The Nation May 27, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

News NDLEA rejects court’s order to leave Kashamu’s home P5 Sports Asisat Oshoala is BBC Woman Footballer of the Year P24 Business Blackout continues in Abuja as Apo station breaks down P53 •Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3227 WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: POLICE PROBE DEATH IN ILORIN P58 THREE KIDNAP SUSPECTS HELD IN EKITI P8

May 29 fever grips states Governor-elect rejects N15b Govt House Fashola, Ambode meet security chiefs Suntai packs out of Govt House APC to review governor’s ‘rush hour’ pacts

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OME 48 hours to the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, there seems to be a surge of activities in the land.

Dignitaries are arriving for the ceremony, which will take place at the Eagle Square in Abuja. Guinean President Alpha Conde arrived yesterday. The city’s streets are festooned with flags.

A committee has started the accreditation of the media for the historic event for which all the big hotels have been booked.

I was told that new government house has cost over N15 billion and it is still uncompleted. I can’t live in such an office when ... people have no water to drink, children are not going to school, civil servants are not paid, there is no medical care in rural areas and most villages have no roads

By Our Reporters

In states where new governors are to take office – incumbents will also take the oath of office – there is a build-up to the day. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Governor-elect

Akinwunmi Ambode met with security chiefs at the State House in Marina.

Fashola handed the security apparatus in the nation’s commercial capital to his would-be successor at a meeting of the State’s Security Council.

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Fashola bade farewell to the Council, which he has headed since 2007.

Members of the Council at the meeting are: Commander 9 Mechanised Brigade, Ikeja, Brigadier General Ahmed Sabo; Commander AirForce 435 Base, Ikeja, Air Commo-

dore Lere Osanyintolu; Commander NNS BeeCroft, Navy Commodore Teikumo Daniel Ikoli; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who represented Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti and Director, State Security Service,

Mr. Ben Olayi Also there were: Chief of Staff to the Governor Lanre Babalola; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye; Special Adviser on Security and Policing Matters Major Tunde Panox and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey.

In Plateau State, Governor-elect Simon Lalong has said he will not work from the new Government House in Jos, the state capiContinued on page 4

Tambuwal quits seat for Ihedioha From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal yesterday gave up his seat to forestall a vacuum.

Tambuwal, governor-elect of Sokoto State, will be sworn in on Friday.

Tambuwal said yesterday that there would be no vacuum even though there was no mention of steps to be taken in the constitution in the occurrence of such development.

The Speaker told reporters that the House, at an executive session creatively resolved the issue.

He said Deputy Speaker Emeka Continued on page 60

Jonathan in dilemma •Talks over amendments From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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

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HERE have been moves to settle the constitution amendment row amicably.

A Presidency team led by the Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and National Continued on page 4

•All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle) introducing Lagos State Governor-elect Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to the Guinean President, Alpha Conde (left) on his arrival in Lagos ... yesterday. With them is former APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande (right).

Guinean leader: Buhari ‘ll fight corruption •P4

•SENATE PRESIDENT: SUPPORT FOR LAWAN, AKUME TICKET SWELLS P58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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NEWS

Defence budget dec •Ministry incursN26.8b debts •2,833 troops deployed in Liberia, Sudan, Mali, Lebanon, others

•President Goodluck Jonathan cutting a tape to inaugurate the Dialysis Centre at Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja...yesterday. With him are: Minister of State for Defence, Col. Augustine Akobumdu (second right), Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (right) and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Rear Admiral Gabriel Okoi.

If the report of the Namadi Sambo-chaired Federal Government Transition Committee is anything to go by, the votes allocated to Defence Ministry has been on the decline in the past four years. Managing Editor YUSUF ALLI takes a look at the report.

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•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (left); Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III and Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko when the governors visited the Sultan in his palace...yesterday.

•From left: Brand Manager, Dettol, Oladipupo Ogundele; Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State chapter, Dr. Babatunde Olatunji; Global Hygiene Council/Dettol spokesman, Dr. Nneoma Idika and Vice President, NMA, Mr. Titus Ibekwe at NMA’s 55th Annual General Conference/Delegate meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

•REWARD WELL-DESERVED: Adamu Nahuta (middle), receiving a N500,000 cheque from Maijidda Modibbo of the Corporate Communication’s unit of Dangote Group for assisting in the arrest of a Dangote truck driver involved in illegal haulage as part of the on-going company’s campaign against the use of its truck for illegal haulage. With them is Nike Sanmi Adebayo of the Group’s Customer Care department., Dangote Cement .

ESPITE lingering insurgency in three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and security challenges in at least 30 states, the defence vote has maintained a steady decline under the President Goodluck Jonathan administartion since 2011.

Out of N445.309 billion allocated to the Defence Ministry in the past five years, about N273.831 billion was actually released as capital and recurrent expenditures.

It was learnt that about N171.478 billion, though earmarked, was not released to the ministry, which also has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24,including N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and N24,212,022,699.19 excess commitment on Peace Support operations.

The decline in capital and recurrent allocations to defence has been clearly highlighted in a report presented to the Federal Government Transition Committee, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

President Goodluck Jonathan will officially make the report available to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari tomorrow in Abuja.

The breakdown of the report shows that the Federal Government budgeted N445.309 billion for the Ministry of Defence between 2011 and 2015. According to the report, capital vote has N213.122 billion and overhead (N232.187 billion).

Only N110.916 billion was released out of the N213.122 billion capital votes and N162.915 billion out of the N232.187 billion recurrent budget was released.

The report reads in part: “There has been consistent decline in both capital and overhead allocations to the defence sector in the past five years (2011-2015) as shown in the table below. In spite of the limited funds, the responsibilities of both the ministry and its agencies are increasing on a daily basis. Mostly with the level of insecurity arising from insurgency in the Northeast, Niger Delta and other flash points.

“Follow the inadequacy of regular funding for Peace Support Operations (PSOs), N35,000,000,000.00 (thirty five billion naira only) Bond was raised at 9.75 per cent per annum in 2008 to equip Nigerian troops engaged in various United Nations (UN) missions.

“The equipment procured was delivered at the Nigerian Arm Ordinance Depot, Lagos, for onward deployment to mission areas under the supervision of the Defence Headquarters. However, it should be noted that Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) attracts reimbursements from the United Nations Peace-keeping which account is domiciled with CBN UN Account General of the Federation and utilised for the repayment of the Bond. So far, the sum of N27.3

billion has been repaid for the loan taken.

“However, following a request by the ministry to Mr. President for the transfer of control/management of the Armed Forces Peace Keeping reimbursement account from Nigeria Permanent Mission in the UN to the Defence Section in New York from where the funds will be remitted into the MOD account, the request was graciously approved and it is expected that with the transfer, funds would be easily accessed and utilized more judiciously for the maintenance and upgrade of the equipment.

“The repayment schedule due to non-regular remittance of funds from the Defence Section in New York to the ministry, which therefore affected the loan payment which hitherto was to be fully paid in June, 2015 but will now be paid on a quarterly sum of N1, 284,122,196.23 with effect from 30th June, 2015 to 30th September, 2017 “The ministry has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24 and $20,962.96. This is made up of N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and excess commitment of N24,212,022,699.19 on Peace Support operations (i.e. N11,370,800,729.85 for UNAMID and N1,246,102,623.11 for Guinea Bissau) and DMO debt of N12,841,221,969.34.”

The report claimed that the Nigerian troops are currently engaged in more than five major operations in almost all the states of the federation and 10 external operations.

The external operations are in Liberia, Darfur, Guinea Bissau, Mali, South Sudan, Cote D’Ivoire, Western Sahara, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Sierra Leone.

It added: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has continued to maintain a high operational tempo, making significant and positive contributions to internal security, regional as well as International Peace Support Operations. The joint operations as well as single Service operations are highlighted below.

“The AFN is currently engaged in Internal Security Operation in virtually all the States of the Federation with troops deployed in operation such as the Multination Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation PULO SHILED and Special Task Force (STF) Operation SAFE HAVEN. “ The MNJTF is a tripartite operation involving Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republic. It was established as Operation FLUSHOUT 1 to flush out Chadian and Nigerien rebels who operated in the Lake Chad region before September 1998.

“The Task Force is currently charged with the responsibilities to contain cross border banditry and criminal activities resulting from the presence of these rebels around the international border of Chad, Nigeria

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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COUNTDOWN TO MAY 29... 2 DAYS TO GO

get declines in four years by N171.47b, says report

•Sambo

•Defence Minister Gen. Aliyu Gusau

and Niger.

“A JTF operation launched in June 2011 metamorphosed into OP BOYONA following the declaration of State of Emergency by the President, C-in-C (Commander-in-Chief to curb Boko Haram insurgency in the NE. However, with the establishment of 7 Division, Op BOYONA was transferred to the Nigerian Army, though the Defence Headquarters is supporting the operation with logistics and personnel from other Services. The operation was renamed Op ZAMAN LAFIYA in 2014; “The STF Operation SAFE HAVEN commenced on 21 January 2010 following the crises that engulfed Jos Metropolis on 17 January 2010 and later spread to the other Local Government Areas (LGAs). It was tasked with the maintenance of law and order and protection of law abiding citizens within Plateau and some parts of Bauchi States.

“It has remained effective in curbing the violence between the local farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State; “ JTF Operation RESTORE HOPE which was established to patrol Bayelsa and Delta States was merged with Operation FLUSHOUT III operating in Rivers State in January 2011 to become Op PULO SHIELD. “The mandate of Op PULO SHIELD is to curb oil theft in the Niger Delta area among other criminal activities. The JTF’S mandate and AOR has been expanded to cover 9 states in the South-East and SouthSouth regions of the country. “ Kidnapping and militancy are some of the criminal acts prevalent in the southern part of the country.

While the Federal Government Amnesty Programme was successful in combating the militancy challenge to

•Defence Chief Air Marshal Alex Badeh

•Army Chief Maj-Gen Keneth Minimah

•Naval Chief Usman Jibrin

•Naval Chief Adesola Amosun

forts to induct 16 additional ArPercentage moured Personnel Carriers and other Release requirement into the mission to meet (%) UN standards; •Nigeria has 970 troops, compris(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) ing 939 formed troops and 31 MILOBs/SOs currently deployed in 2011 38,253,289,043.00 26,171,783,378.00 68.42 54,420,173,440.00 37,601,110,104.97 69.09 United Nations Mission in Darfur after the repatriation of two NIBATTs 2012 45,436,143,373.00 32,104,551,171.00 70.66 60,547,567,945.00 49,467,446,729.00 81.7 in July 2014. The formed troops consist of one NIBATT of 819 personnel 2013 59,251,899,999.00 35,057,003,315.00 59.17 39,289,742,376.00 39,289,742,376.00 100.00 all ranks, a LEVEL II Hospital of 96 personnel all ranks and 2 x Sig De2014 33,482,457,507.00 17,584,304,273.00 52.52 40,533,928,589.00 31,475,387,410.00 77.65 tachment of 12 personnel each (24 all ranks); 2015 36,700,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 37,398,812,273.00 5,083,584,184.33 13.59 • Nigeria has a reinforced infantry company of 185 personnel all ranks that was inducted on 29 November 2012 into the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau. The rotation of NIGCOY 1 with NIGCOY 2 was successfully completed in December 2013.

• Following the fusion of African– led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) into the Multi–Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali in July 2013, Nigeria currently has 188 personnel all ranks deployed in Mali.

The strength comprises 170 formed troops 18 military personnel deIt added: “One of the foreign policy all ranks deployed in Liberia, Sudan, ployed as MILOB s/SOs. The formed a great extent, kidnapping still perobjectives of Nigeria is to contribute Mali, and Guinea Bissau as well as troops are the Signal Company sisted, especially in Abia State.

“In response to this challenge, Op to global security and project Niger- 137 Military Observes (MILOBs)/ (NISIG Coy) and the Level II HospiJUBILEE was established in October, ia’s prestige in the international com- Staff Officers (SOs) deployed in vari- tal deployed in MINUSMA. “Nigeria has 62 military personnel 2010. Headquarters 82 Division un- munity. In line with this, since 1999, ous UN AND REGIONAL PSOs. “The details of Nigeria troops de- also deployed to other mission areas der whose Area of Responsibilities all of the AFN’s major deployments the operation fell was tasked to ar- abroad have been UN mandated ployed to some missions will be dis- as MILOBs/SOs. These missions are those in South Sudan, Cote D’ Ivoire, rest kidnapping and other forms of Peace Support Operations (PSOs). cussed briefly as follows: • Nigeria has a total of 1,403 Western Sahara, Democratic Repubcriminal activities, which has then Nigerian troops’ deployments to ongrounded all forms of socio-economic going PSOs include UNMIL (Liberia), formed troops and 26 MILOBs/SOs lic of Congo, Lebanon and Sierra activities in the South East part of the UNAMID (Sudan), ECOMIB (Guinea currently deployed in UN Mission in Leone. The Nigerian Military personBissau) and MINUSMA (Mali). There Liberia. The formed troops are apart nel deployed in various mission have country.”

The report gave analysis of the na- are also Nigerian military personnel of the 2 remaining Nigerian Battal- so far been performing their tasks of tion’s contribution to global security deployed as Military Observers/Staff ions (NIBATTs) after the repatriation assisting the affected Governments to of the Nigerian Contingent Sector HQ restore normalcy in the various counand participation in peace-keeping Officers in other UN Missions.

“At present, there are 2,833 troops in July 2014. The DHQ is making ef- tries satisfactorily.” missions.

Year

Capital Appropriation (N)

Amount Released (N)

Percentage Overhead ) Amount Release (%) Appropriation (N) Release (N)

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The ministry has an outstanding liability of N26, 830,532,161.24 and $20,962.96. This is made up of N2,618,509,462.05 and $20,962.96 incurred on capital and overhead expenditures and excess commitment of N24,212,022,699.19 on Peace Support operations (i.e.

N11,370,800,729.85 for UNAMID and N1,246,102,623.11 for Guinea Bissau) and DMO debt of N12,841,221,969.34”

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Odigie-Oyegun to elected APC lawmakers: join hands with executive to effect change •Party denies zoning Senate presidency, speakership

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John OdigieOyegun yesterday told House of Representatives members-elect to brace for cooperation with the executive arm of government.

He told the lawmakers that the incoming administration can only deliver on its campaign promises and bring about the promised change under a rancour-free atmosphere.

Odigie-Oyegun spoke at a retreat organised for APC members-elect just as the as the party denied media reports that it has zoned the Senate presidency and House of Representatives speakerhip to the Northcentral and Southwest respectively.

The party chair reminded the lawmakers that the campaigns were over and that the time has

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

come to render service to the people, urging them to join hands with the party in meeting the aspirations of Nigerians.

According to them, having successfully ran the campaigns and won the election, the onus is for the party to take up the challenge of administering the country and ensure the realisation of the change it preached.

“In the spirit of change”, he told his audience, “the party intends to always keep to scheduled time of events as part of its agenda to re-orientate Nigerians on good ethical practices.”

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said the party has decided to allow both chambers of the National Assembly to elect their own leaders in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

According to Tambuwal, the election of the leadership for the legislature has been taken care of by the party’ constitution, assuring that the

APC constitution will promote internal democracy.

The Speaker noted the principle of internal democracy, which the APC constitution preaches, is recognised by the Nigerian constitution.

He said: “It (APC constitution) operates under the federal character doctrine as contained in the constitution which states that all sections of the country shall have equitable representation.

“The APC in the present dispensation will allow the legislators to elect their own leadership and in line with the federal character principle. It should not be taken to mean that the party is not aware of these provisions. We are confident that the constitutional provisions will be given attention”.

He said lessons should have been learnt from the frosty relationship that existed between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its lawmakers on one hand and the National Assem-

bly and the PDP-led federal government.

The incoming APC government should not allow itself to make the same mistake.

In her lecture, Mrs. Saudatu Mahdi spoke of the need for a legislation on affirmative action on woman participation in governance.

She said the implementation of much-talked about change must begin immediately after inauguration on Friday.

Unless this was done, Nigerians, especially women, will begin the agitation for positive change in the affairs of the country, Mrs. Mahdi warned.

Speaking on party supremacy, spokesman of the party Alhaji Lai Muhammed, regretted the often frosty relationship between political parties and their elected representatives,recalling the busy nature of the party secretariat during nominations. He noted that the secretariat used to be a beehive of activities, attracting the who-iswho among the political gladiators in their quests to secure nomination.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

NEWS Guinean leader: Buhari ‘ll fight corruption

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UINEA President Alpha Condé yesterday said President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has the qualities to make Africa proud.

Conde, speaking after a private meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos, described Buhari as an incorruptible leader who will confront corruption headlong.

President Conde, who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 12.30pm was received by Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Lagos State Governor-elect Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and others is in Nigeria for Buhari’s inauguration on Friday.

He said: “At a time Nigeria was in the leadership of Africa.

During that period, within the French speaking countries, Guinea was the leader of the countries working with Nigeria to end the crisis going on in the West African sub-region.

With the election of Buhari, Africa will be more stable.

“He is a straight forward person and will fight corruption.

Just like him, I fought corruption in Guinea. I believe this will culminate in a relationship with Nigeria like we have in the past.

“The relationship will offer opportunities to Nigeria businessmen and those in Guinea. They will visit Guinea to see the opportunities that abound in our country, but I came to Lagos to meet my brother here Tinubu before I meet with President Buhari.”

UN: Children, women carry out 75 per cent of suicide attacks in Nigeria

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T least 75 per cent of the suicide attacks in Nigeria this year were carried out by women or children, the United Nations Children’s Agency (UNICEF) said yesterday.

Twenty seven attacks took place in the first five months of this year, according to the UN agency.

Nine suicide attacks since July 2014, have been conducted by children between the ages of seven and 17, it added.

Last week, a 10-year-old girl carried out a suicide attack in Damaturu, Yobe State. No fewer than seven people were killed and more than 30 injured in the bombing.

“Children are not instigating these suicide attacks; they are used intentionally by adults in the most horrific way,” UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Jean Gough said.

Most of the suicide attacks are affiliated with the Boko Haram which has been active in Nigeria since 2009.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

The Guinean leader explained that before the election, the anxiety and uncertainty in Nigeria became a burden for Africa, noting that if the election had turned the other way it would have destabilised the continent.

He said: “Before the elections in Nigeria, there was anxiety, fear and uncertainty over the land. It was the belief that the country will disintegrate. This is also drawn from the fact that Nigeria fought the Biafra war.

“The war against Boko Haram was also there which Africa has to jointly fight. Boko Haram is not only Nigeria problem, it is African problem.

We believe the African Union cannot make progress on the continent without assisting Nigeria to stop Boko Haram. The world believes that African leadership does not possess the power to end Boko Haram.

“There was a decision

•Residents of Malam Fatori an its area, close to the borders with Niger and Chad, pass by a patrol of Niger's soldiers as they flee Islamist Boko Haram attacks to take shelter in the Niger's town of Bosso secure by Niger and Chad armies ... on Monday. PHOTO: AFP

Continued on page 60

Boko Haram kills 43 in Borno attack

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OKO Haram militants have killed at least 43 people in a five-hour assault on the town of Gubio, Borno State, witnesses said yesterday.

The attack, which a military source said involved a convoy of about 50 Boko Haram members storming Gubio, lasted for about five hours on Saturday afternoon and ended about 9.30pm, local resident Malam Yusuf Mohammed said.

Details of such attacks often take a number of days to surface outside of the affected areas due to poor telecommunications.

Mohammed estimated that more than 400 houses had been burned by the insurgents.

“They came, shooting, threatening to kill everybody.

They set fire on many houses, burnt down our peoples’ vehicles and motorcycles. We lost 43 people including two children,” Abubakar Mondama, leader of a local vigilante

DHQ studying captured videos on sect group, told journalists.

Military authorities are analysing some video/clips indicating that foreigners hold positions of power within the Boko Haram setup.

They are being analysed.

The clips are among those found in captured Boko Haram camps to identify the fighters and study the group’s internal dynamics, it was learnt.

The Federal Government has spoken of foreign influence within the ranks of the jihadists but lacks the evidence to back up its assertion.

“They (foreigners) carry arms and fight alongside the other terrorists,” a senior military source, who declined to be identified, said. “They are also experts and trainers.”

Reuters was not able to establish how many other foreigners were at the filmed event or what percentage of

the militants’ fighting force they account for overall.

In 2012, Boko Haram was reported to be receiving training from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), although there has been little to back up claims of foreigners at the core of the group beyond anecdotal evidence from civilians who escaped or soldiers who fought them.

The footage shows Boko Haram administering sharia judgments in front of a big crowd in a field stained with blood with a man speaking in Sudanese Arabic.

“God ordered all believers to enforce his punishments,” the man, whose face is completely covered by a white turban, says to camera. “God ordered us to cut off the hand of the thief and flog the adulterer and adulteress.”

Standing in the middle of a circle formed by the crowd and near a preacher shouting

into a loudspeaker in Hausa, the man appeared to be overseeing at the gathering called to implement sharia law.

A man wearing a black turban stands next to him as he speaks in Arabic and occasionally nods in agreement while another waves the group’s black flag behind them. Turbans in this style are not typical in Nigeria’s northeast.

In other parts of the film, men and women are flogged and several have hands amputated while the crowd cheers. A man is also stoned to death after being buried up to his head in a pit.

The military says it believes the events took place in southeastern Borno state in or near the town of Gwoza, Boko Haram’s former headquarters. The distinctive Mandara mountain range can be seen in the background. There was no time stamp to indicate

May 29 inauguration fever grips states, Abuja Continued from page 1

tal.

The governor-elect said the N15 billion property had not been completed, adding that he does not need such luxury to serve the people.

He said: “I am not going to occupy an uncompleted building as a government house. In any case, I don’t need such a house to work for the people of Plateau State.

“In serving Plateau people, I don’t need a luxury office.

I’d rather prefer people of the state live in luxury homes with all social services provided. So, I don’t think a new government house is a priority of Plateau people. I don’t need such an office to serve

my people.

“I was told that new government house has cost over N15 billion and it is still uncompleted. I can’t live in such an office when Plateau people have no water to drink, children are not going to school, civil servants are not paid, there is no medical care in rural areas and most villages have no roads. So, I don’t need such capital-intensive government house. Such a project amounts to a misapplication of scarce fund.”

Lalong said his administration would review uncompleted projects left by the outgoing Jonah Jang administration before completing them.

Jang had urged the incoming administration to com-

plete ongoing projects before starting new ones.

But Lalong said: “I am going to complete all ongoing projects I am going to inherit.

But I will have to review them and know the cost implication. The abandoned projects are numerous. I have to review all of them. I need to know which contractor is involved and how much has been spent so far on each of the projects.

“Governor Jang has claimed he is leaving a debt of over N8 billion for me, excluding the N28 billion bond he collected before the election. Then, he is owing the civil servants at least seven months of unpaid salaries and unquantified workers’

allowances and pensioners’ funds.

“On all these financial liabilities, I am going to set up a committee to review them and advise government accordingly.”

Also yesterday, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) prevented Jang from inaugurating some projects for non-payment of workers’ salary.

The governor was billed to inaugurate a radio station at the Jos Campus of the State Polytechnic.

The aggrieved workers barricaded the entrance to the newly-built Revenue House of the State Internal Revenue Service.

A spokesman for the work-

Jonathan in dilemma over amendment to constitution Continued from page 1

Assembly leaders yesterday met in Abuja on the stalemated amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

The Assembly has agreed to drop most of the 10 dis-

when the half hour of video was filmed but a shorter, edited version of the film was released after the group took over Gwoza last summer.

The military has not publicly released the footage while its analysts worked on identification and the workings of the group.

“It (footage) helps document their atrocities as evidence in the event of any trial,” a senior military source said, adding: “To understand their pattern or mode of operation ... and equipment in their possession with other information, is vital for intelligence.”

Reuters was unable to independently authenticate the footage and Boko Haram could not be reached for comment. Reuters viewed four separate videos.

Reuters also saw raw footage of a video titled: “Harvest of Spies”, released in edited form in March, which copied Islamic State videos and showed the beheading of two men accused of being undercover government agents.

puted amendments of the 65 passed by the two chambers.

One of the contentious amendments is payment of pensions for life for the President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker as well as principal officers of the legislature at the state level.

The National Assembly may forego the section on

pensions because the economy cannot sustain it.

But as the two parties wound up the reconciliatory session, there were fresh hurdles on the new amendments, including how to pass

these into law and assented to before May 29 when President Goodluck Jonathan will leave office.

There were two options on Continued on page 60

•Lalong

ers, Mr Paul Dakogal, who is also the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSAN), said: “It is inappropriate for Jang to inaugurate any project. Governor Jang did not contribute any resource in facilitating the project. How then can he inaugurate it?

“When we heard that the governor planned to inaugurate a radio station, among other projects in the state, Continued on page 60

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

5

NEWS

Extradition: Court orders NDLEA to vacate Kashamu’s residence A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos ordered yesterday the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to vacate the home of Senator-elect Prince Buruji Kashamu.

The order was made by Justice Ibrahim Buba in a contempt proceedings filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke and Chairman of NDLEA Ahmadu Giade.

Justice Buba directed the police to ensure that all orders issued are obeyed by the respondents. He reinstated the summon for Giade to appear before him on June 4.

Kashamu, through his lawyers, Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Ajibola Oluyede, had approached the court following the siege on his home since May 23, by officials of the NDLEA. Although the applicant had filed a motion ex-parte, the court on Monday refused to entertain it and directed that the respondents be put on notice to appear before it yesterday.

But at the resumed hearing, the AGF was represented by Anne Akwiwu. The NDLEA chairman failed to appear in court.

When the matter was called up, Akwiwu prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the AGF’s counsel reply to the originating motion on notice for committal filed against him.

She stated that lawyers to the AGF were present because of respect for the court, noting that they were not ready as they

Agency rejects order

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday turned down an order requesting it to vacate the residence of Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, in Lagos.

The agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mitchel Ofoyeju, spoke in a statement in Lagos .

Ofoyeju said the agency received a court order to vacate the residence and directed both Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke and Chairman, NDLEA Ahmed Giade to appear in court.

According to the statement, the NDLEA did not believe that any court would issue such warrant preventing any agency to perform its statutory role as drug trafficking law enforcement agency.

Ofoyeju said the agency would continue to maintain its stand on monitoring the residence

By Precious Igbonwelundu

were yet to regularise their standing.

Her prayer for adjournment prompted Izinyon to make an oral application seeking four orders in line with the urgency of the matter.

Izinyon urged the court to grant an order vacating the over 50 personnel of the NDLEA, who have laid siege on Kashamu’s residence since May 23, forthwith.

He prayed for an order that any application for arrest warrant against Kashamu must be brought before Justice Buba, since he is in charge of the case.

Kashamu’s lawyer also

of the senator-elect in preparation for his extradition after his appearance in court.

“The NDLEA wishes to reiterate that his rights like that of other citizens shall be respected and the due process of law followed in this case.

“The agency is prepared to further increase its public rating and goodwill in the areas of suspect handling.

“Respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“We are prepared to explore all legal means in handling this case to a logical conclusion,” the statement said.

Ofoyeju said that the Federal Government had received request from the United States Government for the extradition of Kashamu.

He said that the U.S government had also provided warrant of arrest on him contrary to what his attorneys said that there was no warrant of arrest to effect their actions.

prayed for an order allowing them to publish the court’s ruling in the newspaper as a notice to NDLEA Chairman, since the Court’s Bailiff could not effect personal service on Giade.

He further prayed for an order that the court should direct the police and the State Security Service (SSS) to enforce the order of the court, since the NDLEA personnel attached to Kashamu’s residence are armed.

Although the counsel to the AGF prayed the court to discountenance the requests made

by Izinyon, Justice Buba in his ruling observed that the applicant has been in and out of court against the respondents to

which there are subsisting rulings and judgment.

He noted that Justice Okon Abang ordered parties to stay actions in a fundamental rights suit filed by Kashamu, adding that the AGF and NDLEA are sixth and second respondents, respectively, in that case slated for judgment today, May 27.

“This is a unique case in the sense that the applicant has been in and out of court against the respondents and many others.

“One of such cases is before my learned brother, Justice Okon Abang, and the matter has been fixed for judgment on May 27.

In that case, Justice Abang made order staying all actions

arising from the applicant’s claims capable of infringing on his fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and association, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.”

Justice Buba noted that the order has not been set aside by any court and should be respected by all parties involved based on principle of law.

Noting that the court would not stampede the AGF, who has prayed for time to file a reply, Justice Buba emphasised that parties in the suit were bound by the orders made by Justice Abang, which directed that status quo be maintained.

Citing plethora of legal authorities, Justice Buba held that “the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction subsist unless it is set aside by a superior court.

He said: “Whether rightly or wrongly, parties are bound by that order of Justice Abang. The judgment of the court, no matter how perverse, remains valid until set aside by a higher court.

“Therefore, while it will be in the interest of justice to grant the AGF time to react, the justice of this case at this stage demands that the NDLEA men stationed at the applicant’s premises are hereby ordered to vacate in view of the subsisting court order.

“The alleged contemnors are hereby ordered not to do anything to undermine the hearing of the committal suit before this court.

NE of the aspirants for the office of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mohammed Tahir Mongonu, has stepped down from the race, throwing his weight behind the candidacy of Femi Gbajabiamila.

Mongonu, who represents Marte/Mongunu/Nganzai Federal Constituency in Borno State, said he was stepping down to contest the position of the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Addressing a news conference at the venue of the retreat for APC members-elect of the House of Representatives, Mongonu said he decided to step down for Gbajabiamila because of his belief that as the

Dokpesi, seven others to testify in Tinubu’s N150b suit against AIT

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HE Chairman of DAAR Communication Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and seven others have been listed as witnesses to testify in a N150 billion libel suit filed

by All Progressives Congress (APC’s) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu against the African Independent Television (AIT).

The former Lagos State governor had instituted a N150 billion suit against the DAAR Communications Plc, owners of AIT, before an Ikeja High Court over alleged false accusations in a documentary titled: “Lion of Bourdillon”.

The matter is before Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe of Ikeja High Court.

Others listed as witnesses are Namure Joy Edoimioya, Chief Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Chief Stanley Odidi, Engr. Nwabueze and Dr. Stanley Bassey.

Tinubu is claiming that the documentary was politically sponsored to tarnish his reputation in the eyes of the populace.

Justice Akinkugbe had on April 1, 2015 granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the AIT from further airing the documentary, pending the determination of the libel suit.

By Adebisi Onanuga

But, in a statement of defence and counter-claim filed by AIT before the court yesterday, the defendant denied each and every claim of the applicant in the amended statement of claim.

AIT claimed that the claimant/applicant founded his entire claims on a nonexistent ground or cause of action because contrary to his (Tinubu) claim, the documentary aired by its media outfit is not titled: “The Lion of Bourdillon”, but “Unmasking the Real Tinubu”.

AIT, in its statement of defence, also averred that the documentary, in its honest opinion, was not false and neither was it aired out of malice against the person of the claimant.

It averred further that as the fourth estate of the realm, it was empowered

by Section 22 of the Constitution to at all times, hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria.

“The defendant avers that further to paragraphs 4 and 5 above, that it is empowered by Section 22 of the Constitution as the fourth estate of the realm, to at all times, hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria, and to be free to up-

hold the fundamental objectives contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people to ensure that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group, and that there is equal opportunity for every Nigerian to secure adequate means of livelihood and empowerment without discrimination.

“The defendant avers that the claimant is a former public office holder, whose activities before, during and after leaving office are always in the public domain for proper scrutiny, in accordance with the intendment of the framers of the Nigerian Constitution.

“The defendant also avers that being in the business of information dissemination, it is aware that the contents of the said documentary are not news to many Nigerians, a fact very well known to the claimant, who took no steps to correct the information embedded in the print media and the social media platforms for years. For example, the pseudonym, “Lion of Bourdillon”, by which the claimant has come to be known, addressed and associated with, over the

“The applicant shall publish the order therein, since the second respondent could not be served personally, and that publication is enough notice to the second respondent to withdraw his men from the premises of the applicant.

“The Nigeria Police is hereby directed, or be informed that there is an alleged contempt proceedings against the second respondent (NDLEA), instituted by the applicant against the respondents, but especially the second respondent.

“And they (police) should ensure that the orders of court are obeyed as it is the duty of all parties, principalities and agents of government to obey this order pending the hearing of the application filed by the applicant.

“There should be no room for a free-for-all fight. Finally, the court directs that the applicant and all parties shall appear in this court on June 4 to hear the matter on merit.”

House Speaker: Mongonu steps down for Gbajabiamila

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•From right: Mongonu, Gbajabiamila, Abdulsamad Dasuki Abubakar, Amuda Kannike, Funke Adedoyin and Rasaq Atunwa during APC retreat for House of Representatives’ members-elect in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Kashamu

years, was not given to him, or coined by the defendant”, it averred.

According to AIT, the said documentary, which it did not authored, was only aired for a given short period of time and was last aired on March 6, 2015, when it got wind that the defendant had filed a libel suit.

Attached to the statement of defence and counter-claim was a list of documents which it said would be relied upon and which comprises links to online publications.

Dokpesi, in his statement on oath, also claimed that the defendant merely exercised its constitutional, statutory and social responsibility to inform, educate, entertain and provide a platform for national discourse, to all shades of opinion and political persuasion.

He said the documentary aired by the defendant under Section 22 of the Constitution merely states that the claimant has breached some portions of the said fundamental objectives, and directive principles of state policy contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution and which the defendant is legally mandated to ensure the observance of, and same was not maliciously or falsely made against the claimant.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Minority Leader of the House, he should be allowed to transmute to the Speaker of the House.

He said the practice in advanced democracies all over the world was that having served as minority leader, “you ascend to the speakership position should your party gain the majority”.

He said: ”After broad consultations and thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to run for the office of the speaker in the 8th Assembly. Instead, I give my full endorsement to my friend and colleague, Femi Gbajabiamila, who I believe has the requisite qualification to lead the 8th Assembly in the onerous task of addressing the important and pressing needs of the citizens of this nation. I will instead be running for the deputy speaker on a joint ticket with Gbajabiamila.

“I am withdrawing from the race for two reasons: First, is to ensure party cohesion. As leaders of our great party, we can’t ill-afford to have a divided House if we are to deliver on the much needed change we promised Nigerians in the course of the campaign and second; Femi stands tall among our peers in terms of experience and understanding of the contours and nuances of the legislative process.”

Mongonu added: “The convention in representative democracies the world over is that having served as minority leader, you ascend to the speakership position should your party gain the majority.

The reason is simple: managing the complexities and subtleties of the legislative process is serious business. It cannot be left in the hands of anyone who desires to learn on the job.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

6

NEWS

Buhari’s govt won’t allow impunity, says Amaechi

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari would not allow impunity after May 29.

He spoke yesterday at a public lecture at the Dr. Obi Wali International Convention Centre on Chief Godspower Ake Road, Port Harcourt, as part of the activities to mark his 50th birthday.

The lecture, put together

by Amaechi’s Committee of Friends, with theme: “Deepening Democracy in Nigeria, implications for development in Africa”.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Robin Rene Sanders, a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria.

Amaechi said the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan was a timely intervention to save Nigeria.

The Rivers governor stated that the fact that the history of Nigeria and the transition from one civilian government to another could not be written, without including his name, was his greatest achievement.

He added that he refused to probe the government of a former Rivers governor, Dr. Peter Odili, despite tremendous pressure on him to do so.

The well-attended event, which was transmitted live on Channels Television, had in attendance an ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

(rtd.), who was represented by a former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, who chaired the occasion; a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; the APC’s governorship candidate in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; and the representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe. Also in attendance were a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas; ex-Governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George; an elder statesman, Chief Victor Odili; a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, a former Rivers Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby; an ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya; and a renowned human rights activist, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, among other eminent personalities.

Sanders described Nigeria as a nation of talented people, assuring that the country could get it right, in spite of its challenges, but admonished Nigerians to be determined that the democracy must work and inspire growth, for the nation to move forward.

The former U.S. ambassa-

dor to Nigeria also assured that Nigeria could change the face of Africa, saying the country represented the hope of Africa.

Abdulsalami said the greatest mistake of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was to have allowed five governors, including Amaechi, to leave the party for the APC. He noted that strong conviction, defending his views with the energy in him and not suffering fools gladly, could not be taken from the Rivers governor.

The former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives noted that every continent requires a role model to propel it to greatness and for Africa, according to him, it is Nigeria, stressing that the courage of Amaechi and other APC leaders to bring about change, had deepened the nation’s democracy.

Abe noted that the people’s voices must be heard to deepen democracy, insisting that it would be too early for the APC to do away with zoning of positions, for no part of Nigeria to be left behind and that the history of Rivers State would not be written without Amaechi’s name in bold letters.

Nsirimovu said the rule of law, effective participation, competition and accountability were essential to deepen democracy, while Jaja stressed

that the grace of God is upon Amaechi, especially for becoming 50.

The Rivers governor said: “I have been listening to Mr. Nyesom Wike and I have been trying not to reply him. He has been accusing me of corruption and I have been trying to keep quiet over the issue of corruption. A thief cannot call me corrupt. The first lesson he needs to learn is that he was Chief of Staff to my government. If I have no records, I have records on him.”

Rivers Governor-elect Chief Nyesom Wike, who is a former Minister of State for Education, on Monday in Port Harcourt, declared that he would probe Amaechi’s alleged corrupt government and to use forensic audit.

The governor continued: “One way we succeeded in moving this state forward was that we refused to probe Dr. Peter Odili’s government, despite the pressure on me to probe Dr. Odili’s government, because at the end of the day, they will not ask me the number of persons I probed, but what I did while in government. This convention centre (built by his government) is one of the testimonies. If we had gone to the Obi Wali Cultural Centre (in Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, now taken over by Sliverbird Cinema), the hall would have looked very full. This hall accommodates 2,200 persons.

The convention centre is very big. On top of the roof is a plenty space for big parties, for those who want to organise ‘Owambe’ and there are many conference/committee rooms in the hall.

“The road to Nyesom Wike’s father’s house was built by me. A relation of mine was killed in front of Wike’s father’s house, during the 2015 general elections. I am a Christian. I have never killed anybody and I will never kill anybody. Instead of killing somebody, I will give up my ambition. Anybody’s life is greater than any ambition I will have on earth.

“Nigerians need to be honest and transparent. I recently had a conversation with my first son on the phone and he said he was proud of me, because they cannot write the history of Nigeria, and the transition from one civilian government to another, without including me. I laughed and my son said everybody knew the role I played, the struggle and the fact that my family was torn into different parts and my children could not see me, but that they are proud to have a father like me.

That, for me, is my greatest achievement.

“God did not put me to shame. I will be leaving office as Rivers Governor very proud. President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife (Dame Patience); Nyesom Wike; sol-

•Amaechi

diers and police could not remove me from office. When I pray, in front of me all the time is God. That is why I am always victorious. If you want to fight me, you must first defeat God, which is impossible.

Nobody can overcome God. I have won already.”

The immediate past NGF chairman also expressed optimism that Peterside would emerge victorious at the election petitions tribunal, sitting in Abuja.

Amaechi faulted the governor-elect for behaving as if he was already in government.

Amaechi said: “They have not been sworn in, they are writing to banks to pay or not to pay money and to give them accounts. Which letterhead? Who the hell are they?

“Until May 29, I am the governor of Rivers State. I have no case hanging on my neck. By God’s grace, I have been governor for eight years.”

•School children at the news conference to mark this year’s National Children’s Day in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

I can’t be a party to Nigeria’s disintegration, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared that he would never be involved in moves to disintegrate Nigeria.

He spoke when he was decorated with the “Peace-Loving Global Citizen” Award by the Universal Peace Federation led

by Lagos lawyer Mike Ozekhome at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, he conceded defeat in the March 28 Presidential election in the interest of Nigeria and that he could not withstand deaths of Nigerians over his political ambition.

He said: “I took that decision because I told people around me that no matter the ambition anybody has, you must have a nation first; and I used to say that even if I should be the President for the next 25 years, I will not be a happy

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

person if so many Nigerians are killed because of me.

“One thing is to hold office; another thing is to be happy to satisfy your conscience. Yes there are different human beings. If you look at the behaviour of some people, even among siblings of the same family, some of them could turn to be Imams or Pastors; while some of them are armed robbers.

“So, if persons have that characters of criminal or somebody who is very vindictive, somebody who is by nature doesn’t care that people were dying; then of course even if half your country men and women are dying, you may celebrate it.

“But fortunately for me, God didn’t create me that way.

And I cannot take it. So, I believe that for us to hold any office we want to, we must have a nation.

“Everybody knows about the prediction of Nigeria disintegrating, and anything could have made that prediction come through; after all we fought a civil war for about three years before as a nation.”

He reminded the gathering that his Vice-President, Namadi Sambo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also deserved the encomiums poured on him since his historic telephone call to congratulate the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari after the March 28 poll.

The President urged the incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to appreciate the good contributions of every Nigerian towards nation-building irre-

spective of political party or creed.

Jonathan made reference to the National Conference report which he was looking forward to implement before he lost the presidential poll in March.

He was optimistic that the incoming administration would take time to appreciate such contributions of Nigerians from every part of the country in the efforts to build a greater nation.

He said: “We have our challenges, of course, we had a national conference; the idea of the conference is to look at these weak cleavages we have in this country.

“And we just finished that conference and we are thinking about how to implement it so that Nigeria will become more stronger and united nation. I cannot be a party to dis-

integration of the country.

“But I’m quite pleased with what has happened; we have a country; country will be more united. I believe and do pray that the incoming government should appreciate the contributions of everybody and see how we run Nigeria as a country that belongs to everybody, for all citizens; irrespective of political persuasion or creed; so that is what I stand for.”

The President advised Nigerians to strengthen the weak cleavages abound in the country and not exploit them for negative purposes.

On the award, he said: “We are pleased with your comments and that you have come to identify with us and of course the offers and the awards are marvelous, to step into the big shoes of Chief Ernest Shonekan.

“I hope my tiny legs will fit

in, you have also given me a platform to go and interface with the world. We will look at how far it can go.”

Ozekhome hailed Jonathan for conceding defeat.

He said: “Given your uncommon, almost unnatural gesture of conceding victory to your opponent, we want you to go back to Otuoke a very proud man. You are the greatest democrat we have ever had in this country. History will be fair to you,” he said.

He described the President as a global peace ambassador as he announced the nomination of Jonathan to the Board of the Universal Peace Federation in place of former Head of State Ernest Shonekan who stepped down recently.

He also invited Jonathan to an international conference of the Federation holding in South Korea in August.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

7

NEWS Agenda for President-elect

‘Welcome corps members’

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

By Sampson Unamka

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HE Elders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to tackle insecurity, epileptic power supply and corruption.

Its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Bayo Orire, also urged the incoming President to adher to the rule of law, discipline and transparency in governance.

Orire said if Buhari can win the war against indiscipline and corruption, everything will come to normal.

Expressing regrets about the prevailing darkness in the country, Orire attributed the problem to long years of corruption in the power sector.

“Nigeria has all things in abundance, what we lack is discipline and conformity to the rule of law.

“If Buhari can win the war against indiscipline, everything will come to normal in a year or two.”

Orire said Ekiti APC elders are not happy with the perpetual shutdown of the House of Assembly.

The elders’ spokesman said the Assembly crisis was contrived and intended to put the legislature under the thumb of the executive.

Oyo PDP begins peace moves From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms Jumoke Akinjide and the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, have backed moves by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adebisi Olopoenia, to reform the party.

The duo showed their support at the second meeting of some party leaders in Olopoenia’s Ibadan home yesterday.

Akinjide sent a representative to the meeting; Makinde reportedly addressed the gathering through a telephone call from his South Africa base.

Olopoenia began championing the reformation of the party after its woeful outing in the last general elections.

Aside losing in the presidential and governorship poll, the party produced only one member of the House of Representatives.

The PDP chieftain assured that there was no going back on the effort to reform the party.

Akinjide’s personal assistant Kehinde Isiaka expressed his principal’s support for the move.

“Being a member of the Federal Executive Council, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, despite her commitment in the last election, is ready to even do more to ensure that PDP regains its rightful place in 2019.”

Makinde said he was ready to return to the party, if what orchestrated his exitwas properly addressed.

• From left: Prof Banjo, Prof Ayelari, Prof. Osundare and Prof Bamgbose...yesterday. PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI

Osundare to Buhari: ensure real change

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N an emotional laden voice, renowned poet Prof Niyi Osundare bared his mind yesterday on the state of the nation and its economy.

With swipes at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government and nuggets of advice for the incoming administration, Osundare said real transformation must occur in all sectors of the economy.

He made the call at the Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival, held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

“Change is what politicians promised us, especially the incoming administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but I have learnt not to trust politicians.

“APC has to be extremely careful in the way it handles everything. Most of our politicians are rogues.

“In the last one week, no fuel, no electricity and people are just going their activities as if all is well.

“We embrace the change APC is bringing but all I am

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

calling for is real change in all sectors.

“We want good roads that will take us to our destinations and not early graves.

Good education for our children, food for everybody, roofs over our heads, good medical care instead of sending people to India, Egypt or South Korea.

“The change we need must be a departure from impunity and those who rule us must be held accountable.

“There must be reward for good deeds and punishment for bad ones.

“We are ruled by people who steal our money and we still praise them. In this country today, it pays to do evil than good and that is why things have gone bad.

“Nigerians must ensure that we get our politicians to respect us. They buy us over with stomach infrastructure.

We vote in the wrong people and we suffer for it.

“A politician gives the electorate N500 to secure their votes, and without looking at

his ideology they vote for him.

“In a day or two, the money is gone. They have voted out their future and that of their children, and I know it is due to poverty.

“Government must reduce poverty and even eradicate it because we have the resources.

“We are one of the richest countries in the world and seventh highest producer of crude oil.

“Go to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates you will see what they have done with their oil money.

“We live on the ocean but we are washing our hands with saliva.“ He lamented that Nigerians have not learnt to hold their leaders accountable, adding that those who rule do so with impunity.

“Every Nigerian must know how much each politician or public office holder earns.

“We must know how they spend the security votes. The politicians are few and we

are many.

“We spend over 60 per cent of our earnings on the maintenance of parasitic and prodigal political officers and the rest of us are suffering.”

Osundare warned that if the incoming administration performs below expectations, it will be voted out.

Commending on the Festival, Osundare said: ”Friendly conspirators organised this festival and I am highly overwhelmed by this kind gesture.

“I feel humbled and highly inspired. I believe they are not just doing it for me as a person but they are doing it for our society and our country.”

Present at the event were former UI Vice-Chancellor Prof Ayo Banjo; Prof Ayo Bamgbose; Prof Femi Osofisan; Vice-Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Prof Abdul-rasheed NaAllah; UI DVC (Administration); Prof Emilolorun Ayelari, UI DVC (Academics), Prof Gbemi Oke, among others.

Igbo traders: we lost N150m to Ekiti violence

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HE Igbo community in Ekiti State has said its members lost money and goods worth N150 million in last Wednesday’s clash between commercial drivers and Hausa settlers in AdoEkiti and the market fire, which followed on Friday.

Addressing a briefing in Ado Ekiti yesterday, state president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nathaniel Uzomah claimed that Igbo traders lost N100 million and goods worth N50 million.

He said the victims have been economically incapacitated.

Uzomah said the Igbo are tired of being victims of violence they know nothing about.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader called on the government to compensate them.

Uzomah, however, condemned security agencies for failing in their duties to protect the Erekesan Market, which was burnt down during the curfew imposed by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Uzomah said: “We want to state categorically that we condemn in its totality the

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

needless mayhem just witnessed in Ado-Ekiti recently where the main market, Oja Oba, was razed.

“Security operatives should be blamed for failing in their duties to secure the market.

“Since there was a dusk-todawn curfew, we expected that security operatives should have been on top of

the situation.

“We also blame the initially aggrieved party for fomenting trouble when it was learnt that a woman, said to be the wife of one of the drivers’ union leaders, was allegedly robbed around the market.

“The aggrieved party should have reported the robbery to security operatives, instead of fighting the other party.

“We want to also reveal

that in the recent fracas, our traders have lost over N50 million worth of goods, which were bought on credit.

“We call for compensation for all the victims. We urge the government to put in place measures to prevent further damage and harm to our traders.

“We also urge indigenes to stop being hostile to our people.”

APC granted leave to inspect election materials

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HE Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal yesterday granted leave to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to inspect documents used for the April 11 governorship election.

Justice Muhammad Sirajo issued the order after taking the party’s submission through its counsel, Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan.

The tribunal directed APC, its counsel and/or its agents to inspect and make copies of all polling documents or packets relating or pertaining to the conduct of the election.

Justice Sirajo ordered the first respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to make available to the applicant (APC), its counsel and/or agents, Certi-

By Adebisi Onanuga

fied True Copies (CTC) of polling documents or packets in the prescribed form used and/ or purportedly used for the election.

The tribunal also gave an order, allowing the third respondent and/or its agents to inspect, “by way of machine/electronic scanning, all ballot papers and other electoral materials”.

Earlier, Uwensuyi-Edosomwan told the tribunal of the motion on notice, dated May 19.

He urged the tribunal to grant the prayer in the application.

Counsel to the applicant/petitioner Clement Onwenwunor and other counsel were not opposed to the application.

The tribunal consequently granted the prayers of the party.

LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged residents and employers to help corps members feel at home in the state.

He spoke at the end of orientation course parade for Batch A, Stream 1 corps members at the NYSC orientation camp, Iyana Ipaja.

Represented by the Director Special Duties, Ministry of Special Duties, Joseph Abolude, the governor said: “Their security and well-being should be your topmost priority. For them to perform maximally, an improved welfare package should be put in place.”

The state coordinator, Akhanemhe Cyril, advised the 2, 300 corps members to not to internalise the habit of excuses .

He said: “The best day of your life is the day in which you decide your life is your own. It is an amazing journey and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.”

Oyo advises traders, artisans From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

TRADERS and artisans who benefited from the N300million interest free loan under the Oyo State Government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneur Development Scheme have been urged to not renege on the repayment.

The Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, said this while addressing the beneficiaries yesterday at the Secretariat, Ibadan.

Alli said the government made the loan interest free so that its re-payment would be convenient.

He urged them to start repaying, noting that the government will pay the interest on the loan.

Police rescue kidnap suspect From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A 25-YEAR-old kidnap suspect was yesterday rescued by the police in Ondo State.

Peter Oyeyemi was about to be lynched by some youths after “ he attempted to kidnap some primary school pupils”.

Eyewitness said the suspect was “arrested” by passers-by, who accused him of trying to lure the kids.

It was learnt that some items were found on the suspect.

The items include passportsized photographs of various people, picture of a teenage girl, phone, cash, dresses, Holy Bible and Quran.

The suspect was stripped, beaten and almost set ablaze before the police rescued him.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the suspect was a psychiatric patient.

Ogodo said Oyeyemi’s parents have confirmed that he escaped from a psychiatric hospital in Akure, where he was receiving treatment.

He said: “The suspect was mistaken for a kidnapper.

He is a psychiatric patient and his parents have shown the police the documents of his health status.”

He urged the people not to take laws into their hands.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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NEWS IPP for Lekki Free Trade Zone

80 per cent of Ekiti workers not yet paid

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday inaugurated the new 12MW Independent Power Plant (IPP) project expected to provide uninterrupted power supply to the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ).

The LFTZ IPP built by the Chinese Railway Construction Company (CRCC), under the Build, Operate and Transfer partnership agreement, is the sixth power plant inaugurated by the administration.

The governor, who also inaugurated Candel Agrochemical Manufacturing Plant, said the facility was another milestone for the administration.

Fashola praised the stakeholders and investors for keeping faith with the government.

He said, “Today, we have lived the dream; block by block, the zone has emerged.

“This zone will outlive all of us because it will be here in another 200 years.

“So, it must grow gradually and at its own pace. Today, we have achieved another milestone.

“This place was a forest in 2007 without roads. We built roads and today, it has electricity.

“It is only a modest journey and the community will benefit.”

He urged the community to continue to support the trade zone, adding that the power plant will also supply power to houses in the area.

The governor emphasised that the road to prosperity in Nigeria is in three words: “Made in Nigeria”.

“China has shown that example and that is why it is the largest economy in the world today.

“We can replicate that achievement here and that is why it is our formidable partner.”

UN to honour peacekeepers

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HE United Nations (UN) is to honour four Nigerians, who lost their lives while serving as peacekeepers in Liberia and Senegal.

The honour is part of activities to celebrate the ‘International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers’ on Friday.

This is seventh year that the organisation will honour more than 100 “blue helmets”.

Similarly, the 126 peacekeepers – military, police and civilian – who lost their lives last year- will posthumously receive the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.

The International Day was established by the General Assembly in 2002, in tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping operations and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives.

The Assembly designated May 29 as the day in 1948 when the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), the world body’s first peacekeeping mission, began operations in Palestine.

This year’s Peacekeepers Day falls during the significant 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

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•Oyo State Commissioner of Police Muhammed Katsina listening to a robbery suspect arrested at his wedding in Ibadan ...yesterday.

PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI

Govt activities paralysed in Osun, Oyo

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OVERNMENT activities were paralysed yesterday in Osun and Oyo states as workers began indefinite strike over non-payment of their salary arrears.

In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the gate of the state secretariat, local government offices and public schools were locked.

The state chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jacob Adekomi, on Monday, said the strike came at the end of a 14-day ultimatum given to the government to pay the salary arrears.

A civil servant, Taofik Eleshinla, said workers would not resume, until the arrears are paid.

He criticised the government for denying them their entitlements.

A guard at the secretariat of Olorunda Local Govern-

•Govt pleads for understanding From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

ment said workers complied with the call.

He said none of the workers came to work, except for some liason officers who came to attend to youth corps members.

Some pupils were seen playing in front of some secondary schools in Osogbo.

At Ataoja High School, some pupils said they were not allowed to enter the premises.

“We were not allowed to enter the school by the guard, a pupil, Mariam Alade, said.

At The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, students returned to their hostels after waiting in vain

for their lecturers.

The gates of some local government headquarters in Ibadan were also closed.

New corps members who were posted to the secretariat were lucky as there were few workers at the Ministry of Youths and Sports to attend to them.

The Head of Service (HoS), Soji Eniade, urged the workers to resume work and allow for further negotiations between labour and government.

Eniade said it was on record that since the inception of the Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, payment of salaries had been effected latest by the 25th of every month.

He added that this feat had been maintained until re-

cently when allocation to states from the Federal Government started nose-diving.

The HoS maintained that the paucity of funds had been discussed with the representatives of the labour unions on the need to fashion out ways of addressing the development.

Eniade said the situation in which the state had found itself called for synergy between government and workers, particularly on ways of improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“I like to personally plead with workers to resume work as it is our joint responsibility to ensure a complete transformation of our state to a very buoyant and self sustaining economy,’’ he said.

Three kidnap suspects arrested in Ekiti

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HE war against kidnapping waged by the Ekiti State government in conjunction with security agencies has started yielding fruit with the arrest of two kidnap suspects.

The wife of the head of the kidnapping syndicate was also arrested. All three are undergoing interrogation.

Governor Ayo Fayose announced this in a broadcast yesterday night.

The governor said Olumide (31) and Folorunsho both from Esure-Ekiti were arrested between Ikere and Iju while

F

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

trying to escape.

According to him, the wife of the leader of the kidnappers, Austin, who was believed to be preparing food and taking care of the victims, was also arrested.

A manhunt has been launched for the remaining five kidnappers, who are believed to hail from Benin, Edo State.

Fayose said three people who accommodated them were also arrested. He

said his government is planning to enact a law that will empower the police to arrest landlords of criminals, prosecute them and also demolish the buildings accommodating them.

The governor advised residents, particularly residents of Atikankan and Bata in Ado-Ekiti, to report any suspicious person to the police.

He also warned security personnel who have been serving as informants to criminals to desist.

VER 80 per cent of Ekiti State workers have not been paid, a group, Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), has said.

It lamented the delay in the payment of the April salary.

The group expressed anger that the ongoing verification by the government has brought untold hardship and inflicted more misery on workers.

The EWF said over 80 per cent of workers, who had undergone the verification, have not received their April salary.

In a statement by its Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, the group said government’s promise to ensure immediate payment of workers who had undergone the exercise was a ruse.

It said: “Ekiti State workers are silently licking the wounds of poverty, hardship, want and hunger inflicted on them by the delay caused by the so-called verification.”

The EWF regretted that workers have been deceived and conned by the government, which it accused of hiding under the guise of verification to deny them their rights.

The group expressed regrets that labour unions which are supposed to fight for workers’ rights have been muzzled and pocketed.

The EWF urged workers to take their destiny in their hands by taking a “radical action” to ensure that they receive their pay.

The statement said: “Workers in Ekiti State have been fooled, conned and deceived by government, which is using the so-called verification exercise to deny them of their legitimate income.

“Government’s promise that each worker who has completed the process of verification would their salary was a ruse after all.

“The promise raised our hope but little did we know that we would be shocked by this failed promise because as we speak, over 80 per cent of verified workers are yet to receive their salary.

“We want to ask: why the delay? Why the selective payment of salary? What are the criteria the government is using to determine who gets paid? What is the offence of the majority who are yet to be paid? God save Ekiti workers.”

42 winners emerge in Lagos HOMS draw

ORTY-TWO winners have emerged in yesterday’s monthly draw of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, known as Lagos HOMS. Mrs. Funmilayo Stephen Faleye could not contain her joy as she jumped from her seat immediately her name was picked as the only winner for the three-bedroom flat in Mushin scheme.

She was all smiles as she walked up to the podium to collect her certificate.

She came with her three children, who were oblivious of what the moment meant to their mother.

Her case was one of trying her luck. She had applied for the first time and won on the first try. Despite her pessi-

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

mism, winning has proved her wrong.

She said: “I actually watched some draws on TV. When they started last year, my first thought was that it was a government scam.

“But a colleague told me it was true, so I decided to give it a try.

“When I called Lagos HOMS, even though I didn’t submit properly, they were very helpful. So, when I was pre-qualified, I was called and I got an email.”

At the main draw held at the Lagos Television Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, her victory dance was delayed.

The moderator had an-

nounced winners for the one bedroom and two bedroom homes, but mistakenly skipped the three-bedroom scheme, which she had applied for.

Worried by what could have become of her chances, Mrs. Faleye, a Human Resources Manager, made her way to the complaint tent to inquire about the omission.

But when the draw was to be held, it was announced that only one winner would emerge from the pot, which had over 10 qualified entries.

“When I learnt it was just one winner that would emerge from the three-bedroom draw, I said a silent prayer and when they called

my name, I couldn’t help but jump for joy.

“This is the first time I applied and I won. I am so happy.

Like Mrs. Faleye, Mr. Alison Kehinde, another winner, was all smiles.

Kehinde was one of the seven winners for the threebedroom unit in Sangotedo scheme in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

Also a first applicant, he had been squatting with his family.

A burning desire to own a house spurred him to apply.

“I commend the Lagos State government. Initially, it was as if it was not going to come true. I am glad today that it is a reality.

“I was staying in one of my father’s houses and I’ve been longing to own my own home and that is why I applied for the scheme. I am very happy,” he said.

Executive Secretary of the State Mortgage Board Akinola Sagoe said 80 people applied, but only 60 qualified for the draw.

He said the 42 new home owners, brings to 661, the total number of home owners, who have emerged since the first draw in March 2014.

Sagoe said not less than 15,000 jobs have been created from the construction of the housing schemes, including consultants, artisans, sub-contractors, among others.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

How we battle fuel scarcity, blackout by schools, mothers

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OW have homes and schools been coping with fuel scarcity and blackout?

It has been terrible, many said yesterday as they relived their experiences.

Taking the children to schools and back has not been easy, some mothers told The Nation.

A teacher, Hajia Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, said she could not go and pick her children from their school in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for midterm holiday yesterday because she had no fuel in her car.

She hopes to get fuel today for the trip.

“We can’t pick my children from school for midterm break. The vehicle expected to go to Vanguards Academy in Ijebu-Ode could not get fuel. The driver had been on the queue since 8am.

Now, as at now (3pm), the queue has not been dismantled, no thanks to the unscrupulous motorists who couldn’t demonstrate civility for once. He was quite close to the entrance when the queue got disorganised.

I have been looking forward to having the children today (yesterday) but nay, I hope and pray we will have a different story tomorrow Insha Allah,” she posted on Change Monitor, a WhatsApp group chat.

Hajia Yusuf-Ajibade, who teaches at As-Siddiq Schools in Ketu, Lagos, said the pupils shouted Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) when light came up after the school got fuel for its generator.

“For some time now, we have not had electricity from

•The Claridge Schools’ gate ... yesterday

By Tajudeen Adebanjo and Oluwatoyin Adeleye

the distribution company.

Thank God female factor got us 50 litres of fuel at N87 today (yesterday) at Conoil filling Station opposite Centre for Management Development (CMD), Shangisha.

Two of my colleagues went there with two 25-litre gallons and explained to the officers coordinating the crowd that the school needs fuel, after lamenting the ordeal the kids in the Creche and classes are facing because the generator has no fuel, they sold for them and under one hour they were back in the school. The neighbours who informed us of the availability of fuel in the station were left on the queue. When they returned and put on the generating set, the children in the classes shouted Allahu Akbar (God is

the Greatest) and within a few minutes, the ones at the Creche slept off. The school management and staff felt relieved,” she said.

Mrs Lydia Omotosho, who lives on College Road, Ogba, Lagos, said her children have been going to school late because of fuel scarcity and blackout.

According to her, she has not been able to pump water at home because of the blackout.

She said she had been going to the frozen foods shop on her street with others on the neighbourhood to fetch water.

Mrs Kikelomo Amusa, who also lives in Ogba, said: “Thank God my children’s school, Solid Gate Montessori School, College Road, is not too far from the house, so since there is no longer fuel and light, we trek together to school. It is very

stressful because I have three children; two are going to the school, while the last one is still a baby. I have to wake up earlier than usual and look for water to bathe them.

“We all trek to their school and I back the baby because I cannot leave my baby at home alone; my husband would have gone to work.”

Mr Samuel Ojo, the Administrator of Claridge Schools, Ifako Ijaye, Lagos said fuel scarcity did not hit the school too hard because it got petrol from the black market at a higher price.

The school, he said, shifted mid-term break, initially scheduled for next week to this week.

Mrs Wunmi Rajh-Label said her three children could not go to school, because they could not have their bathe, adding that her family’s two cars are at home with no fuel to run them.

Mile 12 market elects officers

T •Oba Sotobi receiving the staff of office from Fashola

Ikorodu gets new monarch

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HE Lagos State Government has approved the appointment of Prince Kabiru Adewale Sotobi as Ayangburen of Ikorodu. He succeeds the late Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, who passes away on August 2, last year.

Prince Sotobi, the 20th Ayangburen, hails from the Lasunwon Ruling House.

Government also upgraded the Baale of Imeke to a second class Oba with the title of Onimeke of Imeke. It appointed Chief Abraham Olatunji Adewale Ogabi for the position.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba told reporters that the appointments take immediate effect.

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PAPA Mall will host children to a funfair to celebrate today’s Children’s Day. Top Services Limited, the developer of the mall, said the day is an opportunity to put smiles on the faces of children, particularly orphans.

HE Arewa Perishable Foodstuff Association at Mile 12 Market in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, yesterday, elected officers to pilot its affairs.

The election was held 40 years after the market moved to Mile 12 from Iddo.

Alhaji Haruna Mohammed polled 174 votes to beat Alhaji Tsoso Babangida with 15 votes to emerge chairman.

Other officers were elected unopposed. They are Alhaji Sahabi Sokoto - Vice chairman, Mohammed Abdul - General Secretary, Shehu Usman Jibril Financial Secretary, Abdulahi Namowa - Assistant General Secretary, Aminu Madobi - Auditor, Shuaibu Badamasi - Public Relations Officer, Adamu Danhegeja - Welfare Secretary, and Mohammed Guri - Treasurer.

Alhaji Haruna thanked God,

By Innocent Duru

the government and security operatives for the peaceful election.

“We also appreciate the love and support of our Iyaloja General, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. We assure them of our unalloyed cooperation. We have by this election, instituted democracy in the market and never again shall there be any leadership tussle among us. On behalf of this team, I want to assure our people that their welfare will be our priority.

“We would intensify our efforts in making sure that the market is kept always clean and not relent on our efforts in riding the area of traffic. We therefore appeal to the state government to help us complete the pedestrian bridge as soon as possible and also provide micro credit scheme for our members to enhance their businesses.”

Apapa mall hosts children’s today Its Assistant General, Manager Finance and Business Development, Celestine Jeremiah, said: “It is our first celebration with children since we entered the shopping industry in

Nigeria and we are inviting children from an orphanage home and pupils from nursery and primary schools within Apapa and its environment.”

The highpoint of the

event, he said, would be the cake-cutting.

Shoprite’s Azubuike Nwankwoala said the event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Mrs Uju Ifeakor, Headteacher of Hallmark Nursery and Primary School at Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, said her school’s close ties with a filling station enabled them to get petrol at the normal price. The school buses, she said, operated without hitch, adding that academic activities went on smoothly.

But, the school recorded scanty turn out of parents at its open day yesterday.

A parent at the open day, Mrs Uche Okoye, said she had confined her car to taking her children to school to manage fuel.

She lamented the high cost of petrol at the black market which she patronises to preserve her foodstuff.

Headmistress of Right Choice Divine Schools, Ogba Mrs Nike Peters said the school recorded low turnout of pupils this week, because it could not fuel its bus.

“We had to call parents on Sunday to apologise to them that our school bus would not be available to pick them in the morning, so they should bring their children to school themselves. Those that stay close to school were able to make it but most pupils were not able to come to school. The school is very scanty and uncomfortable because we were not able to power the generator to put on fan and air conditioner for them. And we had to buy at the black market to fuel our generating set to pump water,” Mrs Peters said.

At Al-Wasi Schools in Mushin, the story was not different. “Our school bus did not work due to unavailability of fuel,” said Hajia Zaynab Ahmad-Taiwo, the Headteacher.

Academic activities, she said, were partially affected because teachers came late.

Firm donates to students

By Olatunde Odebiyi

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O celebrate the 2015 World Environmental Day, Ecologistics Integrated Services Limited yesterday donated over 300 textbooks to Opebi Senior Grammar School in Ikeja, Lagos on ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production’. At the event held on the school premises, it also sensitised pupils on sustainable environment.

The books are on science, literature, music and mathematics.

According to the firm’s president, Dr Paul Abolo, the gesture is a way to give back to the society because the company is more interested in the future. ‘’We are giving out books as part of the environmental programme, reinforcing the concept of reuse, recycle and at the same time we are also reinforcing the concept of giving; the children need to understand that they need to use the books and what soever book that is given to them, they have to use it well. ‘’Book is something that students cherish most and we notice that the reading culture is declining in our environment, so giving out these books is our way of trying to revive the reading culture.’’

Vice president, Ecologistics Integrated Services Limited, Mrs Seyi Abolo said the books given out are meant to sustain the environment, adding: “Knowledge is power and the only way to acquire knowledge is to read; if you do not read, you will not know what is happening in the world.’’

She encouraged the students to make use of the books, adding that there is no point donating the books to them if not well used.

The school’s Vice Principal, Mrs Olufunmilola Fadare described the gesture as kind. She said the donations would go a long way in improving the reading culture of the school and the reading habit of the students. ‘’We now know that the world environment day goes beyond planting of trees and beautifying the environment, but we can also give back to the environment and be environment-friendly. We can do things to our environment just like we are doing things for our neighbour,’’ she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

11

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Man charged with unlawful sexual affair

A

•The Forte filling station. Inset: A soldier dragging a passerby...yesterday

Soldiers sack filling station over attack on colleague S OLDIERS yesterday stormed a filling station on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, following the stabbing of their female colleague by some black market operators.

It all happened at Mobil Filling Station, Onipanu Bus Stop, where people scrambled to buy fuel with jerry cans.

The soldiers stormed the station, beating up people.

The station was temporarily shut by the soldiers who wielded swords, cudgels and horsewhips.

They chased away the station attendants; beat up people indiscriminately on

By Wale Ajetunmobi

the adjoining Kayode Street, through where it was learnt, the hoodlums escaped. Traders on the street hurriedly closed shops and ran for dear lives.

An eyewitness, who simply gave his name as Samson, said the injured soldier was trying to ensure order at the station when the hoodlums attacked her.

Samson said: “The soldier was on the queue for fuel when the boys arrived with jerry cans and disrupted the queue. The soldier cau-

tioned them to be orderly and volunteered to ensure all the people who came with jerry cans got fuel.

“But because the boys were in a hurry to get fuel, they interrupted the orderliness at the filling station.

The soldier was punched by one of the boys and this led to a free-for-all.”

In the ensuing confusion, The Nation gathered that the soldier was stabbed by the hoodlums, who fled the scene immediately.

Her colleagues numbering about 10, arrived in a

Volkswagen Gulf car marked BQ 49 FKJ and commercial motorcycles. They also crossed over to Forte Oil Filling Station on the other side of the road and chased away people who came to buy fuel with plastic containers.

Policemen attached to the nearby Onipanu Divisional Station, stood, watching the soldiers. A man identified as Alfa, was hit on his left eye with a club by one of the soldiers.

The Nation watched as the soldiers drove into Forte Oil to fill the jerry cans in their vehicle. Normalcy has returned to the area.

26-YEAR-OLD man, Imonite John, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alleged rape of a 19year-old girl.

The accused is facing a charge of forceful sexual intercourse with the girl, Yetunde Olaniran.

The prosecutor, Etim Nkankuk, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 11 at Vantage Restaurant, Lekki, a Lagos suburb.

Nkankuk said the mother of the accused had sent him to go and check for the exchange rate of the dollar to naira.

The accused, instead of carrying out his mother’s

assignment, allegedly used his mother’s car to perpetrate the act of forcefully having sexual intercourse with a girl, he said.

The prosecutor said the accused invited Yetunde on a date and asked her for sex which the teenager had bluntly refused.

Nkankuk said the accused allegedly squeezed his victim’s neck to overpower her before forcefully having carnal knowledge of her inside his mother’s Honda Civic Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked JJJ 603 AV. The accused pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Abolarinwa granted him N250, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. He adjourned the case till June 18.

Teenage girl docked for attempted murder

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TEENAGE girl, Chidima Sunday, was yesterday charged before an Ojo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for ‘attempting’ to stab a man, Francis Ikemefuna, to

death.

The prosecutor, Godwin Eze, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) told the court that the accused had on May 6 at Hyacinth Madueke, Abule-Ado in Ojo, Lagos, committed the offence.

“The accused had on the said date attempted to kill Francis Ikemefuna by stabbing him with a kitchen knife. Similarly, Chidima assaulted Ikemefuna, thereby causing him serious injuries on his left leg with intent to kill him,” he said.

The teenager pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Teslimi Shomade granted her N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till June 26.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

12

NEWS Arrested Edo JSS pupils undergoing re-orientation, say police

Tears as Oshiomhole suspends local govt chair R ESIDENTS of Etsako West Local Government of Edo State were at the Government House in Benin, the state capital, to sing and dance yesterday.

It was at the swearing-in of Alasa Mohammed Idaro as the local government’s chairman.

They arrived at the venue of the event with drums, but they ended up shedding tears for and with the man they wanted to celebrate.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole suspended Alasa few minutes after his swearingin.

The governor named Yesufu Busari Omomemi, who had been sworn in as the Vice Chairman, to become the local government’s Acting Chairman.

Alasa wept after his suspension. His supporters also joined him in weeping over his travail.

The former vice chairman was sworn in, following the death of former Chairman, Hassan Kadiri, last Friday

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

after a prolonged illness.

Before Oshiomhole’s arrival, Alasa, who was dressed in a grey suit, sat under a tree, surrounded by friends and well-wishers.

He was memorising a handwritten vote of thanks speech.

It was learnt that the forme council vice chair was suspended because of his activities when Kadiri was ill.

Hassan died few hours after some youths protested at the local government’s secretariat, demanding his removal over prolonged ill-health and Alasa was fingered as the mastermind.

Oshiomhole said a panel of enquiry would be set up to investigate the allegations against Alasa.

The governor, who said he performed the swearing-in with mixed feelings, added that it was inhuman for any-

body to organise a protest against somebody else on a sick bed.

He noted that what saddened him was the events and controversies that happened the day Hassan died.

Oshiomhole said the name of the suspended chairman had been mentioned by those arrested as being the financier of the protest.

He said: “Some disgruntled elements, whether they were masquerading as Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials or they were just touts and thugs, were hired by some persons to organise a protest that was almost turning violent, such that they had to bring in the police and even the army to restore peace in the local government.

“I am informed that the purpose of the protest was that Hassan, on his sick bed,

should be relieved of his duties as Chairman so that the Vice Chairman could take over his job. I do not think human beings should play God. “It is absolutely unacceptable that anyone would be so desperate to instigate another to protest against a man that was bedridden and admitted in the hospital, fighting for his life.

“Our jobs are worthless without life. All of us have our dates to depart this planet Earth. So, for anyone to organise a protest against someone who was bedridden, that he should be forced out of office so that another person would get promotion, is unethical and absolutely unacceptable.

“To publicly organise a protest against the sick, making unprintable statements, disturbing public peace and mobilising people to do things that are capable of leading to riots with the possibility of even death, that,

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T •Oshiomhole

for me, is the height of irresponsibility. I do not think any civilised government will condone that.

“Therefore, in exercise of the powers vested in me as the Governor of Edo State under the Local Government Amended Acts, where there are weighty allegations against local government officers, I have the powers to carry out a thorough investigation on those allegations.

This is because we know for a fact that to allege does not necessarily mean to prove.

Allegations must be proven before any further actions...”

Etiebet mourns Akwa Ibom APC chief Umanah in accident •Party leaders allege planned ‘accident’

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ORMER Petroleum Minister Atuekong Don Etiebet, has said the death of a popular businessman, Dr. Ime Umanah, was a big loss to Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.

The late Umanah was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

He reportedly died in an auto accident.

Etiebet said: “The news, last night (Monday), that Dr. Ime Umanah was dead hit me so severely that I lost my senses, developed a headache, runny stomach and refused to believe it.

“I embarked on verification investigations till midnight when finally Hon. Akanimoh Edet, his close ally, said he had actually seen the body at an Owerri hospital and was arranging to take it home.

“It was shedding of tears, very devastating, hurtful and incomprehensible that Dr. Ime Sampson Umana should die in an accident. It is one too many of our revered leaders and frontline outspoken politicians, particularly from Abak-Five, who have died within a year.

“As a great and pioneering businessman from that part

‘Suspects in Odimodi crisis not oil thieves’

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HE youths of Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have exonerated two of their kinsmen who were arrested for alleged oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

The suspects were arrested a fortnight ago by another group of youths and handed over to security operatives for alleged bunkering.

But President of the community’s youths’ body, Ebi Iseru, said the suspects were not oil thieves but participants in a civil disturbance.

He was reacting Monday’s

Jones Creek crisis: Communities give fresh ultimatum

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

of the country, he did everything to serve his people, bring recognition to Annang from different capacities and angles. Those of us from Annang, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria have lost a gem, an outstanding international businessman and a philanthropist, popularly known as Ufan Ndito Ubuene (Friend of the Poor).

“It is a big loss to all of us.

We shall surely miss him in our endeavours. He was a pillar of strength, an inspiration and emulation to all of us.”

Another APC chieftain, Mr. Ita Awak, said Umanah was killed.

Awak, a former Commissioner for Information, alleged that the death was an organised accident similar to that of a former Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Oyong Asuquo, on April 13, 2012.

He added that every death in Akwa Ibom, which is calculated to have been politically motivated, would be investigated.

APC’s Assistant Publicity Secretary Etim Etim said Umanah was in the court on Monday for a case he had been having against Governor Godswill Akpabio since 2011.

From Shola O’Neil, Wsrri

report in The Nation.

Iseru, who spoke with our reporter on Tuesday, said: “They are not illegal ‘bunkerers’. They are just victims of the leadership tussle in the community. The leadership of Odimodi is doing everything to resolve the issues amicably.

“It is true that we are making efforts to release the boys, but it is not true that money is being offered to security operatives for their release because they have not done anything like that...”

HE 14 Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupils arrested a fortnight ago for alleged cultism in Benin, the Edo State capital, are undergoing reorientation, the police said yesterday.

Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), spoke in Benin on the update of the arrest.

He said: “We are interacting with the children with a view to re-orientating them so that they can be better leaders of tomorrow.

“Their matter is still being handled, considering their ages. They can be brought to the proper track, but that does not mean we are undermining the law governing juvenile offenders.

“While their matter is still being handled legally, we are equally incorporating the human angle in trying to re-orientate them.”

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

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•From left: Brand Manager, Regal Gin, Grand Oak Limited, Olufemi Afolabi Falomo, presenting a football and jersey to Prince Ade Samuel (second right), a winner, and his friend, Yao Omotola, during 2015 Easter Beach Slam organised by Calypso and Dark Sailor at Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos. With them is Assistant Brand Manager of Dark Sailor, Grand Oak Limited, Susan Adeniyi.

Benin residents protest outages

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OUTHS and elders of Ogbebuhia, Trade Fair and Erediauwa in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State protested yesterday prolonged outages in their communities.

They barricaded the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and blocked the road leading to the company on the busy Akpakpava Road in Benin, the state capital.

The protesters accused BEDC of giving them huge electricity bills without power supply.

Their spokesman, Prince Uwaifo, said acute fuel shortage worsened their businesses.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

He said the residents of the areas could not provide alternative power with generators.

The spokesman said the protest was meant to compel the firm to improve its services and desist from presenting huge bills to its customers.

Uwaifo said: “We are here on a peaceful demonstration; we are not here to fight. For the past months, we have not had power supply. Our problem is that BEDC has not been supply power but has been presenting bills every month.

They disconnect our source of power supply, insisting that we must pay N750. Is

the money for people who don’t give us service or those who do?

“We are here to tell BEDC that they should supply power. We need light and nothing else.”

BEDC’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Curtis Nwadei, blamed the situation on the shortage of gas supply.

He said BEDC had “nothing to distribute” because it depended on what was generated and transmitted by the plants.

Nwadei said: “The present power outage is as a result of the acute shortage of gas supply to the power generation plants. It has led to nationwide shutdown.

OST communities of the Jones Creek Oil Field in Warri Southwest and Warri North local government areas of Delta State have given operators of oil facilities in the areas a seven-day ultimatum to meet their demands or stop their operations.

The communities, comprising of Kokodiagbene, Omadino, Ekpemu Akpata, Okerenkoko and Akpata Gbe-Gbe, gave the warning yesterday at a media briefing in Warri.

This followed an initial agreement at a meeting organised by the Commanding Officer of 3 Battalion, Effurun, between the host communities and the operators of the oil field, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and its contractors, Nestoil Plc. But the General Manager of the Warri operations of Nestoil, Chief Olajide Ishola, said his company had done all it could humanly do to meet the demands of the communities.

The company chief said issues on outstanding payments on completed projects had been substantially attended to.

He added that an agreement had been reached on how to settle the outstanding.

Reading from a statement

by Ambassador Austine Oniyesan, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Chief James Tangbowei, Chief Mosco Johnny and Isaiah T. Odu, on behalf of Omadino, Kokodiagbene, Okerenkoko, Ekpemu Akpata and Akpata Gbe-Gbe communities, Mulade highlighted some of the demands of the people.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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WEDNESDAY MAY 27, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Since 1999, Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been embroiled in crisis. JEREMIAH OKE takes a look at the troubled chapter and the activities of waring cancuses that have made cohesion impossible.

Can Oyo PDP get it right?

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YO State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been moving from one crisis to another since 1999. But, at no time was the crisis more debilitating than the one that engulfed it, prior to the last general elections. Indeed, the crisis was responsible for its woeful performance in the elections.

The party’s performance was so poor that, for the first time since 1999, it will not have representation at any level of governance in the state in the next dispensation, beyond the single House of Representatives seat it won, courtesy of Segun Odebunmi (Surule/OgoOluwa Constituency).

The party’s woes are likely to be compounded by the suspension of the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, Senator Ayoade Adeseun and a former factional chairman of the party, Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa, for anti-party activities immediately after the general elections.

Also suspended was one of its leader in Ogbomoso, Chief Saka Balogun, a former House of Representatives member, Dr. Maroof Akinwande, and others believed to have either pitched tent with Rashidi Ladoja’s Accord Party or Labour Party’s Adebayo Alao-Akala during the April 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

Their suspension was said to have been unilaterally authorised by the leader, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo. Adeojo explained why the chapter took the decision: “We urge the leaders of the party and members of the public in the Southwest and at the national level, including the Southwest Chairman of the Presidential Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Chief Olabode George; the Southwest PDP zonal executive, governors of Ekiti and Ondo states, Mr. Ayo Fayose and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to be abreast of the development.

“It is a shame that these so-called leaders of the PDP sold out their conscience for personal aggrandisement and greed, despite their professed loyalty to the party. While they deceptively carried themselves as members of the PDP, their activities in the last governorship election showed their duplicity and it is on this account that the party has suspended them.”

Akinjide and Folarin, a former senator and the governorship flagbearer of the party, hail from the same constituency. But, they were unable to deliver their ward for the party during the elections. Though Akinjide enjoys more popularity than any of the party leaders, she however, lacks the political clout to deliver her ward. Now that she has been suspended, it is up to Folarin to reorganise the party at the constituency level. But, will the people be more comfortable with his style of leadership?

During the presidential election, Folarin was asked by the electorate in his polling unit to join the queue before he could cast his vote. He was said to have retrieved the transformer he donated to the Hausa community during the campaign because he believed they did not vote for him.

Adeseun is a former member of House of Representatives on the platform of the party.

He defected to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 and was elected senator. He however, returned to the PDP, prior to the general elections and contested for the Senate. But, he was unable to make it. Given his antecedents, his suspension from the PDP is a sore point for the party.

This is not the first time the party will suspend some of its leaders for anti-party activities. Adeojo was suspended in 2007 when relations between him and the late political godfather Lamidi Adedibu was at a low ebb.

Adedibu noticed that Adeojo was hobnobbing with Senator Lamidi Ladoja’s government and the late godfather promptly suspended him.

Adeojo was not alone. He was expelled along with some party chieftains, including the Secretary to the Government (SSG), Mr.

•Ladoja

•Folarin

•Dr. Balogun

•Akinjide

Ayodele Adigun, the Chief Of Staff to Ladoja, Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adebayo Shittu, and the Special Adviser to Ladoja on Security and Protocol, Mr. Bola Alphonso, former Chairmen in Oyo State, Chief Michael Adegbite, Alhaji Hafeez Tijani, and Chief Yetunde Ajibola Azeez. The executive of the party also recommended Ladoja for expulsion from the PDP. The PDP’s undoing since it won the governorship in 2003 was the inability of its chieftains to stick to the rules of the game.

There was crisis in the party, when Ladoja fell out of favour with his erstwhile godfather. He had refused to allow Adedibu to dictate the pace. As a prudent administrator, Ladoja refused to allow ‘the strong man of Ibadan politics’ access to the treasury. The decision irked Adedibu, who had been flaunting the fact that he installed him as governor.

Lamenting over this development, Adedibu once said: “At least, am I not entitled to one quarter of his security vote? He is collecting N64 million monthly, yet he could not give me any percentage from it.

Soon, we shall send him packing from the Government House, you will see”.

It did not come as a surprise when he was later impeached under controversial circumstances, with the aid of federal might.

Is the party still in Oyo State? I am no more in the party. What is the electoral value of the suspended chieftains and Adeojo who suspended them? If they continue with their ways of doing things, the party cannot exist in the next four years Ladoja’s deputy, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, took over as governor. He was in-charge for the period of eleven months before the apex court pronounced the impeachment as illegal.

After Ladoja’s tenure, Alao-Akala, who was adopted as a new political-bride by the leaders of the party, contested and won in 2007. But, his victory was mired in controversy. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Moris Iwu were alleged to have installed him, against the wish of the people,

with the support of Adedibu.

The crisis within the party reached its peak during the four-year tenure of Alao-Akala.

Adedibu was dead and there was no godfather anymore to hold it together. As a result, things fell apart between the party leaders.

Alao-Akala, who hails from Ogbomosho, insisted that he had the right of first refuasal to the party’s ticket. But, the Ibadan caucus disagreed with him. He used his position as the governor to get the ticket. Matters were not helped by the support he enjoyed from party chieftains such as Adeojo, Senator Lekan Balogun, former Governor Omololu Olunloyo and Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi.

It did not come as a surprise to observers that Alao-Akala lost the election to Senator Abiola Ajimobi. The party was to suffer another setback, after it made a mess of its 2015 primaries. Following the botched primary, aspirants, who felt they were robbed of the party’s ticket defected to other parties. At the end of the day, the PDP flagbearer, Senator Folarin, was disgraced at the poll. Folarin came fourth.

The PDP aspirants who defected include: Alao-Akala, who moved to the Labour Party and came third at the poll; the young businessman, Seyi Makinde, who opted for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He came fifth; behind Folarin. Former Governor Ladoja had left the fold since 2011 and contested the last two general elections on the platform of Accord. He came second in the last election. The division within the PDP therefore ruined its chances in the election.

But, the questions remain: has PDP learnt from its past mistakes? Can the party get it right again? One of the former aspirants anonymity, who spoke on the condition of anonymous asked if the party is still in existence in Oyo State. He said the shameful defeat has diminished the status of the party and that it would take a lot of efforts to bring it back to winning ways.

He said: “Is the party still in Oyo State? I am no more in the party. What is the electoral value of the suspended chieftains and Adeojo who suspended them? I will declare where I am heading soon. If they continue with their ways of doing things, the party cannot exist in the next four years. If Jumoke, a minister, could not deliver her ward alongside with Folarin, what are they up to?

“In my own view, the party is dead in the state and they need only God to revive it.

PDP has made a terrible mistake by fielding Folarin as its governorship candidate. It is not the issue of anti-party activities, but the problem is the set of people in the party. The party that is not on ground and yet it is suspending its leaders. I wonder the kind of people remaining in the party.”

The aspirant advised the suspended chieftains to move to alternative parties. “I can only advise the suspended members to look for greener pastures. They cannot afford to sacrifice their political career for any party or individual. I pray for Folarin and Jumoke to get it right in their future endeavours,” he concluded.

The Special Adviser to Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Alhaji Isiaka Kehinde, disagreed with the governorship aspirant, arguing that anybody saying Oyo PDP is dead is not speaking the truth. “The suspension of the minister by individual is laughable. People behind it are comedians. They are busy deceiving themselves when the minister is busy working to revive the party. For him to say he suspended some notable people in the party, you can see he is jobless. When I heard the news, the first person I called was the chairman of the party and he said he just returned from Dubai and he doesn’t know anything about it. I also called other leaders of the party; they equally said they did not know about it. So, the question now is, how could a single person unilaterally suspend people in the party?”

On whether the party is still on ground, Kehinde said leaders are strategising on how to form a formidable opposition to Ajimobi’s government. He said: “We are on ground.

The party just lost election and they are working hard to form a strong opposition.

We have gone back to the drawing board and we are going to come out strong soon.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY MAY 27, 2015

POLITICS

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The power sector, which is the engine room of economic growth and prosperity in other economies, has incredibly become the single largest source of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, with Lagos being the most devastatingly affected among all the states due its population and industrial base

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Fashola’s legacy of good governance “It has become imperative to urgently re-activate the power infrastructure of Lagos State as a necessary condition for rapid economic transformation. We are all aware that the availability of sufficient, sustainable, good quality electricity is a fundamental prerequisite for the socio-economic development of our state and the concomitant improvement in the lives of our citizens.”

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HE statement above by the governor of Lagos State was a clear indication about a leader who’s acutely aware of the responsibility that has been entrusted on him. As indicated, it was a statement made at the presentation of the 2008 budget (which was his first budget as the executive governor) to members of the House of Assembly.The statement could not have been made in a vacuum, neither was it a rhetorical one meant to score a political point because of the remarkable deeds that issued from those words thereafter.

Unlike some leaders who would rather have acted like the proverbial ostrich that buried its head in the sand, wishing that its problems would soon go away in their own volitions, while other leaders would have done just enough to draw applause from the gullible citizenry, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola looked starkly in the face of the problems that has impeded the state from leapfrogging into modernity and decided to deal with them head on. For a starter, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, produces less grid electricity than the Republic of Ireland with a population of five million people. Lagos, which has a population of over 20 million people, probably the state with the highest population, and accounts for over 65 percent of all industrial investments in Nigeria, is by far the largest power stakeholder in the country. Yet, the state gets approximately 1,000 of megawatts of supply via the national grid as against the consumer demand of 10, 251 megawatts.

The power sector, which is the engine room of economic growth and prosperity in other economies, has incredibly become the single largest source of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, with Lagos being the most devastatingly affected among all the states due its population and industrial base. Aside from its over 20 million population, which has effective made it a mega-city but without the concomitant infrastructural developments that mega cities are known for, no thanks to the federal authorities that has relentlessly been pounding the state for no other reason than its refusal to join the club of the so-called ‘mainstream’ political contraption of the conservative government at the centre. Among the members of the club of industries in Lagos are the Muritala Mohammed Airport, the busiest airport in the country, and the two largest seaports located at Apapa and Tin Can Island. Just about all the financial institutions have either their headquarters or some presence in the state.So, there’s no question about the fact that there’s just so much riding on Lagos wheels.

Governor Fashola may have decided, and rightly so, that the development of Lagos State would be a mirage without power being given the pride of place in the socio-economic development of the state.

But, the dilemma was how?

It would have been foolhardy, if not lacking in common sense, for the state to continue to tie its power generation future and its distribu-

By Femi Odere

tion to the comatose national grid, more so when his predecessor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu had attempted it but fell flat. With the regulatory regime of the federal government at the time, the Tinubu administration had very little choice but to capitulate to the federal authorities. Through the Independent Power Project conceptpolicy to totally renew the power infrastructure in Lagos State, the state launched the AES/Enron projectwhich was the first of its kind in Nigeria at the time. The project generated 270 Megawatts of electricity which was injected into the national grid. Although the state government financed the project in its entirety, her citizens hardly benefitted directly from it as the power generated was distributed throughout the federation. Thus, a village with less than a hundred houses whose inhabitants are virtually farmers may have more wattsof electricity per head than a densely populated community of Mushin whose residents’ livelihoods are in the energy-dependent trades such as welding, hair dressing, fashion designing, not to talk of running cyber cafes and business centres. It was a chronically inefficient distribution system.

It was one thing to have expended substantial resources on power, as desirable as that may be, despite other pressing needs of the state that are competing for cash. But it’s quite another when the state hardly benefitted from the power that it had paid so much for, no thanks to the poor and inefficient distribution system of the federal government. And Governor Fasholawould have none of the national grid nonsense. Conservative governments, which has been holding court at the centre since flag independence—as always—-was reluctant to acknowledge the fact it must do something radically different about the power sector if the country must develop. It was not until so much pressure started to mount from all sectors of the economy, even from the state governments of the ruling party, that power is that 300-pound gorilla that has been holding everybody hostage to development that the federal government came up with the Power Sector Reforms.

With the new reforms, state governments could generate and distribute their own power in any way that suits their fancy. Like an injection that shoots up the adrenalin, these reforms became the impetus that puts Fashola in an overdrive. The governor reordered a new policy to achieve a number of objectives both in the short and long terms. Included in this policy initiative was the plan to increase the generation capacity for ring fenced utilization by encouraging and facilitating the development of new Independent Power Plants (IPP) through Public Private Partnerships (PPP). Since power must pass through several phases before it can finally be consumed by its end users, Fashola has just figured out the first phase with the IPP and PPP power generation. The second phase of consuming power in the state will involve

• Fashola

‘

Governor Fashola may have decided, and rightly so, that the development of Lagos State would be a mirage without power being given the pride of place in the socio-economic development of the state

’

the provision of transformers to distribute the power generated through the IPP and PPP initiative to end users.

Rather than the usual government practice of awarding contracts to politically-connected business people who have very with little or no experience about something as complex as transformers for supplies, the Fashola administration secured a joint venture with ElSewedy Cable of Egypt, and a transformer manufacturing factory was established in Badagry in 2009. The company, since inception has boosted the supply of transformers to consumers in Lagos State and other parts of the country. This has also impacted positively in the rural electrificationprogramme of the state. Apart from transformers, the company also produces cables, meters and street lighting poles. The products are sold both to government, and non-government clients.

What is so compelling in Fashola’s Independent Power Project (IPP) may not be so much about the state-of-the-art power plants but its uniqueness. The plants are strategically located to provide electricity to specific socio-economic institutions as well as provide street lights to neighborhoods and communities. The government of Lagos State has—over the years—completed a number of new IPPs that provides uninterrupted 24-hour power supply to a number of government facilities, offices and public utilities.

In 2010, the Akute Power Project was delivered. With a capacity to produce 12.15 megawatts of electricity, the project is connected to Iju/Akute Waterworks, a social facility that is responsible for 80 percent of the water supply in the state. The project provides electricity to the facility round the clock and enables it to pump 130 million gallons of water to Lagos daily. The Island Power Project, completed in 2011, has capacity to produce 10 megawatts of electricity. Located in the business and commercial corridor of Marina, Lagos, a sprawling environment that also houses a significant number of key government facilities, the plant supplies 24-hour power to facilities such as the General Hospital (including the Mortuary and Doctors’ Quarters), Island Maternity Hospital,

Lagos State Health Service Commission, the High Court Complex, Igbosere Magistrate Court, E-Learning Centre, City Hall and Simpson Street, among others. With 18 kilometers of dedicated underground distribution network, this power plant illuminates 22 streets on Lagos Island at night.

The Phase II of the Island Power Project was commissioned in June 2013. It has the capacity to also deliver 10MW of electricity. Facilities connected to this plant are Massey Children Hospital; Onikan Health Care Centre; IgaIduganran Healthcare Centre; IgaIduganran Palace; Onikan and Dolphin Waterworks; Onikan and Campus Stadia; Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Transfer Loading Station; the Secretariat of the Lagos East Local Council Development Area; TinubuSquare and 17 Primary, Secondary and Vocational Schools. The two phases combined provides lighting covering a total of 70.7 kilometres which includes Carter Bridge.

The Alausa Power Project became operational in October 2013 with an installed capacity of 10.6 megawatts. Located in Alausa, which is the seat of the government of Lagos State, the plant provides uninterrupted power supply to the State Government Secretariat and several other facilities in Ikeja. These facilities are Lagos Television (LTV 8), Lagos State Printing Corporation, Council of Arts and Culture, Office of the Surveyor-General of the State, and a number of Staff Residential Quarters within reach.

The Mainland Power Project was commissioned in October 2014located in IkejaG.R.A with total installed capacity of 8.8 megawatts. The Power Plant supplies electricity to Lagos State Electricity Board; Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Lagos State University College of Medicine; Area “F” Police Command; Lagos High Court Complex, Ikeja: the Old State Secretariat Complex and provides more than 20 kilometres of public lights in places like Ikorodu and Agege Motor Roads.

The Peninsula Integrated Power Project was located in Lekki and commissioned in March 2015 with an installed capacity of 8.5 megawatts of electricity. It provides power to public lighting in Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi including the Lekki-ikoyiLink Bridge. The plant also supplies power toLekki, Alexandra and Oniru Waterworks as well as the Lagos Water Corporation in Victoria Island. This infrastructure has the capacity to accommodate seven engines that can then provide electricity output up to 30 megawatts. “The money to develop the Nigerian economy is here if you put it to good use, if you don’t still it, if you don’t divert it and if you have a clear purpose.

We didn’t need a World Bank loan to build this. The project was clear. The purpose was clear and the financing models were clear.

They could see the return on their expenditure. And immediately we signed the power purchase agreement we had a deal. The banks were ready to finance. So, let nobody come and tell you that we don’t have the money to generate power. What they lack is the knowledge to do it,” Fashola said to an ecstatic crowd at the commissioning of the plant in March.

The impact of the power intervention scheme of the public lighting programme of the state government is clearly visible all across the state. Today, Lagos has the largest size of public lights network among the 36 states of the federation. At the beginning of 2014, the state Electricity Board was maintaining over 360 kilometres of fully-lit of public highways in over 240 locations across the state. This is a stark contrast to the situation as of 2007 with Awolowo and Ikoyi Roads as the only location which had functional lighting. In a bid to add new sources of energy to the power mix, the state has also embarked on the largest solar project in Nigeria.

PDP, a bully, says Abatemi-Usman

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman Kogi Central has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a bully devoid of internal democracy.

The senator told reporters in Abuja that his defection to the APC was to enable him contribute to the enrichment of good governance and the enhancement of the socio-economic development of the country, under the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Abatemi-Usman, a former mem-

From Michael Jegede

ber of the PDP, contested the recent senatorial election on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) after he was unfairly denied the PDP ticket.

Speaking on his sojourn in the PDP, the Kogi Senator, who gave support to Buhari in the presidential poll, said: “PDP came to life in 1998. And one of those that was there was my father. My father was one of the founding fathers of PDP. And in this clime, you hardly want

to do things opposite your father.

So, I naturally took to PDP. But, for you to know that I am not one of your regular followers, I have had many, many opportunities to disagree with a PDP-led position in the Senate. I will tell you some. The case of the River State House of Assembly wanting to impeach a sitting governor with a minority of four members, which was a position of the PDP, I was frontally against that. The case of the invasion of the National Assembly by the Nigerian Police, a democratic

and legal abomination, I was against that frontally. The PDP and the PDP-led government saw nothing wrong in it. I have had my times and opportunities to disagree with the situation and a position that went against my core belief.

And indeed when the PDP shamefully went against me in the primaries after I emerged winner, I said okay. I am not going to fight you. You are a big bully! But I am not going to run away from you. I stood in their face and I say you know what, I am taking my leave.”

•Abatemi

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Agenda for Buhari (3)

Social infrastructure • The Buhari regime should note that education and health care form the basis of human progress ike most other sectors, the Goodluck Jonathan administration is leaving the education and health sectors worse than it met them. The Muhammadu Buhari administration therefore has the onerous duty of reversing the decay in the two vital sectors. Like Siamese twins, both are inseparable: while education has to do with the development of the mind, health has to do with that of the body.

But first the education sector. The sector has not been spared by the general decay that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society. Thus, we have a crisis of standards, from the primary school to the tertiary level of education. Poor funding is a major challenge. This reflects in the facilities in the schools. There are no functional libraries in many schools, including the universities, many of which still have on their shelves outdated books and journals; that is, where they have at all. Furthermore, the system is bogged down by frequent strikes by both the academic and non-academic staff unions.

Matters are not helped by students and in some cases parents who cheat the system in order to secure placements in the schools, including the unity schools.

The incoming administration should federalise education. Local governments should be in charge of the primary schools while states take responsibility for the sec-

L

‘When our hospitals and schools are adequately funded and the welfare of doctors, teachers and other ancillary care providers in the sectors is enhanced ... we can also stop many Nigerians from travelling abroad for higher education and medical tourism’

ondary schools and the Federal Government should concentrate on tertiary education, particularly universities. Although the outgoing administration created an additional six federal universities to reduce the number of Nigerians seeking university education abroad, these are still inadequate, even as the standards are suspect. This is why, in spite of the establishment of more tertiary institutions in the country, the number of Nigerians seeking the Golden Fleece abroad keeps rising.

Unfortunately, this does not come cheap.

Mind-boggling billions of Naira is expended by these Nigerians seeking qualitative education in foreign countries. A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) figure estimated that the country spent about N1billion on the 71,000 Nigerian students studying in Ghana in 2012.

When we add these to the ones in other parts of the world - South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, and countries of the former Soviet Union, Canada – some have estimated we could be spending about a trillion naira annually on such students. This has a lot of implications for our economy, particularly now that crude prices are crashing.

We need a substantial part of these funds to grow the country’s economy. So, the Buhari administration must be ready to fund the education sector adequately because a lot of the problems in the sector has to do with funding. With adequate monitoring and a sustained anti-corruption effort, the money would go a long way in providing the much needed facilities in the institutions. Staff welfare will be better addressed, thereby reducing the frequency of strikes that disrupt academic calendars in the schools. This strategic investment in education is necessary because its benefits are everlasting.

The Buhari administration has to qualitatively and quantitatively address the challenges in the education sector. It is not just by building more schools but by ensuring that the environment is conducive for both

teaching and learning.

Almost everything that has been said of the education sector is also true of the health sector. Just as some of our universities were reckoned with globally in decades past, some of our hospitals too enjoyed similar status decades ago. It was the neglect by successive regimes that led to their present decay. Unfortunately, those who should turn things around in the health sector prefer going abroad for treatment of the commonest ailments in what is now commonly referred to as medical tourism.

The incoming government must see it as a national shame that common diseases like cholera, diarrhea are still killing people in Nigeria. We must revive the primary healthcare and the responsibility for this should revert to the local governments. Then, state governments and the Federal Government must be ready to invest in the necessary equipment that would lift our general hospitals and other centres of medical excellence so that they can deliver some of the services that take many rich Nigerians abroad for medical attention.

Without doubt, governments alone cannot provide the much-needed facilities in our schools and hospitals. But they should provide an enabling environment for people to invest in both sectors. When our hospitals and schools are adequately funded and the welfare of doctors, teachers and other ancillary care providers in the sectors is enhanced, many of the medical personnel who left our shores for greener pasture abroad are likely to return and we can also stop many Nigerians from travelling abroad for higher education and medical tourism, thereby saving the much-needed foreign exchange for development.

Nigeria is blessed with skilled healthcare professionals as well as good teachers. What we lack is the infrastructure/technology and the will on the part of the government. And this is perhaps where the Buhari government has to bring its impact to bear.

Honourary hit woman •Yale University’s odd recognition of Okonjo-Iweala

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HE award of a honourary doctorate degree in Humane Letters to the outgoing Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is a stark demonstration of the willful blindness that can affect even the most enlightened of Western institutions.

Okonjo-Iweala becomes the second Nigerian to receive such an honour in the university’s 314-year history, after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was awarded a honourary Doctor of Letters degree in 1980.

In his remarks, the President of Yale, Prof.

Peter Salovey, described Okonjo-Iweala as “a brilliant reformer and dedicated civil servant” who “has spearheaded efforts to stabilise and grow Nigeria’s economy, battling widespread government corruption and creating greater fiscal transparency and discipline.”

There is no doubt that the minister is blessed with a larger-than-life reputation, not least because of her global prominence as a senior executive at the World Bank and her first tenure as Minister of Finance which was distinguished by major fiscal and economic reforms, most notably the debt write-off negotiated with the Paris Club of creditors in 2005.

However, if Okonjo-Iweala is to be assessed on the basis of her current performance as opposed to her past achievements, it is hard to see how Yale can rationally justify its award. If she has received worldwide renown for the things that she did well, she cannot avoid censure for what she did badly.

As coordinating minister for the economy, she bears a great deal of responsibility for turning a nation that was once flush with cash to one that is now struggling to pay salaries.

There is no shortage of evidence that the minister has fallen far short of expectations.

A particularly obvious example lies in the fact that, while she was being feted in New Haven, her fellow Nigerian citizens were caught in the throes of the most devastating fuel crisis ever to occur under the Jonathan administration.

The scarcity, which is entering its fourth week, is the culmination of the minister’s signal failure to deal with the nagging fuel-subsidy issue competently and honestly. In the wake of the protests which convulsed Nigeria after the Jonathan administration attempted to remove subsidies on fuel in 2012, government made a three-pronged promise: to comprehensively investigate the glaring discrepancies in the payment of subsidies; to create a programme aimed at ameliorating the effects of increased petroleum prices; to strengthen local refining capacity in order to reduce the nation’s ludicrous dependence on imported fuel products.

None of these promises was fully met. The investigation of the fuel subsidy scam has been bogged down in the courts; not one person has been sentenced. Refineries are still operating below optimum capacity, and private investors have largely declined to take up the slack.

Nigeria’s overall economic performance has not been that good, either. Although the country became Africa’s largest economy under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch, its new pre-

eminence only appears to have underlined the structural deficits which still bedevil the nation.

Worse still, the Jonathan administration has been plagued by misappropriation scandals mainly revolving around the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), ironically aggravated by government’s clumsy attempts to dismiss them. The incoming Buhari administration is widely perceived as inheriting the worst economy in the nation’s history.

In essence, there is a surfeit of hard facts and concrete figures to show that OkonjoIweala has superintended a national economic system riddled with incompetence, shambolic policy implementation and bare-faced corruption. All the honourary doctorates in the world cannot change that. Yale University is too serious an institution to lend its accolades to mediocrity as it has done to Okonjo-Iweala.

‘There is a surfeit of hard facts and concrete figures to show that Okonjo-Iweala has superintended a national economic system riddled with incompetence, shambolic policy implementation and bare-faced corruption. All the honourary doctorates in the world cannot change that. Yale University is too serious an institution to lend its accolades to mediocrity as it has done to Okonjo-Iweala’

Amosun, beware of second term curse

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IR: Second term tickets by elected officials always seems a very hard task with most active only during their first tenure. The believe of an average Nigerian is that the winning second term ticket is a grand avenue to blindly loot the state treasury.

The performance of Babatunde Raji Fashola, the out - going governor of Lagos State has raised the bar performance during second term for governors not only in the South-west but also in the entire country.

As an indigene of Ogun State which is ranked among the highly intellectual states in the country, I was highly impressed by the first term performance of our dear governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun. His performance within three years clearly outclassed the performance of a governor who had earlier spent eight years in the saddle.

Amosun clearly touched all facet of governance in the state hence the massive votes that saw him emerge to continue his good work.

However, outside the euphoria of electoral victory, I sincerely commend him for not just sitting back to enjoy the dancing and clapping that followed his victory. He did surprised me by signing the light rail project contract that will improve the transport system in the state.

The governor should endeavour to complete all the projects embarked upon during his first term and fulfill all the electoral promises he made during his campaign which include youth employment creation, women empowerment, medical and health services and care for the old pensioners and the civil servants.

The governor should avoid the booby traps set by the opposition to frustrate his planned lines of action and avoid the curse of the second time in office. It is on record that most governors that perform creditably well during their first term always misbehave, become power drunk and forget their immediate consistuency which is the people of the state.

Example abounds in our state - Ogun and other states – of the prodigal acts of second term governors who virtually turn their state into their personal estate.

Governor Amosun please avoid the traps.

Avoid the curse of second term. May God continue His good work in your life.

• Chief Femi Oni Sango Otta, Ogun State.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: A fortnight ago, a man died. With his tongue clenched between his teeth, his charred body of mangled limbs lay sprawled across the sun-baked tarmac, in a tiny pool of his blood that seeped from the crevices of his mutilated brain. His horrendous state told of a man that had been administered a lethal dose of the lynch law by an irate mob for an alleged crime.

Now is a rising crescendo of mob rule—or jungle justice, as it is termed in our clime. Now is an emergent malaise of extrajudicial killings in our landscape. An alleged thief or rapist or felon is stripped naked in the torrid heat of the day, strapped to a stake and clubbed with murderous zeal until his head shatters and spews out blood, his neck drops dead. Or, more commonly, the supposed thief is neck-laced with a car tyre, doused with petrol and set alight, like a festival lamb, before a frenzied mob. And soon his entreaties of innocence are drowned by the overpowering heat of a furnace.

What we are witnessing in this present time is an injurious corrosion of civilization. The gruesome sight of a defenceless man hacked to death by another man is just bas galling as it is absolutely

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Return of mob justice heart-rending. The chilling remembrance of Aluu 4, in Rivers State, immolated in October 2012 in the most barbarous fashion, leaps to my mind. Even if expurgate from our books of history, memories of such savagery will ever cling to the minds of those who witnessed it.

Like the Ebola virus Disease spreading its contagion effortlessly about, the monster of lynch mob extends its tentacles to more territories, unabated. Sadly, the majority of mob attacks go unreported so that an increasing number of alleged criminals are subjected to mob justice everyday.

To set a man on fire like a sacrificial lamb on the score of criminality is a flagrant disregard for the sanctity of human life. It is a patent breach of a citizen’s Right to fair hearing engraved in the Nigerian constitution, which stipulates in Section 34(1) (a), that

‘every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman and degrading treatment’. Section 315 of the Criminal Code maintains that ‘any person who unlawfully kills another is guilty of an offence which is called murder or manslaughter, according to the circumstances of the case’.

But do these bloodhounds care?

They would instead mete out the lynch law to the alleged culprit than to have to go through them rigmarole of an adjudication system. The law is an ass; its delivery of justice is tardy and prejudiced, they contend. So they would have the supposed criminal face trial in a mob court with a standin judge of a traditional chief, who returns a verdict of lynching. And with the swashbuckling ferocity of a gladiator, the blood-hungry mob

The last straw?

IR: Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa but its citizens have, over the years, been buying fuel at a price higher than the price of fuel in some African countries that don’t even have a spill of oil embedded in their own soil. As if that is not enough, the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the universe now have its citizens roaming the streets and sleeping in filling stations in search of petrol which is a by-product of what their nation produces in large quantities.

To add salt to injury, power supply which has always been epileptic

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became completely erratic almost the same time. No electricity, no fuel and by implication, no power. By further implication, all other sectors of the economy have been incapacitated. Security officers cannot go on patrol due to fuel scarcity. This will definitely give enough room for armed robbers, kidnappers etc. to spread their wings and tentacles to propagate insecurity.

As at the last time, network providers have served notice of intention to restrict their services.

So, communication may soon collapse.

Hospitals need power to carry out some of their operation but where is the power? Students and teachers are being forced to stay at home thereby putting our education in shambles.

The architects of all these (oil marketers) problems have proven that they have the power to turn down the nation’s economy.

So, as education and communication suffer from epilepsy, security and health suffer from leprosy, President Jonathan has decided to keep quiet.

• Jamiu Idowu Esho, Eruwa, Oyo State.

pummel, maim and mutilate the intruder, until rivulets of his blood course over the asphalt. What morbid obsession!

The law enforcement agencies share culpability in these savageries. They lay the groundwork for the gladiatorial

scene of mob courts. It is they who set the rabble loose and teach them to adopt the brute force as the best form of justice. It is their cavalier attitude towards the man in the street that strengthens this group of self-righteous bloodhounds. It is, also the tardiness of the nation’s judicial system that causes the quick recourse to mob lynching. But for how many months –or years—shall the man, woman or child, wait before they become the victims of the next jungle justice?

• Kingsley Charles, University of Calabar.

Save us from noise pollution

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IR: I wish to appeal to the Ogun State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria and its national body to please help us in appealing to some of their members who have refused to all our community’s appeal against noise pollution every night.

The Ire Akari Community of Ilupeju Estate, Abule Oke in Ifo Local Government, Ogun State have written, met and announced to the residents of the community that in view of security challenges facing the community, coupled with appeals by hospital/clinic owners, the use of public address systems at night should be discontinued.

We met the leaders of both the Christian and Muslim communities in the town who assured us of adequate compliance and adherence in view of the reasons presented to them.

It was however surprising that some churches refused to respect the collective decision of the community as they have instead increased the volume of the public address systems during their daily night vigils.

Members of our community have reported the development to various Christian leaders, organs and even the traditional rulers of the

community just to avoid incidents likely to cause breach of peace but all our efforts have yielded no result.

As law-abiding, peace-loving and progress-oriented leaders, we are of the firm believe that our crying out will get into the ears of Christian leaders, the government and peace loving Nigerians hence our resolve to use this medium.

Our community is made up of all the religions practised in the Nigeria and it is our belief that what is sauce for gander should also be sauce for the geese. If others can abide and even observe their night vigils without disturbing the community, the few ones remaining should equally follow their stead.

Our community is all embracing, accommodating and has never discriminated against any individual, group or organisation either in terms of religion, class or kin. We are a mini Nigeria.

Immediate response by the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Ogun State and national body will be appreciated.

• Alhaji Mualiyu Azeez Ilupeju Estate,Abule Oke, Ogun State.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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COMMENTS

Our Girls; PDP’s poisoned parting gift – fuel/powerlessness: Nigeria dies; ‘DAY 1 OF CHANGE’; ‘Liberate States’; ‘Cut NASS

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Tony Marinho

UR Girls are still missing since April 15, 2014. Where is their ‘CHANGE’ and protection under the law in this democracy?

Be careful what you wish for. The internet

brought communication with business and brought loved ones closer. Yes, but it also brought the rapid spread of indoctrination, religious radicalisation, instant reality events like extremist executions and suicidal blogging, yahoo-yahoo and internet scams, identity theft and bank fraud.

From May 29, ‘Day 1 of CHANGE’, President Buhari, as President of all, should be a truly national leader during this stage of Nigeria’s dark history. SWORN ASSET DECLARATION FOR INCOMING OFFICIALS SHOULD ACCOMPANY THEIR ACCEPTANCE LETTERS FOR APPOINTMENT. Also nationwide growth and progress cannot occur in a militarystyle unitary system or a FEUDAL FALSE FEDERALISM favouring divine right to rule. ALL NIGERIANS have rights to A SENSE OF BELONGING. Let freedom for development reign. Buhari must ‘LIBERATE THE STATES’ from a historically oppressive federal government –made up of a few ‘FEUDAL FALSE FEDERALISM FOREVER’ myopic men, sitting in conclave in Abuja on every ‘federal decision’, and vetting or vetoing it and enforcing directives and archaic militarist and colonial laws condemning Fellow Nigerians to 19th Century underdeveloped perpetual poverty. This backward cabal of oppression has had a role to control, command and destruction of ideas like state railways, water controls, roads, building projects et cetera. We have suffered this in Lagos State.

Can Buhari be more progressive than his predecessors?

About 95% of the true population of 120m lives in the 36 states but get 35% of the budget. However states, when paid colossal sums between 1999 and 2014, did little for the citizens - corruption. The federal government and National Assembly (NASS) must reduce size, budget and federal powers for states to get more independence though states misused their allocation over the years. Every Nigerian state has a

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T last, in spite of predictions by doomsday prophets, the 2015 general elections in the country have come and gone. We are left with house-keeping until May 29, which is less than 48 hours from today, when Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, will be sworn in as the fifth democratically elected president in post-independence Nigeria. As winner of the presidential election which held on March 28, after he is sworn in on Friday, Buhari will be the fourth president inaugurated into office since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999 following 19 unbroken years of military interregnum between 1983 and 1999.

The 2015 presidential contest was rightly regarded as the most pivotal in the country’s 55 years history since independence in 1960. There was no denying the thickness of the tension in and around the country as the elections approached. Even Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, described the electioneering process as “vicious” on account of the fiercely competitive nature of the political campaigns that witnessed the most expensive elections ever organized in the land.

Having emerged winner in a process that, although not without its own shortcomings, many, including international election observer groups, have hailed it as largely peaceful and credible, expectations are unsurprisingly high about what will come with Buhari’s presidency.

Indeed, many Nigerians believe, rightly or wrongly, that the myriad of problems confronting the country will automatically vanish the moment the new president mounts the saddle.

Considering the socio-economic malaise the country has had to en-

population bigger than 50 countries. They are the direct responsibility of governors, local ‘heads of state’.

The 2015 Federal budget is unacceptable. NASS is not a ministry! The N150b NASS budget is more than the allocation to 23 ministries and must be cut to N10b size. Policies cutting stupid salaries and perks, part-time legislation, sitting allowances must be introduced by NASS or by referendum.

Three items in the press demonstrate oppression of Nigeria’s masses. One is the CBN’s ‘concessional’ 9% loans for agriculture while we borrow from bloodthirsty banks at 21-25% with 13% going to CBN as the MPR, non-existent in most countries. The second is an advert boasting ‘we allow/demand 30% down payment on the N85m homes for sale while the rest is spread over ONE year’. The third is the naira exchange rate N200-215:$1, making the naira ‘toilet paper’. This is down from N1 for $1.5 when I started work in 1974 and we had such misplaced pride in a Nigeria whose leaders had a secret malicious monetary policy. These are cases of systemic corruption and failed leadership. Nigeria fails in financial services to its millions seeking small survival or business loans or housing mortgages– essential for a just society. Can Buhari change our economic woes and listen to Henry Boyo the economist to achieve poverty reduction policies.

Is PDP trying to postpone or sabotage the May 29 inauguration? The massive corruption and round-tripping surrounding the fuel scarcity has changed my mind as Nigeria dies from being strangled. Buhari should initiate IMMEDIATE FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL and urgent ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTIPLE SMALL NEW REFINERIES for home-grown fuel and the 100 useful by-products we never hear about but need for industrial growth. We are already paying N130-400. Is the punishing fuellessness plaguing Nigeria a Machiavellian ‘PDP Venomous Poisoned Parting Present’-fuellessness and powerlessness? Buhari can BLAME PDP INCOMPETENCE AND CORRUPTION for a need for the ‘Immediate Effect’ removal of subsidy.

Beyond the Boko Haram War, when a country losses its farmers, families, children and armed forces members within the country, it must face the ‘internal terror situation’. If it is true that the Fulani herdsmen are a few ‘common criminals’

then they should be emasculated with military precision.

An angry Buhari, a prominent Fulani General, and a former head of state once led a protest delegation to Governor Lam Adesina about a deadly clash between Fulani herdsmen and Oke Ogun, Oyo State farmers. He was educated on who was to blame. With the death of soldiers it seems little has changed except that the herdsmen are better armed, so imagine how they TREAT OUR FARMERS WHO ARE ONLY LICENCED TO CARRY DANE GUNS AND MACHETES. The cattle routes can be guarded easily. The herdsmen have robbed and killed many, including a General in Lagos. Disarming farmers but not herdsmen is ethnic, political and genocidal. What is Buhari’s blueprint on this ‘The Other War’? Let us threaten to stop the North-South cow herd trade until the herdsmen respect other Nigerians –farmers and soldiers. No country whose soldiers are killed can sleep at night. No soldier joins up to be killed in ‘petty cow squabbles’. What ‘medal’ do they get?

Who is funding Fulani herdsmen weapons? Is their wider mission to destabilise regions of Nigeria or expansionist? Is it about ‘INSISTING ON RIGHTS OF PASSAGE THROUGH FARMLANDS AND FREE FEEDING/WATERING FOR COWS? The Fulani herdsmen-Farmer War is internal, not ISIS. A solution must be quickly found. What a waste.

Death, so we can eat meat, makes no sense. We demand ‘change’.

‘Who is funding Fulani herdsmen weapons? Is their wider mission to destabilise regions of Nigeria or expansionist? Is it about ‘INSISTING ON RIGHTS OF PASSAGE THROUGH FARMLANDS AND FREE FEEDING/WATERING FOR COWS? The Fulani herdsmenFarmer War is internal, not ISIS. A solution must be quickly found. What a waste. Death, so we can eat meat, makes no sense. We demand ‘change’’

As Buhari steps in (Part 1) dure in recent years, Buhari, is at this time, seen as a messiah of sorts. In view of this, all structures – political and economic – are eagerly awaiting his much-vaunted ‘magic’ wand.

In fact, it might be safe to say that Buhari is right now carrying more weight of expectation than Chief Olusegun Obasanjo bore when he was voted the country’s civilian leader in 1999. Before then, the military had dominated the political scene from December 31, 1983 till May 29, 1999.

Like Obasanjo was, Buhari is equally not a neophyte. He is not coming into the saddle unprepared.

Having led the country for 20 months - from December 31, 1983 to August 12, 1985 - following the military coup that toppled the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the dying minutes of December, 1983, he has been there before. In addition, he has a well-documented story of having previously lost elections in his bid to be Nigeria’s civilian president on three occasions – 2003, 2007 and 2011, before getting his Holy Grail at the fourth attempt this year.

It is also safe to assume that through his years in the military and even after being ousted as head of state

by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and his band of coupists in 1985, he has carefully cultivated a formidable enough circle of strategic friends at home and internationally. These can, indeed, come handy in his new position. The times may have changed, but having also previously served the nation in such capacities as Federal Commissioner of Petroleum Resources, military

‘There is no mincing words that Buhari is a dogged fighter, an incurable optimist and a man imbued with Spartan determination to succeed in spite of both natural and man-made hurdles on his path’

administrator in the old North East as well as chairman of the then Petroleum Trust Fund, he is a man who must be aware of the infrastructural and indeed, economic deficits facing the country. There is no mincing word that Buhari is a dogged fighter, an incurable optimist and a man imbued with Spartan determination to succeed in spite of both natural and man-made hurdles in his path.

With these rare credentials possessed by one man, what the country needs now from him is a productive demonstration of his understanding of the avalanche of burning issues at stake through the application of practical solutions to dealing with them. For a man whose main selling card has always been his honesty, self-discipline, incorruptibility and steadfast belief in the need for government to operate efficiently by taking bold steps to eliminate wastages, the country has hardly ever been more in need of being administered by an individual that fits the profile of the incoming president. Already, the sound bites coming from the camp of the president-elect with regards to the need to reduce and commercialise the bulk of the aircrafts in the overbloated presidential fleet, is very encouraging. Let’s hope that this will be just the beginning in his bid to bring some fiscal sanity to the overhead cost of governance in the country as he has always suggested by his body language.

Another area of exceptional national interest is petroleum-related activities, which include revenue generated from crude oil, the management of the funds, as well as the facilities for the production of the product. For several weeks now, Nigerians have been in the throes of excruciating scarcity of petroleum products, the same problem that has rendered the nation’s economy perenially prostrate in the last few

years. For a major oil producing country in the world, this is a scandal of monumental magnitude. It may not be much, but, perhaps, there may be some consolation in the person and persona of the presidentelect.

Each time Buhari speaks about the oil or petroleum resources sector, he seems to speak like someone who is familiar with issues around the industry, someone who appreciates the enormity of the issues well enough to be armed with very workable solutions to the industry’s seemingly intractable problems. I can’t help but notice the nostalgia with which he responds to issues about the industry. Although whether this fondness translates to concrete results in the interest of all in the next few months or years, is another matter altogether.

The Nigerian oil industry is like a patient on a stretcher being wheeled to the theatre for urgent surgical operation to save his life. In other words, the Nigeria oil industry is currently gasping for breath as most of the country’s refineries have either broken down or they are merely engaged in epileptic production which is a far cry from the country’s energy needs. This unsavoury situation has created a lacuna for very dubious businessmen and their collaborators in the corridors of power, to bleed the country dry through the payment of duplicitous subsidy for the importation of petroleum products.

For instance, some highly placed Nigerians are believed to be neckdeep in fraudulent importation of aviation fuel, only to turn round to pass on papers for payment of subsidy for kerosene. Another ploy is a situation where refined petroleum products are taken out of the country to neighbouring West-African countries and then brought back immediately as imported petroleum

Dele Agekameh products in order to collect subsidy.

These are some of the ingenious ways through which the country has been stolen blind. Now is the time to plug all these loopholes and save the country from thieves masquerading as businessmen.

Recall that the last of the country’s long-since comatose refineries was built in 1984, at a time Buhari presided over the affairs of the country as a military ruler. While the age of the refineries is regularly cited as a reason the country needs new ones, it is instructive to know that even in a country like the United States of America with a history of healthy refineries and efficiency in the refining of petroleum products, the most recently-built refinery was constructed around 1988. What I am trying to say here is that, with a good maintenance culture, the age of a refinery does not necessarily prevent it from delivering. Sadly, our abysmal maintenance culture has created a lot of rot in our entire social and economic infrastructure as exemplified by the sorry state into which our refineries have been plunged for decades.

• To be continued For comments Text (only) to : 08058354382

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

COMMENTS ‘Many thanks for your article ‘So long, Dr Jonathan’. I expect seasoned senior journalists to come together like the Nollywood artists, to devote a day of The Nation to highlight all the sins of Jonathan. I also believe that God has been so wicked to Nigeria to have allowed Obasanjo to foist Jonathan on us. President Jonathan is an economic disaster and history will not forgive him as the worst thing to have come from the Niger Delta. Am deep-heartedly ashamed to be an Ijaw man. Anonymous’ •Buhari For Olatunji Dare Prof Dare, you are jealous of Mr Tony Blair’s achievements. You are jealous that even though you are older than him, he looks older than you. He even has more grey hairs than you. Older people are found of grey hairs jealousy. You argue often that you are against unemployment, now why are you against a man for being employed after he lost his job?

Is Africa no longer capable of providing a job for a British who lost his job? Is that not a pride to Nigeria? Anyway, thank you for the factual thrill. - Anonymous Dear Prof, I had the opportunity to read the first part of this article on Tony Blair in 2010.

But I must admit that today’s piece is a masterstroke. I always look forward to reading your column because you are not only intelligent and fearless but also honest to your topics. You do not allow sentiments to dictate your diction. I am always proud of you. May Almighty God continue to reinforce your vision and cogitation of issues that affect our lives. You are my inspiration for writing.

God bless, sir. - Anonymous So, why is APC inviting Tony Blair? Who facilitated this? It is sad. - Anonymous Sir, your treatise on the kind of person Tony Blair, former Britain prime minister, is, revealing and insightful. You are inspiring. Anonymous Send Buhari 1,000 copies of this article before he is made to hit the ground running on May 29. I note that he is guest speaker at an APC show in Abuja tomorrow. - From Prof Jide Ajayi Thank you for this in-depth exposure of Blair’s evil acts, that today, have left Iraq and Iraqis a ruined nation. Blair and Bush should be made to face crimes against humanity.

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T is not by sheer accident of event but by deliberate self-design that wherever the All Progressives Party (APC) president-elect, Mohammadu Buhari finds himself, there is always Dr Kayode Fayemi, the self-acclaimed doctorate degree holder in War Studies with supposed specialization in Civil-Military Relations.

Yet, in Ekiti State, where he last governed as governor, kidnapping, sectarian fighting and general insecurity has been on the increase in recent time without a single word of concern from this so-called expert in war studies.

While Ekiti continues to boil without any iota of interests from Fayemi, he enjoys being in the news and being referred to as the head of the outdated Policy, Research and Strategy directorate of APC Campaign Council that invited former British Premier, Tony Blair, to deliver its keynote address on the implementation of the Agenda for Change at the party’s two-day policy dialogue in Abuja recently.

What is quite objectionable is the fact that Blair diminished the significance of the lecture, probably because of his ratings of the organizers when he deemed it unnecessary to attend but send Peter Benjamin Mandelson, who was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in his administration to deliver the keynote lecture on his behalf.

For whatever it’s worth, it is an indubitable fact that the campaign council has compulsorily finished its duty immediately after the general elections and all other party duties revert to the appropriate organs set up by the party hierarchy to discharge such; hence, the latest one performed by the Policy, Research and Strategy directorate under Fayemi is no exception in this regard.

This writer doubts whether the rightful party organ saddled with the responsibility of performing the function of organising such forum for the president-elect’s policy discourse would not have deliberated extensively amongst the topmost hierarchy of the party and even amongst a broad spectrum of the party’s intelligentsia before determining who to invite for such an important party forum; and this is with the mindset that

President Buhari should distance himself from a liar and war criminal, begging for influence. - From Fred Thanks for this incisive and truth-based article. I wish the world was made of more cerebral people. I am actually surprised that someone could write this from The Nation generally perceived as bereft of objective reportage. Please keep this up. - Anonymous Your article on Blair is a total washout to those of us who spend our meagre pension to buy papers. He who has no past sin should cast the first stone. Enough of past fault finding. - Anonymous Thanks for this illuminating piece, titled: “An unwelcome visitor” on Blair which appeared in The Nation of May 19. That he is full of falsehood and barefaced lies is not known to many Nigerians and your article is an eye-opener. I hope that the Presidentelect or his handlers are aware of his antics.

God bless. - Anonymous I enjoy reading you from your University of Lagos days. But your two articles on Osoba and Blair are unsavoury diatribes on spent forces. Please give us inspiring columns in future. - From Bayode Ogunmupe.

Hi, Brother Dare. Hope this gets to you after all failed efforts in the past. Very many thanks for your piece on one of our continuing external western colonial tormentors, poor Tony Blair. Of course, he and his cohorts will always find willing hands with our caliphate internal colonialists in the odious tasks of our perennial underdevelopment. We are watching what the nature of the new CHANGE mantra may bring. - From Akingba.

For Segun Gbedegesin I love your article and work on Statism, regionalism and nationalism. But I would prefer

you write a book on this, invite the proponents of “Regionalism”, including the President, his executive and members of the National Assembly for the launch and review. I think that in so doing, your message would go a long way. This, sir, is my humble suggestion. Thanks. - From Mr Josiah, Port Harcourt.

Many thanks for your article ‘So long, Dr Jonathan’. I expect seasoned senior journalists to come together like the Nollywood artists, to devote a day of The Nation to highlight all the sins of Jonathan. I also believe that God has been so wicked to Nigeria to have allowed Obasanjo to foist Jonathan on us.

President Jonathan is an economic disaster and history will not forgive him as the worst thing to have come from the Niger Delta.

Am deep-heartedly ashamed to be an Ijaw man. - Anonymous Obasanjo never practised what he preached! It seemed alright to proclaim corruption to the high heavens for others but went behind and was extremely corrupt himself! If Obasanjo and, indeed, anyone else ala Saraki has stolen, Buhari should collect it, if he wants to be remembered after eight years! - Anonymous Dr. Jonathan did not understand the fundamental society value shifts of the emergence of new value before assuming duties, no awareness of possible choice, relief, often in a democracy. His option on transformation were nurtured out of faith.

Permit me for what I said. He was busy praying for a change and forgot that it originates from individuals and from the grassroots through liberty, which induced organic adjustments are the foundation of all kinds of changes. My question is: where are we now? Where do we want to go? And who will take us there? That is “to a logical

•Jonathan starting point based on the situation in our country’’. - Anonymous With genuine intensions, sincerity of purpose, a clear conscience and a dogged pursuit of intellectual honesty, leadership can be really simple and easy but the average dullard has turned leadership, good governance and accountability into an insurmountable myth! - Anonymous Re: So long, Dr. Jonathan. You have said it all.

We must all see the recent election as a contest between the Hen and the Cage (Aago) which took place in a village square to determine who was supreme between the two of them.

At the appointed time and place, the villager were already gathered and musical rendition of: E wi f’alejo ko lo. E fi sasara b’agbo, rent the air.

The hen, in its characteristic nature, started to boast: I will defeat the Cage, come what may, emi okunrin meeta. The cage remained calm, cool and collected. Going by the calibre of those coming to watch the contest, one expected to see Hyena, Wolf and Cat. It was quite obvious that the Hen will lose the contest, if not completely devoured by the hungry Wolf. But, when the contest was about to begin, the Hen, on sighting the Wolf, ran inside the Cage for safety and so, metaphorically, the Cage won the contest. Although Dr. Jonathan actually accepted defeat and congratulated Buhari, his body language has been that if an expatriate about to retire, he will defecate on his official seat to spite his successor. It is not too good.

Look at what is happening in the country. The people are suffering because of scarcity of fuel.

This is just a gimmick to make things difficult for the incoming administration. What a government. What a President. - From Prince Adewumi Oyeromade Agunloye

Fayemi: Let charity begin at home

By Jide Adamolekun such could go a long way in establishing the incoming administration’s seriousness about tackling the myriads of problems facing the country.

The gaffe that Fayemi, in his dictatorial fashion, and his committee that he largely controls, was unambiguously exposed in Olatunji Dare, Professor Emeritus’ recent column in this newspaper titled: An unwelcome visitor in which he, in his usual frank nature, highlighted the posturing of Blair while serving as British Premier against especially Iraq and in other places and his subsequent deployment of such exalted position, after leaving office, to pursue mercantilist neo-colonial inclination among less powerful countries of the world. This globally revered journalism teacher and internationally respected columnist also in that piece exposed the disdain of most Europeans and the British people for their former premier.

And unfortunately for the incoming Buhari administration, this is the inglorious character that Fayemi beckoned on at a huge price that would one day be released for public consumption, to grace such an epochal occasion of the APC and its president-elect, to deliver a keynote lecture. This is a reflection of the neo-colonial mindset of Fayemi and how far he has lost touch with the needs of not only Ekiti people but that of the entire people of this country. It is a pity if Buhari thinks this kind of person has anything to offer his administration other than to further alienate it from the people, and in no time rubbish the acclaim that is about to usher Buhari to power on May 29.

Here is how Professor Dare described Blair, Fayemi’s bosom friend and policy discussant in his recent piece: ‘It was entirely in character that

Blair should have presumed at every stop to speak for the “international community,” though he holds no public office and is in fact a hugely discredited politician who, in a just world, should be in prison serving time for war crimes.’’ He continued: ‘So unpopular and discredited had he become at the end of his record tenure as prime minister that he could not embark on a farewell tour of Britain, where he was sure to be greeted with shouts of “Liar, Liar” and pelted with tomatoes and eggs. They even re-christened him Bliar. And so, he travelled instead to bid farewell to British troops in Basra, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan. Blair’s quest to become president of the European Council ended in humiliation. The British government withdrew its backing when it became clear that member countries wanted nothing to do with him…The last time Blair went to testify before a parliamentary committee looking into how the UK entered the unholy alliance that invaded, occupied and destroyed Iraq, he had to be smuggled into the committee room through a back door, to save him from the wrath of protesters.’’ At another instance, he stated: ‘This was not the way the script was supposed to end for the youngest prime minister…But hubris and delusion soon set in, and glory turned to ashes.’’

Blair that Fayemi allegedly got appearance funds to sponsor from a mushroom international organisation, sadly through a proxy ,to deliver that APC keynote policy address would not be globally forgotten for his infamous role in the crime against humanity in Iraq just to send only Saddam Hussein, its leader packing from office. Professor Dare gave a picture of how it happened when he wrote that Blair ‘published a dossier on what he said was Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-production programme. It was a “dodgy” document, copied in part from a sopho-

moric doctoral dissertation that an American university had rejected. Next, he put it out that Iraq had sought to buy uranium cake from Niger Republic. The document detailing the alleged transaction was a transparent forgery. The minister who purportedly signed on behalf of the Niger government had left office at least eight years earlier.’’ What then informed the invitation of a forger to such an important APC policy discourse?

The problems of Nigeria are not the organisation of policy discourses as such were had in abundance in the past. What Nigeria wants is how the current power problem could be resolved permanently; how fuel would return to the filling stations at a cheap price per litre with a permanent end to its scarcity; how insecurity will disappear from this clime; how gainful employment will be available to millions seeking for it; how the economy and the naira will stabilise and how infrastructure and institutions of state would be rebuilt and restored for good. Discredited leaders that tickle the fancy of Fayemi like Blair cannot make that happen.

In retrospect, Fayemi as chairman of the APC National convention committee that organized the party’s primaries worked against Buhari’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate and the way he now niftily pushes the man in the wrong direction, since after the election could alienate the new helmsman from the people that voted for him, like he sadly did in Ekiti as governor for himself. This nefarious move makes one doubt whether Fayemi really wants the president-elect to succeed. To Fayemi, it does not seem that charity begins at home; otherwise, he should by now be seen to be working in Ekiti to see how to put APC in the right footings, again.

• Dr. Adamolekun, an educationist wrote in from Ado-Ekiti.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Real sector’s revenue to hit N5tr

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

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HE Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) plan of increasing the contribution of the manufacturing sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) from four per cent to 10 per cent by 2017 is realizable, a Bank of Industry (Bol) report has shown.

The NIRP, launched in 2014, is a five year plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria to rapidly build up the industrial capacity and improve competitiveness in Nigeria.

The concept is a commoditybased industrialisation strategy to promote value addition and economic transformation, including the reduction of the nation’s dependence on producing and exporting unprocessed commodities. It also aims to boost the annual revenue earnings of the Nigerian manufacturers by up to N5trillion per annum and by extension to create jobs and import substitution.

Speaking on the developmental impact story of the Bank of Industry (BoI) in Lagos and its strategic support to NIRP, Managing Director/CEO Bank of the bank, Rasheed Olaoluwa, said the bank is delivering its mandate with a strong corporate governance by adequately funding programmes through resource mobilisation, risk management, compliance, stakeholder engagement and cost optimisation.

He said BoI has developed a five-year Strategic Plan 20152019 under advice from the international consulting firm of KPMG Professional Services and also structured a Large Enterprises Directorate along the key NIRP sectors of Agro Processing, Solid Minerals, Gas & Petrochemicals.

On the bank activities in the SME’s sector Olaoluwa said the development bank has introduced new SME products such as Cottage Agro Processing Fund and NollyFund to support Agro Processing and Nollywood Sectors respectively.

“We are more interested in SMEs and local industries bearing in mind that SMEs are the bedrock of development in any clime as they contribute to GDP, employment & export generation, increasing value addition & technological advancement.”

On the importance of SMEs, he said they require low capital to take off though they are feeders of large firm and biggest employers of Labour.

Doing a comparative analysis he said China, Brazil, USA and Brazil have 75, 70, 55 and 54 per cent SME penetration and assured that BoI would continue to impact positively on the economy through the support of Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs).

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

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs

Marketoperatorsmullmergers,acquisitions

C

APITAL market operators are considering mergers and acquisitions as viable options to stave off the threat of liquidation under newrules set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) .

Reliable market sources said there have been intense discussions around consolidation, a reference to mergers and acquisitions, in recent months as the new management of the apex capital market regulator insisted it would not rescind earlier decisions on the new minimum capital base.

Sources said while some stockbrokers and other operators were considering raising funds through special placements, most deficient operators have started preliminary discussions on mergers and acquisitions.

Capital market operators, especially stockbrokers, had mounted strong lobby for a downward review and change in the structure of the new mini-

•SEC appraises new capital base

By Taofik Salako

mum capital requirements. The hopes of a revision had risen with the exit of the former director general, Ms Arunma Oteh and the appointment of Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, a stockbroker, as the substantive director general.

But the new SEC management has insisted on the implementation of the new minimum capital requirements as previously scheduled. Gwarzo had hinted in February that SEC would appraise compliance with the new minimum capital base requirements in June.

Gwarzo had told a team of the council and management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that visited him that the Commission was delighted that it has had a good collaboration with all stakeholders on the issue of the recapitalization and it “will return to the exercise in the next five

months”.

A source said a string of major enforcement actions taken by the Commission recently had impressed it on the capital market operators that the apex capital market regulator may not tolerate default. SEC had last week suspended operations of BGL Group, one of the largest investment banking firms at the capital market, from all capital market activities. The Commission also suspended all sponsored officials of the BGL Group, including its managing director who was the president of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).

It should be noted that SEC had extended the deadline for compliance with the new minimum capital requirements for various capital market functions from December 31, 2014 to September

30, 2015. Before the extension, some 262 capital market operators had met their various capital requirements.

However, the larger segment of the capital market operators had called for a review of the minimum capital base arguing that it violated the principles of risk-based approach that should govern the capitalization of multi-operators market.

SEC had 2013 announced major increases in minimum capital requirements for capital market functions under a new minimum capital structure that was initially scheduled to take off by January 1, 2015. Minimum capital base for broker and dealer was increased by 329 per cent from the existing N70 million to N300 million.

Broker, which currently operates with capital base of N40 million, will now be required to have N200 million, representing an increase of 400 per cent.

•From left: Chairman, WaveTek Nigeria Limited, Mr Mike Olajide; Senior Manager Access Transmission Planning, MTN, Mr. Segun Salami and CTO, WaveTek Nigeria Limited, Mr. Williams Uwhojega during the official presentation of WaveTek's Ebnad 'fibre in the air' solutions in Lagos

‘90 per cent of boats in Nigeria are Tokumbo’

A

BOUT 90 per cent of boats in Nigeria are used boats, otherwise called Tokumbo in the local parlance, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Bras Marine and Yacht Services Limited, Mr. Abayomi Sonuga, has said.

Speaking on the sideline of the first ‘Annual Boat and Yacht Exhibition at Bay Lounge, Lekki, Lagos, Sonuga said the company is poised to ensure that Bras Marine and Yacht Services’ clients, have access to brand new boats and cruisers, with top class after sales services and genuine spare parts.

CBN’s monthly bailout to banks hit N1tr - P 26

By Chikodi Okereocha

He said this was why the company, which started operations a year and half ago, focusing on the sale, lease, and servicing of luxury boats and cruisers in Nigeria, signed a partnership deal with Sea Ray Marine, a Knoxville, US-based globally renowned luxury boat and yacht builder with 30 per cent market share.

Sonuga, who described Sea Ray as “a good technical partner,” said the US firm has encouraged Bras Marine by offering it incentives to make it competitive. “It is those incentives that we are passing

on to consumers that these boats are cheaper than bringing in used boats,” he said, adding that the partnership also gives his company access to genuine parts and accessories produced by Brunswick Marine, makers of Mercury engines.

Brunswick Marine owns Mercury and Sea Ray. Sea Ray, part of the partnership, has sent a technical personnel who is on ground to train Nigerians. “It’s cheaper for us if they train us here on ground than having to always fly out for trainings.

They will also train quartermasters; those are the people

Listing on stock exchange has helped us to grow, says Chams - P28

we call captains in Nigeria to drive boats,” Sonuga explained.

The Chairman said apart from selling luxury boats and cruisers, “We also intend to go into marine transport. We are also looking at patrol boats for our Police, the Navy, and oil & gas companies, including those who want to use it for celebrations or take their families out for a weekend.” He said having announced its arrival in Lagos, the company plans to expand to Port Harcourt, River State, before ultimately hitting the West African market.

Appoint technocrats, expert urges Buhari Lucas Ajanaku

G

ROUP Managing Director, NANET Group, an hospitality firm, Ini Akpabio, has urged the President-elect, Muhammed Buhari to appoint professionals in key government positions.

Akpabio, made the appeal in a chat with journalists in Lagos at the weekend.

He said the down-ward trends witnessed in most sectors of the Nigeria economy, are as a result of the absence of technocrats in government’s positions.

“Most of the people appointed into leadership positions are not professionals or expert in such sectors given to them to manage.

“Politicians appoint people based on relationship not on experience and professionalism.

If such is not corrected, no sector of the economy will work because the right people are not in the right positions,” he said.

The Managing Director also advised the incoming government to revitalised abandoned historical monuments, government built hotels and tourism sites across the country.

He said there were lots of abandoned government hotels, monuments and tourism sites that are not in good condition.

“The incoming government should focus on the abandoned historical sites, hotels and monuments to boost the sector.

“The country is blessed with enormous tourism and hospitality assets that can be used to raise revenue for the government .

According to him, the incoming government need not spend much in establishing tourism sites or monument but to reawaken abandoned ones, “ he said.

Akpabio advised the Buhari led administration to exploit hospitality and tourism sector as alternative means to oil sector.

“Government should diversify the economy through the tourism and hospitality industry as it poses less hazard to the environment unlike the oil sector.

“Hospitality and tourism sector is the third employer of labour after agric sector and government offices, “ he said.

He further stated that the industry is capable of employing over one million citizens annually, thereby, reducing employment challenges in the country.

“The industry will help to increase the nation gross domestic earnings by 50 per cent and also help in poverty alleviation,” Akpabio said.

Akpabio appealed to the Federal Government to create good road networks to tourism sites across the country and also provide infrastructure to aid the sector.

Rabbits offer big returns on investment - P38

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

CBN’s monthly bailout to banks hits N1tr

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ITH banks’ high cash demand, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cumulative monthly bailout to them rose to N1.06 trillion last February from N75.39 billion the previous month.

The loans consist of N154.50 billion direct Standing Lending Facility (SLF) and N905.51 billion intraday lending facility.

This reflects a daily average of N66.25 billion for the 16 transaction days in the month compared with a total request for N75.39 billion, with a daily average of N9.42 billion in eight transaction days last January.

The SLF is an overnight CBN credit available on banking days between 2 pm and 3.30 pm, with settlement done on same day value.

Funds are sourced from time, savings and foreign currency deposits, as well as accretion to unclassified assets. The funds are used to extend credit to the private sector and pay claims on demand deposit.

According to CBN’s Economic Report for the month, data on Deposit Money Banks’ activities indicated that total assets and liabilities of the commercial banks amounted to N28.4 trillion, showing an increase of 2.9 per cent over the level at the end of January. Funds are sourced mainly from unclassified liabilities; Central Government deposits and

Stories by Collins Nweze

claims on the Central Bank. The funds were used, largely, for extension of credit to the private sector.

Also, at N14.4 trillion, banks’ credit to the domestic economy rose by 1.7 per cent above the level in the preceding month. The development was attributed to the increase in claims on the private sector during the review month.

Total specified liquid assets of the commercial banks stood at N5.8 trillion, representing 38.2 per cent of their total current liabilities. At that level, the liquidity ratio fell by 1.8 percentage points below the level in the preceding month and was 8.2 percentage points above the stipulated minimum ratio of 30.0 per cent.

Available data indicated that total assets and liabilities of the discount houses stood at N135.2 billion at end February, showing a decline of 20.4 per cent below the level at end-January 2015. The development was accounted for, largely, by the 80.2 and 10.9 per cent fall in claims on banks and Federal Government. Correspondingly, the decrease in total liabilities was attributed to the 76.1 per cent and 14.0 per cent fall in borrowings and money-at-call.

Discount houses’ investment in Federal Government securities stood at N51.98 billion and accounted for 52.7 per cent of their total deposit liabilities. Thus, investments in Federal Government Securities was 7.3 percentage points below the prescribed minimum level of 60 per cent.

At that level, discount houses’ investments on Nigeria Treasury Bills fell by 0.8 per cent below the level at the end of the preceding month. Total borrowing and amount owed by the discount houses was N29.37 billion, while their capital and reserves amounted to N29.6 billion. This resulted in a gearing ratio of 1.8:1, compared with the stipulated maximum target of 50:1 for fiscal 2015.

Available data indicated that interest rates rose during the review month. All other deposit rates of various maturities rose from a range of 3.57 to 10.79 per cent. The average prime lending and maximum lending rates trended upward during the review month. The spread between the weighted average term deposit and maximum lending rates declined by 0.23 percentage point to 17.08 percentage points at the end of February 2015.

Similarly, the margin between the average savings deposit and maxi-

mum lending rates widened by 0.25 percentage point to 22.74 percentage points at the end of the review month. The weighted average inter-bank call rate rose to 12.90 per cent above 7.49 per cent in the preceding month, reflecting the liquidity condition in the inter-bank funds market.

Provisional data indicated that the total value of money market assets outstanding in February 2015 stood at N7.8 trillion, showing an increase of 1.1 per cent, compared with the increase of 1.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed, to the 46.7 and 1.6 per cent increase in Bankers’ Acceptance and Federal Government of Nigeria Bonds outstanding.

Developments in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) were mixed during the review month.

Foreign exchange inflow and outflow through the CBN in February was $1.90 billion and $4.30 billion, and resulted in a net outflow of $2.40 billion.

Foreign exchange sales by the CBN to the authorised dealers

Analysts: Govt needs N575b to subsidise fuel yearly T HE Federal government will require N575 billion yearly for fuel subsidy if imported petrol is N134.65 per litre, investment analysts have said.

The analysts with FBN Capital, an investment and research firm said with the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) statistics pegging the cost of imported petrol at N134.65/ litre, including distributors’ margins, the government would require that amount for subsidy.

In a report released on Monday, the Head, Equities Market, Olubunmi Asaolu, said the inherent subsidy of N47.65/ litre would, on the basis of industry estimates of daily petrol consumption, amount to N575 billion a year.

It acknowledged that in the past few weeks, there has been a slowdown in economic activity because of fuel scarcity engendered by rift between the government and marketers over unpaid subsidy claims.

“The marketers are said to have stopped importing refined prod-

ucts. They are pressing for payments due to concerns that the incoming administration will subject subsidy claims to greater scrutiny, and may remove the remaining subsidies altogether. Government indebtedness to petroleum marketers is estimated at N200 billion ($1 billion),” Asaolu said.

Continuing, it reiterated that earlier in the year, spot prices for UK Brent/Bonny Light crude were below $50/barrel, prompting the government to cut the retail price for premium motor spirit (PMS) to N87/ litre.

Asaolu said in the 2014 budget, N971 billion was provided for fuel subsidy, adding in 2015, it is N143 billion (N100 billion for petrol and N43 billion for kerosene).

This latter yearly allocation was always too low, given the backlog of unpaid claims. It may well also prove too low in view of the recovery in the crude price. This budget assumes an average of $53/

barrel.

“There are credit implications of the face-off. The downstream oil and gas industry accounts for an upper-teens percentage of banks’ total lending on average. Historically, it has accounted for a relatively high proportion of non-performing loans. Banks are unwilling to fund oil imports due to the heightened risk,” Asaolu said.

He explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) External Sector Development Report for the fourth quarter of last year shows that oil imports accounted for 30 per cent of visible trade (or $2.7 billion) in its analysis of foreign exchange utilisation in that quarter.

“The new administration will also have a decision to take over the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC’s) four refineries: the status quo (unlikely), sale or liquidation. On the subsidies, our hope is that it will opt for deregulation and so attract new greenfield projects for the refining of petroleum products,” he added.

amounted to $3.58 billion, showing an increase of 5.2 per cent above the level in the preceding month. Relative to the level in the preceding month, the average naira exchange rate against the US dollar remained the same at the Retail Dutch Auction (RDAS) segment, but depreciated at both the bureau-de-change and interbank segments of the market.

Non-oil export receipts declined by 33.1 per cent below the level in the preceding month. The development was attributed, largely, to the significant decline in export earnings from the industrial sector.

2,660 BDCs get $79.8m CBN’s allocations weekly

T

• From left: Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria, Olor’ogun Sonny Kuku; Managing Director Jibril Aku, who received the Zik Prize Award 2014 for Professional Leadership; Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr Oba Otudeko; Chairman, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Emmanuel Ikazoboh, and Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Joseph ArumemiIkhide, at the Zik Prize Award in Lagos .... at the weekend.

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

HE 2,660 Bureax De Change (BDC) operators are allotted $79.8 million weekly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

Each BDC takes $30,000 weekly, down from $50,000. This followed the approval of over 80 additional BDCs following the expiration of the July 31 deadlines for their regularisation.

The regulator had pointed out that on the expiration of the deadline on July 31, that it would cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the new requirements, adding that “only BDCs that meet the new requirements would qualify to be engaged as agent by the licenced international money transfer operators for inward and outward transfer business in Nigeria’’.

However, the continuous approval of more BDCs by the CBN, after the deadline elapsed last December, is causing ripples in the subsector.

Older operators are alleging compromise by the apex bank after it yesterday, and fourth time in a row, raised the number of BDCs that met the regulatory requirement to 2,660.

President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said the action of the CBN is suspi-

cious.

He said the group had approached the regulator and complained about the continuous update of operators’ list, which keeps depleting the volume of foreign exchange allocated to operators.

The CBN, he said, claimed that the newly approved list of members were those that met the deadline, but had their names cut off, until it carried out internal reconciliation.

The CBN had in February, published a list of 2,586 licensed BDC firms which it said had complied with its new capital requirements of N35 million as at July 31.

There were 3,208 registered BDCs in the country before the expiration of the deadline. The CBN had in June announced a new minimum capital requirement of N35 million for the operation of BDCs in the country, up from the N10 million it was previously.

In order to ensure that the forex dealers comply with the new capital requirements, the CBN had extended the deadline to July 31. The forex dealers were previously given a deadline of July 15.

The apex bank had also said interest would be paid on the mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million, based on banking industry savings account rate.

FirstBank introduces USSD tranfers

F

IRSTBANK of Nigeria Limited has introduced USSD transfers.

The bank is offering mobile payment services to the banked and unbanked customers through its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) - *894#.

The USSD is a protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the service provider’s computers. The USSD Gateway is based on the ability of the delivery agent or the source to send and receive USSD messages.

Unlike similar services (SMS and MMS), which are store and forward-based, USSD establishes a real time session between mobile handsets and application handling the service FirstBank has improved its USSD

“*894#” access channel to become quicker and more robust with the incorporation of various banking services into USSD codes. To transfer money, simply dial *894# and select 1; dial *894# and select 2 to withdraw money, dial *894# and select 3 to make purchase; dial *894# and select 4 to pay bills; dial *894# and select 5 to buy airtime; and dial *894# and select 7 to manage account.

Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank would continue to create customer friendly products to dominate the mobile money market, drive financial inclusion, adding that it would enhance banking convenience and security for its customers.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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MONEY Banks which want to reap from Islamic banking have got the backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It has instituted governance guidelines to aid them. But the CBN also noted inconsistencies in the treatment of certain classes of deposits, especially Hamish Al Jiddiyya (Earnest Deposits) by Islamic financial institutions, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

The other side of Islamic banking T

HE global Islamic banking market, which has doubled in size over the past four years, is now worth more than $2 trillion, and is gradually picking up in Nigeria. Many customers are going for Islamic banking products because of the benefits that come with it.

For instance, when a Muslim cleric told Musliu Abubakar, a bank customer, that Sharia law forbids paying interest on loans, he returned his N2 million facility from a new generation bank to the lender and turned to the fast-growing industry of Islamic finance for cheaper credit.

Abubakar returned the loan just one week after he got the money from his bank. “A cleric told me it is not permissible under Islam to take loans from a non-Islamic bank because they charge interest,” the white-collar worker said.

A few days later, he arranged for a loan from an Islamic bank after paying a $100 service charge. As well as the religious aspect, customers are attracted to Islamic finance because of its flexibility, link to real economic activity and its ban on transactions involving speculation or uncertainty, experts say. Shariacompliant assets are expected to sustain double-digit growth in the coming two to three years.

With Nigerian banks facing cash crunch over oil price fall and increasing need to shore up their capital bases, the time to promote Islamic finance is now. Hence, many people saw it coming when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the first quarter, issued guidelines for an advisory body that would oversee Islamic banking in the country.

Impact of the guidelines For Nigeria, the advisory body, known as the Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts, would be tasked with ensuring all banking products that are designated as Islamic conform to sharia principles.

The guidelines set out minimum requirements for the advisory body, which will comprise a minimum of five members, including a CBN official. Members, who will serve renewable two-year terms, must be qualified in Islamic jurisprudence, and are restricted from working for any other financial institution supervised by the apex bank.

Financial institutions that offer Islamic banking products are already required to have their own boards of Sharia finance experts, who are limited to serving in one institution at a time.

The advisory body will be guided by the principles of Sharia governance issued by the Malaysia-based Islamic Financial Services Board.

With the policy guidelines, the CBN has become the latest regulator to opt for a centralised approach to the Islamic banking industry. It also indicates that Nigeria, home to the largest Muslim population in sub-Saharan Africa with over 80 million Muslims, and authorities are trying to establish the country as the African hub for Islamic finance.

Countries, including Bahrain and Morocco, have opted for such a format, which can help to limit differ-

ences between products, speed the design of new products and boost investor confidence.

Treatment of Earnest Deposits CBN Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Kelvin Amugo, said there were inconsistencies in the treatment of Hamish Al Jiddiyya (Earnest Deposit) by Non-Interest (Islamic) Financial Institutions (NIFIs) in Nigeria. He said the apex bank has decided on the need to standardise the treatment of Hamish Al Jiddiyya (HAJ) in line with international best practice.

He explained that Hamish Al Jiddiyyah is an amount advanced by a party making a binding promise to enter into a contract with a counter party, whereby the amount is deposited to serve as compensation for any loss suffered by the counter-party, as a result of breach of promise by the promisor.

There are two options for NFIs regarding holding the amount of HAJ deposited by a customer.

Firstly, holding it as an investment deposit on the basis of Mudaraba between the customer (as investor) and the institution (as mudarib), with an explicit permission of the customer.

Secondly, holding it as a trust deposit by the customer in a third party non-interest bank with a standing order by the customer that the amount will only be withdrawn with the express authority of the benefiting financial institution.

It is permissible for the institution to agree with the customer that the mount of Hamish Al Jiddiyyah will be deducted from the mount payable by the customer pursuant to the contract of Murabha to the purchase order with the agreement of the customer which is done after execution of the Murabaha or Ijarah contract between the institution and the customer.

It is, therefore, a form of security indicating the commitment of a customer as regards his obligation to execute the contract in question.

The amount of HAJ may be determined in accordance with the agreement of the two parties, either as a lump sum or a percentage of the purchase price of the item that is the subject of the contract.

However, where the customers fulfill his promise and executes the contract with financial institution, the Hamish Al Jiddiyyah is to be returned to the customer.

Experts speak The President, Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ahmad Ali, said Islamic banking has the capacity to boost economic growth and development in Nigeria.

He said the banking system could

• Central Bank of Nigeria Headquarters, Abuja

help the government to raise huge sums to finance developmental projects in the country.

He added that it would assist small and medium enterprises to grow through availability of cheap credit facilities.

He identified lack of awareness of Islamic banking, indigenous experts or professionals to undertake Islamic banking and misconception about Islamic financing as some of the challenges inhibiting the growth of Islamic banking in Nigeria and Africa.

Ali said: “Islamic banking is going to be of great benefit to Nigeria because Islamic banking is very simple. The principles themselves are very simple. It is something that can help SMEs and countries because we know that now a lot of countries are looking for fund, issuing suku.

“For commercial banking, a lot of countries are borrowing money from the capital market through bond. You can tap into the bigger market of Islamic Banking as many Muslim countries have a lot of funds to offer. In that way it can finance of the development of Nigeria.”

An international expert in Islamic finance, Sheik Abdulkader Thomas said deposits from noninterest banking could be deployed into infrastructure funding and other developmental projects.

Thomas, who is an American living in Kuwait, described Nigeria as a huge market for non-interest banking, given its large population base. He said the banking concept is a viable means of gathering huge deposits, adding that though Nigeria’s infrastructure is weak, deposits from non-interest banking can be used to fix it.

He said: “We have to look at a country like Nigeria from a dif-

ferent perspective. Kuwait has small population, with very high wealth. But Nigeria has very large population. We believe that noninterest banking will be very important to gather savings from the grassroots population.”

He said the billions of dollars in the non-interest banking accounts globally, cannot find its way into Nigeria; rather, the country should generate its own funds to finance key projects and create wealth for its citizens.

President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Ariyo Olushekun, said prospects for Islamic finance were bright. He said the finance system had become necessary since a very significant proportion of the population believe that based on the capital market and the dictates of their religion, they cannot invest in the market. He said there was, therefore, the need to develop products that are attractive to these set of investors to allow easy flow of their funds into the market.

“The one that is popular is Islamic finance. Some Christians also do not like certain things, some do not like alcohol, some cannot put their money in companies producing arms and ammunitions some cannot put their money into companies that are gambling and all that. So, all these funds are outside the market, we need to bring them in, call them any name. If traditional or Idol worshippers need certain product, develop it and use it to bring their money into the market. The same thing applies to everybody,” he said.

Olushekun explained that these products are limited to any religion, adding that what is important is to improve the depth of the market by introducing products

‘For commercial banking, a lot of countries are borrowing money from the capital market through bond. You can tap into the bigger market of Islamic Banking as many Muslim countries have a lot of funds to offer. In that way it can finance of the development of Nigeria’

and instruments that will channel funds and savings into the market. This, he said, would allow those who have projects to raise limitless amount from the market to execute those projects.

Capitalisation The CBN guidelines on non-interest banking put the minimum capital base of N10 billion for National Islamic Banks and N5 billion for regional Islamic banks.

However, the regulator allows deposit money banks to offer noninterest banking products, using existing structure such as the branches, even manpower.

Nigeria’s perspective Nigeria’s profile as Africa’s most liquid debt market after South Africa has been rising since JP Morgan and Barclays last year, included its bonds in their sovereign bond indices, encouraging greater foreign participation in its debt market. The use of Islamic finance in Africa could grow further as several north and sub-Saharan African countries including Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa and Kenya are laying the legal groundwork to issue sukuk, an Islamic finance bond.

Osun State has floated the country’s first Islamic bond, taking a major step towards developing an Islamic finance industry in the country. Analysts said the Nigerian Sharia-compliant bond issued by the state while relatively small at $62 million, signaled the start of a trend.

The sukuk is based on an ijara structure, a common leasing arrangement in Islamic finance, which bans payment of interest. Sukuk have become an increasingly popular investment globally, particularly among cash-rich funds in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

The CBN has so far registered Jaiz Bank, and has given a licence to Stanbic IBTC Bank to operate some window. Sterling Bank also has approval to operate an Islamic window. This is in addition to the work being done by the National Insurance Commission to promote Takaful, an Islamic insurance product. More banks are expected to in consider Islamic finance tools as means of boosting the cash positions.

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Listing on stock exchange has helped us to grow, says Chams

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HE listing of Chams Plc on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was one of the major decisions that helped to strengthen the up-start pioneer information and communication technology company into a veritable industry leader with strong corporate governance and stable growth.

Sir Ademola Aladekomo, who founded Chams in 1985 and steered the company for almost 30 years as managing director, said the listing of the company enabled the directors to strengthen and adopt international best practices and good corporate governance structures, which proved to be of immense advantage to the company during its turbulent period. Aladekomo, who retires in September, spoke to The Nation in an exclusive farewell interview.

According to him, one of the major advantages of listing is the standardised requirements for reporting operational results and accounts, which ensure greater level of transparency and commitments to organisational goals.

"If you are not messing around with your books, if you do not have anything to hide, if you want to be

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

very transparent, if you want to be held on to your projections, your budgeting performance by the public, then you should list. For us in Chams we decided to be opened, more because we do not have anything to hide. We believe that it is by exposing ourselves, by letting the whole world knows what we are doing that we can improve," Aladekomo said.

He recalled that because of the listing requirements; in 2010, 2011 and even 2012 when things are really tough and bad and the company was declaring results that were like a disgrace, the board and management had to faithfully kept with quarterly reporting all through the period.

He noted that the company standardised its accounts department and made it highly independent, such that officials of the company would not be able to tamper with the official records.

"For us, being opened has really helped us. For one, our stakeholders can trust us knowing that we are not hiding any figure. It also makes cor-

porate governance very easy for us.

If we had been a private company during those periods of turbulence, if we didn't publish our results, it would have been so easy, even the members of staff we won't need to declare anything to them, everybody will just be wondering what is happening, the results would just be, may be, between the managing director, the chairman, a couple of board members and the head of finance. But companies have been known to die such way by keeping their secrets because most people won't know what was happening. But for us, it is there in the public in the open; this is the reason you are not doing well, this is the reason you are going to get out of the problem, this infuses a lot of confidence," Aladekomo said.

He added that going public allowed the company to separate management from ownership, which enhanced the professionalism and independence of the company.

"It looks a bit easy theoretically, but once you are able to separate management from ownership, your managers can now become professionals. Take for instance where you have the owner as the chairman and

managing director, the person can come on Monday and demand for N10 million, of course nobody is going to know because your books are not published, even if the chief finance officer knows, that is her own headache. Before you know it, because the results are not publish, nobody is holding anybody accountable, because management and ownership are not separated, the owner has actually wrecked the company without even he himself knowing.

But in a situation whereby you get listed, the owner knows these are his limitations, the managers know that if they do anything untoward, they will be held accountable and they may go to prison." Aladekomo said.

According to him, while theoretically the idea of separation of ownership and management may seem easy, it actually requires rigourous corporate governance and requirements to be able to achieve good corporate governance.

"So, the advantage of just separating management from ownership is enormous. We actually regretted in Chams that we didn't do it 15 years earlier on because if we had done it earlier on, we would have been in

much better place than we are now," Aladekomo said.

He assured shareholders that Chams has attained sustainable growth trajectory that will continue to improve in the years ahead noting that the new managing director will take the company to a greater height.

According to him, the management team at Chams has been very welltrained and well-groomed to be able to run the company successfully and they have demonstrated that they will be able to do it.

He said the company has also put in place a very good board that has a knowledgeable oversight of what is happening within the company and beyond.

"We believe the future is very bright for the company. To the shareholders, I think they should also be very confident that the future is very bright and I think the company will do a thousand times better than it has ever done when I was there.

Shareholders have nothing to worry about. I believe that in 2015, very good results will be declared and subsequent years, the results will be improved upon," Aladekomo said.

Naicom takes over International Energy Insurance •Appoints interim management

T

•From Left: President, Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Mr. Michael Oyebola; President, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP), Kemi Oluwashina; Executive Director, Market Operation and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; President, CFA Society Nigeria, Sade Odunaiya and Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri during the visit of the CFA Society Nigeria to the NSE on Monday

Resorts Savings and Loans eyes higher turnover with new products

R

ESORTS Savings and Loans Plc plans to grow its top-line with the introduction of two new products to meet the strategic needs of its customers as well as encourage a savings culture among the populace.

The products-Resort Daily Savings Account (REDSA) and Resort Group Savings Account (REGSA), were launched recently in Lagos, as part of a drive to encourage long term savings by customers.

Head, treasury, Resorts Savings and Loans Plc, Mr. Jeff Ejemai said the products were specially designed to encourage "little by little savings targeted towards solving yearly and strategic needs" including mortgage loan, payment of rents, school fees, land purchase and other sundry needs.

He said with the products, the bank's customer can be assured that their most important needs would be met without much hassle.

"We reasoned that Nigerians often have the problem of meeting up with some of their needs that sometimes leads to some form of embarrassment for them.

So, to forestall such embarrassment, we came up with the products to assist them save some funds while not feeling the pain of saving," Ejemai said.

He said customers who subscribe to the products have opportunity of participating in the bank's yearly raffle draw and are entitled to business advisory and training as well as higher annual interest rate and personal accident insurance cover.

According to him, the group savings account is targeted at traders. Existing customers who form themselves into groups can also benefit from the prod-

uct which entitles them to an automatic loan.

He added that prospective customers who form themselves to groups of between 10 and 20 people are also eligible to benefit from the product.

He outlined that the group is expected to maintain a group purse with contributions of a minimum of N1000 from each member of the group. The operation of the account can is dynamic and

accessible by all.

"These accounts are serviced by contributing daily, weekly or monthly towards solving yearly needs. Individuals are expected to save in different categories of N500, N1,000, N5,000 and N10,000.

The account is maintained for a minimum of one year without any withdrawal to be able to qualify for a raffle draw at the end of every year. There are exciting gifts to be won," Ejemai said.

‘Piracy crippling publishing business in Nigeria’

C

HAIRMAN, Learn Africa Plc, Chief Emeke Iwerebon, has lamented the adverse impact of piracy on the creative and publishing industry.

He said pirates and plagiarists have continued to defile existing copyright legislations to stifle the promotion and protection of intellectual property.

According to him, blatant violations of patent and copyright laws by pirates and plagiarists have become so rampant that these undesirable elements have taken over the reprint, resale and distribution of intellectual property at the expense of genuine creativity.

He said more than 80 per cent of intellectual property has been appropriated by pirates thereby affecting the

economy growth of the sector.

Iwerebon, who spoke at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)Ikeja branch annual law week 2015, described impunity as one of the dangerous demons that has dealt the greatest havoc on Nigeria.

According to him, in order to curtail the culture of impunity, the leadership of the country must be fully committed to eliminate corruption at all levels.

“The National Assembly must as a matter of urgency pass legislation to reform the archaic criminal justice system, the judiciary must purge itself of its “bad eggs” and render judgements without fear or favour,” Iwerebon said.

In his opening remarks as the chair-

man of the occasion , Iwerebon noted that the theme for this year’s lecture, “curtailing the culture of impunity in our national life” is most suitable for Nigeria at this period, when leaders are re-strategising to cleanse the nation of its decadence, mediocrity and highhandedness in public and private sectors.

He noted that impunity as a term was derived from the word “impunitas “, a situation where everyone does what he or she likes in disregard for the rule of law ,with “no risk of punishment”.

According to him, in the Nigerian parlance, impunity is exhibited in words such as nothing go happen, na today.

HE National Insurance Commission (Naicom), the apex regulator for the insurance industry, has sacked the management and board of International Energy Insurance (IEI)Plc, a publicly quoted insurance company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Naicom stated that the intervention in the management of the company was done to protect the customers and shareholders of the company.

The interim management board was inaugurated by the deputy commissioner, technical, National Insurance Commission (Naicom), Mohammed Kari and included Mr Muhammad Ahmad as chairman, Ms. Daisy Ekineh and Mrs. Bridget Akintola.

To also assist the interim board in its functions, Mr. Peter Irene was appointed as the interim managing director to lead the executive management of the company. The appointment of took effect last week and it is expected to be for an initial period of six months.

Kari explained that the intervention became necessary in order to protect the policyholders and shareholders of the Company.

He however pointed out that notwithstanding Naicom's intervention; the company still remains a going concern with the capacity to underwrite all types of general insurance businesses.

IEI had in 2013 restructured its share capital. The company restructured its previous outstanding shares of 6.42 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to 1.284 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. The post-consolidation shares were listed at N2.50 per share, making IEI the highest-priced stock in the insurance sector then. IEI has since fallen to 53 kobo per share.

IEI emerged in June 2003 when a group of investors and management acquired 70 per cent majority equity stake in Global Assurance Company Limited. Ironically, Global Assurance was then 34 years old and under the technical management of Naicom.

The new owners had then redirected the company changing the core business focus to energy insurance. The company was subsequently recapitalised to N500 million to meet with the challenges of its new business focus.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

PAGE 29

•Scene of the burnt market

Last week was a bloody and turbulent one for residents of Ado-Ekiti. A clash between commercial drivers and Hausa traders set the city on fire. As if that was not enough, the city’s main market was burnt by unidentified persons. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports that many may not easily recover from the havoc

Ekiti mayhem and agony W of non-indigenes INSIDE

EDNESDAY, May 20 was like any other day for residents of AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital.

They had woken up that morning to carry out their normal day-to-day activities.

They never had an inkling that danger was lurking around the corner; they never thought that something akin to Armageddon was about to descend on the

‘Buhari can fight corruption’ PAGE 30 & 31

city.

In a matter of minutes, violent clashes erupted. Businesses and traffic were paralysed. Guns boomed

and blood flowed. Suddenly, the bright azure sky was darkened by thick, black smoke billowing from houses and shops that were set ablaze.

It was bestiality at its worst. There was an orgy of looting. Money, vehicles, buildings, goods and other valuables were lost.

Lagos inches towards cleanest city status PAGES 34

Honour for Alaafin’s aide PAGES 35

Fear and uncertainty descended the town. Nobody knew what would happen next.

In a matter of minutes, the streets were deserted.

The phone lines were buzzing.

Residents were placing calls to their loved ones to ascertain their whereabouts; giving them tips on where to avoid so as not to be Continued on pages 32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT Prof. Ademola Ariyo is of the Department of Economics at the University of Ibadan (UI). In collaboration with the United States Information Agency, he founded the Ibadan-based Centre for Public Private Co-operation (CPPC), which aims at sustaining development in Nigeria and other African countries. He spoke to OSEHEYE OKWUOFU on a variety of issues, including prospects of good governance and fight against corruption. Excerpts:

W

HAT informed the founding of the Centre for Public Private Co-operation (CPPC)?

I think there is a link between my person, my vision and the coming on board of the Centre for Public Private Co-operation (CPPC) in 1995. After my experience in government at both state and federal levels, I noticed a gap between the government, the people and the quest for sustainable development.

We perceived that a lot of effective partnership among the major players was and still is a necessary condition for achieving the goals of sustainable development in African countries in general and Nigeria in particular. It is also a basis for evolving and building strong institutions because, in partnerships, there should be openness and consensus.

However, government should coordinate the apportioning of responsibilities to individuals and groups and not to act as master of the process. So, having gotten some ideas, we spoke with some people within and outside Nigeria and we got a proposal funded by the United States Information Agency on issues of good governance and that led to the forma-

tion of CPPC. The advocacy for good governance is what I have been doing since 1996. Although we have been able to get good support since we started, luckily, when civilian regime came on board in 1999, we had more disciples and other advocacy groups. We played very important roles in empowerment, exposing them to principles of transparency, accountability and good governance. That is what I have been doing over the years.

Based on your experience, what can you say about good governance in Nigeria, is the country on the right track?

There is a minor misconception about the difference between governance and government. Government is essentially two inter-related aspects that is the existence of the necessary high quantum of institutions and the degree of independence that each institution enjoys in performing its assigned roles. There should be no issues of dominance, suppression of roles or over-riding of institutions. I think by and large we have been extremely deficient in this aspect in Nigerian environment.

I am not sure since the commencement of civilian regime that we can say categorically that we

have seen the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of good governance.

We discovered that in most cases we are governed by the rule of the boss rather than the rule of the law.

Incidentally, the National Assembly that is the parliament is a notable landmark of the existence of democratic rule. But we all saw what has been happening over the years. I also had an insight to some of these things when I served as Budget Adviser to the National Assembly. I think we still have a long way to go, we are not yet there in the concept of moving towards good governance.

Some are due to primordial issues, some due to low literacy about the essence and benefits of procedures, processes and the benefits of good governance. Some people say that if we had galvanised support for good governance, they will lose their privileged positions. It’s not necessarily true but it’s a way of ensuring that everybody is well off without any genuine person being worse off.

That is the essence of good governance.

Would you say that Nigeria has the necessary institutions that would enhance good governance?

There are two major players in this regard, the executive and the legislature. For example, the head of the executive has to be elected. That is a

‘Buhari can

•Prof. Ariyo

typical representative political system. The two of them come on board on a platform of electoral process but that is a sort of opportunity to manage the system. The way the legislative system has

been handled is nothing near what we can say represents good governance. What I am saying in essence is that representative political system is a necessary but not sufficient condition for good governance.

•The suspects

Police arrest robbery suspects in Ibadan

O

YO State Police Command has paraded five suspected robbers who tranquillize their victims with chemicals before robbing them.

Parading the suspects, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Katsina said the suspects operate in a unique manner, saying it is erroneous to regard them as house breakers and burglars.

“They do not go with guns but they use something more lethal than weapon which can be called chemical weapon. It is in form of a sleep-induced liquid. When you retire to bed at night and you leave your windows open, they sneak to your window and put a

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

little quantity of the substance in your room and you will sleep away for 30 minutes. This will put their victims in a state of unconsciousness and after the effect; they will enter the house and take away all valuables. When you wake up in the morning, you discover an empty house.

“We have been on their trail through the intelligence report we received from our ambush squad and we thank God that we were able to track them down,” he said.

Katsina also said the suspects had led them to all the houses

It is erroneous to regard them as house breakers and burglars. They do not go with guns but they use something more lethal than weapon which can be called chemical weapon. It is in form of a sleep-induced liquid. When you retire to bed at night and you leave your windows open, they sneak to your window and put a little quantity of the substance in your room and you will sleep away for 30 minutes they had robbed and they were able to identify the owners of the properties, adding that they are

there to hand over the exhibits to the owners because he does not believe in keeping them.

•From left: Mr. Katsina returning one of One of the suspects, Oladele Olaitan, 22, said: “We are robbers and we do this to survive. We were arrested when we were robbing a house around Bodija axis. We go to our victim’s houses around 11:00 p.m. and pour the chemical into their houses and after they have slept, we break into their house and pack away all properties that are valuable to us.

Another member of the gang, Azeez Muideen said: “We went to

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

31

SOUTHWEST REPORT

fight corruption’ The incoming administration has to be careful not to get confused. It must know how to start very well and their anti-corruption crusade must be focused on mopping up leaking waters and ensure that where the pipe from which water is coming out from is blocked. That means that he must block the source of corruption. But how to sustain the blocking of the leaking pipe is the problem. There is no developed country that did not address the issue of corruption.

Such countries included Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and others

When you look at what I call the gadgets, the police or other institutions, they are not as independent as they need to be, especially the police. Even if we have the best police in the world that is willing

to perform, they are within the control of the head of the executive.

There have been documented researches that we are yet to have the 21st Century police that will be able and willing to ensure the emergence of good governance. The police have a lot of work to do. The military essentially is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and help ward off any insurgency.

Also, we knew what was happening in the judiciary. Recently, we witnessed manipulation in the ju-

diciary which shows that they are not playing their roles the way they should be.

The principle of separation of power is a necessary factor in a democratic setting. Do you think politicians have regard for this principle?

To a certain degree, I say yes. But there is over-bearing influence of the party structure, especially between the executive and the legislature. It is only in Nigeria that you will hear about political solution

to serious economic and criminal issues. Most people believe that even if you committed the most heinous crime such as switching from one political party to the other, such politician is in safe haven.

Consider some of the cases between the executive and the legislature, although we don’t expect them to be enemies, there should be a limit to their co-operation; so that it will not amount to conspiracy against the people.

The legislature is supposed to be a check on the executive, but in most cases, according to information, once they have the party caucus, they want to protect the interest of the party.

So, with that we are not yet in ideal level, although I want to acknowledge that when I was in the National Assembly as adviser, the legislators stood their ground on some key national issues.

For example, it was my strong argument that led to the establishment of excess crude account. I also remember that around 2008 or 2009 when the National Assembly recovered above 450 million dollars at the end of the year balances that were not sent to the treasury. Those were landmark cases but to me, this does not create a sort of a winner or loser scenario.

I expect the legislators to be able to stand their ground on some issues. Look at what they are doing now with regard to constitution amendment bill. The executive challenged the authority of the National Assembly and going up to the Supreme Court. These are scenarios that will strengthen each party to know their right and limitations in a democratic set up. And that is an ideal scenario in an emerging democratic Nigeria.

Corruption has been an endemic

issue that has undermined the country’s growth and development, even as it has hampered good governance. What prospects lay ahead, especially with an incoming administration?

I will look at it from two angles; the incoming government should and must do something about corruption because that was the flagship promise that swayed the people into voting for them massively. The second is, can it curb corruption? Yes it can curb corruption because the leadership plays a very dominant role in the life of any organisation.

If you go by the antecedent, the President-elect has a very good track record. People are talking about what he did while he was in power between 1984 and 1985 which is correct. But the most important issue of hope is his lifestyle that is not a fluke.

I was shocked on what he said during his party’s primaries; that he has no penny to bribe any delegates and even if he has money, he was not ready to bribe anybody because he didn’t want to buy the presidency but to serve; I was shocked because that wasn’t what we are used to.

I read somewhere that as a former Minister of Petroleum, he didn’t have a single petrol station and that at a personal level, I have a friend that has been to his house at Daura for about two or three times. As a former Head of State, it is unbelievable the way he lives.

So, for him to come back, I think there is a lot of prospect for this country. My fear is that even if he performs miracle while in office, can we sustain the gains of Continued on page 36

‘Make Badagry global tourism destination’

ne of the stolen items recovered from the robbers to its owner break into a shop at Bodija and this is the first time I had joined them in this act because I am jobless.”

One of their victims’s who spoke on condition of anonymity because he didn’t want to be identified ýsaid his house was robbed at Bodija and it was just like a dream when he woke up and saw that all his electronics and other gadgets were gone.

“It was just like a magic or a dream because none of members

of my family was at home that night. I turned off the television and locked the door properly before I went to bed. But on waking up around 6:10 a.m., all my electronics were gone. I reported the incident to police. After some weeks, the police called to tell me that the robbers have been arrested and some of my properties recovered. I am grateful to the police for a good job done,” he said.

tel facility at the VIP Chalets in Badagry. It also urged the Ambode administration to complete and allocate the ongoing reclamation of the Badagry waters shoreline, even as it wants substantial part of it allocated to indigenes of Badagry and collaboration with the Federal Government and organised private sector to bring about the realisation of the proposed Badagry deep sea port and free zone.

The alumni association also advised the incoming Ambode administration to give special consideration to youth unemployment by creating enabling environment for

establishment of industries to provide employment for them..

The students’ body said: “For the first time in the history of Lagos, there is a unifying political platform, ideology and developmental agenda on which the state and the centre are fused.

This very rare, but long-awaited development has thrust on both parties, enormous potential that must be carefully, but very thoroughly optimised for the benefit of Nigerians in general and residents of Lagos State in particular.

,

T

HE alumni of old students of secondary schools in Badagry Division, under the aegis of Old Students’ Alliance, Badagry (OSAB), has called on the incoming administration of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode to sustain the development of the Badagry corridor initiated by the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

A statement issued by the body urged the incoming administration of Ambode to prioritise the development of the Badagry corridor in his administration’s scheme of things with a view to harnessing the largely untapped human and material resources towards the completion of a number of ongoing infrastructural projects, initiation of new ones and create the necessary ambiance that will be economically beneficial to the people of Badagry division who have remained marginalised.

Urging the governor-elect to open up the ancient town to the world as veritable global maritime and tourism destination, the group said: “The state’s internally-generated revenue profile will be enhanced significantly if the Badagry corridor is opened up to international maritime commercial activity and tourism.”

In the statement signed by its President, Mr. Felix Sadare and Secretary Otunba Yomi Olomofe, the students’ body had identified, among others, the need for the incoming administration to urgently complete the ongoing modern five-storey four star ho-

The state’s internally-generated revenue profile will be enhanced significantly if the Badagry corridor is opened up to international maritime commercial activity and tourism…Give special consideration to youth unemployment by creating enabling environment for establishment of industries to provide employment for them

,

32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

33

SOUTHWEST REPORT Continued from page 29

•A burnt shop at the market

•Members of Hausa community being evacuated to Shasha, Ibadan

Ekiti mayhem and agony of non-indigenes ,

national daily (not The Nation) which accused members of the union of being involved in the mayhem.

Describing NURTW as a responsible union, Osundiya urged the public to discountenance the report.

Shortly after arriving from an official trip to Abuja on Thursday, Governor Ayo Fayose slammed a dusk-to-dawn curfew to prevent the spread of the violence.

Fayose, who gave the order while addressing members of the Hausa community in Atikankan area of the town directed security agencies to arrest anybody who flouts the curfew.

The governor, who appealed to the restive Hausa community for calm vowed that the perpetrators of the violence would be fished out to face the full wrath of the law.

He warned those still carrying arms to submit them to the police, saying anybody caught with weapons would be severely dealt with.

Fayose said: “I want to plead with you to submit whatever lethal weapon you have in your possession to the police. And if you refuse to do this, whether you are Yoruba or Hausa, the police will arrest you.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and for the sake of our country, I plead with you to allow peace to reign.”

According to the governor, the violence would be thoroughly investigated and those found to be connected with the wanton destruction would be prosecuted.

However, the dusk-to-dawn curfew has been lifted on Sunday.

The Head of the Hausa community, Adamu Imam, called on the government to compensate them for the massive loss they incurred during the mayhem.

Imam told the governor that the names of the perpetrators of the violent attack had been compiled and would be made available to him and security agencies for necessary actions.

The State Police Command has disclosed that the number of those injured during the violence has risen to 24.

I want to plead with you to submit whatever lethal weapon you have in your possession to the police.

And if you refuse to do this, whether you are Yoruba or Hausa, the police will arrest you…Nigeria belongs to all of us and for the sake of our country; I plead with you to allow peace to reign…The violence would be thoroughly investigated and those found to be connected with the wanton destruction would be prosecuted

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The command spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi refuted the claim of the eyewitnesses that three persons died in the incident.

He added that the police have stationed three units of mobile policemen at the scene of the attack, to arrest whoever plans to foment trouble between the feuding groups.

Traders who ventured out a day after the clash went to inspect the remains of their business centres destroyed during the violence.

A rice seller, Mrs. Ajoke Olofin, said all she laboured for had gone with the crisis, even as she called on the government to assist those who incurred losses.

She said the destruction and looting of her shop has left her business in the ruins; wondering how she would recover from the loss.

A Hausa trader, Adamu Umar wept uncontrollably while inspecting the ruins of his shop at Oja Oba. He called

for government’s assistance.

He also called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the mayhem and prosecution of the culprits.

A widow, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Majiyagbe revealed that hoodlums burnt down her sixroom apartment which had been her source of livelihood.

Meanwhile, non-indigenes Youth Alliance (NYA), the umbrella body for non-indigenes resident in Ekiti State, has condemned the attack on their members by some drivers, describing the act as uncivilised and bestial.

In a statement signed by its Acting Chairman, Abdurrahman Oziandu, the group said they never expected their shops to be looted in such a brazen manner, even when the security agencies are still active and deemed to be alive to their responsibilities.

The body, which praised Governor Fayose for quick intervention in re-

solving the issue, called on relevant agencies to beef up security so that their members can return to work without fear of being molested or intimidated by hoodlums.

Oziandu said mostly hit by the attack were Igbo, Hausa, Nupe and Ebira. He accused the assailants of reselling the looted commodities at cheaper rates to interested persons.

He said: “The event of Wednesday last week was the second in history, when some indigenes, hiding under their popularity in attacking whoever is not a member of their tribe over issues that could be resolved.

“We are giving this last warning that they should not allow this to happen again. As non-indigenes, we will continue to conduct our businesses peacefully.

“But we challenge the security agencies to protect the lives and property of our people. As we speak, about 50 of our members are still receiving medical treatments in various hospitals.

“We call on the governor to come to the aid of the affected persons, so that they can return to their businesses without delay.”

In another development, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, has called on the State Commissioner of Police to arrest those that launched attacks on some journalists in the state while covering the crisis that broke out among Hausa traders and drivers in AdoEkiti.

During the mayhem, the CORE TV cameraman in Ekiti, Adigun was attacked and his camera smashed by gun-wielding goons.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman of the NUJ, Laolu Omosilade, condemned the attack, saying it was highest point of barbarism in this modern time.

Omosilade urged Nigerians to take a cue from advanced countries of the world, where journalists are accredited and adequately protected to cover wars and more serious crisis.

He praised Governor Fayose and Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe for their concerns in stem-

ming the tide of violence in the state.

He urged the feuding parties to embrace peace and allow normalcy to be restored.

Although a curfew was in place, residents of Ado-Ekiti received greater shock on Friday last week when the Erekesan Market; the biggest market in the city, was set ablaze by yet-tobe-identified individuals.

Tongues are wagging in Ado-Ekiti how the hoodlums found their way to the market otherwise known as Oja Oba (king’s market) despite the deployment of regular and riot policemen in the wake of the curfew.

Humanitarian crisis is also looming with the evacuation of the Hausa to the outskirts of nearby Ikere-Ekiti to prevent further clashes with commercial drivers.

Many of the traders were woken up from their sleep as early as 1:30 a.m. by calls from residents who had gotten wind of the inferno and alerted them to go and evacuate their shops before the fire does further damage.

Worst hit by the fire incident was a section of the market known as “Lagos Line” which has the highest concentration of textile shops, supermarkets, gifts shop and other items.

Not less than 50 shops and two residential buildings were completely burnt down in the early morning fire.

The fire still raged till about 5:00 a.m. but most of the shops were still smoldering at 7: 00 a.m. when reporters got to the scene.

Men of the State Fire Service who got to the scene of the incident could not put out the fire.

A thick pall of mourning and gloom enveloped the market as the affected traders, members of their families and friends wailed inconsolably; bemoaning their losses which they described as “very huge”.

Some of them fainted on sighting their shops which had been reduced to ashes by the fire.

Some indigenes of Ado-Ekiti regarded the attack as a reprisal by the Hausa settlers who were mostly affected by the attack of Wednesday carried out by suspected members of drivers’ unions.

,

caught in the crossfire and fiery darts being hurled by gladiators in the violence.

Independent sources claimed that three lives were lost but the police maintained that nobody died.

According to the police, 24 people were wounded and had been taken to undisclosed hospitals for medical treatment.

Commercial drivers and Hausa traders were the ‘actors’ in the theatre of war that rocked Ado-Ekiti to its foundation.

The clash was fierce in areas such as Atikankan (which has the highest concentration of Hausa in Ado-Ekiti), Old Garage, Ijigbo, Isato, Igbehin and Erekesan Market.

Business activities had been paralysed in places such as Irona, Okesa, Okeyinmi and Ajilosun.

Two of the victims reportedly died at Atikankan where the violence later spread to.

A cameraman working for a Lagos-based television station, CORE TV, Sunday Adigun, was wounded by hoodlums. They also smashed his camera while he was covering the clash.

The hoodlums were armed with guns, bottles, charms, machetes, cudgels, knives, petrol and matches.

Tension generated by the clash led to the closure of banks, shops, motor parks, markets and other commercial outlets.

What caused the crisis? What turned the indigenes against the Hausa? These were questions people tried hard to unravel.

The alleged robbing of a wife of a commercial driver of a sum of N36, 000 the previous night, it was gathered, sparked the mayhem. It was also gathered that the culprit allegedly escaped through Sabo which has a high concentration of Hausa.

Some source claimed that the driver’s wife was raped after she was robbed. This infuriated the drivers as they launched a manhunt for the culprit; demanding that he be produced by the Hausa who were accused of harbouring the culprit.

The drivers stormed all the known residences of the Hausa launching attacks while the Hausa also mobilised themselves in order to launch their own counterattacks.

Ijigbo, Mugbagba, Oja Oba, New Garage and Old Garage turned to war zones, even as vehicles hurriedly deserted the streets.

The Bureaux de Change outfits operated by the Hausa were attacked and cash both in local and foreign currencies were stolen by hoodlums.

Heaps of destroyed items such as onions, pepper, tomatoes and dried fish apparently belonging to the Hausa were burnt with their relics littering the ground.

The Commissioner of Police, Etop John James led a team of police men in about 15 patrol vehicles to bring the situation under control.

The police chief’s presence brought normalcy to the scene where he was present but clashes continued in other areas.

James expressed regrets over the incident and pledged that the police would do everything possible to prevent the escalation of the mayhem.

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ekiti State has denied involvement in the mayhem which rocked AdoEkiti.

The State Secretary of the union, Akinsola Osundiya said the particular loading point where the violence occurred did not belong to the NURTW. Osundiya faulted a report in a

We had, on several occasions, raised the alarm over importation of thugs who are quartered in the Government House.

Since their arrival, Ekiti State has slid to the era of one day one trouble that characterised Fayose’s government between 2003 and 2006…After the elections, kidnappings began. Now is the time for pitting the thugs against Hausa and Igbo traders to create ethnic tension that has the potential for national crisis while at the same time the governor is planning to inaugurate the new House of Assembly on June 1 to create anarchy…It is regrettable that we are back to the era of one day, one trouble that marked out Fayose as a man that thrives in violence

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Many residents who were on their way to their workplaces had to go home on sighting thick smoke billowing from the market; giving a signal that “the city was on fire.”

Most of the schools were shut as students and pupils hurriedly returned home while those yet to leave their homes did not bother to venture out.

Banks, petrol stations, motor parks, corporate offices and other commercial centres were closed.

Truck-load of mobile and regular policemen as well as soldiers were immediately drafted to the scene on the orders of the state government to prevent escalation of the crisis and prevent massive looting.

A number of residents were also randomly arrested by men of the state police command in connection with the development.

Governor Fayose, who personally led security team that included the Commissioner of Police to the scene,

expressed worry at the turn of event despite his imposition of dusk-todawn curfew which was lifted on Sunday.

He said the incident would not, in any way, compel him to declare a 24hour curfew as suggested by some people.

Governor Fayose ordered that four ASHOK LEYLAND luxury buses belonging to government be immediately mobilised to convey all Hausa residents (including women and children) to Shasha, located at the outskirts of Ikere-Ekiti.

The governor, who, for more than three hours, personally monitored the evacuation, premised his action on the fact that he is a father to all residents, irrespective of their tribe, religion or gender.

He said the Hausa community would be at the new place for the time being, and would be heavily guarded by both soldiers and mobile police-

men.

James disclosed that the police worked tirelessly from 1:00 a.m. to prevent what could have degenerated into an uncontrollable situation.

He hailed the governor for racing to the scene to team up with the police to prevent the crisis from getting out of hands when he (Fayose) was called in the early hours of the day.

James warned that the police have been mobilised to deal with troublemakers; assuring law-abiding residents of their safety in the pursuit of their legitimate businesses.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, visited the community to sympathise with them over the losses it incurred during the violence that rocked Ado-Ekiti last week.

Fayemi, who visited the community at Shasha, on the outskirts of Ikere-Ekiti where they had been relocated, promised that the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) administration would assist them.

The ex-governor also paid an onthe-spot assessment visit to the Erekesan Market that was burnt by unidentified persons to inspect the level of damage.

He also visited the Oba Adejugbe to commiserate with him over the mayhem unleashed on the city twice within the week and the spate of kidnapping recently witnessed in the state.

The former governor, who was at the palace in company of officials who served in his administration, said his visit was to identify with the Ewi and the people of Ado-Ekiti over the civil disturbances and the torching of the Erekesan Market.

He urged residents of Ekiti to unite and fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes for the state to witness peace and development.

Fayemi said kidnapping of Ekiti professionals and other innocent people is unacceptable and must not be allowed to fester so that the state would be a destination for investors.

He regretted the negative image Ekiti has acquired in recent times, which he said is affecting the

economy, adding that operators of the hospitality industry are complaining of low patronage on account of the security situation in the state.

Fayemi said: “Some of my colleagues and friends would have accompanied me to Ekiti but many of them declined the invitation as a result of the spate of violence and kidnapping.

“I don’t think Ekiti deserves this negative label which is why I am calling on well-meaning indigenes of this state to join hands with those who are willing to return peace to the state.”

Fayemi expressed sadness that the good relationship that hitherto existed among Ekiti indigenes and Hausa settlers had become strained; leading to massive destruction of property.

He called on all Ekiti people and other stakeholders to join hands against the twin evil of violence and kidnapping which, according to him, are strange to the culture of the land.

Responding, Oba Adejugbe appreciated Fayemi for his visit, urging the former governor not to rest on his oars in ensuring that peace reigns in the state.

The monarch revealed that a committee, which is made up of major stakeholders, has been constituted to take an inventory of the property damaged during the clash, explaining that the committee had swung into action.

Oba Adejugbe described Ekiti people as “very accommodating”.

He urged them to live in peace with other Nigerians and never to allow the relationship to be marred by primordial sentiments.

Partisan interests are cashing in on the development to express their positions on what they felt was the genesis of the bedlam.

But Fayose has warned politicians and political parties against politicising the recent breach of security and public peace in the state.

The main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Governor Fayose should be held responsible for various acts of violence in the state, saying the current spread of violence in the state capital had the imprints of the usual governmentorchestrated violent acts to achieve a pre-determined end.

Reacting to the recent violent acts rocking the state, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, regretted that Ekiti people were used to the government-inspired violent acts, which they experienced between 2003 and 2006 during the governor’s first stint and so there was little to worry about on the same pattern of serial violence that was rocking the state.

“We had, on several occasions, raised the alarm over importation of thugs who are quartered in the Government House. Since their arrival, Ekiti State has slid to the era of one-day-one trouble that characterised Fayose’s government between 2003 and 2006.

“Eminent lawyer, Femi Falana, also raised the same concern, calling on the governor to send away his thugs to allow peace to reign in Ekiti State,” Olatubosun said.

The party sympathised with Hausa and Igbo traders, who it described as victims of government-inspired violence to create a sense of insecurity to enable the governor to devise extra-security measures that would allow him to achieve a pre-determined end.

The APC spokesman urged the security agencies to consider treating the party’s petitions on various acts of violence by the thugs kept in Government House and devise a means of ending violence in Ekiti State.

“We recall various unprecedented attacks on our members, •Continued on page 34

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

• Egharevba in the studio

• Adeyemi (left) in studio with other assistants

Taking creative works across boundaries

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AST Saturday, Dr Kunle Adeyemi and Dr Eghorevba Sukanthy Visagapperumal held a joint exhibition of paintings, prints and mixed technique tagged: Knowledge Across Boundaries. It reinforced the creative value of natural synthesis ideology of the Zaria Rebel that championed the pioneering modern art movement in the late 50s. The exhibition opened at the Lekki outlet of Quintessence Gallery, Lagos and it featured 11 works by each artist. The works range from paintings in water colour, acrylic to paintocast, parapax on board, metal foil, copper foil, collage and mixed media.

In tandem with the exhibition’s title, the artists’ works while addressing issues of cultural heritage and its preservation brought to the fore the principle of natural synthesis of artists such as Prof Uche Okeke, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya and others at the then Nigerian College of Arts and Science, now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Mrs Egharevba, a Sri-Lankan who grew up in Benue State, described synthesis as a man’s way of life, noting that many things affect an artist’s life such as culture, experiential background, inter-group influences and so on.

In a bid to appreciate the two different communities she grew up, (Tamil of Sri-Lanka and the Tiv of Nigeria), she decided to explore the very root of their art, styles, pictorial elements, similarities and differences and the eventual synthesis of these in her research work.

According to her, many variables impact the output of her work as an artist, which include culture, experiential background and sometimes inter-group influence. “For many artists who have had to grow up or engage in other socio- economic activities in two or more disparate environments, the issue of synthesis comes glaringly to the fore. Sometimes, this synthesis is given rise to by the similarities that exist in art forms and pictorial elements that exist in the diverse cultures.

UST like fingerprints, handwriting is unique to each individual. Once we have learned to write as a child and we grow up in that manner as an unconscious act, completely embedded in our subconscious perception and it is difficult to disguise the writing by another.

The conscious brain part guides the hand and generates the thoughts during the process of writing, while the subconscious intuition generates the manner with which the writer inscribes the letters, words and sentences on paper. Everything expressed on paper by the writer’s pen strokes is a result of a two-way circuit between the brain and the motor reflex muscles of the hand. The motor system controls the movement and posture needed for handwriting by contraction and relaxation of muscles. Messages go to and from the muscles and the brain through the nervous system.

During handwriting process, the senses and muscles send messages back to the brain to enable it know how the sequence, timing and pressure of the hand on pen work out. The basic information required to write come from the brain not from the muscles of the shoulder, arm, hand or fingers. Once the basic pattern is established in the brain the muscles and nerves of the shoulder, arm, hand and fingers become

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By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

VISUAL ART This is the case with the Tamil of Sri-Lanka and the Tiv of Nigeria,” she said.

She stated that her research is guided by the concept of natural synthesis propounded by Prof Uche Okeke on which the Zarianists based their creative revolution. Synthesis as a creative tendency, she said, holds the thought that modern artists should absorb and adapt any good art technique or style from any part of the world in creation of art in Nigeria.

“The influences of both Tiv and Tamil cultures naturally, resulted in a creative synthesis of forms and pictorial elements. The emphasis of natural synthesis focuses on what is good and adorable in art from anywhere. It does not matter the source because according to the Zarianists, art has a universal language especially in terms of technique. Therefore, the studio paintings produced from this exhibition are neither Tamil nor Tiv but, contemporary art forms, motifs and idioms by a SriLankan- Nigerian painter,” she added.

Little wonder Dr. (Mrs) Egharevba is featuring artworks that appropriate from the cultural milieu of Sri-Lanka and Benue (Nigeria).

The works which are mainly on human figure and environment include The burden we bear, Where they are and where we are, Pangs of womanhood, Sugar spice and everything nice, Adolescence.

Others are My own world, The way we are, Seasons of fertility and Woman on the move.

She captures the respective cultures showing in most of the paintings the romantic life of Sri-Lanka women and their colourful silky dress as presented in Adolescence and My own world. She also highlights the Tiv women’s socio-economic life, especially the important role they play in running a family in Tiv. The common bond between mother and child is also depicted in paintings like The burden we bear, in which women who tie children on their back also carry loads on their heads hawking to earn a living.

For Adeyemi, a lecturer at the School of Art, Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, his collection is a mix that interrogates socio-political issues of today especially political leadership and economic challenges. Yet, in the execution of his works, he integrates the spectator, almost as a co-author, into his creative process, with the understanding that a painterly representation ultimately foreshadows a three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface. Interestingly, most of the 11 works being showcased at the joint exhibition reflect all these possibilities especially the theme and medium. In Razzmatazz of the kingmakers and It’s time to wind up, Adeyemi captures the need to embrace and accept the emerging change Nigerians are clamouring for as expressed at the last general elections.

He indirectly reminds us of the unpopular sittight syndrome of African political leaders. Post oil boom- Reality stares us on the face is one timely mirror of the state of the economy of Nigeria.

He uses brown colour and scanty leaves as imageries to depict the economic hardship

The influences of both Tiv and Tamil cultures naturally, resulted in a creative synthesis of forms and pictorial elements. The emphasis of natural synthesis focuses on what is good and adorable in art from anywhere. It does not matter the source because according to the Zarianists, art has a universal language especially in terms of technique. Therefore, the studio paintings produced from this exhibition are neither Tamil nor Tiv but, contemporary art forms, motifs and idioms by a Sri-Lankan- Nigerian painter,

Handwriting features of terrorists

By Ben Ezeohagwu

LITERATURE important network organs as they effect the appearance of the written lines, letters, words or sentences as observed on paper.

According to Onigraffiks Contemporary Dictionary, Terrorism is seen as “the use of violent action in order to achieve political aims or to force a government to act in a definite way to achieve selfish desired objectives by a group of persons”. A major Terrorists trait tendency is violence, with its subsequent effects in killings, destructions, bombings, kidnappings and so on.

A Nigeria contemporary and classic case is the issue of Boko Haram, a high-level destructive terrorist group that has claimed several human lives, kidnappings of Chibok girls, and had brought high-level insecurity and so on. The terrorists group can be identified through the medium of handwriting.

Handwriting Analysis or Graphology is a science of identifying, evaluating and understanding a person’s personality through the patterns (features) revealed by his handwriting.

The handwriting features of terrorists, usually and definitely express negative symptoms and high-level criminal tendencies, a result of change in their thinking and thoughts habits generated over a long period of time; this lifestyle over a period of time results into terrorist tendencies and situation, which is reflected in handwriting. Handwriting is a product of established human thought forms expressed on paper as a graphically frozen movements of neural impulses or signals organized by the central nervous system.

However, terrorists’ handwritings depict among others the following basic psychographic features: A writing that is childish and immature in its illogical formations; a writing showing very little or no rhythm, order and pattern, a symptom of emotional instability and unpredictability of behavioural exhibitions; totally self-centered as the major focus is on the satisfaction and gratification of his immediate socio- biological-material needs without regard to human lives and properties; Definitely the writing consists of inconsistent pressure textures and emphasis on the middle and lower zone letters in the script; the terrorists handwritings also show disagreeable pastosity

Nigerians must brace up to.

Political cross currents and Peace that greeted the telephone conversation are works that speak volume of the post elections fears and expectations, especially the prediction that Nigeria would cease to be a united country by 2015.

Other works include Defiance to the boundaries, The persistence of a winner, and Female form.

However, each work is not created merely as object or thing, but also as organised and conquered space. He said: “It should be felt as a trapped mass, a low-layered building and a protrusion of this trapped energy. The cast reliefs and assemblages, in some cases, create a drama, elegance, humour; and in some send signals of nervousness, tranquility and graveness.

“My creative art and thought as a researcher, artist in recent years, particularly during my graduate programme at the Delta State University, Abraka witnessed freedom, innovativeness and experimentation as my visual perception and language begins to change philosophically. I choose to explore and communicate through some thematic works I called series. I found out that I cannot exhaust my ideas in a single sentence or in a few words that give full meaning or do justice to my theme. I therefore look at such subjects from multiple angles because it is difficult and too limitless for me to translate the varied moods and connotations on a lone canvas, paper and board.”

Adeyemi is very concerned on the need to revamp the studio practice cum culture through creative techniques, genre synthesis and hands-on-skills in order to improve studio practice in visual arts. This study, he said, facilitates innovations and explores synergy in studio practice within the ambience of critical visual thinking and synthesis in painting, printmaking, sculpture and construction. According to him, the resultant effect of this synergy is the creation of new complex and intricate creative possibilities- Paintograph and Paintocast- in studio art making. of coarse, untidy, muddy or blurred strokes and the abundant psychographic signs of confusion which indicate strong need to satisfy urges of negative, pervasive, and wanton sexuality, cruelty and violence; lower zone letters formations especially the loops that extend to the left combine with the pastosity to indicate an explosive temper with perverse sadistic tendencies that result to killings, bombings, rapes, etc; the low(poor) form level in quality of writing pattern, expression of overall appearance as in organization, simplicity of form, rhythm, originality and dynamic forward movement of writing which indicates a weakness of character and repression of anger; the presence of uneven gaps between letters in a word and words in a line is a clue that the terrorists do not socialize with others.

Lastly, if terrorists could change the process and manner of their thinking and thoughts lifestyle to positive-joyful activities through holistic rehabilitation involving several approaches by specialists, they can then begin to awaken and develop their true or noble potentials (fruits of the spirit). This will in time spring up virtues for the human race as reflections of greatness and fulfillment to the honour, beauty and service of the Most High.

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The Midweek Magazine Femi Robinson: Thorns and roses in community theatre E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Former Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (Lagos State Chapter), Mufu Onifade writes on the life and times of the Village Headmaster, late Femi Robinson, who died in Lagos last week.

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EDNESDAY, May 20, 2015 wasn’t the best of days for the culture sector and its many buffs. Another member of the first generation of pathfinders of contemporary English-speaking theatre in Nigeria suddenly succumbed to curtain call. Chief Fredrick Femi Robinson, in the lifelessness of a massive elephant, slept like a mountain, never to rise up again. And the man died with his many dreams of entrenching a culture of community theatre in our neighbourhoods.

Femi Robinson became famous after appearing as the very first Village Headmaster in Nigeria’s longest running television drama series to date, ‘The Village Headmaster’ created by the cultural diplomat himself, Segun Olusola and parading the best actors, actresses, scriptwriters and various other professionals who were committed to the profession.

It wasn’t the era of get-rich-quick kind of industry that we run today. It was the era of getting things done properly, professionally, perfectly and with a high sense of integrity and accountability. It wasn’t the era of man-know-man as has become our lot today. It was the era of getting the job because you were good on the job. So, Femi Robinson’s choice as Headmaster underscores his competences as an actor with a fine diction, audibility and impressive stage presence.

As a television personalityand broadcaster, language and correct pronunciations with impeccable diction were all part of the training and the modus operandi to drive both the practice and the profession. Be it in broadcasting, television acting or film medium, Femi Robinson’s diction compared only with many of his professional colleagues whose competences defined the industry: Dejumo Lewis, Justus Esiri, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Layode, Funsho Adeolu and many others.

After calling it quits with television, not many people knew what Femi Robinson was into until Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999 when he strutted in the underground scenes as an active card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was so engrossed in party activities until, according to him, he got his fingers burnt. He found himself grappling with party ideologies that did not favour culture. In one of our numerous interactions, he opened up that Nigerian politicians were not interested in culture because it didn’t bring naira rain on their heads; neither were they willing to allow those who believed in the development of our culture to steer the wheel. He knew better; after all he dined with them. As at 2006, he was home and dry; willing to pull out of PDP. He did.

Unlike many of his colleagues who have completely abandoned theatre for the obvious reason that it’s a thankless and less-rewarding profession, Femi Robinson came back very strongly sometime in 2007 with an ideology of rejuvenating our culture through theatre. He knew he did not have the kind of money required to achieve such a tall dream as an individual (he held the belief that only government could afford such huge resources), yet he was willing and ready to provide a platform for young and budding artistes to ply their trade in theatre. He re-established a theatre outfit called Mahogany Productions and began to generate plays with young theatre artists - many of them young theatre graduates and others, gifted but informally trained. They hit the road creating the kind of steam that rekindled live theatre at

n’-ta nla, which many mispronounced as Ajantala. While NANTAP-Lagos/Mainframe employed core professionals to execute their project, Aboriginal productions depended on professional dancers and young actors, many of whom were drafted from the artists village at the National Theatre Annex. It was an opportunity for practitioners to celebrate with active performances. Mahogany Productions’ team, however, comprised young and budding artistes. This was based on Femi Robinson’s ideology to groom budding talents as a way of reenergising the theatre subsector and creating a platform for budding artistes to begin a process of pure professional baptism. His belief was hinged on the fact that, when properly trained, they could also take over effectively at the appropriate time; although his approach was criticised by members of the industry who did not share that ideology. The disagreement, notwithstanding, it was a robust theatre festival totally funded by the Lagos State Government with special performances at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos and public/command performances at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Shortly after the successful celebration of Nigeria’s independence via theatre productions, Chief Femi Robinson did not go to sleep. He returned to his ideology of community theatre for cultural development. He was of the opinion that theatre must strive in every community. Performances must be witnessed from time to time in every community; and through this, our indigenous culture, which has been largely abandoned could be reawakened. He soon realised that the project was too massive for an individual to handle; so, he turned it into a people’s project. To get the project arunning, he organised an award ceremony where he created different categories of awards in recognition of different individuals who have consistently promoted our culture in various fields and ways. He did not ask for money from recipients. He only asked them to go on their various communities to begin the process of cultural dissemination and sensitisation that would change people’s perceptions and mentalities. Whether the recipients yielded to preaching the gospel of culture for which they received awards or not, is a different ball game.

Whatever happens now or later, Chief Femi Robinson will be fondly remembered for his cultural radicalism and for having contributed immensely to Nigerian theatre – nay cultural - development.

•The late Robinson

the time many were busy lamenting that live theatre was dead and buried in Nigeria.

In 2010, three groups were granted funds by the Lagos State Government to put up productions that were strong and remarkable enough to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. While the Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) joined forces with the Mainframe Film and Television Production as one group to stage Femi Osofisan’s ‘Yeepa! Solaarin Nbo!!’ as a commemorative live theatre production, Ikhane Akhigbe’s theatre outfit, Aboriginal Productions presented Oluronbi. Femi Robinson’s Mahogany Productions staged a folkloric theatre experiment titled: Aja-

Curtain falls for Village Headmaster Robinson Former Deputy Editor, The Guardian, BEN TOMOLOJU writes on the many parts of the late Femi Robinson.

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HAT we have missed in the late, versatile actor and a man of many parts, Femi Robinson, is not the point he has not proven for himself as a thoroughbred professional, but the point that society has not proven for him as a cultural role model.

As a science student in the early years of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), he was a dominant figure in the university’s professional theatre troupe. Science to the art; that was a mark of versatility. He moved over to Lagos and among other creative activities, he picked up the role of the Headmaster in the popular TV drama series, The Village Headmaster, taking over from the pioneer actor and media icon, Ted Mukoro.

Ted firmly established the role, but Robinson took it over and became truly an embodiment of that ethos around whom the actions revolved. People like him are pacesetters whose footprints thousands have followed, probably without acknowledging it. I am one of his greatest admirers even for the fact that after his Village Headmaster phase we met frequently in the field of Journalism where, with people like Tope Awe, he devoted media attention to travel and tourism. Recall, he costumed like a pilot in one of his programmes on TV. It just goes on to show Robinson’s resourcefulness as a creative personality and businessman with a successful production company.

I want to humbly recall the time that we last met, when he honoured me with his presence during my 60 th birthday celebration in December 2014. Always bubbling with ideas, he briefly let us into some of his projections for the arts. It was as if he was going to be around forever the way he spoke to a select group of admirers on that day.

Southerner Voice enters the market

TRIBUTE

‘People like him are pacesetters whose footprints thousands have followed, probably without acknowledging it. I am one of his greatest admirers even for the fact that after his Village Headmaster phase we met frequently in the field of Journalism where, with people like Tope Awe, he devoted media attention to travel and tourism.

Recall, he costumed like a pilot in one of his programmes on TV. It just goes on to show Robinson’s resourcefulness as a creative personality and businessman with a successful production company’

A

N educationist, Prof Jacob Etinagbedia, has released the Southerner Voice newspaper into the market. Etinagbedia, who is the publisher of the newspaper, said it will boost grassroots reporting, adding that not much of grassroots is reported.

Etinagbedia, who is also the Director-General, Chartered Institute of Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria, said Jacet International Resources Limited, publishers of the newspaper, will offer Southsouth and Southeast Nigerians value for their money news wise.

He said: “The Southerner Voice is a weekly news tabloid packaged to unveil the many events at the grassroots with a special focus on ‘education, agriculture, politics and economic development, especially in Nigeria. It is her resolve to be the authoritative mouthpiece of Southern Nigeria on issues of public and national interest.”

The Editor, Revd David Vema Idabor, said the newspaper has ‘Truth as it is’ as its motto. He added: “The features in the weekly are research-oriented to meet the needs of investigative journalism, which is fast decaying in our society. The Southerner Voice is wellpackaged to make this educative, informative and entertaining news brand possible, weekly.”

TRIBUTE And this, indeed, is the challenge; to ensure that he is around forever on our documentation and study of the acting profession in Nigeria, the naming after him of relevant cultural monument and the evocation of his name and values he represents in history and historical revivals. Robinson deserves no less in life and afterlife.

•Etinagbedia

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

34

SOUTHWEST REPORT Monarch restates commitment to development From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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ETERMINED to ensure that the vision for the 2015 Ondo agenda for development is realised, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo has reiterated the commitment of his people to the vision.

Oba Kiladejo, who is also the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas spoke to reporters in his palace on current national and community issues.

The monarch said the Ondo Vision 2015 is one of the development agenda which he initiated during the celebration of 500 years of Osemawe dynasty in 2010.

According to Oba Kiladejo, the move aimed at transforming the ancient community into a modern city.

He noted that when the dream became a reality, Ondo town would turn into a model city and reference point which other communities would emulate.

The monarch reeled off some of the committees that had been set up in order to achieve his objective. The committees include the Ondo Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA), Cultural Renaissance, Technology, Education and Infrastructural Development as well as Proclamation Committee.

While appreciating his subjects both at home and in the Diaspora for their loyalty and support to the dream, the royal father urged them not to relent in their efforts to ensure the actualisation of the Vision 2015.

On the recently-concluded general elections, the monarch expressed his happiness over the peaceful conduct of the exercise and reactions of the political class to its outcome.

According to him, the development engendered peace across the country.

The Osemawe urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to pay greater attention to the development of key sectors of the economy such as security, power and unemployment.

The monarch also advised that the Buhari administration should accord recognition to traditional institution by ensuring that crucial constitutional roles are given to traditional rulers, as against the present situation where no specific role is given to them in the 1999 Constitution Oba Kiladejo described his period on the throne as very rewarding, even as he assured Ondo indigenes of his readiness to continue to serve them with determination.

The event held at the reception hall located within the Osemawe’s palace was attended by senior chiefs in Ondo Kingdom, including High Chiefs Lisa, Simeon Oguntimehin; Jomu, Ambrose Akinsade; Adaja, Solafuboye Ayodeji; Sasere and Johnson Adeduro, among others.

•Oba Kiladejo

L

AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has said that days when Lagos was dubbed the dirtiest city in the world were over; even as he called on the residents to generate more wastes to enable the government to recycle them for re-use.

Noting that the period when the state was rated as one of the dirtiest cities has been in the trashcan of history, he expressed his happiness that the city has acquired a new reputation of being one the cleanest in the world.

Governor Fashola spoke while inaugurating the first waste material recovery facility at Isheri/ Igando Local Council Development Area.

He said the current challenge in the state was how to generate more garbage to run the factory, adding that the first phase of the facility would recover solid waste materials, recycle them for re-use and conservation. With this, Governor Fashola said, Lagos has joined some countries that have the waste recovery facility.

He said: ‘’Many countries of the world are recycling, the whole world is conserving. That is what we are signing on. We are joining the rest of the world by having this recovery facility to recycle our wastes and turn them into wealth.’’

Governor Fashola said the expansion of the factory later in the year would usher in the next phase where even more garbage will be needed in order to produce heat for electricity generation. ‘’Lagos has moved from a state that could not manage refuse to a state that needs refuse,” he said, adding that the factory will service 130 compactor trucks a day when it begins operation in few months’ time.

He assured that the establishment of the facility in the area would create employment for residents of Alimosho, Igando Housing Estate, the General Hospital and the School of Nursing. He added that the Chief Executive Officer of company had assured that the factory would start the next phase by December this year.

This, the Governor said, implies

•Governor Fashola, (third left), inaugurating the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Solous 1 M With him are the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed (behind), his Commerce and Industry count right); Oba Gbadamosi (third right); Mr. Oresanya (right); Mr. Balogun (left) and Chief Operating Officer, West Afri left) at the event.

Lagos inches towards cleanest

By Emmanuel Udodinma

that the residents of the area might enjoy regular electricity supply from next year.

The governor revealed that the third phase of the project would consist of composting and production of fertiliser to maintain the lawns, parks and gardens and other green areas across the city, even as he noted that that the greening industry now employs over 100,000 people.

Governor Fashola said: ‘’It is an industry that was not there eight years ago, just as the Association of Waste Managers wasn’t in existence 15years ago.

So, we have opened new frontiers, creating new economies that were not there before.

“But that is one of the benefits of the facility. Others include power generation; production of organic

fertiliser and composting and development of renewable energy from solar panels not imported from China but made in Nigeria. This will enhance the environment.’’

In his address, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello said the establishment of the waste recovery facility was a demonstration of the state government’s resolve to foster clean, healthy and sustainable environment for the well-being of the citizens.

Bello, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami, commended the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) and West African Energy for the laudable projects which he said would be a reference point in solid waste management in the country.

He revealed that the MRF when fully operational “is expected to provide support to the manufacturing sector through the provision of waste

off-takers such as plastics papers and metals, among others. This will lead to reduction in cost of production and generation of employment to our teeming youths’’.

On his part, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya said the completion of the MRF was a dream come true. He thanked Governor Fashola for his support at all the stages of the project. He also appreciated the co-operation of the host community that willingly offered their lands for the project.

While giving a brief on the project, the Chief Executive Officer West Africa Energy Group, Mr. Paul O’ Calleaghen said the site of the facility used to be a burrow pit where piles of waste were dumped.

O’ Calleaghen said: ‘’It is the mission of West Africa Energy and the Lagos State government that by 2020, the state will attain zero-waste status that will make Lagos the truly beautiful city that it is.’’

Ekiti mayhem and agony of non-indigenes Continued from page 33

their houses, our offices and tearing or burning down of the posters and billboards of our candidates during electioneering campaigns over which we petitioned the National Human Rights Commission.

“After the elections, kidnappings began. Now is the time pit the thugs against Hausa and Igbo traders to create ethnic tension that has the potential for national crisis while at the same time the governor is planning to inaugurate the new House of Assembly on June 1 to create anarchy.

“It is regrettable that we are back to the era of one-day-one trouble that marked out Fayose as a man that thrives in violence,” he said.

A former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olufemi Bamisile, has expressed dissatisfaction on the recent attacks on the Hausa community by yet-to-beidentified hoodlums.

Bamisile said it was a ploy to deliberately attack the Hausa because they mobilised and voted for the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) against Fayose’s directive to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bamisile claimed that the latest round of crisis in Ekiti was a deliberately-orchestrated game to declare curfew in the state so that the embattled G-19 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly would not be able to discharge their constitutional responsibility of putting the integrity of the governor on check.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, Bamisile,

You will recollect that he threatened fire and brimstone during his hate campaigns all through the electioneering period. He said he was going to chase away all the Hausa from Ekiti State if they voted against Goodluck Jonathan during one of his many hate speeches in Ekiti a chieftain of the APC said: “What if I tell you that Governor Fayose orchestrated this game just to call the dog a bad name so as to hang it?

“Authoritatively, we have intelligence report in the APC that he was informed ahead of time about the crisis and he neglected the said report.

He did it deliberately to punish the Hausa because they voted for Buhari against President Jonathan.

“You will recall that he threatened fire and brimstone during his hate campaigns all through the electioneering period. He said he was going to chase away all the Hausa from Ekiti State if they voted against Goodluck Jonathan during one of his many hate speeches in Ekiti.

“He started by sending all the Watermelon sellers away before his thugs went ahead to destroy all the properties of the business-loving Hausa. He has now moved them away to the outskirts of the state in fulfilling his hate campaign promises to the community.”

Bamisile said the governor’s action of addressing the violence and arson against the Hausa was belated, therefore enabling a jungle justice environment for all the interested parties.

“Does it not sound unreasonable and fishy that the governor decided to address the violence between the Hausa and his group only after four days that the Hausa were attacked?

“Not even a Mobile Policeman (MOPOL) was deployed throughout the four days, until when the properties and businesses of the gentlemen and investors were completely set ablaze.

“My justification of this is certain that even during the governor’s dusk-to-dawn curfew; some arsonists invaded the popular Oja Oba Market and burnt down all the market stalls where the Hausa reside.

“It is a ploy to burn the Hausa while they were asleep. The question is, who must have done this successfully without a security cover? He also said

•Rubbles of one of the burnt shops he was surprised to learn that it was the APC that caused the security breach and a plan to justify his impeachment.

Bamisile concluded: “I was shocked

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

35

SOUTHWEST REPORT •Continued from page 31

s 1 Material Recovery Facility at Igando. ounterpart, Mrs. Olusola Oworu (second Africa ENRG, Lolade Oresanwo (second

city status Mr. O’ Calleaghen further said the facility, when fully operational, would process waste for more than 130 PSP trucks per day, adding that the staff strength rose from 120 to 350 personnel of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

Earlier in his message, the Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun said it was a great pride for the bank to be involved in the realisation of the project, saying the improvement of environment was a prerequisite for business to thrive and one of the reasons that informed the bank’s decision to support the project. He assured that FCMB ‘’is ready to support projects of this nature.’’

The traditional ruler of Igando, the Onigando of Igando, Oba Tijani Gbadamosi pleaded with government to give priority attention to members of his community for employment.

that miracle after his exit from government? People are still queuing after the Buhari/Idiagbon administration. This is part of the legacies.

I was in government immediately after he left office; even a devil will not take bribe because you will not be sure if you are talking to SSS or police. The country had value for money, even after he left office.

But the whole thing has collapsed. We remembered Generals Muritala’s/Obasanjo’s regime was the first military to probe military officers. They reduced their ranks, freeze their accounts, but another regime came on board and threw everything away.

If someone prosecutes me for corruption and another person comes in to throw the allegation away, then what is the crime in engaging in corruption? We are encouraging corruption now and it has become the norm in the public arena.

The incoming administration has to be careful not to get confused. It must know how to start very well and their anti-corruption crusade must be focused on mopping up leaking waters and ensure that where the pipe from which water is coming out from is blocked. That means that he must block the source of corruption. But how to sustain the blocking of the leaking pipe is the problem. There is no developed country that did not address the issue of corruption. Such countries included Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and others.

What is your assessment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Allied Matters Commission (ICPC) and other agencies in fighting corruption?

I am amazed by this question because I think it was the EFCC or ICPC bill which was appraised and one thing we noticed was that the government has over-bearing authority on who should be prosecuted.

Corruption is a public disease in Nigeria. So, when you set up a government-led institution to catch a government-led disease, there is a problem. It will not work. Overtime, even though there were pockets of arrests, some people don’t believe it’s an objective organisation or that it was being used by the government just to punish the opposition. I think that what we need is an independent anti-corruption agency, and the incoming government will have a lot to do here. How they would do that, I do not know.

But given the nature of corruption in Nigeria, a government apparatus cannot effectively curb corruption in the country. It is supposed to be an interventionist ar-

‘Buhari can fight corruption’

•Gen. Buhari rangement and overtime the nature and severity of corruption are supposed to be going down. But we are having the opposite effect; which shows that there is something amiss. That is the challenge.

There must be an arrangement to make it independent before it can succeed. Kenya tried it and it worked, so we can learn from their experience. Anything short of independent anti-corruption agencies will not work.

In what ways has the CPPC contributed to good governance in Nigeria?

The CPPC has not been too far from the government and we have been liaising with both the executive and the legislative arms of government. At a certain point in time, we had working partnership in terms of advice from a judge of Supreme Court. This is because he was very much impressed.

For instance, we did a research on economic growth and regulations when the government came on board and we sent it to the National Assembly. We discovered some outdated laws that are totally incompatible with democratic dispensation which we sent to every member of the National Assembly then. As I said, through our research, we facilitated the excess

crude account because the argument was that under a democratic dispensation, a government cannot spend beyond what was appropriated. If they add one Naira more than that, they have to go back to National Assembly. That is how we convinced the National Assembly.

We are not saying government should not spend money but they must not spend beyond what was appropriated.

We have assisted in the recovery of N450 billion at the end of the year balances. So, we are having the desired effects one way or the other.

But as I said, it is not sustainable due to the inherent weaknesses of the advocacy groups. Some of them believe they know everything and the government do use them for their own interest sometimes.

These are the issues that we need to address. The advocacy groups have to get it right with the incoming administration.

Nigeria is one of the top oil-producing countries, yet the citizens experience acute fuel scarcity. Do we truly need fuel subsidy since the argument is that it is an avenue through which public fund is siphoned?

Yes, there can be subsidy. But there are two issues we have to look at.

How does subsidy arise? Subsidy

arises when the government wants the end users of a product to pay less than the cost of producing that product. It’s just like a life support to make life better for the people, may be because of the level of their income.

It happens in some other countries. I think maybe in Cot’devoire there is this public transport the government provided facility to privatise the management for efficient service delivery. The management will now prepare its own budget and tell the government how much it costs them to run that organisation.

After going through the whole thing, the government will now then make that as the most efficient cost of producing the product. The government will now said if the cost of producing that product is N100, it will instruct the organisation to charge the public N30 as it will pay the organisation the difference of N70.

So, it’s not uncommon, but in Nigeria, it seems o be a novel thing.

First of all what element went into calculation of the subsidy, including government tax? Secondly, you are talking of what we called transfer cost. We should be producing locally but look at how much it costs to buy from international market. We are talking of value in exchange.

They call it export parity.

But there is value in use because we have that resource. It’s like planting yam and you want to consume part of the yam and sell the balance but when you want to prepare your account, you will say no, you have to charge at the cost it obtains in the market even though it’s mine.

So, there is element of fraud in that type of transaction. The more important thing is that who is benefiting from the subsidy. Let’s say we are talking of kerosene to be sold at N50. That is the basis for the subsidy. Who is buying kerosene at N50?

There is a lot to look at in that area.

I am not saying that the government should cancel subsidy, but there are some necessary and sufficient conditions to make sure it actually delivers on the premise on which it was based. I don’t think we are doing the right thing and if we are doing the right thing, it is in the very wrong way. It is not desirable, but the government should take a very close look at it and see where the citizens need support. But I am not sure there is anything beneficial from the current arrangement.

Honour for Alaafin’s aide

I

to hear the State Chief Security Officer to say that APC caused the mayhem. Was it the APC that staged the attack on the Hausa community?

T was a joyful moment at the weekend when friends, associates and family members gathered at the Peacock Hall, Marina Lagos of the Island Club to celebrate with one of their own.

The event was an award of Knight Commander of the Order of the Peacock (KCOP) conferred on the Royal Ambassador to Alaafin of Oyo, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin by the Island Club Nigeria during the club’s chairman’s valedictory party held at the Peacock Hall, Marina Lagos.

The chairman of the club, Prince Ademola Dada said the club decided to honour Ayanlakin because of his selfless service to the Island Club, Nigeria and humanity.

According to him, Aare Ayanlakin is a committed member of the club and a flag bearer whose

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

contribution to the growth of the club is exemplary.

“He is a close aide of Alaafin of Oyo and he has been promoting Yoruba culture and tradition at home and in the Diaspora. ýWe are proud of you and we urge you to do more to promote the Island Club,” Dada said.

Responding, Aare Ayanlakin dedicated the award to God and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, whom he described as a promoter of Yoruba culture and the ethnic group’s traditional heritage.

Ayandotun also thanked the leadership of the club and other members for their love and support, promising to do more for the progress of the club.

•Prince Dada (left) presenting the award to Aare Ayanlakin at the event.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

36

SOUTHWEST REPORT

•Hon. Okeyomi (fifth right) with some of the beneficiaries displaying their visas

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INDFUL of the reaction which the closure of the Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre in Igboho community in Oyo State has generated, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said the institution was shut down following preliminary investigation of a petition that it was running university courses without being duly accredited and licensed by the relevant and appropriate authorities as approved under the law.

A statement signed by Folu Olamiti, Resident Consultant (Media and Event) states that the ICPC, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), carried out the closure of the institution on Wednesday, March 25 this year as part of their ongoing efforts to sanitise the tertiary education sector in the country.

The college has been running academic programmes since October 2014 and has an enrolment of 200 students. It applied for and got the provisional approval of the Oyo State Ministry of Education in January this year to operate as a Study/Continuing Education Centre of Borough College, London.

The college also applied to the Federal Ministry of Education for evaluation and accreditation as a training institute to operate

APC chieftain drums support for Ambode

By Innocent Duru

beneficiaries were to understudy how the oil-rich area became a global tourist centre after which they would return to the country to open up the tourism potential in the community.

The beneficiaries cut across tribal groups in the country.

“It is imperative for every resident of Lagos State to support the incoming administration of Mr. Ambode because the task of taking the state to the next level should not be left to the government alone. It is important that privileged members of the society should support the efforts of government by coming up with creative ideas that will bring development to their various

communities. This is what we are doing in Ojokoro to improve the living standard of the residents.

“The beneficiaries are expected to serve as change agents when they return. They will retrain and broaden the minds of the people of the communities and fashion out ways of replicating some of the ideas they garnered in Dubai in the communities.

“The aim is to open up the community towards opportunities that are capable of enhancing the living standard of the residents. We have outlined different programmes that we would be carrying out from time to time to improve the lives of the people. The aspect of tourism is just one of these plans,” he said.

The beneficiaries expressed their

The beneficiaries are expected to serve as change agents when they return.

They will retrain and broaden the minds of the people of the communities and fashion out ways of replicating some of the ideas they garnered in Dubai in the communities gratitude to Hon. Okeyomi for the gesture, even as they promised not to abuse the opportunity.

“I am delighted to be among the beneficiaries. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to travel outside the country to

acquire knowledge that would improve my life and the community.

“The future of Ojokoro is certainly bright with somebody such as Hon. Okeyomi, Dora Ifeyinwa said.

Why we closed Borough College London study centre, by ICPC in Nigeria in collaboration with Universidad Azteca, Mexico which approval the ministry granted also in January this year.

Prof. Ogunleye further proceeded to register Borough College London Limited with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The certificate of incorporation granted by the CAC in February this year indicates that Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre was registered and established to develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, post-graduate research and higher degrees.

As at the time the institution was shut down, it was offering six academic courses in Law, Sciences, Accounting/Marketing, Political Science, Business Administration and Communication without the approval of the NUC which is the statutory regulatory body for such operations. It was also claimed that the college was affiliated to one Concentric University.

In 2006, Prof. Ogunleye had applied to set up the Concentric University in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State but it was not approved by the NUC.

,

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon. Dipo Okeyomi, has enjoined Lagos residents to support the incoming administration of the governorelect, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, adding that the society would be better off if individuals support government efforts.

He urged privileged members of the society not to abandon the task of nation-building to the government alone.

The President and founder of Change Agent International, made the remark during while presenting empowerment items for residents of Ojokoro community in Ijaiye Local Government Area.

He gave a boost to tourism in the community when he provided visas to some of the residents to travel to Dubai. The

As at the time the institution was shut down, it was offering six academic courses in Law, Sciences, Accounting/ Marketing, Political Science, Business Administration and Communication without the approval of the NUC which is the statutory regulatory body for such operations

,

He later secured an allocation of land from Igboho community for the establishment of the hitherto unapproved Concentric University in Bonnie quarters, Igboho.

The ICPC said it has recovered some relevant documents and obtained useful statements from some principal officers of the institution. The proprietor of the college, Prof. James Ogunleye, who resides in London, has sent a writ-

ten brief to the ICPC, promising to physically honour its invitation.

The ICPC appreciates the desire of the Igboho community to have a higher institution within its reach and its current concern over the closure of the Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre.

The ICPC assures the community that the actions it has taken so far is in the best interest of the community, the students who have paid

N70,000 each and other stakeholders in order to ensure compliance with existing laws regulating the establishment of universities.

The ICPC said that as currently constituted, all parties should note that the products are not eligible to serve under the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme or get employed in any public sectorý organisation or attend any approved university for postgraduate studies.

It noted that owners of both Borough College London and Concentric University located at Igboho, have several options open to them.

The ICPC advised that they can either redress any defaults and thereafter resume operations; or seek legal protection of its rights if they believe that they are executing their activities with the approval of applicable state and federal legislation.ý As a last resort, they can forcibly re-open the instititution and face criminal charges.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

37

THE NATION INVESTORS

Stock Exchange advises investors on procedures for account transfer A

GAINST the backdrop of the recent suspension and withdrawal of licences of some stockbroking firms, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has advised investors on the proper procedures to ensure seamless transfer of their securities from moribund and suspended stockbroking firms.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week suspended BGL Group and its subsidiaries from all capital market activities. The suspended companies included BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited.

Until the suspension, BGL Group was one of the largest investment banking firms in the capital market.

The NSE advised investors to follow proper procedures in transferring their securities, including shares, exchange traded funds and fixed income securities, from either suspended or inactive and expelled stockbroking firms to active stockbroking firms.

According to the NSE, investors must note that the transfer process is managed exclusively by the Central Securities Clear-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

ing System (CSCS) Plc, the depository and custodian subsidiary of the Exchange.

In the outline, iInvestors and shareholders that are desirous of transferring their securities from a suspended, inactive or expelled stockbroking firm are required to appoint an active stockbroking firm to deal on their behalf.

The active stockbroking firm, where the investor wants to transfer his shares to, is required to conduct a Know Your Customer (KYC) due diligence process to verify the identity of the investor before establishing a relationship with the investor.

Thereafter, the active stockbroking firm shall provide CSCS with some requirements including a copy of the investor's KYC documents verified by the active stockbroking firm; the investor's bank account details -not bank statement, which has been operated for not less than six months; evidence of share ownership such as contract notes, purchase receipts and dividend warrant stubs and identification documents, which could be a National Identity Card, current Driver's License or current

International Passport.

Besides, the active stockbroking firm shall provide CSCS with a letter confirming that it has conducted a satisfactory KYC due diligence process in addition to the physical KYC documents submitted to CSCS. According to the outline, to authorized signatories of the active firm including the managing director and another authorized signatory are required to visit CSCS with the firm's official stamp and the personal Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) seal of the managing director to sign, seal and stamp the CSCS indemnity form.

Finally, the investor is required to visit CSCS with proof of identification for a bio-data capture as further proof of ownership. But in the event that the investor is unable to visit CSCS for the bio-data capture as a result of distance, age and ill-health among others, the proof of identification should be confirmed by a notary public before submission to CSCS. The Nation had reported exclusively that there were more than 80 inactive stockbroking firms at the NSE. The council of the NSE had also revoked the dealing li-

cense and expelled some stockbroking firms over fraudulent sales of shares of their clients.

Some of the inactive firms included Al-Pina Investment and Trust Company Limited, BBL Asset Management Limited, Integrated and Allied Securities Limited, MultiTrust Securities Limited, Standard Chartered Securities Limited, Trans Lux Services Limited, Mainstreet Bank Securities Limited, First Atlantic Securities Limited, AAA Securities Limited, Alliance Capital Management Company Limited, BFCL Asset & Securities Limited, and Afro-Arab Investment Limited.

Others included Arian Capital Management, Barakat Investment Limited, BIC Securities Limited, CEB Securities Limited, Colvia Securities Limited, Consolidated Investment Limited, Dakal Services Limited, Decanon Investment Limited, Empire Securities Limited, Enabell Capital & Investment Limited, Epic Investment Trust Limited, Equator Stockbrokers Limited, First Equity Securities Limited, First Express Limited, Folu Securities Limited, Genesis Securities & Investment Limited, Ideal Securities Limited, Indemnity Finance

Limited, Integrated & Allied Securities Limited, KFF Worldwide Solutions Limited, Kingdom Securities Limited, Lion Stockbrokers Limited, LMB Stockbrokers Limited, Maninvest Asset Management Plc, Mayfield Investment Limited, Metropolitan Trust Nigeria Limited, Midland Capital Markets Limited, Midlands Investment & Trust Limited and ML Securities Limited.

Others included Monument Securities & Finance Limited, MultiTrust Securities Limited, Omas Investment & Trust Company Limited, Peninsula Asset Management & Investment Company Limited, Platinum Capital Limited, Professional Stockbrokers Limited, Prudential Securities Limited, Regency Financing Limited, RIV Trust Securities Limited, Riverside Trust Limited, Securities Trading & Investment Company Limited, Sikon Securities and Investment Trust Limited, Trans Lux Services Limited, Transglobe Investment & Finance Company Limited, Tropics Securities Limited, Truebond Capital & Asset Management Limited, WT Securities Limited, Wema Asset Management Limited and Zuma Securities Limited.

Stock exchange as the ultimate voting machine (1) IN Nigeria, the process of voting begins by registering with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after an individual has attained the age of 18 and above. This will enable the voter to have his name on the register with a unique card as evidence.

On the voting day, accreditation is done where the presiding officers from INEC validate the name of voters in the register. Voting commences thereafter while the returning officer collates the votes from the various polling units, making sure that the votes counted are valid and that all the rules guiding valid voting are duly observed before pronouncing the results.

In a similar vein, companies that are successful tend to have good leadership, who understand the markets they operate in, its wider ecosystem, can identify, recruit, motivate and retain the right people, create durable internal and external networks, empower their teams, deploy the appropriate technologies and implement processes that will enable their firms to achieve durable competitive advantage.

Such companies often require long term low cost funds to grow or achieve their aspirations and the owners-shareholders and leadership may want to value their investment in the firm or seek to discover its real value or price per time, or even divest to other investors. Here comes the critical role of the Stock Exchange.

Companies typically come to the Exchange-or ‘the market’ as it is often referred to colloquially, to either raise long term funds from investors to grow their business and achieve their strategic aspirations and to realize the value of their assets. However, coming to the market also accrue additional benefits to the company, the most notable probably being the compliance with a higher corporate governance standard.

It is therefore required for the Exchange to provide a structure that allows companies-or indeed governments, to raise funds in the market and to realize the market value of their investments. The Stock Exchange by virtue of its daily operations serves as a quintessential institution for a model voting machine. It is an organized and regulated financial market where securities-equities, bonds, notes, currencies, commodities or derivatives of these, are bought and sold at prices

By Ade Bajomo and Kenneth Ohaeri

governed by the forces of demand and supply – which is effectively the totality of the vote of the investors.

The Stock Exchange is an organized market with rules, oversight and various players involved in the movement of securities. Her core function is to ensure fair and orderly trading, as well as efficient dissemination of price information for securities traded, leveraging on cutting-edge technology. It presents companies, governments and other groups with opportunities to sell and buy securities to the investing public. In the same way, candidates in a political process have to meet certain requirements before being cleared by INEC; the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has certain minimum requirements for admitting companies and securities to list and trade. In addition, there are post-listing requirements which the promoters or issuers of a security to be listed must adhere to if they want to continue to be reckoned with on the daily official list of the Exchange, a report that lists all the securities, their prices and much more after each trading day.

There are many advantages for being in the league of quoted companies on an Exchange. Apart from the visibility that it offers the company, it also strengthens its corporate governance, which has been proven to enhance the capability of its leadership and the prospects of the company. Listing on the Exchange entails that the company has decided to “dance naked in the village square and wash its linen in full public glare”. The company’s statistics and profile has to be in the public domain-full disclosure, to enable investors make informed decision so as to avoid shooting in the dark. By doing so, such companies benefit by ensuring that leadership take appropriate steps to always seek to act in the best interest of its owners – the investors or shareholders.

Although some Exchanges are more rigid than others in terms of their rules, the basic post-listing requirements for all markets include–the submission of regular interim financial reports, audited earnings reports and other news items such as changes in board and senior management as well as price sensitive infor-

mation from the company that will be of value to investors in making investment decisions in the company.

As is obtainable in all economies of the world, the stock market is the barometer of the economy. It measures the dynamics of economic and political interplay within the economy and a forward indicator of where the economy is headed. Most of the time, whatever direction the stock market goes, is totally dependent on the health of the various sectors of the economy that are represented by the various companies classified according to the Industries they belong. It is where investors express their emotions or reactions, or put differently, cast their vote, regarding the performance of the companies in which they have shares or stakes in. Sometimes these emotions could be speculative, personal or based on facts and figures made available by these companies as part of their statutory post listing requirements. In modern terms, investors also express their emotions and

reactions on the economy of countries through the Exchanges in those countries. The stock exchange serves as a conduit where those emotions and sentiment are expressed. It allows investors to make informed choices and also participate in the financial achievements of the companies and indeed countries whose shares they have chosen to be part of, providing the channel for ease of entry or exit by the investor.

Investors make money through dividend payment, bonus shares allocation and capital appreciation of their initial investment. However, poor performance in most cases translates to downward movement in stock prices, unless the company is able to provide rational reasons for this. Investors are mostly pressured to sell their holdings, in some cases at a loss, as stock prices drift southwards, in order to ‘cut their losses’.

The Reign of the Robots In modern markets, trades are con-

ducted electronically using computers.

Almost all equity Exchanges have auctions and continuous trading sessions, where buyers enter competitive “bids” and sellers enter competitive “offers” and a matching algorithm crosses the orders based on some parameters such as price, time of order entry and quantity of the order.

For an investor to buy and sell shares in Nigeria, he must register with a stockbroker who in turn opens an account with the Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) with a unique identity. This qualifies the investor for voting, synonymous with a voter’s registration card in a political system or the Permanent Voter Card (PVC), as it is known in Nigeria.

•Ade Bajomo is executive director, market operations, NSE while Kenneth Ohaeri is a market analyst in the market operations department of the NSE.

•From Left: Managing Director, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Henry Semenitari; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, Unity Bank, Mr. Thomas Etuh and Executive Director, Unity Bank Plc, Aisha Abraham at the presentation of the Facts Behind the Figures at the NSE in Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

38

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

Investments in livestock are growing, as the sector is becoming a key factor in sustaining the household and flow of income.

Many are venturing into rabbit rearing, which has become a silent money spinner, reports DANIEL ESSIET .

Rabbits offer big returns on investment

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AMSON Opeyemi is the all in all on his rabbit farm in Alagbado area of Lagos State. His daily routine involves cleaning the cages, feeding the animals, tending to them and acting as a veterinary doctor to them. He always caresses his majestic breed of rabbits, which he sees as prized possessions.

For him, keeping rabbits or practising cuniculture in his backyard has been a long time passion. He loves the idea of stepping into his backyard to see his flock in their cages.

Of late, rabbits rearing have become a profitable business venture as people prefer its meat to beef and goat meat classified as red meat. Aside, meat from Rabbits offers excellent nutritive and dietry properties with high protein content and high levels of essential amino acids. People who looked down on rabbit farming have come to appreciate the economic and nutritional value of the animals.

Opeyemi's decision to concentrate on rearing Rabbits instead of practising computer science, which he read, has been a wise decision that has given him good income yearly.

One reason for investing in Rabbits, according to him, is that they are prolific in multiplying and their gestation period is only 30 days. They grow fast and can be slaughtered after three months. They are noiseless, and are particularly suited to

•Opeyemi

home farmers, who may choose to raise them without any fear of constituting a nuisance to neighbours. Cuniculture or Rabbit rearing is growing steadily and is no longer a little boy's game. It has become a new rave among many local small farmers.

For Opeyemi, the business of tending to Rabbits can be seen as raising any other

livestock such as cattle, piggery and other farm animals that are profitable .

For starters, there is a need for a 10 x 4ft cage for a unit of rabbits, which consist seven females and three males. Their gestation period is just a month.

A rabbit can deliver six times in a year, having three to 10 offsprings at once, which can be sold after 100 days. A matured rabbit weighs about 3.5 kilogramme. With an investment of N50,000 to N100,000, as Opeyemi explained, it is possible to make N300,000 to N500,000 profit in 12 months.

But it requires housing them in a spacious and well aerated cages, using materials such as wire mesh, planks and iron sheets for roofing.

Other requirement is keeping them in different cages according to their ages and breeding stage, and feeding them regularly with vegetables, vines, grass and water to ensure they gain weight fast. One could also feed them with pellets as their feeds are called.

According to Opeyemi, the business is not so expensive to start. His words: "All you need to do as a starter is to get three males and seven females, and give them shelter, which is usually a wire cage, the holes should be large enough in order to keep the place neat. The cage should have compartments and you can put one in each compartment so that they don't injure themselves.

Medium-sized rabbits breed at 4 to 5 months of age and give birth after a month of gestation. He said female ones can produce up to 50 annually, with births high during the summer. One female, he said can produce an average of 9 kits per birth.

He added: "Because not so many people are into rabbit production, in about a year you will be talking of an income of about N900,000 and more, if you sell each at eight weeks at N2000. His profit projection is based on a start-up plan with 15 females and five males.

He expects 525 young/adult rabbits in 12 months under good management. Rabbit rearing has brought him a fortune.

Opeyemi is not only a successful farmer, but an entrepreneur as well, trying to promote rabbit farming in any way possible.

He is always ready to share his experiences with the people and encourage them to start small units.

Before arriving at cuniculture, Opeyemi has ventured into other enterprises such as plantain farming and aquaculture. His success as a rabbit farmer and an entrepreneur is in the way he combines his knowledge and hard work with willingness to meet challenges and move forward.

What sustained his business till date are his passion and joy to change lives. His is passionate about agriculture and enjoys rabbit rearing.

Her story shows that if one wants to build a successful business, one has to understand what success means and be truthful.

She has achieved that with agro business, reports. DANIEL ESSIET.

Understanding success to be successful

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ISS Mayowa Oluyomi Oguntoyinbo, Chief Executive Officer, A.Y.O Farms, Ogun State has a high entrepreneurial streak. A graduate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Ibadan, with Masters degree in Public Health from Bournemouth University, United Kingdom (UK), she had a desire to create something that will outlive her and have a greater social impact as an entrepreneure.

Her words:" I remember getting paid for packing ready to use bathmate sponges my mother made while growing up as a very young girl, and I have applied one or two informal skills to earn income while leaving abroad.”

She took up a few jobs and worked as a Veterinarian Officer and Clinician. The job entailed Animal Health Management and treatment and health advocacy to clients and the public.

But her dream was yet to be accomplished.

Eventually, she had to quit her job as a Veterinary Officer and went into agro business.

One of the major reasons why she ventured into agric-business was her passion for food.

"I like food, I like good food and I like to enjoy what I eat, I know that in war-times

and happy times, food is a need that will always come first after the need to buy fuel at the moment in Nigeria.”

With N100, 000 in her hand, she decided to start small. She started with growing vegetables such as green pepper, red peppers, tete, shoko, ugwu, cucumber, ewedu and okro. She added maize and pilot crops of maize, pineapple and banana and later raised livestock since her vision was to establish an integrated farm.

She has since been in the business for three years. Today, the business, according to her, is self sustaining with a number of staff on her employment. Through creativity and persistence, she has found a unique way of growing her business.

Like other young entrepreneurs, she has faced some challenges as a start up. In all, she identified them as being more of technical and infrastructural than finance.

While running the business has been deeply enlightening to her, she has also undergone technical training programmes.

She has delved deeply into the sector, acquiring knowledge and expertise in various components that make up agro business.

She said she would have loved to work with a mentor in a similar business for a year or average of six months first, carrying

•Oguntoyinbo

out technical analysis on the land to know the basic resources required ahead before going solo.

Her success, however, has to do with her positive mindset. " Of course yes, if I do not believe I can do this and overcome this then I have started failing, if again I do not speak out then I am worse off," she said. So, what does it take to make a success of any business? She has learned to overcome the

hurdles and barriers, which came from many sources such as family commitments, experience and lack of finance. She had always set her eyes on greater things. She never shied away from rejection and had so much faith in the quality of her produce.

One of the keys to her success is determination and she has a resolute spirit in the face of any challenge. She always looks forward to finding solutions to any problem confronting her and her family has been a great driving force, giving her the impetus to go for her dream.

However, as much as these attributes are the backbone of her success, it was her pragmatic approach to getting finance and retaining control of her produce that determined her success.

She advised young entrepreneurs to grow with their visions. " Do not leave any financial or strategic decision to any ‘expert" and do not be afraid to ask for help," she said.

Her objectives are to make young entrepreneurs in the agro industry enterprising and productive to earn as much as they can and provide job opportunities for others.

Her greatest achievement is running a well-established and self-sustaining business.

Looking ahead, she hopes to, establish a big wholesale business and expand into new areas.

Group urges Buhari to address SMEs funding

A

SSOCIATION of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria(AMEN) president,

Prince Saviour Iche has urged the government to address funding challenges of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the current economic situation has placed financial pressure on all companies.

Speaking with The Nation, Iche said, with access to working capital remaining a substantial challenge for most businesses, especially SMEs, there is a need to create alternatives as the resultant cycle of liquidity shortfalls puts further pressure on their ability to conduct business and service overheads.

Although many businesses are aware of potential sources of funding, he said, the costs and requirements for accessing funding are prohibitive, as a result, many potential entrepreneurs are prevented from accessing secured debt financing

from financial institutions.

He implored banks to establish SMEs to promote entrepreneurial development and provide finance to local businesses.

Unreliable electricity supply, poor quality and limited breadth of road and rail networks, and poor communications infrastructure, he said, are having a significant impact on the cost of doing business.

To ameliorate this, he called on the incoming government to make energy an urgent priority to save enterprises from collapsing following increasing expenditure on generators to run their factories.

Iche said businesses have been forced to depend on generating their power needs as current problems with load shedding is not helping energy throughput for industrial consumption.

While urging the incoming government to explore and bring to fruition op-

portunities to secure power supply , Iche stressed the need to intensify infrastructure development such as roads and electricity, adding that achieving the vision of a more prosperous and productive nation will require successful local entrepreneurs.

He reiterated that SMEs believe that they shared responsibilities for employment creation, poverty reduction and youth development, but need the government support to participate in the national effort at improving standard of living, reducing crime rate, increase in per capita income and rapid growth in Gross Domestic Product(GDP) among others.

He noted that the economy needs industrialisation policies to favour medium and large enterprises, to stimulate economic growth and development, adding that renewed emphasis on the SMEs is a catalyst to the nation's industrialisation quest.

•Iche

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

39

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Chinese economy is moving forward steadily with increased quality and efficiency, says consular

T

WO events recently happened in the Chinese economic development. One is that the National Statistic Bureau of China released macroeconomic data on April 15. The other is that the Political Bureau of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China had a conference analysing current economic situation and performance. The former showed the present Chinese economic status, while the latter pointed out the direction and prospect of Chinese economy.

According to the Chinese Consular, LIU Kan, the preliminary estimation showed that the gross domestic product (GDP) of China in the first quarter of this year was 14,066.7 billion yuan(2301 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year growth of 7.0 per cent.

“From the data released, we find several highlights: Firstly, retail increased by 10.6per cent, a growth rate higher than that of GDP, while online retail sales of goods grew by 41.3 per cent. These demonstrate the policy implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate that domestic demand has been effective to some extent.

“Secondly, the percentage of service to GDP increased significantly to 51.6 per cent, up from 48.2 percent in 2014 and 46.9 per cent in 2013.

Simultaneously, energy consumption per unit GDP continued to fall, recording a drop of 5.6 per cent in

Q1, after last year’s 4.8 per cent decline. China’s labour productivity increased 7 per cent in the first quarter on year-on-year basis. All these changes make it clear that Chinese economy is being in the process of turning more balanced and greener.

“Thirdly, industrial output of the high-tech sector jumped by 11.4 per cent, outpacing the overall national economic growth. In the high-tech sector, new energy automobiles and robotics saw industrial output gain more than 50 per cent during the first quarter. The higher growth rate in hi-tech indicates the remarkable results achieved from state policies and measures to encourage hi-tech growth and more dependence of Chinese economy on scientific and technological innovation. The fast expansion of the high-tech and modern service industries demonstrates the Chinese economy is advancing to the middle and high end.

“Furthermore, thanks to efforts to cut red tape and simplify administrative procedures, newly registered companies mushroomed, with the number of newly registered companies surging 38.4 per cent and more than 3.2 million jobs being created,” he said.

LIU said all items in the economic data of the first quarter indicated a downward pressure of domestic economic development in China is intensifying in the backdrop of complicated international situation and slow recovery of global economy.

According to LIU, after analysing the economic situation in China, the conference held by the Political Bureau of Central Committee on April 30, made the judgment that the comprehensively deepening reforms carried out in China had ensured the economy to perform in a reasonable range and economic growth to meet the expected target.

Liu said after many years of twodigit growth, China’s economy has bred some problems and risks,and the old model of economic growth has been unsustainable.

His words: “These problems include high energy and material consumption in manufacture, excessive industrial capacity, environmental pollution, over supply of property, and etc. These problems are also reflected in parts of the economic data, such as decreasing housing sales volume and shrinking profits for large industrial firms.

“Despite the slowdown, I am of the opinion that Chinese economy is still one of the world’s fastest growing and enjoys sound fundamentals. Q1 economic growth was within a “reasonable range” and the slowdown was within expectation.

Firstly, as the economy continues to grow in size, one should not focus on growth rate only when looking at China’s economy.

“Chinese economy focuses more on improving quality and efficiency, and gives even greater priority to shifting the growth model

and adjusting the structure of development. China is shifting gear from high speed to medium-to-high speed growth, from an extensive model that emphasised scale and speed to a more intensive one emphasising quality and efficiency, and from being driven by investment in production factors to being driven by innovation.

“Secondly, there are still enormous potential, huge resilience and ample room for the country’s development. Unlike advanced economies with high public debt and zero interest rates, China has further room for government borrowing and monetary easing to bolster growth. China has the firepower to avert a hard landing, and should the slowdown cause widespread unemployment or a drop in citizens’ incomes, it would not hesitate to intervene with macro-economic control measures.”

He said the People’s Bank of China (the Chinese central bank), which has cut interest rates three times since November last year and twice lowered the amount of cash the banks must hold as reserves, will roll out more policy easing measures if necessary. For fiscal policy, China can carry out acceleration of infrastructure projects, tax rate cutting among others. “ T h i r d l y , o n - g o i n g industrialisation, urbanisation, agricultural modernisation and digitalisation will be the major source of growth momentum for the economy. When combined with macro-economic control measures, the economy is poised to maintain stable and healthy development.

“Fourthly, China is encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation among the people by offering preferential policies to micro businesses and individual start-ups. This is becoming a new engine for the economy in pursuit of a moderate

• Liu

to high speed of economic growth as well as a medium to high level of the economy,” Liu said.

On the other hand, he said Chinese government is spending more fiscal fund on supplying more public goods and services.

“Chinese government will deepen reform and opening up policies of reform will be implemented this year, covering finance, taxation, investment, price, state owned enterprises, pension, enterprise incorporation, high-tech industry incentives, innovation, research and development, etc,” he said.

The role of government in providing public goods and deepening reform, according to him, will become the second engine for Chinese economic growth. These two new engines will generate more power to bolster economic growth.

“From the above data and analysis, its shows that the Chinese economy has undertaken some fundamental positive change and made eye-catching achievements in the first quarter, although the pace of growth slowed down.

Chinese economy still has great potential and large room for further development, and will surely have a bright future,” he said.

Greek debt negotiations weigh on European stocks UROPEAN stocks have fallen after a Greek minister said Athens would struggle to meet its upcoming debt payments.

Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis made his comments during a TV programme.

Stocks on Greece’s ATG index are trading 2.13 per cent lower on the day at 822.34.

Greece needs to strike a deal with its creditors in order to release •7.2bn (£5.1bn) in remaining assistance.

“The four instalments for the IMF in June are •1.6bn, this money will not be given and is not there to be

E

•Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr.(Mrs) Nike Akande, representative of the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission, Ms Funlola Akiode, President, Lagos Chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello and Council Member of the Chamber, Princess Sarah Sosan at the opening ceremony of the 2015 ICTEL Expo organised by the Chamber.

Oil prices edge down as dollar strengthens

A

N oil well pump jack is seen at an oil field supply yard near Denver, Colorado February 2,

2015.

Reuters/Rick Wilking Crude oil futures edged lower toward $65 a barrel as the dollar strengthened on Monday, with a public holiday in the United States and much of Europe keeping trading muted.

Front-month Brent crude shed 17 cents to $65.20 a barrel by 1052 GMT. U.S. crude was down 35 cents at $59.37 a barrel.

The dollar pared early gains, but remained near to two month-highs against the euro and yen as well as a one-month high against a basket of currencies.

A strong dollar makes crude oil less attractive for holders of other currencies.

“The overall fundamentals still

point to a well-supplied market, a fact that should continue to put a ceiling on prices,” Barclays said.

However, the market drew support from strong demand figures across Asia and the United States (US).

“Global oil demand continues to surprise the upside, with April data showing no signs of slowdown despite a pick-up in prices,” Energy Aspects said in a note.

Japan’s customs-cleared crude oil imports rose 9.1 per cent year on year to 3.62 million barrels per day (17.28 million kilolitres) in April, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.

In China, crude imports hit a record 7.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, with healthy car sales countering a slowing economy.

In the US, the peak summer driving season started with Memorial

Day on Monday, and the American Automobile Association said road travel was expected to reach a 10year high over the Memorial Day weekend.

Unrest in the Middle East intensified on Monday as the Islamic State poured fighters into the western Iraqi city of Ramadi.

In oil exporting Libya, warplanes from the official government attacked an oil tanker docked outside the city of Sirte last Sunday, wounding three people and setting the ship on fire, officials said.

It was the third confirmed strike by the internationally recognised government on oil tankers, part of a conflict between competing administrations and parliaments allied to armed factions fighting for control of the country four years after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.

given,” Mr Voutsis said.

The country’s finance minister meanwhile has told the BBC on Sunday that progress was being made.

“Greece has made enormous strides at reaching a deal,” Yanis Varoufakis told the Andrew Marr Show.

Other benchmark indexes across Europe have also fallen.

The IBEX is down 2.21 per cent to 11,298.3 after Spain’s voters punished the ruling Popular Party (PP) in local and regional elections.

France’s Cac-40 is down 0.84 per cent to 5099.5, and Italy’s MIB is down 1.99 per cent to 23,308.

Japan shares hit 15-year high on trade data

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APAN’S shares closed at a 15-year high after data showed the country’s trade account fell into a deficit in April, but was still better than expected.

The deficit was 53.4bn yen ($440m; £283m) - lower than 825.5bn yen a year ago, and below expectations of 318.9bn yen. There was a surplus in March.

Exports in the world’s third largest economy rose 8 per cent from a year ago - up for the eighth month - but imports fell by 4.2 per cent, well above the 1.5 per cent forecast.

That marks the seventh consecutive rise for the benchmark index, which is on its longest winning streak since December. It has gained 4.3 per cent in the period.

Investors were expecting the deficit, but sentiment was boosted by the fact that the shortfall was much lower than anticipated.

Shares of Japan Tobacco were up 1.1 per cent after local reports that Suntory Beverage & Food would

buy its beverage vending machine business for 150bn yen. The firm had announced in February that it was getting out of the beverage industry.

Chinese shares hit another sevenyear high with the Shanghai Composite up 2.4 per cent to 4,768.98 leading the region’s gains.

Infrastructure and transport stocks boosted the benchmark index after Beijing said it was seeking private funding for over $300bn (£193bn) worth of public projects.

The Hong Kong market was closed for a public holiday.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 ended higher by 1 per cent to 5,721.5.

Shares of miner Sirius Resources jumped more than 21 per cent after fellow miner Independence Group launched a $1.4bn bid to take it over and create a diverse base metals and gold mining group.

Meanwhile, markets in South Korea were closed for Buddha’s birthday holiday.

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA

Challenges in power distribution over soon- MD Ibom Power

Bayer boosts businesses in Nigeria

B

AYER now has a stronger presence in Africa with the inauguration of its subsidiary, Bayer Middle Africa Limited, in Lagos to serve its customers in Nigeria.

The aim of this subsidiary is to support and develop the business of the 3 sub-groups of Bayer in the country: Bayer HealthCare (Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Care, Medical Care, Animal Health); Bayer CropScience (Crop Protection, Seeds, Environment Science) and Bayer MaterialScience (Polyurethanes, Polycarbonates and Coatings).

To enable it serve its customers in Nigeria better, the company had opened an office in Lagos. Bayer Middle Africa Limited currently has more than 20 employees and is planning to grow to over 30 employees by the end of 2015.

Speaking at the inauguration, which held in Lagos and attended by captains of industry, Mr. Michael König, a member of the company Board of Management, said the company, which celebrated its 150th anniversary two years ago, has a long history in Africa; a legacy that goes back as far as 1896 when it first started trading on the continent.

According to him, Bayer is now located in 13 different African countries and as an important part of the Group’s strategy,i t was decided that the company should have a more direct presence in the priority markets on the

continent. He stated that in 2014, under the region of West-Central Africa, the company established two new legal entities in Lagos, Nigeria and Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A similar legal entity was set up in the East African country of Tanzania and a representative office in Ethiopia. “Together with the companies in Morocco, Kenya and South Africa as hubs for the Bayer country groups in North, East and Southern Africa, we now have the infrastructure in place to make this increased footprint a reality,” he said.

On job creation and human capital development, Mr. König said the Group has over 1000 employees across the African continent.

In her address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, who was represented by the Director of Finance, Mr. Olaseni Ajala, commended Bayer for taking the initiative to establish its newly improved subsidiary, which she said would be a real blessing to the nation and the economic fortune of Lagos State.

Mrs. Oworu said with Bayer’s enviable track record in her parent country, Lagos State can only expect great yields of improved healthcare and qualitative living standards, gainful employment for her experienced and expert labour force, value addition to her local micro, small and medium enterprises and cottage industries as well as increased revenue and enhanced Gross Domestic product.

T

HE Managing Director of Ibom Power Plc, Dr. Victor Udo, has said existing challenges in the operation of power distribution infrastructure in Akwa Ibom State will soon be over, as the incoming governor is resolved to revisit and resolved the challenge.

He said though the outgoing administration made significant investments in gas generation, transmission and power distribution infrastructure, it was unfortunate that the distribution infrastructure was not being properly managed by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

The Ibom Power managing director, in a statement made available to reporters, said the outgoing governor, Chief Goodswill Akpabio, has laid the foundation for the industrialisation of Akwa-Ibom State, adding that through the

industralisation of the state, the psyche of every Akwa-Ibom person has now been positively changed.

Udo, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on power, noted that indigenes of the state are now proud of their heritage because of what the outgoing governor has accomplished.

He expressed confidence in the Governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s ability to positively transform the state’s economic outlook, pointing out that the outgoing governor enabled a fair and equitable process for the emergence of his successor.

Akpabio, he added, deserves full credit for the good position that state attained economically.

“The governor-elect’s landslide victory at the April 11governorship elections is proof of the people’s confidence in the succession process that Akpabio has initiated. Udom

Emmanuel’s experience as an investment banker will ensure continuity, consolidation and sustainable development across all sectors of the state,” he said.

According to him, “the enormous infrastructural development and the extensive urban electrification across the state have made Akwa-Ibom State a destination for investors. From the splendor and scenery that welcomes travelers upon arrival at the international airport at night; it is easy to appreciate that Akwa-Ibom State can be seen from outer space in contrast to the ‘dark continent’ perspective of Africa.

“During the outgoing administration we said let God’s will be done, and it was done. Now with the incoming administration we are confident that God is with us – Emmanuel.

Akwa-Ibom is on the Right Hand of God,” the statement read.

Dangote foundation Kano projects hit N4bn

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ANGOTE Foundation projects in Kano State have reached N4 billion, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs Zouera Youssoufou has said.

She said this during a working visit to Kano to inspect some ongoing projects in the state.

Mrs Youssoufou said she was in Kano with her team as part of efforts to complete some of the projects the company started, adding that some of them are being redesigned.

According to Mrs Youssoufou, the Foundation’s Micro Grant Programme for women empowerment in Kano, has disbursed N880 million, benefiting 88,000 women, and its Animal Traction Programme executed through a Revolving Loan to farmers, cost the Foundation N160million.

In the areas of provision of water, the CEO explained that the Foundation has contracted the construction of borehole facilities for 220 communities across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state at the cost of N110million and the first tranche of 66 boreholes across six

By Toba Agboola

LGAs is being executed.

The Foundation’s CEO, who extolled the developmental strides of the Kano State government said Dangote Foundation’s partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on routine immunisation and polio eradication has been fruitful.

To implement the programme, the Foundation has contributed over N600million for the execution of the on strengthening Routine Immunisation and Primary Health Care (0ver the last three years).

Additionally, over N72million contract has been awarded for the construction of 11 units of Primary Health Care Centers across 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

She said the Foundation had expended N55million in the construction of hostels at the Kano University of Technology Wudil. (Also an on-going project).

According to her, the cost of the ongoing project on the construction of state-of-the-art operating Theatre and Diagnostic Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Kano is estimated atN440million.

Chief of Naval Staff gets Environmental Accountants Institute award

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HE Institute of Environmental Accountants of Nigeria (IEA), will today, confer the Institute’s ‘Environment champion of the year 2015’ award, on the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral U O Jibrin.

The investiture is billed for the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja. Lagos.

The institute, according to its President & chairman of Council, Dr. Olusegun Lawal, will also confer the Institute’s ‘Distinguished Fellowship Platinum’ awards on Mr. Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, the Accountant-General of the Federation. Awards of excellence in environmental best practices will also be given to a number of leading green conscious corporate concerns, Dr Lawal added in a statement made available to The Nation.

“The selection process by our search and selection committee in nominating these notable awardees was a daunting task among several eligible personalities and organisations that have contributed

By Adegunle Olugbamila

in no small measures through their proactive steps in sustaining environmental best practices for our common future,” Lawal said.

The awardees, he said, were adjudged based on their contributions to environmental security/ diplomacy and eco-friendly ingenuities. This is in addition to achieving economic growth for the country without sacrificing environment and social well – being of communities.

The statement said: “The award, which is coming at no other auspicious time than now, will go a long way in instilling environmental consciousness in our collective aspiration and responsibility to ensure environmental-friendly society.”

IEA is a specialised environmental accounting institution for the good purpose of promoting professionalism in environmental quality.

The institute is multidisciplinary in nature and expertise.

•

• Group Head, Abuja Directorate, First Bank Nigeria Plc., Muntari Zubairu (left), Principal, Model Secondary School Maitama, Abuja, Victoria Nwaorgu (middle) and Head Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, First Bank Nigeria Plc., Ismail Omamegbe at the bank's Financial Literacy Programme at Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja

Africa’s GDP growth seen at pre-economic crisis levels

A

FRICAN economies will grow by 4.5 percent this year and 5 per cent next year due to rising demand for exports, the highest levels since the global economic crisis began in 2007, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said.

Financial inflows will increase by nearly 7 per cent to $193 billion, supported by higher foreign direct investment and a spike in portfolio investments, the bank said in its annual African Economic Outlook report.

The AfDB estimates African econo-

mies to have grown by 3.9 per cent in 2014. In the years prior to the economic crisis, African economic growth averaged between 5-7 percent.

Improving economic prospects worldwide will increase demand for the continent’s exports, the report released at the opening of the bank’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Ivory Coast said.

But the rebound is expected to be uneven.

“Growth remains highest in East, West and Central Africa, respectively and lowest in North and Southern Africa. The main challenges in all regions are to diversify and make growth more inclusive,” the report stated.

Foreign direct investment is expected to reach $55.2 billion this year up from an estimated $49.5 billion in 2014.

Portfolio investments will jump more than 36 percent to $18.4 billion this year from an estimated $13.5 billion in 2014.

Low sugar prices hurt S.Africa’s Illovo Sugar, Tongaat

I

LLOVO Sugar Ltd and Tongaat Hullett, Africa’s two biggest producers of the sweetener, reported weaker full-year profits on Monday, blaming softer global prices and lower output, sending their shares sliding.

Lower export prices to key regions such as the European Union (EU) were worsened by the weakening of the euro and the Brazilian real as well as weaker production in South Africa.

Shares in Illovo dropped by 8 per cent to 969 rand, their lowest in six years and biggest daily fall since 2004.

Smaller rival Tongaat fell 0.7 percent to 174 rand.

The sugar industry has grown increasingly competitive in recent years due to excess supplies and a crowded marketplace.

World sugar prices are languishing near the lowest levels in more than six years below 13 cents per

pound.

The South African sugar producers said they were forced to sell their commodity at a loss due to low prices and high operating costs while countries such as Brazil produce cheaply and flood the market.

Illovo said tough global markets were offset by stronger demand in South Africa and Tanzania after the governments there took import protection steps against cheap and illegal sugar.

Mozambique is expected to introduce protection measures in the next few months, said the firm’s managing director Gavin Dalgleish.

Illovo, which also operates in Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania, expected a medium-term price recovery in world sugar prices.

Dalgleish told Reuters that Illovo would intensify diversification of its revenue and reduce exposure to sugar, including replicating its Tan-

zanian ethanol distillery in Zambia and the possibility of furfural production in Swaziland.

Ethanol is used in whisky and rums while furfural is an ingredient used in making lubricating oils and flavourants.

Illovo’s sugar’s production fell 3.8 per cent to 1.76 million tonnes in the year, while Tongaat’s output dropped 7.7 per cent to 1.31 million.

Both firms attributed the fall to the drought and winter frost affecting their South African plantations.

Illovo’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year to March fell 7.7 per cent to 179 cents, while Tongaat’s HEPS slipped 16 percent to 826.1 cents over the same period.

Wage talks with unions in the sugar industry reached a deadlock last week, risking the possibility of a strike, said Dalgleish. Last year workers downed tools over wages, briefly affecting output.

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‘I bought my first camera with my wife’s school – PAGE 46 fees’

•The late Uche-Chukwumerije

Silverain: The many struggles of a people – PAGE 47

Ode to Daddy Mo CHIKA YAGAZIE CHUKWUMERIJE, son of the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, recalls some fond memories and intimate moments with his father who he described as the ‘best father in the whole world’.

F UNIPORT – PAGE 47 honours Benson Idonije

EWER pictures paint a more vivid picture of my dad than this one – ‘Comrade’ in his study room with his head bowed to work, surrounded by a legion of books. As I look at this picture, images forcefully float upstream of my memory’s endless database. I see myself again as I stand in front of his study room, back home after a long day of training or from a competition in some faraway land.

I knock gently on the door, and stay still as I wait a few moments to hear a bass-voice boom “Yes???” from the other side. Sometimes, the wait could last as long as five minutes, and one knew at that instant that there were a flurry of thoughts being furiously scribbled down on notes of paper behind the brown mahogany door.

I opened the door, and without fail, almost always came face-to-face with this familiar scene – Daddy hunched over his table, writing furiously on whatever he was working on, with mountains of files and papers on all sides of his table, and walls of books all around him. His bald head seemingly reflected the white fluorescent light of his study room as he would remain fixated on the work before him.

TRIBUTE “Yes” he would growl again as he lifted up his eyes to see who had dared break his hollowed thoughts, the irritation in his voice unmistakably clear from having his work interrupted.

His eyes would soften, and his writing hands, which still firmly held the pen poised on the paper, would relax as he saw it was one of his children. He would stay silent, and allow his eyes repeat his question, waiting patiently for me to state my case. At this moment, I knew he was trying to hold together his train of thought, while at the same time attempting to wrap up our discussion as quickly as possible so he could get back to his work.

“Daddy Mo, I know you are very busy, but I need to talk to you about something. Can you please spare me five minutes?” I would gently ask.

At that moment, there a mild inner struggle as he battled to choose between retaining his current thoughts or dispersing them temporarily in order to wholly focus on those I was about to introduce. More often than not, the latter choice won, and I watched as he let go and settled for ‘family first’, ‘work second’.

“Alright then, Go on!” His deep voice will resonate in resigned anticipation. “I am very busy, but if it would take just five minutes as you say, it is ok. So what is it?” he would grumble under his breath, reconciled to his fate of playing his fatherly role.

I would then use the next 15 minutes to pour out all my worries, issues, requests, demands or opinions to his poor ears, but he would patiently hear me out, never breaking my flow for even a second. As I talked and he intently listened, one was never uncertain that Daddy had heard every single word that had been spoken.

At times, he would lean back on the broad black swiveling chair, throw back his head and close his eyes, as he stroked his beard while listening. At other times, if it was a very serious subject matter that needed further reflection, he would take off his glasses and use one of its hands to scratch his bald head as he kept listening, as if that very act was carefully parting the million thoughts running through his ever occupied head.

Finally, I will be done, grateful that I had •Continued on Page 48

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H

OW did you become the governor’s personal photographer; did you know him before he ran for the post?

I have never met him until late 2006. The first day I was invited to meet with him, I did not want to go because his campaign manager who asked me to come owed me money. But when I met the governor during the campaign I was impressed at the way he was answering people’s questions. That was how we started. I don’t know why he employed me though. I was not the only one. I was told that politicians don’t fulfil their promises. I remember during the campaign, he’d told me when he becomes governor he would send me to study more on photography and he did. He sent me to the London School of Photography.

What has eight years with Fashola taught you?

To be more hardworking, diligent and the reward for hard work is more work.

How is it like working with him for eight years?

Working with Governor Fashola has been a very big task. You have to be on your toes, creative and, at times, think like him. He expects you to think the way he is thinking. I have never had vacation since I started working – we work every day, at times on Sunday, you can go for five events. The first term was the toughest to cope, because one was always expected to be on ground. But by the second term, I had got used to the job.

How did your wife take your having to work seven days a week?

I must be honest, it wasn’t easy. Any opportunity I have I always ensure I spend it with my family. Anytime the governor shuts down to treat files in the office, I make sure I go home every day to sleep. I spend six to seven hours every day with my wife and children.

What do you like about your boss?

I like his humour. And that is the most difficult thing for me to document on camera. I also like the way he speaks with passion. Whenever he speaks, one can see he is really hungry for change. Governor Fashola is down to earth, honest, hardworking and disciplined. I call him ‘Mr No Nonsense’. During my service with him, I got three suspensions. You can’t find ‘No’ in his dictionary. Being the way he is has really helped me to be more hardworking and more creative: now I do more research into my field - photography. I now have a desire to learn more and develop myself more. I also call him ‘an unusual politician who has fuelled my love through his unusual and honest politics’ Why call him ‘unusual’?

From the start, he is unusual because he goes around Lagos without siren: he told his drivers the day he finds them using siren, they would be sacked. He is the first governor to make his direct line public; and people call and send him text and he picks and responds instantly, except he is busy.

Has he changed from the kind of person he was before he became governor?

That man can’t change.

You have seen him in moments many never saw him in, what were your best moments with him?

Indeed, I have seen him in various moments – sad, happy, under pressure and angry. I am Governor Fashola’s shadow. I move and work with him and sometimes, he forgets I am inside the meeting. I have very unique shots of him like when he was sleeping inside the bus during one inspection period in Ikorodu. He never tell me, not to take a shot but would rather say, ‘won’t you take that picture now, you might not be able to get it again’.

However, my best moment with him was during the Ebola period, which was very challenging. I lost count of how many meetings we had. I was touched and surprised when he visited the Ebola victims. He could not even tell us the day he was going to visit the site so that he won’t scare us. (cries). He is a great guy.

And I can tell you he loves Lagos and Nigeria and always want to do something to make them happy. There were also times we went for inspection and he’d tell the contractor to promise publicly that the project would be completed as at when due. Those were my best moments. At some point, seeing the challenges in front of him, I wondered why he became the governor, but he just have to decide. And in the kind of country we are, people hardly believe anyone even when one is trying to kill his or herself, until one dies before they’d believe.

What was your worst moment with him?

The only worst moment was during campaign period in 2006. I was having family financial challenges because I had worked for eight months without salary and I’m married with two children. I didn’t like that and thought of quitting. I am happy I didn’t.

When was the peak of your career with him?

•One of the photographs by Olaonipekun

‘I bought my first camera with my wife’s school fees’ Lukman Olaonipekun, popularly known as Lukesh, is the official and personal photographer of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He is a documentary photographer, whose works remind the political class of their responsibility to the people. This photo-historian, who is holding a solo exhibition, Eyes of History, and unveiling a book today in Lagos, advocates the establishment of a photography archive department. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, Lukesh speaks on his works on the governor, among other issues.

INTERVIEW The peak of my career with him was two years into his administration, when some of my old friends started calling me and searching me out on Facebook because I was with the governor. When we were at Aso Rock and the security said I should not go in and he said if they don’t allow me in he will turn back.

That was when I first realised the power of photography. All that would never have happened but for the camera and my position as his personal photographer. That is why it pained me at times when I remember my late dad.

Why? He wanted me to be a medical doctor even while I was studying accounting. But I said I love photography. I would have loved him to see what God has done for me. Whenever I think of it, it always brings tears to my eyes.

Through photography, I have been to different countries and I have met with so many world leaders. I am also inspired by my lovely wife, Remi. I got my first camera with her school fees. I am also inspired by my parents and people like the governor, Tam Fiofori, Dapo Olorunyomi and Olasupo Shasore.

What inspires your lens?

I am inspired by different happenings around me. I tried to use my photography eyes to capture diverse moment of history. When one misses a shot, he/she may not be able to get that same shot ever that is what motivates me to shoot.

How would you describe your style of photography?

I think I have issues with this thing called ‘style’. I love to take pictures the way I see it. I am a documentary photographer with a difference, in the sense that I exhibit what we can call

political photography with the mind of bringing out who the politician is, should be and the kind of work he has done and should do.

I am an historian. Through my study of photography books, I have sharpen my brain and seen how photographers document world leaders and used photography to change the world.

I am motivated to document for archive sake the period between 2007 till date as personal photographer to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola from 2007 to 2015. I have noticed that there is no photography archive in Nigeria. Its relevance to the development of any nation is what inspires my exhibitions and books. It is what made me set out to do this second book, Fashola Years, a photo book that is that could serve as the governor’s scorecard and permanent documentation of his administration. It would serve as a handbook of a sort for people that would be governing this state in many years to come to see in pictorial form what their predecessor did while in office. Besides images, it has fact and figures of his work in the state. I’ll be formally unveiling today.

What is the unique blend that this exhibition is offering guests?

Documentation is wide. It depends on what one is documenting. In Lagos: Being and Becoming, I exhibited 23 images. This time around I would be exhibiting 40 images carefully selected by my curator, Tam Fiofori, a great icon in the industry. This time I’ll be showing the world my skills as a photo-artist. The exhibition, entitled Eyes of History, is meant to present my documentation of history through the eyes of my lens. There is a photograph of the governor greeting a small boy; in the future that boy would cherish that photograph for many years to come.

It is also meant to show that my photography skill goes beyond documenting the governor.

So you’d see my landscape, aerial view shots, nature, lightings, contrast, etc.

Is this your first exhibition?

No. I have had four solo exhibitions. In 2009, there was Then and Now in which I exhibited my images on Lagos in 2007 when Fashola started and those of 2009 for people to see and compare. In 2013, I held My Contract with Lagos, which was inspired by a pamphlet, entitled My Contract with Lagos, containing the governor plans for Lagos distributed during his campaign period. I knew we were getting to 2015 when another administration would be taking over, I thought of showing Lagosians how far he has come to keeping real his promises made in 2007.

It was meant to remind Lagosians and the governor of the promises made so that he can sit back and reflect on whether he is on the right track or not.

Lagos Being and Becoming was also in 2013 was the third. This is my fourth. Early in the year, I was part of a group exhibition, Lagos: Hope and Hussle.

How many images do you have in your collection?

From 2007 till date I have six million images.

I take about 500 images per day and when we have a state functions I can shoot 4000 images.

During the governor’s father’s burial, I shot 8000 images.

So what will happen to those pictures?

That is why I said we need a proper archive where pictures like the ones I have taken can be donated and future generation and tomorrow’s leaders can go and see what history on the go on lens.

What was it in your childhood that prepared you for the man you became?

I am from Oyo State. I grew up in Lagos, Mushin to be precise. I didn’t then that I would one day be a photographer. As the only son of my mother, I knew I need to sit up. As a child I love being creative and doing things with my hands. And whatever I put my mind to learn, I learn it and become the best in it. So when I decided to go into photography, I was determined to give it my best to the point where I abandoned accounting for photography. And I have never regretted toeing that path.

Have you always been a photographer?

No, I started photography when I was in school during my ND programme. As a campus photographer then I used to snap my colleagues and classmate. I was studying Financial Accounting then. I have a Diploma in Financial Accounting.

What was it that brought you into photography?

I think I can link my going into photography to my sister wedding. While planning for the wedding, she had said she needed a photographer. As my contribution to the success of the day, on my way from school, I borrowed an Olympus camera from my friend and took the pictures. I was surprised that people •Continued on Page 47

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Silverain: Many Silverain: struggles of a people In March, Silverain, a film by a Ghanaian playwright, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, was slated for screening at the iRepresent Film Forum organised by iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival at the Freedom Park in Lagos. But, it wasn’t to be because of logistics. Asante speaks on the making of the film, her career and the business of movie-making, among others. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was at the media parley in Lagos.

•Asante

S

ILVERAIN, set in the slums of Africa, is a “story of love, pain and the strength of the human spirit...Class struggle can only have one winner…

In this gripping love story, Ajoa, a ‘Kayayo’ street girl from Accra, meets Bruce, the rich heir of the Timothy fortunes. Their friendship sets into motion a class war, as Ajoa struggles to cross the class divide and find love, Bruce struggles to find himself.” These were the high points of the film when it was screened recently before a select audience and arts writers at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

How easy was it to bring together the cast for Silverain that encompasses actors from various parts of Africa?

That was one of the most difficult things we did. First of all, casting from all of these countries is not easy. We had to try and reach out to these countries, we knew no one there.

We tried to find their managers. To find the artistes we had to try and find their managers and get them to agree. There were several times when artistes got to the airport and decided, ‘I don’t want to go to Ghana or West Africa’. We had the first artiste from Nigeria on a different project that interfered with our timeline; and even getting the technical team together because we are shooting with a red camera and the skill is not everywhere. Most importantly, getting people together who understood what we wanted to do and communicating that and trying to keep everyone together de-

MOVIE spite the difficulties. It wasn’t easy but I must say that things fell into place and we did it.

This is not an individual effort; what you see with Silverain I am here speaking but it is not about me. I mean, the cast, the crew they were all amazing. I was lucky and all I did was to be able to identify the strength and bring it together and keep it as a collective throughout the process. There were many times when it looked like the seams were going to come apart because the issues were too many, but at the end of the day putting the team together was critical. In fact, we shot with two separate technical teams; we shot with the West Africa technical team when we shot in Ghana. We went to South Africa and assembled a new crew. It was quite an interesting journey but we got there.

You also worked on Deadly Voyage with Omar Epps. How will you describe the experience?

I was very young and starting my career. I think it had a lot to do with the molding of my perception and what I wanted to do as a filmmaker. It was a Hollywood production, it was a great feature film and it was a real story, too of Ghanaians trying to stowaway and they got killed on a ship.

I think that also speaks to addressing issues through film. I have had conversations where I have said that many of us

‘I bought my first camera with my wife’s school fees’

UNIPORT honours Benson Idonije

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ENOWNED broadcaster and music Critic, Benson Idonije, has been honoured with a fellowship of the Adam Fiberesima School of Music and Conservatory (AFSM) of the University of Port Harcourt. The award for the septuagenarian broadcaster, media trainer and avid commentator on Music, was contained in a February 19 letter signed by Joseph Ajienka of the School.

The letter stated that the recognition was based on Idonije’s “commitment to the development of classical and indigenous music not only in Nigeria but throughout the West African region”. The honour, according to the letter, entitles Idonije to “use the insignia FAFSM (or Fellow, AFSM).

Born in 1936 in Otuo near Auchi in Edo State, where he also started elementary school, Benson Idonije studied communication engineering at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. He joined the service of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (later Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN) in 1957 as Engineering Assistant but moved to mainstream broadcasting in 1960, when he became a producer and presenter of such famous programmes as the The Big Beat and Stereo Jazz Club.

After retirement from the FRCN in 1992, Benjay as he is fondly called,

AWARD began contributing critiques, opinions and commentaries to many major Arts-related journals in Nigeria and abroad. In1996 he was formally invited by The Guardian (Nigeria) to write for the newspaper; and he maintained three columns every week – “Evergreen” (Wednesdays), “Sound and Screen” (Fridays), and “All that Jazz” (Sundays). He is perhaps the only columnist in any Nigerian newspaper with such frequency and resourcefulness.

The well-researched columns are individually widely acclaimed, attracting feedbacks — mostly commendations — from all over the world. The thousands of articles are currently being collated into volumes that will be published soon. In past two years, Benjay has however concentrated his weekly writing only on his most-favoured subject “Jazz”, still under the title “All That Jazz” every Sunday for The Guardian.

Late last year, Idonije, who was Fela Ransome-Kuti’s colleague at the then Nigeria Broadcasting Service, and subsequently his (Fela’s) first manager, released the pre-edition of his monumental memoir, DIS FELA SEF: The Untold Legends of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The book, which he started writing six years ago as a recollection of his exclusive moments

having travelled, maybe, we haven’t been to America, but our image of what America is, the strength of America is through its films. Whether it is Rambo or Chuck Norris or whatever, that is why when we think of America we think of powerful Americans; films with powerful Americans holding the American flag and doing amazing things. And I think that as Africans we have the responsibility to take our films and use it as a tool to sell ourselves, to connect and tell people about us. If we get a chance to work on productions like that it does help.

In your opinion, are African films selling Africa positively?

First of all, there is a business side of filmmaking and even I as a filmmaker, if I forget or ignore the business side of filmmaking, I am a dead filmmaker. So, the entertainment and that business side of it must be very high. I think that most of our stories seek to kind of portray who and what we are. I think where the gaps are is the packaging.

You might have a good story but if you don’t package it well it might not come across because it is communication.

The vehicle on which you put that message is very important. The way it gets to the end user is very important. So if you don’t package it well by the time it gets there, the person’s mind is closed towards it. And I think those are some of the things that have affected us.

Could this be part of the reason why you went to Harvard for your master’s degree to learn how to package your films?

Yes, I did go to Harvard but I am somebody who is very interested in policy and I did business at some point. So there are many things I am interested in. For me, at a point, I just wanted to take a break and prepare for this story and part of taking the break I said let me go and build myself up, let me go and nurture my soul because I had been in the system for a while. I had been doing television programming for a while and there was a lot I could learn because I am a student of life and we should always be seeking to learn. So, I went back to school. I went back to Harvard because it was an opportunity for me to learn and I did that.

You were with Tinsel, why did you leave?

It was a great production but I at a point felt that I had outgrown it. It was beautiful when we started and I loved being a part of it, putting it together. But at a certain point, I had to make a choice between Tinsel and something else that was present before I took on Tinsel. And it became even stronger in my life. It is a choice that I had to make and I must say that I am happy I made that choice.

Any link between you and such production after you left?

I have, I mean, Femi Odugbemi continues to be one of my greatest friends and from the beginning when I started to work on Silverain I went to him as a mentor and he would even technically; I would be like, ‘what do you think of this or that camera?’ He has been present and helpful. He has continued to do great works. I have also kept in touch with the actors.

Is like there are more Nigerians now than actors from any other country?

Yeah, well, I don’t want to go into Tinsel because the producers know what they are doing and I am not privy to the information so I cannot speak on the choices they have made.

Whether the choices have helped the production or not is not for me to say but I am sure when they made the decision they made, they had very good reason for making those decisions.

• Idonije with the Afrobeat legend, is expected to be released later this year.

Aside writing so frequently in the newspapers and other international music journals, Idonije also maintains a busy schedule as a Trainer of broadcasters and serving as a resource persons to many broadcast organisations and some music institutions in the country.

Idonije is also the grandfather of the popular hiphop act, BURNA BOY. The University of Port Harcourt honours letter, enjoined Idonije to do his “best in propagating and immortalizing the musical legacies of our heroes past, whose ideals, talents, philosophies and structural standardization of African music have remained a pilgrimage to many enthusiasts”.

praised the pictures I took as being professional because I did close shots with details. When I got back to school, I decided I was going try my hands in photography because it came easy. This was in 1998. I have spent about 17 years since.

How has been your experience as a photographer these years?

Starting out as a campus photographer wasn’t an easy task. There were so many challenges. Being an amateur didn’t make things easy. I had other competitors who were more experienced and had been on ground before me. Besides my classmates, not many people knew Lukesh. I was required to join the

•Fashola and Olaonipekun

association then, and in most cases, the association ran after me, requesting that I abandon class to join them at the motion ground (a spot meant for photographers where they can take pictures).

I got my break when one of my classmates, Jummy, told her mother to help me talk to her friends at the Students’ Affairs Department to give me permission and space at the motion ground. Before now I was barely squatting. And that was how the journey started.

What are your future plans?

I am first and foremost a photographer. Photography continues. I will continue documenting Nigeria and the world through my lens. I love festivals; I want to document festivals across the country.

What is it that you do not like about your work with the governor?

It exposes me so much and makes me popular. I lose my privacy. I am not a social person. I don’t like crowd. But I like the fact that it forces me to sharpen my skills.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Ode to Daddy Mo

‘Never procrastinate.

There is no better time to do it than now. Time waits for no one, and though it seems to stand still, it runs faster than you can ever imagine.

One minute, you are doing guy-man all over the place and fussing over your looks; then you will wake up one day and find out that you are an old man whom life has left behind. You will also discover that those your classmates who were at your level at some point are now far far far ahead of you’

•Continued from Page 45

not been cut short 10 minutes ago.

He would stay in his reflective position for a few seconds before opening his eyes to look at me. At that moment, I knew he had dissected all I had said, made careful analysis of the information. I had just given him, and was pondering the most effective way to deliver his response to me.

He would begin by summarising all I said to him in 30 seconds, noting the major points.

No matter what the talk was about – a request, an opinion or an advice – his response was always clinical, analytical and precise. If I had follow-up questions or opinions on the matter, he would again listen patiently before engaging in a brisk discussion until we had arrived at a logical conclusion. Ifit was something he needed to act on, he would promptly write it down in his notepad which was always by his side. It never took longer than 24 hours for him to act on it, and this he did for everything he inscribed into that notepad with his red pen.

DaddyMo! I walked into his study after he passed on, and it just hit me that I would never speak with this brilliant mind again. I will never be able to tap into that vast knowledge, and experience, that bottomless pit of patience, love and support again.

It was in this same study room that I had gleaned so much advice, strength, will-power and vision that formed a vital part of the man I am now.

He would say to me, “You need to read about great men and be inspired by their stories, and learn from their mistakes,” waving his hands at all the books around him, and glancing around as he gave this advice, as if to drive home the point that one should not waste too much time on frivolities when one has all these resources within reach at one’s beck and call.

He would say to me, “Go do your PHD and be the best student. You must always strive to be in the first position.”

He would say to me; “Win the World Championships. Win the Olympics. You can if you put your heart and mind to it. But to win it, you must train very hard, morning and night and at no time must you lose sight of the goal, or be distracted by side-attractions. Quoting the bible, he would remind me that, often only one wins the race, but one must run in such a way as to win the prize, subjecting one’s body and mind to the set task” He would say to me, “You must always finish what you start and never give up,no matter how long it takes and the challenges you meet along the way” He would say to me, “Be disciplined and astute. Remain humble and meek, hardworking and committed, loyal and diligent, and God will elevate you from the lowly back seat to the high table at the very front.”

He would say to me, “Be very careful about women; they could help you attain great heights, but could also be the end of you, and help you plunge from those lofty heights much faster than you had reached there.” He would look mildly embarrassed and avoid my eyes as he broached this topic with me, more at ease with topics in his comfort zone like politics, economics, religion and sports.

He would say to me, “Hard work never kills.

There is no shortcut to success.”

He would say to me, “Your mates are struggling and working very hard. You must not depend on Daddy Mo or on what he has, but work even harder than your peers, so they would not rule over you tomorrow.”

He would say to me, “You have many talents and abilities, but you need to be more patient Chika. You are at times very impatient and at other times a bit too over-confident for your own good.”

He would say to me, “Anytime your things are all over your room, it is only a reflection of your state of mind. At times like this, you need to do a lot more self-reflection drills and keep the focus.”

He would say to me, “Never procrastinate.

There is no better time to do it than now. Time waits for no one, and though it seems to stand still, it runs faster than you can ever imagine.

One minute, you are doing guy-man all over the place and fussing over your looks; then you will wake up one day and find out that you are an old man whom life has left behind. You will also

•The late Uche-Chukwumerije

•The late Senator in his study room

discover that those your classmates who were at your level at some point are now far far far ahead of you.” His lips would be hard-pressed together as the words squeezed through, burrows will form on his forehead, he would dust both hands off each other, and then one of his hands will be thrust into the air like a plane taking off to better illustrate how far ahead your peers would be.

He would say to me, “sometimes it seems to me that you pursue too many causes at the same time, thereby dissipating energy in too many directions. This reduces your overall effectiveness as well as efficiency in reaching major milestones of the individual causes. It is better to focus on your energy on one thing, but you must first prioritize to decide what that cause is.”

He will say to me, “Be a good listener and keep developing a keen sense of perception of everyone around you, every one you meet or whatever situation you encounter. Remember not to form hasty opinions or make quick decisions, as it is unwise to judge a book by its cover. Be patient, listen a lot, watch a lot, and talk a little until you get a complete understanding of the content and context of the person or situation. Only and only then should you make your decision, after you have pieced together as complete a picture as is possible.”

He would say to me, “Chika, when you decide to do something with all your heart,no one does it better. But when it is not in your heart, oh my goodness!” he would exclaim exasperated, and I would see his frustration as he remembered those moments when I was laid-back and non-committal to things that were to have been done.

“You need to be more consistent” he would further admonish. He would say to me, “If I knew God in my younger days as I do now, I would perhaps have become President of this country.”

With even more seriousness than his usual serious self, he would strongly urge me yet again,

“take your fellowship with God very seriously.

It is the master key that will unlock the hidden secrets of this world for you.”

He would say to me, “The greatest protection or security that a man could have in this world is his relationship with God. You must never seize to pray and be on your knees.”

He would say to me, “Failure is an orphan,and success has many friends” [a popular adage], “but never be afraid of being alone, especially when you fight for a cause you believe in.”

He would say to me, “You cannot hijack a plane if you are not in it. So despite the state of the system, the only way to try and change it is if you are within and part of the system. Do not shy away from that responsibility” He would say to me, “Do not help people because you want anything back. Let it be between you and your God”.

He would say to me, "You need to eat more vegetables, "especially when he was passing by the parlour and I was munching sticks of suya, or eating a meal without any veggies. "A healthy lifestyle now will keep the doctors and huge medical bills away later in life. O well!,you can force a horse to the stream, but you cannot force it to drink," hewould conclude with a sigh, apparently noting the passive look on my face as I gleefully stormed through my 'unhealthy' delicacies.

He would say to me, "Bloody hell! I can afford to go and buy the biggest cars and houses, party all night long and make 'ha-ha'all over the place, as I do big man all over town. But what then happens to all the school fees I have to pay for, the electricity and house bills that need to be attended to, the projects to be invested in? What happens to the hundreds of people dependent on me being responsible from day-to-day so that I would help create opportunities for them? What happens to the tomorrow, which as our people

say, is pregnant, if today I make a one-time piecemeal of the seed corn to be planted? You need to sacrifice your today for tomorrow! Or do you think that if I had squandered all I made yesterday, you would have had this roof over your head today? You have to always live responsibly today with a keen eye on the uncertainties of tomorrow," he would warn.

He would say to me, "my own dad was a big and rich man of his own during those days, but I did not depend on one kobo of his money or influence to make it in those days. I wanted to go out there and carve out my own niche." He will then challenge me to, "go and make your own destiny, which surely lies in your hands."

He would say to me, "I was so driven to succeed in those days that I would stay back in school to study during the holidays, while my mates were holidaying and partying. I would burn so many candles all through the night just because I could not bear the thought of coming 2nd position in class, or not being relevant in my generation later in life. He would then repeat one of his favourite Henry Wadesworth Longfellow quotes - "The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night." This one he repeated to me all my life.

He would say to me, "There is a difference between loneliness and aloneness. Aloneness is the preserve of the successful man". You must work hard and work hard and work hard, and not a soul could possibly ever know the sheer amount of hard work, effort and sweat you have put in, they would only see the benefits.

He would say to me, "there are two main kinds of conventional power - politicaland economic. Most times, you need one or the other, or a combination of theboth to make a difference in society that you so desire to do."

He would say to me, "Know your roots.

You need to know where you come from, asnothing builds your self-confidence more than knowing your roots and genealogy."

He would say to me, after I had asked him how financial stability and prosperity could be attained, "You know I am not a capitalist.

Perhaps this is a question for your brother Chaka who is becoming quite a good business hand," he would add,effectively deflecting the question. "But I can tell you this. There are two kinds of people - the first are those who have the ability, passion, and knowledge to do business and make money; the other kind are those who have 'causes' that they believe in and want to use their lifetime to fight for, but need finances to pursue these 'causes'. I belong to these second group of people. I do not know how to make money, so I just give my savings to those who know how to make money so they make money for me while I focus on the 'causes' I believe in.You should first carefully think to which of these two groups you belong to."

He would say to me, "You must cut your coat according to your size. Do not spend more than you earn, but rather spend less so that what you save during rainy times can sustain you when the drought comes" He would say to me, "a good name is better than riches". Then using an open palm, he would repeatedly beat his chest and, with a deep sense of pride, declare"Go and ask anywhere about Uche Chukwumerije; I have never taken a kobo of anybody's money."

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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53

BUSINESS EXTRA

ATA attracted $8b private sector investments, says Fed Govt

T

HE Agricultural Trans formation Agenda (ATA) attracted over $8billion private investments commitments to Nigeria’s economy between 2011 to 2014, the Federal Government, has said.

It said ATA facilitated a dedicated development finance window of N200 billion Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN)

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

to provide credits for agricultural value chain actors.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Protocol, Tony Ohaeri, said the ATA programme created over 3.5million jobs, in-

creased food production by 21 million tonnes of agricultural commodities that overshot this year’s targets.

He said the programme removed government monopoly in the distribution of farm inputs by engaging the private sector.

Echono said the private sector’s involvement in the distribution of farm inputs increased fertiliser usage from

13kg per hectare to 80kg hectare, as well as enabled the growth of seed companies from 11 to 34 between 20112014.

“At present, the ATA has a policy direction to provide private sector managed incentives on agro-inputs, mechanisation and processing through the Growth Enhancement Scheme,” he said.

“Since its introduction in 2011, the ATA process has impacted on the country’s socio-economic growth by establishing the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme and the “Youth and Women in Agribusiness Investment Programme” to enable the group undertake viable agribusiness.

“It created the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing

on Agricultural Lending to guarantee credit facility on agro inputs to farmers, Commodity Trade and Market Development Corporation to entrench market access for commodity value chain operators and Staple Crop Processing Zone as dedicated infrastructural facility for adding value to agricultural commodities,” Echono stated.

IPMAN leadership: Counsel faults Minister’s adoption of Obasi

T

• From left: Special Guest of Honour, Mr Emmanuel Nnorom; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu; 2nd Deputy Vice President, Alhaji Ismaila Muhammadu Zakari and Honourary Treasurer of ICAN Mrs Onome Olaolu-Adewuyi, during the 55 th induction for new members to ICAN Centre Amuwo-Odofin.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Customs siezes N319.7b textile materials from smugglers C

OMPTROLLER-GENERAL of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde yesterday in Kano expressed shock over the N319.7 billion worth of textile materials illegally concealed in 75 warehouses, saying such money could be used to build standard textile factories in the country.

Inde, who was in Kano to assess contraband goods seized from four Chinese nationals, vowed to ensure that smugglers of the textile materials and their collaborators are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

“We are investigating the suspects and in only one warehouse, the duty value of the goods in the warehouse we have checked, is N4.263, 556 billion. You can imagine that this only one warehouse

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

and we are talking about 75 warehouses. You can imagine such a huge amount and we said we are looking for money to run the affairs of government,” he said.

He said the operation was carried out by his office based on information from patriotic Nigerians who showed concern over the extent of damage being done to the nation’s economy by those who smuggle textile materials into the country.

He, however, stated that while inspecting the seizures, NCS saw those that can be allowed to enter the market.

“For those that are allowed, I am going to give amnesty; but for those that are not allowed, I will never go against the law.

We will block all the leakages,” he said.

Inde said the NCS has continued to device means to curtail smuggling, adding that just recently, Comptroller-Generals of Customs in West Africa met in Abuja to discuss ways through which Customs can effectively fight smuggling.

He said the Customs Service has concluded plans to organise a forum where traders, local producers and the Customs meet from time-to-time in

order to foster relationship and bring down the wave of smuggling of contraband goods into the country.

Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, David Paradang, said Immigration is collaborating with the NCS to regulate illegal migration into the country, just as he urged the public to feel free at all times to divulge relevant information to the two agencies.

Four Chinese textile merchants were recently arrested by the Customs Comptroller General’s Anti-smuggling Task Force for illegally importing contraband and subsubstandard textile materials running into several billions of Naira.

Blackout continues in Abuja as Apo transmission breaks down

A

PO Transmission Sta tion in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja broke down yesterday at 12.00pm, it was learnt.

A source told The Nation that the situation reduced power allocation to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to 20 megawatts (Mw) .

The relief which the firm got when it received 92Mw was short-lived following the breakdown of Apo Transmission Station which reduced the allocation 20Mw. The source said: “We were happy that the power allocation to us at AEDC was improving as it rose to 92Mw. But at 12.00noon, the Apo Transmission Station developed a fault that reduced the load to 20Mw.” Another source said as at 4.19 pm, the load was increased to 100Mw, stressing that “under normal circumstances the company should

• AEDC gets 100Mw load allocation From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

get over 400Mw.” According to him, there is an improvement in the power supply to the AEDC. On the faulty Apo Transmission Station, the source said: “I am not sure that the Apo transmission station is up and running yet. But they said we can take our load through Katampe.”

Following the Sunday system collapse at the Shiroro Power Plant, power allocation to the firm dropped to 15Mw. At the time of filing this report, the entire FCT was in darkness but the source was hopeful that the Apo Station would be fixed soon.

Residents are groaning as they are exhausting their resources on running private generators at home and office as a result of the energy crisis which has engulfed the coun-

try.

The Minister of Power Prof.

Chinedu Nebo said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) now has 7,000Mw generation capacity but for paucity of gas, 70 per cent of the capacity is redundant.

He said: “Nebo observed that the negative effect of the strike on power supply was inevitable, since up to 70 per cent of generation is coming from gas-fired stations, pending the harvest of electricity from the enormous work already done by government and private asector investors, on new large hydros and other renewables.”

The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi explained that the poor power situation in the country was as because 18 out of the 23 power plants in the country are unable to produce

electricity due to shortage of gas supply for the thermal plants.

Dr. Amadi said: “At present, 18 out of the 23 power plants in the country are unable to generate electricity due shortage of gas supply to the thermal plants with one of the hydro stations faced with water management issue. This has led to loss of over 2,000Mw in the national grid.”

According to him, in the last couple of months, electricity supply has been generally poor on account of increase in vandalism in the run up to the April 2015 elections.

But this bad supply condition, he said, has worsened in the last few days.

The chairman noted that this situation is further compounded by the recent industrial actions embarked upon by workers in the oil and gas industry, a development which is taking toll on other sectors of the economy.

HE lawyer to the Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo led Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Oru O. Nnanna, has faulted a letter from the Labour Minister allegedly recognising Lawson Obasi as the functional chairman of the Association, In the letter dated 25th May, 2015, the Minister, Senator Joel D. Ikenya, said Obasi’s recognition followed the adoption of the report of the Presidential Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the leadership crisis in the IPMAN. He said: “I wish to convey that Mr. President has graciously approved your recognition as the lawful National President of IPMAN.” The decision by government, the letter said, is in line with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, adding that all relevant agencies have been directed accordingly.

But in a reaction, Nnanna

By Toba Agboola

said the letter came as surprise to them as there are two pending court cases on the leadership tussle of the association, pointing out that the government has no right to interfere with the cases that are in the courts.

He said currently, there are two pending suits with number ; Suit No. FHC/PH/ CS/12/10/2014, Appeal No. CA/PH/275/2014 which appealed the Port Harcout judgment and another Suit No.FCT/HC/1479/2014 Appeal No. CA/A/397/2014 which recognised the lawful election of the Chief Okoronkwo led executives.

Nnanna said any action taken by the federal government is tantamount to abuse of court processes, pointing out that IPAMN is not a labour union, but an association of businessmen and women who conducted an election last year where they elected Chief Okoronkwo and his management team.

Seven Port to invest at Ibaka Deep Seaport

S

EVEN Global Port Au thorities has indi cated interest to participate in the development of Ibaka Deep Seaport in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who made this known when elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oro nation visited him at Government House, Uyo, mentioned Bolorous, a Spanish group among the core investors.

Akpabio, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for granting approval for the commencement of the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Ibaka Deep Seaport Authority, which confers on the port the status of a Free Trade Zone licence that will enable prospective investors to build and enjoy five years tax holiday..

He said the state government has spent a huge amount of money to secure documents to meet international requirements for the port, and attributed the delay in getting approval of the port to strict adherence to due process, saying the port has gotten approvals from the Nigerian Ports Au-

thority (NPA), and the Federal Ministries of Finance and Transport.

He said the port is expected to create 50,000100,000 jobs for the youths, adding that it would complement that of Apapa in Lagos and other ports in the country. He called for sensitisation and education of the youths to guarantee peace and community cooperation in the area.

Akpabio further stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a Federal University of Maritime Studies at Oron to offer Ordinary National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and degree to students.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr..

Esin Nkereuwem lauded the Governor for the construction of roads, provision of free education and establishment of Akwa Ibom International Airport, among others in the state.

Nkereuwem, therefore, urged Akpabio to fully integrate Oro nation into the mainstream politics of the state, and appealed to him to redeem a bus pledge he made to Methodist Church Nigeria, Oro Diocese.

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-05-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-05-15

Portland Paints to raise N500m from shareholders

P

ORTLAND Paints and Products Nigeria (PPPN) Plc plans to raise about N500 million from shareholders of the company as part of efforts to deleverage the company and enhance its production capacity.

At the annual general meeting yesterday in Lagos, shareholders unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the board of the company to float a rights issue of N500 million.

Chairman, Portland Paints and Products Nigeria (PPPN) Plc, Mr. Larry Ettah, said the net proceeds from the rights issue would be used to reduce existing loans from banks and also to improve plants and equipment of the

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

company.

According to him, as the company makes efforts to improve returns, there is need to address the high leverage position of the company in addition to implementation of other business expansion plans. “We want to improve the way we run this company. If plants and equipments are running well, the cost of sale will reduce and we will be able to pay dividend next year. We already borrowed about N700 million and we intend to raise money to reduce our burden,� Ettah said.

He said that the company is being repositioned for improved performance noting

that the company is currently realigning its portfolio and making strategic shifts where necessary while continuing to focus on innovation and seek opportunities to introduce new offerings into its portfolio of brands.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that profit after tax rose by 159 per cent from N57.3 million in 2013 to N148.6 million in 2014. Operational profit also grew from N174.3 million in 2013 to N304.5 million.

Ettah explained that the board did not recommend the payment of dividend for the 2014 business year as part of strategic efforts to improve performance.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26 -05-15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

CBN appraises N300b real sector support facility T HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it is appraising the over 200 applications received in respect of the N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF).

A statement by its Director, Corporate Communication Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azu said the policy objectives of the RSS facility are to provide longterm, low-interest financing intervention in support of the real sector of the Nigerian economy to increase output, create jobs and conserve foreign exchange.

He further stated that the appraisal of the applications by Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the N300 billion RSS facility was still in progress in strict compliance with the eligibility criteria of the facility.

Mu’azu assured that as soon as the

T

F

Stories by Collins Nweze

appraisals are concluded, recommendations would be made to management of the bank for approval and subsequent disbursement. He urged applicants for the RSSF to exercise a little patience to enable the bank conclude the appraisals and to disregard speculations.

The facility, the CBN said in circular, will be used to support large enterprises for startups and expansion financing needs of N500 million up to a maximum of N10 billion. It said the real sector activities targeted by the facility are manufacturing, agricultural value chain and selected ser-

FirstBank lifts real estate sector with N82b HE first phase of the Rainbow Town Estate in Port Harcourt, Rivers State valued at N82 billion and financed by First Bank of Nigeria Limited will be commissioned today.

The project will be commissioned by the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and is in line with FirstBank’s quest to bridge the gap in the nation’s housing deficit.

“Executed as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project by the Rivers State Government and FirstBank, the project is an exciting example of how the PPP model has been deployed to provide much needed infrastructure whilst promoting rapid economic growth and public empowerment,” the bank said in a statement.

It said the partnership led to the incorporation of a Special Purpose

Fidelity Bank commissions CSR project

Vehicle (SPV) - Rainbow Town Development Company Limited (RTDL) on February 1, 2008 as a PPP initiative between Rivers State government and First Bank of Nigeria Limited to drive, manage and deliver the New Rainbow Township.

According to the Group Managing Director/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, the bank’s involvement in the project resonates with its desire to boost economic development as well as making housing conducive and affordable for Nigerians. “FirstBank will continue to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for the populace, establishing income streams for thousands of people, create job opportunities and reinvigorate economic activities”, he said.

vice sub-sectors.

The fund, it added, is expected to improve access to SMEs to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and services sub-sectors of the Nigerian economy.

It will also increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

GTB, Etisalat partner on retail banking service

G

UARANTY Trust Bank, a foremost financial institution in Africa and Etisalat, Nigeria’s most innovative and fastest growing telco yesterday partnered to introduce GTEasysaver, a savings account that is easy to open and easy to save.

It is also designed to enable underbanked and unbanked individuals achieve their financial goals while operating a regular bank account via their mobile phones. This strategic alliance which will enhance the service delivery of both brands, will offer customers, unparalleled lifestyle and loyalty benefits, the firms said.

Registered subscribers of etisalat network can conveniently open a GTEasysavers account by simply dialing a USSD short code--*737*0#* via their mobile phones, and a ten digit GTB account number is sent via sms immediately. Funding of the account can be done by cash deposits at Etisalat experience centres and GTB branches, electronic transfers from other bank accounts, cash deposit ATMs at GTbank branches and GT Express agent loca-

By Lucas Ajanaku & Collins Nweze

tions.

Speaking on the occasion, GTB CEO, Mr, Segun Agbaje said: “We are passionate about driving the CBN’s financial inclusion strategy in ensuring the under banked and unbanked, begin to find the prepositions of banking services more attractive and convenient and then take the bold step of patronising our numerous bank products and offerings, a passion which we fully share with Etisalat Nigeria” The GTEasysavers account operates like a regular bank account and is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) financial inclusion strategy for the country. Transaction limits on the account is pegged at CBN’s tier 1 KYC status limits of N20,000 for single deposits and maximum cumulative of N200,000 account balance at any point in time.

Benefits for account holders include free airtime, higher interest rates on savings and quarterly rewards.

IDELITY Bank Plc yesterday commissioned the a borehole and renovated buildings at the Home Economics Arts & Crafts Centre in Ikota, Lagos.

Speaking during the event, its Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, IK Mbagwu said the commissioning and handing over of the newly renovated buildings is in fulfillment of the lender’s commitment to making the society better.

He said the bank believes that being socially responsible will bring positive change to the society. he said the bank will continue to impact positively on the lives of people in the society.

“I want everyone to emulate us by adding positive value to the lives of people within the society.

For us, such works are already part of our way of operation,” he said.

The executive director called on other corporate organisations to join it in supporting the society and making it better for all to live in. “We want to call on everyone to join us in building the nation because government alone cannot do everything,” he said.

Educational Secretary, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Taiwo Lanre Lukman, said the community specially appreciates the bank’s commitment to the wellbeing of its customers and society. He said the bank has been supporting many communities within the Lagos metropolis. He said the borehole and home economics facilities provided by the bank will meet the daily needs of the people in the centre.

“It’s a unique support that the bank has given to us”.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

VONO UNITYBNK COSTAIN UBN REDSTAREX FO WAPIC SKYEBANK PRESCO UBA FBNH

1.34 2.40 0.82 10.05 4.80 177.80 0.52 2.63 30.01 5.19 9.00

1.47 2.53 `0.86 10.51 5.00 185.00 0.54 2.72 31.00 5.35 9.20

0.13 0.13 0.04 0.46 0.20 7.20 0.02 0.09 0.99 0.16 0.20

LOSERS AS AT 26-05-15

O/PRICE

MAYBAKER LIVESTOCK NEM OKOMUOIL NPFMCRFBK HONYFLOUR WEMABANK DANGFLOUR SEPLAT NB OANDO

1.86 2.40 0.89 30.26 1.27 3.70 0.99 3.91 340.00 154.00 18.20

C/PRICE 1.77 2.31 0.86 29.50 1.24 3.62 0.97 3.85 335.00 152.00 18.02

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE -0.09 -0.09 -0.03 -0.76 -0.03 -0.08 -0.02 -0.06 -5.00 -2.00 -0.18

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 26-05-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

April 31

May 6

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

4 May 34,649.3 11.8 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

5 May 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

56

SHOWBIZ

Demuren, Toolz engaged at last Tony Allen, Adunni Nefretiti out with Ire Omo

By Joe Agbro Jr.

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OLKLORE group, Adunni Nefretiti and Tony Allen have combined on a new track, Ire Omo. There seem to be no stopping Tony Allen. At 75, the legendary drummer who played for the late Afrobeat singer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, released Film of Life, his 10th album, last October. A brand new single released from the album is Ire Omo. It is a Yoruba song praising the goodness of children. The jazzy, fast-pace tempo song is one of the tracks on Tony Allen’s new album.

Adunni Nefretiti is an allwomen assemblage that

specialises in dishing out Afrocentric tunes.

Ire Omo infuses Allen’s percussive rhythms and horn arrangements with the female choral voices of Adunni Nefretiti.

Other tracks on the album include African Man, Boat Jour-

ney and Go Back.

In Boat Journey, Allen dissuades immigrants from crossing the Mediterranean Sea in dangerous voyages that have claimed thousands of lives.

“It’s an advice for them,” he said. “Because here that they think is paradise is not.”

Sade is my story, says Adekunle Gold

E

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URVY On-Air-Personality, Tolu Oniru, popularly known as Toolz and her long time partner, Tunde Demuren were officially engaged yesterday.

Demuren, an Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) executive, proposed to Toolz while the love birds were holidaying in Punta Cana in Dominican Republic on Monday.

News of the proposal and Toolz’s acceptance was shared

By Joe Agbro Jr.

by Banky W, Demuren’s friend and business partner.

“She said yes,” Banky W tagged the three pictures he posted on his Instagram account.

Brandishing her engagement ring and cupping a flower bouquet in a picture on social media, Toolz who hosts her own radio show ‘The Midday Show with Toolz’ on Beat 99.9FM, looked happy.

News of the couple dating began circulating around 2012, even though the couple tried to keep it under wraps.

By late last year however, they left few people in doubt they were into each other.

“Happy birthday to my brother-in-law to be Kunle Demuren,’ Toolz tweeted yesterday, already seeming to bond with her family-tobe. “Welcome to the dirty 30s”.

Nikki Laoye on SOS mission

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IKKI Laoye and Sammie Okposo amongst others will be bonding with some Internally Displaced Persons, especially children in northern Nigeria on May 31.

The team, led by singer/ humanitarian, Nikki Laoye, continues its mission of pro-

By Dupe AyinlaOlasunkanmi

viding care and support, after a recent visit and assessment of the IDP camp in Kuchingoro Camp via Laoye’s Angel Relief Fund initiative.

The group, according to report, has decided to channel more support to• Nikki Laoye wards the education of children residing at the camp, after severe destructions

by Boko Haram insurgency.

With a total of 248 persons, the children not more than 15 years,

are said to be presently undergoing primary education classes via the “School Without Walls Initiative”, set up by a couple, Mr and Mrs O’David, who had initially visited the camp and seen the children roaming idly due to the absence of school on the camp.

Using their personal funds, the couple is reported to have recruited teachers who presently providing basic primary education to the children, but with the need for more financial support.

Laoye is reaching out to well-meaning individuals and organisations, to help provide education for the children via the Angel Relief Fund, by sponsoring the 248 children at the Kuchingoro IDP camp, and soliciting support for the 1,900 displaced children at the International Christian Center Camp (ICC), located in Benin City, Edo State.

Fun as Orijin launches Africa’s biggest drum

By Joe Agbro Jr

I

T was fun all the way as Orijinunveiled Africa’s biggest drum. The event which took place at the national theatre, Iganmu, Lagos drew a lot of entertainers as well as fans of the alcoholic herb drink.

Orijin ambassador Reminisce was on hand to thrill fans who savoured his indigenous Yoruba raps.

Folklore cultural group AdunniNerfititi, dance group, DNMT and in addition, Faze, a third of the defunct hip hop group PlantashunBoiz, was

also on ground to serenade the audience. Seyi Law and Jimmie also entertained fans who had the opportunity to sign autographs.

Orijin, brewed by Guinness Nigeria, prides itself in contributing to the Nigerian culture.

MERGING music talent, Adekunle Gold, who recently announced his presence with the single, Sade, revealed that the song is a true life story.

“The song is my story, it is about a girl that I am chasing, but keeps refusing my advances.

“People will tell you different things about your journey in life. But knowing who you are and knowing that what you have got is greater, you do not have to be afraid to die.

Because when you get to the end of the road, you will have to hang on. That will show you your inner strength,” he said.

By Dupe AyinlaOlasunkanmi

The artiste is a label mate on YBNL record which also has Victor and Lil Kesh.

Sade is presently enjoying massive airplay and has been described as a love song of longing and yearning, laced with humour and rendered in a sweet mix of Yoruba and pidgin.

Adekunle Gold started his music career in 2009, as member of a group called ‘The Bridge’.

• Adekunle Gold

Pomp as Okoroji launches On the Road is for all Nigerians HE five star launch of to Change change and if we do not change, Chief Tony Okoroji’s

T

latest book, On the Road to Change held on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Okoroji, an accomplished Nigerian, and man of many parts, was at various times a singer/songwriter, and producer, before becoming President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) at the tender age of 29. He is currently the chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the sole collecting body for the collection of royalties for all Nigerian artistes.

The event opened with a soulful rendition of the National anthem by Songstress Yinka Davies. Also on hand to entertain the guests were the Energy band, and Majek Fashek. It was indeed first class entertainment all the way.

It was a gathering of Nigerians from all walks of life; from power brokers, politicians, technocrats, and entertainers. In attendance were Senators, Legislators, House of Representatives members, card carrying members of various political parties in the country. The occasion was chaired by General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo; former governor of the Western region, and was reviewed by Victor Nwokocha, Publisher of the Thespian. He stated that On the Road to Change is a gentle reminder of what the

By Jane Kolade

Nigerian people have established change to be. In the words of former Oyo and Taraba state governor, Dr. Amen Oyakhire, “the articles are apt, unbiased, and Nigerians were elated by his candour.”

There was an outpouring of comments about the book, even as the launch went on: Mr. Izabor set the ball rolling by saying, “I ask Nigerians to think how to make Nigerians change . . . the Nigerian society needs social change”. Mr. Jimi Agbaje, PDP Lagos gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded elections said, “Do we understand what it means to change? It means allowing the President-elect to do things properly . . . Asking to be appointed because you qualify, and not because you contributed to the victory. That is change. . . The • Okoroji

then God help us”. Otunba Dayo Bush, former Gbagada Local Government Chairman and current House of Representatives member thanked the author for writing the book, and had this to say, “All I wanted, and all I want is a better Nigeria. We must allow governance to take its path, while we as a people change our ways.”

Prince Biodun Eguakhide said, “Public office should be made less attractive by reducing the money, in order to get change.”

Not many people know the visionary Chief Okoroji as a social critic and commentator. He is also a newspaper columnist; a platform he uses to air his vigorous, insightful and thought provoking views, which culminated in his new book, which is a compilation of his articles published in Nigerian newspapers.

sike Onu, Awka

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

57

NEWS ‘We’ll be foremost tourist centre’

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NAMBRA State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Mrs Uju Nwogu has said the Willie Obiano-led administration is poised towards making the state number one tourist centre.

Mrs. Nwogu, who spoke yesterday in Awka said some of the tourist centres, including Ogbunike Cave, Agulu Lake, Igboukwu Museum, Nri Museum, Rogenny tourist centre, among others, are being resuscitated.

She said building of a five star hotel had begun at Ogbunike Cave.

“When all these are in place,

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will increase and foreign investors would flood the state.

“It was the reason behind the chasing out of kidnappers and armed robbers.

“Also, fishing, cassava and rice farming has been opened up; when there is stability in governance, wealth creation, job opportunities will increase,” Nwogu said.

The commissioner said the government is planning to revive the state newspaper house; (National light) to make it a daily paper.

Anambra JUSUN suspends strike From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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HE Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called off its indefinite strike after one day.

Speaking yesterday in Awka, state chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Mark Ifezue said the call-off was because government responded positively to their demands. He did not name the terms.

Courts were opened and workers resumed work yesterday.

JUSUN called off its four-month old strike on March 20 following the intervention of the state branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), before resuming again on Monday.

The focal point of the industrial action followed the inability of the state government to fulfill its part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the union.

‘Look beyond boundaries in your appointments’

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HE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to look beyond party affiliations in his appointments so as to get credible people to work with.

The Anglican Church, at the first session of the fourth synod of the diocese at Saint Andrews’ Church, Ezira, Anambra State, gave the advice yesterday.

A communiqué by the Dean, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rev. Christian Efobi, the Synod Clerical Secretary, Ven. Steve Nnadi and the Chancellor of the diocese, Sir Harford Ejim condemned pre-election acrimonies as well as the violence recorded in some areas.

The church maintained that the task of ruling the country was too enormous to be left in the hands of a few incompetent individuals.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The 11-point communiqué told the President-elect to fulfill his campaign promises so as to repose people’s confidence in him.

The Church praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the general elections.

The Synod added that the introduction of Smart Card Readers checked fraud and restored people’s confidence in the electoral process.

The Church called on the federal government to sustain the tempo in order to deal with insecurity in a more coordinated and sustained manner, even as it decried the unemployment in the country and called on all tiers of government to prioritise employment generation.

Ohanaeze youth council condemns media attack on Orji From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HANAEZE Youth Council (OYC) has condemned what it described as ‘serial media attack and campaign of calumny’ on Abia State Govenror, Theodore Orji, by his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

OYC accused the former governor of being on a mission to rubbish his successor and urged him to be a statesman by commending the governor where he has done well, stressing that governor Orji needs accolades because he gave Abians quality leadership and a new lease of life.

A statement by the Deputy Chairman of the Abia State wing of OYC, Mr. Chetachi Ikpe regretted that ‘it was very unfortunate for the former governor to sustain a vitriolic campaign of calumny against his successor in this manner’.

OYC was reacting to a publication in one of the national dailies entitled “Governor T. A. Orji: Crumbling dynasty and Karma”, which the group said “several tissues of lies and campaign of calumny were dished to the public”.

•Egbebiri women protesting expired Memorandum of Undestanding (MoU) with Nigerian Agip Oil Company at Biseni, PHOTO: NAN Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State...yesterday.

Buhari’s election raises hope of a new Nigeria, says Onu

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the election of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari rekindled hope of a new Nigeria, where fairness and justice will reign.

Onu spoke at the investiture of the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko as the ‘Verbatim Magazine

F

Omoloju Jesus (Prophet with Proof) said God will visit every worshipper, adding that attendees will receive mercy.

Venue of the crusade is Baba Sherif, along Odogunyan Road, before Sawmill Ikorodu. Ministering in songs are Aduke Gold, Lanre Teriba (Atorise), Dele God, Dare Melody, Esther Igbekele, among others.

omy.

Onu praised the management of Verbatim Magazine for their choice of Wamakko. He said the honour was in celebration of excellence in governance and in recognition of a leader who puts the interest of the people first.

The APC chieftain said Wamakko’s development strides in education, agriculture, health, transportation, infor-

•Buhari

mation technology, housing and urban development endeared him to the people hence, his election as a senator.

Imoke receives UNICEF award

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ROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has received the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) award for the state’s fruitful partnership in promoting the rights of children and women.

UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Ms. Jean Gough, presenting the award said tremendous impact had been recorded in Cross River between 2007 and 2015, when Imoke assumed office and this built a strong and wonderful relationship between them.

Represented by a UNICEF

worker, Gough maintained that: “The governor’s effort and contributions have resulted in success, which is an indication of his commitment to the strong partnership that exits between the state and the agency.

“It has been eight years of fruitful partnership due to the leadership style whose result in the health sector has been exemplary.

“The state has acknowledged issues concerning the welfare of women and children as well as put in place a law protecting the rights of

the child.

“We commend Cross River for making available its counterpart funding, especially in the water sector to ensure the provision of potable water.

Imoke is leaving a large legacy behind in the areas of water, health and education as well as in championing the cause of women and children; we hope the incoming administration will work in the same direction,” Gough said.

Governor Liyel Imoke thanked UNICEF for partnering the state in achieving its Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) and touching the lives of the people.

“Our partnership with UNICEF has enabled us to reach children and mothers in remote communities,” Imoke said.

The governor described the award as recognition of hard work and sacrifice, which will strengthen the relationship. He assured UNICEF that the state will always partner it in the interest of the people.

The state is the first to attain this feat and be recognised by the global agency.

Police establish $8.8m fraud case against British ex-convict

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OR allegedly committing financial crimes against a Nigerian firm, a British ex-convict, Deepak Khilnani, has been indicted by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos.

The suspect who has since absconded to England after he was granted administrative bail by the police may be extradited to Nigeria to answer the charges against him.

Already, the DPP has filed a four-count charge before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, against

FORIM mega crusade begins REEDOM Foundation Apostolic Revival International Ministry, otherwise known as FORIM, has started a seven-day Ikorodu Mega crusade with the theme “Great Mercy”. The crusade started on Saturday, May 23 and it will run until Friday May 29, starting 5pm daily.

The host, Prophet Sam Ojo

Man of the Year’ 2014, held at Giginya Hotel, Sokoto.

He stressed that Buhari will work with distinguished Nigerians to build a nation where every citizen is equal before the law.

The former governor assured the people that Nigeria, under Buhari, will witness the enthronement of fairness and justice, as well as achieve a greater level of development in all sectors of the econ-

•Khilnani

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Deepak and one Sushil Chandra, both of whom allegedly defrauded an energy firm through a United Kingdom based company, Gentec Energy Plc. Khilnani, a chartered accountant of Indian descent, was said to have been involved in a similar offence in the UK, of which he was convicted and jailed for 18 months.

According to a conviction certficate dated November 13, 1998, issued by the British Crown Court at Blackfriars and obtained by The Nation, Khilnani was sentenced for “trading with intent to defraud creditors, false accounting and making false statement to auditors.”

The UK court document marked T19970811 and signed

by J. Jordan stated that Khilnani was disqualified for six years under Section 2, Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, as well as fined £15, 000 as cost of prosecution.

According to the charge sheet filed by the DPP, the ac-

cused sometime in 2008, conspired to defraud the Nigerian firm of $8.776,862 (USD).

DPP alleged that they cheated the complainants by fraudulently tricking them to pay a greater sum for machinery purchased from Gentec Limited than they would have paid for such equipment.

The prosecution alleged that the accused by their actions, stole $8.8million, as well as made false statement to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with intent to defraud shareholders and members of Green Fuels Limited, a company of which they are directors.

According to the charge by Mrs. Idowu Alakija, on behalf of the state Attorney-General, Ade Ipaye, the alleged offences contravened Sections 422, 421, 390 (6) and 436 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos.

Trouble, it was learnt, started in 2013 after the local partners petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) accusing the duo of financial crimes.

According to the petition, the complainants had, in 2008,

opened Letter of Credit in favour of Khilnani’s firm, Gentec Energy Plc. UK, for the purchase of equipment for the local partnership.

The petition led to Khilnani’s arrest and interrogation by the police, but he was immediately granted bail with his lawyer, Chris Okunowo, standing as his surety, while investigation into the alleged crime lasted for about a year.

Upon completion of investigation, a six-count criminal charge was subsequently filed by the police under sections 323(1), 285(8), 321(1) and 312 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011 before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, but on the day of arraignment, the police could not produce Khilnani in court.

On the said day, July 4, last year, prosecuting Inspector Stephen Molo, informed Magistrate I.O. Omotoso that Khilnani had jumped administrative bail and fled to the UK. Efforts to bring Mr Khilnani to face trial have been unsuccessful, until the current moves made by the DPP, which may lead to his extradition.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

58

NEWS APC denies zoning Senate President’s, Speaker’s seats

•Members of the National Association of Kaduna State Students protesting non-payment of their 2014 scholarship allowance in Kaduna… yesterday

•Gbajabiamila reacts

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PHOTO: NAN

IGP to deploy anti-cultism squad in Kogi, others From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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NSPECTOR-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has pledged to “amputate” the activities of cultists nationwide.

The police chief said he would deploy a special squad in Kogi, Rivers and Benue states, where the activities of cultists have been rampant.

Arase spoke yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with top police officers on his plan to ensure a reduction in crime rate across the country.

He said the police recorded successes in the efforts to eradicate cultism and kidnapping in Edo and Ekiti states.

Addressing reporters on kidnapping in both states, Arase said: “In Ekiti, it is heartwarming that through community partnership, we were able to rescue the 10 victims. This morning (yesterday), we arrested two of the kingpins responsible for the kidnapping syndicate.

“Also in Edo, we have arrested them and they are in custody. We are waiting for the court to open so that we can arraign them.”

He added: “We will continue to make sure that none of them disturbs the peace of this country. They don’t have the capacity to take over any of the states in this country. We will continue to pursue them and sanitise the country.”

Alleged fraud: CCB won’t join issues with any aggrieved person From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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HE Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) said yesterday it won’t take up issues with aggrieved persons over an alleged fraud.

In a statement by its Head of Press and Protocol Unit, Iyabo Akinwale, the Bureau said: “The Board and Management wish to state categorically that the Bureau does not wish to be involved in the matter of any aggrieved person.

“Anyone who is aggrieved should use the appropriate channel to express his or her grievances rather than engage in hate publication aimed at tarnishing the image of the Bureau.

“The Bureau refuses to be distracted at this point and solicit the support of all patriotic Nigerians and the Media in the fight against corruption as we are ready to work with the incoming administration in this regard”.

Police probe Corps member’s T death in Ilorin

HE Kwara State Police Command has begun investigation into the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Yetunde Shukurat Idowu, in Ilorin, the state capital.

The deceased was a member of the 2014 Batch “B”.

Her body was said to have been found last Sunday night near the GRA in Ilorin.

She was said to have gone shopping at a popular shopping mall the previous Saturday.

The late Miss Idowu lived at Tanke on University Road.

It was learnt that the Corps member might have been given a free ride.

But the police said it was too early in the day to make such a conclusion because they were still probing the death.

It was learnt that her family had been contacted while her body would be released today to the family.

The late Miss Idowu served with the State Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Kwara.

Police spokesperson Okasanmi Ajayi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said: “We are still investigating. We cannot conclusively

say it is a case of abduction or ritual killing because no part of the body was missing. It could be a case of a hit and run by a careless driver or an accident.

“I can’t confirm that she was raped because all the examinations conducted on her do not show any sign of rape. We are still investigating. So, I cannot say exactly what happened.”

On the likelihood that she might have been given a lift, Ajayi said: “All that is guesswork. Nobody has volunteered any statement to us.

If anybody has any information, maybe they would get to us.

“As far as we are concerned, it was a reported case of someone ‘found dead’ with a broken skull and bruises. For now, I can’t tell you whether it was a case of whether rape, abduction or kidnapping.”

He said the body would be released today while the police investigate the death.

The State NYSC spokesperson Oladipo Morakinya confirmed the incident.

He said: “A corps member died and her death is a natural phenomenon. We have done the needful by contacting her family.”

Senate President: Support for Lawan, Akume ticket swells

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HE support for Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the Eighth Assembly has increased.

A ranking senator, who said this yesterday, added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the cham ber “are excited by the new team”, which has the support of 40 All Progressives Congress (APC) senators.

It was learnt that as the Lawan-Akume ticket was announced at the weekend, many senators-elect, who had not made up their minds before the retreat, supported the duo “because of the ticket and issue-based campaign”.

The “Unity Forum” of the Senate, led by Senator Barnabas Gamade, at the

weekend, announced the coming together of the two aspirants.

Explaining that the ticket is unbeatable, ranking senators-elect likened it to the presidential ticket of the APC, which won the presidential election.

They added: “All senators-elect across the political divide in the yet to be inaugurated Senate are already identifying with team, especially those in APC. “In terms of the experience, we have been telling our distinguished colleagues across party lines that the Lawan-Akume ticket will provide the nation with the much desired legislative know-how because Lawan is going to be the highest ranking APC senator in the Eighth Assembly. Senator Akume is

a former governor and a legislator in the last eight years. He is the Minority Leader.”

The senators-elect said it was not difficult to sell the tickets to their colleagues as one that would be on the same page with the Executive on the issue of corruption “because Lawan and Akume, from the available record of their service to the country in the public domain, have been on the same page with Nigerians on the menace”.

“From the pronouncements of our party leaders and their body language, what is of utmost importance to them is for the National Assembly to start on a clean slate with principal officers who will be seen as not only transparent, but transparently honest and do not carry any baggage of

Jonathan must dissolve NWC, says PDP group

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GROUP, the Coalition for new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sweep out the remaining members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) following the resignation of the party’s Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu.

Erstwhile Deputy National Chairman Uche Secondus is the acting national chairman.

In a statement by its coordinator, Mr. Ben Onyechere, the group said: “The delay by the remaining members of the PDP NWC to resign is reminiscent of their character of impunity, which put the party in the current jeopardy.

“It is sad that they have lost touch with the reality and are dancing naked in the public even when the music had stopped. The attitude of shifting the bulk of the loss to the campaign council is nothing but an ostrich game of hide and seek.

“President Jonathan owes the party the onerous responsibility of dissolving the NEC before he leaves this week, otherwise he will kill the party because the image of the party is already battered because of the activities of these executives.”

Yesterday, the PDP appointed Halitu Bello, its one-time national chairman as acting chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

past scandal, no matter how small,” they added.

It was gathered that the PDP leaders in the Senate have reaffirmed their readiness to vote for Lawan and Akume “with the collapse of the campaign structures of the two senators into one”.

APC ranking senatorselect said their counterparts in the opposition party told them that the LawanAkume ticket had made things easy for them, “following the ongoing engagements between APC leaders and the opposition leaders in the National Assembly”.

Some PDP senators-elect were quoted as promising not to “betray” the LawanAkume ticket should there be need for election on June 4 when the eight session of the National Assembly will be inaugurated.

Buhari’s wife greets children

•Hajia Buhari

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HE wife of Presidentelect, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has greeted the nation’s children, especially the less privileged, on the occasion of this year’s International Children’s Day. He assured the citizens of the incoming government’s commitment to the development of children.

In a statement to mark the

event, Mrs. Buhari said: “Education is going to be the main focus of the incoming APC government.

“Our children are our future and education of our children is the best way to secure the future of our country.”

Mrs. Buhari called for the speedy implementation of the Child Rights Act, which has been passed by the National Assembly, but yet to be adopted by several states.

She stressed the need to eradicate the menace of insecurity all over the country and restore normalcy in the Northeast with emphasis on encouraging children to return to school and making schools safer.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied a report that its National Working Committee (NWC) met on Monday night and decided to zone the Senate Presidency to the Northcentral and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Southwest.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, said the party was deeply embarrassed by the story, which, he said, was apparently planted in the media to sow the seeds of instability in the party. ‘’The NWC never discussed the issue of zoning at its meeting.

Therefore, the report of its decision on zoning is a figment of the imagination of whoever concocted the story,” the statement said.

APC said nothing has changed since the Presidentelect said he is ready to work with anyone from any part of the country, who occupies any of the principal offices of the incoming National Assembly, including those of the Senate Presidency and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But Rufai Chachangi of Gbajabiamila’s Speakership Campaign Secretariat said any decision reached by the party would be abided by.

“We are convinced that our candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila has fulfilled all meritorious requirements to emerge as the next Speaker. Gbajabiamila’s acceptance is broad-based and still popular among members,” Chachangi said.

Julius Berger organises poetic workshop for pupils From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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ONSTRUCTION firm Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has organised a poetic workshop for secondary school pupils in Abuja.

The company said the workshop was designed to help promote the advancement of literacy within the Nigerian secondary school system.

Beneficiaries of the workshop were pupils of Government Day Secondary School Bwari, Abuja.

The workshop, which was organised by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team of the construction firm, was led by renowned Nigerian poet, Dike Chukwumerije, author of eight books and the winner of several performance poetry competitions in Nigeria. The CSR team said the workshop, which was organised to mark the World Poetry Day, was a creative and interactive way to teach the pupils new literary skills and as well as enhance their public speaking ability and self-confidence.

During the workshop, students from Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1 to 3 read the works of Nigerian poets. They were also taught to write their own poems using poetic devices.

The CSR team donated 600 books to the school’s library.

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FOREIGN NEWS

India heat wave death toll now 1,100

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HE death toll in the heatwave sweeping India has reached nearly 1,100 with temperatures nearing 50C (122F) in some areas.

Most deaths have taken place in the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where more than 1,100 people have died since last week.

Reports say 24 people have died from the heat in West Bengal and Orissa.

Hospitals are on alert to treat heatstroke patients and authorities have advised people to stay indoors.

More than 550 people have died in the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in the two worst-affected southern Indian states since midApril, but most of the deaths have happened in the past week.

In the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh, 551 people have died as temperatures climbed to 47C on Monday.

“The state government has taken up education programmes through television and other media to

tell people not to venture into the outside without a cap, to drink water and other measures,” news agency AFP quoted P Tulsi Rani, special commissioner for disaster management in the state, as saying.

“We have also requested NGOs and government organisations to open up drinking water camps so that water will be readily available for all the people in the towns,” he added.

In neighbouring Telangana state, 215 people have died in the last week as temperatures hit 48C (118F) over the weekend.

The Indian capital, Delhi, is enduring a week of sweltering heat as the maximum temperature in the city hit a two-year high of 45.5C (113.9F) on Monday.

A boy jumps into a well in Delhi where the temperature has hit a two-year high. A man carries a cooler on a motorcycle in Hyderabad The Hindustan Times newspaper carried a frontpage photo of a zebra pedestrian crossing in the city melting in the heat.

“It’s baking hot out here - our outing has turned into

said Sunday that the region is facing “unprecedented danger” from extremist groups and vowed his fighters will expand their involvement in Syria’s civil war in support of government forces.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah spoke during a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, vowing to battle Sunni extremists groups such as the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. He said such factions are an “existential threat” to anyone who does not agree with their ideology.

Hezbollah openly joined President Bashar Assad forces in the civil war in 2013 and its fighters have been taking part in a major battle in recent weeks against jihadis in the Qalamoun mountain region that borders Lebanon.”

Our presence will grow whenever it is required for us

to be present,” Nasrallah said in comments that came after Assad’s forces suffered several defeats over the past two months - mostly in the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern region of Daraa.

The western city of Palmyra, home to a set of historic Roman-era ruins, was captured by the Islamic State group last week. ”We are present today in many places and I tell you we will be present wherever this battle requires. We are up to it and we are the men for it,” Nasrallah said speaking from a secret location on a giant video screen.Inside Syria, a military helicopter crashed earlier Sunday at the northern air base of Kweiras, killing all of its crew, state TV said, as an activist group said it was shot down

by Islamic State militants.

The TV report quoted an unnamed military official as

a nightmare,” said Meena Sheshadri, a tourist from the western city of Pune who was visiting a Delhi monument with her children.

“My throat is parched, even though I’ve been constantly sipping water.”

The meteorological department has issued a warning for Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra

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RESIDENT Barack Obama is urging the Senate to renew the government’s power to search Americans’ telephone records, saying public safety demands it.

Barring a last-minute compromise when the Senate returns for a rare Sunday session, that specific provision of federal law will sunset at midnight May 31.

The Republican-controlled House overwhelmingly passed the White Housebacked USA Freedom Act that would end bulk collection of telephone records by the National Security Agency but preserve its ability to

saying that the helicopter crashed as a result of a technical problem while taking off.

The report did not say how many crew members were onboard at the time of the crash.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamic State militants who have been laying siege to the base for months shot down the helicopter.

Kweiras military air base is in the northern province of Aleppo and is close to the town of al-Bab, which is held by the Islamic State group.

The Islamic State group posted a statement on a militant website claiming responsibility for downing the Syrian helicopter.Syrian rebels have shot down helicopters in the past.

•Obama

search the records held by the phone companies on a caseby-case basis.

Senate Republicans blocked that bill before leaving town for Memorial Day. Obama urged Senate lawmakers to work through their weeklong break to “identify a way to get this done.”

PHOTO: AFP

Pradesh states saying that maximum temperatures there would remain above 45C (113F).

Meteorological officials said the heatwave was due to a lack of rain.

There are fears that some of the worst-affected states could be hit by drought before the monsoon rains arrive.

The monsoon is expected

Iraq starts anti-IS Anbar offensive

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RAQI government forces have formally launched an operation to drive Islamic State (IS) out of Anbar province.

The announcement was made by a spokesman for the Popular Mobilisation (alHashd al-Shaabi), a volunteer force comprising dozens of Shia militias.

The operation would see troops and militiamen move southwards from Salahuddin province and seek to cut off IS militants in Ramadi, he said.

The provincial capital fell to IS this month after Iraq’s army withdrew.

Since then government forces have been massing for a counter-attack, and they say they have regained some ground east of Ramadi in the past few days.

AFBA condemns killing of Burundi’s opposion leader

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Obama urges Senate to renew phone-records programme

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•India: And the heat beats on

Hezbollah vows to expand involvement HE leader of the miliin Syria’s civil war tant Hezbollah group

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U.S. returns 25 looted artifacts to Italy

HE African Bar Association (AFBA) has described the killing of the opposition leader in Burundi, Mr Zedi Feruzi of the Union for Peace and Development Party as a major set back towards the sustenance of entrenched democratic governance in Burundi.

The AFBA made this known in a signed statement by it’s President, Mr Hannibal Uwaifo and released to pressmen in Benin after a technical meeting of the association.

Uwaifo stated that the killing of the opposition leader in Burundi “is quite unfortunate. And regrettable.”

He stated that the AFBA “Is deeply saddened that the preceding events in Burundi in the past few weeks can plunge the country into precipice.”

He called on the President

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

of Burundi, Mr Pierre Nkurunziza to retrace his steps and not to further plunge the. Country into “an unimaginable and unending spate of crises.”

The AFBA President noted that country’s crisis started as a result of the third term bid of the Burundian President.

He appealed to the President to save his country from further bloodshed and avoidable crisis.

Uwaifo said the association would not hesitate to press for criminal charges against Nkurunziza if he failed to retrace his steps of deliberately plunging the country into anarchy.

According to him, the team of lawyers has been dispatched by the AFBA to monitor development in the Africa country with a view of ascertaining the next line of action to take.

to hit the southern state of Kerala towards the end of this month before sweeping across the country.

HE United States (U.S.) yesterday officially returned 25 artifacts that had been looted over the decades from Italy, including Etruscan vases, 1st-century frescoes and precious books that ended up in U.S. museums, universities and private collections.

Italy has been on a campaign to recover looted artifacts, using the courts and public shaming to compel museums and collectors to return antiquities, and has won back several important pieces.

The items Tuesday were either spontaneously turned over to U.S. authorities or were seized by police after investigators noticed them in Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction catalogues, gallery listings, or as a result of customs searches, court cases or tips.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

NEWS

Jonathan in dilemma over amendment to constitution Continued from page 4

the card last night on how to address the challenges.

These are either the President signs the amendments into law after the grey areas have been removed by the National Assembly or the Executive will leave the National Assembly to invoke Section 58(5) of the 1999 Constitution to pass the amendments into law without Jonathan’s assent.

It was however learnt that the President was willing to take credit for passing the amendments into law.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the session of the two parties lasted for about two to three hours.

It was gathered that the meeting was “frank and reconciliatory” because the communication gap between the Executive and the Judiciary was bridged.

A source said: “The Federal Government team explained

that it never harboured any agenda to frustrate constitution amendments in any manner whatsoever.

“The team said what it expected the National Assembly to do was to look at the observations of the Presidency and effect amendments to allow the President to sign the bill into law.

“The government team said the acceptance of 55 amendments out of 65 showed its commitment to the alteration of the constitution.

“At the end of the day, the National Assembly team accepted to effect the correction of some errors observed by the Presidency, including the right to free education, primary and maternal care services, which are made free; pensions for principal officers of the National and State Assemblies; allowing the NJC to appoint the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and a review of the 30 days allowed for assent to any bill by

the President.”

A principal officer of the National Assembly said: “The Executive and the National Assembly leaders have had talks on areas of disagreement.

“I may not be able to give you the details because our legal representatives are working out the details of what we agreed upon.

“We hope to present these details to the Supreme Court on Wednesday. At the end, a finetuned copy of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015 will be presented to the President.”

Another source said: “Our expectation is that the President should be able to sign the amendments into law. Alternatively, since the lifespan of the 7th National Assembly ends on June 6, we can still pass the amendments to the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, for assent.

“If things work according to plans, the President may assent to the amendments.

This is the essence of the reconciliatory session.”

A Senator said: “I don’t see the possibility of the President assenting to the amendments before May 29 because of non-compliance with the threshold specified in Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution on amendments.”

The President listed some errors noticeable in the amendments to the Constitution by the Senate and the House of Representatives as follows: •Non-compliance with the threshold specified in Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution on amendments; •alteration to constitution cannot be valid with mere voice votes unless supported by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority all members of National Assembly and two-thirds of all the 36 State Houses of Assembly; •right to free basic education and primary and maternal care services imposed on

private institutions; •flagrant violation of the doctrine of separation of powers; •unjustified whittling down of the Executive powers of the Federation vested in the President by virtue of Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution; •30 days allowed for assent of the President; •limiting expenditure in default of appropriation from six months to three months; •creation of the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, distinct from the Accountant General of the Federal Government; •empowering National Economic Council to appoint the Accountant-General of the Federation instead of the President; •allowing NJC to now appoint the Attorney-General of the Federation rather than the President; and •unwittingly whittling down the discretionary powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Tambuwal quits seat for Ihedioha Continued from page 1

Ihedioha will act as the Speaker though in his position as the Deputy Speaker.

The current Seventh Assembly expires on June 6.

Tambuwal announced that a motion will come up to suspend Order II Rule 9 which insists that a new Speaker must be elected if there is vacancy in the office of the Speaker.

The Order reads: “Whenever a vacancy has occurred in the office of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker during a session, the Clerk shall report same to the House at its next sitting and the House shall ei-

ther forthwith or at its next sitting, proceed to the election of a new Speaker in the manner herein before provided”.

He said: “I would cease by the grace of God, to be a member of the House of Representatives by May 29th, which means I would cease to be Speaker.

“Therefore, there is going to be a vacuum. The constitution never envisaged this situation so there is no provision to address the situation.

“But incidentally, in the House rules, we have a provision where it is envisaged that there may come a day that the (position of) Honourabe Speaker or the

Deputy Speaker becomes vacant because we are all mortals.

“And the prescription is that at the next sitting the House shall elect a new speaker, at the next sitting the Clerk shall notify the House of the vacancy and a new Speaker should be elected.

“But somehow, some of our colleagues, one of them to be honest, came up with what may become, not a doctrine of necessity, but an ingenious solution to the situation.

“Instead of the House to go through the process of saying we’re electing a new Speaker, since it is our own rules, we’ll come up with a motion sus-

pending that particular part of the rules which will allow the Deputy Speaker to continue in his capacity as Deputy Speaker and continue to preside and conduct the affairs of the House, maybe tomorrow (today), Thursday and if need be, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the lifespan of the House comes to an end.”

According to him, he was clearing the air on the issue to stem any misconception adding that the solution does not go against the law of the country and that the scenario shows that nobody is indispensable and that no one is trying to shut down the House.

•Tambuwal

May 29 inauguration fever grips states, Abuja Continued from page 4

despite the workers’ strike, we decided to stop that nonsense.

“He has not paid workers for more than a year and students are at home because of strike. Yet, he intended to inaugurate projects.”

Dakojal recalled that for four years, the polytechnic could only produce two sets of graduates.

Dakojal said the Education sector in Plateau had deteriorated in the past eight years.

The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) plans to review what it called “rush hour” agreements or Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) by outgoing Governor Babangida Aliyu with any company or individual.

The party kicked against the lease of the new stateowned hotel opposite the Government House in Minna to a private firm to manage for 30 years.

In a statement yesterday in Minna, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary Jonathan Vatsa, the party said it discovered that the hotel was built from the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SUREP) funds given to the state.

APC alleged that the facility was leased to a private firm with interest to the outgoing Aliyu administration.

APC said it would have disregarded the outgoing government’s last-minute

moves but needed to lay everything before the people to promote accountability and fight corruption.

It said: “We feel that the people of the state should be aware before our party takes over government.”

The statement warned that “all MoU and agreements signed at rush hours that are outright rip-off of the state’s scarce resources and/or against the interest of the state will be duly revisited”.

It added: “We will not allow few individuals to make the majority of Niger residents to suffer. Rather, it will be that the few will suffer for the good of the majority of the people of Niger State.

This is even divine. We will, by the grace of God, restore the glory of Niger State, even if few people are to suffer for it.

“The era of digital charades aimed at benefiting the few is over. We shall not be party to unrealistic agenda in the name of setting the state on the path of development.

Wwe know we cannot do it alone. As such, we will carry along all Niger residents on the path of change for restoration.”

Also, the party expressed concern over the reabsorbtion of some retired top civil servants into the civil service – all aimed at creating problems for the incoming government.

Benue State Governor-elect, Samuel Ortom warned those

wishing to work with his administration to focus on service rather than money.

Speaking with our reporter ahead of May 29 inauguration in his Makurdi home, Ortom said his administration would not condone “primitive accumulation of wealth by political appointees and public office holders”.

The governor-elect said it is morally wrong for a Level Seven officer in the civil service to acquire expensive property and live an ostentatious lifestyle.

He said such a government official would arouse questions about where he or she got the funds for such a lifestyle.

Ortom said his administration would fight corruption and flush out corrupt officials so that the people could enjoy quality living.

The governor-elect urged those planning to use his administration to make money to go into private businesses and become richer.

He said he had a vision in 1992 to become the governor of Benue State.

According to him, his coming to the Government House in Makurdi is a divine arrangement.

Ortom promised not disappoint the people and God, who made his dream come true.

The governor-elect also promised to rule with the fear of God, eradicate pov-

erty, ensure fairness to all, run a transparent government and promote love and unity.

His priorities, he said, include the creation of wealth, restoring peace, growing micro-industries and promoting massive trading so that people would not depend on government alone.

“I have been around for a while and I’m conversant with the challenges. I will do things that will add value to the people and put smiles on their face,” Ortom said.

Taraba State Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai has packed his personal effects from the Government House in Jalingo, ahead of Friday’s handover.

Suntai has been recuperating at the Government House as a ceremonial figure, following the injuries he sustained when a plane he piloted crashed near Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on October 25, 2012.

The governor started packing his belongings on Monday and continued yesterday.

His wife, Hauwa, held a “strictly by invitation” farewell party last week with 30 women in attendance.

Suntai will complete two terms of eight years on Friday without building a personal house.

His deputy, Abubakar Sani Danladi, who has been acting, bought a house for him in Jalingo, where his belong-

ings were packed to.

Taraba residents called for “special prayers” for him and his successor, Governorelect Darius Dickson Ishaku, for a peaceful transition.

The prayers, offered in churches, began last Sunday.

Scores were killed when the March 28 election was declared as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even as Ishaku, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was leading the only woman candidate and flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Aisha Alhassan.

Ishaku’s supporters did not throw a party to celebrate when he won by a runoff with an aggregate of 369,318 votes.

“Now, we want to celebrate. People should be allowed to jubilate and celebrate when they triumph in an election.

“We were not allowed to celebrate the victory. Rather a curfew was imposed for a week.

“Before the rerun election, our supporters were killed because they were celebrating victory. The inauguration should not be the same, Peter Ada, a trader, told The Nation yesterday.

Ada urged the Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi to strengthen security to protect lives and property during the inauguration.

‘Buhari ‘ll fight corruption’ Continued from page 4

made in Yaounde, Cameroun to intervene on the issue of Boko Haram. We are really happy with the result achieved so far. I want to use the opportunity to thank the people of Nigeria for their courage. The election in Nigeria is a victory for Africa.

We are here to thank the people of Nigeria for the outcome of the elections.

“We must also thank the leadership of the parties for their conduct during the elections. We also congratulate President Jonathan for accepting defeat just like President Abdoul Diouf of Senegal when he lost the elections.”

Tinubu said the Guinean leader has demonstrated his love for the progress of Africa by adhering to the principle of democracy, noting that both countries would benefit in the political and economic opportunities of democratic governance.

He said: “In fact, I’m honoured to host President Conde. Democracy is about freedom and opportunity. For him to come here and share in our joy for a democratic election and for electing a good leader, raised the hope of many Nigerians. It is a great joy for us. He is an Africanist, Pan Africanist committed to African development, he is committed to democratic values and norms.

“Without that commitment and the promise, he wouldn’t have been here. He can stay back home and enjoy his home.

For him to come, we appreciate that; for him to believe and share that belief with us – that African renaissance must come with him in sharing of values with President Buhari and our own political party of which I am very proud of.

“Africa must have its home grown strategy to build its own economy, we must form that synergy among African countries to develop itself, address open trade issue, address the conflict of fundamentalists, address the areas where you have problems, militantcy. What are the bottle necks? What are the problem areas? We have resolved in eliminating it in order for our today to be better and live for a great continent of Africa.”

“Africa should not continue to be a giant with elephantiasis in the economic world. We can compete. Africans are all over the world competing professionally in every sphere of life.

It is lack of good leadership and political in stability that have hindered us in the past. Now we have that leader, we have those leaders and they are working together to share ideas and share vision. We will rescue Africa from destitution, poverty and ignorance and that is all that we are working hard for,” he said.

Ambode expressed optimism that Lagos State and Guinea will consolidate on the existing relationship, to harness eachother’s tourism potential.

“This is a great time he is coming to Nigeria. He came for the inauguration and decided to visit Lagos first. We thank you for that and welcome you to Lagos State. This is the time for us to take advantage of the commercial capital of Nigeria and ensure also that we are able to have strong partnership with the French speaking countries in the West Coast.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

62

EUR OPEAN . . . EUR OPEAN . . .

EUROPEAN EUROPEAN Mario Gotze needs the guiding hand of Klopp

SPORT EXTRA

Dnipro hungry for Europa League success - Markevych G D

•Markevych

NIPRO coach Myron Markevych says his club has developed an appetite for Europa League glory as their exhaustive continental campaign comes to a thrilling climax with Wednesday’s final against Sevilla in Warsaw.

The Ukrainian side, who play only 26 matches as part of their regular Premier League season, have already negotiated 19 games in Europe on their way to a surprise final appearance having entered Champions League at the third qualifying round, dropping into the Europa League from there.

But Markevych insisted that his men are hungry for success having reached the first major continental final in the club’s history.

“It would not be frank of me to say we were expecting to reach the final, but the more you eat the greater your appetite becomes," he told reporters.

"As soon as we beat Olympiakos in the round of 32, I started to believe."

Due to political difficulties, Dnipro have also been forced to play all of their European

games away from Dnipropetrovsk, with home matches being held over 240 miles away in Kiev. And the 64-year-old insists it is no mean feat for his players to have reached the final considering the issues that come with constant travel.

“It is true that it’s not easy playing away from home.

We have been flying a lot,” he added.

“Initially it was very difficult. Moreover few supporters were coming and we were playing in a big stadium and that depressed us a little bit. But then when we got to the quarter-final against Brugge we had a lot of supporters, and in semifinals against Napoli there were more than 60,000 spectators which felt much better.”

Captain Ruslan Rotan hopes that a Dnipro win over Sevilla will help to bring some much-needed joy to his troubled home country.

“In my opinion, football and politics probably don’t go well together. Football is a holiday for the people primarily,” said the 33-yearold.

Ronaldinho: Coutinho would be a perfect fit for Barcelona

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O N A L D I N H O believes that Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho would fit in perfectly at Barcelona.

The Brazil international Coutinho has enjoyed a thoroughly impressive season at Anfield, earning a spot in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year while also being voted as the club's Player of the Season.

And two-time World Player of the Year Ronaldinho who won two Liga titles and a Champions League trophy during his time with Barcelona - feels Coutinho would be a great addition for the club, with Xavi heading for the exit this summer and Andres Iniesta heading into the latter stages of his career.

"He has had a fantastic season," Ronaldinho told The Daily Mail. "He has been one of the best midfield players in Europe. When you realise that he has been playing in a team that has not been performing well, that is an even bigger achievement.

"I can't speak for him and I can't speak for Barcelona, but I know what they look for in a player and he has all those qualities.

"After all those years at the club, Xavi has left and Iniesta is now in his 30's - they will

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Moyes: I'm staying at Sociedad

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•Coutinho

Dortmund, massaged the ego of the young hot-shot, Guardiola has trampled on it.

Gotze failed to start either leg against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. As indicators of trust go, that is pretty damning. He played around 15 minutes in all over the two legs.

Guardiola sent him on in the first leg to chase a lost cause at the very moment that Bayern were disintegrating in Camp Nou. He got a paltry three-minute run out with the tie beyond redemption at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night.

Less than a year after his interventions claimed that famous old trophy for Germany, he has been reduced to a shy wreck.

However, Bayern is not the club at which to sulk and feel hard done by. Either get with it or move on. Gotze only has two years left on his contract and it is hard to envisage him meriting another one.

Calderon blasts Perez over Ancelotti dismissal

•Moyes

OYES moved to Sociedad in November, six months after his tenure at Manchester United ended, and has guided the Spanish side to 12th in La Liga this term.

And despite revealing he had opportunities to work in England again before his move to Spain, Moyes is adamant he is sticking with his decision to make a success of himself abroad.

Speaking to Revista de La Liga, Moyes said: "I've told everybody I will be in Spain next year. I had plenty of opportunities before I went to Spain to stay in England, and I had made a decision that I would go and work in Spain.

"I wanted to try something different, wanted to try new culture,

ERMANY coach Joachim Low as he sent Mario Gotze into the World Cup final last year as a late substitute. Whether or not Low believes Gotze is better than Messi is beside the point. He empowered Gotze and made him believe it.

The pay-off was Germany's fourth World Cup title, delivered by a stunning Gotze volley in the second half of extra time. It looked then like Gotze was heading straight for the stars.

Pep Guardiola, Gotze's club coach, said something about Lionel Messi this week when Bayern Munich were eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona over two legs.

"He is the best player of all time and I compare him to Pele." Ask Guardiola to compare Messi to Gotze and he would probably laugh in your face. Where Low, as well as Jurgen Klopp at Borussia

work with different players and see how La Liga works, and I'm really enjoying it.

"It's a great club, I've had great fun as well."

Moyes, whose side have been linked with a move for Burnley striker Danny Ings this summer, says he will only dip into the British market if the player was right for Sociedad.

"It's a market I know, but I would only bring players if I thought they were going to make an improvement or difference.

"It doesn't matter whether they're British players or from another country.

"We'll look around, we're not a club who can spend big, big money, but we're going to try and improve the squad."

HE former Real Madrid president has slammed the "whimsical" decision to sack the Champions League-winning coach Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has branded Florentino Perez's decision to sack coach Carlo Ancelotti as predictably "whimsical".

Ancelotti, who led the club to the Copa del Rey and long-awaited 10th European crown last season before claiming the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup, was handed his marching orders on Monday after failing to win another major trophy this campaign.

And Calderon, who led the club between 2006 and 2009, says current president Perez's decision was all too foreseeable.

"We are used to the whimsical reactions of the president," Calderon told talkSPORT. "He was asked in the press conference what was the reason to sack him and the answer was very clear: 'I don't know'.

"It has been like that for

the time he has been the president. There have been nine coaches in the 10 years he has been the president."

In 2004, Perez infamously sacked Vicente del Bosque after he had led the club to two Champions League titles in three seasons, which began a 12-year wait for La Decima.

The likes of Carlos Queiroz, Jose Antonio Camacho and Manuel Pellegrini have since been pushed out of the door by the current president, who returned in 2009 after Calderon resigned following a vote-rigging scandal in which he denied any involvement.

Calderon went on to stress he believes Rafa Benitez will succeed at the Santiago Bernabeu should the Napoli boss take over as expected.

"I think 99 per cent Benitez will be the new coach," he said.

“I think he is a good coach. He has proven that at other clubs. He is a man of the club. He was in charge of the youth teams [at Real Madrid].

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

SPORT EXTRA ALL AFRICA GAMES, PRE-OLYMPICS QUALIFIERS

2017 AFCON QUALIFIER

NRFF names Sevens squad

Foreign pros get June 3 deadline T

• Super Eagles in sober mood after defeat by France during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

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UPER Eagles’ Coach Stephen Keshi has set a June 3 deadline for all invited players to report to camp, ahead of next month's 2017 AFCON qualifier against Chad.

Fifteen foreign based players have been called up along with 27 other domestic league

invitees for the June 13 clash scheduled to hold in Kaduna.

Captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama,who only recently won his 100th cap is expected to lead a contingent of established internationals like Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona, along-

side some new comers to camp in time to beat Coach Stephen Keshi's deadline.

"I want all the foreign based players in camp on or before midnight on Wednesday,June 3," Keshi told thenff.com.

"Apart from Aaron Samuel who is still involved with

his club and has been granted special permission to report to camp after that deadline,I expect to have everybody in by June 3."

"They are to report to the Bolton White Hotels and Apartments where their home based colleagues have been camped since May 21, "Keshi added.

Iheanacho for Man City first team, says top official

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IGERIA U20 star Kelechi Iheanacho will be listed by Manchester City in next season’s first-team squad, according to the EPL club’s top recruitment boss.

Gary Worthington, head of player recruitment at City and a former striker with Wrexham and Wigan Athletic, has exclusively informed AfricanFootball.com Iheanacho is in Manuel Pellegrini’s plans for the forthcoming season.

“Kelechi is back scoring goals after his injury. After what he showed in recent games like that against Man-

chester United (U21s), he is very much part of the firstteam plans for next season,” Worthington told AfricanFootball.com.

The 18-year-old Iheanacho has already been granted a work permit in England under the special talent clause and has insisted he wishes to battle it out with City’s superstars like Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko for a spot in the first XI. AfricanFootball.com first reported that the Nigeria youngster has turned down a chance to go out on loan, insisting he would rather stay back at the Ettihad and

fight to make the first team.

“He refused to go on loan.

He and his representatives have told City he would rather battle the likes of Aguero and Dzeko for a place in the first team,” revealed the source.

Iheanacho has in the meantime reunited with the Flying Eagles ahead of the U20 World Cup in New Zealand after he joined them up in Auckland for Tuesday's flight to New Plymouth, where Nigeria will play all their group games.

Worthington told AfricanFootball.com he will be in New Zealand.

Don’t use banned drugs, AFN warns athletes

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HE Secretary-General of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr Bamiduro Olumide, on Tuesday urged athletes to resist the temptation of using banned drugs to enhance their performance.

Olumide made the appeal in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the AFN third All Comers Athletics Meet at the Univer-

• Blessing Okagbare

sity of Port Harcourt Sports Complex.

He said the use of such drugs could mar the career of an athlete. Olumide urged athletes to work extra hard to attain high standards achieved by eminent Nigerians in major national and international games. ‘’ I want to plead with Nigerian athletes to train harder to achieve high standards. ‘’ You must work extra hard . You must desist from using prohibited drugs and substances that will mar your career. Be clean, as long as you are clean, you will achieve your desired objective,’’ he said.

The Secretary-General said the AFN needed the support of Nigerians to achieve set goals and objectives. ‘’ We need the support of every Nigerian . Every Nigerian is a stake holder in the development of athletics. `` We need every support that will help us achieve our

desired objectives,’’ he said.

On the All Comers Meet, Olumide said the University of Port Harcourt event was the third in the series of such meets in the country.

He said two previous meets took place in Abuja and Lagos in February and March this year. ‘’ The All Comers Meet is a platform designed by the AFN to give athletes the opportunity to show case their talents. ‘’ From there, it will be an

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• Iheanacho entry standard for the Golden League. There are criteria set up, based on performance to make athletes enter the Golden League,’’ he said.

The scribe said if an athlete failed to meet such criteria, he might not qualify for the Golden League. ‘’ The Golden League is another strategic plan by the Technical Committee of the Federation to assist athletes in performance before mega games like the All African Games, Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games,’’ he said.

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made up of players from the domestic league, used this match to continue their preparation for next month’s AFCON qualifier at home to Chad.

Both teams created numerous chances but could not find the back of the net in 90 minutes of entertaining action.

It was coach Stephen Keshi’s first match since he returned for his second spell in charge of the Eagles.

ence.

"Dajuma Mshiela (Richmond RFC – UK) has blistering pace and will be vital to the team, Ike Onwukanjo (UB RFC- USA) will bring something new to this squad as well and Temi Okenla (Gravesend RFC- UK) who is an experienced playmaker."

"We will not lack pace at all as we still have our wing man; Christian Ogar and Isaac Sani will bring in his power play onto the squad."

The players and technical crew are expected to report to camp on May 27th to train hard for the task ahead.

The team also includes captain; Azeez Ladipo and young understudy fly half from Jos RFC; Alfred Oche.

NIGERIA 7S SQUAD : Azeez Olanrewaju (Nigeria Police RFC- Lagos) Onor Jatto (Cowrie RFC- Lagos) Ayinla Hafis (Cowrie RFC- Lagos) Obi Wilson (Barewa RFC - Kano) Ike Onwukanjo (UB RFC- USA) Isaac Sani (Cowrie RFC) Nuhu Ibrahim (Barewa RFC- Kano) Danjuma Mshiela (Richmond RFC – UK) Azeez Ladipo (Cowrie RFC- Lagos) Temitope Okenla (Gravesend RFC- UK) Christian Ogar (Cowrie RFC- Lagos) Alfred Oche (Jos RFC- Plateau)

Musa targets final CL spot UPER Eagles’ striker Ahmed Musa has shared his thoughts and impressions on CSKA Moscow’s final game of the season against Rostov this coming Saturday.

Going into the game scheduled to take place at Stadion Olimp 2 , the Muscovites sit second on the table, level on 59 points with Kuban Krasnodar, who have an inferior goal difference.

“We will do everything possible to win. We realize that the

Spotlight holds Eagles in Katsina IGERIA National League (NNL) side Spotlight FC held the Super Eagles to a goalless draw in a friendly played in Katsina on Tuesday.

The match was staged to open the new, 35,000-capacity Karkanda Stadium in Katsina built by the state government.

Spotlight are launching an ambitious drive to feature in the Nigeria top flight come next season, while the Eagles,

HE Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has released the list of invited players for Africa Cup Sevens North Tournament, which serves as All African games and Pre-Olympics qualifiers in Lome, Togo on the 6th of June, 2015.

According to the federation, South African Sevens Rugby Legend, Fabian Juries, will be in charge of ensuring that these bunch of talented players bond together as a team and travel to Togo to book the AAG ticket and join their counterparts from other participating federations in hoisting the country's flag in Congo.

It will be recalled that Black Stallions 7s coach who is an ex Springbok player and the 4th highest point scorer in world 7a-side rugby was in charge of the team last year and knows some of the players in the national team fold.

In the words of the Technical Director of the NRFF, Tunji Fasimoye “The team features eight changes from the side that went to The Africa Cup 7s in Zimbabwe last year, with the inclusion of three foreign based players."

Fasimoye believes that in this Black Stallions’ squad, the country has an extremely talented group of players with the right mix of experience and youth as the federation looks forward to seeing what the team can produce in Togo.

While analyzing the team, he hinted that the foreign based players will make a big differ-

game is an extremely important from the point of view of getting into the Champions League.

“As you can see, the last few games we end up with a big score, by three or four goals. I hope the trend continues, we will continue to move in this direction,” says Musa to the official website of CSKA Moscow, pfc-cska.com.

In 29 outings for the Army Men in the Premier League, Musa has scored 10 goals.

Depleted Brazil tackles Australia for Flying Eagles

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IVE-TIME U20 World Cup champions Brazil will take on hosts Australia on Wednesday in their final warm-up match ahead of a high-profile group game against Nigeria without top star Kenedy.

Fluminense striker Kenedy, who featured at the 2013 U17 World Cup in the UAE, has since been replaced by Malcom after he suffered appendicitis and had to be operated on in Australia.

Australia did not qualify for the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup. The Brazilians fired a serious warning to African champions Nigeria after they pipped highly-rated Portugal 1-0 in their final test match ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will open their quest for the 2015 World Cup when they take on Brazil on June 1 in New Zealand.

But the Brazilians, who failed to qualify for the 2013 tournament in Turkey and barely managed to qualify for New Zealand 2015 as the fourth best team in the South American qualifiers, showed they have to be taken very seriously after

they saw off one of the most consistent teams at this level on Sunday.

Second-half substitute Judivan was the match winner for Brazil with a 67th minute strike.

The Brazilians, who are now under new coach Rogerio Micalle, made six changes with Danilo to be booked in the 49th minute.

Before this loss, Portugal had smashed past Uruguay 3-0 and edged Ghana 1-0 in other test games in readiness for the forthcoming World Cup.

• Flying Eagles captain, Musa Muhammed

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘There is no mincing words that Buhari is a dogged fighter, an incurable optimist and a man imbued with Spartan determination to succeed in spite of both natural and man-made hurdles on his path’ VOL.10 NO.3228

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ESTERDAY, Spectrum Broadcasting Company celebrated the tenth anniversary of its flagship, Hot FM, Abuja, one of the most popular radio stations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and in the country; its proprietor and host of the event, the delectable Senator Chris Anyawu, herself once a popular broadcaster, said in her welcome speech that her station is among the top three in the country.

The venue of the celebration was the recently constructed Nigeria Airforce Conference Centre and Suites, an architectural beauty and one of the most modern buildings in Abuja.

The top highlight of the event was the Special Awards to four prominent Nigerians – the Senate President, David Mark, for stabilising the Senate leadership after eight years of a scandalously high turnover of five presidents; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for his exceptional service delivery in his state; Dr Oby Ezekwesili, for leading an enduring campaign for the rescue of Chibok Girls held in captivity

by Boko Haram for over a year now; and the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallantry, sacrifice and courage in the face of great odds in combating Boko Haram. The second highlight was a two-topic symposium, the first on “The Change Nigerians Expect” and the other, a panel discussion on how the media can foster that change.

Professor Pat Utomi, formerly of the Lagos Business School, and Ezekwesili, one of the awardees, spoke on the first topic, while AIT’s Raymond Dokpesi, represented by Odion Bello, one of his top managers, presented the paper for the panel discussion on the second topic. Femi Adesina, the Managing Director of Sun and president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and Bello who read Dokpesi’s paper, discussed it, moderated by this reporter. There were three interesting interventions from the audience by Senators Anthony Manzo, Adekola Babalola and Adegbenga Kaka, mostly on media’s role in bringing about the changes Nigerians expect from President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

The chairman of the occasion, Professor Jerry Gana, our first minister of Information in the current 16-year old Republic, spoke at length in his opening remarks but he did not disappoint as a celebrated orator. Neither did the Master of Ceremony, Andy Gabriel, a former broadcaster with Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, who ensured the event proceeded at a brisk, time-saving pace.

Of all the speeches and remarks at the event, however, the most profound for me was Ezekwesili’s. If Nigeria wants to get out of its current mess, occasioned mainly by its over-reliance on oil, she said in effect, its governments must begin to invest massively in education. Like Utomi who spoke before her - each of them for roughly ten minutes as they were allotted – she was characteristically eloquent, albeit not as eloquent as our professor whose characterisation of Nigeria’s politics as one “by politicians, of politicians and for politicians,” - obviously drawing from American President Abraham Lincoln’s famous definition of democracy as government by the people, of the people and for the people - should clinch gold as a sound-bite for its wit and accuracy anywhere, anytime.

However, Ezekwesili made up for Utomi’s slightly superior eloquence by talking at some length about how to bring about the change, instead of merely dwelling, as Utomi did, on the things that needed changing.

RIPPLES

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Education as Buhari’s priority

•Buhari

In talking about education as the main weapon of change, Ezekwesili, who once served as education minister, reminded me of an article in the New York Times of March 10, 2012 by Thomas Friedman, one of its columnists and thrice winner of the Pulitzer Prize as a reporter. It’s an article I have had cause to refer to on these pages a few times before but which still bears referring to every now and again for its relevance to our situation.

Titled “Pass the Book. Hold the Oil,” the article drew attention to the report of a programme in 2012 conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Paris-based 34-member rich-country club, of the link between the performance of 15-year olds across 65 countries in Maths, Science and reading comprehension, on the one hand, and the natural endowment of those countries, on the other.

The programme was called PISA, Programme for International Student Assessment.

Its report showed that, overall, the pupils of countries with little or no natural endowment like oil and other minerals, performed better than the pupils of countries with plenty natural resources. The report also showed that the exceptions to this pattern, notably Canada, Australia and Norway which had plenty of natural resources, had established deliberate policies of saving and investing earnings from their natural resources instead of consuming them.

“Oil and PISA,” Friedman concluded in his article, “don’t mix.”

Nigeria, as a naturally well-endowed country, especially with oil, the world’s primary source of energy, has for decades obviously been suffering from the so-called “Dutch Disease” whereby over-dependence on export of natural resources for public revenue leads to a soaring of the value of a country’s currency, which, in turn, leads to

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OVE me or hate me but you cannot ignore me. This must be the credo of our selfmade statesman and builder of modern Nigeria, our own Baba and former president, Chief Olusegun Okikiolu Aremu Matthew Obasanjo. He also has a long list of titles and honorifics attached to that interminable name.

One of these days when Hardball is in a mischief mode, he would unleash them on you dear reader so that you would appreciate the full worth of your two-time head of state and African leader.

Let us save that for another day.

We are considering today, what has made Baba Obj tick and timeless. Since he happened upon us hapless denizens of this patched land 78 years ago, he has remained on our back like a bad hunch. His life has been source and sauce for public consumption since his conception in Owu land, Ogun State. He too had no shoes until he joined the Nigerian Army and since then, his life and ours have not been the same again.

As an officer who embodies Nigeria’s military and political history, he is reputed to be always away (some say conveniently so) during military putsch only to surface after the fact to benefit

the cost of any contract in Nigeria is invariably the highest in the world.

Take, for example, the cost at which the 30kilometer highway from central Abuja to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport was constructed several years ago. Or even the new four-kilometer runway of the airport itself. The highway was constructed at a cost of about N7 billion per kilometre. Some experts say it should never have cost more than a small fraction of that, frills and all.

The runway was initially awarded at N60 billion. This was so ridiculously high that the boss of Julius Berger, the awardee, told a hearing of the Senate the figure contained an “arithmetical error” after which it was reduced to N42 billion. Even then some experts say it could have been built for N16 billion and yet guarantee sufficient returns to the company’s owners to last a lifetime.

The quality of JB’s constructions may meet, indeed beat, world standards, but their prices seem to typify the country’s contract system in their lack of cost-effectiveness by the same world standards.

There are, to be sure, no quick fixes for education. But there is no alternative to investing in it massively and efficiently if we want to end our over-dependence on oil, an over-dependence which has clearly landed us in the economic mess we are in, which, in turn, has made the lives of ordinary Nigerians nasty, brutish and generally shorter than they were before we discovered oil.

However, if there are no quick fixes for education, surely there are quick ways to find the money to invest in the sector, such quick ways as raising the efficiency of our contract systems to global best practices.

Because education takes long to fix, the sooner we begin fixing it in earnest the better our chances of ending our over-dependence on oil sooner than later. For, as Andreas Schleicher, who oversaw the PISA exams for the OECD said, “Knowledge and skills have become the global currency of 21st-century economies, but there is no central bank that prints this currency. Everyone has to decide on their own how much they will print.”

RE: THE EIGHTH SENATE ROLLERCOASTER (MAY 13) Sir, Zoning is not synonymous with mediocrity. In my view the PDP was right in popularising it. We tend to have forgotten the situation that gave birth to it 16 years ago. Every region of this country can boast of people with demonstrated personal integrity and commitment to public service.

Gbemiga Ogunleye +2348054235291.

Sir, I totally agree with your position that (Senator George) Akume is the best choice for the post, given the massive support GMB enjoyed from the middle-belt despite the anti-Islam campaign by the PDP. +2348123341481.

Sir, Don’t you think it would be unfair on the part of APC’s leadership to sideline PDP defectors in the sharing of positions after APC’s electoral victory? CPC has the President-elect and ACN the vice president-elect. It remains ANPP and PDP that have not been ‘compensated’. I am sure the victory may have been a mirage without their support. In summation, I believe Dr Bukola Saraki should be supported to become the senate president as PDP’s share, and am happy that, according to your testimony, he is competent.

Adewuyi Adegbite +2347013065440.

Sir, You are not fair to the Northeast. They produced the second highest votes for APC after Northwest.

Why always Northcentral? Is Northeast not part of Nigeria?

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

HARDBALL

Extradition: I won’t give MYSELF UP– Kashamu

Hmm... GUILTY CONSCIENCE?

the collapse of its domestic manufacturing, as cheap imports flood in and exports become too expensive. The good thing about the OECD’s PISA report, however, was that this disease is not necessarily inevitable, as Canada, Australia and Norway showed.

Ezekwesili did not have time to expand on how Nigeria should go about investing in the education of its human resources but it was apparent from her talk that what she had in mind was a much more serious and sensible approach than the clearly politically motivated building of almajiri schools and of new universities that are little more than glorified secondary schools which was pursued by the out-going Jonathan administration.

However, whatever approach Ezekwesili had in mind, it is bound to beg the question of how to raise the money to invest in the nation’s human capital for a country like ours who’s leaders as a class have stolen the country blind and squandered so much of the revenues from our natural resources.

One short answer, of course, is to fight corruption, a fight which the in-coming Buhari administration says is one of its top priorities. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, as we all know too well. Even then we can make a start by sanitising our contract system whereby it seems

DELE AGEKAMEH

Haba, Baba Obj! when there was booty to be shared.

He honorably handed over power to a civilian government in 1979 yet people who enjoy provoking him insist his knees quaked as he dropped the mantle hastily. But he must take solace in the fact that the world community continues to hail him for that singular act till date.

Carrying on as a living legend of democracy and civil rule, he had made the government of General Sani Abacha so uncomfortable that he was slammed for coup plotting in 1995.

He was released and pardoned in 1998 and in 1999 he allowed himself to be drafted into the presidential race after he had derided those pushing for him by asking them “how many presidents” they wanted to make of him. A man of destiny he became Nigeria’s president once again.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above He rode back to power on high hope and on huge popular acclaim. The combo of ex-head of state and ex-prisoner are never purchased from the market. But his eight years of civilian presidency is remarkable today and remembered more for his failed attempt to tinker with our constitution (as if we were a banana republic) and steal a third term in office.

The major socio-economic burdens bedeviling the country in his time were never lifted in his eight years: Power, refineries, roads, rail, airports, just name them. He missed a great opportunity to move Nigeria forward and earn that global statesmanship he covets so much.

Well, it seems he doesn’t have to earn it, he would confer it on himself all the same. Last Sunday, he told a group of visiting Egba women that the country had been poorly managed in the last eight years. He added: “When I came in 1999, there was no fuel and power. The situation was like this and I thought we have put that one behind us.”

No sir Baba Obj, you did not put those ‘things’ behind us o, they have remained with us as legacies of PDP’s 16 year misrule, thanks.

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