The Nation May 20, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Southwest insists on regional autonomy

•Yoruba attack North’s agenda

NEWS

Page 10

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2854 TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

Police intercept bomb-laden car

NEWS

Page 4

•Govt orders probe of Kano blast

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

EKITI 2014

N150.00

•Don’t fear soldiers, Fayemi’s wife tells electorate •I attracted 89 projects to Ekiti, says Bamidele •AND MORE •Govt’s education policy thrills students ON PAGE 11

•R UINS: The wreckage of the car which carried the bomb that killed five people in Kano on Sunday. •RUINS:

SEE STORY AND MORE PHOTOGRAPHS ON PAGE 4

Govt in ‘back-door’ talks to get schoolgirls out

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15?

VP Sambo coordinates talks through clerics, elders

HE Federal Government has begun talks with Boko Haram on how to free the abducted Chibok girls, The Nation learnt yesterday. The government is also asking the sect to hold its fire in the interest of both parties. But Boko Haram is demanding that the military pulls the brakes on its

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

action against its members, a source said yesterday. The insurgents have also kicked against arrest of their brethren and their detention without trial. According to sources, the “backdoor” talks are being coordinated by Vice-President Namadi Sambo through some clerics and elders in the

North. It was, however, stressed that the talks had nothing to do with “outright negotiation” with the sect because the Terrorism Act forbids payment of ransom. Some of those involved in the talks have met the Vice-President up to five times, it was learnt. Continued on page 4

INSIDE

•Hunters set for forest •British jet breaks down •Tight security in school •Editors plead for action •Prayers for schoolgirls •Alleged ‘planned release of girls speculative’ •SEE PAGES 4-5&60

•VERDICT TODAY IN SANUSI’S CASE P12 •EKO DISCO VOTES N6.9B FOR METERS P12

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

A girl with a bo

•Ogun State Commissioer for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (middle) speaking at the 2014 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the third year anniversary of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration at the Governor's Office Press Centre, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.With him are Permanent Secreatary, Ogun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mrs.K.T. Efuwape and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu.

•Managing Director, Jumia Nigeria , Dr. Jonathan Doerr (middle) speaking at MTN's entrepreneurship seminar tagged 'Link Forum' in Enugu... at the weekend. With him are Special Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Oguche Agudah (left) and CEO, Palmas Co. Ltd, Mr. Izuroa Okafor.

•Director-General, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyema (left) presenting the Top 25 CEO award to Finance Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Olatunde Olanipekun representing Managing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr Fidelis Ayebae at the BusinessDay Top 25 CEO Awards ceremony in Lagos.

•Special Adviser to the President on Youth Empowerment, Ambassador Obi Adim (right) exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding document with Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Bashir Zubairu Gwari in Abuja. With them is Jack Tilley-Gyao. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

They are just like young women the world over. Their only crime is that they have parents who hope for a better future for them through education, which Boko Haram dreads, reports Los Angeles Times

HEY are beacons of hope in their community. They are girls who aspire to become doctors, teachers and lawyers. They are Naomis, they are Deborahs, Marys, Ruths, Lydias, Helens and Rebeccas. They are just like young women the world over. Their only crime is that they have parents who hope for a better future for them. In the dark of night on April 14, these ambitious girls, who had gathered at their boarding school to take their final exams, were woken by gunfire. When militants stormed the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School, in a remote area of Nigeria's povertystricken northeast, the girls thought they were soldiers, there to protect them. The girls were initially relieved. What happened next has struck terror into the hearts of people around the world. The gunmen, wearing military uniform, started setting fire to the school buildings, shooting their guns into the air and chanting "Allahu Akbar" - God is great. The girls realised something was terribly wrong. The girls, 276 of them, were herded into the backs of pick-up trucks and driven into the forest. Imagine the terror. Some of them, deciding they would rather die than be taken hostage by the terrorists whose violent presence casts a pall over northern Nigeria, managed to throw themselves from the backs of the trucks and make their way to safety. The rest - about 223 girls - have not been so lucky. Their mothers in Chibok did not hear them scream. Now, 34 days later, the girls, mostly aged 16 to 18, remain missing. Outrage over the lack of action by the Nigerian Government and military to find the girls and bring their abductors to justice has grown to a roar. Their families are hoping for a miracle. "My grief is deep," Yakubu Maina, father of one of the missing girls, told the LA Times. "I'd rather my daughter was dead than face this horror." Another eight girls, aged 12 to 15, were abducted from Warabe earlier this month, also in the country's northeast. In a video message, a seemingly deranged and grinning Abubaker Shekau taunted: "I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah." Shekau leads the extremist Islamic militant group Boko Haram - a man with a $7 million bounty on his head. But UNICEF's Laurent Duvillier says soldiers are not what frightens Shekau and his group. "What frightens them is a girl with a book," Mr Duvillier says. French actor Elsa Zylberstein, French actor and author Saida Jawad, former French first lady Valerie Trierweiler and former French junior minister in charge of expatriates and francophone issues Yamina Benguigui take part in a demonstration in Paris for the release of the Nigerian schoolgirls. It is a sentiment United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has ex-

pressed before in talking about extremists. Boko Haram is translated into "Western education is forbidden". Mr Duvillier says an educated girl will be empowered, will start thinking, will probably have a better say in the decision-making process - will probably tell their children that don't agree with Boko Haram. "They know a girl with a book is probably the biggest threat to them," he says. Dozens of students and teachers have already been murdered in Nigeria. Amnesty International reports that in seven months in 2013, more than 50 schools were attacked and partially destroyed or burned down. About 30 teachers were shot dead, many during class, between January and September last year, the human rights group says. "It (Chibok) is not the first attack on education. It's the latest incident in a long line of attacks on education," Mr Duvillier says. Boko Haram, an al-Qaeda affiliate, started up in 2002 but there has been an escalation of violence in recent years. Prior to 2011, most of the attacks on schools were carried out on infrastructure when the schools were empty, Mr Duvillier, UNICEF spokesman for west and central Africa, says. Since 2012, teachers and students have been increasingly targeted by the militants. As Shekau pronounced in a recent ranting video: "We are against Western education and I say stop Western education." According to Amnesty International's Michael Hayworth, about 2000 people have died by insurgents this year, including 300 shot dead in a marketplace on May 5. A state of emergency has been in place in three troubled Nigerian states for a year. And education - the very thing human rights groups say is instrumental in freeing families from poverty - is suffering in a country which already has frighteningly high numbers of children out of school. Mr Duvillier, who is based in Senegal, says the parents of the Chibok schoolgirls are living a worsening nightmare. As the clock ticks, the risk rises of these girls being sold into marriage or child labour or becoming victims of sexual exploitation and violence. If that did happen, any eventual return home could be fraught with danger. "Imagine these girls that will go back to their villages with all the people knowing what they have been through," Mr Duvillier says. "They might have their own families, their own relatives not willing to talk to them anymore." Police say 53 girls managed to escape. "My mind was busy, thinking of a way to escape," a 16-year-old girl told the LA Times. "I and two other girls were close together, speaking softly, and we came up with a plan." The girls told the gunmen they

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

a book is Boko Haram's biggest threat

‘How insurgents kidnapped my daughter, her best friend’

•Mary’s father displaying her photogragh

•Mary (left) and her best friend

HE father of a kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirl has revealed photographs of his daughter pictured before she was snatched by blood-crazed Boko Haram fanatics. Mary was taken alongside her closest friend who lives next door to her. Speaking to ITV News, Mary's father said he is desperate with worry and the thought of what his daughter is going through. Five of his nieces have also been snatched by the militant group Boko Haram which is holding 276 female students. This week it released a video showing around needed to go to the toilet. "As soon as we were out of sight of the gunmen, we fled and we ran," she said. One of the terrified girls who managed to escape Boko Haram, an aspiring doctor, has already told of not wanting to return to school in Chibok. Heartbroken mothers and fathers are awaiting news of their daughters. "The only thing I'm going to say to them is to please leave those girls alone. May God get into their souls to leave those girls alone," one mother said. In a video released by Boko Haram last week, Shekau claimed that the prisoners had been forced to convert to Islam. It showed the morose faces of girls in a bush camp as they recited from the Koran. They were wearing full hijab. UTHORITIES say families have now identified 77 of the girls in the video as those abducted at Chibok. A father of one of the missing girls told of spotting his own daughter in the video. "When I saw it, I felt as if I was not in my own body, not in this world," he said. In the video, Shekau calls for the release of his militant brothers. "It is now four years or five years that you arrested our brethren and they are still in your prison. You are doing many things to them and now you are talking about these girls? We will never release them until after you release our brethren," Shekau says. The Nigerian Government has rejected the demand. The horrific ordeal of these girls and their families has

100 of the girls and said they will only be freed after the government releases jailed militants. Mary's father was shown the video in the hope he may recognise his own child or nieces. Despite not seeing his own daughter he did recognise a girl, he believes to be around 16 or 17, who lives opposite to his family's home. He told ITV News that he did not trust the offer made by Boko Haram to release the girls in exchange for prisoners. The group, which wants to impose Islamic law on Nigeria, has killed more than 1,500 people this year in a campaign of bombings and

been compounded by confusion and inaction. Amnesty International says it has information from credible sources that Nigerian security forces knew of the impending attack four hours before up to 200 gunmen arrived in Chibok, but failed to send in reinforcements. The small contingent of security forces based in the town, according to Amnesty, were overpowered and forced to retreat. The desperate people of Chibok reportedly took matters into their own hands after waiting three futile days for military help. They pooled money to buy petrol and took motorbikes into the Sambisa forest armed with sticks, knives and hunting guns. People in Baale, a village 100km from Chibok, told them the heavily armed men were camped nearby with the girls. But the villagers warned them they would be killed and put the lives of their daughters in danger if they tried to ambush the terrorists. They were forced to abandon their search. Parents later claimed the military did nothing when given details of the girls' location. Two days after the mass abduction, a senior Defence Minister spokesman said that almost all the girls had been rescued - a statement later retracted. The lack of response from the Nigerian Government and military has prompted protests in Nigeria and around the world. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls has been retweeted 3.3 million times, according to analytical tool Topsy, in

massacres. Boko Haram's kidnapping of schoolgirls at a boarding school in northeast Nigeria last month has focused international attention on the extremist group amid outrage that most of the girls have not been rescued Nigeria's government, which has repeatedly denied allegations that it was slow to respond to the mass abduction, had initially suggested there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram. Now it appears that stance may be relaxed. Washington has sent military, lawenforcement and development experts to Nigeria to help search for the missing girls who were kidnapped by the militants from a secondary school in Chibok in remote northeastern Nigeria on April 14. 'We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government's

what has become a massive social media campaign. A series of celebrities, including America's First Lady Michelle Obama, have tweeted photographs of themselves holding signs carrying the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag. While it has raised ire in some quarters, Ms Obama's photo has been retweeted 58,000 times. N Los Angeles, actor Anne Hathaway has taken to the streets with a megaphone for the cause and Angelina Jolie has added her voice to calls for a release of the girls. Ms Obama also used her husband's presidential address last weekend to call for the release of the schoolgirls. "This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education - grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls," Ms Obama said. She said she and President Barack Obama saw their own daughters in those girls. "We see their hopes, their dreams and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now," Ms Obama said. "Many of them (parents) may have been hesitant to send their daughters off to school, fearing that harm might come their way. But they took that risk because they believed in their daughters' promise and wanted to give them every opportunity to succeed." It is a risk welfare and human rights groups fear many parents will now not be willing to take. The secondary school had been

permission,' a U.S. official said. Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was also considering deploying unmanned drone aircraft to aid the search. One of the U.S. officials told Reuters the United States had been carrying out the manned surveillance flights 'for a few days' but did not elaborate. Boko Haram paraded the shell-shocked teenagers on a chilling video, in which the leader, Abubaker Shekau, chuckled and confirmed his prisoners - the vast majority of them Christians - had been forced to convert to Islam. Forensic analysis of the video has begun, with one expert confident that it contains clues that will help focus security services' search efforts. U.S experts previously determined where an Osama Bin Laden video was shot from studying the rock formations that formed the backdrop to it. They were also able to work out exactly when it was recorded - that was done through a study of the shadows and the geometry of the area. However, it was impossible to fully authenticate the video. Parents were trying to turn on a generator in Chibok, hoping to watch it and identify their daughters, said a town leader, Pogu Bitrus. 'There's an atmosphere of hope - hope that these girls are alive, whether they have been forced to convert to Islam or not,' he told The Associated Press by telephone. 'We want to be able to say, "These are our girls."' The video showed about 100 girls, indicating they may have been broken up into smaller groups as some reports have indicated. Fifty-three girls managed to escape and 276 remain missing, police say. Bitrus said vegetation in the video looked like the Sambisa Forest, some 20 miles (30 kilometers) from Chibok, where the girls were believed to have been spirited away.

closed as a result of the terror attacks in the north, but the girls wanted to return to do their exams. Many other schools were also closed. Mr Duvillier says that in an attack on another school last September, 50 students were killed by gunmen in their dormitory. As a result, 1000 students left the Chibok school. The Ministry of Education in Borno, where Chibok is located, has estimated that 15,000 children in the northern state stopped attending classes between February and May as a result of attacks. In Nigeria, a country of 168.8 million people, 10.5 million children are not in school, with 60 per cent of those in the north. It is the highest number in the world. Only 54.8 per cent of primaryschool aged children are enrolled in primary school, according to UNICEF figures. "We don't need more children out of school in Nigeria," Mr Duvillier says. He says education has been proven to be key to lifting families out of poverty. When schoolchildren are targeted, lives are shattered and the future of the nation is stolen, Mr Duvillier says. "If this happens today in Nigeria it could happen tomorrow in another neighbouring country," he says. "We cannot let north-eastern parts of Nigeria be a no-go area for teachers and schools." Mr Duvillier says the terror attacks have nothing to do with religion. In his essay, Poverty is No Excuse for Terrorism, Nigerian-raised academic Josh Arinze says the goal of

•Culled from Daily Mail Boko Haram is to use violence to compel the transformation of Nigeria into an Islamic state. Mr Hayworth, Amnesty's crisis response campaign co-ordinator, says after watching the videorecorded messages, Boko Haram's motivation seems ideological. "It very much seemed about preventing Western education, preventing girls from going to school," Mr Hayworth says. E says that Boko Haram has been waging a campaign of terror against north Nigerian civilians for several years, abducting women and girls from schools and marketplaces and using them as hostages or raping them. "This group has been allowed to continue to act with impunity and it's really the civilians in northern Nigeria that are suffering. This is certainly the most brazen abduction that Boko Haram has undertaken," he says. "It's anybody's pick as to why they have abducted these particular girls." UNICEF's Tim O'Connor says there are reports of Boko Haram militants abducting children or offering their parents incentives to allow them to be involved in the group so they can be child soldiers, porters and transporters. Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop will today announce the appointment of Miles Armitage as Australia's next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. One of Mr Armitage's first priorities will be working with the Nigerian Government and partner countries on the schoolgirl kidnapping.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS Police intercept bomb-laden car in Kano •Jonathan orders probe •Kwankwaso to assist victims

NOTHER tragedy was averted yesterday in Kano, with the police intercepting a bomb laden vehicle primed with explosives on Tafawa Balewa Road, Nassarawa quarters. Commissioner of Police Aderenle Shinaba told reporters that a vehicle carrying two gas cylinders, a jerry can of fuel and wires were found abandoned. The recovered vehicle is an ash-colour Mitsubishi Station Wagon marked Kano AE756GSW. The police chief inspected the scene of Sunday’s bomb blast on Middle Road by Gold Coast in Sabongari, Fagge Local Government. He said the primed vehicle might have been abandoned by terrorists for one reason or another. The police have confirmed that five people died in the attack; seven were injured. Four of those injured have been discharged from the hospital. Police spokesman Magaji Majiya, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the area had been swept and bodies removed to a morgue. Residents said nine people died in the explosion. Shinaba told reporters at the scene of the incident that five people died and seven others were injured. As he spoke, a resident, simply identified as Mr. Harry, interjected: “Sir, you’re supposed to hear from us who were at the scene of the incident. I beg your pardon; it was not five people that died; we counted nine dead people, after the whole thing had subsided.” Six vehicles were destroyed in the explosion. A three-storey building was badly damaged. An eyewitness said the attack could have been more devastating if the terrorists

•The security team inspecting a damaged car at the scene of the blast

•Some of the injured

•The targeted building

•Another damaged car

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja, Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

had hit their target - a packed hotel. The hotel was being inaugurated when the suicide bombers arrived at the place in a Toyota Sienna bus, which was already primed with a bomb. Security men immediately ordered the driver to move his car away from the front of the hotel. The parking lot had been occupied by other

vehicles and there was no space for him. The man reversed the car and parked in the middle of the road. He alighted from the car and disappeared . The source said minutes after, there was a deafening sound, followed by pandemonium as people started running for dear lives. President Goodluck Jonathan ordered yesterday a thorough investigation into the blast . In three postings on his

Twitter Account, Dr. Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President directed security chiefs to act quickly on the matter. The postings read: “Kano Blast: President Jonathan summoned meeting of security chiefs today (Monday) on arrival in Abuja after Paris Summit.” “President Jonathan today ordered thorough investigation and security chiefs to act quickly.”

“President Jonathan calls on Nigerians to remain united against the al Qaeda of West Africa, alias Boko Haram, and all enemies of the state.” Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso condemned the Sunday blast. Kwankwaso, who commiserated with the people and families of the deceased and the injured, spoke when he visited the scene of the incident, which he described as Continued on page 60

Govt in ‘back-door’ talks to get school girls out

Continued from page 1

It was also learnt that the facilitators include some elders from Borno State who have links with some coordinators of Boko Haram. A source in the Presidency, who pleaded not to be named because he is not allowed to talk on the issue, said: “The government has been engaging Boko Haram through the backdoor. This is being coordinated by the Vice-President. “The insurgents used to send representatives or emissaries to some of these Northern/ Borno elders and clerics we have engaged. “These leaders and clerics also give us feedback on their demands which centre on the need to stop military action against

British spy jet breaks down A SURVEILLANCE jet sent by Britain to help search for more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls missing in Nigeria broke down en route. The state-of-the-art Sentinel reconnaissance aircraft was forced to stop in Senegal with an unspecified technical problem, the British Ministry of Defence said. A spokesman said they hoped to have it repaired and on its way to join the international rescue effort “sooner rather than later”.

Hunters mobilise to search for girls

RADITIONAL hunters armed with homemade guns, poisoned spears and amulets were gathered in their hundreds, eager to use their skills and supernatural powers to help find nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted by Islamic extremists. Some 500 hunters, some as young as 18 and some in their 80s, claim they were specially selected by their peers for their spiritual hunting skills and had been waiting for two weeks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to get backing from the military and get moving. The hunters demonstrated their skills to an Associated Press reporter

them; putting an end to mass arrests of their members and detention; and the release of detained Boko Haram members. “The government is actually not negotiating with the insurgents, it is just dis-

on Sunday. With cow horn trumpets echoing eerie war cries from the screaming and chanting men who twirled knives and swords with dexterity, occasionally stabbing and cutting themselves with no apparent harm. The hunters claimed their magic charms prevented any blood being drawn. They also trust amulets of herbs and other substances wrapped in leather pouches as well as cowrie shells, animal teeth and leather bracelets to protect them from bullets. The appearance of the hunters from three northeastern states underscores how deeply the April 15 mass kidnapping - and the government’s appar-

cussing with them on the basis of ceasefire and the release of the innocent girls. “We hope that there will be a mutual understanding which will be respected by both parties. Our ultimate

ent lack of action - has affected Nigerian society. It has spawned demonstrations and a tidal wave of commentary in media, including social sites like Twitter and Facebook. A spokesman for the hunters, Sarkin Baka, said: “We’re not saying we are better than the soldiers, but we know the bush better than the soldiers.” The hunters said they gathered at the suggestion of a state legislator. A military spokesman did not immediately respond to an emailed question from AP on whether it would take advantage of the hunters’ local knowledge.

objective is to secure the release of the girls.” Responding to a question, the source added: “The way we do it is that we feel their pulse or demand through some of these elders/ clerics or

Continued on page 60

leaders who are known to them. We also tell them what we want. “In fact, some of these facilitators of the talks have admitted that the Boko Haram leaders are known to them.

•Sambo

“We are not negotiating because even those who want to assist us do not support negotiation.” Another source said: “I can only tell you that a lot Continued on page 60

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION Editors to Jonathan: rescue Chibok girls By Seun Akioye

HE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has tabled a demand before the Federal Government: rescue the abducted schoolgirls. The guild said the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, was not an assault on only the town but on all parts of Nigeria. In a communiqué issued at the end of its Standing Committee meeting in Owerri, Imo State, on May 16, the editors expressed sadness over Boko Haram insurgency. It urged the Federal Government to rescue the abducted pupils. The guild also expressed worry over the non-passage of the 2014 budget, five months into the year. It urged the Executive and Legislature to resolve their differences and pass the budget urgently. The NGE condemned the acrimony in the ongoing National Conference. It advised the delegates to watch their utterances because some of them were capable of causing more disunity in the country. The guild hailed Nigeria’s new status as the largest economy in Africa, adding that this should reflect in the per capita income and living standards of Nigerians. On Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections, the NGE urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible polls that would be a template for next year’s elections. It urged the Federal Government to ensure adequate funding of sports to ensure Nigeria’s success at the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, adding that sports is a unifying factor in Nigeria.

Women's group calls for swap By Nneka Nwaneri

WOMEN'S group, PanAfrican Christian Women Alliance (PACWA), has urged the Federal Government to swap the abducted Chibok schoolgirls for any other thing their captors are asking for. The group noted that no price is too much to pay for the abducted innocent girls it described as "tomorrow's mothers of a new Nigerian nation". It addressed reporters in Lagos through its patron, Mrs Edith Iloh, said nothing is more precious than the soul of each of the girls. PACWA noted that the innocent girls were "already harmed and going through physical and mental trauma". It added: "To them (the girls' parents), the ordeal of their daughters should not continue to haunt or destroy the children as well as leave dreadful scars on parents and humanity." The group expressed disappointment that President Goodluck Jonathan was not in tune with the happenings on the abduction saga. PACWA said it was surprising that Dr Jonathan had not visited the beleaguered town since it was attacked over a month ago. It noted that his visit would have boosted the people's morale and encouraged them to have the hope of reuniting with the abducted girls. "The visit of the President to Chibok should be a morale booster for already angry Nigerians whose confidence in the country has been perforated.”

Fed Govt: Release of 100 abducted girls speculative

HE Federal Government has said last weekend's reported plan to release 100 of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect is speculative. The Coordinator of the National Crises Information Centre, Mike Omeri, told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the government would not rely on media reports in its investigation of the abduction saga. He said: "We will not rely on newspaper reports in our investigation. The Federal Government is probing the statement and we will make

•Journalists to get safety information before visiting Chibok From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

our findings known as soon as possible." The agency chief urged the media to seek guidelines on safety before visiting Chibok. Omeri said: "While the Federal Government appreciates the efforts of the media at adequately informing and educating the world on the current security problems in the country, we wish to inform all media organisations that the security situation around Chibok is still fluid. Present-

ly, the affected location is an active crime scene and a military operational area. "Therefore, as much as the centre does not intend to restrict the activities of the media in the performance of their duty, it is strongly advised that media organisations must not take steps that will jeopardise the safety of their staff or compromise the crime scene. "Any media organisation wishing to visit Chibok should approach the appropriate authorities for guid-

ance and advice in the interest of their safety." The agency chief described the threat by the Boko Haram sect to attack a secondary school in Benue State as the handwork of mischief makers. He said the report was being verified. Omeri said: "This report has been confirmed in Benue State. But there are grounds to suspect that the reported threats issued by the sect to schools in Makurdi must be the handiwork of mischief

makers. "A copy of the handwritten letter sent to schools is being investigated; security forces are not taking chances on the threat. "However, the security authorities have been alerted and necessary personnel deployed to the appropriate locations within the metropolis. "Security has already been tightened in the state; the safety of the residents and the students in the state is guaranteed."

Muslim group seeks girls’ release By Joseph Eshanokpe

•Mrs Ahmed (third right) with other women’s leaders during the prayers in Ilorin...at the weekend.

Ahmed’s wife, groups pray for abducted girls

CORES of women in Kwara State at the weekend converged on Ilorin, the state capital, to offer special prayers for the safe rescue of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram sect over a month ago in Chibok, Borno State. The women, led by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, sympathised with the parents of the captured schoolgirls. Their prayers, which were rendered by Muslims and Christians, was titled: Women of Kwara Pray. Mrs. Ahmed said: “What we are doing today in Kwara is our way of showing our concern about what is going on because it could have been anybody’s daughter. We are really touched. We believe so much in prayers in Kwara State and we know that we need God’s intervention. We need God to touch the hearts of the abductors so that our children will be set free. “We are mothers and we are fulfilling our roles. That’s why we are doing it. I know that our men are doing what they should

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

do, but as mothers this is our case. We call on God our creator to intervene in our matter so that we can have peace in Nigeria.” Members of the Ansar-UdDeen Society of Nigeria also offered same prayers for the girls. They accused the Federal Government of initially treating the activities of the Islamist sect with levity. The group’s Vice Chairman for the Ilorin branch, Alhaji Ishaq Salaudeen said Boko Haram was tarnishing the nation’s image. The Muslim cleric urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be circumspect on foreign assistance to rescue the girls. He said: “It is an unfortunate incident that has befallen the country. It’s unfortunate in the sense that the leadership of the country toyed with Boko Haram from the outset. It has now become something that is getting globalised. It is tarnishing the good image of this country and it is showing the level of respon-

sibility of government of the day. “I commiserate with the families of the abducted girls. Nobody worthy of being called a parent will be happy about the situation. It is the most saddening thing that should occur at the moment. “I always remember the parents of the abducted girls in prayers at all times. That is what has informed the Ansar-Uddeen Society of Nigeria to organise a special prayer for the release of the children to their parents. “The government of the day should take the matter more seriously with a lot of caution, because countries have now decided to come and help us. But at what cost and to what level? There is more to it than meets the eye. The government should make a solid arrangement with the foreign helpers. The lives of these children are more important than whatever political gains anybody wants to score.” Also, a group, Goodluck Ambassadors (GA), has urged Nigerians, irrespective of political

affiliations, to support the Federal Government in stamping out insurgency. The group said: “We urge opposition leaders in the country to take a cue from a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recently called for national unity to fight the insurgency. The group, in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting on the state of the nation, said the government deserved the support of all Nigerians to overcome the activities of insurgents. The communiqué by Hamza Matawalli, GA’s State PRO; Abdulwaheed Awobimpe, Treasurer; Jimoh Olanrewaju, Director ofA Mobilisation and Raphael Oyewole and Suleiman Mansur, the Kwara South and North Central Coordinators. The communiqué reads: “We, the aforementioned group, sympathise with the families of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency, especially the recent kidnapping of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.”

Pump price hike: EFCC begins probe

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigation into the sales of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) beyond the official pump price by some oil companies. The commission has invited some of the errant companies based on the list forwarded to the anti-graft agency by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Although the official pump price for PMS is N97, there had been price racketeering in some states, including the states in the Southeast, Southsouth, the 19 states in the North and a few states in the Southwest. It was learnt that independent marketers are mostly culpable of price racketeering. Findings revealed that the DPR, in the past few weeks, carried out a discreet investiga-

•Summons oil companies From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

tion of oil firms involved in the scam. The list of the suspected oil companies has been sent to the EFCC for necessary action. A source in the anti-graft commission said: "Companies operating in the Downstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry, indicted for manipulating the price of premium motor spirit and selling above the approved pump prices, are to be quizzed by this commission. "The list of the errant companies was forwarded to the anti-graft agency by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). "Letters of invitation have been dispatched to the affected companies while a crack team

of operatives has been assembled in the commission's Extractive Industry unit." As of press time last night, the EFCC was not specific on the number of oil companies it had invited. The source added: "We will release the list as soon as the oil companies and their Chief Executives report to us. "Once the list is out, the EFCC will be under pressure from the suspects and their backers." President Goodluck Jonathan, on May 4, said: "I am unaware that petrol is sold above the pump price. The government has no intentions of increasing the price of petrol now but if we must, it will not be done through the back door."

A group, the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN), has urged Boko Haram leaders to release the over 200 pupils of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in its custody. MAN’s President Sulaimon Alabi Yusuf addressed reporters in Lagos on the need for the sect leaders to let the innocent girls return to their families. The spokesman urged Boko Haram “to free these innocent children unconditionally to avoid the wrath of the Almighty Allah”. He also urged the Federal Government “to devise strategies for the immediate freedom of these children, whose fundamental human rights have been seriously infringed upon by the monstrous insurgents”. According to him, the government needs to tighten security across the country to ensure that Boko Haram does not kill or abduct anyone again. Yusuf said Muslims do not support the activities of the sect. He added: “We do not support their dastardly acts, which have caused various harm and irreparable damage to millions of Nigerians of different religions, tribes and ethnic groups. These acts range from maiming, bombing, extra-judicial killings and abduction, with the claim that these evil acts are carried out within the confines of acceptable Islamic norms. “We confirm, without contradiction, that Islam is a religion of peace and the Holy Qur’an (chapter 2, verse 256) says: ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion; truth stands out clearly from falsehood…’ “Therefore, bombing, killings and abduction of innocent citizens are unequivocally un-Islamic and should be stopped without further delay.” The group condemned the sect’s bombing of the popular Nyanya Park on the outskirts of Abuja. MAN, at the weekend, held a Jumat service for the release of the pupils. “We believe in the efficacy of prayer. Prayer is the sword of the Muslims,” Yusuf added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS The Nation scores high in rural poverty reporting

IGERIA’s Newspaper of the Year, The Nation, has received accolades for coming tops among newspapers that report rural poverty issues. A research conducted by the International Press Centre (IPC), in collaboration with World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), showed The Nation had the highest scope of its reports on rural issues/areas with 32.1 per cent. The study, which focused on the reportage of six major papers, including The Punch, ThisDay, The Guardian, Vanguard and The Sun for April, last year, also revealed that The Nation had the second highest number of most sympathetic reports, with 95 of the 109 reports (87 per cent) sympathetic to the cause of the poor. Presenting copies of the findings to The Nation management yesterday, IPC’s Director Lanre Arogundade described as worrisome the nonreportage of rural poverty issues by Nigerian media. The former chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) urged journalists to raise awareness on poverty issues such that their reports would influence policy changes and reforms in the affected areas. He also advised media organisations to develop internal monitoring mechanisms for their editorial performance on the reporting of poverty issues with particular attention on rural poverty. Arogundade said rural poverty reporting should be made an indispensable component of development reporting, adding that it should be made a specialised area or beat. “Media institutions should be encouraged to adopt editorial policies and frameworks that espouse the eradication of poverty. The media and civil society platforms working on the eradication of rural poverty should embrace mutually beneficial partnership,” he said. Receiving the copies on be-

Ex-NIMASA chief accuses EFCC of delaying his trial By Joseph Jibueze

ORMER Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Temisan Omatseye, accused yesterday the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of delaying his trial. The commission re-arraigned Omatseye before Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia on an amended 27count charges bordering on contract scam. He pleaded not guilty to all the counts. His re-arraignment followed the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako. The EFCC accused Omatseye of illegal transfer of the NIMASA’s fundandcontractsplittingestimated at over N1.5 billion. The trial was billed to continue yesterday, but EFCC’s lawyer, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), was absent. Omatseye’s lawyer Mr Olusina Sofola(SAN)saidhisclientdeserved speedy trial, adding that the EFCC was delaying the case by always seeking adjournments.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

half of the management, Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board, Tunji Adegboyega, hailed the group for the feat. He urged the IPC to revamp its activism. Adegboyega noted that although most votes come from the rural areas during elections, rural dwellers have been denied basic infrastructure. “We are in political times and even the people in the rural areas would want to know and read about politics. Although we will continue to strive to report rural poverty issues, I want to also urge the IPC to step up its activism,” he said. At the event were The Nation Deputy Editor (Daily), Lawal Ogienagbon and Online Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin.

•From left: Popular standup comedian, Mr. Ayo Makun (aka A.Y); social crusader and Senior Pastor, This Present House, Pastor Tony Rapu, Resident Pastor, God Bless Nigeria Church, Pastor Abeke Orhonor and others at the Freedom Walk and Rally by The God Bless Nigeria Church on the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram, in Lagos...yesterday

Falana: Fed Govt should probe N3tr Defence budget

AGOS lawyer and member of the National Conference, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has said the conference should adopt a resolution mandating the Federal Government to investigate the over N3 trillion voted for Defence in the last three years. Falana spoke against the backdrop of a prayer by another conference member, Mr. Eddy Eragba, that delegates adopt a motion to praise foreign countries for backing Nigeria’s search for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. Eragba recalled that before the conference dissolved into committees, it was informed

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

that all but eight of the Chibok girls had been rescued by security agents. The delegate said the information prompted the conference to adopt a motion commending the security agents for a job well done. He said it had been discovered that the conference acted in error. Eragba prayed the conference to urge security agencies to rescue the innocent girls. The delegate also said the conference should praise foreign nations that assisted the

country to search and rescue the kidnapped girls. Another member, Goddy Uwazuruike, seconded the prayer. He said foreign countries assisting Nigeria in the search and rescue of the abducted girls deserved commendation. Falana disagreed. The frontline lawyer noted that the Constitution frowns at the presence of foreign forces in the country. He explained that instead of hailing the foreigners, the delegates should ask President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the over N3 tril-

lion budgeted for Defence in the last three years. Another member, Chief Mike Ahamba, cautioned that the impression must not be created that security agents battling to curtail the activities of Boko Haram were not doing anything. The delegate noted that the fight against insurgency was not easy, especially since the security agents were not fighting a sectoral war. He recalled that some the security agents had died in the line of duty and, therefore, deserved to be encouraged. Ahamba described guerilla warfare as one of the most dif-

Delegate denies tenure elongation campaign

DELEGATE to the National Conference, Chief Okon Osung, has said his proposal for the postponement of next year’s elections was not intended to elongate the tenure of the current administration. He said proposing a government of national unity at the expiration of the 18-month moratorium meant the current administration cannot succeed itself, except if re-elected. The delegate also said governments at other levels would be part of the 18-month postponement. Osung, who spoke yesterday with our reporters, explained that his proposal was non-partisan and borne out of patriotic zeal to ensure that no reason would be given for military adventurists to make incursion into the nation’s polity again. He said: “There comes a time in the life of a nation when weighty but life-changing decisions that have prospects for bringing about turning points for the good of society must be taken. “Nigeria is at the threshold of such a momentous decision-making moment. Such critical moments occur not only in the lives of developing nations, such as Nigeria, but also in the evolution of advanced, industrialised countries. “The proposal for temporary postponement of the February 2015 elections in Nigeria is in no way analogous to situations in which the United States former Presidents had to battle with tenure extension in America’s political history. “This, unfortunately, became the lot of Presidents George Cleveland (1885-1889 and 18931897), Theodore Roosevelt (19011909) and Franklin Roosevelt

Seven conference committees fail to submit reports

EVEN National Conference committees failed yesterday to submit their reports as the con ference resumed plenary after three weeks of committee deliberations. The conference leadership constituted 20 committees to consider and make recommendations on a wide range of issues, including Committees on National, Land Matters and National Boundaries, the Social Sector, the Judiciary, Human Rights and Law Reforms, the Economy, Trade and Investment, Religion, Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matter and Political Restructuring. The committees which failed to turn in their reports included those on Devolution of Powers, chaired by former Inspector-General of Police (IGPs) Ibrahim Coomasie and co-chaired by former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Victor Attah; the Committee on Transportation, with Senator Musa Adede as its chairman and Ralph Osanaiye as Deputy Chairman; Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Umaru Hadeija and Mrs. Ifeoma Idigbe as Deputy Chairman, Others are: Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters, chaired by former Senate President Iyorcha Ayu and another Senate President From Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

(1938-1945). “The proposal for temporary postponement of elections must, therefore, not be equated with tenure elongation bids that have plagued Nigeria severally in the recent past. It must be underscored that the proposal is in no way comparable to the prevarication which characterised Yakubu Gowon administration’s declaration that the 1974 transition election date in the country was unrealistic. “Nor is it to be equated with General Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election considered as a prelude to his planned self-succession; nor is it to be equated with General Sani Abacha’s antics to in-

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Ken Nnamani as the Deputy Chairman; Committee on Public Finance and Revenue, chaired by former Kebbi State Governor Adamu Aliero with Senator Azu Agboti as its Vice Chairman. The Conference Secretary, Mrs. Valerie Azinge, who invited committees’ chairmen to submit their reports, said the reports would be discussed in phases. She said: “We do not intend to consider the reports in one day. Delegates will be given time to read the reports. Four reports - Religion, Land Tenure and National Boundaries and Citizenship and Immigration - will be discussed on Wednesday.” The secretary said the secretariat would open a register for delegates to comment on any issue. After a lengthy deliberation, the delegates agreed that the conference secretariat should categorise the names of those who may want to speak for or against any recommendation.

timidate and coerce his perceived political opponents at the time into submission through tenure elongation and self-succession bid. “The proposal is also a far cry from Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s bid for tenure extension, which was interminably tied to the Constitutional Amendment Bill of 16 May 2006, which was overwhelmingly defeated and decisively terminated by the Ken Nnamani-led Senate (TELL magazine: March 13, 2006:24-26). “The difference between these past attempts towards tenure elongation so far chronicled, on the one hand, and my proposal for temporary postponement lies in the fact that while tenure elongation bids by previous admin-

istrations aimed at profiting individual incumbents of public office, or their cliques, to the detriment of the general public, including opposition groups, and apolitical Nigerians, the current proposal, which is non-partisan, aims at profiting all Nigerians across the political divide - both protagonists and antagonists of the 2015 elections, Governments and opposition parties alike, as is usual with governments of National Unity (GNU) the world over. “In fact, at the terminal stage of the moratorium, a Government of National Unity should be put in place, comprising representatives of major political parties and other important stakeholders in the country...”

ficult wars to fight “since the person walking with you could be your enemy”. The delegate noted that foreign countries, which were assisting Nigeria in the battle against Boko Haram should be praised because terrorism is a cross-border problem. The conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), noted that if three weeks ago the conference knew that only eight girls had been rescued and later discovered that there were over 200 girls in the sect’s captivity, the conference should encourage those working to rescue the girls to do more.

Boko Haram: ECOWAS heads of state to meet From Grace Obike, Abuja

THE Economic Committee on West African States (ECOWAS) has demanded that Heads of State in the region convene immediately to resolve the Boko Haram insurgency. The regional body plans to mandate its Committee on Peace, Security and Resolution of Conflicts to interface with states in the Northeast and the human rights community to verify reports on abuses. The parliament said West African Heads of State have to tackle the insurgents, adding that any problem in Nigeria would affect the sub-region. It noted that the ECOWAS Heads of States do not have to like Nigeria to be part of its solution. The Executive Chairman of Trade, Customs and Free Movement of Persons and member representing Bauchi in the National Assembly, Aliyu Gebi, spoke in Abuja when he visited protesters against the abduction of over 200 girls of the Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State. Gebi said the government had been passive and would not have reacted to the abduction, if the group and other Nigerians had not protested. He said: “ECOWAS is no longer complacent. The parliament is no longer complacent. We are demanding that the Committee on Heads of State and Government must convene immediately to resolve this issue. This is because if Nigeria goes up in flames, the entire sub-continent too will. “It is a necessary evil. Even if they don’t like us, they have to be a part of the solution...”

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

NEWS

Clamour for Christian governor: Fashola cautions religious leaders T

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has cautioned religious leaders on the clamour for a Christian governor. Speaking at an inter-faith conference on “Peace, Religious Harmony and Good Governance: Issues and Challenges”, Fashola said religion could not be substituted for good governance. He described good governance as a process through which people’s goals and aspirations can be achieved. The governor said: “I read in one of the papers this morning about a group insisting on a Christian governor. I do not recall the last time a Lagos governor was elected based on his religious beliefs. What will the preference for a governor of one faith over the other ben-

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

efit us? Will it give one religion roads that other faiths cannot use? Will it give them schools that children of other faiths cannot attend? Will it bring water that only one faith can drink, or will it begin to draw a clear line between poverty and the faith? Does hunger know your faith? “Maybe we should begin to draw a line of distinction and begin to have Christian money and Muslim money; and in the blood banks now where life is being threatened, maybe we should begin to have Christian blood and Muslim blood.” He advised the people to shun all forms of religious dichotomy, saying the nation had integrated for over 50

years and could not afford to be taken aback now. Described faith as a powerful tool that must not be used for personal aggrandisement, the governor cautioned against religious debates that lead nowhere. He said: “There are rules in the legal profession and in football as well. What are the rules in religious debates? Who is going to be the umpire? I know that there are many people for who spiritually is a calling; I also know that for some, it is a business. “For a long time, the state and religion were one. Over time, we have tried to separate religion and the state, but it has not been a successful venture. “I am not sure that a clear separation will happen and

I am not sure what clear separation will deliver. But perhaps, one of the things I will suggest is that we should take better control of our pulpits and be more restrained in what comes from there.” Fashola said religious harmony is a basis for peace, stressing that attention should be on harmony among various faiths to sustain the peace. He urged religious institutions to run businesses like their counterparts in other climes to create jobs and develop the society. Quoting the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Oyinlomo Danmole identified forgiveness and peace as key elements for development and progress.

Osun to issue smart cards for school meals

HE Osun State government will soon issue smart cards to pupils for its school feeding programme. Governor Rauf Aregbesola spoke at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja at an event sponsored by the Federal Government and the Partnership for Child Development (PCD) to promote home grown school meals for Nigerian pupils, tagged: “Investing in school feeding in Nigeria: Opportunities for advancing home grown school feeding programmes for the benefit of school children and farmers in Nigeria.” The programme has only been implemented by Kano and Osun states. Aregbesola said though

•Feeding to cost N3b yearly From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

the programme had been devoid of manipulation since it was repackaged in 2010, there was need to digitalise it. He said: “We are advancing to a point where nobody would manipulate the process. By the end of this month, we will issue our pupils, particularly those at the elementary level, electronic smart cards with which they will register for meals consumed on the Point of Sale (PoS) terminal. Once they do so, the caterers will take their PoS to the bank where the number of pupils fed will be analysed. We are digitising the process in a way that

there can’t be manipulation. This means it is one programme that is worthy of every naira and kobo invested in it.” Aregbesola said the programme gulps N12.7 million on every school day. He said N601,400 is paid to 3,007 caterers daily as transport fare, adding: “Today, with Osun’s elementary school enrolment figure of almost 253,000, the implication is that of increasing our annual expenditure on O’MEALS to about N3 billion. This does not include staff salary.” The governor said the cost of the meals is shared by the state government and local governments on a 40/60 per

cent ratio. He said the programme has helped his administration to achieve many of its objectives, such as the increased enrolment of pupils in elementary schools. Aregbesola said: “The programme is consistent with our government’s goals of banishing poverty and hunger, creating work and wealth, creating functional education, restoring healthy living and engendering communal peace and progress.” PCD Executive Director Dr. Lesley Draice urged all tiers of government to collaborate and ensure the success of the project. She said PCP will support any state that shows interest in the programme.

•From right: Aregbesola; Dr. Draice; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and World Bank Representative Prof. Don Bundy ...yesterday.

APC demands Ondo’s financial accounts

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has urged the state government to account for its spending since it assumed office. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Abayomi Adesanya, APC said: “It is inevitable and sacrosanct to ask the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration why it has not told the people how much has accrued to the state’s purse and how it was spent since inception of the administration.” It said past administrations gave monthly financial account to guarantee transparency. The APC urged Minister for Finance Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala; the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); the Revenue and Remuneration Fiscal Commission and other authorities in charge of revenue allocation to states, local governments and the Oil Derivation Funds to make public the amount that has accrued to Ondo State from the Federation account since Feb-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ruary, 2009, till date. It lamented that since the Mimiko administration assumed office over five years ago, it has not rendered any financial account. The APC said: “How much accrued to the state’s purse from the Federation Account from February, 2009, to May, 2014? How much was paid to the 18 local government areas from the Federation Account from February, 2009, to May, 2014? “Ondo State is an oil producing state. How much has it received as 13 per cent oil derivation funds from February, 2009, to May, 2014? “Is the 13 per cent derivation paid directly into the state’s coffers or into the account of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC)?” The party urged the government to answers these questions and keep the people abreast of the state’s financial situation.

Yoruba youths unveil document on regional autonomy

COALITION of Yoruba youth organisations has advised delegates to the National Conference to negotiate the future of Nigeria and set it on the path of development. At the unveiling of a publication, “Regional Autonomy…or Nothing”, at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos, yesterday, Prince Tokunbo Ajasin, son of the first civilian governor of Ondo State, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, said the pan-Yoruba groups, led by the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), are convinced that regionalism is the most viable instrument for a stronger and united Nigeria. Ajasin said anybody who does not want a change in the statues quo does not wish the country well. He said it was inconceivable that northern leaders were leading the campaign against the devolution of power and restructuring of government, adding that it is either regional autonomy or nothing for the Yoruba. Ajasin said: “If any region needs a stronger federating unit with greater capacity to provide education, health, security, wealth creation and other social amenities, it is the North where strong links exist between poverty and the conscription of innocent youths into extremist tendencies. It appears Northern leaders are not concerned and have no plan for the teeming youths in the region, as long as they are able to continue clinging to their hold on power.” Listing the demands of the Yoruba as contained in the publication, he said states in

By Raymond Mordi

Yoruba land want a regional government with its constitution and unfettered political and fiscal autonomy, except on issues it agrees to cede to the Federal Government. Ajasin said: “The Southwest must include all Yoruba people outside the imposed artificial boundaries in Edo, Delta, Kogi and Kwara states.” Other demands include: a negotiated legislative Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual list; a unicameral legislature at the centre; a parliamentary form of government at the centre; the right to self-determination or the right to secede; establishment of regional police; fiscal federalism and resource control; and a special status for Lagos. They also want the outcome of the 2014 National Conference to form the basis for a new constitution.

Four Square inaugurates zonal church From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE General Overseer of Four Square Gospel Church, Rev. Felix Meduoye, has inaugurated a zonal church at Oluwalogbon in Apata, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He installed Rev. Solomon Wada as the zonal superintendent. Rev. Meduoye said Four Square’s mission is to have churches in all nooks and crannies of the country.

Ajimobi advises Nigerians on service, integrity

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged Nigerians to imbibe the philosophies of the Boys’ Brigade, which are service, integrity and making the society a good place to live in. The governor spoke in his office yesterday during his investiture as the Grand Patron of the State Council of Boys’ Brigade.

He hailed the organisation for striving hard to ensure a better society through its activities, adding: “I commend the philosophies of the Boys’ Brigade, which are service, integrity and commitment. I am sure the society will be better off if these philosophies are allowed to permeate it.” Thanking the organisa-

tion for his investiture as the first Grand Patron in the state, Ajimobi said: “I assure you that in me, you have a very committed Grand Patron; a Grand Patron who will be an epitome of commitment in all his ways, conduct and philosophy.” He thanked members of the State Executive Counci, who he said jointly worked

with him to make him deserving of the honour. Ajimobi said the organisation would get the bus it requested for before June ends. President of the organisation Prof. Adedoyin Soyibo described Ajimobi as” a man of history”, being the first governor to be decorated as the Grand Patron of the Boys’ Brigade.

He said the Ajimobi administration had done a lot for youths, adding: “You have increased the allocation to youth organisations by over 200 per cent; upgraded the Ajoda Youth Village where they meet and provided employment through the YES-O programme. You have won the hearts of youths and are a man of success.”

•Ajimobi

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS Soka: Main suspect on the run, say police From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

YO State Police Commissioner Mohammed Indabawa has said the prime suspect behind the Soka kidnappers’ den in Ibadan is on the run. He said “three or four” suspects had been arraigned in connection with the incident. Briefing reporters on the case yesterday at the Police headquarters in Eleyele, Indabawa said the case would not be swept under the carpet. He urged the public to always inform the police about the activities of hoodlums in their areas. Indabawa said seven suspected robbers and car snatchers were arrested at various areas in the state. They include Benjamin John (25), Uchenna John (36), Semiu Sikiru (28), Daniel Okorie (27) and Uche Enukwe. One locally made pistol, five cartridges, one unregistered Bajaj motorcycle, a Toyota Camry marked LND 142 XBN and a phone were recovered from the suspects.

Osun bans use of siren From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has signed a document prohibiting the indiscriminate use of siren. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere, those exempted from the ban include the police, ambulances, fire-fighters and the armed forces.

Ilaje/Ese-Odo: PDP motion for June 2 From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has fixed June 2 for the hearing of a motion filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ilaje/EseOdo Federal Constituency by-election, Chief Adewale Kukute. Kukute is seeking to join an earlier suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) on the byelection. Justice Isiaka Sanni fixed June 12 for the hearing of the suit seeking the declaration of the LP’s candidate, Mr. Kolade Akinjo, as the winner of the inconclusive election and the preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction filed by the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

•A cross section of protesters at the unveiling of a publication, ‘Regional Autonomy...or Nothing’, by some Yoruba groups at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos...yesterday. INSET: (from left) Lagos State Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Ayo Osunloye; the treasurer, Atayese, Otunba Shade Olukoya; ARG National Publicity Secretary Kunle Famoriyo; Chairman, Atayese/member, ARG, Tokunbo Ajasin; Chief Adekunle Olaiya and ARG Assistant National Secretary Dr. Ade Adeagbo...yesterday. PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Improve police’s welfare, Fashola urges Nigerians

ASACO Assurance Plc has donated N10 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. Receiving the donation yesterday at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Babatunde Fashola urged Nigerians to show more interest in the welfare of the police. He said this would improve security. Fashola said there was need for every Nigerian to show more interest in the wellbeing of those who sacrifice their lives to protect others. He said although it is their job, they should be appreciated by the public. The governor said: “All of us must show more interest in the wellbeing of those we expect to give up their lives to protect ours. We live very close to police stations and formations. There is a lot we can do, not just by giving money, but also by showing empathy and appreciation for what those men and women do so that we can be safe.” On community policing, Fashola said: “If we police and secure our community,

•LASACO Assurance Plc donates N10m to security all of us will be safer than if we police and secure our personalities. The Security Trust Fund is a platform of opportunity for people to have a stake in the security of their lives and properties and how this is being done. When they put their money into it, they would be interested in how it was spent. So, even if you contribute to the fund once, you will ensure that it does not end up as a private asset and is serving public good.” Thanking the firm for the donation, Fashola urged it to look at how best the insurance business could help improve the day-to-day life of the ordinary Nigerian. He said: “For us, the difficult part of this job is the protection of life and property. That is the hardest part and insurance can do a lot in that area. Yes it is good to have government business. It is good to be big players in oil and gas. But how big is the insurance business in the day-to-day life of the ordinary Nigerian? How many people can look at the insurance business and say ‘I will put my money there’? “Let us start with some of

the basic ones. Is there a policy in this economy to protect phone loss? It is a very prized asset to a lot of people. I know that in the United Kingdom (U.K.), you can insure your phone. And that, for me, is the real micro-business; the pennies that add up to the big Naira. “People lose their limbs, how quick is the payout? What kind of policies are out there in this kind of environment? Some people are in hospitals today as a result of criminal activities. They are helpless and cannot pay their hospital bills. Is the insurance business helpless in this area? What kind of policies can we put out? How much should those policies cost and how quickly should those policies respond?” Recalling a recent fire at a famous market in the state, the governor wondered why insurance companied were not selling policies to traders, adding: “How much can those policies cost? That, for me, is the real insurance and as big players in the market, that is where we should be looking.” He said even though the

Community seeks fairness in appointment of registrar

EADERS of comminuties in Badagry Division have called the attention of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to the appointment of Registrars at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/ Ijanikin.

They said there had been no equity in the appointment of registrars over the years. In a letter to the governor, the community leaders said Ikorodu and Badagry divisions have not been given an opportunity to produce the registrar. They said: “It is in light of

this that we are appealing that the next Registrar should either come from Ikorodu or Badagry division of Lagos State. “Our observation reveal that other division of Lagos State have not been giving their fair sharing of sense of belonging. For example,

Oyo PDP crisis worries leaders

government gives disaster victims money to relieve their pain, but insurance companies would have given them better relief if they had secured their businesses before the disaster. Fashola said: “People are dying of diseases which ordinarily should not be so if there was an insurance policy they could buy. We are working on legislation in that area. Insurance is of no use to us if it does not improve the value of peoples’ lives. “By accident of nature, such as flooding, people lose all they worked for. Should they be helpless? Can we put in systems where you can buy such policies? If business is focused only on what the government can do, then we should begin to rethink and redefine the terms of reference of the company. “So perhaps instead of reacting to the industry, you should lead the industry. There is a wide scope of activities here and I hope you will be able to call not only your competitors but also your partners. Insurance

business is confidence business and as soon as people begin to see that you will pay a claim, there is so much that is likely to happen here. “I advise that you go into the markets, do some leg work and convince people. Those whose businesses are somewhere between N10,000 to hundreds of millions and have no cover for such businesses can do a lot to protect themselves. Sell the common household policy for jewelry. That is the way to improve the business.” LASACO Assurance Plc Acting Chairman Ashim Oyekan said the donation was the company’s contribution to tightening security. He was accompanied Board members of the firm, including the Group General Manager Ladipo Ajayi; Dr. Toyin Philips; Mr. Biodun Dosunmu and Mrs. Aduke Thorpes. At the occasion were members of the State Executive Council, including Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Ben Akabueze and his Commerce and Industry and Finance counterparts, Mrs. Sola Oworu and Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi.

WO Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Oyo State, Dr. Dejo Raimi and Kunle Ibikunle yesterday came up with solutions to the intra-party crisis. They suggested an all inclusive harmonisation of the state executive council . The leaders decried the crisis in the PDP since 2012. They urged all party leaders to be

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

actively involved in the harmonisation to end the lingering crisis in the PDP. In a statement jointly signed by Raimi, an ex-secretary to the Oyo State Government, and Ibikunle, an ex-supervisory councillor in the second and third Republics, the leaders said the only way to reposition the party for the 2015 elections was the harmonisation of the party exco to

include all notable PDP leaders . They stressed the need for Dr Saka Balogun, Chief Adigun Irawo, Otunba Alao Akala, Dr Dejo Raimi, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Chief Jacob Adetoro, Elder Wole Oyelese, Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Moses Fagbohun and Chief Layi Olakojo to sit together at a round table and end the crisis in the party.

presently looking at the composition of the principal officer of the College, one can see that the Provost is from Lagos division, Deputy Provost recently appointed is from Lagos division, Bursar of the college is also from Lagos Division and present Registrar who has spent seventeen (17) years as a Registrar is from Epe division. “However, we reliably informed that some people are shopping for another registrar from Lagos and Epe division respectively for their personal and selfish interest against the spirit of equity and fair play,” the leaders said. The leaders called on the Lagos State Government to

ensure equity, justice and fair play in picking the next registrar. “We therefore use this medium to appeal, and in the interest of equity, justice and fair play to all those in authority and indeed those who has responsibility over our great institution to act and oblige this request in order to ensure that each division of Lagos State has a sense of belonging in our great institution. It is our hope that the appointment of registrar from our division will enable us to have a representative at AOCOED Governing Council and principal officers of the college respectively,” the leaders said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS (SHOWBIZ) Joy in Banky W’s heart

T appears this is a season of brand endorsements for some of Nigeria’s reigning entertainers. If the rumour making the rounds is anything to go by, Hip hop singer and boss of EME, Banky W, may be signing another mouth-watering contract with Ciroc Vodka as an ambassador. If the deal scales through, he will be joining the likes of P.Diddy, Rick Ross, DJ Khalid, French Montana, Olamide and others who have already become faces of the liquor drink. Banky W, who also recently renewed his contract with MTN, had broken the news when he posted on Instagram: “Taking a #SamsungSelfie, while signing my @MTNNG contract, while sipping on Ciroc.#NaGod#ThankYouJesus

•Banky W By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

#Grateful #andWeAintDoneYet#YelloYear.” Also a philanthropist, he launched the “I am capable scholarship, which provides financial help for indigent but brilliant Nigerian students. He’s also on the Board of Trustees of the “LightupNigeria” project, which focuses on achieving constant power supply in Nigeria.

Taiwo Oladoye drops three singles •Chidinma

HE organisers of the MTN Project Fame West Africa, a music talent contest, have announced that auditions for the seventh season of the show will hold from May 24 to June 28 across four West Africa countries, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. This year, thousands of

•Iyanya

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

young talents will compete to join the prestigious Project Fame Academy, where they will be tutored by the best in the music and entertainment industry. Previous music stars that have graduated from the Project Fame Academy include Iyanya Mbuk whose

song, Kukere, won the Best Pop Single in the 2012 Headies Awards in Lagos; Mike Anyasodo, who won the 2010 Sound City’s Best R&B Video Award with Fine Fine Lady video; Kesse Frimpong, who was voted the Ghanaian’s Best Male Vocalist in 2012 and Chidinma Ekile, who won the Best Female Act (West Africa) at the Kora Awards in

2012. In addition, two music concerts will be held in Benin City and Owerri to showcase the Project Fame superstars alongside other Fame Academy alumni. The concert will also showcase the several possibilities the show holds for making the dreams of young people come true.

MIDST the gloom and insecurity in the nation, gospel act Taiwo Oladoye has released some new songs to encourage her fans and Nigerians generally to put their trust in God. Following the acceptance of her No Be Me Na God single and video released last year, she has now dropped three new singles: Mukulumuke (Celebrate) featuring David Akanji of Infinity Group, Ololufe (My Love) and I Will Not Forget.

Tuface Break The Silence on Chibok girls

•Tuface

Delta State govt welcomes film village By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

LANS are currently under way to build a multimillion naira film village in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. According to information, the construction will be undertaken before the end of the year by a United States-based Nigerian company, Califco Corp Nigeria. The film village, according to plans, will include hotels, guest houses, golf course, swimming pools, holiday resort and about six sound studios. Ace filmmaker Chief Eddie Ugommah, who is facilitating the project, reportedly said the investors were in Nigeria a few months ago for about 90 days. “Initially, they were considering three states: Lagos, Abuja and Bayelsa. But when other states were not ready to welcome the idea, I quickly approached Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who welcomed the idea with open arms.”

ENSATIONAL Hip hop act Tuface Idibia has joined in the call for the release of the abducted Chibok girls with a new song titled Break The Silence . The award-wining act features Sound Sultan, Essence, Joe El and Machel Montano, among others, in the song. Idibia, who is currently in France, said: “The call for the safe return of the Chibok girls and real work towards peacebuilding must be sustained.

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

“This is just another step in the journey towards the promotion of peace and unity in our nation and the world.” The song, which is reported to be under the Tuface Idibia’s Million Voices for Peace (MVP) project, has been recorded to articulate the call for peace and unity, while raising funds to support the work of the Nigerian Red Cross.

•Oladoye

By Mercy Michael

According to her, the singles, which were produced by Tosin Paul and released on the stable of Waves Rekord, are some of the songs in her forthcoming album. Within a year of dropping her first album titled Shake UpThe Heavens, Oladoye, who is planning a major collaboration with a yet-to-be named gospel music act, won four awards in 2013.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS

Southwest conference delegates insist on regional autonomy

OUTHWEST delegates at the National Conference are insisting on institutionalising regional autonomy. The delegates, in a position paper circulated to delegates from other zones yesterday, said the 2014 National Conference must be a discourse aimed at and inclusive nation building. They insisted that “Yoruba people will not be part of a charade that will not create the needed national consensus on key issues in the country. The National Conference must emerge with outcomes that must be enduring solution to perennial and contentious national issues.” The 85-page position paper is entitled, “Regional

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

autonomy or nothing” with a subtitle “The unity of Nigeria is negotiable and must be negotiated”. It appeared as a response to a position paper circulated by Northern delegates marked ‘Key’ issues before the Northern delegates to the 2014 National Conference” with a subtitle “Northern Nigeria, the backbone and strength of Nigeria.” The Southwest delegates noted that the National Conference commenced against a backdrop of pervasive cynicism about the real intention of President Goodluck Jonathan and serious doubts about the leadership’s capacity-implying a requirement of personal strength of char-

acter and political clout, to deliver the radical restructuring that are necessary to resolve the fundamental problems of the legitimacy of the ‘Nigerian project.’ They said that “despite these thoughts and views, it was rightly decided that a strong presence of Southwest delegates are required at the conference to advocate a radical restructuring of Nigeria. Optimists, they said, perceived the conference as a golden opportunity to undertake a holistic transformation of the federation, to realign its structures and commence the institution of attitudinal changes necessary to locate Nigeria on a trajectory of political stability and economic development.

The delegates said the first two weeks of the conference was used to debate the president’s speech, which they said appeared a delay tactics and red herring. The delegates added that “the Emir of Adamawa’s submission on the floor of the National Conference on 27th March 2014 signaled some of the North’s intent which has been suggested to be blackmailing the nation to submission, resulting in the retention of the status quo”. The delegates noted that it had been well argued that a multi-cultural and multilingual country needs, at least, a federal system of government if it is to achieve any measure of economic, social and political

development. They regretted that “ however, signals emerging from the on-going national conference indicate a resistance to the radical restructuring of the country to consolidate the nation’s unwieldy and unsustainable political structures.” According to the delegates, “this direction of travel is a rejection of the imperative for a profound realignment of and political restructuring of the nation by the consolidation of the unwieldy and unsustainable 36 states structure into six geo-regional political arrangement.” They noted that “ with this impending outcome, the 2014 National Conference appears to have entrenched the very logic of operations that has brought Nigeria to the precipice.” On the stand of the Southwest, the document said that “The Southwest is committed to the consolidation of the 36 states’ structures into a regional structure.” The delegates noted that the arrangement “is what is in the best interest of Nigeria and the people of each region.” The delegates said, “The Southwest is reaffirming and rededicating itself to this principle. Any attempt to only tinker with the splintering of Nigeria (for instance, the recommendation to create an additional state in the South East) will only entrench a logic that has proven deleterious for Nigeria’s political and economic development.” They noted that the con-

tinuing structural imbalance of Nigeria is detrimental to the attainment of dynamic and progressive constituent units of the country and would continue to be an impediment to social and economic development of the Southwest, Southsouth, South East and indeed the ‘North’. The delegates noted that as a nation, there is the need to achieve a radical transformation of ‘project Nigeria.’ They warned that inherent in the emerging outcome of the 2014 National Conference is the danger of exacerbating the problems of the more dynamic constituent sections of the country that are determined to join the global race for rapid transformatio, such as Yoruba people. “Hence, the Yoruba people would not be nail roaded into endorsing premeditated outcomes that further undermine our development and the execution of laudable Regional developmental initiatives. The delegates noted that the publication that acknowledges the collaboration of the Northern Governors and other socio-political organisations in the North presented to the 2014 National Conference titled “Key issues before the Northern delegates to the 2014 National Conference” attempted to “distort Nigerian history and re-calibrate the geography of the nation in a manner reminiscent of Hausa-Fulani approach to national political matters, before and after independence.”

APC to Presidency: stop harassment of our members in Bayelsa

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over what it called the arrest and persistent harassment of its members in Bayelsa State by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)-led Federal Government. The partyaccused the government of using the police as its arrowhead, in an attempt to clear the state of all the vestige of opposition ahead of next year’s general elections. In a statement in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the plan being allegedly pursued by the presidency is aimed at ensuring that the opposition, especially the APC, does not gain a foothold in the home state of the President. It said under the evil plan, leaders of the APC in Bayelsa, who have been strenuously building the party in the state, would be decimated through arrests, persistent harassment and ceaseless intimidation in order to scare away all the progressive forces that are keen and eager to align with the APC in the state. ‘’For those who may say this plan is far fetched, Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, the former Chief of Staff to Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva, who is a key APC leader in the state, has been arrested in connection with a murder that took place in 2010. Curiously, Mr. Ogbuku, who has been resident in the state and who has no immunity from arrest, is just now being picked up by the police over a murder that took place over three years

ago. ‘’Realising that the suspect whom the police claimed mentioned Mr. Ogbuku’s name in connection with the murder has recanted, hence the murder charge can no longer be sustained, the police quickly dragged him to court on a charge related to cultism. The plan by the police, who arrested Mr. Ogbuku in commando style while returning from a funeral, had been to take him into custody along with Mr Sylva and one Israel Sunny-Goli, but the other two did not attend the funeral. “A democratically-elected President cannot and must not shut the democratic space against the opposition, whether in his home state where he is expected to show leadership by example or anywhere else across the federation. We are therefore calling on the Presidency to stop the harassment and intimidation of our members in Bayelsa State,’’ APC said. The party said the police in particular must not allow itself to be used to stifle democracy and deny Bayelsa citizens of their constitutional rights to associate freely, warning that any further harassment, intimidation and threat to the lives of its members in Bayelsa would not be tolerated. It called on all lovers of democracy and freedom to prevail on the presidency not to constrict the democratic space in Bayelsa State under any guise, especially in the run up to 2015 when the threats to APC members, especially the party’s leadership, are expected to be stepped up to send a strong signals to everyone to steer clear of the party.

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

NEWS EKITI 2014

IFE of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has urged women and other voters to discountenance a threat by opposition party to drag soldiers and security agents to the state on the day of governorship election. Mrs. Fayemi, while addressing a crowd of supporters in Iye-Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area yesterday, asked voters to come out en masse without fear and exercise their franchise to choose their governor on the day of election. Her words: “Members of opposition are threatening that they will bombard the state with soldiers, police and other security agencies to scare the people from voting. This is a blatant lie and you have to discountenance such. “The Fayemi-led administration will provide adequate security for you to vote that day. Nobody can harass you just because you want to perform your civic responsibility. “On 21st, prepare food for your husbands and get to polling centres on time. Those of you who can follow the votes down to counting centres should do that. On that day, there will be no freedom to wear high heeled shoes or chew chewing gum. You should also be in trousers on the day and not Iro and Buba.”

Fayemi’s education policy thrills students

Fayemi’s wife to voters: don’t fear soldiers

•Erelu Fayemi (middle) on the podium flanked by other APC women leaders in Iye Ekiti... yesterday From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

She is confident that her husband and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will win the June 21 governorship election. Mrs. Fayemi clarified that her husband had a record of achievements to depend on for his re-election campaigns. The governor’s wife alongside a horde of women party supporters defied the downpour to campaign across communities in the state. Other towns her campaign

train also visited yesterday included Ire and Oye in Oye Local Government, Iludun, Iye in Ilejemeje and Otun Ekiti in Moba Local Council Area. According to her, while other candidates could only promise the electorate, using expressions like ‘I shall’ and ‘I will’, only the APC candidate could say “I have.” She pledged that the Fayemi’s administration “will do it again as we have done it before”. Mrs. Fayemi said: “I am 100 per cent sure that my husband will defeat other candidates in this election. He will win hands down because he is running on

solid track records. “Our consistent canvass for votes is not that we are jittery, but to ensure that no voter is left behind. We have to sensitise our people and increase the advocacy for voters’ education to prevent apathy. “We have gone round all the farmsteads and this is for us to be familiar with the challenges being faced in those communities. This will form part of the strategies to tackle social and economic problems at the grassroots during the second term of this administration”. She urged the women to prepare well for the day of elec-

tion, noting: “All you are doing now are preparations for that final day.” She also urged the women to start a house-to–house campaign. The All Progressives Congress Woman Leader in the state, Mrs. Funke Owoseeni, maintained that women would reap more gains if Fayemi is re-elected for a second term. She also visited markets where she bought items including dried fish, fresh fish, palm oil, vegetable and other food items from marketers who were mostly women.

EMBERS of the Ekiti State Students Union have praised the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration’s strides in the education sector. The commendation through their local chapter at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, countered the views of the opposition on the policies of the state government in the sector. Led by EKSU President Ibitola Babatope, on a visit to the Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, the union noted that the faithful implementation of education and human capital development– the fourth on the Eight-Point Agenda of the administration - has “completely restored the dwindling fortune of education in the Land of Honour State.” His words: “The unprecedented landmark achievement this government has made in the education sector is vivid to the blind and audible to the deaf and cannot be controverted by any progressive-minded person.”

Deputy Speaker cautions politicians on violence

KITI Assembly Speaker Orisalade Adetunji Taiwo has cautioned politicians and their supporters to maintain peace and orderliness ahead of next month’s governorship election. The deputy speaker, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Taiwo

Oluwaleye and made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti, said Ekiti was known for peace and orderliness. Taiwo warned that such record should not be sullied by the political aspirants in the state. He maintained that Ekiti is one indivisible entity irrespective of political affilia-

tions and should not be divided because of political gains. He added that “Ekitis are known to be Omoluabis and we should not because of politics throw our Omoluabis’ attitude into the wind.” The lawmaker representing Ido/Osi Constituency II at the State House of Assembly warned those fomenting trou-

ble in the state to desist from doing so, noting that the forthcoming election should not be turned into a theatre of war as politics of do-or-die would no longer work in Ekiti State. The legislator said gone were the days when a particular candidate would bamboozled Ekiti people into doing his biddings via the creation

I attracted 89 projects to Ekiti in three years as a lawmaker, says Bamidele G OVERNORSHIP candidate of Labour Party in Ekiti State, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed how he influenced almost 90 federal projects into the state as a federal lawmaker. He disclosed this to his teeming supporters during the continuation of his rally across Ijero Local Government of the state. Justifying his governorship ambition, Bamidele revealed that these projects were drawn to towns and villages under his Irepodun/Ifelodun/Ado Ekiti Federal Constituency within 2012, 2013 and 2014. He listed Ado Ekiti, Igede

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti, Iyin Ekiti, Afao Ekiti, Are Ekiti, Igbemo Ekiti, Iropora Ekiti, Eyio Ekiti, Awo Ekiti and Iworoko Ekiti as beneficiaries of his quality representation in the House of Representatives commencing from June 6, 2011. According to him, the projects included Primary Healthcare Centres, solarpowered and motorised boreholes, rural electrification projects, distribution of electric transformers, skill accusation

centres and youth empowerment programmes. Bamidele noted that these projects were not inclusive of those he personally embarked upon like scholarship scheme and intervention supplies, adding that several other needs have also been met by his Special Fund Management Committee. He said: “It is on record how well I have represented my people and served them in my previous offices. Even now as a member of the House of Representatives, I have brought home a total of 89 life-chang-

ing projects to the people of Irepodun/Ifelodun/Ado Ekiti Federal Constituency”. “In 2012 alone, I brought home 33 federal projects and these include primary health centres to cater for health needs of our women and children. In 2013, I came with 27 projects and in 2014, I have initiated another 29 projects for my people totalling 89 in over three years.” He said whenever he spoke about his decision not to collect salary if elected as governor, some people see it as strange.

‘Oni’s defection to APC not a threat’

HE Southwest Caretaker Committee chairman, , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Chief Ishola Filani, has averred that the dumping of the party by former governor of Ekiti State, Olusegun Oni, for All Progressives Congress (APC), is not a threat to the party’s victory ahead of the next month’s governorship polls. Filani, who was just reinstated by a court ruling along with his other committee members, spoke in Ibadan while addressing journalists at the PDP Southwest office in Bodija, Ibadan.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

“Oni has no electoral value and is not a threat to PDP winning Ekiti State back with Fayose. No important member of our party in Southwest has decamped to the opposition party as far as I am concerned. More APC and Labour Party members are even joining PDP back now and I am sure that with machinery in place, we shall win in Ekiti and Osun states. According to him, PDP remained solid unlike other opposition parties that are making alliances and break-

ing up later. “Elections are not won on individual’s name. It is not about personality, but votes are won through rigorous campaigns, hard-work and party manifesto,” he added. He stated further that the coming back to office of the committee would ensure consultation and unity in the party to bring back its aggrieved members. Filani called all the people in Southwest to support PDP in order to ensure progress and development of Yorubaland. He thanked the leadership of the party for embracing the

•Filani

rule of law, by returning him and his committee members back into their positions.

of fear in their minds. He said Ekiti was lucky to have someone like Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the helm of affairs, having regards to his unprecedented and laudable transformational agenda that have turned the state into an enviable status in less than four years in office.” Orisalade thanked the

teeming supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC)for their love and support for the party and its candidate since the campaigns started. He also urged them to continue in manner and come out en masse on the election day to vote and re-elect Fayemi for another term in office.

Fayose accuses govt of booking all hotels •APC: another case of frivolous allegation

HEAD of next month’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ayodele Fayose, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi of wasting over N100 million to book all hotels in the state. Making the allegation in a statement yesterday, the DirectorGeneral of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, quoted the PDP governorship candidate as claiming that the state government was owing hoteliers in over N200 million since last year, which it refused to pay. But, APC spokesperson Segun Dipe, described the allegation as “frivolous,; inane and undeserving of any attention”. Dipe maintained that the PDP had time for frivolous comments because it lacked the focus and seriousness it takes to win an election, adding: “How could a whole party make such an allegation? There are many members of the party who owns hotels in Ado-Ekiti and elsewhere in.the state. AFCO, which described the government’s action as admittance of fear, said it was wicked for the state government that refused to pay its hotel bills for over six months to have suddenly realised that it needed to pay over N100 million to book hotels just because of election. The governorship candidate, who said all attempts to circumvent the will of Ekiti people by the APC government will fail, added that “if they like, let them pay for all hotel rooms in Ekiti, let them pay for all farmlands and even vacant residential accommodation in Ekiti, they won’t survive defeat on June 21.” While calling on hoteliers in the state to demand for the payment of over N200 million being owed them by the state government, Fayose said: “Let all outstanding debts being owed our hotel owners by the APC evil government be paid first. “And if Governor Kayode Fayemi and those that are using the June 21 election to siphon Ekiti funds like, let them go beyond the booking of all hotel rooms in Ekiti. Let them also book all roads in the state so that no one can be able to use the roads between now and June 21. “They can also go a step further in the demonstration of their wickedness and desperation by booking the air that we breathe so that no one will be able to breathe because of the June 21 election.” Fayose is the proprietor of Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti. He did not say whether his hotel was being owed.

BUSINESS

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014 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

Senate to partner power investors to tackle challenges

Court delivers judgment today in Sanusi’s case

• Eko DISCO votes N6.9b for meters

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

HE Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has assured to work with the newly privatised Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and others in the electricity sector to ensure that the privatization of the sector meets expectations of Nigerians for improved power supply in the country. Its Chairman, Senator Gbenga Obadara made the assurance during the committee’s oversight visit to Eko Electricity Distribution Company yesterday in Lagos. Obadara said the committee is aware of the expectations of Nigerians from the newly privatised electricity companies as well as the challenges facing the sector. He said the committee in its oversight visits has noticed the major problem confronting not just Eko DISCO but other DISCOs is energy theft and vandalism of power equipment. The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the company, Oladele Amoda, said the company has earmarked N6.9 billion to be spent in the next five years on acquisition of meters. He said customers, who are presently being billed without meters, will soon have cause to smile as the 360,000 meters are on the way. He explained that N1.3 billion would be expended on the first phase of the project, which would be for purchase of about 5,000 meters for all high voltage or maximum demand customers of the company. The maximum demand customers, he said, were responsible for about 70 per cent of the company’s revenue generation; hence the company is starting with that category of customers.

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: Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Ladi Balogun; Executive Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Obinna Nwosu; General Manager of the Bank, Mr. Dapo Olagunju and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, during the Corporate Challenge Race Against Cancer in Lagos... at the weekend.

NERC warns DISCOs for flouting directive T HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commis sion ((NERC) has came down hard on eight electricity distribution companies ( DISCOs) for failing to report their obligations to the regulator. NERC’s Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, said the action was in disregard of its directives. It will soon enforce the relevant section of the Electricity Power Reform Act (EPSR Act of 2005) on reporting obligation, the commission said. NERC expressed reservations on the compliance level of DISCOs in the reporting and submission of data that

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

would allow it do proper network data assessment. The reporting obligation as contained in part 10, section 94(2) of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (2005) states that any person who fails, or refuses to furnish a return or to supply information in the manner and time prescribed, or gives false or incomplete information commits an offence and is liable on conviction. Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sam Amadi, said the CEOs had

been told at their April meeting to comply with the Commission’s request on submission of baseline statistics on distribution assets they took over. According to Dr. Amadi, there is a need for network data assessment to establish a data bank of all existing distribution assets, monitor, track and report performance of the DISCOs with respect to strengthening of distribution systems and capacity expansion as well as facilitate expansion and development of the distribution networks.

He urged the DISCOs to improve on their performances and make necessary adjustments, adding that a similar exercise with the Transmission and Generation Companies will soon be carried out. “Discos are to note their performances and make necessary adjustments to ensure timely and accurate reporting. Similar exercises would be conducted for Transmission and Generation Companies,” Amadi said. This is the first time NERC is assessing the utilities on their key performance indicators (KPIs) since they took over six months ago.

NCC’s ban on MTN, Airtel, Glo remains, says Commissioner

HE Nigerian Commu nications Commission (NCC) has said the ban it imposed on three major telecoms firms for failing to meet key performance indicators (KPI) remains in force. Speaking through its Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Okwchukwu Itanyi, in Lagos at the weekend, the regulator said it was irrevocably committed to using its regulatory powers to ensure that operators do the needful so that subscribers could enjoy the full value of their money. In February, the regulator imposed a fine of N467million on Airtel, MTN and Globacom. It barred them from taking in new subscriber identity modules (SIMs) for one month so that they could put some measures in place. But the one month has since elapsed without any official statement from the regulator concerning whether it has been lifted or not. Itanyi said the ban has been extended. “The ban on

By Lucas Ajanaku

the sale of new SIM cards is on. We have not lifted the ban. (If the operators are still selling) it is something that we will investigate and if any of them is found to have fallen short of our regulation, it is something we can sanction them for. It was for a month and we extended it. We have not lifted that sanction. It is still on,” he said on the sideline of CyberAfrica Awards night held at Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja where the regulator bagged two awards. On the efficacy of fines, he said it is one way of allowing the operators to know that the regulator is dissatisfied with the standard of the services they render to Nigerians. He said: “Basically, the fines are to put the operators on their toes. We are not happy with the standard of the services they are giving to Nigerians. There are KPIs and whenever they fall short, we have to sanction them by

imposing fine. The fine is meant to put them on notice; we are also talking to the operators because part of the problem is that their network cannot carry the traffick of the customers available on their network. So, we are trying to ensure that they improve their network.” The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said the sanction will make the affected operators to do more to meet the parameters set down by the regulator. Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo said as responsible corporate citizens, the affected operators have complied with the regulator’s directive. He said: “As responsible operators, those affected complied with the directive of the NCC as it were. NCC gave some conditions precedent to lifting the ban and we are hoping that in their next review in terms of QoS and other parameters, the NCC will consider lifting the ban, they will find reason to

• Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah

lift the ban, by the time the next measurement is done, I am hopeful. “In terms of its impact on business, I think for the affected players, it is an opportunity for them to go back inhouse see what efficiency measures to put in place in order to comply with the directive of the regulator. So, the consideration is not in terms of income or loss of business but putting in efficiency in the interest of the subscribers. “In essence, we are not counting losses on this account we are rather looking at the efficiency that can be put in place So, we are not counting losses.”

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja is expected to give its verdict today in the suit by suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi. Sanusi is challenging his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan. Justice Kabriel Kolawole chose today for judgment after entertaining arguments from parties in the case on April 8. The court took arguments on both the defendants’ preliminary objection and the substantive case. Named with the President as defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Represented by Kola Awodein (SAN), Sanusi’s contention is to the effect that the President lacked the powers to unilaterally suspend the Governor of the CBN despite his alleged offence. The plaintiff argued that the President’s exercise of the executive powers, provided in the Constitution, was subject to the Act of the National Assembly. He said, in his case, the President was expected to exercise his power to remove the CBN governor in accordance with the provision of the CBN Act. Sanusi argued that since there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN governor in the CBN Act, it implies that the President has no powers to suspend the bank’s governor. He further argued that under Section 1(3) of the CBN Act, the bank is made an independent body with the intention of making the bank operationally independent, so that there will not be interference of any sort in its operations, except as permitted under the Act. Sanusi contended that even if the President was to exercise control over the bank, which include the suspension of its governor, such must be done with the support of 2/3 majority of the Senate. He urged the court to hold that his client has made out a proper case for the court to void his suspension. In their counter-argument, the defendants insisted that the suspension of the plaintiff by the President was within his powers. They contended that the CBN was an agency of the Executive arm of the Federal Government, whose powers as contained in Section 5 of the Constitution is vested in the President. They contended that the plaintiff is a public officer and an employee of the FGN by virtue of his appointment, was not immune to the control of the President. They further argued that the President, in suspending Sanusi did not terminate his employment, but merely asked him to step aside to enable the Financial Regulatory Council (FRC) a statutory body, perform it’s role of investigating allegations of procedural and financial breaches raised against him.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Extension not enough

Nigeria is failing its abducted girls • Country needs western help and

•Devising strategies for curbing terrorism in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states should leaders who want reform go beyond extending the emergency rule T is six weeks since Boko Haram extremists

ESTERDAY, the emergency rule imposed on three North-Eastern states lapsed. In anticipation, President Goodluck Jonathan had, last week, made a proclamation extending it and forwarded same to the National Assembly for ratification. However, while it had a smooth sail in the House of Representatives, the Senate has deferred discussions till this week. Eminent persons, political leaders and governments of the affected states have rejected the bid to extend the emergency, arguing that equipping and boosting the morale of government troops would be more effective. We find it difficult to agree with the contention by the Federal Government that an extension would help

‘It is our view that mere extension without a thorough review of the operations of the security forces and improvement in welfare package for the troops would be counter-productive. The recent mutiny by some soldiers of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army is an indication that something grave is happening which requires more than cosmetic attention’

curb the insurgency and save the populace from undue harassment and displacement. Since the emergency was imposed May last year, the terrorists have struck at will in schools, villages and markets. State governments have continued to wonder how convoys made their way to public places and slaughtered the innocent. In some cases, Nigerian soldiers have lamented the superiority of arms and ammunition available to the Boko Haram terrorists. It is our view that mere extension without a thorough review of the operations of the security forces and improvement in welfare package for the troops would be counter-productive. The recent mutiny by some soldiers of the 7 th Division of the Nigerian Army is an indication that something grave is happening which requires more than cosmetic attention. Already, having lasted more than one year, the emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states is the longest in the history of such unusual situations in the country. In the First Republic when the confusion in the Western Region led to the appointment of Chief Moses Majekodunmi as administrator, with consequent conferment of extraordinary powers on him, normalcy was restored within six months. The emergency was not extended. In May 2004, the Federal Government imposed emergency rule on Plateau State following communal con-

flicts that had engulfed the state and threatened to spill to others. The tenure of General Chris Alli who was appointed the administrator was not extended after it lapsed in November. Similarly, in October 2006, a state of emergency was declared in Ekiti State and another retired general, Adetunji Olurin, was made the administrator. His tenure had to be slightly adjusted to cover the one-month gap to the installation of an elected governor. By nature, emergency periods are supposed to last only a short period. While it could be argued that the situation that called for taking the measures has not abated, it should be equally noted that the emergency has not succeeded in ridding the territory of the terrorists. We also note that in none of the previous cases did the emergency rule cure the society of the ills that provoked such extraordinary measures. In the current case, the ease with which the insurgents, especially the outrageous recent kidnap of about 273 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, calls for a new approach by the military and civil authorities. Whether the emergency is extended or not, security of lives and property in the affected states and the contiguous region should be paramount. If two terms of the emergency could not stamp out the menace, there is no assurance that a third term would perform the magic.

A case for e-card reader •The best place to start is the Osun State governorship election

IVEN the disclosure by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that no fewer than 800,000 voters registered more than once in Osun State, one would have thought that the commission would gladly accept the idea of testing the electronic card reader in the state. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, made the disclosure at the South West stakeholders’ forum on “Advocacy for Inclusive and Accessible Electoral Processes for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria”, organised by the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The REC warned that “anyone who engages in double registration will be detected by INEC machines and his/her name will be deleted from the commission’s data for a long time, in addition to prosecution”. In addition, those who engage in double registration will automatically miss the chance of voting in the coming governorship election and in subsequent elections in the state. He also warned registered voters against selling their precious voter’s cards, threatening that those caught with other people’s cards will be prosecuted. The revelation by Mr. Akeju is a very serious one. In the first place, it is incredible that such a large number of voters in

Osun State could have registered more than once, thus violating an essential aspect of the electoral law. The question that readily comes to mind is: how did this happen? But this is a rhetorical question because the answer is simple: it is for the purpose of rigging the August 2014 election in the state, and subsequent elections in 2015. Unfortunately, INEC seems to be aiding the criminals by its decision not to use the electronic card reader that could make identification of those voters who registered more than once easier to deal with. Now that the commission is faced with the criminal activities of over 800,000 voters who registered more than once, it is talking tough. This certainly is not good for the system. It is even interesting to note that INEC never gave any tangible reason for refusing the use of electronic voter card reader for the Osun election other than that it would not want to do such a pivotal exercise with the crucial elections coming up in Osun and Ekiti States in June and August, respectively. What really are INEC’s problem and fears? Given the importance of the electronic voter card reader as a scientific method of voting in this age of the internet and high technology, we think it is by accepting and testing the voter reader in Osun and Ekiti states that INEC would be able to learn from whatever challenges the new method or system might pose, thus giving room for improvement in

subsequent exercises. Now, if the commission is afraid and does not want to test the system with only a few million voters, how can it perfect it for all the 2015 general elections which involved several millions of Nigerian voters? If, in Osun State alone, 800,000 voters registered more than once, we can imagine how many such criminals would be found in the remaining 35 states and the federal capital territory. We want INEC to review its stand on the issue. It is better and cheaper to prevent the crime of double or multiple voting using the electronic card reader than waiting to catch the perpetrators after committing the crime.

‘If, in Osun State alone, 800,000 voters registered more than once, we can imagine how many such criminals would be found in the remaining 35 states and the federal capital territory. We want INEC to review its stand on the issue. It is better and cheaper to prevent the crime of double or multiple voting using the electronic card reader than waiting to catch the perpetrators after committing the crime.

abducted more than 200 teenage girls from their school in Nigeria’s remote northeast. President Goodluck Jonathan says 20,000 troops have been deployed as part of efforts to find and free them and in the broader campaign against an insurgency that has become the greatest threat to Nigerian and regional security. British, US and Israeli forces are now assisting operations to find the hostages with aerial surveillance and expertise. The emergence of Boko Haram and the abhorrent tactics its members use is part of a wider regional and global phenomenon that requires a multinational response. The hostage crisis, however, has put the spotlight on governance failings that are Nigeria’s alone. Paradoxically, these have worsened as the country’s economy has grown to become Africa’s largest, weakening the state along the way. Until now the group that abducted the girls has evaded the security services and controlled the narrative. Last week it showed some of its captives on video, offering to release them only if the government freed incarcerated Boko Haram members. On Saturday, when regional heads of state met in Paris to forge a common response, the group took yet more hostages – Chinese road workers across the border in Cameroon. The Nigerian government is in an unenviable position. Dealing with terrorists is never easy. Doing so in the full glare of the international media, when the lives of innocent girls are at stake, makes it even less so. But this is a crisis partly of Mr Jonathan’s own making. Confronted with a crime that has attracted global outrage, he has appeared inept and indecisive. Some of the president’s allies – even his wife – continue to give the impression that they are more concerned with the impact the abductions will have on next year’s scheduled polls than with the fate of the abducted girls. Nigerians are embarrassed. The resulting pressure from a social media campaign that has attracted followers worldwide does not make it more likely that there will be a happy ending. But it is forcing the government to prioritise the fate of the girls and has refocused national and international attention on how to win the war. In the short term there is no easy option. The likelihood is that the girls have been split up, complicating efforts both to track them down and to negotiate their freedom. Government officials have given mixed signals on how far they might go in any talks, rightly cautious about rewarding terrorists with prisoner swaps or ransom money. The terrorists are unlikely to release all the girls at once. Rather, they might escalate their demands after first freeing some. Meanwhile, there is a danger that some or all of the hostages could be killed in any attempt to free them by force. A peaceful solution to the plight of the schoolgirls may be hard to achieve. The longer-term issue is the chronic failure of the Nigerian military and security services. The campaign against Boko Haram will not be won through force alone. But Nigeria is a country that ought to have a well equipped, functioning military, given its economic size. It does not, thanks to corruption within government and the army leadership. Money budgeted for security is not going where it is supposed to. This has to change. Nigeria’s western allies are in a difficult position. They could help rebuild the capacity and capability of its military. But this would not be effective unless Nigeria’s leadership showed itself willing and able to implement reform. This applies not just to Nigeria but on the other side of the continent in Kenya, too, where at least 10 people were killed in bomb attacks on Friday. – Financial Times

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THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Through the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu has spoken, the race has not ended. It has just begun. I have followed the reactions of many Lagosians to Oba Akiolu’s open endorsement of Akin Ambode for the Governorship of Lagos. The alacrity and suddenness of his endorsement shocked many people. Many have criticized him for such brazenness and others are already plotting how to deal with him. There are also insinuations in many quarters that he is on an errand sort of. That there is a hand of Essau and the voice of Jacob, sorry, the voice of Akiolu. Again, Bola Tinubu is being fingered to be behind the message so brazenly delivered. I however beg to differ. Those that share this position do not know him well enough. If they do, they will know that he holds his cards close to his chest. A political generalissimo, he never pulls the chestnut out of the fire until the last moment. He distracts to surprise. He waits to pounce. He hibernates to be able to spring a surprise. Such are his ways. He weighs every option carefully and never plays his hand too soon because he knows that will give his detractors enough time and ammunition to attack. For him, the surprise element is an asset as risky as it may be. But later on Tinubu and his political abracadabra. Back to Oba Akiolu’s endorsement. Here is my take. We are in a democratic setting. Lagosians have become more politically savvy but that should not deny any one the right to exercise his freedom of speech. Akiolu has expressed an opinion that is well within his right to express. He may have done it in an unexpected manner with the timing suspect, but there is no denying

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That Akiolu’s statement

him the right to do so. All this talk about Obas not being involved with politics is hogwash. All Obas are leg and neck deep in politics. Politicians seek and court their support for electoral victory and to solve problems. Akiolu’s idea about the man that is good for Lagos will be tested come February 2015. Lagosians will choose who will be the next governor and not Akiolu. He has had his say. The people will have their way. We must give Akiolu a pass. Lagos has become a country within a country.

It is the biggest prize after the centre. It is attractive. AKiolu;s love for Lagos must have driven him to want the best qualified man for Lagos, even though what he announced publicly ought to have been left for the privacy of his palace. There is no faulting his love for Lagos. The APC will still hold primaries and I urge all that come from within the zone to see Akiolus’s statement as a challenge. They must come out and compete and not close shop. If they simply close shop because of what

Akiolu said, then that means in the first place, they lacked the courage and temerity to contest and to govern Lagos. Against all odds, let’s have all of them at the track and at the starting point. The months ahead will be interesting. These permutations will change. New alignments will emerge. Even Oba Akiolu’s feet which now seems set in wet cement may soon soften. Akin Ambode now the front runner has his job cut out. He will soon realize that an Akiolu endorsement will not be enough for him to

Jonathan and botched Chibok visit

IR: It is, to say the least, most disheartening and pathetic that President Goodluck Jonathan has not deemed it proper to pay even a one-second physical visit to the traumatised Chibok community, more than one month after the over 200 teenage school girls were forcefully taken away from their school by the devilish group, Boko Haram, amidst the growing global outrage and agitations that have trailed the callous abduction. The hope of the Chibok community having their president share in their pains and agonies was unfortunately dashed last Friday, less than 24hours after it had been raised,

when President Goodluck abruptly cancelled a scheduled visit to that North-east state and instead jetted out to Paris to “re-strategise” on the security challenges tearing our country apart. The botched visit, according to several media reports, was predicated upon an “intelligence report” which suggested that the President’s safety was not guaranteed. But like so many persons have rightly questioned: if the life of the President, with all the security apparatus, could not be secured during such visit, then what becomes of the ordinary people living in the community? Who will protect them from the ravaging and

more superior sect group? Just who will? Anyway, Nigerians were not surprised by the cancellation. Indeed, they didn’t expect much from a president who waltzed away in a political rally less than 24hours after the report of the ugly incident. Nigerians will certainly be asking too much from a president whom it took almost three weeks after the abduction to begin to “do something” about it. The President would rather prefer to give a 36paragraph paper speech to his audience in Paris France to giving audience to the yearning Nigerians and Chibok community. Does char-

Taraba: Motion without movement

IR: Some people find themselves in leadership position well prepared and ready for the task ahead with a well defined and articulated blueprint which would serve as a guide in actualizing their preconceived objective. These group of leaders always succeed; for instance Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers. Others find themselves unprepared, without any defined idea of what they intend to achieve; in fact, some come into office as a result of a misfortune of others; this group rarely triumph. The acting Governor of Taraba State Alhaji Garba Umar alias UTC fell within the later group. I am not trying to validate the nonsensical position of those agitating

get the trophy. The lion of Bourdillon has only hummed and not said a word. It’s amazing how people attribute so much to him and also swear by what they do not know. His silence right now should worry the contenders while it should give we the voters hope. The APC owes Lagos and the country transparent primaries in Lagos to set the tone for other countries. While the dust of Akiolu’s statement might take a while to settle, the clouds of the gubernatorial battle in Lagos must begin to gather. Akiolu spoke his mind, for that we cannot crucify him. But we may disagree. The fact that we disagree with him also means we have our own candidate. The only difference is that he is a powerful Oba. We take solace in the knowledge that it is only God who appoints Kings. •Alfred Lawson Lagos

for his vacation from office so as to pave way for them to run the affairs of government on behalf of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai, but to highlight silent issues which those sycophants around him would not be able to tell him for the fear of the unknown. I have been away from my state, Taraba, for almost four months. As I approached the city gate coming back home, I was expecting to see changes in the landscape of Jalingo. Alas, there were no changes. Even the street lights that I left working are no longer functioning, No single road project is going on, nothing! When I enquired from the locals, I was told that it has been like that since I left. One of his defenders told me he

is constructing Bali-Gembu Road and that he is also working on the completion of College of Nursing Jalingo. Coincidentally, while watching the local news that same evening, I saw workers of the Taraba State Road Construction and Maintenance Agency (TARCMA) demonstrating over non-payment of their salaries. What a shame! His recent appointment of about 24 Special advisers and 24 Special Assistants is nothing short of embarrassment. What do you need them for when you have commissioners manning all the portfolios? Is that not duplication of work? Or is it an avenue of empowering the foot soldiers that

would prosecute the 2015 election? No wonder, I was told that they don’t even have offices. The truth of the matter is that, the acting governor’s performance in the last two years by all standards is below average. I am tempted to ask: Where is our money? If it is in the bank vaults, then, let him be informed that that is not their appropriate place of abode. Let them be utilized for the development of the state. Wake up acting Governor Garba Umar and do what would be beneficial to us. Taraba is in need of development. We are seek and tired of this motion without movement! Muhammad Adamu Auta, Jalingo

ity now begin abroad? Does a man whose house is on fire go hunting a rat? It is even more shameful that Aso Rock media aides have openly told the world that President Goodluck never planned to visit the community as widely carried by the media. If for anything, the denial has further succeeded in portraying him as an insensitive president whose only interest is his own safety and that of his immediate families. It is important that the President is told in clear terms that long speeches and global throttling will not #BringBackOurGirls. ACTION and insightful leadership will. Essentially the President should understand that this action does not only include the extension of the almost counter-productive emergency rule in the affected states. One thing the so-called emergency rule has succeeded in achieving is lining the pockets of the actors, as it has since become a conduit pipe through which the country’s resources are frittered away. It was unfortunate that the lawmakers merely played to the Abuja’s sentiments rather than assess the outcome of the rule on merit. Nigerians therefore call on Abuja to lead action in rescuing the abducted girls and securing lives and properties in the country; it cannot abandon such fundamental responsibility to the international community or Nigerian citizens. • Barrister Okoro Gabriel, Abakaliki Ebonyi

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

COMMENTS

Awo era politicians, some ONTRAST life from the “mantle products of Gen. Ibrahim of Awo” to instant death from the Babangida’s “new breed” poli“terrible mantle of Akintola”, tics, led by Asiwaju Bola and all the drama, the manoeuvre, the Tinubu. crass opportunism, the intrigue, the galThough Tinubu earned his lery play and the banana peel (apolostripes in the war zones of regies to the late Chuba Okadigbo) of the validating MKO Abiola’s June Yoruba “lifeworld”, which drives its 12 mandate; and has inspired a politics, hit you in full Technicolor! breed that has replicated, in As in John Keats’s long poem, Olakunle concrete terms, Awo’s progres“Hyperion”, an old order is dying. A lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola sive heritage in the present new order is waiting to be born. The South West, the old guard still pain of death coheres with the mirth of regards them as ideological life. There is pre-renewal tension in the grand pretenders and rank outland! siders in the Awo patrimony. That is the long and short of this wonYet, in the relay of grim comderful new book, Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Post-First Republic, when Awo edies in the book, about everyone took a hit. Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency, by Wale Adebanwi, a had been formally canonised Awo himself fell for the subversive praise of IBB, in the letter Nigerian don and scholar’s scholar, who teaches at the UniverAsiwaju Yoruba (Yoruba Leader), the (ghosted by Chief Olu Falae, then secretary to IBB’s governsity of California, Davis, in the United States. battle to inherit his mantle assumed ment) that — not incorrectly — declared Awo the issue in But beyond the “Kiriji War” for Yoruba political ascendancy, fiercer levels. Nigerian politics. among Awo’s disciples, Yoruba Elites also symbolises the naAlhaji Lateef Jakande (Baba That letter also fetched Falae a toe-hold on the progressive tionwide “civil war” for or against Awo’s ideas. That war Kekere), the populist and hugely heritage, so much so that he got preferred over Ige in the opened before independence. popular Second Republic governor D’Rovan Hotel, Ibadan, Alliance for Democracy caucus presiThough Awo died in 1987, the war — over the best philoof Lagos and Chief Bola Ige (Arole dential candidate (s)elections of 1998. sophical plane to propel Nigeria to its manifest destiny, beAwolowo), the razor-tongued, sharp The Awo family fell for the subversive generosity of IBB in tween federal and anti-federal forces — will rage on: until wit, public intellectual par excelsecretly accepting 120, 000 pounds sterling for burial expenses, Nigeria finds its feet as a productive federation; or makes diflence and governor of old Oyo State even as the late Bisi Onabanjo, Second Republic governor of ficult peace with the present mediocre template, particularly (now Oyo State and State of Osun) Ogun State, publicly but innocently boasted Awo would frown at the centre. were the top contenders. at such. Before Awo’s death, the Yoruba archetype of political hero But both stumbled, allegedly, acAnd the whodunnit that followed Ige’s AD presidential ticket and anti-hero was well established. The meltdown of the According to investigations in Yoruba ouster, put the trio of Chief Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Femi tion Group (AG), the party that catapulted the old Western Elites, for being too much in a hurry Okurounmu and Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi on the spot! Region to untold glory, settled all that. In accounting for Ige’s final vote, both Osoba and Okurounmu to inherit the “Awo mantle”, even while Awo was still alive. Awo was the undisputed hero, aside from being the signifier said they voted Ige at D’Rovans, but the author appeared to But the real “Kiriji War” started after Awo’s passage, when of the modern Yoruba nation and unifier of the once badly have his doubts. Akinyemi said that final vote was his. The each combatant or even blocs of combatants tried to corral fractured ethnic group. author appeared to believe him. But Ige himself didn’t, rewhat Dr. Adebanwi called the “politics of heritage” or better Samuel Ladoke Akintola (SLA), his estranged former deputy, portedly, till his death, accusing Akinyemi of treachery! still, politics of Awo’s memory, to seize political ascendancy. became the anti-hero, plunging like the Biblical Lucifer, the And the partisan efe (wit) on the stumps! Otunba Gbenga And you would be amazed at the warring camps! brilliant child of the morning and the most favoured of angels, Daniel (OGD) became Ojiji Omo (sudden child) to partisans The biological Awos appeared divinely settled on milking from his celestial throne into the pit of hell. ridiculing his reported sudden claim to Sagamu as paternal the political franchise of their great paterfamilias, no ideologiIn the Awolowo Vs Akintola battle of perception and counhome to gain the Ogun governorship. But the crafty OGD cal questions asked. ter-perception, the idea is that the Awo column, with its solid renamed himself Ogidi Omo (precious child). Then, there were close confidants of Awo, led by the pair of legitimacy, was one solid and united phalanx. Not true! Yoruba Still, neither Ojiji nor Ogidi would appear to have mattered to Pa Olaniwun Ajayi and Pa Ayo Adebanjo. Alleged traducersElites x-rays the how’s and whys. the Awo dynasty. OGD delivered on the Awo franchise. While in-chief of the late Bola Ige, Ige himself verbalised the Ijebu Even while alive, the fierce manoeuvre to inherit Awo’s it lasted, he was in return vested with Awo’s reincarnation. Four, a put-down tag which added the late Pa Abraham throne was on. SLA’s perceived treachery is well recorded by Ige’s terrible hubris drove him to a tragic end. But he esAdesanya (later to become Afenifere leader) and Pa Solanke history. But SLA branched out on his own, leading conservacaped the “terrible mantle of Akintola” allegedly laid out for Onasanya, to the pair of Ajayi and Adebanjo. tive elements out of the old AG. That was the First Republic, him by the Ijebu Four. The quad was regarded as leading the Ijebu Mafia, against when Awo was still evolving. Yoruba Elites, published by Cambridge University Press, is a other blocs, in the contestation for Awo’s political throne. classic on Awo and progressive politics in Yorubaland and While both Ajayi and Adebanjo were reportedly jeered at, “Yoruba Elites, published by CamNigeria: the glory, the intrigue, the drama. Though it is worth Second Republic Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) governors bridge University Press, is a classic on by every inch of its N20, 000 launch price, it risks being read only as the Park Lane ensemble — non-political office holders alby the financial “holies of holies”. with Awo at his Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos residence — the Awo and progressive politics in ways But this pearl of a book should be mass produced for mass pair has, after Awo’s death, transformed into fierce guarantors readership, if its illuminating shaft must not be buried under Yorubaland and Nigeria” of the Awo franchise. a bushel. Also in the fray, for Awo’s progressive mantle, were post-

epublican ipples

Awo, followers ex-rayed

T is understandable that the military authorities would strive to pass off last week’s embarrassing skirmish by soldiers in Maiduguri’s Maimalari Cantonment as a mere storm in a tea cup. For a military whose activities have come under global scrutiny in the last one month, it is natural that it would seek to downplay any untoward developments that can only further dent its image. However, after the reassignment of the General Officer Commanding the Division, Major General Ahmed Mohammed barely 24 hours after the Maimalari Cantonment incident, followed by the convening of the Military Board of Inquiry to probe the incident, I don’t think anyone, least the military authorities would dare to suggest that the events are anymore, routine. There is simply no denying that the military is on the spot. That, in fact, is an understatement. As far as the current state of insurgency goes, the institution would appear to be on trial. Indeed, the Maimalari Cantonment blow-out has merely brought to the fore, a dangerous dimension to the current unease across the land, a plausible explanation for what is increasingly the military’s inability to contain the Boko Haram menace. While the outburst of anger by some disgruntled soldiers as widely reported may not have come as a surprise given the not too infrequent reports of grumblings among the ranks of the fighting men in recent time, the development would appear to mirror a deeper problem in the rank which the military institution, nay the nation as a whole, can only ignore at its peril. The problem here isn’t just that the soldiers were said to be disenchanted with their top brass; there are in fact, insinuations that their bosses, by acts of omission or commission, are increasingly complicit in bringing their men in the harms way. That obviously is a new dimension, a

‘The Nigerian military may not have done nearly enough to court a working symbiosis with the civilian population; the truth also is that the citizens haven’t always done nearly enough either, to provide useful intelligence to our armed forces’

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

A plea for the military dangerous one with grave potentials for the management of the insurgency. It is one fire that the military authorities will have to douse, and very quickly too. However, as yours truly has always argued on this page, the problem with the Nigerian military is not in any significant sense different from the problem of the larger society. While the idea of an army riven by the Nigerian cleavages of ethnicity and religion is hardly anything new, and, in any case, it isn’t as if the military institution as an organic part of the society can be insulated from the general societal debility, the extent to which the current orgy of bashing is justifiable is what I consider open to debate. Now, I would go as far as to argue that the virulent testimonials in the wake of the Chibok abductions are unhelpful. By this I do not mean the outrage against the abduction – which is justifiable; I do not think that anyone denies that the military’s response is anything but lethargic particularly given the blanket state of emergency imposed in the North-east states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. I refer to the picture of an ill-equipped, undisciplined and terribly ill-motivated Nigerian army being served the world in the last one month. It is quite frankly, exaggerated. In the same vein, the brutal denunciation of the military which has lately become fashionable is, most certainly, unwarranted. I have said it before, if there is anything that the raging insurgency in the North-east in particular has revealed, it is the comprehensive failure of our institutions across the board. Indeed, if the Nigerian military stands accused

as a failure, it is only because other institutions of the Nigerian state which ought to give the military the wing to fly have also failed. They failed them as much as they failed us. From the confederates of Abuja who ought to have provided the institution with the necessary logistics and equipment but neglected to do; the military top brass alleged to have sat on personnel rations while fighting men go hungry; authorities at the state and local levels who yielded the ground to the anti-social elements thus allowing their reign of impunity to fester; to these we may add the hordes of local leaders – better described as dealers - whose indifference helped create the environment for the monster to thrive. See how everyone is now chanting #BringBackOurGirls! We need our girls back alright – all in one piece. The job is for none else than the military. We might as well admit it: the military needs help – not vilification. No doubt, there is a lot that our emergency friends can do to help us; pulling our chestnuts out of the raging fire for us is not one of them. When the chips are down, it is our fighting men that would still be required to clear the mess called Boko Haram. Admittedly, the Nigerian military may not have done nearly enough to court a working symbiosis with the civilian population; the truth also is that the citizens haven’t always done nearly enough either to provide useful intelligence to our armed forces. I guess– it works both ways! By the way, I have heard quite a few citizens celebrate the heroism of the Kala-Balge who not only stood up to the terrorists but inflicted massive casualties on them. For me, aside shattering the myth of invisibility, if not invincibility of the loonies, what it does is reinforce the immense possibilities in the partnership between the locals and the military. Much as the single act of communal bravery is welcomed, it comes to the question of whether such limited self-help is what is needed at this time. It might even turn out to be counter-productive in the long run. As for the current global spotlight on the military, my view is that it may yet do some good to the institution itself. More than anything, it offers the institution the rare chance to redeem itself, to purge its ranks currently believed to be infested with fifth columnists. Time to begin the long walk back to the disciplined path which once commended it to the world as effective fighting force – one able to hold its own against the best in the world. If only for the sake of itself and the nation, it simply has no choice but to return to that path.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

COMMENTS

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is no doubt a listening President. Many curious observers and the legion of objective and rabid critics of his administration would readily score him high on his listening skills, especially when compared with some occupants of the exalted position of President and Commander-in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces in recent times. Whether President Jonathan’s ability to listen could match his ability to deliver on promises is however open to debate. Many times the President has demonstrated his ability to listen as well as his openness to discussion and consultations to the consternation of many. Some critics even argue that his penchant for wide consultations on knotty national issues account majorly for his seeming and sometimes apparent inaction when it matter most. This, they point out, is responsible for his slow pace of delivery- a development which has made many Nigerians become impatient with the President. The President, I fear may likely be treated to this avalanche of criticism when he arrives Ekiti State this week. Whereas the President would be coming to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to flag off the electioneering campaign of his party-the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ekiti people surely have a dozen questions for the President which they would demand answers. Already the planned visit of the President, and the concomitant promises and deliverables have dominated major group discussions at vendors stands, drinking joints, market place and even on campuses, where both the well informed and barely-informed citizens take time to review what the “GEJ years” portends for Ekiti and Ekitis and what questions to ask or cause others to ask the President. President Jonathan’s Thursday visit will be his second to Ekiti State since he was inaugurated President and Commander-inChief of the armed forces on May 29, 2011. The state has yet to witness a state (working) visit by the President. His first visit in October 2013 was a private one- to witness activities marking the first convocation ceremony of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. Even though there were plans for him to visit the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, which is a

What shall we tell the President? walking distance from ABUAD, the President departed Ekiti shortly after the ABUAD event. As short as the ABUAD visit was, it was remarkable for Ekiti and Ekitis because it afforded the citizens the opportunity to raise some posers for the President. This they did through the speech delivered by the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi at the event. The speech which was greeted by a thunderous applause by those present at the event which was broadcast live on NTA, bordered on the apparent neglect of Ekiti State by the federal government. Fayemi, cashing in on the President’s presence in the state capital, had carefully pointed out instances of glaring neglect and short-change of the state by the federal government for the President’s consideration. The Governor’s speech which many saw as an abridged score card of the Jonathan’s administration on Ekiti matter was re-echoed in different fora by well meaning Ekiti elders, youth, artisans, workers as well as its cream of professionals and academic. Some important take away from Governor Fayemi’s list to the President include the need for the President’s urgent intervention in fixing some federal roads in the state and the need to reimburse the state government for the billion naira it has expended on rehabilitation and reconstruction of some federal roads. The Governor pointed out that of the N14.752 billion expended so far on fixing of federal roads in the state, only N2 billion paid to the immediate past administration in the state had been received as reimbursement, thereby complicating the state’s financial situation. The ecological challenge in some parts of the state was another major point raised by the state government, which had spent over N3 billion to tackle ecological challenges in Ado-Ekiti, Moba, Ikere, Ekiti West and Ijero local government areas and require about N5 billion more to effectively tackle the menace.

The failure of the federal government to build a federal secretariat in the state, thereby making Ekiti state the only state in the federation without a federal secretariat was also a major poser by the governor, just as the inability of the planned Ekiti airport to take off because the federal government has yet to make available the budgeted N400 million to match the state’s N300 million counterpart funding for the establishment of the airport project for which a budgetary provision has been made since 2011. Whereas some have argued that airport is not a major priority of the people of Ekiti, yet no one needs the power of clairvoyance to know that the children and “children’ children” of these sceptics would one day land on the Ekiti Airport. Suffice it to say however that if other states have airports built for them by the federal government or through collaborative efforts between the states and the federal authorities, Ekiti should not be an exemption. And the President remains the only one that can give the Ekiti people a convincing answer on when the airport would become a reality. As reported in the media however, the President had in his response to Governor Fayemi’s posers at the ABUAD event, directed relevant authorities involved in the various areas of neglect to provide answers (I had thought corresponding action) to the posers raised by the governor, while promising to look into the matter. Prior to the President’s comments however, the then Minister of Police Affairs and PDP Chieftain from Ekiti, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd) had , in an apparent breach of protocol, grabbed the microphone and announced that the Presidency was already attending to most of the posers raised by the governor. But seven months down the line, there has not been a single corresponding action from the federal authorities or so it appears, judging by what is on ground. And while

efforts by the state to get some reprieve from the ecological fund had met with deliberate stone- walling, the Presidency, had during the same period doled out whopping N2billion each to some “friendly” state governments to fix real and imagined ecological challenges, while Ekiti and a few others are left to continue to writhe in the pains of profound ecological challenges. These and a few new posers are some of the issues the President would contend with when he arrives Ekiti this week. The people surely have a lot to tell and ask from the President and would require that he takes some time off the partisan podium of his party to address these pertinent issues so that correspondent actions could be taken and urgently too to redress the situation and redeem his image. Ekiti people by nature are irrepressibleThey would talk and would continue to agitate for a better deal from the Presidency and the coming of the President is yet another opportunity for such an engagement which would go a long way in building confidence or distrust. But would the President answer the people and match his words with corresponding action this time…..or would that be deferred till the President deem it fit to pay an official (working) visit to Ekiti State…..Only the President can say. • Oluyomi, a journalist and public affairs commentator writes from Ayegbaju Ekiti

‘Ekiti people by nature are irrepressible- They would talk and would continue to agitate for a better deal from the Presidency and the coming of the President is yet another opportunity for such an engagement which would go a long way in building confidence or distrust’

Chibok Haram and state’s seeing business

N his Presidential Media Chat on Sunday May 4, President Jonathan in response to a question about the allegation of missing $20 billion had replied that in Nigeria, we talk about billions in a manner that clearly shows our inability to appreciate what huge sum a billion is in monetary terms. He is absolutely right! But his next curious statement is: “if someone stole even five billion, the United States would have seen it and told us this is where the money is”. The following Friday, the President publicly denied the report that the abducted Chibok girls had been taken to Cameroon. His reason, according to Reuters is this: “if they move that number of girls to Cameroon, people will see …” But the same President had admitted in his media chat that the government did (and still does) not know the girls’ whereabouts. So, how can a president who does not know where the girls are possibly know they have not been moved across the border? The President’s logical answer to this is that people, and not the government, would have seen this large number of girls being moved. This is precisely the problem, and our tragedy as a nation. Why? The state is an idea that must have existential reality on people’s lives. And the government is tasked with giving substantive meaning to this idea. To be sure, the state is in the seeing business. It is in fact

‘The state perforce is an overseer that must see to its citizens’ need for welfare and a guarantor of their requirement for security. Consequently, in pursuit of these aims, a state must develop the keen and broad vision of an eagle, complemented by the sharpened and ready fangs of a tiger. It’s called state capacity’

By Folabi Jimoh part of the fundamental duties of the state to be able to see far beyond the citizens’ imagination and appreciation of the dangers that threaten them, and to also nip these in the bud whenever and wherever possible. Put differently, the state’s raison d’être is to see to the citizens’ welfare, well-being and primarily their security. Hence, seeing is integral to the state’s functioning and constitutes an unavoidable task of government. But what we are being made to believe is that President Jonathan is presiding over a blind state; a state that cannot see. And the government is comfortable contracting its seeing business out to another country –the United States – and the ordinary people. If the United States had failed in its own seeing business, it would hardly have qualified for that contract; just as the people would have had no need for government if they had the capacity to see better than it can and should. The President had admitted in the same media chat that the capacity of the country’s security forces had gone into precipitous decline, and his government was just trying to rebuild it. This is affirmed by a senior military officer, according to Amnesty International, that “There’s a lot of frustration, exhaustion and fatigue among officers and (troops) based in the hotspots ... many soldiers are afraid to go to the battle fronts”. Further evidence of this capacity decline is the Amnesty report that the military headquarters in Maiduguri was alerted of the abduction plot some four hours before the Chibok attack took place, But the question to ask is when this security decline was discovered; yesterday or since the inception of this administration? After all, this President has effectively been in charge of this country for about four years now. If there had been a determined action to fix this decline over a period of four years, this shameful tragedy could have been averted. How more grievous could it be for our country that a handful of demented insurgents could hold a whole country – and we are talking about the largest country in Africa with a population of 167 million – to ransom? The state perforce is an overseer that must see to its citizens’ need for welfare and a guarantor of their require-

ment for security. Consequently, in pursuit of these aims, a state must develop the keen and broad vision of an eagle, complemented by the sharpened and ready fangs of a tiger. It’s called state capacity. However, the question for us is whether a state that cannot see beyond its own nose can see to the protection of its citizens. The brazen abduction of the Chibok girls, and the ensuing helpless ineptitude, is an eloquently negative answer of this government to that question. The President was quick to cite the example of Pakistan to rationalise the sorry state of our security incapacity. That was in bad taste! He ought to have been told by his advisers that with Pakistan, nothing is as real as it seems. That country’s apparent problem with insurgency is largely its own making; it is less of absence of capacity than a deliberate political decision by its rulers. Of a truth, Pakistan (through its Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI) trains, arms, funds and directs the insurgents on its soil (the Akani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Taliban etc.) in its war with its arch enemy, India, and in its double game with the West. Hence, Pakistan’s insurgents know where to draw the line. Once in 2009 when the Pakistani Taliban decided to push that limit and advanced to within 60 miles of the capital, Islamabad, the military crushed the insurgency with unmitigated swiftness and ruthlessness. In its insurgency war games, the Pakistani state calls the shots. In any case, in governance and statecraft, the models to look up to are not those states that fail in their seeing business; but those that have the capacity and the will to demonstrate that no individual or group can toy with their security brief. Whereas it is the leadership’s task to raise the quality of governance to the best global standards; Jonathan’s presidency has been defined by a reduction of governance to catastrophic ineffectuality in the face of mounting menace to the country’s well-being and integrity. It’s time for this President to act on his admitted failure and confounding dereliction by seriously focusing on governance in order to save us from witnessing more ChibokHaram-like national disasters. •Jimoh is a Graduate student at University of Ibadan

Pg. 24

UN designates Eagles goodwill ambassadors

Minister hails Okagbare’s victory

Pg. 41

•Urges her not to rest on her oars

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

UCHEBO: Nigeria’ll surprise the world

Pg. 24

•Uchebo

EMENIKE focuses on World Cup 2014 WORLD CUP:

Pillar of Sports dangles $1,000 per goal at Eagles

Pg. 24

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

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We need to insure salary and wages of workers so that whether the company has money or not, the workers must be paid

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See page 40

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

For the one year that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were under emergency, Boko Haram was on the prowl. This is why some are against President Goodluck Jonathan's plan to extend the emergency by six months. The House of Representatives has approved the extension. The Senate will decide today. Should the emergency be extended? Yes, say some lawyers; no, say others. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU collates their views.

States where emergency is declared.

Insurgency: Is emergency extension D the way out? ESPITE the declaration of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States on May 15, last year, Boko Haram is still on the rampage. With the way the Islamic sect has been operating, no one will believe there is emergency in those states. Things came to a head last month when the sect abducted over 200 school girls in Chibok, about 130 Kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Now, President Goodluck Jonathan has written the National Assembly asking for an extension of the one -year emergency, which expires this month. The House of Representatives has granted his request. The Senate will make its stand known today. Opinions are divided on whether the emergency should be extended. To critics, the emergency should not be extended because it has not solved the Boko Haram insurgency. But the proponents argue to the contrary, saying the emergency should remain to maintain law and order. In his letter, the President drew the legislature’s attention to the Emergency Rule Proclamation, 2013 made pursuant to Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, and urged the lawmakers to approve his request because of the daunting security challenges in those areas. But, the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and governors of the affected states have opposed the ex-

tension. Their argument is that the State of Emergency declared last May 15 has not tamed insurgency. According to Amnesty International, Boko Haram related insurgencies have claimed over 2, 000 lives since the declaration of state of emergency in the region. To Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), the most dangerous attacks by terrorists in the states under emergency occured in the last one year. They argued that rather than seek extension of an ineffective emergency rule, the Presidency should have tackled headlong, challenges of obsolete equipment, lack of motivation of military personnel and sabotage of their operations, which recently led some soldiers to protest against their General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Borno. Analysts said the successes recorded at the initial stage of the emergency were possible because the terrorists withdrew to restrategise. According to a former Ikeja Nigerian Bar Asso-

ciation (NBA) chairman, Monday Ubani the sect is not only well equipped, but are more zealous to their cause and properly funded by their sponsors, which cannot be said of the security agencies.

Lawyers speak

The shortcomings notwithstanding, lawyers believe that President Jonathan’s demand for extension of the emergency rule is laudable and should be granted if the government believes it would help. They argue that fears of election not holding in the affected states and tenure elongation for the governors were unfounded since democratic structures are not affected. According to them, there was need for the Nigerian military to be given another chance to redeem its shattered image by quelling the insurgency and restoring peace in the Northeast. Those who spoke on the issue include constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN); former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); NBA presidential aspirant Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN);

Mr Osaro Eghobamien (SAN); NBA Ikeja chairman, Yinka Farounbi; rights lawyer Festus Keyamo; as well as member, Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi. Sagay said Nigerians should give the military the last chance to redeem their battered image in the affected states by backing the emergency rule extension. “Neither the military nor the federal government has really made productive use of the extra powers and authority they were given under the emergency regime. They have not really made good use of it. So, in a way they have failed and our military has been a do-nothing military as far as this crisis of Boko Haram is concerned despite all the powers they have. But the NASS should give backing to the President’s demand as a last chance for the military to quell insurgency and redeem its image,’’ he said. Olanipekun said he was in support of the extension provided the democratic structures in the affected states are not encroached on, adding that the president is constitutionally empowered to declare a state of emergency under the type of extreme and volatile situations evident in the areas and in Abuja. ‘‘Let’s face the reality, Nigeria is in a state of war; the country is under siege. Unfortunately, we are all behaving like the ostrich, hiding behind a finger •Continued from page 25

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

LAW COVER CONT’D

Is emergency the way out? •Continued from page 25 when the outside world knows that we are endangered. In our pretence, we don’t want to discuss Nigeria as it is now and proffer solutions to how it ought to be. ‘‘We have constituted a national conference which is embarking more on a picnic rather than facing core national challenges. Nigerians, who have been killed in the past three years could not have been less than those who died during our three year civil war. Can we then still say that things are normal,” he asked? He continued: ‘‘We shouldn’t politicise declaration of state of emergency. The country is going through a storm. To my mind the outcome of the 2015 elections will be meaningless and worthless to whichever party that wins if we continue like this. There can only be a governor in a particular state or president at Abuja if there is a country called Nigeria. ‘‘In my view, politicians of all shapes and shades trivialise and try to score debating points over these serious national challenges and the central government isn’t helping matters by the way and manner it handles serious issues of national security and protection of lives and properties-the very fundamental duty of any government since time immemorial. He added: ‘‘This is essentially why the emergency rule hasn’t succeeded. Now our girls have been abducted for about three weeks, not from without, but from within and we on our own appear helpless at rescuing them. We have to invite external governments, including the USA and UK to help us and their security appurtenances are here in full force and scale. ‘‘Good idea on the face of it, but with far reaching political and security consequences in future. Am not too familiar with any country where America went to and they left readily! Have we forgotten America’s prediction as far back as 2006 that by 2015 Nigeria would become a failed state? By the way if we could invite America and Britain to come and help us resolve the issue of abduction of our girls why then are we shying away from inviting them and the UN to come and help us in conducting credible census and elections, among others? Our federalism is too and dangerously unfederal. We must discuss and debate Nigeria, but not definitely the way they are going about it now,’’ said Olanipekun. For Adekoya, the emergency rule is advantageous because it focuses attention of both the federal government and its agencies on insurgency in the affected areas. ‘‘Apart from that, however, the declaration has had no impact on removing the insurgents from the area. Rather, it has further depressed the economic activity in the area, which in itself is an underlying factor in the crisis ridden zone,’’ said Adekoya. Farounbi said there was need for a combined effort in tackling the security challenges facing the country, particularly in the northeastern states. He said: “The state of emergency should be extended, but the Federal Government must work hand-inhand with the various state governments to ensure the campaign against Boko Haram is sustained. The Federal Government should provide military protection for all schools, markets and other public infrastructure in those areas.” Ubani said the Senate should examine reasons for the failure of the rule in the past before reaching a decision. He said they would be doing a great disservice to this nation should it grant a blanket approval to the president’s demand for the extension of the emergency rule without examining extensively whether the emergency rule has been a failure or a success. ‘‘I don’t support the President’s demand as he has failed to explain the proper reason for failure of his emergency rule. Granting the President’s request for extension without appraising the earlier mo-

•Olanipekun

•Adekoya

•Eghobamien

Boko Haram attacks since May 2013 emergency declaration

•July 6: Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram sect attacked a secondary school in the northeastern state of Yobe, killing 42 people, mostly students. •August 10-11: Extremists killed 56 people in the north-west, including 44 in an attack on a mosque in Konduga. •September 17: An attack by Boko Haram extremists disguised in military uniforms in the north-eastern Benisheik area in Borno state killed at least 142. •September 29: Boko Haram gunmen open fire on sleeping students in a college dormitory in north-eastern Yobe state, killing at least 40 people. •December 2: Hundreds of heavily armed Boko Haram gunmen besieged an Air Force and Army base in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, destroying aircraft, razing buildings and setting shops and petrol stations ablaze. •December 20: Scores of suspected Islamic gunmen stormed a military barracks in the north-eastern town of Bama, spraying gunfire at the troops inside before torching the compound. 2014: •January 26: At least 78 people are killed in two separate attacks in north-east Nigeria — one on a busy market in Borno state and the other in neighbouring Adamawa, with suspicions falling on Boko Haram. •February 15: An attack blamed on the sect leaves 106 dead in the mostly Christian village of Izghe in Borno. •February 19: An attack by scores of Boko Haram Islamists in the north-east town of Bama kills 60 people and caused major damage to public buildings. •February 25: Suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed 59 people when they attack sleeping secondary school students in the town of Buni Yadi in Yobe state. •March 1, the sect launched twin attack on Maiduguri and Mainok both in Borno States, killing 51 and 39 people respectively. •April 10, Kala Balge, Borno State was invaded with at least 60 people killed by Boko Haram. Also, six people were reported killed by the insurgents in Dikwa, same day. •April 14, a renewed attack on Abuja, Nyanya that claimed over 90 lives with hundreds injured. •April 15,Boko Haram invaded Government Girls College, Chibok, abducted over 270 teenage girls still and their custody and razed the school. •May 1, Another deadly attack by the sect at Nyanya, Abuja, leaving scores dead and several maimed. •May 5, Boko Haram invaded Gamboru Ngala community in Borno, killing about 200, bombed the market place, houses and a border bridge.

‘

The military must declare their absolute loyalty to Nigeria and its cause and display patriotic zeal in dealing with this menace

dalities applied which accounted for failure will be wasting our scarce resources and personnel for no just cause. ‘‘Our lawmakers must be careful in not falling into error of sentiment and remaining blind and untruthful to the Nigerian citizens. This kind of Emergency Rule has not been effective in fighting Boko Haram insurgency because what was declared was a half measure state of emergency and its failure is apparent for everyone to see. ‘‘Emergency by its definition does not admit of normalcy, therefore I do not understand the rationale for allowing the political structure to be functional in a state where emergency rule is declared. I need to be educated and be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that what President Jonathan declared in those three states in the Northeastern Region of Nigeria was a state of emergency in the real sense of that word. ‘‘For those in doubt, the current bickerings, lack of confidence amongst the military, the presidency and the three northern governors of the affected states speak volume that the declaration was not well thought out, well spelt out and well implemented hence, the embarrassing failure of the emergency rule. ‘‘These and some other issues must engage the attention of the national assembly members before granting the request for extension of the emergency rule.

Implications for 2015 general elections Although, Section 180(3) of the 1999 Constitution, allows for tenure elongation if a territory is physically at war and the president thinks elections cannot hold in the area, lawyers are of the views that it is not applicable in the case of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The section states that: “If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not

‘

•Sagay

practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four (4) years mentioned in subsection (2) of this Section from time to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.’’ They argued that since democratic structures are functioning alongside the emergency rule and there is no 24-hour curfew, fears that elections may not hold in affected areas were unfounded. They said under emergency rule, some local governments had elections and political parties have been having their rallies, as such, nothing should stop elections from holding come 2015. Adekoya said since the governors were not removed, their tenure continues and elections should hold when their tenures expire. ‘‘There is no reason why the state of emergency should affect the elections in 2015 since there is no dusk to dawn curfew. If elections do not hold due to continuing insecurity then the state of emergency should be deemed a failure,’’ Adekoya said. Ubani described as a grave error of political sentiment for anyone to believe that the president is seeking for extension of the emergency rule because he does not want election to hold in those three northern states for obvious political reason(s). He said: ‘‘I do not see any gain for the PDP if elections do not hold in these states that are not governed by them. If anything, it will be to the gain of opposition party if elections are not allowed in those states and they are still retained by them. “It is obvious that the Boko Haram insurgency has overwhelmed this present government both at the centre and in the states and as we used to say, a drowning man is allowed to clutch at anything to stay afloat.” To Keyamo, any move to stop election from holding as at when due in the affected states would be unacceptable, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. He said Section 180 (3) can only be enforced if ‘‘(1) the country is at war within its own territory and (2) the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections’’, just as he insisted that Nigeria was not at war but facing Boko Haram insurgency.

‘‘Nobody should be under the illusion that the President can wake up one morning and decide that elections will not hold and that the tenures of some public officers, including his own, can be extended due to a state of war. That would be a recipe for chaos. ‘‘I strongly submit that condition (1) which requires the country to be at war should be a legal and objective test, not a whimsical decision by anyone. I also submit that what we have in those three Northern States, though loosely referred to as “war”, is nothing but a case of high insecurity occasioned by insurgents. ‘‘Strictly speaking, all constitutionally elected officials at all levels, down to the ward levels, are still in place. They have not been sacked by any rebel group. The insurgents cannot be said to be in complete control of any portion of Borno, Yobe or Adamawa States, where our soldiers cannot penetrate. The Boko Haram group only unleashes terror and withdraws to its hideout. It cannot even qualify as a rebel group,’’ said Keyamo.

The way out of insurgency

To tackle the insurgency, Ubani said a two- pronged approach, which are short and long term structured, must be employed. For the short term approach, he said the locals should be effectively involved in tackling the menace, going by reports that local vigilance groups are decimating the sect. He said: ‘‘Secondly, the Nigerian military must declare their absolute loyalty to Nigeria and its cause and display patriotic zeal in dealing with this menace. However, they must be properly armed with latest and sophisticated weapons for assault and defence. In addition their welfare, comfort and safety must be of utmost priority. They are human beings with families and must be treated with respect and dignity to get their best. ‘‘Thirdly, our borders must be properly fenced now and appropriate patrol measures put in place to police them. Effective friendship and collaborative effort with our neighboring countries must be established to deny the insurgents foothold in these states. Free entry and free exit must be curtailed effectively.’’ For the long term approach, Ubani said the country needs to be restructured to run a proper federalism with appropriate devolution of powers to the federating units. ‘‘States must control and appropriate what they produce, with certain percentage paid to the central government that will control only few essential things like defence and monetary policies. ‘‘In other words there must be effective governance devoid of corruption, nepotism and ineptitude that will touch every nook and cranny of the federation with the citizens enjoying the dividends of good governance. ‘‘With these in place, you will witness a great drop in crime and criminality, general happiness and loyalty of citizens to the state and its leadership. The few that may be involved in crime should be effectively tackled by strong institutions like the police and the judiciary. That is how efficient countries like UK, France, Canada and US are governed by their leaders. We can do it here, yes we can, if we want it!’’ he said. Eghobamien said there is a war-like situation in the Northeast, adding that it would take more than declaring a state of emergency to win. “Unfortunately the politicians do not seem to realise the extent of the problem and as a result there is always an attempt to score political mileage at the expense of the lives of Nigerians. We are discussing safety to lives and property: Security is paramount. Every other thing must be secondary. If elections will not hold, then so be it. “I, however, think that there is now a concerted effort amongst politicians to close ranks and deal with the issue decisively, albeit stimulated by Chibok and the international community). There is nothing to suggest that the request by the president is to ensure that elections do not hold in the north-Eastern. “It will be utterly catastrophic if government does not take some decisive action on account of pending elections. What that action should be, (in addition to the State of Emergency) should now be the subject of discussion. There must be some barometer s by which we gauge the success or otherwise of emergency. Emergency by itself cannot resolve the problem and cannot be in existence indefinitely,” Eghobamien said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NATIONAL BAR

NBA to document rights violations in Northeast

•Lawyers seek free, fair election

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged its branches in the Northeast to document rights violations by security agencies in the region. This, it said, would enable it take action against any culpable agency. This was one of the resolutions reached at the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja. It said its branches in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states should send such documented reports to the National Secretariat. The fight against terrorism, the NBA noted, is not only for the government, adding that where necessary, it would employ public interest litigations. “Therefore, NBA calls on all sectors of the economy, social organisations, including the private sector to be involved in the efforts to confront violent extremism in the country. “In fulfilment of its public interest role, the NBA shall henceforth, be more proactive and active in the use of public interest litigation to challenge impunity and abuse of human rights, and also the promotion of Rule of Law, Pro Bono,” it said. According to the association, public interest litigation not only provides the possibility of attaining reasonable redress of the grievances of victims of exploitation and violations of human rights, it can also be used in enforcing and promoting the rule of law, clarifying laws, challenging draconian laws, fostering government accountability, creating pressure and public advocacy, among others. These were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting. On insecurity, NBA said: “The NEC condemned in strong terms the Chibok girls kidnap and the recent Nyanya bomb attacks on two occasions, and further noted that the Chibok girls’ episode has exposed the lethargic response of the Federal Government to matters of urgent national security. “The NEC observed that it has taken the abduction of the 223 school girls from Chibok Girls Secondary School for the menace of Boko Haram and terrorism to get the type of attention the government should pay to such dire situations and reiterated its earlier reminder to the Federal Government that the primary duty of government is the security of lives and properties of its citizens. “The NBA NEC joined the world in calling on the Federal Government to do everything lawful within its powers to ensure the return of the remaining 223 school girls safely home to their families, and also appreciated foreign governments that have offered assistance of sorts in that regard. It added: “While NEC agreed that the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, should be rooted out, it also advised that no option should be foreclosed in enthroning peace, as history has taught us that constructive engagement of such insurgents have sometimes yielded dividends “That intelligence gathering, which is crucial to counter terrorism strategy, is one area that the Federal Government of Nigeria has failed woefully, and that the Federal government should improve on its intelligence gathering capabilities with a view to assisting security agencies in the war against terror. NBA condemned the porous nature of the nation’s borders, which have made them vulnerable to attack and commission of heinous crimes by rebels from neighbouring countries. It then called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the borders with a view to securing them. It viewed as embarrassing, allegation by the human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, that Nigerian Security Forces failed to act on advance warnings about Boko Haram’s armed raid on the state-run boarding school in Chibok, which led to the abduction of over 200 school girls. “While the NBA does not

By John Austin Unachukwu

believe that that allegation is true yet, the NBA NEC stated that it is waiting impatiently with berthed breath for the Federal government to come out in no distant time with its findings,” it said. NBA urged the National Assembly to expedite action in passing pending Justice Sector Bills into law as it is not enough for members of the National Assembly to issue statements condemning acts of terrorism and violence; and visiting victims in the hospitals. “They would have helped fight the scourge of terrorism and walked the talk if they had passed these all important Bills into Law, when they should have done so,” the communique said. It urged the government not to tamper with the judiciary’s independence, saying: “Government must grant to it, true financial autonomy, and a full self-accounting status. The funds of the judiciary must be released to it as soon as same is approved in the budgets of the Federal and State governments.” NBA announced the lifting of the ban on campaigns ahead of its July 14 and 15 election. With this development, candidates for various offices wasted no time in distributing their campaign materials. Five candidates have shown interest in the Presidency of the association which has been zoned to the Western Bar Forum.The candidates are Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and Osas Justy Erhabor The association president, Okey Wali (SAN) advised candidates to go about the campaigns with maturity and avoid campaign of calumny. NBA Lagos branch, at the NEC meeting, presented its resolution for free and fair election. The branch, in a motion, sought the nullification of stipulations in the guidelines and time table for 2014 NBA elections requiring every registered branch to submit bank tellers as evidence of payment of annual Bar practising fees as at April 1. It said detailed information of all lawyers and all branch members who have paid practising fees as at March 31 is already with the the NBA secretariat and should be made available to all branches and the NBA electoral committee. The branch contented that the requirement is not contained in NBA Constitution 2009 and is, therefore, an unconstitutional requirement which would disenfranchise branches and voters. The Lanke Odogiyan Election Review Committee report, which has since been adopted by the NBA NEC, the branch said, should direct the “electoral committee to amend the guidelines to bring them in conformity with the above resolutions” Reacting to the resolution, the Chairman National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Prof. Chidi Odinkalu said: “A lot of things about our elections are opaque, new branches are being created, manufactured overnight and hawked in the black market. “We have got delegates list that are unknown, we have got people that are not very well known and whose origins are very well known. There is nothing that gives us the assurance that this election will have credibility. “When an NBA president emerges under a moral burden because the process of creating that Presidency lacks legitimacy, the NBA itself lacks legitimacy and we don’t want a Bar that lacks legitimacy particularly in a country that is going into very crucial elections in 2015. “Be fair, be transparent and give every side an equal shot to do things properly. Produce voters rolls. We adopted the

•From left Minister of State for the FCT Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN)

•From left Chief Judge, FCT High Court, Justice I. M. Bukar, Justice Abubakar Jega Abdulkadir representing the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal and NBA Publicity Secretary Afam Obi

•From left: Chairman Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) Ogbonnaya O. Igwenyi, Chairman Arewa Lawyers Forum M. A. Abubakar and First Assistant Secretary NBA, Paul Ebiala

•From left Chief Stella Ugboma, Dr. Ikpeze Ogugua and Princess Olufumilayo Oluyede

Lanke Odogiyan Committees report in 2012. Why have we not implemented it to make sure that we have a transparent voters’ rolls with the delegates properly delineated? “Let us for the first time agree to have independent monitors in NBA’s election and above all, these new black market branches must not be allowed to vote.” On what may happen if the new branches paid their practicing fees at their former branches before their creation, Odinkalu said: “They will vote in their former branches, but not under the current rules, no,” he said.

A former President of Otu-Okaiwu Lagos, Chief Guy Ikokwu said: “I think that lawyers who are the bastions of democracy cannot get to a situation where they deny ordinary lawyers their voters’ rights when ordinary villagers, even people who are disabled are allowed on the voters’ list. “Sixty millions of us in Nigeria are allowed to choose our President. Lawyers who are practising and who have fulfilled their financial dues should be able to vote and choose a president. “And if the president is coming from one of the six geo-political zones in the country, that is ok. It is fair.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY

Agbakoba seeks review of anti-terror laws

ORMER Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has called for a review of Nigerian space laws to deal with the challenges of terrorism. Speaking during the presentation of Speed of Justice, a training manual on case management, he said the laws no longer meet modern security demands. Agbakoba, represented by Mrs. Bisi Akodu said Nigeria must reassess the efficacy of its laws and their enforcement. He said: “As we search for the

By John Austin Unachukwu

missing girls, it is time to reflect on the inadequacies in our legal and physical infrastructure that countries have utilised to resolve problems of this nature. The case of missing 276 Nigerian Secondary School girls has attained an international dimension and attention. “Military advisers, negotiators, and counselors from United States and other countries have arrived in Nigeria to join in the search for the girls abducted by the Islamic militant group Boko Haram. “Amid the myriad of challenges

against the local efforts in the search of the missing girls is the lack of advanced skills and infrastructure for space and satellite communication, a prerequisite for technological innovation for defence and national security. “The outer space has become a highly important region, which holds the potential for both significant benefits and dangers.” He said space laws are meant to ensure a responsible approach to the use of outer space for the benefit of all. “To this end, space law addresses a

variety of diverse matters, such as military activities in outer space, preservation of the space and earth environment, liability for damages caused by space objects, settlement of disputes, protection of national interests, rescue of astronauts, sharing of information about potential dangers in outer space, use of spacerelated technologies, and international cooperation. “We need to rethink our space law policy and satellite communication programmes, review laws as necessary, set up regulation and build infrastructures in view of growing

multi-dimensional and trans boundary crimes, terrorism among others. “Space and satellite communications have become and remain the most potent weapons in the fight against terrorism and crime, especially the deluge of international crime that is fall-outs of globalisation. “It plays a crucial role in the command-control and execution of the tactical and strategic operation of Armed Forces. This is what we expect the US and other assisting countries to deploy to help in the rescue of the girls,” Agbakoba explained.

•From left: Mr. Victor Nwakasi, Mrs. Akodu, Mr. Collins Okeke and Mrs. Chinwe Nadie at the event.

The Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Lagos State vs Attorney-General of Federation. A lawyer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Chukwuemeka Eze, analyses the verdict.

VAT: Why Lagos lost at Supreme Court

•Eze

N April 11, the Supreme Court struck out the suit instituted by the Lagos State government in 2009 challenging the constitutionality of the Value Added Tax Act (VATA), which vests in the Federal Inland Revenue Service the mandate to collect tax indirectly from consumers of goods and services except those expressly exempted under VATA. Lagos State in its quest to increase its internally generated revenue had loathed the enactment and implementation of the VAT by the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Section 40 of VATA provides that: “Notwithstanding any formula that may be prescribed by any other law, the revenue accruing by virtue of the operation of this Act shall be distributed as follows(a) 15 per cent to the Federal Government; (b) 50 per cent to the state governments and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja; and (c) 35 per cent to the local governments: Provided that the principle of derivation of not less than 20 per cent shall be reflected in the distribution of the allocation amongst states and local governments as specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.” From this provision, it is evident that the 36 states and the FCT will share 50 per cent of the VAT collections while 768 local government councils will take 35 per cent. Of course, the Federal Government will take 15 per cent. Considering that Lagos is the economic hub of Nigeria hosting about 70 per cent of non-oil economic activities in Nigeria, in-

cluding industrial output, in the Lagos corridor, Lagos State is convinced that if it can wrestle the collection of VAT from the Federal Government, then it will not need the monthly allocation from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee to administer the state. Without VAT, it is currently earning about N20 billion per month as internally generated revenue. Lagos sought to take comparative advantage of its commercial status, hence its challenge of VATA. A little digress will show that Lagos State had floored the Federal Government last year on the issue of whether it was the Federal Government through the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) or a state government should regulate the operation of hotels or hospitality centres within a state. The Supreme Court had resolved the case then in favour of Lagos State government. Earlier, the state had in 2009 enacted the Hotel Occupancy & Restaurant Consumption Law (HORCL), which places consumption tax of 5 per cent on personal services enjoyed in a hotel or restaurant or event centre. Such services include food and drinks. The argument by experts that this consumption tax contained in the HORCL is similar to VAT, which is also 5 per cent of the value of goods supplied or service rendered, did not deter the Lagos State government in the implementation of the law. It was further argued by experts that consumption tax charged by Lagos State was akin to the moribund sales tax, which was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the courts in two notable cases. In Mama Cass Restaurant Limited & 2 Ors. v. Federal Board of Inland Revenue and Attorney General of Lagos State, reported in Vol. 2 of Tax Law Report, the Federal High Court in 2006 decided that remittance of consumption tax should be made to FIRS. In the earlier case of Aberuagba v. A.G. Ogun State, reported in (1985) I Nigeria Weekly Law Report Part 3, page 260, the Supreme Court had decided, in a case involving collection of sales tax on liquor brought into Ogun State during the 2nd Republic, that where there are identical laws passed by the National Assembly and a state House of Assembly, it would be more appropriate to invalidate the identical law passed by the state House of Assembly

on the ground that the law passed by the National Assembly has covered the whole field of that particular subject matter. From the above background, one can see that many battles have been fought in many courts as to which law between the Federal and the state should be obeyed by the citizens when both of them have been enacted on the same matter of consumption tax, which is represented by VAT under the federal law. After fighting individual and corporate entities on this matter at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, Lagos State decided to go for the Big Masquerade –the Federal Government – so as to settle the matter once and for all. Lagos claimed against the Federal Government “that the House of Assembly of Lagos State of Nigeria is the body entitled, to the exclusion of any other legislative body, to enact laws with regard to the imposition and collection of tax on the supply of all goods and services within Lagos State of Nigeria and that the Lagos State of Nigeria, or any agency of the state, is the body entitled, to the exclusion of any other body, to assess and collect such tax, and that the revenue of the Lagos State government has been and continues to be affected by the enforcement of the provisions of the Value Added Tax Act, Cap V1, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as ‘The VAT ACT’.” The state sought the following reliefs: “A declaration that the Value Added Tax Act Cap V1 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 is, to the extent that it provides for the imposition and collection of taxes on goods and services in Lagos State (and other states of the federation), outside the legislative competence of the National Assembly and is therefore, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever. A perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria by itself, its servants or any of its agencies from continuing to give effect to the provision of the said Value added Tax Act to impose and collect taxes on goods and services within the Lagos State of Nigeria.” The Federal Government instead of confronting Lagos frontally, by going into the

merits of the case, filed a preliminary objection on the grounds that (a) the cause of action relates to the acts of a federal organ and cannot form the basis of invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which requires that the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction can only be invoked in disputes arising between a state and the Federation or between states; (b) that the entire suit constitutes an abuse of court process and should be struck out. The Supreme Court found that the thrust of the claim of Lagos State are encapsulated in the following paragraphs: “… the Lagos State Government is entitled, to the exclusion of any other body, to collect any tax charged on the supply of all goods and services within the Lagos State of Nigeria under any law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly and no other body or Government is entitled to a share of such tax may be collected.” “The Federal Government continues, through it agents, to administer the Value Added Tax Act and to assess and collect tax thereunder with regard to the supply of goods and services within the Lagos State of Nigeria and within the territories of other States and distribute such tax in accordance with the fee sharing formula.” The Supreme Court painfully came to a conclusion that the claim of Lagos relates to the revenue of the Government of the Federation, consequent upon which the taxes one of its agencies levies and/or seeks the interpretation of the Constitution as to how the operation of the Constitution affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies, is at the wrong court hence the Court declined jurisdiction. This means that the matter that Lagos filed at the Supreme Court should have been properly filed at the Federal High Court, which is the court cloaked with exclusive jurisdiction to determine disputes relating to the revenue of the Government of the Federation. Ultimately, the Supreme Court declined jurisdiction and struck out the case of Lagos State Government. What will be the next move of LASG? Is the VAT war over? It seems but with Lagos, one can never be too sure of anything. This reminds me of the title of one of those books I read in the 1980s: Lagos Na Waa, I swear!

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

PAGE 29

Kwara farmers assess agric enhancement scheme •PAGE 30

‘Our battle against desert encroachment’ •PAGE 31

•One of the mosques burnt

Neighbours at war

HE residents have not always been at loggerheads. They have got on well, doing things in common despite the plurality of tribes and religions. But on May 10, the peace of the community was shattered. Kachia is about one and a half hours’ drive from Kaduna metropolis. It is the traditional headquarters of the Kadara people, even though it is also home to the Kadara, Hausa and Bajju people as well as other tribes. That Saturday, what started as a minor disagreement snowballed into a major crisis that led to the burning and destruction of places of worship and residential houses. Leaders in the community cannot point to who actually started the crisis. But sources in the town told The Nation that trouble started when a fence being erected on a parcel of land used by the Muslim community for prayers was pulled down for allegedly exceeding the boundary into the surrounding property. The land, which is said to belong to the state Ministry of Works, is located beside Government Secondary School, Kachia and also serves as a foot-path for people that live behind the land. The source said: “There is a parcel of land which the Muslims normally use for their prayers during Sallah celebrations. They

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

decided to fence it because, according to them, people come in there to defecate. In the process of fencing the land, the people around there claimed they have exceeded the boundary and pulled down the fence. Last night (Saturday), the Muslim youths decided to attack the nearby Nasara Baptist Church and burnt it down. Christian youths followed suit and burnt down the mosque at Government College, Kachia and another mosque in the area. The situation has been brought under control and I can confirm that there was no death.” Another source told The Nation that trouble started when some youths went to fence a prayerground to prevent encroachment, but discovered that one part of the ground that was earlier renovated and fenced had been damaged by unknown persons. The issue of pulling down the fence was said to have been reported to the council Chairman who promised to rebuild the damaged portion of the fence but failed to keep the promise. On Saturday, some Muslim youths noticed more damage to the fence and felt that those who damaged it must be Christian youths and headed for a nearby church, and set it ablaze. This was said to have angered the Christian youths

‘Some youths went to fence a prayerground known to prevent encroachment of people into the ground but they couldn’t finish the work that day. When they went back, they discovered that a portion of the fence was demolished by unknown persons. The youths alerted the local government chairman, who promised to repair the damaged portion, but failed to do so. When the youths went back to continue the work, they saw more damage to the fence. And out of suspicion, they demolished a near-by church. The youths of the demolished church also demolished a near-by mosque, creating tension and panic everywhere in Kachia and its environs’

who went in search of mosques to vent their own anger on. The source said: “Two weeks ago some youths went to fence a Muslim prayer-ground to prevent encroachment of people into the ground but they couldn’t finish the

work that day, and when they went back they discovered that a portion of the fence was demolished by unknown persons. The youths alerted the local government chairman, •Continued on page 30

Sanitising the roads

•PAGE 33

Goodnight, task force? •PAGE 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Neighbours at war •Continued from page 29

Mr. Peter Agaite and he promised to repair the damaged portion, but failed to do so. When the youth went back to continue the work, they saw another portion of the ground being damaged again. And out of suspicion, they demolished a near-by church. The youths of the demolished church did not take it lightly, and started demolishing a near-by mosque, creating tension and panic everywhere in Kachia and environs”. Speaking with The Nation, convener of the Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals, Dr. John Danfulani insisted that the Kachia crisis is all about neighbour against neighbour. “Some people,” he said, “decided to fence government land because they felt that people are trespassing on ‘holy field’ where they normally pray. You know the kind of society we live in where people claim what does not belong to them. If government had ceded that land, it would have been a closed matter. “But others saw the act of fencing the land without government permission as usurpation of government’s powers. However, nobody really knew who destroyed the fence because it was done at night. Secondly, this is not an issue of Hausa/Fulani because we still have Kadara, Gwari and other tribes as well as Muslims in Kachia. “The issue at stake is neighbour fighting neighbour and has nothing to do with external people coming for an attack. But the government ought to come out to declare a stand on that piece of land, otherwise, the problem will still be there. “If the land has been given out, the government should come out and make a pronouncement that the

•Nasara Baptist Church that was burnt

‘The issue at stake is neighbour fighting neighbour and has nothing to do with external people coming for an attack. But the government ought to come out to declare a stand on that piece of land, otherwise, the problem will still be there. If the land has been given out, the government should come out and make a pronouncement that the land has been given to the Muslim community or the people who are trying to fence it. The government has been giving out land for religious and developmental purposes. If the government were bold enough to do that, I am sure that people wouldn’t reacted the way they did’ land has been given to the Muslim community or the people who are trying to fence it. The government has been giving out land for religious and developmental purposes. If the government is bold enough to do that, I am sure that people will not react the way they did. That land has been used for

Muslim prayers for long and it has remained like that. This fact must be stated. I think this act of trying to fence it triggered that suspicion, but government should be bold enough to say they have given out the land and I can assure you that there will be no problem. It should be understood that this is not an

issue of people coming from outside on the issue of Kachia”. The government immediately warned trouble makers to desist as government will no longer sit back and fold its arms and allow enemies of peace to cause mayhem in the state. The government directed security agencies not to spare any-

one found to have been responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the state. The governor said government will no longer tolerate act of unwarranted violence against innocent citizens in the state, saying “enough is enough”. He said “Government will not fold its arms and allow ‘enemies of peace’ cause mayhem in our state. I call on all law abiding citizens to go about their businesses without fear of intimidation as security forces have already been directed to deal decisively with trouble makers”. While assuring the people that security agencies have already commenced investigations into the cause of the crisis and will not spare anyone found culpable “no matter their status in the society. We will no longer tolerate these acts of unwarranted violence against innocent citizens, enough is enough.” He stressed that the State Government will continue to pursue its peace building agenda and will not rest on its oars until Kaduna is returned to its precrises era when all the people lived harmoniously side by side in peace. The Governor called on the entire people of the State to become peace ambassadors by supporting the ongoing peace building process While on a visit to the scene of the

frowned at the yardstick they used in assessing the performance of GESS programme for smallholder farmers in Kwara State. We have 16 local government areas and they used only three local governments to draw their conclusion. By my own thinking, three councils should not be a yardstick for generalisation of their assessment. For proper assessment, they should have

sampled a minimum of eight local government areas and the councils should be randomly sampled, not lopsided as they have done. “Even the areas they surveyed the people do not have access to the media. GESS programme which is a joint programme of both the federal state government is progressing positively in the state. Obviously improvement

Kwara farmers assess agric enhancement scheme

MALLHOLDER farmers in Kwara State have assessed the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and scored it low. But the state government believe the programme is making progress and that the farmers’ verdict is skewed. GESS, a programme of the federal and state governments, targets smallholder farmers with subsidised farm inputs, specifically fertilizers and seeds through a voucher system. The scheme is powered by e-wallet, an electronic distribution channel that sends text messages through GSM phones to registered farmers, who in turn go to redemption centres to purchase fertilizers at half the price and receive free seeds. The programme was introduced in 2012. To assess the scheme, the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving government officials, service providers and farmers. At the meeting some performance indicators were generated. The indicators included timing of input delivery, quality seeds and fertilizer, distance from farmers’ location to the redemption centre, quality and

‘We frown at the yardstick they used in assessing the performance of GESS programme for smallholder farmers in Kwara State. We have 16 local government areas and they used only three local governments to draw their conclusion. By my own thinking, three councils should not be a yardstick for generalisation of their assessment. For proper assessment, they should have sampled a minimum of eight local government areas and the councils should be randomly sampled, not lopsided as they have done’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

seeds redeemed, cost of seeds and fertilizer, registration process, awareness

•Farmers at the event

of GESS, farmers’ access to telephone handset, ease of collection and communication between farmers and ministry of agriculture. The NGO and the farmers said the scheme has come up short. Deputy Director, Agricultural Services, the State Ministry of Agriculture, Reverend Bamidele Isaac told The Nation, saying, “We, before this time,

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Katsina State Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu Safana, until now, in charge of the environment ministry, speaks, among other issues, on how the state is tackling desert encroachment, in this interview with ADETUTU AUDU. Excerpts:

‘Our battle against desert encroachment’

•Part of the fence

crisis, Yero vowed to ensure that anyone found culpable in the crisis is punished, adding that security agents have already commenced investigation into the cause of the ugly incident has since commenced and government will ensure that persons found to have perpetrated the violence are prosecuted no matter their status in the society. According to him, “investigation is already on and whoever is found to have a hand in this crisis will face full wrath of the law. I want to assure the people and I will call on people not to try thwarting the course of justice by protecting suspects during arrest.” Yero ask the people of the area to prevent their children from engaging in violent acts during crisis saying “if you allow your children to engage in such acts, they will one day turn against you when there is no crisis.” He admonished women in the area to desist from protesting half naked and called on them to always present their grievances with dignity and respect to womanhood and pleaded with people of Kachia and environs to continue to live in peace with one another despite differences in tribes or religion. The governor who visited the hospitals where those injured during the crisis promised that the state

government will take care of the medical bills of the injured and pleaded with both Muslims and Christians affected in the crisis to forgive each other and continue to live in peace saying “Kachia is known for peace and is the least of areas expected to witness such crisis. It is unfortunate that this crisis was over a very trivial issue and Government will wade in to ensure that all sections are justly treated in this matter.” He directed the ministries of Works, Lands and education to resolve immediately take steps to resolve the dispute which occurred over the fencing of the eid prayer ground and immediately create access road to a community behind the land. He also directed that the fence be built by Government. The police claimed that no death was recorded during the incident. The local government chairman, Peter Agite reportedly said that four persons lost their lives. Agite was quoted as saying that two of the victims were coming back from their place of business when they were ambushed by hoodlums while the other two were believed to have been shot by the security on patrol for violating the curfew.

HE desert is said to be gradually encroaching into Borno and Katsina states from Niger Republic. What is your state doing about this? The state government is mindful of the fact that desert encroachment is a menace to warrant a response from Governor Ibrahim Shema. We have about four different approaches to the challenge; we have the state Ministry of Environment which is like the coordinating ministry to deal with the environmental problem; we have the Department of Forestry headed by a special adviser who reports directly to His Excellency; we have the Katsina Arid Zone Programme which was formerly the EEC (European Economic Commission) and we have KATAPU (Katsina Afforestation Project Unit). These bodies under the ministry are charged with the responsibility of tackling environmental challenges particularly those to do with Sahara desert. Even though not scientifically proven, it has been said that the desert encroaches about .6 of a km annually. This means the state needs to wake up and do more and that gave the justification for the structure we have. In addition, His Excellency has made it clear that every year, the state government raises about 3.5-5 million seedlings whereby they have different planting models; you have economic trees on farmland, shelter belts, roadside planting, schools. Seedlings are given to people free; in some cases, we take them to marketplaces so that people just pick from there and go back to their homes to plant or to their farms. We also have a programme for each of the 34 local governments which, every year, has the capacity to raise about 30,000 seedlings. So, in Katsina State, the capacity to tackle desert encroachment as well as experienced staff due to the coming of the EEC programme whose personnel were here for years and trained

•Safana

our own staff. So we have the capacity to raise seedlings and nurture them to maturity. There is a difference between having the capacity and getting it done. Have you been able to get it done? We have been able to achieve quite a lot compared to what it used to be. The fact that we do have this challenge, we have the capacity as well because if you go to most of this desert prone local governments, you can see that even the local people have imbibed the culture of setting up their own private nurseries because they have the capacity to do so; people now see it as a commercial venture and government buys the seedlings from them Planting the seedlings has eco-

nomic viability because the labour is not as intensive as the farming of grains and what have you. Now let’s talk about sanitation. What is your government doing in the area of sanitation? I also saw some people collecting refuse who looked unkempt; you can’t be doing sanitation and you are not clean yourself. And those I saw were old men. Let me start with the first one. The monthly sanitation was re-introduced in the state I think about five to six months ago; so it’s more like it’s new even though we had it long before now. Second, you find that we have been doing quite a lot on sensitisation since the very first •Continued on page 32

•State coordinator, CCEPE, Alhaji Kareem Suleiman holding up the verdict document

will continue until about 100 or probably 90 per cent level is reached. It takes a gradual process for every new programme to be perfected. “We use mass media to sensitise the people on the availability of the programme. We also use our extension agents to sensitize the people.” On the contrary, Programme Man-

ager, CCEPE, Ayuba A. Akindele countered, adding that “we believe that what is happening in one local government is even enough to justify the others. The reason for this is very simple. This GESS is targeted at smallholder farmers and we believe smallholder farmers exist in every local government area in the state. And we

believe that government is there to serve each and every member of the society irrespective of their locations. Having gone far in covering three local government areas of Asa, Kaiama and Edu comprising over 25 farmers cooperatives, we believe that is enough sample for basis of generalization.

“Though government officials around during the development of the scorecard raised this question and we gave the simple answer that they are farmers who are supposed to be beneficiaries of the GESS and these are what they came up with. We believe that is enough for government to readjust. “We are not condemning the programme as failure in totality, but the scorecard is a mirror of what is happening in the 16 local government areas of the state. The areas that the government is found wanting are very critical to the small holder farmers and we want

government to come up proactively so as to ensure that the programme really works. Because on paper the programme is a very laudable one; the bulk of the blame resides with the federal government as the states are only there to support in disseminating information about the programme. “The sending of text messages is from the federal government and the arrival of fertilizer is also from the federal government. The onus rests with the federal government to do more than what they have been doing. The state government supplies field officers during registration. We want them to do more also.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

Senator provides amenities for constituents

HE member representing Plateau North Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Senator Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok has embarked on some development projects in order to lift the communities that make up his constituency. The lawmaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chuwang Dung said the Senator has, in less than two years of his election into the Senate, touched lives in over 30 communities in his constituency. Communities that have benefited from Senator Pwajok’s humanitarian gesture are Vom, Gurra Top, Bisichi, Loh, Mr Ali, Dorowa, Ganawuri, Maza, Forbur, Rahol Kanang, Vwang and Rantiya, among others. The projects he executed for the benefit of the these communities are rural electrification, community hall, blocks of classroom blocks, primary health centre as well as rural water projects. The Senator said: “You all remember the circumstances that led to my election into the Senate; it was the security challenges in my constituency which I promised to tackle headon. “The security challenges I inherited propelled me to take the bull by the horn and work toward restoration of peace to the troubled parts, in collaboration with stakeholders from my zone. I can say with all confidence that the crises in my constituency have been addressed significantly. It may not be possible to eradicate it immediately but the spate of attack has been reduced to less than 10 per cent. “Northern Senatorial zone is a hot bed of Plateau politics and Nigeria at large. For me as a young man to be representing the zone, I feel highly honoured. The peace we are enjoying resulted from combined efforts. I thank God for the calmness we are experiencing now. “The happy thing, in spite of the security challenges, is that our efforts have paid off because we have been able to address the sources of con-

‘The security challenges I inherited propelled me to take the bull by the horn and work toward restoration of peace to the troubled parts, in collaboration with stakeholders from my zone. I can say with all confidence that the crises in my constituency have been addressed significantly. It may not be possible to eradicate it immediately but the spate of attack has been reduced to less than 10 per cent’

•A transformer

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

flict, re-unite the people and restore the needed peace. At the same time, I have been able to provide certain basic social amenities for the people of my constituency. “So, with some efforts here and there, spate of bloodshed has reduced significantly. People can graze their livestock and farmers can cultivate their land without any fear of attack. The next effort is to continue to cement the prevailing cordial relationship existing among the people, so as to sustain the current peace and make it a permanent.” As part of the efforts to sustain the

•A community hall built by Senator Pwajok

prevailing peace, Senator Pwajok said he organised Peace Basketball tournament for basketball teams in the senatorial zone, adding that the purpose of the competition was to spread the message of peace, tolerance and mutual respect among youths in the zone. Noting that his constituency is located within the state capital and

covers areas of the Greater Jos Master Plan, the Senator said the Satellite communities lack some basic social infrastructure, even as he said government alone cannot cater for all needs of its citizens considering the lean resources at its disposal. “It is against this backdrop that I began to look at areas where I can intervene with my own little re-

•Continued from page 31 month and then you want people to comply; it’s a gradual process. From the very first month we started till date, we have witnessed growth in the interest on sanitation. The only challenge is that in some local governments bordering some states, commercial drivers are not aware of the reintroduction. It happens that the day we are doing our own here, they don’t do theirs on that day; so you find out that they will drive in during the exercise and we will block them. I assure you that the success we are recording now is not how it was when we started. We have also liaised with the Ministry of Justice to set up mobile courts. On the issue of old age and the staff, government owes the citizens a duty to provide them with something to do, earn a living. So, all the people you see are being supported by the programme because they are not strong enough to go into manual labour in the construction industry and what have you. You talked about a programme the state government is running in conjunction with the Federal Government to tackle desert encroachment. What is the programme all about? Actually it’s an initiative of the African Union. In 1980 or thereabouts, the late Burkina Faso Head of State, Thomas Sankara, initiated it at one of the forums and they agreed to set up a belt to tackle the encroachment of the desert which would start from Dakar, Senegal. All the participating countries are

•The encroaching desert

‘Our battle against desert encroachment’ expected to plant at least 15km wide, then stretch it to the next neighbouring country and that idea re-echoed in 2006 when approval was given by the African Union for different countries or affected states to go and implement it. Last year, President Jonathan Goodluck approved the implementation and made funds available for the programme which has taken off. We have set up the steering committee of the programme headed by the deputy governor and then we have the state implementation com-

mittee headed by the commissioner for environment and also the local government implementation committees headed by local government chairmen. The aim is to provide the enabling environment for the planting and the nurturing of this plantation to maturity. I understand that every Thursday is set apart as the Environment Day. Could you throw more light on that? Environment challenges are issues that require proactive mea-

sures, so you don’t sit and wait for something to happen before you can act. Every Thursday, we go out to look at issues of environmental impact. We visit some factories, agencies and so on. We try to appraise the environmental practices within Katsina metropolis as well as the seven local governments where we have offices. We do that with the sole aim of identifying the kind of environmental challenges that we have and the perceptions and yearnings of our own people. Now Thursdays

sources. I discovered that my people are lacking certain social amenities. You will be scared to know the level of poverty around you. “But, as their representative, I refused to be scared by this intimidating level of poverty. I just have to prioritise so that I can contribute my own quota towards their well-being,” he said.

‘Environment challenges are issues that require proactive measures, so you don’t sit and wait for something to happen before you can act. Every Thursday, we go out to look at issues of environmental impact. We visit some factories, agencies and so on. We try to appraise the environmental practices within Katsina metropolis as well as the seven local governments where we have offices’ have been selected for that; even the dress code for Thursdays in the ministry has always been green, everybody wears green top and face cap.

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 33

HUTTLING from one part of town to another has always been a headache to the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But they keep trying to bring order on the lanes. The territory is vast but that has not made transportation any easier. Commuters still find it difficult moving around. Even the authorities are not having fun either. They have had to monitor taxi drivers as much as they have closely watched the activities of unpainted cab drivers in the FCT. Now, with the ban of mini-buses and worse, the bomb scare, residents are changing their movement patterns. Most prefer standing on the speed lanes to board taxis, or private cars because they seem to be a lot safer these days. Communters now hardly use designated car parks and the indiscriminate parking of cars to load passengers in both the city and satellite towns creates traffic congestion in places where such congestions should not be. These behaviours worry the FCT minders. Although residents are aware of the danger of boarding commercial vehicles outside designated parks, with the increase of fraudsters in the city, most still prefer to risk it to going to designated parks which they now call the lions’ dens. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Transport Secretariat, has reminded residents that ignorance of the law is no excuse, and that if they break traffic rules, they will be punishment, if caught. Secretary, Transport Secretariat FCTA, Mr. Jonathan Ivoke who addressed reporters during a routine raid, said that touting is not permitted in the FCT and the secretariat has gone as far as arresting some touts. He added that the level of indiscipline among motorists and passengers in the FCT if not checked, will turn the territory into a lawless place, which is what the authorities want to avoid. His word, “This is part of our daily enforcement duty, from time to time, i come out, to try to add vigour to the enforcement , the position we are right now is on the speed lane in area one, vehicles are not suppose to stop to pick passengers or even drop, because this is a speed lane. “The designated speed here is more than that of the service lane but because this drivers are so indiscipline, it is the reason we come out from time to time, working in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies like the Police, Civil Defence, Road safety and even the Nigerian Prisons. “They help us to add to the manpower and equipments; just behind, we have the area 3 terminal that is spacious enough to accommodate all the vehicles, but they will prefer to stay on the road, which has caused a lot of accidents and we don’t want this situation to continue. “What we want to do is station our men here in collaboration with the police so that they will not be attacked and this will be done all over Abuja, in conformity with the master plan. We have licensed these taxi drivers and one of the contents of the licensing process is that they will have to obey traffic rules and regulation. Last month we issued them a query and what we are going to do is that, some of them that are very stubborn, we are going to withdraw their licence. “We will be impounding most of these vehicles and once we do, we will take them to the mobile courts and the magistrate will impose fines on them, we will then

•Traffic monitors on duty

Sanitising the roads ‘What we want to do is station our men here in collaboration with the police so that they will not be attacked and this will be done all over Abuja in conformity with the master plan. We have licensed taxi drivers and one of the contents of the licensing process is that they will have to obey traffic rules and regulation From Grace Obike

collect the information of the driver, his biometrics and fingerprint and when we arrest him again, a stiffer penalty will be given to him. “On a general scale, we are amending the bylaw, the FCT road transport regulations; the last one was done in 2006, we are going to make sure that it is very compre-

hensive. “Our officers are all over Abuja including entrances into the city like Nyanya and Kubwa; they will have to rise to the occassion and impound airing vehicles and take them to the mobile courts, that is our daily assignment and we have to do it. We want the residents of FCT to see what is happening and the sensitisation will continue to go on.

•An offender faces traffic monitors

We are hoping that some of them that are genuine drivers will go to the parks, terminal or bus stops pick their passengers and go on which is why we renovated these parks.” He pleaded with residents not to patronise unpainted and unregistered taxis, saying they can be dangerous. A resident Tajudeen Shittu who witnessed the raid while waiting patiently for a bus at the bus stop, said, “Well I was told that it is not safe to stand on the speed lane and that whoever dies, would have died for nothing. So the idea is good but I dont know why they’ve started ar-

resting people and they will not make public announcements so that people will know and be careful. “The way they are going about it now is unfair and God will reward them.” Angry residents at the Eagle Square shouted back at Ivoke as he insisted that more than 15 buses move to the Square terminal before passengers could board. The team, by the end of its tour of Area 1 down to 3, Centra Area and Wuse, impounded more than 20 vehicles and their owners were told to report to the mobile courts.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

ABOUT two months ago, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed after he was summon by President Jonathan over the unruly state of Abuja, created a task force which will sanitise the environment. The task force is headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu. Mbu promised that his team would transform the FCT, to the extent that "it will get to a point in Abuja when all officers will have to do is simply raise a finger and people will immediately obey." The team started by raiding and impounding tricycles and motorcycles but decided to hole up after a few weeks. Senator Mohammed, on his part, insisted that it was not going to be business as usual in the FCT in maintaining law and order. He said: "We deviated a little from the way and manner we sit in the office to get information from operational directors on the normal metropolitan management services, especially environmental sanitation, water, resource management distribution, traffic control and management and enforcement, especially the issue of Keke NAPEP and okada and the prevalence of dirt and filth here and there, including the issue of beggars and street traders. "This has become necessary because we have been talking and we have almost become a talking shop without visible results. "Of course we have problems of enforcement but certainly it is unacceptable for this city to become a safe haven for all those who think they can practice impunity, arrogance and serious disregard to our bylaws. A city like Abuja cannot be allowed to degenerate to what it is today." On the day that the task for was inaugurated, Mohammed and the team drove about town sensitising and impounding tricycles and motorcycles, even as he promised to change the way things are done. Weeks after its inauguration, the task force team roamed the city, putting fears into residents who immediately adhered to the laid down rules and regulations to avoid being arrested. Before now, members of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) were seen patrolling and arresting petty traders by the road side. Tricycle and motorcycle operators, beggars and petty traders have resumed their business, knowing that the vigour with which the task force worked has waned. Although, sometimes, a couple of security agents lounge under the Area One Bridge, the tricycle and mostly mo-

•Area 3 Junction

Goodnight, task force? We deviated a little from the way and manner we sit in the office to get information from operational directors on the normal metropolitan management services, especially environmental sanitation, water, resource management distribution, traffic control and management and enforcement, especially the issue of Keke NAPEP and okada and the prevalence of dirt and filth here and there, including the issue of beggars and street traders From Grace Obike

torcycle operators will start operating. Although operators of motorcycle

and tricycle have reduced the intensity with which they operate around the Area One axis, they have moved down a bit to the Area Three axis. The Area Three expressway has so

•Bala Mohammed

much motorcycles plying on it so much so that a first-time visitor to the area will doubt that it is still the city centre. Here, motorcycles compete with

motorists on the service lanes of the major road. The enthusiastic ones go about displaying their driving skills to the applaud of their peers.

Council to demolish illegal structures

WARI Area Council is set to commence the demolition of illegal structures and hawkers along the roads and market places in Mpape and Dawaki. Head of Department of Environment Haruna Ahmed disclosed this to reporters during a briefing. Ahmed further said the exercise aimed at ridding the area of illegal structures and make way for a clean and clear area, especially now the country was experiencing security challenges. “We want to start ridding the place of hawkers and illegal structures. We have discovered that people abandoned the market places to sell their goods outside the prescribed areas. We have already informed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area. “Demolition of structures in Dawaki will be carried out first while that of Mpape will be carried out later. We will be giving them one week to relocate to the market or they will be penalised. “I have informed the DPO in the area and he promised to help us in

‘Demolition of structures in Dawaki will be carried out first while that of Mpape will be carried out later. We will be giving them one week to relocate to the market or they will be penalised. I have informed the DPO in the area and he promised to help us in the operation’ From Gbenga Omokhunu

the operation. He said he has been talking to them but they refused to comply.” he said. He added that the department was still going through house-to house inspection in the council, even as he called on the residents to keep their environment clean so as to prevent air-borne diseases.

•Anti-Corruption Network Group protesting building collapse and low quality cement in Nigeria in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Senior Adviser to the Executive Director, UNAIDS, Djibril Diallo; Minister of Sport, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo and Director-General, National Action for the Control of AIDS, Prof. John Idoko during the launch of the Protect the Goal in Nigeria at the Presidential Villa Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, NSIA, Uche Orji; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David-Borha; Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs, Colin Coleman during the PwC Networking at a breakfast meeting to discuss Africa Business Agenda at the World Economic Forum in Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna and Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen during a meeting at the State House Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Chairman, Presidential Committee on Industrial Revolution Plan, Olusegun Aganga; Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yugudu and President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote during the inauguration of Presidential Committee on the Industrial Revolution Plan at the Presidential Villa Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) receiving the 2014 Hajj Report from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'id Abubakar lll at the Presidential Villa Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo (left); President/CEO of Jumeirah Group of Companies, Dubai, Mr. Gerald Lawless and Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke at the just-concluded World Economic Forum on Africa, Abuja

•FFrom left: Former Ghanaian President, John Kuffour in a handshake with Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal during a visit to the Speaker at the National Assembly. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Comrade Timi Frank (middle) speaking at a press briefing on the missing NNPC 20 billion Dollars and state of the nation in Abuja. With him are Executive Director, Gatekeepers Foundation Mr. Blessing Agbonhere (right) and Mr. Great Johnson. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

O unravel the seeming confusion on whether the reported abduction of over 200 secondary schoolgirls of Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State was real or part of political antics in the state, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan joined in the investigation a fortnight ago. To carry out the investigation, she invited key actors in the Chibok saga to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. And to assist her in the investigation were wives of state governors, women opinion leaders, leaders of key women organisation and relevant women stakeholders. Before the key actors present at the meeting started answering questions that the gathering was not a law court, she said: "We are not asking you questions to kill you, or to harm you or to send you to court; we are not judges. But it is just to help to unravel the truth and to stop the killing in Borno State because our hearts are heavy. We want to help you and we want you to sincerely answer our questions. If you don't know the answer, say so and we will end it there. Nothing we can do." The First Lady, who also prefers to be called "Mama Peace" broke down and wept twice during the over eight hours meeting that started at 6:02 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 and ended at 2:13 a.m. on May 5, 2014. She broke down the first time when she realised that some major actors in the saga from the state did not turn up for the meeting. While there have been divided opinions on whether she actually wept out of emotion or premeditated to weep in front of the cameras to attract sympathy for her husband, as someone who sat throughout the meeting, it was a struggle between the Channels TV cameraman, Elder George Edemevughe and other cameramen filming that aspect of the meeting as some staff of the First Lady attempted to shut down the cameras. Her weeping was also infectious as some women seated round the table in the First Lady's Conference Room could not hold back their tears. The intent of this write-up is not to ascertain whether the tears were real or fake. It is also not to justify the probe or otherwise. And it is also no longer in doubt whether the abduction of over 200 secondary school girls was real or mere politics as Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau on Monday last week, released video clip showing the girls in his custody. Besides the weeping during the First Lady's investigation, the probe also showed some humorous part of Mama Peace, even

The other side of First Lady though she expressed bitterness in some instances. Some of those in the meeting couldn't help laughing at her remarks most times. She may not really mind how the message is conveyed, but what matters to her is getting the message across. When she realised that the Principal of the school, Asabe Kwaburah, did not come with any teacher, matron or the school's gateman to help in the investigation, the First Lady asked: Na only u waka come? (Meaning "You came alone?"). During the question-and-answer session when the principal insisted that the school was a standard school and as she was having difficulty responding to questions, Mrs. Jonathan said: "Madam, see tissue, if you are sweating, take tissue and clean your sweat. Clean your sweat well so that you can answer our questions." This attracted laughter from the gathering. Faulting non-relocation of the entire students in line with the advice of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) before the girls' abduction and the following relocation of the remaining students after the attack, she said: "It is now that you relocated the children after the kidnap. That is medicine after death. Why did you not

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya

‘Faulting non-relocation of the entire students in line with the advice of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) before the girls' abduction and the following relocation of the remaining students after the attack, she said: "It is now that you relocated the children after the kidnap. That is medicine after death. Why did you not relocate them to that place at the first instance if that place is safer?’ relocate them to that place at the first instance if that place is safer?" When there were conflicting fig-

100 for free medical care

S part of activities to mark this year’s World Family Doctors’ Day, the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) has offer free medical services to 100 FCT residents in some designated hospitals within the territory. President of the Association, Dr. Frank Odafen, who revealed this in a statement, said the free services included medical examination, treatment and surgical operations that gulped about N20 million. According to him, the event which held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja included a scientific session, where lectures would be delivered. Dr. Odafen further said the association visited two schools in the FCT to offer dental and eye examination services for chil-

Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

dren, saying his members are out to improve the abysmal health indices, which the country is known for by the year 2020. “We are out to assist the government and people of Nigeria in the provision of smooth, efficient and effective healthcare delivery system in the country,’’ he said. He also said the non-governmental organisation is aimed at promoting health and allied services, to promote the welfare and integrity of its members for the overall improvement of all medical profession. The association is the official body made up of the organised private sector health care delivery in Nigeria and it is a member of World Organisation of Family Doctors.

•Members of Rotaract Club of Suleja installed a road warning sign to accompany their zebra crossing marking at a major road intersection in Sleja Niger State.

ures of students who registered and sat for some subjects in the school from the WAEC official and

the Principal, the First Lady, with her calculator in hand, told the Principal: "Madam, what you are telling us here now is not Mathematics. Is it that we have gone out of Algebra and Mathematics? We are in another world because what you are telling us is not feasible again. Do you register differently from WAEC? Do you have your own marking scheme?" Turning to journalists at the meeting, she said: "Members of the press are you people with us in this Mathematics lecture?" Tired with the irreconcilable figures from the Principal, she told other women at the gathering: "I beg make una ask una questions and leave the woman. Let us not continue to waste our time on one woman matter." At a point when the meeting was becoming rowdy and several persons speaking at the same time, the First Lady said: "If we didn't permit you to talk, we will send you out. We are in the Villa. We are not here for demonstration, we are peaceful people. We are begging you operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), anyone that makes unwarranted noise, please help us take her out." These were very few instances when the gathering couldn't help but laugh during the meeting.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

DYNASTY Mr Adesegun Mohammed Ajibola (SAN) and son of former World Court judge, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN). He cut his legal teeth in three law firms in England before joining G.O.K Ajayi & Co, Lagos. In 1993, he joined his father’s firm, Bola Ajibola & Co, Lagos, where he is presently the Managing Partner and Head of Chambers. He was made SAN in 2011 after 21 years at the Bar. He tells JOSEPH JIBUEZE how his father influenced him to read law, how to ensure speedier justice delivery, and sundry national issues.

‘Law is my family’s second language’

T MUST be a huge responsibility to be the son of Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague. Mr Adesegun Ajibola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was born in 1963, a year after his father was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn, having graduated from the Holborn College of Law, University of London. Coming from such a family, Ajibola said people expect a lot from him. It is also not surprising that he chose to study law as a young adult, having been influenced by his father‘s successful career. “It is impossible for an animal not to be influenced by his environment, in particular by his forebears,” Ajibola admitted. “If you see a man behaving in a particular manner, most times they ask you to check his background and his parentage. My case was no exception. I grew up knowing my dad as a lawyer. Legal profession was the second language in our home. “Words like lawyers, courts, Nigerian Bar Association, conferences, seminars and things that had a bearing on the legal profession were common themes in our home. One could not but be influenced by those circumstances one found himself. I must confess that my influence came from that background. “In a lot of ways my dad was helpful in encouraging that I took that line, being a line he had trodden successfully and in which he believed I could find a future. With gratitude to God, I’m privileged to be born into that environment which gave me the opportunity to be in the noble profession that I have been in all my working life.” But could he have studied anything else other than law? “Most likely I would have been an artiste, a musical artiste, if I hadn’t read law. When I say this to some people they laugh. I love music and I still do. That was the direction that I first felt I was going to go. “Another thing that I thought of when I was young was farming. I love plants and animals. I’m amazed at how trees grow from saplings, and how animals grow from birth. I love nature, astrology and the likes.” Ajibola said people, even judges, expect a lot from him, being the son of a former justice minister, but he said he is doing his best to live outside his father’s shadow. For instance, it took him over 20 years of hard work to be made a SAN. “I have grown used to those kinds of situations; people expect so much from me. It is not uncommon. I expect that

coming from that stock, there is a level of quality that would be assumed that you would have. But in most cases that is not always the case. “Everyone has his own approach and ways of looking at things. I think it is a bit unfair, but I understand perfectly why it is so, but I have accepted it as a way of life and a cross I must carry. I live with it as comfortably as I can, without letting it get to me much.” Having practiced law for two decades, Ajibola is bothered by allegations of corruption in the judiciary, and he would want to see anyone indicted tried. He spoke against the backdrop of the practice of retiring judges found to have violated their oath of office. “Judiciary and corruption are two things that must never mix because of the very crucial nature of the responsibility that the judiciary is required to discharge. It is of a nature that cannot habour corruption. It could destroy its entire fabric. “On whether corrupt judges should be subjected to criminal trial, I think there is a good point there. We have the anti-corruption laws either founded in the EFCC Act, ICPC Act or Criminal Code. Judges are no exemption from the applicability of those laws and the requirement that they can be prosecuted if they are found wanting in that regard. “I am one of those who believe that the first step in dealing with the problem of corruption is the immediately relieving them of the responsibility that they hold, and then giving an opportunity for the law to take its course. “I agree that they should go a step further, and that judges should not be allowed to feel immune from the hands of the law, when in fact the law does not allow for such immunity. “If any judicial officer has been found corrupt, or has committed a crime of any sort, either in his sheer capacity or otherwise, he should be made to face the law like anybody else would do. I think it would send down the right signal and encourage the deterrence that we want to have. “As soon as we begin to see such situations, perhaps we will see a better managed judiciary and less corruption. However, I don’t think there’s a society that is corruption-free, but we want to have it as manageable as possible, so that we don’t have a breakdown of law and order which can flow from a breakdown of judicial responsibility.” Another area of concern to stakeholders is the very long time it takes to decide a case. There are several instances in which trial is yet to begin in criminal cases that were instituted against former governors in 2007.

Most have been delayed due to the filing of one interlocutory application or the other. Some have wondered whether such preliminary applications should be done away with. What does Ajibola think? He said: “Law in its application must have a process, and there are procedure and rules which guide the application of those laws. However, those rules and procedure are open for abuse by people who don’t have the proper sense of responsibility. That is the aspect that we need to deal with and arrest. “We as lawyers need to tell ourselves the frank truth. We have ethical standards; rules and regulations which guide our practice. They do not encourage the idea of filing frivolous applications with a deliberate intention of delaying the matter. “But it is difficult to know when an application is filed for a frivolous reason. It is the difficulty in accessing that intention that gives room for the abuse that we talk about. How do you know whether in sincere and honest sense the lawyer is not acting in the best interest of his client, moreso when the steps he has taken are procedures which the law allows?” What does he think is the best way out? “We need to re-orientate ourselves and appreciate the fact that at the end of the day we’re all losers. It may work for you today, because you’re on this side of the law. If tomorrow you find yourself on the other side, and the same thing happens to you, you will lose. “Encouraging that kind of approach to administration of justice is something that will do no one no good at the end of the day. It may help in resolving a temporary situation, but in the long run, we’re all losers. Perhaps there is no other country that has as much causes of delays in dispensation of justice as Nigeria, except as I hear, in India. “We need to evolve better arrangement which will be in place to curb the excesses of some of us who abuse that process. I think it requires a think-tank approach, as try to do regarding law reforms. The new Lagos State rules came from the need to fast-track and reduce bottle-necks and roadblocks in dispensation of justice. “However, no one process is perfect. Any process designed by man stands to be defeated by the same men. The same man who invented the pencil invented the eraser. We don’t benefit from it generally. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all losing. “Once we can accept that as a platform, and get people to understand that the failure of one is that failure of all, the sooner we begin to approach the situation from a standpoint of positive

•Ajibola

and honest sense of purpose. It requires a scientific approach in dealing with a very fundamental problem which has bedeviled our system and is slowing us down.” Another provision in the rules that has caused delays is a case that starts de novo (afresh) if witnesses had been called before a judge is transferred, is elevated to a higher court, or dies and another judge takes over. In that case, witnesses would have to be recalled. Ajibola said this provision too, needs to be revisited. “It’s difficult for a case no to start de novo. One of the functions of the judge is to watch the demeanor of the witnesses before him, not just listen to testimony alone. He has to see that the evidence being given is given with conviction, and in a manner which portrays the truth. “It is difficult for a judge who has taken over a case and who has not had the opportunity of watching the demeanor of the witnesses to form a complete picture of the evidence that has been given. It will be akin to vision without sound. “I agree that it reverses the order and tends to delay the matter, but in most cases where evidence had not been

taken, the need for de novo is not applicable. It’s applicable in most situations where evidence has been taken. It will be unfair to expect a judge who did not see the witness to have the complete picture and form an opinion as to whether the witness is one of truth or of lies. “It is that requirement to see that justice is done and transparently done that gave rise to the de novo principle. When you compare the injustice that can be, you probably find out that it is better to take all the time that is required to achieve justice than injustice in a short time. “What I will be happy to see is that the aspect of the requirement for trial to start all over as it is in most cases is restricted strictly to aspects which evidence by witnesses have been taken, so that whoever takes over assumes all the processes and procedural steps taken before then. “In this country where our approach to things is most times questionable, once you have a witness come in once and give evidence, getting him back most times to repeat most things he has said is a problem. Situations change and influences would come in. Eventually some people escape justice.”

Tambuwal to speak at law conference

•Tambuwal

•Oyebode

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal is expected to speak at the Eighth Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL). As Keynote speaker, he will set the tone for discussions at the conference to be held at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos from May 25 – 27. The conference has the theme: Exemplary governance - enhancing economic development in Nigeria. The section’s chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, said Tambuwal, a lawyer, was selected because he has provided quality leadership to the House. He added: “The legislature has a major role to play in ensuring that exemplary governance principles are adhered to for the promotion and sustainability of

transformational and impactful economic and human capital development in Nigeria. “The Conference is being held in the penultimate year to Nigeria’s general elections. Therefore, it presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to address the imperatives of exemplary governance as a platform for enhancing economic development in the country,” Oyebode said. Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Mr. Seni Adio, said Tambuwal’s address would be “timely”. “It is quite fortuitous that the Speaker is also a seasoned legal practitioner. His address will be very timely as the electioneering frenzy builds-up. “Hopefully, as the theme for the conference conveys, the determinant factor as to whether we would be able to continue to at-

tract, retain and grow indigenous and foreign investments depends almost entirely on the quality of leadership that we have in various sectors, both private and public,” Adio said. The section’s Secretary, Mr. Olu Apata last week in Abuja, urged members of the bar through its National Executive Committee (NEC) to attend. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar is will be the guest of honour. “This year’s conference promises to surpass the standards set by previous editions with well over one thousand delegates being expected as well as a distinguished faculty of knowledgeable and accomplished speakers and resource persons drawn from within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

LAW & SOCEITY

Court rules on Braithwaite’s, bank’s case June 27

USTICE Doris Okuwobi of an Ikeja High Court, will on June 27 rule in a N10 billion suit instituted by elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite against Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Lagos. Dr. Braithwaite, at the resumed hearing last week, expressed frustration over the suit because of the adjournment. He said he expected the court to accord the matter, which has been in court for over four years, a speedy trial. The bank filed an application, seeking to strike out some paragraphs of the plaintiff’s reply to its amended statement of defence. Dr Braithwaite, who took time off from the ongoing National Conference, came to the court with some experts as witnesses in the matter. He told the court that he was suprised by the adjournment. Braithwaite urged the court to ensure that trial starts early, adding that the judge should deliver her ruling on time on the application he described “frivolous’. According to him, he took time off the conference because he was told that trial would begin. Dr Braithwaite alleged that the defendant was capitalising on the delay to continue with the construction of the building, which he said is now on its 13th floor

By Adebisi Onanuga

from the second floor when the Court of Appeal ordered the plaintiff and defendants to maintain the status quo. Defence counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire in his submission, refuted the claims that the defendant was consciously delaying trial, saying that he had started cross examining the witness before the plaintiff sought for the amendment of his statement of claims. Adegbomire, who maintained that it is the bank’s rights to build, said the matter had delayed because the plaintiff decided to seek injunctive reliefs rather than pursuing the trial. According to him, the motion on notice filed on May 8, by the defence was predicated on the fact that the plaintiff decided to introduce new facts that should have been in its statement of claims in the reply to their amended statement of defence. He, therefore, urged the court to strike out some paragraphs of the plaintiff”s reply, adding that, allowing them will amount to foreclosing them from responding to the new fact introduced into the matter. According to him, the reply to the defendant’s amended statement of defence dated February 28, contained allegations and aver-

ments, which can only be validly and legally made in a statement of claim. Specifically, the counsel said some of the avverments referred to the issue of fraud on the part of the bank, which will not give the defendant an opportunity to respond and therefore, amounting to an abuse of court process. He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the paragraphs containing such averrements and hold that the plaintiff include them in their amended statement of claims. Adegbomire’s submission was however, opposed by the counsel to the plaintiff, Razaq Okesiji. Okesiji said the contents of the claimant’s reply to the defence statement and witness statement on oath, are relevant to the subject matter of the suit and are necessitated by the averements in the amended statement of the defence and the documents introduced by the defence, which were not in existence at the time of filing the amended statement of claims. He said the claimant had neither departed, contradicted nor added new item to its claim, which should prejudice the defendant. Citing several Supreme Court authorities, Okesiji said the reply was within the rights of the claimant and that Order 15 Rule 19 of the High Court Rules allows new

pleadings to come up in a reply. While urging the court to dismiss the defendant’s application, he said the paragraphs of the claimant”s reply to amended statement of defence and corresponding paragraphs of the statement on oath, which the defendant seeks to be struck out, relate to the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure in Nigeria. Okesiji pointed out that the failure of the defendant to comply with the procedure has always been the kernel of the claimant’s case right from the commencement of the suit. Ruling on the application, Justice Okuwobi fixed June 27, for ruling on the defendant’s application. In the substantive suit, Dr Braithwaite is seeking an order declaring as illegal, the erecting of a 15-storey commercial building by the bank in an otherwise residential area in Victoria Island, Lagos. The elderstatesman said it was worrisome that the bank has installed giant industrial generators directly opposite his house with the concomitant fumes and noise shattering the air and serenity of the environment. He is, therefore, praying the court to grant him N10billion in damages and a demolition of the building. Dr. Braithwaite, earlier this year,

•Braithwaite

told Justice Okuwobi that the Court of Appeal had stopped the Bank at the second floor level of the project, yet the construction has reached the 13th floor. He said: “This is a serious case to try. My Lord, I’m not happy with the trend of this case. This case will surely try the integrity of the Nigerian legal system and would either have a solitary effect or eternal condemnation of the Nigeria legal system. “ Your lordship will recall that you granted us an order amending our process since June 2013, but up till now the defendant has deliberately refused to file their statement of defence and manipulating the Nigeria legal system while continuing to destroy the residential area by building up till 15th floor,” he added.

•From left: the Chief Registrar Lagos State High Court, Mrs. Olamide Akinkugbe; Deputy Chief Registrars, Administration for Lagos and Ikeja, Mr. Adekunle Isaac and Mrs. Abiola Soladoye at a workshop on the new Public Procurement Law of Lagos State held at the Ikeja High Court premises.

Lawyer seeks to probe verdict

LAWYER, Chief John Osuji, has urged Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, to verify the authenticity of an enrolment judgment purportedly delivered by the state High Court on July 30, 2008. It is on a suit numbered ID/ 2801/92, between Mr Farayola Ogundokun (plaintiff) and Alhaji G. Owoade. Osuji said his client’s property was demolished on the basis of the enrolment judgment after he was forcefully ejected. The enrolment judgment declared the plaintiff as entitled to a Certificate of Occupancy of Plot 15, Apapa Oshodi Expressway. The property is approximately 430,849 square metres, the lawyer said. Osuji said his client, the General Overseer of the Chosen of the Lord Ministry, Prophet Martins Oni, was in his office when people who claimed to be bailiffs from the court, accompanied by ‘O d u a P e o p l e s C o n g r e s s (OPC) members’, showed him a copy of the ‘judgment’ and began the demolition.

By Joseph Jibueze

“We wish to state that our client was not mentioned in the purported judgment, and was never served any hearing notice in respect of the suit that led to the judgment. “Besides, the land in question legitimately belongs to our client, having acquired it 17 years ago from Alhaji Owoade (the defendant in the suit). “Our client possesses the land documents, which include survey plan, House Plan, Receipt of Purchase, Building Plan, the Ijeshatedo Family land receipt, and other documents from the government,” the lawyer wrote. According to him, Oni’s fourstorey building, with four miniwarehouses, offices, 14 shops, a church, were pulled down and property worth N1.2billion allegedly carted away by the bailiffs who claimed to be taking them to the court. Osuji said Oni, the DirectorGeneral of Police Assistance Committee of Tradesmen and Artisans, had petitioned the police, who subsequently wrote the

court seeking to authenticate the judgment, but are yet to receive a response. “In view of the foregoing which had resulted in our client suffering colossal damage over his legitimately acquired property, along with valuable items, we urge your Lordship to, as a matter of urgency, use your good office to direct investigation of the authenticity of an enrolment judgment of the Lagos State High Court dated 30th October, 2008... “Our client is desirous of having an urgent resolution of this matter through your immediate intervention, failure which may necessitate our seeking redress from the court of law to reclaim our client’s land and also ask for c o m p e n s at i o n f o r h i s go o d s carted away from the demolished building with the connivance of the bailiffs from the Lagos High Court,” Osuji wrote. The letter, which was received by the Chief Judge’s Office on May 12, was also sent to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Ade Ipaye.

EFCC arraigns ex-commissioner for alleged N108m theft

FORMER Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Anambra State, Mr Okey Aroh, has been arraigned before an Ikeja High Court in over an alleged N108 million theft.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Aroh alongside Abimbola Oluwaniyi, before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye. They were arraigned on a six count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering. EFCC counsel, Mr Omeiza Adebola told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired to steal the money belonging to their former employer, an old generation bank between June 2008 and July 2009.The EFCC said at the time the offence was committed, Aroh was the manager while Oluwaniyi was a relationship officer of the Oke Arin branch of the bank. He also accused them of forging two certificates of deposit purportedly issued by the bank to facilitate the theft.He said the offences breached Sections 390 (7) (9), 467,468 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003. When the charges were read to

By Adebisi Onanuga

them, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Counsel to Aroh Mr. Vincent Nwana, while moving his client’s application for bail urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms. Nwana argued that the charge arose out of loans granted by the defendants when they were employees of the bank. In her ruling, Justice Ipaye varied the bail conditions for the two defendants. She granted Aroh N5 million bail with two sureties in N2 million each. The money, she said, should be paid by a bank draft drawn in the name of the Chief Registrar of the Lagos High Court and should be deposited into an interest yielding account. According to her, one of the sureties must be a blood relative while both sureties should be resident in Lagos State. The judge directed that the sureties should be gainfully employed and must produce three years tax clearance payable to the government.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

LAW REPORT

When parties may invoke original jurisdiction of Supreme Court IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA ON FRIDAY THE 11TH DAY OF APRIL, 2014 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS: MAHMUD MOHAMMED, J.S.C. JOHN AFOLABI FABIYI, J.S.C. NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA, J.S.C. MARY UKAEGO PETER ODILI, J.S.C. MUSA DATTIJO MUHAMMAD, J.S.C. KUDIRAT MOTONMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, J.S.C. JOHN INYANG OKORO, J.S.C. Between : The Attorney-General of Lagos State …. Plaintiff And The Attorney-General of the Federation & 35 Ors …. Respondents •Continued from last week

HE Plaintiff’s grouse, it was argued, is that it has been denied imposition and collection of taxes on the supply of goods and services because such tax are, due to the implementation of the illegal and unconstitutional VAT regime, collected by the agency of the 1st Defendant. The power of the National Assembly to enact the legislation is the crux of Plaintiff’s suit. Learned senior counsel urges that the issue be resolved against the 1st Defendant. Under the 2nd issue, learned senior counsel cites the decisions in Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) 9 NWLR (Pt.264) 156 at 188 and Okafor v. AG Anambra (1991) 6 NWLR (Pt.200) 659 at 681 and submits that since the subject mat-

ter and the parties in the instant suit are not the same as in the other suits, the instant suit cannot be rightly held to be an abuse of the process of this Court. On the whole, learned senior counsel to the Plaintiff prayed that all the preliminary objections be overruled. He urges that the court assumes jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s suit. In considering the 1st issue raised, the Court stated that the determination of the preliminary objections against the Plaintiff’s action requires the application of the principle of community construction of the provision of Section 232 (1) of the 1999 Constitution by considering all relevant provisions of the very constitution that may be helpful in the proper understanding of the

particular provision in contention. See Buhari v. Yusuf (2003) 6 SC (pt.11) 156 and Associated Discount v. Amalgamated Trustees (No 2) (2007) 7 SC 168. The Court was of the firm and considered view that a resort to Section 6 (1), (5) and (6) and Section 251 (1) (a), (b) and (q) of the 1999 Constitution as well will facilitate a proper understanding of Section 232 (1) of the same Constitution that is particularly in issue in the matter at hand. The Court held that a community reading above provisions reveals the establishment of the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court and their investiture with judicial powers in all actions and proceedings pertaining all matters between persons or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria. In particular, Section 232(1) provides for the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court which is exclusive to it in respect of any dispute between the Federation and State or between the States inter-se, the determination of which dispute involves a resolution of any question, whether of fact or law, on which the existence or extent of the legal right being asserted in the dispute depends. The Court stated that by this Section, once a dispute is between the Federation and a State or between the States themselves and the determination of the dispute requires resolution of any question, whether of fact or law in relation to the claim raised, the Supreme Court and no other would have jurisdiction over such matters. The Court further stated that the section does not empower the apex Court to hear and determine disputes between the government of the federation and a state or the governments of the States inter-se. It equally does not allow for disputes between agencies of the Federal government and a State or agencies of the State governments inter-se. The Court held that the Plaintiff’s grouse is about a dispute between the Federal government and the governments of the States rather than between the federation and the various states. It is also a dispute pertaining

to the operation of an agency of the Federal government, Federal Inland Revenue Service (F.I.R.S.), vis-a-vis an agency of the Plaintiff. The Court stated that it is not unreasonable to also assess the dispute as one which seeks the interpretation and examination of the operation of the 1999 Constitution as it affects both sides to Plaintiff’s suit. The Court held that it does not have the slightest doubt that a dispute on all or any of these comes squarely within the purview of the jurisdiction the makers of the Constitution specifically provided for the Federal High Court under Section 257 (a), (b) and (q) of the 1999 Constitution which provision tampers and conditions the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court pursuant to Section 232 (1) of the same constitution. The Court further held that the Plaintiff, whose claim clearly relates to the revenue of the Government of the federation, consequent upon the taxes one of its agencies levies and/or seeks the interpretation of the Constitution as to how the operation of the Constitution affects the 1st Defendant or any of its agencies, is at the wrong court. The Court declined jurisdiction. On the 2nd issue as regards abuse of court process, the Court held that the door has been shut against him. That had the Court found the Plaintiff’s suit as coming within the purview of Section 232 (1), it would have then become necessary to consider the 2nd leg of the objection raised against the suit. The Court held that it is accordingly unnecessary to delve into the ground having declined jurisdiction for the reasons already articulated. In sum, the court held that the preliminary objections raised against the competence of Plaintiff’s suit having succeeded are hereby upheld. The Plaintiff’s suit was resultantly struck-out for want of jurisdiction. EDITED BY LAW PAVILLION. LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR22701(SC) Concluded.

Legal Jokes

•From left: Dean Centre for Comparative Law in Africa, Prof Danwood Salvztor Mancusso, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town, Dr. Max Price and Prof. Azinge at the signing of a Memoradum of Understanding between Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the University of Cape Town, South Africa

Man arraigned for ‘forgery’

32-year-old man, Ojewole Oyewale, who allegedly forged a Magistrate’s judgment and presented himself as a Sheriff has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court. Oyewole was arraigned before Magistrate (Mrs.) Abimbola Komolafe. The defendant and seven others at large, are facing a seven- count-charge of conspiracy, burglary, stealing, forgery, impersonation and unlawful damage. Police prosecutor, Eranus Nnamonu, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) told the court that Oyewale forged the judgment of Magistrate Court 42 in Lagos and purported it to have been delivered by Mr. O. A. Adesupo on November 13, 2013. Nnamonu further told the court that the defendant broke and forcefully entered into Mrs. Yetunde Aderemi’s house and stole gold jewelry valued N5milliion and N650,000 cash belonging to the victim. The prosecutor said the defendant and five others, at large, with intent to defraud the victim, impersonated and acted as Sheriffs of the Ikeja High Court. According to him, the defendant was

allegedly paid by Qudus Gbolahan-Folami, who is said to be the landlord of 23, Muri Folami Street in Ogudu Ojota area of Lagos, to act as the Sheriff. He said the defendant maliciously damaged one refrigerator, valued N250,000, television set valued N220,000, a dinning set and sitting room settee, valued at N500,000. Other items destroyed included kitchen utensils valued at N420,000, lace materials (clothes) worth N300,000, all belonging to the victim. He said the defendant and seven others conspired to commit the offences on March 12, at 23, Muri Folami Street in Ogudu Ojota area. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 409, 305 (b), 285 (1) and is punishable under Section 363 (w), 378 (1) and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Komolafe granted him N1million bail with two sureties in like sum. She ordered that a sum of N50,000 be deposited, in the account of the court registrar by the defendant.

•Carlson was charged with stealing a Mercedes Benz, and after a long trial, the jury acquitted him. Later that day Carlson came back to the judge who had presided at the hearing. “Your honor,” he said, “I wanna get out a warrant for that dirty lawyer of mine.” “Why ?” asked the judge. “He won your acquittal. Why do you want to have him arrested?” “Well, your honor,” replied Carlson, “I didn’t have the money to pay his fee, so he went and took the car I stole.” •These two guys, George and Harry, set out in a hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean. After 37 hours in the air, George says “Harry, we better lose some altitude so we can see where we are”. Harry lets out some of the hot air in the balloon, and the balloon descends to below the cloud cover. George says, “I still can’t tell where we are, lets ask that guy on the ground”. So, Harry yells down to the man “Hey, could you tell us where we are?”. And the man on the ground yells back “You’re in a balloon, 100 feet up in the air”. George turns to Harry and says “That man must be a lawyer.” Harry says, “How can you tell?”. George says, “Because the advice he gave us is 100% accurate, and totally useless”. •For three years, the young attorney had been taking his brief vacations at this country inn. The last time he’d finally managed an affair with the innkeeper’s daughter. Looking forward to an exciting few days, he dragged his suitcase up the stairs of the inn, then stopped short. There sat his lover with an infant on her lap! “Helen, why didn’t you write when you learned you were pregnant?” he cried. “I would have rushed up here, we could have gotten married, and the baby would have my name!” “Well,” she said, “when my folks found out about my condition, we sat up all night talkin’ and talkin’ and decided it would be better to have a illegitimate grandchild in the family than a lawyer.” •Question: Why do lawyers display a copy of their bar association cards on their dashboards? Answer: So they can park in handicapped zones. •A certain lawyer was quite wealthy and had a summer house in the country, to which he retreated for several weeks of the year. Each summer, the lawyer would invite a different friend of his to spend a week or two up at this place, which happened to be in a backwoods section of Maine. On one particular occasion, he invited a Czechoslovakian friend to stay with him. The friend, eager to get a freebie off a lawyer, agreed. Well, they had a splendid time in the country, rising early and living in the great outdoors. Early one morning, the lawyer and his Czechoslovakian companion went out to pick berries for their morning breakfast. As they went around the berry patch, gathering blueberries and raspberries in tremendous quantities, along came two huge bears, a male and a female. Well, the lawyer, seeing the two bears, immediately dashed for cover. His friend, though, wasn’t so lucky, and the male bear reached him and swallowed him whole. The lawyer ran back to his Mercedes, tore into town as fast has he could, and got the local backwoods sheriff. The sheriff grabbed his shotgun and dashed back to the berry patch with the lawyer. Sure enough, the two bears were still there. “He’s in THAT one!” cried the lawyer, pointing to the male, while visions of lawsuits from his friend’s family danced in his head. He just had to save his friend. The sheriff looked at the bears, and without batting an eye, leveled his gun, took careful aim, and SHOT THE FEMALE. “Whatdya do that for!” exclaimed the lawyer, “I said he was in the other!” “Exactly,” replied the sheriff, “and would YOU believe a lawyer who told you that the Czech was in the Male?” •A Russian, a Cuban, an American and a Lawyer are in a train. The Russian takes a bottle of the best vodka out of his pack, pours some into a glass, drinks it, and says: “In USSR, we have the best vodka of the world—nowhere in the world you can find Vodka as good as the one we produce in the Ukraine. And we have so much of it, that we can just throw it away...” Saying that, he opens the window and throws the rest of the bottle through it. All the others are quite impressed. The Cuban takes a pack of Havanas, takes one of them, lights it, and begins to smoke it, saying: “In Cuba, we have the best cigars of the world: Havanas, nowhere in the world there is so many and so good cigars and we have so much of them, that we can just throw them away...”. Saying that, he throws the pack of Havanas through the window. One more time, everybody is quite impressed. At this time, the American just stands up, opens the window, and throws the lawyer through it.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

FROM THE COURT

Lawyers seek review of Pension Act

By Joseph Jibueze AWYERS have called for a review of the employment On how to resolve such claims laws to bring them up to in insolvency situations, Idigbe date. said: “In 2001, the World Bank They said the laws did not ad- called for special treatment of equately protect employees in employee claims during insolsituations where a company be- vency, recognising that workers comes insolvent. are a vital part of an enterprise. They spoke in Lagos at the 2014 “It suggests that careful considPunuka Annual Lecture, organ- eration should be given to balancised by the law firm of Punuka ing the rights of employees with Attorneys and Solicitors. It had those of other creditors.” the theme: Employee and pension Dean, Faculty of Law, Univerclaims in insolvency. sity of Pretoria, Prof Andre A labour law expert, Prof Boraine said the labour moveChioma Agomo of the University ment must South Africa played a of Lagos, said if possible, the laws major role in law reform in relashould provide for insurance of tion to the improvement of emworkers’ entitlements to cover for ployees’ position in insolvency when a company winds up. and rescue. “We need to insure salary and Urging labour unions in Niwages of workers so that whether geria not to give up in pushing the company has money or not, for their rights, he said labour the workers must be paid,” she laws much contain some of prosaid. tection for employees and their Managing Partner of Punuka claims in insolvency. Attorneys, Chief Anthony Idigbe Chairman, Lagos Branch of the (SAN), said there has been a con- Petroleum and Natural Gas Sentinuous economic pressure in the ior Staff Association of Nigeria last decade, resulting companies (PENGASSAN) Rev. Folorunso going into restructuring, mergers Oginni said there is need to furand acquisition, business reor- ther review the Pension Act, as ganisation, receivership and according to him, there are a lot liquidations. of discrepancies in the settlement According to him, issues always of pension claims that need to be arise as to claims available to the harmonised. workers, ranging from outstand“There are people who have reing salaries/wages, vacation and tired who cannot access their severance pay, health and dis- money. We have a lot of area ability benefits, pension benefits where there are lacunas that we and other entitlements. must look into,” he said.

Chairman, Delta State Bureau for State Pension, Mrs Christy Siakpere, who represented Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, said the laws must also address the issue of the solvency of pension fund administrators (PFAs). “Although the issue of insolvency is less a challenge in the public section than it is in the private section, the same cannot be said of the current system under PFAs. “Today, we can easily have a situation of insolvency of the PFAS, which are holding asses that do not belong to them but are actually owned by the employees and as such should be well secure,” he said. The governor said Delta has contributed over N16billion as counterpart funding to the new pension scheme since its inception in 2007. He added that the state has cleared the backlog of payment of retirees caught between the old and new pension schemes. Also at the event were retired Supreme Court justice, George Oguntade, who chaired the event; Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court; acting DirectorGeneral National Pension Commission (PENCOM) Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who was represented; and PENGASSAN General Secretary, Comrade Bayo Oloshile, among others.

•From left: A partner at Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe, Justice Oguntade, Chief Idigbe and Prof Boraine at the event.

Law institute partners varsity

HE Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Cape Town, South Africa, on the teaching of law. The partnership was endowed by a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma. NIALS’ Director-General, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) praised Dajuma’s philanthropic gesture. “ General Danjuma by this grant has clearly demonstrated his love for education, his belief in an enduring legacy and his passion to immortalise himself through the instrumentality of this grant “NIALS is indeed honoured to be part of this ennobling enterprise and wish to pledge its commitment to the judicious and transparent use of the grant.

By John Austin Unachukwu

“We promise to be to accountable and prudent in the management of the funds,” he said. By virtue of the grant, NIALS can collaborate with the University of Cape Town and share resources. “We are extremely happy about this new relationship and hope that it is a relationship that will be mutually beneficial to both institutions. We look forward to a robust engagement between our two faculties and promise to live up to expectations of our benefactor, Danjuma,” Azinge said. On March 17, NIALS celebrated its 35th anniversary, in which it displayed its publications and research undertakings. The publications have been adjudged as major contributions

to legal scholarship. “That basically is the hallmark of our acclaimed status as the apex legal institution for law and related disciplines in Nigeria. “We are also very confident of our faculty which undoubtedly is one of the best in Africa. “We promise to deploy the services of our faculty and indeed the expertise we parade to ensure that the vision that informed the grant to NIALS and the University of Cape Town is fulfilled to the letters “I want to congratulat both the University of Cape Town and NIALS for this historic and auspicious occasion. “I pray that in the years to come, we will have course to look back and beat our chest with pride that we were part of this epoch making event.” Azinge said. .

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Also bring back good governance

HE monumental national tragedy and humiliation, arising from the kidnap of over 200 teenage girls from Government Girls Secoundary School, Chibok, in Borno State, merely exposed to the international community, the daily humiliation associated with being a Nigerian, living in Nigeria. While the trauma being experienced by the girls, the parents and relations of the abducted girls and indeed well meaning Nigerian deserve all the empathy, it must be borne in mind that national tragedies are daily occurrence in our country. No doubt, the thought of what could be happening to the young girls in the hands of the bandit group, known as Boko Haram, can turn any parent into a mental wreck. Regrettably, the kidnap saga is attenuated by the helplessness of the ordinary Nigerians in the face of gross ineptitude, by those who have foisted themselves on us, as our leaders. While we demonstrate, rail and deservedly worry ourselves to death, over this tragedy, the greater unfolding dilemma called governance in our country, is trudging on as if the Chibok tragedy, was a one-off stuff. It is not; as worse things have happened, and many more will likely happen, unless we all forcefully insist on good governance. The idea here is not to underestimate this national tragedy, but merely to contextualize it. Take for instance the daily streaming of thousands, if not millions of our young girls into forced prostitution, at home or abroad; or the teenage-mothers and their baby factories, evoking a humiliating moral degeneracy and an evil effort to eke out a living. Also factor in the prostituting wives and other women, who in desperate efforts to support their economically humiliated husbands, or other relations, engage in the humiliating and hurting hawking of their biological wares. Of course their despondent and unemployed relations are other victims of the political and economic vampires who bestrode our national space like the Boko Harams in the Sabisa forest. Also factor into this group, the young teenagers, inhumanly forced into early marriages, on one self-serving dogma or another, and who inevitably trudge ahead in their miserable lives to become virgina vestiticular fisticular (vvf) patients. Imagine their ultimate humiliation when they are alienated by the same self-serving parents and relations who in the first instance forced them into early marriages or teenage prostitution. ‘The Bring Back Our Girls Alive Now’ campaign is a worthy cause, but our dear country as currently run, is a cul-de-sac, and so needs far greater concentration of local and world attention and pressure, for her to make genuine progress, as a modern society. As eruditely argued by Tatalo Alamu in his column last Sunday, titled, Sambisa and Other Forests; this national tragedy is a mere reflection of a deeper malaise, facing our country. One such other urgent national need as we insist that the girls are safely brought home now; is for those in positions of authority at the federal, state and local councils, to Bring Back Good Governance. The way to go is to enforce accountability of our nation’s human and material resources, as well as the electoral process. It is a ringing shame that Nigeria dose not know the actual size of her population, not to talk of having a modern data of all the occupants of her national space. The result is that when crimes are committed against our country, whether a lowly one, such as burglary or a horrendous one such as mass murder or kidnapping, the modern forensic technology, which could have pinned down the culprits with certainty, is hampered by lack of a national data. So, as we mourn the grievous and devious acts of modern criminality, we as nation must urgently, prepare our selves, with modern technical know-how, to confront these challenges. If we are serious, then the next national census, must apply the best technology we can afford, to capture an efficient and effective data, of our nationals. Another urgent national need is for accountability of our material resources. As should be clear to all genuine patriots, the national resources can no longer sustain the bare faced stealing and criminality of those occupying positions of public power. Those who like to live like Arabian sheiks of oil rich kingdoms, on our bare back bones, must come to terms with our national emergencies. Even while pursuing fiscal federalism and the attendant competition it will hopefully engender, the resources of our country in the custody of public officials must be applied to enhance good governance. When we tell idiotic tales of missing billions of dollars and naira, we are not only advertising criminality as a national ethos, we are indeed, mismanaging the badly needed resources to help our country prepare for the challenges of a modern society. If we want to get the required national security architecture ready for the challenges we face, then those who have been helping themselves with our common resources must stop now. Of course to get genuine persons into positions of authority to effect the needed changes, our elections must be free, fair and credible. Anything short of that is a clear and manifest invitation of anarchy. So, those who steal elections are also stealing our lives and are the worst brigands. Here we are talking of the lives of millions who will perish from the crisis that arise from manipulation of election. To help stem another round of national crisis, shame and international odium, the forthcoming national elections must be well planned and executed. The officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission must bear in mind that their actions and inactions could cost millions of lives and properties. As we match to bring back our girls, let us also work to bring back good governance, to our country.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Many men are battling with Erectile Dysfunction (ED), but find it difficult talking about it. Why? They see it as a shame. Unknown to them, this condition can be treated if they speak up, says a urologist, Dr Wale Ojewola. WALE ADEPOJU writes.

Erectile Dysfunction is treatable, says urologist I T is a condition many men hide. They see the problem as a shame. So, they feel it is better to manage it in silence. But in so doing they are going the wrong way. The problem has a solution. Erectile Dysfunction (ED), doctors say, is not something to feel ashamed of. It can be treated. ED is man's inability to maintain erection for sexual intercourse. It is a problem associated with men between age 40 and 65. It also affects 70 per cent of men in their 70s and above. According to a Consultant Urologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Wale Ojewola, “Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection of sufficient rigidity for sexual intercourse or during sexual performance. ED can make sexual intercourse impossible without treatment.” Dr Ojewola spoke during the First Edition of Lagos Country Club Health Seminar Series, with the theme: ‘Erectile Dysfunction’ (ED). Because the theme was a typical one, the hall was filled to capacity. Men of different ages, class and status were there. Some came with their spouses. The atmosphere changed from that of conviviality to surprise as the urologist delved into the secret of the ailment. Dr Ojewola said the condition is common as it affects over 18 million men across the world, going by World

Health Organisation (WHO) statistics. The urologist said the problem could have physical or psychological basis depending on the diagnosis. But it is caused by, “Chronic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes is a chronic disorder caused by insufficient production of insulin, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. About 50 per cent of diabetes mellitus patient will have ED. In addition, poor blood sugar control can inhibit nitric oxide production. ED can also be caused by cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), kidney diseases and multiple sclerosis,

among others. “ED is not a disease but condition. The condition can be triggered by lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity which impair blood circulation. Other causes are drugs such as antidepressants and tranquilisers.” Causes . According to Dr Ojewola, surgical treatment for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, urethral stricture and benign prostatic hyperplasia can sometimes damage nerves and blood vessels near the male organ can impair an erection of the penis during a sexual performance.” He said radiation treatment for pros-

tate, bladder and colorectal cancers can also damage nerves and blood vessels near the male organ. Hormonal and psychological problems can also cause ED. He explained: “The male organ has three chambers – one of them is called corpora spongiosum; it houses the urethra (urine pipe) while the other two known as corpora cavernosa are purposely for erection. Blood flows into these two chambers and causes the male organ to expand and stiffens much like a balloon as it is filled with water under pressure. This leads to erection. The process is triggered by nerves impulse from the brain and genital area. Anything that interferes with these impulses or restricts blood flow to the male organ can cause ED.” Dr Ojewola said the symptoms is that erection is too soft for sexual intercourse or erection that lasts only briefly, or inability to have or maintain an erection at least 75 per cent of attempts to have an intercourse. Treatment Dr Ajewola said the first step is to see a urologist. “As urologists have special expertise in sexual health, some specialise specifically in erectile dysfunction. They can help assess your condition, determine its cause and identify safe and effective treatment. The urologist can also assess your mental health wellness. Stress, anxiety and depression can cause ED. Even the fear of having erectile problems can make them worse. The

urologist would find out to see if these issues are playing a role in your ED.” He said there is need to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. “Men with diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, face an even greater likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction because of the added damage to blood vessel. Laboratory tests may be required. The urologist would also need to evaluate the situation by asking questions.” Dr Ojewole said psychotherapy treatment can be beneficial for men with ED even when it has a known physical cause. “The therapist can instruct the man and his partner on techniques to reduce performance anxiety and improve intimacy. “There should be lifestyle changes such as abstaining from smoking, minimising alcohol intake. There can also be medication such as Viagra. Injections and intra-urethral instillation, which is a medicated pellet that is inserted into the urethra and can, trigger erection within 10 minutes. But no medication should be self administered. All must be by prescription because some could have adverse effects on the heart, which can lead to heart attack or outright death, even while in the act.” The urologist said: “ED can also be addressed through surgery if the condition is caused by blockage of the artery leading to the male organ. This surgery will restore blood flow to the manhood.”

Lagos records decline in maternal, child death rate

AGOS State government has recorded a decline in the underfive and infant mortality rate. Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health Dr Yewande Adeshina broke the news at a briefing to signal the first round of year 2014 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week in Lagos, which began yesterday. The event will end on Friday. Adeshina said the rates reduced from 157 per 1000 live births and 75 per 1000 live births in 2008 (NDHS) to 65 per 1000 live births and 45 per 1000 live births respectively in 2011. This is contained in the 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 4. She noted that various health intervention being implemented in the state contributed to the success achieved in improving the Maternal and Child Health Indices in the state.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

“The under-5 and infant mortality rates in Lagos State have reduced due to various health interventions being implemented in the state. These figures are still high and this is an indication that we still have lots of work to do in this regard before the year 2015. The full implementation of the IMNCH strategy nation-wide could prevent up to 72 per cent of neonatal deaths, more than 70 per cent of under-5 deaths and two-thirds or 62 per cent of maternal deaths", the Special Adviser stated. Adeshina said the main objective of the MNCH Week is to improve the healthcare seeking-behaviour of the whole family especially pregnant women and caregivers of under-5 children, stressing that the MNCH Week is being celebrated

•Dr Adesina flanked by WHO representative Dr Irene Isibor (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Modele Osunkiyesi.

with the provision of an integrated, high-impact and no-cost package of protective, preventive and promotive services to the whole family. “These services are free and they

include, routine immunisation; vitamin A supplementation; growth monitoring and promotion; malnutrition screening for all under-5 children; deworming of all children

from 12 months to 59 months of age; and distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITN) to all under-5 children and pregnant women who come to register during the week”, She said.

Health Council introduces new standard

HE National Council on Health (NCH) has directed all states to set up task teams to inspect the Obstetric departments of all their health facilities to ensure compliance with prescribed minimum standards and improved quality health care. This is contained in a communiqué issued after the Pre-57th NCH meeting in Abuja. The meeting, chaired by the Health Minister, Prof onyebuchi Chukwu, was attended by the Commissioners of Health of the 36 states and the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The council condemned Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, noting that the suicide bombings in Abuja and the abduction of school girls in Borno State do not augur well for the country. In a statement by the Special Assistant on Me-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

dia and Communication, Dan Nwokeh, the council called on the states to implement various strategies to increase the proportion of citizens in their states covered under suitable health care insurance arrangements particularly, the community based health insurance scheme. It equally appreciated members of the Senate for passing the National Health Bill and urged members of the House of Representatives to do same. The council urged all states prone to trauma and trauma- related issues to put in place contingency plans for the management of trauma victims and their relations. It also approved that states should use the MDG Harmonised Country Plan of Priority Interventions for 2014 to 2015 and the management processes to accelerate the achievement of the health MDGs.Again, states should own and domesticate the plan and use it as a tool for resource mobilisation.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

At a parley in Lagos, members of the Lagos State Executive Council and legislators have resolved to chart a new way forward for the Centre of Excellenece, ahead of the next general elections. MIRIAM EKENEOKORO reports.

•Governor Fashola (SAN), his deputy, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Musiliu Folami (right) at the parley.

Lagos strategises ahead of 2015 elections L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola will bow out of office next year. He has promised to sustain the tempo of achievements till the last day. How to guarantee more dividends of democracy to Lagosians was the focus of the recent Executive/ Legislative parley in Lagos. The theme of the parley was: “Public sector management re-engineering: the continuing Story of Lagos”. It was organisd by the Political and Legislative Power Bureau. The forum brought the commissioners, special advisers, House of Assembly members and federal legislators under one roof. They converged with one accord on the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). At the forum were Fashola, his deputy, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, top government officials and APC leaders. The parley offered an opportunity to them to share experiences, review policies and brainstorm on the way forward for Lagos State. One of the issues on the front burner is the proposed general elections. To the forum, the poll is a collective enterprise involving the active participation of stakeholders. For ensure free and fair elections, the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be impartial. Apart from urging the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to be above board, the forum also called for the reversal of the order of the 2015 elections by the National Assembly. In a 15-point communiqué, the forum articulated the need to fast-track postelection litigations. Urging the INEC to remove the time limit on the conclusion of electoral petitions after the general elections, the forum said: “The National Assembly should review and reverse the order of the 2015 general elections, starting from the local to the national”. The forum reflected on the Boko Haram insurgency. It called for increased intelligence and counter-terrorism actions, adding that multinational military cooperation and foreign assistance, based on agreed parametres of engagement that will not compromisesovereignty, will be helpful. But, Lagos, the commercial hub, also needs security. The participants urged the government to strengthen the Security Trust Fund, with a view to making the security arrangement more productive. They also brainsormed on the maintenance of law and order, judicious allocation of resources to meet specific demands, the provision of infrastructure, promotion of human

rights and sustenance of the effective revenue collection. According to the forum, “the laws designed to protect fundamental human rights must enjoy a measure of immunity from legislative review and amendment and credible bodies must be vested with the power to blow the whistle when the parameters of the constitutional covenant are transgressed”. Noting that Public Private Partnership (PPP) is effective, participants advocated the training of public officers about its workings so that “the arms of government can support them to strengthen private investment in the development of public infrastructure for job creation”. Government, the forum said, “must work with people to organise economic institutions in such a way that there is no oppression, based on class, social status, ethnic group or state.” In addition, the participants stressed that “a distributive equity is an important cornerstone in the act of national objectives for the government’s programme on reconstruction and social reform”. The forum also called for an urgent global action “to halt the alarming pace of climate change and environmental degradation, which pose unprecedented threats to humanity.” It explained that that urgent action has become expedient to save humanity from extermina-

tion. The participants urged the government to focus on the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure. It added:“There is no time to lie at ease or be complacent, despite the progress made so far, and hence, we must set new goals and reach for greater heights”. Fashola charged the National Assembly to make laws that will strengthen security. He said the security challenges underscored the need to review the country’s laws to conform with modern trends. Fashola stressed: I will not leave this event without a word or two about what I think our national legislators can do and be looking at, in view of the challenges we are facing . I believe that the most urgent and compelling issues our nation faces now is law and order. That is the bedrock of good governance and foundation for economic growth . “ I think the time has come for our legislators to dig deep. No nation that has the kind of challenges that we have must refuse or continue to refuse to be imaginative about law enforcement. Whatever the argument and fears about state police may be, we have nothing to fear than the fear itself .

“We must find the courage now to do something urgent and different to bring collaborative capacity to policing and law enforcement.” The governor argued that the constitution has never prohibited multilevel policing. He said: “Since that has not been forbidden, many legislators who are imaginative can come up with laws that will allow the establishment of multi-level policing”. Fashola said that the laws that tend to pitch the state against the federal authority should be reviewed in the interest of cooperative federalism. He alluded to the National Inland Waterway Act, which limits the power of states to freely use inland waters creeks and canals. He said, if this act is reviewed, it would boost the capacity of the state to explore the waterways. The Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Musiliu Folami, said the theme of the conference has provided an opportunity for political office holders to interact and brainstorm on ways of moving the state forward. He said: “The parley also affords members of the state executive council a strategic opportunity to rub minds with our legislators at the state and national levels as well as our party chieftains in the state.”

APC inaugurates office in Bwari

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a campaign office in the Bwari, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The General Secretary of Alliance for Credible Election (ACE), Emma Ezeazu, who donated the office, said that Nigerians have been suffering from the misrule of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ezeazu, who is now a chieftain of the APC, called on the FCT opposition leaders to build the party. He said the battle to take over from the PDP will not be easy, adding that it can only be achieved through commitment to change. Ezeazu added: “ The APC will take over from the PDP. Our people have suffered the misrule of the PDP. I call on APC leaders to

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

join hands in building the party and also ensure that we prepare our followers for the election that is coming.” The FCT APC Chairman, Abdulmalik Usman, said that it will not be business as usual, urging Bwari residents to register and obtain their voters cards, ahead of the election. He urged members shun activities that could distabilise the party. Senator Sidi Ali charged the APC women and youths to work for the party so that it can have an edge over the other parties. He also charged them to win more members for the party. A party chieftain, Musa Diko, assured that the APC will resolve the security problems, if voted into power.

•Clerics praying for House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Hon. Emeka Ihedioha at Oke-Ovuru, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, after a rally organised by associcates to drum support for his governorship aspiration.

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

POLITICS EKITI POLITICS In this piece, John Ajayi contends that Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi deserves a second term because of his pedigree and achievements in the last three and half years.

Fayemi vs Fayose: Between political expediency and moral exigency

“A

S the contest for the June 21, governorship election in Ekiti state gathers momentum, John Ajayi who reviewed the political undercurrents in the ongoing electioneering campaign writes that political expediency and moral exigency will be critical to the chances of would be winner.” Fears and apprehensions about the forth-coming gubernatorial election in Ekiti state have been pervasive. Real or imagined, these fears are palpable as they loom ominiously large in the present political firmament of Ekiti state. But, wait a minute. Should this be so? Without any doubt, there shouldn’t be any fear or apprehension whatsoever about the governorship election slated for 21st June in the state. This is especially so, if all stakeholders, in the forth-coming contest will spare a thought for the good counsel of Mathew Arnold, a British poet and cultural critic who lived between 24th December 1822 – 15th April 1888. Talking about the sanctity of the truth as it affects the affairs of man, Arnold advised: “We must hold fast to the austere but true doctrine as to what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. Having in mind things true, things elevated, things pure, things amiable, things of good report; having these in mind, studying and loving these, is what saves states.” Indeed, a deep reflection of Arnold’s words as revealed should allay all fears in the minds of men, especially in view of the unfolding political brouhaha in Ekiti land. It is no longer news that the contest in the election is going to be a straight fight between incumbent Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, (JKF) of the All Progressives Congress (APC); former Governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party candidate, Mr. Bamidele Opeyemi. What is however news is the fact that beyond securing a party’s gubernatorial ticket, success or failure in the contest will be determined by the personality and personae of each of the political actors and gladiators. A very keen observer of the political developments in the state can attest to the fact that the forth-coming governorship election, and in particular, the chances of Governor John Kayode Fayemi and Peter Ayodele Fayose as well as Opeyemi Bamidele will be adjudged both by moral exigency and the political expediency of the time. While it is exigent that a new election to determine who runs the affairs of the state in the next four years should hold next month as planned, and that all political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) field candidates for

‘The nation’s leaders cannot afford to plunge Ekiti State into an unnecessary war because of cheer desperation to capture the votes of the people. The earlier these apostles of political violence, war-mongers and election riggers realise this simple truth, the better’ •Dr Fayemi

this top position, it is also politically and morally expedient for these candidates to pass the simple test of integrity and moral up-rightness. The emergence of each of these candidates as flag-bearers of their respective parties is too well known to all. But surfix to say that each of the parties had earlier conducted primaries, a statutorily mandatory pre-condition to be qualified for registration by INEC in the event there was no consensus, and the exercise produced the three gladiators. While JKF emerged without any controversy as APC’s candidate, Ayo Fayose emerged through a highly contentious and controverted process. Out of about 15 other gubernatorial aspirants of his party, he was said to have scored over seventy percent of delegates votes to emerge winner. The disclosure rattled other contestants who swore to reject the outcome of the election which they unanimously described as “a charade.” However, these aspirants, or political way-farers have since made a 360degree u-turn on what they earlier objected. The recant was said not to be unconnected with the Aso Rock presidential directive insisting on the candidacy of the former governor as the choice of PDP for Ekiti state. The presidential order has since been backed up with the open declaration of the proposed election as ‘a war’ by VicePresident Nnamadi Sambo, a hitherto suave and peace loving architect turned politician. Indeed, the PDP’s seeming “morbid obsession” (apologies to Olatunji Dare, the great journalism oracle) has no doubt aggravated the atmosphere of fear and apprehension amongst the local folks and other well meaning Ekitis. Perhaps reading the minds of his selectors correctly, Mr. Fayose has been junketing from one village to the other like a conquistador already

• Fayose

counting the days of his assumption into office which he once occupied with neither pangs nor pains but later booted out without fanfare. For the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, his emergence as flagbearer was a forgone conclusion since he decamped from his former political party, the Action Congress Party (ACN), the platform which gave him the Ekiti Central Senatorial District slot at the House of Representatives. Though a former accolite of JKF, he naturally felt embittered and unhappy with his erstwhile political cotravellers, hence, he decided to jump ship not withstanding persuasions and pleadings to the contrary. Since he picked the ticket for the Labour Party, Bamidele has left no one in doubt that he is poised for the governorship contest. While he has embarked on his campaign with all energies and political sagacity acquired over the years through his days as an activist, he has been cautiously treading Ekiti political turf with some level of political decency but has once in a while been throwing jabs at the least expected quarters. The Labour Party candidate’s recent attack and vitriolics on his kinsmen and political mentor, former Ekiti State governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo was seen in most quarters as quite unbecoming. However, anyone who is no stranger to politics and politicking in this clime will see the development as in sync with the tradition of our politics. For Governor Kayode Fayemi, the contest is such that requires all the wits and intrigues that it deserves. Although the urbane intellectual politician has truly made issues the bane and focal point of his electioneering campaigns, the debonnair war strategist appears to have turned full circle as a politician of no mean repute. Not only has he been visible on every po-

Lagos council boosts Fayemi’s re-election bid with materials

• Ajayi is a Lagos based Journalist

Bamidele: I’m still contesting

PAPA Local Government Area of Lagos State has joined the list of do nors to the re-election of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as governor of Ekiti State. The council has donated hundreds of branded T-shirts to the John Kayode Fayemi’s (FKF) Campaign Organisation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. House of Representative member Hon. Bimbo Daramola, who doubles as the Director-General of the organisation, took delivery of the sacks of the shirts from the Secretary to the Apapa Council, Mr. Oluwole Adele. Adele said he was making the donation on behalf of his chairman and the good people of Apapa, who he noted, identify with the performance of the governor since he took the saddle more than three years ago. According to him, the Lagos council made a similar contribution in the run up to the 2007 governorship election when Fayemi first took a shot at the governorship position. “On behalf of the chairman and the good people of Apapa Local Government, we are making this donation to the reelection of Governor John Kayode Fayemi for continuity to the glory of God and for humanity,” he said. Responding, Daramola described as encouraging that such contribution was coming from a council in Lagos, a state he said is bonded with Ekiti in terms of performance and service delivery to the citizenry. According to the campaign chief, Fayemi would not only be impressed by the materials but encouraged to keep the flag of performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government flying in Ekiti State.

litical platforms to woo the votes of Ekiti electorates, despite huge achievements in his first term, he has doggedly and cleverly moved beyond old political divides, mending ways with old political foes who actually share in the collective good of the Ekitis. Governor Fayemi’s recent political master-stroke in wining erstwhile Governor Segun Oni to APC is nonetheless a well thought-out political brinkmanship. Getting an Ekiti political heavyweight like Segun Oni, a man without any known moral, social or political baggage into the bargain is an indication of a true political heroism. The governor who took his political campaign to the doorsteps of his former rival in his Ifaki-Ekiti hometown recently got a rousing welcome by the politically articulate Ifaki Ekiti indigenes. Receiving Fayemi and his entourage, former Governor Oni was quintessentially at his best. No pretense, no deceit nor a conceit. He told his guests and those who cared to listen the reason why Ekiti state should not be thrown to the dogs. According to Oni, “I take the decision to support Fayemi because the future of Ekiti state is the most paramount more than any material gains. His words; “Today, we are erecting a new platform to build the future for the state. To us, the future is paramount in our hearts and what our children would say about us.” “Though, we might have a past that was rough, but we have to let the past be past. We must think of who can take the right decisions for us to build a prosperous future for the state”. The people of the state, Oni further explained, “must ask themselves what type of legacy they want to bequeath on the next generations adding that “we must think of how we can make our tomorrow better than our past and today”. What else can one say? The

thoughts and non thoughts of former governor Segun Oni, a man of gentle mien but solid strength of character perfectly encapsulates the thinking of all well meaning Ekitis, home and abroad. For those who do not understand the real personae and the true essence and character of an Ekiti, being principled and self respecting with good natured-ness is second to none. You may be quick to adjudge an average Ekiti as ‘arrogant’, yet, you cannot deny him or her the honour he deserves when it comes to being principled and righteous on any issue that bothers on integrity of purpose. The western education which the mass of Ekiti have acquired irrespective of the limitations of birth and social millieu will readily come to play when ever situation and circumstances demand. It is on the basis of this that the forthcoming election will be assessed and determined. Of the three major gubernatorial hopefuls, Fayose, the most voluble and politically vivacious ostensibly because of the Aso Rock backing is a candidate that has lots of questions to answer the Ekiti electorates who he once served and disappointed! If our politics were to be refined, an Ayodele Fayose would have long been consigned to the dust bin of political history. How does one explain the arguments of his newly recruited loyalists who were once his opponents in the last “controversial” primary election of his party. Though some of them once sworn never to work for him in his bid to return to the top position, they later gave up on their words as they were ‘forced’ or whipped into line by a desperate and confused presidency. Anyhow, that is still politics for you. However, what is as certain as daylight about the next month election is the strength of character, personality and the pedigree of each of the gladiators. The Ekitis are too knowledgeable and forthright enough to allow a polical charlatan or ‘garage’ economists to lord it over them. Not even the intimidating power of the presidency can prevent the application of the native intelligence of the Ekitis. For the political umpire and those beating the drums of war as regards the forthcoming election in the state, they should be guarded and guided by the immortal words of Mathew Arnold. He it was who had cautioned on what really governs politics and saves or destroys states. The nation’s leaders cannot afford to plunge Ekiti State into an unnecessary war because of cheer desperation to capture the votes of the people. The earlier these apostles of political violence, warmongers and election riggers realise this simple truth, the better. Indeed, the die is cast!

• Bamidele

OR those doubting his partic ipation in the June 21 gover norship election in Ekiti State, Labour Party flag bearer Opeyemi Bamidele as emphasised that he was still contesting.

Bamidele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti that he was not considering stepping down for any other contender in the poll. He said no amount of intimidation and attack would make him succumb to the wishes of those who he claimed saw him as a threat. According to him, those spreading the information that he was no longer in the race were only jittery over his rising political profile. Bamidele, who also said he had no working arrangement with any candidate, added: “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, I never held meetings with any individual or group where it was agreed that I

would team up with a particular candidate. “I have never regretted my actions or inactions and this governorship race will not be an exception. “Before I venture into any project, I usually seek the face and direction of God and God has not told me to make a U-turn.” He called on his supporters across the state to disregard such speculations, saying they were false and diversionary. “What is paramount in my mind at the moment is to concentrate on my statewide campaign so as to sell the manifesto of our party to the electorate. “I have the conviction that the Ekiti people who know my antecedents, will make the right choice come June 21,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

NIMASA seeks exemption from remittance to Federation Account • Lawmakers may scuttle move

HOULD the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) be exempted from remitting its proceeds into the Federation Account? This is the thorny issue awaiting President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision following a memo from NIMASA. The memo, sources said, has drawn the ire of some National Assembly members. The agency is praying for a fiveyear remittance holiday to enable it commit all its resources to the development of its dockyard/shipyard and the construction of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State. A source said the lawmakers were planning to tackle the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar on the issue. A lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said the President lacks the power to approve NIMASA’s request without recourse to the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The lawmaker, it was gathered,

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

wondered why NIMASA is seeking a presidential nod, while at the same time benefiting from facilities provided by other government agencies contributing to the account. NIMASA, the lawmaker said, must convince the National Assembly why its request must be approved. If President Jonathan gives temporary approval to NIMASA without the National Assembly’s nod, the source said, it would be a bad precedent because other agencies, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Customs, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) with big projects may also seek presidential approval for exemption. Building a shipyard/dockyard, the source said, is for the nation and not NIMASA. “NIMASA is not a government on its own. While we support all the laudable moves by the agency, which included the need to build the shipyard, the time for the completion of the project can only be set by the Federal Government and not NIMASA. What if the Federal Government needs the money

from NIMASA to solve other national issues? Who is going to provide the money?” the lawmaker asked. At the ground-breaking of Dockyard/Shipyard and the Maritime University, the NIMASA boss, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, said the project would cost billions of dollars, adding that the agency does not intend to run to the government for money, hence, its request for exemption. “We call for our exclusion for at least five years because of the capital intensive nature of the project; after all, the projects are for Nigerians, they are Federal Government projects and when you see that some sectors go back to the Presidency for incentives, bail out, and so on, then you know we are also qualified, considering what we are doing for our people and for the government of Nigeria. “Some agencies go to the Federal Government to ask for money or even to ask for bail out, but we don’t do that, we are talking about what we are contributing within some period, because cumulatively all these projects may go up to a billion dollars and you can imagine how expensive it is and that is why we are asking for the approval.”

NPA to sustain ports dredging • Ship with 4,500 containers berths at Onne

HE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to sustain the dredging of all the channels leading to the ports to enable vessels with bigger draughts to berth, its Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has said. He said the dredging of the channels was part of government’s plans to decongest Lagos ports. Abdullahi, who spoke in Onne, Rivers State, when Maersk Line’s West Africa Maximum (WAFMAX) vessel berthed at Onne Port, said the Federal Government had approved the dredging of some ports in Lagos as well as Bonny Channels and Calabar ports to enable bigger vessels to come in. “The NPA management has been on this project since 2007 to decongest Lagos ports and reduce the transfer of containers to the eastern part of the country,” he said. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said WAFMAX vessels’ visit was an eye opener for vessels from Europe and Asia to call at the port. Umar, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Nebolisa Emodi, said with the large shipment of goods to the port, the cost of importation and goods would reduce.

‘Don’t park on access roads’

• From left: Hajia Ciroma and a board member, Capt Niyi Adeyemo, at the event.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Inland Authority bans night boat operations

HE National Inland Water ways Authority (NIWA) has limited boat operation to 6 pm daily, directing that only qualified captains should be allowed to operate ferries. Its Managing Director, Hajia Inna Maryam Ciroma, gave the directive in Lagos during the agency’s “Safety and awareness campaign.” The agency, she said, imposed the ban because of accidents. She said boats and ferries would be only move between 6 a.m and 6 p.m. She urged owners to replace the boats that are above 10 years. She advised passengers to wear life jacket before boarding. “The boat operators should avoid carrying excess passengers. Any locally made boats that is above 10 years must be replaced. Only trained and certified captains should operate ferries and boats and the standard regulations allow boats and ferries to move from 6am to 6pm because it is dangerous to travel after 6pm and several accidents in Lagos were recorded after 6.pm, “ she said. The NIWA boss distributed life jackets, and other informative ma-

terial, such as posters, flyers, Tshirts, stickers and other safety items to operators and stakeholders, saying that the agency role is to encourage them to adhere to safety rules. She said the donations became necessary to stem the tides of boat mishaps in Lagos State and other areas in the country. She urged waterway users to be safety alert and conscious by adhering strictly to NIWA regulations. The President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transport of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Ganiyu Balogun, who received the gifts on behalf of its members, thanked the NIWA management team for the gesture. He said life jackets are vital for safety. He solicited for more jackets for his colleagues. In March, about 11.30 pm, 11 dead bodies were recovered after a boat carrying 15 passengers capsized opposite 41 Road in FESTAC Town, Lagos. Also, on Wednesday, April 2, eight persons were confirmed dead

following a boat accident during a trip between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu in Lagos. In the incident, 12 persons were rescued from the boat which had 20 passengers on board. The Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed to reporters that rescue began about 8 p.m. and ended three hours later. He said the boat took off about 6 p.m. The incident was reported to NEMA by the boat company about 8 p.m. when rescuers swung into action. The NEMA spokesman said the boat took off from Ebute-Ero on the Lagos Island for Majidun, near Ikorodu but capsized midway following a collision with a rock. Meanwhile, the Ikorodu, Lagos boat mishap probe panel has indicted the State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) over the high casualty figure. The Olajide Tairu-led panel said the authority’s slow response to the boat operator’s distress call led to the death of eight of the 20 passengers when it capsized.

He said the Bonny Channel, which has attained 12m deep, will enable international ships with capacity to carry 4,500 containers anchor at the Onne Port, to boost economic activities in the area, adding that with this development, vessels from local ports around the region and from neighbouring countries, would use Lagos and Onne as trans-shipment port. “This means that when big vessels arrive here, smaller vessels can transfer the goods to local ports and ports around neighbouring countries,” he said, explaining that the advantage of bringing 4, 500 containers in one trip is to cut the cost of importation and as such, make goods cheaper. The Minister also said President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the dredging of Calabar, Lekki and Badagry (Lagos), Ege (Bayelsa), Olokola (Ondo), and Ibaka (Akwa Ibom) channels to enable them take large shipments from abroad. He assured that when completed, the seaports would accommodate various vessels and make the nation the transport hub for large ship consignment in sub-Saharan Africa.

HE Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, has warned truck operators to desist from parking on ports’ access roads. He gave the advice when some leaders of the Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMARTO), led by its President, Chief Remi Ogungbemi and its Consultant, Chief Chris Orode, visited him. He condemned some of the trucks, describing them as rickety. The Shippers’Council boss pointed out that the visit was in continuation of the council’s consultation with stakeholders. He announced that to end the menace, the Council, in collaboration with private entities, willw construct truck transit parks across the country to bring respite to the truckers. Bello said the council was partnering private investors to provide over 2000 trucks with modern call-up systems to free the access roads. “We can’t have rickety trucks stretching all the way and delaying cargo and causing traffic all over, this is why the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, apart from its regulatory assignment, is also involved in developing truck transit parks. “If you talking about trucks, you are also talking about access roads, we are going to see to the fact that

the chaos on the roads leading to the port is done away with, it is an eye saw to see trucks queuing up for a very long time, it doesn’t show seriousness, it is unsightly to say the least. “And if we say that the port is gateway to the economy, then anybody coming in and seeing these trucks day in day out, will know that it does not show seriousness. “We have seen containers falling off trucks and crushing people on the road because the boxes are not properly latched, this causes delays and all of us lose money, this should not be done,” he lamented. He said the Shippers’ Council would partner with AMARTO on how to overcome the challenges in the sector. Chief Ogungbemi said the essence of the meeting was to re-identify the association with the Shippers’ Council since its new assignment as port regulatory, pledging its loyalty to the council. Ogungbemi, however, pointed out that one of the major challenges confronting the truckers is a place to use as truck park. He said that the association is already working with a private investor to make use of a space within International Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Expressway as a truck park.

Navy impounds 38 ships

HE Navy has impounded 38 ships involved in crimes since Vice Admiral Usman Jibril assumed office in January as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). Vice Admiral Jibril told reporters in Warri, Delta State during his maiden visit to the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Delta at the Warri Naval Base that eight of the ships were fishing vessels operated by some Chinese. He said: “Since I came over, we have impounded about 38 ships. The ships are in detention and, by implication, cannot commit havoc

again. “They are illegally fishing on our water. They must have also been using our product -Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) - to service their ships; which means they are also involved in illegal bunkering.’’ He said the Federal Government was committed to repositioning the Nigerian Navy through the provision of adequate platforms for improved performance. He said the government had ordered two offshore patrol vessels from China, adding that they would soon take delivery of them.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Conference panel condemns delay of cargo terminals

HE National Conference Committee on Transport has condemned the slow pace of work at airport terminals for the export of agro-allied products. After a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara and other top officials, the committee said the projects lacked coordination. Its Chairman, Senator Musa Adede, said after listening to the presentation by Shu’ara, the committee noted there was a tendency to abandon the projects because “it looks as if there is no synergy between the parastatals”. Senator Adede said for the Aviation Master Plan to be implemented, there must be coordination from the ministry, which is under the management of Permanent Secretary as the Chief Financial Officer. The committee also observed that while work had slowed down in some airports, construction had stopped in others, except at the five international terminals being built by Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu, which are on concessions. Though sources alleged that sen-

Stories by Kelvin Osa Okunbor ior officials in the Ministry of Aviation were stalling the construction of the terminal projects, the Ministry has denied the allegation. The Assistant Director, Press/ Public Relations Unit, Oleme Hastings, said any accusations directed at Dr. Shua’ara were false. “These allegations are untrue, baseless and a reckless product of the evil machinations of those who hate the ideals of the Ministry which the Permanent Secretary, Dr Shu’ara is championing. “The Permanent Secretary has not sat on any payment to contractors, nor questioned approved projects in any airport, or transferred directors who are on supervision as alleged by detractors,” he said. Also, the Coordinating Spokesman of aviation agencies, Yakubu Dati, said the seeming lull in the execution of the projects was caused by the late passage of the 2014 budget, which led to the delay in the release of funds. Dati also said the Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr Samuel Ortom, had assured that work on the remodelling of airports would be completed on schedule.

Last week, the Committee invited officials of the Ministry of Aviation, agencies and Aerotropolis Nigeria to appear before it. The Nation learnt that the Chief Executive Officer of Aerotropolis Nigeria, Dr Daniel Tarka, made a presentation which impressed the committee. A source said it was obvious from the comments of Senator Adede that there seemed to be lack of cohesion in the operations of the Ministry and its agencies. But from the observation of the committee, the work on the projects may not be completed as funds were not being released promptly for the projects. Since 2011, the Federal Government embarked on the building and rehabilitation of over 22 airport terminals, fresh cargo terminals, and other projects across the 22 airports in the country. Over 14 of these terminals have been completed while work is on going on the others. They are part of the Aviation Master Plan introduced by the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, to revamp the industry and make it contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as it is in other countries.

‘Why Bi-Courtney prefers foreign firms’

Pennick said the Bi-Courtney engaged a foreign firm to intall the new escalators and elevators. The firm has concluded plans to replace the check-in counters and increase those at Departure Hall. Pennick said: ”We have embarked on serious upgrade of our operational equipment to improve the culture of maintenance. We do not have to wait for the regulatory agency to clamp down on us. But, we have had a bad experience with Nigerian contractors, either vendors or suppliers of airport equipment. “Their technical maintenance and supervision for such airport facilities is below the bar. Less than nine years that this terminal was built, some of the equipment they installed are already below the standard, perhaps due to issues arising during the construction. “That is why we are using foreign companies. We went through a rigorous process of

ANY domestic carriers fail because of inadequate funds, unqualified personnel, lack of aircraft maintenance facilities and administrative bottlenecks, Chairman, AZMAN Air Services Limited, Dr Abdulmunaf Yunusa, has said. He urged the government to assist operators. Yunusa said many investors are shying away from the sector because of the risks in the industry, describing it as competitive and capital intensive. Despite these problems, he said some operators that decided to take “the bull by the horn”, by investing in the sector were worried that if the government does not intervene, the sector would be in jeopardy. He said though the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is doing its best to achieve safety through its regulatory and certification processes, the processes are disturbing operators. He said it took AZMAN Air about two years to scale the hurdles set by NCAA to get its air operator’s certificate. He said: “The process we have

tendering before we concluded on the suppliers to fix project at this terminal. “The firms have handled related projects with technical expertise in other countries and even Nigeria. Besides, there would be after SA les maintenance of the equipment.” Pennick spoke of plans by the firm to expand facilities at the terminal to enable it become one of the best airport terminals in West Africa. He said an aggressive expansion plan was ongoing to attract many finiancial institutions into the terminal. Beside former EcoBank, Access Bank and SkyeBank that left the terminal, Union Bank and UBA Bank have their expressed readiness to open outlets at the terminal. The firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Adebisi Awoniyi, said the upgrade of facilities was caused by the need to uphold a maintenance culture.

gone through is a comprehensive welldesigned and crafted programme that is geared towards the provision of safe, reliable and efficient air services in Nigeria. “Even though the process was highly demanding, it is pushing operators to the brink. “Nonetheless, I have to commend the resilience, thoroughness of the certification process as well as the ambivalence of the NCAA.” He added: “No wonder there are not many investors who are interested in aviation as the sector is risky, competitive and capital intensive.” He said domestic operators were grappling with many challenges and that these were affecting their businesses. “But, to ensure a robust aviation sector, you need to make the environment enabling by providing incentives. “From my understanding, the major factors affecting the development of the aviation sector in Nigeria is the absence of a support system that will address the numerous problems faced by operators. “Among the problems are dearth and availability of funding, inadequacy of qualified personnel, inadequacy of training infrastructure, inadequacy of maintenance and engineering infrastructure, absence of good organisation in the industry as well as administrative bottlenecks and other problems.”

Discovery Air to take off soon

•From left: Human Resources Manager, Bristow Helicopter Aviation, Mr. Femi Collins; Managing Director, Captain Akin Oni, and Group Managing Director (GMD), Verdant Zeal Group, Mr. Tunji Olugbodi, at a briefing in Lagos. PHOTO: KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR

NDIGENOUS contractors and suppliers of some equipment at the Domestic Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos lack the expertise to offer world-class services, the Chief Executive Officer, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Mr Christophe Pennick, has said. He said some equipment, including escalators and elevators, installed by some indigenous firms had broken down due to poor installation. Pennick said such shoddy service accounts for why the firm is utilising foreign manufacturers and suppliers. The firm, he said, spent over N500 million on the upgrade of equipment at the Domestic Terminal to enable it attain world-class standard. Pennick said the investment covered the replacement of escalators, elevators, cooling system and other facilities that would change the travel experience.

‘Why carriers fail in Nigeria’

ISCOVER Air will soon hit the airspace. Speaking while receiving a new aircraft in Lagos, its Managing Director, Capt. Abdulsalami Muhammed, said it would start operations when the necessary requirements, including the granting of Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), had been met. The new plane was flown into Lagos from England. He said so far, the airline has two aircraft in its fleet. According to Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), airlines wishing to start operations must have at least two planes. Muhammed said: “The acquisition of this additional aircraft is in line with our vision to commence operations soon in the Nigerian aviation market. We are excited that our dream of providing quality service to our prospective guest is becoming a reality. “With the minimum require-

ment of two aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority which we have met, we are good to go.” He continued: “We hope by the end of the month everything will be completed and we will start operations immediately.We are more than ready. We are on track. As soon as all the necessary requirements are met, the Airline Operators Certificate (AOC) issued, we will begin operations.We will continue to emphasise our mission which is to facilitate our customer’s success by providing a Safe, Affordable, Fast and Efficient (SAFE) travel solution through excellent customer service delivery.” The Team Lead Internal Audit and Control of First Deepwater, Discovery Limited, Taiwo Osinloye, said the airline is only complying with due process. She said: “They are following due process and it is good for future cost implication in all ramification. In the nearest future, I see Discovery Air rubbing shoulder with the likes of Arik Air, Aero and the rest. The colour of their livery is attractive and saleable.”

Emirates to operate flights into Abuja, Kano

MIRATES Airlines at the weekend said it had concluded plans to expand flights into Abuja and Kano. According to the firm’s Regional Manager for West Africa, Mr Nair Manoj, the flights would commence soon. Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the airline’s operations in Lagos, he said the country’s market is important for the Middle East carrier, describing it as the best connection into other continents. He said with the regulatory approvals, it had since October last year started a freight service into the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. He said the expansion of flights into Abuja and Kano would feed passengers into

its hub in the Middle East. He said the operations of Emirates Airlines into Nigeria has increased the volume of trade between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates from $ 106 million in 2004 to over $ 857 million in 2009. The Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr Samuel Ortom, described the operations of Emirates in Nigeria as good, adding that the government has created the right atmosphere for airlines to carry out its business. Represented by the Managing Director of Nigerian Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Ortom said the government would continue to provide safety and security facilities at the airports to make the sector the catalyst for development. Meanwhile, Emirates says it will step up its operations to the Seychelles by increasing services to double daily later this year.

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Cash shortfall threatens power sector By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo

HE power sector is experiencing cash shortfall as collections from customers are much lower than expected by the new owners of the privatised assets, it was learnt. An industry source told The Nation in confidence that there is cash shortfall in the sector, adding that this is due to some factors, among which is wrong assumptions in the privatisation. According to the source, the sector’s privatisation was based on wrong assumptions and as a result of that, the cash collected from end users is much lower than expected and it is so inadequate that it cannot cover all costs. Besides, the regulatory solutions proposed are far from

solving the problems. The source noted that generation companies (GENCOS) and distribution companies (DISCOS) are facing deviations between their projected business plans and the actual situation, bigger than what could be handled within the limits of the official assumptions given for the privatisation According to the source, the financial sector is exposed to the power sector, and the uncertainty arising from the situation is increasing their risk perception, thus foreclosing additional financing windows to cover the financial gaps, a situation that is feared, could cripple the operators if no changes are made to address the challenges. For instance, the source explained that the DISCOS purchase electricity from GENCOS through the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), and sell to customers at the MYTO II tariffs, which is periodically adjusted. They collect payments from end customers and pay the bill to the GENCOS, the source said, noting that, unfortunately, not all electricity purchased from GENCOS is sold and not all the money collected due to the aggregate technical, commercial and collection (ATC&C) losses. The source noted that the ATC&C losses at takeover, are equal to the

ones officially announced by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), but they have discovered that the losses found have been remarkably higher than the assumptions and also that the available electricity has been much less than what the BPE said. On the takeover of the assets, the new investors in DISCOS were assured that electricity tariff would be adjusted regularly to ensure that DISCOS meet their business plans, but six months down the line, there is no sign that tariffs will be adjusted to compensate the collection gap arising from the challenges previously mentioned, the source added. As a result of these challenges, the DISCOS revenues are lower than expected, which make them (investors in DISCOS) to be unable to pay in full their bills to Market Operator and the Market Operator consequently cannot pay in full the bills to the Gencos. In view of the development,

GENCOS receive less revenues, which compel the owners to make capital injections higher than expected to cover capital expenditure and operational costs and also meet their ATC&C loss reduction plans. The source also noted that as a consequence of this development, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued the Interim Market Rules (IMR) to mitigate the gap. The IMR outlined that the successor companies’ Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are not active, therefore, the GENCOS will be paid tariffs as stipulated by MYTO II and as considered by the IMR despite the fact that the privatisation was carried out assuming that the GENCOS would be paid based on the PPAs. With this, the DISCOS are allowed to pay less than the total bill to the GENCOS, though the balance is accrued as a debt to be paid in the future. The source explained that there

is no timeline for the IMR duration and besides, it is only a simple statement without any enforceable value, adding that though the IMR establishes that GENCOS and DISCOS will get the balance of the payments not paid, there is no precision on how or on when that would happen. It is unthinkable that such vagueness in those aspects was adopted in the IMR, the source added. “There is not any kind of bankable guarantee that investors could use to get the additional financing from financial institutions to cover the gap that this situation is producing. This may produce serious delays in the ATC&C loss reduction plans by DICOS and capacity recovery plans by GENCOS. “There are reasons to say that there is a breach of the commercial rules under which the privatisation was carried out and bidders made their commercial offers,” the source said.

Crude metering: Over 50% of oil firms yet to comply

HREE months after the introduction of the metering policy by the Federal Government to ensure that actual volume of crude oil production is recorded and to further entrench transparency in the sector, 15 oil companies are yet to comply with the policy, The Nation has learnt. The policy was introduced to clear doubts and allegations that the actual volume of oil being lifted from the oil terminals for export is not being properly captured. The policy, it was learnt, was not acceptable to many of the oil firms as they refused to subject their terminals for inspection and measurement of their crude oil production. When contacted on phone, a Consultant to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on crude oil metering policy, Yusuf Yagabi Sani, said many oil companies have not complied with the policy. Sani said only 11 out of the 26 oil firms have fully complied with the policy. He said the level of compliance by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) is not impressive because they are not ready to conform to the provisions of the policy. The policy, he said, states that all metering systems used by oil companies should be verified and certified fit for usage. He said: “The level of compliance is not appreciable. Many foreign oil companies have not complied as expected. Part of what we need to verify is the equipment used by the companies. “This is necessary to determine whether the equipment meets international standard. As far as I am concerned, they are not ready to comply

By Akinola Ajibade

with the policy,” he said Also, the Director, Weights and Measures Department in the Ministry, Oluyinka Sikuade, said oil companies that have complied with the policy are not up to 12. Sikuade said Shell, Agip, Addax and a few others have complied with the policy in line with the government’s decision to ensure accountability in the oil and gas sector. He said verification of the meters used by oil companies is the main responsibility of the department, and not installation. “The constitution requires the Ministry‘s Weights and Measures Department to be custodian of the national primary standards to which other standards in Nigeria must be traced. The measuring instrument used for trade in the oil and gas sector must be within the maximum permissible error margin which the law recognises. We ensure that all metering systems used by the oil firms function within the allowed margin,” he said. Sikuade said calibration of meters is of importance to the department, adding that the companies must obtain calibration certificate from the department. He said the pre-shipment Act and weight and measures Act are within the metering policy, adding that the companies are required to give their terminal off-loading programmes to the department to ascertain the volume of crude oil produced. Sikuade said there are varying degrees of punishments for companies that fail to comply with the provisions of the metering Act.

‘The level of compliance is not appreciable. Many foreign oil companies have not complied as expected. The firms do not want to be subjected to the nation’s law, which I know they cannot do in their countries’

•From left: Consultant, Chrome Group, Dr. Njideka Kelley; and Head, Communication and Business Development, Dr. Edwin Ndukwe, at the Kaztec Engineering Pavilion at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, United States.

Ikeja DISCO needs 1351Mw to meet customers’ demand

HY have the distribution companies (DISCOS) not made an impact six months after their coming? It is because of inadequate power supply, says Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje. Speaking when the Senate Committee on Privatisation visited the company yesterday, Arifowobaje said IKEDC is receiving 345 megawatt (MW) of power supply daily instead of 1351MW. "This shortage of 700MW places a huge strain on daily distribution," he said, even as he decided the vandalism of the firm's installations and facilities. In the last six months, Ajifowobaje said IKEDC embarked on rehabilitation of vandalised transformers, replacement of undersised overhead conductors, completion of abandoned distribution projects and reduction in estimated billing issues. IKEDC has also centralised its billing system to drive accuracy and introduced the Automatic Meter Reading system which drives remote access to meters for efficiency and effective monitoring. Arifowobaje said: "I am however happy to report that IKEDC is involved in ongoing talks with several partners to explore supply from embedded power generation, Independent Power Projects and other sources to improve supply. We are equally working on a robust metering model that will promote transparency in billing and eradicate

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

energy theft," he added. The firm, he said, is working with its technical partners, Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), to ensure meter accuracy and loss reduction within its network. Ajifowobaje said KEPCO was spearheading an exhaustive review of IKEDC's network to achieve the introduction of effective meters as well as promote reduction of energy losses through continuing upgrade and optimisation of the company's installations and facilities. "IKEDC is working with KEPCO to provide a strategic solution to metering that takes cognisance of the needs of all customers within the network. I am happy to report that with the adoption of new technology we have made substantial progress in this regard and remain committed to ensuring that all our customers are adequately metered," he said. The committee Chairman Senator Gbenga Obadara, said the panel was committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a robust power sector. "Our oversight function has seen us embark on visits to the various PHCN successor companies in line with our resolve to facilitate an accelerated march towards transforming the nation's economy through uninterrupted power supply. Those visits have thrown up several issues. But I remain confident that the nation will ultimately achieve its objectives in the power sector," he said. In a chat with The Nation , he said the company has upgraded its contact

centre to entertain calls from customers in the major Nigerian languages as well as forums with customers and Community Development Associations (CDAs) is indicative of a healthy development that will enhance the desired growth of the sector. Ajifowobaje also said the company had since the handover adopted innovative approach to achieving quick wins in the face of the challenges of inadequate power supply, vandalism, energy theft and gas shortage. He said: “We are working in conjunction with our technical partners to come up with a robust metering system that will serve all classes of customers effectively. This system will enhance automation on the network, eradicate the complaints of estimated billing and check energy theft being perpetrated by people tinkering with the pre-paid meters. What we are assuring our esteemed customers that our metering strategy is an ongoing project and will ensure they are adequately and efficiently metered. “The distribution companies are at the end of the energy value chain and can only distribute the power generated and transmitted by Gencos and Transcos. The power situation has been grossly affected by the activities of vandals on NNPC pipelines and incessant vandalisation of our facilities and installation.” He also noted that the company has ageing workforce, which is a challenge but noted that the utility firm plans to recruit at least 300 young Nigerians especially engineers and technicians to take over the ageing workforce.

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTATION

E-mail:ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

FRICAN leaders have been advised to evolve an indigenous transport system to meet their countries’needs. Such a system should be able to tackle the transportation challenges of African cities, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, (LAMATA) Managing Director Dr. Dayo Mobereola has said. Speaking while hosting an 11man delegation from Senegal during its one week study tour to LAMATA, Mobereola said city planners should stop importing transport systems wholly from advanced countries in solving African cities transport challenges noting however, that this does not mean Africans cannot learn from them. He said Africans must come up with solutions that suit their cities, and also beneficial to their people. On the Lagos experience, Mobereola said after several study tours, and brainstorming sessions, officials evolved strategies best suited for the mega city transport system. He urged the delegates not to see the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the most suitabe option, but to explore other transport modes that could move people en-masse and at an affordable fare. Delegation leader Mr. Oumar Diallo said the delegation had visited South Africa but noted that

•Mobereola (in glasses, middle), with the Senegalese delegation in his office.

Evolve robust transport system for Africa, leaders urged

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

the visit to Lagos was important because “solution to Senegal’s transport challenges is in Lagos.” On their visits to the Bus Rapid Transit extension from Mile 12 to Ikorodu project and the Blue Line

Rail project, Diallo said the delegates were impressed with the BRT and the infrastructure provided by the government. The delegation, he said, was now better convinced that solutions to challenges faced by Africa

LASEPA takes no-smoking campaign to motor parks

HE no-smoking campaign will soon hit motor parks and garages, the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Mr. Ademola Shabi has said. He said LASEPA would take the campaign to motor parks and garages in order to ensure that many people are mobilised to support the law which is to regulate the consumption of cigarette or other tobacco products in public places. According to him, schedule 2 of the law classifies all motor parks, garages and public/commercial vehicles as public places, where smoking is prohibited. He said taking the sensitisation train to these places is to draw the awareness of these operators to the existence of the law as ignorance would not be tenable as excuses once the law takes effect on August 17. He said: “It is our desire to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of this law which is meant to regulate how we indulge in our pleasure. Going by the law, Lagosians have six months within which to get familiarised with the law so that by the time it takes effect no one would claim ignorance.” He said under the law, a first time offender would be liable to a fine of N10, 000 or one month imprisonment or both, while repeated offenders risk paying a fine of N50, 000 or six months imprisonment or both. Shabi, who observed that many drivers indulge in smoking, said from August 17, it would be an offence to smoke cigarette or any other tobacco products outside designated areas. He listed public places to include

public libraries, nursery, kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, all public transportation systems and commercial vehicles, any private vehicle that has more than one person, garages, motor parks, hospitals, streets or high roads, event centres, bars/ restaurants, hotels, and any other places that is used for public entertainment. He said though the law did not ban the advertisement and sale of cigarette in the state, it restricts smokers to indulge in their pleasure without constituting any hazard to non-smokers and the environment. According to Shabi, not only is cigarette contributing to the green house gasses, and an impediment to clean environment, it has also been proved to be a major cause of all forms of cancer in man. He said LASEPA would be looking forward to the support of leaders of all transportation unions in the state to ensure that their members adhere strictly to the law. “No matter what you choose to smoke, whether weeds, cigar or cigarette, or tobacco, the law is totally against public smoking and LASEPA is putting machinery in place to ensure that the entire state, including the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas (LCDA) are effectively covered for effective implementation of the law,” he said. Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Yewande Adesina, said cigarette smoking has been identified as the single largest contributor of cancer in human beings. She said though smokers are exposed to serious health hazards, passive smokers, known as secondary smokers are exposed to even more hazards. She said cigarette smoking has

in infrastructural development could be solved by Africans given LAMATA’s level of expertise. Diallo implored the Mobereola, who is West Africa’s Vice President of the African Association of

A •Shabi

been identified as the cause of asthma, cough, cold or ear infections in babies, while cigarettes have been identified as responsible for sundry birth defects in pregnant women. Mrs Adesina, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola at the sensitisation campaign, said nonsmoking law has further confirmed the high premium the government places on the health of all residents in the state. While suing for the support and understanding of all Lagosians in making the law work, Fashola said Lagos should not contribute to the growing statistics of people who die yearly of cancer, put at about two million.

Public Transport (UATP), to help galvanise governments and transport professionals within the region on the development of transport infrastructure and investment in public transportation by African leaders.

Passenger insurance scheme coming

PASSENGER insurance scheme that will address the fears of commuters and other road users will soon be unveiled by the Lagos State government. The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the scheme which will be the first in the country, would be mandatory for all vehicles including commercial operators. He said five insurance firms were working with the government on the scheme which according to him, would further revolutionise public transportation. The scheme slated to be unveiled by Governor Babatunde Fashola in a fortnight, would be accessed not only by road users, but also by rail and waterway users. Opeifa said: “What obtains presently across the country are vehicle insurance scheme which limits the exposure of insurance firms only to the risks involved in accidents involving vehicles, Lagos State Government is taking the offering of insurance products in the transportation sector to include passenger insurance, which would ensure an insurance cover for all passengers using any of our transportation modes, whether rail, or roads, or waterways.”

He, however, did not say whether the scheme would affect the current cost of transportation in the state as commercial vehicle operators would key into the scheme with likely cost implication shifted to commuters. He said the scheme would be flagged off by the Bus Rapid Transit scheme of the government and all its affiliates and franchisees. The passenger insurance scheme, he said, is different from the manifest usually compiled by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for passengers on intercity trips, adding that when it begins, commuters using the roads would have their lives insured against accidents and any other hazards while using any of the metropolitan roads. Opeifa said the insurance scheme would further give the desired boost to the waning confidence of Lagosians on public transportation policy of the government and may ultimately drive the incentive to make people drop their personal vehicles for public transportation. He said the scheme which has been in the works for over one year would further deepen the Lagos State Transportation Law 2012, and would ensure that lives and property are better protected on the road.

Road friendly winners travel to UK

HE six winners of the Be Road Friendly (BRF) Year 2013 competition organised by the Lagos State School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme (LASTSAP) of the Ministry of Transportation have travelled to the United Kingdom on a seven-day Transport Education tour. Addressing the winners shortly before leaving the country, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on Transport Education, Dr Mariam Masha, advised

the winners to be observant, disciplined and be of good conduct throughout their stay in United Kingdom. She urged the winners from primary, junior and senior secondary school categories to be focused while on the trip as they are the agent of change in the society as well as the future leaders of their country, Nigeria. The Winners, Achanya Mary (Langbasa Primary School, Ajah),

Adeoye Samuel (Ajelogo Primary School, Ketu), Anipupo Adesewa (Government Comprehensive Junior College, Agege), Adisa Mariam (Stadium Junior Grammar School, Surulere), Adebanjo John (Ansar-udDeen Senior High School, Falolu, Surulere) and Akinnagbe Oluwabunmi (Lagos State Senior Model College, Igbokuta) are expected to visit the Department for Transport and London Transport Museum among others.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

MONEYLINK NEXIM Bank denies receiving N200b Stabilisation Fund

CBN may retain interest rates at today’s MPC meeting

NALYSTS have predicted interest rate retention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ahead of today’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. Global Head, Research Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, expects the CBN to hold all policy rates steady when it announces its decision today. She said although the naira had recovered earlier losses following increased portfolio investor interest, it remains outside of the CBN’s official plus or minus three per cent band around a mid-rate of 155. She said market conditions remain liquid while treasury-bills have rallied. “Interbank rates have been persistently close to the lower end of the corridor. Nonetheless, the naira has appreciated on the parallel market, to a reported 168 from 172 against the dollar, suggesting that there is little immediate need for further tightening,” she said in an emailed report. For now, Khan said with investor interest in Nigeria still healthy, inflation in single digits, and budget execution still reportedly benign, more Open Market Operations may be the preferred response to managing excess liquidity adding that bigger policy moves would be justified only with a material change to pressure on the foreign exchange rate. The CBN had upheld the benchmark rate at 12 per cent for the 13th consecutive time citing stability across major economic indicators in recent months. Analysts at Afrinvest Research said the decision will encourage

IGERIAN Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has denied claims that it received N200 billion stabilisation fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). A statement from the bank stated that “the bank has not in its over 23 years of existence received any N200 billion stabilisation fund from the CBN or any agency of government.” NEXIM noted that it has an authorised and called-up share capital of N50 billion equally contributed by the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated. NEXIM bank described the call by the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP)’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu for the suspension of its MD, Mr. Roberts Orya over alleged dereliction of duty, gross abuse of office and misapplication of the N200bn Stabilisation and Loan Guarantee Fund advanced to the agency by the

By Collins Nweze

inflow of foreign funds into the economy and by implication stem the pressures on the naira. They said Nigeria remains vulnerable to hot money reversals as a result of the quantum of foreign portfolio investments in the country adding that the high interest rate environment and benign inflation outlook supports their view. However, they said reduction in interest rate will support growth of the real sector and prevent the economy from any further decline as revealed in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. “While we concede the inelasticity of the lending rates to monetary policy changes and GDP growth, the Central Bank of Nigeria should redesign policies that can offer affordable credit to the real

•Acting CBN Governor, Dr Sarah Alade

economy,” they said. According to them, any economy desirous of growth must encourage real sector growth by facilitating easy access to low cost funding and create an enabling environment for infrastructure delivery adding that the declining contribution of the oil sector to GDP further buttresses their argument.

From Nduka Chiejina, (Asst. Editor)

CBN as false claims and “a product of an obvious smear campaign intended to malign the impressive progress so far achieved by the bank and distract its management led by Mr. Roberts Orya from following through its present transformation initiative which has so far yielded glaring results.” Orya demanded that CNPP and Chief Willy Ezugwu must within 48 hours offer an unreserved apology and a retraction of this claim, failing which the NEXIM will take legal action to protect its corporate integrity.

MasterCard, others partner on digital payment ISA, MasterCard and American Express have introduced a proposed framework for a new global standard to enhance the security of digital payments. According to a statement, the global payment firms are also looking at ways consumers can simplifying purchasing experience when shopping on a mobile phone, tablet, personal computer or other smart device. An August 2013 report from the US Census Bureau, said six per cent of all retail sales today are conducted digitally, up nearly 200 per cent since the first quarter of 2004. “As the number of digital transactions has increased, so has consumer demand for increased protection of their payment information.

Sterling Bank sponsors Ogun Investment Forum, ETERMINED to sustain its the Forum because of the AMAA Awards port stake in the agricultural secunique roles played by agriculture

tor as a leading lender and support its continued growth, Sterling Bank has supported the second edition of Ogun State Investment Forum. In a statement, the bank said the Forum holding in the state capital, Abeokuta at June 12 Cultural Centre, between May 21 and 22, 2014 will focus on Agriculture and urban development. The lender plans to sponsor the 10th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The event will hold in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on May 24 2014 at the newly refurbished Dr.

and urban development in wealth creation and boosting the economy of the country. The statement signed by the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications Mr. Shina Atilola reads in part: ”The focus of the forum is agriculture and urban development. These are the catalysts needed for any sustained economic development. We need to support laudable projects such as this because Sterling Bank is also highly involved in the funding of the Agriculture sector. We have devoted a large chunk of our loan portfolio to the sector.

Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre. Keynote addresses at the Ogun State Investment Forum would be delivered by former President of Mexico, Mr. Vincent Fox and the Vice President of European Investment Bank (former Prime Minister of Republic of Slovenia) Anton Rop. The Executive Director of Sterling Bank, Mr. Lanre Adesanya will be part of the plenary session on Financing Agriculture and Housing Development: Investment and Potentials. The Bank in a statement explained that it has become necessary to sup-

DATA BANK 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

NIDF

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

Price Loss 2754.67

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

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency OBB Rate

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

O/PRICE 0.63 4.40 2.55 1.02 4.00 3.13 0.50 19.70 10.00 68.00 10.06

C/PRICE 0.69 4.62 2.67 1.06 4.12 3.20 0.51 20.00 10.15 69.00 10.20

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 19-5-14

SYMBOL IKEJAHOTEL REDSTAREX CUSTODYINS CONTINSURE VITAFOAM LIVESTOCK UTC ASHAKACEM BERGER FLOURMIL UBN

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

CHANGE 0.06 0.22 0.12 0.04 0.12 0.07 0.01 0.30 0.15 1.00 0.14

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

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 19-5-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

NAHCO FCMB NASCON COURTVILLE WAPIC ABCTRANS MAYBAKER SKYEBANK ROYALEX STERLNBANK

5.24 4.30 13.30 0.63 0.84 0.88 1.82 3.46 0.57 2.30

C/PRICE 4.86 3.99 12.65 0.60 0.80 0.84 1.74 3.32 0.55 2.24

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

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 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGET FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Offer Price Bid Price 155.90 156.93 9.17 9.08 1.06 1.05 1.17 1.17 0.72 0.71 1.39 1.33 1,646.05 1,634.24 1,646.05 1,643.24 1,081.88 1,081.39 116.74 115.95 1,087.30 1,087.00 1.67 1.62 1.05 1.03

LEGACY FUND NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND STANBIC IBTC ETHICAL FUND • • • •

CHANGE -0.38 -0.31 -0.65 -0.03 -0.04 -0.04 -0.08 -0.14 -0.02 -0.06

NSE

UBA BALANCED FUND UBA BOND FUND UBA EQUITY FUND UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Movement

143.11

142.62

0.78 1,944.64 12.72 1.07

0.76 1,936.31 12.40 1.05

1.2655 1.3132 0.9270 1.1597

1.2543 1.3132 0.9098 1.1597

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

Movement

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 19-05-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 19-05-14

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

EQUITIES

Nigerian equities start on low note amidst global caution

IGERIAN equities opened this week with a tinge of bearishness as investors globally maintained a cautious outlook. The main indices at the Nigerian stock market closed the first trading session slightly lower while turnover was also below recent average. In the advanced economies, investors were overtly cautious as they weighed in mixed economic data from the United States (US). US stocks were however supported by decline in bond yields, which bolstered demand for equities. The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and aggregate market value of all quoted equities slipped by 0.03 per cent each as most equities ended on the downside. The ASI declined marginally by 0.03 per cent to close at 39,007.40 points compared with its opening index of 39,018.34 points. Aggregate market value of all equities dipped from N12.851 trillion to N12.848 trillion, representing a loss of N3 billion. Average year-to-date return inched up to -5.62 per cent, though the month-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

to-date returns remained positive at 1.34 per cent. Sectoral analysis showed a mixedgrill for equities. The NSE Insurance Index recorded the highest sectoral loss of 0.8 per cent while the NSE Banking Index declined by 0.1 per cent. The NSE Oil & Gas Index closed flat. On the upside, the NSE Consumer Goods Index inched up by 0.4 per cent while the NSE Industrial Index rose slightly by 0.1 per cent. With 27 decliners to 22 advancers, the market situation was moderated by considerable gains by some highly capitalised stocks, which helped to counterbalanced losses by several highly capitalised stocks such as P Z Cussons Nigeria, Diamond Bank, Access Bank, FBN Holdings, Guaranty Trust Bank and FCMB Group among others. Overall turnover volume and value fell by 53.37 per cent and 27.39 per cent respectively from the previous trading figures, underlining the cautious investment sentiments that dominated transactions yesterday. Aggregate turnover stood at 206.69

million shares worth N2.73 billion in 4,410 deals. Majority of equities that were traded meanwhile closed flat. While a total of 126 stocks were traded, some 77 stocks remained unchanged at their price-on-board. Besides, market considerations of three companies were adjusted for dividend payments including Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) Plc, which recommends a dividend of 30 kobo;, FCMB Group, which recommends 30 kobo and Airlines Services & Logistics (ASL) Plc, which will be paying a dividend of 12 kobo. Market analysts said they expected the market to maintain a largely positive swing this week as investors reshuffle their portfolios ahead of the second quarter earnings. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that US stocks mostly advanced on Monday as investors exercised caution over valuations after a run of mixed economic data, but another drop in bond yields helped support equities. US-listed shares of AstraZeneca tumbled 11.1 per cent to $71.39. The British drugmaker rejected a sweetened and final merger offer from Pfizer

that would have created the world’s largest pharmaceuticals group. Pfizer shares climbed 1.1 per cent to $29.45. AT&T slid by 1.9 per cent to $36.03 and dragged on the Dow a day after the telecom company said it will acquire DirecTV for $48.5 billion, as it seeks fresh avenues of growth beyond the maturing US cellular business. DirecTV shares fell 1.4 per cent to $84.92. Equities have come under pressure recently with the S&P 500 marking consecutive weekly declines for the first time since January as investors have become concerned about the U.S. economy’s growth prospects. Last week, readings on retail sales and consumer sentiment fell shy of expectations while labor and housing data provided reason for optimism. But with the yield on the 10-year US Treasury note at 2.5 per cent, investors may have been compelled to wade into equities and help keep them afloat. “Part of this - driven by where rates are at and bonds continuing to rally when you might look for a pullback in the stock market, that is making stocks look more attractive,” said Stephen Massocca, managing direc-

FMDQ OTC licenses dealing members

MDQ OTC PLC (FMDQ) will tomorrow present licences to the first batch of its dealing members. These members comprise of banks and discount houses operating in the Nigerian financial market. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through FMDQ as a market organiser and self-regulatory organisation is coordinating the registration of FMDQ dealing members in order to streamline trading operations in the capital market with relevance to best practices. FMDQ is also collaborating with the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA). This event represents the formal activation of the capital market presence of FMDQ dealing members as part of collaborative efforts with key regulators to further develop the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Managing director, FMDQ OTC, Mr. Bola Onadele, said FMDQ as a self-regulatory organisation has embarked on a mission to strengthen the Nigerian OTC market through improved governance and capacity enhancement. According to him, FMDQ is implementing several initiatives in order to power to empower the OTC financial markets to be innovative and credible in support of the Nigerian economy. He added that activation of other membership categories including dealing member– non-banks and associate members; clients and brokers will commence subsequently. Following its launch unto the Nigerian financial market landscape,

FMDQ as a SEC-licenced OTC market is implementing what it termed a “GOLD” agenda based on key concepts of global competitiveness, operational excellence, liquidity and diversity. “FMDQ is highly focused on its transformation agenda and within its short existence has added unprecedented transparency to the OTC markets, implemented a trading and surveillance system, reformed the NIBOR, improved on market regulation and risk management,” Onadele said. Executive secretary, Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), Mr. Wale Abe, said the association is delighted to see one of the short-term goals of the idea behind the establishment of FMDQ OTC come into early fruition with the licencing of its dealing members ahead of their registration with SEC.

“This is quite obligatory given the increasing interest of global investors in our emerging economy. I strongly believe that this step will further assist to promote transparency and enhance ethical and professional practice in the market; which ultimately will espouse market efficiency and market deepening,” Abe said. The presentation of licences will be hosted by the chairman of FMDQ Board of Directors, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede. The ceremony will be attended by the SEC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO), members of the Board of FMDQ and other stakeholders of the OTC market. The FMDQ dealing members will be represented by the executive directors overseeing financial markets, treasurers, chief dealers, treasury sales officers, compliance officers, market risk officers and treasury operations heads.

tor at Wedbush Equity Management LLC in San Francisco. “It is maybe preventing a decline of which we are a little overdue in the stock market, from a valuation perspective.” The Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.93 points or 0.01 per cent, to 16,489.38. The S&P 500 .SPX gained 4.83 points or 0.26 per cent, to 1,882.69. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 29.79 points or 0.73 per cent, to 4,120.38. Small-cap stocks, often the first beneficiaries of growth, managed to rebound. The small-cap Russell 2000 index .TOY was up 0.7 per cent after three straight declines. The index has several times approached correction territory, a decline of 10 percent from a recent high, only to bounce back slightly. Investors’ defensive posture has been reflected by a sector rotation into utilities, telecoms and energy, which have outperformed the broader S&P 500 over the past three months. Campbell Soup Co fell 2.9 per cent to $43.81 and ranked as the S&P 500’s worst performer. The world’s largest soup maker posted weaker-than-expected quarterly sales and cut its fullyear sales forecast.

AstraZeneca rejects Pfizer’s take-it-or-leave-it offer

RITAIN’S AstraZeneca yesterday rejected a sweetened and “final” offer from Pfizer, undermining the United States (US) drugmaker’s plan for a merger to create the world’s biggest pharmaceuticals group. The rebuff came nine hours after Pfizer said on Sunday it had raised its takeover offer to 55 pounds a share, or around 70 billion pounds ($118 billion) in total, and would walk away if AstraZeneca did not accept it. The rejection left some major shareholders fuming as shares in AstraZeneca slumped 11 percent, trading at 43 pounds after falling as much as 15 percent - their biggest ever intra-day decline. Pfizer climbed 1.5 percent in New York. AstraZeneca Chairman Leif Johansson told Reuters he now saw no prospect of a deal with Pfizer before a deadline of May 26 set under British takeover rules, or any likelihood of that deadline being extended. Pfizer wants to create the world’s largest drugs firm, with a headquarters in New York but a tax base in Britain, where corporate tax rates are lower than in the United States. The plan has met entrenched opposition from AstraZeneca, as well as politicians and scientists who fear cuts to jobs and research. “It died of multiple wounds. Too little cash, too many suspicions about Pfizer’s motives, and too little confidence in its assurances about jobs,” said Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “Pfizer’s chances are going down, despite its offer of a higher price.” Johansson said he had made clear in discussions with Pfizer that his board could only recommend a bid that was at least 10 per cent above

an offer of 53.50 pounds made by Pfizer on Friday, or 58.85 pounds. He blamed Pfizer for calling a halt to discussions after a telephone call lasting more than an hour with Pfizer’s chairman and CEO Ian Read on Sunday afternoon. In addition to the inadequate price, Johansson also slammed the lack industrial logic behind Pfizer’s move; the risks posed to shareholders by the controversial tax plans; and the threat to life science jobs in Britain, Sweden and the United States. “Pfizer’s approach throughout its pursuit of AstraZeneca appears to have been fundamentally driven by the corporate financial benefits to its shareholders of cost savings and tax minimisation,” Johansson said in a statement. “From our first meeting in January to our latest discussion yesterday, and in the numerous phone calls in between, Pfizer has failed to make a compelling strategic, business or value case.” But many of Johansson’s shareholders were deeply unimpressed. “We do not think the Astra management have done a good job on behalf of shareholders,” said one fund manager at a top-10 investor in the group. Alastair Gunn of top-30 shareholder Jupiter Fund Management said: “We are disappointed the board of AstraZeneca has rejected Pfizer’s latest offer so categorically. They should have at least engaged in a constructive conversation with Pfizer.” However, Pfizer’s proposed takeover, which would be the largestever foreign acquisition of a British company, is opposed by many scientists and politicians who fear it would undermine Britain’s science base.

Emerging stocks set for six-month high

MERGING-market stocks headed for a six-month high as India’s gauge soared to a record and Russian equities rose, offsetting declines in China and Brazil. The Sensex Index added one per cent, while the rupee appreciated 0.3 per cent on bets India’s new government will take steps to revive the economy. Russia’s Micex rose to the highest since late February as OAO Gazprom posted a record-long streak of gains. China’s Shanghai Composite Index slid to a threeweek low. The Ibovespa sank the most in a month as economists cut

their Brazil growth forecast to the slowest ever. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index increased 0.4 per cent to 1,036 by noon in New York. Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power on May 16, putting him in a position to bolster Asia’s third-biggest economy. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China this week is helping spark the longest rally in Gazprom since 2006 on bets the leader will return with a longsought gas supply agreement. “Markets are seeing BJP’s overwhelming win as a chance for the new

government to unleash the potential that India has,” Simon QuijanoEvans, head of emerging-market research at Commerzbank AG in London, said by e-mail. “On balance, Russia sentiment should be better this week, partly driven by Putin’s visit to China.” The developing-nation index has gained 3.3 percent this year and trades at 10.7 times projected 12month earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The MSCI World Index of developed countries has advanced 1.6 percent in the period and is valued at a multiple of 14.2.

The Micex gained 1.6 percent to the highest since Feb. 28. Gazprom, the world’s largest natural-gas producer, rose 2.6 percent, taking a nine-day rally to 18 percent. The gas monopoly has been seeking a long-term supply contract for a decade. Putin is turning to Asia as the U.S. and its allies expand sanctions tied to the incursion in Ukraine. After failing to agree on financial terms in previous talks, rising demand for fuel in China has pushed prices to a level that will probably be acceptable to both sides, Bank of America Corp. said in a May 16 report.

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

NEWS

Okorocha to Uwazuruike: you never made me governor

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday described a statement by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, that he made him governor, as unfounded and misleading. The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the information credited to the MASSOB leader, published in national newspapers, was not true and should be disregarded. He said he came to power through the votes of the masses and not by the instrumentality of any political godfather. The statement reads: “If the claims by Uwazuruike were to be true, we would not have bothered to reply, but since they have no iota of truth, we desire to inform the public and set the record straight.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

The truth is that he did not work for Okorocha or the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the governorship election in 2011, therefore would not have made Okorocha governor. “He worked for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his brother, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who was the party’s candidate and that could be understood. That was one of the reasons the PDP won in his Onuimo Local Government in the governorship poll. Let him deny it. “The PDP also won the governorship election in 2011 in his Okigwe zone. Then the question is, if Uwazuruike could not make Okorocha win in his Onuimo Local Government and in his Okigwe zone, how did he deliver Okorocha in 2011? Even the PDP also won in his ward.

“This is simple logic. You could not make a candidate win in your ward, local government and zone, and you are claiming to have made him win the governorship election single-handedly. I think time has come for these people to stop disturbing the Imo governor. “Before now, the former Anambra State governor, Chief Peter Obi and the embattled National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, claimed they helped Okorocha in 2011 to become the governor and you begin to ask how? “The only impression one could create out of these claims on Okorocha’s victory is that the man has done well as governor and everybody wants to share in the glory of his success. We are not against this. Imo people elected Okorocha as the governor in 2011. This is a fact.”

2015: Badagry chiefs, others back Sutton

OME chiefs and people from Badagry Kingdom have endorsed Abayomi Sewanu Sutton for Governor of Lagos. At a town hall meeting held in honour of Sutton, a coalition of various groups and political parties in the kingdom, said that the time had come for an indigene of the kingdom to occupy the number one seat in the state. According to them, Badagary kingdom had been sidelined long enough based on wrong insinuation of poor education. Leaders of market women, Okada riders, Youths forum, party leaders and artisans hailed Sutton as qualified for the job.

Addressing the participants, Mrs Comfort Akeke (JP), the Iyaloja General of Badagry Kingdom, supported Sutton. According to her, he has what it takes to lead Lagos State and take it to the next level. Kiki Whenu, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that Sutton’s decision to dare the position was a good omen for the kingdom. Appealing to the leaders of various parties and groups to do away with their sentiments and differences and embrace Sutton as the sole candidate for the seat come 2015. He said: “We thank God that there is change in Badagry.

We need a man of integrity and honour who is hard working to take the baton from Governor Babatunde Fashola, we need our son to occupy that seat. Remi Sofolahan, a one-time Local Government Councillor and a member, House of Assembly, said it was not out of place for the people of Badagry to aspire for the number one seat in the state, stressing that the battle to the exalted seat was not to be left alone to Sutton. There was a special royal blessing at the Akran Palace by the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Oba De WhenuAholu Menu-Toyi 1.

JAMB releases CBT result

HE Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) yesterday announced the release of Saturday’s Computer Based Test (CBT) examinations. The Board’s Deputy Director, Outstation, Mr Nobel Onukwue, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos

that the result was released onnet on Monday. He advised candidates who wrote the examinations on Saturday to check their results online. NAN reports that the CBT started on May 17, and would end on May 31. Onukwue said that the second day of the CBT was better

because, there was no issue of candidates logged out mistakenly, server going off, or power outage. Mr Buhari Aliyu, JAMB Biometric Operator, said that 332 candidates were screened for the first session, and 342 for the second session, as against the 350 expected candidates.

Controversy trails explosion at Ohakim’s home

HERE is fear in the political circle in Imo State, following last week’s

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of the title document covering the landed property situate at No. 35, Idumagbo Avenue, Lagos and registered as No. LO7136 in the register of deeds kept at the Lagos State Lands Registry Office, Ikeja, Lagos. If found, please contact the nearest Police Station or call 08035517576.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

explosion, which rocked the home of former governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, 28 hours to the scheduled declaration of his governorship ambition. According to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the incident, which reduced his home to rubble, was targeted at the ex-governor and his wife, who came into the state the same evening the explosion occurred, but slept in his village. There are also indications that Ohakim may have dumped his governorship ambition in line with the advice of his political associates, who

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public that I, Oluremi Sogbetun, one of the two administrators of Mrs. Caroline Bolaji Sobgetun, male, of c/o CWM Limited, 15, Biaduo street, South-West, Ikoyi Lagos, do hereby declare that the original land certificate with title no. MO 6438 is missing and all effort to locate it has proved abortive. The registrar of titles, Alausa, Lagos and the general public should please take note.

attributed the incident to his decision to join the governorship race. It was also learnt that the indefinite postponement of the rally planned by the ex-governor to unveil his ambition was not unconnected to the fear that his life and that of his family might be in danger if he continued with the governorship ambition. A former media aide to the erstwhile governor, who pleaded anonymity, said the political event was shelved to respect the feelings and opinions of his associates and followers, who advised against going ahead with the event. Said he: “Although the former governor did not make any statement that he would declare for the governorship election during the event, he only said he would make a political statement. “It was not cancelled out of fear, but to respect the feelings of his associates and family, who thought it was not wise to go ahead with the rallies after suffering such huge loss. I think the incident has not deterred him, he will still make a statement at the appropriate time.”

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

NEWS NEMA donates relief materials

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated relief materials to 15, 700 displaced persons in five communities in Borno and Yobe

states. The communities are Chibok , Gamboru, Jakana, Mainok in Borno State and Goniri in Yobe State. NEMA’s Director-General Muhammad Sani Sidi, who was represented by the North East Zonal Coordinator, Mohammed Kanar, said it was normal to provide succour to the traumatised communities. He assured them of the Federal Government’s continued support towards the rehabilitation of the displaced persons and urged them to remain law abiding.

Three policemen dismissed

T •Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo carrying a child at the inauguration of 2014 Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Week at Lalaifido, Shongom Local Government Area ..yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Insurgents not from Borno, says monarch

HE Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Mustapha ElKanemi, declared yesterday that the leaders of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, are not indigenes of the state He said this when the presidential fact finding committee on Chibok visited him in his palace. A statement by the committee’s spokesperson, Kingsley Osadolor, said the monarch described the abduction of over 200 girls as unfortunate. “What is happening now is unfortunate. It’s entirely new to us. None of the leaders of

•Presidential committee visits state From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Bodunrin Kayode, Maiduguri

Boko Haram is from Borno. They cannot claim to be from here. The problem was brought to us from elsewhere,” El-Kanemi said. The monarch said the people of Borno were peace-loving people, as the Borno Empire had been in existence for some 1,200 years. The Committee Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, said: “We are now in the main the-

atre where the Chibok girls were kidnapped. “The world has mobilised against the abduction, and we cannot be happy while our daughters remain in captivity.” He said the Committee had an open mind about the assignment. “We are not here with preconceived notions. We are here to find facts that will lead to a resolution of the current hostage crisis involving the schoolgirls.”

Makurdi Airport to be completed soon •’No infighting in ministry’ By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

• Ortom

UPERVISING Minister of Aviation Samuel Ortom has assured that the remodelled Makurdi Airport, designed to be the nation’s biggest perishable cargo terminal, will soon be completed. Ortom said this yesterday during an inspection tour of the airport. He said ongoing construction of perishable cargo terminals across the country would be facilitated as soon as funds are released. He said projects under the

Airport Master Plan, initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan, were still on course and would be implemented as scheduled. The supervising minister was joined at the airport by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal, U. A Omeiza. Ortom, who was accompanied on the tour by Capt Alkali, a Director in the Ministry of Aviation and the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, said the remodelling had reached 90 per cent completion. The supervising minister debunked allegation that there was insubordination in the ministry.

Ortom denied that the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Shua’ra Jamila, was frustrating approvals to contractors handling airport projects. His words:”Let me use this opportunity to say that the insinuation that the permanent secretary is frustrating the remodelling exercise is not true. There is no iota of truth in those assertions. When President Goodluck Jonathan signs the appropriation bill, funds would be released to the ministry, the projects would go on. “I am on top of the situation in the ministry and I have not seen any form of insubordination. Whatever the issues that we have we have resolved them as a family.”

Niger: APC statement callous

HE Niger State government has condemned the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) criticism of its recent executive council reshuffle. It described the allegations by the opposition as false, baseless and callous. APC’s Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of insensitivity and described the action as self serving.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Commissioner for Information Danladi Ndayebo described the party’s statement as careless, provocative and contemptuous. Ndayebo wondered why the APC would cast aspersions on the integrity of the government over a reshuffle that was carried out to reposition the executive council for optimal per-

formance. “For the avoidance of doubt, the decision to rejig the composition of the executive council was based on the need to reposition the council for efficiency and effectiveness anchored on the state’s vision to become one of the top three most developed state economies in the country,” the commissioner said.

The Committee Chairman said the Committee would meet with stakeholders and advise the Federal Government accordingly. He, therefore, called for the cooperation of all concerned. The team was received at the Maiduguri Airport by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brig Gen Mohammed Ibrahim and government officials.

HE police in Adamawa State have dismissed three policemen for hemp smoking and indoctrinating others. Commissioner for Police M.A Abakasanga said they have been charged to court for narcotics and hard drugs consumption. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (Criminal Investigation Department), Salau

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

Usman Alabi, who represented the commissioner, said 17 civilians would be arraigned for drug possession. Alabi said the public should report any suspicious movement to the police. He warned police officers to desist from smoking Indian hemp and other prohibited substances.

PDP : we have 46,057 new members From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

HE Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has 46,057 new members in Oyo State. The director of the committee, Otunba Adeleke Adekoya, said this in Ibadan, the state capital, when the National Coordinator of Women for Change and Development Initiative, Hajia Rabiu Ibraheem, and Dr Bisola Clark, visited the committee’s office. The visit was reportedly sponsored by the Omoilu Foundation. Adekoya said the Southwest PDP had 46,057 new members in Oyo State, adding that the new members would beef up the party’s chances to win back the state. He said: “These 46,057 new members are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter’s card-carrying members, who will bring in five people each. “We shall continue to mobilise more people to support the PDP. And with these, we are certain of victory in all Southwest states.”

THE NATION TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

NEWS

Church collapses in Bayelsa

T least 50 people escaped death yesterday after an uncompleted building belonging to the National Apostolic Church of Nigeria collapsed at Agudiama-Epie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during a rainstorm. Twenty of them were injured when the building caved in at 10am. It was gathered that the victims were seeking shelter from the rain. The rainstorm wrecked havoc in some parts of the capital city, pulling off roofs and electric poles.

•20 injured From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Most of the victims were identified as semi-skilled workers. The victims heard a loud sound but mistook it for thunder. “We thought the crack we heard was that of thunder. But before we could say anything, we were covered by the rubbles,” a victim said. Another victim, Em-

manuel Paul, said: “We were working on some nearby buildings when the rain started. We sought shelter inside the church. “We were more than 50 in the building when it collapsed. “I think more than 20 persons were injured. Some could not move and they had to be removed in wheelbarrows.” Deputy Governor John Jonah and Commissioner of Police Hillary Opara visited the site. It was, however, learnt

that before a Julius Berger rescue team got to the scene, sympathisers had rescued the victims. Commissioner for Works Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said the government will investigate the cause of the collapse. He said the church founder will be invited to defend the quality of the material used in erecting the building. Ewhrudjakpo described the incident as unfortunate and assured that the government will assist the victims.

Lawmaker’s dad kidnapped

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia , Benin

HE father of the House of Representatives Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, Pa Samson Imarhiagbe Ogbewe, has been kidnapped at Urhokuosa, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State. A source said the kidnap occurred few hours after some youths threatened Osagie and his family. He said the six kidnappers, who came in a Volkswagen Gulf, were yet to contact the family.

Man electrocuted in Delta

34-YEAR-OLD MAN, Kurokeme Awudu, was electrocuted in Ohorhor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on Sunday while allegedly fiddling with a faulty power line. Awudu, an indigene of Kpakiama in Bomadi Local Government Area, was said to be repairing a faulty power line, which supplies electricity into Bomadi and its environs. An eyewitness, Okpako Bobo, said the deceased was travelling through

From Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt

Ohorhor, when he observed that the community had power supply and his community was in darkness. Bobo said: “He alighted from the vehicle, borrowed a ladder and climbed the pole trying to reconnect the electricity supply. “He fell off the ladder after he was electrocuted. His body was taken to the morgue of Bomadi General Hospital for post mortem.” Police spokesman Celestina Kalu said the police were not aware of the incident.

Ex-minister’s marriage dissolved

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle); Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole (left); Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie (second right), Alfa Agba of Lagos, Imam Tijani Gbajabiamila (second left) and the State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Magnus Okodua during the opening of a two-day Interfaith PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Conference in Lagos…yesterday

Four APC lawmakers join Edo PDP

OUR All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With the defection, the PDP has eight members in the Assembly and the APC 16. Those who defected are Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen, Abdulrasaq Momoh and Friday Ogieriakhi. Momoh said he left the APC because the party disowned him last year. He said his “spirit” has since left the party. The lawmakers defected at a meeting in Benin City where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his supporters moved a motion that they join the PDP. Pioneer Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Tony Omoaghe said the APC has been

•We are intact, says Edo APC ‘We have a responsibility to rebuild our party for the next elections, and to work more for the people of Edo because power is meant to be used for the benefit of the people’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

hijacked by a cabal, which does n’t believe in free democratic participation. Ize-Iyamu said more lawmakers will soon join the PDP and boasted that the PDP will return to power in 2015. But the APC said it was not disturbed by Ize-Iyamu and his loyalists’ defection. It said the defectors were

heading to the “lion’s den”. Interim State Publicity Secretary Godwin Erhahon described the defectors as “seasonal birds” that would come back in the next season. Erhahon congratulated Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the major relief and assured the people that they stand to benefit from the exit. A former state chairman of the defunct ACN, Thomas Okosun, urged the defectors

to retrace their steps, if their actions were not for personal interest. Okosun said Ize-Iyamu should not be deceived that the PDP would win any election in the state. His words: “We have a responsibility to rebuild our party for the next elections, and to work more for the people of Edo because power is meant to be used for the benefit of the people. “If they believe that they are in politics in the interest of the public and not their personal interest, then it is not too late for them to come back. “God’s glory has departed from PDP. Yes that we won election 18 over 18 is not the effort of a single individual but mostly because of the achievement of this government in terms of providing infrastructural facilities for the people.

End all hostilities, says Uduaghan

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for the cessation of hostilities by Boko Haram in the interest of the nation’s educational and health sectors. Uduaghan said the activities of Boko Haram have not only affected the growth of education, but made some parts of the country unreachable for immunisation and other healthcare activities. The governor, who spoke in Asaba, yesterday appealed to Boko Haram members to release the Chibok girls and cease hostilities in the interest of the nation.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

He said Nigeria was still grouped among countries with polio, stressing that with insurgency, eradicating polio remains a tall dream. His words: “I want to assure you that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges. “The kidnap of those girls is not only affecting the education sector but, also the health sector because it is affecting health workers doing their routine duties. “Nigeria ranks among the few countries with polio;

this crisis is affecting the eradication of polio and other communicable diseases, the crisis does not help anybody. “I want to plead with sponsors and members of Boko Haram to stop hostilities and release these girls.” The governor said industrial disharmony will be greatly reduced when states are involved in the negotiation between government and organised labour. “If things are properly done and the right decisions reached, there will be no strike in the country.” He described industrial

•Uduaghan

actions in the health sector as having adverse effects on people’s lives asserting, “every minute that there is strike in the health sector, a life is lost and such life cannot be brought back”.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

CUSTOMARY Court in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, dissolved yesterday the marriage between former Minister of Science and Technology, Grace Ekpiwhre and her husband, Peter. The Court President, Mrs. Stella Okah, said she dissolved the marriage because the couple had been estranged for a long time. The former minister, who was a former Head of Service in Delta State, had approached the court for dissolution of the union as she was no longer interested in the marriage. Mrs. Okah, supported by other members of the court Dr. Adadi Omosowho and Richard Onosigho, ordered the former minister’s family to refund the N120 paid as dowry to the court’s registry department. The eldest man in the Akpoguma family of Agbarho, where the former minister hails from, Chief Samuel Salubi, has refunded the dowry.

Monarch’s vehicle used for robbery

HE police in Delta State have impounded a vehicle belonging to the traditional ruler of Ase Kingdom in Ndokwa West, Igwe Ifeanyichukwu. The vehicle was used in a botched robbery. Police spokesperson Tina Kalu said a victim, Sergeant Ugbo, sent a distress call to the local vigilance group when he heard a knock on his door at 2.30am. Kalu said the gang abandoned their vehicle. She said the traditional ruler informed the police

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

that the vehicle developed a fault on his way to Asaba. “The monarch said he left the vehicle with an aide, Ogero Imono, with the instruction to get a mechanic to fix it. “Instead of returning the vehicle after repairs, the aide allegedly decided to use it for a robbery. “Detectives traced the suspect to his house in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government, but discovered that he has left town.”

Umana’s lawyers petition NSA

ORMER Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government Umana Umana’s lawyers have petitioned the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the Director General, Department of State Services, Ita Ekpeyong on the assassination of perceived state enemies. The lawyers, in a letter titled: “State of Insecurity in Akwa Ibom State and Threats to Lives of Political Opponents”, detailed the attempted assassination of the Director-General of Ibom Development Network (IDN), Soni Udom, the murder of Al-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

bert Ukpanah and the death threat to a former House of Representatives member, Ekperikpe Ekpo. They said: “The regular meeting point for assassination meetings has been discovered to be Monty Suites, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo; a hotel owned by a commissioner. “The catalogue demonstrated above is to assist in your investigation and should never be dismissed as mere hair-splitting. “It follows a familiar pattern of assassinations and kidnappings that preceded the 2011 elections in Akwa Ibom State.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

CITYBEATS

‘Yes, I deal in cocaine’

By Joseph Jibueze

32-year-old deaf and dumb man, Aliu Sanni, yesterday pleaded guilty to dealing in about 17.8 kilogrammes of cocaine, a banned narcotic drug. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned him at the Federal High Court in Lagos for illegal drug dealing. He was alleged to have committed the offence on March 26. The prosecution said Sanni was arrested at The Young Shall Grow Motor Park at Iddo, Lagos Mainland. NDLEA said he intended to export the narcotic. The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004. Justice Mohammed Idris remanded him at the Ikoyi Prison until when sentence would be passed. He adjourned till June 2 for a review of the facts and sentencing.

Succour for Daleko market traders

By Nneka Nwaneri

HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon Babatunde Adepitan, has promised to rebuild the part of the Daleko Market that got burnt on Sun-

day. He sympathised with the traders who lost their wares in the inferno, saying government would come to their aid. Adepitan, who inspected the burnt part of the market, said government would ensure that it is rebuilt with qualitative building materials.

Be focused, youths told HE Senior Pastor of Victory Christian Centre in Lagos, Dr. Gbenga Kupoluyi, has urged youths

to be focused and have a unique vision, to make them useful vessels. Kupoluyi, a guest speaker at the 2014 National Youth Seminar/Prayer, organised by the youth wing of the All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum (ACLMF), held at the Chapel of Christ the Light at Alausa, Ikeja, said there was nothing wrong with the country, noting that youths’ inability to excel was because they did not come up with their ideas. The situation, he said, led many of them into corruption and other vices, noting that it was time they believed that they had a right to leadership as enshrined in the scriptures. The National Youth Director of the ACLMF, Rev. Dare Akindele, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Christian Religious Matters, Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, enjoined Christian youths not to jettison politics, urging them to maintain Christian values whenever they are called upon to participate.

Council gets chieftaincy committee

By Amidu Arije

HE chairman, Ayobo Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Hon Yusuf Sakiru Adisa, has inaugurated its chieftaincy committee. He said the committee would promote peace and unity, adding that the role of traditional rulers is germane to peaceful coexistence in a community. Adisa urged members of the committee to discharge their duties objectively. The members include: Olu of Ipaja, Oba Sylvester Akinniyi as chairman; Alayobo of Ayobo, Oba Idowu Ojoijo, Vice Chairman, and Baale of Ijon, High Chief Adekolawole Okikiola, as a member. Oba Akinniyi said the committee would perform its duties diligently and truthfully. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Titles was represented on the occasion by Mr Awosanya Adeniyi and Mr Solari Ayodele.

59 CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Missing banker’s family flays ‘shoddy’ probe

HE family of a missing bank worker, Chukwuemeka Aloysius Nwachukwu (29), is angry with the police. It is accusing the police of “shoddy investigation” of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Nwachukwu, a worker with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Apapa, Lagos branch on May 4. His mother, Mrs Monica Nwachukwu, yesterday said her son got missing after leaving the family’s home in Ojota, a Lagos suburb. She said: “He told his younger sister, Chioma that he was going to withdraw money from an ATM at one of the banks at Ojota. Since then, he has yet to return home. On the day he got missing, I was in our village in Imo State. He called me the same day with the phone of his cousin, Tobechukwu Iwu, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambara State. “Tobechukwu was in

By Jude Isiguzo

Lagos for an interview. Chukwuemeka informed me that Tobechukwu and Ugochukwu Alfred called to inform him that they just arrived in Ojota from Imo State and that they asked him to meet them at Ojota, which he did. From there, they all went to Ugochukwu’s home at Iyana Ipaja. “On Tuesday May 6, I called his sister, Chioma, who told me in tears that she had not seen her brother since he left the house to withdraw money from an ATM at Ojota on Sunday. I asked her to report the matter at the Ogudu Police under Area ‘H’ Command. The policemen on duty advised her to go around other police stations to ascertain if he had been arrested and detained at any of them. She went round all the nearby police stations, including the one at Iyana Ipaja, but could not locate her

brother”. In a petition to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogudu Police Station, through Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Mrs Nwachukwu alleged that when she returned to Lagos on May 10, she went back with her daughter to the Police Station, where she introduced herself as the banker’s mother and that she wanted to inquire about investigations so far. She said the police officers at the station collected N20,000 • Nwanchukwu from her “for investigations”. The police made dinator Okechukwu her to hire a vehicle with Nwanguma said the group which they went and served is concerned because the ininvitations on Iwu and vestigation is not going well. Alfred at Iyana-Ipaja, since He urged the police to they were the last persons show more interest in the seen with the missing percase to unravel the truth beson. hind Chukwuemeka’s disapNOPRIN’s National Coorpearance.

Court orders police to pay tricyclists N2m

USTICE Okong Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday awarded N2million damages against the police for illegally detaining three tricycle operators for three days for owing a micro-finance bank He warned the police against collecting debts on behalf of anyone, saying that thepolice’s primary duty is the enforcement of law and order. The court held that since the transaction between the applicants and Petra Microfinance bank was civil in nature, the appropriate step was for the bank to have sued for debt recovery. The judge said it was not the duty of the police to act as a debt collector for the bank. “The police will never learn; even if it is true that the applicants collected monies meant for the payment of the loan facility, it is not a guarantee for the police to step in as a debt collector, and abandon their role of maintaining law and order. “The sum of N2 million is hereby awarded as damages

•’Police aren’t debt collectors’ By Joseph Jibueze

against the respondents jointly and severally, for illegal arrest and detention of applicants. “A cost of N50,000 is also awarded in favour of the applicants, I so hold. The action of the police is an unlawful violation of the applicants’ rights,” the judge held. Respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Commissioner of Police Lagos State, and Petra Microfinance Bank Ltd. The applicants sought a declaration that their detention by officers of the third respondents, and invitations by the second respondent, over a purely civil transaction, amounted to a breach of their rights. They sought a mandatory order restraining the respondents, or their officers, from further harassing, or threatening to arrest them, over their loan facility agreement with Petra Microfinance bank.

‘ ... even if it is true that the applicants collected monies meant for the payment of the loan facility, it is not a guarantee for the police to step in as a debt collector...’ They also claimed N20 million damages from the respondents, jointly and severally, for their illegal arrest and detention. The applicants averred that they had entered into a loan agreement with the fourth respondent on April 16, 2009. The contract, they said, was for the supply of 50 tricycles to their members, adding that payments were to be in instalments. According to the applicants, the bank omitted a

clause in the agreement, for the provision of a comprehensive insurance policy, on all the tricycles. They said some of the tricycles were involved in road accidents, while others were impounded by the police and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). The applicants claimed that instead of putting the insurance cover in place to remedy the damaged tricycles, the bank continued charging interest and demanding payment for the tricycles. They said the bank reported to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba on Lagos Mainland, that the applicants were stealing its money. The applicants told the court that the police arrested, tortured and detained them for three days, forcing them to “cough up the instalments from their pockets” According to them, following a letter by their counsel to the SCID, they were released, while the bank further reported the matter to the sfu, which sent them an invitation.

Ruling in Tejuosho market ownership dispute for May 27

• Attorney General of Lagos State Ade Ipaye

HE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday refused an appli-

cation by a firm, Stomberg Engineering Limited, seeking to halt proceedings in a suit on the ownership of Tejuosho Ultramodern Market Phase 1. The firm urged Justice Okon Abang to stay proceedings pending the determination of its appeal at the Court of Appeal, Lagos. Stomberg earlier brought an application seeking to dismiss the suit filed by Access Bank Plc, claiming it is an abuse of court process, but Justice Abang rejected the motion. The firm appealed the ruling, and applied for a stay of further proceedings. In his ruling, Justice Abang

By Joseph Jibueze

held that there was no evidence before him that an appeal had been filed. He said what was before him was a motion filed by Stomberg, urging the appellate court to extend the time to enable it compile the records of appeal. Besides, the judge said he had earlier dismissed a similar application by the defendant, who is the market’s developer. “The court had expected counsel for the defendant/ applicant to withdraw this motion since a similar one had been dismissed, but he argued it as it it was totally

fresh. The application dated December 12, 2013 is a nullity and ought not to have been filed. The application is a sheer waste of judicial time,” he said. Dismissing the application, Justice Abang said there was no valid appeal against his May 10, last year decision. “The application is very strange. There is no valid appeal against the decision of this court dated 10th of May 2013,” he said, describing his decision as “an avoidable ruling”. Stomberg and its owner, Mr Dolapo Atinmo, allegedly entered into separate funding agreements with Access Bank and First Bank

of Nigeria Plc on the market’s construction. In a bid to recover their money, the banks filed separate suits against Stomberg Engineering and Atinmo. Access Bank’s lawyer, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN), who was appointed as the market’s Receiver/Manager, initiated contempt proceedings against First Bank accusing it of flouting the court’s order by obstructing the performance of his functions. Meanwhile, First Bank, through its lawyer, Mr Kemi Balogun, has filed an application seeking to be joined as a defendant in the suit. Responding to the contempt charge, First Bank ac-

cused Access Bank of misleading the court and feeding it with half truth. “The facts deposed to in the affidavit in support of FORM 49 are half-truths and same was intentionally averred and initiated by the plaintiff (Access Bank) to mislead the honourable court and embarrass the Managing Director of the said bank,” one of First Bank’s affidavits opposing the contempt charge, reads. Yesterday, there was an argument on which of the pending applications - one for contempt and the one for joinder - should be heard first. Justice Abang adjourned till May 27 for ruling.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

NEWS

Boko Haram: Tight security in Benue school

ECURITY was tight yesterday at the Government College, Makurdi – the school that got a threat letter purportedly written by Boko Haram, the extremist group. The gates were manned by a team of policemen, soldiers and Civil Defence officers. Unlike before when the gates of the school, located opposite Aper Aku Stadium were always thrown open, they were firmly locked. An SS 2 pupil, Tersoo Ugande, told The Nation that he got wind of the threat through the presence of soldiers and policemen at the school. Apparently, many were unaware of the letter in which the sect reportedly said it would kidnap the boys so that they can marry the over 200 girls it is holding captive.

Ugande noted that the school is notorious for cult activities so he was not surprised that the name of Boko Haram crept into the school. A JSS 2 pupil, Omale Ogwuche, said the college, Governor Gabriel Suswam’s alma mater deserved a better living condition. “There is no water, no electricity supply; the food is nothing to write home about. Junior students are left at the mercy of some senior students who beat them and collect their food and eat. So, what do you expect from such a school than security threats?” Ugwuche said. Another junior pupil, Terry Abo, said his first day in the school “was like hell”. Within two weeks, his bed sheet, blanket, bucket and toiletries were

all stolen, yet the master did nothing. Abo said the teachers in the school did not care about the students, probably because they felt the governor, as an old boy, should have done better in terms of infrastructure. The Nation visited the dormetory and the classrooms. Most of them were in poor shape. The environment is not hygienic, not conducive to learning, with the compound full of weeds. Most of the parents who spoke to The Nation on the condition of anonymity said their wards had turned to gambling since coming to the school. They said they brought their children to the college because Suswam passed through the school. Commissioner for Education Mrs. Elizabeth Ugo re-

fused to comment on the views of the parents and students. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Zone 4 Headquarters) in Makurdi,Adeola Adeniji, in company of Commissioner of Police Adams Audu visited the school yesterday. Addressing parents, students and staff of the school, Audu, who spoke on behalf of the police delegation, assured them that security had been strengthened around the school to curtail any challenge by the insurgents. Audu said the police were on top of the situation and urged parents and students not to panic because of the letter of threat purportedly written by the insurgents. Education Commissioner Mrs Elizabeth Ugo said the school received the letter last Wednesday, but it was reported by newspapers on Sunday.

property, pointing out that, times had changed and people should be more careful and vigilant by reporting suspicious persons with questionable characters to the appropriate authority for prompt action. “Sabon Gari is a critical place. It harbours people from all Nigerian tribes and foreign nationals. Sabon Gari is a mini Nigeria and anything that affects the place affects all of us, because you have the Yoruba, the Ibo, the Tiv and all other tribes that you know with different religions.” Kwankwaso urged landlords, car dealers and others to be vigilant. The Eze Ndi-Igbo, Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, urged security agents to do more, so that Sabon Gari residents

could be more secured. “I was so sad and shocked when I heard this unfortunate bomb blast in my area. The people of Sabon Gari appreciate the efforts of the security agents and we shall continue to cooperate with you people in order to make Sabon-Gari a safe place,” Ibekwe said. The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), also yesterday told security agencies working to contain the activities of the Boko Haram extremist to scale up surveillance and restore endurable peace in the country. Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu also urged them to re-strategise to end the scourge of what he described as senseless killing of defenceless cit-

izens. The forum’s reaction was contained in a statement by the coordinating Chairman of the Forum of Northern Secretaries to the State Governments (SSGs) and Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Mr. Saidu Idris Ndako Kpaki. Aliyu urged terrorists to give peace a chance, saying reverting to acts of violence in Kano after months of respite was a big blow on efforts to advance the course of peace. The statement urged the perpetrators of the dastardly act to lay down their arms. It cautioned security agencies against complacency. The forum commiserated with the families of those killed or injured during the blast.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Police intercept bomb-laden car in Kano Continued from page 4

“criminal and unholy”. According to him, the perpetrators of “this heinous act” have now found a profession in the destruction of lives and properties. He said the government would do its all to prevent a reoccurrence, adding: “We should continue to pray to Allah to continue to protect the citizens of Kano. For the past one year, such incident has not happened, so there is need for us to pray for divine intervention.” Kwankwaso said the government would support the families of the dead and urged security agents to forward to his office, names of the dead and the injured. He urged security agents to redouble their efforts in the protection of lives and

Jonathan meets security chiefs over rising insecurity

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with security Chiefs and heads of security agencies for some hours at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Details of the meeting were not known yesterday as there was no official statement. The

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

security chiefs also did not speak with reporters at the end of the meeting. Apart from reviewing the security situation in the country, discussions at the meeting were also not

unconnected with ongoing efforts to rescue the over 200 secondary schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State over a month ago. The meeting came after Sunday’s car bomb explosion in Sabon Gari, Kano, which led to the death of five

people. Another bomb blast was foiled at Tafawa Balewa street in the state yesterday. It is also the first security meeting after last Saturday’s Regional Security meeting on Boko haram hosted by French President Francois Hollande at Elysee Palace, Paris, France.

Port Harcourt explosion: MEND claims attack

HE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s explosion near the Port Harcourt refinery. Seven people died in the explosion. Many were injured. The explosion took place at the creek near the jetty of the refinery, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The militant group, in an online statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said the facility was infiltrated by its fighters, with the aid of its internal agents in the NNPC. MEND said it would persist in its attacks on the oil industry, in view of the alleged inaction of President Goodluck Jonathan, who it said continued to rely on an “unsustainable” and “fraudulent” Niger Delta Amnesty programme. The group maintained that it sabotaged the NNPC refinery jetty pipelines in

From Bisi Olaniyi and Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

Okrika, Rivers State, in line with its ongoing “Operation Hurricane Exodus”, which, according to the group, was intended to bring down the facility. MEND said: “The facility was infiltrated by a few of our fighters, with the aid of our internal agents within the NNPC, contrary to speculation that the sabotage was carried out by ‘pipeline vandals and oil thieves’, which is a very convenient phrase used in shielding the truth from the public. “Thorough investigations will reveal bomb fragments are the same used in the Warri (Delta State) Refinery explosion of Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013. “We will persist with our attacks on the Nigerian oil industry, due to the inaction of President Goodluck Jonathan, who continues to rely on an unsustainable

and fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty Programme,” MEND stated. The militant group described the amnesty programme as a fraud on the people of Nigeria, who were being promised peace in the Niger Delta, in the absence of justice. The group said its “Hurricane Exodus” was on course. But, the management of the Port Harcourt Refining Company denied the allegation that some members of the company connived with Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PMC) to siphoned premium motor spirit (PMS) which led to the explosion. The management’s denial followed reactions from the public who suspected sabotage by the company’s personnel, considering the scene’s closeness to the company’s facilities security checkpoint. Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum and Okrika Local Government

Chairman, Tamuno Williams, were among those who accused the management of having fore knowledge of the illegal bunkering that led to explosion. The company, through its Executive Director, Services, Mr. Ralph Ugwu said it had nothing to cover or hide. Ugwu said none of the company’s facilities was gutted by fire, insisting that both refining and jetty operations were going on smoothly. He said: “I don’t want to describe the man (council chairman) in anger. What he has said is a departure from the truth. What I want to confirm to you is that our jetty operations are up and running. Our refineries are also up and running. “The incident has no impact on our operations whatsoever and on our own side as NNPC, there is no casualty and the incident has no impact on our refining operations or on our jetty operations.”

Hunters mobilise to search for girls Continued from page 4

In contrast to the age-old stalking and tracking skills offered by the hunters, U.S. aircraft and camera-carrying drones are searching for the girls. Military teams from America, Britain, France, Spain and Israel with expertise in surveillance, intelligence gathering, counterterrorism and hostage negotiation are also present. Nigeria’s military insists that it is diligently searching for the girls and says near-daily aerial bombardments of the forest that began in mid-January were stopped to avoid accidentally hitting the girls. “Our troops are out there combing the forests and all other possible locations searching for our fellow citizens. International support is also there assisting the process,” Mike Omeri, Director-General of the Na-

tional Orientation Agency (NOA), said on Friday. Pogu Bitrus, a Chibok community leader, said the savannah type openness of most of Sambisa, a national game reserve, should make it easy to survey from the air, though the extremists are believed to have camps in densely forested parts. The hunters are arguing they are reaching the end of their patience. “We are seasoned hunters, the bush is our culture and we have the powers that defy guns and knives; we are real men of courage, we trust in Allah for protection, but we are not afraid of Boko Haram,” said one elderly hunter, Baban Kano. “If government is ready to support us, then we can bring back the girls. But if they are not, they should tell us so that we can disband and return to our homes and family.”

Govt in ‘back-door’ talks to get school girls out Continued from page 4

of underground work is being done to set the abducted girls free. “The latest challenge to the underground talks is the meeting in France where all the nations have agreed to join forces against the sect. “This development in Paris on Sunday is making the sect to have a rethink if the ongoing talks should continue or not.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BAIYEWU I, formerly known and addressed as Oluwabukola Olasunkanmi Baiyewu, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwabukola Olasunkanmi Oloniyo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

“In the next few days, we should know where we are going.” A security source said: “There is no doubt that the government has been having indirect contacts with Boko Haram.”

POLICE AUCTION SALE

This is to inform the general public that The Nigeria Police, Area Command Headquarters, port Harcourt plans to dispose unclaimed and abandoned exhibits. Claimaints are advised to report at the station within 21 days of this publication: One scraped Gulf Salon Car, Reg No AE 467 PHD One Scraped Toyota Camry Salon Car Reg No AZ 262 YAB One Scraped BMW Salon Car Reg No AJ 401 BGM One Scraped Mishibushi L 300 Bus Reg No AP 760 FST One Scraped Mercedez Benz 230 E Reg No AG 25 GBB One Scraped Hyundai H100 Bus Reg No XA 643 GGU Auctioneer: VICTOR OBEAHON 08038887321

PUBLIC NOTICE

The general public is hereby notified that some partners of WorkerBee Logistics Company Limited have unlawfully taken over the management of the company at the moment. I, Mr. Tommy Okechukwu is no longer incharge as Managing Director/CEO of Worker Bee Logistics Company Limited. All Clients, Banks, Suppliers, Partners, Investors and Contractors are hereby advised accordingly. Signed: Tommy Okechukwu. PUBLIC NOTICE BIOPESTICIDES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (BSN)

This is to bring to the notice of the general public that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under Part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prof. Bene E. Madunagu 2. Prof. A.C. Amadioha 3. Prof. D.B. Olufalaji 4. Prof. Tony Arinze 5. Prof. Hillary O. Edeoga AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To foster education, basic and applied research and development for eco-friendly Pest and Disease Management in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. 2. To provide appropriate liaison with other related local, state national and inter national organizations in order to keep the members of the society apprised of the changing developments in the specialty of Biopesticides and in allied fields. 3. To maintain a continuing interest in legislative matters relating to the practice and use of Biopesticides. 4. To provide a congenial environment to sharing innovative practices, cuttingedge research and congenial experiences as well as strategies in plant and envi ronmental health and safety. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Signed: Dr. Samuel Effiong Udo Dr. Aniedi-Abasi Akpan Markson President Secretary

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Ratko Mladic war crime defence begins

Mali clashes leave civilians dead

IX Malian government officials and two civilians have been killed in an attack by rebels in northern Mali, the country’s UN peacekeeping force says. The head of the mission, known as Minusma, called the killings in the town of Kidal a “barbaric crime”. On Saturday, 36 people died in clashes between the army and Tuareg rebels, officials said. The fighting broke out during a visit by PM Moussa Mara. During Saturday’s fighting the rebels captured the local governor’s office, seizing 28 people. Minusma head Albert Koend-

HE defence in the trial of former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity has opened in The Hague. The first witness, a former Serb army officer, says he was never ordered to fire on civilians in the besieged Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. Mr Mladic, 72, is one of the most high-profile suspects to appear before the tribunal in The Hague. He denies 11 charges dating to the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Mile Sladoje, a former assistant commander of a Serb battalion in Sarajevo, was the first witness called by Mr Mladic yesterday. In a summary of his testimony read at the hearing, he denies ever being ordered by Mr Mladic to target civilians in a sniping campaign during the three-year siege of the city in which approximately 10,000 people were killed - most of them Muslims. Ratko Mladic’s forces are accused of conducting a prolonged campaign of shelling and sniping, designed to kill and spread terror among the civilians of Sarajevo. Mr Mladic is specifically accused of a role in the massacre of more than 7,000 Bosniak men and boys at Srebrenica - Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II. Mr Mladic has denounced the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) tribunal as “satanic”. The defence argues that Gen Mladic was simply a soldier following orders. His lawyers have described him as a self-proclaimed patriot who fought to defend his people.

•Mladic

Saudi Arabia shuts embassy in Libya

S •Prince Charles hands the pen over to his wife, Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, as they sign PHOTO: AP a guest book during welcoming ceremonies...yesterday.

Prince Charles, Camilla in Canada for royal tour

HE Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived in Canada for the start of a four-day royal tour. Prince Charles and Camilla were greeted by dignitaries and the waiting media ahead of dozens of engagements across three provinces. They flew into Halifax, Nova Scotia, on board a Canadian Forces Airbus. The royals will attend events including one marking the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown conference which led to the Canadian Confederation. After stepping off the plane, the duchess was presented with flowers by Grace Elizabeth Lenihan, aged three, and her nine-year-old sister Molly Jane. The royals were presented to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, Chief Superintendent Brian Brennan, before leaving for a reception with the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston. They chatted informally with

the governor general at a photocall at Halifax’s Government House. To mark the royal tour, Prince Charles has been appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada some 57 years after his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, was given the same honour. There had been fears in recent weeks that the long-scheduled tour might not go ahead following last month’s death of Camilla’s brother Mark Shand. The Duchess was left “devastated” by the death of Mr Shand, 62, from a head injury after a fall in New York. During their visit to Halifax, the royal couple will watch military personnel take part in the Grand Parade on Victoria Day, the Canadian national holiday to mark Queen Victoria’s birthday. The prince will deliver a speech at the parade and lay a wreath at a cenotaph to commemorate those killed in World War One. The royal couple will visit a

military family resource centre in Halifax which provides support to some 20,000 local servicemen and women and their families. Charles and Camilla will have tea with World War Two veterans and war brides at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, which was where half a million military personnel left for the conflict. Prince Charles will meet traders at a local farmers’ market in Halifax, while the duchess will witness the work of a project that helps victims of domestic violence. The couple will visit Pictou County for an event to celebrate Celtic heritage in Nova Scotia. They will travel to Charlottetown, Bonshaw and Cornwall in Prince Edward Island and Winnipeg in Manitoba during the tour. It is the third time they have travelled to Canada together and is Charles’s 17th official visit to the country.

U.S. charges Chinese with hacking

HE US has charged five Chinese army officers with hacking into private-sector American companies in a bid for competitive advantage, in the first cyberespionage case of its kind. Attorney General Eric Holder said the alleged breaches were “significant” and demanded “an aggressive response”. US prosecutors say the officers stole trade secrets and internal documents from five companies and a labour

union. China denied the charges and warned the case would harm US-China relations. China has always denied American claims, saying hacking is illegal and that it is a victim not a perpetrator. The US had been building pressure last year on China over the issue. But its campaign was derailed after former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden appeared in Hong Kong with evidence of the US

Iraq elections: Maliki’s State of Law ‘wins most seats’

ers called for an inquiry into the attack. Earlier, Mr Mara said his government was now “at war” with the separatists. Eight soldiers and 28 rebels were killed in Saturday’s fighting, the army said. Malian Defence Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga has said reinforcements were being sent to Kidal. “We will double our troops on the ground if necessary,” AFP news agency quoted him as saying. The rebels are from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

RIME Minister Nouri Maliki’s alliance won last month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq, but fell short of a majority, preliminary results show. The electoral commission said State of Law had taken 92 of the 328 seats in the Council of Representatives. Its two main Shia rivals, Ammar al-Hakim’s Muwatin and the Ahrar movement loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, followed with a combined 57 seats. Mr Maliki wants a third term, but other parties have voiced strong opposition. They blame him for the sectarian violence that has left more than 3,500 people dead this year, and accuse him of trying to monopolise power. He blames external factors like the conflict in Syria for exacerbating the violence, and his opponents for the current political stalemate.

hacking into Chinese networks. Since then, the US has been on the back foot amid revelations of its spying on other countries. But the US has always maintained that while it does engage in traditional espionage it does not spy on foreign companies for American firms for their commercial gain, something it has now accused the Chinese state of doing. In Washington yesterday, Mr Holder said the hacking charges laid against the Chinese nationals were the first against “known state actors for infiltrating US commercial targets by cyber means”. He identified the alleged victims as Westinghouse Electric, US Steel, Alcoa Inc, Allegheny Technologies, SolarWorld and the US Steelworkers Union. “The alleged hacking appears to have been conducted for no reason other than to advantage state-owned companies and other interests in China, at the expense of businesses here in the United States,” Mr Holder said. In response, the Chinese

government said its “stance on the issue of internet security is consistent and clear”. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the allegations were “made up” and would “damage Sino-American cooperation and mutual trust”. “China is a staunch defender of network security, and the Chinese government, military and associated personnel have never engaged in online theft of trade secrets,” he said. In an indictment in the western district of Pennsylvania, the heart of the US steel industry, the US named Wang Dong, Sun Kailiang, Wen Xinyu, Huang Zhenyu, and Gu Chunhui, all officers in Unit 61398 of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as the alleged conspirators. FBI officials said the hacking in the years 2006-14 caused “significant losses” at the companies and that there were likely many more victims. And Mr Holder said the US government “categorically denounces” economic espionage as a trade tactic.

AUDI Arabia closed its embassy in Tripoli yesterday over “security” concerns in Libya, its ambassador said. “All the diplomatic staff has left due to the security situation,” Mohammed Mahmoud al-Ali said in a statement. The government insists it remains in control despite a series of clashes at the weekend, including the parliament building being overrun by militiamen. Libya’s leaders have struggled to bring stability to the country since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011. The statement from Saudi Arabia said its embassy would reopen “when the situation stabilises in the Libyan capital”. Algeria also closed its embassy and consulate in Tripoli on Friday, saying its diplomats faced a “real and imminent threat”. Earlier yesterday, the AP news agency reported that Libya’s army chief had ordered the deployment of Islamist militias in the capital. The move came after a rogue former army general sent his paramilitary force into Tripoli on Sunday to attack the parliament building.

Dozens of Colombian kids killed in bus fire

T least 32 people, almost all children aged 14 or under, died when a bus caught fire in northern Colombia. Eighteen passengers and the driver reportedly managed to escape the blaze. They were returning from an event at an evangelical Christian church near the city of Fundacion, about 750km (465 miles) north of the capital, Bogota. The co-ordinator of the regional emergency response corps said there was a gasoline canister inside the vehicle which sped up the fire’s spread. Maj Eduardo Velez said the fire started after the driver attempted to start the faulty bus by pouring fuel into the engine, which he accessed through the floor of the cabin. However, one surviving girl told local media the driver got off the bus “to fill the tank with petrol”. “The bus was on fire, the driver ran away to get water and then didn’t come back,” the 11year-old recalled. “I broke a window and got my sister out, but I couldn’t save

my two brothers,” she said. Local media said the bus did not have any emergency exits. Neighbours rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the flames with sand, but they said the bus burned out “within seconds”. The bodies of the victims have been taken to the city of Barranquilla for identification, as they were burned beyond recognition. The mayor of Fundacion, Luz Stella Duran, said that some of those injured were in a “delicate state” and hoped that the number of dead would not rise further. The driver has been arrested. Prosecutors told Colombian radio station Caracol he did not have a driving licence and his bus had not been through the required inspection. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to Fundacion on Sunday evening to speak to the victims’ relatives. He said that the bus, which was owned by a private transport company, also lacked mandatory insurance.

South Sudan president warns of ‘famine’

OUTH Sudan’s president has warned his country faces “one of worst famines ever” unless the current conflict is ended, in an interview with the BBC. Salva Kiir also accused his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, of stoking ethnic tension and violating a ceasefire. Last week, Mr Kiir postponed presidential elections due next year to give government and rebel forces more time to achieve reconciliation. Some one million people have fled their homes since fighting broke out. The unrest erupted last December after the president alleged that Mr Machar was plotting a coup - allegations the ex-deputy denies. The United Nations has accused both sides of crimes against humanity, including mass killings and gang-rape, and threatened sanctions against those responsible for the violence. President Kiir told the BBC’s Hardtalk programme the rebels were to blame for the growing hunger crisis. UN humanitarian official Jan Egeland yesterday also warned that some 7.3 million people could go hungry by August. “I think $1.2bn (£713m) is needed of additional money to avoid us entering into a situation of famine, famine like we saw it a couple of decades ago,” he said at the start of an international aid conference in Norway to raise funds for South Sudan. He said the continuing violence meant time was running out for the most vulnerable.

THE NATION TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

NO.2854

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

Y last column “GEJ: No second term” (May 13, 2014) drew some 90 sms text responses, the third largest since I started writing At Home Abroad. A casual textual analysis suggests that some of them were written by the same person under different names or no names at all. A friend in my line of business tells me that an army of retainers, funded by shadowy organisations fronting for the Presidency, is on permanent alert to manufacture responses to articles critical of that institution. The responses break down roughly into 55 per cent for President Goodluck Jonathan, and his undeclared but undisguised secondterm bid, and 45 per cent for the column’s position that he should not seek re-election. What follows is a representative sample, edited where necessary for clarity and good taste. I am not sure that the authors are who they say they are, and I do not wish to attribute to any person even inadvertently a view he or she may not hold and may not have expressed. So, I have omitted the names. The tenacious Lai Ashadele, who never lets a column in The NATION pass without comment even if the comment is often grounded on a complete misapprehension, will no doubt recognise his comment even without his name. So will other correspondents represented in this selection, For GEJ: I am not surprised you must write what you write to be in the good book of Bola Tinubu your pay master. Jonathan will contest. Please allow the voters decide who they want. No 2nd term for JEG is your wish/personal opinion or that of your paymasters? I don’t know your faith but the Bible let me know that God is the maker of kings and rulers! Beware, you may be cursing one of God’s anointed! O God, forgive us all for we know not what we do, Amen. Your comment is too abusive and aggressive. You need to respect that office . Security of a nation should not be left to the President alone. What of the governors, (local government) chairmen and individuals for information? Even you journalists. Let us be constructive and make positive suggestions. As Jonathan is not qualified, you can declare your intent to contest in your party APC. I have it on good authority that you are a heavy drinker so when you become APC President you can drink till day break. Whether you and your paymasters the sponsors of Boko Haram like it or not, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will win landslide in next year. If your paymasters like, let them turn Northern Nigeria to another Somalia. By the way who is the APC presidential candidate or are you people planning to adopt

RIPPLES STEALING IS NOT CORRUPTION-ICPC

Anyone who made that STATEMENT should be investigated for STEALING

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Between columnist and reader on JEG

•Jonathan

President Jonathan? Well that should be your best move in order to avoid humiliation. What you should do as a card carrying member of APC is to defect to PDP and vote against President Jonathan during d PDP primaries. Who in Nigeria is unaware that Jonathan’s problems are brewed by people whom God taunted to declare their plans against him before his ascent to presidency? Even his most virulent foe is now opting to team up with him to quell a device he designed to frustrate Jonathan which backfired at him. Whoever plans to undo God’s deed calls for His wrath upon him. Such a one is in condemnation on earth and beyond. Shettima had an opportunity to save the Chibok girls when WAEC advised him to shift base of their examination to a safer haven. He never provided security as Chief Security Officer of

N Chibok, and its handling and mishandling, the Fixer has roared: no Nigerian, unborn, born or dead, could have done better than the wobbling Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. But of course! Who would droning flies back except the one with septic, smelly wound? “Jonathan can’t resign over Chibok girls, says Anenih” goes the headline. Tony Anenih, the chair, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), has spoken. Any other sentiment outside that is unpatriotic. That is patriotic Anenih-logic for you. But didn’t another school declare patriotism as the last bastion of the scoundrel? Chief Anenih’s Kenya-Nigeria contrast is even more instructive. He contrasted the terrorists’ attack on a shopping mall in Kenya and how Kenyans stood solidly behind their president, Uhuru Kenyatta, to how the Nigerian opposition allegedly plays politics with how President Jonathan is handling the current Chibok crisis. To be sure, it is unfortunate to play politics with national angst, particularly the Chibok girls and their hurting parents. If true, that would be unfortunate and well and truly condemnable. But is it? Nigerians are discerning enough to

the state. Steer clear of God’s wrath. Be fair in judgment. I want to draw your attention to some facts about President Jonathan. He rose from university lecturer to deputy governor to Vice President to Acting President to President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. All these positions, almost effortlessly, when Zik, Awo, Abiola and other prominent Nigerians worked hard and even died to be the President of Nigeria. God’s hand must be in this project – Jonathan. Are you and other NATION newspaper columnists not tired of your vendetta against Jonathan? Jonathan will seek re-election and win by a landslide. He is doing well. You are not blind to transformation in the agric and power sectors, the massive airport, road and rail rehabilitation. Try to be objective. It is quite a shame that people like you find yourself in chop-chop journalism. You leave out the main issue at stake in the country, and talk politics, shame to you and your sponsors. You were once a good and respected journalist, but you have lost touch and respect of journalism. You are a Yoruba man going by your name and an unrepentant member of APC. Can you if made the President of Nigeria do better? Let’s agree that your kinsman the former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the best thing that happened to Nigeria. GEJ will at the appropriate time declare his interest. After all, God has always been on his side. Even if you like, fill the whole pages of Tuesday in The NATION with flimsy and irrelevant reasons why Mr President shouldn’t contest for a second term, it makes no difference because no one cares for your opinion. If he (president) is a Yoruba man will you publish that rubbish? You are a tribalist and the likes of you are not good for our great nation (Nigeria). Is the presidency of this nation Nigeria the

HARDBALL

Chibok: the Fixer roars

provide their own answers, beyond cheap sentimentality. But another question, the Fixer himself might want to answer: did Jonathan handle the Chibok girls’ kidnap crisis as sure-footedly, as intelligent and as compassionate as Kenyatta handled the Kenya mall blast? Did Jonathan inspire any confidence, with his scandalous dither and executive doubt until two weeks after the kidnap? If he did, who started politicising the crisis: is it an un-presidential president who in his paranoia abandoned his sacred duty to citizens, blaming some phantom opposition for his crass incompetence? Or the so-called opposition whose outrage eventually forced him to do the job he is being paid at a premium? O, on this score, the “opposition” may well be concerned and outraged Nigerians and the global community who stood as one to compel Jonathan to do his job. Of course, Chief Anenih, since as defunct So-

SANYA ONI

preserve of the Hausa’s and Yoruba’s only? Against GEJ: Bless you for today’s column “JEG: No second Term”. Regrettably the man has even stepped further into more infamy by ordering the arrest of anybody who protests his failure. Sometimes I wonder if he really earned the Ph.D. he parades. Most regrettably the PDP is Nigeria’s worst enemy but we don’t seem to be tired of this govt’s cluelessness. They think that governance is the same as mere grandstanding. A pity. Your today’s article as usual is fantastic and I entirely agree with what you said. Please continue the excellent work you are known for. JEG should pack and go in 2015. All the religious, traditional leaders supporting him will be disgraced because of all evils perpetrated by this administration through corruption and bad leadership. Looking at JEG, one can see that he is unserious. Do you know that you have spoken the heart of Nigerians? Mr President has disappointed Nigerians. He should leave in 2015. Your column is a scientific assessment of an inept, corrupt and visionless government that came on board by accident and I am afraid if the political mess foisted by a cabal will not also be uprooted by a bloody accident. JEG is not prepared to quit. For once you’ve abandoned satire for reality. And you are angry. Good. But what the SA told you, I had already shared with my officers that the man should go for councillorship or a junior pastor. Thank God for little mercies, you’ve seen the light but where did u get the name “FAKA” for the DAME? Keep angry, please. Thank you for JEG: No second term. There is nothing anybody can add to what you have written. Indeed, Nigeria deserves much, much better. I have never been afraid for Nigeria and Nigerians as in the last three weeks. We are saddled with a leader who seems not to have the strength nor words to bring out the best in us. I salute your courage for speaking the truth. I have said it times without number that GEJ is not supposed to lead Nigeria. Look at the mess he and PDP have put us into. It is time Igbos take over the government and progress and peace will reign. I have been following you for years. Just finished reading your article...No second term. Wish we all had your guts. Think seriously about seeking a public post. You will have my vote. Hmm, where did you get the courage to write these truths! I dey fear for your life o! Your article “JEG: No second term” is reflective and blunt. It is straight to the point and a masterpiece. Please expect visitors from Aso Rock and the PDP. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above cial Democratic Party (SDP) national chairman, helped to swap his party’s presidential mandate for a sterile interim national government, has hardly stood for anything worth crowing about in Nigerian politics. As he declared fumbling Jonathan excellent, he fully backed Lucky Igbinedion, whose tenure as Edo State governor is best forgotten, for doing an excellent job, even if that tenure was a clear disaster. Incidentally, Anenih was one of two persons — the other being Lucky’s father, the Esama of Benin — who the former governor claimed he was borrowing money from to run the state. Strangely enough, Lucky’s pronounced bankruptcy of Edo vanished the moment his successor — not the professorial stop-gap but the real successor, Adams Oshiomhole — won back his stolen mandate. Of course, Sam Nda-Isaiah, former chairman of Leadership newspaper, once in an open and widely read letter to Anenih, declared the PDP BOT chair would endorse any character in government. It was an Anenih rebuke gone sour. Still, even Sam’s heroics falls spat in Anenih’s classification: he is “unpatriotic opposition”, being an APC partisan! Jonathan’s incompetence is clear and proven — whether Anenih likes it or not. No false patriotism change the situation.

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