waiting on God and the people for the call to serve?

“That is the irony of it, for many years my people have been saying come and represent us but I believe I don’t have to represent my people to touch lives, it doesn’t matter where you are from, if we are able to see the need, we should meet it.

That is the essence of life,” he said with seriousness.

Going by his activities, one may imagine Omotoso was born with a silver spoon or he has found it as adult. Well, the chief has some interesting answers: “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I still haven’t seen the silver spoon. I don’t know what it looks like,” he said to a roar of laughter.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

36

SOUTHWEST REPORT ‘Use electricity responsibly’

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

O

N the heels of the paucity of electricity supply in the country, with Lagos State getting less than 1,000 megawatt out of the needed 10,000 megawatts, the General Manager of Lagos State Electricity Board, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi has advocated responsible energy use by the public. She observed that though the energy supplied from the national grid is below expectation what is received can still be judiciously managed.

Advising on effective energy use, she urged people to use less power to do more work such as using energy saving bulbs, LED lights and energy-efficient appliances. She spoke on the sideline of 1st annual Stakeholders Forum held in Lagos on Thursday.

Ogunbiyi also encouraged the switching off appliances when not in use and consciously regulating the use of high voltage equipment, install motion sensors to turn off lights when no motion is detected and integrate programs that enlighten staff about energy management and conservation.

On how to measure energy efficiency, she explained that the first step is to conduct an energy audit to determine the load requirements at the facility, discover what equipment or processes consume the most power and why, investigate whether or not the facility is running efficiently i.e. that waste is being minimised and use the captured data to establish an energy management plan. Others are to measure consumption data again after a specified period of time has elapsed and compare to pre-implementation data. She further added that every organisation needs to appoint an Energy Officer to ensure efficient energy use.

General Manger, Office of Facility Management and Maintenance, Ms Adenike Adekanbi, told The Nation that facility management is about preserving taxpayers investments in public buildings and help facilities function as they were intended and operate at peak efficiency, including minimising energy consumption and preventing building systems that would interrupt occupants activities and the delivery of public places.

On the importance of facility management, she noted that public infrastructure that operates trouble free allow public employees to do their jobs and serve the public.

‘

Ogunbiyi also encouraged the switching off appliances when not in use and consciously regulating the use of high voltage equipment, install motion sensors to turn off lights when no motion is detected and integrate programs that enlighten staff about energy management and conservation

‘

Stakeholders in Osun State have reviewed the government’s performance in the last 40 months, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE was there.

T

HE performance of the Osun State government since the inception of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration came under scrutiny recently at an economic summit in Osogbo, the state capital tagged ‘Orisun Aje 2014’.

At the summit organised by the Peoples Welfare League (PWL), a non-governmental organisation, mind boggling issues bordering on the survival of the ordinary man, particularly the rising wave of unemployment and the widening gap between the rich and the poor were raised and solutions proffered.

The venue, Osogbo Holiday Inn, was full of activities during the two-day summit attended by civil servants, artisans, cottage industry owners, trade unions and politicians who rubbed minds on the way forward in the country.

The theme of the summit; ‘Crux of Economic Developmental Masterplan: Analysing Radical Economic Paradigm Shift’ captures the mood of the organisers, who believe it was time to better the lots of the people.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his remarks said, Nigerian masses are living at the mercy of harsh economic policies and urged government to re-evaluate the situation.

He said the reduction in states’ monthly allocation by 40 percent was a declaration of war on the Nigerians people, noting it would widen the gap between the haves and the have not.

He said government at all levels must work to reduce the poverty level to pave way for a better society, adding that the Federal Government’s unilateral decision reducing money meant for state cannot be justified.

The governor noted that the country still sells its oil at the same rate in the international market.

Aregbsola said the summit is coming at a critical moment in the country’s national life, urging policy makers to tap into it.

He said: “Summit like this is to conceptualise ideas to improve the living condition of the people. The primary focus of this summit is to look at the successes of government and advised where it has not lived up to expectation.

“I urge you to give this summit all the seriousness that it deserves because in the long run, Osun will not only be the beneficiary but the entire country will key into the outcome of the deliberation and use the formula to advance their causes.

“Osun in the last three and half years has made progress from the backwater of economic regression to the fertile place of economic abundance.

“The transformation inspired by this transition is observably manifold in areas of arresting unemployment, reducing inequality among the people, capacity building etc. I must say that Osun economy has substantially grown from where we took over the governance of the state,” he said.

The governor said Osun State has fought poverty and the result available for confirmation, stressing that the state has the lowest poverty in-

•From left: Prof. Alabi Fawole, Sumonu, Governor Aregbesola and Agboola at the event

‘Osun is least on poverty index’

dex in Nigeria. “It is not a phantom wish, it was published in 2012. Five states in the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria are Abia 11 percent, Oyo nine percent, Lagos eight percent, Kwara seven percent and Osun three percent.

“In the poverty index, Osun is rated second only to Niger State; however, we don’t even know their parameter for arriving at the index because Niger State is not even among the best ten on the unemployment index. So, when you marry our performance on unemployment with our crystal performance in poverty, I will say we are the best governed state in Nigeria,” Aregbesola said.

The co-chairman of the event and former Secretary General of the Organisation of Africa Trade Union Unit (OATUU), Comrade Hassan Sumonu, noted that the rapid physical transformation of Osun State indicates that the Aregbesola administration is working to better the lots of the people.

He said: “Osun State has been greatly transformed. When my tenure as Secretary General of OATUU ended, I had the choice of staying back in Accra, Ghana or coming

back to live in Abuja or Lagos. However, when I visited Osun, the transformation was so massive that it struck me in a big way and I have chosen to live here ever.

“I support all the developmental initiatives that are people-oriented and capable of bringing about development. Any government that has a pact with the people must honour and fulfill that pact for such a government to remain a darling of the people.”

Sumonu advised other governors and the Federal Government on the need to study and adopt the Osun State template for socio-economic development, adding that unemployment rate in the country is growing and worrisome.

He said government at all levels must stop playing politics with the lives of the people. He stated government must embark on programmes that will better the lives of the governed.

“This is the type of approach the whole country needs. The Federal Government and other states must put politics aside and see how it is possible to replicate Osun’s pragmatic approach to employment generation and wealth creation all

‘

Summit like this is to conceptualise ideas to improve the living condition of the people.

The primary focus of this summit is to look at the successes of government and advised where it has not lived up to expectation

‘

over the country. Nigeria will be better for such selfless consideration,” he said.

The chairman of PWL, Comrade Abiodun Agboola said, the summit was organised to allow stakeholders reflect on government programmes and contribute to the development of the country.

He said: “PWL, as the third eye of the public has elected to shoulder the responsibility of bringing the stakeholders together in order to assess the situation of governance in Osun State in the last 40 months in line with our tradition.”

Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ismailla Alagbada, in his paper entitled: “Overview of Developmental Indices Before, Now and the Projection for the Future: Osun as Microcosm in Nigeria,” said the only way government could make progress is to proactively engage the people.

“The people only appreciate government when they leave office, which is why the Aregbesola sixpoint agenda is squarely about the people. I must say before Aregbesola came, infrastructure in the state was comatose. No investor in his right mind will come to such a state except the situation was redressed.”

Corroborating the position of the commissioner, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu in a paper titled: “Welfarism and People Oriented Development: Modern Governance Ethos” said government must be transparent and accountable to the people for it to be trusted.

He urged government to create the enabling environment that will ensure economic growth.

“That is why we have most of the challenges now confronting the country in form of insurgency because concerted efforts have not been directed to it. Regrettably, when you have insurgency it cannot be completely wiped out, you can only manage it,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

37

THE NATION INVESTORS

We ‘ll acquire another bank if the price is right, says Sterling Bank S TERLING Bank Plc will consider acquiring another commercial bank with potential to add value to its business and help drive its strategic growth objectives, the management of the bank has said.

In response to a question by The Nation on the prospects of mergers and acquisitions in the growth strategy of the bank, Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Yemi Adeola, said the bank would consider a good opportunity for acquisition as it seeks to deliver sustainable growth to its shareholders.

According to him, while the bank is focused on implementing its organic growth plan, it will consider opportunistic acquisition that adds value to its business.

“It will be opportunistic, if we get the right opportunity to acquire, we will acquire and it must be at the right price,” Adeola said.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) intends to sell its wholly-owned banks - Enterprise Bank, Keystone Bank and Mainstreet Bank. It recently placed advertisement for expression of interest in Mainstreet Bank. AMCON had earlier indicated it intended to conclude the sales of the three banks by the third quarter of the year.

Sterling Bank is raising new capital to boost its capital base and strengthen its capacity to take on new businesses and emerging opportunities.

Adeola said Sterling Bank would complete its capital raising circle of $400 million, which it successfully started last year with the first tranche in forms of an oversubscribed rights issue.

According to him, the capital raising exercise of the bank was premeditated few years ago, when it set out to raise $400 million in three classesrights issue, private placement and tier two capital. The rights issue was successfully completed in December 2013 with the bank raising N12.9 billion and it is currently undertaking the second stage of private placement of about N18 billion. It will follow these with the tier two capital issue.

“All these will give us about $400 million – about $30 million will go into delivery channels-banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point-of-Sale (POS) and so on; about $40 million to $50 million will go towards information and communication technology (ICT) and the rest will be working capital to enable us lend to our customers and do more business because the single obligor limit would have gone up by the time the

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

capital is increase by $400 million,” Adeola said.

He said Sterling Bank is poised to surpass its 2013 performance in the year and continue to deliver improved returns to shareholders citing the impressive start in the first quarter when the bank delivered a pre-tax profit of N3.5 billion.

“Things can only get better the way I see it, whenever you have laid a solid foundation, the house will stand,” Adeola assured.

He however noted that Sterling Bank’s growth model is premised on steady and sustainable growth pointing out that the bank will year-onyear deliver improved returns while not being unmindful of the future sustainability of its operations.

“The truth is that in banking, the best type of growth is steady growth, any growth that is aggressive will lead to crash, we in Sterling Bank will pursue steady growth,” Adeola said.

Two weeks ago, shareholders of Sterling Bank increased the authorized share capital of the bank by 33.3 per cent from N12 billion to N16 billion, creating headroom for the bank to issue new shares in the event of any decision to raise new equity funds.

At the April 30 annual general meeting, shareholders unanimously created new eight billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to increase the authorised shares of the bank to from 24 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to 32 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The decision strategically positioned Sterling Bank to respond to opportunities that may require issuance of shares. With 21.59 billion ordinary shares issued and outstanding on the stock market, Sterling Bank’s authorised share capital, prior to the increase, had unissued share capital of only 2.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. The increase added 8.0 billion shares and raised the share issuance capacity to 10.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

The increase came as the bank reaffirmed that it would realise other components of its $400 million three-

tier capital raising, which had been approved by the shareholders last year. Shareholders had also urged the directors of the bank to consider further issuance of shares to existing shareholders in the event of any future share issuance. They said the bank has proven to be investors’ friendly, citing steady increase in dividends and above-average growths in key indices.

First-quarter report and accounts of the bank for the three-month ended March 31, 2014 showed that gross earnings rose by 24.1 per cent while profit before tax increased by 17.2 per cent. Sterling Bank’s first quarter report is a positive contrarian to the general banking industry trend, with most results in the industry either showing a decline in the top-line or the bottom-line.

Sterling Bank grew gross earnings by 24.1 per cent to N24.6 billion in first quarter 2014 as against N19.84 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Profit before tax rose from N3.02 billion to N3.54 billion while profit after tax increased from N2.72 billion to N3.14 billion.

Net interest income rose by 58 per cent due to 31 per cent growth in interest income relative to a modest increase of eight per cent in interest expense. This resulted in a 35 per cent growth in operating income to N16.2 billion. The annualised return on average equity was 20 per cent in line with the bank’s medium term strategic objectives.

Adeola said the first quarter was a reflection of the bank’s improving efficiency and robust credit risk management.

“Over the next few quarters, we will continue the upgrade of our physical infrastructure and rollout of conventional and alternative channels in order to deepen market penetration of our products and grow retail deposit market share. Loan growth will remain steady and disciplined with the overall target for the year set at 25 per cent,” Adeola said.

The first quarter report came on the heels of distribution of gross dividend of N5.4 billion for the 2013 business year. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 had

shown similar positive trajectory with considerable growths in gross earnings and profitability while the bank’s balance sheet was stronger.

The report indicated that gross earnings rose by 33.1 per cent while pre and post tax profits grew by 24.1 per cent and 19 per cent. Basic earnings per share rose by 18.2 per cent from 52 kobo t0 44 kobo.

A breakdown of the dividend recommendation indicates that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 25 kobo, 25 per cent above 20 kobo distributed in the previous year.

Gross earnings rode on the back of a 24 per cent and 31 per cent growth in non-interest income and interest income to N91.6 billion last yaer as against 68.86 billion in 2012. Noninterest income, which rose to N21.7 billion as against N15.3 billion in 2012 was largely due to a 139 per cent increase in trading income in addition to a 46 per cent increase in fees and commission; while Interest income rose to N70.0billion compared with N53.5 billion in 2012, driven by a 39 per cent increase in gross loans and advances to N328.7 billion.

Profit before tax rose from N7.50 billion in 2012 to N9.31 billion in 2013 while profit after tax increased from N6.95 billion to N8.27 billion. As a demonstration of confidence in the bank, customer deposits rose 23 per cent to N570.5 billion as against N466.8 billion. This, according to the Bank, also reflects progress in the execution of its retail strategy Sterling Bank’s total assets including contingent liabilities increased by 28 per cent to N909.4 billion compared with N708.2 billion in 2012, while Shareholders’ funds grew by 36.1 per cent to N63.5 billion as against N46.6billion due to profit accretion and net proceeds of N12.1 billion from the rights Issue.

The report also showed improvement in the asset quality of the bank as the proportion of gross loans to non-performing loan dropped to 2.1per cent in 2013 as against 3.8 per cent in 2012, notwithstanding a 40 per cent growth in loans and advances.

In its medium-to-long term plan, Sterling Bank outlines that it would strive to build a globally competitive financial franchise with strong fun-

‘Over the next few quarters, we will continue the upgrade of our physical infrastructure and rollout of conventional and alternative channels to deepen market penetration of our products and grow retail deposit market share. Loan growth will remain steady and disciplined with the overall target for the year set at 25 per cent’

•Adeola

damental performance and sustainable returns to shareholders.

The strategic growth plan details key identifiable goals and parameters for measuring performance of the bank, giving a directional outlook for year-on-year assessment of management performance.

Overall, the bank plans to build a fully scaled business model with institutionalised processes that will endure beyond the stewardship of current owners and management while transforming into a systemically important operator that impacts significantly on all segments of its business over the long period.

Within the immediate future, Sterling Bank fundamental targets include double digit annual growth in gross earnings, diversified income streams with leading positions in all segments of operations as well as a diverse retail funding base.

Besides, the bank will strive to keep non-performing loans below five per cent of gross loans and advances, focus on single-digit cost of funds and consolidate on products and services that would make the bank the consumer banking franchise of choice to customers.

Some of the key performance indices to measure the performance of the bank include return on average equity, non-performing loan/gross loan ration, cost-to-income ratio, revenue growth, loan growth, deposit growth, total assets, sources of funding and capital adequacy among others.

The 2011-2016 medium term plan seeks to deliver 3.5 per cent market share by assets and five per cent by deposits, less than three per cent nonperforming loans, investment grade credit rating, diversified funding base, double digit revenue growth annually and leading consumer banking franchise, among others.

Champion Breweries seeks N12b from shareholders

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•From left: Director, Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN), Mr. Pascal Dozie; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; and President, SCGN, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, during the society’s executives’ visit to the NSE ... on Monday.

HAMPION Breweries Plc plans to raise about N12 billion from its shareholders as the company moves to recapitalise its operations and optimise production capacity.

Champion Breweries plans to issue 6.30 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each through a rights issue to existing shareholders on the basis of seven new ordinary shares for every one share they held as at May 7. The company has indicated it plans to sell the rights issue at N1.85 per share.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) confirmed receiving application for the rights issue, which is expected to kick off before the end of this quarter.

The rights issue’s price represents a substantial discount to the company’s market price of N13.79 on the NSE. The discount is in line with the traditional view of rights issue as a form of return to shareholders.

The huge discount provides op-

portunity for existing shareholders who want to fully or partially renounce their rights to trade such renounced shares on the NSE. The management of Champion Breweries had earlier indicated that the company would soon overcome its challenge of capital inadequacies with the planned recapitalisation.

The recapitalisation, according to the management, would enable the company to maintain and sustain the production of premium quality beer and non-alcoholic beverages that meet international brewing standards through the deployment of cutting-edge technology and application of human capital.

The Raysun Nigeria Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heineken International BV, became the new core investor in Champion Breweries following the sale of 513 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each by Consolidated Breweries Plc, the previous core investor in Champion Breweries.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

38

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

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Chrysler loses $690 m in first quarter HRYSLER Group saw big sales gains in the first quarter thanks to the new Jeep

Cherokee and Ram pickup, but its results were overshadowed by charges related to its merger with Italian automaker Fiat SpA. Chrysler lost $690-million in the January-March period. Without one-time charges related to the merger, the company’s net income more than doubled to $486-million.

In January, Fiat paid $3.65-billion to a union-run health care trust to acquire Chrysler’s remaining shares. As part of the deal, Chrysler agreed to pay $700-million to upgrade its factories.

Aurburn Hills, Michigan-based

Chrysler took a $672-million charge in the first quarter to meet those commitments. It also booked a $540-million non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt related to the merger.

Revenue rose 23 per cent to $19billion.

Worldwide vehicle sales jumped 10 per cent to 621,000.

In the U.S., Chrysler’s biggest market, the company’s sales rose 11 per cent, far outpacing the 1 per cent average gain for the industry.

Chrysler saw strong sales of the new Jeep Cherokee SUV, which went on sale at the end of last year.

Ram pickup truck sales were also up 25 per cent in the U.S.

Loonie rises following sharp drop, traders look to key U.S. data

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HE Canadian dollar was higher Monday amid rising commodity prices and ahead of key American economic data coming out this week.

The loonie rose 0.06 of a cent to 91.84 cents US after falling almost 2/3 of a US cent Friday in the wake of disappointing employment data for April.

Traders will consider the April reading on U.S. retail sales on Tuesday, capacity utilization and industrial production data Thursday, and April housing starts numbers along with the May reading on consumer confidence from the University of Michigan on Friday.

Together, they are expected to indicate that the U.S. economy will run ahead 3.8 per cent in the second quarter after likely contracting in the January-March period.

It’s a light week for Canadian data.

Statistics Canada releases the March report on manufacturing shipments on Thursday.

On the commodity markets, July copper gained six cents to US$3.15 a

G

pound amid speculation that the Chinese government will take steps to support markets. July copper gained seven cents to US$3.15 a pound.

China’s cabinet promised in an announcement late Friday to allow local governments to issue bonds and to streamline the approval process for initial public stock offerings, a move that was seen as widening market access.

June bullion added $11.60 to US$1,299.20 while June crude ran up 84 cents to US$100.83 a barrel.

Meanwhile, the European Union added 13 more people, and two enterprises to its Ukraine list for visa bans and asset freezes. The EU made the move Monday after pro-Russian insurgents claimed 89 per cent of those who cast ballots Sunday in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region and about 96 per cent of those who turned out in the neighbouring Luhansk region voted for sovereignty in referenda held during the weekend. It remained unclear whether the vote could lead to their secession.

IMF may lower China growth forecast T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF), which expects growth of 7.5 per cent this year in China, may lower its forecast for the world’s second-largest economy, according to Changyong Rhee, director of the fund’s Asia and Pacific Department.

First-quarter data indicated that “maybe we have to revise this growth rate slightly down,” Rhee said on Saturday at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington.

“Our forecast at this moment is 7.5, and the market trend at this moment is slightly lower than that,” he later told reporters. “So we have to look at whether we have to do it or not.”

China’s National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing last month said economic growth slowed to 7.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, as the government tries to curb a credit boom while sustaining enough expansion to support employment.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said he would urge Chinese leaders to let markets determine the value of the yuan and to avoid postponing measures to overhaul their economy even as growth falters.

“They obviously have to worry about their short-term economic situation,” Lew said in an interview

on Bloomberg Television’s Political Capital with Al Hunt. “What they can’t do is treat the long-term reforms as something they can just put off. They need to be serious about it.”

Lew, who will meet with Chinese officials on May 13 in Beijing, said that while China has made some progress in loosening restrictions on its currency, “we’ve seen some very negative movement in the exchange rate in recent months.”

Lew said he’s been telling his counterparts to avoid becoming an alternative source of funding to Russia as US sanctions begin to bite.

“We’ve been making the case consistently, wherever we go, that it’s unacceptable for Russia to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty,” he said.

“And that when we take actions and other countries in the world take action, it is important for them not to be backfill.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to open the door to Chinese money as US and European sanctions over Ukraine threaten to tip the economy into recession, two senior government officials said.

The move would roll back informal limits on Chinese investment as Russia seeks to stimulate growth, the officials said, who have direct

knowledge of talks and asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public.

On the strategy for imposing sanctions against Russia, Lew said the administration has “made very clear that our goal is not to go to the maximum degree that one can to hurt the Russian economy. It’s to get President Putin to change Russia’s policy.”

“We have been moving step by step and in a very surgical way,” he said. “The goal here is not to hurt the European economy, the American economy. It’s not to hurt the Russian people.”

While US officials have discussed targeting entire sectors of the Russian economy, such as energy and finance, they have so far only applied sanctions against 45 individuals, including OAO Rosneft Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin and 19 entities, including SMP Bank and Bank Rossiya.

In China Lew said he’s seeking changes that will allow US companies to sell their products and services on a “level playing field.”

China’s economy expanded 7.4 percent in the first quarter, the least in almost two years. General Motors Co., which sells more cars in China than anywhere else, reported deliveries there increased 6.3 per cent last month, the slowest pace in 14 months.

GM ranked worst auto maker by U.S. suppliers

ENERAL Motors Co, already locked in a public relations crisis because of a deadly ignition defect that has triggered the recall of 2.6 million vehicles, has a new perception problem on its hands.

The United States company is now considered the worst big automaker to deal with, according to a new survey of top suppliers to the car industry.

The annual survey, conducted by the automotive consultant group Planning Perspectives Inc, asks the industry’s biggest suppliers to rate their relationships with the six auto makers that account for more than 85 per cent of all light vehicle sales in the United States.

Those so-called “Tier 1” suppliers say GM is now their least favorite big customer, according to the rankings, less popular even than Chrysler, the unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which since 2008 had consistently earned that dubious distinction.

Suppliers gave GM low marks on all kinds of key measures, including its overall trustworthiness, its communication skills, and its protection of intellectual property.

The suppliers also said that GM was the auto maker least likely to allow them to raise prices to recoup unexpected material cost increases.

“As a result, GM is now the least preferred customer of suppliers,” PPI says.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd overtook Ford Motor Co for third place in PPI’s Supplier Working Relations Index, pushing Dearborn-based

Ford into fourth place. Toyota Motor Co and Honda Motor Co Ltd finished in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.

PPI, which has been conducting the survey for 14 years, says supplier perceptions of auto makers are critical because they can determine which car makers see the suppliers’ newest technologies first, get their best pricing and work with their best engineers.

John Henke, the head of PPI and a research fellow at Center for Supply Chain Management at Rutgers University, said the Japanese sweep of the top three places suggested the industry “could be entering an era in supplier relations that doesn’t bode well for the U.S. Big Three.”

The reason: the Japanese automakers are not just benefiting from a deterioration in relations between suppliers and the Big Three – they are actually rising in the estimation of their suppliers.

Toyota and Nissan, in particular, saw the percentage of suppliers who characterized their relationship with the two auto makers as “good or very good” surge.

GM, meanwhile, is in an especially unenviable spot, with 55 per cent of the suppliers surveyed characterizing their relations with the automaker as “poor to very poor,” up from 48 per cent last year.

One bit of good news for GM. When the list of car makers was expanded to include the three German auto companies, which have a far less significant market share in the U.S., suppliers said Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen AG were even harder to deal with.

•From left: (Seated) Vice President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board (TPB), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole; Managing Director, Liri Tent, China, Li Tian (Standing); Deputy General Manager, CMEC Limited, Yi Bashui; Members, TPB, Kehinde Amao, Funmi Banjoko; Director, Membership & Trade Promotion, LCCI, Dele Alimi and Mr. William Liang, Chairman, Liri Tent, during the visit of officials of LCCI to Liri Tent in Zhuhai, China.

Ecuador's environment damages case against Chevron receives another blow in U.S.

A

HIGH-PROFILE U.S. law firm’s decision to renounce its involvement in the sprawling multibillion-dollar battle against Chevron Corp. over oil pollution in the Amazon is “regrettable,” says the Canadian lawyer spearheading the case in this country.

But Alan Lenczner, the prominent Toronto litigator retained by the group of Ecuadoreans at the centre of a 20-year battle against the U.S. oil giant, said he has no plans to back away from the controversial case: “I have been down there and I have seen the devastation.”

His Ecuadorean clients have been pursuing Chevron since an Ecuadorean court found in 2011 that the company was responsible for cleanup costs after decades of drilling in Ecuador’s Lago Agrio oil field. Chevron was handed a mammoth bill that an appeal court recently nearly chopped in half, to $9.5-billion (U.S.).

The Ecuadorean ruling has been denounced by the company, and re-

cently by a U.S. judge, as corrupt.

With California-based Chevron refusing to pay, Mr. Lenczner was retained two years ago to go after its Canadian assets, and similar actions were launched in Brazil and Argentina.

He will face off with lawyers for Chevron before the Supreme Court of Canada next fall. But the Ecuadoreans have suffered a series of blows in the United States in recent weeks, as no-holds-barred court battles there have resulted in key wins for Chevron.

Last week, prominent Washington, D.C.-based lobbying and law firm Patton Boggs LLP agreed to pay the U.S. oil giant $15-million and issue a “statement of regret” about its involvement in the case, which dates back to 2010. Patton Boggs also agreed to hand over to Chevron its promised five per cent share of the Ecuadorean judgment’s proceeds. In exchange, Chevron dropped claims it had made against the law firm.

The move by Patton Boggs comes after a scathing U.S. District Court

ruling in March which said that the Ecuadorean judgment was obtained by “corrupt means.” The District Court decision also found that a New York lawyer who spearheaded the case for the plaintiffs, Steven Donziger, and others had engaged in bribery, fraud and racketeering. But the ruling does not address the actual question of pollution in the Amazon.

“Based on the court’s findings, Patton Boggs regrets its involvement in this matter,” the firm’s statement said.

In a statement last week, a Chevron spokesman welcomed the Patton Boggs move – and urged other involved in the case against them to follow suit.

“We are please that Patton Boggs is ending its association with the fraudulent and extortionate Ecuador litigation scheme,” Chevron vice-president and general counsel Hewitt Pate said. “Chevron encourages others to disassociate themselves from this fraud.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

39

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Founder, Success Guide Enterprise, a Lagos-based entrepreneur, Josephson Peter Okwudili, has discovered that selling investment information is lucrative. He shares his secret with DANIEL ESSIET.

Making a living selling information A

FREE internet appreciation business organised by the Publisher, Complete Sports, Dr Sunny Ojeagbase, in 2006 was attended by many aspiring entrepreneurs, but only a few today are living off what they learnt.

While some of the attendants ended up not exploring the training, the purpose for which the programme was designed, the smart ones through a reward from the organiser, have become millionaires.

For Josephson Peter Okwudili, founder of Success Guide Enterprise, Lagos, who attended the training, his drive to practise it has made him one of the few who now make millions of naira.

Fortune smiled on him a few months after the training when Ojeagbase decided to support those who put the exercise to

work.

After Okwudili showed the him some results, Ojeagbase gave him $500, which motivated him to start what has become a successful venture.

The reward, however, struck him to aspire to becoming his own boss. In 2008, he registered his own business selling recharge cards and information products. As his business grows, he resigned his appointment with Today’s Cars where he was a supervisor.

According to him, the decision to quit the job was to enhance the growth of his new business.

In taking the decision, he said he contended with some challenges which budding entrepreneurs do encounter, which has made many to give up. To face the business fully, he

expended his save-ups on office rent. He became cash-strapped: “For a whole year, I couldn’t make a dime until my rent expired,” he lamented.

Unfazed, Okwudili never let go as he continued to attend investment seminars to get as much information as possible to break even until he found a nest in selling investment information.That refocussed his goal and shifted his attention from the training.

He was scared of risking the loss of another capital in this new venture, especially when he had none anymore.

As the reality dawn on him, he brainstormed and arrived at an answer: He decided to use it as a bargaining tool to get investment companies to offer him marketing contracts.

Before he knew it, he made N200,000 introducing people to

T

With the growing interest in fitness and wellness, mobile spa is becoming investors’ destination. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

I

E

The mobile firm has helped Mrs Oluwabunmi to keep her own spa dream afloat until she was able to establish a shop service.

With a growing demand for mobile massages, she was inspired to go into more treatments, products, massage techniques or packages into the home setting.

To ensure success, she is flexible, as each spa client expresses different needs.

Her adoption of viral marketing as a strategy helped people to learn about her company’s mobile services.

Mrs Oluwabunmi said there are opportunities for Nigerians in the business because they appreciate the feelgood experience and health benefits.

At the moment, she is focusing on providing world-class skincare services to clients.

Besides, she runs a beauty academy at Ikorodu, Lagos and offers apprenticeship where trainees, learn new products and techniques. Her skincare secrets are education, inspiration, reinvention and delivery.

She said some of the reasons be-

•Okwudili

itable business as other new opportunities beckon on him. For him, one has to be ambitious to be successful.

217 get free vocational training

Mobile spa, mobile money N the past, wellness and spa service sounded strange to many. It was a business patronised mainly by the rich.

Things seem to have changed now.

It has become a mass market. On every street, on every corner, spa and beauty service is being offered.

A Lagos-based entrepreneur, Mrs Kera Oluwasola Oluwabunmi, founder of Keracare Beauty Spa/ Academy, was introduced to the business when she was growing up. Her dream was to start a wellness centre that offers personal care services. To achieve this, Mrs Oluwabunmi attended a beauty school and on completion of the course, she decided to carve a niche. She established a mobile spa and wellness firm. Her strategy is to take services to clients at home at highbrow Magodo area of Lagos.

She started with less than N100,000 in 2003. Today, the business has grown beyond her dream.

More clients kept coming. The mobile firm assists others when their own spas are overbooked, or give special attention to VIP guests.

an investment package. Along the line, he struck some good deals: Deal Negotiator. All he had to do is to find partners and get wind of opportunities. He found money partners through seminars. He would approach people, explain to them the kind of investment deal, the capital involved and the return on investment (ROI).

According to Okwudili, prospects were offered the information they needed to take decision.

These include figures, forecasts and return, assuring prospects of good deals.

Today, he said his is a success story, having learned from his mistakes. He teaches people how to make money online.

Since the launch of his training programmes, his income has grown.

He trains budding business owners on how to launch a prof-

•Mrs Oluwabunmi

hind her success are that her clients are loyal to her spa services. She employs therapists. Treatments include aromatherapy, designed to relax muscles, alleviate stress and promote well-being.

For her, the key to making money is to provide outstanding services that draw customers and keep them coming back while offering value-added options to increase revenue and profits.

HE Centre for Vocational Empowerment and Development (CVED), Ipaja, Lagos has empowered 217 youths and women with skills.

The beneficiaries received training in computer, catering, bead making and wirework, decoration and event management, screen printing, adult literacy, hairdressing, among others.

At their graduation last weekend, the Chief Executive Officer, Rev David Olatona, said since its inception in 2009, the centre has trained 2,335 students free.

He said the centre was the outcome of a programme he formed in 2007, which was dedicated to giving 300 less privileged free lunch in the community. But instead of giving them food everytime, he decided to teach them how to get food.

Rev Olatona, who is also the Senior Pastor, Dominion Faith International Church (DFIC), said the church formed the Free Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (FEEDS) to prosecute the project. “Under the FEEDS programme,” he said, “ free training was provided to enable people acquire skills aimed at helping them become economically self-reliant. The training holds every Friday at DFIC compound,” adding that certificates are awarded at the

By Joseph Eshanokpe

completion of the training.

He scored the programme high, saying it was for this that the church has spread its tentacles to some African countries to establish the centre. He listed some of these as Liberia, Chad, Benin Republic, Niger, Togo, Gambia and Burkina Faso.

He urged the graduands to “prove yourself with the skills acquired and impact your world positively. Your instructors have done all they could to make you who you are now, though it has been a tenacious experience for some of you…Shun tribalism,ethnocentrism, segregation and groupism. Be peace-loving people”.

The computer instructor Mr Oladeji Showunmi described his 20member class as well-behaved and the best so far who took their home work serious. He canvassed more computers to assist in practicals.

“The class was wonderful. I recommend the training for graduates,” he said.

One of the graduands Queen Brendan praised the centre for the training, saying she really enjoyed it. The catering graduate said: “I love the training. I enjoyed it so much. I will recommend it to others.”

Five personality traits of successful entrepreneurs

NTREPRENEURS come in all shapes and sizes, but the successful ones usually have a few things in common. Some new insight from Corrine Sandler, Chief Executive, Fresh Intelligence Research Corporation, a global business intelligence group, pinpoints exactly what those “things” might be.

Sandler, a successful entrepreneur herself, has spent 20-plus years rubbing elbows with the world’s most influential movers and shakers. She believes that all effective entrepreneurs owe their success, at least in part, to these five personality traits: No. 1: Confidence “Any natural entrepreneur is bursting with confidence, both in him or herself and in the conditions they control,” said Sandler in a recent article on the foundations of entrepreneurial success.”Entrepreneurs need risk to thrive, so believing in themselves and the people they’ve put in positions of responsibility is essential.

There’s no room for doubt and second-guessing yourself.”Sandler

By Elizabeth Palermo

recommends that aspiring entrepreneurs learn their own strengths and put them to good use. But she also stresses the importance of knowing one’s own weaknesses.

As an entrepreneur, you need to hire the right people to handle the jobs that don’t play to your strengths, Sandler said. And this is just as important as fulfilling whatever role you choose for yourself, she said.

No. 2: PassionThe next personality trait on Sandler’s list can’t be taught at your typical leadershiptraining workshop: passion. But the great thing about this intrinsic

quality, Sandler explains, is that everyone has the capacity to develop it. So what is passion, really?

“It’s the source of incredible energy that feeds on one of our most powerful emotions and compels entrepreneurs forward with excitement and enthusiasm,” Sandler said.

No. 3: A fighter’s instinct. Like a seasoned boxer, a successful entrepreneur knows that winning takes more than a few swift punches. Both in the boxing ring and in business, the best fighters, Sandler explains, study their competition to identify opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and then use that knowledge to develop a strategy to beat

them.”When things are going well, the entrepreneur who thinks the fight is over and he has won will quickly find himself knocked to the mat,” Sandler said. “Equally important is having the mental fortitude to keep fighting when you’re at the bottom, bruised and bloodied.” (Accepting Failure: When It’s Time to Give Up on Being an Entrepreneur) No. 4: VisionWhile entrepreneurs need to be deeply enmeshed in the here and now of their current ventures, they also need a sense of the bigger picture.

Successful entrepreneurs, Sandler explains, are always thinking ahead, planning the future with equal measures of imagination and

‘Any natural entrepreneur is bursting with confidence, both in him or herself and in the conditions they control,” said Sandler in a recent article on the foundations of entrepreneurial success’

wisdom. And in case “planning the future” seems like a daunting task, Sandler has a few tips.Her go-to resource for future planning? Strategic coaches. These professionals, as Sandler explains, can help you define your vision.Sandler herself relies on something else to help crystalize her vision of the future.

The BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) from “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” (Gazelles, Inc., 2011) by Verne Harnish, is Sandler’s favorite strategising tool.

No. 5: A rebellious streak Sandler, whose catch phrase is, “What you visualise will materialise,” clearly believes that entrepreneurs can create their own realities. So if you’re a conformist, you might consider another career path. Entrepreneurs, Sandler said, need to be agents of change.”You can’t be content with maintaining the status quo,” Sandler said. “You must push the limits. Dare to be different!”

•Culled from www.businessnewsdaily.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

40

EMPOWERMENT CLINIC with

Driving growth through innovation BOOK REVIEW Author: Robert Tucker Publisher: Berrett Koehler Reviewer: Goke Ilesanmi

GOKE ILESANMI

T

HE target of business people or corporate organisations is to achieve substantial growth and by implication profitability. Yet, it is very challenging to achieve appreciable growth (which signifies productivity) and profitability in the midst of competition. The solution is innovation, that is, conversion of new knowledge into new products and services.

That is why I want us to X-ray this book titled: Driving Growth through Innovation this week. It is written by Robert Tucker, president of The Innovation Resource, a consulting firm based in Santa Barbara, California.

Tucker is a keynote speaker that is in high demand. A former adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, he advises a lot international organisations on innovation strategy.

According Tucker, only companies that can consistently bring imaginative, value-added new products, services and value propositions to the market will survive and grow in a rapidly-changing economy. He says this is why in this text, he is taking you behind the scenes inside 23 Innovation Vanguard Companies to benchmark how they have revamped their innovation approach for growth, profit and competitive advantage.

Structurally, this text contains ten chapters.

Chapter one is entitled 21st century innovation. Tucker educates that there is an unmistakable feeling of excitement in the air in companies that are growing as people move

about with a palpable sense of purpose. He says growth in revenue and net earnings begets many wonderful, positive things to companies and their people. Tucker adds that growth brings higher salaries, bonuses, fringe benefits for employees and managers, dividends, rising value to investors, etc.

He says many firms today are growing, but they are not growing fast enough to keep up with today’s shareholder values and tomorrow’s shareholder expectations.

Chapter two is based on the subject matter of leading innovation. In the author’s words, “Today’s leaders face a quandary. They must innovate, lest tomorrow the cupboard of new growth opportunities be found bare. But they also know that time is short, especially for the CEO.” To corroborate his assertion, Tucker quotes Business Week thus: “What is striking is not just the number of CEOs getting the boot but how little time they were allowed to prove themselves.”

Tucker says unless the CEO is able to raise the company’s stock price in the near term, he well realises that he may not be around to see the pay-off from projects that are in the development stages right now. According to him, “This preoccupation with short-term results has led to rampant cost-cutting, asset manipulation, and ill-advised acquisitions.

Nevertheless, there is a growing realisation among boards of directors, Wall Street analysts, and senior management teams that innovation must be a continuing priority regardless of who sits in the CEO’s chair.”

Chapter three is entitled Creating the culture. Here the author says changing a company’s culture is never easy. Tucker stresses that the good news, based on his study of Innovation Vanguard companies, is that with the right leadership, cultures can be reshaped and

amazing results can accrue. He says culture refers to an organisation’s values, beliefs and behaviour transmitted through subtle cues, employees sharing their interpretations of events and largely through the behaviour and attitudes of leaders that signal what is expected.

Tucker stresses that if an organisation values ‘playing it safe’, risk-taking is inherently discouraged. He adds that if it values cohesion, loyalty to the company way, conformity and blind obedience to authority, then it devalues their opposites. If it hires people that comfortably ‘go along to get along’ then it devalues those who are inclined to challenge rules and boundaries, educates Tucker.

This author says a company’s culture may or may not be conducive to promoting innovation. He adds that its reward system may be at odds with encouraging people to want to try something that may not work. According to Tucker, “It is easy for leaders to say to employees, ‘We want you to take risks, we want creative ideas bubbling forth, we want you to think outside that box, oh, and we also want you to make your numbers, and we don’t want failure.’ The message that gets translated to the farther reaches of the organisation: Make your numbers and we don’t want failure.”

In chapters four to six, this author discusses concepts such as empowering the idea management process; mining the future; and fortifying the idea factory.

Chapter seven is based on the subject matter of producing powerful products. Here, Tucker says in a recent year, consumer-products makers churned out more than 31,000 new products in the United States alone, including multiple varieties of everything from tomato to garbage bags. This author adds that only few of these products will survive, and fewer yet will succeed.

“The most optimistic estimate is that only one in five launches will succeed; the most pessimistic, one out of 671. Many failures result from miscalculations about what customers need. The product is developed for all the wrong reasons. It was the CEO’s pet project.

The engineers fell in love with the ‘really neat’

technology and assumed buyers would too….,” adds this author.

In chapters eight to ten, Tucker analytically X-rays concepts such as generating growth strategies; selling new ideas; and taking action in your firm.

It is impressive that the ideas articulated in this book are rich, logical, didactic, creative and innovative. On style, one thing that works for this text is effective communication, which is achieved through brilliant employment of language and accurate graphology (punctuation). Tucker makes generous use of quotes, at the beginning of every chapter, to achieve conceptual reinforcement. He also uses quoted expressions (e.g. pages 72 to 75) to lend authenticity to his discourse.

Tucker includes graphics to achieve visual amplification of understanding on readers’ part.

However, the grammatical error “… of watching credit ratings be downgraded…” (page 14) instead of “… of watching credit ratings being downgraded…” is noticed.

Finally, this compendium of innovation tips is a must-read, and the tips, must-apply for all firms that want to succeed by staying ahead of competition through innovation.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Fundamentals of effective e-mail communication in business

E

LECTRONIC mail, called e-mail for short, is a system that allows people to send messages to each other by computer. E-mail makes everything easier and faster including making a powerful business impression and establishing positive professional relationships. The businessperson who uses the technology effectively and appropriately will see the results of that effort reflected in the bottom line. But it must be stressed that you cannot substitute e-mail for one-on-one communication. So, use e-mail for scheduling, routine updating and other administrative efficiencies; and the phone or face-to-face communication for everything else.

Uncomfortable leaders Some leaders, especially those who are less comfortable with groups, rely on e-mail communication as the primary source of communication. While they may rationalise that it makes them more productive to communicate easily, their team(s) will definitely suffer. There is an enormous value when the team can discuss issues and explore ideas together.

Research has confirmed that sales teams discovered the power of the face-to-face meetings long ago. Even though a sales force is geographically scattered, the benefits of the sales meetings are clear and worth the investment.

At this analytical juncture, let us examine some dos and don’ts of email communication.

Omission of the subject line The first one is omission of the subject line and/or ineffective subject line. We have gone past the time when we did not realise the significance of the subject line. It makes no sense to send a message that reads “no subject” and seems to be about nothing. Given the large volume of e-mails that each person receives, the subject header is essential if you want your message

By Goke Ilesanmi

read any time soon. The subject line has become the hook as in persuasive business proposals or letters.

Contrasting header Another one is failure to change the header to correspond with the subject. Do not just hit “Reply” button every time you get a mail. Adding more details to the header will allow the recipient to find a specific document in his/her message folder without having to search every one you sent. Start a new message if you change the subject completely.

Imbibing 24-hour-reply culture This is another one. If you receive an e-mail that gets you angry, and your first reaction is to think about counter-attack, do not. Close it and wait 24 hours before you respond. More often than not, your anger will get defused and you can decide whether to reply the person in a mature way or go and discuss with him or her.

Never deliver a negative message by email It is also advisable that you should not deliver a negative message by email. For instance, “Your assignment is very late. Why didn’t you submit it early?” can be spoken with a neutral inflection. But when it is written, out of context, it may sound angry and demanding. Delivering a negative message is difficult, even when it is spoken face-to-face let alone when it is delivered by email.

Using Cc and Bcc The Cc function allows you to copy your mail

to other people besides your target audience but with the knowledge of the recipient. In fact, the recipient will see all the people you copied and all he needs to do to copy his reply to all of them is to hit the Reply All button. Experts illuminate that the flood of “cc’s” (carbon copies) is nothing more than junk mails. According to Joan Llyod, a career-development expert, “Of course, there are times when someone truly needs to know about the action taken or be looped in, but for those of you who send cc’s just to CYA — stop!”

The Bcc function enables you to send “blind copies” to other people without the knowledge of the recipient of the e-mail. But some experts justify the use of Bcc on the need for security and privacy of emails; others regard this as dishonest, especially that it denies the recipient of the message the opportunity to know other recipients.

Extension In a related development, most people forward mails sent to them without seeking permission. Research shows that almost everyone is guilty of this one. According to Lydia Ramsey, a business etiquette expert and professional speaker, if the message was sent to you and only you, why would you take responsibility for passing it on? Too often confidential information has gone global because of someone’s lack of judgement. Unless you are asked or request permission, do not forward anything sent just to you.

Thorough editing Most times, people fail to realise the importance of thorough editing in emails. Your email is not a text message in which you can use the excuse of trying to reduce the number of words and cost to type anyhow. Emails reflect peo-

ple’s personality. The Llyod says, “When I get a sloppy email, with poor punctuation, misspelled words or written in lower case letters, it tells me the person just doesn’t get it. They don’t realise that what they write and how they write telegraphs their credibility to others.”

Just like the use of small letters throughout a mail is considered inappropriate, writing your mail in capital letters is regarded as screaming in e-mail etiquette.

Leaving off your signature Always close with your name, even though it is included at the top of the e-mail, and add contact information such as your phone, fax and street address. The recipient may want to call to talk further or send you documents that cannot be e-mailed. Creating a formal signature block with all that data embedded is the most professional approach.

Last thing to do The name or address of the person to whom you are writing is actually the last piece of information you need to enter to avoid your email getting sent prematurely in the event that you mistakenly hit the SEND button.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.

GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Certified Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.

Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425 Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

POLITICS

43

WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Efforts to reconcile Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Senator Olufemi Lanlehin ( Oyo South District) may have hit the rock, following the alleged defection of the senator to the Accord Party (AP).

Correspondent OSEHEYE OKWUOFU examines the implications of the protracted rift for the progressive family in the Pacesetter state.

Kaka, Onanuga, Adegbuyi for Senate

Ajimobi, Lanlehin: The parting of ways V B

EFORE the 2015 governorship pri maries and general elections, the relationship between Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Senator Olufemi Lanlehin was very cordial. They were always seen together, discussing how to improve the fortunes of their party in the elections .

They were determined to contribute their quota towards ensuring that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now All Progressive Congress (APC) wrestled power from the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa , the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). At that time, the entire state was on its knees due to violence, thuggery, killings and maimings and misrule by the PDP government.

But the shadow poll drew nearer when the existing camps within the party started to manifest. On the surface, the contenders - Ajimobi, Lanlehin, Chief Ismail Adewusi, Barrister Kazeem Adedeji and Chief Soji Akanbi - were full of eagerness, but a deep rancour was gradually developing underneath.

At the Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan, the venue of the primary election, close allies were compelled to break into camps, a s ma n y p a rt y s t a l wa r t s o p e n l y a n d overtly identified with the contestants of their choice.

The bubble later burst when Senator Ajimobi was affirmed as the winner of the election. Other contestants, including Lanlehin, cried blue murder, dismissing the process that led to the emergence of Ajimobi as a hoax.

Concerned party stalwarts, led by the late party leader and former governor, Lam Adesina, swung into action, with the hope of pacifying all the aggrieved aspirants.

In a short while, the efforts to pacify the aggrieved co-contestants paid off relatively, as some accepted party offers and gave peace a chance.

The rest, is history. The party, after a keenly contested poll, defeated the PDP in the election. Thus, while Ajimobi emerged as the governor, Lanlehin, came out victorious in the senatorial election.

Rather than abating, certain contentious and divisive issues within the party, particularly between Ajimobi and Lanlehin, continued to fester.

Many outside the state have intervened to end crisis between the governor and Lanlehin. Some concerned stakeholders who are still confused about the cause of the rift between the two ‘brothers’ have continued to ask what really went wrong between them. There are other puzzles.

Why can’t they bury the differences and focus on consolidating on the achievements of the party in the last three years and work on regaining the state in next year’s election?

Ajimobi has been less inclined to discussing the rift between him and Senator Lanlehin in the public. Even when asked by journalists curious about the sore relationship, he often replied casually that “Lanlehin and others are envious about his seat.“ He added howver that such rivalry is normal in many other political climes .

Dr Festus Adedayo, the Special Adviser on Media to the governor recently gave clues on the disagreement between his boss and Lanlehin when he said that many political associates are not concerned about what would uplift the society. He said most elected leaders spend their tenure just giving the people tokens, but squander the resources of the state massaging the ego of the elite. This leaves the people more impoverished at the end of the ir tenure.

“Hitherto, the order was government

• Ajimobi

constructing roads that lasted less that six months. Right now, anyone who had stayed two years out of Oyo State would certainly not be able to recognise the state capital any longer and many other towns in the state. An aggressive road dualisation is ongoing , which baffles many. The number and quality of roads being built in Oyo State is alien and their qualify are alien to the geography of the state. Indeed, the type our people see in the Federal Capital Territory are being replicated in virtually all over the state.“ Observers say Ajimobi’s style of governance might be responsible for his inability to carry some key party members along. Adedayo said his failure to democratise the largesse of government, and the grave fear that comes from the speed at which he (Ajimobi) is transforming the state could possibly wipe off the political career of many governors and politicians before him and bury the political future of many.

“If you take the time to study the mantra of a few who have either left the ruling APC or declared hostility against the governor , none has faulted the fact that ,in the history of Oyo State, no governor has brought this massive development to the state as Ajimobi is doing, with the potentials that these could quadruple, if he stays in the saddle for another term in office. The accusations range from the

‘If you take the time to study the mantra of a few who have either left the ruling APC or declared hostility against the governor , none has faulted the fact that ,in the history of Oyo State , no governor has brought this massive development to the state as Ajimobi is doing’

• Lanlehin

mundane to the selfish, laughable to the uninformed,” he said.

Feelers from APC top leaders have shown that the party executive committee led by Chief Akin Oke, did not manage the rift between the governor and Lanlehin well.

On his part, Lanlehin, an old face in the politics of the Southwest, denied having any break in relations with Ajimobi, but accepted that he has an issue with the governor, who he agreed was his fellow Ibadan man working for the progress of the state.

Lanlehin who confirmed his decision to declared for the Accord Party anytime from now, said: “The problem I had with Ajimobi is that he is not carrying stakeholders along in decision- making and formulation of policies for the state, which is at variance with the manifesto of the party. He runs the state with a few cabals , thereby isolating majority of stakeholders, and he dosen’t listen to advise in implementing policies that has to do with the lives of the people of the state.”

To back his claim, Senator Lanlehin cited the massive demolition of shops in Ibadan and environs by the governor without providing alternatives for the traders.

“Although, he (Ajimobi) gave urban renewal and beautification as his reason for demolition, but you should know that such anti-people policies cannot stand.

The people central to any development, so you cannot destroy their means of livelihood in the name of development. These are the issues I had against him,” he said.

The senator representing Oyo Central , Senator Ayoade Adeseun, is also believed to have an axe to grind with Governor Ajimobi , especially on the failure to carry along other stakeholders in the running of the affairs of the state.

The rumour that the senator has concluded plans to dump the party was still sketchy as at press time yesterday.

It therefore remains a herculian task for the governor and the party to work harder on membership drive, repairing damaged fences in the party. But perhaps along with the massive infrastructural development he has undertaken in the state, he stands a good chance of being reelected next year.

By Emmanuel Oladesu

ETERAN journalist and pro-democracy crusader Mr. Bayo Onanuga has unfolded his ambition for the Senate in Ogun East District.

The Ijebu-Ode prince is eyeing the slot on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He told some party henchmen in Ijebu-Ode that he decided to heed the patriotic call to duty, having paid his dues in journalism, activism and community work.

Onanuga had obtained the APC card during the last membership resgistration. He also participated actively in the recent party congresses at the ward, local government and state levels.

Before the advent of this diispensation, Onanuga was on exile working along with the members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to end the military rule. In 1999 and 2003, he was a member of the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organiation in Lagos State. However, Onanuga is not the only APC chieftain in the race. He will compete for the ticket with Senator Adegbenga Kaka and Chief Bisi Adegbuyi.

Kaka, the former deputy governor of Ogun State, became a senator three years ago. He was a commissioner during the military era. The IjebuIgbo politician is a loyal politician who had resisted the entreaties from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to dump the progressive bloc. Instead of defecting to the PDP, he teamed up with the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) to wrest for power. But, the party could not fly on election day. Kaka’s main asset is that he hails from IjebuIgbo, a politically conscious town, with a huge voting strength.

Kaka, who is seeking a second term, has been at loggerheads with Governor Ibikunle Amosun over the recent party congresses.

Adegbuyi, a lawyer, businessman and pro-democracy activist, is the Asiwaju of Ode-Remo. He is a delegate to the National Conference. In 2011, he aspired to become a senator on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

But, the ticket eluded him because the party elders felt that Kaka should represent the district.

In 2005, he played host to the national dialogue organised by the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) in Lagos.

Onanuga, who spoke at the inauguration of his campaign organisation, the Ijebu Renewal Organisation (IRE), decried the high level of poverty and unemployment in Ogun West, promising to tackle the menace.

The aspirant debunked claims that he is a green horn in politics. He noted that he has been involved in active politics since his days at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka as a member of the youth wing of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN) led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Onanuga also said that he was among the young political activist who worked for the victory of the late Chief Moshood Abiola during the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He explained that his decision to join the fray cannot be attributed to any craving for material wealth, adding that the upliftment of his district is the main priority.

The Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government Chapter of the APC, Mr. Lanre Lekuti, urged the campaign coordinators to work for the success of the aspirant. He said the chapter is fortunate to have Onanuga on board.

Lekuti, who described Onanuga as a man of repute and integrity, said that he would make a difference in the politics of Ijebuland and Ogun State.

• Onanuga

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POLITICS Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Chief Bayo Dayo spoke on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s actitivies in the chapter, the rift between Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the national leadership, the postponed Southwest Congress and preparation for next year’s elections. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN met him.

‘Court will determine Oyinlola’s fate’

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RE you reaching out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for reconciliation, since he said he had forgiven those that offended him?

We don’t have personal issues with him. He is the leader of our party and the country. In politics, especially in a large family like Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we are bound to have differences. No one will ever tell an elderly man that he was wrong. In Yoruba tradition, it is the youth that seek forgiveness from the elders.

Whether we are right or wrong, we are begging our father, Chief Obasanjo, to forgive and forget. Any day we meet him, we shall bow for him as a mark of respect.

As regards opening a line of communication with him, that is beyond our level. We are too junior to him.

That is meant for the party’s top hierarchy. Being a former President, it is the party leadership at the national level that will deal with him, not state party officials like me. The gap between us and Baba Obasanjo is very wide. We are too junior to him.

It was reported that the party leadership is making moves to reinstate Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the national scribe. Is Ogun chapter in support?

I am not aware of that development.

I know that our leaders would always follow due process. The case is still pending at the Supreme Court. Until the apex court gives judgment, we will not make comment. It will amount to subjudice to make comments on a matter pending in the court. I think we should exercise patience.

Why has Ogun State PDP taken special interest in Oyinlola’s issue?

Everything about the PDP started in Ogun State. We don’t want imposition in Ogun State. We believe in party discipline. We stand for internal democracy in our party. The new National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is a man of principle. He has respect for the rule of law. He doesn’t believe in imposition, but due process.

Are you aware that all actions taken by the incumbent National Secretary would be declared illegal, if your appeal at the Supreme Court fails?

Let me tell you, Oyinlola doesn’t belong to the PDP anymore. He cannot claim to be a member of our great party. Remember that Oyinlola, along with his cohorts, walked out on the national convention of the party last year. He has been suspended for antiparty activities. You can’t build something on nothing. He was the secretary of what they called the new PDP, which doesn’t exist anymore. All his co-travellers have gone to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyinlola has left the PDP. I don’t know where he belongs.

Concerned members of the PDP in Ogun State have written a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging your leadership. What’s your comment?

I am not aware of any petition. We don’t have factions in Ogun PDP, but groups. For instance, I’m a member of Jubril Martins Kuye (JMK) group.

People are fond of writing meaningless petitions. This executive I’m heading was validated by the court. If they are not satisfied with the judgment,

•Dayo

they should appeal. They are crying over something that is not within their reach. I can assure you that no group has challenged the authority of the present executive of the PDP in Ogun State. Only selfish members that are looking for short cut to reach their destination are creating the impression that there is crisis in the party.

Is it true that there is a working accord between the PDP and the Labour Party, ahead of 2015?

I am not aware of any working accord. All I know is that members of Labour Party have been crossing over to the PDP in recent times. Ogun State PDP door is wide open to everybody, including Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his Labour Party members. People don’t understand that Gbenga Daniel

did a lot for the PDP. He left the party in annoyance. The way out is to appeal to him with a view to bringing him back into the fold. That we have been doing for a very long time now.

We are ready to beg others who have defected to return to ensure the PDP remains a strong and a formidable party. I prefer working for my enemy within the party, if I know he will help us win election, rather than a close friend that has no electoral value. The door is open to all groups that want to join the PDP. If Daniel wants to come back, he’s welcome.

Which of the senatorial zones is likely to produce the party’s governorship candidate for 2015?

We have tried zoning many times in the PDP, but it has failed us. When it is zoned to a particular area, aspirants from other senatorial zones have always kicked against it. Then, you spend valuable time that should be spent on the field on reconciliation.

The governorship ticket is open to the three senatorial districts, even though some people are in favour of a particular zone.

Will the candidate emerge through primaries or through consensus?

We shall create a level playing ground for all aspirants. Where the consensus option fails, we shall go for the primaries. Even, if only one aspirant disagrees with the consensus arrangement, we will have no other choice but to hold primaries.

The executive does not have a particular person in mind. I want to do something that I can defend before my Creator. I can assure you that we shall conduct free, fair and transpar-

ent primaries when the time comes.

Are you worried that the Southwest Congress of PDP is yet to hold?

It is most unfortunate that we don’t have the Southwest executive in place.

However, we’ve got an assurance from the National Chairman that the Southwest congress will hold before the party’s mini-convention holding before the end of May. What’s your assessment of the ongoing National Conference?

I think we should give the National Conference a chance. The conference has just approved chairmen and members of various committees and has settled down for serious business. Now that the conference has dissolved into committees, far reaching decisions on issues that have defied solutions over the years are bound to be made. It is a good thing that Nigerians of different ethnic nationalities are coming together to discuss the problems of the country and find solutions to them. I am very optimistic that Nigeria will benefit immensely from the report of the National Conference. President Goodluck Jonathan meant well in constituting the conference.

What are the chances of the PDP in Ogun State in 2015?

The PDP is the party to beat in Ogun State. It is the only party that is functional in the state. Members of the opposition parties are decamping to the PDP on weekly basis. While other parties are engrossed in internal crisis and parallel congresses, we are consolidating. I do not have any doubt in my mind that the PDP is progressing, waxing stronger and making gains. I am sure the party will, by the grace of God, win the 2015 general elections.

The debate on the devolution of power has polarised delegates to the National Conference. Yet, the resolution of the national question is critical to peaceful co-existence and stability. EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

National Conference and furore over devolution of power

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HE Committee on the Devolution of Power could not reach an agreement on the twin issues of derivation principle and resource control at the National Conference in Abuja last week.

The Committee, which sat in a closed session for four hours during the morning session, resumed deliberations after lunch break and sat for another three hours listening to opinions of each of the members.

It was the second day the twin issues were considered by the Committee co-chaired by former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, and the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie.

Also mentioned in the course of the debate was the demand by delegates from the North for the reintroduction of the on-shore/off-shore oil dichotomy, which implies that oil produced within certain nautical miles off the seashore should not enjoy derivation principle.

The position was opposed by delegates from the South, particularly those from Akwa Ibom State, whose oil production is principally offshore, although with sufficient share of environmental degradation.

They said that, based on the position of the Federal Government in 2003, which led to the passage of a bill by the National Assembly for the abolition of the on-shore/off-shore oil dichotomy; the matter could not be re-opened.

In his contribution to the debate on derivation principle, Professor Nsongurua Udombana noted that the 1960 Constitution in Section 134(2); and 1963 in Section 140(1) had provided that 50 per cent royalty be paid to regions in respect of any min-

erals extracted from the region.

He urged the Committee to amend Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a minimum of 13 per cent derivation revenue to states in respect of natural resources extracted from those states to be amended to reflect 50 per cent.

Attah told reporters after the sitting that deliberation on the issues would continue this week.

However, the Committee on National Security has recommended the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs, which it said should be replaced with the creation of the Ministry of Homeland Security.

The new ministry, if created, would coordinate the activities of the National Guard, Nigerian Police Force, Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Prisons Service.

But, following in the footsteps of the Committee on Devolution of Power, it said in its recommendations that the centralised police structure should remain, although it should be reformed to make it more effective and representative of the federal character.

Also, the Police Council would remain the body responsible for force policy, finances, organisation and standards.

It would also play a far greater role in shaping the aims and objectives of the service and would be responsible for the appointment of the InspectorGeneral of Police on the advice of the Police Service Commission.

In the same vein, the Police Service Commission would continue to be responsible for appointment, promotion and discipline of all officers below the IGP, except the operational control of the Force, which is vested in the IGP.

• Kutigi

The commission is expected to be independent to guard against nepotism in recruitment, discipline and promotion and the dominance of the service by any single or few ethnic groups.

The committee has also recommended the creation of Nigerian National Guard Corps to handle internal conflicts and border control. A Rapid Response Force is expected to be established within the corp to deal with emergencies.

A VIP Protection Department and the Security and Intelligence Services Inspectorate and Disciplinary Service Commission are also expected to be created in the new ministry.

The Committee on Public Finance and Economy played host to officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, led

by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleman Barau, who spoke on the challenges of public finance and revenue generation in the country.

Barau commended the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for increased revenue generation to N4.7 trillion, which he said was the size of the nation’s budget.

He suggested the setting up of a Fiscal Responsibility Commission at the state and local government levels.

According to him, the CBN was interested in increasing the amount of money in the Excess Crude Account, so that the country could save for the rainy day. He said the Committee should recommend a constitutional framework to manage the excess crude account.

He said the CBN has ensured financial stability and that the inflation rate is now single digit, but stressed that the high unemployment level in the country was a big drawback to the economy.

Committee members raised two vital concerns for the CBN team. The first was the high interest rate that is stifling businesses in the country and what becomes of the billions of naira spent to rescue ailing banks.

The deputy governor said the bank was more concerned with lowering the inflation rate and ensuring stability of the exchange rate. He said the high interest rate was the result of the high cost of doing business in the country, especially power and security.

On the desirability of the Sovereign Wealth Fund when the people are living in poverty, the Deputy Governor insisted that despite the challenges of development besetting the nation,

the country still needs to save for the future.

He said CBN made about N270 billion into the Federal Government coffers in the last four years. He however, insisted that the bank was not a revenue generating bank.

Barau suggested that the executive should be given a time frame to submit the budget to the legislature.

He said the legislature to rather reduce budget and not to increase it to incur more debt other suggestion are: “State Assemblies should have the responsibility for establishing sharing formula for allocation from state’s joints accounts.

He also said that Fiscal Responsibility Act should be entrenched in the Constitution to cover all tiers of government.

Property tax should remain a local tax, but the administration should fall on the state government, he added.

The Minister of Finance represented by the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) also appeared before the committee.

The committee took him up on how well the revenue of the nation has been managed. On waivers and concession, the committee sought to know how the ministry was regulating waivers as well as regulations put in place to monitor the use of intervention grants.

On the non-implementation of budget, a member also wanted to know what constituted externally-generated revenue and the chairman admitted that the ministry has issues with waivers.

He however, said that he could not speak on the issues raised and suggested that the relevant government officials would be in a better position to do so.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Senate Minority Whip Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon has empowered some youths to set up their own businesses. His gesture, says Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Henry Ajomale, is a reminder of the nation’s empowerment crisis. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN reports.

T

HE event started on a convivial note. But, suddenly, there was silence. The speaker’s voice quaked, as listeners nodded their heads.

Chief Henry Ajomale, Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, held the microphone, analysing what remains a pain in the hearts of many Nigerians.

He struggled to contain his emotions as he bemoaned the fate of the 19 job seekers who died last month during the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

The Blue-Roof, popular events rendezvous on the sprawling LTV premises in Alausa, Ikeja, was filled. It was a moment of joy for “the lucky ones” - numbering about 800 who were being empowered with multimillion-naira equipment. The posture was a follow-up to their two-week training in various vocations, which taught them “how to fish.”

The event was sponsored by Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon the Minority Whip of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, representing Lagos West District.

He was supported by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports.

Exuding excitement, the youth donned branded T-shirts. With hearty praise-songs for their benefactor, they filled the roomy hall to capacity as early as 9 am, looking into the future with an air of assurance. At some locations in the hall was a spectacle: Loads of the expensive equipment that were later given to them with take-off grants.

Before Ajomale spoke, Solomon had told the gathering why he took the bold step to rescue the beneficiaries from the brink of despondency with the training.

“With the various skills acquired by the youth, they need not continue to worry their heads over the white-collar jobs that are not there. Besides the equipment, we are also giving them some stipends in bank drafts to help them start off without ado,” Solomon said, urging them to be serious in their vocations.

Sobriety gripped the gathering when he lamented the terror of joblessness in the country, especially among able-bodied youths. An unpleasant noise swept through the crowd in response to Solomon’s outburst on the ill-fated “NIS 19.” Sighs of agony and

•Some of the beneficiaries.

Teaching them how to fish EMPOWERMENT frustration shook the gathering. After a oneminute silence demanded by the senator for the repose of the late job seekers’ souls, he sought more commitment from the government and other stakeholders in the fight against unemployment, which he warned, was becoming a major threat to lives and property in the land.

Everyone rose in earth-shaking ovation for the lawmaker. APC chieftain, Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Baba Eto); Mr Wale Raji, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who represented Governor

Babatunde Fashola; Mrs Risikat Akiyode, who stood in for Fashola’s deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; another APC leader, Bashorun Tajudeen Jaiyesimi; officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, among other dignitaries, were not left out.

Ajomale was effusive in Solomon’s praise for his thoughtful generosity, especially towards the beneficiaries. Urging them to make good use of the gesture, the politician said: “If you teach a person how to fish rather than giving him fish, you are eradicating poverty in his life. This is what our senator is doing and the Federal Government must imbibe it.”

Fashola had kind words for the senator: “This is a timely intervention in view of the rate of unemployment in the country today.”

Orelope-Adefulire also lauded Solomon’s passion for the development of youths and women, adding: “This is a gesture that will complement government’s poverty-reduction efforts and socio-economic rebirth. This will certainly reduce crime rate.”

The Coordinator, New Renewal Group (NRG), an influential political body in APC, Mr Abiodun Musa, stormed the LTV premises with one of his group’s branded vehicles – loaded with various souvenirs. “This man (Solomon) is not only an asset to his district; he has proved a treasure to our party by exemplifying what it stands for – compassion for the less-privileged. Giving is his life; it is one virtue that all of us, including you, must imbibe,” he told a group of some beneficiaries.

Pleasant surprise was bold on the faces of the youth when Solomon and the dignitaries stepped out to present the equipment, certificates and the grants to them. On their lips was the tacit exclamation: “So, this can be true!”

Mojeed Afiz, who learned barbing, got kits to start off; Abayomi Agbelega and Olamide Faniran smiled home with bench grinders; Jude Okoro, dish installation equipment, Halimat Adeleke, shoe-making machine, among others.

A graduate of Sociology from the Lagos State University (LASU), Ibrahim Adisa, could not contain his joy. He trained in barbing after his futile effort at securing a white-collar job. “I’m from Alimosho. Youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but our government has not proved it to us. I believe posterity will remember the senator for this gesture. I know that soon, I will become an employer of labour,” he said.

Rashidat Adigun, a graduate of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), was trained in Make-up and Gele. She was happy that the senator fed them during the training and gave N1,000 each daily as transport fare. Praying for the lawmaker, she said: “I had looked for an opportunity to learn the vocation in many places, but they kept demanding about N100,000 from me, which I couldn’t afford. I thank God that GOS has done it for free.”

Indeed, it was an outing that was generally adjudged a model in the concerted efforts to bail the nation out of the woods by building the economic base of the citizenry.

Seraph Voices in glorious celebration

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T was a carnival of praise at the Choirs Day of the C and S Movement Church in Surulere, Lagos. The event will linger in the memory of those who witnessed it.

The Seraph Voices, as the choir is called, demonstrated their love for God by praising and worshipping Him in one voice, one accord, in English and various Nigeria languages, and with diverse instruments.

The show, with the theme: Heirs of the Covenant, was a celebration of theatre praise and worship in Lord’s house. A large crowd filled the large tent erected on the church premises. The choir performance was inspiring and soul lifting, drawing tears from men.

The stage was a sight to behold. The choir, estimated to be 5,000 used digital techniques, graphics and light effects to beautify the stage and enhance the plays and songs. There were Plasma televisions on the wall for those far from the stage to watch the show.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr Oluseyi Coker, who represented the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeyemi said: “The commissioner wants to felicitate with the church of God, he is thanking God for this programme, which he believes has been a source of blessing to everyone because is a time of praises and thanksgiving to God and God dwells among his people, he is using the event to thank God for His Grace in his life, his family and work.

“He also wants all Christians to live their lives as Disciples of Christ, to live our lives in faith and in the strength that we have in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, a name given to us whereby all men will be saved. In that respect he believes one ****with e are God his peace which incidentally is the message of restoration will always continue to be with us in Lagos and Nigeria.”

Though the church is a white-garment one, the choir dazzled with an array of colourful attires and beautiful costumes. “It is

•The children orchestra at the event

By Udemma Chukwuma

CONCERT because we want to carry everyone along,” said the general choirmaster, Prophet Sunday Korode.

“What we are doing today is a buildup to what we did at 40th anniversary. I saw ourselves through the wilderness of life into the land of Canaan and have gotten to the land we have to inhabit our occupation and as we do we are also going to face normal life experience of temptation, problems and hazards, but because we are soaked in the covenant we are now talking about all of us that have landed in that Canaan land as Heirs of the Covenant.And it is the covenant we celebrated literarily, trying to remind everybody that is not by your power that you got into Canaan and when you arrive at Canaan you must appreciate God.

And he is a covenant-keeping God, but we have obligations and responsibilities under that covenant and that is what we are trying to show in the graphic presentation of the various drama presented today.

Korode urged Christians not to lose guard and ensure that they focus on the goal of staying well and staying alive for salvation with the covenant of God. “The world of God is our basis, the Bible is our dictionary for all forms of references to pick what we want and then we look at environment in which we live to really look at how this environment can affect and afflict believers, what you can take out of it, how you can enjoy the blessings, how you can get rid of the causes those are the things that count,” Korode stated.

“We felt it was time for a new generation of people to take control of the event because change is the only thing that is constant, but I think the most interesting thing is the zest of the youth, experience of age and ultimately the passion of people who want to serve God to the best of their ability.”

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

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ENOWNED as one of Nigeria and Africa’s most gifted poets, Odia Ofeimun is also indisputably one of the country’s most fecund and prolific public intellectuals taking on diverse issues affecting the country, Africa and our world at large.

Ofeimun could well have restricted his cerebral and seminal contributions to learned academic journals for the rumination of like-minded intellectuals. But he has over the last three decades chosen to democratise and demystify, so to speak, intellectual discourse and the dissemination of ideas by publishing his often recondite essays in such accessible mediums as Africa Events, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune and Glendora magazine. I was quite thrilled when I recently came across a volume of Ofeimun’s wide ranging essays titled ‘A House of Many Mansions’.

A library is a collection of books. Odia Ofeimun’s ‘A House of Many Mansions’ is a veritable library in its own right. I label the book a literary garden of a thousand blooming flowers. Ofeimun’s literary garden spans approximately 500 pages and contains 52 essays on a rich variety of topics. The garden is compartmentalised into four different but not necessarily rigidly demarcated plots all glittering with appealing flowers of the creative human imagination. This book is a one volume education on Nigerian and African history, culture, politics, ideas and culture. Here we find Odia’s highly engaging and informed reviews of diverse books including Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s ‘Moving the Centre’, Neil Lazarus’s ‘Resistance in Post-Colonial African Fiction’, Basil Davidson’s ‘The Black Man’s Burden: Africa and the curse of the Nation-State’, Meja Mwangi’s ‘Striving for the Wind’, Maik Nwosu’s ‘Invisible Chapters’, Chinua Achebe’s ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’, Olatunji Dare’s ‘Diary of a Debacle’ or May Ellen Ezekiel’s ‘Dream Maker’ to cite a few.

Odia Ofeimun’s encyclopaedic learning is brought to bear on his book reviews such that the reader’s mind is enriched well beyond the particular book under consideration. For instance, his review of Wole Soyinka’s latest collection of poetry, ‘Samarkand and other Markets I Have Known’ is also a most enlightening and illuminating journey through Soyinka’s other poetry collections including ‘Idanre and other Poems’, ‘A Shuttle in the Crypt’, ‘Ogun Abibiman’, as well as ‘Mandela’s

Odia Ofeimun’s garden of a thousand flowers Earth and other Poems’. Indeed, the title of Soyinka’s latest collection had remained a mystery to me until Ofeimun resolved the riddle when he writes that “Samarkand is not just a city out of the Arabian Nights or the travels of Marco Polo but an actuality in Western Asia only recently relived from Soviet over-graft. Dedicated to the Egyptian novelist, Nagib Mahfouz, who was knifed by some fundamentalist unable to stand the writer’s defence of his own perception of the truth, Samarkand is about the poet’s visit to the market of legend”.

It is interesting to learn in the chapter on Basil Davidson’s book, for instance, that the late notable historian and Africanist actually started out as a novelist and served as a soldier in Eastern Europe during the Second World War. This no doubt explains the scintillating quality of his prose and the revealing parallels he draws between the evolution and character of the Nation-State in Eastern Europe and Africa. Not one to shy away from intellectual combat, Ofeimun is at his polemical best in his engagements with Achebe’s ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’, Professor Emmanuel Alayande’s April 16, 1977 lecture titled ‘A Tale of Two Nations’ or Olusegun Obasanjo’s ‘Not my Will’. Drawing on his research into the development and history of political parties in Nigeria, Ofeimun fiercely contests Achebe’s account of the abortion by Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) in 1951 of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s ambition to become Premier of Western Nigeria on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).

He dismisses as romantic idealism Profes-

sor Ayandele’s contention that the fundamental contradiction in Nigerian politics was the hiatus between the ‘two nations’ of the literate and illiterate groups - one which he claimed has subsumed ethnic, regional and other factors. And in his riposte to Obasanjo’s ‘Not my Will’, Ofeimun not only disagrees with the way Obasanjo cited his ‘wrongful dismissal’ by Awolowo as the latter’s Private Secretary to discredit the Chief, Odia scathingly denounces Obasanjo for playing “hero on the shoulders of a man whose head has been so bloodied and to deny him the deference due to him can only be a matter of man’s will, not God’s will”.

In his chapter on ‘Obafemi Awolowo: Nigeria’s Man of the Century’, Ofeimun makes the interesting point that though standing for opposing and contradictory ideals, Awolowo and Lord Lugard were alike in many ways and had indeed the most important impact on the country’s history in the last century. According to him, “Unlike Lugard, the colonizer, whose duty it was to pacify and make the natives amenable to British exploitation, Awolowo’s chosen responsibility as a native, was to empower fellow Nigerians to stand up to foreign tyrants and home- grown despots, especially those who were enamoured of Lugard’s conservative, exploitative and decidedly reactionary legacy”. Even then he notes with uncanny insight that “Of course, the paradox needs to be emphasized that, antithetical as their different legacies appear, both Awolowo and Lugard put their stamp on time and events through a lusty commitment to intellectual labour, personal discipline,

Poachers, farmers threaten National Parks

P

EOPLE remain a major threat to the existence of National Parks.

Through activities, such as poaching, grazing and encroachments, parks are endangered.

The government too does not help matters with its policy flip-flop.

From time immemorial, parks have come under threat of poachers, who are determined to have their way in the protected sites.

Hunting is a way of life for many and the protected forests are the only places left with game to hunt. Hunting cannot be done in open forests and woodlands.

Despite the presence of Rangers at the National Parks and the added advantage of the federal might, poaching is on the increase.

It is not unusual to apprehend out-ofstate hunting groups camping for days in the middle of a National Park, killing and drying meat or harvesting honey and other consumable resources.

Cattle grazing is a recurring problem in National Parks and it is growing.

Investigation revealed that with the failure of the Grazing Reserve Progrmme, each National Park has a story to tell on the encounters with nomadic herdsmen.

Park managements have arresting and prosecuting them in courts.

The grazers insist that their animals must graze in the parks because they have

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.

PARKS nowhere else.

Another threat, it was learnt, comes from cultivators who encroach on the National Parks to raise crops.

This is done occasionally by farmers from neighbouring communities but often by the land-less poor from far out settlements.

Between January and March, no fewer than 50 grazers, hunters, charcoal makers, loggers and honey tappers were arrested.

Also, another three poachers were arrested by the Park Rangers for killing a rock python measuring 3.9 metres in length, and 0.5 metres in breadth.

They also killed grass-cutters, monitor lizards, bush-bucks and giant rats.

After the arrest, three locally-made guns were found in the possession of the accused.

The suspects are Aliyu Garba [Kontagora, Niger State], Usman Garba [Mokwa, Niger State] and Issa Mohammadu [Kaduna State].

The Director and Park – Conservator, Mallam Ibrahim Goni, said the suspects were arrested for contravening the National Parks Service Act 46 of 1999.

Goni said they would soon be court.

•Poachers

the pursuit of organizational rigour and administrative proficiency”.

If he describes Awolowo as Nigeria’s man of the century, Ofeimun also clearly does not disagree with the BBC listeners who voted Kwame Nkrumah as Africa’s Man of the Century at the end of the 20th Century. In his chapter on ‘Kwame Nkrumah: One Man, His Country and Continent’, Ofeimun traces the trajectory of Nkrumah’s fall from grace to grass, the denigration of his legacy within the context of the amoral context of cold war international politics and his eventual historical rehabilitation as an iconic and visionary African leader. While not sweeping Nkrumah’s own personal, managerial and leadership failings under the carpet, Ofeimun points out that the continent decades after is being forced to come to terms with the reality and continued vibrancy of Nkrumah’s ideas.

In his words “It was not surprising, therefore, that at its 29th meeting of the OAU held recently at Abuja, the Organisation once again shifted position, moving many more African governments, if only at the level of rhetoric, back to status quo ante bellum. Now the plan is not to have an African Parliament by the year 2000 as the Lagos Plan of Action proposed; the goal post for this has been shifted to 2024. In that year, Africa is supposed to have a Common Market, a Parliament, a Common Defence and Security System, and hopefully a semblance of the continental government that Nkrumah fought so hard for and for which he was gleefully demonised”.

It is interesting that while Awolowo refused to confine his genius to western Nigeria but sought to actualize the radical modernisation of Nigeria, Nkrumah believed that the political independence of Ghana or any other single African country could only make sense within the context of the socio-economic and political liberation of the continent as a whole. In this book one is brought into contact through Ofeimun’s incisive critiques with diverse minds including Toni Morrison, Zulu Sofola, Femi Osofisan, Amos Tutuola, Edward Said, Anthony Appiah, Ken Saro Wiwa and Olabisi Onabanjo among several others. In subsequent editions, however, the production of the book particularly the binding of the pages should be improved upon.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Whispering for the rise of Africa

T

HERE is no doubt that Africa has slept for too long. While the sleep is never sound, the land has also slept with its eyes widely opened. Therefore, these are Midnight Whispers, to bring Africa back to its consciousness.

Adesisna Adetola’s Midnight Whispers is a compilation of contemporary poems about Africa.While some of the poems seek to address the prevailing issues in Africa, others are also designed to preserve Africa’s identity and its cultural heritage. The collection is aimed at panegyrising the virtues of Africans.

However, the book does not fail to address the ugly sides of Africa. It tries to raise the political and socio-economic consciousness of the people. In all, the book represents a contemporary idea of the black race.

The messages do not only wake up Africa, but also make her stand and move the continent to higher ground.

The book is divided into five parts and each part has poems attached to it. Part 1 is tilted, Renaissance messages with 7 poems; Part 2 is titled, Black’s beautiful heritage with 12 poems; Part 3 is titled, Memos to friends with 4 poems; Part 4 is titled Current heresies contains 3 poems and part 5 is titled Others with a poem.

The major themes driving the poems in part one include love of motherland, exile and alienation and immorality. The first poem, Midnight Whispers adopts the classical tone and calls for attention: “Lend me the innermost of your ears Listen to my deafening whispers Lest you wake up once more To the pressure of the adulterated world” Calling for immediate attention in quick succession with Arise Africa, the author seeks to re-awake Africans from “the obscure pit to the uppermost light of the new age”; (Arise Africa, from your great slumber.Wake up the giant of the ages. The cradle of civilisation), A clarion call (Leaders of our fatherland. Retreat from your wasteful trips. Dispose of all your corrupt

U SA V I L

BOOK REVIEW

Title:

Midnight Whispers

Author: Reviewer: Publisher:

Adesina Adetola Chinasa Ekekwe OpenWay Books

Pagination: 35 bags and remove your neckless of fraud.While the greedy are tilling the motherland, turning Africa into a big theater of shame.The rampaging political juggernauts.Milking the flourishing land to destitution) He throws in a deeply political question for Africa’s election-riggers in One Man One Vote (Why not embrace the universal language, spoken in the realm of the developed, a language of one-man, onevote?

The rituals of polls manipulations.With the confusing electoral results) before screaming out in disgust against the fastspreading act of same sex marriage in A letter to Adam and Eve (What has now come over your world? At the altar of strange

matrimonial covenants.When two Adams dominate the maternity scenes and the earth shall be in utter desolation.As Eve and Eve exchange marital vows) A new dawn where equal chances will be given to all and this gives a resounding new hope.

In part two, the poet opens it in a rhythmic flow of a sequence of words with My Golden Pen, which eulogises the wonders a pen can perform in the hand of a writer.

Adesina affirms: “When my pen is on duty.

Mountains are subdued and great storms are stilled”.

Undoubtedly, the author proclaims his love for Africa ‘In mother Tongue’ the longest poem in the book where he celebrates the African mother tongues as against the Queens English and the many joys of the mother tongue.

In Black is beautiful’, My native name’, Africa my Beauty and ‘The African spirit’, he encourages readers to embrace Africa’s rich cultural values. In this section, Adesina also pays tribute to Mandela, the city of Lagos and Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti with his ground breaking song, ‘I no be gentleman at all’ (I no be gentleman at all.../Na so baba Fela talk am/ I be African man original/ I no dey pretend/ E dey for my blood).

In part three, he takes off from his primary assignment with Memos to Friends’ addressing the US president, Barak Obama, To A Son-in-law, To A Slave master and an Ode to a Known Stranger.

In part four of the book, the poet shares his memory of Jos, re-affirming his love for motherland in ‘Bleached’ and the need to return home irrespective of the urge to see the world (I am proud of my colour.

Black bold and beautiful) ‘Abdul Mutallab’ indentifies the desire to elope to another land “for a better life” and bring back “The glories of my sweat, my labour and my pains to motherland to enjoy forever”.

(To die in the cold I will never pray... I am an African I don’t commit suicide. Abdul mutallab your offer I reject. Back to motherland I go in peace).

The final part of the book is in rememberance of the earthquake victims in Haiti, 2009 with the poem, Agony of a friend.

With a clever use of metaphors, imageries and other poetic devices, the poet arranges the flow of the poems in a position of the richness of the African culture and pointing out the issues affecting the black race.

East meets West documentary

“C

ROCODILE in the Yangtze” is a film that tells a story of how China’s first Internet entrepreneur and former English teacher Jack Ma battled the United States giant, ‘eBay’ to build China’s first global Internet Company, Alibaba Group.

The “documemoir”, written, directed and produced by an American, Porter Erisman, who worked in Ma’s Company for eight years, captures the ups and downs of life in a ‘Chinese Internet world’ between 1995 and 2009 when the Internet brought China face-to-face with the West.

An English Language film, Crocodile in the Yangtze is a compilation of period footage shot in the 1990s-2000s in Hangzhou, China. Film editor Giuseppe De Angelis spent hours editing the footage into a comprehensive and smooth film drawing on 200 hours of archival footage filmed by over 35 sources.

Erisman followed his heart to China and spent ten years living and working there. He worked as a Vice President at Alibaba.com and Alibaba Group in Hangzhou, China between 2000 and 2008. It is clear from the film that Erisman was a truly integrated and respected member of the Alibaba family. In several scenes, he and Jack shared the glory of the developments in the company.

It is incredible to consider how this footage was captured in real-time and preserved. But, according to Erisman, a camera was always rolling behind the scenes at Alibaba’s, from the earliest days of the

By Chinasa Ekekwe

DOCUMENTARY company’s formation. The film contains childhood photos of Ma as a small boy and his personal journey from English teacher to a global business leader. It also shows Erisman as a young boy in the US and later as a young adult in China, telling the story of what brought him to Alibaba and what caused him to want to stay.

The story rolls forward on a double lane: Alibaba thrives in a time when social, economic and technological transformation are happening in China and the outside world watches Alibaba with a careful eye, finally realising its strength.

In addition to behind-the-scenes footage, Erisman and De Angelis weaved in archival news coverage of reporters on Wall Street interviewing Ma and assessing his company to potential investors.

It is interesting to watch the narrative about Alibaba’s change over time within the financial media.

The film is more than an account of the history of a Chinese internet company. It gives a truly inside perspective on internal meetings and private conversations between Ma and his team, capturing the triumphs, but also repeated struggles to turn a profit.

It mirrors how Ma led Alibaba to startup the business in a small apartment which later grew into a global company of more than 16,000 staff.

One of Erisman’s goals in making this film was to inspire young entrepreneurs with a dream. As the film chronicles, Ma was originally trained as an English teacher, with no background in computer science or business. For that reason, his story is one about a simple man with a dream. That relatability makes this film accessible to everyone.

Konga.com has hosted the technology business community to a special screening of the film documentary. Konga believes that the year will be a promising and rewarding year for the Nigerian technology and business eco-systems, not only because there will be growth, but because these sectors will provide solutions to Nigerians at large.

Odu Orin: Return of old music Stories by Evelyn Osagie

A

RE you worried about the kind of songs that interests your children and the ludicrous lyrics that now accompany heavy metal beats? Wondering where the old folksongs that come laced with words of wisdom that sheds light on the path of the young have all gone to?

Then the musical ODU ORIN project would interest you.

The project, which is established by two women culture activists, would also interest culture activists and enthusiasts.

The project was started about three years ago and serves a symbol of the dedication and sheer commitment of Mrs Rhoda Omosunlola Johnston-Smith (88) and Mrs FolakeAdemiluyi (59). And according to them, it is meant to give expression and documentation to folksongs and lullaby.

In their efforts to bring about better societal values through cultural re-awakening, these women have documented the tunes of some Yoruba Folksongs and Ewi (some, which had been compiled into a bookwritten in 1964 by Mrs Johnston-Smith), into CDs. The CDs are Odu Orin, a medley of folksongs in Yoruba, and A World Shared (in English). Odu Orin is rendered by Jumoke Oke.With the theme: Better Societal Values through Cultural Re-awakening, both CDs was presented in Lagos at Henry Fajemirokun Hall of Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Victoria Island.

“It is our effort to recapture and inculcate the essence of “Omoluabi” in present day Yoruba children. It is in our collective bid to bring about better societal values through cultural re-awakening that we have put both together,” they say.

Pawpaw’s book gets UBEC endorsement

A

CTOR Osita Iheme, a.k.a Pawpaw is out with a book titled: Inspire 101.

A collection of inspirational quotes, the book has been endorsed by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and would be distributed to schools across the country, it was learnt.

Inspire 101 was reviewed by Prof Pat Utomi, Mr Dimgba Igwe and ace comedian, Ali Baba and has been vetted by the Nigeria Educational Regulatory Commission ( NERDC).

According to Iheme, it is inspired determination and his belief that the downtrodden can rise to their dream and inspire others.

He said: “This is a dream come true. I pray and believe that Inspire 101 will have a direct positive impact on students and any other person that reads it. It is the fragment of my thoughts and beliefs that drove me and elevated me from my not-too comfortable background to a better person in the society. People forged from the background of lack and insufficiency can rise to become a beacon of hope and inspiration to others.”

The multiple awards winner, who recently bagged the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award in Best Comedy Actor category, added: “As role interpreters, our fans erroneously believe that what we act in movies depicts our true self but this cannot be further from the truth; Inspire 101 which are my original quotes is a pep through the window of my soul.”

•Iheme

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Dr Sunny Kuku supervising the cutting of the cake. The celebrator, Prof Elebute (middle) with her husband, Prof Elebute, being assisted to cut the cake by, from left, Dr Ifeoma Utomi; Prof Utomi, Mr Patrick Okigbo, Mrs Fola Laoye and former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Leke Pitan.

For her contributions to the development of medicine, the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) dedicates its Nineth Leadership Without Title (LWT) to Prof Oyin Elebute, 80, OYEYEMI GBENGA MUSTAPHA reports.

80 garlands for Elebute

T

HE atmosphere was convivial.

Dignitaries, mostly medics, took their seats to enjoy the celebration. It was a gathering in honour of an erudite scholar, Prof Oyinade Wuraola Elebute, who turned 80. The venue was the CVL Building, Balarabe Musa Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.

She was honoured at the Nineth Centre for Values in Leadership(CVL)’s Leadership Without Title (LWT); a tribute series, dedicated to her on her 80th birthday.

Themed: ‘Democratising Healthcare’, panelists included Principal Partner, Nextier Limited, Patrick O. Okigbo; Former Health Commissioner, Lagos State, Dr Leke Pitan; Chairman, Hygeia Nigeria Limited, Mrs Fola Laoye; Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Akin Osibogun and Director, Total Health Trust Limited, Dr Ebun Sonaiya.

They all sang praises of a woman, many described as ‘a pioneer and shining example of women, especially in medicine’.

At 80, Mrs Elebute looks graceful and beamish, showing gratitude to God for allowing her to see the day. Her roots, no doubt, must have directed her path to greatness.

Born on February 16, 1934 in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, her father, the late Chief S.O. Adenubi, was a distinguished alumnus of St. Andrews College, Oyo, a teacher, a school administrator of note and a patriotic leader of Ijebu Igbo Community. Her mother, the late Madam Olawunmi, was of Ijebu- Igbo and Ijebu-Ode ancestry, a prominent leader in Ijebu- Igbo and a successful textile merchant.

Chief Adenubi lived in Ijebu-Igbo till he was transferred to Lagos where he held with distinction, the post of Headmaster of Holy Trinity Primary School, Ebute Ero for many years.

Mrs Elebute’s journey into academic world began in 1939 when she enrolled at

CELEBRATION Holy Trinity School, Ebute Ero, from where she moved to Christ Church Cathedral School, Lagos. Oyinade, as she is fondly called by her kith and kin, got admission into the prestigious Queens College, Lagos in 1946. Her brilliance made her to be among sixth form students selected to take the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, despite her being in the fifth form in 1950. She did not disappoint, she passed the examination in flying colours. Her determination to be a medical doctor, made her to proceed to King’s College, Lagos, for post-secondary course in science subjects.

In 1953, she proceeded to the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, to study medicine.

In 1960, she graduated with an M.B.Ch.B degree and won the Arthur Foxwell Prize for the Best student in Clinical Medicine in her final year examination. This achievement earned her an automatic appointment as House Physician in the Professorial Unit of the Department of Medicine of the University’s Medical School and House Surgeon in the Professorial Unit of the Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

On completion of her Housemanship, she applied for the post of Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Physiology of University College Ibadan and was promptly employed by the College after her boss, Prof Kenneth Dike, got a glowing recommendation from her former boss in Birmingham, Prof Melville Arnot.

However, when the University of Lagos Medical School was to take off in 1962, Oyinade was invited to be one of the foundation members of the Faculty of the new Medical School.

Aside teaching, she pursued several research programmes. She was conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine by University of Birmingham in 1968 and her thesis was

based on the research in Physiology at University of Lagos Medical School and the University of Rochester, New York, U.S.A. These activities yielded several publications in scientific journals, particularly in the field of Body Fluids and Renal Function.

She contributed to a book on ‘’Hypertension in Pregnancy’’.

Mrs Elebute became Professor and Head of Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos in 1977. She held academic posts in Physiology at various levels and Research Fellowship in Pediatrics. She was a Research Fellow in the Department of Physiology of University of Rochester, New York (1964-65); Visiting Professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1974); Visiting Scientist at the Cambridge University, U.K. (1975) and Foundation Professor of Physiology at Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye (1985). She was appointed External Examiner in Physiology at several institutions including Universities of Ibadan, Benin in Nigeria, and Universities of Legon, Ghana and Malaysia (in Kuala-Lumpur). She was also en examiner for the West African College of Surgeons, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the Primary F.R.C.S. examination at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland.

She was awarded grants from various organisations, notable among which were World Health Organisation (WHO) for the study of Renal Disease at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem; the Commonwealth Fund of New York for her research work at Rochester University and Leverhulme Trust of Great Britain for research into “Hypertension in Pregnancy” at Addenbrooke’s Hospital at the University of Cambridge, England.

She is a member of several professional and social organisations. She is a former National President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, of which she is now a Trustee. She is also a past President of Queens College Old Girls Association. She is a member of the Corona Schools Trust Council, of which she is a trustee. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK), a member of the Physiological Society of Nigeria and a Patron of the Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology. She

is equally a member of Nigeria Medical Association, of which she was Assistant Secretary General and a member of the Zonta International Club of Lagos.

In 1958, Oyinade got married to her childhood friend, Adeyemo and they were blessed with four children- Adekunle, Modupe, Adebimpe and Folasade, as well as grandchildren.

She said: “Through God’s grace all the children are successfully pursuing their chosen careers in various professions. I must add that any woman that wants to climb the career leader can do so, but the journey would be easier if she has an understanding man as husband.

“I remember how my husband supported me through my decision making of choosing between career in Clinical Medicine and Academics. He also helped out with the home-front, which included feeding the children, picking them from school and staying with them while I’m not around. Today, we are all better for it.”

Sharing her health secret at 80, she said: “We as humans should watch what we eat, women in particular. You see many Nigerian women eat too much. The excess calorie does not add any nutritional value to the body. And that comes with health challenges. They should also learn to do slight exercise.”

On retirement from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs Elebute and her husband promoted a healthcare company, Hygeia Nigeria Limited, which owns and runs the Lagoon Hospital/Clinics in the Apapa, Ikeja and Victoria Island areas of Lagos and has spun off Hygeia HMO Limited, a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), providing healthcare cover for individuals and corporate bodies in Nigeria. has been outlined in a book titled, “A New Face of Private Healthcare”, published in Lagos in November, 2011.

Speaking about her mother, Mrs Laoye said: “She lived an exemplary life. She knows what to tell you to bring out the best in you. She was not a workaholic, yet she set goals she can achieve. She did not joke with her children, nor her home-front, even as a career woman. I remember, while growing up, after closing from school, we ended up at LUTH.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

52

NEWS

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Adamawa lawamaker provides free surgeries, 30 tricycles

HE Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Constituency Outreach, Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani) has asked privileged Nigerians to assist the poor for a better society.

She also thanked the Federal Government for funding constituency projects because they have direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.

Hajiya Aishatu gave the advice in an address at the launch of a free Medical Mission in Yola for more than 3,000 patients, donation of tricycles to the physically challenged and inauguration of borehole.

Of the 3,000 beneficiaries, about 1,150 benefited from free cataract surgeries.

She said: “For those of us who are privileged and in position of authority, we should do our best to assist the poor in the society by providing basic social services.

“I thank Mr. President and the Federal Government for continuously providing funds to support members of the National Assembly to implement zonal constituency projects.

“Many of these projects have direct bearing on the lives of our people when they are implemented by the various Ministries, Departments and

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Agencies(MDAs).”

She gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries of the Medical Mission who are mostly the poor.

She said: “”We are now a witness to the implementation of the zonal constituency projects(2013) for Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency with 1,150 cataract surgeries conducted, 1,500 reading glasses provided; mass screening of our constituents for Hepatitis B and C and vaccination of 500 with Hepatitis B full dose.

“All these services are free. This will go a long way in providing succour to our people who are really in need of assistance.

We had earlier this week donated 30 beds and mattresses and 20 units of split air conditioners of Samsung model to this hospital to make it friendlier.”

The only woman Representative from Adamawa State also said that the Federal Medical Centre in Yola will soon be upgraded to a teaching hospital.

She added: “It is also my pleasure to formally announce the approval of the National Assembly of the motion I sponsored to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre, Yola to the status of a Federal Government

Teaching Hospital which I hope will take-off with the 2014 Budget implementation.

“This means that we shall have a Medical College at Modibbo Adama University of Technology and our people may no longer have the need to travel to either Maiduguri or Gombe over cases that require more expert attention at teaching hospitals.

“Adamawa will also have a university to train our children as doctors. All this is part of democracy dividends, which as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) I am now providing for our people.”

On the distribution of 30 tricycles to the physically challenged, Hajiya Aishatu said it was 77 per cent subsidised.

She said: “They would only contribute N100,000 to own the tricycles after a period of use so that it can provide seed money to establish a revolving loan scheme that would sustain the programme.

“We shall continue to support all segments o our society in the constituency to enable each and everyone to be self-employed.”

In his speech, the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabir Tanimu Turaki(SAN) said the government will always accord the welfare of the masses a top priority.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

53

BUSINESS EXTRA

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Blumberg plans $250m investment in agric

HE Minister of Agricul ture and Rural Devel opment, Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday said, Blumberg has concluded plans to invest $250 million in the Agricultural sector in other to establish one of its processing plants in Nigeria.

Adesina said the $250 processing plant was part of series of discussions he had with Managing Directors of Multi-national companies at the just concluded World Economic Forum Africa, held in Nigeria.

According to Adesina, the investment will help to prevent 40 per cent of post production loss which the country currently witness due to lack of warehouse to store perishable goods.

The Minister stated this in Abuja during a visit by Commissioners of Agriculture from the South- West region under the Development Agenda of Western States in

• From left: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde and Chairman, Chief Kola Jamodu, at the pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM) cocktail of Nigerian Breweries in Lagos...yesterday.

‘IOC’s divestment good for local players’

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HERE should be no anxiety over the assets divestments by international oil companies (IOCs). The development will not create a crisis in the oil and gas industry, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has said.

The trend actually provides opportunity for indigenous companies to become active players in the upstream subsector of the industry, according to the minister.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ohi Alegbe, in a statement yesterday, said the minister spoke at an investment luncheon organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) held during the recent Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke explained that with the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

divestments, indigenous oil and gas companies now have the opportunity to acquire the assets being divested as springboard for the development of local capacity.

Speaking on Assets divestments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry: Opportunities and challenges, as theme, the minister who was represented by the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, said the divestments by the IOCs were creating opportunities for indigenous oil and gas companies to partake in the upstream sector to grow capacity.

“Let me allay your fears that the spate of divestments would not lead to crisis in the nation’s oil and gas industry, rather the divestment by the majors is changing the onshore corporate landscape and creating material brownfield opportunities for upstream players looking to enter the Nige-

rian upstream space,”Alison-Madueke noted.

She observed that the divesting IOCs were not leaving the country but only shifting their focus from onshore to the more challenging frontiers of deep offshore which currently accounts for 60 per cent of Nigeria’s production.

“The IOCs remain very much present in Nigeria. Shell still retains ownership of 34 onshore blocks while Total, ExxonMobil, and Chevron are still committing large amounts of capital to assets offshore Nigeria,” she explained.

Highlighting the opportunities inherent in the divestment, Alison-Madueke stated: “The indigenous Nigerian companies have been presented with the opportunity to develop local operatorship capacity as well as boost local production and consequently grow into major upstream players.”

She cited the Nigerian Pe-

troleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as an example of indigenous Nigerian company that has tapped into the opportunity provided by the divestment to transform from a small time player with a production of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2007 to a mid-size player with a current production of over 140,000 bpd through the assignment of 55 per cent equity in 8 divested blocks.

She disclosed that NPDC has grown to become the biggest producer and supplier of gas to the domestic market through its aggressive development of the assets assigned to it from the divestment process, adding that the Federal Government was ready to strengthen and support the company toachieve its medium term objective of growing production to 250,000 bpd.

Industrial harmony key to transformation, says Ekweremadu D EPUTY Senate Presi dent, Ike Ekweremadu said yesterday that industrial harmony remained the key to national transformation.

President of National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, also said no country could achieve industrial growth without a stabilised industrial court.

Ekweremadu spoke at the presentation of a book “National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Law, Practice and Procedure” in Abuja.

The 487-page book, which dealt with the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria is written by the lead consultant to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review and law professor, Offornze Amucheazi and Mr. Paul Abba.

Ekweremadu, who was Chairman of the book pres-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Asst. Editor

entation, said the National Assembly will continue to take all necessary legislative steps to promote industrial harmony in the country.

Industrial harmony, he said, was an important ingredient in fast-tracking the country’s transformation agenda.

He noted that the desire to promote industrial harmony in the country informed the decision of the National Assembly to effect a Third Amendment to the 1999 Constitution, to firmly make the National Industrial Court a superior court of record exclusively vested with jurisdiction over all labour, employment and ancillary matters.

He said: “We realised that for the Court to function appropriately and effectively,

there was the need to confer it with constitutional status as a superior court of record and vest it with exclusive jurisdiction over labour and employment matters.

“The National Assembly believes that industrial harmony is an indispensable ingredient in our quest for national development.

“We believe that a labourer deserves not only his or her wages, but also working conditions and environment that maximises his or her potentials for national transformation.

We also believe that employers of labour are also entitled to the services they pay for.”

He described the book as a “timely effort to fill the attendant knowledge gap regarding the adjudication of labour and employment

matters in Nigeria under the new dispensation”.

In his remarks, Adejumo noted that no nation either developed or developing will have industrial growth without a stabilised industrial court.

He recalled that the National Industrial Court bill was overwhelmingly passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly and 33 out of 36 State Houses of Assembly.

Adejumo said that there was no doubt that the book would be useful to the Nigerian society.

The book reviewer, Prof.

Maxell Gidado described the book as a sound effort in simplifying labour and employment adjudication under the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Gidado commended the authors of the book for what he called “a painstaking and incisive work.”

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Nigeria.

He urged them to ensure priority is given on revival of the farm Estates in the region which would boost agricultural production in the region and the country in General.

Adesina said: “Agriculture is the only sector that you know that can have an inclusive growth. I encourage the government of the south western states to involve the private sector in the production and processing of cocoa.

“The Federal Government should be willing to work with you in having good ICT infrastructure and other social infrastructure investment to attract younger ones in the sector.

“In 60s, when Agriculture was the mainstay of the country’s economy. We are set to restore that glory now through your collaboration.”

GE partners Century Power to deliver 1,500 Mw

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ENERAL Electric (GE) has has entered into partnership with Century Power, a leading independent power producer to build a 1,500 megawatt (Mw) gas-fired power plant in Okija, Anambra State. The project will be completed in phases with the first phase delivering 500 Mw by 2017.

President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GE Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo, said GE will support the project with long term equity participation, facilitate financing of equipment, operation and maintenance, and long term service contract. For the provision of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC), GE has concluded plans to work with Daewoo of Korea.

Chairman of Nestoil Group,

By Chikodi Okereocha

owners of Century Power Generation Limited, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, said he was delighted at the partnership which he said will transcend the power sector to other sectors such as healthcare, oil/gas, and energy management.

CEO of Century Power generation Limited, Dr. Chukwueloke Umeh, said GE emerged the preferred bidder for the project through a rigorous competitive and transparent process. He thanked GE for the support so far especially in facilitating different financing meetings.

GE’s Global CEO for Power and Water, Mr. Steve Bolze, thanked management of Century Power for the confidence reposed on GE.

N23b proposed bonds: Kwara ‘ll save N500m monthly

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HE Kwara State gov ernment yesterday shed more light on the N23billion bonds it plans to access from the capital market for the execution of capital projects.

It added that the bond will enable the state to save N500 million monthly.

The state Finance Commissioner, Demola Banu while explaining the necessity of the bond to reporters, said the monthly saving will enable the state embark on more capital projects.

Also at the briefing were Works and Transport Commissioner, Dr Abubakar Kannike, Senior Special Assistants to Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed on Invest-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ment and Media and Communications, Abayomi Ogunsola, and Dr Muideen Akorede as well as the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba. Banu said: “The N17 billion bonds that the state government obtained from the capital market in 2009 will be fully repaid in August this year.

There was an initial proposal of N30 billion which was reduced to N23 billion. We have an existing loan that will amount to N7.5 billion by July this year, this is not part of the N17 billion loan, we got that loan from the commercial bank.”

FMBN to deliver on mandate

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HE Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, (FMBN) has assured Nigerians that it will endeavour to deliver on its mandate of providing quality and affordable housing to Nigerians so as to bridge the 16million units housing gap in the country.

Its Chairman, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, made the declaration at the conferment of Award for Excellence in Leadership and Entrepreneurship on the managing

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor), Abuja

Director of the bank, Gimba Ya’U Kumo by the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) in Abuja, yesterday.

Egunjobi said the board and management of the bank have been trying its best to change the perspective Nigerians have of the bank by putting actions and policies in place that have impacted on its ability to deliver on its mandate.

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-05-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-05-14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

55

MONEYLINK

CBN okays card issuance guidelines for banks

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved card issuance guidelines and usage in the country. This approval followed months of inputs by stakeholders to the draft guidelines issued in February.

The apex bank explained that the approval is in line with the powers conferred on the it by Section 47 (3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended), to issue guidelines for the maintenance of adequate and reasonable financial services for the public and to ensure high standards of conduct and management throughout the banking system.

The CBN said the guidelines were developed to provide minimum standards and requirements for the issuance and usage of payment cards in the country. They will also enable issuing banks, other financial institutions; processors and cards schemes upgrade and maintain their card operations to ensure optimum security, efficiency, cost effectiveness and customer friendliness.

They will equally serve as a tool for banks and other financial institutions to assess their card issuance portfolio while ensuring that consumers that carry Nigerian issued cards operate within acceptable standards. They will also encourage the use of Nigerian issued cards locally and internationally.

Part of the guidelines is that only banks licensed by the CBN with clearing capacity shall issue payment cards to consumers and corporations in Nigeria. It said banks

CIBN Registrar, Akabueze for confab

T

Stories by Collins Nweze

without clearing capacity can issue in conjunction with those with clearing capacity. However, where a partnership exists, the parties shall document service level agreements, delineating their responsibilities for the issuance of the cards. A copy of the Service Level Agreement shall be submitted to the CBN. “All banks shall seek approval from the CBN for each card brand and type they wish to issue. The payment cards to be issued can be a “pay now”, such as debit and prepaid, or a “pay later”, such as credit and charge card. These can be operated in different forms, including, but not

•CBN Acting Governor Sarah Alade

limited to: plastic cards; virtual card numbers (VCN), tag, among others.

The usage channels, limits and frequencies and other control measures shall be defined by the issuing banks,” the CBN said.

‘Cashless policy’ll end corruption, other crimes’

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RIMES such as bribery and corruption, drug trafficking, currency counterfeiting, smuggling of immigrants, human trafficking, illicit money laundering and arms trafficking will soon come to an end with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), deputy Governor(Operations), Dr Kingsley Moghalu, said yesterday.

According to him, the policy is expected to reposition the financial system to address challenges faced and transform Nigeria into one of the best.

He spoke while giving the keynote address at a seminar on Cashless policy with the theme: Cashless Nigeria, Progress, Issues and Prospects.

It was organised by Wilson and

enue leakages and an inefficient treasury management.

Business Development Director of Travelex Worldwide Money in Africa, Mark Smith said though cash is more attractive due to its ease of access and acceptability, there is a pressing challenge for Nigeria to accelerate the process of mitigating towards electronic cards and mobile payments. These he said are trends already being adopted by other African countries such as Kenya and South Africa.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Nigerian Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Otunba Femi Ajayi said the cashless policy will help detect and checkmate slippery perpetra-

By Nneka Nwaneri

Weizmann Associates in Lagos.

Dr Moghalu, who was represented by Principal Manager Shared Services of CBN, Aaron Yaduma, said the aim of the policy, which will be effective nation wide from July 1, is to meet the Vision 20:2020 of the government to modernise Nigeria’s payment system, reduce high security and safety risks, reduce high subsidy and foster transparency and curb corruption.

He also said though the policy is intended to reduce and not eliminate the use of physical cash, it will end the ills associated with cashcentric economies which include kidnapping, election rigging, rev-

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 13-05-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE C/PRICE FIDSON 2.43 2.60 WAPIC 0.79 0.83 REDSTAREX 4.40 4.62 FCMB 3.74 3.92 AFRIPRUD 3.16 3.31 CADBURY 67.80(67.80) 70.95 NAHCO 5.28 5.52 STERLNBANK 2.20 2.30 GUARANTY 26.85 27.99 INTENEGINS 0.52 0.54

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

CHANGE 0.17 0.04 0.22 0.18 0.15 3.15 0.24 0.10 1.14 0.02

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

LOSERS AS AT 13-05-14

SYMBOL CUSTODYINS COSTAIN COURTVILLE IPWA PAINTCOM RTBRISCOE OKOMUOIL WEMABANK PRESTIGE SEPLAT

O/PRICE 2.79 1.30 0.71 0.52 1.56 1.14 35.33 0.95 0.58 650.11

C/PRICE 2.66 1.24 0.68 0.50 1.50 1.10 34.33 0.93 0.57 640.00

CHANGE -0.13 -0.06 -0.03 -0.02 -0.06 -0.04 -1.00 -0.02 -0.01 -10.11

tors of organised crimes, as compared to the desirable cash which is not traceable.

“Just as physical paper, cash is none traceable, unaccountable and easy to hide. It is also easy to lose, steal, counterfeit and spend without a trace; which allows economic crimes to thrive. Cash facilitates bribery and corruption,” he noted.

He thus supported the policy as a contemporary was of checkmating crimes such as smuggling of immigrants and human trafficking, through tracing and monitoring the proceeds of crimes. It will also aid other financial intelligence units such as the EFCC and ICPC to anticipate, pre-empt and detect crimes.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS

NIDF

tor of Profiles International in Nigeria, Mrs. Tilda Mmegwa, organisers of the conference, the conference is part of the strategies the organisation outlined in its quest to help Nigerian companies attain global competitiveness and adopt international best practice in their operations.

She added that Nigeria’s new status as the largest economy in Africa and reforms in various sectors of the economy meant that the country’s private and public sectors had to upgrade their operational processes and procedures to cope with the likely influx of multinational institutions in the near future.

She said Profiles International is a specialist in Performance Intelligence tools and methodologies with headquarters in the United States and offices in 125 countries, including Nigeria.

HE Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Uju Ogubunka and Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ben Akabueze, are among speakers for this year’s performance intelligence conferencewhich hold on May 20 in Lagos.

According to a statement, the conference is meant to assist the private and public sectors with tools and methodologies that would help their organisations achieve improved performance and efficiency.

Other speakers expected at the conference include Deiric McCann, a leading global authority on Performance Intelligence as top management of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

According to the country Direc-

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name Offer Price AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 153.82 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.06 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.72 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,637.31 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,070.14 FBN HERITAGE FUND 115.47 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 0.78 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,916.66 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 12.72 STANBIC IBTC ETHICAL FUND 1.07

Bid Price 153.13 9.08 1.05 1.17 0.71 1.33 1,634.46 1,069.86 114.69 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,909.29 12.40 1.04

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

1.2889 1.3313 0.9405 1.1729

Movement

1.3005 1.3313 0.9583 1.1729

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

NEWS How Gombe is spending N30b bond, by Dankwambo

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•Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha consoling the widow of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Margaret.

With them is the son, Charley Boy.

Senator to Umar: you can’t be T Taraba governor HE senator representing Taraba South, Emmanuel Bwacha, said yesterday that Acting Governor Garba Umar cannot contest next year.

The senator revealed that Umar swore to Governor Danbaba Suntai that he would not run for office.

Bwacha said he opposed Umar from the onset because he envisaged the acting governor was not good for Taraba.

The senator, in an open letter, vowed to stop Umar, if he insists on contesting.

Bwacha said: “I am compelled to write this letter because I owe it as a responsibility to provide leadership and light where darkness

•‘You swore you won’t contest’ From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

and confusion have taken over. There comes a time in the life of a man when silence is no longer considered golden.”

He accused Umar of instituting in the state “tyranny and dictatorship,” which he said is the “worst possible disservice to mankind.”

Bwacha said: “I opposed your becoming deputy governor from day one and now I’m more than vindicated.

“I warned Suntai, now see what we have. I’m aware you swore to Suntai about your ambition.

“You know this and your God knows, because Suntai actually expressed his reservations a day before he accepted you.

“You told him that you won’t pursue any personal ambition but see what you are doing: campaigning vigorously.

“Did you expect me to keep quiet when our people were

ambushed and killed by insurgents who confessed that someone paid them to come and unleash hell in our area?

“You expected me to chicken out when you told some of your minions in Jalingo that it was not herdsmen who were attacking the Tiv people but the Jukun dressed like Fulani.

“This, you had hoped would incite Tiv against Jukun. You don’t know that Jukun and Tiv are now united against any form of criminality?

“It is better for a primary school leaver to be governor than allow you ruin Taraba.

We won’t let that happen to our people.”

Judgment in suit against Wada, others now June 11 A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has fixed June 11 for judgment in a suit seeking to sack Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.

The court chose the date yesterday after it was unable to deliver the judgment earlier scheduled for May 12.

Parties were informed on Monday that the judgment was not ready.

The Nation confirmed from the court that the new date was approved by Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati.

Justice Abdulkafarati had last month fixed judgment for May 12 after listening to arguments from lawyers to parties in the suit instituted by a chieftain of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State, Mohammed Jamiu Audu.

Named as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wada, Jibrin Isa Echocho, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former governor Abubakar Audu and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The plaintiff is contending that the process leading to the conduct of the December 3, 2011 governorship election, from which Wada emerged as a major beneficiary, was allegedly manipulated by INEC in violation of the Electoral Act. The plaintiff, who said he

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

participated in the ACN’s primary and emerged the running mate to Prof Yusufu Obaje prior to May 28, 2011, argued that he remained a legitimate candidate of the party even when Obaje went to another party.

Audu, who queried the legitimacy of INEC’s decision to substitute him and Obaje with Abubakar Audu in the election, said the process that produced Wada as the PDP candidate violated the Electoral Act, particularly Section 33.

The plaintiff, who raised five questions for the court’s determination, wants the court to, among others, de-

clare that he is the valid and legitimate winner of the election, and therefore entitled to be governor.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mackings Nezianya, adopted his final written address filed with his originating summons.

In relation to the substantive suit, Nezianya urged the court to grant his client’s prayer and discountenance the counter arguments by the defendants.

The plaintiff’s lawyer had, while responding to the defendants’ preliminary objections, argued that their contention was misconceived.

He argued that the case cited by Wada’s lawyer,

Chris Uche (SAN), were misconceived.

Nezianya said they do not support the issue at stake in his suit.

Uche argued that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the case on the ground that the plaintiff not being a member of the PDP, he cannot contest the process adopted by PDP in choosing its candidate.

He observed that Audu failed to sue his party, which allegedly substituted him with another candidate and under whose banner he stood election.

Wada’s lawyer also challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.

He argued that the suit related to post-election issues that could only be taken before the election tribunal.

‘Stop denigrating Yakowa’

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GROUP of southern Kaduna Professionals under the auspices of Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals have accused Governor Ramalan Yero of “prosecuting” the late Governor Patrick Yakowa.

The group also accused Yero of abandoning projects initiated by the late governor.

The group’s convener, John Danfulani, said what the governor was doing was try-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ing to create confusion in southern Kaduna to pave way for his election in 2015.

Danfulani said: “Last year, we all saw a document which stated that the government should create confusion and insecurity in southern Kaduna and use that to win election.

“That is exactly what has been going on. The government has been acting out that script.

“For every follower of polity unfolding in Kaduna State, the governor’s series of promises have turned out to be lies, deceit and mischief shrouded in hypocrisy.

There is clearly persecution of Yakowa even in death.

“The governor returned to Nigeria from United Kingdom on his way to United States because of the killing of 148 people and was yet to visit the affected communities.”

OMBE State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has explained how the state was spending the N30 billion bond his administration accessed from the capital market in October 2012.

He said part of it was used to settle the N10 billion debt incurred by his predecessor, Danjuma Goje.

Commissioner for Finance Hassan Muhammadu, at a briefing, said accessing the funds was necessitated by the need to meet the aspirations of the people.

He said: “This was also in addition to the more than N26 billion debt spread among contractor debts, bank loans, unimplemented mandatories and employees’ debt, including pension arrears, the governor inherited on May 29, 2011.

“Although Dankwambo quietly and honourably accepted these liabilities in the interest of our fledging democracy and good governance, he took the prudent decision to

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

opt out of the heavy bank loans to save the state from the volatility of price changes in the money market and the shocks it could engender on its macro economy.

“The equivalent of half the amount raised was used to refinance the N10 billion borrowing from the money market incurred by the previous administration.

“The balance was prudently used for development as is evident for all to see.”

He said the data was available on request for anyone who is interested.

The commissioner said since the governor signed the Fiscal Responsibility Law in April last year, no major contract was signed without a public announcement of its objectives, cost, location, duration and contractor.

“Dankwambo implemented far more projects than were published in the Bond Issuance Prospectus.”

Three killed in Jigawa bomb blast

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HREE people have been killed when bombs went off at Gani forest in Basirika village, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The incident occurred on Monday night when members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) were searching the forest for gunmen, who allegedly attacked a police station

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

and killed seven policemen in Gwaram Local Government.

Commissioner of Police Kayode Theophilus who spoke through the spokesman, Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the incident.

Jinjiri said: “We don’t have details yet and we cannot say anything about it.”

Task force on petroleum monitoring

T

HE Akwa Ibom State government announced yesterday the setting up of a petroleum monitoring task force.

The task force will be headed by Obong Essien Esema with members drawn from security agencies; labour; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN); and the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.

In the last three months, petrol has been sold between N120 and N150 per litre.

Apart from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Filling Stations, Oando, Total and Mobil selling at N97 per litre, other independent marketers are dispensing petroleum products between N120

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

and N150.

The spokesman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Eastern Zone, Sir Victor Etefia, said 95 per cent of the petroleum products sold in Akwa Ibom are sourced from secondary markets.

“This is why you have price differences since there are two major sources of petroleum products, primary and secondary sources.

“The secondary source is a private tank farm, while the primary source is the NNPC depot. When the NNPC depot has no capacity to supply, you have no other option other than to go to the secondary source.”

Call your wife to order, cleric MUSLIM cleric, Mutells Jonathan makai Unagha, has ad-

A

vised President Goodluck Jonathan to call his wife, Patience, to order so as to halt her perceived interference in governance.

Unuagha, a former Vice President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) said: “Mrs. Jonathan’s meddlesomeness in governance is complicating the volatile situation in the nation.”

The call followed reports that the First Lady had endorsed governorship candidates in some states.

“The utterances of the First Lady are unbecoming in recent times; she is not an elected representative of the people.

“She is entitled to her opinion as a Nigerian, but it was wrong for her to assume the

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

role of Information Minister and other agencies, who speak on behalf of the Federal Government.”

He faulted Mrs Jonathan’s establishment of commission on the abducted Chibok girls, saying it was illegal because she lacks the constitutional rights to set up a commission on the matter.

“It is only the President and relevant government agencies that have the constitutional rights to do that. Even at that, such agencies must seek clearance from the President.

“Let her be more concerned with non-governmental organisation rather than governance.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

57

NEWS

Conference members reject report on National Security From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assitant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

M

EMBERS of the National Conference Committee on National Security has rejected the final report of the Committee’s recommendation, it emerged yesterday.

The rejection followed suspicion that the report did not contain some critical decisions reached by the members, it was learnt.

This has led the Committee to begin fresh discussion of reports of various sub-committees set up to assess the country’s security matters.

According to a member of the Committee, who pleaded not to be named, the two chairmen, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Gambo Jimeta and Chief Albert Horsfall were at variance over the authenticity of the laid report.

The member said: “We were taken aback when the chairman of our committee presented a report to us for consideration, when in actual fact, we are yet to discuss the report of the various sub-committees created to discuss issues of security.

“The situation was so tensed that the two co-chairmen, Gambo Jimeta and the former DirectorGeneral of the National Security Organisation, Chief Albert Horsefal nearly exchanged blows.

“We were on the verge of collating the report and yet a report was presented to us as the outcome of the Committee on National Security.

“The report presented by Gambo Jimeta did not say anything on the current security situation in the country, especially terrorism and counter terrorism.

“The issue of recommendation for the creation of the Ministry of Homeland Security was a report of a sub-committee of the National Security.

“We are surprised that Gambo Jimeta could afford to do what he did in a committee that has seven retired generals as members”.

Akpabio reshuffles exco From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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OMMISSIONERS and special advisers in Akwa Ibom State have been reassigned portfolios.

Some of them, however, retained their ministries.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Udom Emmanuel, approved the re-assignment yesterday.

Emmanuel said the commissioners who retained their portfolios include Ekpenyong Ntekim (Justice); Godwin Afangideh (Agriculture); Don Etim (Works); Glory Edet (Women Affairs); EmemAbasi Bassey (Health) and Emmanuel Enoidem (Special Duties) and Enobong Uwah (Environment and Mineral Resources).

Others are Aniekan Umana (Information); Eno Akpan (Lands and Town Planning); Ufort Tobi Nkangude (Commerce and Industry); Akan Okon (Finance); Iboro Ekanem (Science and Technology) and Ita Udo (Culture and Tourism).

Aggrieved Edo APC members haven’t left, says Oshiomhole E DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday that grievances expressed by some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state will soon be resolved.

Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja, he insisted that the aggrieved members were still members of the party.

According to him, the fact that there were issues among members showed that the party is democratic, open and promoting inclusive participation.

He said: “As far as I know, there are a couple of issues and that show that we are very democratic. We are open. We believe in inclusive participation.

“No party in history has done what we are doing; getting people to register in all polling units and conducting elections at ward levels.

“That people complain if elections were properly or not

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

properly conducted show that elections were held.

“For me, it shows that we are building a new democracy, you know when we founded our party, our commitment was to let the people lead, not the godfathers.

“So, you are bound to have in any genuine democracy, sometimes discordant voices. That is the first evidence that people feel sufficiently free to say what they want to say and for me that is fine.

“Those persons you are referring to, no, they have not moved to another party, they have only said they have issues with APC and in a democracy there are bound to be issues from time to time. What is important is to resolve those issues and I believe we will re-

solve them using democratic methods.

“Democracy is not about grip, we have freedom of association. The beauty of democracy is that people can move front or back, right or left. Some people have joined us from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past months, a member of the house left PDP to join us, don’t forget that some people also left.”

The governor declined to speak on the condition given

by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to release the over 200 school girls.

His words: “I have no reaction because at my level, you don’t jump to conclusion on the basis of newspaper reports. After all, just yesterday, there were pictures showing some American marines arresting someone and we were told the marines were in Ni-

geria only to be told later that they were not here.

“I cannot comment on a story I am not in a position to verify. I don’t have access to classified security details to enable me make an informed position and it will bother on recklessness if I were to take what you may call an official position.”

On the nation’s security situation, he said: “My attitude is that Nigerians have to wake up to the reality that terrorists are here. All of us must work together. It’s not a blame game. The reality is here. A terrorist doesn’t know your age, your region or your religion.

“The truth is that everybody has become a victim. So on this issue we must speak as a nation, united to denounce terrorism and work together with the Federal Government.”

•Orubebe (kneeling) being blessed by Obi Chukwumalieze during his consultation visit to the community

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ORMER Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe has taken his governorship consultation to Delta North senatorial district.

He has visited Issele Uku and Onicha Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government to discuss with traditional rulers and the people.

Orubebe told them that his

Orubebe ‘consulting’ in Delta North political career and actions have been centered on bringing development and impacting positively on communities in his local government, when he was Chairman of Burutu Local Government.

He said as minister he began the execution of the East/

West Road and took it to 80 per cent completion The ex-minister said of the 42 bridges on the road, 38 had been completed and of the 1,040 culverts, 840 had been completed and very large sections of the road had been completed.

Orubebe said God had deposited so much in him and he must sacrifice and give back to Delta State.

Obi Henry Ezeagwuna1 of Issele Uku and Obi Victor Chukwumalieze of Onicha Ugbo described the ex-minister as an honest person.

Conference panel seeks constitutional backing for power rotation

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ATIONAL Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government wants rotation of political power to be enshrined in the Electoral laws.

The Committee recommended yesterday that the office of the President should be rotated among the geo-political zones, while governor’s office should be rotated among the three Senatorial zones in a state.

The policy was also recommended for local government councils.

According to Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Co-chairman of the Committee, the decision followed the need to make governance all-inclusive and eliminate agitations arising from ethnic or

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

sectional marginalisation.

He said: “Today we took a decision on rotation as a policy in moving our country froward. It was a consensus reached by the Committee that the policy should be enshrined in the Electoral Law and political party constitutions.

“It was recommended that the policy must embrace matters of special groups like women, youths and people living with disabilities.

“It was decided that the rotation must include the office of the President, then the Governors must rotate between the three Senatorial districts while

the same policy would also be effected at the Local government level.

“We felt that if this was effected, no ethnic group or kindred would keep the office in perpetuity while others would feel marginalised. With this, it was believed that everyone would have a sense of belonging and feel as part of the system”.

Saying that the recommendation might appear as nothing new from what was being currently employed by political parties, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs said enshrining it in the Electoral law would eliminate all doubts and possible manipulations by unscrupulous politicians.

“People might feel that there

is nothing new with this proposal, but I want to day that the difference is that we want this to be enacted into our Electoral law so that the political parties would know that it is mandatory for them to rotate powers within areas that make up the State or zone.

“If we passed all our recommendations by consensus and our Committee is made up of people from different parts of this country with different interests, with many conference units as it were except for those who wants to keep us where we were but want to move the country forward should buy into consideration where he country is today and where we want it to be tomorrow.

Appeal Court reserves judgment in Atuche’s case

By Precious Igbonwelundu

THE Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, yesterday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by former Managing Director of defunct Platinum Habib Bank (PHB), Francis Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth.

Through their lawyer, Anthony Idigbe (SAN), the appellants had challenged the jurisdiction of an Ikeja High Court to hear an alleged N25.7billion theft brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Justice Latifat Okunnu, in a ruling delivered on December 16, had assumed jurisdiction to hear the alleged fraud case, stating that dismissing the charge as prayed by the Atuches would amount to judicial rascality.

She based her argument on the pendency of Okey Nwosu and three others vs. the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), in which the Atuches are co-defendants, pending at the Appellate Court.

Dissatisfied by Justice Okunnu’s decision, the Atuches in their appeal, raised four grounds.

Counsel to the appellants, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), in his argument submitted that the trial court erred in law in dismissing their motion, which sought a disregard of the charge for want of jurisdiction.

He argued that the trial judge was wrong to have ignored a Court of Appeal’s decision and favoured a ‘flimsy excuse of a pending appeal to enable her continue the unlawful exercise of jurisdiction on the matter, which she no longer has such powers.

According to him, the trial judge misdirected herself in law by failing to consider and determine the substance of the motion on notice for an order dismissing the charge for want of jurisdiction based on the appellate court’s decision in Okey Nwosu vs. FRN (CA/L/ 601/2011), thereby depriving them their constitutional right to fair hearing.

He prayed the court to allow the appeal and set aside the ruling of the lower court.

Arguing the EFCC’s brief, Kemi Pinheiro, (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the appeal on grounds that it was too late for the appellants to raise the issue of jurisdiction.

He submitted that the case of the appellants was hopelessly irredeemable, adding that the case of Okey Nwosu and three others vs. the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) relied upon by the appellants was not relevant.

He urged the court to dismiss the appeal and upheld the decision of the lower court.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the appellate court presided over by Justice J.S. Sankey reserved judgement on the twin appeals after counsel argued their briefs.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

NEWS

Resource control: Conference panel backs 13% derivation

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ORTHERN delegates had their way on resource control yesterday at the National Conference . The Committee. Devolution of Power agreed to maintain the status quo on 13 per cent derivation payment to States by the Federal Government.

The Committee opted for the existing 13 per cent, saying that it was a constitutional issue that would require amendment to change.

Moreover, the Committee felt that changing the existing formula might create unnecessary tension in the country.

The Committee also recommended the creation of a constitutionally backed fund that would be channeled towards developing mineral resources in all states.

In addition, a National welfare Fund was also recommended that would be backed by the constitution to cater for future exigencies.

The Committee took almost

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assitamt Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

two weeks to arrive at conclusions on contentious issues of resources control, on shore/off shore dichotomy and derivation formula.

It was gathered that each member was given time to make presentation on each subject that eventually pitched the North against the south.

Co-Chairmen of the Committee, former governor Obong Victor Attah and Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Coomasie while addressing reporters at the end of the session said the decision was unanimous as most members dropped their positions in favour of national unity and development.

Attah said: “We have concluded deliberations on Exclusive and Concurrent list, fiscal federalism that has components of rev-

enue sharing, resource control and sharing formula.

“Some of our members came to this Committee that dichotomy must be introduced, some insisted that payment on derivation must be reduced, while some want the States to own and operate all resources within their areas and only pay taxes to the government.

“We went through all positions and it was unanimous agreed that the last position was not achievable because it is a constitutional issue and amendment must be made before that can be achieved because as it is now all minerals belong to the Federal government.

“Given that understanding, those people agitating for that drop their position and opted for 50 percent as minimum payment on derivation. This obviously seems like irreconcilable positions.

“Maturity and patriotism of the members came to play at this point as we recognised that there

were so many mineral resources left unexplored which is causing discontent.

“We also recognised that the 13 per cent given to community with the resource is not enough and some still want government want to reduce it because It was felt that with the 13 percent the people are still impoverished because it was not judiciously applied.

“More than anything, we felt that we must try and maintain the equilibrium that we have in this country today, so that there will be no loser or winners.

“At the end, everyone withdrew their positions and we reached a unanimous decision that a special fund must be set up to enable the country, with the participation of the States to develop the mineral deposits within their areas.

“We recommend that it must be enshrined in the constitution so that nobody can challenge it’s

that everybody will benefit from the derivation.

“That final decision was that let status quo remain, and for sake of equilibrium don’t let us go back and re-open old wounds or inflict new ones.

“There were three components to the derivation, to increase the amount of money that accrues to the Federation Account, that every part of this country should benefit from the derivation payment and more importantly there should be employment all across the country.

“With employment through the development of these resources, the restiveness we are experiencing in this country today will go down”.

Coomasie, noted that members were happy at the conclusion of the debates, saying, “We recommended the creation of National Welfare fund that be in the contribution to take care of the future.

“We also recommended the establishment of the Office of the

Accountant General of the Federal Government as distinct for the accountant General of the Federation “All the decisions reached are unanimous and the members are happy about it taking into consideration the interest of Nigeria moving forward so that development can be even”.

A member of the Committee, Annkio Briggs however, told reporters that she was not in support of the committee’s decision on the 13 percent derivation.

Though she admitted that she was alone as other members from the South South went along with the decision of the majority.

She said there was no justification for not increasing the percentage given to the oil producing States going by the environmental and other hazards suffered by the people.

She however said she would consult with her people (Niger Delta) if a minority report should be written by her.

Rumours of lion’s escape sparks fear in Imo From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Four women arrested over sale of threemonth-old baby

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HERE was pandemonium yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and its environs, following the escape of a male lion from the nearby Nekede Zoological Gardens.

The wild animal reportedly escaped when a “careless worker” forgot to shut the gate to its cage.

The incident, which was repeatedly announced on the state radio, threw residents into panic.

The residents retired into their homes much earlier than usual, abandoning their evening relaxation.

The radio announcement by police spokesman, Andrew Enwerem, warned the residents to be careful about their movements until the lion is captured.

The news threw the residents into fear. Women rushed home from the market and their places of work to look for their children.

2015: INEC hopes to conduct elections in all states

•The baby’s mother (second left) and the three suspect during police parade in Enugu...yesterday.

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HE police in Enugu have arrested four women for allegedly buying and selling a threemonth-old baby.

The suspected human traffickers, the police said, are Chinelo Ituma, Maria Asomba, Esther Obi and Nkechi Uzochukwu.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the mother of

From Chris Oji, Enugu

the baby girl, Chinelo (22) of Mgbo, Ebonyi State, resided at New Artisan Market in Enugu.

She allegedly sold her baby to Asomba of Ubahu Okija, Anambra State for N150,000.

The buyer was said to have resold the baby to Obi of Nise

Awka, a resident of Woliwo, Onitsha.

Obi allegedly resold the baby to Uzochukwu of Ezegbogu Aboh Mbaise in Imo State for N430,000.

Amaraizu said Nkechi, who lived in Awada, Onitsha, desperately needed a child because she could not give birth since she was married 10 years ago.

PHOTO: CHRIS OJI

Asked why she sold her baby, Chinelo said she could not afford to bring up the child up.

The mother said she did not set out to sell the child but was forced to do so out of the “fear of how to keep the baby”.

The suspects are said to be assisting the police in their investigation.

CNN journalist to hold training in Lagos

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MMY Award-winning veteran CNN correspondent and communication strategist, Gina London, will from June 15 to July 18 in Lagos training sessions for organisations with high-level communication needs across various industries.

Gina London’s experience spans CNN, CNN Radio, CNN International, CONUS Washington and 250 CNN affiliate stations in the United States and internationally.

As a trainer, consultant and

communication strategist, her client portfolio includes firms like Hill & Knowlton, Deloitte, Wachovia Bank, M&T Mountain Bank, First Mariner Ban, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, Chase Manhattan; First Savings and Federal of Baltimore, The World Bank, JCPenney Corporation, among others. Gina has transformed communications teams over the years, making both their methods and messages more effective.

In a statement by Ayo Owodunni of Find Your Edge Team,

the journalist first stop in Africa will be in Lagos at the “Find Your Edge” Strategic Communication Conference on Wednesday, June 18, in a conference designed to sensitise senior management professionals in media, politics and corporate industries on the emerging opportunities in today’s media cluttered world.

London will focus on how to leverage on global media to sustain relevance and a global approach to communicating with stakeholders, the media and the entire world.

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From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, ought to have been suspended or sacked to allow the auditors carry out their investigation without any encumbrances.

“Recently, during the media chat, President Goodluck Jonathan defended the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, on the issue of

the unremitted $20 billion oil fund.

“From what the President said, as far as I am concerned, no money was missing. He said ‘if $20billion was missing, the American government will know.’ After saying that, he said the government would set up forensic audit on the missing money. What will they audit if no money was missing?” he queried.

Frank, who is also a social activist, also urged the Federal Government to apprise the pub-

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HAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has reassured voters in the states affected by insurgency that they would participate in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

Jega, who spoke in Abuja during an audience with visiting United States (U.S.) Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, was optimistic that the security challenges in the affected states would have been over before the elections.

There had been fears in some quarters about the possibility of conducting elections in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The states are currently under the state of emergency following the increasing activities of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The group recently abducted over 200 school girls, an action which has received global condemnation and draw supports for the Federal Government in the bid to rescue the school children.

However, Jega said that the commission was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election come 2015.

He noted that INEC is now prepared technically and personnel-wise for the forthcoming elections.

No one can force me out of PDP, says Oyinlola From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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•Gina

Missing $20b: APC chieftain threatens legal action against Jonathan YOUTH leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Bayelsa State, Timi Frank, yesterday threatened to sue President Goodluck Jonathan if he fails to sack or suspend the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, before auditors anointed by government begin forensic investigation into the alleged missing $20 billion oil revenue.

Frank told reporters at a in Abuja that Mrs Alison-Madueke

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

lic with the criteria used in choosing the audit firm that will do the job, who appointed the firm, and whether due process was followed in giving out the job in line with the Public Procurement Act. He insisted that since no competitive bidding for the audit contract was announced, the National Assembly must play a role in the choice of the firm because the lawmakers had recommended an independent auditor.

FORMER Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, yesterday said no one could intimidate him out of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said he has not defected to any party and only the Supreme Court can determine his fate.

Oyinlola, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja which he personally signed, said he would pursue the legal battle to regain his seat to a logical conclusion.

He asked his adversaries to stop campaign of calumny against him.

The ex-governor’s reaction came against the backdrop of allegations by some PDP stalwarts that he is already romancing with some parties following political frustration.

Oyinlola however, described such allegations as false and a ploy by his political adversaries to push him out of the party.

The statement said: “I want to use this medium to warn blackmailers and all those who believe Oyinlola can be intimidated and forced to exit the PDP to have a rethink.

“I am too seasoned to succumb to such cheap blackmail. I will like to remind them that as a battle-tested General, no one can intimidate me or force me to abandon my right under the law “. Until the Supreme Court says otherwise, I remain the National Secretary of the PDP. I assure my adversaries that I will pursue this legal battle, which they themselves initiated, to a logical conclusion.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

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NEWS

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IGERIA is facing multiple challenges because of its leaders, former Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has said.

He said Nigeria needs courageous and passionate leaders like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Mr. Nelson Mandela and the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Osinbajo said good leaders must have self-discipline, integrity, humility and must be honest and selfless.

He spoke in Lagos at the Surulere Leadership Conference organised by a firm, Unboxed 2.0, and sponsored

by The Nation, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and Fidelity Bank Plc. Speaking on “Leadership and legacy: The power of one”, the professor of law said it takes one man to conceive ideas that could transform the lives of millions.

He said some leaders, such as Mobutu Sese Seko, Adolf Hitler and Muammar Ghaddafi, had opportunities but left no inspiring legacy.

Osinbajo said: “I do not think that good attributes are country-specific or region-specific.

They are general attributes that we can see in anyone. We have our own great leaders as well, who we see those attributes in, but there are so many things that are missing.

“As far as I am concerned, the first is the commitment to the people; commitment to any kind of ideals. We do not find that a lot in leadership, especially national leadership. You may find in some states some measure of decent leadership, people who are committed, such as Lagos, Osun, Rivers, where there is some commitment to something, but in terms of national leadership, it is sadly missing. You do not find a commitment to serve the people, rather they, deceive and blame everyone. You can-

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Nigerian leaders lack commitment, courage, says Osinbajo •’Citizens have a role to play in national growth ‘

By Joseph Jibueze

not find courage if you do not find commitment.”

He said good leadership was manifested in “even how an official ceremony is organised”.

Osinbajo showed the audience two short video clips showing United States (U.S.) President Barrack Obama and his wife, Michelle, at a ceremony to remember victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The other video showed President Goodluck Jonathan swearing-in the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar.

In the first video, Obama and his wife marched in unison to the praying field, placed their hands on their chests and closed their eyes. Everyone else followed their lead. Two military officers of the same height opened the door as Obama and his wife stepped

out, with other officers artistically forming a guard of honour in a beautiful scene.

In the other video, a man was seen searching through a book for the page containing the CJN’s Oath of Office. Another man was seen adjusting the microphone while President Jonathan and Justice AlomaMuktar watched. After a page was opened, President Jonathan looked in and realised it was the wrong page. He opened the right page himself.

Osinbajo said Obama and his wife, despite their busy schedule, must have practiced their movement and what was expected of them before the ceremony, highlighting the attention to detail that is required for state functions.

He said: “It is that kind of attention to detail that makes people respect a government.

Why are you bringing a whole

book? Why can’t you bring a page? And the whole world was watching.”

Founder of LeapAfrica Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, who spoke on “The power of five loaves and two fishes: Collectively using little to achieve much”, said everyone is guilty of how beautiful or ugly their environment is.

To make a positive impact in the society, she said people must determine their visions, take stock of their assets and utilise them well; prepare; be willing to work as part of a team; galvanise others to buy into the vision and re-invest the returns.

Grooming tomorrow’s leaders is also crucial, she said, adding: “We tend to cling to power and the limelight and are rarely willing to share the risks and rewards with others. This remains a huge stum-

bling block. Leaders who are willing to galvanise others to do the work achieve greater results.”

Unboxed 2.0’s Chief Responsibility Officer Mr. Wale Adenuga said the meeting was an opportunity to bring leaders and youths together to explore how to better the community.

Adenuga said: “People do speak a lot against leadership, but the purpose of this conference is to make people realise that we also have a role to play.

We need to take responsibility for some things. The government ought to take responsibility for a whole lot of things, but we ourselves need to take responsibility. We need to be our brother’s keeper; we need to realise that life is not just about ourselves and that we can make a difference even within the spheres of our influences.”

•From left: Tony Bakare; Osinbajo; Adenuga; Commander of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Nbeye Ettenyin; and former Surulere Local Government Chairman Hakeem Dickson...yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

12 Ekiti cooperative societies get N18m

WELVE agriculturebased cooperative societies in Ekiti State have received N18 million under the Millennium Development Goals Conditional Grant Scheme to Local Government Areas (MDGs-CGS-LGAs).

Ekiti governor’s wife Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, who presented the cheques to representatives of the societies, said the scheme aims to eradicate poverty through enhanced rural farming and agriculture related ventures.

Mrs. Fayemi inaugurated the MDGs Village Health Workers Scheme, under which 100 people were recruited on a salary of N18,000 monthly for two years.

She explained that the 2012-MDGs-CGS-LGAs Track is a counterpart funding arrangement of the Federal, State and Local Governments geared towards attaining the eight MDGs. Three cooperative societies from each of the four councils involved in the 2012 CGS to LGAs - Oye, Efon, Ekiti Southwest and Ekiti West benefited from the scheme.

Mrs. Fayemi urged those recruited under the Village Health Workers Scheme to justify the government’s investment in it by giving their best.

They will serve as a link between primary health facilities and patients at the grassroots; visit residents in their homes

•100 health workers recruited

and identify expectant mothers; educate and monitor expectant mothers, children under five years, elderly citizens and people with health challenges.

Mrs. Fayemi said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration had reduced infant mortality rate, adding

ment would continue to make life more conducive for the people, adding that the plan to turn the state into a food basket would soon begin to yield fruit.

Special Adviser to the Governor on MDGs and Development Relations Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami advised

‘Fake soldier’ held in Ondo

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HE 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army (NA), Owena Barracks in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has arrested a middle-aged woman, Angela Omieh, for allegedly impersonating a soldier.

She was caught with a military uniform, police extract and sworn affidavit for loss of her military identity card.

The brigade’s spokesman, Captain Ademola Adegoke, said the suspect was arrested following a report by her

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that Ekiti has the lowest number of mother to child transmission of HIV and the highest number of the aged. She said the achievement was a result of commitment to people’s welfare and thorough planning.

Mrs. Fayemi said the govern-

the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to improve their standard of living.

She urged them to be close to government departments and agencies, such as the ministries of Agriculture and Health, and her office, to tackle challenges that may militate against optimal benefit from the schemes.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

boyfriend.

He said military kits, two pairs of camouflage, camouflage tee-shirt and shorts, a pair of desert boots, a jungle hat and three handsets were recovered from Omieh, who lives in Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Captain Adegoke said the suspect claimed to be a soldier attached to the 149 Battalion, but deployed in the Joint Task Force in Warri, Delta State.

According to him, Omieh’s boyfriend, Mr. Collins Jegede, narrated how he met her on the social media, where she posted pictures of herself dressed in military outfits.

She visited him in January “dressed” in a military uniform, but when Jegede returned the visit, Omieh allegedly lodged him in a hotel on the Sango/Ijaiye axis in Lagos State, instead of the Ojo Military Barracks where she claimed to work and

live.

When Omieh visited Jegede again on April 17, he informed the officer in charge of a military checkpoint in Owo of his suspicions that she was a fake soldier.

Omieh confessed that she was not a soldier. She said she attended the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State, but could not continue when her father died in 2011.

She said she bought the military uniforms from the depot.

Police track down ‘robbery gang’ with BB PIN From Ernest Nwokolo,

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Abeokuta

OLICEMEN attached to the Ilese Division in Ijebu, Ogun State, have arrested five robbery suspects.

The suspects were tracked down through a BB PIN. Some robbers broke into a shop at Duduyemi Complex in Ilese-Ijebu last month, stealing GSM phones and other items worth over a million naira.

The police got hold of the PINS of some of the stolen Blackberry phones and placed the suspects under surveillance in the social media.

Omobadejo Benjamin, who lives in Abeokuta, was tracked down with a BB PIN and arrested on Sunday.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Benjamin claimed he bought the Blackberry Curve 3 from Adebanjo Adeyinka of Soyoye in Abeokuta for N5,000.

According to Adejobi, Adeyinka was arrested and upon searching his house, many phones, flash drives and modems, among other items, were recovered.

He said the owner of the shop that was robbed identified the items recovered as his properties.

Adejobi said Adeyinka claimed he got the items from one Tunde in Lagos.

He said some policemen went to Lagos and arrested three suspects.

Church holds synod

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HE annual synod of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West begins tomorrow and ends on Sunday.

The clergy, laity and delegates from 300 churches in the 14-year-old diocese are expected at the synod.

There will be an opening service tomorrow. Bishop James Olusola Odedeji will present the Presidential Charge on Friday. Final deliberations by committees and approval of a communiqué will hold on Saturday. The event ends on Sunday with a thanksgiving service.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope-Adefulire, are expected at the synod.

In a statement, the Diocesan Communicator, Ordinand Mobolade Omonijo, said Bishop Odedeji is concerned about the precarious situation in the country, adding that he has declared a pre-synod three-day fasting and prayer.

Oyo, Fed Govt fight child/maternal mortality

HE Oyo State government will continue to support the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP) Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) scheme, Commissioner for Health Muyiwa Gbadegesin said yesterday.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

He spoke at the SURE-P health dialogue for the promotion of maternal, neonatal and child health at the State Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.

Gbadegesin, represented by the Director of Primary

Health Care Services, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oyelakin, said the government had recruited more health workers, equipped community healthcare centres and fixed roads in rural areas to ease access.

He said: “The purpose of SURE-P MHCN is to improve

maternal and child health at the rural level. They have health officials who complement the efforts of the state government. We urge women to patronise these equipped primary health care centres for safe delivery.”

The commissioner warned

residents against patronising quacks.

The Aare Alasa of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi, who chaired the event, said it was sad that approximately one million women and children die yearly in Nigeria of preventable causes.

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NEWS Mimiko visits landslide site •From left: The Alara of Ilara, Oba Hakeem Adesanya; former Lagos State AccountantGeneral Akinwunmi Ambode talking to a member of the Epe Club, Prince Kunle Adewale; and the President of the club, Chief Lanre Rasaq, at Ambode’s investiture into the club...at the weekend.

Obasanjo didn’t win 1999 poll, says Okurounmu A SOUTHWEST delegate to the ongoing National Conference,

Senator Femi Okurounmu, said yesterday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not win the 1999 presidential election.

Okurounmu said Obasanjo was merely anointed by the powers that be at the time as winner of the election.

The Ogun State-born delegate, who is a member of conference committee on political restructuring and forms of government, spoke during the committee’s debate on the modalities for rotating electoral positions in the country.

Okunronmu said obasanjo was anointed by the powers that be to pacify the Yoruba over the injustice meted out

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

to the winner of the annuled June 12, 1993, presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

The election, which was acclaimed to be free and fair, was annulled by the then Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Okunrounmu said: “Obasanjo did not win the 1999 presidential election. He was anointed by the powers that be to pacify the Southwest over the annulment of the June 12 election. We did not vote for him. I have said it to his hearing.”

Okurounmu said he supported the rotation of elective offices, but it should not be written in the constitution.

He suggested that political parties should not include zoning in their constitutions but it should be included in the Electoral Act as a guarantee.

Another delegate, Senator Nimi Bariagha Amange, told the committee that it was wrong to compare the country’s democracy with that of America because America has practised democracy for over 200 years.

He said: “Our greatest problem is fear and suspicion and that is why we want everything to be in the constitu-

tion.

“If we want zoning, we should zone the presidency to all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, so that all ethnic groups will enjoy the presidency.”

Amange said the National Assembly should be allowed to do its work.

He said Obasanjo was not the best candidate in the 1999 poll, but that Nigerians decided to give the presidency to the Southwest because of the annulled June 12 election .

Amange said Nigeria has never had its best as president.

The Bayelsa State born delegate said every zone or local government has somebody that can rule the nation perfectly.

2015: I won’t lead a divided party, Bankole tells Ogun PDP F

ORMER House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole has said he will not lead a factionalised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State to the 2015 polls.

Bankole was reacting to a request by PDP stakeholders in Ogun East Senatorial District that he should contest the governorship election.

He said he would not be happy to have the ticket of a divided house.

Speaking in Ijebu-Ode at a PDP stakeholders’ meeting, Bankole urged members to

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

resolve their differences and unite for the 2015 polls.

He said: “The reason for this meeting is for the PDP to continue this successful unification of all groups. For that, I am grateful to everyone here. I am not interested in a PDP that has different factions. No! My responsibility to all of you, to the party that gave me the posi-

tion of speakership, is to do whatever I can to unite members. I am grateful to the elders, men and women, for your efforts at reconciling members.”

At the meeting were Senator Lekan Mustapha; Mr. Abiodun Akovoyon; Mr. Job Akintan; Mr. Johnson Olu Fatoki; former House of Representatives’ member Mr. Wale Ogunbanjo and former Minister of State for Agriculture Nojeem

Council chairmen: Ajimobi seeks understanding

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members to trust his judgment and that of the party on political appointees.

He appealed for the understanding of members, who were not happy with the appointment of caretaker committee chairmen in the 33 local government councils.

He made the appeal in his office while hosting groups of party faithful from various local government areas.

While party members from Oyo East, Oyo West, Atiba, Afijio, Oriire, Ogbomoso North, Egbeda, Ibadan North-East and Saki West councils thanked the governor for the persons appointed in their local governments,

‘No matter what happens, some will be happy and some unhappy.

But we thank God that the majority are happy.’ those from Ona-Ara and part of Oriire Local Government were not happy with the persons appointed in their areas.

Ajimobi described the reactions of party members as normal, saying there was no way everybody could be satisfied with the appointment.

He said he had no grudge against those who were re-

moved, adding that his action was to give others a chance to serve the people.

The governor said the appointments were made after wide consultations with the party hierarchy, adding: “No matter what happens, some will be happy and some unhappy. But we thank God that the majority are happy.”

He said none of the chairmen had spent less than two years in office, adding that they were retained because of a pending court case.

Ajimobi urged APC members to accommodate one another.

He thanked the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, for his support for his administration, noting that there was no rift between him and the monarch.

Awodele.

Bankole contested the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency seat in April, 2011, and lost to Mr. Segun Williams of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko visited yesterday the site of a landslide in Okitipupa.

He was accompanied on the visit by Commissioner for Works Gboye Adegbenro; Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Chairman Pastor Johnson Ogunyemi and the Chairman of the State Asphalt Company (OSAC, Kehinde Oshikoya; among others.

Mimiko said engineers were already surveying the damaged area, which affected the major road that links Okitipupa and Igbokoda.

He assured residents that his administration would not allow the situation to degenerate, adding that their safety was a priority to the government.

The governor urged residents to stay off the site.

NAPPS quiz contest enters semi-finals

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HE maiden edition of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) quiz competition for schools in Lagos State enters the semifinal stage today at the Victory Grammar School, Ikeja.

Over 12 schools are competing for slots in the final competition scheduled for May 21.

The competition was organised to foster unity in private schools check the academic standard.

It tests the pupils’ proficiency in mathematics, English, sciences, Literature-in-English, Government, Commerce and General Paper.

Schools expected at the semi-final include: Childville High School, Surulere; Unique Height International School; Dansol High School in Agidingbi; Ifako International Nursery/Primary School; Twinkle Star Nursery/ Primary School; Monade Nursery/Primary School; Oba Adelani Gbogboade Memorial School and Zedek International School, Apapa.

$8.4m fraud: Court denies Ajudua LAGOS High Court, bail again

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sitting in Ikeja, for the second time turned down a bail application filed

by Lagos socialite Mr. Fred Ajudua, who is on trial for alleged $8.4 million fraud.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye rejected Ajudua’s bail application on the grounds that there was no special circumstance warranting the court to grant it.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Ajudua to court for allegedly defrauding former Chief of Army Staff Ishaya Bamaiyi of $8.4 million while they were both at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November, 2004 and June, 2005.

The EFCC said Ajudua and others at large allegedly defrauded Bamaiyi through false claims that the money was the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to represent

By Adebisi Onanuga

Bamaiyi in court and facilitate his release.

Ajudua initially demanded that Bamaiyi be put on trial for “admitting that he offered bribe”.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge after the court refused his application.

Ajudua applied for bail on grounds that he had kidney problems and needed medical care, but Justice Ipaye said when he was granted bail by another court in another matter in the past, he absconded.

PUBLIC NOTICE ALIMI I formerly known and addressed as MRS ALIMI SHERIFAT OMOBOLANLE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AYEDUN SHERIFAT OMOBIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014

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FOREIGN NEWS

Israeli court sentences ex-PM Olmert to six years

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ORMER Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging bribery case, capping a stunning fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the country and marking the climax in a lengthy campaign against corruption in Israeli public life.

With the sentencing, Olmert became the first former Israel prime minister to be sent to prison. He joins a former Israeli president, Cabinet minister and several lawmakers who have all served time in recent years.

The cases have sparked shame in the country’s elected officials but also pride in its justice system, proving that no one in Israel is above the law.

Judge David Rozen, a Tel Aviv

district court judge, delivered the punishment in the Jerusalem real estate scandal case, which was related to Olmert’s activities before he become prime minister in 2006. Yesterday’s sentencing followed a guilty verdict that was handed down by the same court in March.

“A public servant who accepts bribes is akin to a traitor,” Judge David Rozen read in court.

“This is a man who was on top of the world. He served as prime minister, the most important position, and from there he reached the position of a man convicted of criminal offenses,” Rozen added, referring to Olmert.

He was also fined $290,000.

The 68-year-old Olmert, who stood stoically in the courtroom

in a navy blue shirt, insisted he is innocent and never took a bribe.

At the time, Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and was accused of taking bribes to push the project forward. He was forced to resign as prime minister in 2009 amid a flurry of corruption allegations.

Olmert was a long time fixture in Israel’s hard-line right wing when he began taking a more moderate line toward the Palestinians a decade ago, as deputy prime minister. He also played a leading role in Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

He became prime minister in January 2006 after then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a debilitating stroke. He subsequently led their newly formed

Obama impressed with progress in Uruguay

P •Olmert

Kadima Party to victory in parliamentary elections on a platform of pushing further peace moves with the Palestinians.

A gifted orator, Olmert crossed a series of taboos while in office - warning that Israel could become like apartheid South Africa if it continued its occupation of the Palestinians and expressing readiness to relinquish control of parts of the holy city of Jerusalem as part of a peace deal.

RESIDENT Obama has said he has been “consistently impressed” with progress in Uruguay since President Jose Mujica took office in 2010.

During a face-to-face meeting in Washington, Mr Obama called Mr Mujica a leader on human rights throughout the Western hemisphere.

The two presidents discussed trade and strengthening existing educational exchanges, but there was no mention of Uruguay’s controversial legalisation last week of the production, sale and consumption of marijuana.

The marijuana law, which Mr Mujica signed on 6 May, is intended to deprive criminals of the lucrative sale of cannabis, but critics argue it will expose more people to drugs.

President Obama also

praised Uruguay’s “contributions to peacekeeping in places like Haiti and Africa” The Uruguayan president spoke about his country’s tough restrictions on tobacco smoking, which have led to it being sued by the US tobacco giant Philip Morris.

“In the world, eight million people die each year from smoking tobacco,” he said.

“This is mass murder. We are in an arduous fight, very arduous, and we must fight against very strong [corporate] interests.”

The meeting come less than two months after President Mujica announced his country would take five prisoners from the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba.

He said he had accepted a request from President Obama “for human rights reasons”.

Iran nuclear negotiators to start work on final accord

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ALKS between six world powers and Iran on the country’s controversial nuclear programme are to resume in Vienna.

Negotiators are expected to begin trying to draft an agreement that will provide a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Although meetings have been held since February, correspondents say nothing of substance has yet been agreed.

Both sides hope to build on an interim deal that saw uranium enrichment curbed by Iran in return for sanctions relief.

The accord - which was signed in Geneva in November but only took effect in January - gives them until late July to agree a comprehensive solution, although that deadline can be extended by mutual consent.

The world powers want Iran to scale back its sensitive nuclear activities permanently to ensure that it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon.

But Iran says its nuclear work, which it insists is peaceful, will continue - and wants an end to the sanctions that have crippled its economy.

The four days of talks between Iran and the P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - will begin with a working dinner at Vienna’s Palais Coburg hotel for Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Danish FM: Syria must give up last chemical arms

•Fawaz al-Etan, the Jordanian ambassador in Libya (center) waves to the press and his relatives upon his arrival to Marka Military Airport, in Amman, Jordan...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

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Jordan’s envoy freed in Libya, returns home

ORDAN’s ambassador to Libya who was abducted last month at gunpoint in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, returned home yesterday after being freed by his captors.

Ambassador Fawaz al-Etan was welcomed at Amman’s military airport by jubilant family members who hugged and kissed him and top Jordanian officials, including Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh who hours earlier announced the diplomat’s release.

Al-Etan waved to reporters as he stepped out of the plane at the Marka military airfield

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east of Amman.

He said he was in good health, ready and eager to return to his post in Libya, and that his captors had treated him well. He gave no further details about his ordeal and captivity.

Al-Etan was taken by gunmen from his vehicle in central Tripoli near the Jordanian Embassy on April 15. Assailants opened fire on his car, wounded his driver and then forced him out at gunpoint.

It was one the latest highprofile abduction in the North African nation still plagued by lawlessness, more than

two years since the country’s 8-month civil war ended with Moammar Gadhafi’s killing in October 2011.

A week after the ambassador’s abduction, Jordan released a Libyan detainee, Mohammed al-Darsi, who was arrested and convicted in 2007 of trying to carry out a suicide bombing at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport.

Jordanian officials at the time would not say whether the Libyan detainee’s release was connected to al-Etan’s abduction. But Libyan media reported at the time that Jordan had agreed to set free a con-

South Sudan’s elections postponed

OUTH SUDAN has postponed presidential elections due next year to give government and rebel forces more time to achieve reconciliation, President Salva Kiir has said.

Mr Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed a ceasefire deal on Friday to end conflict that erupted in December, He said an interim government would run South Sudan until elections are held in 2017 or 2018.

Thousands of people have been killed in the fighting.

Mr Machar accused the government of breaking a ceasefire and attacking the rebels on multiple fronts.

The UN has accused both sides of crimes

against humanity, including mass killings and gang-rape.

South Sudan is the world’s newest state, becoming independent in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.

Fighting broke out in December after Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar, his sacked deputy, of plotting a coup.

Mr Machar denied the allegation, but then marshalled a rebel army to call for the overthrow of the government.

Mr Kiir and Mr Machar signed a peace deal in Ethiopia on Friday. It was their first meeting since the conflict erupted.

At least 1.5 million people have been left homeless in the world’s newest state Many of them are living at UN camps.

victed militant in exchange for the ambassador.

According to a Libyan official, al-Darsi arrived in Tripoli on Monday on a special plane from Amman.

The same Jordanian aircraft took the ambassador home on Tuesday, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media.

The kidnappings in Libya reflect the weakness of the country’s politicians and officials in the face of powerful militias that have become both the enforcers of the law and the fuel of lawlessness after successive governments following Gadhafi’s ouster came to depend on them to restore order in the absence of a strong police force or military.

Both diplomats and journalists have been among those targeted in the kidnappings.

In January, gunmen briefly held six Egyptian diplomats and embassy employees following the arrest of a Libyan militia leader in Egypt. The diplomats were released only after Egypt freed the detained militia commander.

Most of the abductions, however, have targeted Libyan officials, including senior members of the government, and their families.

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ENMARK’s foreign minister yesterday urged Syria to give up the last of its chemical weapons agents within days to meet a June 30 deadline for completely ridding the war-torn country of its lethal stockpile.

Martin Lidegaard said there are “serious security problems” concerning the last 16 containers, some of which have agents used to create deadly VX and Sarin nerve gases.

But he said these problems can be resolved and the Syrian government needs to make that a priority.

“That is the clear message to the Syrian government that we expect them to deliver the last containers as soon as possible, hopefully within days,” Lidegaard told The Associated Press aboard a Danish cargo ship used to ferry the agents out of Syria.

The ship, the Ark Futura, is part of a Danish-Norwegian flotilla that also includes two warships and another cargo vessel that has been moving the chemicals out of Syria since January.

The agents will eventually be destroyed aboard a U.S. ship.

Syria already missed an April 27 deadline for all chemical agents to be removed or destroyed in the country.

The Ark Futura and the Norwegian MV Taiko are currently anchored in international waters off the south coast of Cyprus awaiting word to head for the Syrian port of Latakia to pick up the last batch of chemicals, representing 8 percent of Syria’s stockpile.

Lidegaard visited both the Ark Futura and its escort, the Danish frigate HDMS Esbern Snare, where he thanked the sailors for their work.

United States: Twin baby sisters born holding hands

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PAIR of U.S. twin sisters who were born holding hands were breathing on their own after being removed from a ventilator, their mother has said.

Jillian and Jenna Thistlethwaite shared an amniotic sac and placenta, a rare condition known as monoamniotic birth.

“They’re already best friends,” said their mother, Sarah Thistlethwaite.

They were born on Friday in the US state of Ohio, grasping each other’s hands when doctors lifted them up for their parents to see after delivery.

Monoamniotic birth occurs in only one in 10,000 pregnancies.

Ms Thistlethwaite, 32, was monitored for weeks at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, as monoamniotic twins are at risk from becoming entangled in each other’s umbilical cords.

She told the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper that holding her children was “the best Mother’s Day present ever”.

“I can’t believe they were holding hands,” she said. “That’s amazing.”

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NEWS •Staff SGT Kayode Ayobami of Directorate of Army Public Relations HQ presenting a copy of the Soja Magazine to Niger State Governor Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in Government House, Minna.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye (second right) addressing reporters at the 2014 Ministerial Press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja... yesterday. With her are: Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba (right; Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga and Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Gbolahan Dawodu.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry Of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Oyin Sodipe; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Mrs Yewande Amusan and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu during the 2014 Ministerial news conference to mark the third year anniversary of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration, at the Governor’s Office Press Center, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta... yesterday.

•From left: Director-General, National Agency for Control of Aids (NACA), Prof John Idoko; Vice President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Mosto Onuoha; President, Prof. Oyewale Tomori and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Innocent Ujah, at the public lecture on achieving an end to HIV/AIDS epidemic in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (middle); Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Mr Folami Muslim (left); Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule and General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, at the second Lagos Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Summit in Lagos ... yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

•From left: Captain Aliyu Ovulevu; Rector, Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Sheikh Habeebullahi Al-Ilory; Major Abdulkareem Adisa Muhammad; Major Lawal yakub and Provost, Diploma Section, Markaz Arabic and Islamic training Centre, Agege, Dr Mumeen Yoosuph, during a courtesy visit by the team of the Directorate of Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army to Markaz in Lagos.

•New Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 10, Bala Hassan (left), briefing Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari when he visited the governor... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi (second left); Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale (left); Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi (second right) and the Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Arc. Terver Gemade during the Minister’s working visit to Festac Town ... on Monday

•From left: Chairman on the occasion, Prof. Adigun Agbaje; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Rotimi Suberu and representative of the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Social Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Victor Adeyeye, at a lecture on reforming the Nigerian Political System in Ibadan, Oyo State capital ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

•From left: Chairman, Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, Kola Balogun; Chief Financial Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Aigbe Olotu and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, during a visit by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) To Memmcol in Mowe, Ogun State

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63

SPORT EXTRA IAAF WORLD RELAYS

De Ultimate Commander partners NAFDAC on drug war

Blessing Okagbare, 23 others to represent Nigeria

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IGERIA'S fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare and twenty three others have been listed as athletes that will represent the country at the IAAF World Relays slated for May 24 and 25 in Nassau Bahamas.

Okagbare will compete in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays. She will be joined by Gloria Asumnu, Dominique Omajuwa Duncan, Francesca Okwara, Peace Uko and Endurance Abinuwain the 4x100.

Other female athletes in the team include Regina George, Patience Okon George, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, Folashade Abugan and Amaka Ogoegbunam.

The men’s team includes Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Obinna Metu, Nicolas Imhoaperamhe, Mark Quis Frazier, Elvis Ukale, Oduduru and Noah Akwu.

Others are Amaechi Morton, Orukpe Eraikoyan Joseph, Akerele, Tobi Ogunmola and Isah Salihu.

AFN President, Solomon Ogba will lead the contingent which includes Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, Olumide Bamiduro (Secretary General),

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By Stella Bamawo Eric Campbell (Performance Director) and Relays Coordinator, Maurice Green.

They will be joined by Gabriel Okon, Daniel Etsebiminor, Ekundayo Ogunkunle (Physio), Timothy Lee (Physio), Falilat Ogunkoya (Athlete Representative) and Olukayode Thomas (Media Officer).

Meanwhile,two of Nigeria’s up-and-coming athletes, Divine Oduduru and Omeiza Akerele have been named as members of the proposed team to the IAAF World Relays slated to hold between May 24 and 25 in Nassau, Bahamas.

It will be recalled that the duo did the country proud last year at the African Youth Athletics Championships and have also posted impressive performances at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League, with both of them winning their events over two legs of the meet recently.

Oduduru won the Men’s 100m in Akure with a Personal Best of 10.39secs while Akerele fought stiff competition from old timer and Olympics bronze medallist, Godday James to win the Men’s 400m in 46.88secs.

DSTV PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Union Bank good for title, says coach

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EAD coach of Union Bank Basketball Club of Lagos, Ayinla Johnson believes his team has all it takes to emerge champion of the 2013/ 2014 DStv Premier Basketball League at the end of this season.

In a chat with NationSport after the Stallions defeated Police Baton 79-69 in one of the week 9 games played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, Coach Ayinla, however, said his players must be more disciplined during games in so as to

By Akeem Lawal achieve their target.

“I believe we have the players, we have the personnel to compete for the DSTV Premier Basketball League trophy but we have to be more disciplined. We allow too many offensive rebounds today (against Police Baton), too many easy turnovers, that’s not good.

Hopefully when we show the players the game tape, they will see where we are coming from. But I believe we are good enough to give any

team a run for its money,” said the former Head Coach of the national U-18 men’s team.

Union Bank won the first quarter 21- 17 but allowed the Police Baton turn the table around to claim the second quarter 34- 41 before rallying round to win the third and fourth quarter 60-48, 79-69 and Ayinla believes his players were too overconfident in the game.

“The thing is that there are some games my players think they can just walk in there and get the victory and that is the difference between us, Kano

Pillars and others. We were up by 15 points in the third quarter, you don’t let people back in the game, if you are up by 16, you either win by that margin or increase it to 20, 30, that’s how disciplined team play and that is where we want to get to but once we get that easy lead, we allow people to get back into the game, we must not be doing that. But I hope it’s not over confidence that allows us to let them get back. But when the chips are down, most of these guys are experienced enough,” the exinternational noted.

Danagogo to support Polo

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HE Minister of Sports and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo has promised to support the development of polo.

He made the pledge yesterday when members of the Abuja Guards Brigade Polo Club, led by the vice

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

chairman of the club, Ademu Suleiman and the captain, Mustapha Junaidu visited him at work in Abuja.

Danagogo said his administration would support the club and other polo clubs to develop and sell

PUBLIC NOTICE TULSI I, known and addressed as TULSI BENE EKINE, born on 3rd of May, 1991 and not 3rd of May 1988. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ANYAEGBUDIKE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anyaegbudike Ijeoma Angela now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Madueke Ijeoma Angela. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BENSON I formerly known as Miss Benson Mfonobong Goodness now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs David Mfonobong Goodness. All documents bearing former name remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) and the general public should please take note.

IJAGBEMI I formerly known as Miss Oluwakwmi Opeyemi Ijagbemi, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Oluwakemi Ayodele Baba. All documents bearing former name remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc. and the general public should please take note.

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the game to Nigerians. He urged the club to come up with ideas and programmes that will help to change the notion among Nigerians that the game of polo is only for the rich.

"I always wonder why Polo does not usually feature in most of our championships.

Like every other sport, we will help popularise the game and sell it to Nigerians.

You should come with program-mes that will make the polo game popular to Nigerians and know that the game is not only for the rich," he said.

Earlier the vice chairman of the club, Ademu Suleiman, called for a synergy between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Abuja Guard Brigade Polo club to develop the game and remove the belief that Polo is for the rich.

He also revealed that

arrangements had been concluded to stage the 2014 edition of the annual Unity Polo Tournament to celebrate Nigeria’s Democracy Day on May, 29.

The captain of the club, Mustapha Junaidu who spoke on the tournament, said the week-long tournament which will attract at least 60 players from 16 teams will run from May 20 to May 26.

He said renowned polo players all over the country would compete for the President’s Cup, the Legislative Shield, the Guards Brigade Cup, the Guards Challenge Cup and the Ambassador of Argentina Cup which he said is a new introduction to the tournament will be cup for in celebration of Argentina national day in honour of Argentine ambassador to Nigeria.

HE Ultimate Commander, Osita Offor has joined the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its campaign against fake, adulterated and unwholesome drugs.

At a visit to the Head office of the agency in Oshodi, Lagos, Ultimate Commander was received by the Director General (DG), NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii.

The wrestler used the courtesy call to reinstate his commitment to, “safeguarding the health of Nigerians. And just as I have been defeating opponents, so will I conquer promoters of bad, unwholesome and sub-standard products in Nigeria, by joining NAFDAC in this campaign. It is my hope that the zero level tolerance of NAFDAC for fake drugs will be sustained and improved on by me.

“As the Ambassador for NAFDAC, I’m proud to fit into the position which I consider too big for me going by icons such as late Nelson Mandela who used his time and resources to improve humanity.

I am going to ensure I do not fail in this call and responsibility.”

He used the occasion to announce that he will be at the Nelson Mandela Commonwealth Nations and America Unifying Championship.

Tagged ‘Madiba the global icon and legend lives on’, come 18, July, Johannesburg, South Africa.

He further said, “The Ultimate Wrestling and Charity Organisation (TUWCO) have lined up activities which include full engagements on the granted special privilege of immortalization of the great legend, Dr Nelson Mandela.

“The aims include to immortalise the man described by more than 90 world leaders as the greatest leader of all time, a man of peace and an epitome of unity, born and raised on the African soil. To drum the friendship instrument between the common wealth nations and America as it affects our children

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha and the next generation.

“To take the message of peace and unity across the two divides and instigate its practice by the younger generation. No to Boko Haram is part of the message.

To act as a veritable tool for rekindling the hope of the less privileged in our society, especially in this developing economy. It will also be used to reenact the struggle of late Dr Nelson Mandela, using the sports of Professional Wrestling as a tool. To encourage the youth in every country we visit to stay out of drug and other vices and put their God given talents into positive use.

“And finally, to channel a good percentage of our earnings as wrestlers to the less privileged in the society, thereby, further practilicalsing the ideals of the Ultimate Wrestling and Charity Organisation as a non governmental organisation (NGO). “ Dr Orhii was full of encomiums for De Ultimate Commander and said his agency is happy to identify with him and the upcoming Nelson Mandela Commonwealth and America Unifying Wrestling Championship, “The man Nelson Mandela exemplified unity and peace even as he was honoured with Nobel Price for Peace. His life epitomized ‘wrestling’ as he actually wrestled apartheid, discrimination, inequality, hatred, hunger, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance and lots of other vices. To all these, he conquered “Osita Offor, De Ultimate Commander has distinguished himself as a proven sportsman who never associated himself with any kind of banned substance or performance enhancement materials. For this reason, in 2007, NAFDAC deemed it fit to confer him the agency’s Sport Ambassador to foster campaign against the use of illegal substance to enhance performance in sport.”

Confluence celebrates Wogu’s national call-up

C

HAIRMAN of Nigeria Women Premier League, NWPL side, Confluence Queens FC of Lokoja, Abdul Adama has tasked the club’s top scorer and Super Falcons invitee Chioma Wogu to be a good Ambassador of the team at the national level.

Wogu, who has been invited to the camp of the Nigeria Senior National Team, the Super Falcons’ is expected to resume camping this week together with the rest of invited players.

According to the Chairman, represented by the spokes person of the club Tosin Ojo, " Her call to the National team is a reflection of her hard work for the Wada Queens, the team is proud of her invitation, we promise to stand by her quest for National football but wants her to be a good Ambassador of the team", said Adama.

"Discipline is our watchword, we wish her good luck because we believe she has what it takes to challenge for a shirt."

However, Adama believes it’s a sign of improvement on the part of the team and the state governor " The team is

improving tremendously, I think the support of His Excellency captain Idris Ichalla Wada is already yielding positive results, we are happy for that ."

The player also expressed happiness over the opportunity handed to her as she said "I want to thank God Almighty for this great chance to prove myself at the national level, I thank my team mates and my coaches for giving me the best of support, they always make me feel important, I know this is as a result of good work and efforts we have put in place for Confluence Queens, I am happy and promise to work hard to make this call up a permanent."

•Chioma

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9 NO.2848

‘Nigeria is dying while some are lying. Our roads are clogged and too few new roads are planned. A country full of potholes which sells the Highway Code...’

TONY MARINHO

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

W

HEN our economy was rebased on April 6 making it the largest in Africa, ahead of South Africa’s, the continent’s erstwhile Number One, there was celebration in Abuja, albeit not as loud as that nearly nine years ago over the Paris Club debt relief.

Then, President Olusegun Obasanjo made a special national broadcast on June 30 in which he expressed “great joy” at the announcement by the Paris Club of an “offer in principle” of relief from the debts the country owed it. At that time we were said to owe the club $30.515 billion. It said it would forgive $18 billion provided we paid $12, half in July 2002, the rest by the year’s end. In addition we were also expected to fulfil the terms of a supposedly autonomous Policy Support Instrument (PSI) but which, for all practical purposes, was the World Bank’s infamous Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in all but name.

The next day all the national media hailed the announcement as one of the country’s greatest achievements, if not the greatest.

Many Nigerians fell over themselves in congratulating the president for what they said was his historic achievement. Some even exceeded themselves by dubbing him the father of Nigeria’s new independence, after the first from our colonial masters in 1960.

The president himself, apparently overjoyed by the deal, told representatives of the Organised Private Sector who went to the Presidential Villa to congratulate him that the relief “will remove the burden of debt on Nigerians today and in the future.”

Those who were sceptical that the announcement was truly a cause for “great joy” were dismissed as inconsequential spoilsports, even killjoys. In a reply to critics of the onerous conditionalities of the relief in a widely published article in July, an apparently angry Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the minister of finance who was central to securing the relief, said it was a fact and whether the “tiny minority (of sceptics) likes it or not, Nigeria will make use of this change.”

A less charitable Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, then the managing director of First Bank, writing in support of the minister said those unhappy with the terms of the relief were the much pilloried “Babangida Boys.” Nigeria, he said, should fulfil the terms of the relief “even it means emptying the reserve before the locusts return for a second helping.” His “locusts” were obviously the “Babangida Boys”.

A more subdued Dr Mansur Mukhtar, then director-general of the Debt Management Office (DMO) and a key player in securing the relief, writing in Thisday (July 30, 2005) also in support of the finance minister, said it made good economic sense to use our reserves to “secure a permanent exit from the debt trap.”

On October 25, 2005, President Obasanjo made another broadcast on the relief when it went from being a mere offer in principle to a virtual reality. His broadcast was against the background of the earlier loss of his wife, Stella, and an air crash which claimed many lives. Still, he said, Nigeria

RIPPLES PDP blames APC for Abuja blasts-News

Name NAMES now or KEEP QUIET FOREVER!

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Rebasing our GDP and the Paris Club debt relief

•President Goodluck Jonathan

had cause to celebrate its freedom from its debt, even if the celebration was to be subdued.

Nearly nine years on, it is now obvious that the heady official self-congratulations in 2005 over the Paris Club debt relief were not as justified as its enthusiasts tried to make it.

Certainly the promise they said it held for the prospects of a brighter Nigerian economy has not been fulfilled. Instead we seem headed for another debt trap, possibly worse.

That we are headed back into the debt trap is obvious from an interview with the director-general of the DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, published in the Nigerian Tribune of December 27, 2012. In that interview he said our debt stock as at September that year was $12.5 billion, $6.2 external, the rest internal. His projections for the external debts were $12.16 for 2013, $14.58 billion for 2014 and $17.76 billion for 2015. For the domestic debts he projected $7.12 for 2013, $7.79 for 2014 and $8.44 for 2015.

Both Dr Nwankwo and his boss, the finance minister, say there is no cause for concern that we will return to the old debt trap, on present reckoning. Indeed, our chief debt manager last year told Leadership (October 6, 2013) that the country “is under-borrowing.”

Perhaps so. But then this was precisely what we were told the first time we were dragged, kicking and screaming, into taking our first jumbo loan under General Obasanjo as military head of state in the late seventies. Look where it eventually landed us.

B

OGOF — Buy One and Get One Free — it is Circus Jona, prime entertainment unlimited! Won’t you try us, with our money-back guarantee, should we fail to amuse and excite, with the most rib-cracking hilarity you ever saw?

It’s confirmed: we are the world’s most entertaining couple!

Enter, Show 1.

I’m the man, the Nebuchadnezzar, the army general, the dictator and the “muscler”-in-chief, if I really want to be. If I use even 50 per cent of my humongous power, the town would be a hubbub. But I don’t want to. I prefer to be humble and modest, you know, the debonair uncle next door.

But how do they pay me back? They feel my gentility is stupidity! Imagine, the loud mouths.

Because a few blokes stole a few millions, ordinary stealing, they now shout and scream it is corruption! Can you imagine? To add insult to injury, they now say I should account for it: me, commander-in-chief! Is it because I am so modest and humble? Insult!

Then, they say some lunatics stole some girls.

More importantly, the lot of the vast majority Nigerians has only got progressively worse since 2005, not better. This much is obvious from the figures from our National Bureau of Statistics, which showed that the country’s poverty incidence worsened from 54.4% in 2004 to 71.5% in 2011. In absolute numbers, this was from 69 million to 120 million. More likely than not matters have only got worse since then, considering the pervasive insecurity in the land alone.

The obvious big lesson in all this is that our government, like most governments the world over - but more so in our case - has become more concerned with public relations than with substance. In other words our government had become more concerned with pleasing and impressing outsiders and a charmed circle of a few insiders than in making the ordinary Nigerian happy and satisfied.

The official response to the rebasing of our economy last month clearly shows that this lesson has not been learnt. From the president and the finance minister down to supporters of the administration, it seems to have been celebrations galore, albeit more subdued than those of the debt relief.

In a short statement on his Facebook wall the day after the rebasing, our president, for example, called it a “feat” collectively achieved by Nigerians which should be celebrated. The revision of the size of our economy may not be mere trickery, as The Economist said in an editorial in its edition of April 12. But it truly beggars belief that our president, who holds a doctorate degree in a science subject, would call a mere statistical recalculation to get the true size of our economy an economic feat worth celebrating by Nigerians, if not by himself personally.

“While this calls for celebration,” the president said on his Facebook wall, “I personally cannot celebrate until all Nigerians can feel the positive impact of our growth. There are still too many of our citizens living in poverty.”

That his reason for personally abjuring any celebrations was not sincere soon became

evident when he rejected the latest World Bank report which classified Nigeria as an extremely poor country, along with China, India, Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This was during his speech at this year’s Workers’ Day parade on May 1st at Eagle Square in Abuja. Nigeria, he said, was not poor because it has produced Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, and it could also boast of the largest number of Africans with private jets! Clearly this was a sharp contradiction of his Facebook statement that there were too many poor Nigerians for him to celebrate the country’s new Number One status on the continent.

Our finance minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, must have been thoroughly embarrassed by her boss’s incredible definition of poverty as a development economist. She had, indeed, agreed with her erstwhile employers – she’s been on sabbatical of sorts from her job as managing director of the World Bank – when she said “Most middle-income countries including Brazil have large numbers of poor people. That is the reality of today and Nigeria is no exception.”

Even then she seemed to share in a not-soobvious way the president’s belief that the rebasing of our economy is worth celebrating. The rebasing, she said at a workshop on “A Reflection of Nigeria GDP Rebasing: Issues, Facts and Fiction” organised by Kukah Centre in collaboration with her ministry in Abuja, “was neither done for optimism nor for pessimism nor cynicism and I find it quite astonishing that people are commenting on this.”

Her full remarks left no one in doubt that she was unhappy with widespread cynicism about the exercise. Yet she should know that if many people read politics into the exercise, her boss, more than anyone, was to blame because of the not-too-subtle way he tried to make political mileage out of it.

Nigeria may have overtaken South Africa as the continent’s Number One economy. But as The Economist editorial in question said, it still has a lot to do if it is not to remain a giant with feet of clay. Nigeria, the magazine said, has to, among other things, tackle corruption, produce more electricity, transform the country’s dilapidated infrastructure and, above all, tackle unemployment.

The record of this administration on all these counts remains abysmal. So far it has not demonstrated any will to put that record behind it. Instead it seems determined to rely on ethnic and religious emotions to return to power in 2015.

Rebasing the country’s Gross Domestic Production will not make any difference to the country’s status as a poor country if President Jonathan succeeds in returning to power by appealing to emotions rather than by proving to Nigerians that his transformation agenda is no longer the mere sloganeering that it has been since 2011.

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

BOGOF: Circus Jona

NEXT today? As dead as dodo! So, others, beware! Touch not the Lord’s anointed.

Enter, Show 2.

I am she, the Prime One, Mother of the Nation, ambassador of peace, water that kills the fire of war — war, from where they share blood, chai!

My country people, see me see trouble o! Wetin I do sef? I tried to help them look for their missing daughters, and they say I no know grammar! Chai! What have I done wrong?

All I know is: there is God. Everything we do, there is God. What did I do wrong? Boko Haram thief girls. They say my husband should go find the girls. My husband be Boko Haram? Chai! There is God. I even tried, I tried to help them find their missing girls. I tried, call prinspal: come tell us what you know. I tried, call my daughter, mother of the girls, I am their grandmother. Yet, she no come. Even the prinspal, na only she waka come.

Chai! There is God. They say my husband no try. As I tried to help, they say my own too much! Wetin I go do now? There is God oooooo! Chai!

The names of the girls we don’t know. Their pictures we don’t see. Even their mothers sef, they probably are ghosts. So, how can I start looking for something I’m not even convinced is lost? Now, they have started a campaign: abusing me, spoiling my name and giving the enemy media of the West the temerity to call me names: clueless, distracted, incompetent. Chai! One even claimed I was “unfortunately named”! What have I done to deserve all these?

Anyway, my God is alive and my pastors, prayer warriors, are alive and praying hot prayers. These newspapers and television and radio and wires and internet and online media will soon hear from my God. After all, there was a paper, which they called NEXT, which did nothing but attack me. But where is NEXT today? My God be praised, where is

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO