November 03, 2014

Ekiti: ‘Seven members to instal Speaker’ NEWS

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News APC: probe govt/Boko Haram deal P5 Sports Europe teams jostle for Quadri P24 Business Dangote to sell cement for N1,000 P5

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VOL. 9, NO. 3021 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Skye Bank pays N100b to complete acquisition of Mainstreet Bank

Soldiers shoot to disperse protesters in Burkina Faso

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URKINA Faso’s state TV went off air yesterday, shortly after gunshots were heard at its headquarters.

Witnesses told the BBC that soldiers fired in the air to disperse protesters before forcing journalists to flee.

Elsewhere in the capital, Ouagadougou, soldiers cleared thousands of demonstrators from a city square and barricaded the area.

The army seized power on Friday after long-time leader Blaise Compaore quit following days of protests.

The takeover brought global condemnation and prompted further protests.

Continued on page 54

N150.00

S

KYE Bank Plc at the weekend paid the 80 per cent balance for Mainstreet Bank’s shares, beating today’s deadline.

Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and investment banking industry sources confirmed the payment and the completion of the acquisition.

Sources said Skye Bank paid

•Skye Bank MD Timothy Oguntayo

By Taofik Salako

N100 billion to AMCON on Friday as balance for the acquisition, which was valued at N120 billion.

Skye Bank, on October 9, paid the mandatory deposit of 20 per cent for the acquisition, a deal that was valued at between N120 billion and N126 billion. The differential in the value was due to the variation

in the exchange rate base used by the various sources for the dollar-based value of the deal.

The payment of the 80 per cent balance has fulfilled the terms of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement signed by AMCON and Skye Bank.

With the payment, Skye Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: ASUU SEEKS EDUCATION EMERGENCY P6 LAGOS SEALS 40 ILLEGAL DRUGS STORES P10

Tambuwal: House rejects plan to reconvene plenary Mu’azu, others mount pressure on PDP Reps

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have embarked on some desperate measures to seize the House from Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

Party Chairman Adamu Mu’azu is set to meet today the party’s caucus in the House — in a move to get members’ support for a plot to impeach Tambuwal, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Besides, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha is under pressure to reconvene ple-

From Yusuf Alli, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

nary, which Tambuwal suspended till December 3.

But the House warned yesterday that such a plan was illegal.

In a statement, House spokesman Zakari Mohammed said the rule book is clear on reconvening the House.

According to him, only the Speaker is empowered to reconvene the House after it has been adjourned for one reason or the other.

INSIDE

•Falana to police chief Abba: resign •NLC: restore Speaker’s security •Kwara governor, Akume slam IG •SEE •’PDP can’t get two-thirds’ PAGES •Buhari group asks IG to quit 2-6&56 The statement reads: "The House of Representatives adjourned sitting of its plenary on 28th of October to 3rd December 2014 to allow members of the House carry out pre PreBudget oversight activities in preparation for the 2015 Budget and also to meet the political calendar of all the political parties.

"This adjournment was

unanimously approved by all the Principal Officers of the House without dissent and the motion was moved by Hon Mulikat- Adeola-Akande, the Majority Leader .The Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal approved with the Gavel.

"There has been intense media focus on this adjournment and media inquiries on the

appropriate procedure for reconvening of the House of Representatives from its Recess , if it becomes necessary.

The following clarification has become imperative.

"The procedure for reconvening or Re-Assembly of the House is contained in the House Standing Orders made pursuant to Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which empowers the House to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for Summoning and Recess of the House.

"Order V, Rule 18(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives provides as follows; “Whenever the House

stands adjourned either to a date fixed by Resolution or the Rules of the House, and it is represented by the Leaders of the Political Parties in the House to the Speaker that the public interest requires that the House should meet on an earlier or a later date or time than that on which it stands adjourned, the Speaker MAY give notice accordingly, and the House shall meet on the date and at the time stated in the notice.”

"This means that the Leaders of all the political parties in the House, especially the Majority and Minority Leaders respectively, MUST consent before the representation is made to the Speaker Continued on page 4

Fed Govt to return Sanusi’s passport, seized salaries From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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MIR of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is to have his impounded travel passport and withheld salaries, The Nation learnt yesterday.

Besides, the Kano Central Prison is to be relocated for better security at the Emir’s palace. It is all as part of last Thursday’s reconciliation with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Presidency is beWHEN WILL THE lieved to have decided to CHIBOK GIRLS have a “total reconciliation KIDNAPPED ON with the Emir”.

?

APRIL 15 BE FREED?

Continued on page 4

•From left: House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Governor Rauf Aregbesola STORY ON PAGE 8 and his wife Sherifat, during the Victory Colloquium for Aregbesola at Eko Hotel in Lagos...yesterday.

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P39 •FOREIGN P54

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

2

NEWS

• From left: Group Chief Executive Officer, UBA Capital, Mrs Ouwatoyin Sanni,, MD/CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Mr Bismarck Rewane, Director -General, National Pension Commission, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Principal Partner, G Elias and Co, Mr Gbolahan Elias, during the National Pension Conference on Pension Reform Act 2014 at City Hall, Lagos.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Why Nigeria should lose sleep over oil price crash As some economies are angling to reap bounteously from declining crude oil price, Nigeria and a host of other economies that depend almost solely on proceeds from crude sale to stay afloat may be fatally hurt by a prolonged regime of cheaper oil, fuelling concerns that the price war among giant producers and consumers may ultimately unsettle the still fragile global economy, writes Assistant Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

•From left: An official of Paga Ltd, Uduak Ndiokho; CEO of Paga and winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year West Africa Award, Tayo Oviosu and Head Marketing, Paga, Ayisola Iroche at the CNBC Africa's All Africa Business Leaders Award West in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

A

•From left: Shop Manager, Matori MTN Connect Centre, Lagos, Chinelo Amadi, Nigerian Music Star and MTN Ambassador Timaya, a customer at the centre and Manager Youth Segment, Abimbola Gold-Oladipupo during the kick off of MTN Surprise Campaign in Matori, Lagos... at the weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

• From left: Group Executive Director, Stakeholder Managerment and Corporate Communciation, Mansur Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Stretery Lagos State, Mrs. Odutola Oluranti, Chairman, Lagos State chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Joseph Okonma at a stakeholders’ conference in Lagos... at the weekend.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

LTHOUGH it is no longer news that oil prices have tumbled, the gloomy prospects this portends for some economies seem to be causing sleepless nights in many countries. From about $115 for a barrel of Brent crude, the price fell to about $86, a reduction huge enough to send jitters down the spine of some major economies. Since then, panic seems to have gripped many countries, with fears that inability to rake in enough funds to fuel the economy may undermine serious government programmes that have direct bearing on the welfare of the citizens. Without mincing words, this is spewing grave concerns around the world, for if low oil prices last longer than expected, as all available indices show it will, the bill for oil consumers will be about $1 trillion a year lower, amounting to a shot in the arm for a stagnating world economy.

But it is also a scenario that is laced with mixed consequences for the struggling global economy. Since the price of oil is of critical importance to the world economy, given the fact that oil is the single largest internationally traded good, both in volume and value terms, creating a hydro-carbon economy, the prices of energy-intensive goods and services all over the world are also linked to energy prices.

Therefore, any abrupt changes in the prices of fuel are laden with far-reaching consequences for both oil-producing and oil-consuming countries. So, for some governments, especially powerful ones such as the United States and its major allies, a new regime of cheaper fuel would be a rare opportunity the more product while its lasts, if not a boon for millions of its citizens who depend on oil to power their industries. However, for others, especially Nigeria and a host of other economies, mainly critics of the US diplomatic interventions, it is a formidable threat to their national economic survival.

A tracking of main factors that caused low oil prices in the last seventeen years shows four things: increasing Iraqi oil exports, reduced oil demand due to severe economic crisis in East Asia, a warmer-than-normal winter (1997-1998) in the North-

ern Hemisphere, and the agreement by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (1997) to raise the group’s production quota by 10 per cent. According to analysts, if low oil prices continue for a prolonged period of time, it could result in long-term reductions in OPEC oil exports, which would also force member countries to embark on difficult economic, social and political trade-offs.

Many losers, few winners

According to experts, the continued fall in the price of crude oil in the past three months is largely traceable to unexpected developments in chaotic Libya, which pumped 40 per cent more oil in September than it did in August, and Saudi Arabia’s boosting of its output as its own way to bulwark its market share and reduce the influence of American shale oil producers. Though no one would have thought that the emergence of Islamic State (IS) would have increased oil prices, Brent crude oil prices have plummeted since July, trading at its lowest price since 2012, all due to surging supply led by U.S. fracking production, stagnating European demand, and a strengthening dollar. While declining prices could have a negative impact on oilproducing economies around the world, some have significantly more risk than others. In a capsule, countries feel the effects of oil prices in radically different ways. While every major producer is likely to suffer as a result of the price decline, countries with lower production costs and budgetary expectations are expected to fare better than those with higher costs and expectations. At $115 per barrel, the world produced about $3.9 trillion a year at 90 million barrels per day. But at $85, the total amount is $2.8 trillion. So any country consumes more than it produces gains from the $1 trillion tranfer, mostly importers. Here are the like scenarios that may emerge if the cheaper oil regime lasts longer than envisaged:

Nigeria

A steep decline in oil prices is straining the budgets of Nigeria,

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

3

NEWS

•Obama

•Jonathan

where the economy is almost totally dependent on proceeds from oil exports, posing a potentially grave security challenge for a country that is already struggling to finance its major projects. Though a major oil producing country (Africa’s largest producer), Nigeria is not a major force in determining the prices of oil, which is responsible for a huge chunk of its revenue. In other words, Nigeria is not immune to oil price shocks. The plummeting price of oil has exacerbated the dwindling oil revenue accruing to the country, a situation exacerbated by rising oil theft the country is battling with. This has resulted in a decline in what accrues to all the tiers of governments from the Federation Account, a negative trend that started last year but which the federal government hardly wants to talk about, ostensibly in order not to create fears that the country is broke. Already, some states are at their wits’ end on how to pay salaries, let alone finance development projects or provide services that can impact meaningfully on the citizenry.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, speaking on behalf of his colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC), lamented recently that the dwindling resources coming to the states from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on every month mean that most states may be unable to afford to pay salaries.

“This has become a very serious concern to us as governors and we felt that issues that affect the lives of our people must never be politicised.

We refuse to accept that this nation is broke. I thank God that the Federal Government is not broke, if the nation is not broke, what is due to states as revenue should be paid to the states. This idea of cutting down what should go to states does not in any way promote democracy and democratic dividends and so we, as progressive governors, do call on the Federal Government to look into the issue of dwindling resources or convince us as to why the states should not get what is due to them,” Okorocha said recently.

Although spin doctors in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have often played down the effect of crash crunch, maintaining that Nigeria will not be affected by the shocks in the global market, government is said to be quietly scrambling to confront the plunge in prices.

Barely a week after insisting that its economy was immune from fluctuations occasioned by the continued slide in the international price of crude oil, the government made a volte-face, admitting it is affecting the revenue base of the nation. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced last week that the country would have to draw down on the Excess Crude Account (ECA) if oil price dips below $78.

•Mrs Okonjo -Iweala

•Onyekpere

‘How falling oil prices’ll hurt economy’ The lead director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, assesses the factors responsible for the crash in crude oil price, and how this will impact the global economy. His grim conclusion is that Nigeria and other countries that depend heavily on oil proceeds to power their economy may be in for hard times. He spoke with Assistant Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

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HO or what do you think is responsible for declining oil prices in the world market?

The world is witnessing fragile and moderated economic growth and it is apparent some countries are yet to recover from the global financial crisis of 2008.

Decreased economic growth engenders reduced economic activities which, in turn slows down the demand for oil and other sources of energy. The statistics show the details. Euro Zone is expected to grow by 1.1 per cent and 1.5 per cent in 2014 and 2015 while Japan is growing by 1.6 and 1.1 per cent respectively in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The United States of America grew by 1.9 per cent in 2013 and it is doing 1.7 per cent in 2014 while the projection for 2015 is 3 per cent. China has come down from the double digit and very impressive high horse growth and in 2013, 2014 and 2015, it is growing by 7.7 per cent, 7.4 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively. India grew by 5 per cent in 2013, 5.4 per cent in 2014 and is projected to grow by 6.4 per cent in 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa has been stagnated at 5.4 per cent growth for 2013 and 2014 while the projection for 2015 is 5.8per cent growth.

The entry of the United States as a strong oil producer through the shale oil boom and increased production in Canada and the return of production in crisis areas like Libya implied that there is excess supply of crude oil in the world market. The US has moved from being an importer to debates about the possibility of exporting oil.

Also, oil has been discovered in many countries that hitherto imported it. These developments are further compounded by the discounted oil being sold by criminal gangs like ISIS. From these developments, no one should be blamed; the price of oil is following the global economic realities and the natural consequence of events. It is also imperative to understand that in the context of climate change, the future of the world is dependent on carbon free or reduced carbon energy sources.

What impact can this have on the global economy if “Nigeria has two to three months of rainy day savings to cushion it while contingencies are put in place should world oil prices continue to fall. Our intention is not to run in there and raid it, but even if prices continue to go down we can survive sufficiently for two to three months. That is the time needed to get other measures in place. What you don’t want is a hard landing. Our buffers are slimmer this time,” she said.

The minister also promised, rather nebulously, that the federal government is already putting in place stricter measures to cushion the effect of the drop on the economy. She also disclosed that there is about $4 billion in the ECA at present, $2billion short of what the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recommended, adding that the country needs to ramp up our non-oil revenues on the fiscal side.

According to her, McKinsey, a global consulting firm, has been engaged to carry out an extensive review of revenue services in order to identify potential gains.

“In an oil country, you can never

the prices continue to fall?

A reduced oil and commodity price is a fall-out of the reduced economic activities and reduced economic growth. It will have no special impact on the world economy and the price will pick up as economic growth gets stronger. But in the long run, the price of crude oil is bound to decrease as new eco friendly technologies emerge.

Who are the ultimate beneficiaries and losers of the declining oil prices and why?

Countries that import oil will definitely like cheap prices to fuel their economy as cheap energy prices will reduce the cost of production while oil exporting countries will not be happy at the development considering the reduction in their national income.

In term of specificity, in what ways will the oil price crash affect Nigeria?

Nigeria derives about 80 per cent of its foreign exchange from the sale of crude oil and over 70% of the federal, state and local government budgets are funded from crude oil sales. The first challenge is that all tiers of government will have less revenue to run their affairs. In the short to medium term, workers salaries will become due but will be unpaid. Little resources will be dedicated to capital expenditure and the government will incur high deficits in a bid to fund the budget. Governments will borrow more and pile up debts. The fiscal buffers in the Excess Crude Account will be drawn down and the stabilisation account will record near zero. The second set of challenges will see a depreciating naira, diminished external reserves, increasing inflation; capital flight by portfolio investors exiting the stock market. The stock market may crash as prices will hit rock bottom.

Are you satisfied with the response of the Nigerian government to this problem?

I cannot see any response by the Nigerian government.

They are still living in dreamland.

feel at ease exactly. But I feel we can master this situation because we have a diverse base. We will have to look very hard at recurrent expenditure, and identify overlapping agencies.

When the price is heading down, everyone sees the necessity but that doesn’t stop them hating you,” she said. The minister was, however, hopeful that lowers oil prices may even provide a stronger incentive for the government to breathe life into efforts to revive the stalled oil sector legislation to stimulate production, and rein in oil theft, which has cost billions of dollars a year.

Last week, India led the way by announcing an end to diesel subsidies. Fears are rife that other countries may soon follow the Indian example. In Nigeria, for example, attempts to remove the fuel subsidy, a scandalous sum supported through the Petroleum Support Fund, managed by the largely unaccountable Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), have been met with stiff resistance from many segments of the Nigerian society because

of varied interests.

In this year’s budget alone, a whopping N971.1 billion is earmarked for oil subsidy, while record shows that subsidy payments in the last ten years have gulped more than N10 trillion all shrouded in controversy and corruption.

So if the low price persists longer than anticipated, Eze Onyekpere, lead director, Center for Social Justice, says the economy is in for a crisis of its life. While United States and other big global economies are re-evaluating to stem the tide of the looming economic crisis, Nigerian leaders, who appear not to be bothered by the danger signals, are busy strategising for political relevance ahead of the forthcoming 2015 polls. According to a recent survey, seven of the 12 OPEC members, including Iraq, Iran and Nigeria, now need far higher oil prices to cover their budgets.

In July this year, OPEC had cut down on its prediction of future demand for crude oil from the 12-member cartel next year by 300,000 barrels per day against the backdrop of

surging supply from non-OPEC producers, particularly the United States.

The U.S. overtook Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s biggest producer of oil as extraction of energy from shale rock strengthens the nation’s economy, Bank of America Corporation said in a report. For this year, Nigeria had projected a budget of N4.5tn, while setting the benchmark at $74 per barrel. The government had projected oil production of 2.383 million barrels per day in the 2014 budget, but the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the actual production figure for the second quarter of the year at 2.21mbpd.

And with Nigeria’s economy, estimated to be over 80 percent dependent on imports, economic experts say fiscal deficits seem very likely in the months ahead. According to them, chances are that this will have a serious effect on Nigeria’s short-term economic and fiscal growth.

Already, government has hinted at a cash crunch, with an appreciable decline in the revenue accruing into both the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the Federation Account. Onyekpere says there may also be delays in salary payments across the states as a result of dwindling revenue from oil, a problem he blames on government, which has paid lip service to the diversification of the economy. Revenue statistics show that the non-oil sector accounts for only 10 percent of total revenue, which means the impact of declining oil prices on monetary policy and foreign capital inflows may be huge, if the slide persists. As regards monetary poli-cy, since the traditional disposition of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to defend the nation’s currency through increased supply of foreign exchange, there may wrenching impact on Nigeria’s external reserve, which has also experienced a decline in recent months.

If new economic realities force the CBN to respond to the current dip in oil prices by tightening monetary policy, it may further push up interest rates, up the cost of funds to investors in the economy and limit access to investible funds. Already, reports indicate that the falling oil prices have unnerved global investment markets, with many investors already seeking the relative safety of government bonds, driving their prices higher and their yields lower – leading to a slump in business activity and weak consumer spending. But there is good news: it will bring down the cost of fuel importation, which has always taken a big chunk of the country’s revenue.

Overall, government at all levels may be constrained to embrace the new realities as another wake-up call to diversify the economy, seek alternative sources of revenue and ensure better management of national income.

•Continued on page 45

4

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

Kwara governor, Akume slam IG From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

K

•Members of the Quintessential Gentlemen Club with victims of attack in Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State after donating relief materials to them…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Tambuwal: House rejects plan to reconvene plenary Tambuwal meets APC Caucus who has a discretion to agree Continued from page 1

or not.

"This briefing is for the information and guidance of all Nigerians".

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are facing a tough task getting House of Representatives members to remove Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

The PDP has been mounting pressure on its members in the House to reconvene the House and remove the Speaker.

Tambuwal’s security detail has been withdrawn by Inspector General of Police Sulaiman Abba - a move that has received widespread condem-

S

PEAKER of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal is set to meet with lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Lagos today against the background of alleged plans by the members of the PDP caucus to reconvene the House tomorrow.

Tambuwal’s meeting with the APC caucus members is meant to strategise on how to prevent the leadership of the House from falling into the wrong hands.

While it was learnt that the PDP leadership would be holding a meeting to put finishing touches to its takeover plans, a source, said the PDP caucus is yet to transmit a letter of intent to

nation.

The PDP leadership has slated a meeting for today with its lawmakers in the House.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

reconvene the House as proposed at their last meeting.

However, a sources close to the Speaker said what transpired in Kaduna when his car was searched by soldiers while on the way to an event was an inkling of what was to come.

Speaking on the removal of the Speaker’s security detail, he quoted Tambuwal as saying he has “nothing to fear as a Nigerian and public servant.” Tambuwal was said to have travelled to Lagos without security escort, according to a source.

It was summoned by party Chairman Adamu Mu’azu.

Ahead of today’s meeting the PDP house caucus met in Abu-

ja on Saturday night.

They have tabled three conditions before Muazu for the Continued on page 56

Fed Govt to return Sanusi’s passport, seized salaries Continued from page 1

Although the Presidency is aware of the closeness of the Emir to the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the olive branch is meant to ensure his “neutrality” during next year’s elections.

A government source said: “After the open meeting last Thursday, the President and the

Emir met at the inner recess of the Presidential Villa for about five minutes.

“Some political leaders from Kano, who witnessed the session, were all excited that there is a new understanding between the President and the Emir.

“Prior to the meeting, there had been apprehensions on likely hostile crowd against the President in Kano during the 2015

campaign.

“With the rapprochement, the Emir’s travel passport and his withheld salaries and allowances will be paid. These are some of the gains of the meeting”.

“If the traveling documents are released, the Emir will be able to travel abroad for check up and to meet his international friends who are desirous of investing in the Emirate,” the

source said.

The State Security Service (SSS) had in February seized Sanusi’s passports.

The SSS on May 14 prevented the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor from boarding a Turkish Airline flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah).

Prior to the seizure of the

L

of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba of partisan politics, subversion of the Constitution, the Police Act and the Electoral Act. He also accused the police chief of persecution of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Falana advised the police chief to resign, if he cannot work without fear or favour.

He threatened to file a suit before a Federal High Court to determine the competence and suitability of Abba “to superintend and manage the Nigeria Police Force in the public interest, if the trend of subverting the Constitution, the Police Act and the Electoral Act by your good self and other top police officers continues unabated”.

Falana wrote a letter yesterday to the acting IGP,titled “Illegal Policing of the Republic”.

The erudite lawyer noted that since Abba was “appointed the

By Adebisi Onanuga

Acting Inspector-General of Police by the President of the Republic on July 31, 2014, the Nigeria Police Force has been involved in partisan politics to the detriment of law and order in the country”.

To butress his position on the matter, Falana accused the acting IGP of causing the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security detail.

“As if that was not enough, you decided to usurp the judicial powers of the federation which are exclusively vested in the courts by Section Six of the Constitution when you claimed that the Speaker had lost his office and seat as a federal legislator having contravened section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution. By your illegal pronouncement you disregarded section section 50 (2) (c) thereof which stipulates that the Speaker of the House of Representatives can only be removed by a resolution passed by votes on not less that two thirds majority of the members of the House”, he stated.

The legal luminary also drew the attention of the acting IGP to two other cases of political bias recently displayed by the Police under his leadership.

He said: “Firstly, the Osun State governorship election which took place on August 9, 2014 was almost marred by the Police and other security forces which arrested and detained over 700 leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Indeed, some electoral officers who were assumed to be members of the APC were also railroaded into police custody. But for the personal intervention of Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the said electoral officers would not have been released.

“Thus, the election would have been disrupted by the police and other security forces whose duty it was to maintain law and order during the democratic exercise. However, the detained APC leaders who were released after the election have not been charged to court for

Continued on page 56

NLC: restore Tambuwal’s security

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday lent its force to the condemnation of Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba’s withdrawal of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security aides.

At the weekend, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) slammed the IG for the action, saying the police have no power to implement the law.

Like the NBA, the NLC called for the immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s security.

In a statement entitled “Nothing must happen to Tambuwal”, signed by NLC General Secretary Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, the congress said withdrawing the security detail for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unconstitutional as no section of the Constitution states that the Speaker must come from the majority party.

The NLC said if the police did not withdraw the security aides of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sherrif for defecting from the Labour Party and the APC to the PDP, there was no sense in withdrawing Tambuwal’s aides.

Demanding the immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s secu-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

rity, the NLC said the police and other security agents who carried out the action should hide their heads in shame.

The statement reads: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are appalled by the withdrawal of security detail of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, ostensibly because he had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The act is shameful, distasteful, unconstitutional and demonstrates our parochial sense of power and very little knowledge of history. No part of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says the Speaker of the House of Representatives should come from the majority party.

“Section 50(1)(b) only says, “ There shall be ...a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves...’

“In the Second Republic, the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, was elected from the ranks of NPP, not Continued on page 56

Continued on page 56

Skye Bank acquires Mainstreet

Falana to police chief: resign AGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused Acting Inspector General

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senate Minority Leader George Akume yesterday faulted the usurpation of the judiciary’s role by Acting Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba who withdrew House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security.

The governor spoke in Ilorin.

The senator issued a statement in Abuja.

Ahmed described the furore generated by the Speaker’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as uncalled for.

He said it was the business of the judiciary and not that of any other organ of government to interpret laws and the legal implication of political actions.

Ahmed questioned the constitutionality of the unilateral reduction in the allocations to states and local governments by the Federal Government, adding that it needed to be subjected to examination by the judi-

Continued from page 1

•Falana

breaching the provisions of the Electoral Act or any other law whatsoever.

“Secondly, Mr. Joseph Mbu, the controversial Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 of the Nigeria Poilice Force announced a ban on any rally demanding for #bringbackourgirls within the federal capital territory.

“The ban was designed to assuage the feelings of some officials of the Federal Government who are embarrassed by being reminded of their constitutional duty of rescuing the over 200 Chibok girls who were abductContinued on page 56

Bank Plc has completed one of the biggest acquisitions in Nigeria, a deal which also leapfrogged Skye Bank as one of the biggest and largest banks in terms of branch network.

Mainstreet Bank has nine subsidiaries and a large distribution network comprising 201 branches across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It has nine cash centres and 200 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The management of Skye Bank had said acquisition was one of the bank’s strategic plans for growth, having itself been a product of one of the complex mergers and acquisitions. Skye Bank emerged from the merger and integration of five banks in 2006, following the first phase of the banking consolidation.

The bank said it intends to leverage its wealth of experience from the successful integration of five banks to drive efficiency, increase market share and, ultimately, ramp

up stakeholder value from the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank.

The management of Skye Bank has also assured the customers of Mainstreet Bank of excellent service and superior value in the enlarged Skye Bank.

The acquisition will avail the bank of many benefits, including cost leadership, business optimisation, and greater ability to offer business convenience to its teeming retail and commercial customers, with a combined branch network of over 450, across all the states.

Skye Bank, a leading tier 2 Bank, was among the eight banks recently designated as “Systemically Important Banks”, which reflects its industry leadership, strong market share, diverse location spread, and strong brand equity.

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THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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NEWS Dangote crashes cement price •A bag now N1,000

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

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•From left: Managing Director, Media Perspectives Mr. Tayo Oyedeji; its Manager, Human Resources and Admin, Mr. Taiwo Osijo; Executive Director, Finance and Admin, Mr. Kola Idowu and Senior Media Manager, Planning, Mr. Promise Oduh, at the official inauguration of Media Perspectives School of Media at the company’s premises in Ikeja, GRA.

APC urges probe of Fed Govt, Boko Haram ceasefire deal

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has canvassed the need for an independent probe of the circumstances surrounding the “fake ceasefire deal” announced by the Federal Government on October 17.

The party’s call came after the sect’s leadership’s labelled the man with whom the deal was negotiated as an impostor.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, said Nigerians would like to know how the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration “got swindled by an impostor, who the major players were and what the government plans to do to address what has now become a monumental national and international embarrassment.”

The party said the President owed the citizens an explanation on “an unprecedented global faux pas”, adding that “engaging in cheap damage control by insisting on the genuineness of the deal will only amount to taking Nigerians for a ride’’.

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

APC said the saddest part of the deal was that it gave false hopes to the parents of the 219 school girls, who remain in Boko Haram’s captivity, that their children’s release was imminent, especially as the government even announced a specific date for the release of the girls.

The party added: ‘’Now, the parents and indeed all Nigerians have been victimised for the umpteenth time by the same government that has failed in its main reason for existence the security and welfare of the citizenry.’’

It also recalled its earlier warning to the administration not to use the girls as pawns on its political chess board.

The APC wondered “whether the government sought to buy time and gain political mileage by knowingly negotiating with a man, who has no authority to do so on behalf of the Boko Haram, as claimed by the sect’s leadership, in which

case the government will be guilty of political fraud”.

It also queried whether the government was not competent enough to know who to negotiate with, saying the development reinforced “the perception” of the government “as being blatantly incompetent”.

The statement also reads: ‘’The ceasefire deal with Boko Haram was announced at the highest level of the military and supported by the political authority on October 17.

Now that it has been described as a fluke, there is every indication that the Jonathan administration was swindled by someone masquerading as a Boko Haram negotiator, while the administration itself went ahead to fool Nigerians as well as the international community.

Whatever happens, the sole responsibility falls on the administration. ‘’Following the gleeful announcement of the deal and despite the doubts surrounding it, our party deliberately refrained from commenting on it and even wished it was real so that our long-suffering people can get some re-

spite from the devilish terror group that has dispatched thousands into their early graves, maimed even many more and ruined the economic and social lives of a large chunk of the society. ‘’When Boko Haram continued to carry out deadly attacks and annex territories, despite the so-called ceasefire, we waited for the government to tell Nigerians what was happening, but there was no convincing explanation. When the date announced for the release of the girls passed, we waited for the government to tell Nigerians what the problem was, but all we got from the easily excitable and trifling presidential spokesmen was platitude ‘’Now that the deal is said to be a fluke and everything points to that, the Jonathan administration must be contrite enough to own up to its gaffe, if indeed it is one, or its contrived deceit, and face the possible consequences from a stupefied citizenry. It cannot and must not just be another forgotten instance in a series of gaffes by a serial bumbling government’’.

LEADING cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc, has announced cuts in the prices of the product, a development seen as likely to make cement cheaper than it has ever been since 2005.

The new price regime announced by its Group Managing Director, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, indicated that the Dangote 32.5 cement grade is now pegged at N1,000 per 50-kilogramme bag, while the higher 42.5 grade is to sell for N1,150 per bag.

The new prices - exclusive of the Value Added Tax (VAT) - represent about 40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price of the product, which is being sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.

Edwin, in a statement yesterday, said the move is in line with the company’s commitment to the nation’s dire need for the development of infrastructure and to boost the federal and state government’s efforts to reduce the about 20 million housing deficit in Africa’s largest economy.

The statement added: “We recognise the need for a dramatic increase in the response to the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the country, and one of the ways of addressing the issue is bringing the price of building materials down to much more affordable levels, especially cement, as part of our own contribution to the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and the attainment of key milestones in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”.

The statement claimed that since the implementation of the backward integration policy for cement in the country over 12 years ago, the local production capacity of the product rose from less than two million metric tonnes per annum to about 38 million metric tonnes per annum today.

It added that during the over 12-years period of the policy, over $20 billion was directly and indirectly injected into the industry with Dangote Cement Plc accounting for 60 per cent of the amount.

Edwin also noted that the company would continue to ensure alignment of its corporate social responsibility with its strategic business initiatives and evaluate its pricing regime for Nigeria’s best interest.

In compliance with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON’s) directive and regulation on the various grades of cement and their prescribed uses, Dangote cement launched its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade, which has been restricted to plastering use only.

The country’s largest cement producer noted that the move was to develop a full bouquet of cement types to meet the varying needs of consumers for the different grades of cement.

The company, with this move, now produces 42.5 for column casting, block making, decking and other general purpose construction work that require high strength, while also producing the 32.5 grade for rendering or plastering.

Following the price reduction, the National President of the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasidi Adebowale, said he received the news with happiness, especially on what the price reduction holds for his members in Nigeria. He hoped that the new price review would translate to reduction in the price of blocks.

Also, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Bruno Niyi, hailed the decision and urged the management of the company to sustain the new price regime and ensure it is not hijacked by profiteers.

Fed Govt urges states to find alternative source of funding

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HE Federal Government has asked states to develop contingency plans to fund their operations in the face of dwindling revenue accruing to the Federation Account following falling crude oil prices.

The Minister of National Planning and Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Sulaiman Abubakar, gave the advice in an address at the meeting of the National Council of Development Planning in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The commission, he said, is working with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to develop its own contingency plan at the national level.

The minister said the decline in the price of crude oil could affect the country’s economic performance and, by extension, the various states which rely on crude oil as their major revenue receipt.

“I am pleased to inform you that the National Planning Commission is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Cen-

Nigeria to stop importing petroleum products by 2018

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INISTER of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga has said Nigeria would stop importing petroleum products by 2018, if things worked as planned.

He spoke as a guest lecturer on the topic: “Emergence of Nigeria as Africa’s leading economy: Challenges for the future”, at the sixth convocation lecture of Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH), Ota, Ogun State.

The minister said: “If things go as planned, by 2017/ 2018, Nigeria will stop importing petroleum products because we have over 44 other solid minerals in commercial quantity and rich human resources to sustain us. Nigeria is on the road to unparallel change; the likes that we have not seen in this country before.

Over the last five years, we have done well; we have From Tony Akowe, Abuja

tral Bank in developing a contingency plan at the national level.

“The states are also advised to develop their strategic plans, as well as the associated contingency plans to complement the effort of the Federal Government. The Commissioners of Economic Planning are therefore expected to lead the process in

By Medinat Kanabe

never had it this good.”

Saying that the 2014 rebasing of Nigeria’s economy had helped tremendously as the country was now the 26th largest economy in the world and the largest in Africa, Aganga said the nation’s economy accounts for more than 75 per cent of all of ECOWAS. He said: “I can say to you confidently that we are indeed a blessed nation. Just consider that we achieved all this despite the constraints we face, such as electricity, and electricity makes about 40 per cent of production. With this, we know where we will be when we have enough power supply”.

Aganga said crude oil never made Nigeria rich, but instead made it poor because of the way the country treated the mineral resource.

their respective states,” Abubakar said.

He stressed the need for cooperation among all tiers of government to achieve the desired vision, adding that “the Federal Government cannot do it alone; neither can the state and local governments”.

“We all need to work together to achieve our common goals and as-

pirations of enhancing strategic planning and building resilience.

There must therefore be a synergy of purpose so that progress can be brought to our people within a short period,” the minister said.

The theme of the meeting, according to Abubakar, was apt, timely and a reflection of collective aspiration to initiate policies

and programme aimed at transforming the Nigerian economy for enhanced growth and development, which he said was also consistent with the aspirations of the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20:2020.

The minister explained that “strategic planning has over the years been universally recognised as a very useful reform-based management tool for economic governance.

He asked the states’ commissioners of Economic Planning to work closely with the NPC to build the capacities of the officials of states’ planning commissions so that their strategic plans will be well-coordinated, adequate and result-oriented.

Also, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said there was the need for effective collaboration between the states and the Federal Government in addressing matters of national development.

The governor praised the commission for driving laudable initiatives to achieve growth and development.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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NEWS Tambuwal:’IGP must resign’

ASUU, others demand state of emergency in education

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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GROUP, Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), Ondo State, has decried the withdrawal of the security detail of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, describing it as “a sour foretaste of the danger ahead of the 2015 elections.”

Besides, it said the action was a threat the police could pose to the nation’s democracy and its continued existence as a united country.

The group’s coordinator, Bola Ilori, who briefed reporters after a strategy meeting in Akure, the state capital at the weekend, said the security withdrawal was not only a breach of the constitution, but an alleged act of impunity, targeted at the opposition by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

The group added that the police was a creation of the constitution and belonged to the Nigerian people, “irrespective of party’s affiliation, and not part of the PDP”.

The BCO noted that the police should not behave in a way that shows their partiality and disrespect for democratic virtues.

It noted with dismay the alleged double standard being adopted by the police in treating similar issues.

Ilori said: “For example, it is a known fact that the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP this same month without the police stripping her of her security detail.”

‘Boko Haram hijacked to achieve Nigeria’s break-up’

By Raymond Mordi

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HE founder and President of the Divine Ministry for Inter-Religious Harmony (DMIRH), Prophet David Folorunsho Oyekan, has claimed that the Boko Haram insurgent group known in the public domain was not the original group that was formed in Borno in 2009 by the late Mohammed Yusuf.

Oyekan, in a statement, titled: “A final spiritual submission of divine demand of God Almighty to the Nigeria”, said the new Boko Haram group came about because some Nigerians being used by “the darkness” wanted to achieve the prediction of the breakup of the nation.

His words: “Minions of darkness hijacked the Boko Haram group of the late Mohammed Yusuf. Their intention is to thwart the peace that was ushered into the country with the signing of the agreement with the Niger Delta militants. They capitalised on the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan.”

The founder of the spiritual non-governmental organisation said God has a purpose and plan for Nigeria and that the grand design of the Creator must be achieved.

God, according to Oyekan, had a hand in the amalgamation of Nigeria and was not happy with the acts of disunity in the country.

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and three other unions in Nigerian universities have asked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the education system.

This was contained in a communiqué by the presidents of the four unions ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)) - at the end of one week National Education Summit in Abuja.

A copy of the statement was made available to reporters in Ibadan by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye.

The unions called for “the

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

reconceptualisation of the Nigerian education system” to enable it perform its transformative functions for the individuals, groups and the nation.

The unions vowed to develop and present to the government a new education policy, to reflect the aspirations, culture, values and realities of the people within the context of a vibrant world.

According to the unions, there was need for the government to declare a state of emergency in the education system, because “the current system is characterised by chronic underfunding, bad leadership, and infrastructural decay, poor conditions of learning and service, promotion of mediocrity, shortage of personnel

(academic, technical and administrative) and entrenchment of orthodoxy, parochialism and chauvinism”.

The four unions, which held the summit with the theme, “Towards a system of education for liberation in Nigeria,” warned the government not to use public funds, such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) among others, to fund private educational institutions and associated enterprises.

While condemning corruption, lack of professionalism, poor and opportunistic leadership and unethical conduct impinging on the learning environment and the integrity of teaching and research, the unions called on their members nationwide to rid the sector of these ills.

While rejecting the systematic privatisation of education and selling off of public educational institutions, the unions described education as public good, which must not be left in the hands of private individuals who are driven solely by profit.

The unions added: “The fundamental problem bedevilling the educational system is that it is located within a philosophical and political economic system which emphasises personal self-enrichment and individual aggrandisement instead of emphasising knowledge acquisition geared towards public good and national development.

“The philosophy on education does not address the realities, identities, values, customs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.”

•Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Walter Drenth (left), presenting a dummy cheque of N10 million star prize and keys of brand new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to winner of Gulder Ultimate Search 11 Chinedu Ubachukwu at a party in Awka, Anambra State...last Saturday. With them is Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano.

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Air traffic controllers issue 21 days’ ultimatum to NAMA

IR traffic controllers under the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The group, in a communiqué by its President, Victor Eyaru, and General Secretary, Banji Olawode, demanded that outstanding, unresolved as well as pending issues regarding air traffic controllers’ remuneration, professional allowances and promotion/advancement in NAMA should be resolved within 21 days .

The ultimatum, which begins from today, was issued at the end of NATCA’s 43rd yearly general meeting in Kano State at the weekend.

The association warned that its threat to go on strike should be taken seriously by the management of NAMA because controllers could ground flight operations nationwide because of the sensitive services.

Also, the air controllers requested the review of the allowances of their members working at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, stressing that

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

they have been waiting for approval at the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission since 2010.

They urged that the allowances be released for implementation within the same time-frame, failure by which they threatened to act within the legitimate means recognised by labour law to press home their demands.

They vowed to resist alleged plan by NAMA management to appoint non-air traffic controller as Airspace Manager at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, describing it as absurd and unacceptable.

“In addition, NATCA demands that the headship of all stations be reverted to Air Traffic Controllers,” the communiqué stated.

Eyaru and Olawode lauded the efforts of NCAT at improving on its training facilities such as virtual tower and radar simulators.

It however opposed the deployment of the radar simulators outright for the training of ATCOs in radar control until the equipment has been deployed to carry out

radar refresher courses to allow for proper appraisal of both the equipment and manpower.

The air traffic controllers appealed that sufficient and timely training and re-training should be given to their members to remedy the inadequate, abridged and inconclusive form of training being experienced over time, which serves as threats to air safety.

Meanwhile, NAMA said 40 air traffic controllers would undergo a two-day theory and five days practical in Egypt this month while another five air traffic controllers would be trained on wind shear equipment located in five stations in Nigeria by December.

Speaking at the NATCA’s meeting , Managing Director of NAMA, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, said the management was sending the Air traffic controllers on performance based navigation training as part of measures to bridge the inadequate manpower gap in air traffic control in Nigeria.

Abdulsalam was represented by the Director of Op-

erations, Edward Ogedegbe .

He said : “The new management is taking training serious. A few days from now, four groups of 10 air traffic controllers will be train in the first instance in Cairo, another set of five persons will go to Germany next month”.

‘Jonathan, PDP can’t get 240 Reps for Speaker’s removal’ From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

HE Senator representing the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Abe, has said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not be able to get 240 of the 360 members in the House of Representatives to impeach the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

He also declared that with the taking over of Mubi in the Northeastern part by Boko Haram insurgents, Nigeria is clearly at war, with a competent president needed to tackle insecurity.

Abe, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), spoke yesterday at his Bera-Ogoni hometown in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, while sensitising members of the executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 17 wards, on the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) between November 7 and 9.

He urged other PDP leaders and teeming supporters of Fili in the area to embrace change.

Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), said: “As we speak now (yesterday), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Number Four citizen of this country, has joined our party (APC). He left the other party (PDP) for the same reason that we left and other people are leaving.

“People are coming to APC, because there is no justice there (in PDP) and there is no integrity in what they are doing.

“There is no honesty. Nobody is abiding by the rules that we all agreed on. When you leave, they begin to chase after you.

“As Alhaji Tambuwal left PDP, they withdrew his security. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear. You can become a Speaker of the House of Representatives, once you are a member of the House of Representatives.

“Nobody in Nigeria, no power in Nigeria can get 240 members of the House of Representatives to say that Alhaji Tambuwal is not their Speaker.

Nobody can do it”, he said.

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Shell to execute N2b projects to mark Nigeria’s centenary

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ANGLO-Dutch oil firm, Shell, has unveiled plans to implement three projects worth about N2 billion to mark Nigeria’s centenary.

They are a 200-seater library in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a health project at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State and upgrade of athletics infrastructure in five secondary schools in Delta State.

The company, in a statement, said it was implementing the library and health projects as well as funding 30 per cent of the cost of the athletics’ infrastructure’s upgrade through its share in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Joint Venture, with the other partners NNPC, Total and ENI - providing the rest of the funding.

“The projects show our commitment to a long-term future for Nigeria,” said SPDC Managing Director & Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, while briefing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim last week.

“We’re pleased that the projects will deliver significant benefits to the people, and help boost literacy, healthcare and youth empowerment, in line with our robust programme of social investments in Nigeria,” he added.

Responding, Anyim expressed gratitude for the projects.

“We celebrated Nigeria’s centenary in February 2014 with the private sector wholly funding the event in the first example of its kind. The projects by Shell show that the private sector is continuing to support the centenary celebration,” the SGF said.

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THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

APC leaders condemn militarisation of elections

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have condemned the militarisation of elections in the country.

They spoke yesterday at a victory colloquium, organised

by The Gazelle News, for Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island.

The party’s National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, in a paper titled: “Osun Election: A Pathway to Nigeria’s Democratic Growth”, said the government does not have the constitutional power to use soldiers during elections.

He said the militarisation of Osun State few days to the election, in the name of providing security, was the misuse of power by the government.

Banire said: “The machinery of federalism had been wiped out as the only thing the Federal Government did not do was declare a state of emergency in Osun.

“Whenever these agents and merchants of death shot into

•Nigeria should prepare for 2015, says Aregbesola •Tambuwal faults IG

By Musa Odoshimokhe

the air, the determined people of Osun hailed the bullet rains with the slogan of ‘APC’ or Aregbesola for second term.’’

The APC chieftain said Aregbesola won the election because he was popular. He said on the eve of the election, there was total clampdown on APC leaders, who were arrested and detained without justification.

He urged the party leadership to field popular candidates in the 2015 elections, saying it was the only way to checkmate rigging.

The moderator, Kawu Baraje, said the PDP was relying on the military to rig the 2015 elections. He urged Nigerians to resist the Federal Government’s impunity.

The APC chieftain added that the PDP was a sinking ship and it was bent on truncating democracy in Nigeria through unconstitutional acts.

Baraje, who represented

former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the chairman, said: “The resolution of the people to defend their mandate became a serious challenge to the PDP. Soldiers are being illegally engaged by the government.

“If they were deployed to Sambisa forest to search for the Chibok girls at the appropriate time, I am very sure they would have been reunited with their parents.”

The Special Guest of Honour, Aminu Tambuwal, said he was been vindicated in view of what was happening in the PDP. He said the reign of impunity in the party was legendary, noting that when Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly defected to the PDP, they were not victimised.

Tambuwal said Nigeria needed a good leader, one who believes in peace, progress and

development of the country and the welfare of the people.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives said he was miffed by the pronouncement of the Acting Inspector General of Police, that he (Tambuwal) should vacate his office having left the PDP for APC. He said: “This country belongs to all of us. We must come together to ensure that we get the right leadership in 2015.

“The IGP did not say Ondo Speaker should vacate his seat. Why is he now making such pronouncement in my own case?

“Is it a case of different laws for different people? Anyway, I have gone to court, so I rest my case.

“I thank Nigerians who stood by me in the face of this impunity. It is our right to decide who we want to relate with and there is nobody who can dictate to me who I

should relate with.”

Aregbesola said the situation in Burkina Faso was a signal to Nigerians to gird their loins and prepare for the general elections.

The governor called on the people of Burkina Faso not to allow military rule after the exit of President Blaise Compaore.

Aregbesola urged the Burkinabes to carry the revolution that ousted Compaore to its logical conclusion by forming a national government to conduct election soon.

He said: “We should gird our loins and prepare for any eventualities that may accompany the 2015 general elections.

“I say this because the trend has shown that the election will not come as easy as we may want to think as it is clear that PDP will want to use force to retain power.

“The PDP is not a party that

is not unbeatable. For if we beat PDP in Osun, it means we can beat it anywhere and we must beat it everywhere.”

Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Chairman Monday Ubani said the Osun election had provided a template for future elections.

“In Osun State, stomach infrastructure was also used as a campaign strategy. The people collected whatever item that was offered them, but came out to vote for their choice.”

At the ceremony were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (represented by former Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Adeniji Adele); former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope -Adefulire.

Others are Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salam; House of Representatives Minority Speaker Hakeem Gbajabiamila; APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Muhammed and others

Plot to disrupt Ekiti Assembly uncovered By our reporter

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•From left: Sheu Bawa; Justice Feyintola Muri-Okunola; Oyetunde Ojo; his wife and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria,Folashade TInubu-Ojo; Alhaja Bintu Tinubu and Senator Babafemi Ojudu cutting Tinubu-Ojo’s coronation anniversary cake at the Blue Roof, LTV Complex, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday

LL Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have uncovered a plot by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to storm the Assembly and install a new speaker.

They said this is to create a crisis in the House and give Governor Ayodele Fayose control of the House.

The Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, said this was a betrayal of Ekiti people by those who should champion the cause of stability and peace to grow the economy.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, Omirin said the plot was hatched at Spotless Hotel, owned by Fayose last Thursday.

“At the hotel, a grand plan was hatched to forcibly take over the House leadership and install the governor’s crony as speaker.

“Present at the meeting were the APC members who defected to PDP two weeks ago.

“This followed a similar plot to storm the House a few weeks ago before the plan leaked.

“One of the defected lawmakers reportedly insisted at the meeting that he had the capacity to carry out the plot provided that funds are made available to mobilise for the execution of the plot.

“We call the attention of security agents to this diabolical and distabilising act to set the state on fire. Our state witnessed four years of interrupted peace and progress under former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

“Just two weeks into the new administration, the state is in the news again for bad reasons as was the case between 2003 and 2006 when Fayose was governor.”

Omirin said APC lawmakers would remain focused in their legislative duties to deliver good governance to Ekiti people and advised the PDP-led government to concentrate on good governance instead of causing chaos in the state.

I’ll leave Ekiti better, says Fayose From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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*From left: Principal, Anwar-Ul-Islam College, Babatunde Adesina Lawore, former Principal Muhammed Ligali Olabisi, member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Yinka Ogundimu and Chairman, Anwar-ul-Islam College Agege Old Student Association (ACAOSA) 1984, Shakiru Alabi Bello, at the school’s 30th Anniversary/Reunion... at the weekend.

Ajimobi best performing governor, says lawmaker

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HE member representing Ibadan North II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olusegun Olaleye, has said Governor Abiola Ajimobi remains the best performing governor in the state.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

The lawmaker said this yesterday when he distributed refrigerators and gas cookers to All Progressives Congress (APC) members at Ward 12.

Ajimobi believes in the infrastructural economic and spiritual development of the state.

He said neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor Accord Party could develop the state.

“I want you all to support the governor because of the achievements he has recorded in this state. He believes in massive infrastructural development and now education is taking another shape.”

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has assured residents of his commitment to “greater Ekiti” during his tenure.

The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, said the administration would work not only to meet but surpass the people’s expectations.

He urged the people to promptly pay their taxes, levies and rates, adding that government would also respond to such gesture responsibly.

Adelusi’s words: “We know the expectations are high and we are in a tough period as far as the economy is concerned.

We are taking note of all the advice given us by people and groups.

“For instance, we appreciate the Ekiti Council of Elders on the advice that we embark on projects that have quick and direct bearing on the welfare of the people.

“We will not shy away from the provision of physical infrastructure, just as we will create the atmosphere for people to earn decent living and be able to take care of their emotional needs.

“From what is happening in the international oil market and the subsequent drop in federal allocations, it is obvious that we have to look more inwards in generating revenue and we appeal to those in charge to support us in blocking leakages and raising the bar.

“Those in the House of Assembly and our judicial officers must know that we are all Ekiti people and we must work together to make our state great. Nobody should allow for distractions. No matter our political persuasions, the interest of Ekiti comes first.”

8

THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS ‘Obasanjo won’t influence primaries’ From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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FORMER Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Ishola, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo will not influence the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Ogun State on November 29.

Ishola, who obtained his governorship nomination form at the national secretariat at the weekend, said all aspirants should be able to count on Obasanjo’s neutrality.

He said: “Our father in Ogun State, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will treat all aspirants as his children and I am sure he will bless whoever the winner is.”

The former minister, who was accompanied by some associates and supporters, said he was better equipped to meet the people’s hopes and aspirations.

Ishola said the large number of aspirants showed that the leadership crisis in Ogun PDP had been resolved.

He urged other aspirants to submit themselves to democratic principles during the primaries, warning that the process must not be conducted in a way that would reopen old wounds.

Ekiti distributes protective kits

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HE Ekiti State government has distributed personal protective kits to all specialist and general hospitals.

Items distributed to the three state specialist hospitals and 17 general hospitals include recyclable overalls, disposable overalls, respiration masks, aprons and rubber gloves.

Others are examination gloves, boot covers, sodium hypochante and safety goggles.

The Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Kolawole Aina, reiterated the government’s commitment to health care delivery.

He urged health workers to use the items well, urging them to be positive in order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness.

‘We’ll pick good candidates’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, has said the party will pick credible candidates acceptable to the public.

Kekemeke spoke when a National Assembly aspirant, Olayato Aribo, came to pick his nomination form at the party secretariat in Akure.

The chairman also received the former Ose Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Afolabi Mabogunje, who picked the nomination form for Ose State Constituency.

Kekemeke denied that some party elders endorsed some aspirants, saying the primaries would be free and fair.

He said: “By election time, I want my work to be easy and this can only be easy by picking credible candidates so that anywhere we get to for campaign, the people will accept us.

“Nobody has endorsed any aspirant and we are going to give a level-playing field for all aspirants.”

Aribo said he picked the nomination form because of the pressure from his people.

He urged party leaders to unite and work for success in the election

•Members of Rotary 9110 and Polio survivors during a Walk-a-Thon in Surulere, Lagos, to commemorate the World Polio Day. PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

Discontinue your petition, T APC tells Omisore

HE All Progressives Congress has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last August 9 governorship election, Iyiola Omisore, to “honourably discontinue his impossible mission to remove Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from office”.

A statement by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “Omisore’s exercise will be as futile as that of his party’s wasted effort to annul the 2011 elections in which all the PDP’s candidates lost their bid to be elected into the state and National Assembly.

“From what the public has seen and heard so far Omisore and the PDP are relying purely on falsehood and not fact. But we are happy that their lies are falling apart like a pack of cards.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

“The Appeal Court, three weeks ago, struck out the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) appeal due to what it termed “defective filing” of the notice.

“Omisore and the PDP attempted to turn the ruling to a “judgment”, sacking all the state lawmakers in Osun and Abuja.

“But when it became clear that the PDP couldn’t win on this falsehood, it had the case withdrawn from the Federal High Court in Osogbo last Friday.

“This lie was so blatant and embarrassing that even some responsible members of the PDP within and outside Osun felt sad and ashamed that so much falsehood was being associated with their party.

“Same with another lie that the Tribunal had ordered a recount of votes for which the tribunal chairman denied and warned the party to allow them do their job.

“This inability to learn from history is what has made the PDP and Omisore to replicate futile mission all over again, and that anything founded on falsehood will fail.”

I’m not running for Lagos governor, says Opeifa

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AGOS State Commissioner for Transport Kayode Opeifa has said he is not contesting for governor.

Last week, Opeifa’s supporters stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, to buy him the nomination form.

But, he objected, saying that the slot had been zoned to the Lagos East Senatorial District.

The commissioner urged his supporters to abide by the party’s dictate.

The former university teacher and right activist said the party was supreme, stressing that its wish should be respected in the spirit of party discipline.

Opeifa, who is the son of the

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Asiwaju of Aworiland in Lagos West, thanked his supporters, saying he could only discuss with them other political issues, which were unrelated to the governorship race.

The commissioner said: “My friends bought nomination forms for me. While appreciating this gesture, I am profoundly grateful for their holding me in high esteem.

“I humbly wish to categorically state that as a product of our collective struggle, I am in full agreement with the position of the party leadership and strongly believe in the supremacy of the party.

“I also wish to plead with friends and associates who I hold in high

•Opeifa

esteem to please bear with me and respect my personal opinion and position on this particular issue while I remain open to advice on other political issues.”

Why I refused to rejoin PDP, by ex-commissioner

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ORMER Ondo State Commissioner for Finance Tayo Alasoadura has explained why he refused to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alasoadura, who spoke after picking his nomination form for the Ondo Central Senatorial District at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, said he decided to remain in APC because he did not see any sign that President Goodluck Jonathan meant well for the nation.

He said: “When they visited me, we drank wine together and they

From Damisi Ojo,Akure

began their approach by telling me why I should return to PDP. “When I asked them questions about the Jonathan administration, they could not answer.

“I asked them how will I tell my loyalists that I am returning to a party that its government has failed to rescue our girls, who had been in captivity for the past 200 days.

“How will I tell my people that I want to return to a party where corruption is celebrated and how can I

rejoin a party that cannot account for $20billion?

“I told them I will be excited if they can provide answers to these questions but they left my house quietly” The aspirant vowed to use his office to empower the people if he wins. “We are going to open constituency offices in the six local governments in the senatorial district, we are going to empower the people through that office and I am assuring you that I will always give account of my stewardship every three months, if elected.”

Ogun PDP to returnees: don’t foment trouble From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has warned its members against “re-planting the seed of crisis and division in the party for the purpose of hijacking its structure”.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Waliu Oladipupo, the party said it was a “veteran of many political battles” in the state and has remained vigilant.

The statement said: “The state executive committee has not been dissolved. Members are advised to ignore contrary information.

“Any attempt to tinker with the party structures will not just be an invitation to avoidable lawlessness but also illegal, ultra vires and a direct affront on the judiciary.

“It is hoped that those who are angling to sow the seeds of discord know the implications of their contrived plot.

“If they think that they can ride on the back of one powerful man at the national headquarters to trample on the rule of law, we wish to serve them notice that we are ready for them.

“The Ogun State PDP is a veteran of many political battles. We are not resting on our oars. For us, eternal vigilance is truly the price of freedom.

“The Adebayo Dayo-led state exco is intact. As we have said severally, the Ogun State PDP exco is peculiar.

The executives, from the ward to local government and state levels were not just elected at validly conducted congresses; they were refined through the crucibles of the party constitution and the laws of the land and endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“They were not just elected but validated by several judicial interventions and pronouncements from the High Court to the Appeal Court.

“Therefore, given the peculiar circumstances of their emergence, any attempt to tinker with the party structures will not just be an invitation to avoidable lawlessness but also illegal, ultra vires and a direct affront on the judiciary.

“Various courts, from Ilaro to Lagos and Abuja, and even INEC have since recognised the party structure in the state under the leadership of Adebayo Dayo.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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NEWS APGA mourns three officials From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group yesterday described the death of its three members in an accident, while returning from Abuja, as shocking and sad.

The Publicity Secretary, Martin Kalu, said in a statement in Abuja: “APGA Integrity Group is pained and heartbroken that the three Imo State chapter officials, Mr. Tony Mgbeahurike, the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obinna Ibe and Mr. Uche Okeke died in a crash at Uromi in Edo State while the Organising Secretary, Chief John Iwuala, was injured and is in hospital.

They accompanied one of the governorship aspirants, Okey Eze, to collect his expression of interest and nomination forms at APGA national secretariat, Abuja.

“The death of these politicians is a big blow to APGA and our democracy.

They were the shining stars of progressive politics in Imo State and were determined to rescue the state from the cabal that has held it hostage.

“The greatest honour APGA and Imo State electorate will give these heroes of democracy is to vote for the party’s governorship candidate in 2015 to take over from Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

“We mourn these APGA members, who died in active service. Our hearts go to their families and loved ones. We pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

We also pray for speedy recovery of the injured. We commiserate with the Victor Umeh leadership of APGA and enjoin him to mobilise members in Imo State to recover our stolen mandate, which Governor Okorocha took to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We urge politicians to imbibe issue-based politics and eschew violence.

The era of do-or-die politics is over. The citizens want the dividends of democracy, not carnage, as we collectively deepen participatory democracy in the country.”

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PDP congress held amid protests

HE delegates congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was held on Saturday in Imo State amid protests.

But House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who participated in the exercise at Mbutu Ward in Aboh Mbaise Local Government, described the congress as peaceful.

However, Senator Chris Anyanwu, a PDP governorship aspirant, who led her supporters in a protest

•Anyanwu kicks as Ihedioha, others hail exercise From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

against the alleged manipulation of the process by some chieftains, called for a fresh congress.

The exercise was peaceful at most of the wards in the 27 local governments, besides reported cases of late arrival and diversion of materials, as well as minor clashes among supporters of governorship

aspirants.

At Ikenegbu Ward 1 in Owerri Municipal Council Area, aggrieved members held the ward chairman hostage when it was discovered that the names of the supposed delegates were forwarded to the party leadership a day before the congress.

In Ngor Okpala Local Government, the exercise could not hold in some wards,

Youths back senatorial aspirant From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (right) receiving an award as the quintessential Igbo Leader, from Prof. Chinweike Ezeike, Vice Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, on behalf of Igbo Youth Movement, at Nike Lake Resort Enugu. With them is Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Chairman, Igbo leaders of Thought.

Okorocha opens dialysis centre

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha at the weekend inaugurated the Ochedike Dialysis and Diagnostic Centre, the first to be built by the government.

The governor, who said the centre was built in memory of his late father, who died of kidney failure, urged Imo people from 40 years and above to go to the centre for free tests and diagnosis for prostate and breast cancer.

He said the centre owned by the government but leased to Israeli medical experts for 15 years.

Okorocha noted that cancer has killed many Nigerians, adding that when detected early, it could be handled.

He said with the modern

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

facilities and medical team at the centre, Nigerians need not go to India for the treatment of kidney and cancer-related ailments.

“I thank God for a dream come true. My dream to save the lives of the poor indigenes has become a reality.”

The governor said the 27 general hospitals under construction would be dedicated to different fields of medicine, when completed. “We are not only good in the education sector, we are also good in the health sector.”

The Medical Director of the centre, Dr. Judith Glick, recalled how her team, led by Dr. Obi Njoku, a former commissioner for Health, presented a

proposal for the centre to Okorocha three months before the 2011 elections and he replied: “Why not, if I become the governor, I will establish this diagnostic centre with you.”

Dr. Glick said her team would develop and establish more medical units in the centre, adding that investors were ready to establish a worldclass hospital in the state.

“It is time Nigerians stopped travelling to other countries in search of medical attention. We are here for them to remain strong, vibrant and healthy to enable them contribute to building a better Imo State and Nigeria,” she said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika,

Family demands release of son’s body

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AMUEL Eze of Umucheke village in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State has demanded the release of his brother’s body from the police.

Samuel’s younger brother, Emmanuel, was allegedly shot dead about two weeks ago by a police officer on his way home from a nearby grocery store.

The incident occurred during a protest.

Narrating how his brother was killed, Samuel said the deceased was not part of the protest.

A petition has been sent to the police commissioner. It was signed by the Chairman of the village union, Sylvester Madumere and the Secretary, Livinus Nwafor.

following the alleged removal of materials by the former council PDP chairman.

An aggrieved member and a former Chief Press Secretary to the ex-Governor, Henry Ekpe, whose name was removed from the list of voters, said it was done to disenfranchise those who the party leaders felt would not work for one of the governorship aspirants.

The situation was the same

in Ideato South Local Government where the former state Chairman of the party and the National Chairman of the National Population Commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), was alleged to have insisted on producing the delegates.

The Nation learnt that most of the governorship aspirants opposed the exercise because more than 80 per cent of those who emerged as winners were loyalists of Ihedioha.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

They urged the police to release the body for burial.

The petition said: “The police officer, who perpetrated the act, should be arrested and prosecuted. Compensation should be paid to the deceased’s family, as he had people depending on him.”

The chairman said the community was still in shock. He described the late Emmanuel as a quiet and easy-going person.

The Nation learnt yesterday that the elders and leadership of the village visited the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Umunze Division, who assured that the matter would be looked into.

“But one week after, nothing has happened. The body of

the deceased has been seized,” our source said.

Police spokesman Uche Eze said: “We are willing to release the body, but we cannot do this except the family comes forward.”

He added that no sane policeman would shoot a person except he constituted a threat to the society or to policemea.

Eze recalled that on the day of the protest, the protesters torched a hotel and advanced to the police station to burn it, but the police dispersed them.

Recounting how his brother was killed, Samuel said Emmanuel sold palm kernel and had just returned from the market.

He went on: “About 4pm, my brother headed for a nearby shop to buy soap, but he was shot in the head by a policeman.

“On that fateful day, protesters from Ndikpa village, whose plots of land were sold, protested the arrests of their colleagues (youths) by the buyer. They were on their way to the police station when some officers stopped them.

One of them shot Emmanuel, who had just bought a soap he wanted to use to bathe.

“We have no reason to suspect anyone because we are landlords to the police in Umunze. We have a cordial relationship with them.

“The way my brother was killed is suspicious.

“He was not one of the protesters. We have been neglected by the police. After the incident, nobody has apologised to us. The most painful thing is that we have not seen our brother’s body.”

•Okorocha

regretted the increase in chronic diseases, despite efforts by the government through immunisation and hygiene.

He said the governor established the centre to provide medical care and service through the most efficient and experienced dialysis technicians and nephrologists.

ESPITE the crisis rocking the leadership Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, youths yesterday stormed Abagana in Njikoka Local Government, saying only loyal members would represent them in political offices.

They took the decision while endorsing one of the senatorial aspirants for Anambra Central, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo.

The over 4,000 youths converged on Igwebuike Primary School, Abagana, for a rally.

They said they endorsed Okonkwo because of his consistency.

The aspirant is contesting the ticket with five others, including Prince Osita Ezenwa, Chief Annie Okonkwo, Dr. Obiorah Okonkwo and Chief Sam Ikefuna.

At the rally, the leader of the party’s youth wing, Kenneth Ejike Ayiba, warned aspirants who sought a waiver to run, to join the queue and wait for another turn, rather than jumping from other parties to the PDP and seeking to take the front seat.

Clems Ezika, the former legal adviser, who was also at the rally, urged youths to support only tested and trusted members.

Another chieftain, Kennedy Onyeka Okonkwo, said the choice of Okonkwo was because of his philanthropy.

Jonathan to subject aspirants to test From Dele Anofi, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan may have jettisoned the internal democracy of the Peoples Democartic Party (PDP), by directing that only the aspirants, who are loyal to him, should be supported to contest the 2015 general elections.

Aspirants are to undergo risk assessment and valuation, to determine their level of loyalty to the President.

The development was made known in a statement by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs in conjunction with the Nigerian Economic and Political Action Committee (NEPAC), which announced the commencement of risk assessment and candidate valuation for aspirants jostling for offices.

The assessment, tagged: ‘Presidential Support Base Programme’, would evaluate and shortlist aspirants on classified basis.

NEPAC Director-General Dr. Godson Nnaka, in the statement yesterday, noted that the assessment would ensure that only those proven to be loyal to Jonathan are supported to win elections.

“The objectives of this programme is to identify, evaluate and shortlist aspirants on classified basis, who, if supported, will maintain maximum loyalty and be part of a strong support base for President Jonathan beyond 2015,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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Neighbourhood policing inaugurated

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OLUNTARY Policing Sector (VPS) has been inaugurated in Idimangoro, Agege Local Government. The group serves the entire community and operates within the established law of the land. It also works in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant agencies to ensure the security of lives and property within the community. The event was held at the weekend in Sebiotimo, Agege, a Lagos suburb.

VPS’s chairman Mr. Omodele Morufu, said the community was the first to introduce VPS in Nigeria .He, therefore, urged the residents to cooperate with members of the group in the discharge of their duties.

“Neighbourhood policing can only be achieved if the community members can ensure a mutual relationship with the police as this will also reduce the crime rate in the community,”he said.

The Chairman, Camma-

By Basirat Braimah

deco Local Council Area, Comrade Segun Balogun, said the VPS had been doing a great job in the community. According to him, the cult memebers in our community are the problem. They call themselves Awawa boys, Million dollars and Abuja boys, among others. If two trusted residents can be employed from different communities in Agege Local Council Area,it will help reduce the level of crimes. Everything depends on members of the community. If they work hand- in- hand with the police, there will be a positive change.”

The Divisional Police Officer, Isokoko Police Station, CSP Aliko Dankoli, said: “Community policing is a balance between re-active and pro-active policing. Residents should endeavour to report robbery cases during operations and not after they have extorted their valuable items.Parents should also train their wards to eschew crimes.”

Air traffic controllers slam Synagogue’s claim on aircraft

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HE Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has criticised the Synagogue Church of all Nation over claims that a mysterious aircraft flew over the church building a few minutes after it collapsed.

President of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Victor Eyaru described as unacceptable, the information from the church located in Ikotun in Lagos that the building caved in moments after a mysterious aircraft hovered around the building undergoing construction.

He spoke at the weekend in Kano.

A section of the Synagogue

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Church Building collapsed on September 12.

Eyaru, in his address at the 43rd annual general meeting of NATCA in Kano said the collapse should not be linked to any air traffic control activity.

He said:” We want to state categorically that where the church is located is not part of either restricted or prohibited airspace where air traffic cannot take place”.

“The aircraft in question was undertaking normal aviation practice in accordance to prescribed procedures and any link to the building collapse is absurd, laughable and acceptable”.

Expert frowns against usage of foreign contractors by govt

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HE immediate past Chairman, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) Ibadan, Oyo State chapter, Mr Olugbenga Ilori has condemned what he called the excessive usage of foreign contractors by government, which he claimed has caused degeneration to engineering profession.

Ilori spoke while delivering a lecture entitled:” Engineering Development: The necessary tool in nation building” at the 20th Arokodare Memorial lecture in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to him, this step amounts to waste of govern-

ment resources and retrogression of engineering development in the country.

Ilori said:” Nigeria has no re?ason to look outward for consultants if we are to develop technologically. What magic will the Chinese perform on railway modernisation that Nigerian consultants cannot.

Do?. It took the Chinese 40 years to study and develop three Gorges Dam which is now the largest dam in the world, supplying 10 per cent China’s electricity consumption. They did not call on German or Italians for help. The Nigerian, will rush to foreigners.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADMISSION! ADMISSION!! ADMISSION!!!

This is to notify the general public and all interested persons, that Application Form for admission into the BASIC SCHOOL OF NURSING and BASIC SCHOOL OF MIDWIFERY, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State for 2014/2015 Academic session are now on sale for eligible and interested candidates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: · Basic School of Nursing (www.sonfetha.com) · Basic School of Midwifery (www.somfetha.com)

•Members of the VPS during the inauguration in Lagos...at the weekend

Lagos seals 40 illegal drugs stores

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O fewer than 39 illegal drugs stores in Alapere, Magodo and Ikosi-Isheri environs – all at Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area and Kosofe Local Government, have been sealed by men and officials of the Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina broke the news at the weekend in Lagos.

She explained that government’s resolve to streamline the activities of operators in the drug sector was borne out of its zeal to stop the inherent dangers associated with the peddling of fake, substandard and expired drugs by unauthorised and unregistered drug and pharmaceutical outlets.

Said she: “In furtherance of the state government’s commitment to ridding the state of the menace of illegal drug store operators in the state, we cannot fold our arms and do nothing in respect of their excesses. That is why we will not relent in our drive to sanitise the drug distribution system in Lagos, hence the mandate

•To combat menace of illegal drug store operators of the Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods”.

The Special Adviser wondered why the people still chose to stay on the wrong side of the law, adding that the provisions of the law as stipulated by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act of 1992 and the Registration of Pharmaceutical Premises Regulation Law of 2005 outlines the requirements for the registration and renewal of pharmaceutical premises, culpability and punishment for offenders.

“The provision of the pharmaceutical laws stipulates that pharmaceutical premises cannot be located in motor parks and environment where commercial activities take place like market places, kiosks, road-side stores and containers and the law also frowns at pharmaceutical stores standing and growing very close together,”Adeshina noted.

She listed the sealed drug stores as including Viewland Pharmaceutical Ltd at No 5,Palace Street, Ogudu; Goodhealth Supermarket at No 13,

Agboyi road, Ogudu; E. Emodobi Patent Medicine store at No 15, Old Olowora Street, Isheri; Max Supermarket and Medicine store at No 23, Agboyi road, Ogudu; Sadus Pharmacy at No 51, Olowora road, Ogudu; Festina Pharmacy Ltd at No 2, Ogun River road, Isheri; Celens Pharmacy at Isheri Market Plaza and Spacon Healthcare at No 19, Ogudu road.

Others are Tolex Pharmaceutical Ltd at No 44, Ikosi road, Ketu; Amexco Pharmacy at No 1, Ikosi road, Ketu; Igba Stores at No 11, Oluyombo Street, Ikosi; Mr Kelechi store at No 10 Odun Street, Ikosi; Ademola Ologunagba at No 31,Oluwalogbon Street, Ikosi; Benkeson Pharmaceutical at No 16, Anibaba street, Ikosi; Danest stores at No 17, Jimoh Balogun street Ikosi; Patent Medicine store at No 6, Dairo street,Ikosi and two unnamed stores at Nos 73,Oluyombo and 35, Jimoh Balogun streets.

Dr Adeshina noted that the affected shops were sealed for offences ranging from sales of drugs without licence from the regulatory authority; failure to relocate from a market

area and adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and market place as stipulated by the law; and sales of counterfeit and fake drugs amongst others.

The Special Adviser advised anybody interested in selling medicine to liaise with the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry of Health, the legitimate authorizing body for Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors License (PPMVL), located on the ground floor of Block 8, Old Secretariat, in Ikeja, just as she urged those interested in importation, distribution and sales of drugs to get their premises licensed by the appropriate authority, the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN).

The raid was conducted in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Federal Taskforce, National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmaceutical Inspectors Committee (PIC), and Officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force from the state command.

My husband is irresponsible, alleges athlete

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32-year-old athlete, Mrs Pauline Ukah, has sought the dissolution of her marriage of nine years to her husband, Ukah Charles, before the Customary Court, Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, over his alleged irresponsible attitude.

She also accused her husband of forcefully taking away their only son under the pretext of taking him to his hometown.

Mrs Ukah told the court: “Four days after our wedding, my husband started attacking me physically. For the next five years, I endured the pain, thinking he would begin to treat me as his true love. Even when my husband got a job, he still didn’t make any meaningful con-

PUBLIC NOTICE DIKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dike Ngozi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amanze Chukwuemeka Ngozi Cynthia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

By Basirat Braimah

tribution to our upkeep. I had to obtain a loan to complete our house. I have been solely responsible for the upkeep of our children.

Most of the time, I would go on commercial motorbike from Lagos Island where I work to Meiran. But rather than empathise with me, my husband would lock the door against me, thereby making me to enter the room through the window.

“Sometime ago, when I was duped N5 million by some con men who wanted to help us obtain U.S visa, my husband labelled me a prostitute. On that day, they asked us to put all our money and jewelry inside a box and we complied. But that was the last we heard of them.”

Mrs Ukah complianed that her husband was fond of charms. Till date, I don’t know why he buried his singlet in the house. When my husband was under some spiritual attacks and all he

could see were reptiles, I stood by him. I took him to a hospital and footed the medical bills.”

Ukah, however, said: “Almost everything she said is true. She has been a caring wife and mother. But there is no cordial relationship with my in-laws. Since I lost my job, life has been tough.

“Contrary to her claim, I don’t beat her. We only have misunderstanding once in a while. Each time I intend to pick our children for holidays, her mother chases me with a cutlass.”

“It is a taboo in my tribe for a woman who commits adultery to still sleep with her husband again. My wife once confessed to having slept with a man who wanted to help us obtain the U.S. visa.

“It was at a family meeting that they ordered me to take our only son to our home town for cleansing and I did. If only my wife can cleanse herself, she can have our son back,” Ukah told the

court.

Obviously miffed, Mrs. Ukah reacted, saying: “My husband was given four days to take our son for cleansing in his home town.

It is almost a month, but my husband has not brought him back. Now, I am agitated because the boy has always been in my custody.

It’s been three years since we lived as a couple. I was told to cleanse myself if I was still interested in being his wife.

Since my son has been cleansed, there shouldn’t be a problem. I have never fought him over any trivial issue. I always make my intentions known to him. God knows I am fed up; so, I want a divorce. He is free to see our three children whenever he wishes.”

The court’s President, Mr .Olubode Sekoni, fixed a chamber interview for the couple and ordered them to bring four relations each.

He adjourned the matter till today.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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Alexander lies on the floor most times

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ARENTS of Master Alexander Denwosu, a three-year old boy suffering from cerebral palsy, a form of paralysis caused by injury to the brain, have appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to help save the boy. His father, Prince Ikenna Denwosu, an unemployed graduate, said Alexander cannot hold his neck upright, unfold his palms, sit down, crawl or walk, and lies on the floor most of the time.

“It was when he was four months old that we noticed that he was a bit dull and not playful as expected of a new born child,” Denwosu recalled. After visiting the Primary Healthcare Centre in Iju, near Agege, Lagos, the Denwosus were referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba, Lagos, where the boy’s ailment was diagnosed as cerebral palsy. “We were advised to keep coming for physiotherapy and that it would take some time to get him to start moving his muscles voluntarily and gradually learn to begin to do those things he cannot do like keep his head upright,” the boy’s father said.

•Parents of boy suffering from cerebral palsy seek financial assistance

By Raymond Mordi

But, after six months of taking Alexander to LUTH weekly and there was no change in his condition, the family stopped going. Subsequently, Denwosu and his wife, Peculiar, who are from OsisiomaNgwa, in Abia State, decided to relocate to Aba, the Abia State commercial nerve centre, to ease the burden of taking care of the boy.

Denwosu went on: “At Aba, we continued the therapy at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital. This was when we began to feel the weight of the financial cost of the treatment. This was when they asked us to do a Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) test on the boy, to determine if there is any damage to the brain. As we speak, we have not been able to come up with N100, 000 for the test”.

He said they were spending N10, 900 for the physiotherapy and about N1, 000 for transport per visit to the hospital every fortnight in Aba. They have spent about N6,

000 weekly for six months in Lagos before moving to Aba, he said.

What makes the situation particularly tasking for the Denwosus is the fact that Alexander does not eat solid food. So, taking care of him is becoming a challenge for the couple who have no reliable source of income. “He takes only tea and bread or pap. We’ve tried giving him other types of food such as rice, beans, yam and eba, but he would cry and refuse to take any other type of food given to him,” he said.

Since they could not source N100, 000 for the MRI test, Alexander’s treatment has been suspended.

Meanwhile, a relative told the Denwosus that another boy with a similar case was treated successfully in India.

Consequently, they contacted the hospital in India where the said boy was cured and tried to find out what could be done for Alexander. “The hospital said it can handle it, but it gave us a bill of N2.5 million for everything, including the cost of air trans-

portation and living expenses in India for the boy and his mother. Since then, we’ve been looking for how to raise the money to cure our son,” the father said, appealing to Nigerians for help to save Alexander.

His words: “I want to appeal to Nigerians to assist Alexander, so that he can live a normal life. The challenge is that he lies on the floor most of the time. We can no longer take him out always because he is growing. The implication is that he is sometimes isolated. He wears diapers all the time because he urinates frequently and his mother is tired of washing his pants. So, buying diapers is another challenge.”

Denwosu can be contacted on 08080788963. Well wishers have also been urged to donate generously, by paying into his account: Prince Ikenna Denwosu, First Bank 2008385275 or Diamond Bank 0046435478 or into that of his wife, Peculiar Denwosu, Ecobank 1661198616.

My wife’s attitude forces me to sleep inside vehicle, alleges man •Wife: you’re fetish WHEN I asked my wife why she soaked all my clothes in water, she said she was sent to destroy me. Whenever she starts her trouble, I will leave the house to sleep in a vehicle.”

Those were the words of 36year-old auto mechanic, Jimoh Hassan, as he prayed the Customary Court in Alakuko, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve his marriage to his wife, Jibola, over her alleged troublesome attitude.

According to him, It got to a point that I was putting on my brother’s clothes because my wife had burnt all my clothes. Even when I decide to sleep in the house, I am always scared because of her terrible attitude.

“She never shows any remorse when she steals my money; instead, she would call my bluff. If our marriage is dissolved, I want our child in my custody.”

However, the 34-year-old woman said: “The problem started when my husband began to have an affair with a woman in her house. I can’t fathom why he loves the woman because she has three children for three different men. He gives her N1000, while he gives me N500 daily. My husband stopped buying foodstuff from the day he started having sexual relationship with the woman.

“He doesn’t believe in repairing damaged items in the house, but prefers to sell them. My husband stopped eating at home when I complained that the N500 he gave me during the last Ileya festival was too small. I have always endured it all. But I would say he tried to be smarter by bringing our case to the court before me.

“My husband claimed to be broke, so he declined to give me N5000 to start another business. But it was a great shock to me when I learnt that he paid the woman’s daughter’s medical bill when she

“

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My husband stopped eating at home when I complained that the N500 he gave me during the last Ileya festival was too small. I have always endured it all. But I would say he tried to be smarter by bringing our case to the court before me

By Basirat Braimah

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was hospitalised.”

Jibola also accused her husband of being fetish, saying: “After I destroyed some fetish stuff that he kept in the house, a strange boil developed in my son’s body. The boil discharges some smelly pus; and when the pus splashes on any other part of the body, another boil will grow on the spot. As of now, it is still a mystery to me why my son is afflicted with that strange ailment. Now, both my husband and the woman have stopped sleeping in the house. But sometimes, the woman sneaks into the house in the morning.

“But in spite of his attitude, I still love my husband very much.”

The union, which was not contracted under the Native and Customary Law, is blessed with a child.

The court President, Mr. Olubode Sekoni, ordered Hassan to be giving his wife N8000 monthly, since he claimed to be giving her N2000 weekly.

He advised the parties not to invade each other’s privacy and adjourned the case till November 10.

‘I regret marrying my husband’ •Lagos State Police Commissioner Kayode Aderanti (left) speaking at the inauguration of the renovated dormitory block by Holy Ghost Christian Centre, Maroko Police Station, Oniru, Lekki, Lagos. With him are Divisional Police Officer of Maroko Police Station, CSP Ibrahim Adamu; Lekki Branch Pastor of the centre, Femi Okanlawon and Pastor Tunde Richard.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

Computer traders allege violation of constitution by leaders

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EMBERS of the Computer and Allied Products Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) have accused their leaders of violating their constitution.

They said no election has been held in 10 years, which, according to them, is contrary to their constitution’s provision that there must be new leaders every four years.

The traders alleged the tenure of the Ibrahim Tunjiled executive had since elapsed but the officers have remained in office in breach of their rules.

They marched on the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos, and adjourning streets, bearing placards, some of which read: “Election must hold now!” “Saving the market is a must” “12 years in office is a slap!” “In credible election we believe,

By Joseph Jibueze

not selection!” “We need a change now!” among others.

The traders urged the association’s board of trustees to “put a mechanism in motion” towards holding an election, saying: “We request that an Electoral Committee should be constituted immediately to enable them publish the election modalities as well as manage the electoral process.”

A founding CAPDAN executive member, Mrs Abisola Isokpehi said another election is long overdue. Her words: “Why won’t a change be necessary in 10 years?

Have you heard that a set of executives will be in office for 10 years? I’m one of the ‘excos’. We don’t call meetings, nothing; just two or three people parading themselves as CAPDAN executive

officers and doing things we don’t know about. But that’s beside the point. How can we be in power for 10 years? As I speak we don’t even have an office or a secretariat. I am ready to let go as the auditor if an election will hold.”

One of traders, Bayo Olawunmi, said: “Nobody is happy with the way the market is being run. All the stakeholders are complaining. They feel the present executives are not doing enough and they want a change. Up till this moment, no election of transition committee has been constituted.

“We’re urging the state government to intervene. The Constitution says after four years, there must be an election, but none has been held for over 10 years. We need a lot of changes to be effected because the market is not

well-regulated. We have a bad name of selling fake products because of lack of proper regulation and we are losing customers,” he said.

However, CAPDAN’s Board of Trustees’ chairman Mr Ganiyu Alimi said arrangements were on to hold an election soon.

“We had started the process before this agitation by the traders. We plan to appoint a caretaker committee.

The president actually said he has stepped aside, giving room for an election to hold.

“Before any credible election is held, there must be a new roster of members.

That’s why we’re saying there should be a committee that will be in place to arrange these things. It is not automatic. Ask these people to show you their membership cards, many of them cannot,” he said.

A

27-year-old clearing agent, Olateju Olalekan, has sought the dissolution of her two-yearold marriage to her husband, Olawale, before the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos for reasons ranging from cruelty to dishonesty.

She said: “I was in my mother’s shop when my husband prostrated and told my mother that he wanted to marry me. I was confused because I didn’t know him from Adam. After several pleas, I agreed because he appeared to be responsible.

Besides,it is rare for a man to make his intentions known from the outset. My husband borrowed a huge sum of money from my parents to rent an apartment. But surprisingly, when I visited the house, I met a woman who told me she had just moved in. I was shocked because we had already put kitchen equipment in the house. I later got to know that my husband collected the money back from the landlord. I regret the day I married him.”

She also told the court that her husband abandoned her when she went into labour for two weeks. She added:” My

By Basirat Braimah

parents have been responsible for the upkeep of our child, who is almost two years old now. I only want him to refund my parents’ money.I have never felt like a married woman because I still live with my parents.”

However, Olawale, 39, said:”Her account about our first meeting is true. Though I slept with her six times, I am not sure the child is mine because she was in another relationship when I met her. I don’t know her by the name ‘Olalekan’ because I was forced to marry her. It is true I collected the house rent back.

But I didn’t refund it because I realised her parents were diabolical.”

Olateju’s father, Mr. Akande Ogunseye, who was in court, said:”My son-in-law is a fraudster. We had to visit his family when he threatened my daughter to abort the pregnancy. On getting there, his father exclaimed: ‘This boy has done it again...’ So, I want him to refund my money.”

The court President, Chief Awos Awosola,fixed a chamber discussion and adjourned the case till November 6.

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THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS Uduaghan: why I oppose capital punishment

16 aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants head to court S

•Okei-Odumakin honoured in Delta

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said he has refrained from signing death warrants for condemned criminals because of his belief in the sanctity of the human life.

Uduaghan, who had opposed capital punishment, spoke at the weekend in Warri, the state capital, at a reception in honour of rights activist, Dr. Jeo Okei-Odumakin, and the inaugural lecture of LITE-Africa Leadership Institute.

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Misan Ukubeyinje, the governor expressed confidence in the Judiciary to always deliver fair judgment.

He extolled the virtues of Okei-Odumakin, adding that without the agitation of people like her, who stood against military dictatorship and civil rights abuses, he would not have become a governor.

LITE Africa’s Executive Director Joel Bisina said the event marked a milestone in the organisation’s history.

He promised to sustain the annual lecture, which attracted top personalities, including

•Uduaghan From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

the academia, civil society groups, government functionaries, among others.

According to him, the organisation places high values on leadership and persons who have served selflessly the needs of the society.

He hailed Okei-Odumakin, adding that “society cannot be what it should be if the youth are not encouraged to promote social change”.

Bisina said: “We are honoured to have her on LITE Africa’s board. Her life is what LITE Africa stands for. So, this event is our token, our own little way to appreciate somebody who has struggled for the betterment of the society.”

The chairman of the occasion Femi Aborisade described the event as worthwhile.

IXTEEN aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State, led by Lancelot Anyaya, are to seek redress in court on the ward congress of the party at the weekend.

Spokesman of the aggrieved aspirants, Mr Soalabo West, explained that “to be clear, there were no elections in the various wards in Rivers State, even though attempts were later made at some secret locations to stage-manage what was a Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI) ward congresses”.

West, who spoke last night in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the sore points the aggrieved parties would table in court is that the five-man panel set up to conduct the ward congress did not show up at the party’s secretariat.

He also alleged that the team went to the home of a former minister, where they were lavishly entertained and wrote the results and concocted reports on Friday night”.

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

According to him, the panel “surprisingly” returned to Abuja same Saturday.

The spokesman said the aggrieved aspirants would tell the court that no electoral material was distributed at the various venues.

He said this made party faithful to wait in vain.

West added that in some cases, like in Asari Toru Local Government Area, some aspirants were allegedly attacked by GDI supporters.

Listing the names of the fiveman electoral panel and the Electoral Appeal Panel, which the national executive committee of the PDP set up for the state, West claimed that the people had personal relationships with former Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike.

The spokesman said it

would amount to a waste of time if the aggrieved aspirants tabled their grievances at the PDP appeal panel.

West alleged that ward delegates, who bought forms for the exercise, were not allowed to return their forms at the PDP secretariat, despite meeting the deadline to return the forms.

The spokesman said the aggrieved aspirants would also tell the court that there had been fundamental breaches of the PDP constitution and guidelines, adding that the party failed to follow its constitution and due process in line with the constitution of executive committees in wards and local governments.

One of the aspirants, Prince Tonye Princewill, faulted the exercise.

He urged the PDP’s national executives “to avoid anything that will distract Mr. President

and resolve the Rivers State issue, before it gets out of hand”.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, Princewill said: “The congress has already been done. The panel has been settled and the electoral umpire has been compromised. All their planning was in vain. For them, the congress was just an opportunity for the masses to fight and destroy things. They do not care if Rivers people die, as long as they win. We do. We care; that’s why we steered clear.

“The Wike-led PDP exco, does not realise that we are several steps ahead of them; none of the key aspirants was involved in the congresses. That should be a signal for the party.

Our silence will speak louder than our words. In the end, PDP will either sit up and address this sham or it will lose us and lose Rivers State. Nothing is impossible.”

Locals save ex-Bayelsa deputy governor in boat mishap From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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ORMER Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi was rescued in a boat mishap by local divers, it was learnt yesterday.

Four people died in the mishap.

An officer of the Department of State Security (DSS) is said to be among those said to have died.

The DSS officer was attached to the Office of the State Project Monitoring Department on Imgbi Road in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

He was said to have accompanied the head of the department, Mr. Ball Oyarede, an aspirant for a seat in the House of Assembly, to Ekeremor Local Government Area for the ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Oyarede was Commissioner for Land and Housing and former representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties.

On returning from the ward congress, a boat the DSS officer and Ebebi boarded at the Ekeremor town jetty capsized before leaving the jetty.

It was learnt that the scramble to rescue Ebebi caused the death of the DSS officer and three others.

A source, who spoke in confidence, blamed the incident on overload.

The source said the boat was loaded beyond its capacity, forcing it to tilt and turning upside down.

Cross River agric programmes excellent, says minister

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HE Federal Government has promised to partner Cross River State to reposition the Agricultural sector and stimulate its value chain.

Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina addressed reporters in Calabar, the state capital, after inspecting facilities at the Songhai Integrated Farm, an initiative of the state government.

Adesina said: “What (Governor Liyel) Imoke is doing is impressive. We have plans to support it because it is excellent and visionary. In Niger Delta, where Cross River is, nobody drinks oil, nobody smokes gas but everybody eats what comes from agriculture.

“The N2.2 billion Songhai facility is to encourage young people to go into agriculture.

The Federal Government is ready to support the state to diversify its economy and add

value. This project will also allow young entrepreneurs to have skills in practical agriculture as well as assist youths to get jobs in agriculture.

“The Federal Government, under its Agriculture Transformation Agenda, intends to put in place a programme, called: Young Employment in Agriculture Programme. Its focus is to create a new cadre of young commercial farmers for Nigeria to replace the present generation of farmers many of whom are getting old.

“So, we are going to work with the state using this facility. In fact, with this programme, we are doing roughly 750,000 young farmers for Nigeria in five years.”

The minister explained that 100 people, who had been trained by the state government to run the facility, would be incorporated into the new initiative to make them more productive.

•Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (right); House of Assembly Speaker Konbowei Benson (middle) and the Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, singing to the congregation at the state’s third annual thanksgiving at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

Piracy: Maritime workers begin indefinite strike

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OAT drivers in Bayelsa State, under the aegis of the Maritime Workers’ Union (MWU), have begun an indefinite strike to protest rising piracy attacks on the waterways.

The action, which grounded the waterways, was said to have disrupted the ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

MWU Chairman Lloyd Sese said the maritime workers took the action following the inability of the state government to curtail the activities of sea pirates.

The union leader alleged

that the government had attempted to tackle the pirates, but was defeated because it set up a task force allegedly led by suspected pirates.

He said the union should be included in the federal and state governments’ Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

Sese said: “This time, we are embarking on an indefinite strike because the government has decided not live up to its responsibilities. Cases of sea piracy on our waterways are increasing.

“We went on a 21-day warning strike but midway into it, the Commissioner for Transport pleaded that we suspend the strike with the promise that in two weeks the government would meet our demands. But till date, nothing has been done.

“Sea pirates rob traders of their money and valuables. In some cases, they rape women on board the boats everyday.

We cannot operate in that kind of hostile environment.

“If the government cannot protect the life and property of boat drivers in the state, then there is nothing we can do than to stop work and allow gov-

ernment to take over the maritime transportation business.”

It was learnt that the strike marred the funeral, at the weekend, of those who died in a boat mishap in Bayelsa State.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Godspower said: “I was supposed to be in Brass since Friday for the burial of my late uncle but our sympathisers and relations could not travel because of the strike.”

Transport Commissioner Mrs. Mari Ebikaki declined to comment on the matter.

She said she had been transferred to the Ministry for Local Government Affairs.

Federal Govt to honour top 100 firms

HE Federal Government has concluded plans to honour the country’s 100 top business endeavours next month.

The initiative, a brainchild of President Goodluck Jonathan, is aimed at identifying and bestowing presidential honour on highly performing business concerns to encourage them to contribute more to the economy.

To actualise the plan, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has set up a Business Assessment Committee, headed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council

T

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

of Nigeria, Mr. Jim Obazee.

Inaugurating the committee at the weekend in Abuja, Aganga said the body had a mandate to critically scrutinise businesses operating within the Nigerian economic space and come up with top 100 among them that meet global best practices.

Such business that will qualify for the award, the minister added, would be among the companies generating high volume of employment opportunities in the economy.

The consultant to the initiative, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, in a statement, said: “The aim of the presidential honour for the top 100 Businesses in Nigeria is to

identity, recognise and celebrate businesses that are contributing to the economy and are ethically above board in their business dealings in line with global best practices.

“Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa and one of the emerging economies on the world stage needs to encourage ethical corporate governance and celebrate businesses that are growing the economy.”

Other members of the committee are Director-General, Industrial Training Fund, Mrs. Juliet Onaeko; Managing Director, Bank of Industries, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; Executive Secretary, Sugar Council, Dr.

Lateef Busari; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Kabir Mashi; and Managing Director, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr. Gbenga Kuye.

Others are Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Salatu Umar; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo; CEO, Jake Riley Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue; a Director from MITI, Bambo Kunle-Salami, and representatives of the minister.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

AKWA IBOM POLITICS The zoning of the Akwa Ibom State governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial District by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) is generating ripples. Correspondent KAZEEM IBRAHYM contends that the new reality may alter the geo-political calculus, ahead of next year’s polls in the Southsouth state.

Ripples over zoning in Akwa Ibom T

HE decision to zone the Akwa Ibom State governorship ticket to Eket Senatorial District by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) came as a shock to some aspirants, especially those from Uyo Senatorial District. But, according to the party, it is final.

Mixed reactions have trailed the decision. While there was jubilation in the camp of aspirants from the favoured zone, there was disquiet among politicians from Uyo District.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in a statement in Abuja that the party decided to back Governor Godswill Akpabio’s push for zoning, after reviewing the decision of the party stakeholders that took the decision.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) has accepted and fully endorsed the decision to zone the Akwa Ibom State governorship position to Eket Senatorial Zone.

“Accordingly, the NWC expects that only aspirants from Eket Senatorial Zone will present themselves for the governorship primary election in the state.

“In the spirit of internal democracy, the NWC promises that there will be free, fair and transparent congresses.

Aspirants from Eket Senatorial Zone are therefore, encouraged to fully participate in the process,” Metuh added.

In April, the State Executive Committee of the PDP had zoned the slot to Eket District. But, the move generated controversy.

The Chairman of the party, Obong Paul Ekpo, explained that the decision was without prejudice to the right of any other person from other senatorial districts to contest for the ticket.

He also said the decision was in line with Section 7(3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended). The section states that ther is a “policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices, in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.”

Ekpo added: “This is without prejudice to the right of any other person from other senatorial districts to contest for the governorship seat in 2015.”

According to observers, the zoning will affect two major contenders from the Uyo District. The first casuality is Former Secretary to Government Obong Umana Umana.

The second victim is former Commissioner for Finance Obong Bassey Albert. If they obtain nomination forms, they may be edged out by the screening committee.

Many people believe that Umana and Albert were sacked by Akpabio for nursing the ambition to succeed him. Since they joined the race, the duo have been calling for a levelplaying field for aspirants, ahead of tprimaries.

As supporters of the aggrieved aspirants await their next line of action, these few weeks will be interesting in the oil-rich state. Critics have said that it is not yet Uhuru for the governor. They pointed out that Akwa Ibom people are republican in nature, adding that they will reject imposition of candidate by any godfather.

Few months ago, aspirants from Uyo District and other prominent leaders led by former Governor Victor Attah have accused Akpabio of

•Emmanuel (third left) addressing supporters during his declaration for governorship in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

• Akpabio

planning to impose his former SSG, Udom Emmanuel, on the party. At a meeting in Abuja, Attah accused the governor of using under-hand tactics to impose his “anointed” aspirant on the state.

The former governor said the people would vote for another party, if Akpabio was not checked by the PDP. Attah said: “We state, with emphasis, that, in view of the widespread disenchantment in the state PDP and Akwa Ibom, Chief Godswill Akpabio cannot claim to be able to single handedly deliver the votes of Akwa Ibom people to the President in 2015.

“Since politics is a game of numbers and other parties have, for sometime, been engaged in an aggressive membership drive, we call on our party at the national level to view as sabotage and a serious anti-party offence, the removal of our membership registers by the state leadership of the party, since six months ago, from all the 329 wards to the Governor’s Lodge or the party’s secretariat in Uyo. “We have therefore, resolved that the registers must be returned to the wards forthwith to enable intending new members to register ahead of the ward congresses. We shall not condone any falsification or fraudu-

• Umana

lent changes in the registers.

“In firm support of the position of the Acting National Chairman, the NWC and the President, we wish to restate our resolute stand against imposition of any candidate. We urge the national leadership of the party to be very firm at ensuring that a levelplaying field is established for all aspirants and to sanction any NWC member found to be aiding and abetting the imposition of any person or group of persons. If a consensus arrangement is to be adopted, it must be done in such a manner that would strengthen democracy. And this is achievable.”

‘The zoning will affect two major contenders from the Uyo District. The first casuality is Former Secretary to Government Obong Umana Umana. The second victim is former Commissioner for Finance Obong Bassey Albert. If they obtain nomination forms, they may be edged out by the screening committee’

• Bassey

Apart from Attah, other elders who are against imposition are former Petroleum Minister,Obong Don Etiebet; former PDP National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Chief Edet Nkpubre, Senator Alloysius Etuk, former Secretary to the Federal Government Obong Ufot Ekaette, his wife, Senator Eme Ekaette, Obong Umana Okon Umana and Senator Helen Esuene.

Umana said Akwa Ibom State is not the only state where there is division over zoning. The aspirant wondered why the state should be singled-out over zoning.

He said: “Majority of PDP members are surprised over the decision of the PDP NWC and wondered why Akwa Ibom State should be singled out since it is not the only state where there is division over zoning. The debate about zoning is not only affecting Akwa Ibom state; it is affecting many states.

“The decision of the PDP NWC is not consistent with what happened in Ekiti State where the party decided to open its door to all aspirants, which resulted in the fielding of its popular candidatem, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. That decision led to a very successful outcome of the election for the PDP. So why is Akwa Ibom case different?

“As loyal members of the party, we will follow due process and make sure the party does the right thing by al-

lowing the people to choose who they want as governor.”

Aligning with Umana’s view, Albert, urged the party and the governor to have a re-think on the matter in the interest of other aspirants and the party’s unity.

The 42-year-old aspirant expressed worry over the governor’s perceived preference for Emmanuel, who hails from Eket.

He pleaded with Akpabio and other leaders of the party to ensure a levelplaying field for aspirants.

Albert, who described himself as one of Akpabio’s close associates, stressed that, having served under the governor as the Finance Commissioner for seven years, he had adequate training under his tutelage.

This, he said, prepared him for the mantle of leadership. The aspirant said he was part of the success story of Akpabio’s “uncommon transformation.”

Albert added: “I have been mentored by Governor Akpabio, having served as his Finance Commissioner for seven years. I was part of his success story. I was part of the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State. With due respect, I have what it takes to continue where my governor will stop. As an insider, I am in the best position to step into his shoes. I have what it takes to take the state to the next level.

“As the Commissioner of Finance for seven years, I was part of the uncommon transformation in the state.

I prepared and supervised the implementation of the budget for seven years.”

Albert said that, as a human being, Akpabio has a right of preference, adding that it is anot against the law. But, he appealed to him to allow the people to decide the fate of the aspirants at the primaries.

He said: “The party and the governor should allow internal democracy in the PDP to determine who becomes the next governor.”

The Elders Forum led by Senator Aloysius Etok has queried the PDP NWC’s decision, saying that it is unacceptable to the majority of PDP members.

They said that, if the decision is allowed to stand, it will destroy the party because it will encourage defection.

The forum said: “The decision of the NWC of the party is completely at variance with its position on the internal democracy and the culture of inclusion, which the leadership of the party has preached. It is also inconsistent with the recent statement by the President that there will be no room in the party for unpopular candidates, who are forced on the people through imposition.

“The decision to zone the governorship position in the party to Eket Senatorial District is supposedly in the interest of justice and equity. Where is the justice and equity when the Managing Director of NDDC is also from Eket Senatorial District? Which kind of justice are they talking about when the same Eket Senatorial District has produced governors in the past when we were in Cross River State?

“With Uyo Senatorial District denied every position in the state and in the party, are members of the party in the district being indirectly told they are not wanted and that they should leave the party?”

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THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

POLITICS

2015: How far can Ikpeazu go in Abia?

Seriki unfolds senatorial ambition

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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•Ikpeasu

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HE Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmen tal Protection Agency (ASEPA), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has joined the governorship race in Abia State.

At the primaries, he will struggle for the ticket with other contenders, including Senator Enyeinnaya Abaribe, Senator Nkechi Nwaorgu, Mr. Friday Nwosu, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Chief Emeka Wogu, Chief Marc Wabara, Dr. Uche Ogah, Chief Alex Oti, and Elder Acho Nwakamma.

The PDP has zoned the slot to Abia South Senatorial Zone, which has not produced the governor in 22 years.

But, some aspirants are kicking against zoning. Ogah and Otti, who are from Abia North, and Nwaogu from Abia Cengtral are in the race.

If the zoning is sustained, the beneficiary will be Ukwa Ngwa ethnic group, which has the largest population in Abia South.

Aspirants from this sub-zone, including Nwosu, Ikpeazu, Wogu and Abaribe, have collected nomination forms.

• Nwaogu

•Wogu

By Emmanuel Oladesu Ikpeazu is from Isialaukwu, Obingwa Local Government Area. He is perceived as a vibrant, dynamic and energetic aspirant. He is also an experienced administrator. In 2002, he was the Transition Committee Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area. He has also served as the Special Adviser to the governor on Environment.

As the General Manager of Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009, he turned around its fortunes by making it a revenue yielding agency. The company also employed over 1000 indigenes during the period.

In 2010, Ikpeazu became the Chairman of the Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Tech-

nology, Aba. He facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Declaring his governorship ambition in Umuahia, the state capital, Ikpeazu said: ‘My commitment is to serve God and humanity. Therefore, I am driven by a strong determination to achieve results. In this regard, I am propelled by the fundamental needs of our people. I believe that, to successfully achieve this, there is the need to consult and involve a wide spectrum of our society”.

He added: “I appreciate intellectual discussions and contributions. I encourage men of ideas to express themselves. I share their opinions and ideas on issues of interest to our society and I hold the view that ideas are the bedrock of progress. Most importantly I take responsibility for every action

‘I appreciate intellectual discussions and contributions. I encourage men of ideas to express themselves. I share their opinions and ideas on issues of interest to our society and I hold the view that ideas are the bedrock of progress’

•Abaribe

and inaction under my watch. As the governor, I will do my best”.

But, can he get the ticket? His opponents at the primaries are formidable actors. They are experienced politicians. For example, Abaribe has a solid structure and network. The former deputy governor contested against former Governor Orji Kalu in 2003. He ran on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was persuaded to return to the PDP, whre he has bounced back as a senator in 2007. In 2011, he was re-elected as a senator.

Wogu, who resigned as the Minister of Labour and Productivity two weeks ago, is a grassrrots politician.

He also has money to run a state wide campaign.

Nwakamma is also a household name in Abia. He is perceived as a loyal PDP chieftain.

Emuchay and Wabara are from Ukwa East Local Government Area.

They are formidable candidates.

Nwosu, a lawyer, is also popular in the party. But, he has not held any political office. Therefore, critics said that he is not a tested hand.

Josiah Abiola, a journalist, is vying for the House of Representatives in Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency, Lagos State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC. He spoke with REMI ADELOWO on his ambition and plans for his constituency.

Abiola: Ifako/Ijaye deserves better representation

•Abiola

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HY are you in politics?

I am in politics for the sake of humanity and to promote the interest of the masses. I want equal distribution of wealth for the haves and have-nots. The less-privileged should be taken care of.

What are your political beliefs and philosophy?

I am a profound and unrepentant student of the Awoist philosophy of welfarism. I also believe in social justice as a politician with absolute respect for the rule of law.

Do you believe the APC has what it takes to defeat the PDP next year?

The APC is waxing stronger every day. What happened in Osun State recently is part of the new reawakening of the electorate. The PDP governors are coming into the APC, while very credible people are joining the APC daily. At the grassroots, there are reports that PDP members are trooping to the APC daily. APC is strategically out to dislodge the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) come 2015, and you can quote me on this.

Nigerians are fed up with the poor performance of the PDP-led Federal Government. They have failed in various areas like supply and power generation, education, roads construction, health, youth empowerment and employment.

Who are your mentors in politics?

I look up to people like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and my indefatigable leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Asiwaju, is a quintessential visionary, a leader of men, shrewd politician and an astute professional administrator. He is a dogged fighter; it is on record that perhaps, after Awolowo and Abiola, no other individual has invested in the Yoruba cause than the Jagaban Borgu. Asiwaju is a charitable, kind, compassionate and understanding man; that is why he keeps receiving accolades from everywhere.

You are a journalist; in what way has journalism helped you in your sojourn in politics?

Apart from being a political editor for years, I have been in the political terrain since 1999. I actually cut my political teeth from Tinubu.

I was once an image maker for Chief

Bisi Akande, the immediate Interim National Chairman of the APC. I was the Deputy Director, Media and Publicity under the group called Independent Campaign Group (ICG) in 2007 on the road to Governor Fashola’s first term in office and I am still relevant in the industry.

How deep is your pocket to fund your campaign?

In the Nigerian politics of today, people vote for credible personalities, who can represent them well.

Of course, one would spend money, but, once you have the people’s support, they will always support you materially and give you their votes when it comes to the party primaries and the general election. The issue of money is secondary.

How do you intend to defeat the incumbent lawmaker, who is seeking re-election?

From what I know and have heard from our National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there will be primaries to pick our party’s candidate. By the grace of God, I believe that I’m the aspirant to beat at the primaries.

Why do you think you are the best man for this job?

I live out and out in Ifako-Ijaiye

‘It is on record that, after Awolowo and Abiola, no other individual has invested in the Yoruba cause than the Jagaban Borgu. Asiwaju is a charitable, kind, compassionate and understanding man; that is why he keeps receiving accolades from everywhere’

and I am not new there; I know the terrain. I am a grassroots politician, vibrant and ready to deliver. Our people are not happy with the present representation at the House of Reps because they are not getting the much needed dividends of democracy like other federal constituencies in the state. People see me as an alternative choice and that is why I succumbed to the pressure to run in 2015. Our people are yearning for good representation.

Let’s talk about your legislative agenda..

For me, the attraction to public office is the desire to deploy governance into serving the utmost good for the vast majority of the citizens.

This means a sacred social contract to which genuine political leaders must subscribe to in democratic governance. As a member of the Federal House of Representatives, the people will be at the centre of my policies and actions. I would embark on a periodical program ward roundtable that will draw participation from representatives of community opinion leaders, traditional institutions, religious groups, youths, the physically challenged, professionals, students and nonstate actors in each of the wards in Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency.

The purpose of the ward roundtable is to conduct critical need assessments in each of the wards that make up the constituency, wide mapping problems, issues and demands that require the attention of government.

ORMER Minister of State for Defence Chief Demola Seriki has unfolded his ambition for the Senate in Lagos West District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He told party members in Badagry that he joined the race to serve the district with his wealth of experience.

The former minister said the Senate is a place of ideas and law making requiring the experience and expertise of leading politicians across the federation.

Other aspirants include Deputy Governor Tawa Orelope-Adefulire, former Agricultural Commissioner Enoch Ajiboso and and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa.

However, a party sourcer said the slot may be reserved for Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), whose tenure of office expires next month.

Seriki urged the delegates to vote for him at the primaries, promising that he would not let the district and the party down.

He said: “I have what it takes to be a senator. I have been a minister in three ministries and hos the Senate works. It is a place for experienced people to contribute to robust legislative business.”

•Seriki

Aspirant urges electorate to vote wisely

By Musa Odoshimokhe

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yewa South, Ogun State, Akinola Idowu, has urged the electorate to reject dubious politicians at the polls.

He lamented that voters usually voted for leaders, who plunder the commonwealth with impunity, adding that the solution is to elect competent leaders.

Idowu, a House of Representatives aspirant, also frowned at the politics of defection, saying that it is not based on ideology. He said the gale of defections are propelled by gross opportunism and greed, advising Nigerians to embrace politicians with strong political principles.

Idowu said: ‘’The selection process is usually defective. The primaries are manipulated. It is not all-inclusive. Aspirants are usually imposed as candidates.”

The aspirant explained that the APC will reposition the country, if it has more federal legislators. He added: ‘’If the present House has truly represented the people, there would be no need for a National Conference, which is an indirect way of passing a vote of no confidence on the lawmakers.’’

Idowu promised to attract federal projects to Yewa South Constituency, if elected as a legislator. He lamented the brain drain in the country, which he attributed to poor management of resources.

The politician maintained that competent Nigerians have shunned politics, making unpatriotic elements to dominate the scene. He said: ‘’We have been passing the blame of our woes to the people in power. The truth is that the people deserve the type of leadership they have elected.’’

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Nigeria, Ebola and Western media

Auto finance •Nigeria’s banks must step up their capabilities in this regard

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CONOMISTS and patriots are united in the belief that the indigenes should be the most passionate drivers of the growth and development of any country. Given this fact, it is a surprise that South Africa’s WesBank appears to have stolen a march on its Nigerian counterparts. The bank recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigeria’s National Automotive Council (NAC) to provide financing for the purchase of made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

This scheme is very likely to be beneficial to all parties when it eventually takes off. Nigeria’s fledgling auto manufacturing industry will get the increased orders that are vital to its survival and growth. Employment will increase, as both the car-makers and ancillary industries will require highly-skilled indigenous labour. The country’s long-suffering middle class will finally be able to get its hands on brand-new vehicles at a fraction of their current cost.

‘Nigeria’s banks must take the lead in extending credit facilities for the purchase of locally-assembled cars.

The increasing sophistication of the banking sector, as shown in the rise of cashless and online transactions, can easily be parlayed into the provision of financing for the acquisition of made-in-Nigeria vehicles’

However, it is disheartening that it should be a South African financial institution that appears to have taken the lead in this initiative. In spite of the comprehensive effort to increase the size and capabilities of Nigerian banks during the tenure of Professor Charles Soludo as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor between 2004 and 2009, it is strange that the NAC could not reach agreement with a local bank, but had to look outside the country’s borders. Nigerian banks are no strangers to asset-financing operations; several of them have hire-purchase agreements with local businesses to facilitate the purchase of electronics, home appliances, real estate and vehicles.

Since local banks lack neither the financial nor the technical ability to get into the country’s nascent auto-finance industry for locally-assembled vehicles, it is obvious that their seeming reluctance is a carry-over from their notorious reluctance to engage in feasible long-term financing. In its 2012 annual report, the CBN noted that deposit money banks overwhelmingly favoured short-term loans to medium and long-term loans.

Outstanding loans and advances maturing one year and below stood at 59.1 per cent as at the end of June 2012, compared to 14.8 per cent for medium-term (above one year and below three years) and 26.1 per cent for long-term loans (three years and above).

In their defence, banks point to the very high interest rates obtainable in Nigeria, the demands of their shareholders, and the many obstacles inherent in long-term financing in the country.

These excuses, however, cannot fully explain the preparedness of a foreign bank to wade into the Nigerian market despite its well-known dangers. Indeed, WesBank is following in the path of South African companies like MTN and Multichoice, both of whom are reaping rich rewards for going boldly where others feared to tread. The obvious downside is the reality that foreign companies will seek to repatriate their profits, unlike their indigenous counterparts who are much more likely to reinvest in the Nigerian market, with the obvious multiplier effects.

Nigeria’s banks must take the lead in extending credit facilities for the purchase of locally-assembled cars. The increasing sophistication of the banking sector, as shown in the rise of cashless and online transactions, can easily be parlayed into the provision of financing for the acquisition of made-in-Nigeria vehicles. The substantial experience banks have garnered in hire-purchase and asset-leasing will stand them in good stead. While the profits may not be as large as those that can be gained in shortterm financing, they are arguably far less risky since they are more comprehensively spread out.

The wider benefits to the nation cannot be underestimated: a decrease in the number of unbanked citizens, faster transition from a cash economy to a credit economy, the deepening of the country’s retail trade, and a much more attractive market for foreign and domestic investors. It is time for Nigeria’s banks to put their money where their mouths are.

Ogun’s worthy steps ????????/

•A commendable industrialisation drive; but it has to take full advantage of its proximity to Lagos

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OR a state ranked as one of the lowest overall performers in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report for 2008 and 2010, it is understandable that the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, would be exultant at the latest finding of the global bank’s Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 publication that the state is now among those that “made the biggest strides towards the national frontier of good practices”.

The report specifically focused on variables such as starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property and enforcing contracts. It found that Ogun State in particular, has radically overhauled its construction permit system by decentralising the approval while also putting in place a committee to monitor delays. The finding obviously says a lot about what is achievable with proper focus and singleminded commitment to reforms at different tiers of government.

However, the findings in respect of Ogun State go beyond mere attestation to the valiant efforts of the state government under Governor Amosun to reposition the state’s economy. Indeed, the recent report of the preparedness of over 100 companies to locate their manufacturing outfits in the state, of which 32 are said to be already on ground at different levels of operation, would seem proof enough that the state government may finally be getting things right.

No doubt, there is a lot that the Amosun administration can learn from the Doing Business Report. Perhaps the most important is that it is not yet Uhuru – at least as

far as the industrialisation drive of the state is concerned. To start with, a number of the problems highlighted – and these are not entirely its making – remain impregnable. It bears stating here that the state can only achieve limited results in an environment which remains largely hostile to business. We refer here to the abject state of power and other infrastructure which make the country essentially a non-starter as far as creating a competitive business environment is concerned.

We are also aware of a number of extant practices which are no less inhibitive to businesses which only the Federal Government is in the position to address.

Admittedly, the state government has done a lot in the last three years to open up the state for investors and to enhance its status as investment destination. We must admit too that unlike many states in the federation, Ogun State has especially in the past three years gone beyond a mere promise. It is undoubtedly one of the leading states in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). From a paltry monthly IGR of N700 million three years ago, the state currently rakes in N4 billion – thanks to its vastly improved machinery of collection of taxes and also its close collaboration with Lagos State on the residency rule.

But it can do far more than it is doing at the moment. To be more specific, the state is still far from being able to optimise the immense benefits of its proximity to Lagos, the commercial capital of the federation. But then, Ogun’s latent potential as manufacturing hub of

the federation, given its contiguity to Lagos, cannot be in dispute. It seems about time therefore for the state government to activate its promise of revving full throttle to make the aspirations real.

With many tertiary institutions in the state, it is obvious the government must do a lot by way of job creation to provide for the products of these schools.

Howbeit, the unmistakable signs are that Ogun State can do more. Indeed, given the declining inflow into the federation account, the state simply has no choice if it truly desires to deliver on the massive projects it has embarked upon.

As we already pointed out however, the Federal Government must assist the state in addressing the challenges facing industrialisation because, in the long run, it would be beneficial to both the state and the country at large. It is not a burden the state government alone can carry.

‘Indeed, the recent report of the preparedness of over 100 companies to locate their manufacturing outfits in the state, of which 32 are said to be already on ground at different levels of operation, would seem proof enough that the state government may finally be getting things right’

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IR: Virtually all western/international media have been chattering on Nigeria’s successful campaign against the Ebola outbreak. Many of them even go as far as asking what lessons the West can learn from Nigeria’s handling of the crises.

The World Health Organization declared Nigeria Ebola free last Monday.

I find it interesting and amusing, albeit not surprising that the western media machinery (mostly US based) who have been perennially scornful of anything Nigerian are the ones giving overwhelmingly positive reviews of the country.

For starters, the world’s most powerful nation has been hit with the Ebola virus and has been grappling gracelessly to rein in the scourge; also its peoples are paralyzed with fear. I read an article in The Daily Beast about doctors in the US complaining that their clinics are being overrun by Ebola scares. So it’s a situation where Western media now realize that those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones.

Secondly, a ‘Now I see’ moment has suddenly dawned on the ‘Can anything good or right come out of Nigeria/Africa?’ mentality that pervades western media. Nobody in the West ever thought any African nation could successfully deal with the Ebola outbreak let alone Western media who all kept reporting paralyzing and heart-wrenching stories of the outbreak.

And even with the glaring success Nigeria has recorded, there are still some western media folks with the mentality of “Until I get to Nigeria and thrust my hand in the sides and palms of Nigerians without contacting the Ebola virus I will not believe Nigeria is Ebola free”.

Last Monday for instance, after reporting that the WHO had declared Nigeria Ebola free, Bloomberg’s Stephanie Ruhle asked her Market Makers co-host Erik Schatzker whether he believes Nigeria is really Ebola free, to which he responded “Why would WHO say that if it’s not true?” She then retorted: “You know what, I don’t know what I believe about Ebola these days” Ruhle’s response is emblematic in part, of the general western media skepticism about African capacity to deal with the virus, but mostly of the fear the Ebola virus has instilled the US. Yes, the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health, ably headed by Prof. Onyeabuchi Chukwu, the Lagos State government, supporting Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and relevant NGOs developed and maintained in real time a highly coordinated strategic and tactical structure/mechanism to battle Ebola as soon as it broke out in Nigeria.

Nigeria conquered the Ebola scourge largely due to the harmonious response of its citizenry especially to the fear of the virus.

In the end, Nigeria did not close her borders, nor did she restrict flights and yet conquered Ebola virus because she refused to be overrun by the fear of it.

If the US and other West African nations are looking for some lessons to learn other than the strategic and tactical approach of the Nigerian government, it should be the response of Nigerians to the fear of the virus, as the saying goes ‘the fear of death is to be more dreaded than death itself’; so also should the fear of Ebola be dreaded than the virus itself.

It is the fear of the virus that is engendering fear mongering about the possibility of airborne Ebola in the US right now; it was the fear of the virus that led villagers in Guinea to butcher health workers and pastors who had in fact come to help them.

Fear prompts paralysis and breeds paranoia and its consequences can be, and are tragic. Once the fear of the virus pervades, the spread of the virus overtakes any efforts made or progress gained.

Nigerians couldn’t afford the consequences of fear and thus adopted the agencies of humour and prayers to complement government efforts.

Now that’s a simple lesson worth learning.

• Dolapo Ajala, Abuja.

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 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Harmony between health workers is of great importance among health practitioners for the optimum healthcare services delivery. That is why efforts are being made by the federal government to find lasting solution to reduce rivalries and disharmony among health workers. But Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board [KSPHCMB] seems to be interested in brewing disharmony among its staff.

At the 169th meeting of Kano state executive council of October 8, a memo to recruit 4701 staff for the state primary health centres across 44 local government areas came up, of which a committee was constituted comprising commissioners of special duties, health, women affairs and social development, representative of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, [ALGON] for monitoring and smooth recruitment exercise.

The personnel listed to be recruited include medical officers [if available], Community Health Officers, Nurses/midwives, community health extension workers, environmental health officers, medical records officers, food hygienist/ nutritionist, health education officers, laboratory technician/assistants, supporting staff, health attendants/assistants, security personnel, general maintainance staff and den-

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For peace to reign among Kano health workers tal technicians/assistants. Unfortunately, KSPHCMB seems to have different interest in the recruitment exercise contrary to the above recommendations.

In a paper sent across 44 local government areas with neither statement nor signature, but only a table titled ‘PHCMB minimum staff requirement per health facilities’,

it only recommended certain categories of health workers, like community health workers, nurses, etc. but intentionally removed environmental health officers, food hygienists/nutritionists, health education officers and some others that are equally very relevant in primary health care settings. This action is fast brewing crisis and gath-

ering storms among health workers as to the sidelining of some and preferential treatment to some, contrary to the main objectives of the recruitment. Some local government chairmen went ahead without proper consultation to interview applicants on their own without the presence of representatives stated in the memo.

Measuring standards in universities IR: Naturally, most university administrators want to be called “the best”. The Yoruba say even when a mouth is stenchridden, the owner licks it. Without humility and openness of mind, human beings cannot acknowledge and accept their limitations and corrections. In many instances, dictators don’t want to be corrected, and they don’t look kindly on complainants. Consequently, they can hardly be among the best, since only God

is omniscient and infallible. The Catholic Church has redefined her doctrine of papal infallibility; but it remains difficult to accept the concept of human infallibility. Dictators can, of course, use propaganda and clever means to paint themselves as the best. They become a good looking apple that is rotten within. Many Nigerian universities are beautifully decorated, even when facilities may be scanty.

What are the indices of a standard

Can the Police withdraw the security details of speaker of the House of Representatives? Of course, yes, but there have to be a reasonable reason for doing such.

That the police withdrew the speaker’s security aides because he has defected to another party citing the section 68(1)(g) of 1999 constitution as a reason is in fact the height of impunity. The section of the constitution says that “a lawmaker who defects when there is no division in his party shall vacate his seat”. Of course, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has defected but how and when did the police confirm

that there is no division in his party more so that there are diverse court judgments on the division in PDP? An Abuja high court declared that there was no division in PDP while two federal high courts, one sitting in Sokoto and another in Ilorin declared that there was division in PDP. In this kind of situation, the police are not supposed to take sides. They should have left the case for the court to decide instead of usurping judicial powers.

Police action means that they are partisans and this portends a grave danger for our democracy. There have been various situations where lawmakers defect from one

S

university? Above all, there must be facilities and facilitators, including being well-staffed with both academic and non-academic personnel, offices, and of course, adequate classrooms. When there are shortages in those respects, there are bound to be crises. How many university administrators pay attention to that fact? We see situations in which student populations are growing and new departments are established without corresponding

When police assumes judiciary’s role

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IR: Ridiculous, isn’t it? In fact, it is more than condemnable.

Our democracy is now being raped by the Nigerian Police. Those who are saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order are the ones breaking it. What a slap on our face! Nigerians need to wake up because these so called enforcers of law are on the verge of rubbishing the image of our dear country.

Why is the Nigerian Police making nonsense of this case? Can we say that they have now been pocketed? If a lawmaker defects from one party to another, how does that concern the police?

For peace to reign and to avoid industrial crisis and disharmony, rivalries and bickering among Kano health workers, the contents of the memo should be strictly adhered to, for primary health care settings does not belong to the chosen ones of KSPHCMB, but other health practitioners sidelined are equally of importance as no single profession has exclusive preserve of primary health care services. It is a joint and collaborative work.

If KSPHCMB is really for better health services delivery, it should treat all staff equally by being impartial and stop the bias to some cadres, particularly to community health workers.

• M. S. Aliyu, Abuja.

political party to another but the police were nowhere to be found then. Those who say that Nigerian Police is corrupt may have gotten it right.

The police should stop arrogating the powers of the judiciary to itself.

Or, are they saying that the Nigerian judiciary is useless?

Police’s work is not to judge; it is the court that pronounce judgment; police work is to ensure that court judgments are respected and implemented.

So, Nigerian Police should cut their excesses. Enough is enough!

•Jamiu Idowu Esho (IDJ) Eruwa, Oyo State.

number and sizes of classrooms.

There are crises also when a worker cannot go on leave, because s/he is the only person employed to do the job. S/he must, therefore, never fall sick or have any emergency. There are crises when adequate transportation arrangement is lacking for students and staff of universities that are distant from town.

Some years ago, someone came back from Malaysia and said “Wow! Over there, you could lie on your bed and use your gadget to read all the books in the library. And if you order any book, it comes within two or three days.” Are Nigerian university administrators concerned with facilities and facilitators, or they are busy with expansionism with which facilities and facilitators don’t catch-up? I heard someone saying somewhere that with expansionism, you get to engage contractors! What are the priorities of the Nigerian university administrators, if facilities (including transportation of staff and students, classrooms and computer software for result computation) and facilitators (including non-academic staff) are secondary in their scale of priority?

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, PhD, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

21

COMMENTS

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N October 1, a public holiday to mark the country’s independence anniversary, I set out for Glendora bookshop in Ikeja, Lagos, confident of getting a copy of Egbon of Lagos, a dramatic work by Akin Bello and the winning entry for the $20,000 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa established by The Lumina Foundation, which was awarded in July. It was unbelievable that the book was not in stock, which may not be the same thing as saying it was out of stock because it was never available in the first place. It was disappointing that the bookshop attendant, an enthusiastic young man, was clueless about the work and the prize, despite his boast that he read the major newspapers routinely. He suggested that I should go to Jazzhole, a sister bookshop at Falomo, Lagos.

His idea made sense to me as both shops had a reputation for being up to date in the book business, although, in my estimation, that standing had been dented by the dramatic disappointment at Glendora.

Falomo was at the other side of the megacity; but it was a lazy day without the familiar road traffic challenges. The courteous female attendant at Jazzhole was also unaware of the work and the prize. She suggested Quintessence in Parkview Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos, which sounded sensible, considering that it also had a good rating as a book place.

I began to wonder about the distribution of Bello’s book, and reflected on the book publishing chain, particularly the flow from the writer to the market. When I finally located the shop that also promoted Africana, I marvelled at the breathtakingly picturesque scenery. Sadly, I experienced another letdown. But, this time, it was encouraging that the young man who attended to me wrote down the writer’s name and the book title, apparently a signal that the shop may consider stocking the work.

A week earlier, I had read a newspaper story on this

‘This is why the celebration of the works of Bello and Ukala as dramatic texts divorced from performance may ultimately represent a subtle subversion of the dramatic genre if they are not eventually elevated to the stage’

A

T last, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has responded to the overwhelming and outpouring of goodwill from fellow countrymen. He got off the fence to beat his party’s deadline on Thursday, September 30 to pick the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to vie for the presidency next February.

Many thanks to Nigerians, especially PDP governors and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) who contributed N22 million each and other groups that donated their widow’s mite to raise about N98 million that made it possible for a man who had no shoes to defray the forms’ N22 million price tag. It is interesting that the PDP Governors’ Forum mobilised the funds notwithstanding that its members groan under paucity of funds and go cap in hands for handouts from the federal government to pay the salaries of workers in their domains.

But can 17 million endorsements in a country where more than 70 million have been captured as eligible voters pass for an overwhelming or a groundswell of support to which the President has responded to?

This can only be taken as a groundswell of deception reminiscent of the one given to the Elephant who was tricked into the ditch believing that the decorated path led to the throne.

The architects of this deception went to the extent of raising N98 million from undisclosed sources for the President to buy the forms. At the Wadata House national headquarters of the ruling party, the President in turn said he was overwhelmed by the gesture of his party and Nigerians, especially the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by combative Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio that raised the funds to procure the forms. In return, President

‘Can 17 million endorsements in a country where more than 70 million have been captured as eligible voters pass for an overwhelming or a groundswell of support to which the President has responded to? This can only be taken as a groundswell of deception reminiscent of the one given to the elephant who was tricked into the ditch believing that the decorated path led to the throne’

Two plays in search of a stage year’s Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature, and Bello was quoted as saying: “I hate it when people place so much emphasis on the prize money. I am constantly being asked: ‘how much has $20,000 changed my life?’ The truth is that the money is tucked away in a fixed deposit so it has not changed my life in any way. And that’s the way I want it for some time at least.” Bello, who is 64 years old, also said: “At my age, what new things do I want to go about acquiring frenziedly because I’ve won a prize? I’d want them to forget about the money and look for my play to read if they’re really interested in literature and literary attainment.” He further said: “I absolutely detest the poverty-induced Nigerian mentality that portrays and delineates everything in the world as money, money, money. I also hate it when people who haven’t even seen the book, let alone read it, want you to start telling them about it.”

Published in September 2013, Egbon of Lagos reportedly “took about a year from writing to publishing”. It is said to be “about a journalist in Lagos – of Lagos ancestry – who tries to carve a niche for himself in the city.” It reportedly beat 162 others to the prize. Bello said: “The metaphor in the play may have caught on with the judges.

But I want anyone who wants to really find out what makes it worthy of attention to get a copy and read it.”

The problem, Mr. Bello, is where to get the book.

What’s more, it is interesting, not to say puzzling, that

staging the play doesn’t appear to be on the cards, given his emphasis on reading. For drama especially, if people don’t read, they can watch, which may be considered as the beauty of the genre. It is a shameful testimony to the state of the performing arts in the country that a play of such status may never be put on stage. Or is Egbon of Lagos closet drama? In other words, is it probably more suitable for reading than for production?

It would appear that it is the year of “the drama”, but not the year of “the stage”. To illustrate the fundamental import of this distinction, it is useful to highlight the enlightening citation received by Luigi Pirandello, an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet and short story writer who was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for his “bold and brilliant renovation of the drama and the stage” Intriguingly, the focus on the drama to the detriment of the stage was similarly discernible as Sam Ukala, a professor of Theatre Arts, on October 9 clinched the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited. His dramatic text, Iredi War, was adjudged the best out of 124 plays. This is how Ukala described his play: “Iredi War, being the title of my own work, happened in 1906 in Delta State. It is a true life story of the mess put in place by the colonial overlords to overwhelm the local people. In that mess, some of the local people became collaborators and helped the white people to mess their people up. The motive behind this was to denigrate the people and their culture.”

It is noteworthy that the judges applauded Ukala for “the masterly handling of vast historical material through the narrative and action method.” It is not surprising that this commendation hints at the logic of performance.

The truth is that although drama may be created and treated as literature outside the context of performance, it is within the setting of theatrical performance that it probably achieves the greatest fidelity to form.

This is why the celebration of the works of Bello and Ukala as dramatic texts divorced from performance may ultimately represent a subtle subversion of the dramatic genre if they are not eventually elevated to the stage.

Considering that the two prizes are awarded for the literary genres of drama, prose and poetry, and the spotlight is in perpetual motion, it may be a good idea for the sponsors to introduce a performance dimension, or more specifically, a stage production, when the focus is on drama.

Overwhelming support or groundswell of deception?

By Bunmi Ogunmodede Jonathan promised to justify the confidence reposed in him. What a melodramatic support from patriots, who all along have been complacent to the abduction of more than 200 secondary school girls from their hostel in Chibok.

Simple arithmetic clearly shows that a support from 17 million in a population of more than 170 million people cannot in anyway be said to be outpouring, as eloquently painted by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati on the eve of his principal’s response to the wishes of his ‘teeming’ supporters. The endorsement represents less than a quarter of the registered voters and a 10th of Nigeria’s estimated population.

The TANs of this world and the PDP members at their zonal rallies, where signatures were gathered to endorse the President to run again have only succeeded in reliving the One Million Man March of the Sani Abacha era. The late military dictator manipulated the democratic process until he became the candidate of the five registered parties that participated in the political transition that ended nowhere. As it was in the Abacha days, so it is now and so ever shall it be forever and ever.

How on earth can 1.7 million endorsement be described as overwhelming for the President in the Southwest, where the electoral umpire – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) put the figure of registered voters at 14, 298, 356? Nothing could be closer to deception!

Now, Dr Jonathan has not only waited till the 11th hour to honour the clarion call and overwhelming support to pick the forms on the bills of donations from concerned compatriots, it can be safely concluded that the President is an unwilling candidate but dragged into the race by some characters, whose existence depends on the Jonathan presidency. Those behind Neighbour to Neighbour, the campaign platform for Jonathan’s election in 2011 got handsome rewards for their efforts.

Only time will tell if what the President got from 10 per cent of the population could actually pass for

an overwhelming support, or a groundswell of deception from the Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP, where democracy is approved by the leadership by party leadership, now that he has taken the plunge as the sole candidate of Africa’s largest party.

The frustrations as expressed by the duo of Dr Abdul Tafawa-Balewa and Akosoba Duke-Abiola, who were denied the PDP nomination form have rubbished claims by the party CWC that no aspirant openly challenged Jonathan, who himself never showed interest – at least publicly – until the September 30 deadline set by the party leadership.

Whether another term is Jonathan’s second of his third is a matter for the court to decide. The argument of party leaders that the only form printed was for Dr. Jonathan, who was adopted as the flagbearer because of the dearth of challengers no longer hold water with the interest shown by at least two aspirants on the platform of the ruling party before the window closed on September 30.

That Jonathan is the only man that has the key to fix Nigeria and that he is the only person with the charisma and pedigree to lead the country to the Promised Land casts aspersions on millions of others in a party that prides itself as the largest in Africa.

• Ogunmodede writes from Lagos

‘The argument of party leaders that the only form printed was for Dr. Jonathan, who was adopted as the flagbearer because of the dearth of challengers no longer hold water with the interest shown by at least two aspirants on the platform of the ruling party before the window closed on September 30’

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

22

COMMENTS

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HEN recently the World Health Organization (WHO) gave Nigeria a clean bill of health on the Ebola pandemic, it left no one in doubt that the clearance was largely provisional. WHO country director in Abuja, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz while full of praises for the country for its efforts in checking the spread, had then warned “we have only won a battle; the war will end when West Africa is also declared free of Ebola”. And if one may add, the war will be completely won when the world has been declared free of Ebola.

The warning became necessary with the ravaging of the disease in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. But it has also reared its ugly head in some western countries of the world including the United States of America. Since the world has become a global community, there is still every possibility for someone else to bring the disease into our shores. And the chances are very high. After all, the disease was brought into the country in the first instance, by a Liberian.

It therefore calls for the stepping up of all those precautionary measures that were put in place as the disease lived with us. The warning became more compelling given the prevailing high level of illiteracy and ignorance in the country. Even as the disease was being battled, there were those opposed to some of the temporary precautionary measures put in place to contain its spread. We saw this opposition in some churches that introduced measures to limit body contact as their contribution to checking the spread.

There were even spurious claims of capacity to cure the disease by so-called faith healers

‘Beyond the matter of chest-beating, the war is not yet over. Those who want to savour the credit for the Ebola battle still have much to do by the way they prepare to wage a conclusive war against it’

T

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Still on Ebola even with the efforts of the federal and Lagos State governments to engage them not to admit Ebola patients.

There were others against the advice to shun certain practices including the consumption of bush meat. Such people may go haywire if it is not sufficiently drummed into their ears that danger still lurks in the air. That was the aim of the advisory from the WHO chief and it goes without saying.

Expectedly, our governments have stepped up the screening of travelers at the airports and all entry points into the country. Good as these measures are, they may not be adequate given the very porous nature of our borders. This is especially so in the northern parts of the country where the authorities do not even seem to have a correct idea of the number of entry points. And without the necessary records as to the nation’s porous and unmanned borders, the risk of further spread is better imagined. Added to this risk is the inability to differentiate between citizens of neighbouring countries especially in the north-east flank and our citizens because of cultural, religious and language similarities.

If therefore there is an outbreak of the virus in those neighbouring countries, chances are that it will spread very fast into this country.

Our leaders need to pay special attention to this else we may have to pay very dearly for it. The current battle against the Boko Haram insurgents has revealed the glaring security loopholes that exist in that part of the country. There is a compelling need to take a more

HE world would have received the news of the truce signed between the federal government and the Boko Haram insurgents with cautious elation. This certainly would bring a new lease of life especially to residents of the North-east, the area hardest hit by the activities of the blood thirsty sect. The group had dislocated the normal life of the entire north-eastern Nigeria turning it into a killing field for the past five years. The mindless butchery by the group gave it global headlines and made some western countries to call for the designation of the group as a terrorist organization. However, the federal government in its wisdom resisted such branding at the time giving as reason that it would make every Nigerian be labelled and singled out for unnecessary security checks outside the country. Now the spectre of the group has grown beyond what the government could blunt or degrade as they have already claimed territories and hoisted their jihadist flags collecting revenues from the locals.

The Boko Haram has been portrayed to be better armed and equipped over and above the scale of equipment holding of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We have found this a justification for the failure and inability of the armed forces to contain the miscreants who fought with greater conviction and commitment. How they acquired their weapons and brought them into the country with the ubiquitous security networks across the nooks and crannies of the country beats one’s imagination. Footages of the arsenal and weaponry of the group showed heavy armaments that could not have come in concealed sacks that could pass unnoticed by the security agents and intelligence community. We should therefore be asking fundamental questions about the competence of the security and intelligence community in gathering critical intelligence for the safety and security of the country.

There has been some scepticism about the ceasefire and truce knowing that the sect has acquired a notoriety of a trans-border terrorist group. Their support and revenue bases are traceable to both internal and external sources possibly from disgruntled politicians and Al Qaeda in the Maghreb. This therefore means that any serious negotiation can only be carried out if we tear the façade and unveil those behind the sect with the aim of knowing and settling whatever be their grievances; otherwise, the whole thing would be exercise in futility.

The manner of government negotiation and acceptance of the ceasefire and truce appears hazy and suspect. First, there was no clear cut and articulated framework to deal with the crises. The government appears caught in the web of domestic and global campaigns against its jelly-footed method in fighting the insurgency. This truce with the insurgents therefore appears like a desperate and calculated political move with 2015 in view. This is because some groups are already tying their electoral support to the release of the Chibok girls and an end to insurgency in the North-east.

As if the move of the government in this truce business was not an issue of concern enough, the speed with which the Defence Headquarters directed immediate compliance with the ceasefire and truce calls to question any serious interest on the part of the military to prosecute the campaign against the insurgents. It was like a heavy weight boxing champion dazed and drunk from the punches of a challenger and waiting for the knell only for his

serious view of such illegal entry points from Chad, Niger and Cameroon. We should still count ourselves lucky there has been no reported incident of the virus in those countries especially as they may not possess the necessary capacity to track down the disease the same way Nigeria did.

That the danger is not yet over was vividly illustrate by the pandemonium at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport last week when a suspected Ebola patient arrived the country. Reports had that the Nigerian who had been cured of the disease arrived in company of a Nigerian diplomat to underscore the point that he has a clean bill of health and should not be stigmatized. But that was not to be. The realization that he had suffered the disease threw those at the airport into panic despite the fact that he was accompanied by a Nigerian diplomat as evidence he was Ebola free.

Such is the level of fear which the virus has inflicted on the psyche of our people.

This should not surprise anyone given its lethality and mortality rate.

It is thus instructive that there must be concerted efforts from the various levels of government and citizens alike to ensure that neither foreigners nor our citizens are again allowed to come into the country with the disease undetected. In this regard, the federal government has more roles to play given its constitutional responsibilities.

That is why the undue politicization of which level of government should take

credit for the success that was the outcome of the battle against Ebola was unnecessary.

The WHO country director and the former minister of health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu captured the issues involved very succinctly the very day Nigeria was declared Ebola free after 42 days or double the incubation period of 21 days with no new case.

For Vaz, the credit should go the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through President Jonathan, the people of Nigeria and all stakeholders and development partners.

Chukwu’s list was more inclusive. Apparently responding to claims and counter claims on who should take the credit for the success, he said the feat was recorded because of the distinctive leadership of President Jonathan.

He then went on to acknowledge the roles played by the federal ministry of health and its agencies- the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Port Health Service, the ministries of health of Lagos, Enugu and Rivers, WHO, UNICEF, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners who were part of the team. But he left nobody in doubt that he considered it the greatest achievement of his ministry as he was resigning to pursue his governorship ambition in Ebonyi State. How this success will count in his new endeavour will be borne out with time. But there is no doubt Chukwu did very well in the management of the Ebola crisis and left when the ovation was loudest.

Whether it was by a stroke of luck or through painstaking efforts, he will live to take the credit for successfully waging a decisive war against Ebola on these shores.

Beyond the matter of chest-beating, the war is not yet over. Those who want to savour the credit for the Ebola battle still have much to do by the way they prepare to wage a conclusive war against it. Reports from surviving victims of the virus speak of the absence of facilities on the part of governments to take on the scourge. The temporary relief period from the WHO clearance should now enable the various governments put in place sufficient facilities to take on the scourge if and when the need arises.

More fundamentally, effective screening at our entry points and aggressive enlightenment programmes are all in dire need to keep the virus off our shores.

Beyond the ceasefire deal with Boko Haram

By Mike Kebonkwu manager to throw in the towel to save him from further punishment. The manner the military has tried to tackle the insurgency has thrown up a critical question about the professionalism of our Armed Forces. The Boko Haram as a local insurgency should not have been above the capacity of our armed forces but we saw a military that was lacking in the will and appetite to fight perhaps due to poor training and equipment.

Why would professional armed forces employ the use of armed local vigilante to fight alongside its officers and men in internal security operations of low intensity conflict? If the military had limited the role of the vigilante group or what they referred to as the “Civilian Joint Task Force” (Civilian JTF) to intelligence gathering, it would have been understandable as acceptable global practice. But to allow them carry arms openly and fight alongside the regular army would appear to offend basic and elementary rule of the International Humanitarian Law. This is in addition to making them gain adequate knowledge of military style of operation in warfare, which at the end of the conflict would have created a veritable reserve force inimical to the safety of life and property. The military could not have been able to bring them under command and control without basic military training and so to such armed civilians, everything is permissible in conflict; including extra judicial killings and war crimes.

Another issue that agitates ones mind is the timing of the ceasefire and truce. It came only when we were told that the military had received supplies and now better prepared to give the terrorist a bloody nose. Ceasefire without disabling their capacity to take on the state is just incubation for a more vicious campaign in no distant time. It is hoped that somebody somewhere is not trying to shield the group from total decimation and give them the opportunity to rearm, regroup, and reorganize to launch a fresh offensive.

There have been about three schools of thoughts with their theories on how to contain the menace of the group. One is that the government should dialogue with the sect and pacify them.

The other is that a full scale military action should be brought to bear on the sect. The last is of the view that the carrot and stick approach should be employed; which of course is a combination of the first two. The pacifists who feel that dialogue is the best option would want to carry their drums to the market at the announcement of ceasefire and truce. Indeed, they may have their strong point because from all indications and evidence on the ground, victory on the military front appears too remote and almost unrealizable.

Some people have even tried to draw parallel between the negotiations and trade off the American government had with the Al Qaeda terrorist group to exchange the release of one American serviceman with five of its members detained at Guantanamo Bay. The truth is that the reality in one clime cannot be imported into another, lock-stock-and-barrel. The first issue is that there is

no Al Qaeda cell in America as an organized group; but here we are with a terrorist group nesting and rooted deeply in our own soil. The second point is that the American intelligence community and security forces are up to their responsibilities, which they discharge with utmost ruthlessness. In our situation, we have intelligence community that is completely clueless and security forces whose competence and professionalism has been called to question on all fronts.

Would this ceasefire and truce between the federal government and the Boko Haram bring an end to insecurity in Nigeria? I am not a pessimist but one is worried that the ceasefire will not signal the end of insecurity in Nigeria. This is because the Boko Haram is just a small fraction of the general insecurity in the entire country.

In nearly all the other parts of Nigeria, you equally have vicious bloody campaign by different ethnic militias and criminal groups. In the South-east, people go to sleep with two eyes open because of the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers. This has affected the investment climate of that region without a doubt. The same is true of the South-south and Niger Delta region where if you asked some able-bodied young men what they do for a living, they would tell you without hesitation that they are “kidnappers.”

Some of them are known to pay protection fees to the security agents who give them vital information to escape arrest. In the South-west, the story is not different as armed robbery and criminality of all kinds are commonplace. This is happening in a country with a bloated Police Force and other intelligence agencies. What purpose are they serving if they cannot gather intelligence to contain the activities of these men of the underworld? If we feel concern for the soul of our nation, it is time for us to take a hard look at the activities of the police and other security agencies in relation to security of life and property in the country.

Recall the notorious case of Lawrence Anini in the defunct Bendel State. It opened our eyes to the fact that any crime that cannot be cracked by the Police or the security agents has a police or security connection or link behind it.

While one is not in any way opposed to dialogue or truce with the Boko Haram, the government should be seen to be calling the shot on all fronts, which sadly appears not to be the case now. If there is indeed truce and ceasefire with the Boko Haram without first eliminating and degrading their capacity to make or initiate fire to unleash mayhem on the people, then the whole exercise should be called off as bad sale.

If we are serious about tackling insecurity then we should not ignore the army of unemployed youths who remain veritable source and feeder to the criminal networks. Insecurity in Nigeria goes beyond truce and ceasefire with Boko Haram. Our government should stop the insurgency in the North-east as well as all parts of Nigeria. We should not look for political capital from the release of the Chibok girls. The government is duty bound to bring back our girls and if that is achieved today, it is not a great feat.

• Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja

25

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

CEO

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Big data promises new vistas - P. 35

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News Briefing

French firms to industrialise agriculture

‘Why $26.45m spectrum licence is dormant’

By Daniel Essiet

ABOUT a year after it beat national operator, Globacom, to clinch the 2.3gigahertz (GHz) spectrum, its winners, Bitflux is yet to put the spectrum into use.

–Page 26

F

‘Power firms’ listing ‘ll drive capitalisation to N36tr’ THE 15 power generation companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs) have the capacity to push market capitalisation from its current N12.68trillion to between N33 trillion and N37trillion if they eventually approach the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) for fund, the Managing Director, Bgl Securities Limited, Mr Sunday Adebola, has said.

–Page 26

Nigeria gets stanchart business sentiment indicator NIGERIA at the weekend, got the Standard Chartered (StanChart) MNI Business Sentiment Indicator (BSI). The platform is a diffusion index that measures confidence in current and future economic conditions for countries.

–Page 31

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold Sugar

-$1,396.9/troy -$163/lb RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury Bills-10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

• FCMB’s Oliver Okara, Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 1 (second right) in a handshake with Kishore L. Kirpalani, Branch Manager, Dana Motors Limited with Chime Alilele, Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 11 as Olajire Awofisibe, Head, Consumer Assets, FCMB watched at the launching of the FCMB / Dana Motors Limited Auto Loan Alliance in Port Harcourt.

‘PPPRA has attracted N60b investments to downstream’

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HE Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), has attracted investments in excess of N60 billion, its Executive Secretary, Farouk Ahmed, has said.

Ahmed, who spoke on the sideline of the just concluded 8th Oil Trading Logistic Africa Downstream Expo held in Lagos, said the agency has reinforced its regulatory instruments to forestall a repeat of sharp practices that occurred in 2011 where marketers and importers of fuel made undeserved claims.

He said the agency has provided the necessary institutional framework for serious downstream business.

According to him, a lot of achievements have been recorded in the area of compliance by a large number of the

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

stakeholders but some unscrupulous elements still persist in their nefarious activities geared towards circumventing the institutional and operational framework put in place to sanitise the industry and ensure its vibrancy.

He said the agency has introduced measures such as double-one-two inspection system; monitoring of truckout of petrol from the depots by nominated surveyors; submission and verification of notice of arrival and notice of readiness and vesselimport financing documents.

Others are restricted participation of marketers under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme to owners of coastal discharge/depot facilities and ban on the use of

bills for collection and unconfirmed letters of credits, as financing instruments for petroleum products imports.

Other measures put in place, he added, include the rejection of homogenised cargo from multiple vessels with no defined origins; total ban on cargoes procured from floating storages in the West African coasts.

He said the introduction and enforcement of the submission of bill of laden, certificate of origin, affirmation letter from supplier and complete family tree of transaction as pre-condition for processing of subsidy claims; subscription to Llyod’s list intelligence tanker channel/ sear searcher; ensuring that suppliers are confirmed independently to PPPRA on the quantity supplied to each

marketer as well as periodic surprise stock-taking exercise at marketers facilities, among others were also put in place.

He said: “Besides, our reform initiatives have in cognitive terms, led to improved PMS availability nationwide and at regulated price, entrenchment of transparency, and elimination of petroleum products wastages, scarcity and malpractices in the supply chain.

“Our efforts have continued to facilitate a net inflow of investment in the downstream sub-sector in excess of N60 billion, generating thousands of employments opportunities for Nigerians.

We are committed to sustaining the tempo of these inform initiatives for the benefits of Nigerians”.

BUA Group votes N79b for new cement plant

B

UA International Limited has voted N79 billion ($500million) for its new cement plant at Obu, Okpela, Edo State. its Executive Director, Projects and Technical, Yusuf Binji, has said.

He stated that the firm has also taken over the Edo Cement, as well as the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, in addition to another $60million investment in gas turbines to power the factory.

He said the company has taken advantage of Federal Government’s backward integration policy to increase the capacity of local cement manufacturing and by extension making the nation selfsufficient in cement production.

• Takes over Edo cement, spends $60m on gas turbines

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

Binji said the new plant in Okpela, Edo State, is technologically advanced and modern with a capacity to produce three million metric tones of cement per annum when it becomes operational in first quarter of next year, adding that the company is deploying the best technology in the sector to the three plants the firm is running to sustain its position as the market leader.

He said: “Our coming into the market with total production capacity of over six million metric tons from our three factories will crash the

price of cement and availability of the product to the end users, this is our primary target.

“By the time we complete our power projects that is over $60 million, we will have about 50 megawatts (Mw) to power the factory and to give our host community if the need arises”.

On the new Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) for cement manufacturers which insists on clear labeling and standardisation of the different grades of cement with compulsion to print on each cement bag, unique colour stripes to differentiate the various grades the grade and

its application before it gets to the market, Binji said the facilities are equipped with a batch enabling machine.

He said: “Our plant will fully comply with all the SON’s regulations in terms of identification and traceability. The requirements make for competitiveness and quality which is not only in the interest of the manufacturer but also for consumers.”

He said manufacturers are confronted with the challenge of power, water and even access roads to the plants.

The BUA chief said: “Currently, we are building roads leading to our quarries and all these roads will also be used by the community; we are also building a modern hospital and doing a lot of Community Service Rela

RENCH companies engaged in agric business sector have expressed their commitment to industrialise agriculture in a bid to combat extreme poverty and hunger.

The move is further to a trade treaty signed by the Federal Government and the French government last year to expand trade volumes from N1 trillion to N2 trillion in the next four years as well as boost agricultural production.

The companies are on a four-day Business Development Trade Mission under the auspices of Association pour le Developpement des E c h n a g e s Internationationaux de Produits et Techniques Agroalimentaires (ADEPTA).

A consultant to the group, Foluke Michael said the group held a number of talks with local agri business groups i n the bid to promote, encourage and foster mutual relationship.

The French Trade Mission, consisting experts in the areas of equipment development and manufacturing, supply of inputs, engineering and design expertise met with over 60 local agro industries, farm owners and manufacturers in the agric-sector.

They include Anadariya Industries Limited; L&G Integrated Diaries, Fruits & Veggies Global Ltd; Dantata Foods; Nasrun Nigeria Ltd and Kebram Agritrade.

Others are Dansa Foods; Promasidor; Crown Flour Mill; BUA Group; SBA Group; Pig Farmers Association, Oyo State. Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria, Best Food Group, Free Range Farms,Abeokuta, Cocoa Revolution Project,Ondo Stat), Ondo State Wealth Creation Agency; Fed Agro Nigeria Ltd,Osun and All Farmers Association,Osun State.

One of the companies, Michael noted said it was ready to work with potato out-growers and smallholders’ farmers to increase productivity and efficiency.

ADEPTA resource person, Dr. Stephen Adejoro, said the French government considered the meeting as a good opportunity for French companies showcased their products and discussed ways to improve the standard of agricultural production between the two countries.

He stated that companies present would look at areas they could support each other, especially areas of technical importance.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

26

BUSINESS NEWS

‘Why $26.45m spectrum licence is dormant’

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BOUT a year after it beat national operator, Globacom to clinch the 2.3gigahertz (GHz) spectrum, its winners, Bitflux is yet to put the spectrum into use.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the spectrum would allow the firm to offer wholesale ‘wired’ broadband services to complement the capacity being provided by optic fibre cables and allow the achievement of five-fold target, from current 6.2 per cent, of broadband penetration set by the Federal Government.

The Managing Director of VDT Communications, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, who led Bitflux’s team to the 2.3GHz spectrum auction in Abuja, has said the firm went back to the drawing board to restrategise and rework its business model in order not to make mistakes.

Speaking on the sideline

By Lucas Ajanaku

during the rebranding of the corporate logo of VDT with The Nation in Lagos, Omoniyi said the firm is aware that stakeholders in the industry are eagerly looking forward to seeing Bitflux put the licence to use, adding that all loose ends have been tightened and services would go live from the spectrum.

He said: “I appreciate the expectation and goodwill of all over this and the expectations that we need to put the licence to use. But the truth is that with respect to that particular project, everything is going very smoothly.

Shortly after we won the licence, we went back to the drawing board to relook and restrategise our business plan to make those services available.

“This is because we don’t want to do things haphazardly. It is important to plan and follow the plan dili-

gently, but what I can assure you is that the Bitflux project is going on very well. We will come out in January. An award has already been made to a vendor and it is a 90-day delivery project.

“Again, we have several vendors with so many competing technologies and solutions so we have to hire consultants so that we can actually deliver the best to Nigerians.”

He said the roll-out of services will start with the three major cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, adding that VDT will also be actively involved as it would now become a retailer getting capacity from Bitflux which is a wholesaler.

He said: “What we are expecting is that we are going to launch in three cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja with broadband services. You know Bitflux itself is wholesaler, so we are not going to be advertising to the general

public. So part of what we are doing today is preparatory to selling the Bitflux product to those markets. I am sure you have people say we shall be in your house, we are not there yet but we will get there.

Bitflux is a wholesaler, it will sell to VDT.” Speaking after the auction that produced Bitflux as winners, NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Eugene Juwah said the electronically powered process went through two rounds. While the first round, which had set $23million in addition to another 15 per cent which made total to stand at $26.450million had produced no winner, the machine immediately switched to “tie breakers’ indicating that neither of the two bidders was ready to go above what was put on offer.

The second round produced Bitflux offering $23,251,000 while Globacom upped the game by offering to pay $23, 50,001milliom.

• From left: Managing Director, AfroCET, Bryan Pearson; Editor-in-Chief, AgroNigeria, Richard-Mark Mbaram; Agric Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; and Project Director, Informa, David Ross, when officials of Agro Innovate visited the minister in Abuja ahead Agra Innovative Nigeria exhibition and conference billed to hold between November 18 and 19 at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

‘Power firms’ listing ‘ll drive capitalisation to N36tr’

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HE 15 power generation companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs) have the capacity to push market capitalisation from its current N12.68trillion to between N33 trillion and N37trillion if they eventually approach the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) for fund, the Managing Director, Bgl Securities Limited, Mr Sunday Adebola, has said.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recommendation by the National Council on PrivatiSation (NPC) that the firms should approach the capital market for funds, among other strategies for growth, Adebola said the firms have potentials to bring the mar-

By Akinola Ajibade

ket capitalisation to N36 trillion.

He said the listing and performance of Seplat Nigeria Limited on the NSE and London Stock Exchange (LSE) shows that indigenous oil companies can buoy the market capitalisation.

He said Seplat is trading for over N500 per unit share on the floors of the exchange, adding that it is a no mean feat given the fact that the company has not spent a year in the market.

He said: “If the Power Holding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) successor companies can pay a $559,446.773 to the government, they can push the

market capitalisation further to N36 trillion given the fact the market is deep enough to carry out bigticket transactions. Assuming 10 of the companies approach the market for fund, and each of them contribute N2trillion to the market, that is N20 trillion. When you add N11 trillion and N20trillion, that is N31trillion.

“However, this is based on the ability of the government to facilitate the listing of the firms by putting in place an enabling environment.”

He urged the government to provide an environment that would guarantee investments, adding that the Pension Commission and the

Pension Fund Administrators need to be involved to make the coming of the firms to the market easier.

“PENCOM should be allowed to invest in the power firms through the PFAs. “When PENCOM give investment waivers to the PFAs, it would be easier for the firms to raise finds from the market. The only institution that can bring longterm investments is the PFAs. Most of the investments in power firms are long-term, which is the core business area of PENCOM. Investments in traded securities help in providing funds to bridge infrastructural gaps, of which power is one of them,” he added.

NSE to launch corporate governance rating system

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HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is set to launch the Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS), which was developed in partnership with the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi). The CGRS, according to the NSE, would raise the corporate governance ‘ceiling’ in Nigeria, give companies the opportunity to differentiate themselves

By Chikodi Okereocha

by showing good corporate governance practices and help them gain access to investments committed to good corporate governance practices and sustainability.

The rating assesses companies on four dimensions; corporate integrity, compliance with NSE and general governance rules (SEC Code, CAMA

with industry-specific rules added as relevant), fiduciary awareness of directors, and a dimension reflecting the confirmation of expert stakeholders of a company’s integrity. The CGRS score is a composite of a score for corporate compliance assessment (50 per cent), a fiduciary awareness certification testing (FACT) of directors (10 per cent) and corporate integrity

assessments based on feedback from stratified, random sample of stakeholders (20 per cent) and an expert multistakeholder group (EMSG – 20per cent).

The launch of the CGRS scheduled for today,will mark the beginning of a new era in market transparency and a new model for 21st century corporate reporting in Nigeria and in Africa.

Shareholders may approve Consolidated/Nigerian Breweries merger

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HAREHOLDERS may approve the merger between Consolidated Breweries Plc and the Nigerian Breweries Plc in December 4 this year, a statement from Consolidated Breweries has said.

According to the statement, shareholders will review, and if deemed fit, approve resolutions for the proposed merger with Nigerian Breweries at the Court Ordered annual general meeting (AGM) slated for early December.

The statement endorsed by its Managing Director, Boudewijn Haarsma, said measures have been put in place to make the meeting a success.

By Akinola Ajibade

‘’The company has concluded plans to commence the dispatch of the notice of meeting, the Scheme of Merger document, among other documents to its shareholders,’’ the statement added.

Haarsma said the proposed merger, announced on May 9, this year will benefit the employees, customers, distributors suppliers, among other stakeholders in the industry.

The statement quoted Company’s Chairman, Prof (Mrs) Oyin Odutola-Olurin as saying: “It is expected that the proposed merger will create significant value for shareholders.”

‘Mechanised farming still a challenge for SMEs’

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MALL-SCALE farmers are still facing challenges in accessing mechanised equipment for increased agricultural productivity.

The Vice President, (Agriculture) Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria(ASBON), Mr Stephen Oladipupo, attributed this to lack of access to credit and long-term finance in their various farming enterprises.

Against this background, he stressed the need for the government to embark on an ambitious programme, the cooperative movement aimed at addressing small-holder challenges through smallscale level mechanisation.

This, he added,would contribute towards job creation and rural income in order to improve the livelihoods of farmers.

In this regard, he urged the government to assist primary cooperative members to acquire farming implements and small

By Daniel Essiet

tractors which are affordable.

This, he noted, would enable farmers’ access machinery that will assist them in increasing their area under cultivation aimed at boosting the food production levels in the country.

He said there should be a strategic plan designed at increasing smallholder production, contribute to poverty alleviation and improved food security.

He alludes to the fact that empowerment and access to opportunities such as skills development and access to modern farming equipment such as tractors and other implements were essential to enhancing agriculture production.

He maintained that agriculture is a bedrock of the nation and therefore remains a key strategic sector of growth and future sustainability.

High operating cost killing SMEs’, says LCCI

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HE Director General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf, has said the mortality rate of the manufacturing firms in the country is very high because of high operating cost.

He added that the return on their investment is slower, while the turn-around is fewer, unlike somebody who is engaged in buying and selling.

He said: “The cost of funding is a big issue. For most of them or generally in the economy, cost of funding is well over 20 per cent. And for the real sector operators it is difficult to sustain a business at that level with that kind of corporate funding especially when you realise again that you are facing competition from products that are coming from Asia that are very cheap.

“So if operating cost is that high and you don’t have control over most of the variables, then, it creates a problem of competition for the manufacturer and that is why the mortality rate of manufacturing firm is very high especially at the medium and the small scale level.”

He said most of the Small and Medium Enterprises

By Toba Agboola

(SMEs) do not have proper recording and structure, adding that this has made it difficult for them to access bank loans.

He said the SMEs operators need to address many of these issues before they could convince the banks.

His words: “You know there are two major angles.

First, there is what you call the demand side problem.

That is the problem from the SMEs themselves because if you are talking of a bank loan it is not something you just walk into a bank and just pick up.

“You have to convince the bank that you have the capacity to repay; that you have the structure to manage the fund; and that you have a market for your product.

“All these things matter to the bank but unfortunately many of the SMEs don’t have that kind of records. Some of them would walk to the bank and request for loans and the bank would ask for their books, which they don’t have. All they will say is that okay the business is doing well, there is market for it, but there has to be evidence.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMER 3, 2014

27

BUSINESS AFRICA

OPEC may be forced to act on oil prices E

VEN with North America as a new driver of world oil prices, it may be the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that turns the tide.

As West Texas Intermediate crude trades at $80 and Brent continues to slide toward $85, speculation is increasing that the OPEC will reverse course and cut production at its Thanksgiving meeting.

Saudi Arabia surprised the market when it vowed to hold production levels, while giving price breaks to Asian customers, but the slide in prices may be too painful for other OPEC members, analysts say. OPEC meets on Nov. 27.

"I think there's going to be big downward pressure on prices into the OPEC meeting and the market is going to force their hand," said Again Capital analyst

John Kilduff.

He said OPEC may react if WTI reaches $75 or lower. "I think it would stabilize (prices), but the U.S. shale numbers are unbelievable. We're going to be pushing 10 million barrels next year. There's been the questions in the market about oil field depletion, etc. but now there's the realisation that it's the real deal."

Goldman Sachs Sunday issued a new forecast for 2015 oil prices for WTI crude to fall to $75 a barrel and Brent to $85 a barrel in the first quarter of 2015, a reduction for both of $15 a barrel from its previous forecast.

WTI could fall as low as $70 in the second quarter and Brent as low as $80, when Goldman expects oversupply would be the most pronounced, before returning to first-quarter levels.

A combination of growing U.S. oil production, now at 8.9 million barrels a day, and weaker growth in global demand has created a supply glut in the Atlantic and plentiful supplies worldwide. Oil production in the U.S. has increased about 500,000 barrel a day, since the summer.

"Oil production is going up in the U.S. over the next year, and the dilemma for OPEC is given the demand forecast, the U.S. and Canada are able to supply the increase in 2015, eliminating the need for OPEC to produce more oil. The increase in demand is going to be met by increases in Canadian and U.S. production, which leaves OPEC on the sidelines," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

Lipow said new, grassroots invest-

ment is affected in the U.S. at $80 to $90 a barrel. He said existing production would not be impacted by low prices until $35 to $40. Citigroup recently forecast that $50 is the level at which production growth would be stopped, and about a quarter of forecast production growth would be impacted at $70 a barrel.

Saudi Arabia, in cutting prices instead of production, was attempting to preserve its market share.

Break-even oil prices for Saudi Arabia, based on budget requirements are at $89 a barrel, but much higher for others like Iraq, which requires $114 a barrel or Iran, at $130 a barrel, according to Citigroup data.

NCS urges vigilance on Ebola

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•From left: , Director, Business Dev. Govt., Microsoft Middle East and Africa, Yasser Hassan; Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane; Chairman, House of Representatives' Committee on Information & Communication Technology; Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau and United States Ambassador to Nigeria James F. Entwistle during Microsoft CityNext Launch in Abuja.

U.S. Fed Reserve to end stimulus programme THE US Federal Reserve is expected to announce the end of its quantitative easing (QE) programme later.

The Fed's main policy making committee is meeting in Washington, where it is discussing whether to stop buying financial assets with newly created money.

It has been gradually cutting back the scheme, which began in 2008, since late last year.

The markets are expecting that the asset purchases will finally cease.

If they are right, it will mark the end of an extraordinary experiment in economic policy.

It started in November 2008 amid the financial crisis and fears that the US, and the rest of the world, might be facing another great depression.

The Fed's traditional ammunition, cutting interest rates, was running low - there was one more cut the following month, taking the main interest rate

target down to practically zero.

So it began buying financial assets and creating new money to pay for them.

In total, the Fed has added $3.7tn worth of assets to its holdings, about an eightfold increase.

The challenge for Fed chief Janet Yellen has been to exit the stimulus scheme It certainly didn't prevent a recession; nor did it generate a particularly strong recovery.

But senior Fed officials argue that it prevented a much worse downturn and they say unemployment is lower and economic activity higher than they would otherwise have been.

As unemployment has come down - now below six per cent - so the case for continuing QE has weakened.

The Fed has been cutting back the monthly purchases of assets for nearly a year and the final step is ex-

pected at the meeting in Washington.

But Fed policy is still far from normal. All the extra money created to buy those assets is still out there in the banking system - though it hasn't really filtered out into the wider economy. And the Fed's main interest rate target is still just about zero.

The improvements in the US economy are real enough. But the moderate unemployment rate does not tell the whole story.

There are still many people working part-time who would rather have longer hours, and many people not looking for jobs who are not counted as unemployed but would actually like to work. And long term unemployment is still a serious problem.

The end of QE, assuming it does indeed come, will nonetheless be an important milestone in the repair of the US economy.

Phase3 Telecom marks 11 years of excellent services

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EST Africa’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, Phase3 Telecom, said it will mark its 11th years of service excellence at the end of October.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stanley Jegede said the Phase3 family is proud of the tremendous achievements the company keeps recording in its commitment to ensuring the sustainable development of Africa through the provision of the most reliable IP and telecommunications services to deliver the most remarkable level of service excellence in the telecoms industry; modest efforts which have resulted in overwhelming local and international recognitions for the company year on year.

He said: “Not without its challenges, Phase3’s key focus has always been to ensure that West Africa enjoy high capacity access to the

global knowledge grid via reliable, high-speed and affordable broadband connectivity which is evident in the company’s just concluded network upgrade to offer seamless communications solutions that allows its clients all over West Africa, to interconnect their operations in multiple locations over a dedicated link.”

In a statement, the company, which pioneered optic fiber services using power lines, began operations in October 2003 and has since been at the heart of providing backbone and broadband services that drive Nigeria’s telecommunication revolution.

A few years after it commenced service, Phase 3 Telecom extended its reach beyond Nigeria when it executed a partnership agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to facilitate the development of telecom infrastructure across member coun-

tries’ whereby telecom infrastructure on power line is currently being deployed across the region.

He expressed the gratitude of the firm to its numerous clients whose trust in the Phase3 brand as the choice service provider to deliver their connectivity needs, has resulted in consistent successes every year.

Jegede stated that 11 years of operations has been a lesson in positivity for Phase3 and it reaffirms the team’s dedication to the task in hand, greater innovation and eagerness to deliver to all West Africans the tools they need for further and sustainable economic progress. Phase3 is undeniably one of the foremost indigenous telecom service providers championing the drive to re-define Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape and have assisted in bringing the nation to its current position as a clear leader in Africa’s telecommunications sector.

"I actually do think these oil prices are going to force OPEC to act," said Lipow. "Even though Saudis and Kuwaitis could stand an extended period of low prices, they live in a difficult neighborhood and their neighbors cannot endure an extended period of low prices."

Some analysts believe Saudi Arabia, which produces at a much lower cost, could withstand much lower prices than the current breakeven estimate.

The Kuwait break-even is $44, and it is $71 for Qatar. But Venezuela is at $161 and Libya is at $185, according to Citigroup. Russia, not a member of OPEC, is at $105.

HE Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has commended the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government for their efforts and emergency response in containing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak.

It however urged vigilance.

Its President, Prof. David O. Adewumi, said addressing the epidemic in a quick, decisive, cooperative and coordinated manner is appreciated. public communication has so far been realistic, clear, and transparent.

The fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the EVD outbreak in West Africa an “an international health emergency” and one of the “largest public-health emergencies in recent history” indicates the enormity of the threat from EVD, NCS said in a statement.

NCS commiserates with families that have been affected and most especially, those who have lost family members as a result of the Ebola scourge. Respect and honour go to the heroes and heroines, epitomised by the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, consultant physician, First Consultants, who led the frontline and paid the supreme sacrifice while working to stop the spread of the disease in Nigeria.

To NCS, the emergence of EVD raises national health and security issues.

Public health has become an integral element of any nation’s national secu-

rity because it affects lives and livelihoods. Infectious diseases can cause substantial damage in terms of lives lost and socio-economic impact, just as with physical wars and military attacks. He said in addition to EVD containment, the response from Nigeria should encompass the proper functioning of the public health system.

He said: “NCS recommends purposeful development and deployment of technology to enhance the achievement of Nigeria’s health goals. In this regard, while NCS commends the use of emerging media (mobile and social networks) to spread EVD and health information awareness, NCS decries in the strongest terms the use of text messages and social media to create fear, and spread rumours and false information. “Caution and deep sense of responsibilities and not stigma, should be the focus at this time. The fact that EVD is still spreading wildly in West Africa calls for continued vigilance and embrace of recommended health practices by the populace to improve the quality of detection and prevention.”

NCS is ready and willing at all times to partner with the Federal Government and State Governments in the innovative utilisation of information technology to support and enhance the handling of the EVD threat and national health security.

SAHCOL acquires equipment S part of its determination to improve the face of ground handling, the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) has taken delivery of additional Ground Support Equipment (GSE).

A statement by the General Manager Corporate Communications of the firm, Mr Basil Agboarumi said it was done in line with international best practices.

The equipment, he said were manufactured by TUG, United States; Denge, United Kingdom and TBD, United Kingdom, includes Conveyor Belt Loaders and Baggage Tractors; Baggage Carts;

A

Pallet and Container Dollies, respectively, which are already being deployed to further improve services to clients across the network.

Meanwhile, as part of its growing profile , SAHCOL was awarded the contracts to provide ground handling services to Max Air, Kabo Air, West Link Air, Medview Airline and Skypower Airline for the outbound and inbound of the on-going Hajj Operations.

SAHCOL handled 75 per cent outbound flights, from Nigeria to the Saudi Arabia operated by these airlines, from Lagos, Ilorin, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Dutse/Yola and PortHarcourt.

SON offers free certificates for SMEs

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N its bid to ensure that Nigerian products are globally competitive, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has pledged to carry out the certification of products of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for free.

The Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, made this pledge in Lagos while addressing a World Press Conference on the State of Standards in Nigeria.

In his address themed: ‘Made in Nigeria for the world – a transformational imperative,’ he lamented that despite that there are well over 20,000 registered SMEs in the country, most products in the country cannot compete favourably in the global market due to non-conformity to standards.

He also lamented that most small scale enterprises have refused to be certified considering the cost but said the organization would carry out the certification process free of charge henceforth.

This, he said would enable operators in the sector to be a player in the global market.

He said for Nigeria to attain its vision

20: 2020 ambition of becoming one of the twenty most developed economy in the world, its products, where it has comparative and competitive advantage must be able to compete favourable at the world stage, noting that the future of Nigerian trade lies in the hands of indigenous Nigerian firms.

He said, two of SON’s laboratories in Lekki, Lagos, have been accredited by the United States authority while the construction of SON’s state of the art laboratory in Ogba area of Lagos is nearcompletion. He said additional fifteen laboratories would be constructed across the country to ensure that products are duly tested and certified to meet international standards and to ensure safety of lives of Nigerians.

He, said the organization in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Council would early next year push for a bill that will ensure that manufacturers obtain product liability insurance for any product they introduce to the market. This, he said would ensure that insurance companies would be responsible to compensate consumers on products that are injurious to health.

28

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMER 3, 2014

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

At last, the National e-ID Card A

T last, the long wait is over. On August 28, 2014, the Nigerian National Electronic Identity Card (e-ID Card) was unveiled and the card issuance process formally kicked off. The aim is to issue and manage over 120 million e-ID Cards within the next five to 10 years. That’s the NIMC dream, and it’s possible!

This effort started in 2005 with the constitution of a committee on the Harmonisation of Identification Schemes in Nigeria by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Nasri el-Rufai, former FCT Minister, chaired the Committee.

On March 22, 2006 the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved what later came to be known as the National Identity Management System (NIMS). This was followed by the formal launch of the National Policy and Institutional Framework for a National Identity Management System in Nigeria – one document most critics seem never to have read or ignored.

When on May 25, 2007 the NIMC Act was signed into law, the journey seemed well founded or so it seemed. Those of us who joined the NIMS Project just before then had no idea what lay ahead. We now know better. Suffice it to state that the e-ID Card is remarkably different from the one issued under the scheme that was implemented between 2001 and 2006

by SAGEM, (now Safran Morpho), the French company that was contracted in 2001 to do it.

Whilst the e-ID Card is based on smart card technology, the previous one was based on (2D) Bar Code technology.

The e-ID Card is part of an infrastructure for identity management. So it is not an ‘end in itself’. Most Card Schemes in Nigeria today are just that - issue and manage the cards. So the card is the end/objective. Identity management is not the same as Card Issuance Management.

The e-ID Card, the third in a five-component National Identity Management System (NIMS) Infrastructure remains what most Nigerians (want to) see as the index of success of the project. Indeed there are those who, for good reason, believe that the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, represents another bogus effort by government at addressing a simple problem, claiming that there is nothing ‘reformatory‘ in the statutory mandate of the NIMC (Act 23 of 2007).

That is not important. As one critic put it recently, it is not the number of enrolment centres or the level of automation of the registration process or the quantity of hardware and software assembled and or deployed that matters. It is not about the conducive enrolment environment or the fact that you can go and register at your convenience, within minutes and at a known location.

No, these things do not matter at all, otherwise there would not still be new biometric projects springing up each day! Even the private sector partners of NIMC are quick to criticize the NIMC effort to justify their promotion of new and or similar and competing projects (that are subsequently contracted to them).

What a paradox!

What matters, and I agree perfectly, is how many Nigerians have been or can be expeditiously enrolled under the NIMS; how many Nigerians hold or can have their e-ID Card and how soon or when, how many Nigerians can benefit from the ‘proof of identity’ services, a component of the NIMS Infrastructure.

How safe, unique, accessible to other MDAs and the private sector, is the National Identity Database and the multiple applications on the e-ID Card.

Indeed, how soon can the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) begin to use the NIMS to fight crime and insecurity? Can we sustain the NIMS? How will NIMS stop the proliferation of data capture activities and meet the identity authentication and verification needs of MDAs and the private sector? These are some of the indices of success that should matter.

Government has demonstrated its determination to resolve this major social infrastructure gap. Fortunately, initial studies by the NIMC provided enough empirical evidence for some of the strategic decisions and policy options adopted in the deployment of the NIMS. Unfortunately however, the private sector has not responded appropriately to the project.

Whilst bidding for the concession in 2006/7, they documented their proposal strongly including evidence of financial capability. Then we had the financial meltdown of 2006-2009.

By Chris Onyemenam

Although the Concession was signed in July 2010, it has not been possible to achieve financial closure and but for the intervention of NIMC, based on the Public -Private Policy of government, this project would have since become comatose.

The journey to the e-ID Card launch was long and difficult. Many not only doubted, they questioned the rationale even in the face of evidence on global trends. Most dissenting views and voices seemed founded strongly on old habits and ways of doing things. The message was somehow clear: NIMC must get it right or be damned.

Five important points to note: this may well be a greenfield people are unwilling to admit.

Second, most critics understood the problem of identity card issuance very well but not the problem of Identity Management. So they never really understood and or came to terms with the NIMS Project. Consequently, they did not ask the right questions nor probed deeper, they compared ‘oranges with apples’. They never even bothered to visit the NIMC. Third, the old habit of ‘pull it/him down’ syndrome never really gave way. Fourth, the private sector seemed unprepared for the role and business model it signed up on. Finally the deep public cynicism carried over from past efforts was and perhaps still persists.

The e-ID Card is a multiple applications card.

The design, approved by FEC in November 2012 was to ensure anti-tampering and counterfeiting. It is made of 100% Polycarbonate with a customized eighty kilobyte (80kb) chip.

There are thirteen (13) applets including the Match on Card (MoC), electronic identity (eID), electronic public key infrastructure (e-PKI), an ICAO applet and a Payment applet. There are applets also for Voters Register, Health insurance, Insurance policy, Tax, Pension, Drivers License, SIM Register, Transport and an extra applet for immediate deployment as necessary. The Malaysian Card has more applets!

The personalisation of the cards requires special skills and equipment in a high security area typical of Bank ATM Cards except that the card profile for personalization combines two worlds, the EMV/ATM world and the e-ID world. This is another point where the global trend is captured. Electronic identity is now being used as a deep anchor for electronic payments and the e-ID/Payment nexus provides a ready KYC infrastructure which fosters financial inclusion and deepens the electronic payment circuit as identity theft-related fraud is shut out immediately whilst providing a ready infrastructure for ‘bringing everyone, including the informal sector into the formal financial services sector.

The activation of the Euromoney/Visa/ MasterCard Automated Teller Machine (EMV/ ATM) ‘world’ in partnership with MasterCard has drawn significant criticisms even from those who alleged that they introduced MasterCard to the NIMS Project. Interesting!

Again five points to note: first the MasterCard was not awarded the contract for the production of the national e-ID Card. Second, there is no risk to our national security whatsoever.

The National Identity Database that contains our biometric data is not open to anyone. Fact is only some of an individual’s demographic data is made available to a wholly Nigerian company for the purpose of preparing the ‘virtual account data’ (pre-paid) that is used to activate the EMV solution on the chip during card activation. At best all parties to the ATM solution on the card have access to only transaction data - digits and numerals that are associated with transactions on the ‘virtual account’!

Not too long ago a former President of the Nigerian Computer Society held a press conference to condemn government for allegedly awarding a contract for the production of the e-ID Cards to MasterCard. I expect more of such unprofessional comments, now that the Card has been launched.

Ironically, in spite of such criticisms, some

• Onyemenam companies have since been awarded contracts by some state governments to implement exactly what is being condemned – with MasterCard! So the question for another day is what has changed? What is most tragic is the level of misrepresentation of facts, trying to mislead the public in face of laudable government efforts. T The much-talked about national security concerns is because there is not enough understanding of the way the card is designed. I have only made a brief reference to it above to preserve the security and integrity of the system and the card. To those who are quick to illustrate their reservations with the experience in Russia lately, please take your time to reflect on the fact that branded payment solutions like MasterCard does in fact operate in Russia and South Africa for pensioners, and now being developed for UAE and the US, to mention just a few. It’s the global trend.

The ‘MasterCard-national security’ concerns is a fallacy considering the fact that MasterCard operates in 210 countries including Russia and recently in Mexico and South Africa where the payment solution is used for targeted strata of the population. If foreigners dismiss this innovation with a wave of the hand and mindset as in John 1: 46, (can anything good come out of Nazareth), must we as Nigerians if it works for us? Like Albert Einstein put it years ago, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”!

But there is a difference between an ATM Card and a National Identity Card with multiple functionalities including payment functionality. What has national pride got to do with this? A lot, I guess, but we are the first to make this one work! As Appadorai put it in his book, “Substance of Politics”, ‘for forms of government, let fools contend, whatever is best administered is best’. Very few people have bothered to ask why NIMC adopted the ‘e-ID/Payment nexus’ for the card and with so much security features!

Why was a Nigeria payment platform not used? How did MasterCard and not another payment platform get selected? What if I do not want it? Several questions. It’s very simple. By the way, until recently there were no foreign payment solutions operating locally in Nigeria. And only one brand held sway, remember? In any case for close to three years the ‘local payment platforms’ slept over their

‘The NIMC effort represents an attempt at leapfrogging the e-ID/Payment nexus, which is the global trend, supportive of cashless economy, electronic payment industry, financial inclusion, improving the business environment, deepening consumer credit and freeing up resources for better optimisation in the economy’

opportunity, I guess, because the scheme was not viable and therefore it was not profitable for them. They did very little to exploit the economic opportunities. The ‘e-ID’ and the ‘EMV’ sides of the Card are separately governed and managed. Except where necessary, all rules governing the ATM Cards govern the ‘ATM side’ of this e-ID Card. The additional benefits of unique identification, nay KYC, is then served simultaneously by the e-ID on the same card!

When you are invited to collect your e-ID Card, you will have to activate the ‘e-ID side, using your biometrics and then ‘ATM’ side using a PIN number. They are separate processes.

So if you do not want the ATM side, you do not activate it, simple! The MasterCard logo appearing on the e-ID Card is conventional practice, it’s the norm in the electronics payments sector and it’s used for ‘introducing’ or identifying the Card as a payment Card to a merchant location. NIMC in fact chose to put the logo at the back to ensure that the primacy of the card as an e-ID Card is not in doubt because of the payment functionality. At the risk of sounding immodest and being grossly misunderstood, NIMC should be commended and encouraged for being resourceful and thinking through a process for ensuring the sustainability and a deeper role for the e-ID Card.

The NIMC effort represents an attempt at leapfrogging the e-ID/Payment nexus, which is the global trend, supportive of cashless economy, electronic payment industry, financial inclusion, improving the business environment, deepening consumer credit and freeing up resources for better optimisation in the economy. It is an antidote for the ever-increasing cost of doing business, difficulty in accessing credits, bank customer acquisition, proliferation of photo IDs and the dearth of a reliable identity authentication and verification infrastructure and a host of others.

Call it an audacious government strategy if you like, for confronting the problem of identity-theft-related fraudulent practices, stimulating consumer demand and local production, growth in GDP, general economic well-being and security of life and property! That’s what transformations are made of.

What NIMC needs is not the barrage of attacks but providing the support to sustain the NIMS through its ‘take-off’ phase, how to get the system to operate successfully in areas where serious infrastructure gaps remain a challenge, how to sustain the multiple-layered security infrastructure with a dedicated, wellmotivated loyal, requisite personnel with integrity. One more thing: a genuine private sector commitment to take over its own side of the project currently being managed by the NIMC. • Barrister Onyemenam is the Director General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He wrote from Abuja.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

29

ISSUES

• Insurance regulation

Pains, gains of insurance industry regulation Enforcement of compliance with reforms in insurance industry by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has been a mix of pains and gains. Since he assumed office, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel has put pressure on the operators to comply with the reforms directive. Despite the pains associated with the compliance, operators have begun to reap gains as evident in their 2013 financial results which showed reasonable profitability. OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO reports.

T

HE insurer is in the business of providing security to the insured for a fee. The promise of this security in the event of loss gives the insured peace of mind. To be worth it, insurer must have continuous capacity to

keep this promise and not fail.

But the idea of insurance regulation is predicated on the need to protect the interest of policyholders, hence the strict regulatory reforms imposed on underwriters by the regulatory body, the National Insurance

Commission (NAICOM).

The regulator intervenes in the insurance industry to ensure the insurer remains solvent. This is achieved by making and effectively monitoring the relevant laws and legislations within the jurisdiction. For effec-

tiveness, the making of such laws and their enforcement must take into account, the changing national and global environments of business. In other words, regula• Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

30

ISSUES

Pains, gains of insurance industry regulation •Continued from page 29

tion should be dynamic.

In the last five years, most national jurisdictions have embarked on aggressive reforms of their financial regulatory system. This has been in response to the global economic crises.

During the same period, the National Insurance Commission driven by a number of internal and external stimuli including those from the global insurance regulatory standard setters like the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (lAIS), has embarked on a number of regulatory reforms.

The primary objective of all these reform initiatives is to maintain the stability of the financial system and also encourage growth and development of the insurance sector.

In the case of Nigeria, the stricter regulations commenced in 2007 when the Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel took over the baton of leadership at NAICOM. The Commission embarked on major regulatory reforms in areas such as Risk-based Supervision, Market Conduct Reforms; Financial Inclusion; Enforcement of Compulsory; No Premium, No Cover and Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, Anti-money Laundering and Combating Financial Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance, among others.

In complying with these regulations, many operators recorded loss in their financial results especially in 2012 as they grappled to comply and adjust to the new rules.

They lamented what they described as too many regulations coming from the regulator almost at the same time.

But from their results in 2013, it became evident that their pains in complying with the regulations had started to yield increase. The testimonies of chief executives of insurance firms showed that it was difficult to comply with the various regulatory reform initiatives but the compliance has turned most of the firms from loss to profit positions.

Commissioner for Insurance Fola Daniel said infractions by underwriting firms, insurance brokers and other operators in the industry will not be treated with levity. He said the industry will witness strict regulatory environment henceforth.

He said the days of accommodating the excesses of operators are over noting that they (operators) should brace up to the new regulatory regime.

Assistant Director, Inspectorate, NAICOM, Sam Onyeka said a major lesson by countries from the global economic crises is efficiency in financial allocations. He stated that as a concept, risk-based supervision advocates that supervisors should be able to allocate resources as efficiently as possible, paying more attention to areas of higher risks and less attention to areas of lower risks.

He noted that although there may be several models, it seems that the European Solvency 2 model has come to represent the global standards for insurance supervision.

He explained that risk-based supervision represents a complex of regulatory standards encompass-

ing capital adequacies and disclosure requirements, risk management and corporate governance.

He said: “Indeed, for us, the desire to implement the capital adequacies and disclosure requirements of the Solvency 2 has been the harbinger of the now extant regime of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

“It is now evident that the Commission has successfully guided the insurance industry in Nigeria towards migration to the IFRS regime.”

Onyeka however, stated that most operators are now at home with IFRS standards although some are still grappling with the challenges of understanding and coping with the new regime.

Chairman, Royal Exchange Group, Kenneth Odogwu, stated that for a greater part of 2013, insurers grappled with the challenges of meeting solvency margin and lFRS requirements in the preparation and submission of their 2012 audited accounts to NAICOM. As at December 2013, only 38 companies’ accounts were approved by NAICOM out of the existing 59 companies, with 14 firms undergoing varying stages of review of their accounts, and seven companies are yet to submit their results for review.

He said the general sentiment was that 2013 Gross Premium Income (GPI) would settle at N230 billion as a result of the “No Premium, No Cover” policy by NA1COM restricting only insurance policies paid for in advance to be recognised in insurers’ accounts. He said: “In the same vein, NAICOM rolled out operational frameworks, guidelines and sensitisation programmes for the Takaful and Micro-Insurance initiatives as promised in 2012 and continued its enforcement exercise on compulsory insurance regulations throughout the year.”

As part of the Federal Government’s reform agenda for the industry, the newly inaugurated NAICOM board led by Mr. Chibudom Nwuche in September 2013 discontinued issuance of new insurance licences, offering investors the option to acquire existing companies and recapitalise their balance sheets.

The government also charged the insurance regulator to toe the path of self-funding as it confirmed its readiness to cease budgetary allocation to the commission by 2014.

The Group Managing Director, Royal Exchange, Chike Mokwunye, was of the opinion that the potentials for further growth in insurance penetration levels locally remain buoyant due to the continuing reforms being undertaken by the NAICOM. We believe that the group is now well positioned to drive businesses and extract value across the diverse product lines supported by our superior human capital and extensive distribution network, he added.

•Daniel

•Adedeji

•Ladipo-Ajayi

Chairman, Staco Insurance Plc, Dere otubu stated that NAICOM has intensified its enforcement of regulations and guidelines to maintain global best practices and improve the confidence of the insuring public as well as investors in the industry.

He added that income from the market development and restructuring initiatives (MDRI) was expected to hit N1 trillion after its introduction in 2008. This target was however, not met.

Also, the challenge of high premium debtors, cum paucity of funds was addressed by NAICOM in January 1, 2013 with the enforcement of the no premium, no cover provision of section 50 of the Insurance Act 2003. The enforcement of anti-money laundering act was also intensified, he said.

The Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Tope Smart, commended the enforcement of the no premium, no cover policy describing it as a pragmatic solution to the seemingly intractable problem of bad debt associated with the industry.

The Managing Director, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, said the sector experienced improvements in regulatory supervision particularly the release of the guideline on risk-based supervision, strict compliance with AntiMoney Laundering and Combating of Financial Terrorism guidelines and adoption of full implementation of IFRS from 2012.

The Chairman, Niger Insurance Plc, Bala Zakariyau said the landscape for insurance business provided the usual opportunities and challenges scenario. He stated that the Commission continued in its commendable effort to deepen insurance penetration in the country while sanitizing the industry.

These were reflected in the introduction of certain policies.

During the year NAICOM released the guidelines and registration requirements of Takaful Insurance in recognition of the need to complement the current drive for financial inclusion and to increase insurance penetration in Nigeria.

The no premium, no cover, he said was a challenge at the initial stage as the insuring public was yet to fully adjust to its reality.

He noted that while it improved cash flow of the industry, the policy has applied pressure on the volume of premium generated by in-

surance companies due to failure of some members of the insuring public to renew their policies as at when due.

He said: “The Commission’s reinvigorated regulatory parameters continue to set the standards for the players in the industry. Competition remained stiff owing to low insurance penetration in Nigeria.

Premium generation accounts for only about one per cent of the GDP, giving rise to practitioners chasing the very few willing insurance services buyers.

“In our 2013 annual financial report, our Group profit before tax was N716.108 million as against N703.499 million in 2012. The total comprehensive income declined from N988.27 million in 2012 to N794.621 million in 2013. This result is attributable to the stability in the value of property, plant and equipment and available for sale of financial assets following the adoption of IFRS reporting format.”

The Managing Director, Adeduro Mayowa, Anchor Insurance, stated that in the last five years, the company has grown above the industry’s average, paid claims promptly in excess of N1 billion, met regulatory requirement as at when due, grew its branch network from five to 21 with spread in the major geopolitical zones of Nigeria and has consistently declared profit and paid dividends to its shareholders in the last four years.

Mayowa stated that Anchor has joined the league of insurance companies that have scaled the hurdle of complying with the IFRS account. According to him, the company experienced a six per cent growth in gross written premium, which stood at N2 billion, when compared to the previous year’s result.

He said the growth was mainly attributable to increasing marketing network via the various agency outlet spreads across the country with key emphasis on providing insurance services that meet the global needs of customers.

The company incurred net claim expenses of over N236 million while the underwriting result at the end of the year amounted to N814 million compared to N1.154billion earned during the year ended December 2012. Its investment income was N145 million in 2013 as against of N117 million in 2012 an increase of 24 per cent.

It also improved operational efficiency in 2013 by recording a drop of 34 per cent in operational cost from N1.2 billion in 2012 to N0.75 billion in 2013 while its shareholders fund grew from N3.9 billion to N4.1 billion in the year 2013 thus showing 6.4 per cent growth in shareholders’ fund.

Similarly, the Managing Director, Lasaco Assurance Plc, Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, while addressing shareholders of the company during its 2013 annual general meeting, said the organisation moved from loss position of N180 million in 2012 to a profit position of N412 million in 2013 business year as a result of hard work.

He stated that recapitalization and expansion through the instrumentality of merging and acquisition, new-level branding and world-class quality certification and financial system rating would be given critical attention in the fiscal year in order to sustain the gains already made.

Successes recorded in net profit, gross premium income, net premium earned, underwriting profit and other positive indicators are not accidental but results of doggedness and strategic planning, he noted.

Cornerstone Insurance Plc also recorded a growth in its profit before tax by 60 per cent in the 2013 financial year over the 2012 financial year.

The Group Managing Director, Ganiyu Musa said that the company grew its gross premium by 15 per cent from N4.6 billion in 2012 to N5.3 billion in 2013.

He said that a combination of robust investment performance and disciplined control of operating expenses resulted in an increase in profit after tax from N544 million to N870 million. Based on this performance, the company recorded 16 per cent growth in the total asset from N12 billion to N14 billion.

Assistant Director, Inspectorate, NAICOM, Sam Onyeka, further stressed that in the light of the foregoing, it may be appropriate to assert that branch offices are critical for attaining overall regulatory compliance by individual insurance companies.

In conclusion, the ongoing regulatory reform initiative in the sector is necessary fallout of the recent global economic crises. The reforms will continue for the time being and the natural outcomes will be continuous introduction of complex rules and regulations by the regulator.

There is a growing need for improving compliance level across all levels of the operational base and this underscores the need for an allinclusive training for key company staffs at both the head office and branch offices. Companies that will survive in the coming years must begin now to install robust compliance programme.

‘

Also, the challenge of high premium debtors, cum paucity of funds was addressed by NAICOM in January 1, 2013 with the enforcement of the no premium, no cover provision of section 50 of the Insurance Act 2003. The enforcement of anti-money laundering act was also intensified

’

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

31

MONEYLINK

Nigeria gets stanchart business sentiment indicator

N

IGERIA at the weekend, got the Standard Chartered (StanChart) MNI Business Sentiment Indicator (BSI).

The platform is a diffusion index that measures confidence in current and future economic conditions for countries.

Managing Director, Head - Africa Macro Global Research, Razia Khan said that business confidence in Nigeria bounced back to a se-

G

Stories by Collins Nweze

ries high of 66.6 per cent in October, from 62.4 per cent in September.

She explained in a report that the index summarises in a single number how optimistic businesses feel about current and future economic conditions.

The BSI is a part of a series of African economic indicators, including a real-time price tracker

being launched by the bank and its data partners, to enhance the availability of private-sector information on African economies between official data releases.

Gross Domestic Product statements are conventionally released quarterly; business confidence surveys can shed light on what businesses are thinking between these dates.

Poll questions on future expectations three months ahead may

provide an early glimpse of future economic trends. Much will depend on how sectorally representative the businesses polled are, relative to the underlying economy. Initial results must be treated with some caution, as there is no way of adjusting for seasonality. Over time, we hope the usefulness of the private-sector information will increase, complementing the data already available from official sources.

‘Sustainable banking has global interest’

ROUP Managing Director\CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Bisi Onasanya has said issues relating to sustainable banking is global in nature.

He spoke at the bank’s conference on sustainability held in Lagos at the weekend.

He explained that in a bit to sensitise organisations on the roles to play in social challenges, FirstBank conference educated attendants in the importance on embodying sustainable practices both beneficial to the society and their various organisations.

The international sustainability conference, which focused on how businesses can minimise risks, manage revenue and enhance the reputation of brands, was organised for CEOs and executives of large and small corporations, was held at the Lagos Business School.

Onasanya said: “As a bank which has used sustainable principles for 120 years , we have come to realise that it is not possible for a single institution to carry the burden and therefore we decided to go through a process to enlighten on the prospects and benefits of sustainable practices in businesses.

“Our corporate responsibility and sustainability investments have always been devoted to forging part-

nerships with people and institutions at the vantage position of finding lasting solutions to the economic, social and environmental issues facing people and communities”. ‘’Globally, organisations are being tasked with taking more active interest in meeting the world’s environmental and social needs. Stakeholders, from investors to customers and employees, amongst many others, are demanding sustainable practices as a condition for determining engagement with business

and as corporate entities on the neighborhood and communities and we all accept the responsibility that we cannot abandon the society. We have to give back to the society.”

Onasanya added:”I think it is important to know that being a corporate responsible organisation is not always about making money and also not about losing money.

It might be expensive to implement but at the end, the entire society benefits from it.”

Sterling Bank inaugurates new branches nationwide

I

N line with its focus on the retail end of the market and its quest to deliver its quality banking services to the door steps of its customers, Sterling Bank has opened 10 new branches nationwide.

The bank has also embarked on the remodeling of about 40 of its branches nationwide to reflect its retail positioning.

The new branches are located in Festac Town, Owode Onirin, a retail market that deals with motor spare parts along Ikorodu Road, Itire, and Awoyaya all in Lagos. Others are the NNPC Depot in Mosimi in Ogun State, Eziukwu in Abia, Birin-Kebbi in Kebbi, Rumuola and Onne in Port

Name

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,698.33 1,698.33 1,095.88 1,095.88 1,117.51 1.2195 1.2842 0.8302 1.0889

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

organisations.”

Speaking further, he advised companies to improve on sustainable practices: “ I don’t think we would rest until we get every institution to accept that sustainability is not an expensive incentive. Whilst it might be expensive in the short run, at the end of the day, the rewards are bountiful. And when we get to a situation where every individual thinks about the impact his or her own actions both as individuals

Harcourt and Bank Road in Ekiti.

The new branches are additions to the bank’s expanding branch network in the country just as more locations will be added in the coming months to enable it achieve its 200 mark before the end of the 2014 financial year. The bank’s total branch network currently stands at 175.

According to the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, the bank’s on-going branch expansion is part of its strategy to expand its operations and branch network across the country to enable the bank deploy its services to all parts of the country and leverage on this to successfully increase

its share of the retail end of the market.

The new branch locations, according to Mr. Atilola, will serve both retail and wholesale banking and customers with a comprehensive range of products.These will include traditional banking and services with an emphasis on technology-driven products that will be delivered through an on-line real-time technology platform.

The bank’s Chief Strategist said that the bank planned to develop a robust service delivery network comprising the traditional “brick and mortar” branches and alternative delivery channels like the ATMs.

GAINERS AS AT 30-10-14

G

UARANTY Trust Bank plc has been announced as the winner of the “2014 Product Leadership Award” at the 2014 Frost and Sullivan Excellence In Best Practices Awards Banquet that held at the weekend in Monaco, France.

Frost & Sullivan is a growth consulting firm that provides market research and analysis, growth strategy consulting, and corporate training services across multiple industries including banking, automobile, healthcare, internet and communication technology, and more. Its headquarters is located in California with offices in 31 countries across six continents.

Explaining the rationale behind GTBank winning the award, Frost & Sullivan stated that the award is in recognition of the bank’s efforts to offer robust value to SMEs in Nigeria. Recognising that accessibility remains a major challenge in the Nigerian banking landscape, GTBank introduced GTPay and GAPS platforms to facilitate quick, safe and efficient payment systems for SMEs. In addition, GTBank developed the SME MarketHub; an online e-commerce platform that allows SMEs create and maintain an online presence and expand their businesses to new markets as well as millions of buyers that are online.

The introduction of the SME MarketHub continues to highlight GTBank as a frontrunner in innovative banking solutions, as e-commerce is widely acknowledged as a powerful tool for fully enhancing business possibilities as it opens up a world of businesses to customers and a world of customers to businesses.

DATA BANK

Bid Price 151.27 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.68 1.33 1,698.33 1,698.33 1,095.20 1,095.20 1,116.70 1.2117 1.2842 0.8148 1.0889

GTBank’s SME MarketHub recognised

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 20/10/2014 15/10/2014 13/10/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: September

8.3%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 349.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES October 28, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

154.76

155.76

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

$39b

US Dollar

3.48

4.82

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

249.6279

251.2409

5.01

5.23

4.39

DANGSUGAR

6.74

7.00

3.86

Euro

197.6595

198.9367

HONYFLOUR

3.85

3.96

2.86

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Swiss Franc

163.8365

164.8952

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Yen

1.4481

1.4575

CFA

0.2835

0.3035

230.5372

232.0268

Yuan/Renminbi

25.271

25.4352

Riyal

41.255

41.5216

SDR

230.9483

232.4406

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

FIDSON

3.32

PORTPAINT

CONTINSURE

0.95

0.97

2.11

108.21

109.99

1.64

STERLNBANK

2.33

2.36

1.29

COSTAIN

0.91

0.92

1.10

WEMABANK

0.94

0.95

1.06

ZENITHBANK

21.00

21.20

0.95

WAPCO

LOSERS AS AT 30-10-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CADBURY

47.40

42.78

-9.75

PZ

26.41

23.84

-9.73

TRANSCORP

4.39

4.04

-7.97

UBA

5.00

4.75

-5.00

OANDO

CHANGE

Money Supply (M2)

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

15-10-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 17-10-14

Overnight (O/N)

11.00

10.917

1M

12.464

12.393

3M

13.281

13.201

6M

14.205

14.110

FOREX RATES

22.80

21.66

-5.00

GUINNESS

170.00

161.50

-5.00

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

TOTAL

166.00

157.71

-4.99

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

MAYBAKER

1.81

1.72

-4.97

CHAMPION

14.94

14.20

-4.95

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

1.02

0.97

-4.90

NEIMETH

WAUA

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Oct. 28, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.22

T-bills - 364

10.30

Bond - 3yrs

11.52

Bond - 5yrs

11.55

Bond - 7yrs

12.13

32

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-10-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-05-14

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

33

EQUITIES

Investors lose N1.2tr in October as average return drops to -9.14% N IGERIAN investors lost an average of 8.88 per cent in October, equivalent to about N1.17 trillion, as the stock market set on a grueling fourth quarter that looks to exacerbate the recession at the equities’ market.

With week-on-week losses that failed to yield to new third quarter corporate results, Nigerian equities wriggled through selling pressure all through the month.

Last week, average loss at the stock market stood at 3.93 per cent, highlighting a reversal that has seen most indices at their recent lowest points. There was increased selling pressure last week as aggregate turnover climbed to 2.1 billion shares worth N20.23 billion in 21,802 deals as against a total of 1.41 billion shares valued at N17.04 billion traded in 24,427 deals in the previous week.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed October at N12.437 trillion compared with the opening value of N13.607 trillion for the month, representing a loss of N1.17 billion. The All Share Index (ASI), the composite valuebased index that tracks prices of all quoted equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), closed October at 37,550.24 points as against 41,210.10 points recorded as opening index for the month.

The decline in October pushed the average year-to-date for the past 10 months to -9.14 per cent. This simply amounted to a loss of N789 billion, although the average decline in market capitalisation was moderated by new listings.

The ASI indicated a 10-month average decline of 9.14 per cent. The ASI, as the pricing barometer for the Nigerian stock market, serves

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

as Nigeria’s country index and measures the general pricing direction of the country’s stocks within a particular period.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities had opened this year at N13.226 trillion, indicating a loss of N789 billion. The ASI had opened the year at 41,329.19 points, representing average 10-month return of 9.14 per cent.

Sectoral analysis showed widespread bearishness across several sectors with investors in banking, consumer goods and ethical stocks bearing the highest losses. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks on the NSE, indicated a 10-month average return of -11.72 per cent. Banking stocks recorded the highest loss with the NSE Banking Index trailing with a 10-month average return of -16.51 per cent.

The NSE Consumer Goods Index, which tracks several fast moving consumer goods companies including the major multinationals, indicated average loss of 16.33 per cent while the NSE Insurance Index showed average return of -3.21 per cent. Investors who had opted for ethical stocks that comply with Islamic’s rules also suffered aboveaverage loss with the NSE Lotus Islamic Index indicating average loss of 13.99 per cent.

Meanwhile, the oil and gas sector retained double-digit value for investors in spite of recent decline in share prices of oil and gas stocks.

The NSE Oil and Gas Index closed

October with a 10-month average gain of 22.63 per cent.

The 10-month performance of the market was worsened by the sustained depreciation recorded last month. Nearly all tracked indices at the stock market were on the downward during the month. The NSE 30 Index dropped by 10.55 per cent in October while banking and insurance declined by 12.05 per cent and 0.82 per cent respectively. Consumer goods index depreciated by 10.84 per cent, oil and gas index declined by 9.56 per cent, industrial goods index lost 6.82 per cent while the ethical NSE Lotus Islamic Index recorded average loss of 9.66 per cent during the month.

After a modest return in the first half, the stock market has mainly been dominated by the downtrend in the second half. Investors lost N107 billion in capital gains in September, sustaining a downtrend that had seen losses mounting from N128 billion in July to N186 billion in August. Average loss in August stood at 1.34 per cent compared with average loss of 0.91 per cent recorded in July.

Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the NSE closed August at N13.714 trillion as against the month’s opening value of N13.900 trillion. The ASI declined from the month’s opening index of 42,097.46 points to close weekend at 41,532.31 points.

The continuing downtrend reduced the average year-to-date gain of investors to N488 billion by the end of August compared with N674 billion in July and N802 billion in June. Indexed, average year-to-date

return dwindled to 0.49 per cent, down from 1.86 per cent and 2.79 per cent in July and June respectively.

Equities had lost the momentum and struggled the first month of the second half as a mixed of modest and uninspiring earnings dampened investors’ appetite. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the NSE closed July 2014 at N13.900 trillion as against the month’s opening value of N14.028 trillion. The ASI also dropped from its month’s opening index of 42,482.48 points to close at 42,097.46 points.

The July 2014 downtrend dampened enthusiasm that started the second half as capital gains accumulated to N802 billion on the back of early positioning for the second quarter and first half earnings. However, the first half reports have shown muted performance across several sectors; especially in the financial services sector where banks have shown tight bottom-line.

A six-month analysis of the first half had shown that the market benefited from increasing positioning and portfolio rebalancing as investors sought to strengthen their portfolios across sectors. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed the first half at a high of N14.028 trillion as against its 2014 opening value of N13.226 trillion.

The ASI rose from the year’s opening index of 41,329.19 points to close first half at 42,482.48 points, representing average return of 2.79 per cent.

Nigerian equities had in June built on strong gain made in May to add additional capital gains of N333 billion. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed June at

N14.028 trillion as against the opening value for the month at N13.695 trillion. This represented additional gain of N333 billion. The ASI rose from index on board for the month of 41,474.40 points to close June at 42,482.48 points, indicating monthon-month average return of 2.43 per cent.

In May, equities had broken away from a year-long bearish streak with a gain of N1.02 trillion. While the market had closed April with a fourmonth average loss of -6.88 per cent, the average gain of 7.77 per cent recorded in May turned the average year-to-date return positive at 0.35 per cent. Though modest, the fivemonth average gain of 0.35 per cent represents a significant breakeven for the equities market. It also underlined the overtly bullish overall market situation during the month.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed May at N13.695 trillion as against its opening value of N12.672 trillion, indicating a whooping gain of N1.02 trillion. The ASI also rallied by 7.77 per cent to close May at a high of 41,474.40 points compared with its index-on-board of 38,485.48 points.

The market had seen strong rally last week with the ASI recording a week-on-week gain of 4.12 per cent.

Quoted equities had wriggled all through the first four months with negative month-on-month return.

The stock market recorded a negative return of -0.68 per cent in April, building on the bearish trend that had characterized the stock market in the first quarter. In January, February and March, the market consistently recorded losses of 1.8 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively.

Skye Bank records N12.3b profit in Q3

S

KYE Bank Plc recorded a pretax profit of N12.3 billion on a top-line of N97.13 billion in the third quarter.

Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of the bank for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 showed modest growths in some performance indices. The pre-tax profit of N12.3 billion represented a quarter-onquarter growth of 33 per cent but a year-on-year decline of 15.3 per cent.

With gross earnings of N97.1billion, the bank was able to reduce its interest expense by 15 per cent year-on-year to close at N30.3 billion compared to N35.7 billion as at September 2013. The bank stated that this was in line with its operational strategy of increasing the volume of low cost funds in its deposit portfolio.

The bank closed with a year-todate net loans and advances balance of N576 billion, showing a six per cent increase year-on-year.

Similarly, customer deposits grew to N801.7 billion as against N726.8 billion of the previous year while asset size remained strong at N1.1trillion, an increase of three per cent year-on-year growth.

In a statement, the bank noted that it would improve on the growth pattern in the remaining period of the financial year.

“Our loan impairment charge increased by 62 per cent year on year to N7.5 billion, being a deliberate policy of aggressive provisioning early in the year to enable a fairly sustained position and avoid high concentration in the last quarter of the year. Noninterest income improved by 15 per cent year-on-year to N17.6 billion compared to N15.2 billion of the corresponding period in 2013.

•From Left: Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Bola Adeeko; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Disu Holloway; Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Albert Okumagba; Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks, Mr. Alex Okosi; and Chairman, Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben MurrayBruce, during the 18th annual stockbrokers’ conference in Lagos

Capital market needs consistent policy for sustained growth, says Orekoya T HE president, PEARL Awards Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Orekoya, has called for a competitive and stable policy framework for the development of the Nigerian capital market.

According to him, unstable policies and monetary and fiscal changes that are often against the long-term interest of the capital market have been the major dampeners for the capital market.

He noted that for the Nigerian capital market to become more competitive and attractive to Nigerian and foreign investors, government and capital market regulators need to create a stable atmosphere for long-term corporate strategies.

At a press conference to announce

the 2014 PEARL Awards Nite slated for November 30, 2014 in Lagos, Orekoya commended the exemption of capital market transactions from Value Added Tax (VAT) and called for more policies in favour of the market.

“Yes the Federal Government should be commended on exemption of VAT on stock market transaction but it should strive to be consistent. We have recorded a number of incidences where government counters itself with policies.

We don’t want that repeating all the time because inconsistencies in policies affect the capital market nega-

tively,” Orekoya said.

He urged capital market regulators to intensify investors’ education noting that several investors are still wary of the stock market due to the hangover of the 20082009 recession.

He outlined that the 2014 PEARL Awards would continue in the tradition of the earlier awards and would use 10 globally acceptable parameters including turnover growth; return on equity, earnings yield; share price appreciation; dividend cover, profit margin ratio amongst others.

He added that there would be spe-

cial recognition awards to reward and honor individuals and media institution that contributed remarkably to capital market development in Nigeria.

“The 2014 Pearl awards as usual would be in three main competitive categories namely the sectoral leadership awards, which rewards a company for outperforming other companies within the same sector based on aggregate points garnered from all the ten indices utilized for ranking. The market excellence awards category is based on recognition of entire market leadership in respect of each of the ranking indices while the third category is the overall highest award categorythe Pearl of the Nigerian Stock Market,” Orekoya said.

34

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

Consumer fraud delays claims payments, says Adeda

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RAUDULENT activities of consumers is resposible for delayed claims payment by insurance operators, the Managing Director, Alpha Choice Insurance Brokers Limited, Sunny Adeda, has said.

Adeda, who made this known at the Insurance Consumers’ Forum, organised by Almond Productions Limited, in Lagos, said this was one of the reasons why insurance companies ensure that all necessary documents required for processing claim are provided before compensating the insured.

He said some Nigerians are very clever to the extent that they always come up with fake claims that will look like genuine ones, all in a bid to dupe their insurers.He cited several examples whereby insurance consumers call for claims that are not genuine.

He said: “There was a client who valued his BMW car at N4million.

Two months after he insured the car with his insurer, he came for claims, saying his car was stolen.

In the course of investigation whether the claim is genuine or not, we noticed the car was packed somewhere within Lagos. ‘’Thank God, he has a dispute with one of his friends, who sent an anonymous letter to us, notifying

•From left: Former President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Sunny Adeda; Chief Executive Office Almond Productions Faith Ughwode and Former Managing Director Continental Re Plc, AdeyemoAdejumo at the event.

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

us where the car was packed. But the owner was so smart that, by the time we got to where he packed the car, he has relocated it to somewhere else. He kept the dribble

game, and since we have no concrete evidence to discard the claims, we have to settle him for N900, 000, instead of the N4 million he was requesting, after several meeting with him.”

He stressed that this dubious ten-

dency was why insurance companies do request for police report, especially, in the case of car accident and stolen vehicles, among others, before a claim is settled. He however, appealed to insurance consumers to always make genuine claims,

adding that fake claims will only raise suspicion from underwriters.

Adeda said most vehicles on Nigerian roads parade fake insurance papers, which are sold to unsuspecting public by fake underwriting firms.He said this is why some vehicle owners fight on the road when they hit themselves.

“Whenever you see two vehicle owners engaging themselves in a fight on the road because of hitting their cars, it is very sure that none of them has genuine insurance claim otherwise they will not need to fight,” he said.

He however, urged consumers to ensure they understand the policies sold to them by underwriters and brokers in the industry by reading through the policy document.

Former President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Adeyemo Adejumo, called on consumers to always engage insurers before patronising them through regular appraisals of their company performance.He noted that insurers will do well, if they are closely checked by consumers who buy their products.

He added that consumers have the mandate to analyse the financial accounts of insurers to determine those doing well and should be patronised.

Guinea Insurance grows profit to N300m

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UINEA Insurance Plc has declared a profit before tax of N300 million in 2013, as against N179.7 million recorded in 2012, reflecting an increase of 67 per cent.

The company’s total assets, increased by six per cent amounting to N4.2 billion in 2013 as against N3.9 billion recorded in 2012.

Insurance contract liability decreased by four per cent to N533 million in 2013 as against N555 million in 2012. Total equity increased by 16 per cent to N 2.9 billion in 2013, as against N2.5 billion in 2012.

Claims expense increased by 15 per cent amounting to N324 million in 2013 as against the sum of N281 million in 2012.

Chairman of the company, Sir Emeka Offor, made this known during the company’s 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Enugu State. Speaking to shareholders of the company, he noted that the ambivalent state of the global economy in 2012 was further worsened by the Euro zone sovereign debt crisis, protracted recessions; unprecedented increases in unemployment; slowdown in global

economic growth coupled with instability in financial markets, all of which took a heavy toll on consumer spending and impacted negatively on prices of leading world commodities which remained relatively high and volatile.

He said the management has however, kept to its promise to revitalise and position the company on a higher pedestal that will further propel confidence and equitable service delivery for the benefit of its stakeholders.

He said: “In spite of the daunting challenges in the operating environment, the company remained focused and true to its ideals of becoming an insurer of first choice by persistently building capacity, exploring opportunities within the industry and strategically directing its internal processes on the path of returning it to profitability”.

Managing Director of the company, Polycarp Didam, reiterated his commitment to restructure and reposition the company for better performance.

“To achieve this, part of our laid down measures have been to improve our performance manage-

•From: Director, Professor E.L.C. Nnabuife, Director, Agusiobo Emeka Chairman, Divisional Director, Corporate & Legal Services, Alternate Chairman, Mr. Fred Nnamdi Udechukwu, Managing Director, Polycarp Didam at the Annual General Meeting held in Enugu

ment method, a move that led to the recent elevation 22 of our deserving members of staff following the outcome of the company’s 2014 half year performance appraisal.

“On the industry front, we have continued to keep faith with our pledge to constantly support initiatives aimed at pioneering and advocating for increased insurance penetration and awareness in the

polity. For some years now, we have been executing various ‘street presence’ CSR initiatives, one of such tagged “Guinea Cleans,” was aimed at creating awareness and keeping its immediate environment clean, because we believe strongly that clean care, is safer care.”

“The youth are considered the future leaders of tomorrow and as such, they must possess the right

attitude and information about insurance in order to advance the progress of the country’s underwriting portfolio. We will continue in our stride to support initiatives geared towards advancing insurance penetration in Nigeria, hence, our donation of educational materials: school bags, biros, notebooks and others in support of this laudable initiative of the industry beauty queen titled ‘Teens for Insurance’’.

Insurance broker launches Ebola liability cover

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NITED States insurance broker, Aon, has launched Ebola liability cover for hospitals and other health care institutions, Reuters has reported.

T h e E b o l a v i r u s h a s killed nearly 5,000 people worldwide, mainly in West Africa.Fear of Ebola infections spreading to developed economies has prompted insurance companies to add exclusion clauses to their standard policies or to develop new products.

The U.S. broker’s Ebola cover is for situations “where existing liability programmes may not apply” and provides up to $25 million of liability coverage, Aon

said in a statement.

“There are several areas where there have not been certainty about coverage for Ebola,” Gigi Norris, Managing director of Aon Risk Solutions’ Western Region

Health Care Practice, said.This is something our health care clients are extremely worried about.”

The cover will protect hospitals from cases related to their response to Ebola brought by em-

ployees, patients, or even potential patients who have been refused admission, Norris said.

It has been designed for U.S. hospitals, but could be adapted for the international market, she

said.

The policy has been developed with British insurance company Hiscox, and will be available through other brokers after 60 days, Aon said.

Commercial insurance rates stable in third quarter, says CIAB

A

VERAGE rates for commercial property and casualty (P/C) insurance barely moved in the third quarter of 2014, the quarterly pricing survey released by the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (CIAB) said.

The Council’s Commercial P/C Market Index Survey found that average rates for all accounts in-

creased 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, compared with 0.5 per cent decrease in the second quarter of 2014. During the third quarter, small accounts experienced the largest average price increase, 1.1 per cent, while prices for large accounts fell 1.1 per cent, the survey found.

By coverage line, the largest in-

creases were in employment practices liability, where rates rose 3.1 per cent; commercial auto, up 2.6 per cent; and workers compensation increased 2.3 per cent.

In other major lines, directors and officers’ liability rates increased 2.2 per cent, general liability rates inched up 0.6 per cent and commercial property rates fell 1.6

per cent.

“We didn’t see much change in pricing or underwriters’ approach over the last quarter compared to the second quarter,” Ken A. Crerar, president and CEO of The Council said in a statement. “Capacity remained plentiful, and underwriters were still eager for new business.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

•facebook data centre

Big data promises new vistas This is the era of big data in information telecommunication (IT) age. Data is now the new frontier to harness in the industry. Data centres are springing up everywhere in Nigeria and across the world. The rise of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, 2Go, Yookos and many others has revolutionised data. While some of these data centres have their servers in country, others have offshore with firm arrangements for disaster recovery. Management of data promises jobs, LUCAS AJANBAKU writes with agency reports.

W

HETHER you like it or not, big data is here to stay. And with its coming are job promises. Seven occupations have been identified with very fantastic salary yearly averaged at almost N11.8million. This is expected to catalyse the growth of the economy and boost the gross domestic product (GDP).

In countries such as the United States (U.S), it is expected to add over a million jobs. It would do same if the tempo of development in the sector is sustained in Nigeria.

Defining big data “Big data” is a buzz phrase thrown around often, and it really only entered into the conversations of the American public over the last few years. People searching the phrase on Google have skyrocketed over the last two years.

The seven money spinning job opportunities that the big data revolution could bring are:

Software Developers

Certainly software developers — those who create and write computer programmes — aren’t exclusively involved in big data, but with each passing day, more people are needed to make the programmes that can effectively and effortlessly collect, synthesise, and process all the data created. For college graduates with degrees in fields such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or some other related fields, the future for developers was bright 10 years ago, and that remains true today.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour, in 2010 employment in this area was 913,100 2020. It is projected to grow jobs by growth: 30 per cent by adding new jobs of 270,900 by year 2020.

In terms of remuneration, it offered and average salary of $90,530 (N14.8m) 2020

Market Research Analysts Market research analysts are going to be the ones who work in almost every indus-

‘As big data progresses, computer systems analysts are an essential cog to help a business understand its current computer systems and make recommendations for expanded systems and processes to meet the ever-evolving world of big data’

try who view the massive amounts of data that is collected and then report on their findings. They are those ones who will help companies figure out what goods or services people want, who exactly will buy them, and also what price they should be sold for. Since they can work in a variety of fields, from consumer product companies, manufacturing firms, or even banks, there is a lot of demand for the people who can make decisions based on all the data that is collected. A career as a market research analyst is best prepared for with a degree in Statistics or Mathematics, with coursework in Communications or other Social Sciences.

In 2010, this area created jobs for 282,700. By 2020, its job creating prospect will reach 41 per cent by adding 116,600 more jobs. In 2010, the average salary it offered was $60,570 (N9.9m) with prospects of increase as the situation stbilises.

•Continued on page 36

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

JOBS

Big data promises new vistas •Continued from page 35

Post-secondary Teachers Although this is the largest and broadest field, post-secondary teachers (those who teach students beyond high school) will be in high demand as a result of big data. There will be more and more students who pursue careers in big data (through one of the other careers noted here), and as a result, there will be a need for people who are prepared, capable, and willing to teach them the required skills they need to succeed.

In 2010, it created some 1,756,000 employment while it is expected go up by 17 per cent in 2020 by adding another 305,700 job openings. It is also a rewarding endeavour as on the average, the salary in 2010 was $62,050 (N10.1m).

Database Administrators It is absolutely important to have people analysing the data — but if they don’t have secure and sound data to analyse, they’ll make wrong decisions. Database administrators are the ones who use the software and tools created by the developers to store and organise the data that will be used by market research and other analysts. While a degree in any computer-related field can set someone on the path to becoming a database administrator, one in management information systems (MIS) is often the best fit.

In 2010, data base administration created employment for 110,800 youths in the U.S. and it is projected to grow 31 per cent by creating fresh opportunities for another 33,900. Average salary at 2010 was $73,490 (N12.05m)

Computer Systems Analysts Computer systems analysts are often the intermediaries between

a corporation’s IT department and its business departments. As big data progresses, computer systems analysts are an essential cog to help a business understand its current computer systems and make recommendations for expanded systems and processes to meet the ever-evolving world of big data. Since computer systems analysts deal almost equally with both technology and business-related tasks, a degree that provides equal weighting in both is incredibly beneficial, and often management information systems (MIS) can provide that.

A total of 544,400 jobs were created in 2010 from this area. It is projected that job openings in this area would grow by 22 per cent with the addition of 120,400 by year 2020. It is also a goldmine as it paid $77,740 N12.74m) as average salary to professionals engaged in the area.

Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, Computer Network Architects Seemingly the catch-all bucket utilised by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, people in this category of career are utilised in a variety of different ways. Information security analysts ensure data is safe and secure, web developers create websites that attempt to capture the best practices wielded from big data, and network architects ensure that data and information flows seamlessly. Like

•Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson

•CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke

•Group CEO, Computer Warehouse Group, Mr Austine Okere

the others, degrees in computer science, programming, or another related field is immensely beneficial.

In 2010, it created employment for 302,300 and projected to grow 22 per cent and open new jobs for 65,700 qualified young men and women. Average take home is $75,660 (N12.4m).

engineering field (whether it be computer or electrical) can also be immensely helpful.

In 2010, some 347,200 jobs were created in the U.S. This is expected to grow 28 per cent by 2020 with an additional openings of 96,600.

Average salary in 2010 stood at $69,160 (N11.3m).

Two years ago, the Harvard Business Review declared that big data was “The Management Revolution” and a Wall Street Journal report from October of this year noted that almost two thirds of companies have invested or plan to invest in big-data technology within the next year. Gartner projects big-data spending will more than double from $27 billion in 2012 to $55 billion in 2016.

Though defining big data can be a challenge, a recent Forbes article put it nicely when it wrote: “Big data is a collection of data from traditional and digital sources inside and outside your company that represents a source

for ongoing discovery and analysis.

The world has become a connected with so much information produced that companies are often inundated with information.

IBM reports that “90 per cent of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone.” Every interaction from a Facebook ”like” to a Google search or click on a headline from Yahoo! lends to some small stored bit of information. But beyond what is done on the internet, there is the data generated from traffic sensors, sales figures at small businesses, and the immense amount of data utilised in hospitals about patients to help patients.

But big data isn’t simply the collection of information — and the age-old question of “if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” is eerily similar to one that I’d like to pose to you: If information is collected and no one is there to analyze it, is it actually information?

The biggest challenge cited by the managers surveyed by The Wall Street Journal about big data was “determining how to get value from the data,” and the only way to do that is through people, and workers in these seven career fields are the ones poised to benefit the most from this data renaissance.

Network & Computer Systems Administrators Lastly, there are those who help ensure that a company’s computer networks run and operate smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

With the vast amount of information collected, both internal and external computer networks will be under increased demand and strain, and there will be a high demand for the people who can ensure things continue without a hitch. Often a degree in computer or information sciences is a key point of entry, but a degree in an

‘Every interaction from a Facebook ”like” to a Google search or click on a headline from Yahoo! lends to some small stored bit of information. But beyond what is done on the internet, there is the data generated from traffic sensors, sales figures at small businesses, and the immense amount of data utilised in hospitals about patients to help patients’

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Putting more energy behind your job hunting “M Y job hunt is stuck in the mud. I know I need to fix it, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and I’ve got no energy left. I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work.”

Does this sound like you or what you feel now?

The simple truth is Hunting for a job can be tiring, demoralising and frustrating for people who have internalised their inability to find work as a sign of personal failure. Confidence and self-image suffer. Not to mention the economic embarrassment. As that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to present the optimistic, energetic “can do” persona that employers seek.

We all hear the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get work. One of the reasons for this is that employers are looking for you, Mr/Ms. Jobhunter not to be jaded, tired, and “down.” And, they fear that the longer you are out of work, the more likely it is you won’t have the vim and vigour they seek.

How can you put more energy to your flagging job hunting campaign?

There are things you can do to

By Olu Oyeniran

energise your job hunt. Below are my suggestions. This list is hardly exhaustive, but it’s a good start:

Remember getting a job is a job Treat it with the same sense of professionalism that you would bring to any employment. Show up on time every day. And, at the end of the day, don’t feel guilty about packing the work up, and transitioning to “personal” or “family” mode. As with any job, it’s important to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Recognise and confront your self-imposed roadblocks Are you frozen in place by fear of possible future failure? Many people have experienced so much rejection that they are afraid to have any more piled on. Such feelings are real, and they need to be acknowledged.

Sometimes inaction can be psychological defence mechanism. It’s important, however, to understand

that inaction is a certain road to the status quo. Try to move forward every day – even if you only do one or two small “baby step” things that can help to build up your self-confidence.

Break out of your isolation Figure out who are the members of your support system – your family, friends, other job hunters you meet at networking groups, members of your church or synagogue and so on. Talk to them regularly. Tell them what you’ve been up to, what seems to be working, and what seems to be frustrating you.

Make them part of your team. Ask for their feedback and advice. Help them to help you by creating a context of “us” instead of “me.” And of course: seek a good job hunting coach who can understand and relate to you, and provide both guidance and the occasional “kick in the pants” when it’s called for.

Balance your job hunting activities You can’t be everywhere, all the

time. Strive to create a balance over the course of a week or two in a cycle. If you think of your search for work as a job hunt, then imagine each tool or tactic as one arrow in your quiver. You need a variety of arrows including: informational interviewing; attending professional meetings and seminars; social networking utilising LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter; writing your blog, and so on.

However, important online activity has become, remember that social networks are but the means to the end of building personal relationships. Nurture your relationships both in the real and virtual worlds.

Stay focused and use your time wisely People who work out of their homes often say that one of the biggest challenges they face is managing their time. It’s easy to be distracted by kids, pets, housework, TV, internet, computer games, and so much else! Organise your day and week in advance. Create an hourly schedule and stick to it by setting alarms on your computer calendar or wherever they will best be seen and heard.

Practise, practise, and practise some more

Rehearse your elevator speech out loud and prepare answers to interview questions that you can anticipate. For example, don’t allow yourself to be flummoxed by opening queries like, ”Tell me about yourself.” Did you know Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, shot 1,000 baskets every day! He was great because he understood the need for constant repetition and skill building.

Maintain your mental and physical health Eat healthy. Exercise at least three times each week. If it’s been a while since you exercised with any regularity, start slow and gradually build yourself back up. Get those endorphins flowing and you will look better, have more energy, and feel better about yourself.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

37

THE CEO Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) is one of the distribution firms licensed last year following the unbundling of the power sector by the Federal Government. Its areas of coverage spans Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, as well as parts of Kwara and Niger states. Its Managing Director, Fortunatus Leynes, says ending vandalism and an upward review of cureent electricity tariff would go a long at improving power supply. He spoke in Lagos with senior journalists, Group Busines Editor, SIMEON EBULU was there.

F

ROM your experience in the past, will you say the the decision of the government to deregulate the power sector was right?

Yes, because there has been an improvement in electricity supply in the country in the last one year. The government decided to deregulate the sector because of its desire to have reliable power supply in the country.

With what has happened in the last one year, the country is gradually getting close to achieving that as electricity supply is becoming better. This is something that the country had found difficult to achieve for many years. This has been achieved because of the privatisation of the companies involved in power generation and distribution.

Your view that electricity supply has improved may be personal to you. Some will have a contrary opinion. Do you agree?

The facts on ground speak for themselves. I may not be able to speak for other franchise areas, but in our own franchise area, electricity supply has improved greatly. As I speak with you, the minimum number of hours of supply in most parts of our franchise area is 15. I am not saying that is enough; of course we are working to improve on that but that is the fact.

Electricity supply has improved. If there are areas that are getting less than 10 hours of supply, it must be due to a local problem which will be addressed.

What are the challenges you have to confront before coming this far?

The major challenge we have had is insufficient power supply from the national grid. This means that we do not have enough power to distribute to our customers. Unfortunately, many of the customers do not seem to understand the way it goes; they do not realise that we cannot distribute more than we receive from the grid.

We are the ones they blame whenever there is inadequate supply of electricity.

But it is pertinent to note that as a distribution company, we are at the tail-end of the electricity supply chain. It is what is delivered to us that we distribute to our customers. However, we understand the way they feel and we are doing our best to address their concern.

Another challenge we face is tariff. I want to tell you that the tariff we take from the customers is too low. The tariff is not enough for us to finance the purchase of transformers, lines, poles, wires and other electrical equipment needed for our operations.

We also have the challenge of vandalism. Very often, members of the public vandalise our equipment and facilities.

This has not been helpful to us at all. It has resulted in huge financial losses to our company. The implication of this is that the resources that should have been deployed to increasing capacity would be used to effect repairs. So, downtime will continue to be high for as long as our equipment and installations are vandalised.

We have appealed to all our customers to see our facilities as their property and protect them because it is only when the facilities are allowed to function very well that we can assure them of regular power supply.

We have also called on communities to ensure the security of the facilities for the good of all. The importance of regular supply of electricity cannot be overemphasised, but one way of guaranteeing this is for the people to desist from vandalising our facilities because it is these facilities that will ensure that electricity gets to houses and offices.

What options do you have about increasing the power supplied to you from the national grid?

• Leynes

Current tariff regime, vandalism disincentives to investment You know we are not the only one in the business; so there is a limit to what we can receive from the national grid. Until power generation improve, there’s very little we can do because whatever is generated has to be shared among the distribution companies.

However, we are planning to augment our supply through embedded power generation. This is our way of increasing power supply to our network and it will

enable us to increase power supply to our customers. We have already communicated our intention to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and we are awaiting their response. We shall start work on it as soon as we get the go ahead from NERC. How will the embedded power generation work?

We shall have a number of this in different parts of our franchise areas and add

to our network. We shall not add the power so generated to the national grid, it will go straight into our own network.

We are taking this step because we owe it a duty to our customers to supply them regular electricity. What they expect from us, is service, not excuses. As far as they are concerned, whenever there is power outage, it is our fault; they do not want to • Continued on page 38

‘Private businesses are result-oriented, they want to get the result that will make their businesses sustainable. This can only be assured when they deliver quality services to their customers and the only way to deliver quality services, is by continuous investment in the business. That has been the secret of the improvement in electricity supply in the last one year’

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THE CEO

Current tariff regime disincentive to investment • Continued from page 37

know whether we receive enough power supply from the grid or not, that is not their business. It is our belief that by taking this route to increase power supply, we shall be adding value to them and improving the overall electricity supply in the country.

Are you going to add power generation to your original mandate of power distribution?

No, we are not the ones that will be generating the power. We plan to engage different companies in the embedded power generation scheme, but they know that whatever they are able to generate we shall buy from them. That is part of the beauty of the deregulation of the sector.

So, to answer your question, we shall remain a power distributing company; we have no intention of adding power generation to what we are doing. We are motivated to do this because of our determination to give first class services to our customers.

Is achieving uninterrupted electricity supply in this country such a tall dream?

Honestly, the way to get that is what the government has embarked upon and that is deregulating the sector so that private people with requisite experience and technical know-how can come into the sector.

At the risk of sounding immodest, I want to say that in the last one year, our company has been able to improve power supply in our franchise areas.

One thing Nigerians should realise is that investment and appropriate technology follow liberalisation and deregulation of critical sectors. With the deregulation of the sector, investments will come from far and near and so will latest technology. These are two critical factors for having uninterrupted power supply.

For instance, apart from the initial investment that our company made in this business, we are currently discussing with a consortium of banks to raise $160million which we want to inject into

the business. This money will be used to improve facilities in our network.

Why are we able to do this? It is because we are a private business. If it were a government business, the bureaucracy involved will make it difficult. By the time the money is released, the technology for which it is meant would have become out-dated.

Private businesses are result-oriented, they want to get the result that will make their businesses sustainable. This can only be assured when they deliver quality services to their customers and the only way to deliver quality services is by continuous investment in the business.

That has been the secret of the improvement in electricity supply in the last one year.

I know that Nigerians are justifiably impatient about having regular electricity supply, but they should just give us some time. Now, I speak for our company because I don’t know what others are doing. We are trying to attract the right people and inculcate in them the right attitude. We are also investing in the right technology to drive the network. With all that we are doing, in the next two to three years, our company will make the difference. I can assure you.

How close are you to achieving your set objectives?

I will be honest with you, it has not been easy because when our business plan was developed, it was based on some parameters- such as customer count and amount of power available. But when we got into the business, the reality on ground was different from what we were told. This has largely affected our operations. We have had to review our targets in line with the reality on ground.

So, to be factual, we have not achieved all that we thought we would achieve in one year. But altogether, it has been a good year and we are looking forward to a better outing next year.

What are your views on the regulation

• Leynes

of the power sector in Nigeria?

I will say the power sector in the country is a highly regulated one and at this stage of the sector, I think it is necessary.

The regulator of the sector, the NERC, is very strict about compliance. Non-compliance with laid down rules attracts serious sanctions. This has been helpful to both the operators and our customers as it keeps us on our toes, knowing that an agency is watching. What we all want is regular supply of electricity for the improvement of our lives and businesses.We, as an organisation, play by the rules. So, we do not have any problem with the regulators.

How were you able to manage the transformation from a publicly owned agency to a private one?

One of the good things that the government did with the privatisation is the decision to pay the terminal benefit of all staff of the legacy company. That means we could start on a fresh note. It gave us the freedom to pick the best hands in the legacy company and blend with the best hands from outside and the combination has been wonderful. As our customers will attest, power supply has improved greatly. Some areas enjoy 22 hours of electricity supply, some 18, some 15. These are by no means the best, but considering where the power sector was, it is a huge improvement.

Talking about how we were able to achieve this, efficient management of resources, regular training of our workforce, deployment of world class technology and prompt responses to complaints, were key, and still are.

I give you an example. The substation at Akanran/Olorunsogo in Ibadan was

destroyed by some irate youths in January, 2012. Nothing was done about that for about three years. The people were left in darkness for almost three years.

Of course this had a negative effect on businesses in that area and it also meant a loss of revenue for the company.

As a private business that is not dependent on subvention from government, we knew we had to do something about it, especially because our mission is distributing power, transforming lives.

We spent about N150 million to renovate the substation. The people are happy with us for putting an end to their pains; we are happy with ourselves for transforming the lives of our customers.

You said the tariff you charge is too low. What in your view would be the ideal tariff?

I cannot give you a figure because it is NERC that announces the tariffs and it depends on some parameters to arrive at these. We just think that considering what goes into the business, the tariff should be a bit higher. But then the final say lies with NERC, there is no point second-guessing the Commission.

So what should be your customers’ expectation as you start your second year?

Our customers should expect improved services as we put in more money to buy transformers and rehabilitate our electrical facilities. We have the plan to replace all obsolete equipment we inherited from PHCN, but they should know that this will definitely take some time.

As part of our first anniversary activities, we are upgrading transformers to various communities across the franchise area. Thi s is targeted at improving power supply to them.

‘The importance of regular supply of electricity cannot be overemphasised, but one way of guaranteeing this is for the people to desist from vandalising our facilities because it is these facilities that will ensure that electricity gets to houses and offices’ • Leynes

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BUSINESS MOTORING

Stallion Motors has showcased one of its locally assembled Hyundai models at an interactive session with motoring journalists at its Victoria Island office in Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

•Hyundai Grand

•Dashboard

•Dashboard

T

HE Hyundai Grand i10 is an elegant family sedan that comes in two likeable variants with 5-Speed manual and 4-Speed automatic transmission powered by 1.25 Kappa Dual VTVT engine respectively.

The Grand responds to every expectation with alluring cabin colour, textures and shape that lend it a sport appeal that could easily make any large car envious.

From whatever angle you view the car, it is evident the Hyundai Grand was crafted to meet utmost degree of needs.

The Grand is a whole new level of art + innovation which ordinarily gives the car an unimaginable feel.

Powered by dual CVVT Kappa 1.25litre all-aluminum engine that emits quiet and smooth operation, the Grand i10 will delight drivers looking for exceptionally low weight cars that maximise fuel consumption.

Manufactured only in petrol variant for the Nigerian market, the Grand offers light weight and robust five-speed manual transmission and four-speed automatic transmission that enhance smooth and accurate gearshift for optimum performance.

The Grand’s aerodynamic designed bumper reduces forward air flow resistance

Showcasing locally assembled Hyundai Grand while the rear spoiler effect enhances fuel economy and driving stability.

Hyundai Grand does not compromise on safety. The makers used structural safety that utilises anti corrosive steel, ring structure application to enhance the rigidity and body robustness of the Hyundai Grand and its Antilock brake system (ABS) prevents skidding and retains the car’s steer ability on slippery surfaces. This mechanism also enables stable braking and restricts wheel lock-up during panic braking.

Jatin Nadkarni, Head of Sales and Marketing, Hyundai Motors Nigeria, a division of Stallion Group said, Hyundai Grand i10 was the proceed of the recently inaugurated National Automotive Industrial Plan.

He said the Hyundai Grand i10 has proven

a point that a comfortable and spacious car doesn’t have to be cumbersome.

“And that was Hyundai Motors’ conviction when it went to the drawing board to design this exceptionally cultured family sedan that would soon become the toast of most automobile freaks in the country,” Nadkarni said.

“The world,” he said, “is changing every day, so we decided to also change the way people communicate with each other by introducing the Hyundai Grand - a car that lets you share a new language with the world.”

The Grand shows a sharp styling with a whole new level of innovation that attest to the brilliantly crafted exterior.

The newly designed clear headlight clusters for instance, not only look good, they

improve night vision and on-road visibility with extra safety.

Hyundai Grand is equipped with chromecoated radiator grille positioned to perfection to project strong presence.

The outside mirror repeaters are aerodynamically sculpted while the outside mirror is ornamented with LED repeaters for enhanced looks and safety.

Inside the car, the front and rear seating ergonomically designed bucket type front seats gives the car a premium feel with spacious and cushioned rear seats while the adjustable headrests assure ample support and comfortable seating.

This is in addition to the liberal boot space that could accommodate your weekend luggage with bench folding function that provides an extra flat load space.

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MOTORING TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING

Fed Govt to resuscitate automotive industry

T

HE Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government in restoring the declining fortunes of the automotive industry in the country. He said the present administration will continue to ensure the promotion of manufacturing and assemblage of automobiles as a strategy of launching Nigeria into the class of car manufacturing nations.

Sambo spoke at the opening ceremony of the 16th Abuja International Motor Fair at Eagle Square in Abuja, saying that there is necessity to move Nigeria from an automobile consumer nation to producers.

Sambo, represented by the Minister of State, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, said all hands must be on deck to achieve this goal.

“Our achievements in sports and our success in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease are great testaments to what we can accomplish if we work together. We hope that very soon, Made-in-Nigeria cars will jostle for space in motor fairs both in Nigeria and globally, along with the Toyota, the Hondas and Peugeots of this world,” he said.

The Vice President said the motor fair offers an insight into the shape of things to come in the industry especially with the present government’s resolve for a paradigm shift in the sector.

Sambo noted that restoring the automotive industry has a part to play in the economic development of any nation. “This includes its capacity for employment creation, GDP contribution and Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SME) development,” he said.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed noted that the Abuja International Motor Fair

•Sambo

•Muhammed

By Olatunde Odebiyi

has the potential to bolster the efforts of the FCT administration towards the realisation of the Abuja Urban Transportation Master Plan and the making of a smart city.

He urged the dealers and other stakeholders in the automobile marketing industry to evolve a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strategy for developing the area, saying that the FCT administration is willing to partner with interested investors in this regard especially using its Land- Swap model of infrastructure development to fast-track development in the FCT. Director–General, National Automotive Council, Mr Aminu Jalal, an engineer, stated that Tokunbo vehicles that flooded the Nigerian automotive market after the liquidation of nearly all the local assembly plants and components manufacturing companies would soon become a thing of the past.

This, he said, is because the investment in the automotive industry in Nigeria has opportunities in the manufacture of vehicles, spare parts and components.

“Presently some Assembly Plants have

commenced production in the country. They include Peugeot Nigeria in Kaduna, National Trucks Manufacturers in Kano, Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Ltd in Lagos, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd in Nnewi, Zahav Automotive Company Nigeria Ltd in Lagos and VON Automobile Nigeria Ltd in Lagos.

He said the new policy is also expected to boost the revival and expansion of petrochemical and metal/steel sectors; conservation of huge foreign exchange presently being used for vehicle imports; opening of automotive training centres; building of new vehicle manufacturing plants and price reduction on brand new Nigerian made cars to about N1.5million.

“The new automotive development policy would also salvage the honour and tastes of Nigerians in increased flow of investments for the development of the automotive industry in Nigeria; proactive tariff differentials targeted at encouraging local production; government’s patronage of products of local assembly and operation of vehicle purchase schemes, among others,” he said.

• Don’t drink and drive. Also, don’t get into a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.

• Don’t make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. Just because someone has their turn signal on does not mean they are actually going to turn. Like the rest of us, they may have forgotten that it is on!

• Don’t assume that other cars know what you are doing either. Make sure that you use your turn signals and give yourself, and the cars around you, plenty of room to maneuver.

• Don’t tailgate other cars, pass on shoulders, fail to yield, run stoplights or stop signs (even if no one else seems to be around), or break any other rules of the road on purpose. If you act like you are above the law when you operate a car, you will sooner, rather than later, find out that you are not.

• Don’t play your car stereo so loudly that you are disruptive to others, or so loudly that you are unable to hear train signals or emergency vehicle sirens.

• Don’t talk on your cell phone and drive at the same time. If you need to make or answer a telephone call while you are driving, pull over at a safe place, use the phone, and then resume your journey.

• Don’t engage in other activities while driving that distract your attention or reduce your reaction time. Eating, changing clothes, or putting on makeup while driving is dangerous. In some states, if you are caught doing these things while driving you can be cited for “driver inattention” and given a ticket.

• Don’t treat a car like it is a toy. It is not. Don’t use your car to play chicken, race, or give another car a friendly “tap.”

• Don’t let your emotions and frustrations get the best of you. Don’t engage in road rage, no matter how irritating another driver might be to you.

• Don’t leave valuables in your car, especially in places where they can be seen, no matter where you are parked.

•Coined from www.google.com

Kia partners FCMB on finance scheme

K

•From left: Mr Femi Bakre; General Manager, Sales, KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr Amargeet Singh; Divisional Head, Retail Banking, FCMB, Mr Olu Akanmu; Head, Retail Asset, Product Consumer Asset Team, FCMB, Olajire Awofisibe; and Deputy Marketing Manager, KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ayewoh, during the inauguration of KIA Motors Nigeria/FCMB Alliance on auto loans.

IA Motors has signed agreement with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to offer an auto loan to interested buyers.

With this partnership, KIA Motors Nigeria and FCMB are looking forward to developing financing options that will help customers own KIA brand from as low as N47,400 monthly repayment plan. The customers are presented with flexible payment plan options, free insurance, FCMB goody bag, and free vehicle registration. Weaved into the scheme is the standard five year warranty on all KIA vehicles.

Speaking at the media launch, the Deputy Marketing Manager, KIA Motors Nigeria, Peter Ayewoh said “the alliance with

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

FCMB has gone through a rigorous perusal aiming at giving the very best in auto financing scheme to customers.”

He noted that the scheme will strengthen KIA’s foothold in the country and consolidate its leadership position in the automobile retail industry.

Executive Director, Lagos and South West, FCMB, Mr Olufemi Bakre explained that the partnership was borne out of an alliance between the two institutions.

“FCMB has been a well acclaimed industry leader in consumer loan offering and this finance scheme is a viable alliance aimed at furthering the frontiers of delivering an exceptional customer experience,” he said.

‘VON can produce local needs’

V

ON Automobile multivehicle assembly plant said its facility along Lagos – Badagry Expressway can at present meet the country’s vehicular demand.

With its current production capacity of 50,000 vehicles annually, Mr Parvir Singh, Group Managing Director (automobile division) Stallion Motors Limited, owners of the facility said the plant has an installed capacity for 100,000 vehicles.

“We can convincingly produce 50,000 vehicles annually even though we are constrained to produce what the market requires at the moment,” he said.

He applauded the National Automotive Industry Development initiative, describing it as an economic thrust with proclivity for

improved GDP. He stated that Stallion NMN, the authorised Nissan sales company has done remarkably well since the dealership was inaugurated 18 months ago.

“We have experienced favourable growth indices and sales volumes due to favourable patronage by our valued customers and we are convinced very soon Nissan will assume its rightful place on the automobile sales chart,” he said.

The Nissan marketing company made sales projection of 6,000 units by the end of 2014 sales year.

Singh listed other achievements of the dealership within a spate of one year as the commissioning of an ultramodern Abuja facility; inauguration of archetypal

made in Nigeria Nissan vehicles such as Nissan Almera / Sunny; NP300 Pick-up and high end Nissan Patrol SUV. Other accomplishments are the introduction of expanded Nissan line-up with the addition of iconic models like GT-R and 370Z with exciting B, C, D, SUV and LCV (light commercial vehicle) segment vehicles including Almera / Sunny, Sentra, Altima, Pathfinder and Urvan commuter bus – the largest Nissan line-up ever in the country.

He pledged Stallion’s commitment to world-class consumer experience, promising to continue to supply best Nissan products and services to growing Nissan clientele.

Meanwhile, the dealership has

•Parvir (left) and Amit

formally announced a change in the name of its celebrated midsize family sedan previously

known as Teana in the market to Altima in harmony with the product image worldwide.

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NEWS

‘

Why Nigeria should lose sleep over oil price •Continued from page 3

UNITED States

G

OING by the position of analysts, the number one winner of the ongoing price war is the world economy. A cheaper energy, it is said, benefits the global economy.

A 10 per cent change in oil price is projected to bring about 0.2 per cent in global gross domestic product (GDP). This is so because a price fall normally boosts GDP by diverting resources from producers to consumers, who will be more willing to spend their wealth. But the US, which simultaneously the world’s largest consumer, importer and producer of oil, is also a beneficiary of cheaper crude.

Yes, because experts project that it stands to benefit from its strengthening currency. The reason for this is the end of quantitative easing and that oil across the globe is traded in dollars. Because oil is traded in dollars the world over, the US is not exposed to exchange rate risk like any other country. Further, the price of oil will naturally fall with a stronger dollar.

Around 10 per cent of the fall in Brent crude prices since July are likely due to the rallying dollar. Much of the rest of the fall has been precipitated by the fracking boom in North Dakota and Texas. The rise of fracking in North Dakota, which produced very little oil before 2005, has changed the domain of US energy policy. Although energy independence may still be a long shot, much more realistic than it was ten years ago, the wealth and jobs flowing to North Dakota now a game changer, as unemployment during the peak of the recession was just 4.2 per cent and currently sits at national low of 2.8 per cent. By and large, the United States, which has increased its output by more than 3m barrels per day to 8.5m b/d, beginning in the early 2010, is the main winner in this price war. Although America’s shale oil is said to be relatively expensive, since it comes from many small, short-lived wells, analysts add that a third of wells lose money below $80 a barrel.

Russia There is no silver lining for an already weak Russian economy. Of all the major trends driving oil prices

to two-year lows – dwindling European demand, a glut of global supply, and a strengthening dollar – not even one bodes well for Russia’s economy. These negative effects are only compounding the miserable year Russia is already having, between sanctions from the US and Europe and rapid capital flight. The World Bank projects that Russia will grow by 0.5 per cent this year, which at this point may be optimistic. As a result, the ruble has fallen to historic lows against the dollar and euro. To prevent further depreciation, the Central Bank of Russia is spending billions – up to $3.2 billion a week – to prop up its currency. As the ruble becomes weaker, analysts feel that Russian consumers’ buying power of foreign goods will deteriorate, leaving Russia to face a perfect storm of sanctions, decreased import revenue from oil, and decreased buying power of its remaining income.

To add to the grim outlook, close to 80 per cent of Russia’s oil is exported to Europe, with the remaining bound for China. And with Europe’s economic activity, which is highly correlated with its oil consumption, having stalled even in previously healthy countries such as Germany, Russia will have to find buyers for its oil and gas outside of Europe it wants to return to growth.

Therefore, falling oil revenue will put pressure directly on the Kremlin’s finances, since half of Russia’s government revenue comes from oil and gas. With sanctions cutting Russia off from many of the largest long-term debt markets, financing the deficit will be difficult, as swings in the price will determine whether or not Russia will have a deficit in 2015.

Saudi Arabia Another emerging risk for the U.S. fracking boom is a price war waged

by Saudi Arabia and OPEC. With oil at $115 a barrel, Saudi Arabia raked $360 billion in net exports a year; at $85, $270 billion. As the largest producer in OPEC, Saudi Arabia has an incentive to throttle oil supply to maximize its own profits. Its costs of production are also much lower than fracking producers. If Saudi Arabia’s oil leaders have the wherewithal, they may be able to produce enough oil in the short-term to push many

Going by the position of analysts, the number one winner of the ongoing price war is the world economy.

A cheaper energy, it is said, benefits the global economy. A 10 per cent change in oil price is projected to bring about 0.2 per cent in global gross domestic product (GDP) •Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke

US producers out of the market for the medium-term. It can also survive the harness of low prices because it has saved more of the windfall than it spent when the price was over $100 per barrel. However, this great advantage is undermined by the Saudi’s lack of ability to control the production of Algeria, Angola, Libya, and Nigeria. Faced with the problem of falling prices and exploding US production, a complete reworking of OPEC production guidelines – and the nasty negotiations that would go with it – may now become a pressing issue as OPEC meets later this month. This would be the only way to guarantee that Saudi Arabia could coordinate the cartel to its benefit – and the fracking boom’s detriment.

Saudi Arabia is thus better positioned to weather the downturn because it enjoys relatively low production costs; it can also still finance most of its government obligations without running into hiccups.

Britain Like the situation in the U.S., falling oil prices are also a double-edged sword for Britain’s economy and investors. Although George Osborne, the Chancellor, is less reliant on tax revenues from the North Sea than some of his predecessors, prices are approaching the point when many of the developments planned offshore west of Shetland by international oil companies could be placed on ice. A sharp drop-off in domestic oil production and associated tax receipts from the North Sea would give Mr Osborne an unwelcome hole to fill in the government’s public finances heading into next year’s general election. However, falling oil prices will help to keep inflation low.

For Britain’s motorists, the current

‘

declines have been good news that has trickled through to the price of petrol on forecourts, as a litre of unleaded petrol in the UK has fallen a few pence over the past month to an average of around 127.21p on average, a figure last seen in 2011 All eyes are now OPEC, which controls 60 per cent of the world’s oil reserves and about a third of daily physical supply, as it meets on November 27 over the price and supply conundrum. Therefore, any move taken by the group, which has been labeled as an unaccountable “cartel” by free-market critics who claim its system of limiting production by setting an output ceiling and quotas is tantamount to price rigging, can have more than telling effects on the global economy. Although OPEC secretariat has consistently denied this accusation, its mostly unelected group of policymaking oil ministers undeniably pull the strings of the global energy industry, just the same way central bankers control currencies. However, Abdullah al-Badri, POEC’s Secretary General, has allayed fears, saying that there is no need to panic over the crude price drop. Last week, he enthused that output of higher-cost oil supplies such as shale would be curbed if prices remain around $85 per barrel, while crude from OPEC countries, which enjoys lower costs, wil witness higher demand for its crude in the longer term.

So far, only Iran seems to have placed its cards on the table by calling on OPEC to urgently cut output to stem the sharp recent decline in prices, which threatens its already fragile economy after years of debilitating sanctions. What this means is that the forthcoming OPEC meeting may turn out to be very unusu-

ally tense, given the fact that some Muslim factions in Iran and Iraq opted for hard-line stance, which might force the hands of their governments to square up against the interest of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two giant producers. And if OPEC states, which have largely managed to maintain cohesion over the last decade as prices over $100 per barrel have enriched their economies and encouraged adherence to quotas, suddenly loses its power of consensus building, experts believe that it may create more uncertainty in the market. In other words, a rancorous meeting in which each OPEC member pursues its own interest with room for compromises will certainly trigger more crisis that may foist a potentially destructive consequences on the global economy.

Venezuela and Iran In the tribe of potential losers in the ongoing crude oil price war are governments that have used the windfall revenues from higher prices to run aggressive foreign policies: Venezuela, Iran and Russia, mostly strident critics of the United States.

According to projections, Venezuela, whose budget is based on oil at $120 a barrel, may be the first to start reeling under the pangs of fluctuations in its national earnings, which lowering crude price is about to foist on the country’s fragile economy. Already, the country, home to strong anti-American sentiments, which the late Hugo Chávez tried to export around his region, has been exhibiting features of economic slowdown even before the price fall began. Besides finding it tough to pay its debts, its foreign-exchange reserves are dwindling, with rampant inflation forcing the citizenry to adjust to shortages of everyday goods such as flour and toilet paper.

So also is Iran, a country that experts say requires oil at about $140 a barrel to balance a profligate budget. To make matters worse, sanctions designed to curb its nuclear programme will make it more hellish for the Islamic country to adjust to the new economic realities with being hurt in the process. But Arab countries that are short of energy resources could reap from economic boom that declining oil prices may bring. According to experts, low oil prices that are brought about by slow demand and ample supply, will benefit Egypt, Africa’s largest oil and natural gas consumer. Egpyt, which consumes more than 20 per cent of total oil consumption and more than 40 per cent of total dry natural gas consumption in Africa, spent $26 billion in energy subsidies in 2012, leading to a high budget deficit. Falling oil prices will also be to the advantage of Morocco, a net hydrocarbon importer, and Tunisia, which has witnessed rising energy imports lately, albeit temporarily.

PRAWA urges Fed Govt to reform prisons •NHRC chair Odinkalu to deliver lecture T HE Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reform the prisons. The group said the reforms should be done to engender a correction approach that recognises the need for community involvement in offender rehabilitation and reintegration processes.

The Executive Director, PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, in a statement, said: “The involvement of the community plays an important role in the ability of Prisons/Corrections Institutions to effectively turn criminals into reformed, law abiding, and productive citizens that would readily reintegrate into free society on discharge.

“New thinking has arisen across the globe on the concept and purpose of imprison-

ment and functions of prisons service. This system of thought on the role of prisons departs from punishment qua punishment, and concentrates on reform, reorientation, rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment of inmates so that they can reject criminal life, acquire new and relevant knowledge and skills, and also become truly accountable for their.”

She explained that punitive structures are increasing the problems they are to solve.

“Unfortunately, over the past few decades, evidence has shown that the existing punitive structures, institutions, relations, and values are aggravating the problems we ask them to solve byfuelling the flames of vengeance

against the offender while paying little or no attention to the needs of victims and the rectification of the damage done to them and the society as a whole,” she said.

According to Agomoh, whose organisation will be celebrating its 20th years anniversary on Wednesday, said PRAWA has chosen ‘Transforming Public Safety and Security In Nigeria: An Integrated Vision For The Criminal Justice Sector,’ as a theme for the anniversary to draw attention to the need for security sector reforms.

She said: “In many parts of the world, the traditional concept of security has being redefined to include not only state stability and the security of nations but also a clear fo-

cus on the safety and well-being of their people. People and the communities and states they live in will not develop economically, socially or politically without an environment of safety and security or without equitable access to justice.

“For almost twenty-five years, Security Sector Reforms have taken centre stage in international discourse with specific emphasis placed on ensuring that policing is both effective and accountable, that justice institutions function according to the rule of law, instruments of development and are politically independent, that the penal system is structured to deter potential offenders and respect human rights, that security and justice

are accessible to all citizens, and that the voice of civil society can be heard and influence the formulation and implementation of policy.”

She added: “On 5th November 2014, PRAWA will celebrate its twentieth anniversary. This event is quite important because not only does it provide an opportunity for the organisation to review its activities, it also presents a platform for it to kick-off its plans for the future. The organization understands that any reform worth having must be comprehensive and sustainable.

“The main speaker at the event scheduled to hold in Abuja is the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, Dr.Chidi

•Dr. Agomoh

Odinkalu , while the Executive Director, International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology, USA, Dr. John Gannon, will be lead discussant.”

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POLITICS

‘PDP’s future bleak in Lagos’

Ogun State Labour Party (LP) senatorial aspirant Otunba Olumide Osunsin in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE speaks on his ambition and the chance of the party in next year’s election. Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Solomon Akin-Aina in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE explains why he is contesting for the House of Representatives in Ojo Constituency, Lagos State.

‘LP ‘ll rule Ogun State in 2015’ W W

HAT is your assessment of the political situation in Ogun State?

Ogun State political situation is very fluid. It is flowing here and there, and it is neither here nor there. But, I can say to you that there are three forces playing out right now in Ogun State.

We have the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and of course, the unregistered Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) led by Chief Segun Osoba. What I can say to you now is that the PDP is a discredited party in so many ways. You heard what Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said, but I am not going to quote him. So, the parties that I would say are in contention for power in Ogun State for the next election are the LP, the APC and of course, the AGN led by Akogun Osoba. We believe that Osoba has been a progressive all his life. We are very sure and looking at his antecedents. He will never go to the PDP. Otherwise, all that he had laboured for and represents in his political life will go down the drain. We believe he is a progressive, we believe he wants to work for the people of Ogun State. We believe he represents the aspirations of workers, students, market women and the downtrodden people of Ogun State.

He is a respected person in the state.

We are sure that the party that Osoba represents is the LP. We have no doubt in our mind that he will come and take over the leadership of the party and organise it to win the next election in Ogun State. We have no doubt in our minds, that the LP will form the next government in Ogun State for obvious reasons. And of course, like I said, all that needs to be done now is for the party that represents the aspirations of civil servants, students, workers and market women to take charge, which is the LP. It does not matter how old the party is, all we are looking for is a leader that will lead us to our destination and we believe that Akogun Osoba will do that for us.

Are you saying that the party in power has not been doing what you have highlighted?

I can say it to you without mincing words that Governor Ibikunle Amosun is doing his best. I can say without mincing words because I am speaking as a citizen of Ogun State.

Like I said, I represent the aspirations of the other people. He has done fairly well, but I can say that he has not met the mark. Development and governance is about taking care of all the wishes and aspirations of the majority. I don’t think that has been the case.

They have not carried more people along. He is a man I respect, but like I said, I will not to criticise him outrightly, but to comment on some of the things he has done. He tried very well to do so many things very quickly, but the political setting tends not to follow the pattern. Politics is about spending the commonwealth for the majority of the people. If we all have a common amount of money, our needs are obviously different, but our basic needs ought to be taken care of. And if you are spending money on the people’s need you have to balance it. If you spend all the money building houses, others whose needs are different from housing will grumble because they have been neglected. That is the scenario and analogy of what is happening in Ogun State. Governor Amosun has concentrated on certain areas, which does not represent what everybody wants.

What is your ambition in next year’s election?

My first ambition is to run a government that represents the aspirations of the people. Stakeholders in the state believe that things should be done in certain ways. I want to try to put myself in certain position to be able to

•Osunsina

make that happen. My second aspiration is that, if it possible, I am aspiring to become a senator in Ogun Central in next election. But, my priority is to put in place a government in Ogun State that represents the generality of what the people of Ogun State want. A government that represents what the workers want, what the civil servants want, what the students want and what the market women want. There so much poverty in the state, despite our closeness to Lagos State. It should not be so. There is still so much poverty, the level of investment is still extremely low. These are the issues there right now.

How solid is the structure of the LP in Ogun State?

I have been asked that question lots of time. The structure of a party is a function of what many parts represent.

Structure can emerge as quickly as you want it to emerge. There are many people in the strata of our society, who are ready to lead, if given the opportunity. What has happened in the past was that leadership has not been allowed to thrive. If you go to any of the old parties, the PDP and the APC people who served at the wards or council level to the state level are the same set of people still leading. They have been leading in the last 30 or 40 years. What we want now is a young and vibrant new set of people right from the wards level to state level. We are creating a completely brand new structures. We don’t have shortage of people who can lead. There are thousands of people who want to lead. What we want and we are sure of is that God in His infinite mercy will give us is that opportunity, to set up a brand new structure.

The old structure is corrupted and we don’t like the way they are doing things. Right from the ward level through the state level, young vibrant people will be given the opportunity to express themselves. The LP structure is a very strong. Traditionally, the doctrine of LP is to represent the ordi-

‘So, the parties that I would say are in contention for power in Ogun State for the next election are the LP, the APC and of course, the AGN led by Akogun Osoba’

nary people. So, we do not have shortage of people who can serve.

Don’t you see the defection of Governor Mimiko, Gbenga Daniel and his supporters as a minus for LP? I will say absolutely no. The truth is that, when you move from one party to the other, it shows you are not consistent. If you believe in a cause, it is very difficult for you to change very quickly. Aremo Osoba has been a progressive all his life and he cannot change to conservative. The people who believe in the doctrine of the LP still remain in the LP. Don’t forget that politicians are only one per cent of the electoral process; the other 99 per cent are still there. Some of them have decided while some have not decided. We will have the opportunity to present our programme to the others who have not gone anywhere. They are going to decide our fate. Anything that you should not worry about is that big names don’t win election in Ogun State. The trends are there for you to see. Osoba was defeated as a sitting governor, Gbenga Daniel was defeated as a sitting governor, when he tried to install a governor. Dimeji Bankole was defeated as a sitting Speaker. So, the trends are there for you to see in Ogun State. In spite of his wealth, M.K.O Abiola could not win an election, until he went to a party that the people perceived as progressives. We know how it works in Ogun State. People moving from one place to the other is a normal trend in politics, we should expect it.

We are still going to have a lot of people move. The truth is that if we lose some people and we gain Segun Osoba, I will let you answer that question whether we lost or gain?

What have you done for the people that makes you think they will vote for you?

I have done quite a lot of things, in the sense that if you look at my antecedents I am a private sector driven person. I have noticed that the reason why there is so much poverty is because the quality and level of investment is extremely low. As I speak to you today, I employ well over 266 people. I am not in government. The estate where this interview is being conducted I developed it. This is not the only estate I have developed. I have developed several others. One of my reasons of going into politics is to continue doing what I do every day, which is creating and building new cities. So, we know how to provide roads, supply water, provide electricity and know how to manage community. That is what I have been doing in the last 15 years. There are no sitting governors that have that kind of experience. I have awarded contract to PWD, Julius Barger even as a private person. I have built communities. Our activities have made a lot of people extremely rich; this is what they have achieved through investment in property.

What is your perception about the Senate that you are aspiring to and why are you starting your political career from there?

What has always been in my mind is to run for the governorship of Ogun State. But, when I look at all that is involved that the stakeholders will come after you because you are holding the resources and you are going to be allocating it, I believe in my mind that I still need more tutelage.

Even Otunba Gbenga Daniel encouraged me to run for the office in the past, but I did not think that way. The Senate is about law making and I believe with what my exposure, it would be a fairly good place to start. I want a place that will enable me to spread my message nationally.

HY are you contesting for the House of Representatives again?

There is reason and need for me to vie for the House of Representa tives. The first time I contested, the leaders, elders and the power that be in the party said I should step down for another person. The second time I tried, they said I should concede the ticket to yet another person. I believe this third time around and by the special grace of God, the leadership of the party will consider me for the position.

Having been denied twice, why did you not consider another party to realise your ambition?

Well, it has not been part and parcel of me. I don’t believe in jumping from one party to another. It is not in my character. I don’t belong to that school of thought. I don’t have that inordinate ambition; if I have such, probably I would have considered the option of going to another party to realise by plans.

What is the assurance that the forces that denied you the ticket in the first and second attempts will not do the same thing now?

There is nothing God cannot do. I’m relying on God, considering my previous bid for the House of Representatives. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I know this time around I will be considered (Amen).

What are the problems of your constituency that you want to articulate on the floor of the House?

We have been denied federal presence in my constituency. I want to say that it will give me a better chance and opportunity to bring to my constituency many of the federal projects lacking in the constituency. It is not enough to go to the floor of the House, but it is about making good laws. There are other needs at the federal level, through which more federal projects can come to the Ojo Federal constituency.

There are projects that are supposed to come to Ojo Federal Constituency, which the people representing us have not been able to bring to the constituency. These are mainly the things I will like to do for my people. During my tenure as the council chairman, I brought the Primary Health Centre, which is a federal government project to the council. There are other federal projects that we can bring to the constituency which other people can enjoy. When you talk of employment, our youths have to be well taken care of. There are other needs, which we can use our position as lawmaker, to bring to the constituency. We would equally seek ways of bridging the gap of unemployment, which is very prevalent in our society.

What have you really done for the constituency as a whole, which makes you believe they will vote for you?

When I was the council chairman, I did a lot for the people. There are many projects I sited in the council. These are projects I started right from the scratch.

For instance, youth unemployment was reduced during my time through youth engagement in areas they can serve the community. I also employed graduates during my tenure to the lower cadre because that is what we can offer. You cannot employ any officer above Grade Level 06. But, I employ them on level three and four. To God be the glory. All the people I employed are in now in their principal cadre. I took the list of those I employed to the governor then and he approved them for me. These are the things that we did.

We have a primary school in Ketu, we have primary school at Ijaododo. We constructed roads and transformed some of the slumps to places where decent people can live. My only regret was the General Hospital that we missed. The governor gave us the opportunity, out of the whole local governments in Lagos State; Ojo Local Government was one of the few beneficiaries.

That was when we had this crisis in Ojo, when some forms of sacrifice were placed at the entrance of the local government. The basis of that incident was that we were to divide the local government premises into two. The General Hospital supposed to take off from a temporary site before we look for a more suitable piece of land for the project. But, this was truncated for lack of cooperation. We would have been enjoying that hospital today. The people rejected it and alleged that I connived with the governor to sell the hospital project for N300 million to another local government. That is how some of our people reason and this is unfortunate. What we should have done was to have a General Hospital which we all need, but internal wranglings deprived us of the opportunity.

Can the APC retain Lagos State in the next year’s election?

To the best of my knowledge, if you look at the antecedents of the party right from time, you will see that we have been effectively defending the mandate.

We are very conscious of this, and government has tried to meet the aspiration of the people. If there is any rancour within our party, the leadership of the party will not allow it to fester. They have tried as much as possible to reconcile any faction within the party, just like they have been doing in the past. This time around, I want to believe that by the special grace of God, our party will defend the mandate which Lagos people have resolved to place on the shoulder of our party, the APC. But, there are crises rocking the party at the grassroots...

• Dr. Akin-Aina

Agreed there may be rancour, but that is not enough to put us down.

We have rancour in our homes, places of work and other places. People quarrel, but what we are saying is that when it comes to real politicking we won’t allow it to degenerate to the extent that it will affect our party. You could see from the programme of the party that we have not left any stone unturned. There is the poverty alleviation programme, youth empowerment programme, roads construction and rehabilitation, housing and ensuring a secure environment for our people just to mention a few are what the government is doing.

How prepared are you for the primaries?

To God be the glory, we are ready and fully prepared for it and hopefully we will emerge this time around.

THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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POLITICS

Obuh on firing line in Delta A S it is in other states of the fed eration, political develop ments within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State is becoming quite interesting.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, governorship aspirants on the platform of the party are already girding their loins, ready for the party’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 29, this year.

So far, the contest has featured an array of political heavyweights in the state, showing interest in the battle for the party’s ticket. Suffice it to say that it is a given that whoever gets the party’s nod is as good as being the next governor. There are various reasons for this. One of this is the fact that Delta remains a stronghold of the PDP. Besides, the infrastrural developments put in place by the present government of Emmanuel Uduaghan have put the party in good standing with the people.

Little wonder therefore that many, on the platform of the party, are presently jostling for the ticket. On the list are Mr. Anthony Obuh; Prof.

Sylvester Monye; Dr. Festus Okubor; Clement Ofuani; Chief David Edevwie; Gabriel Oyibode; Prof.

Amos Utuama and Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo.

Also showing interest are Elder Godsday Orubebe; former acting governor, Mr. Sam Obi; the Senator representing Delta North at the National Assembly, Sir Authur Ifeanyi Okowa; former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei; Barr. Kenneth Gbagi; Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme and Barr. Ovie Omo-Agege.

As it is with a contest like this, a lot of schemings and permutations are already playing out. As a result, the men are being separated from the boys; as the serious ones among the lot are becoming apparent, while those who are in it for some strategic reasons are also becoming obvious.

But, much as the contestants appear to have put in their best and are flaunting all that they have to prove that

• Obuh

By Misan Efejuku

the cap fits them, one person that appears to stand out is Obuh. A retired permanent secretary in the state, he parades an intimidating credential that puts no one in doubt about his qualification for the coveted seat. A son of the soil, so to speak, he has occupied various positions in government in the state. This gives him a good understanding of how to make it work for the betterment of the lives of the people.

For instance, among other things, he was Director, Public Service Matters, Office of the Secretary to Government & Head of Service; Director, Loans and Investments, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Acting Chairman, Bendel Insurance Company Limited; Acting Chairman, UIDC; Alternate Director, PAMOL Nig. Limited; Director, Public Service Matters, Office of the Head of Service; General Manager, Delta Transport Service Limited; Director, Office of the Secretary to the State Government; Permanent Secretary, Government House and Proto-

col and Member, Think-Tank for Policy on Climate Change and Green Economy.

This position sets apart as a man of great experience in governance. “These duties afforded me a profound understanding of the machinery of Government, its strengths and weaknesses,” he noted.

An attestation to how well he is accepted in his constituency – government circle – is made apparent by the amount of the support he has received within; a situation which many interpreted to mean that he had been anointed by Governor Uduaghan. He is however unperturbed as he fights on.

His campaign structure has also indicated that he is a serious candidate who is not only mouthing his desire, but is prepared for the task ahead.

If there is another advantage he has over others, it is his ability to ensure continuity. Having been part of the present government with an understanding of the nitty gritty of governance. He is bound to continue from where his predecessor will stop, if he gets the chance to govern the state.

Obuh does not rely solely on his influence in government circles, he has associated with people at the grassroots and is getting support from that constituency too. For example, he made consultations within the Urhobo nation recently. He also played a critical role before and during the burial ceremonies of the late Chief Patrick Aziza.

Besides, his influence and popularity in all the local governments of the state are a major plus for him. This promises to see him through in the November 29 party primaries.

His philosophy of life must have given him an insight into the man that is aspiring to take over from Uduaghan. His words: “I have always had a strong aspiration to be involved in Public Service.

Right from when I attained the age of personal discretion, I have felt a strong and inseparable tie to my fellow humans irrespective of their place of origin, beliefs, sex or other characteristics. This is why I have a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances across the state and beyond which I have always maintained with no motive of personal advantage.”

‘Legislators should render accounts’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE only House of Assembly member in Ondo State, who refused to defect with Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Hon. Gbenga Edema, has urged the Federal Government to enact a law mandating lawmakers to render account of their stewardship before the end of their tenure.

He said the measure would curb the reckless spending by legislators and enable them to focus on the tasks of lawmaking and representation.

Edema, a lawyer, gave the advice at a ceremony in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Council, where he tendered his stewardship to constituents.

He said lawmakers do not have power to award or approve contracts to their supporters. He added that within the three and half years of his tenure as a lawmaker, he had spent the time in acquiring things that would benefit his people.

Worried by growing youth unemployment, he enrolled 11 youths in the Donbosco Skill Acquisition Centre located in the council.

According to him, they have graduated, after being trained in different fields.

Edema also said he fought for the rehabilitation of the AraromiTofolu-Lagos Road. When it is constructed, he said it will only take his people one hour to travel to Lagos.

He said: ”I wrote the Federal Government and today, this same road has been included in the Federal Ministry of Works’ 2014 Budget. We are going to ensure this is implemented.”

On the issue of dichotomy caused by oil among the Ilajes,the lawmaker said Ilaje communities are now regarded as oil producing communities.

An Ilaje indigine, Festus Olamasebi, said they felt his impact during his tenure.

He advised Edema, who represents Ilaje Constituency II, not to relent in his efforts to bring development to the riverine area, adding that the people would continue to support his legislative activities.

2015: Fresh crisis in Oyo PDP

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RISIS is brewing in the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over an alleged plan by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and some chieftains to to impose former Governor Rashidi Ladoja as the governorship candidate.

A stalwart, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, warned that the imposition of any aspirant will not augur well for the party.

Olopoenia was reacting to a media report that Akinjide had ar-

‘We want Christian governor in Lagos’

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GROUP, the Coalition of Christian Organisations (CCO), a body representing the interests of Christians in Lagos State, has intensified its agitation for a Christian governor in the state.

Its President, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, said Muslims have ruled for 16 years, adding that the group will support parties that field Christians as flag bearers. He said the next governor would correct the marginalisation of Christians in Lagos politics.

Archbishop Atilade added: “We

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

will only support a Christian aspirant, who is highly educated; a seasoned administrator who has the fear of God; ready to fight for all, including Muslims; a morally upright person without any personal agenda to enrich himself and family and a person who will not discriminate against any religious sect.”

Archbishop Atilade spoke on the political situation in the country in Lagos. The briefing was organised by the Southwest Christian

Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Christian Welfare initiative (CWI), the Interfaith Coalition for Dialogue and Peace International (INFERDPEL).

He said Christian groups are ready to work with a Christian aspirant, irrespective of his denomination.

However, he maintained that the aspirant must meet the criteria set by the group, based on Christian values.

Atilade called on Christians to mobilise themselves and register for voting. He said: “Come out to vote and protect their votes. We

• From left: National Organising Secretary Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI) Dr Oluwaranti Adenmosun; President, Coalition of Christian Organisations Archbishop Magnus Atilade; General Secretary, Mr Chima Nnadi,and member, Deacon Moses Kalu at a Press Conference organised by the Coalition of Christian Organisations on the political situation in Lagos.

should clamour for free, fair, open, peaceful and violence free election.

Government should guarantee justice, equity and fairness to all other religions. Let a Christian emerge as the next governor iof Lagos.”

Atilade also urged the Federal Government to be more diplomatic in tackling the Boko Haram (BH) insurgency.

He said: “It was premature of the government to have announced the pact it was negotiating with the sect.

It was too hasty. There is need for caution and proof of sincerity from the group. That will not raise hope and dashed same. The peace pact should not be at all cost. The peace pact on the release of the abducted girls should be handled by experienced professionals in the field of International Diplomatic Relations on behalf of the government.

“Government should work harder to ensure the unrest kidnapping, destruction of property; churches mass killings and man slaughters.”

On the economy, the cleric said youth unemployment is unacceptable it is the key to idleness, restlessness and armed robbery.

He added: “An idle hand is a tool for the devil. The growing trend in the armed robbery by youths is alarming. Government and the baking sector should support skill training outfits, mechanised farming, local production of goods, especially the textile industry, to promote locally made goods.

“Public schools should not allow outward display of religious persuasions and private schools should cater for students with special interest.”

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ranged a meeting with the Accord Party leader, Ladoja, along with other governorship aspirants.

The PDP chieftain said , if the former governor is imposed, it will cause crisis in the party. He said Ladoja left the party eight years ago and it will be unfair to impose him on the party.

Olopoenia added: “Oloye Akinjide cannot decide for us on whom to present as. Our governorship candidate in 2015. Where was she in 2003 and 2007 elections? What electoral value or right does she have?

Is he the candidate that can win our election for us? We will not allow Ladoja and his Accord Party members to hijjack the party structure, which we have been building for the past 8 years.

“Without Ladoja, the PDP will win in 2015 because his electoral value, when compared to 2011 when he contested, has diminished and even his Accord Party members are now defecting to the PDP. We have remained with this party since 1999 and we didn’t decamp, even when we lost the election. So, why would someone that left the party eight years ago now assume the leadership?

“Bringing Ladoja back as the Oyo PDP candidate insinuates that all of us that have remained loyal to the party are useless and do not have any political ground.”

The politician said that Ladoja did not only leave the party, but also went on radio in 2007 to campaign against former Governor AlaoAkala , who eventually won the election.

• Akinjide

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

173RD KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

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n reliable, indelible and easily retrievable records, the present administration in Kano State approved the execution of no less than 4,300 public spirited/oriented projects, programmes and policies at an average rate of twenty five (25) approvals

granted per each of the previous 172 sittings of the Kano State Executive Council.

Impressively, the sum of over N360 Billion was prudently expended under the vigil and astute guidance of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa, FNSE in the delivery of quality services by the incumbent administration so as to transform each sector towards the improvement of the quality of life of the citizenry in Kano State for the better. No sector was left behind in the journey so far. The phase and vigour with which the Government performs is unparalleled as continually and truthfully reported under the transparency policy of the second (2nd) incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Decisions taken by the Kano State Executive Council at each of its previous 172 sittings were open to the public through weekly publications in the Print and Broadcast Media as well as the social Media just like this one which is in continuation with the commendable trend.

Reportedly, the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and seventy third (173rd) sitting on Thursday 30th October, 2014 (6th Muharram, 1436 AH) under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE during which thirteen (13) MDAs submitted forty (40) memoranda for deliberation of which twenty two (22) cutting across five (5) sectors were approved for execution with an expenditure of Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Five Naira, Fifty Seven Kobo (N6,906,417,195.37) covering twenty (20) projects while the remaining two (2) are on policy issues. Thus; 1. THE HEALTH SECTOR Emphasis was continually placed on the resolve by the present administration to transform the Health Sector/system/facilities, etc. Achievements were recorded in all ramifications which include the following; o Infrastructure/physical facilities - Majority of the Kano State Government owned Hospitals and Health Care Delivery Facilities were renovated to befitting status of which the following can be cited as examples; i. Renovation of the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. ii. Renovation of Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital. iii. Renovation of the Kano Dental Center. iv. Renovation of the Kura, Gaya, Gezawa, General Hospitals, etc. v. Renovation of the IDH Hospital. vi. General renovation of Sir Sunusi Specialist Hospital, etc. vii. Complete repairs and renovations of Gwarzo General Hospital in collaboration with MDG viii. Ditto Bichi General Hospital ix. Ditto Rano General Hospital o -

Training/Provision of Professional Health Care Delivery Personnel The present administration has sponsored the training of over five hundred (500) quali fied Kano State Indigenous Students for MBBS, Pharmacy and Medical Sciences stud ies at various Institutions abroad.

The College of Nursing and Midwifery Madobi, the School of Post Basic Midwifery Gezawa and the School of Health Technology Bebeji were established courtesy of Gov ernor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Tutors were employed from Egypt to teach at the Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Kano, etc.

o Free feeding for patients in Government owned Hospitals is continually facilitated. o Sustenance of the Polio Immunization Plus Days Campaign under tripartite arrangement among the Kano State Government, Dangote Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. o Establishment of Primary Health Care Management Board. o Dispensation of drugs and medical consumables controlled and regulated by Government intervention in the conduct of training under the Lafiya Jari Empowerment Programme. o The Taskforce on Counterfeit and Fake Drug was set up by the present administration, etc.

Continuing with its effort to rid Kano State of the proliferation in the illegal handling and consumption of fake, expired and illicit drugs, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of one (1) memorandum related to Health Sector. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Destruction of Confiscated Illicit and Fake Drugs at Aujawara Village in Gezawa LGCA:The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the cited request and presented it to Council for consideration on behalf of the Kano State Consumer Protection Council in collaboration with the State Taskforce on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs. Details were summarized and presented to Council for consideration. To date Government has confiscated and destroyed drugs worth over N4.3 billion Naira.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N1,823,100.00 to enable destruction of the confiscated items.

2. THE EDUCATION SECTOR Delightfully, education at all levels is delivered free of charge in the State courtesy of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. In addition, the Education Sector enjoys priority attention from the present administration in

all ramifications which translates to its present improved status when compared to what existed before. The available infrastructure/utilities at all levels are increased and improved while access to Higher Education both locally and abroad are made possible through sponsorship granted to numerous qualified Kano State Indigenous Students. In fact, only posterity can tell of the wonderful achievement in the transformation of this all encompassing sector. The general commendable trend was maintained as Council approved the execution of one (1) memorandum related the education sector at the sitting as follows; Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso Request for Funds to Enable Repairs and General Renovation of Twenty Five (25) Secondary Schools/Structures Damaged by Rain Storms Across Kano State:The Ministry of Education notified Council through contents of this memorandum that, the year 2014 rainy season was characterized by heavy downpours of rain and prevalence of strong winds which damaged the structures in twenty five (25) Secondary Schools across Kano State.

Details were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N127,796,783.13 to enable execution of the necessary repairs and renovation at the affected Schools on Contractual arrangement.

Accordingly, Council noted, considered and approved the release of the requested sum for the general renovation of the twenty five (25) secondary schools.

3. THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR Correct Information ensures functional knowledge provision of which is among the cardinal preoccupations of the present administration in Kano State. A beacon of this administration, the Information Sector is confidently carried along in the envisaged journey towards the positive transformation of Kano State continuing with which Council approved for the execution of one (1) memorandum under the Information/Communication Sector. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Production/Printing of 1436 AH/2015 Islamic Hijiriyya Calendar:The request was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration to enable the production/printing of 1435 AH/2015 Islamic Hijiriyya Calendar.

The details presented were considered as routine in nature which were appraised by Council and approval was granted for the release of the trimmed down sum of N10,000,000.00 for the stated purpose.

4. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR An empowered, self reliant and actualized society translates to a productive and wealthy one in which the general socio - economic wellbeing of the concerned people is a reality. The good people of Kano State aspire for this and the present administration in the State leaves no stone unturned in its effort to empower the majority of its citizenry through the provision of access to functional/professional education, employable skills acquisition training, access to capital for small and medium scale entrepreneurs, rehabilitation/reorientation/skills acquisition for the socially degenerated youths, capacity building for quality service delivery for serving civil servants, etc. The number of beneficiaries of the efforts by the present administration to empower its citizenry is impressive and cut across all segments of the society continuing with which Council approved the execution of eleven (11) memoranda related to the Empowerment Sector which can further be sub - divided under employable skills acquisition/provision; capacity building for serving civil servants, access to education and self help organizations empowerment. So far Government has trained and empowered over 660,000 youth with take-off capital. i. Employable Skills Acquisition/Provision. o Request for Funds to Enable Provision of Essential Items for the Training of Batch 6 of 500 Female New Intake at Gabasawa Corporate Security Training Institute:The contents of this memorandum is requesting for the provision of essential items needed to enable the successful training of batch "6" 500no female new intake of the Corporate Security Institute, Gabasawa in the sum of N17,614,700.00 which was endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for Council's consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the stated sum for the commitment. o Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Three (3) Months Allowances to Instructors, Matron and Kitchen Staff at Karaye NYSC Camp and Gabasawa for the 6th Batch Training of Corporate Security Guards under the State Corporate Security Institute:The contents of this memorandum recalled Council on the recently concluded training of the Corporate Security Guards held at the Karaye NYSC Camp and Corporate Security Institute Gabasawa and requesting the sum of N1,740,000.00 to be release as three (3) months allowances to thirty six (36) instructors, Matrons and Kitchen Staff.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. o Request for Release of Counterpart Funds to Enable Training of 100 Less Privileged Women on GSM Repairs:The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development submitted the request to enable it conduct the training of 100no less privileged women on GSM repairs in collaboration with Etisalat Communication Company and requesting the sum of N800,000.00 as Government

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 Counterpart Funds for the programme.

Accordingly, Council approved as requested. o Request for Funds to Facilitate the Admission Exercise for the 2014/2015 Academic Session into the Kano State Institute for Information Technology:The Ministry of Science and Technology submitted this request to enable it prepare the successful conduct of admission exercise for the 2014/2015 academic session of Kano State Information Technology Institute in the sum of N1,160,000.00 for consideration by Council.

Accordingly, Council approved for the release of the trimmed sum of N1,000,000.00 for the undertaking. ii. SUSTENANCE OF TRAINING TO IMPROVE CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE CIVIL SERVICE It is quite on record that the present administration under the able leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwakwaso, FNSE had taken giant stride in the improvement of workers condition in the State ranging from good cordial relationship existing between the administration and Labour Unions, continuous training and retraining of civil servants within and outside the Country, renovation of Ministries Parastatals and Agencies to provide conducive working atmosphere for the civil servants, timely payment of salaries on 25th of every month to all civil servants, etc. It is an indisputable record that Kano state Government was the first in the country to fully implement and commenced the payment of N18,000.00 minimum wage to all civil servants since January 2012.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the sum of N5,839,990.00 being various requests as presented on trainings that relate to improvement of capacity building in the civil service. o Presentation of Report on the Scheduling of KAROTA personnel into the Main Stream Civil Service of Kano State:The establishment of KAROTA has brought about sanity on major roads in the Kano Metropolis reducing traffic offenses, congestion and accidents in addition to the creation of job opportunities to many youth. In February this year, the esteemed Council directed for the conversion of the KAROTA casual staff into the mainstream civil service and a Committee was set up to that effect.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the scheduling of 1,013 staff of the Agency into the Mainstream Civil Service. iii. Provision of Access to Education. o Request for Funds for One Way Tickets in Respect of Sixty Nine (69) of the 501 Kano State Indigenous Postgraduate Students Sponsored for Studies in Six (6) Countries Abroad to Enable their Return Home on Completing their Respective Courses:However well - disposed the State Government is toward bringing about accelerated development in the State, this could not be attainable without adequate and qualified manpower that will man all sectors. To this end, the present administration introduced graduate and post graduate foreign scholarship scheme under which about 2,500 students have been sponsored to pursue specialized courses in reputable universities overseas. In addition, many more have been sponsored to study in private universities in Nigeria.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the N12,114,650.00 to enable procurement of one way tickets in respect of sixty nine (69) post graduate students who have competed their studies at various foreign universities. iv. Self Help Organizations Empowerment. o Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Four (4) Months Allowances and Operational Funds in Respect of Grave Yard Committee of the Eight (8) Metropolitan LGCAs:The dead also have a special place in the heart of the present administration which undertakes the wall fence and rehabilitation of graveyards in the metropolis to prevent encroachment on destruction by flood waters in addition to the installation of solar powered lights to ensure maximum security at the Cemeteries. Committee was set up to undertake this task.

Accordingly, Council approved the sum of N1,028,500.00 to enable payment of four (4) months allowances to the Committee and operational funds for the maintenance of the grave yards in the Metropolis.

5. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENANCE SECTOR Infrastructural Development and Maintenance are among the most prominent preoccupations of the present administration of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Main essence is to raise and generally revive the socio - economic fortunes and status of Kano State through the provision of worthy and useful infrastructures for use by the citizenry in the State. These range through the construction/expansion of roads; construction of flyovers; provision of qualitative utilities and facilities, etc. One only requires taking a verification trip round metropolitan Kano and its entire rural surroundings to satisfy himself of the commendable performance by the present administration under the Infrastructural Development/Maintenance Sector. Continuing with the commendable trend; the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of seven (7) memoranda under the Infrastructural Development/Maintenance Sector as follows; a) Presentation of Report on the Review of the Scope of Work and Request for the Release of Funds for the Provision of Infrastructure at the Kano Northern Terminus, Dawanau:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum that, the Contract to provide Infrastructure at the Kano Northern Terminus was initially awarded at the sum of N11,968,519,818.98 via Council Resolution No. SSCA/CA/EX/ 7/1/61 of 8th March, 2012. The Contractor received 30% or N3,590,555,945.67 as mobilization and commenced work.

Nevertheless, the need to review the scope of work required instigated stoppage of the already started work. The scope of work was reviewed and divided into two (2) phases with the phase 1 estimated to cost the sum of N6,676,481,259.19 which was requested for release to enable its immediate execution while the design on the second (2nd) phase is at advanced stage.

The details presented for consideration by Council were accepted as appropriate and relevant as Council approved the following; i. Council approved the reviewed design and lifted the suspension of the work that was communicated to the Contractor. ii. Council approved for the immediate commencement of the phase 1 of the project at the estimated Contract sum of N6,676,481,259.19. b) Presentation of Progress Report on the Construction of Permanent Sites of the Twenty Four (24) Newly Established Institutes by the Present Administration:The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport presented the cited report for consideration

by Council.

Details were presented which translate to about 70% of the sites at 100% completion level while the remaining 30% are at advanced stages to completion. Overall average level so far achieved by the various Contractors is 85%.

Council acknowledged the presentation with appreciation. c) Request for Funds to Enable Construction of a Library Complex at Igbajo Polytechnics,

51 Osun State:This request was submitted as a reminder and attempt to redeem a pledge made by Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE during an educational visit to the Igbajo Polytechnics, Osun State.

Design of the proposed Library Complex estimated to cost the sum of N72,711,445.70 as reappraised by the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport was presented for consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of N30,000,000.00 as Government financial assistance to enable construction of the Library at Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State. d) Request for Funds to Enable Renovation of Perimeter Wall Fence at Bayero University for a Distance of 249M:The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport alerted Council, through contents of this memorandum that, the road reconstruction and expansion works along Gwarzo Road by Bayero University Old Site subjected the perimeter wall fence of the Institution to necessary demolition which requires urgent repairs at the cost of N3,418,213.05.

Accordingly, Council noted, considered and approved as requested. e) Request for Funds to Enable Completion of Conference Hall and the Construction of Perimeter Wall Fence at the Premises of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Situated along Katsina Road, Kano:The premises of the Kano State Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was identified as requiring the construction of a perimeter wall fence to secure the facility against wanton trespass and pilfering. Again, works on the provision of a Conference Hall at the Facility was abandoned. Details on the requirements for the two (2) projects estimated to cost the sum of N41,072,416.37 was requested for release by Council.

Accordingly, Council appraised the request and approved for the release of the sum of N6,200,000.00 to enable construction of the perimeter wall fence at the premises of the Kano State Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour (NLC). f) Request for Funds to Enable Execution of General Renovation Works at the Nigerian Legion Headquarters, Katsina Road, Kano:The Nigerian Legion Headquarters situated along Katsina Road, Kano was brought to the attention of the Kano State Executive Council as being in a general state of disrepair that requires intervention. The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport appraised the scope of works required and presented the financial implications to the tune of N19,659,493.35 which was requested for release by Council to enable execution of the general renovation works at the cited site.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N2,200,000.00 to enable renovation of only the office complex at the Nigerian Legion Headquarters on Katsina Road. g) Memorandum for Funds for the Production of Seventy Three (73) Units of Granite Slab Plaques for the Commissioning of Various Projects Executed by the Present Administration:The contents of this memorandum is from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport informing Council on the various capital developmental projects been executed by the present administration such as; six (6) main urban roads with street lights, two (2) flyovers, mega secondary schools, two (2) under pass awarded recently, five (5) kilometer roads in each of the Headquarters of the 44 LGCAs of the State, Wuju - Wuju Road, two (2) IPP for generation of thirty five (35) megawatts daily.

Since most of the projects have been completed or reached advanced stage of completion, preparation should be made to commission them.

In this regard, the Ministry submitted a request for the production seventy three (73) granite slab plaques at the cost of N22,103,428.00.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N7,800,000.00 to enable production of twenty six (26) granite slab plaques. h) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Consultancy Charges Related to the laying of Water Supply Pipeline from Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant to Hadejia Road:The Ministry of Water Resources submitted this request for consideration by Council.

Relatedly, Council was reminded, through contents of this memorandum, of its approval granted for the release of the sum of N2,963,865,445.25 for the procurement of ductile iron pipes to be laid from Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant to Hadejia Road covering a distance of 22.9KM. Contract for laying the pipes was also awarded at the sum of N211,542,512.50.

In any case, another Company was invited to carryout related survey and setting out the laying process. The work was carried out at the Consultancy charges to the tune of N3,435,000.00 which was requested for release by Council to enable payment to the Consultant whose work eased handling of the water supply pipeline laying process from Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant to Hadejia Road.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of trimmed sum of N2,000,000.00 as consultancy charges to the related survey for the laying of the pipe. The total investment in water supply sector exceeds N21 Billion which consists of over 220 KM of Ductile Iron pipes, Generating sets, improvement and expansion of raw water intakes, water treatment chemicals and city reticulation.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 173rd KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF FAKE, ILLICIT AND EXPIRED DRUGS Council noted and acknowledged with appreciation the effort of the State Taskforce Committee on Fake, Illicit and Counterpart Drugs for the confiscation of fake drugs worth over N114,924,000.00 at Aujarawa Village in Gezawa Local Government on Wednesday 9th October, 2014. Similarly, Council wish to call on the general public to support the Government effort towards ensuring the total eradication of drug abuse and sales of illicit drugs among the teeming populace in the State.

2. FORMAL PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION BY GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI'U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE UNDER THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) Council noted the successful declaration of Governor Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE to contest for President under the banner of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which took place on Tuesday 28th October, 2014 at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja. Furthermore, Council wishes to thank the millions of APC supporters who thronged the occasion to support the Governor on the quest to become President in the 2015 general election. Similarly council noted the purchase of Expression of interest and Presidential Nomination form by his numerous supporters and admirers.

3. AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL BASKET BALL COMPETITION Council noted the participation of the Kano Pillars Basket Ball Team at the African Basket Ball Tournament that took place in Burkina Faso in October, 2014. Similarly, Council also noted that during the tournament, the Kano Pillars Basket Ball Team came Third (3rd) and were awarded with Bronze Medal.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports andCulture www.kn.gov.ng/new

52

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

SHOWBIZ

LCCI unveils Tuface, W Ice Prince, others as ambassadors

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ULTIPLE awardwinning pop star Innocent Idibia (Tuface), Ice Prince, Brymo and Vector were among high profile celebrities unveiled on Tuesday, by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) as icons of this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair. The trade fair would hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), from November 7 to16.

Others are; the Chief Executive Officer, Main One, Ms Funke Opeke, Managing Director KAYMU, Ms Evangeline Wiles, General Manager Multichoice, Mr. Martin Mabutho and CEO, Hyperlink Digital, Mr. Matthew Ohio.

Also unveiled are On-air personalities Toolz Oniru, Toke Makinwa and Olisa Adibua, film producer and actor Kunle Afolayan and Mr. L’erin Davis, a venture capitalist whose great strides in business had brought pride to Nigeria.

It was the first time LCCI would be using the novel initiative to sell the trade fair. They are to be known as ambassadors for trade and commerce development.

Unveiling these personalities at a spectacular event as part of preparations for the fair in Lagos, the Chairman Trade Promotion Board who is also LCCI’s Vice President Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole said it was the first time the chamber is using such icons to drive the fair.

Olawale-Cole praised the ambassadors for their continued support for the LCCI in its quest to enthrone a

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

sane business environment for Lagos and Nigeria.

While commending corporate organisations that had extended their support for the hosting of this year’s trade fair, he assured all and sundry that the ambassadors and corporate organisations would team up with the chamber to promote Nigeria as the preferred investment destination.

On the trade fair, Olawale-Cole disclosed that every effort had been put in place to ensure a hitchfree and very successful fair.

Speaking on behalf of the ambassadors, Mr. Olisa Adibua expressed delight at being chosen to partner with LCCI and gave assurance that each of them would ensure that they justified the confidence reposed in them.

•Ice Prince

ITH a gripping folktale rendered in dance and drama, members of the Glorious Dawn troupe, entertained guests at the Women Development Center, Awka, Anambra State, Saturday night, at the investiture ceremony of Chinedu Ubachukwu, winner of the 11th season of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) reality show.

The story captured the mythology of the General’s Helmet, said to be hidden in the deep Aguleri forest, and how the 14 GUS 11 ‘warriors’ were tasked with the search mission, for which Ubachukwu, became the mission hero.

The play set the mood for the evening of prizes, as the chief host, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, red cap chiefs and other government officials joined in the thunderous applause that greeted every scene.

But not before a 10-minute video of the reality show, detailing in summary, the order in which the contestants were evicted from the show – It captured the gruelling tasks, poor meals and the tough terrain of the jungle - Ubachukwu and 13 others were in the Aguleri jungle for 26 days, in the adventure reality show which aired on digital and terrestrial television channels.

As winner of the show, Ubachukwu’s joy knew no bounds, as he was crowned amidst pomp. In addition, a dummy cheque of N10 million and key to a brand new Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) were handed to him, as promised by Nigerian Breweries Plc., organisers of the show.

Presenting the prizes with the Governor, Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, NB Plc., said GUS was part of his company’s vision for youth empowerment. Stressing on how difficult it could be for anyone to be in the jungle for that length of time, he said the task of getting the contestants to solve riddles

•Dennis Okike, winner of Gulder Ultimate Search 10, crowning Chinedu Ubachukwu, winner of Gulder Ultimate Search 11, while Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. and Chief Willie Obiano, Executive Governor, Anambra State, look on

GUS 11: Dance, drama as winner is crowned

By Victor Akande

and puzzles was meant to promote the values of focus, resilience, courage and determination in them.

Governor Obiano, who praised the initiative, recalled that he visited the contestants while in the jungle, and that the adventure reminded him of his days as a member of the Boys Scout.

He noted that there are lots of stories and historical sites in Anambra State that are yet to be known to

the world, and as such, he praised Nigerian Breweries for finding the Aguleri forest worthy for the show, which was transmitted far and wide.

Two other contestants also got cars in addition to their cash prizes. They are Samantha Appi, who received N1, 450, 000 and a brand new Ford Eco Sport car for emerging the last woman standing and Otto Canon, who received a cash prize of N1, 500, 000 and a

Ford Focus car, for emerging winner of the Viewers’ Choice competition.

Others are, Emmanuel Afolabi and Cosy Joe, N2, 750, 000 each; Addoh Evi Ado, N1, 400, 000; Noela Iroh, N1, 350, 000; Sharon Robinson, N1, 300, 000; Dr Ikenna Emedike N1, 250, 000; Joshua Nwagboso, N1, 200, 000; Ikenna Iwuoha and Sandra Nwagbagiro, N1, 125, 000 each and Blessing Eriata and Loretta Erijakpor, N1, 025, 000 each.

Yinka Ayefele, Gordons to thrill at The Evening

By Medeme Ovwe

I

T will be a night of all-round entertainment on Sunday, December 7, as Virgin Marketing Communication, in association with Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAON) holds its annual charity ball tagged The Evening.

According to Jasmine Onyemachi of the Marketing and Brand Communication Company, The Evening is specifically packaged as one of Virgin Marketing’s CSR events for men and women of style who want to give an alternative present to their associates.

“This year’s event will be celebrating and awarding the spinal cord injury victims through their association, SCIAON, and the award-winning Musician, Yinka Ayefele, who will speak and serenade the audience with his melodious sounds. We will also have comedians and a host of other entertainment packages to make the night an enjoyable fund raising event for our sponsors, partners and philanthropists,” said Onyemachi.

Billed to take place at the Shell hall of MUSON Centre, guests, she said, will also be entertained by the MUSON Choir, a 50man piece orchestra made up of choristers, horns men, strings and percussionists.

Also to perform on the night will be celebrated comedian, Gordons.

According to Onyemachi, proceeds from the show will be donated to SCIAON to enable them provide homes, mobility and med- •Ayefele ications for their members.

•Itegboje

The Amazing Grace Church of God premieres

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UDDING filmmaker, Tolulope Itegboje, on Sunday, October 26, at Freedom Park, Lagos, premiered his first short film titled The Amazing Grace Church of God. As the producer of the short flick explains, The Amazing Grace Church of God, talks about religion in Nigeria and the effect it has on the general society.

“For many people, religion plays several roles. For some, it is the way by which they make sense of their spirituality, the relationship between them and God or whatever they believe in. For others, it is a symbol of hope.

For some people, it is a crutch that they lean on.

By Medeme Ovwe

There are people who believe that the only solution to their problems is a religion-based solution. So the film tries to tell that story,” he explains.

The movie is about a preacher, Pastor Knight Anthony, who has become very famous for performing miracles through his ministry, the Amazing Grace Church of God. He is approached by a couple of journalists who are amazed by his works.

However, one journalist has his doubts and engages the pastor in a discourse. The movie is basically about the conversation they both have on whether he is real or not.

Tolulope, a London Film

School trained filmmaker said he has quite a number of creative pursuits but film is the one that has stuck because he has seen its ability to take him to places he wouldn’t otherwise have been to.

“This is my first major production in Nigeria as far as narrative fictions are concerned because I have done a couple of documentaries, I have done some commissioned works, I have done one short film which was really short but this is the first major project I have done.”

The 28-minute movie stars upcoming acts such as Kelvin Mary Ndukwe, Rita Edward and Seun Ajayi who plays Daniel, the journalist.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

53

NEWS 47 drivers convicted From James Azania, Lokoja

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ORTY seven drivers in Kogi State have been convicted for traffic offences in the last one week, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, Kogi FRSC Sector Commander Godwin Omiko described the convicts as “serial violators of road safety rules”.

He said the drivers were arraigned at a mobile court presided over by a Senior Magistrate, Mrs Rachael Omajali, who after trial found them guilty.

Their offences ranged from overloading to speeding, seat belt violation and making/ receiving phone calls while driving, among others.

The convicts were jailed between three months and one year, and given options of fines ranging from N2,500 to N10,000.

Gunmen snatch senator’s car From Tony Akowe, Abuja

C

HAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments Kabir Gaya (Kano South) was on Friday attacked by four gunmen dressed in military uniform.

Gaya’s Special Assistant, Idris Afegnua, in a statement, said the senator was attacked on the Kaduna/Kano high way around 7:30 pm.

The hoodlums snatched the senator’s official car, a Prado Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) numbered FL 16 SEN, but left him unhurt.

The incident has been reported to the police.

Gaya is a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gaidam seeks re-election From Duku Joel, Damaturu

Y

OBE State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, at the weekend, declared his intention to run for another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At a rally in the August 27 Stadium, Gaidam said he was humbled by the “overwhelming support” for him.

He said: “It is with a deep sense of duty and humility that I accept the endorsement of our delegates and members of our great party, the APC, as well as concerned citizens of Yobe State, civil society organisations, clubs and associations, cultural groups and other stakeholders to run for re-election as governor.

“I do so with gratitude to all of you and awareness of the enormous responsibility conferred on me. I will, God willing, justify the confidence reposed in me. I thank you all for your kind gesture.”

The governor said much work needs to be done by the APC to wrest power from the PDP. He said: “PDP is losing its grip as manifested in the loss of many of its supporters nationwide, because here in Yobe State, we have received thousands of former PDP supporters into the APC. “Today (Saturday), we are receiving another high profile group, which has decided to defect from PDP to APC. I welcome all those who have joined us today and assure them of a level-playing field.”

•Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau opening the new University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Central Research Laboratories at the weekend. He is flanked by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (right), and the Chancellor and Obi of Agbor, Dr. Benjamin Ikenchuku.

#BBOG queries govt on N80b victims support fund

T

HE #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy group is asking the government why it is taking so long to implement the N80 billion victims support fund to care for insurgency victims.

It said while the National Information Centre (NIC) Coordinator, Mike Omeri, told BBC Hausa that they were waiting to reach a certain amount, Boko Haram victims were suffering and dying.

The group accused the government of ignoring many

From Grace Obike, Abuja

helpless Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the group's usual sitout, a member, Abiola Sanusi, said: "After listening to survivors of Boko Haram, I call them survivors even though some may refer to them as victims, I ask the government what is being done with the N80 billion victims support fund that was raised to care for people suffering as a result of Boko Haram?

"What is the Borno State government doing to rehabilitate the escaped Chibok girls and their parents who are experiencing psychological trauma? The other day, Mike Omeri was speaking on BBC Hausa and he was asked why they were yet to implement the fund and he said they were waiting for it to reach a certain amount. What are they waiting for while these survivors are suffering with barely enough food to eat and some are dying from diseases? Why is the Federal Government allowing them

Suntai returns to hospital

A

ILING Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai is to return to the United Kingdom for treatment. Suntai was expected to travel last night with his wife, personal physician, some relations and aides.

The state government, sources said, is financing the trip, which includes a chartered flight to the United Kingdom, the cost of his

hospitalisation and accommodation for his entourage.

Acting Governor Garba Umar approved the requirements for the trip and ordered that everything must be done to ensure that the governor gets the best treatment.

Suntai was involved in a plane crash while piloting a plane in October, 2012, near Yola Airport in Adamawa State. Since then, he

has been in and out of hospitals in Germany, the United States and the U.K. His most recent medical destination was the U.K., from where he returned on September 13.

On his return, a five-man medical panel was set up to determine the state of his health. The decision became a subject of litigation, making it difficult for the panel to conclude its work.

Balewa slams PDP for denying him form

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Dr. Abdul Jhalil Tafawa Balewa has condemned the party’s failure to give him a nomination form after paying the stipulated N22 million.

Explaining that the party’s officials had been “dribbling” him, Balewa told reporters in Bauchi State that he met with the PDP financial secretary, who told him to see the party’s treasurer, who also directed him to the National Chairman, Ahmadu Mu’azu.

Balewa said: “They said only Mu’azu can approve a presidential candidate for the party. There is nothing like that in the PDP’s constitution that a chairman, and in this case an appointed chairman, is the only one that approves

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

who gets a nomination form.

“I paid N2 million as retention fee and N20 million for the nomination form. I have receipts and tellers for both payments. When are they going to give me my form?

“We waited too long because the President was not forthcoming on whether he is running or not. I went to the party secretariat and asked for the form and they told me that they printed only

one, but they did not reject the money; it is still with them.”

Chairman of the Bauchi State Youth Movement for Democracy Philip Gumex said: “Whenever Balewa goes there to pick the form, it is one story or the other.

There was a day we went there together and they took us from one office to another, only to say that the order for the release of the form should come from the national chairman.”

T

T

WO brothers, Salmanu Adamu (27) and Suleimanu Adamu (29), died on Saturday in Dimsini Bula, Bununu, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, after inhaling generator fumes.

The brothers are the sons of the Village Head, Adamu Sarkin Dimsini.

It was learnt that the brothers, who were digging a well in front of their father’s palace, suffocated after inhaling fumes from a nearby generator.

Police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said: “On Saturday about 1:30pm, the village head of Dimsini Bula

K

taken seriously.

He said contrary to claims that teachers had been paid, they were being owed twomonth salary and other entitlements.

Abdullahi said though the striking teachers had resumed, the union directed them to attend classrooms without teaching until their salary arrears are paid.

in Bununu, one Adamu Sarkin Dimsini, instructed two of his sons, Salmanu and Suleimanu, to dig a well in front of his palace with a water pump generator. The victims suffocated to death due to emission of carbon monoxide from the generator, which filled the well.”

He said an autopsy was carried out on the brothers and there was no sign of foul play.

The bodies have been released to the family for burial.

From James Azania, Lokoja

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

tion Board (SUBEB) that all teachers’ entitlements had been paid.

Hailing Governor Idris Wada’s pledge to commit N5.4 billion to the development of primary education, Abdullahi said his efforts might not produce results if teachers’ welfare was not

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Kogi audits council accounts

ANO State Chairman/Director of the Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd) yesterday resigned his appointment.

He said his resignation would help him focus on campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

From James Azania, Lokoja

ment is trying to avoid or deny, but we can see the havoc caused by Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The victims of this carnage are increasing everyday.

"Personally, my government has failed me and these people don't even know if they have a government. The state government is providing little relief materials for them in the absence of the Federal Government, but there is corruption in the camps and the victims are being shortchanged."

Generator fumes kill brothers

Kwankwaso’s aide resigns

‘Pay Kogi teachers two-month salary arrears’ HE Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday demanded the payment of the September and October salary of teachers.

NUT Chairman Suleiman Abdullahi, who spoke in Lokoja, the state capital, was reacting to claims by the state Universal Basic Educa-

to suffer and is not assisting them?"

Another member, Fatima Abba-Kaka, who visited several IDP camps in Borno, said the government had failed the IDPs. She said: "There are about 18 official IDP camps in Maiduguri, but several other IDPs take cover in the homes of influential people. The camps are something else and the people are suffering with barely enough food and medicine.

"Their existence is an unfortunate issue that the govern-

•Wada

OGI State Governor Idris Wada has ordered an audit of the accounts of local governments, it was learnt at the weekend.

At a closed door meeting with council chairmen on Friday, it was gathered that the governor accused some of them of financial recklessness.

A source, who was at the

K

meeting, said Wada warned the chairmen, some of who are aspiring to contest the National Assembly elections, “not to allow their political ambitions to becloud their mandate to the people”.

The source quoted the governor as saying: “We are going to sanitise the local government system. A situation where most chairmen cannot pay the full staff salary is not healthy for development and efforts must be made to reverse the trend.

“We cannot allow this sorry situation to continue.

Any local government chairman found to be fraudulent at the audit would be prosecuted. They will be handed over to the appropriate authorities to face the wrath of the law.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

54

FOREIGN

H

E was just 36 when he took over the reins of power in a bloody coup. That was 27 years ago in the land-locked West African nation of Burkina Faso, a country formerly known as Federal Republic of Upper Volta. President Blaise Compaore clung to power tenaciously in an impoverished nation and with so much insensitivity to the plight of his people.

His people were willing to tolerate him till his tenure expires in November of 2015, but like most sit tight leaders; he sent a bill to parliament asking that he be allowed to contest for another term following the expiration.

That would be the final straw that broke his camel’s back.

Borrowing a script from the Arab Spring of 2011 which brought down several despots in the Arab world, more than one million of his 17 million poured on the streets of Ougadougou; the nation’s capital, setting fire on public buildings and burnt down the parliament building.

In a spate of violent nation-wide protests calling for his resignation, he finally succumbed and was ferried along with his family to neighbouring Cote dÍvoire last week.

This will not be the first time the people have gone on mass protests to demand for his ouster.

In 1998, a leading publisher and editor of a national newspaperNobert Nzongo, was killed under mysterious circumstances while in-

Burkina Faso: Finally, Compaore blinked vestigating the murder of the driver to the president’s younger brother, Francois Compaore. This led to months of protests but he managed to survive it.

It is noteworthy that the president himself rode to power on the back of a military coup with late Thomas Sankara, his fellow military compatriot in August 4 1983 by overthrowing then President Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo, a Major in the army and a medical doctor. He turned around to overthrow and killed the revolutionary and Marxist Sankara along with other 12 officers on October 15 1987 .

He never contemplated leaving power ever since until he was forced to resign last week.

As a stooge of the West, he has always been praised for his mediation skills in the West African region, including the conflicts in Togo, Cote dÍvoire, Mali and Liberia.

He is chubby with imprisoned President Charles Taylor and Late Libyan leader Moamar Gadafi is a good supporter and financier of his government over the years.

As the events unfold over the weekend, two military leaders went on television claiming to have assumed acting president of the interim administration set up by the military. First was the Army Chief General Honore Traore and within 24 hours another officer Colonel who was Deputy Chief of the Prsidential Gurad Colonel Isaac Yacouba Zida countered him by saying he is the new leader. He has now been supported by the Army hierarchy now.

But feelers coming out of Ouagadougou are that Zida is not ready for interim capacity and wants to take over the reins of power full time. So much intrigues with power.

In the meantime, the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWS have issued a joint communiqué after their two-day mission visit to the nation calling for immediate peaceful resolution and restoration of power to civilian authourity in the country; failing which consequences will follow.

In another intriguing and dramatic twist, the people themselves who went to the strees jubilating on Ca-

Global Focus DAYO FAKUADE, Foreign Editor sms 08134230367

daborgu@gmail.com paore’s resignation on Friday are back on the streets once again on Sunto be worse for the generality of the day, just like Roman feeble mobs, depeople. We shall be focussing on furmanding for the army to go back to ther developments during the week. their barracks claiming it is a peoIn Zambia, a maverick 70 year old ple’s revolution and only the people rich guy, named Guy Scott, has beshould benefit from it and rule themcome the first white African to be the selves. country’s president in an interim caBut the National Assembly has pacity for 90 days following the death not only been dissolved, the parliaof the nations’’ president, Michael Sata ment building has been burnt by the in a London hospital. same people last week. It is looking He was born and bred in Zambia more like Egypt once again with the by mixed parentage, named by late messiah Morsi turned into a pariah Saka as vice president upon the incepwithin months. That is the catch 22 tion of the administration in 2011 and that Burkina Faso is facing presentmore than qualified to be the presily. Last night, the military shot at dent if he so chooses to contest for the protestors and gunshots were heard full term after the interim. He is also at the state television area and peoan influential member of the ruling ple and staff have to scamper to safePatriotic Front since its formation. ty. It is not clear who fired and who As we say with passion, our the targets were, but going by Arab globe is all we have. We all owe it Spring antecedents, it should be cona duty to protect it for our collecceivable that sooner than later, the tive use. Think and act green. Plant military might want to assert itself a tree today and do an act of ranforcefully and democracy, rule of dom kindness by putting a smile law and human rights are all going on a stranger’s face. It makes us all better for it. See you next week.

FOREIGN

Shots heard at Burkina Faso state TV •UN, AU, ECOWAS react

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URKINA Faso’s state TV has gone off air shortly after gunshots were heard at its headquarters.

Witnesses told the BBC soldiers fired in the air to disperse protesters before forcing journalists to flee.

Elsewhere in the capital, Ouagadougou, soldiers cleared thousands of demonstrators from a city square and barricaded the area.

The army seized power on Friday after long-time leader Blaise Compaore quit following days of protests.

The takeover brought global condemnation and prompted further protests.

Many thousands had gathered at various places around Ouagadougou on Sunday to demonstrate against the army.

The BBC’s Laeila Adjovi in Ouagadougou says crowds gathered at the state TV headquarters because they believed a popular opposition leader was about to announce that she was willing to lead the transition.

Shortly after, gunfire broke

out and both staff and protesters fled.

Mass protests first erupted last week when long-time leader Mr Compaore attempted to extend his time in office.

Parts of parliament building were set on fire, and the president fled to Ivory Coast.

Analysts say high prices, low wages and persistent poverty have fuelled discontent, particularly among younger Burkinabes.

A joint mission of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS has called for a peaceful resolution to the on-going crisis in Burkina Faso.

In a joint communiqué after a two-day fact finding mission to Ouagadougou, the capital over the weekend, the mission held discussions with all stakeholders on the situation and its development over the last few days, with a view to finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

•The African Union, ECOWAS and the United Nations; the statement noted, are ready to work with all stakeholders to

•Burkinabes protesting in Ouagadougou...yesterday.

ensure a rapid return to the respect of constitutional norms, the protection of the rights of all Burkinabès, including members of the government, the ousted National Assembly and the outgoing President.

The mission appealed for the restoration of security for the people, an end to acts of vengeance and witch haunting, and for a guarantee of the security of both citizens and foreigners, as well as that of their property and public property.

The mission noted with delight the “professionalism and discipline of the security forces of Burkina Faso, particularly in their management of the crisis and encourages them to

sustain the cohesion among the security forces and ensure that the constitutional provisions for a smooth transfer of power are properly respected, while strictly adhering to the relevant ECOWAS, African Union and United Nations standards but wants adherence to constitutional standards in its transition programme. The mission insisted on the need to strengthen dialogue between all political and non-political stakeholders. It called for the government and administrative machinery to be put back on track as quickly as possible, so as to ensure continuity in public services. This is particularly important at a time when

PHOTO: BBC

the Ebola virus is ravaging the sub region and member States must take necessary measures to prevent its further spread.

UN West Africa envoy Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the military could face sanctions if they refused to hand over to a civilian administration.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people are gathering in the capital Ouagadougou to rally against the military takeover.

Days of protests forced President Blaise Compaore to step down on 31 October and flee to Ivory Coast.

Mr Compaore’s attempt to extend his time in office was the immediate trigger for the protests.

But analysts say high prices, low wages and persistent poverty have fuelled wider discontent, particularly among younger Burkinabes.

The military takeover of the country has not been universally accepted by the people, with opposition groups calling a mass rally on Sunday against the army’s “confiscation” of the uprising.

“The victory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task of managing the transition falls by right to the people,” the groups said in a statement.

Protesters accused the military of “confiscating” the revolution

Israeli finance minister condemns settlement plans in E. Jerusalem

T

HE Israeli government is to advance construction plans for 1 000 housing units to be built in parts of Jerusalem that Palestinians demand for their future state.

The move, revealed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is the first of a series of announcements on new settlement construction work

in East Jerusalem and on the occupied West Bank.

It comes despite a warning from the United States this month that continued construction would “poison the atmosphere” and distance Israel from even its closest allies.

“The government has decided to advance the planning

of more than 1 000 units in Jerusalem – roughly 400 in Har Homa and about 600 in Ramat Shlomo,” an official in Netanyahu’s office said, referring to two existing East Jerusalem settlements.

The announcement was immediately condemned by the finance minister, Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid par-

ty. “This plan will lead to a serious crisis in Israel-US relations and will harm Israel’s standing in the world,” Lapid said.

The disclosure of the plan comes during a period of sharply heightened tension between Jews and Palestinians in Jerusalem, which has been the centre of daily violence in

recent days.

The unrest has been exacerbated by the death of a threemonth-old and a Ecuadorian woman when a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem drove into a crowd waiting at a tram stop.

Palestinians see East Jerusalem – home to the city’s most sensitive holy sites for Jews,

Muslims and Christians – as their future capital and oppose Israeli construction there. Israel has said all of Jerusalem will forever be its capital, citing historical, religious and security reasons. But the international community, including the US, does not recognise Israel’s annexation of the eastern sector of the city.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

55

FOREIGN S’Africa arrests two over rhino

Death for Bangladesh Islamist leader

T

A

SECOND leader of Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party has been sentenced to death for war crimes committed during the 1971 war against Pakistan.

Media tycoon Mir Quasem Ali faced 14 charges including letting loose a “reign of terror” in Chittagong.

Eight of the charges were proven, making Mr Ali the second Jamaat-e-Islami leader to be sentenced to death in four days.

Jamaat-e-Islami has called a 24-hour national strike on Thursday to protest.

The group’s supporters are currently involved in a threeday strike in protest at the sentencing of party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, given the death penalty last Wednesday.

Activists who fought against Pakistan in the 1971 war celebrated Sunday’s verdict The court said that under Mr Ali’s command Bangladeshi supporters of Pakistan’s

•Mir Quasem Ali after the verdict...yesterday.

army “let loose a reign of terror” in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s second-largest city, in 1971.

It also partially proved a further two of the charges brought against the media tycoon.

There are different estimates for the number of people killed in the nine-month Bangladeshi war of secession.

Government figures suggest as many as three million people died, while some say that figure is too high and un-

PHOTO: AFP

verifiable.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the war crimes tribunal in 2010 to look into abuses during the independence war.

But critics of the controversial court say the government is using the tribunal to target

political opponents. Human Rights Watch has previously said the court’s procedures are not up to international standards.

The Awami League, which leads the current government, says it is necessary to help the country come to terms with its past.

Syria escalates barrel bomb attacks

W

ITH global attention focused on the fight against jihadists, Syria’s regime has in recent weeks stepped up its use of deadly barrel bomb strikes, killing civilians and wreaking devastation on its people.

In less than a fortnight, warplanes have dropped at

least 401 barrel bombs on rebel areas in eight provinces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

Activist Yassin Abu Raed, from the town of Anadan in northern Aleppo province, has seen his house hit three times in barrel bomb attacks.

The latest strike destroyed it completely.

The Observatory, which documents casualties and strikes, relying on a broad network of activists and doctors across the war-torn country, said at least 232 civilians have been killed in regime air strikes, including barrel bomb attacks, since October 20.

U.S. asks U.N. to blacklist exYemen president, rebel leaders

T

HE United States has asked for targeted U.N. sanctions to be imposed on Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and two Houthi rebel leaders for threatening the peace and stability of Yemen and obstructing the political process.

Washington submitted a formal request on Friday for the United Nations Security Council Yemen sanctions committee to subject the men to a global travel ban and asset freeze. The committee is due to discuss the request tomorrow, diplomats said.

Yemen, a U.S. ally with a population of 25 million neighbouring oil-producing giant Saudi Arabia, is trying to end political unrest that began with mass protests against Saleh, president for 33 years until he stepped down in 2012.

“As of fall 2012 Ali Abdullah Saleh had reportedly become one of the primary supporters of the Huthi rebellion. Saleh was behind the attempts to cause chaos throughout Yemen,” the United States said in its ‘statement of case’ obtained by Reuters. The United States

Pakistani blast kills 45, wounds scores

A •Saleh

has also requested that two Houthi rebel leader be blacklisted — Houthi leader Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi and the group’s second-in-command Abdullah Yahya al Hakim.

Congo crowd kills man, eats him after militant massacres

T

HE incident in the town of Beni followed a number of overnight raids in the area blamed on the Islamist group ADF-NAUL, who are thought to have massacred more than 100 people this month, using hatchets and machetes to kill their victims.

Speaking from the town of Beni, Congo’s President Joseph Kabila said the ADF-NALU militants would face the same fate as the rebel movement M23, which was defeated by a U.N.-backed government offensive last year.

ADF-NALU is an alliance of groups opposed to the Ugandan government that has op-

erated from bases in neighboring Congo since the mid2000s, undermining Kinshasa’s grip on the area.

The movement was blamed for the deaths of 14 people, killed early on Thursday in the village of Kampi ya Chui, bringing the total death toll this month to at least 107, said Teddy Kataliko, president of the Civil Society of Beni.

Tensions ran high in the town on Friday morning with around 100 demonstrators blocking the road from the airport into town, throwing stones and waving machetes to demand greater govern-

The regime began using barrel bombs in late 2012, but stepped up its attacks this year, with a wave of raids in February alone killing hundreds of people.

Barrel bombs are typically constructed from large oil drums, gas cylinders or water tanks filled with high explosives

ment protection against the rebels.

Estimates of its strength vary greatly, but the website of the U.N.’s peacekeeping mission in Congo estimates it has around 500 fighters.

The Ugandan government has said ADF-NALU is allied with Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab movement, but analysts say the nature of these ties is not clear, despite the ADF-NALU’s clear Islamist ideology.

In his speech on Friday, Kabila appealed for public support for a ramping up of its offensive against the group, but did not specify what that would entail.

T least 45 people were killed yesterday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a restaurant on the Pakistani-Indian border, just after a daily ceremony when troops from both sides simultaneously lower the two nations’ flags, officials said.

Hundreds of people visit the Wahga border crossing near the Pakistani city of Lahore to witness the flags of both countries being lowered just before sunset.

“I was sitting in my office near the border when I heard the blast. I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars,” a Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters.

Media reports earlier said the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder but later police said it was probably a suicide bomber.

Police said they were investigating, and a doctor said up to 70 people were wounded.

“According to initial information it was a suicide attack,” Inspector General of Punjab Police, Mushtaq Sukhera, told local television channels.

“When ... security was a bit relaxed, the suicide attacker blew himself up near a restaurant. Thirtyseven people were killed and more than 50 wounded.”

and scrap metal.

In February, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that all sides in Syria’s war end attacks against civilians, with a specific mention of the use of barrel bombs.

The government denies using barrel bombs, and says it only targets “terrorists”.

WO Vietnamese men were arrested at Johannesburg airport with a record haul of 18 rhino horns, weighing 41 kilos (90 pounds), during a stopover on a flight from Mozambique to Vietnam, South African police said Saturday.

“This is the largest haul of rhino horns seized in one operation in South Africa,” said a joint statement from police and customs officials.

The flight had started in Maputo, Mozambique, and was heading to Hanoi.

Police said it was believed the horns, which were still intact, were removed from South African rhinos.

The two Vietnamese, aged 25 and 26, were in police custody after being stopped late Friday. They were due to appear in court on Monday.

“They will possibly be charged with transporting, possession and dealing in endangered species,” said lieutenant general Solomon Makgale, a police spokesman.

The Qatar Airways flight had been due to make a onehour stop at OR Tambo airport but a “very credible” tip-off led authorities to ask passengers to leave the plane so they could investigate, Makgale said.

Demand for rhinoceros horn -- which is made from keratin, the same material in hair and nails — has skyrocketed in recent years, largely driven by demand from Asia, where the powdered horn is valued for its supposed medicinal properties.

South Africa is home to around 20,000 rhinos, some 80 percent of the worldwide population. The country is in the midst of a growing rhino poaching crisis, and has seen more than 730 rhinos killed this year.

Iraqi Kurdish fighters join Kobani fight

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URDISH fighters from Iraq have finally arrived in Kobani in northern Syria to reinforce Syrian Kurds in the battle against ISIS for control of the town.

A Kurdish activist in Kobani said late Friday he saw more than 100 Kurdish fighters known as Peshmerga cross over the Turkish border with their vehicles to the embattled city’s west, near a key hill called Tal Shair.

Another witness said he saw a large convoy of armed vehicles pass his house, headed toward the unofficial border crossing on the city’s western side Friday evening. They were accompanied by Turkish military, as they drove on the Turkish side, he said.

This is the largest reported crossing of reinforcements to help the the Syrian Kurds defending the besieged Kobani.

It’s unclear whether more help is on the way. group, has been fighting to take Kobani for about six weeks, hoping to add it to the territory it already captured in parts of Syria and Iraq for what it calls its new independent Islamic nation.

Word of the Peshmerga’s arrival follows complaints from Syrian Kurds, accusing Turkey of causing delays in the fighters’ arrival. The Peshmerga were supoosed to arrive Thursday night or Friday morning, according to Polat Can, spokesman for Syrian Kurdish fighters, part of the People’s Protection Units, or YPG. “We do not know why it is delayed. We think the delay is caused by Turkey,” Can said Friday morning.

“ISIS has been focusing its attacks on the border gate for the past five days to prevent Peshmerga and other support from coming, but they have not made progress. We have taken back some areas,” Can added.

Syria has been embroiled in a three-year civil war, with government troops battling ISIS and other rebels elsewhere, leaving Kobani’s ethnic Kurds to defend the city, with U.S. airstrikes — part of a larger U.S.-led coalition effort against ISIS in the region — intermittently taking out ISIS targets in the area.

Meantime, the airstrikes against those targets continued Thursday and Friday as part of Operation Inherent Resolve with four more carried out in Syria and Iraq, Central Command said in a Facebook post.

“Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted four airstrikes in Iraq Thursday and today using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists,” Central Command said.

56

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS NLC: restore Tambuwal’s security Continued from page 4

•(Left to Right) Mr Ganiyu Azeez Head LPG Oando Marketing; Doyin Olutona Co-founder, Uturn Africa; Dr Ladi Bada, Managing Director, Shoreline Resources; Mr Austin Avuru, Managing Director, Seplat Petroleum; Ms Lara Banjoko Chief Executive Officer Zone 4 Energy and Mr Meka Olowola Managing Partner, Zenera Consulting at the third edition of Sustainability in the Extractive Industry Conference in Lagos.

Kwara governor, Akume slam IG Continued from page 4

ciary.

The governor spoke during the swearing-in of members of the reconstituted Kwara State Judicial Service Commission.

He said: “It is the business of the judiciary and not that of any other arm or organ of government to interpret laws of the land and the legal implication of political action, such as crosscarpeting at the National Assembly and indeed the executive.”

Ahmed said the unilateral reduction in the allocation due to states from the Federation Account, allegedly due to fluctuations in global oil prices and oil theft, were gradually impoverishing states and local governments.

His word: “If this situation is not addressed unequivocally and quickly, the next few months will prove even more difficult for our state and indeed all others that are burdened by the unsubstantiated cuts in the Federation Account allocation.”

Akume described the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security as another “classic act of Executive impunity and lawlessness”.

This act only adds to several others which have characterised this administration and threatens the growth of democracy which is not measured by existence of democratic structures but by promotion of the rule of law.

“The hilarious recourse of the police to constitutional interpretation, which is the exclusive jurisdiction of the judiciary, is to say the least most unfortunate.

“One wonders why the police could only see and read S.68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution but was blind to subsection (2) of the same provision, which vests the power to declare a member’s seat vacant on the ground of defection to only the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“One also wonders why the police could not advise itself that since there are pending litigations on the subject matter, they should wait for the outcome of judicial interpretation on the contentious constitutional provision. Recently, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State defected to the PDP with all the

Labour Party members of the House of Representatives and Ondo State House of Assembly, including its Speaker, but the police neither withdrew the Security detail of Governor Mimiko, the state Assembly Speaker, nor effected the removal of those members from the various legislative Houses.

“No one is in doubt that the police IG is merely being used

by President Jonathan to achieve a partisan agenda. This is absurd. This is unlawful and immoral. It is particularly absurd because, President Jonathan only just returned from the Holy Land of Israel. He had travelled to Israel on Holy pilgrimage in company of CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and other men of God primarily to seek the favour of God in his re-election bid and also to pray for the overall progress of Nigeria.

“Nigeria expects on return a sober, penitent and spirituallyrejuvenated President. Not one brazenly desecrating the constitution he swore to uphold. The President is as much qualified for VIP protection as the Speaker is. The Speaker presides over

an important Chamber in the legislative arm of government which appropriates the salaries the President and entire executive arm (which includes the Police) are paid from. A temperament such as this one exhibited by Mr. President can hardly pass for a Nigerian who more than any other, living or dead, has benefited from the parliament. By act of parliament, his boss was impeached as governor and he became the governor of Bayelsa State. By application of the doctrine of necessity, the Parliament made him an Acting President.

“He thus became both Governor and President without contesting election.

Nigerians expect reciprocal respect between the two arms of government, not politics of subterfuge and arm twisting. The Parliament has its rules to handle its affairs and the President must allow the House deal with its leadership issue.

“Let all people of Goodwill rise to condemn all acts which threaten the enhancement of democratic culture, values and ethos. This is one such occasions.”

Falana to police chief: resign if you can’t be fair Continued from page 4

ed six months ago by the nihilist Boko Haram sect.

“In a judgment delivered last week, the Federal Capital Territory High Court declared the ban illegal, null and void on the grounds that it constituted an infringement of the fundamental rights of the patriotic campaigners to freedom of assembly and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

“In spite of the judicial indictment, you have not deemed it fit to call Mr. Mbu to order for the reckless abuse of police powers.

“Thirdly, you caused the security detail of Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be withdrawn last week on the grounds that he had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. As if that was not enough, you decided to usurp the judicial powers of the federation which are exclusively vested in the courts by Section 6 of the Constitution when you claimed that the Speaker had lost his office and seat as a federal legislator, having contravened Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution. By your illegal pronouncement, you disregarded Section 50 (2) (c) thereof which stipulates that the Speaker of the House of Representatives can only be removed by a resolution passed by votes of not less than two thirds majority of the members of the House.”

He stressed that the actions and utterances of the IGP in the circumstance have exposed the police to unwarranted ridicule.

Falana said: “Nigerians are not unaware of the fact that

when the Ondo State legislators elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) defected to the PDP last month, your office did not declare their seats vacant.

“In particular, you did not withdraw the security detail of Honourable Jumoke Akindele, the Speaker, who led her colleagues to dump the LP for the PDP. In the same vein, Honourable Ahmadu Fintiri, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and his colleagues who defected from the PDP to the APC and have since returned to PDP. You did not have cause to declare their seats vacant. Neither have you withdrawn the security detail of Honourable Fintiri.

“Thus, by subjecting Honourable Aminu Tambuwal to selective persecution on grounds that he defected from the ruling party, you violated his fundamental right to freedom from discrimination.

Falana described the actions of the IGP as a breach of Section 42 (1) of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to subject any citizen of Nigeria of a political opinion to disabilities, deprivation and restrictions to which other citizens who hold alternative views or opinions are not made subject.”

He pointed out that since the security aides of other Speakers who defected from the APC and LP to the PDP have not been withdrawn, those of Tambuwal were illegally withdrawn. In the light of this, the activist lawyer called for immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s security aides.

“They ought to be restored

without any further delay. From the information at my disposal, your harassment of the Speaker was instigated by the Presidency. But having regard to section 215 (3) of the Constitution which enjoins you to carry out the ‘lawful directive’ of the President of the Republic with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order the actions taken on the Speaker are illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular.

“Therefore, you should withdraw your pronouncement on the office and seat of Honourable Aminu Tambuwal and advise the ruling party to seek redress in the Federal High Court on the constitutional implications of the defection. Furthermore, unless he is removed by his colleagues in the House of Representatives or by a competent court in the land, Honourable Tambuwal remains the Speaker of the House.

“Neither the police nor any other agency of the Federal Government can be allowed to resort to self help on the matter. As law and order in the country cannot be maintained by a compromised police institution, you may want to resign your appointment if you are not prepared to discharge your onerous constitutional responsibilities without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

“Before making up your mind, may I remind you of the eternal injunction of the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v Atiku Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (pt 1041) 1 at 183. As the undisguised bias of both the INEC and the police could not be justified over the illegal removal of the Vice-President for defecting from the ruling party to one of the opposition political parties the apex court held inter alia:”Having regard to the nature of the function which the Nigeria Police Force also performs, that body must also insulate itself such that impartiality and fairness may at all times be ascribed to it.

“A situation where both of them ( the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC) appeal in the instant case is very much in bad taste. They have both thrown the quality of impartiality and fairness which they must possess to the winds.

Their acts are capable of eroding the public confidence in them. Unknown to them, they may be said, by the public, to be biased and therefore not worthy to be regarded as impartial umpires. This trend must not repeat itself for the good of the nation”, Falana said.

just an opposition party but the third strong , after UPN and NPN. We have other precedents across the world.

“We find it appropriate to cite the examples of Mimiko and Ali Modu-Sheriff, governor of Ondo State and former governor of Borno State respectively. Their security detail were not withdrawn when they defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“It gives us concern that our political leaders are determined to learn very little about democracy and always seem too keen to overheat the polity over things that count for little.

“The police and other security agencies complicit in this disgusting conduct should hold their heads in shame. Herein lies the essence of strong institutions

which we have always advocated.

“For those who take pleasure in converting to personal use, public/state institutions, today’s men soon become yesterday’s men. What goes around, comes around.

“In light of the foregoing, we demand immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s security detail and all the rights and privileges that accrue to the Office of the Speaker. It is not about Tambuwal, it is about the office which he holds.

“And in any case, only few, arguably, will contest that he has not discharged and acquitted himself as speaker. We would like to be on record that we will not fold our hands while little minds threaten our hard-earned democracy. Nothing should happen to Tambuwal.”

House rejects plan to reconvene Continued from page 4

removal of Tambuwal.

The conditions are: •automatic tickets for members who are governorship, senatorial and seeking a return to the House; •a bond to clip the wings of governors who have hijacked all the processes for free and fair primaries; and • freedom to elect whoever they prefer as Speaker instead of foisting House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola on them.

The APC caucus in the House filed a case seeking an injunction to stop the PDP leaders from reconvening the House till December 3.

Amid the looming war in the House, the Presidency was rattled by a statement from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) declaring the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security as illegal.

It was also gathered that the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio, confronted Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha for allowing the PDP Caucus in the House to lose out.

But Ihedioha reportedly fired back, asking a “dumbfounded” Akpabio what the forum had done to assist the caucus to consolidate its grip on the House.

PDP Representatives met on Saturday in Abuja on the invitation of Mu’azu.

A source at the session said: “We had a pre-meeting session since the agenda was obvious to all of us. Most of us were angry that it is only when the party wants to use us for selfish end that we are considered important.

“We cannot remember when last Muazu and the NWC met us on policy issues, the development of the nation and the fortune of the party.

“The party did not even deem it fit to put us into confidence on the modalities for the 2015 poll primaries and how to retain good hands among us. The party even had the gut to tell all House members from Bayelsa State to forget about second term ticket. Now, we are relevant because of plans to remove Tambuwal.”

Another PDP Representative said: “We have come up with two conditions which the party must meet for the removal of the Speaker.

“One, the party must give us

automatic tikets irrespective of which office we are seeking.

Those aspiring to be governors, senators and second term in the House of Representatives should be given automatic chances.

“We insisted that we won’t sign for the House to reconvene until the issue of automatic ticket is sorted out by the party.

“Secondly, the party should check the governors who are deliberately frustrating the aspiration of most of our members in 2015. These governors must stop imposition of candidates; we want free and fair primaries.

“We want freedom to choose whoever we want as Speaker after the removal of Tambuwal. We do not want the party to foist the House Leader on us.”

As part of its counter-plot, the APC Caucus in the House will today head for court, seeking an injunction to restrain PDP members from reconvening the House.

The Federal Government was on Saturday rattled by a statement from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which declared the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides as illegal.

Since the statement was issued, NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN) is said to have been under intense pressure from some Presidency officials.

“But the NBA leadership stood by its position on Tambuwal and asked the government to allow the court to make a pronouncement,” another source said.

The anti-Tambuwal project is, however, causing disaffection within the ranks and file of the party.

It was learnt that at a meeting convened last Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Akpabio confronted Ihedioha.

A PDP source added: “In the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Akpabio confronted the deputy speaker on why the PDP Caucus was being taken for granted by the opposition.

Like a headmaster, Akpabio was shouting.

“But Ihedioha fired back and asked Akpabio to explain what the PDP Governors Forum had done to support the PDP Caucus in the House.

“Those at the session had to calm frayed nerves to restore normalcy.”

Fed Govt to return Sanusi’s passport, seized salaries Continued from page 4

passports, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos had on April asked the Federal Government, the police and the SSS to release Alhaji Sanusi’s passport unlawfully seized from

him in February.

The Kano Central Prison, which is over 80 years old, is to be removed to protect the ancient city and the Emir’s Palace against recurring attacks by insurgents and other security threats.

The late Emir of Kano, Alh.

Ado Bayero, escaped assassination attempts towards the tail end of his reign.

It was gathered that security reports confirmed that the Emir’s Palace was usually under threats because of the nearby prison yard where some insurgents were being detained.

It was also learnt that the prison had become overcrowded.

The Kano Central Prison, which was built with 10 cells during the colonial days, has 1,254 inmates, 950 of who are awaiting trial with 800 in detention for capital crimes.

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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NEWS PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) WARD CONGRESSES

Adamawa: Group protests exclusion of Ngilari from race

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OME communities and youth groups, under the aegis of the Adamawa Collective, have kicked against the exclusion of the Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilari from the 2015 governorship race.

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last week, announced the zoning of the governorship position to the Central Senatorial District, thereby excluding aspirants from the Northern and Southern districts.

The pasrty’s decision was announced after Ngilari, who is from the Northern Senatorial District, obtained nomination form to contest the election.

Describing the decision of the PDP leadership as undemocratic and unacceptable, the group accused the party of double standard and a plot to undermine the governor because he is from a minor-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

ity group.

At a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the group’s Coordinator, Eli Gamaliel, and Secretary, Dr. Panny Boga, argued that Ngilari was not a party to the agreement the party reached with the eight aspirants from the Central zone to contest the poll.

According to them, Ngilari was still pursuing his ouster in court at the time the PDP reached the agreement with the eight aspirants.

They added that by virtue of the court’s verdict, which installed Ngilari as governor, the agreement should have been overtaken by events.

Gamaniel said: “It is important to state that when the decision was taken to zone the governorship to the Central Senatorial District, Governor Ngilari was not in of-

fice, neither was he part of the meeting.

“The doctrine of necessity, which brought President Goodluck Jonathan to office during the illness and later death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua remains a good reference point for the PDP. “It was in that same spirit of the doctrine of necessity that the late Governor Patrick Yakowa continued in office and contested in 2011 and won. This zoning arrangement for Adamawa State is to say the list, unjust and uncalled for.”

Secretary of the Adamawa Collective, Boga, accused PDP’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and the Principal Secretary to the President, Alhaji Hassan Tukur, of allegedly plotting to impose a particular candidate on the state.

Boga said: “It is on record that Mu’azu and Tukur have

mounted tremendous pressure on Ngilari to drop his governorship ambition in 2015 for the Senate. This was on the excuse that it has been zoned and reserved for the Fulani, particularly Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“Yet, it is on record that impeached Governor Murtala Nyako, who spent almost eight years in office, is of the Fulani ethnic extraction.

“We are not shocked by the stance of the hegemony because this was the same stance the likes of Prof Ango Abdullahi took when he insisted that President Jonathan should not contest in 2011 or the heavens would fall.

“We, therefore, insist that since Ngilari was never a party to the agreement that zoned the governorship to Adamawa Central, it cannot be used against him in any material particular.”

Ex-minister, others call for cancellation of Kaduna congresses From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

F

ORMER Aviation Minister, Felix Hassan Hyat has demanded for the cancellation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses held on Saturday across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.

Hyat who recently picked PDP nomination form to contest the governorship election in the state, accused the state governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of hijacking the exercise, stating that, “All names of delegates were prepared from the government with all governor’s loyalists taking over of the list”.

Addressing reporters on why fresh congress must held in the state, the aggrieved former Minister described the entire ward congress exercise, particularly in his Zone 3 Senatorial District as fraudulent and undemocratic.

According to him, if there is no proper election and consensus to elect delegates for future elections in the party, then the party internal democracy is dead.

“I can authoritatively inform you that there was neither a consensus or election where members agreed that these are the delegates that would represent them.

And if that is the case, I don’t think those of us who are pioneer members of PDP would allow this reckless attempt to scuttle the party’s internal democracy ahead of the 2015 elections”. Hyat said.

While accusing the state government and the state party chairman of plans to rig the governorship in favour of the incumbent governor, Hyat insisted the party must organize a fresh congress in Kaduna.

Similarly, a southern Kaduna based Coalition of youth groups and Non-Government Organizations has called on PDP leadership to cancel the recently held ward congresses of the party in the state since there were no level playing field for people to choose their delegates .

Protests mar Abia ward congress

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• President, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Prof. Margee Ensign (middle) sympathising with some internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Damare IDP Camp in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State...at the weekend

ESPITE a court injunction, the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its ward congress at the weekend.

But it was marred by protests and attempts on the lives of reporters.

Trouble started when the leader of the national office of the PDP, lead by Tony Caesar Okeke, addressed party officials and aspirants, including Alex Otti, Enyii Abaribe, Nkechi Nwogu and Emeka Wogu, for alleged lateness.

Okeke told them that his team would abide by the party’s guidelines.

He promised to give all aspirants a level-playing field.

But when our reporter visited one of the venues for the congress at Urban School on School Road in Umuahia, the state capital, most of the party members tried to attack this reporter and his colleagues.

They were saved by security men.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

But it was all peaceful at Ugba ward, where Governor Theodore Orji hails from.

Abaribe said that the aspirants would abide by the party’s guidelines.

He said: “I am not willing to see any member of the alleged party congress committee in my area. I cannot guarantee their safety.”

At the School Road Primary School this reporter and his colleagues were attacked by aggrieved party members.

They were saved by security operatives.

The party members were protesting non-availability of register and officials for the congress.

Speaking with our reporter on phone yesterday, Abaribe said no ward congress was held in the state.

According to him, only executive impunity no one ever witnessed was on display in the name of ward congresses.

Kwara group alleges imposition of delegates

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ISCORDANT tunes have trailed the last Saturday ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state.

Dissatisfied with the result two groups named Kwara Democratic Assembly and Kwara Think Thank have alleged impunity and imposition of delegates.

Leader of Kwara Think Thank, Adams Aliyu warned leadership of the PDP in the state against tampering with the results of congress or risks mass defection.

The group said there were alleged “desperate nocturnal bid to tamper with the official results of the PDP ward congress across the state, particularly in Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Oke-ero and some other areas in the state.”

He warned that any attempt to subvert the will of the electorates in the party will be sternly resisted.

“Some leaders of the party in the state, apparently acting on the instructions of some Abuja-based politicians have been trying unsuccessfully to substitute the results of the congress from across the sixteen local government Areas of the state, particularly in Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Oke-

Belgore hails congress

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), has hailed the “peaceful and democratic” conduct of the Saturday ward congress in the state.

Belgore also praised the Senator Iyiola Omisore committee, which supervised the election, for its maturity and transparency.

The lawyer was the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He said: “This is to commend the peaceful and democratic conduct of the ward delegates election in Kwara State on Saturday.”

In a statement by the governorship aspirant media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye said: “As could be seen by unbiased observers of the process, the conduct of the delegate elections satisfied the test of electoral integrity From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ero and other parts of the state for obvious narrow interest.”

“We urge the national leadership of our great party, the PDP, to immediately call these people to order before they all plunge the party into monumental crisis that may affect the fortunes of the party in the state.

“The reason for our membership of the PDP is hinged on the promise of equity and fairness. There has been nothing, until now, that threatens our

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

as every party member with requisite accreditation fully participated in the exercise without let or hindrance. I congratulate all members of our great party for this feat!

“We commend the quality leadership of Senator Iyiola Omisore who led the committee of great party officials who conducted the exercise. The committee’s non-partisanship and maturity served to ensure a generally orderly and representative exercise.

“Stakeholders and members of Kwara PDP family deserve a pat on the back for their patience and commitment which ensured that the delegates’ election was a huge success. This demonstrates our people’s thirst for positive change and people-driven governance in our state.”

•Another threatens mass defection resolve on the PDP.” “If our concerns are not addressed as quickly as possibly by all concerned, we shall be left with no other option than to seek refuse in other places where our struggle for freedom from imposition and undemocratic tendencies will be protected an guaranteed.”

Also in statement, President of Kwara Democratic Assembly, Com-

rade Kazeem Abiola “developments and reports across the state indicate a grand conspiracy to doctor the results of the ward congress held last Saturday in the state.

“This impunity is in furtherance of widespread flagrant denial of due process and imposition of delegates under some dubious consensus arrangement. We owe it a duty to warn of an emerging grave danger with the

fraudulent distortion and elimination by substitution of elected delegates from the 193 wards in Kwara state.

This manipulation is being perpetrated under the watchful eyes of the executive members of the party at the PDP state secretariat from Saturday night when results were turned in.

“This fraud, we are afraid, is capable of precipitating a crisis that may kill the chances of PDP in this state unless we resist it.

“It is pertinent to warn that if we allow any alteration in the list of duly elected delegates, the PDP would be laying a strong foundation for crisis and a destructive implosion in Kwara state. This will be a bad omen for PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the coming general elections.

“Ward chairmen are advised to prevail on the PDP local government chairmen to defend the peoples’ verdict and insist on the genuine list of elected delegates from the various wards.

“We also call on all lovers of PDP at the state and national level, the PDP National Working Committee and President Jonathan to intervene quickly and save Kwara PDP from the hands of those bent on pursuing mere self interest and pecuniary gains.”

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

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DISCOURSE Text of a lecture delivered by the former Managing Director of Sketch Newspapers, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo on the occasion of the first scholarship award to deserving female students by Iwo Action Council, at Iwo City Hall, Iwo, Osun State.

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Role of community-based organisations in educational development of the grassroots 12345678901234567890123456789012

DUCATION is regarded in today’s world as a human right which all governments around the world are agreed should be provided by the state. This expression of intent is however not always possible to match with the reality that exists in each country and this is indeed true for every nation in the world. The result is that there are many children out of school in most countries especially in developing nations. Another consequence is that, there is a backlog of adults that have missed the opportunity of going to school and are thus illiterate. Education is therefore sorely needed for these two classes of people in every society.

Education means different things to different people and it is important to clarify this point early in this discussion. One of the down-to-earth definitions is that given

by Wikipedia that says: ‘Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but may also be autodidactic.Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational’ The important point is that each society defines its goals because each has knowledge and skills that are peculiar to it which in addition to general and national ones need to be preserved.In our country, we have a National Policy on Education just as we have State Policies on Education. The Omoluabi project for instance, in the State of Ìcun, is indigenous to the Yoruba and has to be preserved in addition to whatever makes us Nigerians.

Governments try to carry the burden of educating everyone and in many cases stubbornly cling to that notion as a political tenet, to remain popular. The reality is that there are far too many things like the delivery of healthcare, good transport system, employment etc to provide for the people that the gap noted above widens daily. This is where NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) come in, to bridge the gap especially in their immediate communities.

Where help is needed are in the areas of getting more children to acquire the life-skills required for living quality life and that of affording adults who have missed early opportunities, the remediation to pick up and join in productive enterprise of the community and the sacred duty of transmitting the mores of the society to future generations.

It is of course one of the possibilities for groups of concerned citizens to assist the efforts of governments by opening and running schools wherever they are needed.

This alternative, while noble and possible, is very expensive and may not be within the capability of any but the wealthiest groups of people in any society. In any case, as long as those children who ought to be in school are out of it, and with the number rising daily, the cost of establishing and running schools will do much more in terms of societal good if it is diverted to remedial causes some of which have been identified above.

What then can pockets of ordinary concerned citizens do to improve the condition? Of the three areas identified, that of running normal schools like states do, is not recommended on the grounds that much more can be achieved with what money is available if it is ploughed into the realization of the other two possibilities.

Schooling and the capabilities it confers are necessary for modern living. No one can be happy in the world of today and not feel left behind if he/she is unable to dial a number on his/her phone or is unable to recognize the icons that tell him to switch on or off and go back. The ability to read, if even it was marginally possible to live without it in the past, is a necessity today when you have to transact money matters with an ATM (Automated Teller Machine)that is cold and unforgiving if you are unsure, ignorant or just silly. It seizes your card if you exhibit any of these characteristics including fraud, whether it was intentional or not.

There is much work to do therefore in making adults literate and numerate. The number of those who come under that category is very high and it is decades rather than years that the eradication of illiteracy process is estimated to take. There is no doubt that it is a rich field for do-gooders or serious philanthropic groups to explore.

There are many ways to go about this but it is enough to say that setting up a literacy group is all that is needed.

What makes this easy is the fact that most of those who know how to read and write can contribute to this scheme and thus reduce the cost if they volunteer to give some of their spare time to the project. All that is needed additionally is guidance from a competent person in the area of Adult Education so that the skills of those who volun-

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teer can be put to optimal use.The time-tabling and hours of study at the Adult Literacy Classes have to be flexible to accommodate the convenience of both learners and teachers.

The next issue of skill development is beneficial to both school dropouts and adults. It is a fact of life that some graduates of our educational institutions at all levels lament their decision to have gone to school because they have remained unemployed for so long after completing their courses. It was their expectation, right or wrong, that work opportunities would await them immediately after graduation. This is becoming more predominant and something has to be done about it if the dangerous situation is not to be reached where schooling will be rejected by most since it does not seem to aid fulfilling their life ambitions of work, wealth and fame.

NGOs have the unique opportunity of knowing best what grassroots needs are. The creation of skill development centers is a cost-effective way of promoting a better quality of life for the people in a community. Simple but badly needed skills like dress-making, hair dressing, food preparation, good housekeeping, external and internal decoration, events management, baby care, catering, and many more, can be taught properly to provide employment for the few and needed services for the many.

The running of these centers can even be a collaborative effort with businesses and local councils that will add value and prestige to them. For instance, companies that sell products that are food-related could promote their sales by providing samples of their goods free to these centers for use in their training. They could also use these centers properly as venues for the sale of their products. These will provide additional revenue for the centers and make it possible to issue nationally recognized certificates to those who successfully complete the courses.

The traditional use of helpers in homes of the wealthy was in vogue at least 150 years ago in Yoruba-land. Those hardy males and females who were used as sureties for borrowed money (iwÍfas) did the house chores and tilled the farms. With the abolition of slavery, which in fact that practice was, the educated few who worked regular

hours in offices depended on young relatives and other peoples’ children to work as house-helps to tend their babies and children.

That practice is no longer brazenly indulged in as the result of government interventions that insist that all children of school age must go to school, and rightly so. That notwithstanding though, the need is still there and anyone who has the proper training, certification and recommendation, stands to get instant employment and be adequately remunerated to boot.

That is at least a reason for establishing these centers that will promote training in house-keeping, baby-care and such related matters. Such training which must be certified, must also include the study of basic hygiene, ability to read the instructions relating todosage of medicine, the installation and correct use of house-hold appliances etc.. These added capabilities will, on one hand, promote the sense of the dignity oflabour among traineehousekeepers and on the other help employers who ordinarily look down on these workers and treat them with some degree of contempt to alter their perception and give recognition and respect to them. More than all these, mothers will now be assured that their children are in competent hands and receiving improved care. Such assurance of the safety and well-being of their children will enhance concentration on the jobs, leading to increased productivity for the nation and improved economy for the citizens.

Beyond these forays into education however, is the vital one of preventing marginalization of individuals in the distribution of educational opportunities. The limitations of governments in offering education have been mentioned in passing. While responsibility is taken for Basic Education which approximately coincides with the first nine or so years of schooling, governments find it difficult to do more than subsidize education at the tertiary level. They award scholarships and give other types of help to assist those who have merit but no money to pursue their education at that level. This therefore is an area in which assistance can be rendered by local groups who are able to identify the needy and offer appropriate help especially on a timely basis.

Sometimes government help like scholarships take such a long time to arrive that the opportunity passes by or the student is forced to miss a year. Local help becomes of immense importance in such cases and should be organized well in advance to be able to meet emergency needs of desperate students. This is a terrific reason the Iwo Action Council should be congratulated for taking this bold and crucial step in the award of this set of scholarships today, particularly in its stellar decision to devote the gesture to female students, a gender that is most subjugated in many areas.

The victims of marginalization in education are usually girls, the poor and the handicapped. Whichever group is involved, local groups have the opportunity to assist.

They could be purely organized for the purpose of making these types of intervention or could decide to have multi-purpose objectives that would intervene in individual cases and offer assistance in the other fields that have been identified above.

The case of girls is of particular importance in that the few successful ones in the locality or state or even at the national levels should be seen as role models that could inflame the imagination of marginalized girls to want to pursue careers in Law, Medicine, Engineering and Politics. The political doldrums into which the country seems to be and which is dominated by males can be altered dramatically and for the better if more girls are inspired to further their education to the point where they can make a difference to the polity. Those few women now braving the hostile environment of politics would have played their role if more of those girls who are presently marginalized can be inspired by them and eventually made to follow in the difficult terrain that leads to political offices. The examples of those countries like India, Britain, Ukraine, Australia, and currently West Germany and Liberia in West Africa, who have been led and are being ledvery effectively by women should be convincing reasons why this is a profitable venture for NGOs to pursue.

With the award of these scholarships to female students, Iwo Action Council is blazing a trail that may indeed contribute to the betterment of our nation because when women are educated and steeped inthe traditions and moral codes of our people in addition to having the skills to raise their children properly and care for theirfamilies adequately, the nation will indeed be the better for it. There is therefore the need for more community-based organizations to emulate this outstanding performance of the Council.

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THE NATION MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2014

NEWS

•From left: National President, Zaar Development Association/Garkuawan Gambar, Mr. Bala Istifanus; Gung Zaar I, HRH Air Comdr. Ishaku Komo (rtd); member, representing Bogoro Constituency at the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Ms. Rifkatu Danna and guest speaker, Prof. Pam Dung, at the 2014 Zaar (Sayawa) annual cultural festival in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State...at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

•Northeast Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammadu Kanar (right) presenting materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Daware IDP Camp in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State...yesterday

•Representative of Commander, 43 Division, Engineers, Nigerian Army, Col. Udoh Asuquo (left) with the Chairman, Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC), Plateau State chapter, Mr. Iliya Danboyi, at a public lecture in Jos...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

•Cultural dance groups at the 2014 Zaar (Sayawa) annual cultural festival in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State...at the weekend PHOTO:NAN

Ekiti PDP leaders quarrel over congresses •Senator accuses Fayose •Governor: allegation untru

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HERE was infighting at the weekend among the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State over the credibility of the party’s ward congress.

Addressing reporters in his OyeEkiti home, Senator Ayo Arise described the congress as an embarrassment.

He rejected the results.

The senator accused Governor Ayo Fayose of manipulating the list of the delegates for a pre-determined result.

Arise, who spoke on behalf of other aggrieved aspirants in Ekiti North Senatorial District, insisted the governor and the PDP Congress Panel, led

by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, did not distribute electoral materials to any of the five local governments in the district.

He called for a fresh congress that would be in line with the party’s constitution and ensure a level-playing field for all aspirants.

Arise threatened to petition the PDP Congress Appeal Panel to reverse the result of the exercise.

According to him, the party may lose next year’s elections in the state, if it insists on applying the impugned list.

He said: “Just like I alleged before the congress, Governor Fayose has succeeded in forcing the wards’ chairmen to write the lists of delegates in our district in favour of his preferred candidate, Duro Faseyi. An individual so anointed by the governor wrote the lists in all the wards.

“Our party men decided to conduct the congress in Ikole, even when no electoral officers turned up, including the panel from Abuja. As I am speaking to you, people have the impres-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

sion that Governor Fayose has taken them for granted and his goodwill has reduced by over 50 per cent.

“It was so bad that the governor could now be propounding a new theory that delegates were compiled based on consensus, even when he rejected it during governorship race. But it is better for we leaders to move away from the culture of impunity in the interest of this party.”

Aggrieved aspirants for the House of Representatives, who rejected the results, included Ale Aribisala, Patrick Ajigbolamu, Ayo Ogunsakin and former Ikole Local Government Area’s Chairman Wole Ayeni.

The governor, who dismissed Arise’s allegations as “the ranting of a bad loser,” maintained that the aspirants were given a level-playing field, particularly the House of Assembly

T

•Other cultural dance groups at the 2014 Zaar (Sayawa) annual cultural festival in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State...at the weekend PHOTO:NAN

aspirants.

He said as a party leader, he would not impose any candidate.

Fayose added: “The party was equally given a free hand to determine the delegates. Evidence is there that the leaders decided this to avoid rancour.

“The allegations by Senator Arise emanated from a sinking heart. Nor-

mally, a loser in African setting will never accept defeat but will engage in name calling in an attempt to rubbish a credible process.”

PDP’s Acting Chairman Taelolu Otitoju said he did not get any complaints on the exercise.

He advised the aggrieved aspirants to forward their grievances to the appeal panel.

PDP parallel congresses in Ebonyi

HERE was confusion at the weekend in Ebonyi State when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its congress in the 171 wards.

The ward congress was meant to elect ad hoc delegates for the local government congress scheduled for November 8.

But two factions emerged in the party and staged parallel congresses in Ebonyi Central and South senatorial zones.

The congresses were also marred by protest, violence, late arrival of materials, absence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and alleged non-release of original result sheets by party offi-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

cials.

Three persons were injured in Onicha Local Government Area following attacks by suspected thugs.

The police arrested six suspects in Uburu for alleged illegal possession of firearms.

The factions occurred when the State Working Committee (SWC) elected Mr Ben Akpa as the new Chairman on Friday amidst protest by the Acting Chairman, Onwe Joseph Onwe, who insisted that he never convened the SWC meeting.

Akpa emerged following the resignation of a former chairman, Prince

Ugorji Ama-Oti, to pursue his political ambition.

While materials for the congress were still being distributed at 11am by the Akpa-led faction at the party secretariat on the Enugu-Abakalaki Expressway, the “deposed” Acting Chairman Joseph Onwe-led faction had reportedly concluded its distribution of materials.

The local government chairmen confirmed the conduct of a parallel congress in Onicha, Ohaozara, Ivo and Ezza South local government areas.

They regretted the crisis rocking the party and called for a peaceful resolution.

Kwankwaso’s aide Bako resigns From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

T

HE Chairman/Director of Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment in Kano State, Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd), resigned his appointment yesterday with the government.

The former agency chief said this was to enable him concentrate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Bako, who was Akwa Ibom Military Administrator under the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, from November 1993 to August 1996, thanked the state government and the people for giving him the opportunity to serve for over three years.

He argued that Dr Jonathan is constitutionally qualified to run for a second term, if he so desires.

Bako said every group has the fundamental right to agitate for power, adding that the President had not served his second term, like former President Shehu Shagari and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

62

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Ambrose no longer first choice for Celtic

E • Toure is left on the turf after Rojo's risky tackle late on in the first half at the Etihad Stadium

Man City should have had three penalties — Pellegrini

M

ANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini was left unimpressed by the performance of referee Michael Oliver after his side's 10 win against rivals Manchester United.

The Chilean felt City should have been awarded three penalties at the Etihad but they had to rely on Sergio Aguero's 63rd minute strike after Oliver waved away a trio of appeals.

Aguero twice went down inside United's area, while Yaya Toure appeared to be caught by Marcos Rojo when clear through on goal late in the first half.

Speaking after the game, Pellegrini said: 'I think that first of all the most important thing is to win the derby.

'During match I think we played very, very well. We scored and in that moment we dropped back a little bit more.

We lost the high possession of the ball we had before. It's normal in the derby.

'Before that we played really well, we had clear chances to score and should have had penalties. Unbelievable.

We can survey all those things and finally we won.

'One of the important things is to win instead of those things (the penalties), to not let it disturb your mind.'

City's biggest appeal arrived on the brink of half-time when Toure went down in the box af-

ter a lunge from summer signing Rojo, a challenge Pellegrini believes was worthy of a red card.

He added: 'The penalty against Yaya was not only a penalty but also a sending off.

There were two others against Sergio. But I am not talking about that, the referees make the decisions.

'I don't want to talk about referees because I did it just once after the game against Arsenal.

It's not the way to do it. It is a very difficult profession being a referee.'

Despite moving to within six points of Premier League leaders Chelsea, the former Malaga boss saw room for improvement in the way his side ended the match.

'We played very well until we scored the goal,' he said. 'Then we dropped to the back too much. But I understand the moment. Maybe it can happen once but it is not in the way we must finish games.'

Pellegrini also confirmed that the injury which prevented Eliaquim Mangala from playing is not a serious one, adding that the French defender could return for next week's vital Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow.

He said: 'Mangala has a problem in his thigh but it's not an important problem. I hope he will be ready for Wednesday and next Saturday.'

Lambert attacks ref for Benteke's red card

P

AUL Lambert launched a furious attack on Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason after his striker Christian Benteke was sent off in Aston Villa's stormy 2-1 defeat.

Lambert's side were leading 10 through Andrea Weimann when the Villa manager claimed Benteke was provoked into shoving Mason following a clash of heads.

He also claimed Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen should have been dismissed after his studs appeared to catch Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood.

The Villa manager said: 'I don't condone what Christian did, but my daughter could throw a harder forearm that that.

'The sending off changed the course of the game. I didn't see it at the time but, what was it, a handbag thrown?

'The lad puts his head in Christian's face and I've played the game - the natural instinct is to raise your arm to push it away and that's what he did. He's been punished for that.

'If you put your head in someone's face I can understand why he did it.

'I don't condone it. We didn't deserve to lose because we were excellent.

'I saw the Vertonghen challenge - it was high and I think it was only about throat height.

'The game started to overspill and there were a few challenges like that.

'It became more feisty. We were playing good football, the tempo was great and we could have been two or three up at half-time.

'I can't speak to the referee because they last time I did that I ended up a but lighter in the pocket.

'I don't mind a physical game, but it has to be within the rules.'

Villa were ahead through Andreas Weimann, but Spurs equalised through Nacer Chadli in the 84th minute and Harry Kane's stunning free kick in injury time won it for Spurs.

Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino, who claimed he did not see the Benteke incident, said: 'We needed the three points and we deserved to win.

'I am happy, the team in the second half showed character. I am happy because sometimes you need to get the three points.

'Our position in the table was not good and now we are three points from the Champions League. We know that that situation will be good in the future, but that process takes time.'

FE Ambrose is losing his spot as a regular for Glasgow Celtic, after failing to get into the team since the last International break.

Last season Ambrose and Virgil Van Dijk lead a Celtic defence line that set a new record of clean sheets in the Scottish Premier League.

Ambrose returned from World Cup duties to team up with new manager, Ronny Delia, following the resignation of Neil Lennon who signed him from Ashdod in Israel.

He found favour with Delia in his early days as manager but Celtic's stuttering start to the defence of their domestic title, meant the manager had to ring changes and Ambrose was cut from the defense line.

Ironically his omission from the team has brought about a change in the team's fortune, as they have picked up five wins from the period to which he last played.

On Saturday was no different, as he was an unused substitute as Celtic pipped Inverness 1-0.

His last appearance for Celtic was the 1-0 loss to Hamilton Thistle on the 5th of October 2014 and since then he has been snubbed from their last five games in both cup and league games.

Manager Ronny Delia appears to have settled for a back four of Mikael Lustig,Emilio Izaguirre,Virgil Van Dijk and Jason Denayer.

Aaron Samuel nets brace in Guangzhou win

• Samuel

G

UANGZHOU R&F youngster Aaron Samuel celebrated his second call - up to the Super Eagles by notching up his fourth brace of 2014 as his

team defeated Jiangsu Sainty 3 - 1 in their final fixture of the 2014 campaign.

The 20 - year - old scored two minutes after the restart before bagging his brace eighteen minutes, with both goals coming after he assisted Lu Lin score the opener in the 34th minute.

Aaron Samuel’s other pair of goals this year came in games against Shanghai Shenhua and SK Brann plus IK Start while defending the colours of Sarpsborg 08.

He scored on his home debut for the Nigeria selection last month against the Falcons of Sudan.

Should Samuel remain with Guangzhou R&F next term, he would play in the Asian Champions League, after the Sven Eriksson led side finished third in the Super League.

• Ambrose

Edjomariegwe promises to shine

N

ASARAWA United winger Tony Edjomariegwe has told AfricanFootball.com that he will make impact in Eagles to justify his call-up.

Edjomariegwe has been called up by Nigeria for two crucial AFCON qualifiers against Congo and South Africa later this month.

The former 3SC player said he is happy with the latest development which he

called a dream come true.

"It was an amazing feeling for me to get a call-up to the Super Eagles, it is a dream come true,” Edjomariegwe told AfricanFootball.com "By the grace of God I will make impact in the team to justify my invitation."

The 22-year-old has played for Gabros International, Crown FC, Kwara United and Shooting Stars.

John Chibuike scores again for Gaziantepspor

G

AZIANTEPSPOR have climbed to eighth position in the Super Lig standings on the back of their hard fought 1 - 0 win over Mersin Idmanyurdu in the lat-

est round of matches in the top division.

Nigerian attacking midfielder John Chibuike secured all three points for Gaziantepspor with the game winning goal in the

BAYELSA UTD 4-1 LOBI STARS

Ebimobowei sad despite scoring a hat-trick

P

ETER Ebimobowei fired a hat trick to record his 18th goal of the season for Bayelsa United and thereafter showed his displeasure at his omission from the home based Super Eagles' squad preparatory for the international friendly match at Uyo on Friday.

• Ebimobowei

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri Ebimobowei who netted three goals in his club's 4-1 home win over Lobi Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City disclosed that he ought to have been given a chance to vie for one of the shirts because of his form since the beginning of the season till now.

He insisted that having topscored at the end of the first stanza with 10 goals alongside Ighodalor Osaguona he ought to have been considered ahead of some of the players picked from the National League.

"I am not happy even though I scored 3 goals. Imagine that I was not picked among the 24 best players in the league with all the goals and effort I have put in. I was the highest scorer in the first stanza with 10 goals and I have not stopped scoring ever since. It is a shame that I was overlooked," Ebimobowei told Nationport.

64th minute.

Shortly after he struck, match referee Firat Aydinus cautioned him, but he remained on the pitch until two minutes to the end of the contest before being substituted.

John Chibuike has now netted three times in the Super Lig for his new employer following his switch from Rosenborg in the summer transfer market.

Compatriot and teammate Gbenga Arokoyo was named in the starting lineup by manager Okan Buruk for the eighth game in a row.

• Chibuike

Heartland thumbs up Uyo fans

H

EARTLAND FC has dedicated their second away win of the season at Uyo against Akwa United to the fans at the Uyo Township Stadium who cheered good football throughout the duration of the Glo Premier League Week 37 game yesterday.

The Naze Millionaires woke up from their lacklustre home goalless draw at Owerri against FC Taraba last Sunday with a surprise 1-0 away win against Akwa United.

Bobby Clement scored the only goal of the encounter in the 63rd minute to ensure that Heartland move to 55 points from 37 games.

The Media Officer of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara gave

• Beat Akwa Utd 1-0 From Tunde Liadi,Owerri glowing praises to Uyo fans who were desirous of good football and who did not allow crowd violence to rear its ugly head even when their home club was a goal down in the match.

He disclosed that the cheerful disposition of the Uyo fans should be commended and that they would always be grateful for the fans for ensuring that Heartland were at home throughout the encounter.

"Uyo fans love good football and we musty appreciate them for cheering us when they felt we were playing the better game. They deserve praises," Nkwopara told NationSport.

63

THE NATION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

SPORT EXTRA STOKE CITY 2-2 WEST HAM

ETISALAT U-15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Moses not happy with draw S

TOKE City’s Victor Moses is disappointed he and his teammates failed to get a win over inform West Ham United after letting a two-goal lead slip as the Hammers bounced backed to secure a valuable point at the Brittania Stadium.

Moses, who played for the entire duration of the game had given the Potters the lead on 33 minutes, before Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf doubled the lead after 56 minutes.

But Enner Valencia halved the deficit when he scored four minutes later, before former Liverpool wideman Stewart Downing leveled the score with a 73rd minute strike.

And Moses has expressed

• Moses

his disappointment at their failure to see the game through, but was also pleased to have scored.

“Disappointed not to get the 3 points but will pick ourselves up for next week.

Pleased to get a goal,” he wrote on his twitter account. The draw now leaves Stoke on 12th position, with 12 points in 10 games.

The former Wigan Athletic forward is on a season long loan at the Brittania Stadium from league leaders Chelsea. He spent last season also on loan - at Liverpool – but failed to command a regular shirt at Anfield, hence his loan deal wasn’t extended and neither was he signed on a permanent basis.

Oshaniwa to hit Eagles’ camp on Monday

A

SHDOD SC of Israel's defender Juwon Oshaniwa will prosecute his club's vital away league game against Austin Ejide's Hapoel Be'er Sheva before travelling for the Super Eagles' double header Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers the defender has told NationSport.

Oshaniwa and his Israeli top flight club are 11th on the log with 6 points from 7 games having lost the last three league games both home and away with the latest loss had last Saturday against Hapoel Raanana- a 21 home loss.

Speaking with NationSport from Israel on Sunday evening, Oshaniwa affirmed that he would be arriving Nigeria either Sunday or Monday but that his club's management has made it impera-

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri tive for him to play against his fellow Nigerian, Ejide on Saturday before being allowed to honour Eagles' call.

He declared that all Eagles' players know the important

of the two games and that he would do all within his reach to ensure that Nigerians smile at the end of those games.

"I will be arriving Nigeria either Sunday or Monday next week because of our

Mfon Udoh 21st goal • Breaks Aneke’s record

E

NYIMBA'S Mfon Udoh has emerged as the most prolific goals scorer in the history of the Nigeria Premier League after he scored his 21st goal of the season for the Peoples Elephant against Dolphins at Port Harcourt.

Then in the colour of Kaduna United, Jude Aneke netted 20 goals three seasons ago to break the mark set by former Kano Pillars' ace Ahmed Musa but Udoh's equaliser for the Aba Millionaires sent his record crashing.

Udoh's goal couldn't deliver the league title to his team after Enyimba's draw evaporated the title dream of the People's Elephant as Kano Pillars' 4-0 victory over Nembe City ensured that they lifted their third successive league crown

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

RESULTS England - Premier League Man City 1 - 0 Man Utd Aston Villa 1 - 2 Tottenham Italy - Serie A Chievo 0 - 0 Sassuolo Sampdoria 3 - 1 Fiorentina Torino 0 - 0 Atalanta Udinese 2 - 4 Genoa Spain - Liga BBVA Bilbao 1 - 0 Sevilla Villarreal 1 - 3 Valencia Germany - Bundesliga Ggladbach 3 - 1Hoffenheim FC Cologne 0 - 1 Freiburg Paderborn 3 - 1 H. Berlin France - Ligue 1 Nantes 1 - 1 Rennes Bordeaux 2 - 1 Toulouse Netherlands - Eredivisie FC Utrecht 3 - 1 Vitesse Alkmaar 3 - 3 Excelsior A. Eagles 1 - 3 Heracles Willem II 1 - 1 Cambuur Groningen 1 - 0 NAC

K

ANO Pillars won the Nigeria Premier League for the third time in a row after beating Nembe City 4-0 at the Sani Abacha stadium.

Pillars have an unassailable lead at the top following Dolphins 1-1 draw with Enyimba in Port Hacourt.

The Champions put the pressure on the basement team but not untill the 23rd minute did they get a breakthrough.

Gambo Mohammmed back in the team after a minor injury, took advantage of some slacking defending from Nembe City to head home a Promise James delivery.

Seven minutes later another Promise James pin point delivery was half cleared by Chijioke Umeonaku dropping nicely for Azeez Shobowale who finishes to put the Cham-

T

HE efforts of the management of Greensprings School to lift football at grassroots level have started yielding positive result as the school team at the weekend emerged as winner of the Lagos qualifiers of the maiden Etisalat U-15 National Championship.

The school being only private school in the Lagos qualifiers competed against five public schools in the state.

The giant stride made by the school within and outside the country prompted the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) to pick the school as education district three flagbearer.

The six districts in the state were represented by a team each while all the six teams were drawn into two groups of three teams in each group.

Greensprings-inspired by its talisman, Musa Alli were drawn in same group with Gbaja High School, Surulere and Kuje Junior High School, Ajegunle.

But in their first group match against Gbaja High School, Greensprings were merciless against the Surulere team as they walloped them 11-1 to send

warning signal to Kuje boys.

Just they did in the first match, they were ruthless in the second group game against Kuje as they pounded them 18-0 to berth in the final.

In the final match against Yewa High School, Agege, dignitaries from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development led by Permanent Secretary, Oluseyi Whenu as well as the state director of sports, Kweku Tandoh were at the Agege Stadium to witness the encounter.

To the chagrin of the dignitaries, the match turned out to be one-sided as Greensprings dominated proceedings thrashing Yewa boys 10-0 to emerge as the state’s representative at the zonal final scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital this month.

In the zonal finals, Greensprings as Lagos’ representative will compete against state champions from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun to decide the eventual winner from the zone. The winner from the zone will compete in the national finals.

Emenike ends goals drought

N

• Udoh

with 65 points from 37 games.

The highest Enyimba will finish at the end of the season even if they beat Kano Pillars in the last game will be 64 points.

Pillars are champions!

• Oshaniwa

tough game against Hapoel Be'er Sheva which comes up on Saturday. My club informed me that I must play the game before I will be allowed to go," Oshaniwa told NationSport.

Greensprings for zonal finals in Ibadan

pions two nil up.

Nembe City managed only one shot on target before the half time whistle was sounded.

Eight minutes after the restart Theophilus Allison wasted Nembe's best chance to pull a goal back by failing to hit the net with goalkeeper Theophilus Affelokhai at his mercy.

That loss came back to haunt them in the 63rd minute when Adamu Hassan scrambled home a third for Kano Pillars as Nembe fail to deal with a ball in their ball.

Three minutes later Shobowale got his brace and his team fourth robbing goalkeeper Ifeanyi Agu before slamming the ball into the empty net.

Kano Pillars stroke the ball around to run the clock down and secure all three points with four goals to

IGERIA international striker Emmanuel Emenike has finally ended his goals drought after he scored in Fenerbahce's 2-0 win over hosts Besiktas on Sunday.

The AFCON 2013 top scorer, who last week returned to training after a training ground injury, opened the scoring in the third minute of this Istanbul derby.

Mousa Sow of Senegal doubled the lead for the Turkish champions in the 86th minute.

Emenike last goal was on August 31 in a 3-2 win over his former club Karabukspor.

He has now scored two goals in the league this season, but his last international goals were against Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup final playoffs in October last year.

Emenike has been called up for AFCON qualifiers against Congo and South Africa later this month.

• Emenike

their goal advantage.

• Greensprings' Musa Alli in action

Satech FC wins GOtv ‘Hood to Hood’ football C’ship season 2

S

ATECH FC of Mushin has won the Season 2 of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship. Satech FC defeated Kings FC by 2 goals to 1 to emerge winner of the competition in the final match played at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.

As a way of rewarding the effort of the participating teams, the Champions were presented with gold medals, a trophy and a cash prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00), while the second placed team also received the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000.00) cash prize.

Earlier in the third place final, game IGI Premier FC of Apapa defeated Rainbow FC of Iyana Ipaja by 4 goals to 1 to emerge third and fourth position in that order in the competition. The third place team also received a cash prize of N150, 000.00, while the fourth placed team received a consolatory prize of N100, 000.00.

At the end of the tournament, the match officials adjudged Gideon Benson of IGI Premier FC as the most valuable player of the tournament.

Onyekachi Wilston also from

IGI Premier FC emerged as the highest goal scorer of the tournament, while the goalkeeper of Kings FC, Aaron Micheal was declared the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The trio received a GOtv decoder each for their performance in the tournament.

Speaking during the presentation of medals and prizes to the teams after the closing ceremony of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship Season 2, the General Manager, GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa empasised the commitment of GOtv to the development of grassroots football in Nigeria.

Amkpa commended the 16 teams that participated in the Season 2 of the tournament for their outstanding performance and the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play displayed throughout the duration of the competition.

She urged the upcoming football stars that participated in the competition to strive for excellence through hard work to become professional football players in the nearest future.

She added that it would be a thing of pride for the brand if the next generation of Nigerian players are discovered through the Hood to Hood competition.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Beyond the matter of chest-beating, the war is not yet over. Those who want to savour the credit for the Ebola battle still have much to do by the way they prepare to wage a conclusive war against it’ EMEKA OMEIHE

VOL 9 NO 3,021

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

VERYONE expected the defection. The PDP, working with the wily wisdom of the presidency, had their plans. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, had his.

The PDP wanted to ambush him. What we had was the flip side of the definition of war by the German general and war theorist Carl Von Clausewitz. In his bold and seminal work, On War, he describes war as the continuation of politics by other means. Last week, Tambuwal turned this phrase on its head. Politics was the continuation of war by other means.

It was a version of D-Day of politics. When the Allies wanted to invade Normandy, they sent a decoy to northern Europe. The Nazi machine was a monster, and Eisenhower, Churchill and Roosevelt knew that Hitler’s military force was near impregnable. It was like a camel walking through the eye of the needle to defeat the Hitler bear of an army. The Allies sent troops and all forms of deceptive military presences to the north. The decoy worked. Hitler sent many divisions the wrong way. The Allies had their victory, and Hitler his humble pie.

So when speaker Tambuwal held the session, the PDP brass thought the intelligence was wrong. Tambuwal was not going to defect after all. Until the tail end of deliberations and all guards were down. The man spurted out the words, thanked all members and then the gavel fell.

It was a sort of politics as hypnosis. The ambusher had become ambushed. Never before had politics been so fascinating in the House of Representatives as when the same man, Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, walked into the chambers in another form of ambush.

The sheer semiotics of their act that day still charms the imagination. Tambuwal dressed not like the Fulani man. Ihedioha abandoned the Igbo cap. His foes did not know who walked in.

The foes did not know a coup, and an ambush, had happened. A speaker and his deputy had overthrown them. They had the bigger arsenal, the police, the SSS, the muscles of the law. The two men had cunning. The Yorubas say wisdom is better than strength. In fact, wisdom is strength.

A few years later, the PDP were caught napping again. They could not stop the man. He did it without the expected rancour, the chaos of flying chairs and blows and bruised faces and the alawada tragedy of Nigerian politics.

After it happened, they overcame the hypnotic ambush. The presidency scrambled to hold a meeting, a desperate postmortem of a shellacking. First they removed the security detail of the speaker.

They said he had defected and that meant he did not have a right to the rites and paraphernalia of the office. The police, under a pliant inspector-general of police, who has an illiterate understanding of the constitution, said they were obeying the constitution. Were they not supposed to act on the court order? When did

E

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

Tambuwal won, GEJ zero Is this clampdown ‘ on Tambuwal a case of a president who does not understand the law or who only understands it when it affects his interest dangerously?

’

•Tambuwal

the police become the interpreter of the law?

Obviously, his boss, the sleek Jonathan, ordered the decision, and he unthinkingly obeyed.

The section of the law (68 of the Nigerian Constitution) did not say once a man defects, he loses his seat. It gives conditions. They include the issues of factions and merger, and these have to be proved in the case of the particular individual, whether he defected based on any considerations of mergers or faction.

How did they become mind readers to determine what compelled Tambuwal’s action. He never said he defected based on consideration of mergers or factions. They did not yank off his security detail because he was now an APC man but because he is the speaker. So to annul that position, you need those, the lawmakers, who voted him in to vote him out. That is democracy and not the sort of gangster logic the presidency has just wrought.

It is not the speaker that defected; it was Tambuwal, a PDP man, that defected. The speaker was elected by other members of the House and only members of the House can remove him, so the speaker as a position does not carry any party toga.

The constitution provides for freedom of

RIPPLES POLICEMAN LOSES EYE AFTER ATTACK

BY NAVAL OFFICER - News

thought and action for any representative of the people’s mandate. In other words, you can defect if it is ideological or based on a new assessment of the people you represent.

The constitution did not ask the people to vote robots to power. To that extent, an independent strain of mind can necessitate defection. A people may vote a man to make peace but the circumstances may necessitate war. Like Obama who now has to rethink his profile as a dove.

This matter calls for respect for the rule of

Amaechi: Ode to prudence

S

OMETHING happened recently that has not received much media attention. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State asked the House of Assembly to allow him withdraw N19 billion from the state’s savings reserve. When he became governor, he harped on the need to save money as counterfoil to leaner times. He did not expect it to happen during his reign.

That emphasises his vision and altruism.

He seemed to have read the Bible stories of lean and fat years, and had the image of Joseph the dream interpreter close at heart.

He knew oil was not forever. Today the

HARDBALL

H

ARDBALL wagers that Lord Paul Boateng must still be in shock now. Over one week after he returned from a time out with his Nigerian counterparts, I want to insist that now back in London, he must be regaling his fellow British Lords with dirigible tales from Nigeria, the stunted old colony that is in a deathly contest with extinction.

Lord Boateng of Ghanaian progeny; is a Peer in the British House of Lords. He was invited over last week by our National Assembly (NASS) members as the keynote speaker at a jamboree they termed: National Prayer Breakfast. It was so very apt and becoming of our lawmakers in their contrived piety to require of their august guest to speak on the topic: “A Nation at Crossroads: The Need for Godly Leadership.”

Obviously constrained by his nobility and the deeply ingrained decorum only the British can muster, Boateng still made his point only stopping short of lacerating the moronic rascals who had invited him. How dare these fellows invite him to speak about national crisis and godly leadership? The cheek of it! It is either they think the rest of us are living in a bottle and therefore do not Thank God it’s only EYE, the other EYE would know about the havoc they wreak here in still recognise TWENTY NAIRA NOTE the name of governance or they are utterly

law. President Jonathan is hypocritical in this regard. Others have defected to PDP from APC, but he did not do anything. When the whitlow of the West, Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko, defected to PDP from the Labour Party barely a month ago, the police did not ask him to vacate his office of governor. Neither were his security detail recalled. After remorseless denials, he came out in his true colours even though this columnist, without prescience, gave the nation advance notice of Mimiko’s PDP destiny and his treacherous profile. Did Jonathan not parley with Ali Modu Sheriff who crossed from the APC? Is this clampdown on Tambuwal a case of a president who does not understand the law or who only understands it when it affects his interest dangerously? He clearly does not have much respect for the rule of law. He does not understand that, as president, he should rise above petty insularity, and act as father of all.

This is probably too much for him. Now, they want to go to court to get a servile judge to oust Tambuwal as speaker. They have accepted that they have lost, and rather than chew the humble pie, they are trying to clutch at straws.

What is at stake is not Tambuwal but the integrity of the constitution, and the decency of leaders. The president and Speaker Tambuwal have never been on the same page, and now that he has come out as an APC man, I wonder why he is jittery and outside his skin trying to play revenge.

Politics is the art of the possible. But the possible must operate within the ambit of law and decency. We know that Jonathan’s men enacted the topsy-turvy strategy in Port Harcourt to foment a lawless coup in the Rivers State House of Assembly. They failed disastrously because of the courage and timely intervention of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has upset the president’s every plan.

We cannot have such a gangster recourse in the sanctum of the federal legislature. It will amount to the president overthrowing this democracy. It would be a suicidal abomination, and a foul omen for the presidency. Mr. President, you have lost. Accept it.

price of oil is dipping, and some predict it may fall as low as $70 per barrel. Now, the states are starved of funds and Jonathan’s finance minister says we are not broke. Yet we cannot pay our bill. In the same period when $15 million is carted away recklessly, an aviation minister leaves office because of recklessness and an untouchable oil minister spends billions on private jet, Amaechi’s example is a wise and cautionary tale. He represents financial responsibility in an age of profligacy, in a time when the president says stealing is not corruption.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

The God of Boateng and the god of NASS stupid; Boateng must have said to himself.

Well, I will lay it square on their hideous backs; yes I owe myself and the rest of the world that duty to tell it to them as it is. Lord Boateng proceeded to do so. Knowing the NASS members for what they exactly are, he specifically told them to shun greed, corruption and selfishness. He advised them to see their election as a call to serve their constituents and not an opportunity to amass wealth.

“The task of lawmaking is a calling that must be prosecuted only through the leading of God and His Holy Spirit.

“Anyone who would represent his or her people in whatever capacity effectively must possess the character of God so that they would be able to competently address the plights of all vulnerable groups with confidence,” Lord Boateng admonished.

He tried to drive in his point when he informed his hosts that the wave of violence, the destructive epidemics and the diabolic

corruption ravaging the African continent are all the fruits of bad leadership. He only stopped short of saying as exampled by you, the whole lot of you right under my gaze.

Boating was obviously hard-pressed to remain courteous and to hold his emotions in check but for a long time he would marvel at what manner of people his fellow Africans are? What impunity; what hypocrisy; what kind of people would live in sin and revel in it? Do they not know that Nigeria’s current NASS stinks to the whole world? Do they not know that they have become the very metaphor for corruption on a global scale?

All you have to do is Google corruption in Nigeria’s legislature and you see the shame of a nation emblazoned on the world wide net.

And they are the first to invoke God, they pray the longest and sing choruses and dance as if god was their father-in-law. But sadly, the only god our legislators know is mammon.

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