May 29, 2015

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Adesina is AfDB’s eighth NEWS Page 2 president

•Okonjo-Iweala to Oshiomhole: I’m not afraid of Buhari •Dangote Foundation commits N906m to Ebola fight •I’m a phone call away, Fashola tells Ambode •PAGES 5,8&63 •Blatter won’t step down despite FIFA corruption crisis

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VOL. 10, NO. 3229 FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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INAUGURATION 2015

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•10,000 SECURITY MEN DEPLOYED IN ABUJA •54 HEADS OF STATE, GOVTS TO ATTEND •KERRY, HAMMOND IN FOR CEREMONY •STORIES ON P2

A FREE 16-page pullout on the inauguration today in Abuja of Nigeria’s fifth elected President

T: President Goodluck Jonathan showing President-elect Muhammadu Buhari his seat at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja ... yesterday. With them are Vice President •Y SEAT YOUR SEA Sambo Namadi (left) and , Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (right).

Buhari recalls Jonathan’s historic telephone call MORE PICTURES ON PAGE 2

President hands over notes to President-elect after tour of Villa

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

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While striving to overcome our national security challenges, we still gave necessary attention to economic development. Our goal was to achieve long-term economic growth and stability, improve the quality and quantum of infrastructure and enhance human capital development.

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday showered praises on outgoing Presi-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

dent Goodluck Jonathan, saying his conduct has changed

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But what I will say is since the telephone call you made you have changed the course of Nigeria's political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi-party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

the course of Nigeria’s political history.

Buhari spoke after President Jonathan handed over

the executive summary of the handover notes and a copy of the main report of the National Conference 2014 to

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him.

The ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa afContinued on page 2

•POLITICS P17 •SOCIETY P48 •EQUITIES P54 •MONEY LINK P55 •FOREIGN P59

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

NEWS Buhari recalls Jonathan’s historic telephone call Continued from page 1

ter Buhari and Vice President-elect Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo had been conducted round some offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja by President Jonathan.

Buhari said conceding defeat has not only earned Jonathan the respect of Nigerians but also of world leaders.

He said: “Until I read and digest this notes from the President, I don’t think I will be in a position to make any strong contribution.

“But what I will say is since the telephone call you made you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history.

For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi-party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.

If you had attempted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the path of honour and may God help all of us.

Thank you very much, your excellency.”

Presenting the documents, Jonathan said: “This will give you a mission statement of the commitment of this government for the past five years and the directions we are going that will help you to navigate.

“So, it’s my pleasure on behalf of the Vice President, members of the Executive Council and other senior functionaries to formally handover these handover notes to Gen. Muhammadu

•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) presenting handover notes to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ... yesterday.

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) with Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during their tour of Aguda House, Presidential Villa in Abuja ... yesterday. Behind them are there spouses Mrs PHOTOS: NAN Dolapo Osinbajo and Hajia Amina Sambo.

Buhari, the President-elect who will assume office tomorrow. Congratulations.

“There is another document that I will hand over to you. To me this is more important than the hand over notes. The handover notes is the activities of an administration; it shows where we started, where we are going, in some of the cases you’ll

follow, in other cases you may take other angle.

“But this is a document that was compiled by Nigerians, the report of the National conference 2014. We gathered almost 500 Nigerians from all walks of life; they were not influenced by government in any way.

“And most of the recommendations here, if it is fol-

lowed, most of the gray areas even in our politics will be smoothened out. Most of the areas where people complain bitterly, corruption, everything; this document deals with them. Some people here were members of that great body of about 500 eggheads.”

According to Jonathan, his Continued on page 60

Inauguration: Military calls for vigilance •Troops arrest three bomb-making experts •Kerry, Hammond in

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LL is set for today’s inauguration of Presid e n t - e l e c t Muhammadu Buhari, with over 10,000 soldiers, policemen, security agents and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed in and around Abuja.

Also, ahead of the big ceremony, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has asked Nigerians to be vigilant and report suspicious movements.

The DHQ also confirmed the arrest in Gombe of three bomb-making experts who are suspected to be members of a terrorist group looking for soft targets to attack.

According to sources, the preparation for the inauguration has put pressure on the nation’s security apparatchik.

For about five hours on Wednesday night, outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan had a session with members of the Security Council.

It was learnt that the main agenda of the session, which spread into the night, was how to ensure a hitch-free inauguration, especially protection for foreign dignitaries, such as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond,

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

and 54 Heads of State and Government.

Security has been strengthened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with all entry points to Abuja and all roads leading to the Eagle Square – venue of the ceremony – under heavy surveillance.

A top security source said: “From the IGP to Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, all top officers are involved in the coordination of the security arrangement for the inauguration.

“In fact, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has virtually relocated from his office to ensure direct coordination of the security arrangement for this all-important exercise.

“Conservatively, more than 10,000 soldiers, policemen, security agents, road safety and Civil Defence Corps members have been drafted for this inauguration.”

Another security chief said: “We have sought the understanding of the All Progressives Congress leaders on the tight security arrangement.

“We have accredited, screened and taken biomet-

rics of all journalists, ushers, artists, poets, interpreters, government officials and even security and army personnel for the inauguration.

“We took the biometrics of everyone to be sure that those expected at the inauguration have genuine cause to be there. This is outside the normal screening at the Eagle Square on Friday.

“Even Permanent Secretaries involved in the coordination went through the biometric process. We cannot afford to take things for granted.”

The DHQ, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, asked the public to be vigilant and report suspicious movement.

He said three bomb-making experts were arrested in Gombe on the eve of the inauguration.

He said those arrested are suspected to be members of a terrorist group looking for soft targets to attack.

The statement said: “A cordon and search operation conducted by troops in Gombe has yielded the arrest of three bomb making experts. The arrested persons are suspected to be members of the terrorists group in search of

soft targets for attack after being dislodged from the stronghold in Sambisa Forest and other enclaves.

“Items recovered from the apprehended include a tricycle and materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation.

“Cordon and search is continuing in certain localities and will be intensified along with mopping up operations in locations where offensive operations are being conducted.

“The essence is to apprehend the terrorists who have been dislodged from their sanctuaries and are in search of escape routes or resorting to attacking soft targets.

“In line with this development, the public is enjoined to be extra vigilant and to report suspicious movements or activities within their environs.

“The military is poised to ensure that the ongoing operations are duly aligned with security arrangement nationwide towards forestalling any attempt by terrorists or other criminal groups planning to breach security or disrupt the inaugurations activities anywhere in the country.”

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IGERIA’s Akinwumi Adesina yesterday became the eighth President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) after winning in a tight race.

Cape Verde’s Cristina Duarte, the first woman to seek the post, Chad’s Finance Minister Kordje Bedoumra and Adesina, were the only remaining candidates in the race after shareholders dropped five candidates in quick succession.

The election was part of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast capital.

“I’m honoured and humbled by support I’ve received and the confidence placed in me. Our best days are ahead,” Adesina, 55, tweeted minutes after he was announced the winner.

Mr Adesina and Ms Duarte were considered strong candidates even before the voting began but the endurance of Mr Bedoumra remained an element of surprise in the race.

Thomas Sakala of Zimbabwe who was backed by the South African Development Community bowed out less than 40 minutes after Tunisia’s Jaloul Ayed was eliminated in the afternoon session.

Three candidates - Sufian Ahmed of Ethiopia, Birama Sidibe of Mali and Sumara Kamara of Sierra Leone were eliminated in the morning session.

Mr Ahmed is the candidate who was being supported by East African countries with the exception of Tanzania, a

Adesina is AfDB president •Says: ‘Best days ahead’ member of SADC which was supporting Zimbabwean Thomas Sakala as a bloc.

Mr Adesina enjoyed the backing of Nigeria and to some extent countries in the ECOWAS sub region - a constituency which Ms Duarte, who was backed by mostly non-African shareholders of the bank - had also courted.

Mr Bedoumra, a former AfDB vice president, is believed to have got the backing of Francophone Africa for which he was the only one remaining in the race.

President Muhammadu Buhari, then president-elect, took over Adesina’s campaign after former president Olusegun Obasanjo enlisted his support.

Buhari sent emissaries including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to South Africa. Atiku is a known close friend of South African President Jacob Zuma.

Mr Adesina will succeed Dr Kaberuka who steps down from the bank on September 1, after serving two terms.

Dr Kaberuka took the reins of AfDB in 2005 with a commanding mandate of 78 per cent from the shareholders during a special general meeting after a stalemate with a Nigerian candidate during the annual assembly.

U.S. to deepen security, economic ties with Nigeria

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HE United States sees the inauguration of P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari as a potential springboard to improving security and economic ties long hindered by military abuses and endemic corruption.

Reflecting increased ambitions for relations with Africa’s biggest economy, President Barack Obama sent Secretary of State John Kerry to Friday’s ceremony for Buhari, marking the first lawful transition of power since British colonial rule ended in 1960.

The peaceful election defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in March has been greeted by the U.S. and other nations as a success for democracy despite Buhari’s earlier stint as the country’s military dictator.

Preliminary talks with Buhari’s team suggest he wants to open a new chapter in relations with the U.S., according to a State Department official who briefed reporters under rules requiring anonymity.

With Nigeria fighting Boko Haram terrorists in its northeast, Kerry plans to discuss new security cooperation measures, the official said.

That could include advisers to help with intelligence, military training, logistics and military justice, he said.

The U.S. is restricted by law in providing lethal arms because of the military’s human rights record.

The U.S. also is looking for ways to expand trade and investment, particularly after Nigeria’s economy and its foreign exchange earnings

have been hit by the drop in oil prices. Investment in oil and natural gas will remain important, but Nigeria’s large and growing population offers opportunities for services, manufacturing and consumer goods, the official said, ‘Anemic’ Trade “Except for gas and oil, which is huge, the economic relationship with Nigeria is pretty anemic,” John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, said in an interview.

Expansion of trade and investment hinges on whether Buhari is able, as he promised during the campaign, to reduce the systemic corruption and improve the rule of law, including respect for contracts, the State Department official said.

Growth slowed to four per cent in the first quarter from 5.9 per cent in same period a year earlier. Africa’s biggest crude producer, which derives 90 per cent of export earnings from oil, has been hit Continued on page 60

CORRECTIONS •University of Osun Vice Chancellor Prof. Bashir Okesina has not been sacked as reported in yesterday’s edition. The Governing Council can only recommend to the Visitor; it has no powers to sack a VC. •The presidential election was on March 28, not April 11, as published yesterday in ‘Editorial Notebook’.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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NEWS

I’m not scared of Buhari, says Okonjo-Iweala T M INISTER of Finance Ngozi OnkojoIweala said yesterday that she is not scared of President Muhammadu Buhari probing her.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke in a statement while responding to what she considered an attack on her by Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

She said: “There is no substance in the wild allegations that any money is missing from the account or that finances of the country under OkonjoIweala’s watch have not been well managed.”

The minister added that she “has no reason to fear Buhari.

Those who cannot adequately explain what they did with the resources of their states and are begging for bailout are those who should to be scared.”

•‘Oshiomhole’s allegations baseless’ From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) and Chioma Onyia

Okonjo-Iweala denied claims

by Oshiomhole that she has been speaking out lately because of the “fear of Buhari”.

According to her, “if there is any minister whose voice has been strong on the right issues over the past four years, it is Okonjo-Iweala.”

She said has no apologies for insisting that a claim of N159 billion for Forex differentials by the marketers out of a total bill of N200 billion should go through an additional verifica-

tion process.

“When 80 per cent of a subsidy claim is made up of Forex differentials and not the value of the amount of fuel supplied, the right and proper thing to do is to take extra steps to ensure that the country is not being cheated. That is what Okonjo-Iweala did,” she said.

On Oshiomhole’s statement that she “must disclose to the nation the full details of subsidy payments made to oil marketers in the last four years”, Okonjo-Iweala described the statement as “astonishing given the fact that every payment

made to the marketers has been published in the media and widely disseminated through all news channels.”

She stressed that apart from the monthly publication of allocations to the federal, state and local governments, the Federal Ministry of Finance also published SURE-P receipts and distribution to different tiers, details of payments to oil marketers and other information.

She queried if the governor has demonstrated the same level of openness in his management of the affairs of Edo State.

Police promote 72 officers •IGP pledges loyalty to govt, citizens From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

HE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 72 senior police officers.

Its Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement yesterday, said the promotion was part of the PSC’s decisions at its 12th Plenary Meeting in Abuja.

The commission noted that the promotions take immediate effect.

The statement reads: “The commission approved the promotion of 14 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Commissioners of Police after they appeared before the commission’s plenary and were interviewed.

“Twenty ACPs were promoted to the rank of DCP while two CSPs were promoted to the rank of ACP. Three CSPs were appointed acting ACP, and one SP promoted to CSP. “The commission also approved the promotion of 30 DSPs to SP, one ASP to the next rank of DSP. One Inspector was appointed acting ASP”.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has pledged continued unalloyed loyalty of the police to the government and people of Nigeria.

He spoke in a statement as the nation mark 16 years of unbroken democratic rule today.

He, therefore, urged police personnel to subject themselves to civil authority and accord maximum respect to the fundamental rights of the citizenry.

EU: more Nigerian professionals in Europe than in Nigeria

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•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) cutting the tape to inaugurate the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Head Office Complex in Abuja ...yesterday. With him are Executive Secretary Mr Otunba Ajayi, Minister of Sports Mr. Tamuno Danagogo and Minister of Youth Development Mr. Boni Haruna.

Dangote Foundation commits N906m to Ebola fight

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HE Dangote Foundation has again offered to settle the cost of quarantining Nigeria’s returnee health volunteers from the Ebola ravaged West African countries.

The health workers arrived in the country after spending six months to tackle the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The foundation’s new initiative came after it spent over N900 million to fight the EVD in the continent.

The foundation, which has been playing a leading role in partnership with relevant authorities in the fight against the dreaded disease in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, is expending about N60 million on the accommodation of the 200 returning volunteers.

The Federal Government has acknowledged the enormous infrastructural and financial assistance rendered by the body in tackling the scourge of Ebola in Nigeria.

Director of Port Health Services, Ministry of Health Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo lauded Dangote Foundation for its patriotic assistance, saying: “The intervention of the Dangote Foundation in the containment of the Ebola Virus is unprecedented in the history of intervention efforts in Nigeria by a single business entity”.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, said “the role of the Dangote in the containment of

•To pay bills of Nigeria’s returnee health volunteers the Ebola disease is immeasurable.”

“We ran an emergency centre with virtually little or nothing. It was the Dangote Foundation that empowered our centre. I don’t have words to use. The foundation provided funds for procurement of facilities to run case management, infection, prevention, control and communication, which are the major response of disease control centre,” he said.

The Health Workers Team Leader, Dr. Joshua Olusegun Obasanya, said the Dangote Foundation has been supporting the volunteers financially and technically, adding that the foundation has been facilitating their integration back to the Nigerian society since their arrived the country on Sunday.

The foundation said the lat-

est gesture was part of its commitment to continue to partner governments at all levels to ensure African countries are rid of preventable diseases.

After the outbreak of Ebola last year in Nigeria, the Dangote foundation contributed N153 million for the establishment of the National Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EEOC) in Yaba, Lagos and paid salaries of select staff and volunteers for six months.

Justifying the decision then, chairman of the foundation, Aliko Dangote, said: “The national response to the unfortunate outbreak of Ebola in our country has been impressive.

We have, therefore, decided to lend our support to the effort.

The Ebola EOC is an important innovation that will strengthen our health system, even long af-

ter this particular health crisis has abated.”

Also, in the heat of the spread of the virus in Liberia and Sierra-Leone, the foundation donated $3 million to the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust (AAEST). It was established by the African Union Commission headed by the AU chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to mobilise resources from the African private sector to fight the scourge of the Ebola Virus Disease in the three most affected West African countries - Liberia, Guinea and Sierra-Leone.

The Dangote Foundation is in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate Polio in Nigeria, a partnership that has succeeded in ensuring Polio cases in some Northern states have been reduced drastically.

Mark to citizens: let’s join hands to make tions, clearly show the unwaENATE President David democracy work vering commitment of Nigeri-

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Mark yesterday took stock of the country’s 16 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, urging the citizens to persevere more for the continued sustenance of the system of government.

Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paull Mumeh, stated this in a goodwill message to Nigerians to mark “Democracy Day.” He said: “All hands must be on deck, where everyone plays his or her role to ensure that

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

our democracy endures.

“All Nigerians deserve commendation. We have done well so far. We must strive more to make democracy a way of life.

“As an active participant in our democratic journey since 1999, I can say without any fear of contradiction that our democracy has endured. The successes recorded so far, especially with the last general elec-

ans to its fruition.”

The Senate President was optimistic that all the initial hiccups of the nation’s democratic experiment would be confined to history soon.

He noted that the occasional disagreements between the Executive arm of government and the Legislature warranting the Judiciary’s interventions have been part of the learning curves for effective checks and balances between and among the three arms of governments.

HE European Union (EU) has claimed that there are more Nigerian professionals in Europe than there are in Nigeria.

It warned this can be detrimental to the development of the country.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Michel Arrion, said this at a Conference on National Migration Policy Thematic Areas, organised by UN International Organisation for Migration in Abuja.

EU, Arrion explained, welcomed migration as long as it was legal, adding that “it enhances the movement of factors of production, particularly labour, especially in Europe.

“Migration is good. We (Europe) like migration as long as it is legal. We need migration for various reasons.

“Movement of factors of production is a good thing and labour moving freely is a very good thing.

“In Europe and in other western countries, we have this specific issue of aging population. So, we need fresh blood in our countries, but we have to be careful sometimes about brain drain.

“As you know, there are more PhD holders from Nigerian origin in Europe or in America than in Nigeria.

“There are more Nigerian doctors and nurses in Europe and in America than in Nigeria. So, let’s be careful with that. It is good to attract the best people, but not to the detriment of the development of your country.’’

Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman said Nigeria was grappling with a wide range of migration issues.

NDLEA vacates Kashamu’s residence

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HE agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have vacated the Lagos home of senator-elect Prince Buruji Kashamu, after six days of laying siege to the facility.

Austin Oniyokor, the media aide to Kashamu said the NDLEA operatives left at exactly 7:45pm, after a court ordered them to vacate the place.

Oniyokor in a statement said: “But this was after the agency displayed a high level of brigandage and lawlessness that is only fit for a failed state.

“However, we thank the almighty God for His infinite mercies. He is the one who

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thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

“We also salute the judiciary for once again rising to the occasion and proving yet that it is truly the last hope of the common man and the oppressed.

We are grateful that the judiciary has again affirmed Prince Kashamu’s innocence of the charges against him, thus turning for good what was meant for evil.

“Our appreciation also goes to the media, civil society groups, student bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers, support and solidarity during the period.”

BBC Hausa World Service hosts advertising

DVERTISERS will now have the opportunity to reach Hausa-speakers outside the United Kingdom (UK) in key British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa territories such as Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Ghana.

This followed the introduction of advertising to its language websites as BBC World Service aims to generate revenue that can be reinvested in high-quality journalism and innovative technology.

Speaking on the development, BBC Hausa Editor, Mansur Liman, said: “The BBC Hausa website is a destination of choice for Hausa-speakers, wherever they are, with its offer of up-to-the minute news, features and analysis, bringing to life developments in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana and Cameroon and around the world.

“As our website starts carrying adverts, its editorial content will continue to stand out for its truly independent and impartial news coverage presenting all sides of the story. This new development will provide the opportunity to invest further in the site for the benefit of audiences.”

The website bbchausa.com is ranked as the second most visited site in Nigeria, serving a massive 68.6 million page views per month (across mobile, tablet and PC) and engaging with 3.5 million unique visitors each month- a statistic which enjoys a solid 30% growth year-on-year*.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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NEWS INAUGURATION 2015

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) presenting his hand over notes to his successor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

Our expectations,

by Nigerians •Coomasie, Balarabe, Mohammed, Achuzia, others speak A new chapter begins today with the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as President and Commander-in-Chief. Not a few Nigerians believe it is the dawn of a government unusual, report RAYMOND MORDI and LEKE SALAUDEEN.

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•United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu (second right); the banks Chief Executive Officer, Cote d'Ivoire, Franklin Erebor (left); Ivorian Minister of Industry and Mines, Jean Claude Brou (second left) and Ivorian Minister of Tourism, Roger Kacou, when Elumelu visited Cote d'Ivoire...yesterday.

•Company Secretary, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc., Mr. Emmanuel Amade; Chairman/Managing Director, Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji and Executive Director, Mr. Alastair Mcnaughton, at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at MUSON Centre, PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA. Onikan, Lagos...yesterday.

•Lagos State Auditor-General Mrs. Helen Deile presenting the Y2014 Audited Financial Statements to the state’s AccountantGeneral, Mr. David Sunmoni at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

HIRTY years after he left the State House, Muhammadu Buhari will today be inaugurated at the Eagle Square, Abuja as Nigeria's 15th president.

He is taking the baton at a time the spirits of Nigerians are low but their expectations very high.

A crippling fuel shortage, insurgency and nationwide power outage, coupled with unpaid arrears of salaries have brought the economy to its knees. But in the midst of all these, Nigerians are hopeful that the change of baton will usher in a new dawn.

Some notable stakeholders, including former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, the Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Dipo Famakinwa and a former SecretaryGeneral of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group - Ohanaeze Ndigbo - Chief Joseph Achuzia among others, believe the President Buhari administration will raise the bar of governance.

The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, said there are enormous challenges the President Muhammadu Buhari must tackle to meet the overwhelming expectations of the populace. To tackle these challenges, he said the leadership must show the way.

His words: “Over the years, our country has been badly led and badly governed. Nigerians have become very cynical and even contemptuous of their leaders. It is the main reason why the country found itself in this sordid state. This scenario needs to be urgently reversed.”

Famakinwa cautioned against allowing personal interests to take precedence over the collective interests of the citizenry.

“Extravagance and over-indulgence in government must be curtailed and the leaders’ lifestyle must reflect soberness and thoughtfulness,” he added.

The Director-General emphasised the need for effective governance, reminding those in the saddle that Nigeria is a large country with a huge population, with great promise for progress, prosperity and sustainable development.

He said: “It has had numerous challenges and difficulties over the years, but now there is a chance to fulfill its glorious destiny. We are of the view that for Nigeria to succeed, the constituent states/geo-political zones must first be empowered and enabled to succeed. The Federal Government must no longer be in competition with the states; rather, they must work in to complement each other.

“There are things that are better handled by the states or at the level of the

geo-political zones, and those things should be left to them and vice versa.

There are also things that are best achieved by working and collaborating together as mutual agents of development. The Federal Government should avoid a situation where it has taken more than it can shoulder.

Rather, it should empower the states and the regions to do more and together, everyone achieves more.”

Famakinwa also urged the Federal Government to effectively and judiciously manage the national economy, stating that the expectation of DAWN from the Buhari administration is that under it, the Federal Government will become the key enabler of economic growth across the country’s geo-political zones.

He said: “Indeed, the geo-political zones should become centres of thriving economic activities. The Federal Government should desist from the current methodology of managing or controlling the economy in a centralised one-size-fits-all fashion. Each region should be helped and supported to concentrate on their areas of comparative and competitive advantages.

“Human capital development should also be made to align with the respective development priorities and aspirations of each of the regions. The Federal Government should play a supporting and coordinating role through effective political and economic governance institutions, as well as with programmes, schemes, and incentives for socio-economic growth. In that manner all the regions will be playing to their strength and the end result will be a Nigeria that is economically-transformed, politically-stable, secured and able to hold its own in the comity of nations.”

He noted that becoming a constructed edifice in which the will of the few prevailed against that of country and its citizenry was the undoing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Corruption, impunity and the sacred-cow syndrome became the order of the day. The ‘family affair’ mantra took over the land, and it doesn’t matter what you do, once you’re a member of that insidious ‘family’, you would go scot-free,” he added.

Leadership by example The Chairman, Board of directors of the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN), Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, is optimistic that the new administration will deliver on its promises.

He said: “My expectation is that he will be able to provide the leadership to make the three arms of government buy into his exemplary mindset of exercising strong sense of discipline, responsibility and integrity in managing the affairs of the state in the overall interest of the governed. In other words, my expectation is that Presi-

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•President Buhari

dent Buhari will not be like the Biblical good seed that fell amongst the thorns that was choked.

“The President must look beyond his political party and tap the appropriate persons from other parties, the general public and Nigerians in the Diaspora, most of who have no godfathers to sponsor them.”

Battling corruption Elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, said it is incumbent on President Buhari to fulfill the promises he made to Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

Yakassai recalled that the President promised to provide security, protect lives and properties, as well as end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Kano-based politician also recalled that Buhari promised to proactively wage a war against corruption, stop the plundering of the country’s resources and to channel same towards improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

He said: “He also promised to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians. These are the three key promises he made during the electioneering campaign. He made more promises, but these are the key ones.

•Coomassie

•Musa

•Achuzia

•Muhammed

•Unongo

•Famakinwa

For him to succeed, he must embark on realising his promises in these areas for him to be adjudged as having fulfilled his campaign promises.

“If he can address the issue of power, a lot of things will fall into place.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo promised to fix it in six months; he spent eight years and he didn’t fix it.

The late Umaru Yar’Adua also had power as one of his Seven-Point Agenda, but nothing was realised at the end. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan also promised to fix it, but from all indications, his efforts didn’t yield the desired results. Power is the key to Nigeria’s development, without power, we cannot industrialise and without industries, we cannot deal with the problem of unemployment.

“The incoming government should also concentrate on agriculture to provide employment and guarantee food security. We have River Basin authorities all over the country. The moment they are put to use, we will be able to farm beyond the rainy season and in a short period; we’ll see the difference in productivity and employment opportunities.”

He described as absurdity for a government to spend as much as 80 per cent of its revenue on recurrent expenditure, leaving only 20 per cent for

capital expenditure.

Yakassai urged the President to consider as matter urgency, find a way of bringing down the cost of governance.

He said: “To do away with excessive spending in government, you have to do away with some of the fringe benefits that are draining the nation’s resources. You also have to cut down the size of the manpower. As it is today, you’ll find that a job that can be done by one or two persons is being done by 10 persons. I only hope that the National Assembly will cooperate with him in that regard and labour unions and civil society groups will not put undue pressure on the new administration.

“This will require some adjustments in the legal framework; we need to look into our legal framework and fine-tune the areas where there are loopholes. In this regard, he requires the cooperation of members of the National Assembly.”

Keeping faith with promises The former Secretary-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Joseph Achuzia, said the Buhari administration must not fail to restructure the country and work towards restoring true federalism; otherwise the mantra

This will require some adjustments in the legal framework; we need to look into our legal framework and fine-tune the areas where there are loopholes. In this regard, he requires the cooperation of members of the National Assembly

‘

parliament on part-time basis, thereby reducing the cost of governance at that level. It will also reduce the number of civil service positions and we will no longer have positions like special advisers/special assistants to presidents, governors and the like; these are people who earn money without doing much to justify the huge amount spent on them.

“This is what we want; not a government of intimidation or a government by force. A lot of people believe that Nigeria will move forward simply because the new administration is headed by a former military leader.

But, the situation this time around is quite different. Like everyone entering into a new terrain, he would stumble.

And by doing so, part of the hopes will be dashed. People think when he comes, he start marching everybody like a recruit. That will not be the case.

The mere fact that he has decided to drop the title of General suggests that he realises that moving in the new terrain with the garb of a military officer will derail him.”

A timely change

of change that brought it to power would be meaningless.

Achuzia, who was a Colonel in the defunct Biafran Army, said the President needs courage. His words: “As far as I am concerned, the President should have the courage to pick up the recommendations of last year’s National Conference and implement them. If he does that, I will regard that he came to power really to effect change. The implementation of the decisions of that National Conference will bring out the change desired by every Nigerian. Part of the recommendations is geared towards taking the country back to true federalism.

“This will require the various ethnic nationalities to conduct a referendum to support or reject the move towards true federalism. Once this is done, we will give him all the support he needs to succeed. The major problems holding back the country from developing, such high cost of governance, will automatically disappear once we go back to true federalism.

Once we have true federalism, we will no longer practice the American system and we will go back to the British parliamentary system, which we inherited at independence in 1960.

“Under this system, each ethnic nationality will send representatives to

A former Inspector-General of Police and the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Ibrahim Comassie, has described the election of Buhari as one of the best things to happen to the northern part of the country because he will bring a positive change to the region.

Comassie said: “We yearn for change because for a long time, President Goodluck Jonathan failed to address the scourge of Boko Haram that has killed thousands of people and destroyed the economy of the region. I have no doubt in the ability of Buhari to perform because he has the required qualities.”

According to him, the task before the President looks daunting, but judging by his past record as former head of state, minister of petroleum, chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and former military governor of Borno State, he will deliver on good governance.

He urged the President to work hard to end Boko Haram insurgency, tackle corruption and address socioinfrastructural decay in the land.

The Arewa chief promised that the pan-North socio-political forum will cooperate with the Buhari administration in its efforts to restore the country’s glory.

•Continued on page 57

A New Nigeria begins today, says Tinubu Text of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill message to Nigerians on Democracy Day.

• Asiwaju Tinubu

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ODAY shall be recorded in our history as the moment when democrats have finally been allowed to participate in Democracy Day. The reason for this is the millions of average Nigerians, who voted to make the day a reality. Should any of you wish to see a true hero of democracy, don’t fret. Just look into the nearest mirror.

The celebrations, prior to this, were false showings; they were the commemoration of wrong. The path we have taken to come to this august moment has not been one of easy victory

or swift progress.

Instead, it has been a path hewed by the triumph of resilience over broken promises and fraudulent avowals of representative governance. Reaching this fine moment has been a story told in the cadence of the victory of the common good over arrogant power.

The voice of the solitary poor man, no one hears. But the votes of the poor became a potent army, capable of toppling the very citadel of high privilege in order to bring forth national awakening, no less historic and important than the very birth of this nation.

Today, we shall witness the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, a great, honourable and dedicated public servant as our President. This is indeed an inspiring moment, a turning-point in our national direction and the reclamation of our best destiny.

We shall celebrate this achievement but not in mindless, care-free fashion. The road ahead is still choked with the debris of problems left too long unattended.

We are well aware of the challenges pitted against our wellbeing. Insecurity, economic decline and corruption, we must fight and fight as if we are going to war not a carnival.

Most of all, we must fight the temptation of hopelessness, the sense that little good will come out of even the greatest efforts.

This is where I want to thank and commend all those who voted in the past elections.

It is you who turned today into a celebration of true democracy which it was intended to be.

With no guarantee, save your faith, and armed solely with the hope and promise of a better tomorrow through better governance, you fought the mounting tide of power and money. That tide tried to induce you to sell your democratic rights and your chance for a greater future on the cheap.

In the eyes of those who were self-exalted, you had been debased and brought low by visible circumstance of poverty and lack. You seemed to them ripe for purchase. Yet, inside, you retained the greatness of character and a loyalty to the democratic ideal incomprehensible to those who believed that everything can be bought.

You showed them that your self-definition as human beings and as Nigerians was not for sale or tender. As a result, he who had been given so much, so easily by so many was humbled. You, who have been ridiculed, reduced and written off, were lifted up. The will of the people hath reclaimed its sovereignty.

This has been a blossoming of justice and the illumination of the power of human decency.

So often, Nigeria has been portrayed negatively before the world. Not this time.

The world is proud of what you have done and how you have advanced the cause of fairness and right. What you have done has lent solace to those still struggling to establish democracy and responsive governance in their homelands. They now see Nigeria as an inspiring example. They seek to be like you, to travel the road you just trod.

Today, Nigeria is no longer in chains as we move into a new era and take hold of our selves.

From President Buhari to the state governors inaugurated today, I wish them well and pray they govern in an open, democratic way that assures your optimal wellbeing.

I ask that you, the people, maintain your diligence and help guide those you have just elected.

The issues that confront us are deep and complex. They are not susceptible to facile solution or inattention. Wise and sound policy is within our capacity. But, we must have the will to accomplish it. If both the governed and the government work in league, there is nothing our beloved nation cannot overcome.

Let it be said that on this day, the nation consecrate itself to the ideal that governance is the sacred instrument of the people and never again shall it be the exclusive recreation of a select few. No longer shall democracy day be a shallow ritual. Henceforth, it is a living truth.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

8

NEWS APC: Osun free from Omisore

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has called on the people to rejoice because the state is finally free of a political albatross, Iyiola Omisore.

The Supreme Court threw out the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , which sought to have its candidate, Omisore, declared winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship election.

In a statement by the APC Director of Publicity, Strategy and Research, Kunle Oyatomi, the party said: “The Omisore phenomenon of political terror is over for good, and the people can now breathe a sigh of relief.

“The Supreme Court judgment was a coup-de-grace to Omisore’s political ambition to become governor.

“The judgment depicted Omisore as a politician who lacked the wisdom to know when to stop pressing a futile cause.

“Such politician would have been a complete disaster in office.

“So Omisore’s defeat was the best thing to have happened to Osun.

“Omisore is one of the early casualties of the change that the resurgence of the rule of law has brought about and would enforce in the days ahead.”

Woman, daughter regain freedom From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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BUSINESSWOMAN, Mrs Opeyemi Adeniran and her daughter, Oyinkansola, who were kidnapped last Friday at her Academy, Odo-Ona Elewe, home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have been released by their abductors.

It was gathered that Mrs Adeniran and her daughter were released yesterday unhurt.

Mrs Adeniran was quoted to have appreciated her friends who showed concern .

She said: “We using this medium to thank everyone who supported us during this trying period.

“Mother and daughter were released early yesterday. God bless you all.”

A source said the woman was immediately taken away by her family.

All efforts to know her whereabouts proved abortive as family members declined to speak to reporters.

Police spokesman Kunle Ajisebutu said mother and daughter were rescued by the anti-kidnapping squad of the command.

“They are currently undergoing post-trauma medical treatment and counselling at the posttrauma counselling unit of our hospital, Eleyele, before being reunited with their family.They were rescued around 0430hours yesterday,” he said.

•Fashola (middle); Ambode (third left); Deputy Governor-elect Mrs. Oluranti Adebule (third right); Ajomale (second left); Mrs. Nelson; Igbokwe (right) and the APC Acting Secretary Femi Saheed. (INSET) Fashola (right) presenting the hand over notes to Ambode...yesterday.

L

Fashola to Ambode: I’m a phone call away

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday told his successor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, that he is always available.

“I’m a phone call away,” Fashola said when he presented handover notes to the governor-elect at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by members and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by its Chairman, Henry Ajomale; Women Leader Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe; traditional rulers led by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, and some aides of the governor-elect.

Handing over the notes at 3pm, Fashola promised to always support and assist the incoming administration.

He said: “The time is winding down and I took a quick check at my watch and I saw that we have eight hours, 30 more minutes left.

•Presents handover notes

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

“But before that time winds down, let me congratulate you again for a very successful campaign.

“Let me also congratulate our party chairman for the support and the victory.

“Let me also assure you of best wishes from my family, members of the Executive Council, public servants who served with me.

“Our prayers will be with you and our wish would be for your outstanding success.

“And I would always be one phone call away, so will every member of our team. “ We’ll provide any support and assistance for any assignment you wish us to undertake.

“Be assured that I would continue to pray for your success daily.

“As you might be aware,

we have worked with a transition team that you set up headed by the deputy governor and I believe that they have handed over the documents.

“These are the summary of all the documents with my final letter conveying them to you.

“Also conveying all the executive orders that I have issued during the course of my administration for you to see whichever you want to continue with or which one you want to review.

“Once again, I say congratulations and my very best wishes for a successful remarkable historic and development filled tenure.”

Beaming with smiles, Ambode, dressed in blue native attire, thanked Fashola for the experience he garnered working under him.

He said it would help his administration surmount

the challenges ahead and continue to oil the wheel of progress in the state.

The governor-elect said: “I have had the greatest honour and opportunity to work under his Excellency.

“I have been his student, he has been a teacher, a mentor and we are here today to do a transition.

“We can never be able to measure the impact that you have made until historians start to write about the difference between 2007 and 2015 in terms of the strain and stress you have gone through. “ I always think about how will it be in another four years but I have the consolation that you survived eight years, so I should be able to survive another eight.

“But the future is about the prosperity of Lagos and the future of Lagos.

“If there is anyone who has shown total commit-

Bamidele must fulfill conditions, APC which, if not chalsay ward leaders lenged, are capable of mis-

•Bamidele

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HE furore over a lawmaker’s, Opeyemi Bamidele’s, defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to abate.

His ward leaders in IyinEkiti have maintained that Bamidele has certain conditions to fulfill before he will be allowed to join the party.

A statement by Iyin Ward A Chairman Ope Ogundele and Iyin Ward B Chairman Folorunso Adeuyi said: “Our attention has been drawn to certain claims by Opeyemi Bamidele on his purported membership of

leading the public.

“It should be made clear that Bamidele was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

“He left for Labour Party just as APC was being born from the merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP; so, he was never a member of APC. “His claim, therefore, that he was never suspended is a ruse because we wonder why a man who was never a member of our party could be suspended from a party he never belonged to.

“The fact is that he was never a member of APC at all. His name is nowhere in the register of APC members in Iyin Ward B. “Bamidele, as a Labour Party candidate, sponsored thugs to attack APC members in Iyin during the governorship race.

“Records exist that wherever these hoodlums were apprehended, he was the one sponsoring their bail.

“Bamidele’s purported contribution to President-

elect Muhammadu Buhari securing 41 per cent of votes in Ekiti is laughable.

“He did not attend any APC meeting ; neither did he make any positive contribution to the party.

He is fond of currying APC’s leaders’ favour in Abuja on behalf of the party he has worked against in Ekiti.

“For instance, Bamidele still sponsored Labour Party candidates against APC in the last House of Assembly elections even though his candidate emerged last.

“Bamidele’s effort to deceive us into believing that our leaders endorsed his registration is quite amusing. We refuse to be deceived that any of our leaders could have asked Bamidele to register in Abuja.

“On his popularity claim, he is a person who scored 18, 000 votes in his bid to become governor.

“What other way to prove one’s popularity! Whereas he scored 42,000 votes in Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government when he

was in ACN where he contested the National Assembly election.

“In the last House of Assembly and National Assembly elections in his constituency, even though he moved round with LP candidates , his candidate scored 665 votes as against the APC candidate who scored 3,400 votes. This shows how popular and accepted Bamidele is!

“He made reference to certain leaders who he perceives as enemies.

“We do not want to imagine that he is referring to those who have succeeded where he had failed, by becoming governor at various times.

“These people all registered in their various wards and their contributions to the party are very visible.

“Finally, we want to remind Bamidele of what our national leaders, including Buhari recently said that everybody should remain in his party for now. We encourage Bamidele to take that advice.”

ment and passion for the development of Lagos State you have done it selflessly.

“You have done it with all sense of responsibility and I want to on behalf of myself , family and the whole of Lagos thank you.

“I know that at every point in time we would be able to assess you and be able to draw from that wealth of experience.

“On behalf of the party we want to thank you for offering yourself to the APC and say thank for doing this for Lagos State and Nigeria. Nigeria will never forget you.”

Advice for Amosun From Ernest Nwokolo Abeokuta

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HE Methodist Church, Nigeria, yesterday urged Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun to make the sustenance of the relative “peace and security” in the state part of his second term priorities.

The Church, which lauded Amosun for the return of peace to the state, said the tempo should not only be sustained, but also improved upon.

The Archbishop of Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba Diocese, Rev Luke Odubanjo, spoke at a briefing yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Rev Odubanjo said the Church’s Prelate, His Emminence, Chukwuemeka Uche, will visit the state next week.

He advised Amosun to create more jobs for the youth and graduates.

The Archbishop also called on the governor to return missionary schools to their owners.

Rev Odubanjo said the government lacks the resources to singlehandedly provide education for the citizens.

He noted that the church is a good human resource manager and has been contributing to the building and development of people.

The Archbishop recalled that the late Premier of Old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late Dr Tai Solarin were some of the products of the Methodist Church’s mission schools.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

9

NEWS

Lagos rail transit project to cost N456b

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ANAGING DIRECTOR, Infrastructure

Bank Plc, Adekunle Oyinloye, has said the proposed Lagos Metro Rail Transit (LMRT) project will cost about N456 billion ($2.4 billion).

Oyinloye, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the project involves fixed infrastructure, tracks, stations and rolling stocks.

“We still have some paper works to do with the Lagos State government for concessioning.

“Immediately, the concessioning is done and we have a bankable document, then the project will start.

“We are hoping and believing that within the next six to eight months we will

be able to get to finance close and we will start,’’ the Managing Director said.

Oyinloye said the bank was a member of the Consortium, which created the Marina Express Train Services, which it was partnering with to construct the rail line known as “Red Line’’.

“Infrastructure Bank is also the transaction advisor and finance arranger for the project.

“It bided for the Red Line project, which started since 2008.

“When we got the preferred bidder status, the right of way was not available so we had to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and Lagos State Ministry of Transport.

“We also had to work behind the scene with the Min-

istry of Transport to ensure that the right of way was granted,’’ Oyinloye said.

NAN reports that the right of way for the proposed Iddo-Agbado corridor for Lagos Metro Rail Transit known as “Red Line’’ was handed over and ceded on May 22 in Abuja.

He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for granting the right of way for which the construction of the rail line could start.

He said the rail line when completed would encourage socio- economic activities across the country, adding that those living in Lagos would benefit from the project when completed.

Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation Kayode Opeifa said the proposed project would create jobs.

“It will reduce the cost of transportation and save money for citizens; it will improve our mass transit system by moving more people within a shorter period by decongesting the road and managing the traffic accurately.

“There will be low greener gas emission from cars and people will be able to move their goods to the market at a cheaper rate.

“We are going to link the state and improve tourism.

The Blue Line runs east-west from Okukumaiko to Marina while the Red Line runs west to south from Ogun State to Lagos,’’ he said.

Opeifa said once the concession system was concluded, construction would start and could take about three to four years to complete.

Fire razes shops in Ondo

F

IRE yesterday gutted a shopping complex in Ayede-Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The fire lasted for hours before it was put out.

Eyewitnesses said residents heard a loud sound before the building went up in flames.

A victim, Sikiru Raheem, said all electric applianc-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

es were switched off before he left his shop the previous day.

Raheem, who relocated to the shop recently, said he had lost all his equipment.

It was gathered that there was no electricity supply in the town at the time of the incident.

Raheem appealed to the government for help.

Ajimobi inaugurates 7.3km roads

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yes-

terday inaugurated the dualised 7.3 km DugbeMagazine-Eleyele Road, which spurs to Aleshinloye-OnirekeAgbarigo Road in Ibadan.

He pledged that his administration would continue to open the state for more socio-economic development.

The governor said his administration delivered the project within 18 months.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work done, saying it would contribute to the overall development of the state.

“The aesthetics that this project has brought to Oyo State is a precursor to the influx of investors.

“This is part of the engineering that must be done to reposition our state to be at par with developed states. ``We have every cause to be grateful to God for this project. Many dreamt but could not actualise their dreams, but for us we did not only dream but we were also able to actualise it,'' he said.

The governor added that the road would be named after a prominent indigene, who has contributed to the growth and development of the state.

Commissioner for WorksBimbo Kolade praised the governor for his determination to complete the project.

Robbery suspects arrested in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE police have arrested three robbery suspects in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Saheed Aro, Mustapha Arogundade (aka Sego) and Akeem Odejinmi were arrested, following a tip-off by the Divisional Police Officer of Ibara, Adebowale Lawal.

The arrest ofAro, the perceived gang leader in Igbein, led to the capture of two others yesterday.

Guns, axes, cutlasses, jack knife and charms were recovered from them.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the Commissioner of Police, Val Ntomchukwu, has instructed that investigation begins immediately.

Adejobi said the case would be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit, Eleweran.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to provide adequate security in the state.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

I always like to emphasise that I am never too keen on bailouts because they are always fraught with malpractices just like waivers and things like that. It’s always better to have a level playing field.

-Managing Director of Cocosheen Nigeria Limited, Henry Boyo

• From left: Unilever Global CEO, Paul Polman; British Deputy High Commissioner, Martin Uden; Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh; Managing Director, Control Risk, Thomas Griffin and Executive Vice President, Unilever Africa, Bruno Witvoet, during a breakfast meeting in honour of Polman’s visit to Nigeria.

Court bars NERC from tariff increment

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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FEDERAL High Court in Lagos yesterday re strained the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from implementing the new electricity tariff billed to be effective from Monday, June 1.

Ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by a lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, Justice Mohammed Idris restrained NERC and the electricity distribution companies (Discos) from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the determination of the suit.

Following the commission’s announcement of proposed increment, Adebiyi had prayed the court to stop NERC and the Discos from foisting further hardship and unjustifiable increment of tariff on Nigerians.

Adebiyi is seeking an order restraining the NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigerian.

He wants an order restraining the NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until “the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used.”

He also wants the service charge on pre-paid meters to not be enforced until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed.

The lawyer is praying the court to mandate the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity need of Nigerians, adding that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple long-term financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other finance sectors.

Granting the applicant to serve the respondents all the processes in its office in Abuja, the judge adjourned the case to June 11.

Lagos pays N33.5b to retirees under CPS

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ITH another pay ment of N1.3 billion pension benefits to 296 retires by the Lagos State government, the state has paid N33.5 billion under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in eight years.

Consequently, 6,441 workers who retired from the state public service under the CPS have received their pension benefits.

The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Rotimi Adekunle Hussain, in a statement, endorsed by the Press and Public Relations Officer, Taofeek Lawal, said the payment to the 296 retirees, is their past service benefits prior to the commencement of the scheme in

By Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

April, 2007.

He said the outgoing administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, is leaving behind a worthy legacy in the operation of the CPS in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

Hussain said retirees with Stanbic IBTC Pension Fund Administrator, were presented their bond certificates on Tuesday; those with Trustfund, ARM, NLPC and Leadway Pensure got theirs on Wednesday, while the retirees with Crusader Sterling Pension Fund Administrator, were presented their bond certificates yesterday in the premises of

the Commission.

While advising the retirees on how to conduct themselves in retirement, he urged them to avoid spending their hardearned retirement benefits on frivolities, saying unnecessary spending and elaborate social engagements should be curtailed in retirement.

He also encouraged them not to venture into businesses they are not familiar with, and urged them not to allow swindlers who will come to them with several business ideas with a view to luring them into unscrupulous businesses, such as oil and gas which will later turn to regret.

The LASPEC boss expressed optimism and confidence that the laudable achievements of Fashola’s administration in the CPS, will be consolidated upon by the in-coming administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

“We are confident that the in-coming administration of Akinwunmi Ambode and Dr. Idiat Adebule, would not relent on efforts aimed at ensuring that employer and employee joint contributions are remitted regularly and every worker who serves the state government continues to enjoy the best of pension services in the tradition of excellence,” he added.

Senate orders filling stations shut over fuel scarcity

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HAIRMAN of the Sen ate Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources investigating the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, Magnus Abe, yesterday directed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to seal off any filling station hoarding the product.

Abe also assured that the long queues at filling stations across the country would soon disappear.

He told reporters in Abuja that the committee has approached the Lagos State government and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to allow tanker drivers lift petroleum products in compliance with the resolutions agreed with the

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From Onyedi Ojiabor, Asst.

Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Senate joint committee and stakeholders in the oil industry.

“I have spoken with the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport and the Chairman of NUPENG in Lagos and they’ve assured me that everybody is complying.

“The situation will improve and it will continue to improve. There’s still a lot of panic buying going on but, as days go by, the queues would reduce,” Abe said.

Asked if the Senate was satisfied with the progress recorded since it brokered truce among stakeholders in the oil sector, Abe said:

“Nobody can say he’s satisfied with the present situation because as I would say, this is something that would happen again and again except we have a drastic review and overhaul of the entire system and the entire scheme...this is not a permanent solution.

“It’s a stop-gap measure to allow normalcy to return to the sector. It would be the responsibility of the incoming administration to look for a more permanent solution.

“I am very confident that normalcy will soon be restored and I urge Nigerians to give the system a chance to correct itself and those who have fuel do not necessarily need to go back to the filling stations to refill be-

cause there’s no scarcity coming.

“Those who do not need to buy for their cars or jerrycans should not buy in jerrycans to store at home because when you do that, you are contributing to the scarcity.

“We have given very clear instructions to the DPR that anybody who has stock and is not selling in the hours that we have agreed, should have their licenses revoked and their facilities sealed.

“I will get in touch with DPR today to ensure that the nobody toys with that instruction.

“If anybody has information to the contrary, that the filling stations are hoarding, they should contact DPR and they would be dealt with.”

Kwara begins tax harmonisation

WARA State Gover nor, Abdulfatah Ahmed has said his administration has started the harmonisation of taxes and the creation of new policies to ease investment culture.

Ahmed, who spoke at the opening of the Gbose Mall in Ilorin, the state capital, said the state’s strategy was

to create a business friendly environment.

“Current economic realities make it mandatory for us to explore new areas of revenue generation such as increased investment inflow and the associated gains in tax revenue.

“A vibrant and incentivised private sector will therefore be a valuable partner in our

quest to de-couple our state from reliance on oil and become self-reliant,” he said.

The governor urged the people of the state to remain receptive to investment that could bring jobs and other benefits to the state, adding that the Gbose Mall will “generate jobs for our youths, stimulate the local economy and create

more prosperity.”

The Project Director of Gbose Automobile Limited said the Mall was established in support of the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration’s vision of robust partnership between the state government and the organised private sector in the industrial development of the state.

Tariff: Court strikes out suit against DSTV

By Precious Igbonwelundu

A

FEDERAL High Court in Lagos yesterday struck out a suit filed against Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the 20 per cent increment in DSTV fees by aggrieved subscribers.

Two lawyers, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, had filed the class action on behalf of themselves and other DStv subscribers across the country, seeking a restraining order against MultiChoice from implementing the new charges it commenced on April Although the trial judge, Justice Chukwujeku Aneke had issued an interim order stopping the firm from implementing the new rate, pending the determination of the suit, MultiChoice chose to ignore the order.

The company in its preliminary objection to the suit had argued that Nigeria operates a free market economy, adding that the suit contradicted the mandatory provisions of Sections 97 and 98 of the Sherrifs and Civil Processes Act, which stipulate that a writ to be served outside jurisdiction must be concurrently issued.

Although it was argued that the NBC was not served in compliance with the rules, the plantiffs through their lawyer, Yemi Salma, had urged the court to discountenance such argument, as Section 19 of the Federal High Court Act, clearly defined the jurisdiction of the court to be one within Nigeria.

The plaintiffs had sought an order of the court compelling the NBC to regulate the activities of MultiChoice so as to prevent what they described as arbitrary increment in subscription rates.

They prayed the court to impress it on NBC to be alive to its statutory responsibility by ensuring that MultiChoice is compelled to implement the payper-view scheme in Nigeria, whereby subscribers would only pay for programmes they watched, as was being done in other parts of the world where MultiChoice operated.

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FRIDAY MAY 29, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•The late Dr. Azikiwe

• The late Sir Balewa

•The late Gen. Ironsi

• Gen. Gowon

• Gen. Muhammed

• Gen. Obasanjo

• Alhaji Shagari

•Gen. Buhari

• Gen. Babangida

• Chief Shonekan

• The late Gen. Abacha

• Gen. Abdulsalami

• Chief Obasanjo

• Alhaji Yar’Adua

•Dr. Jonathan

I

N almost 55 years, Nigeria has witnessed 14 administrations. Eight of them were military regimes. One was an interim contraption; a mixed grill of soldiers and their civilian collaborators. Five were civilian governments. Today, the sixth civilian government, which is the 15th administration headed by Muhammadu Buhari, will start to lead the country in a new journey into the future.

Buhari was the military Head of State between 1984 and 1985. Before him was Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who also returned to power 20 years after he left as the Head of State.

The slow pace of development in Africa’s most populous country underscores, in part, the failure of indigenous leadership. Nigeria was projected to become a potential middlelevel world power in the seventies, owing its vast natural endowment and other potentials.

But, when its leaders failed to lay a strong foundation for a united nation, the country was threatened by disintegration. Nigeria has not become an economic miracle. Even the national question has remained unresolved. It has a great future ahead of it. But, only a dynamic leadership can take fulfill its dream.

At independence, the Prime Minister was the late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Then, the country practiced parliamentary system.

Barely six years after, the military displaced legitimate authorities. The First Republic was the era of the pathfinders who doubled as ethnic champions. The big three-Alhaji Ahmadu Bello (North), Chief Obafemi Awolowo (West) and Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe (East)-coordinated that ethnic battle for relevance. They managed to agree on some basic federal principles. Although there were crises and tensions triggered by the hot battle for federal power, it was evident that, in an atmosphere of true federalism, the three, later four, regions were ready to

From Balewa to Buhari:

A nation thirsty for good leadership

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor

develop at their pace, and within the limit of their resources.

However, the period was characterised by corruption, avarice, nepotism and rigging of elections, especially in the wild wild West. The ring leader of the coup plotters, Major.

Chukwuemeka Nzeogwu, attempted to topple the Balewa Government. The project was hijacked by senior officers who later departed from the vision of the supposedly military modernisers. When Balewa was killed, soldiers of Northern origin were not happy. They sworn to avenge the blood of Bello and Balewa at a later date.

Gen. Thomas Aguity-Ironsi, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, became the Head of State in 1966. But, six months after, he was assassinated by ‘Northern’ soldiers. Ironsi came to office unprepared. He was not sensitive to the prevailing conditions and the differences among the regions, which have been aggravated by the first coup. The Head of State abolised the regions, thereby sti-

fling the doctrine of theoretical autonomy. His unification decree was offensive to the political leaders. In fact, for six months, Ironsi could not set up a proper cabinet. He was killed at Ibadan by the gang of Theophilus Danjuma and Murtala Muhammed. Also assassinated was his host, Co,. Adekunle Fajuyi, the military governor of Western State.

The Army chief, Colonel (later General) Yakubu Gowon, assumed the reins. He spent nine years in office. Gowon did not anticipate the leadership responsibilities suddenly entrusted on his shoulders. His emergence, as claimed by the military governor of Eastern State, Col. Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disrupted the seniority and succession pattern in the military. Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe, he insisted, should have succeeded Ironsi, instead of Jack. Also, there was pogrom in the North, with many Igbos as casualties. As the ego war between Gowon and Ojukwu persisted, Ojukwu plunged the country into war by declaring the East as the Republic of Biafra. For 30 months, the nation was at war with itself.

After winning the war, Gowon refused to set up a transition programme. Many top gov-

ernment officials have become so corrupt. In 1975, Gen. Murtala Muhammed toppled Gowon in a bloodless coup. Murtala stepped on toes. He was a man in a hurry. He thread the populist path, setting up a transition programme and waging war against corruption.

On February 13, 1976, he was killed in a coup led by Col. Bukar Dimka. The Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo became the new Head of State. On October 1, 1979, he voluntarily handed over to President Shehu Shagari.

Nigeria practiced presidential system between 1979 and 1983. The civilians did not learn from their mistakes during previous 13 year-interregnum. They became more reckless in the Second Republic. When Awolowo warned Shagari that the ship of state was about to hit the rock, he was ignored. The economy was crumbling. Service delivery was poor. But, on December 31, 1983, the military sacked the administration. The first four years of presidential system became history. Buhari became the Head of State.

Buhari and his deputy, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, wanted to clear the Augean table. They waged war against graft in high places. All forms of indiscipline were not condoned. It was a government of financial accountability. Foreign debts were paid. Loopholes were bridged. But, the human rights record of the administration was poor.

In August 1985, Buhari was displaced in a palace coup by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The military President was in power for eight years. The General dribbled the country throughout his regime. It was another eight years of political, economic and social experimentation which produced no mean•Continued on page 18

THE NATION FRIDAY MAY 29, 2015

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POLITICS

‘

As 16 years of PDP’s rule will terminate today, eyes are on the new APC government. Will Buhari maintain a clean break from the past and reposition the country for excellence? Time will tell

’

The inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari today means that Katsina State has produced an elected president for the second time. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines the factors that worked in Buhari’s favour.

2007 he contested against the late Yar’Adua also from Katsina State; Buhari secured 18 per cent of the total votes cast, while Yar’Adua got 70 per cent. Buhari rejected the result and headed for the courts.

Yar’Adua later admitted that the election that brought him to power was flawed. He later left the ANPP and established the defunct the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC); the platform where he contested against Jonathan in 2011.

About two years ago, the oppositions realised that it would be impossible to defeat the PDP at the centre, if it failed to form a united front. This motivated the Action Congress of Nigeria led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the CPC, the ANPP led by the former Governor of Kano State Ibrahim Shekarau and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alli-

ance (APGA) led by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, to team up.

The result of that merger produced the APC, the platform on which the Katsina-born politician rode to power. Buhari has become a household name in Nigeria today.

During the APC primaries, his kinsmen from Katsina State, who stormed the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, left no one in doubt that they were serious to produce the President.

In the election that brought Buhari to power, the Katsina State delivered over 90 per cent of its vote to the APC. Unlike Obasanjo, whose electoral successes at home have not been overwhelming, Buhari case is a different kettle of fish.

Nigeria’s democratic train derailed after six years of independence. Following independence in 1960, Alhaji Tafawa Balawa from Bauchi State was elected to lead the country, but the administration was brought to an end shortly after, paving the way for the late General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi who hailed from Abia State to lead the country briefly in 1966. He spent six months in office before he was removed in a coup d’etat that claimed his life.

General Yakubu Gowon from Plateau State came on board and was there till 1975 when General Murtala Mohammed from Kano State came to power. His regime was succeeded by General Obasanjo, who later handed over to Alhaji Shehu Shagari from Sokoto State as civilian leader in 1979. The administration came to an abrupt end when it was sacked by a military junta led by Major-General Buhari in 1983.

In 1985, Buhari was toppled by General Ibrahim Babangida in another coup. That was when Shonekan was brought in to head the interim government that took over from Abacha, who later died in office.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar from Niger State took over in 1998 and handed over to Obasanjo, who was elected on the platform of the PDP. In the first civilian-to-civilian transition, Obasanjo handed over to the Umaru Yar’Adua from Katsina State. Yar’Adua was in charge between 2007 and 2010.

Yar’Adua’s death created the opportunity for President Goodluck Jonathan to step in as the new leader. Jonathan secured a pan-Nigeria mandate in 2011 to lead the country, but failed in his re-election bid in the last general elections.

He was the beneficiary of his boss’ impeachment. He was governor for a brief period before he became Yar’Adua’s running mate. When Yar’Adua was incapacitated by illness, he was liberated from the cabal and made the Acting President

by Nigerians in accordance with the constitution. At work was the doctrine of necessity. Later, Dr. Jonathan succeeded his boss as the President.

In 2011, he contested his first election. As a candidate of the ruling party from a minority ethnic group, he elicited sympathy. He described himself as a shoeless boy from Otuoke, assuring that he will serve the poor. He defeated Buhari at the poll. But, there was a huge gap between expectation and reality afterwards. The challenges overwhelmed the President.

He ignored public outcry and demand for their sack. Nigerians started to have negative perception about the administration.

The ruling party was in crisis. The President could not wield it together.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum was in crisis. He took sides. For months, university, polytechnic and college teachers were on strike. Infrastructure battle stopped. During campaigns, the President’s men went to rallies with generators. Electricity was beyond reach. Corruption was on the increase. The President clarified that stealing was different from corruption. Irked by his style of leadership, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande described him as a kindergarten President. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Dr. Jonathan was clueless.

As 16 years of PDP’s rule will terminate today, eyes are on the new APC government. Will Buhari maintain a clean break from the past and reposition the country for excellence? Time will tell.

History beckons as Buhari takes power

S

INCE independence in 1960, no state has been fortunate to produce the number one citizen twice under the democratic dispensation. With the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, today Katsina State will make history as the only state that has achieved the feat. Even when the military era is taken into account, only few other states have produced the Head of State twice or more. The other states are: Ogun, Kano and Niger states.

Kano and Niger states produced the Head of State twice during the military era. Ogun and Katsina produced the Head of State twice in both military and civilian dispensation. An indigene of Ogun State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, occupied the seat of power in interim capacity before the late General Sani Abacha shoved him aside. Between 1999 and 2007, another indigene of the state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, served two terms of office as a civilian leader. He had earlier occupied the number one position between 1976 and 1979 as a military leader.

However, Katsina State did not come to occupy the lofty position by accident. It has been in the vanguard for the quest for power. The state has produced notable politicians and military officers. Some of the indigenes, who have served at the federal level, had come to terms with the dynamics of power, using the opportunity to tilt the balance of power in the state’s favour.

It has struggled for power right from the colonial days; this is well documented in the political evolution of the country. They have come to terms with politics, ensuring that each time Nigeria embraces democracy, they participated at the highest level. Some of the notable indigenes of the state are former Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Coomassie, former Chief Justice Mohammed Bello, the late General Hassan Katsina, Mallam Lawal Kaita, Mohammed Tukur Liman, Mallam Sani Daura, the late General Musa Yar’Adua, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and others.

The late General Yar’Adua, for instance, was a force to be reckoned with. He served as the next in command to General Obasanjo when he was, Head of State. Yar’Adua’s meteoric rise in his military career was unparalleled; the death of General

•Osinbajo

•Continued from page 17

ingful result. He set up a transition programme. A free and fair election was conducted. A winner, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, emerged.

But, the exercise was criminally annulled. Despite the money wasted on the exercise, the military President subverted the project.

Babangida was succeeded after stepping aside by the Head of In-

...Katsina: Twice lucky Murtala Muhammed paved the way for the ascendance of the military officers under him like Yar’Adua. Muhammed was murdered in a coup on February 13, 1976. To fill the gap created in the power structure, Yar’Adua was elevated to the next in command as a compensation for the Northwest that had lost its prominent son, Murtala, in the coup.

His political relevance manifested in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a structure which former Vice President Atiku Abubakar used for political relevance.

Katisna made headlines during the Sheu Yar’Adua’s presidential ambition, making inroads in almost all the states. He was later charged for treason under the Abacha government and sentenced to death over a phantom coup.

His younger brother, Umaru Yar’Adua, who later became the President was not raised in the mould of his senior brother’s political sagacity. But, through consistency, he railed his way to the highest office of the land.

During the long transition programme of General Babangida, who kept on shifting the hand over date until the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election compelled him to leave power in a hurry, Umaru Yar’Adua was a politician of note. The younger Yar’Adua later became a founding member of the Peoples Front, a political association led by his elder brother.

In 1991, Yar’Adua contested for the governors of Katsina State under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), but lost.

Seven years later, he took part in the formation of the K34 political association, which later merged with the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ran for the governor of the state, which he won in 1999. He was reelected in 2003.

Katsina State served as the Mecca to politicians during the build up to the emergence of the late Yar Adua when his name was mentioned as the likely successor to President Obasanjo. Yar’Adua gained public acceptance as his lifestyle and activities were chronicled from wide perspective.

But, he died in office, leaving bookmakers and Nigerians to mourn one of the best leaders whose public conduct was premised on good example.

Like Ogun, where the influence of Obasanjo made headlines for the state, Katsina will come under scrutiny and public watch in the next four years as President Buhari mounts the saddle. The 72-year old General has served in various capacities before he became the Head of State in 1983.

He was enlisted into the army in 1963 and attended various military trainings; both in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country. He was Director of Supply and Training, Nigeria Army Corps Headquarters. Buhari became Military Governor of North Eastern State in 1975 and later served as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources in 1976.

He served as Military Secretary and in 1983 to 1985, he was Commander –in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and was later, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTDF).

Having retired from the military the soldier-turned politician sought a new platform to serve his fatherland. He joined the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and was defeated by President Obasanjo. In

‘

With the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Katsina State has just made history as the only state that has achieved the feat. Even when the military era is taken into account, only few other states have produced the number one citizen or Head of State twice or more

•Buhari

•The late Yar’Adua

’ A nation thirsty for good leadership

terim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan. He did not understand the setting. He was a nominal Commander-in-Chief. But, barely three months later, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Sani Abacha, shoved him aside and pronounced himself as the Head of State.

However, Abacha, who had wanted to transmute into a civilian President, died in 1998. He had waged the most cruelest war against democracy. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, became the Head of State. He hurriedly handed over to Chief Obasanjo in 1999.

Obasanjo ruled like a soldier that he is. He brooked no opposition.

Court orders were worthless. In his first term, he tried to lay an effective foundation. He initiated a new anticorruption course, setting up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other

Related Matters Commission (ICPC). The two organs were later used to witch hunt political opponents. Electricity could not be fixed.

Roads still remained death traps.

Refineries could not be revived. Rigging became pervasive.

Obasanjo was succeeded by the late Alhaji Sheu Yar’Adua in 2007.

He was slowed down by illness. He died before the expiration of his tenure. His deputy, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, became the President. Today, he will bow out of office after six years in the saddle.

Jonathan will go down, not as a giant of history, but as a leader who could not live to the billing of leadership. Indeed, he was not adequately prepared for the massive task. Despite his high academic qualification, he could not make much difference.

The Bayelsa State-born politician was deputy governor under former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

LETTER

Agenda for Buhari (5)

Time to build institutions • If he does not start well, he will play catch-up, and that does not bode well

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ODAY the Buhari era begins. And the glory and success of this era will depend on whether it is the institution that supervenes and not the will of the strong man.

The history of Africa’s flirtation with progress has been defined by the ancient deference to men and the diminution of the process. That explains the grip for over two generations of a cabal of vicious stragglers around the corridor of power on the society. The consequence has not only been the atrophy of the republican ethos, but a slew of sufferings that include poverty, disease and ignorance.

As the Buhari government marches onto the stage, the nation is in its lowest ebb for over a generation. The standard of education has plummeted, people die from preventable illnesses, infrastructure has decayed and where it has not, it is nonexistent. We will concede that some state governors have etched their performances in stellar ways, even if such glorious doings still fall significantly short of the nation’s needs and expectations. Many young men and women have no jobs, and those who have skills cannot match their engagements with qualifications.

Security, especially the rise of insurgency, has pockmarked the landscape of the north and paralysed the rhythm not only of commercial life but also of social life, and led to the evaporation of towns and villages and the defilement of womanhood.

At the higher reaches of government, the greatest tragedy is rampant corruption. It has been noted that Nigeria’s main challenge is how to rise above the base instinct to satisfy individual and group interests at the expense of the corporate progress of country. Individuals, tribes, political groupings and religious fidelities take precedence over the happiness of the whole.

•Buhari That is the fulcrum of corruption. Our bulwark against this fortress of decay is the adherence to the principle of the rule of law. That is where the Buhari administration must begin.

It is the adherence to the rule of law that will show that institutions are more important that the strong man. The end purpose of institutions is to ennoble the humans. We do not seek the law for the law’s sake. Humans make the law but the law ought to be bigger than the humans, for humans make the law in the ultimate interests of the humans.

So, if we follow the principle of the rule of law, we shall not have the sort of impunity that besmirched the past halfdecade when contracts were awarded on the basis of cronyism, and performance or execution of the contracts was rare or shoddy. Due process is a byproduct of the application of the rule of law. The right people get the contracts so that the right job is done, and the people will enjoy the right benefits.

The tragedy of the power reforms under the Goodluck Jonathan administration was that due diligence did not take place, and those who eventually took over the GENCOs and DISCOs were not immersed in the finances and state of technology of the power companies they were buying. It

led to a cap-in-hand rush to the government and banks for support, thereby problematising the tackling of darkness in our homes and power in the offices.

The nation slid even further into energy crises, and the consequences were deeper poverty, unemployment and infrastructure travails.

To pursue the rule of law cannot ensure a prosperous society but it lays its foundation. We shall continue to see the society as a place of rules and not of men.

Talent will take superior position over cronyism and opportunism, and it will also trigger industry rather than the sluggish bones of the slothful who want to reap where they did not sow.

With that we can build physical infrastructures that will not collapse over our heads but will serve as anchor for the farmer to get his wares to the consumer

and the teacher to convey his message and give homework assignments without fear of power failure.

Social infrastructure, underpinned by healthcare and education, will flourish.

The mind and the body constitute the greatest assets to any society. Once these are guaranteed, all will flourish.

One of the drawbacks of the Jonathan administration was lack of budgetary discipline. The reason was that the era lacked accountability and wallowed in profligacy. It is one flaw the Buhari administration must avoid, and it will do that by not only monitoring that the nation’s finances are well spent but also by making sure that it uses men and women of competence and integrity to work with him. Buhari should beware of the wily ways of tribal and religious

loyalties that could ruin a worthy project.

In a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society such as ours, a sense of balance and decency will do President Buhari as well as the nation a lot of good. The Jonathan era was accused of caving in to the low impulses of faith and tribe and it even became defensive in blatant ways.

President Buhari should not allow himself to be seen as a religious bigot or an ethnic avatar, and he must make selfconscious efforts to disabuse his fellow citizens of any such suggestions. Either by words, deeds or symbolism, he must loft himself as a Nigerian who embodies our secular aspirations even while professing our private pieties.

Yet, we need him to pursue with a sense of stout leadership a project of true federalism. Nigeria carries too much of a throwback to the Unitarianism of the military era of which Buhari was a part.

It will be a heroic paradox for him to direct our liberation from that suffocating grip and usher in a federalism in which states are allowed to flower, whether in terms of generating their own wealth or by way of guaranteeing their own security.

Part of the unhealthy dependence on the centre for revenue and survival arises from a skewed constitution that gives the Federal Government power over the resources of states. He will do well to revive debates as well as documents of past rigorous work, and push legislations that will help unlock the wealth of the land.

Also related to this is electoral reforms, where the Uwais report should serve as the starting point to ensuring that our elections do not rely too heavily on a few individuals, whether in parties or in the umpire bodies. The last elections have demonstrated how the Independent National Electoral Commission’s chairman, Attahiru Jega, could not change any result or process of election even when all saw that it was rigged.

A civil service that does not work except to stultify a good process or help a corrupt government must know that it has no place in a modern society, and the Buhari administration must ensure that we return to the civil service reforms suggested in a recent work by Orosanye as a starting point.

The task for the Buhari government is great, and he has to go down to work without fanfare. But Nigeria cannot be healed overnight. Work should be seen to have begun and in the right direction.

That’s the only way his era can truly live up to the mantra of change chanted during the campaign season.

‘The task for the Buhari government is great, and he has to go down to work without fanfare. But Nigeria cannot be healed overnight. Work should be seen to have begun and in the right direction. That’s the only way his era can truly live up to the mantra of change chanted during the campaign season’

The team Buhari needs

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IR: Jim Ron once said “you don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”Nigerians are frustrated and impatient, all they want is a government that will yield good results and make living affordable for all. They are tired of incompetent politicians who are hugely paid merely for the hour, rather than the quality their hours have brought to the country. They are clamoring for a radical change.

The problem of this country is very deep and people have voted for General Muhammadu Buhari believing he is an instrument that will bring forth the long desired change. There is no doubt that Buhari understands the country and he seems to be the best candidate to take Nigeria forward, GMB, as he is fondly called, cannot be said to possess the entirety of the competency needed because a tree does not make a forest. He needs competent hands so as to deliver as promised. Although the buck ends on his table, it is of paramount importance that he picks a good team that comprises of people who have energy and are willing to serve.

There is no doubt that he has a quality research team, some who have proved themselves right over time. GMB should not be restricted to his team alone; he should spread his tentacles home and abroad. We have people who are non-partisan and have the capability to serve and have proved themselves worthy both in the private and public sector. Recycling those who have been in the system is not the best way out, competency can be found across board.

Choosing the right team, that is, the competent people to work with will go a long way in defining GMB’s government. The problem that has always existed with our political system is the way our leaders choose their team. There should be a proper and quality selection process. The legislative arm of government is corrupt; their method of selection is porous. It is not necessary that this selection process should be carried out by them. We can get international recruitment firms or bodies who have nothing to gain but to carry out their duties and thereafter leave for their countries. People who think they are capable and wish to serve will be interviewed by them and even those nominated by Buhari himself. The body will be left to carry out their duty without undue influence. Where the country has always got it wrong is the recruitment process. An upright recruitment team that cannot be compromised will be of great advantage to his government.

Also, it is not necessary that the members of his team should come from his party. We have some sound and intelligent people in other political parties who are hardworking. The President can choose from other parties inasmuch as they are capable and fit into his job portfolio. Selection can be done home and abroad, we have Nigerians scattered all over the world and can contribute to the success of our country. Getting the right team with guidelines clearly spelt out will be of great advantage to his government. Nigeria is a great country with potentials, we need people who can manage them and good results will be obvious to all and sundry.

• Oluwasanmi Bukola, Lagos

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

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: As Muhammadu Buhari assumes office as Nigeria’s president today, he will take the reins of a country in serious distress. Insecurity poses a towering challenge, the economy is in dire straits, and corruption and impunity are rife. Buhari, who won the election on the promise of change, must now urgently make good on that promise, starting by rallying Nigerians around that which they have lost: a common vision for the future.

The killings by the radical Islamist Boko Haram may have ebbed following recent offensives by forces from Nigeria and her neighbors, but the insurgency is not yet ended. Over the last four years, the group has killed at least 16,000 people, displaced over 1.5 million and laid waste to many communities in the north east. The country is also plagued by diverse lower-intensity conflicts, andunacceptable levels of criminal violence.

The economy has slumped over the past year, following an over 50 percent plunge in the price of crude oil whose export accounts for over 70 per cent of government’s revenue. Economic growth slowed to 4.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, down from 6.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014. In recent

GEJ’s probe-phobia IR: What kind of kindergarten logic did outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan propound last night on TV about being probed? His sycophants clapped and clapped shamelessly as if he made a profound statement! Did anyone stop him from probing his predecessor in office? If not, why should Buhari do it on his behalf?

Buhari is taking over from Jonathan and that is the boundary of his inquiry. The man, Jonathan just doesn’t get it and never will.

He is endlessly looking for cheap sympathy and collecting meaningless awards all over the place as if he is the first President to vacate Aso Rock. Let him just fade quietly into oblivion and leave us to build our lives.

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• Mrs Olumide, Lagos

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Buhari’s tough challenge months, the federal government has had to borrow just to pay workers.

Eighteen of the 36 state governments currently owe employees back pay, some for up to nine months.

Infrastructure is in disrepair, and public utilities are hopelessly unreliable. Last week, electricity generation dropped to an unprecedented low of 1,327 megawatts for Nigeria’s 180 million people, compared to 44,175 megawatts generated for South Africa’s 51 million people.

During this inauguration week, acute scarcity of refined petroleum products has created miles-long queues of vehicles outside filling stations, grounded numerous flights, and seriously damaged commercial life.Unemployment remains pervasive: officially 22 million are jobless, but many believe the real figure is much higher. The country still has 10.5 million out-of-

school children- the world’s highest number – many of whom may be future candidates for insurgency and organized crime.

Corruption and economic crimes have brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy. Crude oil is stolen on an industrial scale. The chief of Nigeria’s navy, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, recently estimated that $2.18 billion worth of petroleum is siphoned off annually. The proceeds could fuel a new phase of violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Early statements by Buhari and his transitional team suggest keen awareness of the gravity of the crises and some urgency towards engaging with them. Yet Buhari’s first task must be to persuade all Nigerians that he is president for the entire country and rally them around a common vision for the future. Although the recent elections ended

without the widely feared violent protests, the campaign before it revealed a country deeply fractured along regional, religious and ethnic lines. The latent contradictions and gaping discontent, between and even within major interest groups, threaten to frustrate even the most well-meaning plans for progress.

Buhari needs to constitute a competent but also inclusive government, with credible representation from all major regional, ethnic and religious blocs. More importantly, the new government must devote great efforts to policies and programmes that will address major grievances, reconcile differences, build social cohesion and provide better security against the likes of Boko Haram. It also needs to engage positively with states where the outgoing People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won, particularly in the Niger

Delta, where long-standing economic and environmental grievances have been aggravated by the ousting of the first-ever president from the region after only one term.

In seeking to reconcile, stabilize, secure and revitalize the country, the administration will need all the support and assistance it can get from international partners, including African countries. Such assistance should include military training and equipment, intelligence sharing, humanitarian support in the northeast, bridging loans, technical assistance and bilateral cooperation in tracking corrupt proceeds. Investments towards security and stability could greatly benefit not only Nigeria, but indeed the entire Africa region. Support in deepening democracy in Nigeria could also have positive spill-over effects on democracy across Africa.

If Buhari succeeds in delivering on his promise of change, he will have achieved a historic reversal of Nigeria’s long slide towards degradation. If he fails, the country will slide deeper into ruin. The stakes could not be higher.

• Nnamdi Obasi, International Crisis Group, Abuja.

As Anyim the tribal bigot exits...

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IR: “Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim came to the cabinet with a cosmopolitan credential but he has ended up as a tribal bigot…” That was part of a write up in a national daily on Jonathan’s men who allegedly failed him. In the history of Nigeria, at least since 1952, there has not been any occasion when the Yoruba West got the raw deal as they did under Pius Anyim’s watch.

Throughout his tenure at Aso Rock as Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator Anyim ensured that the Yoruba could be well go perish in the lagoon.

Deploying his big frame at the gate of Aso Rock, he stood like the Rock of Gibraltar against any ‘intruding’ Yoruba. And he succeeded tremendously. When the history, the authentic history lazed with data is written, SGF Anyim will stand out clear as the greatest enemy of the Yoruba

nation.

No, I am not saying he should not serve his ‘own people’ not did I say he should or could not discriminate against his mortal enemy. Some emergency historians have traced Anyim’s almost pathological hatred of the Yoruba people to the time he was Senate President and our own Ebora Owu, the veritable Obasanjo was President. But then things have to be done in a civilized way. Big man Anyim ensured that Yoruba people of the South/West did not have any thing nearing five per cent of the national cake that is, if you regard appointments to top political and Senior Management or Directorate positions in the public service, as such.

Throughout his tenure, he did not feel a pinch to recommend to his boss appointments of five South/South and South/East indigenes against one from the Northern zone and

nothing for the South/West. What baffled me throughout Anyim’s tenure is that neither Jonathan nor anybody in the Abuja cabal noticed or spoke against this national disaster.

The Federal Character Commission which is charged with ensuring that the cake goes round the various nationalities that constitute the Nigerian nation state turned it eyes away from such national dislocation while scrutinizing and ensuring equity and justice to little, unimportant and menial appointments. In short, when the history of Jonathan era is written, our own Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim will occupy a prominent black spot in our quest for national coherence, equity and transparency. If and when Anyim Pius Anyim becomes President, the Yoruba must be prepared to scamper out of Nigeria to neighbouring countries, possibly to Benin Republic where their kith and kin reside!

This is a lesson for the incoming administration. Already some people from the South/East with the sense of history and realism have been agitating for the position of SFG! This is understandable, having regard to our recent unenviable history. But for God’s sake Buhari and his advisers, before moving forward in any critical area of our national life should pause and look back a bit. While some previous actions deserve to be addressed it is advisable that the new administration should not reward evil for evil and that what is due to the people of South/ South and South/East should be given to them irrespective of injustice of yesteryears. It is time we look forward but always with the benefit of hindsight. Welcome to the new Nigeria.

Welcome to equity and fairness.

• Deji Fasuan, MON, JP, Senior Citizen, Ekiti State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

Beasts of ‘Naija’ • (Portrait of the Nigerian in dystopia)

Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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ROM the depths, their screams are getting louder, our fathers will cry hoarse. It is too far down below, they will never get heard. Our mothers are singing. But their requiem confounds wit. Why do they sing in tongues? Echoes of their buried narratives assail us like ghosts of the recalcitrant Abiku. Perhaps our fathers cry because they do not understand our chosen path; our mothers sing of bruised hymens and motherhood’s labour lost. But they do so from six-feet under, and their wails are barely a din far above their forgotten tombstones; even on the busy sidewalks of our history.

Our forbears may weep in vain; we that are deaf to reason and wisdom of the ancients will not budge.

This leadership task confounds us, this citizenship brief too. But who cares? Nothing really matters, as long as we are “Proudly Naija.”

Proudly Naija: our amoral equivalent of ‘Decadence is the new cool’ and ‘Corrupt cut is the easiest.’

‘It became clearer at some level that Nigeria was gradually hitting rock bottom, many of us groaned that we were damned—just as some of us know that our citizenship culture founded on a national enterprise that survives on corporate greed, limitless exploitation and the continued extraction of crude oil is doomed’

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The most prescient portrait of the Nigerian character and our ultimate fate as a nation shamefully played out in the last few days. It plays out even as you read; the persistent fuel scarcity and outrageous hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), reveals our murderous obsessions, violent impulses, moral bankruptcy, our hubris and inevitable self-destruction.

The tiresome avarice and predatory lust that drove proprietorships of filling stations nationwide to hike fuel price from N87 to N500 per litre recalls very sadly to mind, that violence of the wild that holds motionless for endless hours, the kidnapper in his lair, the assassin in his ambuscade and the public officer in his plunderous perch – this violence belongs primarily to the predator while it hunts its prey.

In the last few days, it manifested in uncontrollable spasms that saw us brutalise the helpless and enable our worst. As the fuel scarcity persisted, Nigeria gradually sputtered to a standstill, businesses shut down, banks cut short their work hours to midday, families starved particularly those whose livelihoods depended on daily use of PMS- and the queues got longer like photographs of civil death in our homegrown dystopia.

It became clearer at some level that Nigeria was gradually hitting rock bottom, many of us groaned that we were damned—just as some of us know that our citizenship culture founded on a national enterprise that survives on corporate greed, limitless exploitation and

IT longer matters whether I go by the date two of my uncles gave as my date of birth or by the date my great mother gave. I can confirm that I am now a septuagenarian. My uncles the late Chief Ade Osunneye and the late Mr Mojeed Mago Ogunjobi were both insistent that I was born May 29, 1943 before they both left Ago-Iwoye for Lagos January 1944. My illiterate but extremely brilliant mother said she was delivered of a baby boy by the Olori of Oba Osiyemi, who was a staff nurse and pregnant, after the Ebumawe had ascended the throne in 1944, and by her authenticated calculation, I was born May 29 1945!

As Nigerians celebrate Nigeria’s so-called Democracy Day this May 29, and the man of the hour takes over the baton from Jonathan, I will be celebrating Ago-Iwoye the city that nurtured me from cradle to adolescence, hence this piece in commemoration of my official 70th birthday is dedicated to Olodumare, my incomparable parents and the city of my birth.

The article written in 2009 is hereby reproduced fort your reading pleasure.

Ago-Iwoye beckoned to me that she must show herself to the world through my pen. It was a result of the ‘swellings’ which my head received last Thursday at the public presentation of ABA SAHEED a Literary Portrait of Tola Adeniyi which Eddie Ayo-Ojo authored. Speaker after speaker spoke of courage, of boldness, of one being outspoken, fearless and daring. As they poured those encomiums on me being the subject of the gathering, Ago-Iwoye whispered to me that I should tell the world that those attributes were not original to Aba Saheed, but that they indeed belonged to her, being the town that raised Saheed. Ago-Iwoye, for those who may not know that it is the first university town in Ogun State, is the town with the largest expanse of land in Ogun State, and perhaps one of the largest territories in Nigeria. For example, Isamuro, one of the eight towns that make up Ago Iwoye metropolis has over 40 villages with 40 Baales.

Ago-Iwoye shares boundaries with Remo Kingdom to the South West and North West, while it also shares the border in the North with Oyo State beyond Mamu, which is another Ago-Iwoye settlement. A warrior town with a lot of history behind its exploits, Ago Iwoye boasts the unparalleled role it played in the Ijebu wars against the British invaders up till 1893.

It is a town reputed for its great courage and fearlessness. It is little wonder that Ago-Iwoye featured prominently in the Action Group days of the immortal Awo. In fact, the chief personal security commander for the late sage, Dauda Odumuyiwa, alias Dauda Tinko was an Ago-Iwoye indigene.

So also was his successor Bros Oroyinyin.

Ogberegede and the man known as Ejonto a corruption of AG-on-top were both stalwarts of Ago Iwoye origin. These were men who could defend whatever cause they strongly

the continued extraction of crude oil is doomed.

For a few days, the possibility of Nigeria’s survival—like our tottering democracy—glowered in our faces like a mirage, the hallucination of an incurable fantasist desperately trying to substantiate his delusions of nationhood. The most frightening facets of the horror story unfolded in our filling stations and spilled over to our streets and neighbourhood mini-marts, utility service providers and grocery stores. As fuel station managers hoarded fuel and closed shop in desperate bid to make a killing by selling it at outrageous prices to helpless motorists and folk whose survival depended on it, the neighbour next door on whom several families and businesses depended for supply of certain crucial products like cooking gas, kerosene, engine oil and so on, joyously inflated prices of the essential products, to the chagrin and discomfort of patrons in need.

Consider for instance, the case of a notable pastor and gas dealer in Agege; the family promptly closed shop and hoarded gas for two days even as neighbours and friends thronged their doorstep pleading with them to resume business and sell gas to them. Of course, they did after effecting a hike in price of the product. The ‘godly’ family dispassionately sold gas to friends and neighbours at N6, 000 per gas bottle.

That was an astonishing hike from the product’s initial N3, 000 price before the fuel scarcity. Friends and neighbours of the family grumbled under their breath as they paid for the product; those that couldn’t recoiled to seek kerosene, accusing the pastor and his family for their ‘lack of sensitivity,’ ‘amorality’ and fraudulent claims to godliness. Of

course, pastor and wife responded in kind, claiming that they were duty bound to separate business from holiness. “Na holiness we go chop?” said the pastor. The latter, a Lagos State civil servant erstwhile paraded himself as a noble businessman and compassionate ‘man of God.’ There is little difference between the family’s bestiality and the savagery of the ruling class and fuel station managers who accentuated the scarcity by hoarding fuel in order to sell it at N500 a litre. The pastor and his family for instance, received no fresh delivery of gas during the period; they simply hoarded what they had in stock, and sold it at double the cost. While their variously savage peers may advance arguments to support their monstrosity citing certain dreadful norms of commerce and industry, it need be told and understood that it is desperate, savage acts like theirs that ruins nations and enable the perpetual dominance of the haves over the have-nots.

What is happening in Nigeria is a precursor to a dreadful war between the country’s elites and the impoverished, a war caused by diminishing resources, chronic unemployment and underemployment, overpopulation, declining crop yields caused by climate change, and rising food prices; capital and operating costs belie hope and prosperity for industry. The unfolding doom has nuances, put precisely, it has a thousand meanings.

A recent Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report generated ripples over its summations on Nigeria. No thanks to the Economist magazine’s sister publication, the Nigerian newborn may arrive knowing he has come where the sun dies everlastingly for the bliss of the fig. The

EIU report ranks Nigeria 80th out of 80 countries assessed in its ‘Where-to-be-born’ index.

The 2014 Human Development Index (HDI) report ranked Nigeria amongst countries with low development index at 153 out of 186 countries that were ranked. Life expectancy in the country is placed at 52 years old while other health indicators reveal that only 1.9 per cent of the nation’s budget is expended on health; 68.0 per cent of Nigerians are stated to be living below $1.25 daily while adult illiteracy rate for adult (both sexes) is 61.3 per cent. ”As the population is growing, the resources that we all depend on, the food, energy, water, is declining. The demand for these resources will rise exponentially by the year 2030, with the world needing about 50 per cent more food, 45 per cent more energy and 30 per cent more water.

“In Nigeria, there is the issue of youth and employment; 70 per cent of the 80 million youths in Nigeria are either unemployed or underemployed. We are all witness to what happened recently during the immigration recruitment exercise and this is simply because 80 per cent of the Nigerian youth are unemployed,” she said.

This will inevitably lead to a class war as the deprivation of the working class will eventually morph into violence. In the background, a severe and scarier grotesqueness emerges; it is the acquiescence of presumably humane folk to the bemusement of prosperity. This blunts the sense, inflates the ego and inspires disdain for the less privileged. It is the affliction of the ruling class, fuel station managers and the gas-dealing pastor and his family.

Ago-Iwoye and I at 70

By Tola Adeniyi believed in even with their lives. The beauty in these persons’ doggedness was that an average Ago-Iwoye indigene would defend whatever need be defended, not on the basis of pecuniary considerations; highly principled people, they would go extra mile in defence of justice, fairness and equity.

If an Ago-Iwoye indigene ran into a situation where an underdog is being trampled upon, he will instantly make the fight his own fight. So, while encomiums were being heaped on the celebrant last Thursday, Ago-Iwoye was quick to draw attention to Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, who was one of the great children of hers physically present at the occasion. Justice Dolapo Akinsanya was the awesomely fearless woman who, against all odds, and at the credible threat to her life put her entire family in the way of danger by declaring without mincing words that the Ernest Shonekan’s Interim Government was illegal. So final was her judgement that the case was never appealed before General Sard Abacha gave the administration a jackboot! And of course Akinsanya was merely acting true to character; for her father the late Professor Emeritus Sanya Onabamiro had waged a similar oneman-suicide squad war against guineworm.

Before Onabamiro’s time, guineaworm had ravaged the entire South-west landscape with heaviest casualities drawn from Ijebuland. Onabamiro came, saw, and conquered. AgoIwoye also boasts early exposure to western education producing teachers before the close of the 19th century who would travel as far afield as Ekitiland and Ondoland to spread the gospel of ABC. Ago-Iwoye also embraced the Arabic education such that as early as 1880’s, indigenes of Ago-Iwoye had kissed the peak of Mount Arafat and returned to nurse beards that could compete favourably with my friend Yemi Farounbi’s. In character and learning therefore, Ago-Iwoye did not lag behind, such that by 1954, the community had mobilised resources to found a secondary school, and years later several other high schools emerged. It was the monarch of Ago-Iwoye, the Ebumawe, Oba David Maloniti Osiyemi as Secretary of Western Region House of Obas and Chiefs who wrote the letter of recommendation that gave the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo the town’s right to a beaded crown!

Ago-Iwoye has historically been an agrarian community, but going in-hand-in-hand with farming had such preoccupations as blacksmithing, masonry, goldsmithing, and manufacturing of light arms and weaponry.

They first African Methodist bishop, the Very Reverend M.O. Dada came from the womb of Ago-Iwoye, while the first chair of the first television broadcasting station in Af-

rica, the Reverend T.T. Solar was fed from the milk of AgoIwoye woman. There was a generation that requires celebrating if and whenever Ago-Iwoye is being discussed; that is the legendary Oban bade Age Group, what is known in Ijebu as Regberegbe. That was the group Kiniwun Onibudo Agbolaya bi aara Chief Obafemi Awolowo belonged to. The last of them should be knocking at the gate of 100 now. Chief S Akin Osuntoye, Chief JG Kuye, Chief Ashiru Oshinuga, and others whose names I cannot easily recall, gave Ago-Iwoye her study in courage and fearlessness.

These individuals were very sociable, extremely industrious, very hardworking, very forthright, and hugely successful in their various fields of human endeavour. They were the shinning stars in Ago-Iwoye at the time Aba Saheed was being moulded into a teenager and later into early manhood.

If therefore any Ago-Iwoye child exhibited heroism, commitment to industry, fearlessness and outspokenness, the credit for these laudable attributes should go to the AgoIwoye fertile grounds which incubated and nurtured those traits.; Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye a direct beneficiary of the Obangbade age group because his father, my Dad’s uncle belonged in that age grade, my aburo Otunba, Alex Olugbenga Onabanjo, Dr Bayo Yusuf, the Olori Omooba, the ever white Soyewo, the Banjokos, the Sipes, the Bakares, the Olootos, the Osunneyes, the Obajimis, the Ogungbes, the Odugboses, the Fagbamilas, the Odumosus, the Aroworamimos, the Parakoyis and the entire Onihale clan, the Odufotes, the Taiwos, the Magos, the Adeseguns, the Olowojoyemeji clan and Omooba Adekoya otherwise known as Attacker, the Epoyuns and an inexhaustible list of achievers in that town all owe whatever they are today to the soil of Ago-Iwoye.

Luckily the tradition is being maintained and upgraded.

And with the advent of a tantalisingly handsome monarch, urbane, stylish, well educated, very sociable and immensely popular and extremely courageous and bold, the city of AgoIwoye can assure herself of more celebrations of her children.

‘If therefore any Ago-Iwoye child exhibited heroism, commitment to industry, fearlessness and outspokenness, the credit for these laudable attributes should go to the Ago-Iwoye fertile grounds which incubated and nurtured those traits’

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap’ - — Biblical quote

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INCE midnight, virtually all elected officers of state including the president and governors and others whose tenures are tied to theirs had become private citizens of this country. Hence forth, their phones will no longer be busy while inflow of text messages and e-mails will nearly cease.

Importunate visits by favour seekers masquerading as friends will disappear. They would be left with their family members and obviously very few genuine friends. At this stage, what would be left after the expiration of the tenancy of tenants in power would be the verdict of history as defined by the good or bad deeds done while in the saddle - and which are naturally etched in people’s minds.

Such is life because whatever has a beginning must have an end; whatever goes up must definitely comedown, which is why time is of high significant in life and it waits for no one. Every living being has own time or better put, magic moment. For individuals in power, it is pertinent to ask how best they have deployed it. Is it used for egocentric purposes or for more enduring ventures?

Whether you are president, governor, minister, commissioner or an occupier of any powerful appointive position, you have from today become a line or page in the book of history. Another set of people comes in the saddle to commence their own tenancy. The crowd of people around you yesterday are already embracing the new man holding the lever of power. This is because, unknown to you while still in the saddle, they thronged around your position, not your person. Now that another person has taken over your seat, you automatically become a relic of history and what you live on subsequently are your good or bad deeds or better put, legacy. It would be sad if it is only when now out of power that you’re giving this inescapable looming reality deep thought; when the routine privileged reverence that you were daily accorded by virtue of your former position had gone.

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Day of reckoning for tenants in power Let those coming into p o w e r remember in whatever grandeur it m i g h t currently please God to place them that there comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is their own •Fashola, Former Lagos Gov. hearts or conscience - the ultimate judge of human conducts. The earlier we learn the sound of our hearts, the better so that we can correctly decipher what it is saying and, advisedly follow it. The problem with powerful men is that they have avoidably failed to be loyal to their conscience and have failed to discern inevitable changes and challenges when about to occur. The saddest words that could ever come out of the mouths of once-powerful fellows are: ‘It might have been.’ ‘I could have

‘As a president or governor, that is handing over today, have you, in good conscience, done enough to elevate the status and goodwill of the party and people that brought you to power? Or were you just a treacherous beast that your party men and others around you felt should not have been? If you did bad to people that brought you to power at a point you were nothing in life; when nobody believed in you; when you had no political ambition or even money to aspire for anything, then be prepared for nemesis now that you are out of power. This is not a curse but simple reality of life’

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AY 29 is significant in the history of Nigeria. It is a day set aside to observe the restoration of democracy, in commemorating the long military rule that began in 1966 but for a brief period of democracy from 1979 to 1983. A transition under Babangida also brought two years of pseudo democracy from 1991 to 1993 in the two lower tiers of government, local and state which was truncated by the annulment of M. K. O. Abiola’s June 12 election.

This year’s handover ceremony, no doubt, is of a different mood from the previous four since the advent of a stable democracy in 1999. It will be a day of distinction. A memorable day when the All Progressives Congress (APC), will form the government and take over the rule of the country.

It is a day of mixed feelings, sadness and joy. Sadness, when one reflects on the liabilities and the havoc wrecked on the country by the PDP federal government evidenced in collapsed economy, high debt profile, fuel scarcity, insecurity, non payment of salaries, nationwide blackout, high unemployment rate, corruption of different dimensions in all government MDAs and other indices synonymous with a failed state.

These woes and many more are the legacies the PDP government bequeaths to the new APC government. However, the joy the day brings is the coming on board of President Muhammadu Buhari. The relief brought by his presence radiates from the hope and the implicit confidence Nigerians have in him as a tested and trusted, incorruptible, distinguishable and exceptional leader, capable of turning things around for the better.

Much high as the respect Nigerians have for the duo of Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo his deputy, is also the hope and high expectations that the many challenges facing the country will be overcome with them at the helm of affairs.

Our economy is in a terrible state with a debt $60 billion and as much as 21% of the 2015 budget is proposed for debt servicing. Although the national debt is an accumulation from 1960, President Jonathan’s just six-year period is responsible for more than $20 billion, about one third without corresponding projects, a clear case of mismanagement of resources.

Crisis looms in most government establishments, federal and states in the country as a result of non-payment

done this.’ Today is another inauguration day and it is too late for expired tenants to redeem and re-shape their yesterday and the future.

Some of them that have chosen the path of self-perdition or treachery should be assured of being already sentenced to irreverent political lurch.

Also, new men of power should remember that there were tyrants and slayers, and even if for some time, they seem insuperable, they always fall in the end. From day one, they should realise that it is their actions or inactions that would count for or against them at the expiration of their own tenancy on judgement day; this is why they must endeavour to always do now what is importantly right. Their actions should not be informed by malice.

As today’s inauguration moment draws to an end, today’s new men should remember that yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream. What dreams do they have as a leader - for the country/states as directing minds and the world at large?

They should not be deceived by the false friends or deterred by true enemies that success usually attracts. They should just make sure they put in their best in all they do.

Having gone this far, it is pertinent to remind our privileged men of power on the need to engage in pertinent self reexamination. The outgoing president and governors in particular, and other political appointees, by now would be buying time in power. The incumbent president and governors would have become lame duck in their positions since fresh hands are waiting to take over after the conclusion of the March/ April general elections. That has been the tradition in the game of CHANGE of baton

in the political firmament. They should reflect on approvals denied in a raw show of vindictive malice and think of whether if the next person takes charge the injustice will not be corrected. How many of them have betrayed their benefactors at a point they thought the day of handover would erroneously never come? What is their relationship with their successors? If you are in the same party with your successor, did you make as much sacrifice as was done for you before you won your own mandate?

What are the impressions of subordinates and the larger percentage of people about you?

These, among others, will help you know how well you have fared.

How would our new crop of elected and appointed public officers want to be remembered? What future will they build for their families through their handiwork while in government? Is it one that will invite scorn or approbation from the public? They should, in this column’s view, strive to be nothing but conqueror of objectives. And by objectives, yours sincerely means those deeds that could stand the test of time and benefit humanity.

And for the outgone president, governors and others, they have to contend now with their misdeeds while strutting around the corridors of power as if yesterday would be forever. This for them is time for critical reflections on how far they fared in power and in meeting set goals; for self and humanity? The ample time to make amends had passed and it becomes self-inflicting to become victims of inexcusable excuses like most of their own predecessors in power that took the people and the right caucuses for granted. As a president or governor, that is handing over today, have you, in good conscience, done enough to elevate the status and goodwill of the party and people that brought you to power? Or were you just a treacherous beast that your party men and others around you felt should not have been?

If you did bad to people that brought you to power at a point you were nothing in life; when nobody believed in you; when you had no political ambition or even money to aspire for anything, then be prepared for nemesis now that you are out of power. This is not a curse but simple reality of life.

Let us all thank God that today has become a reality in our lifetime despite the disparaging prognosis about our dear country Nigeria. Now that the people’s votes now truly count to a reasonable extent, the new men of power should not treat the people with contempt because today is not forever.

We must all know that power is a fleeting substance!

Facing the challenges of future

By Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa of many month salaries amounting to several billions of naira.

Fuel scarcity continues to bite hard over disputes between oil marketers and government on a N200 billion claim by the former. This has put to shame the regular boast by the former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke that Jonathan’s administration has succeeded in removing queues in our petrol stations. It is disheartening that not only the scarcity has led to long queues, a litre of petrol now sells as much as N400 – an irony for the sixth largest producer of oil in the world. Unfortunately, the consequences has since spread accross the broad spectrum of the economy; aviation, telecommunications and other private small and medium businesses have been negatively affected. Of serious concern too are homes, private and government hospitals given their inability to power their generators.

It will be an over-flogged issue to comment on the poor electricity supply, as generation has fallen again to as low as 1,300 MW. To compound our national malady, mercenaries are said to have been covertly hired from South Africa to strengthen our military force to combat the Boko Haram menace, a step Nigerians may not frown at , if the desired result is achieved. But in spite of this development, pockets of attacks by these insurgents are still recorded, putting the life of our brothers and sisters in the North-east in perpetual danger. Although some successes have been lately achieved by our military, will it not be correct to say that total elimination of Boko Haram defied solution under the Jonathan administration?

Unemployment rate according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is about 23.9% making Finance Minister Okonjo Iweala’s claim of creation of 1.4 million jobs yearly unreal. If the number of our jobless youths is left to increase unattended, the future of this nation may be put in jeopardy.

The mother of all challenges which continuously pulls

this nation back is corruption, and this exists and manifests in all government quarters . The alleged $20 billion missing oil money is still unresolved . The forensic audit still requires further and thorough examination. Allegation of N30 trillion stolen under Okonjo-Iweala as finance minister according to Charles Soludo is also one out of many that must not be swept under the carpet.

The liability of President Jonathan’s administration far outweighs it’s assets. Never in history has Nigeria been put in such a sorry state that everything is grounded.

Even radio stations, the cheapest and most powerful medium of mass communication had to shut down due to lack of fuel to power their generators. It is indeed bad and this confirms Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s lamentation that the nation is on auto pilot since the loss of election by President Jonathan.

High debt profile, decayed infrastructures, systemic breakdown and many rots constitute the heavy burden Jonathan’s government is leaving behind for the new administration.

I urge Nigerians to join hands, assist with prayers and co operate with Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Osinbajo for a successful tenure as a follow-up to the March 28 expression. May God guide Buhari and bless Nigeria.

• Hon Bolarinwa is a former member, Federal House of Representatives.

‘Unemployment rate according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is about 23.9% making Finance Minister Okonjo Iweala’s claim of creation of 1.4 million jobs yearly unreal. If the number of our jobless youths is left to increase unattended, the future of this nation may be put in jeopardy’

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

A16-PAGE SPECIAL PUBLICATION TO COMMEMORATE THE FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 INAUGURATION OF THE MUHAMMADU BUHARI ADMINISTRATION

PAGE 25

INSIDE

Muhammadu Buhari The man Buhari PAGES 33 & 35

Tinubu, the kingmaker PAGES 32-33

APC’s bumpy journey to power PAGES 30, 35

Osinbajo: Well-prepared for the task ahead PAGE 39

PAGE 35

Aisha Buhari: Simply Mr. President’s wife PAGE 38

Men, women who’ll run the NASS PAGES 31, 34, 36,37 & 40

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MAY 29 SPECIAL

PDP

PROLOGUE

Change grapples with conservatism

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

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IKE its politicians and leaders, Nigeria often presents to its many publics, domestic and foreign, the quintessential dilemma and irony of devising and nurturing change in a stifling atmosphere of conservatism. No nation was ever so much in need of change as Nigeria was; yet no nation was ever so comfortable in its conservatism.

This paradox is often attributed to the country’s ethnic and religious pastiche, a hotchpotch of delicate and limiting factors that have stymied progress, erected barricades of mistrust among the people, distorted and corrupted otherwise great policies, and, with every new government, consistently returned the country to a constant state of rebooting and rejigging. Twice after independence Nigeria had attempted revolutionary changes, and even though both attempts captured and continually fascinated and fired popular imagination, twice the efforts failed.

The first attempt, idealistically midwifed by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, not only collapsed disastrously, it also produced a twisted national template that led both to a civil war and deep and intractable military and political complications. The second attempt, suffused with clearly romanticised notions of continental and global politics, ended tragically for its creator, and entrenched conservatism.

Indeed, it seemed that neither military culture nor, as future developments would indicate, political culture sanctioned the change the country yearned for but never knew how to procure.

It is in this agitated and paralysing atmosphere of the quintessential dilemma of conservatism incubating change that the Muhammadu Buhari presidency will be inaugurated today. If it will take Nigeria more than the political and constitutional restructuring that some are campaigning for to remake, renew and energise it, what hope do the country’s leaders, nay President Buhari himself, stand to prise change out of ossified conservatism? Obviously it will take time to achieve more than a regional con-

sensus for the substantial restructuring capable of birthing a new system to be done. Nor is it clear that restructuring is the nirvana that many hope it will be, for the systemic failure to grapple with new and perplexing challenges, as some homogenous African societies have shown, may not be so much a problem of structure as of other deeper, intrinsic failings, some of them cultural, and others social and political.

President Buhari campaigned and won on the mantra of change, whether that change is properly understood or not, or whether indeed both the candidate and his All Progressives Congress (APC) conceived of that change in transcendental terms during and after the polls. The mere fact of former president Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat is itself change in the subliminal but not substantial sense. If President Buhari’s governing and policy paradigms represent a clear and unambiguous departure from that of Dr Jonathan, then perhaps change may be in the offing, a change that supersedes both the cultural, ideational and perspectival differences between the two leaders. The onus, as a matter of fact, is now on President Buhari to illustrate that the change he emblematises has little or nothing to do with the style and policy differences between him and his predecessor.

Yet, both President Buhari and his party will have to dig deeper and run farther and wider if they are to recommend themselves as a viable alternative to Dr Jonathan and the exhausted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Given the scale of the problems they are inheriting, the new leaders will be tempted to embrace pragmatism in place of the ideological and multidisciplinary rubrics required to undergird and catalyse their economic and political objectives for the next four years. The clearer and even better choice will be for President Buhari to hit the ground running with definitive and impactful measures to help redesign the country’s new template. To what extent he can do that, while at the same time mitigating the urgent short-term problems confronting the electorate, remains to be seen. Even per-

haps more unsettling for him is the fact that he must seek for ingenious and farsighted ways to balance the chemistry between the heat of the desperately needed solutions to the country’s multifaceted problems with the sometimes slower understanding, impatience and low forbearance of the electorate. Few leaders ever managed to achieve this great equilibrium.

President Buhari has warned there are no quick fixes or miracles, but he will be called upon to confect different sorts of miracles to find new and tolerable titre values in his national policy and ideological titrations.

President Buhari must, however, intelligently deconstruct the unprecedented political development his party had just mediated in the last elections in order to achieve the right and healthy perspectives for himself, the country and his government. First is his past three unsuccessful attempts at winning the presidency. Not only did his past three defeats coax a better man out of him, they also reshaped his worldview and his national outlook. More crucially, they triggered his avuncular nature, tempered his fiery rage, recast his gender and familial politics, and led him into unaccustomed quietude and reticence in the face of damaging propaganda and abuse. He has doubtless become a politician, but perhaps his best politics, rather than the scheming campaigns and subterfuges Nigerians are conversant with, will be his new sense of accommodation and almost celestial forbearance.

Second, his past failures have also led him to rationalise new political dynamics for the country in ways he never showed capability for before now. There was no proof he was ever a bigot, either religiously or ethnically. But now, to everyone’s relief, he has a better sense of the indispensability of inclusive politics. This may blunt his political antenna and to some extent weaken the sheer enormity of the Machiavellian chicanery required to steal advantage over the political opposition, but he could very well be on the way to rehabilitating the image of unreasoning inflexibility interred with his first unsuccessful, if not disastrous, first coming as military head of state. Third, and most importantly, his past failures led him into being a part of the

formation of a bigger, better, more ideological and decidedly more political and knowledgeable political party. For even as he is now, a cult figure and disciplined politician, it is hard to see him succeeding without the kind of party that has produced him and moderated and probably enlightened his worldview.

The emergence of President Buhari has in many ways become a watershed, not just because it represents the first time a president would lose reelection in Nigeria, but more relevantly because of the dynamics of that loss and the texture of his personal and party’s victories. Many politicians and analysts still hold on to the implausible theory of northern hegemony in Nigerian politics. The APC victory in the national and state polls shattered that myth so effectively that it is hard to understand why some still persist in their old views of Nigerian elections. From the outcome of the polls, it is clear no section of the country can lord it over another. If President Buhari had lost the Southwest like he did in 2011 and stalemated the NorthCentral, Dr Jonathan would have won. The last polls showed that there will always be enough issues to influence political and electoral behaviour of the six geopolitical zones in ways that may sometimes be unpredictable and even shocking.

That process was in formation in 1993, but it was not allowed to crystallise properly. Now, it is firming up vigorously. Despite the marked differences of the electoral votes of the various zones, a winner must win convincingly in at least three zones and make a huge showing in a fourth. Notwithstanding the plurality of the votes won

by President Buhari, Dr Jonathan could indeed have won had he taken the Southwest, as he did in 2011, and made appreciable showing in the North-Central, as he half expected. This is why the APC and President Buhari must not be tempted to imagine that the prognosis for the PDP is as gloomy and unpalatable as it seems on the surface. The internal jostling for influence and power within the APC

may be a natural concomitant of victory for a young party, but President Buhari and other party leaders must find ways of anchoring the outcomes and solutions to party struggles and contests on lasting and altruistic philosophical ideas and goals, if they are not to be swept aside before they have the chance to reform the system according to their pledge.

Few expect President Buhari to enact infallible and far-reaching policies that will produce revolutionary and progressive changes in the country in the next one or two years. But everyone expects that by personal example, as he appears quite capable of doing, he will set an unflinching and progressive tone for governance in the next few months that no one will be tempted to counteract. He is expected to show that indeed no matter how bad the national deterioration and decline in values, someone can sit, in a manner of speaking, magisterially and incorruptibly as a lawgiver to set and define a progressive and moral tone for the country. Malfeasant security, judicial and political officers will flex their muscles and test his resolve in his first few weeks in office. If he stands firm, and leaves no one in doubt on whose desk the buck stops; if he learns to fire and hire ethically and not leave that measure, like his predecessor did, to his last weeks in office, the discipline he had tried inconsistently and garishly in 1985 to enthrone will be inculcated effortlessly in the most suave and cultured manner.

This 16-page insertion represents a small effort to make sense of the swirling emotions of the moment, and the whirligig of politics that took Nigeria breathlessly from novel political experimentations, such as INEC’s card reader machines, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and amalgamation of three or four political parties to form a so-called mega opposition, to contrived election postponement and the earthquake of loss and victory in one exulting, incandescent moment. Together with statistics published for the reader’s keepsake, it is hoped that this insertion will enable analysts to reflect more on the ramifications of the giddy flight their country has just taken in the past two months or so.

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MAY 29 SPECIAL

Insecurity, corruption, unemployment, others as evils Buhari must overcome •Unemployed graduates during the Immigratioin job test

As Muhammadu Buhari takes office as President today, unemployment, insecurity, epileptic power supply, corruption, among others, are challenges he must tackle with dispatch, writes Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN in parts of the country, especially in the northeast.

Buhari made security a driving issue in his presidential campaign. He promised to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency if elected. He said the primary responsibility of a responsible government is to protect the lives and properties of every Nigerian wherever they choose to live.

There are also problems of kidnappings and robbery attacks which have assumed dangerous dimension.

Relevant to this appalling picture is the issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). A report of the Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council indicate that of 33 million internal refugees across the world, about 3.3 million Nigerians are internally displaced because of the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The number of dislodged victims of the six year old violent campaign by the terrorists in the affected areas is not only thought- provoking but also a cause for concern because it suggests that the scale of the problem may not have been fully captured and may indeed be beyond the range of the available figures.

The challenges faced by displaced persons call for serious commitment.

The Buhari presidency should help the internally displaced by perfecting relief structures.

A security expert said the president should acknowledge the failure of the security agencies hence there should be a complete overhaul of the security agencies to pre-empt security breaches –– particularly, the failure of the intelligence services to contain the recurring security breaches.

According to him, “Mr President, on assumption of office, has to act decisively to execute his office, and this can be achieved by implementing the anti-terrorism law and punish culprits of such heinous crimes capable of causing instability in the nation. The trends leading to this situation are reversible, if seriously proactive and sustained measures could be adopted by the government and the international community. The implication of this is that policy makers

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VER the years, leadership has been identified as the bane of national development. Policies are unstable and short- term. Although it has often been said that a problem identified and diagnosed is half-solved, the Nigerian leadership challenge has defied this reasoning.

The fundamental challenge has been narrowed down to ill-prepared leadership, wrong recruitment process and lack of vision.

Funds appropriated for welfare and security of the people as well as provision of infrastructure are diverted to private accounts. Jobs done are shoddy as the contractors understand the language of the leaders. The education sector remains comatose; hospitals designated centres of excellence have become glorified consulting clinics; power supply continues to haunt big and small businesses; the roads are in poor state and infrastructure for economic progress remains a source of national embarrassment, performing below regional standards. No sector stands out.

To say that Nigeria is at the cross roads is an understatement, especially against the backdrop of the collective experience in almost all spheres of its national life. The task before Muhammadu Buhari, who takes over from Dr Goodluck Jonathan today, is enormous. Top among the tasks that must be done are turning the tides against insecurity, defeating corruption and banishing unemployment, among others.

Insecurity The current state of insecurity is a manifestation of deep-rooted and structurally entrenched crisis of development that creates the environment for the emergence of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

These, in turn, lead to frustration, alienation, and ultimately, social discontent that spark violence and insecurity. Without the enabling environment, these conditions could not have metamorphosed into serious national security problems threatening to tear the country apart. The Boko Haram insurgency has not only claimed thousands of lives, it has also seen daring terrorists hang their flag

Our economy appears trapped in a paradox of deepening poverty with increasing export revenue. It is inexplicable, for example that Nigeria became listed amongst the poorest nation in the world

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have the duty to arrest the drift through social justice and development. To address security problem in Nigeria is in effect, to address its crisis of development”.

Unemployment Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the menace of chronic youth unemployment in Nigeria as a time bomb. The interpretation is that when the problem assumes an uncontrollable dimension, it will explode, with deleterious effects on the society. It stands to reason that there is a correlation between the youth unemployment in the land and the reserve army of idle and ignorant hands that a sect like Boko Haram is able to recruit for its heinous crimes. Similarly, the ever increasing wave of armed robberies, kidnappings, mindless assassinations and other crimes perpetrated mostly by youths across the country can be linked to the spectre of mass unemployment.

The magnitude of the unemployment in the country will be better appreciated by making reference to the statement of the former Chairman of the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P) Dr Christopher Kolade when he noted that 40 million Nigerians, that is 23.9 per cent of the population are unemployed as a result of the inability of the system to absorb the approximately 300,000 graduates churned out of tertiary in-

stitutions annually. This figure may not necessarily include the chronically underemployed such as casual workers, or those who are employed seasonally.

The problem of unemployment is mounting daily. The manufacturing sector which used to be the major employer of labour is in a coma. Many manufacturing companies have closed shop in Nigeria and relocated to neighbouring West African countries or South Africa that provide enabling environment for business to thrive. The banks are downsizing at a ridiculous rate while access to loan has become an official publicity stunt.

More devastating is the fact that the government has failed to provide stable power supply and security that are central to industrialisation and by extension employment generation and general development of the country.

Recently, an industrialist entered into agreement with a Romanian firm to come and set up an agro-allied industry which will in its first year employ 1,000 workers. The investors came to Nigeria to formalise the agreement and process other requirements for the take-off of the project.

The hotel where they lodged was on generator 24 hours daily which raised their suspicion over the state of power supply in the country. The second day of their visit, they were robbed on their way back to the hotel. The following morning they left for the airport and left the country without parting words to their Nigerian business partner. That was the end of the business transaction. The fact is, no genuine foreign investor would come and invest in a country where security of lives and property is lacking and where power supply is not stable.

Agriculture stands out as a major solution to Nigerian unemployment if properly developed. The reason why many Nigerians run away from agriculture is because of the use of hoes and other primitive equipment which they consider stressful to them.

With introduction of machines into agriculture, Nigerians will embrace it. Improved system of farming and poultry will propel many to pick farm-

ing as means of employment. The Buhari administration should organise seminars where citizens will be taught on new improved system of making living from agriculture.

Government should support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to boost employment in the country. Private establishments contribute largely to the growth of manufacturing companies in the country. According to Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, SMEs manufacture more than 90 per cent of the products used in Nigeria. Government should provide more funds to SMEs so that they can expand their operations and create more jobs for Nigerians.

Economy To say that the economy is dire strait is to state the obvious. The impression is that Nigeria is broke.

Both federal and state governments are cash strapped that they cannot pay workers’ salaries. In fact, the Jonathan Federal Government had to take loan to pay April salaries.

This suggests that the nation is broke. It is a manifestation of economic mismanagement.

To revive the economy, a renowned economist Mr Henry Boyo said there is urgent need for a fundamental restructuring of the country’s monetary framework so that the economy can be rapidly transformed to induce vast expansion in industrial activity with single digit lending rates, increase employment opportunities, lower single digit of inflation and a market determined exchange rate mechanism. He noted that the government’s efforts to achieve these parameters, reduce poverty and enhance the social welfare of the people in the last 30 years have evidently failed woefully.

“Indeed our economy appears trapped in a paradox of deepening poverty with increasing export revenue. It is inexplicable, for example that Nigeria became listed amongst the poorest nation in the world. A careful analysis of the process of infusion of our export earnings into the economy will show that this anomaly was made inevitable by the Continued on page 28

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MAY 29 SPECIAL Continued from page 27

Central Bank’s practice of capturing export dollar revenue and substituting naira at its unilaterally determined rate of exchange before payment of consolidated naira allocations to the three tiers of government”.

Another economist, Dr Joseph Edebiri, blamed Jonathan for failing to put in place a robust fiscal policy that could align with the monetary policy. He said this would have brought down inflation rate from the present 15 per cent, reduce lending rate to single digit to stimulate the productive sector, open up the mining sector to international investors, promote private local petroleum refining and railways with extra-ordinary incentives, halt the massive borrowing that and has taken the external debt to $60 billion.

He said: “Jonathan failed to prosecute oil subsidy thieves and their official collaborators, to clean up the corrupt Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to reduce his large army of unproductive advisers and assistants and also to reshuffle and reduce his incompetent cabinet. He dismissed the claims of Jonathan economic advisers especially, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala that the economy was growing at seven per cent. The statistics being bandied by government officials contrasted with the reality on ground. The economy she claimed was growing has not impacted on the standard of living. The inflation in the country is one of the highest in the world. The manufacturing sector is almost dead as industrialists close shop daily because of high cost of production, he said.

“We don’t know how much we are earning from oil export. The government seemed to have legitimised oil thievery. It also appears that Jonathan has accepted that oil theft is a part of the Nigerian reality because his government has done nothing to bring the culprits to book,” he added.

Corruption To observers, the anti-corruption war of the Jonathan administration was not just dead; its remains have been interred.

It failed to tackle corruption. The high profile corruption cases, including Malabo oil deal, Halliburton contract scam, the $20 billion fraud in the NNPC, the N1 trillion debt owed the NITEL for the use of its facilities by GSM operators at the inception, the purchase of overpriced bullet –proof by former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah. The dust raised by the Pension Fund scam, Otedola-Farouk saga and other related cases are still fresh in the minds of the people.

Jonathan’s posture against the monster called ‘corruption’, which appears to be the root cause of many of the country’s woes, was not impressive. The government did too little in arresting or punishing corrupt officials and individuals. One of the perceived weaknesses that cast the Jonathan administration in bad light is the less than forceful presidential presence and ineffective deployment and applica-

Insecurity, corruption, unemployment, others as evils Buhari must overcome

•Queuing for fuel

tion of presidential power in calling people around him to order. His actions suggested that he accommodated mediocre elements within his inner circle and that he lacked the will to show them the door.

The Jonathan administration carried on as though it was unaware that corruption is an impediment that stunts the growth of nations.

No nation has ever developed or made any meaningful progress without tackling corruption head-long. Indeed, Jonathan had a poor public image due to his failure to wage a spirited war against corruption, leakages in the oil industry, including pipeline vandalism.

Buhari is not new in fighting corruption. In 1983, when he came to power as military Head of State, he succeeded in halting Nigeria from drifting and restored her glory within a short period. The corrupt politicians that looted the treasury were brought to book and vomited what they illegally swallowed. Nigerians are keeping faith with his promise to stamp out corruption that has given the country a bad name in the comity of nations.

For him to succeed in his anti-corruption war, the Buhari administration must c o n s i d e r strengthening the criminal justice system in the country and appoint people of integrity to head the antigraft agencies. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and its tribunal should be independent of the Presidency in terms of appointments and financing. The focus of the Buhari Presidency should be on prevention, detection and prosecution of corrupt persons which are fundamental to ending corruption.

Power Supply The quantum of power consumed in a country by the citizens is considered a good indicator of the country’s socio-economic performance. Epileptic power supply is the greatest paradox of life in Nigeria, a country blessed with various sources of energy, including crude oil, natural gas, hydro power, coal and solar energy. The blackout is unprecedented. Business enterprises rely on generator 24 hours daily to power their machines.

Those that cannot afford extra budget for diesel have closed shop and lay off their workers.

Energy crisis in Nigeria has become a norm for several decades and is the bane of her economic development. There is an extreme electricity deficiency in Nigeria. The causes of this deficiency are related to financial, socio-political, and structural issues which lead the power sector in Nigeria to be recording high energy losses from power generation and billing which lead to insufficient cash generation as a result of these inefficiencies. Only about 40 per cent of households in Nigeria are connected to the national grid. There is highlyenergy loss due to the physical deterioration of the transmission and distribution facilities, an inadequate metering system and an increase in the incidence of power theft through illegal connections.

The crux of the matter in-

cludes inadequate generation, inefficient transmission and distribution of power. Nigeria’s installed power generation capacity of 6,000 mega watts is grossly inadequate to cater for the needs of over 140 million people. The country generates less than 3,000 mw.

Government officials have always blamed the problem of power outages to inadequate gas supply to thermal power plants and low level of water in the dams. A lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Frank Okafor said “the fact is a number of power stations are old. Look at Kainji dam built in 1968, if you just change a rotor and say it will give you 2’000 mw it’s a lie. An old machine remains old no matter the amount of rehabilitation or renovation. The old machines can never meet our target.

“If a developing country like Brazil can generate 100,000 mw, why not Nigeria priding itself as giant of Africa? Already South Africa is in Congo to build plant which they intend to transmit through High Voltage Distributive Transmission. Nigeria lacks the capacity for implementing long-term development plans.

“No nation survives without long-term development plans. We are almost at 2020, there is nothing on ground to say there is plan pointing at 2020.

They keep telling us that the power generation will hit over 20,000 mw by 2020. As regards Brazil, they have a very high potential for hydro power and they took their time to train their people. They built power plants and export power to neighbouring countries”.

On the way out, Okafor said, it is high time Nigeria considers renewable energy as panacea to incessant power outages. “These renewable energy sources like solar, wind, coal, biomass and small hydro are good even though not cost effective but they should be encouraged. Nevertheless, we still need big generating plants to run our steel plants and manufacturing industries.

Fuel Scarcity Experience over the years has shown that Nigeria has not been able to find solution to frequent scarcity of petroleum products. The ultimate solution is to build new refineries. It doesn’t make sense for a country that produces crude oil to be importing refined product. Refining crude oil locally will not only make enough products for local consumption available, but will provide employment for the teeming unemployed youths. Refine locally to meet local needs will solve the problem of oil subsidy that runs into billions of naira every year.

A petro-chemical engineer, Funso Adebowale, suggests that Nigeria should build new refineries with local technology instead of spending huge sums of money importing experts to come and maintain the existing refineries that has never met local demand.

Adebowale reasoned that the funds used in paying the experts to come and service our old refineries would have been better channelled into research in our universities or assist to develop what is referred to as illegal refineries that abound in the Niger Delta.

“Evidence abound that crude oil has been locally refined in the Niger Delta by the people we derogatorily referred to as oil thieves. What that means is that local refineries exist in Nigeria. We should improve on them.

“Nigeria has the capacity to refine crude oil but the problem has been lack of political will and vision on the part of our political leaders. The incoming administration should hearken to the voice of reasoning by encouraging the universities to embark on research to produce home grown refineries within a time frame”.

Unifying the country The task before Buhari is enormous. His first task will be to heal the wounds of a charged electoral campaign. He is inheriting a country divided along ethnic and religious lines more than any time in the nation’s history.

This fact was not lost on him when he declared in his first speech after he was declared winner of the election that: “This was a hard- fought contest. Emotions are high. We must not allow them to get the better of us. This is not the time for confrontation”.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar aptly captured what most Nigerians expect from their new leader in his letter of congratulation. Atiku said: “When you assume our highest office, you must become the president of not just the APC, but all of Nigeria, including the people who did not vote for you. We look up to you to heal the fractures of our country and truly unite this country like never before.”

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MAY 29 SPECIAL

APC’s bumpy journey to power The All Progressives Congress (APC) made history when it emerged Nigeria’s ruling party even before its third anniversary.

Associate Editor SAM EGBURONU reports on the party’s bumpy journey to power

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) was one of the latest entrants into the 2015 power race in Nigeria. But at the end of the contest, it took the gold, a development that has continued to confound its opponents and observers.

Registered as a political party on February 6, 2013, it was barely two years old when it won the Presidential and National Assembly elections, defeating older and more established political parties, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been on the saddle for 16 years.

So far, it seems all political indices combined to ensure its victory and success. For example, the party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, won the keenly contested election with almost 2.6 million votes. The huge votes he garnered were obvious indications that Nigerians were tired of PDP-led government and were desperate for change. The result, which confirmed general acceptability, was cemented when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who contested on the ticket of PDP, willingly conceded defeat on March 31.

This development has been described as rare because it was the first time in Nigeria’s political history that a sitting president accepted defeat willingly. It was also the first time an opposition political party unseated a governing party in a general election with every indication that power would be transferred to it peaceful-

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

No of Registered Voters

No of cards collected

Abia Adamawa Akwa Ibom Anambra Bauchi Bayelsa Benue Borno C/River Delta Ebonyi Edo Ekiti Enugu FCT Gombe Imo Jigawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kebbi Kogi Kwara Lagos Nasarawa Niger Ondo Oyo Plateau Rivers Sokoto Taraba Yobe Zamfara

1,396,162 1,559,012 1,680,759 1,963,173 2,054,125 610, 373 2,015,452 1,934,079 1,175,623 2,275,264 1,074,273 1,779,738 732, 021 1,429,221 881,472 1,120,023 1,803,030 1,831, 276 3,407,222 4,975,701 2,827,943 1,470,648 1,350,883 1,142,267 5, 822,207 1,242,667 2,014,317 1,524,655 2,415,566 2,001,825 2,537,590 1,611,929 1,340,652 1,099,970 1,495,717

1,183,127 1,381,571 1,587,566 1,658,967 1,967,081 548, 585 1,607,800 1,407,777 983,968 1,939,952 848, 392 1,230,566 522, 107 1,223, 606 569, 109 1,070,725 1,707, 449 1,757, 658 3,174, 519 4,112, 039 2,620, 096 1,372, 630 926,013 889, 067 3,799, 274 1,048, 053 1,682, 058 1,118, 479 1, 639, 967 1, 508, 585 2,127, 837 1,527, 004 1,270, 889 824, 401 1,435,452

ly.

% 84.74 88.62 94.46 84.50 95.76 89.88 79.77 72.79 83.70 85.26 78.97 68.81 71.32 85.61 64.56 95.60 94.70 95.98 93.17 82.64 92.65 93.17 68.55 77.83 65.25 84.34 61.53 73.43 67.89 75.36 83.85 94.73 94.80 74.95 95.97

For the party (APC), its victory is further consolidated by the fact that it not only won the presidential election, but also got majority of seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives. It also won 19 governorship elections, leaving only seven to PDP. Though this success has been described by supporters and admirers as astounding and fascinating, there is no doubt that the party journeyed to power through a rather bumpy route.

At the beginning APC was a child whose birth was informed by a troubled polity as politically dissatisfied Nigerians agreed that the defeat of the political octopus called the PDP in 2015 elections will require a gang up of the opposition. This assignment, which the progressive elements in the country considered the only viable takeoff for the desired rebirth of Nigerian socio-economic and political future, was the basis upon which leaders of some political parties conceived the idea of a merger that will result in the formation of a mega party. That marked the beginning of APC. The vision became concretised when Nigeria’s three biggest opposition parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The merger talks came to fruition on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 when Chief Tom Ikimi, as the chairman of ACN Merger Committee, told journalists in Abuja that the parties had resolved to uphold the principles of internal democracy.

Reading a prepared text, Ikimi said: “At no time in our life has radical change become more urgent. And to meet the challenge of that change, we the following progressive political parties, namely, ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved

•Oyegun

•Continued from page 33

2015 Presidential Election Results

Registered Voters and PVCs collected (State by State) States

The man Buhari

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

STATES

APC

PDP

Ekiti Ogun Enugu Kogi Osun Ondo FCT Oyo Nassarawa Kano Jigawa Kastina Kwara Kaduna Anambra Abia Akwa Ibom Imo Plateau Niger Ebonyi Lagos Bayelsa Gombe Cross River Rivers Adamawa Zamfara Kebbi Benue Bauchi Yobe Edo Taraba Delta

120,331 308,290 14,157 264,851 383,603 299,889 146,399 528,620 236,838 1,903,999 885,988 1,345,441 302,146 1,127,760 17,926 13,394 58,411 133,253 429,140 657,678 19,518 792,460 5,194 361,245 28,368 69,238 374,701 612,202 567,883 373,961 931,598 446,265 208,469 261,326 48,910

176,466 207,950 553,003 149,987 249,929 251,368 157,195 303,376 273,460 215,779 142,904 98,937 132,602 484,085 660,762 368,303 953,304 559,185 549,615 149,222 323,653 632,327 361,209 96,873 414,863 1,487,075 251,664 144, 833 100,972 303,737 86,085 25,526 286,869 310,800 1,211,405

to merge forthwith and become the All Progressive Congress and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for peace and prosperity.

“We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc, and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.”

Intrigues and controversies Even before it was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there were feelings that the powers that be were not comfortable with the emergence of APC in the political scene. As a result, the party’s route to survival and power was littered with bumps which created intrigues and controversies. In fact, these intrigues and controversies preceded the birth of the party.

The first bump was the controversy over the acronym, APC. On March 14, 2013, while APC promoters were awaiting the approval of INEC to register the party, two other associations – African Peoples Congress and All Patriotic Citizens – also applied for INEC registration, adopting APC as an acronym. When these rival APCs unveiled their logo and emblem that day, the confusion surrounding the emergence of APC deepened.

The heat that trailed the development was so much that many were ready to swear the emergence of the two other parties with the same acronym was PDP’s ploy to thwart the successful coalition of the opposition parties, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Also, after its registration, the young party lost some of its pioneer members as a result of what an insider cautiously described as “intrigues caused from within and outside the party.” For example, it could be recalled that most of the representatives of the merging parties who signed the merger resolution left the party soon after the emergence of the party. The resolution to merge as a party was signed

by Chief Tom Ikimi, who represented the ACN; former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the Chairman of ANPP’s Merger Committee; Garba Shehu, the Chairman of CPC’s Merger Committee and Senator Annie Okonkwo, who represented APGA’s faction. It is on record that over a year be- fore the party’s historic victory in the 2015 elections, Okonkwo, Ikimi and Shekarau left APC and joined the PDP. Some other prominent pioneer members also left the party, as a result of political intrigues or conflicting ambition.

Defections Although APC lost some of its pioneer members who defected to PDP and other parties within the first two years of its existence, it seems one of the major developments that boosted the party’s rapid development within this period is defection from PDP. Perhaps, the first major defection that helped to establish the party as a major player against PDP was the defection of five serving PDP governors at a time. They were Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.

Their exit from PDP came also with the defection of 49 legislators who joined the ranks of the original 137 legislators in the APC. This development gave APC majority in the House of Representatives long before the elections. To crown the defections game in the House was defection of the Speaker of the House of Repre Continued on page 36

•Shekarau, Okonkwo: Quit APC at critical moments

•Tukur: Wrote off APC

•Ikimi: Played the spoiler

•Saraki, Abdullahi: Teamed up with progressives

•Goje: Saw the light in APC

•Tambuwal: Took the risk

Most of the representatives of the merging parties who signed the merger resolution left the party soon after its emergence. The resolution to merge as a party was signed by Chief Tom Ikimi, who represented the ACN; former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the Chairman of ANPP’s Merger Committee; Garba Shehu, the Chairman of CPC’s Merger Committee and Senator Annie Okonkwo, who represented APGA’s faction... Okonkwo, Ikimi and Shekarau left APC and joined the PDP

more significant. He is the first politician to defeat an incumbent in a critical election that had aroused domestic passion and the interest of the international community.

As the custodian of a popular mandate, much is expected of his administration. According to analysts, Nigerians may not be patient with him because they want a quick action.

Buhari was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, to his father Adamu and his mother Zulaihat. He is the twenty-third child of his father. He was raised by his mother, after his father died when he was about four years old. In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu (née Yusuf). The marriage was fruitful. The couple had five children; four girls and one boy. In December 1989, Buhari married his second wife, Aisha (née Halilu) Buhari. They also have five children, a boy and four girls Buhari joined the Nigerian Army in 1961. He attended the Nigerian Military Training College in February 1964. The school was renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. From 1962 to 1963, he attended officer cadets training at Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England. In January 1963, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion, Abeokuta.

Between November 1963 and January 1964, Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna. In 1964, he attended the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School, Borden, United Kingdom. From 1965 to 1967, Buhari served as Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion. He was appointed a Brigade Major, Second Sector, First Infantry Division, April 1967 to July 1967. He was made Brigade Major of the Third Infantry Brigade, July 1967 to October 1968 and Brigade Major/Commandant, Thirty-first Infantry Brigade, 1970 to 1971.

Buhari served as the Assistant Adjutant-General, First Infantry Division Headquarters. That was between 1971 and 1972. He also attended the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, in 1973. Between 1974 and 1975, he was Acting Director of Transport and Supply, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Headquarters. Buhari was also Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, from 1978 to 1979. He was a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) from 1978 to 1979.

As a colonel between 1979 to 1980. Buhari attended the US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States, and obtained a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. He was the General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division (August 1980 – January 1981), General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Division ( January 1981 – October 1981) and General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armed Division (October 1981 – December 1983) In August 1975, after the late General Murtala Mohammed took over power from Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Buhari was appointed as the military governor of the Northeastern State. In March 1976, the Head of State, Gen. Obasanjo appointed him as the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources. When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was created in 1976, Buhari was also appointed as its Chairman. In 1983, when Chadian forces invaded Borno State, Buhari mobilised soldiers to chase the invaders out of the country. Shagari was infuriated. But, on second thought, he acknowledged that the General acted in the national interest.

On December 31, 1983, Buhari became the Head of State after toppling Shagari. His Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters was the late Major-General Tunde Idiagbon. Both shared the same vision. It was a perfect combination. Until August 1985, when he was toppled by the Chief of Army Staff, Babangida, Buhari ran an efficient administration. He was frugal. He also loathed corruption. He steadily paid the huge foreign debts. He launched the ‘War Against Indiscipline,’ whipping decadent Nigerians into line. He was a no-nonsense military ruler.

On the economic front, he blocked the loopholes.

Buhari wanted to build a thriving economy along the conditions of austerity measures. He encouraged import substitution industrialisation, urging manufacturers to look inwards through the use of local materials.

He reduced the penchant for importation. When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asked the government to devalue the naira by 60 percent, the military leader objected. Instead, he embarked on fiscal discipline, creative financial engineering and prudent management of resources. His Finance Minister, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, was always rendering accounts every month to Nigerians. It was the height of financial accountability. But, in other areas, there was no accountability. Buhari brooked no opposition.

Many have criticised Buhari for poor human rights record as a military Head of State. During the presidential campaigns, he took responsibility for his past actions, saying that the past cannot be changed. But, he

assured that, now that he has become a ‘converted democrat’, he is ready to abode by the rule of law.

The image of the new democrat contrast sharply with the stern-looking soldier of early eighties in Dodan Barracks, Lagos. In those days, Buhari’s word was the law.In fact, observers have described him as the lord of manor. Asked by reporters when he will set up a transition programme, he frowned his face, saying: “May be, in 10 years’ time.” Under his Decree 2 and 4, citizens considered to be security risk, particularly vocal politicians and rights activists, were detained without charges. Popular demonstrations were banned. Two journalists-Nduka Irabor and Tunde Thompson-were even jailed. But, Thompson was among his campaign aides during the electioneering.

The hand of Buhari was heavy on perceived looters of the treasury. Past civilian leaders, including governors and ministers were tried and convicted for corruption by military tribunals. Many of them, including Adisa Akinloye, Emmanuel Osamor, and Umaru Dikko, fled the country. Traditional rulers were also whipped into line. For travelling to Israel without official clearance, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, and Emir of Kano, the late Alhaji Ado Bayero, were restricted in their palaces for six months. Drug pushers had no place to hide. They were tried and executed under retroactive laws. Illegal foreigners were also sent packing.

There were other excesses. In a controversial manner, the government wanted to bring the fleeing Transport Minister, the late Dr. Dikko, back home to answer corruption charges. Gradually, Nigerians who hailed Buhari’s ascension after ousting Shagari started to grumble. Buhari’s WAI programmes restored order, discipline and public decency. But, the administration was largely perceived to be highly dictatorial.

In August 1985, there was a palace coup. Buhari was overthrown by Babangida. The former Head of State was detained. In retirement, he maintained a dignified silence, until he was made the Chairman of the Committee on the proposed Katsina State University. Later, he served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under Abacha, who displaced the interim contraption headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. His tenure was marked by success, despite the bad image of the government. The infrastructure battle was vigorously fought. Buhari ensured prudent management, transparency and accountability.

Throughout the campaigns, Buhari elevated issues over personality. He never played the ethnic card.

He regarded the entire country as his primary constituency. Buhari shunned hate campaigns, refused to visit churches and mosques, unlike the President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Vice President Nnamadi Sambo. Buhari exuded confidence, charisma, carriage, courage and maturity, even when he was provoked. On the podium, he cut the image of a father figure as he canvassed alternative ideas for good governance.

Three decades ago, he rode to power on military populism. The conditions that pave the way for his ascension in 1983 are similar to the current prevailing circumstances. In the eighties, Nigerians groan under an inept administration, making the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to warned Shagari that ship of state was about to hit the rock. Reminiscent of the Second Republic, Buhari has also warned in this Fourth Republic that the country was on the brink. It is an understatement. ‘The economy has been mismanaged. The currency has almost become a worthless paper. A culture of theft and graft has been enthroned. Almost a year after, the abducted Chibok girls are yet to be rescued. Roads are death traps.

Hospitals have become mere consulting clinics. The nation lay prostrate.

As a young man, Buhari wanted to change the course of history. He wanted to also make name as a leader who sanitised society and established a decent rule. He was a man in a hurry to sanitise society. But, his colleagues conspired against him and aborted his dream.

Can he now achieve what he failed to achieve 31 years ago?

In 1984, there was no parliament to moderate his actions. He was both the legislature and the executive. He ruled by decrees. But, he will now be tamed by the National Assembly and the judiciary. Unlike before, the media and other civil society groups will be active in playing the role watchdogs in democracy. The ruling party, on which back he rode to power, will make legitimate demands from him. In 1984/85, there was no room for dialogue. It is a different ball game in 2015.

Will Buhari adjust fully to the demands of democratic culture? Will he make use of the second chance by imprinting his name in the letters of gold? Will he resolve the national question? Will Buhari live up to expectation? Time will tell.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

31

MAY 29 SPECIAL

Honourables all House of Reps elect 2015 and their Federal Constituencies ABIA STATE 1.

ABA NORTH/SOUTH OSSY PRESTIGE CHINEDU EHIRIODO O OSSY 2 AROCHUKWU OHAFIA NKOLE UKO NDUKWE 3.

BENDE ELENDU-UKEJE NNENNA L. 4.

IKWUANO UMUAHIA SAMUEL IFEANYI ONUIGBO 5 ISIALANGWA NORTH/SOUTH DARLINTON NWOKOCHA 6.

ISUIKWUATO/UMUNNEOCHI ONYEJEOCHA NKERUKA CHIDUBEN 7.

OBINGWA/UGWUNAGBO/OSISIOMA SOLOMON ADAELU EZINWA O. 8.

UKWA EAST/WEST ABONTA UZOMA NKEM ADAMAWA STATE 1.

FUFORE/SONG SADIQ IBRAHIM 2.

GOMBI/HONG YUSUF BUBA YAKUB 3.

GUYUK/SHELLENG PHILIP A GUTUWA 4.

JADA/GANYE/TOUNGO/MAYO BELWA ABDULRAZAK SAÁD NAMDAS 5.

MICHIKA/MADAGALI ADAMU DAU USMAN KAMALE 6.

MUBI NORTH, SOUTH/MAIHA ABDULRAHMAN SHUAIBU ABUBAKAR 7.

NUMAN/DEMSA/LAMURDE KWAMOTI BITRUS LAORI 8.

YOLA-NORTH/SOUTH/GIREI LAWAL ABUBAKAR GARBA AKWA IBOM STATE 1.

ABAK/ETIM EKPO/IKA EMMANUEL EKON 2.

EKET/ONNA/ESIT/EKET/IBENO OWOIDIGHE IME EKPOATAI 3.

ETINAN/NSIT IBOM/NSIT UBIUM SAMUEL OKON IKON 4.

IKONO/INI IBORO ASUQUO EKANEM 5.

IKOT ABASI/MKPAT ENIN EASTERN OBOLO FRANCIS CHARLES UDUYORK 6.

IKOT EKPENEESSIEN UDIM/OBOT AKARA EMMANUEL S AKPAN 7.

ITU/IBIONO IBOM HENRY OKON ARCHIBONG 8.

ORON/MBO/OKOBO/UDUNG UKO/URUEL OFFONG/ORUKO BASSEY EKPENYONG 9.

UKANAFUN/ORUK ANAM EMMANUEL ISAAC UKOETE 10. UYOURUAN/NSIT ATAI/EBESIKPO ASUTAN MICHAEL OKON ENYONG ANAMBRA STATE 1.

AGUATA EUCHARIA AZODO OKWUNNA 2.

ANAMBRA EAST/WEST MADUBUEZE PETER OBIANO 3.

ANAOCHA/NJIKOKA/DUNUKOFIA OKECHUKWU NNAMDI EZE 4.

AWKA NORTH/SOUTH ANAYO NNEBE 5.

IDEMILI NORTH/SOUTH OBINNA-CHIDOKA IHIALA 6.

ANOHU CHUKWUEMEKA REGINALD 7.

NNEWI NORTH SOUTH/EKWUSIGO CHRIS EMEKA AZUBOGU 8.

OGBARU CHUKWUKA ONYEMA WILFRED 9.

ONITSHA NORTH/SOUTH IDU EMEKA GODWIN OBIAJULU 10. ORUMBA NORTH/SOUTH 11. OYI/AYAMELUM ONYENWIFE GABRIEL BAUCHI STATE 1.

ALKALERI/KIRFI MUHAMMAD SANI ABDU 2.

BAUCHI SHEHU ALIYU MUSA 3.

DARAZO/GANJUWA RT HALIRU DAUDA JIKA 4.

DASS/TAFAWA BALEWA/BAGORO SAINT KAIOR EDNA 5.

GAMAWA MOHAMMED GARBA GOLOLO 6.

ITAS/GADAU/JAMMARE ISA HASSAN MOHAMMED 7.

KATAGUM IBRAHIM MOHAMMED BABA 8.

MISAU/DABAM AHMED YERIMA 9.

NINGI/WARJI SALISU ZAKARI NINGI 10. SHIRA/GIADE GURAI ALHAJI ADAMU 11. TORO LAWAL YAHAYA GUMAU 12. ZAKI

APGA PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

APC APC APC APC PDP APC PDP APC

PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

TATA OMAR

APC

BAYELSA 1.

KOLOKUNA OPOKUMA/YENAGOA DIRI DOUYE 2.

NEMBE/BRASS FOINGHA JEPHTER 3.

OGBIA SODAGUNO A FESTUS OMONI 4.

SAGBAMA/EKEREMOR AGBEDI FREDRICK Y. 5.

SOUTHERN IJAW DANIEL HENRY OFONGO

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

BENUE STATE 1.

ADO/OKPOKWU OGBADIBO CHRISTIAN ADABAH ABAH 2.

APA/AGATU ADAMU OCHEKPO ENTONU 3.

BURUKU **** 4.

GBOKO/TARKA JOHN DYEGH 5.

GWER EAST/GWER WEST MARK TERSEER GBILLAH 6.

K/ALA/UKUM LOGO UDENDE, EMMANUEL MEMGA 7.

KWANDE/USHONGO BENJAMIN IOREMBER WAYO 8.

MAKURDI/GUMA DICKSON DOMINIC T. 9.

OJU/OBI SAMSON OKWU 10. OTUKPO/OHIMINI ADAJI AWULU EZEKIEL 11. VANDEKYA/KONSHISHA HEMBE HERMAN IORWASE C. 12. ASKIRA UBA/HAWUL JIBRIN SATUMARI 13. BAMA/NGALA/BALA-BALGE MOHAMMED NUR SHERIFF 14. BIU/ KWAYA-KAWASHANI/ BAYO, SHANI, MUKTAR BETARA ALIYU 15. GWOZA/DAMBOA/CHIBOK ASABE VILITA BASHIR

PDP PDP •Gbajabiamila

APC APC PDP APC APC PDP PDP APC APC APC APC

•Lam-Adesina

APC

BORNO STATE 1.

JERE AYUBA MOHAMMED BELLO 2.

KAGA, GUBIO, MAGUMERI MOHAMMED A SANDA 3.

KONDUGA/DIKWA/MAFIA MAHMUD LAWAN MAINA 4.

KUKAWA/ABADAM/MOBBAR/GUZAMALA MALLAM BUKAR GANA 5.

MAIDUGURI (METROPOLITAN) ABDULKADIRI RAHIS 6.

MARTE/MONGUNO/NGANZAI MOHAMMED TAHIR MONGUNO

APC APC APC APC APC APC

PDP

PDP APGA PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

CROSS RIVER STATE 1.

ABI/YAKURR BASSEY EKO EWAH 2.

AKAMKPA/BIASE DANIE ASUQUO EFFIONG 3.

BEKWARRA/OBUDU/OBANLIKU OCHIGLEGOR IDAGBO 4.

BOKI/IKOM CHRIS AGIBE NGORO 5.

CALABAR MUNICPAL /ODUKPANI EDIM ETTA MBORA 6.

CALABAR SOUTH/ AKPABUYO/BAKASSI ESSIEN EKPEYONG AYI OBUBRA/ETUNG 7.

MICHAEL IROM ETABA 8.

YALA/OGOJA JARIGBE AGOM JARIGBE

APC

DELTA STATE 1.

ANIOCHANORTH/SOUTH/ OSHIMILI NORTH/SOUTH ONYEAMAECHI JOAN MRAKPOR 2.

BOMADI/PATANI NICHOLAS MUTU EBOMO 3.

BURUTU JULIUS G. PONDI 4.

ETHIOPE EAST/ WEST

APC

5.

APC

6.

APC

7.

APC

8.

APC

9.

APC

10.

PDP APGA

APC APC APC APC

PDP

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP

IKA NORTH EAST/IKA SOUTH VICTOR ONYEMACHI NWOKOLO ISOKO NORTH/SOUTH LEONARD O OGOR NDOKWA WEST/UKWUANI/NDOKWA EAST OSSAI NICHOLAS OSSAI UGHELLI NORTH/SOUTH, UDU LGA AHWINAHWI SOLOMON UVWIE/OKPE/SAPELE EVELYN OMAVOWAN OBORO WARRI NORTH/WARRI SOUTH WEST DANIEL REYENIEJU O

EBONYI STATE 1.

AFIKPO NORTH/SOUTH IGARIWEY IDUMA ENWO 2.

EBONYI/OHAUKWU NWAZUNKU CHUKWUMA 3.

EZZA NORTH ISHIELU

•Yakubu

PDP

•Are

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP Continued on page 34

•Ewah

32

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

33

MAY 29 SPECIAL

Tinubu, the kingmaker

By EMMANUEL OLADESU (Group Political Editor)

A

S Muhammadu Buhari receives the baton from President Goodluck Jonathan today, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will receive the adulation of a kingmaker.

Indeed, Tinubu will go down in history as the merger initiator, executor and consolidator.

Many commentators have described the former governor of Lagos State as a courageous and fearless political General, strategic thinker, risk taker, a crusader for change, and a great apostle of power, which, in his view, is never served a la carte. Always exuding charisma, the swearing in ceremony will be the crowing of Tinubu’s efforts as an indomitable opposition leader and the most colourful politician in the post-Awolowo era.

Thirty two years ago, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, predicted that progressive forces would float a formidable opposition platform that would win federal power.

Tinubu fulfilled the prediction. He argued that, if the leaders of like-minded parties could make sacrifice and float a mega party to confront the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerians would celebrate power shift. He rejected the option of alliance or inexplicable coalition, saying that only the option of merger was viable.

Tinubu came up with the theory of the cow and the slaughter’s slab. It will be difficult for the cow to be dragged to the slab. But, once the cow gets there, it is a journey of no return. In Tinubu’s view, only a merger can lead to the natural death of the legacy parties. Once the scattered progressive platforms were collapsed into the APC, their leaders would not look back.

They would either survive or sink with the mega party. On March 28, they survived as Buhari defeated Dr. Jonathan at the presidential election.

The road was laced with thorns. But, the leaders weathered the storm.

Tinubu provided the inspiration. He sustained the tempo of political motivation till the end. He is acknowledged as a top party financier.

Tinubu’s role in the polity is consistent with his antecedent.

Since he crossed the bridge from the boardroom to politics, he has not looked back. “He is the contemporary Awo of our time, who is destined to complete Awo’s unfinished business,” said a party elder from Lagos, Olorunfunmi Bashorun. “History will not forget his contributions,” he added.

House of Representatives memberelect Olajide Jimoh, who described Tinubu as the Tutor-General of the Nigerian politics, said the party leader is endowed with mega capabilities. “He started the journey of liberation in 2007 from the Southwest. Today, the progressives are in power at the centre,” he added.

When the political earthquake swept across the Southwest in 2003, only Tinubu survived. PDP sharp shooters and hawks, penetrated the Alliance for Democracy (AD), at the instance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ahead of 2007 polls, AD was in ruins. But, Tinubu, a man of foresight, saw it coming. He spearheaded the formation of the Action Congress (AC), which later metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Under the guidance of the quintessential soldier of democracy, the party reclaimed Ekiti and Osun States from the PDP in 2010. A year later, PDP was also sacked from power in Ogun and Oyo States. But, last year, PDP regained the control of Ekiti.

Tinubu grew up in a political family. His mother, the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, was a popular politician and women mobiliser in the days of the Action Group (AG), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). But, little did he guess that he would also become a political colossus.

Tinubu attended St. John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children’s Home School in Ibadan. Tinubu went to the United States in 1975, where he studied at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois and later at Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Tinubu worked for American companies-Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells, and GTE Services Corporation. After returning to Nigeria in 1983, he worked with Mobil Oil Nigeria.

When the auditor became a politician by accident, he took the polity by storm. It was in the aborted Third Republic. As a senator on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), he became a thorn in the flesh of the military.

The Lagos West Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial form was obtained for Tinubu by his cousin, Alhaji Kola Oseni, a grassroots politician. At the screening, the green horn dazed the screening committee headed by Chief Lanre Rasak when he scored the highest mark. He answered highly technical questions with immensurable wit from the panel. Old politicians on the panel, who had written off the new breed, had a re-think.

Lagos West District is the largest senatorial district in the country. During the historic contest, Tinubu defeated the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, Mrs. Kemi Nelson, with a wide margin. In 1999, Mrs. Nelson served as a commissioner in Tinubu’s Administration. Tinubu also scored the highest number of senatorial votes in the country. He was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He was widely acknowledged as a high flyer, prolific analyst and tactician. With the fall of the Third Republic, his career in the Upper Chamber was

aborted.

Tinubu was the arrowhead of senators seeking an end to the military rule. The brave politician had objected to the annulment of the free and fair June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the SDP candidate, the late Basorun Moshood Abiola. He was a pillar of support for the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). His dedication, courage and financial backing for the noble cause sustained the crusade.

During the June 12 crisis, Tinubu was marked liquidation. He escaped abroad. From there, he fired salvos at the military. He inspired many pro-democracy groups, whose activities led to the restoration of civil rule in 1999.

Tinubu made history as the governor of the Centre of Excellence for eight years. He was a model governor. He jerked up the internally generated revenue from the N600 million monthly to billions of naira.

Tinubu fought the infrastructural battle. He constructed roads, built hospitals and schools, created opportunities for employment and re-energised the transport sector. He initiated the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The judiciary reforms he introduced were legendary.

The former governor also created additional 37 local councils, based on popular demand.

When the allocations to the councils were seized by the Federal Government, he invented a creative financial engineering that made the councils to survive.

When Tinubu’s tenure was about to expire in 2007, he groomed a competent successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who also won re-election in 2011.

In politics and private life, Tinubu is reputed for philanthropy. He is a cheerful giver, benefactor, godfather and defender of the oppressed. Tinubu is a national property and detribalised apostle of national unity. He is an apostle of true federalism and Sovereign National Conference. Yet, he objected to the National Conference set up by the Jonathan Administration last year, describing it as a decoy and a Greek gift. The conference ended up as a jamboree.

Tinubu is an advocate of electoral reform. He hailed the work of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais Panel on Electoral Reforms. But, in his view, electoral reform is an unfinished business.

Tinubu’s political career has been turbulent. Three years ago, he was dragged before the Code of Conduct tribunal for allegedly operating illegal foreign accounts. He triumphed over his detractors. Also, agents of the Federal Government monitor his activities as an opposition leader. Whenever he was abroad, stories would be cooked about him.

Rewards for politics and community service have come for Tinubu in torrents. He has received many honorary chieftaincy titles. They include the Asiwaju of Lagos, conferred on him by the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom and the Aare of Ile-Oluji.

,

He is the contemporary Awo of our time, who is destined to complete Awo’s unfinished business

,,

•Tinubu

The man Buhari

By EMMANUEL OLADESU (Group Political Editor)

M

UHAMMADU Buhari, Major-General and military Head of State between January 1985 and August 1985, will make history again

today. More than 31 years after he was ousted from power by former military President Ibrahim Babangida, the Daura, Katsina State born-light skinned soldier is back in the saddle. He is the hero of the new dawn. Much has been given to him as the custodian of a popular mandate. Much will also be expected of him as he navigates the ship of state.

In 1984, he rode to power through the barrel of gun. On March 28, he bounced back through the ballot box. Then, he was a dictator who brooked no opposition. But now, he describes himself as a repentant democrat. However, his vision for a better society has remained constant. So is his disdain for corruption and other social vices. In 1984, he was 42. Now, he is 73. When he was young, he demonstrated an aversion for primitive accumulation. In the twilight of life, he more or less sees life as vanity.

When he sacked legitimate authorities to assume the reins three decades ago, he rationalised his forceful seizure of power in a nation-wide broadcast.

Buhari blamed the Shagari administration for leadership failure, ineptitude, and graft. The economy was on its knees. Hospitals, he said, had become mere consulting clinics. The nation was in a state of hopelessness. The ship of state was sinking. The dividends of democracy were scanty. There were cries of despondency, despair and loss of hope. Buhari was burning with patriotic anger.

Today, the situation is worse. The nation is battling with insecurity, decayed infrastructure, soaring unemployment, power outage and corruption have assumed high proportion. The last month of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration has been worse. The scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit has paralysed social and economic activities. The question on the lips of people is: how will Buhari restore order into a state of pandemonium?

Buhari’s foray into politics betrayed his training, tendency and exploits as a soldier. In retirement, he was comfortable. But, the national drift terminated that comfort. He had complained that Nigeria had suffered from poor governance under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. When he threw his hat into the ring, he mocked his antecedent as a combative soldier, who had earlier declined to put in motion any transition programme, thereby denying civilians who legitimately yearned for civil rule under his military administration.

Principled, strong willed, disciplined and focused, he has never looked back since 2003. When he was defeated by Obasanjo, he took his case to the court. In 2007, he also contested against former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led

by Prof. Maurice Iwu, Buhari lost the election. But, the General protested.

The late Yar’Adua acknowledged that the poll was severely flawed. The PDP dangled some carrots at the leaders of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), who later labeled Buhari as a blind fighter. But, he was undaunted. When he was deserted by the big shots, he turned to the masses for support.

In 2011, Buhari had left the ANPP and formed the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). That year, he garnered over 11 million votes at the presidential election. But, he was still defeated by Dr. Goodlick Jonathan.

Ahead of the recent general elections, the General went back to the drawing board. He came out from his shell to embrace the indisputable fact that only a formidable opposition party can halt the 16 years of misrule by the PDP. Unlike in 2011, when Buhari rejected overtures for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he accepted to proposed mergers. The sacrifices made by the legacy parties-ACN, CPC, ANPP and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) culminated into emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, there were bumps on the way. When the parties agreed to merge, it was evident that they could not retrace their steps into the disbanded platforms, except the PDP. But, the first hurdle was the party registration.

Many thought that the various caucuses in the proposed merger would find it difficult to agree on a name. They overcame the hurdle. Later, an amorphous group sprang up, challenging the APC. Its grouse was that the new party had adopted its acronym. The proposed association later went with the wind. APC survived.

Next was the Abuja convention for the election of pioneer party officers.

The die was cast between two prominent politicians from Edo State-Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Chief Tom Ikimi. When Oyegun was elected, Ikimi left for the PDP. The fortune of the APC did not plummet.

Also, there was tension at the presidential primaries held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Many thought that the contest involving Buhari, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Sam NdaIsaiah and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would mark the end of the party.

The Convention Committee headed by former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi conducted a very transparent shadow poll.

Buhari emerged as the flag bearer and other aspirants resolved to support his bid.

Then, the choice of a running mate. Without any categorical statement on zoning, the university don, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, emerged as the running mate without controversy. It was evident that Buhari and the APC were on course.

When it was clear that nothing could stop the party, the PDP and its agents resorted to blackmail. Buhari was labeled a religious bigot, who will take Nigeria to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). He was described as the defender of Islam who will be an obstacle to the growth of Christianity.

But, the agents of destruction were silenced, following the disclosure that Buhari’s cook and driver of 20 years are Christians.

Simultaneously, Buhari was also described as an ethnic champion; Northern irredentist, who was insensitive to the legitimate aspirations of other ethnic groups.

But, everywhere he campaigned, he came across as a true Nigerian who will be President of all Nigeria.

Ahead of the poll, PDP campaign strategists also called his certificate to question. The General, who had served as a Military Secretary, insisted that his certificate was with the military. Buhari, who served in the Army for 24 years was denied by the military. Former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Alani Akinrinade said that the military lied. He said his own certificate was also kept with the Army.

It took the patriotic intervention of the Principal of Government College, Katsina, before the matter was laid to rest. He obliged Nigerians with the photocopies of the General’s WASC certificate.

Later, PDP chieftains said that Buhari was not fit to rule on account of old age. They lied that he had health challenges, making him to travel out of the country to seek medical attention. In addition, there were also hate advertisements which provoked public uproar and condemnation.

When reality dawned on the President Goodluck Jonathan and hi9s cotravelers that their days in power were numbered, they instigated the postponement of the election for six weeks. Despite these challenges, Buhari was waxing stronger on daily basis.

He towers above many in resilience and political luck, having weathered the storm four times to fulfill his destiny. Even, if he has not come back to rule, his place in history is assured. Indeed, Buhari has seen it all before as a civil war hero, military governor, federal commissioner, military secretary, military General Officer Commanding (GOC)commander and Head of State. But, necessity has compelled him in retirement to embark on a rescue mission. His victory at the historic presidential election underscored the power of courage.

But,

the euphoria of victory must fizzle out in the face of the challenges that will confront the new President. Buhari will inherit many assets and liabilities. The components of the national burden include a disunited polity, an empty treasury, a huge foreign debt, an army of unemployed youths, dilapidated infrastructure, wobbling health system, and insecurity.

To many observers, Nigeria, nevertheless, may be on course.

The reason is that, for the first time, Nigerians elected a leader who is perceived as an incorruptible leader. His integrity, credibility and disdain for corruption are legendary. The new President is also lucky. He will work hand in hand with a resilient deputy, a man of ideas, a silent worker, planner, organiser and result-oriented technocrat.

Buhari is not the first former military Head of State to return to power through the ballot box after disengagement from the Army. His former boss, Obasanjo, who handed over power voluntarily to the civilian regime in 1979, was elected President 20 years later. Other former military Heads of State-Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida-also made futile efforts in the past. Even, the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, wanted to perpetuate himself in power.

However, Buhari’s second coming is •Continued on page 35

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MAY 29 SPECIAL

Continued from page 31

Honourables all 4.

5.

6.

•Jubrin

ANAYO EDWIN EZZA SOUTH/IKWO OGBEE LAZARUS N. IZZI/ABAKALIKI SYLVESTER OGBAGA OHAOZARA ONICHA-IVO OKORIE LINUS ABAA

EDO STATE 1.

AKOKO EDO PETER OHIOZOJEH AKPATASON 2.

EGOR/IKPOBA O JOHNSON E. AGBONAYINMAN 3.

ESAN CENTRAL JOSEPH E EDIONWELE 4.

ESAN NORTH EAST/ESAN SOUTH EAST OGUN SARGIUS OSEASOCHIE 5.

ETSAKOEAST/WEST/CENTRAL PHILIP SHAIBU 6.

OREDO ORIOWO/UHUMWONDE PATRICK AISOWIEREN 7.

OVIA NORTH EAST/OVIA SOUTH WEST OMOSEDE IGBINEDION GABRIELLA 8.

OWAN WEST IRIASE ISUMAFE O PALLY EKITI STATE 1.

ADO EKITI/IREPODUN/IFELODUN AYODELE OLADIMEJI 2.

EKITI SW/IKERE/ ORUN/ISE SEGUN ADEKOLA ALEXANDER 3.

EMURE/GBONYIN/EKITI EAST AWODUMILA AKINYELE JULIUS 4.

IDO/OSI/MOBA/ILEJEMEJE AINA THADEUS 5.

IJERO/EKITI WEST/EFON ONI OLAMIDE JOHNSON 6.

IKOLE/OYE/NORTH KEHINDE AGBOOLA EMMANUEL

•Adedoyin

ENUGU STATE 1.

ENUGU EAST/ISI - UZO KINGSLEY SUNNY EBANYI 2.

ENUGU NORTH/SOUTH CHIME OJI AGU 3.

NKANU EAST/WEST CHUKWUEMEKA UJAM 4.

NSUKKA/IGBOEZE SOUTH IKECHUKWU UGWUEGEDE 5.

OJI RIVER/ANINRI, AWGU TOBY OKECHUKWU 6.

UDENU IGBOEZE NORTH AGBO DENNI NNAMDI 7.

UDI/EZEAGU AMADI OGUERINWA DENIS 8.

UZO-UWANI/ IGBO ETITI STELLA UCHENA OBIAGELI NGWU FCT 1.

AMAC/BWARI JISALO B ZAPHANIA 2.

KUJE/ABAJI/GWAGWALADA/KWALI ZAKARI ANGULU

•Zorro

•Faleke

•Iriase

GOMBE STATE 1.

AKKO BARAMBU UMARU KAWAWA 2.

BALANGA/BILLIRI ALI ISA 3.

DUKKU/NAFADA AISHATU JIBRIL DUKKU 4.

GOMBE/KWAMI/ FUNAKAYE KHAMISU AHMED MAILANTARKI KALTUNGO/SHONGOM 5.

BINTA BELLO 6.

YAMALTU/ DEBA YUNUSA AHMAD ABUBAKAR IMO STATE 1.

ABOH MBAISE/NGOR OKPALA BEDE EKE UCHENNA 2.

AHIAZU/MBAISE/EZINIHITTE RAPHAEL UZOCHI IGBOKWE 3.

EHIME-MBANO/ IHITTE UBOMA/OBOWO CHIKE JOHN OKAFOR 4.

IDEATO/NORTH/ IDEATO/SOUTH CHUKWUKERE AUSTINE IKECHUKWU O. 5.

ISIALAMBANO/OKIGWE/ONUIMO ONWUBUARIA KINSLEY OBINNA 6.

MBAITOLI IKEDURU NWAWUBA HENRY UGOCHUKWU 7.

NKWERRE/ ISU/NJABA,NWANGELE CHUKWUDI VICTOR JONES ONYERERI 8.

OHAJI/EGBEMA ORU, WEST OGUTA GOODLUCK OPIA NANAH 9.

ORLU/ORU EAST/ORSU 10. CHUDE ONYERERI 11. OWERRI MUNICIPAL/OWERRI N/OWERRI WEST EZENWA ONYEWUCHI KADUNA STATE 1.

BIRNIN GWARI/GIWA HASSAN ADAMU SHEKARAU 2.

CHUKUN/KAJURU UMAR YAKUBU BARDE 3.

IGABI MUHAMMED ABUBAKAR 4.

IKARA/KUBAU YUSUF BALA

PDP

5.

APGA

6.

PDP

7.

PDP

8.

9.

APC

10.

PDP

11.

PDP

12.

13.

PDP APC APC PDP APC

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

PDP APC

APC PDP APC APC PDP APC

PDP PDP APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

APC PDP APC APC

14.

15.

16.

JABA/ZAGON KATAF SUNDAY MARSHAL KATUNG KACHIA/KAGARKO JAGABA ADAMS JAGABA APC KADUNA NORTH SAMAILA SULEIMAN KADUNA SOUTH RUFAI AHMED CHANCHANGI KAURA ARC GIDEON LUCAS GWANI KAURU BARR SIMON Y ARABO LERE LAWAL MUHD RABIU MAKARFI/KUDAN SABON GARI GARBA DATTI MUHAMMAD SANGA/JEMA’A SHEHU NICHOLAS GARBA SOBA MUHAMMAD MUSA SOBA ZARIA ABBAS TAJUDEEN

KANO STATE 1.

AJINGI/GAYA/ALBASU ABDULLAHI MAHMUD GAYA 2.

BAGWAI/SHANONO SULAIMAN ALIYU ROMO 3.

BICHI AHMED GARBA BICHI 4.

DALA ALIYU SANI MADAKI 5.

DAMBATTA/MAKODA BADAMASI AYUBA 6.

DAWAKIN KUDU/WARAWA MUSTAPHA BALA DAWAKI 7.

DAWAKIN/TOFA/TOFA/RIMIN GADO TIJJANI ABDULKADIR JOBE 8.

DOGUWA/TUDUNWADA ALHASSAN ADO GARBA 9.

FAGGE AMINU SULEIMAN 10. GEZAWA/GABASAWA MUSA ADO 11. GWALE 12. GWARZO/KABO NASIRU GARO SULE 13. KIRU/BEBEJI ABDULMUMIN JIBRIN 14. KUMBOTSO MUNIR BABBA DANAGUNDI 15. KUNCHI/TSANYAWA SANI UMAR BALA 16. KURA/GARVIN/MALLAM/MADOBI MUKTAR MOHAMMED CHIROMAWA 17. MINJIBIR/UNGOGO BASHIR BABALLE 18. MUNICIPAL DANBURAM ABUBAKAR NUHU 19. NASARAWA NASSIRU ALI AHMED 20. RANO/BUNKURE/KIBIYA SANI MOHD ALIYU RANO 21. ROGO/KARAYE SHEHU USMAN ALIYU 22. TAKAI/SUMAILA GARBA UMAR DURBUNDE 23. TARAUNI NASIRU BABALLE ILA 24. WUDIL/GARKO MUHAMMAD ALI WUDIL 25. BAKORI/DANJA AMIRUDDIN TUKUR 26. BATAGARAWA/RIMI/CHARANCHI KABIR SHAAIBU 27. DANDUME/FUNTUA MUNTARI DANDUTSE 28. DAURA/MAIADUA/SANDAMU SANI SAIDU FAGO 29. DUTSINMA/KURFI DANLAMI MOHAMMED KURFI 30. JIBIA/KAITA SULEIMAN SALISU SALISCO 31. KANKARA/PASKARI/SABUWA MURTALA ISAH 32. KANKIA/KUSADA/INGAWA AHMAD USMAN BABBA KAITA 33. KATSINA CENTRAL SHEIK UMAR ABUBAKAR 34. MALUMFASHI/KAFUR BABANGIDA IBRAHIM 35. MANI/BINDAWA AMINU ASHIRU MANI 36. MASHI/DUTSI SANI BELLO MASHI 37. MUSAWA/MATAZU IBRAHIM DANMAZARI MURTALA 38. SAFANA/DANMUSA/ BATSARI AHMED DAYYABU SAFANA 39. ZANGO/BAURE NASIRU SANI ZANGON DAURA 40. ALIERO/GWANDU/JEGA MUHAMMED UMAR JEGA 41. AREWA/DANDI HUSSEINI SULEIMAN KANGIWA 42. ARGUNGU/AUGIE MUNIR UTHMAN MOHAMMED

PDP

APC APC PDP PDP APC APC PDP APC APC

APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC •Continued on page 40

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MAY 29 SPECIAL

Men, women who ‘ll run

•Sanni

•Abaribe

•Mrs Rasaq

SENATOR ELECT 2015 AND SENATORIAL ZONES ABIA STATE ABIA CENTRAL THEODORE AHAMEFULE ORJI ABIA ABIA NORTH MAO A. OHUABUNWA ABIA ABIA SOUTH ENYINNAYA ABARIBE

PDP PDP PDP

ADAMAWA STATE ADAMAWA CENTRAL ABDUL AZIZ MURTALA NYAKO ADAMAWA NORTH BINTA MASI GARBA ADAMAWA SOUTH AHMADU ABUBAKAR (MOALLAHYIDI) AKWA IBOM STATE AKWA IBOM NORTH WEST GODSWILL OBOT AKPABIO AKWA IBOM NORTH-EAST BASSEY ALBERT AKPAN AKWA IBOM SOUTH NELSON ASUQUO EFFIONG ANAMBRA STATE ANAMBRA CENTRAL UCHE LILIAN EKWUNIFE ANAMBRA NORTH STELLA ADAEZE ODUAH ANAMBRA ANAMBRA SOUTH EMMANUEL ANDY NNAMDI UBA BAUCHI STATE BAUCHI CENTRAL ISAH HAMMA MISAU BAUCHI NORTH SULEIMAN MOHAMMED NAZIF BAUCHI SOUTH

APC APC APC

PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP

APC APC

MALAM ALI WAKILI

APC

BAYELSA STATE BAYELSA CENTRAL EMMANUEL PAULKER. IZIBEFIEN BAYELSA EAST BEN MURRAY- BRUCE BAYELSA WEST OGOLA FOSTER BENUE STATE BENUE N/ WEST AKUME GEORGE BENUE NORTH EAST BARNABAS ANDYAR I. GEMADE BENUE SOUTH DAVID A.B. MARK BORNO STATE BORNO CENTRAL AHMAD ZANNAH BORNO NORTH ABUBAKAR KYARI BORNO SOUTH MOHAMMED ALI NDUME CROSS - RIVER STATE CROSS RIVER CENTRAL JOHN OWAN ENOH CROSS RIVER NORTH ROSE OKOJI OKO CROSS RIVER SOUTH GERSHOM HENRY BASSEY DELTA STATE DELTA CENTRAL ALFRED JOSEPH DELTA NORTH PETER NWABOSHI DELTA SOUTH JAMES EBIOWOU MANAGER

•Bruce

•Mrs. Tinubu

PDP PDP PDP

APC APC

EBONYI STATE EBONYI CENTRAL OGBA JOSEPH OBINNA EBONYI NORTH SAMUEL OMINYI EGWU EBONYI SOUTH SUNDAY OGBUOJI OJI

PDP PDP PDP

EDO STATE EDO CENTRAL CLIFFORD A. ORDIA PDP EDO NORTH FRANCIS ASEKHAME ALIMIKHENA APC EDO SOUTH MATHEW A. URHOGHIDE APC

PDP

APC APC APC

PDP PDP PDP

PDP

EKITI STATE EKITI CENTRAL FATIMAT OLUFUNKE RAJI-RASAKI EKITI NORTH DURO SAMUEL FASEYI EKITI SOUTH BIODUN OLUJIMI ENUGU STATE ENUGU EAST GILBERT EMEKA NNAJI ENUGU NORTH UTAZI GODFREY CHUKWUKA ENUGU WEST IKE EKWEREMADU FCT FCT SENATE PHILIPS TANIMU ADUDA

PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP

PDP

PDP PDP

GOMBE STATE GOMBE CENTRAL MOHAMMED GOJE

APC’s bumpy journey to •Continued from page 35

sentatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. At that point, even a naïve political analyst could tell that the party had literally hijacked power from PDP at the Green Chamber. This reality was finally affirmed as the party seated 179 members on January 15, 2015, when the House resumed after a long recess.

It is on record also that on January 29, 2014, 11 senators from the PDP also defected to the APC. They included Senators Bukola Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu, Mohammed Ndume and Danjuma Goje. Since these defections, PDP has been shrinking while APC had continued to gain weight and clout.

Criticisms and controversies Notwithstanding the wide acceptance of APC by the masses across the country right from the day it was formed, the reaction of its leading opponents, espe-

cially the PDP, was first to dismiss it (APC) with a wave of the hand and later to prophesy its imminent collapse.

For example, Dr. Dorncklaimz Enamhe, identified as an PDP chieftain from Cross Rivers State, was quoted as describing the merger as “a marriage that will head for divorce soon without any issue”.

Enamhe was not alone in his expression of fear over the survival of the party as rumour mongers soon spread allegation that Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitions would lead to early death of the party. This allegation became so pronounced at the formation of the party that the secretary of the CPC Merger Committee, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla Obono-Obla, had to make a formal statement on it.

As he put it: “I can assure you that the two leaders, Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and all the leaders of the opposition parties agreed that the parties should

merge to rescue Nigeria from the pit and no Jupiter will change it.

“Bola Tinubu is a democrat to the core; he was in NADECO; he was a senator; he was governor; he is a democrat; so he cannot impose his will on anybody; likewise Buhari. He has contested presidential elections, he went to the Supreme Court three times; he has been the most vocal voice for change in Nigeria; so they are not going to impose their wish on anybody”.

Other top PDP leaders also underrated APC and so dismissed it as a merger that cannot be a threat to PDP. One of such leaders was the then National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Speaking with reporters shortly after APC’s registration, Tukur said rather derisively of the party’s emergence, ‘’It is beautiful. The more the merrier. Let me tell you, there is no polling in the whole Nigeria where you do not have one member of the PDP. The PDP is the only party in the

Bola Tinubu is a democrat to the core; he was in NADECO; he was a senator; he was governor; he is a democrat; so he cannot impose his will on anybody; likewise Gen Buhari country that fields candidates in every polling booth.”

Factors that boosts APC’s chances Aside internal crisis in the PDP, which led to the implosion and the fact that the out-going ruling party tragically underrated APC at the onset, other factors that helped APC on its journey to power were its high level of preparedness to take over power, excellent campaign strategies it employed and the electoral reforms that made rigging more difficult.

Perhaps the first sign of the high level of technical campaign strategies

the party was poised to employ was the report as far back as February 2014 that it engaged the services of an international political consulting firm, AKPD Message and Media, “to boast its electoral chances in the upcoming elections’’.

The AKPD is co-founded by David Axelrod, President Barack Obama’s campaign strategist and a former White House Advisor.

Commenting on the firm then, APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was quoted as saying: “As a party destined to bring change and succour to all Ni-

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

37

MAY 29 SPECIAL

the Red Chamber LAGOS EAST OLUGBENGA ASHAFA LAGOS WEST ADEOLA SOLOMON OLAMILEKAN NASARAWA STATE NASARAWA NORTH PHILIP ARUWA I. GYUNKA NASARAWA SOUTH SALIHU HUSSAIN EGYE NASARAWA WEST ABDULLAHI ADAMU NIGER STATE NIGER EAST DAVID UMARU NIGER NORTH ALIYU SABI ABDULLAHI NIGER SOUTH MOHAMMED A. GARBA •Akanbi

DANJUMA GOMBE NORTH BAYERO USMAN NAFADA GOMBE SOUTH JOSHUA LIDANI MOLTOBOK

•Melaye

APC APC PDP

IMO STATE IMO EAST SAMUEL NNAEMEKA ANYANWU PDP IMO NORTH ACHONU ATHANASIUS NNEJI PDP IMO WEST UZODINMA GOODHOPE ODIDIKA PDP JIGAWA STATE JIGAWA NORTH EAST MUHAMMAD UBALI SHITU JIGAWA NORTH WEST ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR GUMEL JIGAWA SOUTH WEST SABO MOHAMMED KADUNA STATE KADUNA CENTRAL SHEHU SANI KADUNA NORTH SULEIMAN OTHMAN HUNKUYI KADUNA SOUTH DANJUMA LA’AH

APC APC APC

APC APC PDP

KANO STATE KANO CENTRAL

•Mrs. Sunmonu

MOHAMMED RABIU MUSA KANO NORTH BARAU I. JIBRIN KANO SOUTH KABIRU GAYA

APC APC APC

KATSINA STATE KATSINA CENTRAL UMARU IBRAHIM KURFI KATSINA NORTH MUSTAPHA BUKAR KATSINA SOUTH ABU IBRAHIM KEBBI STATE KEBBI CENTRAL MUHAMMAD ADAMU ALIERO KEBBI NORTH YAHAYA A. ABDULLAHI KEBBI SOUTH BALA IBN NA’ALLAH KOGI STATE KOGI CENTRAL MOHAMMED ABDULSALAMI OHIARE KOGI EAST ABDULRAHMAN ABUBAKAR KOGI WEST DINO MELAYE KWARA STATE KWARA CENTRAL ABUKAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI KWARA NORTH MOHAMMED SHAÁBA LAFIAGI KWARA SOUTH RAFIU ADEDAYO IBRAHIM LAGOS STATE LAGOS CENTRAL OLUREMI TINUBU

APC APC

APC APC APC

APC APC APC

APC APC APC

APC

power gerians, APC is proud and excited to work with one of the foremost exponents of change in the world.”

The Chicago-based firm was best known for its leading role in Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, adding: “We shall leverage on the firm’s skill, experience and expertise throughout the upcoming campaign cycle’’.

Throughout the campaign cycle, the strategies employed by the party, especially its publicity, were indeed too matured and proactive for PDP to cope with.

Dr Okechukwu Ogbonnaya, a political scientist, told The Nation, that the outcome of the Election was not only borne out of the urge to vote out a government but also a direct consequence of good campaign strategies and publicity of APC. “You can see that even when PDP resorted to hate campaigns and direct attacks on APC candidate, Buhari, the APC team, remained proactive, well-informed and issue-oriented.

This confirmed to Nigerians that the party can be trusted to take the country to the next level. The result is victory for the young party.”

Some observers have also said that more than all these factors, the electoral reforms, like introduction of Permanent Voters Card, Card Readers and Prof. Attahiru Jega’s rare courage, which made rigging more difficult, helped to make APC’s victory possible.

APC

OGUN STATE OGUN CENTRAL ADEYEMI TEJUOSO OGUN EAST BURUJI KASHAMU OGUN WEST JOSEPH GBOLAHAN DADA ONDO STATE ONDO CENTRAL DONALD O. ALASOADURA ONDO NORTH ROBERT AJAYI BOROFFICE ONDO SOUTH YELE OMOGUNWA OSUN STATE OSUN CENTRAL OLUSOLA ADEYEYE OSUN EAST CHRISTOPHER OMOWORARE OSUN WEST ISIAKA ADETUNJI ADELEKE OYO STATE OYO CENTRAL MONSURAT SUNMONU OYO NORTH BUHARI ABDULFATAI OYO SOUTH RILWAN ADESOJI AKANBI PLATEAU STATE PLATEAU CENTRAL JOSHUA DARIYE CHIBI PLATEAU NORTH JANG JONAH DAVID PLATEAU SOUTH JEREMIAH TIMBUT USENI RIVERS STATE RIVERS EAST GEORGE THOMPSON SEKIBO RIVERS SOUTH EAST OLAKA JOHNSON NWOGU RIVERS WEST OSINAKACHUKWU IDEOZU SOKOTO STATE SOKOTO EAST ABDULLAHI GOBIR SOKOTO NORTH ALIYU MAGATAKARDA WAMAKKO SOKOTO SOUTH IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI TARABA STATE TARABA CENTRAL MARAFA BASHIR ABBA TARABA NORTH ABDULLAH SANI DANLADI TARABA SOUTH EMMANUEL BWACHA YOBE STATE YOBE EAST BUKAR ABBA IBRAHIM YOBE NORTH AHMAD IBRAHIM LAWAN YOBE SOUTH MOHAMMED HASAN

•Akande

ZAMFARA STATE ZAMFARA CENTRAL KABIR GARBA MARAFA ZAMFARA NORTH TIJJANI YAHAYA KAURA ZAMFARA WEST AHMED RUFAI SANI

APC APC

`

PDP APC APC

APC APC APC

APC PDP APC

APC APC PDP

APC APC APC

APC APC APC

PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP

APC APC APC

APC APC APC

APC APC PDP

APC APC APC

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

38

MAY 29 SPECIAL

Aisha Buhari...

Simply Mr President’s wife The temperaments of those that have played the role of First Ladies since the return to civil rule in 1999 till date have been markedly different. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI looks at the style of the First Ladies from Obasanjo to Buhari.

S

INCE the time of Maryam Babangida, the late wife of the former military President Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria has always had First Ladies who complemented their husbands. Though the position –– First Lady –– is not officially recognised and their activities are not publicly-funded, all those who occupied that position before now succeeded in carving a niche for themselves, by initiating either a charity organisation or pet project to uplift vulnerable groups in the society.

Stella Obasanjo Stella Obasanjo (November 14, 1945 to October 23, 2005) was the First Lady from 1999 until her death in 2005. Prior to her emergence in 1999, all the governors wives and the wife of number two citizens had no other pet projects apart from the one instituted by the wife of the Head of State. The story changed when Mrs. Obasanjo became the First Lady in 1999. She told the governors’ wives and the wife of the vice president in clear terms that the problems of the society were so enormous and it would be unfair for her to impose a particular project on all the states as was done under the military era.

She, therefore, urged them to identify any problem that was peculiar to each state and set out ways of assisting the needy in those regards, thereby decentralising the pet project. She identified with the plight of the handicapped and their mothers through her Child Care Trust (CCT).

A private, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, CCT, was established a few months after her husband assumed office as President to bring succour to physically challenged children. Mrs. Obasanjo’s guiding philosophy, many believe, was that children are special gifts from God and they need to be appreciated and loved, no matter their physical or mental circumstances.

The late Stella Obasanjo came into the limelight during the campaign to release her husband, who was then charged with treason and jailed by the late Gen Sani Abacha’s junta. She took the campaign for his release to the United Nations (UN) in New York. She was later at the forefront of Obasanjo’s bid to win the presidential election. She travelled with him all over Nigeria, mobilising support among womens’

organisations and the grassroots.

Born in Warri, Delta State, the late Mrs. Obasanjo was the eldest of the seven children of the first indigenous chairman of Unilever Nigeria, Dr Christopher Abebe. She read English at the Obafemi Awolowo University from 1967 to 1969. Later, she enrolled at the Pitman Institute in London, where she trained as a secretary.

She married Obasanjo in 1976, shortly before he became the military head of state. Stella was not the First Lady during Obasanjo’s first coming.

Obasanjo had other wives. But, by the time Obasanjo returned as the civilian President in 1999, Stella was the one in the public eye, following the role she played when her husband was in detention. During that period, she was very influential.

Her death in October 2005 shocked Nigerians. Mrs. Obasanjo, who passed away 22 days to her 60th birthday, had gone to Spain for a cosmetic surgery operation commonly known as “tummy tuck”, but never returned to Nigeria.

Turai Yar’Adua If any First Lady wielded enormous influence in governance in recent times, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, the wife of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua was. Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, is another.

Turai Yar’Adua served as the First Lady from 2007 until the death of her husband on May 5, 2010. Turai was the power behind Yar’Adua — in the home, when he was governor and when he became president. Mrs. Yar’Adua’s has a quiet mien and from her appearance alone, one would be hard pressed to imagine her capable of the political manipulations and intrigues that were credited to her in the heydays of the Yar’Adua era. The power structure within the Presidency allowed her to call the shots from behind the scene. She wielded considerable power, way above what one would expect of a mere consort to a governor.

In the Villa, Turai was perceived to be fully in-charge of many of the decisions behind the scene. She was her husband’s closest adviser and during the period he was incapacitated and unable to perform his official duties, she is said to be fully in charge.

The late Yar’Adua travelled overseas for medical treatment without handing over to Goodluck Jonathan who was Yar’Adua’s deputy. The late President’s close associates main-

•Hajia Buhari tained that he could perform his official duties on sick bed, from anywhere in the world. She was said to be the head of the cabal that ran the affairs of the country before the National Assembly was compelled to invoke the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ and made Jonathan the Acting President.

An incident of many years ago perhaps best dramatises the power that Turai has always wielded in the president’s life and work. A story was told of how, prior to the 1991 governorship elections, a group of Umaru Yar’Adua loyalists visited the influential late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

Their objective was to persuade the retired general to help ensure that his younger brother became the Katsina State Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate. It would have been a simple task for the elder Yar’Adua who was the de facto leader of the party.

But the older Yar’Adua would not support his brother. In fact, he was reported to have given tacit support to his brother’s opponent, Saidu Barda, candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC). When SDP stalwarts went to the retired general to appeal to him to change his mind he reportedly asked them whom they wanted to put in Katsina Government House, Umaru or Turai, his wife?

Easily recognisable by her shawl and make-up, she got married to the late president in 1975. She attended Government Secondary School, Kankia, in present day Katsina State, and Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology. For a while she worked as a teacher before retiring and becoming a full time housewife.

Turai Yar’Adua’s pet project revolves around cancer eradication, but apparently, she was more interested in running the affairs of state. The difference between Hajia Turai and Dame Patience is that Hajia Turai was seen, but not heard. This is unlike

Dame Patience, also known as Mama Peace, who behaved like an elected political office holder.

Patience Jonathan As First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan obviously wielded enormous influence in and out of political circles. With her project, “Women for Change Initiative”, she was seeking to make Life better for women in the country and totally restore the dignity of womanhood. She lent her voice to the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, thus advocating more women in governance.

She had struggled relentlessly to awaken and empower the Nigerian woman through numerous summits, enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns. It is also to her credit that women were recognised as important stakeholders in the recently conducted general elections and were effectively mobilised for the polls.

Dame Patience is believed to be a pillar of sorts for her. She was actively involved in the electoral campaigns, crisscrossing all parts of the country and wooing the electorate to her husband’s side. She has remained very visible as First Lady.

She launched her Women for Change Initiative, shortly after her husband became President in May 2011. The initiative was aimed at promoting women’s participation in the political sphere, amongst other things. It was one of the promises the Jonathan administration can proud other say it accomplished.

There were about 13 women in Jonathan’s Federal Executive council representing about 32 per cent of the 42 member Cabinet, with many others heading sensitive institutions.

But, her meddlesomeness and overbearing influence were equally part of the reasons her husband lost the March 28 presidential elections.

She interfered in the affairs of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in many states and created problems for her husband and the ruling party. For instance, she was said to be responsible for the problem between Jonathan and the outgoing Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and the crisis within the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP. She also inflamed passions with the kind of words she used against the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer Muhammadu Buhari during the campaigns. The hate campaign she and Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti championed did not help matters for Jonathan.

Mrs. Jonathan’s secret hospitalisation in Germany, following a severe bout of food poisoning, drew a lot of criticisms for the Jonathan administration. She was also involved in the controversy the over 200 girls abducted from Chibok by Boko Haram. She drew the ire of civil society when one of the leaders of the “Bring Back Our Girls” movement was arrested after meeting the First Lady at the presidential villa. Mrs Jonathan was said to have accused the activists of fabricating the abduction story to give the government a bad name.

Many Nigerians derived comic reliefs from jokes built around her alleged grammatical blunders. People made jokes from everything she said or did. Indeed, Dame Patience is regularly mimicked by comedians for her boisterous public appearances, as well as political and financial scandals. Despite all these, Mrs. Jonathan is never afraid to say her mind.

She was born in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on October 25, 1957. In 1989, she obtained the National Certificate of Education (NCE) in Mathematics and Biology from Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt. She then proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt, where she studied Biology and Psy-

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

39

MAY 29 SPECIAL

Osinbajo: Well-prepared for the task ahead

By REMI ADELOWO HE new Vice President, Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo was born into the family of Adeyemi Osinbajo on March 8, 1957 at Creek Hospital, Lagos.

He began his education at the prestigious Corona Primary School, Lagos and between 1969 to 1975, he attended the famous Igbobi College, Yaba Lagos, mainland.

From 1975 to 1978, he read Law at the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a LLB Law degree. From 1979–1980, he attended the Nigerian Law School. In 1981, he was awarded a Master of Laws at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom.

Working Career Osinbajo has had a distinguished career, which has spanned over 30 years.

After undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service as a legal officer at the defunct Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA), in 1981, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos.

From 1983 to 86, he was a senior law lecturer at the same institution.

Thereafter from 1988 to 1992, he was appointed as an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola.

From 1997 to 1999, he was made Professor of Law and Head of Department of Public Law also at UNILAG. And at the inception of democratic rule in 1999, he was head hunted by the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to serve as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

After his tour of duty in the Lagos State government in 2007, Osinbajo returned to the Faculty of Law of UNILAG as a Professor of Law and in the same year, he was made the Senior Partner in the law firm of Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors).

Other past roles The Vice President once served as a Staff Member with the United Nations Operations in Somalia, Justice Division, UNOSOM II. In 2006, he served as a member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN, Peacekeeping Personnel around the globe.

Background role in APC After the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, Prof. Osinbajo was tasked, along with other notable Nigerians, to design and produce a manifesto for the new political party.

This culminated in the presentation of the ‘Roadmap to a New Nigeria’, a document published by APC as its manifesto if elected to power.

On 17 December 2014, the then Presidential Candidate of the party, Muhammadu Buhari, announced him as his running mate and vice-presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.

Educational Awards A very brilliant student in his primary and secondary schools, the vice president received several awards, including the State Merit Award in 1971; the School Prize for English Oratory in 1972; Adeoba Prize for English Oratory from 1972 to 1975; Elias Prize for Best Performance in History in the West African School Certificate Examination in 1973; School Prize for Literature (HSC) in 1975 and African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker’s Prize in 1974.

Membership of Professional Bodies He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), Nigerian Body of Benchers Council of Legal Education in Nigeria and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Chapters contributed to Books A distinguished scholar who is well respected within and outside the country, the Vice President has written many intellectual works and is also a contributor to other scholarly works written by his professional colleagues.

Some of his major contributions which have become reference points include his authorship of The Common Law, The Evidence Act and The Interpretation of Section 5(a) in Essays in Honour of Judge Elias published in 1986.

His other write-ups include Reforms in The Nigerian Law of Evidence Chapter in Law and Development; Rules of Evidence in Criminal Trials in the Nigerian Special Military Tribunals in Essays on Nigerian Law authored by late Prof. Jelili Omotola, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos; Some Public Law Considerations in Environmental Protection, which he contributed in the book titled ‘Environmental Laws in Nigeria’ also written by late Omotola.

Others are Domestic and International Protection for Women: ‘Landmarks on the Journey so far’ in Women and Children under Nigerian Law; Some Problems of Proof of Bank Frauds and Other Financial Malpractices in Bank Frauds and Other Financial Malpractices in Nigeria; FMJL Review Series, Modalities For The Implementation of The Transition Provisions in The New Constitution in Law Development and Administration; Proof of Customary Law in non-Customary Courts – Towards a Restatement of Nigerian Customary Laws; External Debt Management: Case Study of Nigeria – International Finance and External Debt Management, UNDP/UNCTC; Judicial and Quasi-judicial Processing of Economic and organised Crimes: Experiences, Problems etc. Essays in Honour of Judge Bola Ajibola; Human Rights, Economic Development and the Corruption Factor in Human Rights and the Rule of Law and Development in Africa, to mention but a few.

Articles published in law journals Prof. Osinbajo wrote countless articles in the many prestigious law journals,

T

•The late Mrs Babangida

•The late Mrs Obasanjo

•Hajia Yar’Adua

•Mrs Jonathan

chology.

Mrs. Jonathan started her career as a teacher at the Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and Sports Institute Isake. She then moved to the banking sector in 1997, where she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt called the Akpo Community Bank. She served as Marketing Manager of Imiete Community Bank. She returned to the classroom briefly again as a teacher. Eventually she was transferred to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, where she served until May 29, 1999 when her husband became the deputy governor of the state.

On July 12, 2012, she was appointed as permanent secretary in Bayelsa State by Governor Seriake Dickson, who was helped to his governorship position by her husband. The appointment generated national outrage and ridicule, considering the fact that she had been on leave from the civil service for over 13 years, since her husband became deputy governor in 1999.

Aisha Buhari Hajiya Aisha Buhari was largely an unknown name to many Nigerians until the 2015 presidential election campaigns. Unlike previous times where she did not openly support her husband’s aspirations to become president, she traversed the length and breadth of country this time around to garner support for Buhari’s presidential aspirations under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which eventually paid off. In the process, Mrs. Buhari stepped out of the shadows into national limelight.

She has quickly learnt the art of politicking, as she was the arrowhead of the campaign of the APC women’s wing. From donating relieve materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs), to mobilising the women folk to support her husband and even speaking about her plans as First Lady,

Mrs Buhari has indeed stepped into her new role.

Though the wife of incoming President is just assuming the role of the First Lady, she has promised Nigerians a different style, from what was witnessed under her predecessor. Already, she has given indications about what to expect from her. For instance, she said during the electioneering campaigns that she would prefer to be called the wife of the President, rather than the First Lady.

Mrs. Buhari believes that since the position of ‘First Lady’ is not recognised by the constitution, there would be no point in her going about parading herself as the First Lady. She is of the view that not being addressed as the First Lady, however, would not stop her from performing her duties and role as the wife of the president of Nigeria. “The wife of the president has some traditional roles, like receiving guests, visiting orphanages, helping the less-privileged people,” she noted, adding that she would also lead the fight for the right of women and malnourished children and other socio-economic ills such as infant mortality rate, kidnapping and girl-child trafficking.

Mrs. Buhari was born into the family of Nigeria’s first Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu in Adamawa State. She clocked 44 years at the peak of political campaigns in February, having been born February 17, 1971. She got married to Buhari on December 2, 1989.

A graduate of Public Administration from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, she subsequently trained in beauty therapy and she is an alumnus of the Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique Beauty, Institute of France, Dubai. Mrs. Buhari is currently a graduate student of International Affairs and Strategic Planning. A devout Moslem, she and her husband are blessed with five children.

some of which include Unraveling Evidence of Spouses in Nigeria, Legal Practitioners Review; Can States Legislate on Rules of Evidence? Nigerian Current Law Review; Problems of Proof in Declaration of Title to Land, Journal of Private and Property Law Vol. 6 & 7; Interpretation of Section 131(a) of the Evidence Act; Journal of Private and Property Law Vol. 6 & 7; Review of Some Decrees of the Structural Adjustment Era. Other are Current Issues in Transnational Lending and Debt Restructuring Agreements Part 1 and 2; Autonomy, Academic Freedom and the Laws Establishing Universities in Nigeria; Admissibility of Computer Generated Evidence; Allegations of Crime in Civil Proceedings, U.I. Law Review 1987; Roles, Duties and Liabilities of Collateral Participants and Professional Advisers in Unit Trust Schemes; Reform of the Criminal Law of Evidence in Nigeria; Profit and Loss Sharing Banks; Juvenile Justice Administration in Nigeria, amongst several others.

Books published/edited The Vice President also authored and co-authored many books including ‘Cross Examination: A Trial Lawyer’s Most Potent Weapon’ with Mr. FolaArthur Worrey, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Other books to his credit are the Nigerian Media Law; Cases and Materials on Nigerian Law of Evidence; Integration of the African Continent Through Law; Towards A Better Administration of Justice System in Nigeria; Women and Children Under Nigerian Law; The Unification and Reform of the Nigerian Criminal Law and Procedure Codes; Law Development and Administration; Narcotics: Law and Policy in Nigeria and Perspectives on Human Rights in Nigeria; Annotated Rules of the Superior Courts of Nigeria coauthored with Mr. Ade Ipaye, the current Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State.

•Prof. Osinbajo

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

40

MAY 29 SPECIAL

Honourables all Continued from page 34

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

BAGUDU/SURU ABDULLAHI HASSAN SURU KALGO/BUNZABIRNIN KEBBI ABDULLAHI UMAR FARUK KOKO/BESSE MAIYAMA SALISU GARBA KOKO YAURI/NGASKI /SHANGA MUHAMMED D DANTANI ZURU/FAKAI, DANKO/SAKABA/WASAGU ALH ALIYU DANLADI

KOGI STATE 1.

ADAVI/OKEHI AJANAH MUHAMMED KABIR 2.

AJAOKUTA LAWAL MUHAMMADU IISU 3.

ANKPA/OMALA/OLAMABORO ALH HASSAN ATAYOMA OMALE 4.

DEKINA/BASSA 5.

IDAH/IGALAMELA/IBAJIOFU/ODOLU EMANUAL M EGWU 6.

KABBA/BUNU/IJUMU YUSUF AYO TAJUDEEN 7.

LOKOJA/KOGI UMAR BUBA JIBRIL 8.

OKENE/OGORI MANGOGO RT ABDULLAHI BELLO 9.

YAGBA EAST/WEST/MOPAMURO KARIMI SUNDAY STEVE KWARA STATE 1.

BARUTEN/KAIAMA MOHAMMED ZAKARI 2.

EKITI/IREPODUN/ISIN/OKE-ERO PRINCESS OLUFUNKE ADEDOYIN 3.

IFELODUN/OFFA/OYUN OLAYONU OLARINOYE TOPE 4.

ILORIN SOUTH/ EAST ABUBAKAR AMUDA-KANNIKE GARBA 5.

ILORIN WEST/ASA RAZAQ OLATUNDE ATUNWA 6.

PATIGI/EDU/MORO ALIYU BAHAGO AHMAN PATEGI LAGOS STATE 1.

AGEGE ADARANIJO TAOFEEK ABIODUN 2.

AJEROMI/IFELODUN I BARR (MRS) RITA ORJI 3.

ALIMOSHO OLUFEMI BANDELE ADEBANJO 4.

AMUWO-ODOFIN OGHENE EMMA EGOH 5.

APAPA AYODEJI ADEBAYO JOSEPH 6.

BADAGRY BAMGBOSE JOSEPH 7.

EPE TASIR OLAWALE RAJI 8.

ETI-OSA AKINLOYE BABAJIDE HAZEEZ 9.

IBEJU-LEKKI (OTUNBA) A A ABDULKABIR 10. IFAKO-IJAIYE ELIJAH OLUWATAYO ADEWALE 11. IKEJA JAMES ABIODUN FALEKE 12. IKORODU BABAJINMI ADEGOKE BENSON 13. KOSOFE AGUNSOYE OLUWAROTIMI OJO 14. LAGOS ISLAND I ENITAN DOLAPO BAU 15. LAGOS ISLAND II BALOGUN YAKUB ABIODUN 16. LAGOS MAINLAND JIMOH ABDULRAHEEM OLAJIDE 17. MUSHIN I ABAYOMI DAUDA KAKO ARE 18. MUSHIN II BOLAJI YUSUF AYINLA 19. OJO OBASA TAJUDEEN 20. OSHODI/ISOLO I SHADIMU MUTIU A 21. OSHODI/ISOLO II NWULU TONY CHINEDU 22. SHOMOLU DIYA OYEWOLE BABAFEMI 23. SURULERE I OLUFEMI GBAJABIAMILA 24. SURULERE II OLATUNJI SOYINKA NASARAWA STATE 1.

AKWANGA//WAMBAI/ NASARAWA EGGON EMMANUEL DAVID OMBUGADU 2.

AWE/DOMA/KEANA MOHAMMED OGOSHI ONAWO 3.

KEFFI/KARU/KOKONA GAZA JONATHAN GBEFWI 4.

LAFIA/OBI 5.

NASSAWARA/TOTO MUSA BABA ONWANA NIGER STATE 1.

AGAIE/LAPAI MOHAMMED ABDULKADIR MAHMUD 2.

AGWARA/BORGU UMAR MUHAMMED ROFIA 3.

CHANCHAGA MOHAMMED UMARU BAGO 4.

GBAKO/BIDA/KATCHA

5.

APC APC APC APC APC

APC

APC PDP PDP APC APC PDP

APC APC APC APC APC APC

APC PDP APC PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC ACCORD APC PDP PDP PDP APC APC PDP

PDP PDP PDP APC

APC APC APC

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

MUHAMMADU BALA FARUQ MOKWA/LAVUN/EDATI AHMED ABU PAIKO/BOSSO SALIHU ADAMU SHADAFI RIJAU/MAGAMA SHEHU SALEH SHIRORO/RAFI/MUNYA ABUBAKAR CHIKA ADAMU SULEJA/TAFA/GURARA ABUBAKAR LADO ABDULLAHI WUSHISHI/MASHE/GUKGORA/MARIGA GARBA ABDULLAHI IIS

OGUN STATE 1.

IJEBU EAST/NORTH OGUN WATERSIDE ADEKOYA ADESEGUN A. 2.

ABEOKUTA SOUTH SAMUEL OLUSEGUN WILLIAMS 3.

ADO-ODO/OTA JIMOH OLUSOLA OJUGBELE 4.

EGBADO N/IMEKO-AFON KAYODE OLADELE 5.

EGBADO SOUTH/IPOKIA ADEKUNLE ABDULKABIR AKINLADE 6.

IFO/EWEKORO ISIAKA AYOKUNLE IBRAHIM IJEBU ODE/ODOGBOLU/ 7.

IJEBU NORTH EAST ODENEYE KEHINDE OLUSEGUN 8.

IKENNE/SHAGAMU/REMO NORTH ADEBUTU O OLADIPUPO 9.

ODEDA/OWODE/ABK NORTH MUKAILA KAZZIM ONDO STATE 1.

AKOKO SOUTH WEST/ AKOKO SOUTH EAST BABTUNDE GABRIEL KOLAWOLE 2.

AKOKO/NORTH EAST OLEMIJA STEPHEN FRIDAY 3.

AKURE NORTH/SOUTH OLOWOOKERE AJISAFE 4.

IDANRE/IFEDORE BADERINWA BAMIDELE SAMSON 5.

ILAJE/ESEODO AKINJO KOLADE VICTOR 6.

ILEOLUJI-OKEIGBO /ODIGBO AKINFOLARIN MAYOWA SAMUEL 7.

OKITIPUPA IRELE MICHAEL ADENIYI OMOGBEHIN 8.

ONDO WEST/ONDOEAST AKINLAJA JOSEPH IRANOLA 9.

OWO/OSE OLABODE O AYORINDE

APC APC APC APC APC APC APC

PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC PDP APC

APC APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP APC

OSUN STATE 1.

ATAKUNMOSA EAST/ WEST/ILESHA E/W AJIBOLA ISRAEL FAMUREWA APC 2.

AYEDAADE/IREWOLE/ISOKAN AYO HULAYAT OMIDIRAN APC 3.

AYEDIRE/IWO/OLA-OLUWA AKINTAYO GAFARU AMERE APC 4.

BOLUWADURO/IFEDAYO/ILA OLUFEMI FAKEYE APC 5.

EDE NORTH/ EDE SOUTH/EJIGBO MOYEED OLUJINMI A ALABI APC 6.

IFE CENTRAL/ IFE EAST/ IFE NORTH ALBERT ABIODUN ADEOGUN PDP 7.

IREPODUN/OLORUNDA/OSOGBO/OROLU YUSSUFF SULAIMON LASUN APC 8.

OBOKUN/ORIADE BUSAYO OLUWOLE OKE PDP 9.

ODO-OTIN/IFELODUN/BORIPE ADEYINKAAJAYI APC OYO STATE 1.

AFIJIO/ATIBA/OYO EAST/ OYOWEST PRINCE AKEEM ADENIYI ADEYEMI 2.

AKINYELE/LAGELU OLATOYE TEMITOPE SUGAR 3.

EGBEDA/ONA-ARA AKINTOLA TAIWO MICHAEL 4.

IBADAN NORTH ABIODUN DADA AWOLEYE 5.

IBADAN NORTH EAST/I BADAN SOUTH EAST ADEDAPO LAM-ADESINA 6.

IBADAN NORTH WEST/SOUTH WEST SAHEED AKINADE FIJABI 7.

IBARAPA CENTRAL/IBARAPA NORTH AYOADE OLUGBENGA OJOAWO 8.

IBARAPA EAST/IDO ADEPOJU ADEYEMI SUNDAY 9.

IREPO/ORELOPE/OLORUNSOGO OLADELE OLATUNBOSUN GEORGE 10. ISEYIN/ITESIWAJU/KAJOLA/IWAJOWA OLASUPO ABIODUN ADEOLA APC 11. OGBOMOSHO NORTH/ OGBOMOSO SOUTH /ORIRE OGUNWUYI SEGUN 12. OGO-OLUWA/SURULERE MATTHEW ABIOYE 13. OLUYOLE SAMSON OLUSUNBO OLUGBENI PLATEAU STATE 1.

B/LADI/RIYOM GYANG ISTIFANUS DUNG 2.

JOS NORTH/BASSA SULEIMAN YAHAYA KWANDE 3.

JOS SOUTH/JOS EAST PWAJOK EDWARD GYANG 4.

LANGTANG NORTH/LANGTANG SOUTH

APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC

LP APC APC

APC PDP

5.

6.

7.

8.

BENI BUTMAKLAR MANGU/BOKKOS ENGR SOLOMON B MAREN PANKSHIN/KANAM/ KANKE GOLU TIMOTHY S. SHENDAM/MIKANG/QUA’AN-PAN JOHNBULL T. SHEKARAU WASE AHMED IIS

RIVERS STATE 1.

ABUA/ODUAL/AHOADA EAST BETTY APIAFI 2.

AHOADA WEST/EGBEMA/INDONI UCHE NNAM OBI 3.

AKUKU-TORU/ASARI-TORU BOMA GODHEAD 4.

ANDONI/OPOBO/NKORO AWAJI INOMBEK ABIANTE 5.

BONNY/DEGEMA RANDOLPH ORUENE BROWN 6.

ETCHE/OMUMA CHIEF JEROME AMADI EKE 7.

IKWERRE/UMOHUA EMEKENGWA BONIFACE SUNDAY 8.

KHANA/GOKANA DUMNA MENE RANSON DEEKOR 9.

OBIO/AKPOR KINGSLEY O CHINDA 10. OKRIKA/OGU-BOLO GOGO BRIGHT TAMUNO 11. PORT HARCOURT 1 KENNETH ANAYO CHIKERE 12. PORT HARCOURT II BLESSING NSIEGBE 13. TAI/ELEME/OYIGBO SOKOTO STATE 1.

BINJI-SILAME SAADU M NABUNKARI 2.

D/SHUNI/BODINGA/TURETA ALIYU SHEHU A A 3.

GADA/GORONYO MUSA S/ADAR KAFFE 4.

ILELLA-GWADABAWA ABDULLAHI BALARABE SALAME 5.

ISA/SABON BIRNI AMINU SANI ISA 6.

KWARE-WAMMAKO ABDULLAHI M WAMAKKO 7.

SOKOTO NORTH/SOUTH HASSAN BALA ABUBAKAR III 8.

TAMBUWAL-KEBBE ABDUSSAMAD DASUKI 9.

TANGAZA GUDU ISAH SALIHU BASHIR 10. WURNO-RABBAH KABIRU MARAFA ACHIDA 11. YABO/SHAGARI AMINU SHEHU SHAGARI TARABA STATE 1.

ARDOKOLA/ LAU K/LAMIDO BAIDO DANLADI TIJOS 2.

BALI/GASSOL GARBA HAMMAN-JULDE CHEDE 3.

GASHAKA KURMI SARDAUNA DANASABE CHARLES HOSEA 4.

JALINGO/ YORRO/ ZING AMINU IBRAHIM MALLE 5.

TAKUMA/DONGA USSA RIMA M SHAWULU KWEWUM 6.

WUKARI/IBI SHIDDI USMAN DANJUMA YOBE STATE 1.

BADE/JAKUSKU ZAKARIYAÚ M GALADIMA 2.

BURSARI/GEIDAM/YUNUSARI GONI BUKAR LAWAN 3.

FIKA/FUNE ISMAIL AHMED GADAKA 4.

GULANI/GUJBADAMATURU/TARMUWA KHADIJA BUKAR A IBRAHIM 5.

MACHINA/ NGURU/ KASARUWA/ YUSUFARI SIDI YAKUBU 6.

NANGERE/POTISKUM ALH. SABO GARBA 7.

ANKA//TALATA/MAFARA LAWALI HASSAN ANKA 8.

GUMMI/BUKKUYUM MUÁZU LAWAL 9.

KAURA-NAMODA/BIRNIN MAGAJI AMINU SANI JAJI 10. MARADUN/BAKURA YAHAYA CHADO GORA 11. MARU/BUNGUDU ABDULMALIK ZUBAIRU BUNGUDU 12. SHINKAFI/ZURMI ABUBAKAR HUSAINI MORIKI 13. TSAFE/GUSAU ISAH IBRAHIM JIGAWA STATE 1.

ABUBAKAR HASSAN FULATA\ M RABIU GARBA KAUGAMA M MOHAMMED SANI ZORRO M MUHAMMED ADAMU FAGEN GAWO M USMAN IBRAHIM AUYO M MUHAMMED GUDAJI KAZAURE M MUHAMMAD GAUSU BOYI M HON. SAIDU YUSUF MIGA M IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI DUTSE M YUGUDA HASSAN KILA M MAGAJI DAU ALIYU M

PDP PDP PDP PDP APC

PDP PDP PDP

PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP

APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC

PDP APC APC APC PDP APGA

APC APC APC APC APC PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC

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48

COMMENTARY

FEMI ABBAS ON

“A

LLAH has surely ascertained His servant’s dream with truth; you shall definitely enter the sacred Mosque with the pleasure of Allah and (the hair of) your heads shaven or trimmed; do not entertain any fear as Allah knows what you do not know and He has prepared (for you) better openings for success very soon”. Q.48:27

Prologue In the mood of joy and hope, ‘The Message’ column welcomes all Nigerians with positive minds to a ‘NEW NIGERIA’ as despair and impunity are expected to take a permanent leap from the shores of our dear country as from today by the grace of Allah.

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Returning to the drawing board

Preamble

In a deeply thoughtful poetic stanza, an Arab poet coined some philosophical wordings that have since remained axiomatic by all standards. It was a tutorial for people who can reason and draw the best lesson through the benefit of their reasoning. The stanza read thus in part: “We persistently blame our era for implacable calamities afflicting us; whereas indeed the only blame ascribable to our era is actually our own misdemeanour…….”

Looking retrospectively at the various steps that brought Nigeria to the present level of uncertainty, this column, (The Message) quickly dusted its archive once in search of facts about the wreath of thorns that littered our way to this stage of our common odyssey as a nation. And no document came more handy than a lecture delivered by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto at Harvard University, in the United States of America on October 3, 2011.

The title of the 33-page lecture which had once been fully analysed in this column under the topic ‘A voice from Harvard’ was ‘Islam and Peace Building in West Africa’.

In that lecture, His Eminence enumerated the causes and effects of violent crises in the West African sub region with particular reference to Nigeria.

He blamed such crises on three major issues: (1) political struggle for supremacy between the elite and the poor masses (2) bad governance on the part of the ruling class and (3) primordial ethno-religious sentiments. The most prominent of these three issues according to him is bad governance which engenders corruption, joblessness, poverty, exploitation, suspicion and general bitterness in the land.

religionists, especially in the cities react violently and begin to kill anyone they think is related to him. This often triggers further reprisals in other parts of the country where victims come from. It took a lot of efforts by the Nigeria InterReligious Council [NIREC] which I cochair, and other state authorities, to treat each crisis independently and reduce the risk of systemic reprisals”.

Fourth Dimension

•Buhari

• Sultan Abubakar

Looking at the situation of Nigeria as a nation abundantly blessed with enormous wealth, one will surely find a puzzling irony in the fact that some citizens of such a nation can be paid a paltry sum of N5000 by some agents of Satan to kill innocent people mercilessly and burn their property with impunity as in the case of Boko Haram. Also, the abysmal level of penury and squalor in the land seems to be a sharp contradiction of what Nigeria ought to be as against what she currently is vis a vis her wealth especially as the socalled ruling class lives in extravagant affluence while the masses live in abject poverty.

population of West Africa; its over 250 ethnic and language groups; its regional and geopolitical configurations; its landmass and its diversity in religion and culture; we may be constrained to reach a different conclusion.

Nigeria may, after all, be a paragon of stability which, as God Almighty has willed, shall undergo all the trials allotted to it early enough in its national history”.

“But in all fairness, systemic ethno-political and religious crises, like the ones we have been witnessing in recent years, do not have a long history in Nigeria. They all began in the late 1980s following the intense competition for power and influence especially among the western educated elite; the Kafanchan crisis of 1987, in Southern Kaduna, was quickly followed by the Zangon Kataf and other crises; all in the same vicinity. The democratic dispensation, which began in 1999 also came with its set of problems, the most visible being the Shari’ah Crisis and the First Jos Crisis which led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Plateau State”.

“But these crises, varied as they were, only came to reveal the multi-dimensional nature of Nigeria as a political entity. We witness the primacy of politics in almost all these conflicts. In the struggle for power and political supremacy, politicians exercise no restraint in aggravating the socio-religious and ethnic cleavages, which characterize the geo-politics of the Nigerian state. It should not be forgotten that the Second Jos Crisis of November 2008 was also ignited by a botched Chairmanship election in Jos North Local Government”.

The words of elders

Second Dimension

Observation

There are many questions on this hopeless situation to which His Eminence’s lecture had proffered solution since 2011. The summary of the lecture is that no smoke can be found where there is no fire. However, while the Federal Government and its agencies focus on the effect of violence, His Eminence believes that it is only by tracing the root cause of our calamities that we can find a permanent solution to them.

Excerpts from the lecture “….Many people (outside our country) consider Nigeria as a theatre of absurd conflicts and interminable crises. They may be justified in holding this view; with the Jos crises festering for years, with post-election violence and suicide – bombings, it is difficult to think otherwise. When we consider Nigeria’s population of about 150 million, half the

“The second dimension to these crises, especially in Kaduna and Plateau states, is the indigene/settler dichotomy, which is yet to be addressed properly by the Nigerian State. Many ethnic groups in these conflict areas see the other ethnic groups as foreigners who should not enjoy the full rights of bona fide residents… However, those who oppose this dichotomy argue that these so-called settlers had spent more than two hundred years in the areas they reside.

Moreover, as Nigerian Citizens, they have the full right to reside wherever they wish and pursue their legitimate business without let or hindrance. After all, they cannot be settlers in their own country”.

Third Dimension “The third dimension of Nigeria’s ethnoreligious crises is their potential to become systematic national crises. When a person is killed in any of the areas of conflict, his co-

“The fourth dimension of Nigeria’s crises is poor leadership and the bad governance usually associated with its management.

Many of those charged with authority in the states where these conflicts occur are also parties to the crises. They make feeble efforts to control the violence and do so only when the damage has been done…”

Governance “….The issue of poor leadership and bad governance also explains how the Boko Haram movement has been able to transform itself from a small Hijrah group in Yobe State, escaping from the uncertainties and contradictions of the Nigerian State, to a militant movement able to wreak havoc and destruction once provoked.

Those in authority were prepared to court the leaders of this group when it suited them and to trample on them like flies when they were no longer useful…However, the bombing of the United Nations Office in Abuja has introduced an international dimension to terrorist’s activities, a development, which was hitherto entirely new to Nigeria”.

The promise of dialogue “….When I became the Sultan of Sokoto in November 2006, some of the major problems I found on ground were the after-effects of the Riots, especially in Kaduna, Jos and some parts of the North East as well as a disturbing atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility, especially between the leaderships of Nigeria’s two major religions: Islam and Christianity.

To resolve these knotty issues we chose the path of positive engagement, which we thought would engender meaningful discourse, improve communication and understanding and change the dynamics of our operating environment to that of trust and confidence…” “….The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council [NIREC] provided the right platform for this engagement. The Council, itself a product of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises, was composed of 25 members each from the two religions and co-chaired by myself, in my capacity as the PresidentGeneral of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN]….

Duties of NIFAA

“I must point out that it was also our view that inter-faith action should transcend conflict resolution. For it to be effective, it must affect the life of the common man. NIREC floated the Nigeria Inter-Faith Action Association [NIFAA] to take up this challenge and NIFAA has been very active in the control of the dreaded tropical disease: Malaria. We also find that we must act together to address issues related to electoral reform, good governance and anti-corruption. I am

therefore glad to state that the goodwill and understanding which these activities were able to generate, have given impetus to the development of inter-faith dialogue to a new level.

Looking ahead

‘’…Understanding the multifarious nature of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises should strengthen our resolve and determination to deploy all the energies and resources at our disposal to see to their resolution. Our inability and reluctance to take meaningful action go to challenge not only our common humanity but also our self-worth… The Nigerian political class must be able to speak and understand one another as well as to develop a minimum national agenda to chart the way forward.

The political class must also be able to open dialogue on a variety of national issues, including the perennial problem of power rotation and willingly enter into agreements that they can honour with dignity….” “….Also, governance, at all levels, must translate into tangible benefits for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliation. Nigeria has the resources to make life more pleasant for its people. It is equally imperative to address the poverty problem as well as the needs of the youth population both in all the geo-political areas of the country. In a situation where over 50% of our population is jobless at less than 19 years of age, we are definitely sitting on a time bomb much deadlier than that of Boko Haram unless we take urgent action to defuse it….” “….Furthermore, there should be renewed determination to address both the Jos and Boko Haram sectarian crises. The Federal Government must take its security responsibilities seriously by effectively containing these crises. But beyond that, a genuine dialogue must be initiated, to begin healing festering wounds and to bring genuine understanding and reconciliation amongst the entire people of Plateau State and beyond. The social dimension of the Boko Haram cannot also be resolved by mere use of force. This is the reason why I have consistently suggested dialogue and education to counteract its message, especially those aspects dealing with modern education.

Millions of Muslim pupils are already outside the school system. Millions more will definitely follow if urgent intervention is not undertaken to enlighten the younger generations. And the question I have always asked is What kind of society can we build in the 21st century when our youth turn their back on Science and Technology and are unable to produce the next generation of doctors, engineers and other specializations necessary for sustaining the socio-economic development of the society?….”

Conclusion “….Finally, we should not neglect the impact of the International environment on Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises.

Happenings in the US, Iraq, Afghanistan, Norway, Netherlands, the UK and France are as current and relevant as events in Jos, Maiduguri and Abuja. We must preach international tolerance and moderation.

The fight against extremist groups should never be perverted to become a fight against Islam and its doctrines. We should all remember that in the final analysis, it is not what the perpetrators of violence do that really counts. It is the actions we take, individually and collectively, that would shape the fate of humanity….”

Comment

For those who can deeply comprehend the above excerpts from His Eminence’s lecture of 2011, there can be no better choice than returning to the drawing board for a permanent solution. In no part of the world has any wound inflicted by sectarian crisis been healed in the contemporary time through the barrels of guns. Nigeria cannot be an exception. The causes of our crises are much more fundamental than their effects. And addressing the effects alone to the exclusion of the causes may be an approach too far from the solution. It is hoped that our new President, Muhammadu Buhari, will take a second look at this article and give its contents positive thoughts and actions to prevent any unnecessary diversion of his government’s attention. God save Nigeria

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

PEOPLE THE NATION

A TWO-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Lagos State Chief Judge Funmilayo Atilade and her husband Archbishop Magnus Atilade gave out their daughter, Adefemi Abimbola, in marriage to a Bank of America financial analyst, Oluwatosin Gabriel, last Saturday at the Ikoyi Baptist Church. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

•Bride’s parents Archbishop Atilade and his wife Justice Olufunmilayo

•The couple, Adefemi and Oluwatosin displaying their certificate

F

OR the couple, it was a dream come true. One year after they met in Atlanta, United States (US), they were joined in holy matrimony in Lagos last Saturday. Adefemi Abimbola, daughter of Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Funmilayo Atilade, and her beau, Oluwatosin Gabriel Ola, Atlanta-based financial analyst brought their families together during their union at the Ikoyi Baptist Church.

Adefemi is an oil and gas lawyer.

Her father is Archbishop Magnus Atilade. Oluwatosin is a financial analyst with Bank of America in Atlanta, United States (US). He is the son of Elder Niyi Ola. Saturday’s downpour and fuel scarcity did not mar the event.

Guests turned out in large number to witness the union. They were mostly judges and lawyers.

The men were smart in well-tailored suits and the women looked gorgeous in fashionable attires.

They complemented their dressing with flowered or feathered hats.

Adefemi walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with her parents.

She looked stunning in flowing gown eventhough, she used a veil.

•Groom’s parents Elder Niyi and his wife Toyin

‘I feel complete now’ On entering the church, she sat beside Oluwatosin, who was in a blue suit. At the altar, the couple held a Bible and took turns to exchange vows. It was an emotional moment as Adefemi broke down midway, sobbing. Seconds later, her voice became steady.

Revd Dr Abayomi Lawal blessed the rings and pronounced them man and wife.

In his the sermon, the cleric charged them to see Christ as the centre of their lives, saying: "I have been married for 38 years and have

been pastoring for 42. In all these years, God has been the centre of my marriage," he said.

Pastor-in-charge of children and teenagers in the church Revd Bosun Adegboyega led the special prayers for the couple. He presented the couple their marriage certificate.

The congregation, in unison, pledged to always support the couple in prayers and Christian counsel.

Taking his wife by the hand, Oluwatosin and Adefemi headed for Habour Point Events Centre on Victoria Island for the reception. They

‘I became a master at divorcing couples, but as a Christian, I had to stop and reflect because it was an ungodly thing to do. I saw the hurt that came from broken marriages and the effects it had on the children’

were treated to a cocktail outside the venue.

Guests came to congratulate the couple before moving into the hall at dusk. Some played mobile games and took photographs from a mobile booth.

The hall was decorated in black and white. Delectable female ushers in black gowns led guests to their seats.

The table and chair overlays were white and black.

A Master of Ceremony, Matilda Duncan anchored the event.

There were fireworks as the couple danced into the arena to the blaring of Nigerian hip-hop songs.

Justice George Oguntade (rtd), who chaired the event, recalled that on joining the judiciary in 1980, he was posted to the Divorce Court.

"I became a master at divorcing couples, but as a Christian, I had to stop and reflect because it was an ungodly thing to do. I saw the hurt that came from broken mar-

riages and the effects it had on the children," he said.

He urged the couple to be patient in order to overcome the hurdles of life. The jurist advised Adefemi to always make her home conducive and welcome her husband from work with a smile.

Outgoing Lagos State Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire supervised the cutting of the wedding cake.

The couple danced to a number of rhythms and blue (R&B) songs before the sensational hip-hop artiste Skales came on stage, dishing out many of his hit songs.

The maid of honour, Bunmi Sokenu-Salako and the best man Dapo Olanitori, proposed the toast.

Olanitori said he had known Oluwatosin for 19 years, adding: "He has not looked a day older since I met him.” He described Adefemi's acceptance of his friend's proposal as the best news he has heard in years.

Giving the vote of thanks, the groom said he felt complete and blessed witnessing the day he had dreamt about for long.

•More pictures on page 50

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

50

SOCIETY ‘I FEEL COMPLETE NOW’

)

•Hon Ikuforiji (left) and Justice Oguntade

•Justice Ayotunde Philips (left) and Mrs Jumoke Braithwaite

•Mr Bode Emmanuel; Publisher Guardian Newspaper Lady Maiden Ibru (middle) and Mrs Viola Ombu

•From left: Justice S.A Onigbanjo; Mr Rickey Tarfa(SAN) and Mr Olumuyiwa Aduraja(SAN)

•All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Chief Kemi Nelson (left) and Institute of Directors (IOD) President Mrs Eniola Fadayomi

•Hon Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (right) and Mrs Deji Delano

•Representatives of the Oba of Lagos from left: Chief Nurudeen Agoro; Chief Ismala Folaji; Chief Rafiu Olusi and Chief Waidi Ayeni

•Former Ekobank Chairman , Chief John Odeyemi and his wife Kofoworola

•Chairman Seplat Petroleum Development,Dr Ambrose Orjiako

•From left: President, Association of Bishops, Archbishiop Michael Fadeyi; Olofa Ademola Adedokem and Bishop Julius Akindeleje

•Rev Lawal

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-05-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-05-15

Skye Bank to raise N30b equity fund

S

KYE Bank Plc plans to raise about N30 billion in new equity funds in the third quarter as part of proactive measures to ensure proportionate balance in its capital structure and provide additional capital cushion for the enlarged bank after the completion of the integration of Mainstreet Bank Limited in June.

Group managing director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, told a select audience of stockbrokers in Lagos that the bank would be raising some N30 billion tier 1 capital, referring to new equity funds, in the third quarter.

He said the board of the bank would be presenting a resolution to the shareholders of the bank at the annual general meeting scheduled for June in Lagos, seeking to increase the authorized share capital preparatory to the supplementary equity offer.

He noted that the bank and its professional advisers would later decide on the appropriate means for the offer, including possible combination of rights issue and public offer.

He pointed out that while the bank has adequate capital base,

•Set to absorb Mainstreet Bank

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

the additional funding would further strengthen the postconsolidation Skye Bank and put it in better position to meet future regulatory requirements as a strategically important bank (SIB).

SIBs are expected to have capital adequacy ratio of 16 per cent

by June 2016 while other banks would continue with the current rate of 15 per cent. With the additional equity funding, Skye Bank’s capital adequacy ratio will be 17 per cent.

Oguntayo said the bank would hold a court-ordered meeting for the final approval for the absorption of Mainstreet Bank on June 8, just as shareholders would also be voting to increase the authorized share capital of Skye Bank at the annual general meeting in Lagos.

He confirmed that the bank has secured all necessary regulatory approvals from financial services authorities for the integration and absorption of Mainstreet Bank.

He assured that the bank has put in place all necessary mea-

sures to ensure seamless integration and switchover of Mainstreet Bank’s operations and customers unto Skye Bank.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had on December 19 transferred full ownership of Mainstreet Bank to Skye Bank Plc, giving the latter the control to begin the post-acquisition integration for the acquired bank. The transfer of full ownership took place after a completion meeting where AMCON divested its interest and transferred full ownership of the bridge bank to Skye Bank.

Skye Bank had successfully paid 100 per cent of the acquisition value and received regulatory clearance as the new owner. Between October 3 and October 31, Skye Bank paid both the initial 20 percent mandatory deposit and completed the 80 percent balance well ahead of the November 3 deadline for the 100 per cent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank, which was described by several analysts and financial commentators as a ground breaking acquisition in Nigeria’s financial sector.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-05-15

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

Foreign exchange reserves rise to $29.6b

Diamond promotes savings culture

T

D

HE nation’s foreign reserves rose to $29.61 billion by May 27, up by 0.3 per cent from a month ago, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have shown.

However, the reserves fell 20.3 per cent year-on-year from $37.14 billion.

With the sharp decline in global oil prices and the resultant fall in the foreign earnings, the reserves have declined in recent months, dropping below $29 billion in April. Besides, the CBN has used the reserves to support the naira, which has also been hammered by falling global oil prices.

The naira has closed within a range of N197 to N200.7 per dollar every day since the end of Febru-

•Interbank rates fall on rising liquidity Stories by Collins Nweze

ary, when authorities first prevented traders from buying dollars without matching orders from customers.

Meanwhile, the interbank lending rate, yesterday, eased slightly to an average of 8.25 per cent from 8.5 per cent last week on the back of increased liquidity after the government paid public workers wages and joint venture partners.

The state paid out a total of about N105 billion ($528 million) in wages and contributions to partners in-

FCMB begins integration support for NetPlusPay

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) has announced its partnership with NetPlus for the provision of integrated and electronic business settlement support for merchants.

NetPlus is a growing Nigerian ecommerce and e-payment company which had earlier in the year, introduced an innovative payment gateway that leverages internet banking profiles of users for online transactions.

The FCMB confirmed that apart from getting its internet platform integrated into NetPlusPay, it would provide full settlement solution for merchants on the platform irrespective of their acquiring bank. This reaffirms the bank’s commitment to continue to provide leading transactional and payment solutions for the Nigerian consumer.

The Head of Transactional Banking at FCMB, Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe

said, “we at the Bank strongly believe that the integration of NetPlusPAY into the FCMB payment options is a step in the right direction to better serve our customers.

This partnership will benefit not only customers who trade and receive payments online, but also those who make payments for goods and services at various points of sale”, Mrs Akhigbe stated.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of personal and business aspirations of its customers.

volved in joint oil production ventures with the government, boosting liquidity levels and forcing down lending rates, dealers said.

Traders said although the CBN withdrew around N45.7 billion to meet the new Cash Reserves Requirement (CRR), the market had comfortable liquidity levels. The CBN last week harmonised the CRR on public and private sector deposits to 31 per cent.

Previously the CRR on private sector deposits was 20 per cent and 75 per cent for public sector deposits. Traders said liquidity would also be adequate next week. “We are going to have a very liquid market next week because of an-

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

ticipated injection of additional cash from maturing treasury bills, and possible stable lending rates in the market,” one dealer said.

‘Heritage, Enterprise banks’ integration ongoing’

T

HE ongoing integration of Heritage Bank and the acquired Enterprise Bank, is ongoing and will position the bank as a leading tier-two banking institution.

The Acting Managing Director of Enterprise Bank who is also an Executive Director of Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, said the integration of both lenders will provide a leverage-able capability and competitiveness that are fundamental recipes for stronger profitability, strategic influence and systemic relevance.

“As an institution committed to leading practices, we have engaged best-in-class strategy towards the realization of value enhancing combination. The integration process has been strategically delineated into four layers, namely legal, leadership, customer and staff – with each mapping out clearly defined activities focused on achieving an integrated

entity. Essentially, we are set to emerge as a bold and leading tiertwo bank in record time, as we are confident of our deliberate and focused strategy for birthing an enduring institution out of the two entities we have currently”, Mrs. Akpobome said.

She also assured staff of Enterprise Bank to entertain no fear of discrimination or mass sack as a result of the integration. “Our top line focus is to ensure that people’s jobs are preserved based on their value creating capability. A key element of our people resourcing and placement program is based on global standard type appraisal to determine how fit they are for the combined entity. In the event that some of the staff are discovered to lack required competencies, we will have in place an appropriate program to deal with such occurrence. This assignment is being carried out by a set of reputable consulting firms as part of the ongoing integration programme,” she said.

IAMOND Bank has opened a window of money management opportunities that will encourage Nigerian youth to develop a healthy saving character and build prudent expenditure and investment profiles. This is as it recently introduced theDiamond FutureandCool Teens Accounts, two financial products specially designed to enable teenagers save with excitement and also help parents save for their children and easily meet their future financial needs.

The bank’s Head of Corporate Communication, Ayona Trimnell, said the product was developed to enable youths belong to the banking community and know that they have a right to start early to chart a healthy financial course in life.

“We want young people to know that Diamond Bank is not just for adults, Diamond Bank is your bank too. We have worked hard to be the bank that understands the financial needs of parents and their children and to provide the right products and support to help them save to achieve their dreams,” she stated.

According to statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 63 per cent of the country’s 168 million population are under 25 years and about 64.3 per cent of this huge population aged between 15 to 24 years do not have a bank account, leaving them with no secure and supportive way to save for future goals.

According to Trimnell, an extensive research conducted by Diamond Bank, in conjunction with Women’s World Banking, aimed at better understanding each client segment opened the door for the Bank to work to meet these needs with a comprehensive offering of youth accounts specifically designed for each target segment.

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

PRESCO TOTAL VONO PORTPAINT FIDELITYBK CUTIX GUINNESS JOHNHOLT COSTAIN LIVESTOCK UNITYBNK

32.00 159.00 1.61 3.47 1.84 1.65 155.72 0.90 0.90 2.40 2.75

35.20 174.00 1.69 3.64 1.93 1.73 163.00 0.94 0.94 2.40 2.86

3.20 15.00 0.08 0.17 0.09 0.08 7.28 0.04 0.04 0.10 0.11

LOSERS AS AT 28-05-15

O/PRICE

FO NEIMETH NEM AIRSERVICE MAYBAKER STERLNBANK ZENITHBANK UBN MOBIL WAPIC CCNN

185.00 1.26 0.85 2.45 1.68 2.17 22.00 10.35 149.56 0.55 10.50

C/PRICE 176.00 1.20 0.81 2.34 1.62 2.11 21.44 10.12 146.80 0.54 10.32

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$28.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

CHANGE -9.00 -0.06 -0.04 -0.11 -0.06 -0.06 -0.56 -0.23 -0.76 -0.01 -0.18

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 28-05-15

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

May 27

May 28

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

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)

27 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

56

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

57

NEWS Sultan honours Wamakko with Sarkin Yakin Sakkwato •Governor gets 2014 Hajj report as last official function

S

ULTAN of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhamamd Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday conferred the title of Sarkin Yakin Sakkwato on outgoing Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

The frontline monarch urged the people not expect the governor’s successor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to be like him.

He said: “No two persons can be exactly the same in all respects of human existence. But I believe that with our support and cooperation, Tambuwal is capable of taking Sokoto State to its promised destination.”

Abubakar spoke yesterday at a farewell visit to Wamakko.

The monarch was accompanied by other traditional rulers and title holders in the Seat of Caliphate to the outgoing governor at the Government House in Sokoto.

Abubakar, who presented the governor’s letter of appointment as the Sarkin Yakin Sakkwato, said a date would be fixed for the turbaning.

The Emir noted that Wamakko had been a good representative, a steady planner, an honest and dedicated instrument for change.

He said: “We have seen all these qualities you exhibited for the good of the state and beyond. You worked for the peace, stability and security of the state and equally as an agent of true change, which has come to fruition.

“We have seen your work, which cuts across sectors of the state’s economy.

“We have all along been peaceful with you throughout your eight years in office without any misunderstanding.

“You have shown the world that you are capable and competent at defending the cause of your people and Nigerians.

“It is rare to find an outgoing governor who, in less than 24 hours, is still pulling a crowd of supporters wherever he goes. This

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

is to say you are still needed. We hope you will continue to build on the legacies you are leaving behind.”

Wamakko thanked the Sultan for supporting his administration throughout its eight-year span.

The outgoing governor described the visit as historic in his life’s journey.

He pledged to always support the efforts to further develop the state.

Wamakko noted that change was a difficult phenomenon.

He said: “But with faith in Allah and good conscience, it is achievable.”

The outgoing governor solicited the support he enjoyed from the people to Tambuwal and his deputy, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu.

He said the incoming administration was capable of taking the state ton greater heights.

Also, Wamakko received yesterday the state’s 2014 Hajj committee’s report.

The outgoing governor hoped it would guide the incoming administration to take the right decisions on future Hajj operations.

The report, which was submitted by the committee’s chairman and Senatorelect for Sokoto South, Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba Daboa, marked Wamakko’s last official function as governor.

Wamakko expressed appreciation to the committee for doing a good job.

He said: “I am sure the report will guide the incoming administration to ensure smooth hajj operations in subsequent exercises.

“I will like to use this opportunity to thank and extend my appreciation to all the sacrifices you made to ensure smooth and hitchfree conduct of the 2014 Hajj for the state’s contingent.

“I also appreciate the way and manner the Head of the state’s pilgrims’ agency cooperated and worked with you.”

Kwara APC suspends senator, four others for anti-party activities

T

HE Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Senator Mohammed Ahmed for alleged anti-party activities.

The senator, who represented Kwara North between 2003 and 2011, was suspended for one year.

Others suspended include a member of the House of Assembly and Baruten Local Government Area’s Chairman Adamu Sabi and Muhammed Omar-Bio. They were suspended for one year and six months.

In a statement yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, APC spokesperson Suleiman Buhari said: “Others are: Alhaji Aliyu Kora Sabi and Mu-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

hammed Sunu Gofe, who have been suspended from the party for one year each.

“Their suspension followed a report submitted by a panel of enquiry set up by the State APC.” Buhari added that “all the suspensions are with immediate effect”.

The suspended party members are from Baruten Local Government Area.

Ten of the 11 ward chairmen from the local government had petitioned the state headquarters of the APC. They urged the party to probe the suspended members for anti-party activities.

•From left: Kaduna State Deputy Governor-elect Barnabas Bantex; Lt.-Gen. Agwai and governor-elect, El-Rufai, at the PHOTO: NAN inaugural lecture of the governor-elect in Kaduna…yesterday

El-Rufai: I’m only interested in K probing robbers

ADUNA State Governor-elect Nasir ElRufai yesterday said his administration will only go after those who stole millions or billions of naira and not those who pilfered a few thousands.

The governor-elect described those who stole huge public funds as armed robbers.

Also, former Chief of Defence Staff and Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Chairman, Lt.-Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), said he did not regret preaching change.

The former Defence chief said it was the reason he was sacked.

El-Rufai and Agwai spoke yesterday in Kaduna at an inaugural lecture ahead of today’s swearing-in ceremony for the governor-elect.

El-Rufai said those who looted the state’s treasury would be forced to return such

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

funds to government coffers.

The governor-elect pledged not to give Kaduna residents performance excuses because there were poorer states than Kaduna that were still doing well.

He said: “We will not condone acts of insincerity. We will insist on accountability.

This is why we said we are not going to chase kobo but we will chase billions and millions of naira stolen from the government resources.

“We will forgive the hundreds and a million stolen because those who stole such small funds are only hungry.

We have to strike a balance.

Those who stole thousands or a million are pickpockets and can be forgiven. But we are in-

terested in ‘armed robbers’, who stole billions and millions of naira.

“We intend to make Kaduna great again. I promise to do that. If we fail, it’s not because of lack of commitment or sincerity. We all know how things have gone bad in the state.”

El-Rufai said his administration would not witch-hunt anybody but was interested in making life better for Nigerians.

The governor-elect frowned at the lack of stable electricity in the country.

He noted that the outgoing government punished innocent Nigerians for voting it out.

El-Rufai said: “Just few days ago, Nigeria’s megawatts dropped from 4,000 to just 50.

The system just stopped working because they (the Jonath-

an administration) are living office. These are man-made difficulties. It’s a way of punishing 160 million people because they voted them out of government.”

Agwai, who was the chairman of the inaugural lecture, said Kaduna State was blessed with those he called wonderful magicians.

The former Defence chief said El-Rufai was in the class of such people.

He said: “Nigerians voted massively for change, the same change I spoke about before the election and I lost my job. Today, I have no job.”

Agwai noted that the change would not be easy.

“It will require commitment and dedication and, above all, sacrifices,” he said.

The guest speaker, Prof Pius Adesanmi, delivered a paper, titled: Building Rome in a day with one kobo: El-Rufai and the challenge of 21 century Kaduna.

Our expectations, by Nigerians •Continued on from 7 Comassie, who commended President Jonathan for conceding defeat and taking a historic step to congratulated Buhari, urged the new President to ensure the unity of the country. ‘’I advise him to consider the entire country as his constituency and not to be bias or sectional in his approach to issue bothering on the development of the country,” he added.

Repositioning the military Social critic Dr. Junaid Mohammed also advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to purge the military of political elements to enable democracy blossom in the country. Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker from Kano State, said the call because of some actions that are unbecoming of a disciplined military. He said that for Providence, some officers would have derailed the democratic process even before the March 28 presidential election.

He said: “Given what we have seen in the military lately, Buhari must move immediately to clear the armed forces of politicians and ensure that only dedicated officers, who are willing to work according to the ethics of their profession for the country, are allowed in the system.

“The President must purge the army of politicians in army uniforms and further recruitment should henceforth be based on merit and done in the overall interest of the nation and not made to appease certain interests, individuals and groups loyal to the government of the day.”

Avoiding double standard A former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who was unsparing of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration, which he described as the most corrupt in the country’s history, urged President Buhari to launch a comprehensive probe into the immediate past e administration after his inauguration today.

On his expectations of the new government, Alhaji Musa, advised the administration to start with the issue of corruption.

Once you can solve the problem of corruption, most of the problems would have been solved.

He said: “This issue is still the root of all the problems and it must be dealt with; there should be no time limit. Corruption is at the root of every negative state of the nation whether you call it insecurity, poverty or unemployment. If you have a corruption-free society, these negative tendencies will not exist at a

threatening level.

“In terms of fighting corruption, Buhari should not spare his predecessor. His anti-corruption agenda should not be selective. The Jonathan administration is the worst in terms of corruption in this country, may be because the administration had so much money to spend.”

War against poverty The deputy leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo, said the peoples’ expectations are very high. And that the President cannot afford to disappoint the electorate. Unongo claimed said he told President Jonathan at a meeting that he would lose the election because of some grave mistakes he made.

He attributed such mistakes to bad advices from his aides.

“I advised him on some strategies to be adopted to redeem his image but he refused to listen,” he recalled.

He urged President Buhari to evolve policies that will eradicate abject poverty, stamp out corruption and provide basic amenities for the betterment of the people.

“We are expecting Buhari to institute a result-orientated administration that will provide basic amenities to the people, stop corruption and change consumptive lifestyle of Nigerians”, he added.

A youth activist, Gbenga Adepoju, wants the Buhari administration to give priority to power supply, which he said remained central to the economy. According to him without power the economy cannot grow.

Adepoju said: “The manufacturing industries are closing shop and relocating to neighboring West African countries because the cost of production in Nigeria is very high. Many workers have lost their jobs in the process. It is unfortunate that despite the $25 billion spent since the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo to date, the power supply has not improved. The power output has now dropped to less than 1,000 mw.”

Besides, the time to set machinery in motion for modern rail lines in the country, Adepoju urged the incoming administration to embark on construction of new roads across the country to be supported by vast rail network.

His words: “This is a vast country and the roads will always get dilapidated if they are not supported by vast rail network.

The Buhari administration should know that power and transport infrastructures are very crucial in the evolution of a modern state. The ancillary advantage of these infrastructures is that apart from improving standard of living, it will create job opportunities.”

58

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

NEWS ‘Ministry, BOA frustrating cassava project’ From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

T

HE Delta Youths For Agriculture (DYFA), the state’s group of young farmers, has accused the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of refusing to release the funds approved for a company, Jopat Nigeria Limited, under the Cassava Bread Outgrower Fund.

At a seminar organised for youths on the fabrication of locally made incubators in Warri, the group’s Coordinator Lucky Aruoture said the development was killing the dreams of youths who were set to embrace agriculture.

The coordinator urged the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akuwunmi, and authorities at BOA to ensure the disbursement of the funds.

He said this would further empower DYFA through the federal initiative.

Aruoture described the initiative as “very laudable”.

Conditions spelt out for the fund, in January 2014, include the payment of N5,000 per hectare on a minimum two hectares and a maximum four per accredited beneficiary.

Gunmen kill six travellers in Ogoni •Several others injured •More policemen drafted to prevent violence

G

UNMEN have killed six travellers in a commercial bus at Ogoni, Rivers State.

The killing is said to be connected with a protracted land dispute.

Several other persons were seriously injured and are receiving treatment in hospitals.

The land dispute is between Deeken and Deeyor communities in Gokana Local Government Area.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

It was learnt that at 6a.m. yesterday, Deeken “fighters” opened fire on the commercial bus at the Kpopie Junction, killing the six passengers and injuring the others.

The Deeken and Deeyor villagers have been at loggerheads over a border land near the Kpopie Junction.

The Chairman of Gokana Local Aovernment Arae, Ba-

dom Donatus, condemned the killings.

He urged security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice, to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded persons.

Police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “Gunmen on motorcycles, suspected to be from Deeken, opened fire at Kpopie Junction on some

people who happened to be from Deeyor. Six people were killed.

“The attack may not be unconnected with the protracted land dispute between the two communities. Police Commissioner Dan Bature has drafted additional policemen to the area to prevent the escalation of the violence and enhance the hunt for the culprits.”

Ahmad urged Rivers residents to live in peace and shun violence.

Gunmen abduct teacher in Edo From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

A

TEACHER at Uselu Secondary School in Benin, the Edo State capital, Iguodala Chosen, was abducted yesterday by suspected kidnappers.

His abduction caused pandemonium in the area.

The gunmen were said to have arrived at 12.05 pm at the school, in Egor Local Government Area, and shot severally into the air to scare away the residents.

The hoodlums reportedly forced the teacher into the vehicle, after stabbing three pupils in the chest, head and arm.

The affected pupils were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

There was jubilation in the school when Iguodala entered the premises when our correspondent arrived at the school at 2pm.

He said the gunmen told him that he was taken away over a fight between two pupils in the school but was released by the leader of the group.

Iguodala said: “One of them said he was a soldier. So, I simply followed him. Then, they started hitting me. When I asked them what I had done wrong, they said it was because of the fight between two pupils.

“I told them that the Principal had intervened in the matter.

Then, they took me to the National Youth Council at Slope. But their chairman pleaded with me not to be annoyed for the beating. So, they released me.”

Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told our correspondent via a text message that he was in a meeting.

•From right: Chairman, National Council of Elders, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Israel Abatan; Vice Chairman, Pastor Obadiah Mulero and Publicity Secretary, Pastor Ayodeji Olulani, at a media briefing to announce the 14th Annual Elders’ Congress and Praise Night in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO:MUYIWA HASSAN

Amaechi: we worked with sincerity, accountability •Rivers governor seeks forgiveness in valedictory broadcast

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said his administration did its best in the prevailing circumstances throughout his tenure.

The outgoing governor noted that he would not pretend that his administration achieved its dreams and aspirations or was perfect and beyond reproach.

He said it worked with sincerity of purpose and accountability.

Ameachi asked the people to forgive his administration, if it offended anyone in the course of serving them.

The governor, in his valedictory broadcast to Rivers State residents yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said his team ran a good race that was anchored on God and His might.

He stressed that Rivers was the least indebted state in Nigeria with a loan portfolio of N17.7 billion to banks.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Amaechi, who is also a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), gave the details of Rivers indebtedness as: Agriculture loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), N2 billion and Zenith Bank Plc, N15.7 billion.

The governor said the state’s loan from Access Bank would be on zero balance by the end of this month.

He added that the indebtedness on contractor loans was contained in the various handover notes of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Amaechi said: “The incoming administration will find all necessary documents required to take off and understand the government.

Deputy Governor (Tele Ikuru) is our liaison with the incoming administration and has been directed to accord them the necessary assistance they may require.

“Government is continuous and records are the vital links between two administrations. All assets and liabilities belong to the government. As we vacate the seat we had occupied for seven years and seven months, we leave with the deep joy that comes from a high sense of accomplishment, the firm satisfaction that we came with a determination and we are leaving highly fulfilled. This is because we tried to do justice to any and all that came our way.

“We fought to protect the assets and interests of Rivers State, just as we pursued our projects with great zeal within the financial space available. Whatever is left undone is for those taking over from us.

“My beloved people of Rivers State, it was a great honour and privilege to have served such a great people at this time. But there are times and seasons. Having run our course and in obedience to

our Constitution, we gladly step aside. But we remain eternally indebted to Rivers State and its people.

“We ask that anyone the administration offended be gracious enough to forgive.

We never came as perfectionists. We have been just as frail as any other human being. We exercised our oath and allegiance on behalf of our people. The best intent could have been misconstrued. To such persons, we render apologies beyond words.”

•Amaechi

Tipper crushes commercial bus driver in Delta

A •Iguodala...yesterday

COMMERCIAL bus driver was crushed to death yesterday at Ibusa Junction, Asaba, the Delta State capital.

But for the quick intervention of policemen, the driver would have been lynched by a mob.

The accident, it was learnt, occurred when the bus driv-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba er was tying some loads to the trunk of his 14-seater Hiace bus.

The rope reportedly broke and the driver fell down.

He was crushed by the tipper said to be conveying sand.

An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said: “The driv-

er had finished loading his bus with passengers. He was tying a rope to the trunk of the bus when the rope broke. He fell down onto the road and the tipper crushed him.”

It was learnt that the tipper driver sped off.

But other drivers pursued him with a bus on Direct Labour Agency (DLA) Road, a few kilometres from the scene

of the accident.

He was brought back by a mob.

But the driver, whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, denied that he attempted to escape.

According to him, he was only looking for a parking space.

Abductors of Jonathan’s cousins demand N50m ransom From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

P

ATIENCE Egbeni and Kate Eni, the two abducted cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan, will be missing in action when the President returns home today.

The six gunmen in military uniform, who abducted them on May 20, are still holding them hostage.

It was gathered that the gunmen, after about five days, established contacts with their families and demanded N50 million ransom.

The President’s cousins were abducted at their provisions stores near the riverbank of Akempli, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The hoodlums stormed the area at 8.30am and seized the women.

They forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and took them to an unknown place.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President. We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President, after the May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of welcoming their brother will be a mirage.”

Police spokesman Butswat Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the victims had not been released.

The spokesman said he was not aware of the ransom demand, adding that security agencies were still making efforts to free them.

NBA suspends Rivers Attorney-General From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

M

EMBERS of Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday passed a vote of no confidence in the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, for his alleged role in the closure of courts.

Rivers courts were closed on June 10, last year, following an indefinite strike by members of State Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over the Chief Judge (CJ) crisis.

Efforts by five branches of the state NBA to get the courts reopened failed.

The State NBA recently filed a suit against Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the State Judiciary, Boms, among others, at the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

It is seeking the court’s order granting its members access to their property in their secretariat and N500 million damages for the hardship the closure has cause its members (lawyers) and their families.

At the last sitting early this month, Justice Lambo Akanbi granted the Boms’ request for out-of-court settlement.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

59

NEWS

Accountant-General lied, says Abia NLC

A

BIA State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted claims by the state’s Accountant General (AG), Gabriel Onyedinefu, that the state government had paid workers salary in full.

Onyendilefu was quoted last week as saying that the state government had paid its workers up till May. NLC however insists the government still owes its workers their salary arrears.

State chairman of NLC Com-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

rade Uchenna Obigwe said Onyedinefu deceived the public by his statement as over nine parastatals were still owed salary arrears, ranging between three and eight months.

Obigwe named the parastatals to include Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba (eight months), Hospital Management Board (seven months), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (four months) and Abia State

Universal Basic Education Board (six months).

The NLC chair said teachers were owed six months’ salary arrears, Local Government workers (three months), the state radio station (BCA) (three months), Abia State Polytechnic (four months) and College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (seven months).

He expressed disappointment that the AG would tell such lies when the workers were suffering, urging him to come out with the truth.

Obigwe gave Onyedinefu one week to retract his statement and give the true position of government’s indebtedness to the workers, saying, “if he fails to do this, labour would take the matter to its national headquarters for necessary actions.

“Abia NLC is worried over the financial burden that the outgoing government is inflicting on the incoming government, which will impede its performance if it is not addressed”.

Aero begins commercial flight to Obudu

A

ERO Contractors has commenced commercial flights to Obudu ranch resort.

Speaking after touching down on a return flight to Calabar on a Dash 8300 Series, 5N-BJO, a 5o-seater aircraft, former Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on Tourism, Mr. Wilfred Usani

expressed delight at the commencement of flights, saying it was long overdue.

Mr. Usani said the flight was imperative, adding that “the Cross River State Government has acquired an aircraft which will be managed on behalf of the government by Aero Contractors.”

According to Usani: “Aero

Contractors is carrying out maintenance on the aircraft which would be delivered to the government in June.

“Based on the agreement, the company was to begin a maiden flight today (yesterday). The commencement of the commercial flight is expected to open up bi-weekly flights from Calabar to Bebi.

Abe warns APC against non-zoning of political offices

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe has urged the leadership of the party not to jettison the zoning of political of-

fices.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, Abe said: “In a fragile democracy like ours, we can’t ignore a fundamental issue like zoning of political offices among component parts of a federal structure where every

Vehicle owners get ultimatum

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HE Ogun State Police Command has warned owners of all accidented and abandoned vehicles and motorcycles parked at Sango-Ota and Isara Divisions to remove them within 14 days of this publication or lose them to members of the public. The vehicles are: Toyota Camry unregistered, Nissan Sunny marked NP 491 KJA, Nissan Sunny EF 73

AAA, Nissan Space Wagon FS 510 KTU, LT bus XP 526 AAA, Varagon bus KJA 261 XC, Toyota bus GGE 205 BJ and 37 motorcycles.

Also at Isara are: Nissan Serena Space Wagon LND 836 BU, Honda Accord car EPE 506 AA, Honda Prelude car AE 61 WAS, Toyota Pick-Up unregistered and seven motorcycles, a statement by DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said.

section expects a voice.

“Let us not wish away fairness, balance and national character in the occupation of strategic offices. Incidentally, there are capable hands with solid character in this country that can hold their own in every endeavour”.

The senator said Nigeria was yet to overcome ethnic and religious sentiments in political considerations, noting that disregard for geo-political zones and interest groups in the sharing of offices could be costly.

“We cannot suddenly claim not to believe in zoning because it was zoning that gave birth to Buhari (Northwest), Osinbajo (Southwest), and Oyegun (Southsouth), as President, Vice President and Party Chairman respectively”, Abe said.

EXPRESSO

Goodbye, boondoggling president •Continued from back page

She flunked woefully, the most basic duty of her office which was to manage the annual budget. In four years, not once was budget passed in time; not once did the budget perform by 50 per cent and not once was capital expenditure raised to as much as 40 per cent. But most troubling, she supervised an economy that was being pillaged like hell. Jonathan and his team could have been pirates sharing booty. It was either that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala coordinated the looting or that ravaging the treasury was a kind of economic policy she recommended. She will remain remarkable for setting the country back many years and leaving the economy in tatters.

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke: queen of pearls While Okonjo-Iweala pretended to be coordinating the economy, Diezani was really the soft power behind the throne. She also sat atop the nation’s most strategic asset – oil. Sadly she is as incompetent as a basket for fetching water. And the position seized her little mind entirely leaving no fenestration whatsoever for light to filter in.

Just one example: in January 2012, she singlehandedly increased the pump price of fuel without consulting the cabinet.

But in the ensuing national opprobrium, it came out that her so-called subsidy had been a scam through which she and her ‘oil marketers’ had been stealing trillions of naira from the treasury. Why anyone would be so callous to increase fuel price in the face of so much brigandage is a mark of Diezani’s character. Two years down the line, our so-called president, Jonathan did not muster the nerves to fire her or jail the ‘marketers’. One can raise a dozen examples of her bad behaviour in office. Hers’ was an atrocious and better-forgotten time running our prized asset.

She must be the worst oil minister ever.

Mohammed Adoke: Minister of no justice Also chief among the fellows that damaged the Jonathan presidency was his Attorney General and Minister of Justice for four years, Adoke.

Unfortunately, Ministry of Justice ought to be the next most important bastion of awe and integrity of any government after the presidency. Just as Jonathan told us he didn’t give a damn about the example of declaring his assets publicly, Adoke apparently gives no hoot about justice.

For Adoke, justice must be a worthless whore to be obtained and ravaged and discarded at will. He stymied the activities of the EFCC, he made sure no big

thief was caught; he sprung more suspected big criminals from facing trial than were successfully tried and he just loved plea bargain and that that thing called nolle prosequi was his walking stick. No president who truly understood the true meaning of that word would have kept Adoke for one week. He helped in no small way in ruining Jonathan.

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina: the popinjay minister He, like the rest of the team is actually a bit player who just hung in there and chased crumbs. But Adesina stood out just because he was so beguiling and managed to trick and bamboozle Jonathan with lies and silly slogans. And the president lapped up all those lies as if he was a boy in the kindergarten.

If Adesina was not manning the crucial Agric Ministry, he would never have mattered much. A man who is more comfortable in five-star hotels and private jets, he got our rice levy, our cassava bread levy and goodness knows which other levies he got and pocketed since he never accounted for them. Well, he gave Nigeria cassava bread just that only he and Jonathan eats it in the Villa.

It was indeed a boondoggle presidency – wasted time, wasted resources, no purpose, no result. Goodbye Jona.

Part of the partnership is to ensure that flighs from Calabar to Obudu becomes regular and on schedule.

“For us, the significance of the partnership is tremendous as we plan to bring about additional value to our tourism offering.

“For long, we have been challenged by access to the Obudu Mountain Resort, which is one of our important tourist sites.”

“What we have achieved with the partnership also is that we have been able to kill travel time, usually expended on road to the ranch. The flight we embarked on today (yesterday) took 35 minutes.

There is no doubt it will significantly improve access to the resort. For us, it is a major achievement in our tourism drive”.

“The feat recorded by the state is a testimony to Imoke’s passion in entrenching the state in global tourism map”.

Odusile to flush out fake journalists From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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IGERIA Union of Journalists (NUJ) presidential aspirant Alhaji Waheed Odusile has vowed to flush out quack journalists in the system if elected on July 23.

Odusile, who is a Managing Editor with The Nation, was in Anambra State on Tuesday as part of his campaigns to the Southeast state councils.

Addressing council members at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Odusile said it was time for NUJ to have its own radio station.

This, according to him, would stop the beggarly attitude of the union, adding that if individuals in the profession could do it, why not NUJ as a group.

Odusile said he would ensure journalists were trained adequately, adding that practitioners must be certified before operating.

“Once we are able to do this, we would have restored dignity in the industry. What is happening now was not there during the era of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli and others.

“This profession has gone beyond anybody who carries paper and writes well becomes a journalist, we want this field to be like that of the lawyers and not an all comers affair.”

The Odusile campaign train was led by the NUJ Lagos State chairman, Mr. Deji Odutoye of This Day Newspapers.

Abia set to welcome Ikpeazu

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LL is set for the inauguration of Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the fourth governor to be democratically elected.

It is expected that Ikpeazu would unveil his blueprint for the development of the state and tell the people his plans for them in the next four years.

The chairman of the Transition Planning Committee, Mkpa Agu Mkpa, briefing reporters in Umuahia, said all was set for the inauguration.

Mkpa, who is the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) said the 24-member transition committee has gathered relevant information that the incoming governor would need to start his work.

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

The SSG said the committee would let the incoming governor know the present financial status of the state, including the debt profile. Mkpa said Ikpeazu’s inauguration would be conducted in two segments at different venues with the swearingin ceremony to be held at the new International Conference Centre.

After the inauguration, an interdenominational church service, organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) would hold at Umuahia township stadium.

He said invitation was open to Abians and well wishers of the God’s own state.

FOREIGN NEWS Malaysia detains 12 policemen over links to ‘migrant’ graves

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ALAYSIA has detained 12 policemen suspected of human trafficking, two of whom are said to be connected to recently discovered jungle graves.

Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the two officers were suspected of transporting migrants.

He also clarified that the 139 graves found on the border with Thailand were not mass graves.

The route is used by peoplesmugglers bringing migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh into Malaysia.

The migrants are mainly Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar - also known as Burma - or economic migrants from Bangladesh.

Mr Wan Junaidi told reporters on Thursday that of the 12 officers arrested, “two of them are suspects connected to the graves at Wang Kelian”, in a reference to a northern village by the Thai border.

Authorities suspect the graves, found near abandoned human trafficking camps in the jungle, hold the remains of migrants.

They had earlier thought the graves each held multiple bodies, but Mr Wan Junaidi said it was “one person, one grave”.

He added that the bodies appeared to have been “properly” buried and were wrapped with white shrouds, according to Islamic funeral tradition.

Authorities confirmed the existence of the graves earlier this week, and have begun exhumations.

They have also taken reporters to see the camps which showed signs of torture and abuse, such as suspected human “cages”.

Local media have questioned whether officials were complicit in the human-trafficking Reports in Malaysian media questioned whether officials on both sides of the border were complicit.

Thai police uncovered similar abandoned camps on the Thai side of the border earlier in May. It triggered a crackdown on human trafficking that appears to have led traffickers to abandon their human cargo on boats in the waters off Thailand.

The boats, crammed with hundreds of starving migrants, started coming ashore in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Clinton to keep working, whatever Hillary does

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ORMER U.S. President Bill Clinton made an impassioned appeal yesterday for modern health care in the Ebola-stricken countries of West Africa where his foundation works.

He told The Associated Press afterward he hopes to keep working in Africa and elsewhere — regardless of what happens politically with his wife, Hillary.

Clinton, whose wife is the leading Democratic presidential contender, called the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea “a man-made disaster” caused by poor medical facilities. By contrast, he said, when one case of Ebola was reported in Nigeria, the government had a system in place, visited 19,000 homes in six weeks,

• Clinton

and kept the disease from spreading.

Clinton urged donor governments and organizations to earmark 15 percent of their aid money over the next three to seven years to build health systems across Africa.

“My basic message is this: More than anything else, though these countries have terrible economic problems ... they have to have health systems or we’ll be back here four or five years from now.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

NEWS

Buhari recalls Jonathan’s historic telephone call Continued from page 2

administration was not able to implement the National conference report because of the shortness of time.

Urging the Buhari administration to implement it, he said that a copy of the report had been sent to the National Assembly.

“But it is a document that we are very hopeful that your government will look into it and give it the attention it requires,” he said.

Reading a 16-page speech earlier, President Jonathan reeled out some of his administration’s achievements.

He insisted that his administration had done its best for Nigeria.

Jonathan said: “While striving to overcome our national security challenges, we still gave necessary attention to economic development. Our goal was to achieve long-

term economic growth and stability, improve the quality and quantum of infrastructure and enhance human capital development.”

As part of his fight against corruption, he said that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) weeded out 60,450 ghost workers in 359 out of 425 MDAs, which has yielded N185.4 billion in savings to the Federal Government.

Stressing that his administration has emphasised giving a freehand to anti-corruption agencies, Jonathan said that he preferred the institutions to grow into strong bodies rather than being the images, the hammer and the anvil of a strong man.

“We must encourage them to abide by the rule of law and due process instead of resorting to dramatic or illagal actions orchestrated

for cheap applause,” he said.

Through an improved revenue mobilisation, he said that federal tax revenues in 2013 alone rose from N2.8 trillion to N4.8 trillion.

According to Jonathan, victory against the insurgents Boko Haram is in sight and within reach.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Transition Committee, Ahmed Joda, said his committee received cooperation from a wide variety of sources across the country.

“We have received the document from the government committee. We are studying the report and working on them,” he added.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was the Chairman of the Government’s Transition Committee, said that the handover notes would form part of Nigeria’s

political culture – if properly laid down.

According to him, the committee worked hard and put the nation first in the assignment.

Among the Presidentelect’s entourage to the seat of power were All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman John OdigieOyegun, members of the APC’s and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) transition committees, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, APC spokesman Lai Muhammed and APC Campaign Organisation spokesman Garba Shehu.

Vice-President elect Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo was yesterday conducted round his new office and residential quarters at the Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Speaking shortly after the inspection, Sambo prayed for

the success of the incoming administration, and pledged to cooperate with the vice president-elect.

“Let me seize this opportunity to specially welcome you to the Presidency and to your new office.

“I pray that almighty God will guide you, protect you and give you good health to enable you continue from where we are stopping, for successful tenure.

“I want to assure you I’m always available to give you my support and our support to see that you succeed in this new endeavour.’’

Osinbajo thanked Sambo for his cooperation and understanding, adding that the incoming administration would continue to seek for his advice when necessary.

Sambo and Osinbajo were accompanied by their aides and some principal staff of the Presidential Villa.

Transporters seek national policy on transport

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HE Transport Society of Nigeria (TSN) has called on the incoming administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to take affirmative actions on road transportation The society said this should be done through an all-inclusive National Transportation Policy (NTP), which will make provision for the creation of transportation boards at the national and state levels.

It said this at an emergency session in Lagos, which was aimed at setting an agenda for the incoming administration on transportation.

President of TSN, Mr. Francis Ehiguese, noted that a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had in his inaugural speech in May 1999 said:”Transport is the life wire of the economy and useful for social interaction. The inefficient transport system implies stagnation in all sectors”.

Ehiguese, therefore, wondered why the nation’s leaders, who when on foreign missions to Western nations, “experienced with ease the level at which mobility was enhanced through a unified system that worked perfectly and was backed up with legislation, but never cared to implement such models in Nigeria.”

“The Nigerian road transport subsector accounts for over 90% of all domestic passenger and freight movement and if properly harnessed, can contribute immensely to the Nigerian economy by creating over four million

•Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (second left) inaugurating the Senior Officers’ Accommodation Complex at Kado in Abuja ... yesterday. With him are: former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Adm. Ola Ibrahim (left); representative of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Martine Abeshi (middle); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jibrin (second right) and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah.

PHOTO: NAN

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HAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega has attributed the success of the 2015 general elections to the contributions of his members of staff.

Jega, who spoke in Abuja, said the workers contributed immensely in salvaging the image of the commission.

He said most of the workers were honest and decent.

The INEC boss noted that majority of the staff, who conducted the 2007 general elections and were accused of various complicities, were the same staff used to record

INEC workers contribute to redeeming our image, says Jega From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the victory in the conduct of the general elections.

Jega explained that what made them different was the enabling environment, which the present leadership provided.

He said: “Majority of INEC staff are honest people, decent people and people doing their best for their country”.

On staff welfare, the INEC Chairman regretted that the

major expectation or aspiration of the staff of the commission has not been satisfied. But he stressed that the present commission has been committed to improving the welfare of staff.

He said: “We all know that the issue of a new salary structure in a country like Nigeria is not only too politicized, but it is an issue that successive governments handle like a hot potato.

We tried our best as diplomatically as possible to explore ways

and means of introducing a new salary structure. I regret that we have not been able to deliver on that major promise.”

He assured that within the remaining 30 days left for the commission, all outstanding issues of promotion will be resolved, even as he explained that all promotions since he assumed office were done in compliance with the laws and the provisions of the Federal Character Commission.

U.S. to deepen security, economic ties with Nigeria Continued from page 2

by a decline in oil prices of about 45 per cent since June.

The naira has depreciated 10 per cent against the dollar over the past six months, while foreign exchange has dropped by 21 per cent from a year earlier.

Nigeria has to import the bulk of its gasoline, diesel and kerosene for domestic use. A severe shortage of fuel this week saw planes grounded, offices shut, and queues for fuel reaching up to 18 hours.

The “pat answer” is to tackle corruption, including at the national petroleum company and in the military, said Campbell, who is now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

“The trouble with cleaning up corruption is that it takes time, and particularly when the corruption is structural, as it is in Nigeria, there are consequences,” Campbell said. “So it’s not easy.”

The allegations against the military are particularly touchy for relations because a U.S. law known as the Leahy Amendment bars arms sales to systematic human rights abusers.

“There are tons of credible accusations of human rights abuses, and in fact the population in northeastern Nigeria has tended to be as frightened of the military as they are of Boko Haram,” Campbell said.

In response to allegations of human rights abuses, the military has repeatedly denied or said it’s investigating them.

The U.S. angered Jonathan last year when it blocked the sale of American-made Cobra helicopters to Nigeria from Israel, which considered them surplus. In response, Nigeria halted a U.S. counterterrorism training program for a vetted Army battalion.

Kerry flew to Nigeria in January to press both Jonathan and Buhari to support fair elections and help prevent violence in the aftermath. Kerry said at that time that the U.S. would be prepared to do more to help Nigeria fight Boko Haram depending on the “credibility, accountability, transparency and peacefulness of this election.”

Buhari won 52.4 per cent of the ballots cast in the March 28-29 voting.

CJN slams judges for accepting donations at book launch

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has frowned at the practice where serving judges organise events, including public presentation of books written in their honour, where donations are solicited.

The CJN said though the Code of Conduct for judicial officers (judges) did not expressly prohibit this sort of extra-judicial conduct, “it is certainly inappropriate and portrays the Nigerian judiciary in a bad light and should therefore be avoided”.

Justice Mohammed spoke in Abuja yesterday while swearing-in Justice Ishaq Bello as the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“I have observed that it is now common to see judges, lawyers and

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

some lay persons author books and launch same in honour of a serving judicial officer.

“It is further regrettable to note that some petitions received at the National Judicial Council (NJC) were written in respect of books launched by or on behalf of Heads of Court and being attended by litigants in their courts, who have also acted as chief launchers or indeed guests of honour at the occasion.

“Judges must understand that by launching such books while in service, they potentially submit themselves to the publishers and the socalled launchers, while opening themselves up to allegations of corruption.

“It is now clear, judging from the public’s reaction to these book

launches and the resultant negative media coverage of same, that our ability to be impartial and indeed honest in our judgments, is now regarded with scepticism.

“To argue otherwise would be academic while some of our judges are perceived, whether rightly or wrongly, to be not absolutely clean.

“My lords, we should not give the public any cause to doubt our integrity or our sincerity of purpose as public confidence once lost is hard to regain,” Justice Mohammed said.

He observed with concern that judges are no longer secure in the discharge of their judicial functions, as it has become common for judges to be abducted in the line of duty.

He cited the recent kidnap case of Justice Samuel Obayomi of the Kogi State High Court, by unknown gunmen on May 25, 2015.

“We call upon the government, as well as security agencies to work assiduously to secure his release,” the CJN said.

He congratulated Justice Bello for his appointment and urged him to ensure prompt disposal of cases in his court, particularly those involving high profile persons.

“I wish to note with concern the large number of high profile cases, of which a significant number are corruption cases, which are pending at the FCT High Court, Abuja.

“As the Head of Court in your jurisdiction, I urge you to personally take the lead in ensuring the full utilisation of the Practice Directions of 2013, which were aimed to fast track serious cases of which corruption cases form a part,” the CJN said.

Justice Bello, who described his

•Mohammed

appointment as a huge challenge, promised to put in his utmost best to ensure a successful outing.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

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DISCOURSE ‘Don’t boast you ’ll rule for 60 years’ Continued from yesterday

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HE current hardship might also be a blessing in disguise; just the necessary stimulant the nation needs to wean itself from its injurious and injudicious reliance on oil.

We now have no option than to explore other means of income generation. For one, I am of the opinion that all the distinct divides of the nation should concentrate on what they are comparatively good at.

Agriculture in the west, the leather industry of the North, and the business acumen and the manufacturing capacity of the East. Again, we must make the most of other natural resources we have. Serious attention should be given to the resuscitation of our exploration qua prospection machineries for tin, lead, zinc, iron ore, rubber and coal. It is worthy of note that these resources dot the various regions of the nation and developing them will help address the perceived imbalance and lop-sidedness in our fiscal federalism. The unnecessary bureaucratic clog in establishment of businesses and investment in Nigeria must be addressed. It is appalling that Nigeria presently ranks 170th among 189 countries in terms of ease of doing business. We might need to do a more detailed study of Singapore and its policies on investment and establishment of businesses to rework the Nigerian clogged system.

Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) makes the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government. It is a notorious fact that various governments over the past sixteen years have made attempts to posit answers to the nation’s security challenges using the same template, howbeit unsuccessfully. While it might be of importance to retrain security operatives and upgrade the arsenals, it is my position that a more radical reworking of our security architecture is needed. It has been argued by security experts that security is first of all ‘local’. Hence, effective internal security begins from communities, villages and immediate societies. It is therefore an anomaly that Nigeria has continued to operate this excessively centralised security set-up. The incoming government should set machineries in motion to decentralise the Nigeria Police Force, using the United States of America model; such that while each State controls its police force, the Department of State Security will act as the ‘federal police’ with jurisdiction on crimes or issues which affect the republic. Put bluntly, Section 214(1) of the Constitution which asserts that there shall be only one Nigeria Police Force is very unrealistic, untenable, impracticable and ‘unfederal’. In the city of London alone, there are not less than ten Police formations, while in America, even some Universities, apart from states, cities, towns and counties have their own Police formations.

With much respect, a good number of sections in our Constitution are oppressive and unworkable, and I dare declare them as constitutional retardation.

Time will not permit me to talk about health, education, housing and infrastructural development. I am, however, duty-bound to comment on the judicial structure of this nation.

Martin Luther King Jnr. enthused that “law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.” This nation is fortunate to have a professor of law and a former AttorneyGeneral of a state, who gave a complete face-lift and content

enrichment to the Lagos State judiciary as Vice-President. This feat should be repeated at the centre. We must begin with ensuring the independence of the judiciary, then move on to sanitizing the judicial sphere. I must not be understood that my call for sanitizing the judicial sector tantamounts to a call for the government to pocket the judiciary. Far from that. The judiciary must be respected and recognised as an independent arm of government, just like the executive and legislature, and, it is not and never inferior to either of the two. Part of sanitizing the judiciary entails proper funding and making it self-financing. Thank God for majority of our Judges who shun corruption like a plague, and who would deliver judgments based on facts and law and not on extenuating over-bearings or influences. However, my take has always been that a single bad egg can and will always give our judiciary a bad name, and stigmatize the vast majority of excellent judges. Thus, the few bad eggs, when and where identified, should be shown the way out, while more thorough and painstaking efforts should be put in place at appointing new judges. The judiciary itself, through some of our serving judges should stop the fanfare of randomly issuing ex parte orders of injunction against the National Judicial Council (NJC) in the performance of its constitutionally assigned duty of putting machineries in motion at disciplining erring judges, as this practice has virtually crippled the Council. The Nigerian judiciary has been constitutionally ‘unitarised’. This is unfair and unjust. An agenda for decentralising the judiciary should be quickly put in place.

State or Regional Courts of Appeal and Supreme Courts should be allowed to flourish and decide cases to finality within their different spheres, zones and regions. The Federal Government has no business establishing a federal judiciary to handle state matters, whether criminal or civil.

If there is a Nigerian dream, nay a people’s agenda, I am not in doubt that it will in substance read thus:”a Nigeria where merit matters, corruption is contemptible, streets are safe, houses are lit, factories are powered, people are empowered, schools are citadels and courts are sacred.” The words of Alexandre Dumas, the famous French writer, resonate with the election of President elect Muhammadu Buhari and my brother, Vice-President elect, Yemi Osinbajo: “It is quite rare for God to provide a great man at the necessary moment to carry out some great deep, which is why when this unusual combination of circumstance does occur, history at once records the name of the chosen one and recommends him to the admiration of posterity.”

The expected agenda as articulated above is no doubt ‘a great deep’ our incoming leaders have been saddled to carry out.

At the end of the ‘duty-tour’, would we be able to recommend them to the admiration of posterity?

Nigerians expect from the incoming government that it should not be business as usual or as casual. Interestingly, the President-elect would seem to me to appreciate this, for, in his acceptance speech on April 1, 2015, he posited thus: “Our long night has passed and the day-light has broken across the land.”

Nigerians would hold him to this sacred vow. The new government should not expect a long honeymoon. Nigerians are in haste and at the same time touchy, aggressive, nervy and readily/easily provoked or get nauseated. The fault is not wholly theirs, but sub-

stantially that of successive governments. The incoming government must give true meaning and bearing to democracy, and make it, indeed, and in practical terms, the government of the people, by the people and for the people. We must for once and ever, do away with the idea that the easiest way to become a mandarin millionaire is to find your way either to the Governor’s office at the State level, the Presidency or Vice Presidency at the Federal level, or sneaking to the National Assembly, or lobbying to become a Minister. Mr. President-elect has given a solemn promise, which is akin to a covenant, that he will declare his assets publicly, before assuming office, and also do so after leaving office. This is in keeping with the wordings, contents, meaning, expectation, intent and tenor of the Constitution. Other elected and appointed Public Office holders must follow suit. May I, humbly recommend to the incoming government, the alluring and evergreen words of Franklin Roosevelt, a former American President on the very essence of democracy: “There is nothing strenuous about the foundations of a healthy and strong democracy.

The basic things expected by our people of their political and economic systems are simple. They are: equality of opportunity for youths and for others; jobs for those who can work food on the table for our citizens, security for those who need I; the ending of special privilege for the few; the preservation of civil liberties for all.”

The incoming government has to do something urgently and drastically about our warped federalism. It is an ‘unfederal’ federalism. Whatever is distilled to be good from the recommendations of the just concluded National Conference must be implemented and engrafted in the Constitution. Nigeria is fragile, delicate, frail, complex, convoluted, prolix, big and large. That election has been won by the opposition party would not be a guarantee and/or should not be taken as an assurance of the solution to our problems. The problems should be identified and tackled, and we should not postpone the solutions to them. Unless and until Nigeria is truly federalised, I am afraid if we would not be living on borrowed times. This is not an apocalyptic statement by any stretch of the imagination.

CONCLUSION Ad infinitum, one can go on setting agenda for the incoming administration, dwelling on the tangible to the intangible, the actual to the spiritual, the economic to the infrastructural; and meandering from health to education, peeping into both the environment and ecology, and analyzing, with every force, the ingredients of good governance and democracy. But I do not have all the time in the world to do all these within the short period assigned to me. Hence, I urge the audience to accept the summarized version of an agenda as presented in this discourse.

But before I leave the podium, permit me to sound a note of warning, that Nigeria and Nigerians should not under any guise or disguise, act or omission encourage or enthrone a one party state. A robust opposition is an elixir for a sustainable democracy. Therefore, the incoming administration should not stifle, annihilate, obliterate, muzzle or ‘kill’ any opposition party; and neither should it ever boast that it will govern for sixty years! It is only God that rules forever! If the incoming government should beat its chest at anytime, it should only boast in the Lord; for it is written: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of Host” – Zachariah 4:6. To God be always the glory.

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3229

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘However, I do not subscribe to his legacy of disbelief about Africa which permeates European imagination. Instead of confronting old stereotypes, Onyeani recites them with relish, thereby refreshing erroneous notions in the reader’s mind’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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S I type this piece on my laptop, it’s still Wednesday, May 27, 2015. By the time you get to read it, however, it will be Friday, May 29, 2015 when history is made and the aspiration for change becomes the reality of a new beginning.

You don’t have a tree in the garden without having a good knowledge of its fruit.

I have a good knowledge of Opalaba, my good friend. I know what he is capable of doing and what to expect from him. With his awareness of my location an ocean away and therefore an unavoidable absence from all the festivities of this day, I expect Opalaba to arrogantly show off his closeness to the heart of the show and rub it in on my face. By 5am Eastern Time and 10 am Lagos time on May 29, I know that Opalaba will wake me up and taunt me about what I am missing. I am sure that I will be treated to his baritone rendition of the famed Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood theme song: “It’s a beautiful day in Nigeria A beautiful day for my nation Would you join us?

Could you join me?”

“It’s democracy day in Nigeria True democracy for my nation Would you join us?

Could you join me?”

That is my friend, only being true to his sadistic pastime. And you better believe that my preempting him with this piece will not alter the course of events that has been predicted.

It’s surely a beautiful day in Nigeria. Its beauty is not in the cool breeze of the wind or the brightness of the sun. It is not in the gentle drizzle or the showers of blessing. This day is beautiful on account of what it represents. Even the humidity of the air cannot take away that beauty.

Like many patriotic Nigerians, Opalaba has looked to this day with great excitement.

He has invested a great deal of hope and cannot be more ecstatic about the outcome.

He welcomed the unambiguous mandate that citizens handed Buhari and Osinbajo. It was a mandate for change, the rallying cry of Nigerian electorates on March 28, 2015.

But that mandate was not only for a change of actors. It was also for a change of outlook and direction. Therefore, for Nigerians to be satisfied that real change has truly occurred there must be change of outlook and direction.

The change of actors is the purview of the people themselves. By voting out the outgoing administration on grounds of

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

A beautiful day!

•Buhari incompetence, impunity, corruption and moral decay, the people have performed their own side of the contract. They must now hold the incoming administration responsible for fulfilling its own side of the bargain: provide strong and effective leadership for a change of outlook and direction. Our people respect strong leaders. They appreciate focused attention on the challenges facing the nation.

But they are rightly contemptuous of leadership from behind.

With respect to a change of outlook, the Buhari/Osinbajo administration must proceed with the understanding that every citizen matters and deserves respect. They must know that the politicians’ sacrifice is no greater than citizens’ sacrifice. Therefore, there is no moral justification for jumbo compensation for political appointees and elected officials. And any legal impediment against corrective measures must be speedily removed so that morality is reconciled with legality.

This administration must pay serious attention to the needs of the smallest among us and invest in the development of human talents. The beginning of political wisdom in the matter of a change of outlook is the avoidance of all the terrible isms:

Y

OU couldn’t help but sympathise with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; you also couldn’t help but be very angry with him some times. Especially if you have a little knowledge about human psychology; and more especially, in those moments when he was put on the spotlight on national television; or during one of such encounters with hawkish foreign interviewers. One would watch him with much trepidation, with heart stuck in one’s mouth and emotions flitting between empathy and anger.

Such is the nature of Nigeria’s fourth elected president, Jonathan, who leaves office today.

History may blandly record him as a weak president but that would be erroneous. He is simply a man providence raised far above his ken. He is a simplex (some would say simpleton). His simple mind just could not circumscribe the eminence of the presidency. He was for all the time in office, a boondoggling president, a smiling Simon quick to roll over with every punch.

Meek and of a gentle heart, he seemed to lack any guiles or on the other hand, he lacked the wiles to beguile. On few occasions when he tried, the outcome was as child-like as children playing hide-and-seek in a bare sitting room. Recall the attempt to undermine INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega during the run-up to the last election. A president or any leader at that sitting in a position where the stakes are high must be everything rolled into one – both angel and Lucifer.

The presidency stumped Jonathan real good and he had operated, it appeared, from under the scaffolding of the office for nearly six years.

The big picture completely eluded him. There are dozens of examples to prove this.

egocentrism, ethnocentrism, sectarianism, and nepotism, in word and deed. For heaven’s sake, real change must occur in these areas that have badly tainted our politics in the most recent past.

There is always the political temptation to use and abuse the symbols of political power.

It is not a coincidence that power is the battle cry of PDP and it abused it to the point that Nigerians became thoroughly disillusioned and demoralised. This administration must avoid such an outlook. It must make transparently conscious efforts towards the restoration of our people’s confidence in the police, DSS, and other security agencies.

It is imperative that the likes of Ekitigate be consigned to the dustbin of history. And it is certainly a positive development that the governors have redeemed their image away from the infamous “16 is greater than 19” election verdict. Now they must join hands with the new administration as moral forces in a nation that is thirsty for a commonsense moral revolution. Today, we must start a new tradition of morally sanctioned politics, a politics of virtue that abhors greed and selfcenteredness. The administration must strengthen our democratic structures and allow the free flow of ideas in the political marketplace.

The country has headed in the wrong direction in the past 16 years. Education which ought to be given the utmost priority was sadly placed at the back burner of government’s attention as private institutions took precedence even in the attention of public officials saddled with the responsibility of advancing our public schools. The consequence is mass failure because teachers who secured employment on political grounds and party affiliation can hardly read or add. You cannot feed garbage in and expect a different output.

It is worse. Children and young adults have become apprentices in the workshop of the devil, and cultism is a national

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Goodbye, boondoggling president Haba, General Danjuma

T

HE other day, our octogenarian elder, General Theophilus Danjuma, in hailing President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, threw a barb at Late Ikemba, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

If Ojukwu had conceded the defeat of Biafra early as Jonathan did in 2015 election, fewer people would have died during the civil war, he said.

The Nigerian civil war remains a wound in the hearts of millions of our compatriots; Ojukwu is long dead and cannot answer. Why would Gen. Danjuma poke so casually at our wounds?

Now Gen. Danjuma is urging Buhari to probe the Jonathan administration. Again to what end? As President Jonathan has spoken up, are you going to single out his period for probe? We know what Obasanjo did, we remember the Yar’Adua cabal, Abdulsalami’s escapade is fresh; not to mention Abacha and Babangida, etc.

Why don’t we just draw a line, consign Jonathan too to that sordid archive of our history and encourage President Buhari to proceed on a path of national rebirth. By the way is casting the first stone? Can any Nigerian big man stand a probe?

First, if we ignore all the hoopla and shenanigans of the Boko Haram insurgency, how do we explain the Chibok girls fiasco? Bet Jonathan cannot wait to be through with this handing over matter and to walk off into the sunshine saying in his heart, “Chibok girls be damned”. But how

do we explain the fact that for over one year, there was no official pronouncement on the abduction of these girls?

How come there was no special presidential inquisition on the matter of the girls? How come President Jonathan met with the parents only

embarrassment. Politicians use the young ones during elections and dump them thereafter. But the used and dumped don’t evaporate into thin air. They are absorbed into the world of crime and into the enclaves of militants and terrorists. Do we care for the future of the youth and of the nation?

We need a change of direction in our approach to the education of the youth. We must offer them functional and quality education and prepare them for good life prospects. If we do, we will experience a great relief from the tragic dehumanisation and unfortunate loss of our youth population to drug addiction, cultism, and thuggery. And from the fruit of good education, our youths can start making useful contributions to the economy and inculcating the values of discipline and moral rectitude. I am sure that these ideas are consistent with the change agenda of the APC and the Buhari/Osinbajo manifesto.

Investing in human assets is a no-brainer.

It has the potentials for a multiplier effect not only on the economy but also on those intangibles that make a society great and livable. The rot that pervades the Nigerian landscape is odious and revolting.

Someone told me that it is not possible to eradicate corruption because it has become so entrenched in the system and that the President must not waste his political capital on that impossible task. I disagree. If the APC government campaigned on its ability and will to fight corruption, it cannot afford to be discouraged or disenchanted. If it doesn’t look back, it can count on the support of ordinary Nigerians who see corruption as the major obstacle to their personal progress.

Corruption is fingered as the culprit in most if not in all the challenges facing the nation, whether it has to do with the collapse of the power sector, fuel subsidy scam, security challenges, electoral fraud, or waste in public service. It is time that we confronted the tumor before it consumes the nation.

As President Buhari takes over the mantle of leadership of this great nation today, he must lead by example and with the fear of Almighty God who has smiled on his fourth attempt. He must resolve to repay the kindness of God to him by putting the nation first in all that he does. It’s only by so doing that he can bring the much deserved change to a nation that is in desperate need of a new direction.

It’s a beautiful day in the land that pleases God to locate us all. Let us make the best of it.

Good morning!

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 after about one year? For girls who were final year pupils in a government school, who had enrolled for WAEC, who were largely domiciled in a corner of the country, an intelligence panel would have revealed their exact number, their proper identity (including their parents’), their residences/domain among other vital information.

But almost nothing was done. The Presidency’s response to the massacre of male pupils at the school in Buni Yadi was more pathetic. Jonathan neither visited nor caused anyone to visit a school that was razed and tens of its pupils killed. Government officials only visited a year after during electioneering period.

This state of listlessness pervaded the Jonathan era. His motley crew of appointees did not help him either. In fact they exploited his glaring weaknesses. In the first place, plagued by the same ailment of heart and mind, he picked mainly people who are either incompetent, guileful or both. Let’s profile the key actors among them: Okonjo-Iweala: much too over-rated One of the biggest mistakes of Jonathan was to have brought back Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. He even elevated her to the position of something of a prime minister by naming her Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME). But she neither managed the finances of the country these past four years nor did she muster the gumption to organise the economy.

•Continued

on page 59

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

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