The Nation November 04, 2014

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Court stops Fed Govt, PDP Reps from recalling House APC caucus warns against meddling in House affairs

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HOSE scheming for the House of Representatives to reconvene lost a major battle yesterday.

A Federal High Court in Abuja stopped members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Government from forcibly reconvening the House, which last week adjourned till December 3.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Muhammed ruled that all parties to the suit should maintain the status quo until Friday.

Why govt fell for ‘ceasefire’, by official

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INSIDE

•Tambuwal a bridge-builder, says Odigie-Oyegun •PAGES 2, 19&58 •A compromised IG? (Editorial) •APC gets panel on Speaker The ruling came after members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House filed a motion on notice, asking the court to stop the Fed-

eral Government, PDP and their agents from reconvening the House until December 3.

Members of the APC, led by House Minority Leader Femi

Gbajabiamila, on Monday approached the court, seeking an injunction against their colleagues in the PDP and the Federal Government.

Justice Muhammed ruled that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the APC should serve the defendants with the motion on notice and ordered the defendants to show cause why all the reliefs being sought should not be granted.

Tambuwal alleged that the Peoples’ Democratic Party

(PDP), its Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and three others were plotting to reconvene the House before December 3 to which it lawfully adjourned.

Tambuwal said the planned reconvening of the House’s sitting was part of the plot by his former party and its leadership to forcibly remove him from office as Speaker and member of the

House.

Continued on page 2

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

T was widely celebrated by excited government officials as the magic pill that will end the Boko Haram insurgency and bring back the over 200 abducted girls.

But the “ceasefire” between the Federal Government and the deadly sect has turned out a huge scam.

The girls are not back and Boko Haram continues its killing spree.

A government official yesterday gave an insight into how the government “fell” for the “phantom ceasfire”.

The Federal Government accepted the ‘ceasefire’ because of the involvement of Chadian President, Idris Derby with the tacit support of the United States and France, the official told The Nation yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan and top security chiefs will today brief the Council of State on the new approach to confront the insurgents.

Now the government has realised that it was “hasty” in announcing the ceasefire ne-

?

•132 ESCAPE IN KOGI J AIL BREAK: The bombed Koton Karfi Prisons in Kogi State...yesterday.

JAIL

STORY ON PAGE 60

Continued on page 2

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

29 killed in suicide bomb attack on procession STORY ON PAGE 2

‘No permit for march’ Shiite leader accuses soldiers of shooting

•TRANSPORTATION P14 •POLITICS P16 •SPORTS P24 •PROPERTY P53 •ENERGY P54

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

APC Reps to Presidency: stop meddling in House affairs

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LL Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Representatives have warned the Presidency to stop meddling in its affairs following Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s defection to the APC. The APC representatives told reporters at the National Assembly yesterday that the reaction of the Presidency and the PDP was unknown to civilisation or any democratic setting.

The caucus said the Presidency, the PDP and the police should be reminded that the legislature is a separate but equal arm of government that is neither inferior nor subservient to the Executive.

Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, who read a statement, said though the legislature was constitutionally empowered to regulate its own affair, legal steps had been taken to forestall any act of impunity that the Presidency might want to undertake on the issue in connivance with some PDP lawmakers.

Noting that any attempt to reconvene the House before the official date would be illegal, Gbajabiamila said: ”We ask rhetorically where was the police when the Speaker of the Ondo State Assembly just recently defected from the Labour Party to the PDP?” He cited Section 42 of the constitution to back his argument in addition to the House Rules that also provide for how and when an adjourned House can be reconvened.

•Gbajabiamila speaking...yesterday. With him (from left) are: Deputy Minority Leader Suleiman Kawu, Jubrin Abdulmumin, Pally Iriase, Zakari Muhammed and Yakub Balogun.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Court stops Fed Govt, PDP Reps from recalling House Continued from page 1

He accused the PDP and Mu’azu of working with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha to carry out the plot.

This is part of the deposition contained in an affidavit supporting a motion exparte filed by Tambuwal yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in addition to the suit he and the All Progressives Congress (APC), filed on Friday.

Respondents in the motion are the PDP, Mu’azu, House of Reps, Ihedioha, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the AGF. “The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th defendants (PDP, Muazu, House of Reps, Deputy Speaker and the AGF) are planning to illeFrom Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Section 42 of the constitution: ”A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, … religion or political opinion shall not by reason only that he is such a person be subjected either expressly by or in the practical ap-

gally and unconstitutionally reconvene the sitting of the 3rd defendant (House of Reps) before December 3, 2014, the date the sitting of the 3rd defendant was lawfully adjourned to, without following due process, for the sole purpose of discussing and perfecting the forceful removal of the 1st plaintiff before the case of the plaintiff is heard and determined,” Tambuwal said in the supporting affidavit deposed to on his behalf by one of his lawyers, Ejura Patience Ochimana.

The Speaker also stated that the withdrawal of his security detail on October 30 by the IGP was upon the prompting of the 1st to 4th respondents (PDP, Mu’azu, House of Reps and Ihedioha).

He stated that despite the pendency of the suit he filed on Friday, the defendants

plication of any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government to disabilities or restrictions to which other citizens of other communities ethnic groups…or other political opinions are not made subject”.

“What makes the Speaker of Ondo Assembly different from

were still bent on carrying through their threat to forcefully remove him from office as Speaker and as member of the House.

“The 1st and 2nd defendants (PDP and Mu’azu) have been threatening to use their contacts to ensure that the seat of the 1st plaintiff (Tambuwal) in the 3rd defendant (House of Reps) is declared vacant so that the 6th defendant (INEC) would organise a bye-election to fill it,” he said.

Tambuwal, who prayed the court to urgently grant the five orders of interim injunction contained in the motion ex-parte, argued that unless restrained, the defendant, who have in most cases exhibited their alleged disdain for the rule of law, will execute their threat of removing him from office.

Hon Tambuwal?; his political opinion? Let us make this abundantly clear: The legislature is a separate but equal arm of government. It is not inferior nor is it subservient to the Executive.

“Their powers are separated under the constitution and it can never be an extension or department of the Presidency or PDP.

F

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Atiku spoke at a news conference in Abuja.

He expressed concern that the country had been unable to confront the horrendous situation, pointing out that Nigerians are increasingly suspecting that the seeming inability of the government to end the crisis is a ploy to weaken some parts of the country ahead of the 2015 elections.

Flanked by Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Senator Jibrilla Bindow, Senator Zanna and Senator Aisha, he said: “You can see that the situation in the coun-

try calls for leadership. Leadership on the part of our political leaders, leadership on the part of our armed forces.

“The way they easily overran states suggest that they can over run the whole of this country within a few months.

So nobody should feel safe elsewhere. A crisis in any part of this country is a crisis that affects all of us. Even a crisis in other parts of the world sometimes affects the entire world. I really call on government and all Nigerians to ensure that this situation is not allowed to get worse”.

Expressing concern about the situation in the northeast, he

Continued from page 1

gotiations.

According to the source, who pleaded not to be named

•Atiku

said “Honestly, I don’t know what inform decisions taken, but I don’t think that the approach to dealing with this situation is the right one.

“One, the response is very Continued on page 61

29 killed in suicide bomb attack on procession

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WENTY-NINE people died yesterday in the mid-day suicide attack on Muslim Shiite sect members celebrating the Ashurah Day in Potiskum, Yobe State, eyewitnesses said.

The suicide attack took place at Tsohon Kasuwa, a densely populated area in the commercial city. It is 100km south of Damaturu, the state capital.

But the police put the figure of the dead at four, including the bomber. They said five people were injured.

The leader of the Shiite group, Mallam Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, said 29 members of the group were killed; over 80 injured.

Lawan blamed the military for the rise in the death toll, alleging that “many of the people were killed by security agencies, particularly soldiers”.

“From what we have gathered, 13 people were brought in dead. The death toll has kept on increasing. Right now, we have about 29 bodies and 82 people injured. It is unfortunate that soldiers are responsible for the

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

killing of many of our members.

They used their guns and armoured cars to shoot at our members. The police asked them not to shoot people but they did not listen. We have shells of bullets that they used in killing our people .This is very bad because the people who are supposed to be protecting us are now killing us,” Mustapha said.

Reacting to allegations that the group did not get clearance from security, Mustapha said: “This is not the first time we are marking this day. We have been doing it since the past 20 years. We did it last year and nothing happened. Do we also have to start taking permission from security operative to be going to Mosque on Fridays? I want to believe that the number of people that were in that procession was not up to the number of people that go to mosque on Friday.

So, why must we go to security for such a very peaceful event which is not a political gathering?”

An eyewitness, Ibrahim Mohammed whose brother was killed in the attack said he counted 23 bodies, including his brother’s.

“I have counted 23 bodies right now. My brother is also one of the people killed in the attack.

All the bodies are now deposited at the school belonging to the Shiite sect,” Ibrahim disclosed.

He added that some of the people killed were not from the suicide attack but gunshot from security agents who invaded the scene of the attack and started shooting sporadically.

Another eyewitness, Adamu Yunusa, said there were two suicide bombers marching along with the Shiite members in the procession before one of the bombers detonated the explosive wired body. The second bomber was caught in an attempt to detonate his.

“This incident took place a few meters from my house. The explosion was heavy and scary. It was as if it took place right in my bedroom, I came out and saw people running all over the road

Continued on page 61

Why govt fell for ‘ceasefire’, by official

Boko Haram in 16 local govts, Atiku laments

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday painted a gloomy picture of the insurgency in the Northeast, warning that Nigerians might wake up to discover that the Boko Haram sect had overrun the country.

He chided the Federal Government for its handling of the sect, saying it failed to do its constitutional duty of protecting Nigerians.

Atiku, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant expressed shock that Boko Haram is controlling 16 local government areas across three states – Borno, Yobe and his home state Adamawa.

Just as the legislature cannot regulate the workings of the Presidency or determine for the President when he should call FEC meetings and we note that there was a time he did not for months, so also can the Presidency not determine for the House when to reconvene or meet.

“Consequently any political party that seeks to meddle in our internal affairs should perish the thought. Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, for the very first time in our recent history, ushered in an independent House and the House will remain independent.

“You are all too familiar with the relevant provisions of our House rules that provide for how and when an adjourned House can be reconvened.

The President cannot do it, a political party cannot do it, the Deputy Speaker lacks the powers and indeed it is beyond the signatures of 120,150, 250 or 350 members.

“That power resides solely and exclusively with Mr Speaker. We had hoped that the PDP and the Executive would at least this one time be decorous in its conduct and respect the rule of law and the legislature but we were wrong.

“We would like to use this opportunity to appeal to our colleagues in the PDP not to embark on a futile exercise but

and there was confusion. One of my brothers in the procession told me that the suicide bombers were two. That the other one was trying to trigger his bomb and was caught by some members but taken away by soldiers who came to the scene,” Yunusa said.

Yunusa added: “It is unfortunate that some of the people that were killed were not as a result of the blast but soldiers who came to the place and were shooting directly at innocent people. If you see some of the bodies, they are clear gunshots and not suicide bomb attack.

Most of the ones that died from the blast were either roasted or shattered.”

Yobe State Police Commissioner Danladi Markus said: “It is unfortunate that these people went on to carry out the procession without informing security to assist in beefing up security around them and the suicide bomber took advantage of the situation to strike. We pray for the repose of the souls of those that are dead and a speedy re-

because he is not allowed to talk to the media, the President last Tuesday agreed with National Security Council members that the insurgents holding the Northeast to ransom be confronted headlong.

The source said the President will brief the Council of State today - in line with the Third Schedule Part 1, Section 6(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Section says: “The Council of State shall have power to advise the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such matters as the President may direct.”

The source said: “At the security council meeting last Tuesday, the President said the military should resume the offensive to clear the insurgents from all

the towns and villages they had been attacking.

“We do not have the luxury of time; we have reached a point that we have to resume the offensive. We may have to use force to mow down everything.

We do not have the luxury of time.

“I know we can win the battle against the insurgents. We will reach a point where we have to draw the line because we are not supported by anybody.

“So far, I can confidently tell you that up to Madagali in Adamawa State was cleared as at weekend.”

Pressed to clarify, the source said: “This directive will not amount to a violation of ceasefire because those we are negotiating have even described those killing our people in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe as ‘criminal elements.’

The source also gave on insight into how the Federal GovContinued on page 61

‘Tambuwal a bridge builder’

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HE Leadership of the All Progressives Congress last night met behind closed doors with the APC caucus in the House of Representatives.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal led members of the APC caucus to the meeting which took place at the National secretariat of the party.

Speaking before they went into the closed session, party chair Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the Nigerian nation was in dire need of salvation, adding that the APC was the vehicle for that salvation.

He described the Speaker as an exceptional bridge builder who is gradually becoming the most popular speaker the nation has ever produced.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

“I want to say that I am very surprised at the reception you have received from your own colleagues. If is the measure of a man when your own colleagues received you. When they treat you like this, it shows the love they have for you.

“You are are an exceptional bridge-builder because within days of being a member of the House, You were able to construct a coalition that made you one of the most stable and one of the most popular speaker this nation has produced.”

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• Transcorp Power Chairman Mr Tony Elumelu (right) congratulating the company’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi for more than tripling Ughelli generation capacity in the first year of take over during the board meeting in Lagos.

American elections 2014: Barack the battered The midterm elections hold today in the United States. In this piece, BRIAN BROWN, a former U.S. Consul-General in Lagos and The Nation columnist, contends that while President Barack Obama is not on the ballot, the elections are about him

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• From left: Director, LagosPhoto Foundation, Azu Nwabogu; member, Board of Director, LagosPhoto Gala, Yomi Odesanya; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism Disun Holloway and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, at the Etisalat 2014 LagosPhoto Gala in Lagos.

•From left: Fidson Healthcare Plc’s Corporate Services Manager Mr Oladimeji Oduyebo; representative of Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Alaba Fadairo and Executive Director/Founder, Children Emergency Relief Foundation (CERF), Mrs Abosede Oyeleye during the presentation of CERF award for Best Child Health Care Supporting Organisation to PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Fidson Healthcare Plc.

• Chairman, Discovery Airline, Mr. Babatunde Babalola (middle), Managing Director, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalami (left) and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mrs. Olushola Odubunmi during the airline’s inaugural flight to Uyo and PortHarcourt held at PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE the Murtala Mohammed Airport-2, Ikeja, Lagos.

OLITICS is a war of words fought on the battlefield of lies.

An eagle placed its nest in a high place as is the custom of his kind.

Majestic is appearance, this eagle soared the highest skies. People marveled from the ground whenever he took to the air. Despite its rare skills and noble appearance, the eagle was possessed with the liver of a chicken.

He quivered at the thought of hunters. Although he flew so high that neither arrow nor bullet could reach him, nightmares of being shot paralysed him with fear. Soon, he stopped flying. Though grounding himself, fear of the hunter persisted. He was struck by an idea he thought brilliant. He would clip his left wing thus rendering himself unable to fly. Upon seeing his sacrifice, the hunters would leave him alone because they would no longer see his high flights as an affront to their honor, the eagle reckoned. The one-winged eagle thus presented himself to a gathering of hunters.

After his heartfelt exposition, a hushed silence fell over the gathering.

Silence was quickly broken by flinty laughter. Each hunter grabbed his weapon, rushing toward the eagle as if one great mass with many arms.

The startled bird, grabbed its severed left wing. Holding the severed appendage, the eagle could not even flap its lone right wing. Death was ordained. Pierced by dozens of arrows and bullets, the bird swiftly expired.

The lead hunter gathered his limp body. He sewed the severed wing in place and mounted the eagle’s stuffed corpse on his wall as his most valuable trophy.

Congressional elections take place in America today. While President Obama is not on any ballot, the elections are primarily about him. Because the elections will be a referendum on the President, his Democratic Party colleagues stand to lose most contests. Republicans anticipate winning enough congressional seats that they might capture the Senate and strengthen their stronghold on the lower House. Republican capture of the Senate would represent a harsh defeat for President Obama. He would have moved from a President in retreat to one under great siege with no respite and no clear escape except the expiry of his term.

That the President and his party have come to this point is a disaster

significantly of their own making. After winning the 2012 election, Obama and fellow Democrats entertained themselves with the hyperbole that demographic change had resulted in a secular shift in American politics.

This shift would provide Democrats a decisive advantage for the foreseeable future. Blacks, Hispanics, youth and women had coalesced to forever throw elections the way of the Democrat. Meanwhile, Republicans had thrust themselves so far to the extreme right on social issues, from immigration to gay marriage, that they had ceased being a saleable commodity to anyone outside their own White conservative base.

Folly is ubiquitous wherever one substitutes wishful thinking and fairy tales for sound policy and judgment.

The Democrats’ belief that they had constructed a permanent winning coalition was more confection than cogent thinking. They dabbled in make believe and have been singed for this foolhardy excursion.

Believing they had secured the winning edge by courting the abovementioned constituencies, the Democrats did the incomprehensible.

They turned their backs on those whose support gave them victory, especially Hispanics and Blacks. Figuring these minorities had no option than the Democratic Party, President Obama and establishment Democrats unnecessarily tugged themselves rightward along the political spectrum. Believing they had defeated and sealed the doom of the Republicans, Obama and his ilk in the Democratic Party did a silly thing. They sought to imitate the policies of the Republicans they had laid low. They did this without a thought that they might suffer in 2014 the fate the Republicans experienced in 2012. It never seemed to dawn on them that, if the choice were between Republicans in Republican garb or Democrats in Republican clothing, those willing to vote between the two obnoxious choices might just select the real thing.

Consequently, Obama and team did nothing material to advance the core interests of the voting coalition that kept him in office and secured the Senate majority for his party in the prior election. He rewarded those who voted for him with the gift of his indifference. On domestic policy, Obama made sounds about economic

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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NEWS

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On domestic policy, Obama made sounds about economic reform to revive the middle class and grow the type of jobs that would advance people into the middle class. He also made noise about gun control and immigration. Halfway into his term, he has done little on these promises. Speeches now ring hollow because the people can’t see, eat or clothe themselves in mortal words. They need action. On that front, Obama has seemed a lesser being. Most of his policy actions still lean toward appeasing his political enemies instead of helping his base. He continues mauling his left, most loyal wing •Obama

reform to revive the middle class and grow the type of jobs that would advance people into the middle class. He also made noise about gun control and immigration. Halfway into his term, he has done little on these promises.

Speeches now ring hollow because the people can’t see, eat or clothe themselves in mortal words. They need action. On that front, Obama has seemed a lesser being. Most of his policy actions still lean toward appeasing his political enemies instead of helping his base. He continues mauling his left, most loyal wing.

He had the opportunity to present an ambitious jobs and infrastructure revitalisation program that would have cemented and inspired his political base into believing once again that positive change was possible during his watch. Even if the proposal would not have passed the Republican-controlled House, it would have served as a banner around which to rally support this election. However, he did nothing of the type. Thus, the most debated domestic issue remains Obamacare. Because the President forwarded the measure, Republicans now abhor it although years ago it was cooked in their kitchen. Their conviction against it is unyielding.

Meanwhile, those who would vote Democratic are confused. They are undecided whether the measure helps or hurts them. They don’t rally to it as they would a flag. They peer at it as one does a complex puzzle.

No one ever won an election by offering the voters a puzzle.

Regarding foreign policy, his efforts have been more disastrous. He has faithfully adhered to the advice of neo-conservatives Republicans and interventionist Democrats aligned to international Money Power and the war business machine. They have led him into the bog. This is half true. He knows their advice is terrible but their clout in Washington is immense. This makes their wrath as terrible as their advice. Afraid of incurring their anger, he accepts their counsel knowing full well where it leads. While they are pushing him, he also allows himself to be pushed. History will not provide him the minor solace of claiming he was guided astray. He has assumed the risk of taking advice of those from whom advice is not to be taken. As such, he cast himself into the arms of reckless danger abroad.

After Russian leader Putin rescued him from error in Syria regarding the chemical weapons dispute, Obama allowed the American hegemonic movement to buffalo him into ushering confrontation and crisis right to Putin’s doorstep in the Ukraine. Still, longing to wring the neck of Syria’s Assad, the neo-conservatives pressed Obama to wage war against a nation that presented no strategic threat to America and a nation that stood as a bulwark against violent jihadists gaining a territorial foothold in the Middle East. For more than two years, American intelligence services have been organizing, arming and equipping anti-Assad fighters in Syria. A good portion, if not the majority of

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these fighters, have flittered off to join ISIL, al-Nusra or other extreme groups. Without assistance from America and American allies in the Middle East, ISIL could not have grown into the marauding force it has become. Because of neoconservative legerdemain and Obama’s deficit of policy fortitude, his Administration is trapped in a situation where it helped armed a dangerous group in one nation, Syria, only to fight that same group to protect America’s fragile yet costly and diminishing diplomatic-military achievements in neighboring Iraq.

Last, the Administration’s desultory handling of the Ebola crisis allowed the Republicans to exploit the issue. They spread hysteria, making people believe the White House had fallen asleep in handling the matter although only four Americans have been affected. This reminded people of the clumsy roll-out of Obamacare and of the more recent chaotic influx of immigrants from Central America, casting a shadow of incompetence over the man and his manner of governance.

Faced with all of this, key aspects of the Democrats’ winning voting coalition were struck with a disturbing realization. They recognized the Democratic establishment saw them only as integral to their electoral coalition but not as key members of a governing pact. They needed Black and Hispanic numbers to win elections but did not think these same people and their interests were valuable enough to give

them a place in shaping policy. Obama needed them to get him through the door yet wanted them to remain outside. This was tantamount to driving to the dance in a girlfriend’s car but asking her to remain at the wheel while you go inside to enjoy the festival with another. While engaged to the former, the man is making wedding plans with the latter. No one can blame the loyal girlfriend if she has departed by the time the philanderer emerges from the dancehall. He is left to walk alone.

This is what has happened to Obama and the Democrats. Since the 2012 election, they have largely ignored the voters who comprised their margin of victory. Now they ask these people to gear up and vote for them again. Not enough Blacks and Hispanics are buying the potion. Neither or young voters or women.

Obama’s popularity with all these groups has suffered materially.

Greater numbers of Black people are voicing disenchantment that two years ago would have been seen as racial treason by the very people now expressing resentment. More women will vote Republican than in 2012.

As it stands, Republicans will be uncorking champagne and toasting to their return from the dead. Democrats will be lamenting how swiftly victory has redressed itself as defeat.

They will be left to eat the bitter gruel of their hubris. For they hated those who helped them and gave themselves over to those who plotted against them. Rarely has the leader-

ship of an entire party been so complicit in the demise of its good fortune.

Should the Republicans capture the Senate and anneal their grip on the House, there is an even chance that President Obama will face impeachment proceedings before the end of his tenure. If a major crisis intervenes between now and then, the risk climbs to over sixty percent. While some Republicans want him gone now, mostly their intent will not be to thrust him from office but to make his last two years a living hell. Beyond the impeachment threat, Republicans will block even the little things he might have done and will seek to undo the one thing of which he is proudest and which bears his name.

They want to attach to his Administration such a messy legacy that no one in his proper mind will contemplate another Black president for decades to come. The destruction of his Administration shall become their great trophy.

There is always a slight chance the election will not be as harsh for Democrats as predicted. If anything we must learn that electoral politics is dynamic; there are no eternal truths. To assume full knowledge is as foolhardy as to take for granted the blind loyalty of other human beings, especially those you have serially disappointed. No man stands still for long if the place where he stands is sinking sand. To win elections, one must create a decisive coalition. After establishing such a coalition one must govern in a matter that maintains it. The only way the voter maintains faith is for the office holder to remain faithful to the interests of the voter. Democratic governance is essentially quid pro quo. Obama took the quid but withheld the quo.

President Obama and the Democrats face a bleak Tuesday because they ignored basic principles. Guided by a strange admixture of haughty personal ambition yet fear of Republican conservatism, President Obama and his team came to believe that they could get away with inaction or even the tawdriest of deeds executed for the pettiest of reasons because of the sheer majesty and visible excellence of who they were. Everything becomes excusable because they meant well and are great people; it was just that superior force or irresistible pressure cause them to bend the untoward way. In their arrogance, they believed they could not be blamed for their shortcomings because they saw their failings as those of the great and the anointed. Obama and his group presented the people a false picture of who they were; then they believed the people would stick with them once they exposed their truer, lesser selves.

But the people did not vote for the Obama that existed, they voted for the Obama that was portrayed. Today, he has asked them to vote for his party once more. If they do so in numbers that will salvage the party in the Senate, it will not be an act of affirmation. It will be an act of forgiveness rivaling in dimension the one the carpenter’s son gave the woman at the well so many years ago.

•08060340825 (sms only)

Police assure foreign investors of security

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HE Police have assured prospective foreign investors not to entertain fear about secu-

rity.

Assistant Inspector General of Police Tunde Ogunsakin spoke at the Invest in Nigeria Forum, a gathering of Irish business stakeholders.

Ogunsakin highlighted the importance of business cooperation between countries. He was representing Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba.

He added: “Successive administrations in Nigeria have sought different ways to advance the Nigeria

economy in this regard and have achieved varying degrees of success in building a strong economy for Nigeria.

“It is agreeable that for any foreign establishment to have any form of investment in any country, it has to be assured of security and stability within the polity and socio-economic set up of such country. My country Nigeria is not in any way different from this.

“Little wonder in recent times Nigeria has put up a giant stride in our economic front .the different machineries of government have

pooled efforts together to improve the Nation economic status using every tool at their disposal. One notable government institution that has stood out is the police. In our effort to improve the security situation in Nigeria, the police authority headed by Inspector General Suleiman Abba have developed a police reform programme through which it has embarked on different project and programmes ranging from infrastructure development to capacity development.

“The present administration headed by Inspector General of Po-

lice Suleiman Abba wants me to assure you all that we will not rest on our oars despite the challenges and the success the government is recording.

“Come and invest in Nigeria. The government recognises the importance of infrastructural development and security of lives and properties to the development of any nations and the transformation agenda of the present administration led by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a pointer to this fact.”

•Ogunsakin

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

NEWS Nnamani tells court: I’m still unfit for trial

By Joseph Jibueze

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FORMER Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, told the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday that he was still unfit to stand trial for alleged money laundering.

His lawyer, Chief Rickey Tarfa (SAN), said Nnamani was yet to make a full recovery.

It is seven years since he was arraigned and trial is yet to begin.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa granted Nnamani another leave yesterday to travel overseas for a medical checkup.

On April 17, last year, the judge permitted the former governor to travel overseas for medical reasons.

On May 28, last year, the court granted an application seeking to extend the time for him to conclude his treatment abroad.

On September 25, last year, Nnamani was absent in court and the judge further adjourned till December 12.

The judge attended a conference on the adjourned date and the trial was again fixed for March 5, this year.

The trial suffered another setback as defence counsel sought an adjournment because, according to him, the case was not slated for trial, but for “mention”.

On June 17, Nnamani’s lawyer said his client was suffering from a “chronic” heart problem, having undergone surgery and was yet to recover.

He prayed the court to permit him to travel abroad for a check-up.

Mr. Oluyele Delano (SAN), who represented Nnamani that day, argued that the principle of fair hearing required that his client must be well enough to defend himself.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Nnamani last March 7 before Justice Yunusa on 105 counts of money laundering and economic crimes involving about N4.5billion state funds.

He was charged with his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms - Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

The crime was allegedly committed while Nnamani, a former Senator, was governor between 1999 and 2007. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

The case has passed through four different judges due to transfers and retirements.

Yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Kevin Uzozie, informed the court that the case was slated for trial, adding that he was prepared to go on.

But Tarfa said he had a pending application seeking the court’s leave to enable Nnamani travel to the United States for check-up.

According to him, Nnamani had already missed two medical appointments in January and October.

Tarfa argued that an accused must be in proper medical condition to stand trial, adding that it was hoped his condition would improve, but it has not.

Justice Yunusa adjourned till November 18 for arguments on whether Nnamani’s trial can be separated from his co-accused.

Fed Govt warns politicians against thuggery, assassination, others T HE Federal Government warned politicians yesterday to desist from unpatriotic acts, including political thuggery and assassinations, which can overheat the polity.

The National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, gave the warning at a two-day workshop on security consciousness and awareness for reporters in Abuja.

Dasuki, who was represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Layiwola Lasehinde, decried the negative publicity against the government by some section of the media and “unpatriotic politicians”.

He said any attempt to derail a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria would be rebuffed by the relevant security agencies.

The National Security Adviser, who stressed that there would be no sacred cows, said every Nigerian must learn to live by the rules, and be his or her brother’s keeper.

Dasuki praised the level of support and encouragement in the fight against terrorism.

He called for unity and pa-

•NSA vows to protect democracy, national unity From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

triotism, especially in the media, to ensure peace and development.

Dasuki said: “As we approach the fifth democratic transition period, which some western countries claimed could either ‘make’ or ‘mar’ the country, there is compelling need for us, as a people, to understand our differences, unite and forge ahead for the interest of the nation.

“As you are aware, the acts of terrorism are spreading fast across the globe with increasing viciousness and it is imperative that Nigerians remain patriotic. The degree of support and encouragement in the fight against terrorism by many Nigerians is yielding positive result, especially, in our effort against Boko Haram criminalities in the Northeast. We must therefore unite, as the cooperation of all citizens, especially the media, is required to ensure peace and develop-

ment.

“Consequently, the determination of government to ensure peaceful, fair, transparent and successful elections will ensure that political thuggery, assassinations, incisive, provocative and libelous publications, etc, are decisively dealt with.

“While there is a strong need to put all hands on deck to sustain peace and democracy in the country, it is disheartening to note that section of the media and some unpatriotic politicians are busy deriding the present administration for their selfish interests. It encourages divisiveness, fuel insurgency and insecurity across the nation.

“I, therefore, warn these people to desist from such unpatriotic acts, which are capable of over-heating the polity. Any further attempt to derail our common resolve to forge a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria will be rebuffed by the relevant security agencies, and

I assure you there will never be sacred cows. Every Nigerian must learn to live by the rule, and strife to be his brother’s keeper.

“At this point, I also wish to advise the youth to take advantage of the numerous employment generation opportunities being provided by the government to avoid being used by unscrupulous politicians, especially at this period”.

He assured that the Federal Government was committed to free and fair elections, hence would ensure that political thuggery, assassinations, incisive, provocative and libellous publications, among others are decisively dealt with.

The NSA said he was looking forward to a time when the citizens and the media are actively security-conscious, vigilant and respond promptly to any suspicious activities within their vicinity by reporting to the appropriate authorities and quarters.

“It is by so doing that we will build the desired peace and crime-free society that we aspire to have”, he stated Speaking on the occasion, the Spokesperson for the Department of State Service, Marylyn Ogar, maintained that security was the business of every Nigerian.

Stressing on the importance of the power of observations, facial identification and reporting, she urged Nigerians to take note of any unusual persons and activities.

“It is important to develop observation skills, note who sits beside you, driving in the cab with you, observe body language, make eye contact, note abnormal and suspicious things, people, actions and noises. Don’t ignore strange feelings. With these, you can save lives” she added.

The Director of Special Services in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Abdullahi Shehu, said “all hands must be on deck” to deal with the menace of terrorism.

The workshop, according to him, was one of government’s efforts to ensure that every Nigerian was security conscious.

Reps Minority Whip: APC “ll check PDP’s impunity From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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•From left: Marine Services Manager, Oando Marketing Samson Ibhagui; Flag Officer Commanding, Western Navy Command Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oando Marketing, Abayomi Awobokun; immediate past Commanding Officer, Beecroft, Rear Admiral Uwadiae and Commodore Deji Sunmola, when the FOC, Western Command visited Oando Marketing Head Office at Marine beach, Apapa, Lagos.

Owu tribal marks my third ID card, says Obasanjo

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo collected his electronic National Identity Card yesterday from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

He spent 10 minutes to activate the card as well as its inbuilt applications.

Obasanjo, in his characteristic manner of throwing banters, noted that not many people knew that he has three identity cards.

He said after the International Passport and the National Identity Card, his Owu tribal marks - six lines incisions on each side of his cheeks - were his third identity card.

The former leader said given his status and the special treatment he got from the NIMC, if the process of data capturing and collection of the card could take a bit of his time as it did, he wondered what would be the fate of the people in rural settings when they come for the exercise.

•Ex-head of state gets e-National ID card From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Obasanjo, who spoke in his mansion on the Presidential Hill Top Estate, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the management and officials of the NIMC brought the card to him, asked how much of the functions inherent in the e-card would be beneficial to the people in his Ibogun “village” and at what cost to them.

He said: “Not many people know that I have three identity cards. The first is International Passport, the second is National Identity card and the third is my tribal marks.

It is not funny that I’m collecting the National Identity card at a time that I’m unemployed and unemployable.

“What we have now is what we wanted to do in 1979, but not as complex as this one and not as sophisticated as this. Although we are getting the card late, but we are get-

‘Not many people know that I have three identity cards.

The first is International Passport, the second is National Identity card and the third is my tribal marks.’ ting the best that technology can offer.

“I have my worries and I always express my feelings.

I have got special treatment, but how will it be for someone in my village to be captured?

“How much of this functionality in the card will be useful to him and how much will be paid knowing that poverty is still ravaging the rural dwellers. These are issues you will have to address.”

He, however, said that the

e-national identity card project would help the country in tackling security challenges, adding that it is also a tool for “intelligence gathering.”

According to Obasanjo, when the scheme was first initiated in 1979, it was estimated to cost the nation N16 million to produce the identity cards for every Nigerian of 18 years and above.

He said the project is now costing the country “billions and billions of naira” because of the sophistication of the card, explaining, however, that “it is a project that is long overdue”.

Responding, NIMC’s Director - General, Mr. Chris Onyemenam, assured the former president that his observations had been noted, saying the body was already strategising on how to use mobile and vehicular centres as well as canoes to register people in the “hinterlands and creeks.”

HE Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, said yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (PDP) would use all legal means to check the “excesses and impunity” of the Peoples Democratic Party and its plan to force the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, out of office.

Osagie, who told The Nation that he was the second plaintiff in the suit filed by the APC caucus in the House to stall the plan by the PDP to reconvene members, accused the ruling party of sabotaging the nation’s democracy in “material aspects.”

The minority whip, who spoke shortly after returning his nomination form for the 2015 Edo South Senatorial election at the party’s secretariat in Benin, said the country could not continue to be in the control of the ruling party.

His words: “We must use all legal processes to stop the impunity of the ruling party in this country that has indulged in acts of sabotage of our constitutional democracy in all material respects.

“We cannot continue in the direction that they are trying to take our ship of state.

The Speaker has opted for the APC and heavens cannot fall. He remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“He is not the Speaker of PDP and he is not the Speaker of APC and he is protected by law until a court says so.

“So for me and our party (APC), we need to check their (PDP) excesses; we need to check their impunity.”

THE NATION NOVEMBER, TUESDAY 4, 2014

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NEWS Ebola: Ban Ki-moon seeks Obasanjo: Nigeria may never global, African response plans get power sector right T From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that he has resigned to fate over the nation’s dwindling power generation capacity and its implications on development.

He noted that with the present situation of things in the sector, “Nigeria may never get it right again”.

The former president spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while fielding questions from university students at the maiden edition of the bi-annual “Green Legacy Moments with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo” on leadership and Human Security in Africa.

The programme was packaged by the Institute of African Culture, University of Ibadan in partnership with the Centre for Human Security (CHS), an educational arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

He decried the state of investment in the energy sector, which he rejuvenated upon returning to power as an elected president, but discontinued by his successor.

Obasanjo said Nigeria

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ought to be adding 2000 megawatts yearly to the existing capacity, if it hopes to achieve development.

According to him, the failure of those who ruled Nigeria after his tenure as both military heads of state as well as elected president to reinvest proceeds from sales of crude oil into building of hydro-power dams, explained the nation’s lean megawatts of electricity and the attendant hitches on nation’s march to greatness.

His words: “Part of our problems is: what does a leader understand about development? Any leader worth his salt should know that power is very important.

It is the driver of all development; be it social, economic and even political.

“When I was military head of state, I developed the Jebba dam and Shiroro; I started Egbin. Shagari came and completed Egbin and inaugurated Jebba and Shirroro.

“Between Shagari in 1983, until I came back in 1999, there was no single dime invested in power generation.

If anything, the ones that were there were allowed to go down.

“A country such as Nigeria must be adding not less than 2,000 megawatts, if we are to be moving on the part of development.

“If you will remember, when I came back in 1999, my first Minister of Power was the late Bola Ige. I won’t say Bola didn’t know what he was doing and he said publicly that he would fix the power problems in six months.

“After one year, Bola, with his capacity, couldn’t fathom out what was wrong with power. It was riddled with corruption. Then, we had no money, people have forgotten that in 1999/2000, the price of crude oil was U.S. $9 per barrel.

“When we started having money, we started the NIIP. When we said the money we had should be invested in power, my successor didn’t understand, he stopped it.”

He added: “If for almost 20 years, we did not achieve anything in power generation, then we may not be able to get it right again.

“Let me give you an ex-

Presidency to APC: stop using insecurity to assess Jonathan •‘We ’ve ended 40 years of corruption in agric sector’

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HE Presidency yesterday urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop using the challenges posed by insurgency as the yardstick for assessing the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said this in Abuja while addressing members of the civil society and professional groups as part of a Public Affairs Forum organised by his office.

Okupe maintained that the administration had recorded major achievements in agriculture, transportation, health and other sectors in the administration’s national economic drive.

The president’s aide noted that almost every country in the world has one security challenge or the other to contend with, adding that opposition leaders in those countries “do not close their eyes or shut their ears to the remarkable things happening in other sectors because they do not like the face of their President”.

He said: “Somebody wants us to believe that the only testimony of performance of this administration is insecurity, (but) that’s not true. This government was totally unprepared for the insurgency.

“Nobody planned for insurgency. And yet insurgency is a serious problem on its own to contain. America with all their power and resources was in Iraq for up to about five or six years with over 400,000 soldiers on ground and yet see Iraq the way it is today.”

He noted that it was a na-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja tional misfortune that the Chibok girls were still held captive by the terrorists, stressing that the ceasefire agreement between the Federal Government and Boko Haram was at the instance of the sect.

While reviewing the presentations of ministers of Water Resources, Power, Aviation and Transport, who earlier featured on the forum, Okupe said facts and figures so far presented had shown that “Nigeria is not where it used to be in 2011 when Jonathan was sworn in as President”.

“The construction of 37 new dams as well as 149 ongoing ones, 10 national integrated power projects and hundreds of new power substations, revitalisation of the aviation sector as well as the massive work in rail and water transportation cannot be an evidence of a nation on a downward trend . Those who will not see that this is a new era in Nigeria are not being honourable in their politics”, Okupe stated.

Also yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, through its Agriculture Transformation Agenda (AGA), had ended four-decade old corruption in the agricultural sector.

Adesina, who spoke on the third day of the Public Affairs Forum, said the transformation in the sector had witnessed a monumental change in the way and man-

ner agriculture and its related activities were handled.

“We ended 40 years of corruption in the fertiliser sector. The old system of government direct procurement and distribution of fertiliser was corrupt.

“Nearly 90 per cent of farmers never received subsidised fertilisers. Between 1980 and 2010, over N873 billion ($5.4 billion) was spent on fertiliser subsidies. No more than 11 per cent of farmers received these fertilisers. Over N776 billion ($4.8 billion) was estimated to have been lost to corruption or an average of N26 billion ($162.5 million) annually. The system displaced the private sector”, he stated.

He added that the ministry had built a national database of 10.5 million farmers, which has increased the participation in every state of the federation just as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) programme increased farmers getting fertilisers from 11 per cent before the programme to 92 per cent.

Adesina said 1.3 million metric ton of fertiliser were delivered to farmers, adding that 55,000 metric tons of improved seeds were delivered to farmers.

He also noted that Nigeria was the first country in Africa to deliver input to farmers at scale through e-wallet.

The minister also said that the country boasts of cassava both in quality and quantity, a reason he decided to embark on the cassava transformation initiative, which has led to the introduction of 20 per cent cassava bread, leading to the establishment of 30 bakeries in the country.

ample: the population of South Africa is 55 million and they generate 45, 000 megawatts. Our population today is about 180 million people and we could not generate 4, 000 megawatts.

“And South Africa is an industrialised country and not an industrialising nation.

For us to say that we are industrialising, we must be generating much more than what South Africa is generating; say 100,000 megawatts.

“What year will Nigeria get there if we are adding 2, 000 megawatts each year?

For us to get to 100, 000 megawatts, I leave the mathematics to you. It sounds very discouraging, but that is the reality.

“I believe that what we have done in the area of telecommunications can be achieved in the area of power, but not by privatising the power sector to our friends and families.”

PUBLIC NOTICE LOHITH I formerly known and addressed as LOHITH now wish to be known and addressed as LOHITH SOMANATHA BELCHADA all former documents remain valid general public should please take note.

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NYSC and general public should be take note.

HE United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Kimoon, has called for global and African response plans to eradicate the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

He said this in a message yesterday to the 64th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Cotonou, the capital of the Republic of Benin.

The main agenda of the meeting is the nomination of the new WHO regional director for Africa.

The Minister of State and Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, led Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting, where the country was hailed for its efforts at combating the EVD. Nigeria was also praised for its fight against polio, especially Wild Polio Virus Type 1.

Ki-moon, who was represented by the Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, said the virus must have a global response plan.

He noted that health ministers should ensure that preparedness plans were put in place as the “disease is killing people, destroying families and communities”.

The UN chief also maintained that the EVD outbreak was the most severe public health emergency in modern times.

She advised African countries to strengthen their public health systems to meet the health needs of their citizens.

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THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

NEWS

Obey, Oke, Oyelami for revival

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HRIST Zion Prayer Ministry (a.k.a. Aaye Ni Jesu Wa) has begun its seven-day revival at Fountain Area, Oke- Anu, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The revival, from November3November 9, will be attended by Evangelist Ebenezer Obe; Bishop Wale Oke; Prophet Gabriel Oyelami; Evangelist Bola Are; Evang Bisi Alawiye; Prophet Amos Oluwafemi; Prophet Muideen Kasali; Evangelist J A Adelakun; Prophet Evangelist J. O. Adeniji and Evangelist Titilola Showunmi.

In a statement, hosts Sakin & Funmi Akinloye said the theme of the programme was “Goodness & Mercy Shall Follow Me”. They said: “The power of God is real today to save the world from sin, sickness and demonic attacks.

“The solution to insecurity and societal ills plaguing our nation today is God, and that is why this revival will be unique.”

Women urged to contest

Ekiti RTEAN boss, others remanded for murder

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KITI State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Adebayo Aderiye (alias Ojuigo) and three members were remanded in prison custody for their alleged roles in the murder of former state Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye (alias Lafeade).

Aderiye, 58, who was not related

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From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

to the remanded RTEAN chair, was murdered on September 25 at Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The three others are Sola Durodola, Kayode Ajayi and Oso Farotimi.

Although their counsel,Fred Izuange and Yemi Ogunremi, ob-

jected that the name of the person alleged to have been murdered was not stated in the charge sheet, their pleas were not taken as the case involved murder.

Police prosecutors Samson Osobu and Sunday Nwachekwa told the court that the case file had been duplicated and forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

The offence, according to the charge sheet, was punishable according to sections 324 and 319 of Criminal Code Law Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State.

Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye ordered the accused remanded in custody till legal advice from the ministry was sought.

Member’s illness stalls Osun tribunal sitting

HE Osun State Election Petition Tribunal could not sit yesterday as one of its members fell ill.

The attorneys were already seated when the court clerk announced that the tribunal would no longer sit as a member of the panel was ill.

The tribunal, at its last sitting, had fixed yesterday to rule on an application by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Omisore.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, argued that the objection must be heard at the pre-hearing stage in accordance with the law.

Aregbesola’s counsel Akin Olujinmi (SAN) said yesterday that the petition against the August 9 governorship election would not scale through the pre-hearing stage

if the preliminary objections were taken.

He was reacting to the comment of the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate, Adejare Bello, who said his party would go as far as the Supreme Court.

In an interview with reporters, Bello said it was only the Supreme Court that had the final say on whether or not Aregbesola won the election.

Olunjinmi said Bello’s comment has shown that the petitioners knew

the weakness of their petition.

He said: “Saying that they want to go to Supreme Court shows that they know the weakness of their case, because I expect them to say at the beginning that they are very sure of their case.

“That would be decided at the hearing, if we go to hearing, because if the objections are taken, I do not see the petition seeing the light of the day and that is why they are afraid of having the objections taken now.”

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HE Zonal Women Leader (South-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Kemi Nelson, has called on women members of the party to participate in the electoral process.

In a statement in Lagos, the APC chieftain said it was time for women to rise up and take their rightful position by contesting for elective offices.

She advised the women to take advantage of the party’s provision for them.

“Women should take advantage of their large population to vote for their own. We should stop being followers and mere supporters of men.

“I urge our women to continue to mobilise and encourage women to join the party. We want quality women who can compete favourably with the men and win.”

‘No crisis in Ogun PDP’ From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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SENATORIAL aspirant from Ogun State has denied that there was crisis in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ms Temidayo Oriola, who was at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja yesterday to submit her nomination and expression of interest form, said there was no need to fear that returning members of the party would cause crisis.

Oriola, who is contesting the Ogun East seat, said:”We know what it is like to be in the opposition in the last four years and we have learnt our lesson.

“Returnees will not bring crisis.

It is not new that people have left the party and returned. The returnees know what is happening; and they know that the time to forge ahead is now.”

•Ajimobi (arrowed) greeting the crowd...yesterday.

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Ajimobi distributes offer letters to teachers

HE distribution of employment letters to thousands of newly recruited teachers from Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola and Iseyin local governments of Oyo State continued yesterday.

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, monarchs, stakeholders praised Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the gesture.

Ajimobi, who arrived in Iseyin at 1pm, received a triumphant entry, as thousands of students, party

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

members, chieftains, workers trooped out to welcome him.

Speaking at the palace of Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adekunle Salau, the governor said the recruitment of 5,300 teachers by his administration was unprecedented in the state.

He said the exercise was part of government’s efforts to improve the standard of education and pro-

Don’t ruin our future, youths tell Fayose

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GROUP, Ekiti Youths Vanguard (EYV), has urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to engage the youth in productive ventures.

It said his “stomach infrastructure” stunts portend great threat to productive living among the people.

The group condemned the governor’s plan to spend Friday nights in beer parlours as a mark of solidarity with the masses.

Its spokesman, Charles Fakunle, said it was not in beer parlours that the governor could address poverty among the masses.

Fakunle said: “Is it in beer parlours alone that the governor can meet the people to solve their problems? What of their farms, workshops, trading shops, learning centres and union associations’ offices?

“Why not take a census of these groups and create funding schemes for them to improve their trades and grow their businesses?

“Is it while people are under alcoholic influence that they can plan worthwhile schemes?How much will the governor spend on the masses?”

The EYV spokesman said it was unfortunate that Fayose has no

vide jobs for the youth.

The governor said over 31,000 teachers had been sent on training to improve their productivity; adding that 24,000 teachers had been promoted.

An APC chieftain from Itesiwaju Local Government, Niyi Adeagbo, said Ajimobi was a shining light, a beacon of hope that Nigeria could get it right with the right leadership.

“If he can do so much with very

lean resources, it can be deduced that the problem of the nation is not about availability of resources, but misapplication and mismanagement.”

The monarch said: “You have done well. I pray that God will grant you your heart desire. Your dream and ambitions will come true.

“I also pray that these buses procured for your campaign will not be involved in any accident.”

‘Mimiko not popular in Ondo’

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•Fayose

programme other than schemes to build a band of youths who would not be sober enough to plan their future.

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mrs. Tomike Joy Makinde, has said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot win in the state.

Mrs. Makinde based her prediction on the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, saying Mimiko was no longer popular among the masses.

She said this while speaking with thousands of women, traders, artisans and civil servants in Akure.

The APC chieftain boasted that the APC would take advantage of the

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

crisis in the PDP, saying Mimiko has lost his credibility since he officially rejoined the PDP. Mrs. Makinde accused the governor of neglecting his primary assignment of making the state a better place for the people, saying the governor spends more time in Abuja than in his state.

She said: “Jonathan will be shocked at the votes he will get during the election because Ondo people are angry because of Mimiko’s defection to PDP. “The governor’s arrival has dented the party’s image and this is a plus for APC.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

NEWS

Only Buhari can stop insurgency, says David-West

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FORMER Minister of Petroleum, Prof Tam David-West, has said a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari, has the capability to end insurgency in the country.

He spoke when the National Coordinator of Grassroots Mobilisation for Muhammadu Buhari (GMMB), Remi Oyebanji, visited to tell him of their proposed symposium “The President Nigeria Needs”.

David-West said: “It’s only Buhari who can stop Boko Haram because he has done it before, he has a track record.

“Maitasine was worse than Boko Haram and he stopped it, which is why Nigerians should vote for him.

“The Federal Government is just making unnecessary noise about stopping insurgency. We have a President who claims he knows the sponsors of Boko

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From Tayo Johnson and Bisola Oloyede, Ibadan

Haram and he is yet to tackle them.

“Boko Haram can be stopped if the government wants it to stop. Insurgency will stop if the government wants it to stop.

Government can fight insurgency but bad governance will make it impossible.”

The former minister said if Buhari becomes president, within 100 days the price of petrol will be reduced, adding that the Jonathan administration is the hallmark of incompetence and bad leadership.

He said: “The general election may be turbulent, if there is rigging, the country may be in chaos. If the people are not allowed to vote for their candidates, the problems will be so much that the President will not be able to contain it. If there is rigging in 2015, the heat will be

so much.

“Except corruption is expunged, Nigeria cannot move forward and the only person who can do that in Nigeria today is General Muhammadu Buhari.

“Only Buhari is clean, he is the only leader who has challenged his opponents to prove that he is not corrupt and they are yet to do that.”

Commenting on Buhari’s age, the don said:” People came up and said he is too old to contest. He is very young when compared to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who is 90 years old. Buhari will be 73 next year, I am older than him.

The constitution did not state a specific age limit.”

Oyebamiji described DavidWest as one of the most consistent Nigerians who always stand on the truth.

“He is a role model and his students can testify to this. That

Lagos APC condemns closure of roads

T •David-West

is why we have visited him to brief him on our proposed symposium on Gen Buhari.

“Buhari’s humble lifestyle is a brand and his return is a response to the painful cry of all Nigerians. He is coming back to transform this country by 2015.

“It’s painful that the youth don’t know what Buhari has done for this country, if not they would have also demanded for Buhari. If Buhari can only get the votes of Southwest people, then he has won already,” he said.

Ekiti Poly students protest fee hike

ART-TIME students at the satellite campus of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, protested yesterday an increment in tuition fee.

Over 200 students gathered at the school’s main gate on NTA Road at 7am, saying they couldn’t understand why the fee was increased from N9,000 to N34,000.

They carried placards with inscriptions: “We ain’t moneymaking machine”; “Reduce our school fees now”; “Bring

•School shut From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

down our fees” and others.

The protesters insisted that their action was to compel a reversal by the school authorities, noting it was too heavy a burden upon them.

One of the students, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “This protest is also to remind the Rector, Mrs. Theresa Taiwo Akande,

about the promise she made during her meeting with the students’ representatives where she said the school could not survive without increasing the fees but that the fees would be increased only after every four years.

“This increment has shown she has failed to fulfil the pledge. The fee is being increased every semester.

“A member of the students’ representatives sent a letter to the rector but never

got a reply.

“Another letter was sent to the rector but the story was the same.

The institution has been closed for a week, the school’s spokesman, Adeyemi Adejolu, said.

Adejolu said the authorities were meeting with the students’ representatives to resolve the impasse, adding that the students had no ground to protest as they were running part-time programmes.

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the “needless and unnecessary imposition of hardship” on Lagosians when public official visit the state.

The party’s statement followed the “traumatic experiences of Lagosians on Friday” when Vice President Namadi Sambo visited the state to deliver a lecture at the Island Club.

In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the APC advised public officials visiting Lagos to be mindful of the dynamics of Lagos as the engine room of the Nigerian economy.

The statement reads: “We note that the penchant to lock down Lagos for a visiting public official has become so obsessive with the Presidency that Lagosians now dread the visiting of another official of the Presidency.

“It is well known that whenever the President, Vice President, their wives and other Federal Government officials visit Lagos even for personal reasons, the state is locked down for hours.

“Hapless citizens are always subjected to tortuous experiences on the roads. We wonder how this helps whatever missions these officials came to do in Lagos.

“We want to appeal to all to respect the dynamics of Lagos and the feelings of the people who desire very minimal interference in the conduct of their daily businesses.

This is the reason Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) moves round the state often without sirens.

“We can imagine the hundreds of billions of Naira Nigerians lost last Friday as they sweated for hours on critical roads in the Central Business District just because all roads were closed for close to six hours.

“Lagosians cannot afford such needless interference in their lives as they struggle with the vicissitudes of a floundering economy.

“We appeal to visiting public officials to note that the dynamics of Lagos is the reason why it remains the last hope for a flailing Nigeria where Nigerians have been provided the enabling environment to work and make a living for themselves, their families and their dependant.

“Lagos is a private sector-driven economy and as such we urge all to respect that prerogative and strive to constitute less impediment to the conduct of their activities.

“We say enough of these needless obstructions to the lives of Lagosians and we wish that visiting public officers and politicians will see the need for this wish.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

10

CITYBEATS Federal task force swoops on Lagos highways •Takes over traffic control

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CORES of men and women engaged as Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, popularly called SURE-P/ FERMA Federal Task Force, yesterday took over traffic control on federal highways across Lagos State.

This situation forced men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) hitherto assigned to those areas, to step aside to avoid any likely clash.

As early as 7.00am, the Sure-P Task Force officers were seen around Ketu as well as the Toll Gate, where their operation base is located.

About three officers were each stationed at various points within a distance of 10 metres along the highways.

The officers, who were dressed in black pants and Tshirts, looked business-like as they went about their duties.

The officers, numbering about 5000, underwent rigorous training and exercise at the old FERMA yard around the Toll Gate area for over five months.

Among their duties listed on a sign post erected at the old FERMA yard include: Recovery of Federal Government properties in the state, traffic management and control, and enforcement of right of way.

A LASTMA officer, who

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

spoke under anonymity, told this reporter: “They (Sure-P task force officers) distorted traffic flow on these roads, especially the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. They halted the activities of LASTMA officials on the road. When our officials complained, they ordered that they leave the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Few minutes later when they discovered that our officials didn’t yield to their directives, they attacked them. And our officials were forced to leave the expressway. On October 23, they attacked a LASTMA official who was managing traffic on the expressway. They brought out guns and that made everyone to scamper for safety. On that day, motorists abandoned their vehicles to avoid attack.”

The Ministry of Transportation had few months ago, raised the alarm on the possibility of the Task Force usurping the duties of LASTMA. The All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that the taskforce was set up to cause chaos in the state ahead of next year’s elections.

However, the National Coordinator of the Sure-P Federal Task Force, Abdul Razak Rafiu Otto, refuted the claim, saying that it was set up across the 36 states of the federation with no sinister motive.

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Ex-bank manager remanded for alleged N15m fraud A FORMER manager with the defunct Oceanic Bank was yesterday remanded in custody for alleged N15million fraud.

Efe Egube was brought before Justice Olutoyin Ipaye of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Egube, 39, was remanded in EFCC custody after he was arraigned alongside his firm, Ocean Energy Trading

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Services Limited, on a onecount charge of obtaining under false pretence.

A resident of 2B, Ogalade Close, Victoria Island, the banker was alleged to have committed the offence between July 2007 and March 2008.

Prosecuting counsel Ben Ubi told the court that the

defendant committed the crime while he was the manager of the bank’s Eleganza Branch, Apapa.

According to Ubi, the defendant obtained money in various installments from Sanisu Kamba and his company, Aminu Gandi Petroleum Limited, adding that he claimed the money represented part payments for the

supply of petroleum products to the complainants.

He told the court that the alleged offence contravened Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other FraudRelated Offences Act, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded in EFCC custody pending hearing on his bail application fixed for November 12.

Honour for Senators Tinubu, Solomon, others

By Joseph Eshanokpe

•Senator Tinubu

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HE National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chapter in Lagos State, has honoured Senator Oluremi Tinubu “for her selfless services to the state and the nation.”

The group’s Chairman, Comrade Frank Nero, said she got the Excellence Award because “she is the best representative in the Lagos Central Senatorial Dis-

trict so far. She extended her goodwill to the grassroots by empowering the people, especially the youth”.

Other personalities honoured by the group were: Oba Abdul Fatai Aremu Ojora; Hon Olumuyiwa Wahab Jimoh, member, Lagos State House of Assembly; Dr. C. Z. Anago, a former chairman, Apapa Iganmu LCDA; Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon (GOS) of Lagos West; CID Onyeka, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orile, and Hon Bamidele Avoseh.

Nero urged the youth to

be law-abiding during the forthcoming election. “This is our nation; let nobody prepare for war. Elections are not for wars. The youth in the different parties should not see themselves as enemies; rather, they should see themselves as partners in progress. Elections are not about fighting,’’ he advised.

The guest speaker, Comrade Nelson Ekunjemi, said the future of the country was in the hands of the youth, adding: “Some youths dissipate their energies in the wrong things like thuggery.

I wonder why a youth would want to be used as an instru-

ment of destruction. We should go for what we can do to develop ourselves.

Some people, such as Jesus Christ and General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) became great men when they were youths.

I wonder why a youth would want to be used as weapon of destruction.”

Avoseh also advised the youth, saying: “If any politician buys you a cutlass or gun, tell him to give it to his brother.’’

He urged traditional rulers to tell the politicians the truth, adding that when there is peace in the community, it is for the good of all.

•Women from the Mushin area of Lagos State learning how to make beads during the second phase of the Economic Empowerment Programme organised by the state government at a centre in the area ... yesterday.

LASAA to parley parties on posters, banners

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HE Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) will hold a meeting with political parties to spell out modalities guiding the use of campaign posters and banners for the forthcoming gen-

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

eral elections.

The agency’s Managing Director, Mr. George Noah, said the move was aimed at checkmating indiscriminate use of campaign posters and banners.

Shell, SNEPCO partner on health

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O tackle oral diseases which represent a major public health problem in the country, the management of St Kizito Clinic in Lagos has partnered Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to set up a dental unit.

The clinic’s Medical Director, Alda Gemmani, who spoke at the inauguration of the dental unit, lamented that dental health issues were yet to receive priority attention due to competitive health demands resulting in high prevalence of the consequences of poor oral health.

Gemmani said periodontal disease and dental caries are two major oral health problems, while others include malocclusion, traumatised anterior teeth, dental fluorosis, and oral tumours.

He revealed that the clinic’s daily consultations revealed poor oral health and dental hygiene among both adults and the children who are most vulnerable, adding that the issue not only causes pain but loss of man hours, leading to a reduced income for the family, with its attendant stress.

“The Clinic started preventive dental services and educational programmes among patients and pupils of Ilasan-Jakande, Lekki; Idi-Araba, Mushin and Oreta, Ikorodu environs. So, the need of a dental unit to address patients’ needs grew due to lack of an accessible and affordable dental clinic in these areas.”

Noah added that the parley would seek to ensure that the use of campaign posters and banners is done with proper consideration for the environment under enabling laws.

He said: “Our officials are being attacked and harassed daily whenever they set out to discharge their statutory duties across the state. Despite repeated appeals and warnings, we have noticed an increasing trend in this ignoble act. This has to stop.”

“We wish to restate our commitment to our earlier directive that posters will not be allowed within unauthorised places like high streets, highways, major roads, loops, bridges, pillars and triangulars. Posters are only allowed in designated zones namely: walls of public schools, public hospitals and stadia. The guidelines published by the agency before the last general elections of April 2011 still subsist. We wish to re-emphasize our preparedness to collaborate with all political parties, politicians, campaigners and supporters in achieving a smooth electoral exercise.”

BUSINESS

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

11 There is nothing wrong in having a robust renewable energy programme in the country. In fact, government has taken a step in that direction by introducing the: ‘Light Up Nigeria’ scheme.

- Director-General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Rueben Okeke

Over $14b needed to fund infrastructure, says Okonjo-Iweala O

VER $14 billion would be required yearly to fund infrastructure in Nigeria, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIwaela, has said.

Speaking at a training programme on Public Private Partnership (PPP) organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abuja yesterday, she said the $14 billion annual infrastructure fund, “is not comprehensive because it is likely to be higher when the total financial outlay needed to fund the Infrastructure Masterplan is calculated.”

She lamented that “to fund infrastructure, Nigerian needs about $14 billion every year out of which $10 billion should come from the federal level and currently the country’s spending on infrastructure is about $6 billion.

“So there is a big gap that needs to be filled. That is why PPPs are very important to Nigeria at the moment.”

She argued that the current PPP model needed to be improved to ensure that “it suits the country’s needs and delivers clear benefits without leaving us with difficult problems.”

She identified the amount of time needed to complete a PPP project as one of the drawbacks of the concept.

Quoting from a study, Mrs. Okonjo-Iwaela, noted that on the average, it takes about

IHS Nigeria raises $2.6b to expand African operations

I

HS Holding Limited, Af rica’s largest independent phone-tower company, has raised $2.6 billion in debt and equity to expand its operations on the continent.

The firm will get $2 billion from existing and new shareholders and a further $600 million through a loan facility, the Lagos, Nigeria-based company said in a statement yesterday.

The debt is split between the US dollar and naira denominations over seven and eight-year terms.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Issam Darwish, said: “We are clear in our ambition to play a leading role in the creation of the widest, most efficient and reliable mobile networks in Africa. The contribution of our investors significantly strengthens our position.”

IHS has more than 20,000 towers following acquisitions from MTN Group Limited. (MTN) and Etisalat Nigeria earlier this year. The company got about $304 million from Wendel SA, which owns about 26 per cent of IHS. Other investors in the new round of funding include FFP and Sofina SA.

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

seven years to complete a PPP project in Africa, saying, that time is too long. For policy makers and political leaders who are operating on a four year term, seven years to deliver a project which they have promised the people is not very attractive. The difference in time horizon between policy makers and technical part-

ners needs to be reduced; PPPs need to be processed faster.”

In other words, Nigeria she said, needs better financial, legal and regulatory capacity to achieve faster results.

She told the delegates that Nigeria is already utilising PPPs in projects such as the

Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and Second Niger Bridge, among others, adding that “we need much more because our needs are so great.”

She said another issue which the Federal Government has observed, is a tendency to make legal requirements too complicated and

load every risk on government to the benefit of investors who walk away with rewards at virtually no risk.

She said government “must bear significant risk, but not on everything. The risks need to be shared to make the project fair and sustainable.”

The minister who decried the rate of return by some investors as being too high, said this is responsible for the unsustainably high costs of PPP projects.

She said: “Sometimes, it is as high as 30 per cent! The consequence of this is that tolls are too high and the public understandably becomes hostile to the project and this leads to all kinds of problems.

“There is therefore a need to have a right financial and economic framework which will ensure that investment is profitable but also benefit consumers and the economy.”

12

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS Contractors threaten showdown over N4b debts

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ONTRACTORS han dling the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) jobs have threatened a showdown with the agency over non-payment of over N4 billion owed them for jobs already completed since 2012.

The meeting of the Abuja chapter of the contractors, ended on a rowdy note as they accused their leadership of playing out a script written by the management of the agency.

They said despite assurances by the Vice Chairman of the Abuja chapter of the Indigenous Contractors Union, Mohammed Musa, they have given the agency a twoweek ultimatum to pay them, or face the greatest protest which would see them marching to the agency headquarters and the National Assembly.

A member of the group who spoke yesterday on condition of anonymity, lamented that the contractors have executed projects for FERMA worth over N3billion since January last year without pay.

He said: “The terms of our agreement with FERMA states that jobs completed must be paid for within 60 days of submission of certificate of completion by the contractor, but in reality, the jobs completed since last year are still yet to be paid for.

“More worrisome is the fact that despite the non-pay-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

ment of these debts, we have it on good authority that more jobs are being awarded

by FERMA and advance payments are being made for these contracts, while contractors who have completed their jobs languish in poverty as many of them have had to forfeit their properties which were used as collateral to secure loans to execute the contracts.

“Many of the contractors accepted these contracts based on the position of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy that before any contract is awarded, the funds for the such contracts is released to the Ministry or Agency in question. Road contract is one of the pivotal elements of this government’s Transformation Agenda, but the government is taking the credit of our labour without the necessary compensation.”

When contacted for comments the Vice Chairman of the Abuja chapter of the Union Engr. Mohammed Musa said he has been in constant talks with the top management of FERMA for the past ten months and that the assurances he gave his peoples at the union were based on the promises which he received from the management of the agency he however stated that none of the promises were yet to materialise.

BUA chair supports cement price reduction

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• Rabiu

“On our part, I have already directed all our plants to follow suit and implement the new price regime. We still believe that more can be done to bring down the price even further for the benefit of Nigerians.”

He insisted that there was really no reason for cement to cost more then N1000 per bag, bearing in mind the massive success of the backward integration policy which implementation commenced 12 years ago.

He said tens of billions of dollars has been directly and indirectly injected into the cement industry with Dangote cement accounting for more of this.

He said this has seen cement’s national productivity rising from a mere 2.2 million tonnes to over 30 million tonnes.

He said: “BUA group acquired the Edo State Cement Company three years ago and has pumped over $500 million in putting up a greenfield, 3 million tonnes per annum plant deploying the latest technology in cement production. The plant is billed to be commissioned in the first quarter of next year. From its 500, 000 tonnes capacity annual production to 3.5 million tonnes per annum.”

Domestic airlines receive N87b intervention funds

ENIOR Special Assist ant to the President on Aviation Matters, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal has said domestic airlines have benefitted over N87 billion as intervention funds from the Federal Government.

The fund he said was disbursed to different airlines on a generous rate between two to seven per cent as against the between 18 and 20 per cent prevailing market rate.

Iyal said the airlines accessed the funds in the six years with a moratorium of six months with extended repayment of between 10 to 15 years.

T

T

HE Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, has thrown expressed support for the Dangote cement reduction on the cost of unit bag of cement to N1000, a 40 per cent price cut which was announced yesterday.

Rabiu said he has always been concerned about the high cost of cement in the country and has always advocated for a reduction of the cost so that more Nigerians could have access to the product and realise their dream of owning their own houses.

He said: “It is against this background that I commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for this patriotic initiative which is long overdue.”

He said he held extensive discussion with Aliko on this issue in a telephone conversation last weekend and encouraged him on the initiative.

“What Aliko has done today is significant. I am very pleased about it because it would make the cost of the product more easily affordable to Nigerians. With the price being low, it will result in more consumers buying the product which will drive up volume and increase market share for all stakeholders.

“I hereby urge all cement producers to emulate Dangote and bring down the cost of cement. There is absolutely no reason for a bag of cement to cost so much.

While it is true that we have infrastructural challenges it is not so much as to make the cost of cement so expensive.

• Chairman, Owode International Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Alhaji Raimi Adebayo; Regional Business Executive, Lagos Mainland 2, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Tunde Adeola and the Vice Chairman, Owode International Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Mr. Nureni Oshilalu at the opening of Sterling Bank’s branch at Owode International Motor Spare Parts Dealers Market.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Iyal said government has also granted between N500 million and N1billion as working capital for domestic carriers, an amount he said represents 20 per cent of the previous year’s turnover.

These, he said is part of the stabilisation measures put in place by government to assist operators in the sector .

He said: ”In all, a total of N87 billion was disbursed under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to the various air-

lines.

“The fund was disbursed at a generous rate of between two per cent to seven per cent as against the 18 per cent to 20 per cent that was the going market rate at that time.

“There was also a moratorium of six months with extended repayment term of between 10 and 15 years. You should also note that it was unprecedented in the history of the sector that some of the airlines were granted a working capital of between N500million and N1

billion, which represents 20 per cent of their previous year’s turnover. We should commend the President for this decision as it helped in stabilising the sector.”

He said the bad experience of misapplied funds in the past by some carriers should not serve as a disincentive to government to continue to bail out airlines.

Iyal clarified: ”I do not believe it is true that intervention funds in the past were entirely wasted Let us look at the bigger picture instead of dwelling on one or two beneficiaries that misapplied the funds.”

Huawei CEO urges connectivity

HE Chief Executive Officer, Huawei, Eric Xu, Rotating, has urged economic leaders to invest in connectivity as it would help to grow the gross domestic product (GDP).

According to him, connectivity correlates with GDP, adding that Global Connectivity Index (GCI) study showed that a country’s connectivity correlates with its GDP. Huawei analysed 16 indexes and concluded that for each GCI percentage point increase the GDP per capital increases 1.4-1.9 per cent.

The GDP per capital increase was relatively higher for emerging countries and Germany ranks first among the countries surveyed.

He said developing coun-

By Lucas Ajanaku

tries have also begun to invest strategically in Information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities and as many as 100 billion connections will be generated globally by 2025.

To make this happen, Huawei is simplifying IT with the release of a series of innovative IT solutions - including data centers, converged storage, cloud operating systems (OS) and Big Data analytics platforms.

The company has also released the Global Connectivity Index (GCI), which is the first quantitative assessment of connectivity and its value from both national and industrial perspectives.

Huawei is set to launch a

Service Driven-Distributed Cloud Data Center (SD-DC²) to help enterprises build service-driven IT infrastructure.

The soon to be released FusionSphere 5.0 open cloud platform and the OceanStor converged storage system, are said to be key components of the SD-DC² architecture.

He said: "The products and solutions that Huawei is showcasing at HCC this year are all based on our commitment to provide customers with open, converged and innovative technologies that enable them to simplify their traditional IT infrastructure, improve business agility and create greater value."

Meanwhile, the tech giant

said it has launched its active-active data centre disaster recovery solution for use in the growing data centre business.

In a statement, it said the solution, through active-active deployment for application level disaster recovery of data center, visual and agile operation and maintenance, realises automatic business switch, application zero interruption and data zero loss, together with effective resource management. This indicates that Huawei is able to provide the highest requirement of data center disaster recovery solution for business continuity in the industry and satisfy the clients' requirement for high reliability.

Govt mulls ‘Crops’ Processing Zone’ for Cross River

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HE Federal Govern ment is set to declare Cross River State as a ‘staple crop processing zone’ in the country.

This is in recognition of the efforts of the state government in making the country self-reliant in staple foods such as cassava, rice, palm oil and others as well other crops such as cocoa.

The state through its efforts and partnership with PZ Wilmar is stepping up efforts to plant high yielding oil palm seeds on about 27,000 hectares of land located in four different estates across the state.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina stated this at the weekend during a tour of the 5,590 hectare PZ Wilmar Calaro Oil Palm Es-

By Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

tate at Mbarakom, Akampa Local Government Area in Cross River State. The estate is one of four such jointly owned by two international companies, PZ Cussons and Wilmar International Limited.

Dr. Adesina was conducted round the expansive oil palm estate by the Managing Director of PZ Wilmar, Mr Santosh Pillai, the Vice Chairman PZ Cussons, Mr Tunde Oyelola, General Manager, External Affairs, PZ Cussons, Mr Mohammed Tahir, PZ Depot Manager, Calabar Mr David Amutah, Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr James Aniyom who represented Governor Senator Liyel Imoke, among others.

Adesina commended Imoke for not allowing the loss of the state’s crude oil wells to dampen his desire to develop the state but immediately went into functional partnerships with the private sector to revive the different agricultural sectors.

He said the Federal Government appreciates his efforts to return the lost glory of Nigeria as the world’s number one producer of palm oil which he noted has various uses all over the world.

Mr Santosh said Nigeria has the capacity to take back its lost position if the government encourages private sector operators.

He told the minister that currently, PZ Wilmar imports hugecrude palm oil (CPO) from other countries including some West African coun-

tries in order to feed its oil mills in Lagos whereas there are more than enough land mass and workforce to produce enough palm oil for local consumption and for export as it was before the discovery of crude oil.

Santosh lamented that Nigeria currently imports more than 350,000 metric tons of CPO annually at a huge cost and pays 35 per cent import duties.

The company pleads with the federal Government to extend the backward integration initiative which it introduced in the cement, sugar, rice and other sectors to the agricultural sector and to assist investors like them who are out to revitalize the Palm oil sector as it has the capacity of turning the economy of the country around.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

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TRANSPORTATION

ESIDES the N5,000 fine awarded any drunk driver, anyone caught driving under the influence of alcohol will have the vehicle impounded, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

The Sector Commander of the RS2.1 Lagos Sector of the FRSC, Commander Hyginus Uche Omeje, stated this at a one-day workshop held for about 50 ‘ambassadors’ of the Don’t Drink and Drive (DDD) campaign held by the Nigeria Breweries Plc at its Iganmu training centre.

The stakeholders were made up of the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association of Nigeria (TDCOAN), the media and Non Government Organisations (NGOs).

Omeje, who was represented by the OperationalCommander in charge of the Surulere Zone, Commander Mrs. Olawumi Ramat Oyeniyi, said any driver caught with five percent alcohol in his or her bloodstream would be booked and may be barred from holding the steering until he becomes sober.

She said the Corps was going hard

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

FRSC goes tough on drink driving • Proposes full enforcement to reduce crash rates

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

on regulatory enforcement of all laws guiding road transportation to arrest cases of avoidable deaths and crashes on the roads.

Mrs Oyeniyi said the Corps would deploy on all major corridors across the country, alcoholisers (breathlisers), to test drunk drivers with a view to ensuring that any driver regarded as a potential danger on the roads is pulled off before he causes accidents.

She said besides being the highest contributory factor of accidents, alcohol should be avoided because of its negative health implications.

“What we are preaching is that driving and alcohol does not mix. If you want to drive, don’t drink.

Drink that alcohol when you get to your destination. Be a responsible drinker,” Commander Oyeniyi said.

In her lecture Responsible alcohol consumption, Dr. (Mrs) Oluchi

Kanma-Okafor described alcohol as a depressant which slows down vital body functions.

Mrs Kanma-Okafor said many drivers had resorted to alcohol in the wrong notion that it is a stimulant that could prevent them from sleeping on wheel.

Describing alcohol as one of the top psychoactive substances commonly abused out of ignorance in the country, the medical practitioner said many consume alcohol and become dependent on the substance which alters their behaviour and induces sleep in them after “a momentary high.”

She praised the Nigeria Breweries for sponsoring a culture of responsible drinking and urged drivers to cultivate the right attitude to alcohol consumption.

“Skip that bottle if you can, but sip it and consume it over a long period of time if you can’t,” she advised drivers.

She equally advised pregnant

women to avoid alcohol in the interest of their babies.

NB Plc’s CSR/Sustainability Manager Mrs Emete Tonukari, charged the ‘DDD ambassadors’ to see themselves as change agents and continue the education of their peers, friends, family members and associates to avoid drunk driving.

She said the foremost brewer decided to preach “responsible alcohol consumption,” as part of its corporate social responsibility and in furtherance of its long term agenda to brew a better world, where empowering of the people is one of its three core pillars.

She said besides the yearly campaign which would be taken to the six geo-political zones, the company as part of its strategic communications, has always included responsible drinking in all the marketing communications of all its beer brands.

Mrs Tonukari said the company will be happy if the workshop’s lessons are taken to the town and more people become aware of the danger inherent in driving under the influence of alcohol.

Earlier, the Corporate Affairs Adviser Mr Kufrie Ekanem, said it

makes business sense for the company to preach responsible consumption of alcohol because it is interested in keeping its customers.

“While some people see it as contradictory for a beer producer to preach responsible drinking, we at the Nigeria Breweries know that the death of one person means the end of his business with us. So we want to keep you alive so that you can continue to enjoy our products.

“We, therefore, want you to help us preach the message that you should drink responsibly and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol,” Ekanem said.

President of the Safety Without Borders (SWB) Mr. Adenusi Patrick praised the company for focusing on commercial drivers at the workshop.

“We know that the NURTW is the largest employer of labour in Nigeria and if we can get them as well as other operators in the transportation sector to support this initiative, we would have captured about 80 percent of the operators and users of our roads, leaving us with the other road users and even the pedestrians. The time has come for all hands to be on deck and one must commend the NB Plc for championing this campaign,” Adenusi said.

‘Develop requisite knowledge’

T

• Opeifa(second left), cutting the tape to open the jetty. With him are, Bamigbetan (right), Vice Chairman of the council Mr. Monsuru Bello-Obe and Falashe (left).

S

Govt opens Oke-Afa Jetty

INCE the tragic Sunday on January 27, 2001, Oke-Afa has become the symbol of a collective loss to Lagos State. Close to a thousand Lagosians, running from blasts that brought the state into confusion, were drowned in its brackish waters. Yearly, the government holds a memorial service to mourn them.

But last Tuesday, the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) turned the flip side of the tragedy when it delivered to the people a jetty at the spot, to ease the traffic gridlock around Ikotun-EgbeEjigbo and other adjoining neighbourhoods.

Opening the facility, Governor Babatunde Fashola praised the Ejigbo LCDA chairman, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, for beating the state government to the initiative. He said the jetty would boost water transportation.

Fashola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, said the state was pursuing aggressive development of its waterways in its bid to promote an intermodal transportation system that would ensure that Lagosians get to their destinations safely and at the least cost.

He, therefore, called on private investors to use the jetty and tap into the vast economic opportunities on the on waterways. He said the wa-

By Duro Babayemi

terways account for over seven million passenger traffic monthly.

The government, Opeifa added, would continue to strengthen investments and sanitise the state’s business environment.

Earlier, Bamigbetan said the project started in 2012 as part of the council’s blueprint to help check the perennial gridlock on its roads.

He said: “When I saw the challenges our people faced in commuting I decided to turn the searchlight into looking at the investment opportunities on this water, which in 2001 had consumed countless Lagosians. This project is therefore our own way of turning our tragedy into opportunity.”

He said he was always at pains seeing people stranded at bus stops or resorting to trekking long distances to their homes at close of work, or from business, or stuck inside buses for hours.

He said a firm, Tarzan, had earlier carried out a feasibility study, which showed that ferry from Ejigbo to Mile 2 takes only nine minutes, and to Lagos Island, takes 15 minutes, while to Ibeshe, seven minutes.

“What this means is that someone going to work around 7.00am can get to his office at Broad Street before 8.00am, or within 20 minutes if he is going to Mile 2 or Ibeshe,” he said.

He added that the council embarked on the project upon conviction that it was viable. He disclosed that the jetty cost N35million.

The building, he said, was constructed to have shops, offices, and an expansive parking lot, waiting room and relaxation centre. There is a car park space, which can contain 50 vehicles in the front yard as well as across the road. The jetty building is built beside the victims of January 27, 2011 bomb explosion cenotaph.

The jetty, he said, would ease transportation as it would provide waterways option for residents of Idimu, Ejigbo, Ikotun and Ijegun, who are going through nightmare commuting everyday to Mile 2 and Lagos and beyond.

In his own remarks, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Mr. Adeyinka Marinho, praised the council chairman for the initiative and called on other council chairmen to bring the dividends of democracy closer to the people at the grassroots.

Marinho, who was represented by Mr. Pekun Falase, promised to make good use of the jetty and ensure the standardisation of ferries that would soon begin to use the facility to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents and users.

HE Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has told its officers and men to be equipped with requisite best practices to promote the realisation of the Corps’ objectives.

The RS 2.0 Lagos Zonal Commander, ACM Godwin Ogagaoghene gave the charge, at the third quarter retreat of the Federal Road Safety Corps, held for senior officers of the Ogun State Sector Command at Bezeer Hall, Sango Ota, Ogun State, last Tuesday.

Speaking on the theme: “Improved regulatory and enforcement capacity: a panacea for incessant road traffic crashes in Ogun State,” Ogagaoghene, said the retreat is meant to generate ideas towards the implementation of the Corp’s action plan to reduce road crashes across the country.

According to him, the FRSC 2014 Corporate Strategic goal is to reduce road traffic crashes by 15per cent and its fatality by 25per cent.

He canvassed stricter enforcement of traffic rules and regulations to achieve the desired reduction in traffic crashes across the country.

He advised the commanding of-

A

By Olalekan Ayeni

ficers to step up enforcement in their various commands, to eradicate accidents.

The Ogun State Sector Commander, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, enjoined the officers to work harder and be transparent in the discharge of their duties.

The guest speaker, a chief lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr Benjamin Edegbai, said bith the regular and the special marshals of the FRSC have the onerous responsibility of reducing crashes on the roads.

He challenged them to be alive to their duty and protect lives and properties against crashes.

He listed lack of resources, inadequate commitment, total absence or poor road facilities - such as markings, lighting, warning signs; deplorable habit of drivers, inadequate training, drug abuse, poor vision are responsible for most of crashes on the roads.

These carnage, he added, can be significantly reduced if the regulatory and enforcement capacity of officers are improved upon.

Ikuforiji unveils plan for transportation in Lagos

UNIQUE feature of a mega city is an effective and efficient transportation system and this is one of the major areas the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has promised to focus on if elected governor.

Outlining his programmes during the public declaration of his intention, Ikuforiji declared that the issue of transportation would be tackled holistically.

He said he would declare a state of emergency on roads, after convening a “road summit” to help develop the infrastructure in the state. ”We will embark on massive rebuilding and expansion of roads, the completion of the light rail network and expansion of the water transportation in La-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

gos.”

He promised to put in place a minimum standard for Lagos roads and pledged to ensure that all rural roads would be graded and more areas opened up to create shorter distances and connect communities.

“We will hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of regular road maintenance, in fact, this will be incorporated into road construction contracts,”Ikuforiji said.

The speaker said it is high time a tram system is introduced complement the public transportation system, adding that he will introduce it and create bicycle routes to encourage biking by people instead of driving every time.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KWARA POLITICS Since his endorsement for a second term by Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has gained more confidence in confronting the challenges of succession. But, the contest also has implications for the survival of the Saraki Dynasty in the North Central state. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

Kwara 2015: Ahmed, Saraki and succession battle T

HE reward for loyalty is trust.

This virtue is working for Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who has been endorsed for a second term by All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders. Contrary to insinuations that the party would support the push for power shift to Kwara Central District, Ahmed, who is from the South, survived the antics of intra-party campaigners against his reelection bid, making him the first governor outside the Central District to be endorsed for continuity.

His political leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, described him as a loyal and dependable ally worthy of emulation.

Hailing his performance, the former governor, who spoke the endorsement rally, said Ahmed has not deviated from the path of progress charted by him. Urging the stakeholders to gird their loins, Saraki said next year’s election is critical to the future of the state.

According to analysts, the poll is not only about the governor’s second term. It is also about the future of the Saraki Dynasty. The political family predated Bukola Saraki’s governorship ambition in 2003. It has been in existence since the First Republic, when its symbol, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, contested for the House of Representatives. In the second and third republics, the camp waxed stronger, producing Governors Adamu Attah, Cornelius Adebayo and Shaaba Lafiagi. In this dispensation, it has also produced three governors; Mohammed Lawal, Bukola saraki and Ahmed.

However, since Bukola Saraki defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, his foes have been plotting for the downfall of the dynasty. This plot also enjoys the backing of his younger sister, Senaor Gbemi Saraki. Now, the PDP is planning to raise a governorship candidate in the central District to challenge Ahmed in next year’s elections. The challenge is whether the camp will be able to maintain its hold on Kwara, now that the PDP is relying on the federal might to spring a surprise.

For Ahmed, next year’s election is also a big test. Before he was endorsed, he had to cross some hurdles. In the camp, there were rumours about one term agreement, which was made in 2011 to pave the way for the rotation of power.

Thus, despite his performance in the last three and half years, some elements in the party objected to his re-election in the spirit of power shift.

Amid the controversy, Saraki kept mute. Some party members misinterpreted the strategy of silence, saying that the former governor did not want his successor to level up with him as a two-term governor. Saraki is the only politician to have governed the state twice. Indeed, the insinuation distracted the government and its supporters from their development initiatives.

However, there was relief when Saraki and other party leaders endorsed the governor for another term.

Following the endorsement, Ahmed has focused more on his projects. To woo the electorate, he is also showcasing his achieve-

• Ahmed

• Ibrahim

ments. Kwara APC has said that the governor’s scorecard is his key to the heart of voters.

Ahmed, many believe, has excelled in office. From roads, education, agriculture, energy, and health to youth empowerment and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) promotion, he has justified the confidence reposed in him. According to the party, Ahmed has brought to his job an inspiring vision of Kwara State, the passion for high performance and a strong determination to create new opportunities for prosperity. Moreover, in demonstrating the benefits of continuity, he has strengthened hope in representative democracy and governance.

• Saraki

• Oba

The governor has implemented various life-transforming programmes, including the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES), through which the government has employed 7,000 youths,2,000 of which are youths.

The expanded Empowerment Scheme, ‘Quick Win,’ has engaged 5,200 youths under the first phase.

The target with 8,200 youths. Indeed, no fewer than 10, 200 youths have been employed by the government in the last three years.

Also empowered are 41,000 small business owners, 100 transporters and 47 artisan groups, which have benefitted from the N640 m in micro-credit disbursed under the Kwara Entrepreneur-

• Belgore

• Ajadi

ship Scheme since 2012.

To underscore the importance attached to the civil service as the engine room of governance, the governor has given N3 billion car loans to civil servants, including teachers. Besides, civil servants also enjoy other welfare packages, including training and retraining, and the provision of affordable housing and office accommodation.

In the education sector, ground breaking educational reforms have been embarked upon. In addition, government has constructed and rehabilitated 400 primary and secondary school classrooms. Pupils also enjoy free education with free text-books.

‘The poll is not only about the governor’s second term. It is also about the future of the Saraki Dynasty. The challenge is whether the camp will be able to maintain its hold on Kwara, now that the PDP is relying on the federal might to spring a surprise’

The International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo, which is affiliated with City and Guilds of London, is expected to produce middle-level manpower and make Kwara State the hub for vocational skills in the sub-region.

In the health sector, government has supplied drugs and equipment to 13 general hospitals and 43 primary health centers. It has remodeled and modernised Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals.

The Community Health Insurance Scheme now targets 80, 000 beneficiaries. It has been described as an innovative and successful scheme by the United Nations.

In meeting its target of connecting rural communities to the national electricity grid, the administration has set up a rural and urban electrification project. Under the programme, 400 communities have been connected to the national grid. Ilorin, the state capital, has been beautified. It is more beautiful at night, owing to the urban street light project, which has been extended to major streets in the metropolis.

Under the “Operation No Potholes” launched in 2011 to eradicate gullies and ensure proper road maintenance, many roads are now passable. Under the urban and rural road project, roads inherited by the administration have been completed. Now, 38 projects started by the administration are at various stages of completion.

The roads include 28 inherited projects covering 256.127kms.

Eighty per cent of these roads, covering 204.8 kilometers, have been completed. The remaining 17 is ongoing. Eight new asphalted roads have been completed while 30 are on-going, half of which will be completed soon. Forty-one rural/ feeder roads, with a total length of 287km have been completed while 81km are on-going.

Also, to achieve its target of ensuring access to clean water within 500-meter radius, the government has rehabilitated 17 waterworks and sunk 400 boreholes. Also, the Ilorin Water Reticulation Project is about to be completed.

Also the PDP has not relented in vigorously campaigning for power shift to Kwara Central, which has a history of bloc votes in elections. Although aspirants from the three districts are eyeing the governorship on its platform, there are indications that the odds favour aspirants from the Central District.

PDP aspirants include Alhaji Ibrahim Jani, Dele Belgore (SAN), Gbemisola Saraki, Prof.

Abdulharam Oba and Senator Makanjuola Ajadi.

But, the PDP also has challenges.

The APC, which has a consensus candidate, is ahead of the opposition party. The PDP, a source said, may be affected by post-primary crisis, owing to desperation among the contenders.

If the PDP picks its flag bearer from the Central District, can he beat Ahmed at the poll? Time will tell.

THE N

THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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POLITICS

‘Aregbesola ‘ll perform better in second term’

First Lady urges women to run for elective offices From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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HE FIRST Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has urged women to participate in politics by seeking elective offices in next year’s general elections.

She also called on men to give women chances to contest, in consonance with the national gender policy on the 35 per cent affirmative action on women representation in governance.

Dame Jonathan made the call during the official inauguration of the Plateau State Chapter of the ‘Women for Change and Development Initiatives’.

She was represented by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.

The First Lady said: “Women for Change and Development Initiatives is a non-governmental organisation that advocates improvement for women both politically, socially and economically.

“Membership of the NGO is open to every woman, irrespective of political affiliations, religious beliefs or ethnicity.

“That is why I am calling on all women across the country to come out and participate in 2015 elections. The time is now. Politics is arround the coner. It offers another opportunity for women to aspire for elective positions and also support women in positions of authority.

“So, I use this opportunity to call on women to register, seek political positions and vote wisely during elections at the local government, state and federal levels.

“The NGO will ensure that women, especially those at the grassroots, are carried along in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. It is a well known fact that the transformation policy gives priority attention to education, food security, healthcare delivery, economic empowerment and the inclusion of women in governance.

Governor Jonah Jang expressed appreciation to the First Lady for inaugurating the state chapter.

He said: “With the way women are going in the country, I foresee a time when a woman will become the President.”

Jang urged Plateau women to participate actively in politics ,adding that men are ready to give women the chance to contest elections.

Plateau State First Lady,Ngo Talatu Jang, who is the founder of ‘Women in Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE),’ said the inauguration will further boost the position of women in the 21st century.

She commended Dame Jonathan for standing up for Nigerian women.

• Mrs Jonathan

2015: Kogi West for zoning

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OGI West senatorial leaders have reiterated their support for zoning in next year’s polls.

Rising from a meeting in Lokoja, the state capital the elders said that the roration of elective offices among the various sub-zones in the state will engender participatory democracy.

They said the move by Senator Smart Afolabi Adeyemi, who is serving his second term in the Senate, to seek re-nomination is against zoning. They warned that his third term agenda may unsettle the stakeholders.

The elder under the umbrella of ‘Kogi West Political Leaders Consultative Forum’ condemned the endorsement of the senator for another term, saying that it is unjust.

It said: “The purported endorsement of Adeyemi for a third term at an impromptu meeting held in Isanlu, Yagba East Council, has generated bad feelings.”

According to the group, the subsisting conventions on zoning and rotation in the senatorial zone must be maintained in the interest of fair-play, equity and justice.

Delegates from the seven Kogi West Local Government Areas of Koton-Karfe, Lokoja, Kabba Bunu, Ijumu , Mopa Muro, Yagba East and Yagba West attended the meeting. It was chaired by the former Minister of Police Affairs Gen. David Jemibewon. Also in attendance were the convener of the forum and Deputy Governor of Kogi State Mr.Yomi Awoniyi, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and former military governor of Akwa Ibom and Bendel states General Tunde Ogbeha, Chief Of Staff to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Prince Sola Akanmode and former Deputy Governor Chief Samuel Akande.

Jemibewon recalled that the meeting was preceded by three previous meetings of the steering committee, which met in Abuja and Lokoja to establish a template for zoning. He said the template prescribed the sustenance of a one-term tenure for members of the Federal House of Representatives and two terms for the Senate.

In a communique, the group said: “Whereas Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency was represented by Senator Tunde Ogbeha between 1999 and 2007, the Kabba Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency has taken its turn with Senator Smart Adeyemi.

“It was deservedly the turn of Yagba Federal Constituency to produce the senator for the zone in 2015 while Lokoja/Koton-Karfe will bid its time till 2023.”

The group warned that no effort should be spared to ensure reconciliation, build consensus among aspirants and minimise rancor and acrimony during the electioneering.

Ogbeha noted the attempt by some elements to manipulate the delegates’ list for the primaries and precipitate confusion. He said: “Nobody has monopoly of violence. Any attempt to manipulate the collective aspiration of our people or impose unwanted candidates on us, will be rebuffed by violence in equal measure.”

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AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mrs. Bisi Adebajo has urged the people to support Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his quest to transform the state.

She said the governor has beautiful ideas, which can take the state to greater heights.

The politician noted that Aregbesola’s second term would be challenging, advising stakeholders to rally round the administration to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

She described governance as a collective enterprise requiring the involvement of stakeholders, including youths, women, clerics, and monarchs.

Adebajo said the achievements of the first term can be improved upon theough sheer collective will and manifold support for the administration’s developmental intiatives.

She said: “The best way to ensure that democracy is sustained, to promote progress, encourage meaningful development and consolidate on the past achievements to build a sustainable greater future for the people of the state is to come together to confront the ills of the past so as to attain a better and greater tomorrow.”

Adebajo commended the exemplary leadership Aregbesola, in terms of his focus on service delivery, agriculture, youth empow-

• Aregbesola

erment, engagement and employment, the revitalization of functional education and security.

She said these have fostered growth, progress and economic development.

The politician said the governor’s determination, commitment and sincerity of purpose have paid of for the state, adding that Aregbesola has become a model governor.

She congratulated the governor the people who gave to him the second term mandate.

Adebajo noted that Osun voters voted and defended their votes in the recent governorship election.

She also said that they defied the intimidation, harassment oppression by security agents.

Adebajo emphasised that Aregbesola and the APC have proved that service to the community in a selfless manner is possible, urging the people to reciprocate their kind gestures.

She added: “The people owe it a duty to ensure that the second term of Aregbesola is devoted to consolidation and strenghtening of the critical sectors, the banishment of poverty, hunger, and unemployment, and the restoration of sustainable standard of living, functional education and security to foster peace and progress.

Urging the APC to gird its loins, Adebajo said next year’swill be more challenging.

She said: “Judging by what people have experienced during the Ekiti and Osun states elections, it is glaring that the plan of the PDP is to use all maximum forces to scheme their way back to power in 2015, especially in the Southwest region, to continue to punish the people economically, socially and politically. But, the Almighty God will certainly work it out and make their plan impossible.”

Adebajo said that democracy is the last hope of the people, adding that , if partisan politics is practiced in the right way, the culture of democratic inclusiveness would be promoted.

‘No imposition of candidates in Bayelsa’

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AYELSA State All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the days of imposition of candidates are over in the Southsouth state.

Its Chairman, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, said, with the emergence of the party, the people would not allow few actors to foist candidates on them.

Orunimighe spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, during the special congress of the party.

The special congress, which took place at the party’s secretariat, was attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, members of the state executive committee and party faithful.

Alluding to a statement credited to Governor Seriake Dickson, he said the governor had reminded the people that the “cabal endorsement” was over.

Orunimighe said: “The time that people will sit down in their houses and endorse people is over.

Even, Governor Seriake Dickson, the man we are about to change, reminded Bayelsans that cabal endorsements are over.

“To confirm what I am saying, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the cabal that had been endorsing people in Bayelsa State.

You can see, a governor from the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

PDP confirming what I am saying that the days of cabal endorsement is over.”

He assured members of a level playing field for aspirants, urging interesting persons to pick their forms for the House of Assembly elections.

Orunimigbe noted that, in democracy, power resided in the electorate, adding that the cabal had made nonsense of the democratic principle.

He advised aspirants to prepare for change, stressing it would no longer be business as usual.

He said elected lawmakers on the platform of the APC should be ready for consultative governance.

The chairman lamented that the crop of lawmakers in the state are pompous and unapproachable by the people.

He said: “Those of us who want to pick their forms, we have already started picking forms forms for the House of Assembly. You must be ready to be part of a state that is ready for change.

“If you are elected, you need to adopt a system of consulting with your constituency, in terms of problems related to your community, and you must ask the electorate their opinion before you go to the

House and start making law.

“You are not there on your own.

You are like errand person in democracy, but here the opposite is the case. Somebody you elect into the House of Assembly is like a demigod.

“They are called your servants in politics. But, here in Bayelsa, when you elect them they turned tyrants overnight.”

Oruminighe urged aspirants rise against the antics of the ruling party.

He said: “I want to encourage all of you that are picking forms for the House of Assembly that you must go and be very tough, try and convince your people in your constituency.

“Tell them you are a better candidates. Tell them you can sit down with them before you talk about law. Tell them you will represent them as their servants and they will believe you.

“This party, your party, will conduct serious internal democracy which means there will be party primaries that will be all inclusive.

“We will not go and sit down there because we are privileged to serve you as chairman and members of the executive to do what is not right. Just as we gather here, we will always sit down and agree before we go to the public.”

• From right: Sokoto State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Alhaji Bala Hassan Abubakar, Speaker of House of Assembly Lawal Zayyana, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji and Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi at APC stake holders meeting in Sokoto.

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THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

POLITICS Former Minister of State for Defence Chief Demola Seriki is contesting for the Senate in the Lagos West District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and Correspondent MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on his agenda for his constituency, the succession battle in Lagos State, the agitation for special status for Lagos and the chances of the party at the polls.

Why I’m contesting for Senate, by Seriki W

HAT is your assessment of the political situation in Lagos?

We are in a political transition and the political weather is picking up right now.

Why are you aspiring to go to the Senate?

I have been a member of the APC for more than four years. I was a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) from 1999 to 2000. I joined the People Democratic Party (PDP) in 2000 and left the party in December 2011. However, why am I interested in the Senate? This is the third time I am running for the Senate. I contested with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 1992. I was then the National Republican Convention (NRC) flag bearer.

I ran for the Senate in 2007. Now, this is the third time. Going to the Senate is a life time ambition.

Actually, Lagos State is huge in terms of population and in terms of infrastructure. It is also huge in terms of being cosmopolitan. We have more than a 100,000 people coming to Lagos every week and only one person will leave to go and stay in another state or country. When you compare the figure 99,999 to one, the figure is so enormous. As a result, Lagos State requires special treatment and support. Therefore, all the stakeholders must be carried along. This requires an eloquent programme; it requires an outstanding senator. No matter how brilliant a governor might be, without the Federal Government support, he will not achieve much. Babatunde Fashola (BRF) has done well; he rode on the platform of Asiwaju. We call BRF the actualizer. As a result, we need someone who will improve on it. We need someone who will come and become a legacy. At the same time, we need to canvass for a special status for Lagos. We should have a Ministry of Lagos Affairs at the federal level. Look at the small bridge linking Onikan to Victoria Island; it is becoming very weak. It was built over 50 years ago. When it was built population was not this much. There is the need to get an alternative bridge that will be wider and decongest traffic. Why can’t we build a suspension bridge? It will be higher and wider. That will help to control the traffic. Since Asiwaju Tinubu in 1992, no Senator from Lagos has been a member of budget committee. We need somebody who can properly articulate the position of Lagos. That is why I want to run for the Senate.

You have been associated with Lagos Central for a long time. Why the sudden shift to Lagos West?

If you go through my life story, I started primary school in Agege. When my father decided to take me to Agege, he built the house there in 1954. You can image if you have a House on Abeokuta Motor Road. There was nobody who had built on the Abeokuta Motor Road at that time before 1960. Anything built on that road before 1960 cannot be a house. I was not born when my father built that house level building.

He raised the house after the civil war. We used to go there; it was like our country home because there was no land in Lagos Island. I am a Lagosian; I can claim any town or village in this state. I cannot say because I have been playing politics here or there, I cannot do it the other places. We people of Nigeria must change this understanding. Again, we are not like Ogun State, where an Egba man cannot run in Ijebu and an

‘Babatunde Fashola (BRF) has done well; he rode on the platform of Asiwaju. We call BRF the actualizer. As a result, we need someone who will improve on it. We need someone who will come and become a legacy. At the same time, we need to canvass for a special status for Lagos. We should have a Ministry of Lagos Affairs at the federal level’ • Seriki

Ijebu man or woman cannot run in Egba land.

Lagos is cosmopolitan. Look at Ganiyu Solomon, he went to Ikorodu to go and contest election. You cannot fault him because his mother is from there. That is Lagos for you. I am from Agege, I am from Ojokoro, and our family compound is the biggest in Badagry. In fact, I have a choice between Lagos and Badagry. Asiwaju knows very well that I am also from Badagry.

Even Lagos East, Isheri, I am connected there.

The other time my cousin died Senator Gbenga Ashafa and one of our party men, Alhaji Mutiu Are, were with me in Isheri. We are the real Isheri. If you Google Lagos history, all of us are Awori. The original settlers and the first place of settlement was Isheri, Ago Ijaiye that is our compound. I can run from anywhere I choose to run.

I started my politics from Lagos Island because that was where I was residing; it is my official address anywhere I go in the world.

If you look at states that are very cosmopolitan in the USA, you discover that they flow easily in the political terrain. Lagos is like New York State.

That is why you see Robert Kennedy coming from Massachusetts to run in New York as a senator in the 1960s. When he left as the Attorney-General, after his brother’s demise, he was a senator in New York State. In fact he was a sitting senator when he ran for the Presidency in 1967 and he was shot in 1968. Hilary Clinton is another good example.

You are not the only one in the race. The Deputy Governor is warming up; people are also saying that the governor is interested. What is assurance that you will beat them at the primaries?

I have consulted Governor Fashola as the number one citizen of our state. We have lots of respect for each other. He is my Aburo, but he is our father in Lagos State today. We have two major fathers in Lagos State, the royal father and the government father. Fashola is the government father; Oba Rilwan Akiolu is the royal fa-

ther of Lagos. May he live long! I have contacted him. I have consulted Governor Fashola too. I even consulted the deputy governor, but she told me she is in the race too. So be it, the more the merrier. I am quite positive.

God forbid, if I don’t emerge I’ll still remain a loyal party man. I have the preparedness for the office. I know how Abuja functions very well and I have a network. I know very well God has given me the eloquent courage and I believe with that I have a better chance. I don’t see anybody close to me in terms of networking in Abuja. Those going to Senate today, going by my last count, we have former governors and former ministers. People at that level go there, you only have one deputy governor and he served only one term. It is a level for those who are really nationalistic in their thinking. We need personalities like that from Lagos. Just like the ones we had in New York. People like Robert Kennedy, Hilary Clinton. The United States government bailed out New York City mass transit 30 per cent. Hilary Clinton made it 70 per cent and that is her strongest legacy. That is what I want to achieve for my state. I want to bring urban mass transit here. I want a rail line that will be powered by energy. We must make use of our waterways. We have to generate income from every container that comes into our state.

The multinationals are not doing enough for Lagos State. We must get them to do more. This will be done through social responsibility act.

From their income, they must have certain percentage for development. It is not something that we have to be appealing; it has to come through act of parliament. When this becomes a law, it is easier to implement. I have been a Minister and this was not by accident. So, I know what it takes to execute budgetary allocation.

Many of our infrastructures have been abandoned. Since Lagos ceased to be capital of Nigeria, it has suffered. These are the challenges on ground; we need a Senator who is prepared. We need someone who has the knowledge of the

workability of Abuja. And that is where I want to belong.

Have you consulted your party leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu?

There is no way I would have taken this decision without consulting him. It’s impossible. I consulted him both here and outside. I was a local government chairman; I started my political career from ward level. Between 1978 and 1979, before I went abroad, I was assistant ward secretary. I was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. I tried to run for Senate in the AD, myself Biola Johnson, Terry Coker, I was so sure that I will win. But, Asiwaju came back from Ibadan and said gentle men Tokunbo must return to the Senate. But, later two of them became commissioners under me. Biola Johnson and Terry Coker were commissioners. I later became Minister and that is destiny for you. I was a local government chairman on the PDP platform. I was secretary of disciplinary committee of the PDP. I was Vice Chairman Lagos Central. I am sure you are aware of how I managed the congress in our party. When we were having our congress I did everything to rectify where we envisaged problem. So, Asiwaju believes in me; that I will not compromise merit and facts. All things were done in accordance to my conscience.

What is your advice to the party leadership and aspirants ahead of the primaries?

This is the first time we will have plethora of candidates collecting forms. Asiwaju has now stepped down a lot of things on the control of party, unlike when it was Action Congress of Nigeria. Now, the party has expanded and lots of interests are involved. We have the likes of Akinwunmi Ambode, Obafemi Hamzat, Leke Pitan, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Ganiyu Solomon is in the race. The party should toe the line of democracy. People outside perceive us as always imposing, let everybody go and try his best.

Whoever can make every effort to outdo the other candidates will emerge. The day Ambode declared was a great day and I was able to witness a lot of things. The speaker Ikuforiji declared yesterday, it was a great day too. The more the merrier. People should not engage in politics or campaign of abuse or acrimony. That is my own plea to our members. I have managed parties at the local and state levels, so you cannot tell me how parties function. I will not disparage anybody in the race. Ajiboso and others in the race are formidable candidates. I don’t have to disparage. Again, the position of the law is available to me. Of course, it is immoral for a serving Permanent Secretary to be running for public office. I think in a normal society, the first thing is to resign. Where you have a Permanent Secretary throwing money around, where did he get the money from? I think the governor should look into that and call her to order. I don’t think it is proper for the civil service.

Should the party conduct primaries for the presidential election or go for a consensus candidate?

I have to be very careful in giving opinion in some areas. All I know is that we have to appear above board. Anything short of that, we are playing into the lion den.

2015: Yobe APC endorses Gaidam for governor

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• Gaidam

OBE State All Progressives Congress (APC) has en dorsed Governor Ibrahim Gaidam as its governorship candidate for next year’s election.

Speaking with reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, the party’s secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Bakabe, said the governor has lived up to expectation in his first term.

He said: “The decision was reached by party stakeholders, including national and state legislators, party elders, ward, local government and state leaders.

“All party stakeholders, political groups and associations have collectively endorsed the governor as the party’s governorship candidate “The stakeholders took the decision in the spirit of continuity of the laudable achievements recorded in road construction, housing, education,

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

healthcare delivery, job and wealth creation by the Gaidam Administration.”

“The developments recorded across the state has earned Governor Gaidam a ticket for another term of office.

“Having tested and trusted the governor of which he performed creditably well, the stakeholders resolved that it was necessary and duty bound for the governor to seek re-election and, deserve another term of office.”

Bakabe commended trade unions and associations, which showed interest in the governor ‘s re-election bid.

He said: “APC appreciates the love and concern the good people of Yobe have shown in continuity of the development strides of the Gaidam ad-

ministration and the need for the governor o run for another term of office” the statement added.

“The party also appreciateS the support and cooperation extended by the people to the party and the APC government.”

The Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs, Abdullahi Bego, refuted claims that the governor was in custody of nomination forms for governorship and senatorial forms.

Bego said his principal has no direct influence on the sale of forms, adding that the forms are with party leaders.

He said the allegation that the governor is in charge of the process by some elders is false.

The governor’s aide said the allegation was malicious and concorted to cause disaffection in the party.

Bego added: “What does the gov-

ernor has to do with those forms? The forms are under the control of the party headquarters in Abuja and the branch of the party in the state.

“The governor does not control or issue any forms. Interestingly, those who made the allegation have not mentioned the person or persons who told them the forms are with the governor. And it is simple common sense that the governor cannot be the one issuing out or holding nomination forms which are in the possession ofparty executives.

“In addition, the person who made the allegation, Mohammed Gaskanta, is not an elder from Yobe Zone C. He does not speak on behalf of any APC elder in Yobe Zone C. I am from Yobe Zone C and I can tell you that Gaskanta does not speak for anybody from my Zone. He knew his troubles in the party and he just want to be noticed, that’s all.”

THE NATION TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 4,, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

A compromised IG? •The legal thing to do is restore Speaker Tambuwal’s security detail

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HOUGH long speculated and expected, it was only natural that the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable AminuTambuwal, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 28 would create serious political ripples.

Despite the resultant verbal cross-fire, especially between the two parties, the politicians have conducted themselves with uncharacteristic restraint and respect for the law on the matter.

For instance, there was no pandemonium on the floor of the House after the Speaker’s bombshell. He still adjourned proceedings peacefully as the legitimate Speaker. Speaking after an emergency meeting of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to consider the development, the party’s National Publicity

‘Even if this grovelling unprofessionalism earns Mr Suleiman Abba the confirmation he craves, it will be at the cost of grossly devaluing his professional integrity and effectiveness.

His only redeeming grace will be to urgently restore Honourable Tambuwal’s security aides for as long as he remains Nigeria’s number four citizen’

Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, demanded Tambuwal’s resignation as Speaker since the PDP controls a majority in the House. According to him, “After a thorough consideration of the matter, the NWC came to the conclusion that the Honourable Speaker as a responsible elected officer knows full well what is needful and honourable of him since his new party is in the new minority”.

Sounding a similar note, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said “He should do the needful as there is no crisis in the PDP. Tambuwal has only been a member of PDP by mouth.

He has been associating with the opposition”. On his part, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Leo Ogor, also of the PDP said that the party would await the verdict of the judiciary on the legality or otherwise of a legislator defecting from one party to the other.

All these PDP chieftains are obviously aware that Tambuwal is still the legitimate and legal Speaker of the House until he is removed in accordance with constitutional stipulations. Against this background, how do we explain the hasty action of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, who has withdrawn Tambuwal’s security detail, claiming that the latter is no more a member of the House according to his own interpretation of Section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 constitution. He feigns ignorance of the fact that 37 PDP members of the House who had earlier defected to the APC remain members of the legisla-

ture as a judicial interpretation of Section 68 (1) (g) of the constitution is being awaited. Rather, he has chosen to do violence to the constitution by usurping the functions of the judiciary.

It is amazing that Mr Abba, who is a lawyer, is oblivious of the fact that the Speaker of the House can only be removed in accordance with Section 50 (2) of the constitution which requires a resolution passed by votes of not less than two thirds majority of members of the House.

Furthermore, by his glaring bias and partisanship, the Acting IG has seriously undermined the credibility of his office.

Despite defecting along with her colleagues from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP last month, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Honourable Jumoke Akindele, retains her security details. That is also the case with the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Fintiri, who has undertaken a voyage from the PDP to the APC and back to the PDP without police harassment.

Could the Acting IG have taken this action without the knowledge of President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed him?

It is unlikely. This is another serious blow to the image and dignity of the presidency.

Even if this grovelling unprofessionalism earns Mr Suleiman Abba the confirmation he craves, it will be at the cost of grossly devaluing his professional integrity and effectiveness. His only redeeming grace will be to urgently restore Honourable Tambuwal’s security aides for as long as he remains Nigeria’s number four citizen.

Open management, please •Independent manager should take over administration of the Federation Account

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HE call by the chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, for an independent manager of the Federation Account is well thought out and deserves active consideration by federal lawmakers. Mr. Mbam, who spoke while receiving a Kenyan delegation led by the chairman of the country’s Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee of the National Assembly, Njoroge Baiye, said the creation of such an office would reduce the tension between the three tiers of government. He described the situation whereby the Accountant-General of the Federal Government whose loyalty is to the federal executive is also the accountant managing the Federation Account as the basis for the current mutual suspicion among the governments.

It is difficult to fault the logic. The major agency responsible for collecting the revenue accruing to the Federation Account is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Its leadership is constituted by the Federal Government and reports to the Minister of Petroleum Resources who is a member of the Federal Executive Council. And, in turn, the manager of the account is another key appointee of the Federal Government who reports to the President as the Chief Executive of the Federation. It has thus led to friction and conflict between the state governments and the Federal Government, with the states arguing that the NNPC has continued to under-remit to the Federation Account. In the past two

years, in particular, the argument has been recurring and many times, the states refused to accept their allocations.

Consequently, salaries have been delayed and capital projects stalled.

We support Mr. Mbam’s call because in this age and time, openness and transparency should be the watchword. The Office of an Independent AccountantGeneral of the Federation with a guaranteed tenure and in whose appointment the states have a say should be created without further delay. He would feel less obliged to do the bidding of the Federal Government.

Even in developed countries where institutions of state are less susceptible to government manipulation, major national investigations are pulled out from the bureaucracy and handed to independent investigators. A case in point was the investigation of the sexual harassment charge against the United States’ President Bill Clinton. The attorney general had to appoint an independent investigation that indicted the President.

In a federation run in accordance with the principles of federalism as spelt out

by Professor K. C. Wheare, no tier of government should be superior to the other.

It is yet to be understood even by government officials, that allocations to federating units from the Federation Account are not dole-outs by the Federal Government. The NNPC has no right to withhold remittances and where this is done, it is an infraction of the law and should be so treated.

Consistently, since 1999, the RMAFC has been doing a lot of work, pointing out Federal Government’s wrongdoings; yet, states have continued to complain about deliberate underfunding. Another variant of the complaint is that some states are deliberately starved of funds because they are controlled by the opposition parties, while those belonging to the ruling party enjoy special relationship with the federal executive. Evidence has not been adduced in support of this, but it stemmed out of suspicion and lack of transparency.

We call on the National Assembly to consider the necessary amendment to the constitution that would engender trust among the tiers of government and promote the Rule of Law in all transactions in the country.

‘We support Mr. Mbam’s call because in this age and time, openness and transparency should be the watchword. The Office of an Independent Accountant-General of the Federation with a guaranteed tenure and in whose appointment the states have a say should be created without further delay. He would feel less obliged to do the bidding of the Federal Government’

A leader for a time like this

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IR: All the history books I have read tell me that when a nation is in crisis a great leader must emerge to reposition and restructure the system for the better. I recall the great depression in the 1930s in the United States and how Franklin D. Roosevelt had a turning point in his political career when he was elected the President of the United States in 1932. The 1929/30 great depression provided an opportunity for him to emerge. America was in deep economic crisis. Millions lost their jobs as factories closed down. The banking system collapsed. There was total loss of faith in America. They needed a great and strong President. They voted in Roosevelt.

He gave Americans the New Deal.

Nigeria is today at cross roads and something needs to give way. From all indications, from all angles and from all calculations it is obvious now that if we continue with PDP and President Jonathan, the Nigerian Titanic may hit the iceberg. Corruption is threatening our political, economic and social life. Investment funds are in private pockets, the system is not working and people who deserve nothing are pocketing billions and are asking us to go to hell. They abuse us on a daily basis, threatening our lives and dare us to challenge them. Great countries all over the world have been built through discipline and hard work but corruption has torn great nations down.

Insecurity has become the greatest problem facing Nigeria. Boko Haram has killed nearly 12,000 Nigerians, young and old in the past six years, and yet the end is not in sight. The insurgents have made our security agencies including our once highly rated Army to look like a rag-tag army. Our soldiers now run away from these insurgents. Today we hear of mutinies, we hear of our soldiers being captured and disarmed and we hear of recruits disobeying Generals in the army. This nonsense must stop. This national drift must stop now or Nigeria goes under.

In 1999, the PDP-led federal government met more than 3000 mega watts (MW) of electricity and after almost 15 years, Nigeria has gone under 3000MW despite the obvious and painful truth that we have invested billions of dollars in the power sector.

Again, never in the history of this country has a sitting Head of State played up ethnic and religious politics the way President Jonathan has done. He has completely divided Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines, pitching Christianity against Islam, leaders against leaders, youths against youths, fathers against fathers and mothers against mothers.

Crude oil theft under President Jonathan has assumed a frightening dimension. Never in the history of this country have we had it so bad. This year alone this country lost huge crude oil to oil thieves, more than what we have lost in the last five-years.

Abuse of power and privileges is another tangible reason why Nigerians must reject Jonathan as President beyond 2015. We saw this in Ekiti State; we saw it in Ondo State. We saw it in Anambra State, Adamawa, Osun, Nasarawa, Niger States etc. These are states where PDP has interest and they are ready to sink the boat to get what they want. The Speaker House of Reps just moved from PDP to APC and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered the withdrawal of his security details. Now, did IGP withdraw Security details from Mimiko, Peter Obi and the national legislators from Anambra State who moved to PDP? May I suggest that our elder statesmen, Council of States and other stakeholders look for a strong President in 2015 if they still believe in the project Nigeria? The nation deserves a strong, disciplined and committed leadership in 2015.

• Joe Igbokwe Lagos

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

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

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

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

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: With the advent of the Internet and the diversification of communication technology, letter-writing appears to be teetering on the edge of extinction.

Unarguably, the current revolution in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), through electronic mail and telephony, has eroded the relevance of letter-writing and postage stamps from our globe. Nowadays, more and more people are becoming accustomed to instant messaging as communication technology advances. Consequently, the conveyance of thoughts and feelings via the Internet has become the current trend in the communication world.

The emergence of the Internet and the improvements in ICT are, no doubt, meritorious technological feats. For instance, email is a much quicker means of written communication. Also, email can be sent from anywhere, and it allows one the benefit of sending the same message to different people at the same time, provided there is an Internet connection.

It is indisputable, and somewhat regrettable, that many teen-

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

ICT and the dying art of letter-writing agers are not knowledgeable about postage stamps and their uses. Accustomed to sending messages and emails with their mobile phones via the Web, a great many Nigerians hardly visit post offices to send letters anymore. Thus, this has belittled the relevance and importance of postage stamps and letterwriting in Nigeria. This, in turn, has become a source of worry to the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), which is responsible for the designing and printing of postage stamps in Nigeria.

In addition, the dying art of letter-writing has made inroads into the writing skills of the youth.

Having to send messages via social networking sites, many Nigerian youth have thrown the ethics of writing letters to the wind. They

can hardly write good constructions nor can they spell correctly because of the meaningless abbreviations they employ when exchanging online messages. Hence, the actual meaning of the message is distorted owing to the hieroglyphic abbreviations.

In the modern world, a prerequisite for employment in any firm is a letter of employment, which encapsulates an applicant’s educational background, reason(s) for seeking employment, among others. Lamentably, many a Nigerian graduate has not mastered and internalized the rudiments of letter-writing. This invariably results in the submission of poorly written articles, riddled with grammatical solecisms, during job-hunting. It is no wonder that some job-

Fayose, it’s time to work IR: In the last few weeks, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has dissipated so much energy trading words with his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi, over how Ekiti State, has been badly run and why things are bound to go from bad to worse. Almost on a daily basis, the media is awash with how state resources have been wasted on white elephant projects, mismanaged and channeled into wrong use thus portraying the last administration as being wasteful, insensitive, ‘after self comfort’ and terribly corrupt.

Ordinarily, one should not be too surprised by such actions as politicians are used to raising false alarms, discrediting their opponents and showcasing what they

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perceive as the dark side of their political rivals and hopefully, garner public sympathy.

While it is completely not out of place for a new government to appraise the situation on ground with a view to working towards effective service delivery and good governance, the way Fayose is going about his seems to be completely different.

The governor should turn a new leaf in the interest of his people, avoid unnecessary distractions, jettison primordial sentiments and face the enormous task of governance. This is not what Ekiti needs now.

He should reconsider his approach, leave rhetoric and settle down for work. Time is fast run-

ning out. He could investigate the affairs of the last administration if Fayemi truly has any case to answer. Afterall, the former governor has offered to defend himself when the need arises.

Lastly, the governor should show more decorum in his public engagements. Or, how do we explain what played out a few days ago when the governor reportedly wept after prostrating for primary and secondary school teachers for not abandoning him since his impeachment in 2006 ?

This is simply unbecoming, Mr. Governor!

• Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,

seekers even copy sample employment letters from English-language textbooks.

Since antiquity, letter-writing has been a dignified art. It was—and still remains—one of the strongest weapons with which greats and legends used in effecting positive changes in history.

Letters have been the most suitable form of communication that reveals man’s innermost beauty, and help to express his thoughts and ideas clearly and explicitly. However, the beautiful art of letter-writing has been completely eclipsed

by the leviathan of computing, the Internet.

Therefore, as part of the measures taken to revive this moribund art, I suggest that the public be enlightened about the importance and benefits of postage stamps and letters. The revolution in ICT is great, no doubt. But must we watch helplessly as it erodes our culture and deprave the minds of our younger generation? Also, the Nigerian Postal Service, whilst ensuring a quick and efficient delivery of parcels, should work in conjunction with secondary schools and youth development centres in getting Nigerian youth interested in letter-writing. Creating writing competitions and granting scholarships to successful competitors will also help to revitalize and promote the culture of letter-writing.

• Kingsley Charles, University of Calabar.

SOS to Rivers State government

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IR: It is of utmost necessity I express our concern over the non-payment of monthly upkeep and accommodation allowances to students sent on scholarship by the Rivers State government through the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to study in various universities around the globe, especially to those of us currently studying in the United Kingdom. It has been five months since we last received our allowances. The last time we received bank alert was June 2014 which was eventually paid in September 2014.

Ever since then (July – November), students have been living under hardship with little or no support from our poor parents back home who are now passing through the hurdles of sending money to us abroad when the reverse is supposed to be the case. All calls to the

office have proved abortive as they keep making promises, hence the need for the peoples’ voice as our last resort.

In consequence to our unremitted funds, students have been stranded, disorganised and some are evicted from their flat (s) because they are unable to honour the contract signed with their respective landlords and if not for the help of other students (who also are at risk of being evicted from their homes if their rents are not paid in anytime soon) they would have been homeless and forced to live in refugee camps.

I am writing this open letter to all those that matter in government in Rivers State to please come to our aid especially now that the 2015 general election is fast approaching.

• Danny J. United Kingdom.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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COMMENTS To start with, by Section IPPLES’ candid view: Aminu 50(1)(b) of the 1999 Tambuwal, Speaker of the House Constitution, the Speaker is the of Representatives, should have exclusive business of the resigned his speakership.

House. So, is the IGP (or even From the Peoples Democratic Party the president) a member of the (PDP) camp, now busy shopping for House? So, how come both sympathy, and howling “betrayal”, that have convinced (more of view would be “balanced and objective”; colluded with) themselves the or even “patriotic”.

Speaker has been removed, From the All Progressives Congress Olakunle and so should forfeit his right (APC), celebrating a big political catch, lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola to official security by law, if Ripples would be guilty of “empty both don’t suffer from grand idealism” and perhaps culpable executive delusion? ignorance of the realpolitik.

Then even the law the IGP But both views would amount to cant. glibly quoted: Section 68(1)(g), Principles are constant. But cant is the which says a House member chameleon that changes with the season, That, of course, brings the debate to the purported withdrawal loses his seat if he left his party for another, provided there even if it has to risk high unreason, bordering on patent of security from the office of Speaker — not because he has was no division in the party or merger with another party. absurdity.

Now, where was our IGP when Labour Party MPs defected been deposed as Speaker, but because he has defected from the By convention, the party with the majority provides the to PDP, even with no division in their party? The same law he majority party.

Speaker — democracy is, after all, majority rule. So, Alhaji To start with, there is an eerie similarity between Sulaiman brandished with a flourish at the Speaker died then, just because Tambuwal ought to have stepped down because it is decent, Abba, acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and his the president was pleased with the defection to his own party? because it is honourable, because it is fair. commander-in-chief, President Goodluck Jonathan, in the so- So, it is some Animal Farm, where some animals are more But which of the opposing sides plays by decency, plays by equal than others? called withdrawal of the Speaker’s security details. honour, plays by fairness? And if overwhelming bad faith is Of course, partisan opinion is divided on whether a division The one wants to be confirmed IGP at all cost; the other wants the grundnorm, why would a partisan play by good faith — to exists in the PDP. The ruling party hierarchs love to flaunt a to win in 2015 at all cost.

So, it is meet that the subversive order commit partisan suicide?

— subversive of the law — emanated from the Concert of the court verdict that there was nothing like “New PDP”. They To the emotive and non-introspective, therefore, the Desperate, into which the duo fits pat! Whenever desperation follow that up to kid themselves there was no division in the Tambuwal affair is a PDP vs. APC tango. In a way, it is — to party. But if there was no division, how come five governors is sighted, bad judgement is never far away. the extent that the one got a net-loss and the other, a net-gain.

(Sokoto, Rivers, Kano, Kwara and Adamawa — now reclaimed Besides, it is tribute to Jonathan’s presidential focus that even But dig deeper, and what you see is the unconscionable face of by gunboat impeachment) left the party for APC? as Boko Haram swooped over Mubi in Adamawa, the commanderNigerian politics, and its rotten, smelly core! That ought to The opposition APC has even upped the ante, pushing forth in-chief was swooping over a presidential nomination form impress the perceptive, much more than partisan gains or for a job he has clearly proved his inability; and was also two Federal High Court judgments: Justice Faji, in Ilorin, that losses. held there were indeed factions in the PDP; and Justice Aikawa, gracelessly settling partisan scores with the Speaker.

Take the PDP that now screams blue murder. What moral in Sokoto, which not only affirmed that there was a division On what basis was the IGP giving that illegal order?

That right has it to do so: because it boasts better morality when but also held that the resulting faction merged with APC. Alhaji Tambuwal is no longer Speaker?

That definitely is not similar situations are to its own rogue advantage?

So, if these judgments are real, where stands the PDP position true, for no parliamentary session has deposed him.

And if he Mulikat Adeolu-Akande, the House Leader, was quoted as that factions never existed simply because of the legal sophistry is still Speaker, does the IGP, even if the president gives him an saying that the with Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko’s illegal order, have the right to summarily strip the No. 4 citizen that no “New PDP existed”? And where stands the IGP defection to PDP, all eight Labour Party (LP) members of the precipitate order to strip the Speaker of his security, simply of his security, his right by law?

House of Representatives “automatically” (and Ripples adds, because Mr. President is boiling?

If that were so, then it would be dangerous indeed: for maybe seamlessly) become PDP members — just like that? And there Let President Jonathan and fellow PDP hierarchs boil all they some day, someone, somewhere could “order” the IGP to was even no split in LP! want. They are only a victim of their own impunity. The rich summarily withdraw the president’s security details too!

And Now, if the House Leader is so sloppy in her sense of by pure logic, why not? If a mere policeman can deny the No. also cry! proprietary, why should others be more scrupulous — because But let them be wary of, as Jonathan always does when he 4 citizen his legally guaranteed security, on some phantom the majority is now the victim? Or because PDP can ripple its appears trapped, rushing to wield power, without recourse to law he lacks the capacity to correctly interpret, he could also as majority muscles to threaten others, or corral illicit orders the law that created that power. That would reinforce the well deny the No. 1, citizen, the president, of his too! from the Police high command to impose its will? ultimate futility of impunity and doom them to crises like the Outrageous? That is the risk you take when, by reflex but Tambuwal affair, if not the eventual collapse of the democratic unreflective actions, you try to undermine the institutions of project.

‘Let President Jonathan and fellow state.

As for APC, let them too be wary of playing the politics of But back to the basic argument: ought Speaker Tambuwal cant, and play more of the politics of principle. It is such PDP hierarchs boil all they want. have remained Speaker, after defecting from his majority party? penchant to play in the PDP sewers that fuels the rising opinion On moral grounds, Ripples thinks not. But the legality or that APC differs from PDP as six differs from half-a-dozen.

They are only a victim of their own otherwise of it is much more complex, all the more complicated APC, if it really wants to deliver change, cannot afford such impunity’ by the mala fide all round. conceptual putdown.

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epublican ipples

Tambuwal and the integrity question

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T was expected that the purveyors of the morality of the specious kind would seek to muddle the issues involved in the defection of House of Representatives Speaker, the Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal in their bid to exact brutal assault of the constitution of the republic.

From the look of things, the bizarre act, by the acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, of stripping the Speaker of his security details merely presents a foretaste of more brazen acts of impunity by an increasingly out-of-control administration.

Let me at once state that of all the arguments that have been made on the defection of the Number 4 citizen, the most seductive one has been the one which goes that the Speaker ought to have vacated his seat the very moment he announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Tuesday October 28 – on moral grounds!

Morality? Who is talking morality? The matadors of power for whom everything is game?

I digress.

The issue here is the status Rt. Hon Tambuwal. To be clear, the argument of the partisans, including our hordes of netizens that the Speaker ought to have done the ‘needful’ the very moment he opted to part ways with the party that sponsored him into parliament is neither here nor there. To the extent that he has done nothing of their expected “needful” – on moral or immoral grounds – he remains Speaker of the House of Representatives!

I have heard, and I find it ingenious as well as amusing, the argument that section 68 (1) (g) is self-actuating!

That the provision deems the Speaker to have vacated his seat as a member of the House and by extension his position as speaker the very moment he defected from his former party! I daresay that the position is a new one –an unfathomable constitutional absurdity as we shall see presently.

Now, let’s proceed from the known. We start with Section 68(1) (g). It says: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if; (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored”.

So what to do in the case of a breach of that provision?

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

An enforcer on rampage?

Here is what the constitution says in Section 68(2): “The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member”.

Not being a lawyer, my understanding of the foregoing is that the constitution leaves no room for the rule of arbitrariness under which an extraneous party would hide to foist the rule of mischief. Not only is the section clear about the authority to declare any seat vacant, it establishes the rule of the process to be followed. That process obviously begins and terminates in the House while disputes and controversies arising there from are expected to be settled at the courts!

Which is what makes the directive of Jonathan’s enforcer, Suleiman Abba, inexplicable. My humble view is that Nigerians should do a textual analysis of the IG’s statement. For the records, here is what it text said: “In

view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)” and, “Having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office”.

Whose office? The office of Tambuwal or the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives? This is where I detect a plot more sinister than what most people presently understand it to be. For if it seems barely understandable that Tambuwal would be summarily tried, convicted and sentenced in the court of IG Abba to please his PDP taskmasters, that the entire institution of the House that would be put in abeyance under the authority of the IG would pass for less than tolerable!

Now, we know what the law says. For emphasis, the process of declaring a seat vacant begins with a member first presenting evidence that is satisfactory to the House.

The same rule presumes that members would deliberate on the evidence after which it would then pronounce a verdict. That is the law. As for the position of the Speaker, the rule of the House is no less clear: the members require two-third majority to remove the Speaker. And if I may add, the business of removing Tambuwal or declaring his seat vacant lies between the House and the courts!

The fact that neither Abba nor his PDP sponsors belong to either makes their desperation despicable. Worse is that an officer sworn to uphold the law has shown such a degree of bias that borders on impunity.

If you ask me, I will urge that the Senate make the IGP’s cup to pass over Suleiman Abba. He seems better cut out for Wadata Plaza – the abode of intrigues, headquarters and home of Impunity Incorporated. To confirm him as chief of police at these difficult times is to grant an open licence to impunity! Nigeria deserves a better top cop.

‘Not being a lawyer, my understanding of the foregoing is that the constitution leaves no room for the rule of arbitrariness under which an extraneous party would hide to foist the rule of mischief. Not only is the section clear about the authority to declare any seat vacant, it establishes the rule of the process to be followed. That process obviously begins and terminates in the House while disputes and controversies arising there from are expected to be settled at the courts!’

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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COMMENTS

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LOBAL leader in credit ratings and research, Fitch Ratings, recently upgraded Lagos State’s national longterm rating to ‘AA+ (nga)’ from ‘AA (nga)’, thus giving the state a stable outlook . Fitch equally confirmed the state’s long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB-‘with stable outlooks and its short-term foreign currency IDR at ‘B’.

Its N275 billion MTN programme, together with its N57.5 billion and N80 billion bonds, which mature in 2017 and 2019, respectively, were also affirmed at ‘BB-‘ and upgraded to ‘AA+(nga)’ from ‘AA(nga)’.

The rating action reflects the following rating drivers and their relative weights: High: Management and Administration: Fitch believes that Lagos management is becoming progressively more sophisticated. Fitch equally rates the state high on debt management, which has improved with longer bond tenures and more loans from development banks.

The Fitch’s upgrade is a further testimony to the state’s continued firm operating performance, enhanced transparency and renewed efforts towards an increasingly urbane and transparent administration, which is favorable to increasing private sector investments. With a local GDP accounting for 20%-25% of the national GDP, Lagos is a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy. Domestic production is fuelled by its diversified economy as a commercial hub in the country, with service, construction, transport and industry making up 80% of the local economy. Fitch believes that

On Lagos’ Fitch ratings

By Tayo Ogunbiyi Lagos’ socio-economic indicators will further improve as local GDP growth is expected to out-perform the estimated national GDP growth of 7%-8% in 2014.

To keen watchers of events in the country, the Lagos’ Fitch ratings do not come as a surprise. Today, Lagos remains a benchmark for budget implementation and performance in the country. The Fashola administration’s first two budgets were particularly indicative of the government’s plan to address infrastructure deficit in the state. In 2008, for instance, the state government budgeted 60.05 percent for capital expenditures and 39.5 percent recurrent expenses while in 2009 capital outlay was 63 percent while recurrent spending was 37 percent. In the 2010 budget, capital and recurrent expenditures stood at a ratio of 59 and 41percent respectively.

In terms of commitment to budget performance, the state government has also recorded high successes that reflect not less than 70 percent annual budget performance. For instance, in 2012 and 2013, the state’s budget recorded 89 percent and 85 percent performance respectively. The idea of quarterly budget assessment speaks volume of the pro-activeness of the state government as it affords a scientific basis of

It is, however, remarkable that the state government has continued to perform its statutory obligations on all fronts, irrespective of declining federal allocations. It is to the state’s credit that the idea and the compelling benefits of paying tax have become a way of life for the people of the state. Through the Lagos experience, it has been proven that, by developing a tax based economy; it is possible for a state to be self-reliant.

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HE Industrial Revolution which began in Britain in the late 18th century marks a turning point in human history as hand production was supplanted by the use of machines. Production took a giant leap leaving in its wake rise in disposable income and consequently enhancement in the standard of living of the people.

If the Industrial Revolution was an economic phenomenon, the Renaissance that preceded it was a cultural-cumknowledge revolution. Renaissance, which commenced in Italy in the 14th century, marked another epoch defined by phenomenal rise in intellectual pursuits and artistic developments.

There’s what may also be pronounced as Media Revolution, an age that birthed what Prof Wole Soyinka described as agencies of instant communication, which convey our march of history in contemporary, real-life tempo. With CNN, Aljazeera, BBC, etc. and Internet, national boundaries are obliterated and geographical distance counts for nothing.

As there are epochs so are individuals which define their times. Thus we can speak of the Pele era in football; the Maradona era; the Messi age. Are there other good footballers? Yes, of course. But you see the likes of Pele, Maradona and Messi once in a generation, sometimes in lifetime. The same can be said of Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson. Yes, there were other good boxers, even great boxers but the two defined their times.

There are leaders whose works created the epochs. Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister, is credited with moving Singapore, a colonial outpost with no natural resources, from the Third World to First World. When you mention Singapore today, the image of Kuan Yew comes to your mind and the thought of Asian Tiger crosses your mind.

The Western Region of Nigeria witnessed its golden years under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the Premier between 1954 and 1959, previously the Leader of Government Business of the Region from 1952.

It was in the Western Region, during the Awo epoch, that agricultural settlements and institutes were first established. It was in this region that a minimum living wage was first introduced in Nigeria, and paid to workers. The first industrial estate and housing estate in Nigeria were established in the Western Nigeria.

The first television service in the whole of Africa was established in the Western Region. Liberty Stadium, established in 1959, was also the first in Nigeria. Steel ballot boxes and security-printed ballot papers were first used in the Western Region at the instance and insistence of the Action Group. Voting by symbol was equally introduced into Nigeria and first used in the Western Region.

Of course, it was in the Western Region that Free Universal Primary Education and Free Health Services for children up to the age of 18 were first introduced in Nigeria.

measuring performance in a consistent manner while putting pressure on government departments and agencies to meet budgetary targets.

Recently, the state government announced an 84 percent third quarter budget performance for the 2014 Budget with an 86 percent cumulative or aggregated performance for the first three quarters of the year covering from January to September.

However, against the backdrop of the very high targets it set, the cumulative performance, still falls short of government expectation. Nevertheless, by many measures, the performance is a tough act to follow in West Africa, if not the whole of Africa. The manifestation is quite visible in the increased number of projects embarked upon by government across the state.

Infrastructure development is critical to achieving human capital development in any society. The economic impact that infrastructure improvement has on nation building cannot be over-emphasised. Considering the statistics that about 85 percent of the people in the world reside in the developing world and transition economies, and with 67 percent of that population below age 35, the need for infrastructure development to support enduring development remains a matter of major concern for all nations of the world.

Without doubt, Lagos leads in terms of putting in place a concise and precise infrastructure development vision and programme in the country. It has demonstrated sincere resolve to tackle the power situation in the state through the delivery of embedded power and energy solutions that has led to the completion of three power plants across the state. Similarly, the state is presently implementing six simultaneous transport solutions namely; Mile 12 – Ikorodu, Lekki-Epe, Lagos – Badagry, Lagos Light Rail, Lagos Ferry and Lagos Cable Car. In terms of housing provision, the state now delivers 200 Housing Units on a

Ogun’s Golden Years

By Soyombo Opeyemi Time and space will certainly fail me to mention more.

That was indeed an era, an epoch that remains indelible in the history of the country. Awo launched the Western Region into its future at the speed of light, ahead of other regions in the country and only some years away from catching up with Europe.

Today, the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun has built the first-ever flyovers by any state government since the creation of Ogun State in 1976. Thirty years after the legendary Chief Bisi Onabanjo introduced free education in Ogun State, it was Senator Ibikunle Amosun that reintroduced the scheme, which has expanded access to education. Amosun is the first to construct world-class model schools for children of public schools, which have made the private schools green with envy.

The governor has constructed the first-ever six-lane international standard roads across the state - complete with modern features such as drains, medians, greenbelts, walkways, street lights, etc. Amosun distributed 500 brand new transformers to bring back to life comatose Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ogun in a single iconic gesture.

It was Governor Amosun that introduced for the very first time in Ogun modern luxury buses, and the first in Nigeria to purchase the very latest technology of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and make the “maximum donation” of security equipment at one fell swoop that the Inspector-General of Police said he had never witnessed “since I have been serving as a Police officer”.

The Amosun administration pays N18,250 as minimum wage, implemented the wage across board, and up to Local Government level, thus making Ogun the only state in Nigeria to do so.

The recently released report of the World Bank, Doing Business in Nigeria 2014, ranked Ogun as one of the top reforming states “that made the biggest strides towards the national frontier of good practices.” The state was ranked lowest overall performers in both 2008 and 2010 reports of the financial institution. Nigeria’s leading business newspaper, Business Day, had in 2013 declared Ogun State as the fastest-growing economy and first choice for industrialists and entrepreneurs among the 36 states in Nigeria. And just a few days ago, The Guardian, says Ogun State has become the hub of industrialization in Nigeria, overtaking

monthly basis with a 10-year mortgage and a maximum interest payment of 9.5 %.

Out of the 10 Mother and Child Centres, planned for the state by the present administration, six have been completed and are fully operational including the AmuwoOdofin MCC which recently became operational. Others are located in Ajegunle, Gbaja in Surulere, Ifako-Ijaiye, Isolo and Ikorodu.

In agriculture, the state has multiplied increments in agricultural outputs in the area of poultry, vegetable, and agro-processing such as rice and cassava milling, transportation.

It is instructive to state that a large proportion of the state’s infrastructural renewal drive is being financed from Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. It is common knowledge that, for various reasons, the statutory allocations to states from the federal purse are now dwindling. It is, however, remarkable that the state government has continued to perform its statutory obligations on all fronts, irrespective of declining federal allocations. It is to the state’s credit that the idea and the compelling benefits of paying tax have become a way of life for the people of the state. Through the Lagos experience, it has been proven that, by developing a tax based economy; it is possible for a state to be self-reliant.

It is in this regards that Lagos is moving along the path of many countries of the world that had recognized that the payment of taxes was the first step to prosperity. It is important to stress that Lagosians are willingly complying with the payment of taxes because government has been able to win their hearts by providing quality public services and spending tax revenues justifiably. This is the best way to build the social contract between citizens and the government. It is, however, important to urge a significant minority of Lagosians in the formal sector who are yet to be persuaded to pay their taxes to come into the tax fold in order to sustain the rising profile of the state, as embedded in the Fitch ratings.

• Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

other states. Time will fail me to talk about investment in free health - Gbomoro and Araya - as well as agriculture.

This phenomenal rise of Ogun State in world’s reckoning just within three years of the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun has been captured in a book, Ogun State: The Golden Years, which will be presented to the public on Sunday, December 7, at the Obas’ Complex, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta. It’s really a day to look forward to as the the event will bring together ‘Who is Who’ in Nigerian politics, sons and daughters of Ogun State, former Heads of State, governors, captains of industry, the diplomatic community, leading academics, media executives, among others.

Someone once told me a story of how disciplined and visionary was his school principal in Ogun State. He said the principal was transferred some years after he graduated with distinction. He later discovered from inquiries about the state of the school after the departure of the wellregarded principal. It was bad news. The new principal, he was told, was reckless with money, undisciplined and loose. This of course, impacted negatively on the school and performance of the students nosedived.

One thought that dominated the discussion during the recent assessment tour of local councils by Governor Amosun was, “If only this scale of infrastructural development can continue for the next 20 years, then Ogun will be like any state or city in Europe.”

Those who are now desperate about power in Ogun have been there before. What did they do? They shared the money and created insecurity. So if they come back again what will they do? They will increase the scale of the sharing and return the state to its inglorious past. The book, Ogun State: The Golden Years, will reveal that even with their culture of rigging, it will be impossible to displace a grassroots politician like Amosun, who has launched Ogun into a new epoch.

•Soyombo is Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Ogun State

‘Those who are now desperate about power in Ogun have been there before. What did they do?

They shared the money and created insecurity. So if they come back again what will they do? They will increase the scale of the sharing and return the state to its inglorious past’

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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NATIONSPORT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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At the root of crime and criminality are a conundrum of predisposing factors, basic of which is lack of provision of food, clothes and shelter for the vast majority of our people and the perception of how our commonwealth is being managed. The average Nigerian is on his or her own, at home or abroad

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

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See page 37

Was last week’s withdrawal of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security aides constitutional?

No, say lawyers. They resoundingly condemned the directive by Acting Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, saying he acted lawlessly. More worrisome, they say, is that such abuse of power poses a threat to democracy, reports PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU.

Inside: ‘Why our criminal law cannot deliver peace’

Page 37

SLP: Court hears suit against NBA today

Page 38

Southeast roads and Jonathan’s re-election

Page 39

Withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security sparks anger

SEE PAGE 26

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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LAW COVER CONT’D

Tambuwal’s security withdrawal sparks anger

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T all began with an announcement by House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal last Tuesday that he was no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Citing the development in his home state, Sokoto, as well his people’s yearnings, he told his colleagues that he had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also attended APC’s convention in Abuja.

Rattled by the development, President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have held an emergency meeting with Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and others. Barely 24 hours after the convention, the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba withdrew Tambuwal’s security details saying that he acted on the basis of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The action, expectedly generated reactions, with lawyers unanimously condemning it. The IGP, they said, cannot interpret the Constitution; only a court can do so. Analysts accused the police of usurping the judiciary’s powers.

Observers have argued that the IGP was not in the position to interpret the Constitution, and that he could only act on the basis of a court order. Many believe Abba was simply acting out the script of the PDP-led Federal Government Election and removal of Speaker Some analysts have seen the withdrawl of Tambuwal’s security as an admission that it may not be easy to remove him from office. Under Section 50(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the senate president or Speaker of the House of Represenhtatives can only be removed by “two-thirds” of all the members of the house, which is 240. Presently, the PDP has 206 members; APC, 151; Accord Party, two and Labour Party one, making a total of 360.

The section states: “The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office (a) where he ceases to be a member of the House while the House has not been dissolved; or (b) where the House of which he was a member first sits after any dissolution; or (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”

According to Section 50(1)(a)(b): “There shall be: (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves,” without stating whether the Speaker must come from the majority party.

The Constitution is not ambiguous on defection of legislators from the platforms they won elections on to another. It expressly gives conditions for legislators to cross-carpet in Section 68(1) and 109(1) for National and State Houses of Assembly.

Section 68(1)(a-g) state the conditions for which a lawmaker ceases to be a member of the National Assembly. Subsection (g) of 68(1) states that a defecting member shall not lose his membership if he proves that the reason for his defection is due to divisions in his former political party or if it merges with any other party.

Currently, PDP’s division is still a subject of litigation. A ‘new PDP’ was at one point created out of the main party, with many lawmakers defecting to APC on that basis.

Several elected officials including some lawmakers in Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Anambra and Edo States recently left the parties on whose platforms they were elected into the various state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly to other parties without losing their seats.

Legislators, including Ehigie Uzamere

•Abba

•Agbakoba

•Oguntade

•Akanwa

(ACN), Uche Ekwunife (APGA), the late Wahab Dosunmu, Adeseye Ogunlewe, Musuliu Obanikoro and Iyiola Omisore all of (AD); Chief Arthur Nzeribe, John Nwanunu and Dr. Usman Kadir of the (ANPP), as well as Satti Godwin (AC) all jumped ship to the PDP and the Federal Government never moved against them.

Recently, Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko defected to the PDP and there was not a fuss.

Tambuwal’s situation has raised the issue of double-standards by state agencies, who, instead of showing loyalty to the people who are their real employers, have resorted to partisan politics and impunity.

PDP and other vs. Honourable Rasak Atunwa and 20 others, in suit No: FHC/ IL/CS/6/2014 delivered on June 26; as well as the case of Ibrahim Magaji Gusau and two others vs Honourable Lawal Mohammed Zyyana and 20 others, in suit No: FHC/ S/CS/4/2014 delivered on July 3.

Tambuwal’s position Challenging the withdrawal of his security details, the Speaker has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order of mandamus against the IGP reinstating his security aides.

He also wants a perpetual injunction restraining the PDP and its National Chairman, Adamu Muazu; the House of Representatives; the Deputy Speaker of the House; the acting IGP; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from taking steps to remove him as Speaker before the expiration of his tenure on June 5, next year.

Tambuwal stated that he had been a member of the ‘New PDP’ when the party became factionalised, adding that his faction of the PDP merged with the APC on November 26, last year. He said by virtue of the merger he became a member of the APC. “I know as a fact that all efforts to harmonise the factions of the PDP in my home state in Sokoto has failed as there are still factions in the state. I informed the members of the 3rd defendant (House of Reps) whilst announcing my decision to join the New PDP faction, which merged with the 2nd plaintiff (APC) that my membership of the 2nd plaintiff was based on the circumstances in my home state,” he said.

He stated that he was aware that the court had in two deferent cases, held that the seats of other former members of the New PDP, who are now members of the APC cannot be declared vacant, citing the case of the

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Lawyers’ speak The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was among groups and individuals who condemned the IGP’s action.

Its President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), in a statement insisted that the police lacked the competence to determine whether or not a provision of the Constitution has been violated.

‘That is a function reserved for the courts of law exclusively. The NBA outrightly condemns this action as it is a breach of the constitutional duty of the police to provide police escort and security details to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Tambuwal still remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives and he is entitled to the full paraphernalia of his office including all his Police escort and security details.

“We must state that the mere fact that Tambuwal defected from one party to the other whilst being the Speaker of the House of Representatives, does not automatically strip him of his position as Speaker and the attendant protection by the Police. The Speaker is not elected by any one political party, but by a majority of members of the House of Representatives,” said NBA. Former NBA President, Olisah Agbakoba (SAN) said the decision to redeploy police personnel attached to the Speaker as a result of his defection is not legal.

Agbakoba said it is honourable for Tambuwal to resign after defecting to another party, failure to which other affected parties can approach the court demanding same.

He said: “What the police has done is to interpret and enforce Section 68(1)(g) on its own. This is unconstitutional because it is the duty of the Court to interpret the constitution, not the police. The duty of the police is to enforce the law.”

Lagos-based lawyer, George Oguntade (SAN) said the IGP misapplied the law in withdrawing Tambuwal’s security, since Abba is not obligated to interpret the con-

When did the IGP become a Court to decide when a seat is vacant? This may be a Freudian Slip admitting PDP’s lack of confidence in its ability to wield its majority to unseat Tambuwal

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stitution on his own volition.

Oguntade said: “I have no doubt in my mind that the action of the Acting IG of Police is wrong and certainly cannot be predicated upon the provisions of Section 68(1) (g) of the Constitution as he purports to do.

“As a preface, it is important to restate that the police institution should detach itself from any involvement in partisan politics. Its constitutional role and functions are clearly delineated. Section 68(1) (g) is quite clear and imposes no duty or obligation whatsoever on the IG of Police.

“In the event that the Speaker does not vacate his seat as the constitution clearly enjoins him to do, the necessary legal machinery will then be invoked to enforce the provisions of the Constitution.

“It is only when he has been lawfully removed by an order of court that he would no longer be entitled to security details and then the acting IG will be entitled to act.

By acting now, the acting IG has acted prematurely and unconstitutional. In my mind, this kind of action does not augur well for the upcoming general elections,” said Oguntade.

To a former General Secretary NBA, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, the IGP by his action constituted himself not only as a court, but also as an executive.

He said: “What the IGP has done is to suo moto pose to himself the scenarios whether there is division in the PDP or a merger, answered his own questions and executed his belief thereby constituting himself not only to be the court, but also the executive.

“Was it not in the news that the chairman of the BOT of PDP was in Sokoto about a week back , with other party heavyweights to reconcile faction? Do you reconcile when there are no division?

These are some of the questions.

“The action of the IGP is unconstitutional, undemocratic, autocratic as he lacks not only the constitutional powers, but also the ability and capability to determine the vacancy or otherwise of the seat of the Speaker.”

Former Lagos State House of Assembly member Babatunde Ogala called it an act of impunity.

“This is impunity for the Police to take the laws into its hands and withdraw the security details of the Speaker, which the law prescribes for his office under some spurious interpretation of the Constitution.

“The police and presidency have no role in this. And it is for the House members to determine that he would no longer be their Speaker by removing him. Neither the presidency nor the police have such powers in law.”

Lagos lawyer and rights’ activist Mr Theophilus Akanwa, said there is nowhere in the Constitution where the IGP is empowered to withdraw the security details of an elected officer not constitutionally removed from office.

“The IGP’s action is in fact, a breach and contravention of the Speaker’s fundamental rights as provided in Chapter IV of the Constitution as it affects his freedom of association. It is only when the Speaker ceases to hold office that his security can be withdrawn. The IGP should be reminded that the security attached to that office is not solely for Tambuwal as a person, but for that exalted office funded by tax-payers’ money. The Speaker’s security should be restored immediately in the interest of our nascent democracy.”

Mr Stephen Azubuike said there is nothing in the law which expressly empowers the IGP to withdraw the security details of any senior government official.

“It is worthy of note that the courts have the exclusive powers to interpret the Constitution and other laws in exercise of the judicial powers conferred by Section 6 of the1999 Constitution. Hence, any controversy as to the position of Tambuwal as the Speaker may be channeled to the court by any concerned person or authority.

“So long as no competent court of law has ordered Tambuwal to vacate office, he remains the Speaker and is absolutely entitled to security details.”

A Lagos lawyer, Mr Chijioke Emeka, said it is all politics, adding: “When did the IGP become a Court to decide when a seat is vacant? This may be a Freudian Slip admitting PDP’s lack of confidence in its ability to wield its majority to unseat Tambuwal. The PDP has consistently shown that its centre cannot hold against the wind of centrifugal forces from its internal contradictions.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

27

FROM THE COURT

Court hears Braithwaite’s N10b suit against bank today

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EARING will resume today in a N10billion suit filed by elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite against a bank at the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

The court presided by Justice Doris Okuwobi would decide whether to allow the claimant lead his witness with the presentation of a video evidence in the matter.

Dr. Braithwaite had approached the court, seeking an order declaring as illegal, the erecting of a 14storey commercial building and multi-level car park by Standard Chartered Bank in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The claimant had told the court that he is uncomfortable with the bank’s installation of giant industrial generators directly opposite his house with the fumes and noise shattering the serenity.

At the last hearing, Braithwaite, through one of his witnesses, had wanted to use an electronic devise to demonstrate the hazards associated with the 14 storey structure, with giant generators on upper floors and a multilevel car park, being constructed by the bank, opposite his residence in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Counsel to the bank, Adeniyi Adegbomire objected to the move to use an electronic devise to lead the witness in evidence.

The expert witness, who is an associate professor in the department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Lagos, Dr. Tunji Adejumo, had wanted to give evidence in support of the claimant, using a visual aid.

But Adegbomire had argued that

Court restrains ALGON chiefs

J

By Adebisi Onanuga

the witness cannot make the video presentation because he was not subpoenaed to the court.

The applicant, according to him, did not apply to rely on video evidence during the trial.

He claimed also that the device has not been served to them, and that they are not privy to the content of the video.

Adegbomire insisted that allowing the witness would impede their ability to cross-examine him.

“They did not serve us nor frontloaded it so that we can see the document. How am I expected to cross-examine in this matter? I urge your lordship to direct them to serve us the copies of what they want to show us so we can study it,” he prayed.

But Braithwaite in his response, said the video evidence which his witness sought to demonstrate in the open court, is already in evidence.

He explained that paragraph 30 of the statement of claim had indicated that they would be relying on video evidence on technical report.

The lawyer denied the defendants claim that they were not served a copy of the electronic device.

He told the court that one of his lawyers went to the office of the defendant’s counsel to deliver a copy of the electronic evidence a day before the sitting of the court.

He tendered before the court the proof of acknowledgment of the electronic device.

•Braithwaite

He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the objection as lacking in substance.

“Paragraph 30 of the statement of claim gave notice and indicated that we would be relying on video evidence on technical report which is already in evidence. “If they said they needed a copy, they were already given. A lawyer delivered a copy of the tape to their office yesterday. They were served a copy of what had already been pleaded.

“I urge your lordship to dismiss his objection as lacking in substance.”

Adegbomire, having seen the acknowledgment of the video, pleaded for short adjournment.

He argued that notwithstanding the service of the device to his office, they would need time to study it and require an expert advice before they could file a response.

The plaintiff is praying the court to grant him N10billion in damages and for a demolition of the building.( The Court of Appeal, Lagos had earlier stopped further construction of the building at level two.

Braithwaite told the court that in spite of the stop order of the Court of Appeal, the bank went on to complete the structure.

Ex-CJ seeks leadership mentoring for youth

A

FORMER Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olukayode Somolu has called for a mentoring propramme for the youth as a way of preparing them for leadership.

He said most of those currently in office lack integrity, while others care less about youth mentoring.

Justice Somolu, also a former chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, spoke in Lagos during the launch of the book: You Can If You Can, written by a lawyer and motivational speaker, Wale Oshunde.

At the presentation were Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice O.O. Olapade, represented by Mrs. Olubola Ayobolu; the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Adeshina

By Adebisi Onanuga

Adenugba, among others.

Justice Somolu regretted that leaders lack goodwill at home and abroad because of their unworthy character, adding that most Nigerians lack a sense of shame.

“You think of any Nigerian politician that went into politics a poor man and does not come back a rich man,” he said just as he described some politicians as “chauvinists.”

“The author (Oshunde) at his own level and at the beginning of the 21st Century, deems it necessary to think, to write. But his own message at the beginning of the 21st Century is to ask all of us to participate in mentoring the

youths and the society.

“Simply put, the message he is passing in the book is that the generation before him has failed the people. This is a big lesson from such a young man.”

Mr Oyemade Ogunlowo, in a welcome remarks, aid the author, without being a millionaire is very passionate about the plight of the youth and issues that have to do with their orientation.

Ogunlowo said through his motivational messages, the author has changed the future of many youth who are now pursuing worthy career.

Oshunde said it took him three years to write the book, describing it as a publication to beat.

USTICE Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja has restrained Nwabueze Okafor and Ibrahim Dikko, claiming to be National Chairman and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to desist from parading themselves as such.

Justice Abdulkafarati, while ruling on a suit filed by the Registered Incorporated Trustees of ALGON, Uthman Kassim Ibrahim (Chairman Board of Trustees of ALGON and Prince Cornelius Nnaji on behalf of all serving Local Government Chairmen, specifically ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum as at when the suit was filed.

The order, which is to subsist until the determination of the suit, was informed by arguments by lawyers to parties in the case.

Plaintiff’s lawyer, Ted IseghohiEdwards urged the court maintain status quo as at March last year. He drew the court’s attention to a subsisting judgment where it was held that Okafor and Dikko are not members of the Incorporated Trustees of ALGON and could not institute a case on their behalf.

Iseghihi-Edwards also drew the court’s attention to two existing orders of the court; one for an order directing Okafor, Dikko and Shittu Bamaiyi Yakmut to show cause, and the other for parties to maintain status quo pending the determination.

He urged the court to hold that the two orders made on October 15 this year subsists, a request the defendants’ lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) opposed, insisting the prelimi-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

nary objection raised by his cleints should be determined first.

The plaintiffs are, by their suit, challenging the “continued flouting” of an earlier judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/ CS/33/2014, dated March 28, 2014, where Justice Abdulkafarati dismissed the suit filed by the defendants in this case, challenging the eligibility of the plaintiffs to be on the board of ALGON. Justice Abdulkafarati held, in the judgment attached to the fresh suit as exhibit: “The irresistible conclusion is that the 2nd and 3rd plaintiff (Okafor and Dikko) are not members of the Incorporated Trustees of ALGON and so, they do not have the locus standi to institute this action in their names and institute the action in the name of the 1st plaintiff (Incorporated Trustees).

“Having come to conclusion, I hold that the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs have no locus standi to bring this action in their names on behalf of the 1st plaintiff. Secondly, they do not have the locus standi to authorize the institution of this action on behalf of the 1st plaintiff and in its name.

“On the whole, I hold that this court has no jurisdiction to entertain this suit. This suit is an abuse of court process and same is hereby dismissed.”In the fresh suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 719/2014, the plaintiffs are of the view that the either the Registered Trustees led by Kassim Ibrahim or a duly elected Executive of serving Local government Chairmen, is the only body currently recognised by law to run the affairs of ALGON. The case has been adjourned to November 20 next yearfor hearing.

‘How monarch escaped death’

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HE Oluwa of Lagos and Apapa, Chief Mukaila Lawal Oluwa, has told a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ikeja, how he miraculously escaped two attempts on his life by some members of his family.

He was testifying in the trial of Abayomi Shamsideen Oluwa (62), Ismaila Abayomi Oluwa (67), Tajudeen Ototo Oluwa (58), and Muse Adegboyega Oluwa (56).

They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and threat to life.

They pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.

Oluwa said there was an attempt on his life last November 21.

He said he was in the family office at Apapa when he had the news that a family land had been fenced without being sold.

“On moving to the place, I sighted the defendants with other hoodlums, from afar, getting close to Nwokolo Street, Apapa, running towards us, carrying dangerous weapons.

“I saw the danger and quickly alerted my driver to make a U-turn and so we did and escaped. This was the second threat on my life by the

•From left: Olufemi Elias; Secretary Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) Mr. Seni Adio and Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipaye at the International Law Association (ILA)(Nigerian Branch) launch and conference in Lagos. Behind them Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN).

By Adebisi Onanuga

defendants,” he alleged.

According to him, the defendants, who had instituted series of litigations against his promotion from the chieftaincy to Obaship, in spite of a Supreme Court judgment which was delivered in his favour, allegedly forged a court stamp and a principal registrar’s signature and put up a notice, purportedly from the court.

“This forged notice was pasted on the wall of my palace and all areas of our homestead, including Araromi, as well as Lagos Island, including my official residence, creating fear in the mind of my people and other residents. As a result I received various telephone calls. They also published a notice in The Punch newspaper in March 2013 as a result of which I received telephone calls from friends and relatives asking me whether I have been removed from the palace,”he said.

He alleged that the defendants took part of a ruling by Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Ikeja High Court and superimposed words that did not emanate from the judge.

He tendered the ruling in Suit No: LD/1420/2010, delivered on April 22, 2013 by Justice Harrison as an exhibit.

In the ruling, Justice Harrison had observed: “From a closer look, it appears that a portion of a regular and valid order of court was super-imposed by whatever electronic means on the said public notice which was alleged to be issued under the hand and seal of the presiding judge.

“The court agrees with the counsel for the first defendant that the above nefarious act was carried out to give the impression that the said document originated from the court and while the claimants counsel attributes the said action of the defendants (which included smuggling an order that was not granted by the court into the purported public notice) as over zealousness; the court finds that it amounts to forgery and that the said action was condemned in the strongest terms as it was intended to mislead and confuse, and the intention was completely mala-fide,”the judge had ruled.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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LAW & SOCEITY

At the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Tokyo, Japan

•Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and his wife, Lilian.

•From left: Marc Enamhe, Chief Samuel Adeleye (SAN) and Dr. Dorn cKlaimz Enamhe.

•From left: Mr. Anthony Pregafe; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services (NIMASA), Mr Cletus Obi and General Secretary NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe.

•From left: Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and former Federal High Court Chief Judge, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha (rtd).

•From left: INEC Secretary, Chinwe Ogakwu; Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), former Director-General Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and Chief Solomon Awomolo (SAN).

•From left: Elachi Agada, ThisDay Legal Editor May Agbamuche-Mbu, Dele Oye and Mena Ajakpovi

•From left: Former President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Mrs. Boma Ozobia, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Funke Aboyade (SAN)

•From left: Nechi Nzeakor, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan Abia and Hannibal Uwaifo

Branch organises thanksgiving for Wali

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HE Ungogo and Kano Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), last week in Kano organised a prayer and thanksgiving service for the safe release of former NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN).

The service, which took place the Juma’at Prayers, was chaired by NBA Kano Branch Chairman, Dr. Maman Lawal Yusfari and his Vice, Mr. Ibrahim Mukta. Members of the Bar and Bench including Justice Nasiru Saminu of the Kano High Court and Secretary NBA Ungogo Branch, Mr. Mustapha Imam, were present.

Wali, the immediate past president of the NBA, was kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the night of October 11 and was released 13 days aftery.

NBA Vice-Chairman loses mum •From left: Pioneer Chairman, NBA Section of Business Law (SBL), George Etomi and former Director General (NIMASA), Mfon Usoro.

Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ungogo Branch in Kano State, Mrs. Juliana Saleh lost her mum, Mrs Celina Ezekiel Dadi.

She died at University of Jos Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness. Burial arrangements will be announced by the family.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

PAGE 29

Lawmaker’s jobs tools for constituents •PAGE 30

‘Our organisation has empowered 600 women’ •PAGE 31

•The training tools

Kogi’s antidote for violence

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OW is Kogi State responding to violence and other social challenges in the

state?

It is providing jobs for youths, reasoning that their joblessness is much to blame for the vices.

The state’s Youths Advancement and Development for Kogi (YAD4KOGI) introduced in September 2012 is seen to be making a difference. It encompasses training in skills, sporting activities and environmental cleaning exercises, among others.

The result is that more and more idle hands are engaged in productive activities, culminating in a more peaceful environment.

There are several other spin-offs from the jobs scheme. The programme has generated employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths and reduced rural-urban drift, in addition to creating wealth for the people. It has also helped to thin down thuggish behaviour and youth restiveness in the confluence state.

In keeping with its mission to positively manage the zeal and energies of the youths, the beneficiaries are usually subjected to a

‘Before my coming here I had almost lost hope but things have now changed and very soon I am going to establish on my own. I have acquired skills in the making of confectionaries, and by the grace of God I will start my own business together with my sister’ From James Azania, Lokoja

two-week training exercise to ensure a disciplined lifestyle. The training which covers morning drills and parade, environmental cleaning exercise, lectures and sporting activities in the evenings, is targeted at secondary and primary school leavers and school dropouts. The trainees are issued uniforms and other kits. They are trained to carry out environmental sanitation in their various local

governments, their activities including complementing the state sanitation and waste management board. The state government wants a clean state.

The public works component of the YAD4KOGI programme has engaged and empowered about 10, 000 youths as direct beneficiaries in the 21 local government areas of the state with more enrolment on a quarterly basis. The volunteers are encouraged to spend the remain-

ing part of the day acquiring skills.

The trainees suffer the scorching heat, but many say it well worth it and the sacrifice of the past one year is yielding harvest. The youths have been undergoing skill acquisition training for the past one year, courtesy of the YAD4KOGI. When the organizsers decided on a militarylike graduation ceremony for them, they were well prepared. They were trained at Ashaya, Kabba/ Bunu Local Government Area of the state, receiving a stipend of N7000 monthly.

The state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Pastor Tayo Aremu expressed happiness that the programme initiated two years back was achieving the desired result of addressing youth unemployment and reducing poverty to its barest minimum in the state. The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to “youth training for economic development and self-esteem”. He promised continuous government support and patronage for the participants even after their training and skills acquisition •Continued on page 30

Senator praised for empowering residents •PAGE 33

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

T

HERE is relief in Plateau North senatorial zone after its representative at the Senate, Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok provided working tools for the residents.

The senator purchased and distributed items worth N150 million to the people as aprt of his constitueny economic empowerment programme.

The launching of the programme and distribution of the items were done to mark the second year anniversary of the senator in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Senator Pwajok was elected in a byelection in 2012 to replace the late Senator Gyang Dantong who was killed by unknown gunmen at the peak of violence in the zone.

The senator believes that he owes his people a lot for giving him the mandate to represent them in the senate.

“It will get to a point you need to express appreciation to, not only God but also to people who gave you the mandate, those who gave you support when you needed them,” he said. “I could not have been a senator today without the consent of God and people of my constituency. I have to consider the fact that, just as I went to my people to ask for their favour to become a senator, these people also has some needs that requires my intervention. They had stood behind me to make me solve my need at that time, it is now my turn to help them solve their own need as well.

“To that extent, it is a way of giving back to the people. The slogan of our great party the People’s Democratic Party is power to the people. So what I am doing is giving back the power to the people.

My belief is that the people need a certain measure of economic empowerment for their individual or personal development.

“Again, God has blessed me through these people, and I need to also share part of this blessing with the people. So this empowerment programme was designed to say ‘Thank You, my people’

•Farm tricycles

Lawmaker’s jobs tools for constituents

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

“Basically, as a lawmaker, we are not executive; our basic role is different from that of the executive.

We make laws, appropriate government expenditure and carry out oversight functions. So our performance as law makers is supposed to be measured based on quality contribution to law making as well as protecting and defending the yearnings and aspirations of your constituency. But the kind of democracy we practice in this country is such that our people tend to measure the performance of lawmakers like the executive arm of government.

“So, as lawmakers, we try to find a way of bridging the gap, considering the fact that our constituencies are lacking various needs of life

like house, food and clothing. Then I thought that if you give them economic empowerment, they will feed themselves, cloth themselves and provide shelter for themselves with proceeds of economic activities you introduced them to through these facilities.

“Apart from that, I see it as a way of bringing federal presence to the common people since we are part of the federal government. We just need to impact on the lives of the people that elected us in a positive way. I have lasted two years in the senate, and I thought the best way to mark this eventful two year is to provide one or two things to them.

The items presented to people of the senatorial zone includes tri-

cycles, sewing machines, wheelchairs, vehicles, water pump engines, computer sets, hair-dryers, electricity power generators, etc.

This is not the first time of this gesture from Senator Pwajok, right from day one of his admission into the senate, he has developed a plan to touch the lives of his constituents in a positive way. He embarked on capital intensive projects like provision of power transformer to several rural communities, community hall, construction of primary schools, construction of primary health clinics and rural water projects.

Some of the benefiting communities from the capital projects sponsored by the senator are Vom,

Kogi’s antidote for violence

Gurra Top, Bisichi, Loh, Mr Ali, Dorowa, Ganawuri, Maza, Forbur, Rahol Kanang, Vwang, Rantiya etc.

•Continued on page 32

‘Within the last two weeks participants had the rare opportunity of acquiring various skills of their choice. This skills includes shoe cobbling, beads production, ear ring production, ladies’ handbag production and hat production. This effort is geared towards ensuring that these youths become self-reliant and eventually employers of labour upon their exit from this programme’

•Continued from page 29 programme.

Yemisi Omotonose, one of the trainees, said that the exercise will change her for good. Yemisi who said she hails from Ijumu area of the state, said: “Before my coming here I had almost lost hope but things have now changed and very soon I am going to establish on my own. I have acquired skills in the making of confectionaries, and by the grace of God I will start my own business together with my sister. I will not be a burden to anybody and I can even support the husband that I will marry in future.

Before now, some of my friends were making jest of me saying how can I be taking part in YAD4KOGI after finishing secondary school education. But now level has changed and they are having a rethink. Competition is now stiffer and they all want to join”.

Abdullahi Safu, another beneficiary of the training said “I am good to go now, and my plan is to work and make money, while at the same time using the money of my handiwork to further my education career at the College of Education. I have learnt a lot and I don’t intend to waste the opportunity”.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Women Develop-

•Senator Pwajok

•Display items ment, Mrs. Temitope Sinkaye said the graduation of the 1090 participants brings the total number of those trained under the scheme to 7,731 males and females. She said “Within the last two weeks participants had the rare opportunity

of acquiring various skills of their choice. This skills includes shoe cobbling, beads production, ear ring production, ladies’ handbag production and hat production. This effort is geared towards ensuring that these youths become self-reli-

ant and eventually employers of labour upon their exit from this programme. I wish to bring to Your Excellency’s attention that technical skills have been incorporated into the training activities. At this junction, I wish to reiterate the ba-

sic philosophy behind this programme.

YAD4KOGI programme is not just about equipping youths for economic development but to rebuild self-esteem in the youths and to re-invent in them the dignity of labour, discipline, as well as ethnic and cultural values.

This programme has been a veritable tool in fostering unity and promoting peaceful co-existence in the state, in addition to providing a rare opportunity for youths to interact with each other from different tribes, religions and background.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

31

THE NORTH REPORT

•Cross section of the women

200 women trained in agri-business management

T

O get more women involved in agri-business, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has trained about 200 women in agriculture entrepreneurial skills and business aptitude. The women were drawn from Kwara, Kogi, Ondo and Oyo states. Director of Agriculture in the ministry, Damilola Eniayeju said the training was designed to train participants on farm business management and vocational skills to enable them impart such skills on wives of farmers within their domain. Represented by the Kwara state Director of the federal ministry of agriculture, Buhari Adebisi said the workshop “is one of the several lined up to educate officers and farmers wives on how to develop on-farm agribusiness using different value chain.”

He said further that “the goal is to ensure that the beneficiaries impart the knowledge acquired to wives of farmers in their locality, so that they can identify, plan, develop and manage alternative means of providing economic op-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

portunities for their families, particularly post harvest season.

“It is also to provide an avenue to diversify away from land farming during off season. It is for these reasons that farm business consultants have been invited to deliver lectures on development of on-farm business entrepreneurship focusing on identification of various cooperative enterprises, identifying profitable and manageable enterprises, among others.”

Deputy Director, Nutrition and Women in Agriculture, Mrs. Zainab Towobola corroborated her boss, saying that “the programme is aimed at empowering women by training the women in agriculture officers so they would be able to train rural and village women to empower them on entrepreneurship programme.”

Mrs. Towobola who told The Nation at the sideline of the event added that the “ministry has always encouraged even young women

‘Women do not have to wait on their husbands for salt or other seasonings. I remember my mother was selling food from where the whole family ate. So, when you are well-equipped with all these training programmes, you put poverty behind us’ graduates to train in agricultural practice like aqua culture to be self reliant. There are examples of success stories like that. We need women to be able to do things on their own because when they are empowered, you have empowered the whole family.

“Women do not have to wait on their husbands for salt or Maggi. I

‘Our organisation has empowered 600 women’

‘We are looking beyond 2015. We want to start early because men have started long before us so we need to begin building our own structures to march the muscles of the men. We have to tell women who have interest in 2019 to start immediately after the 2015 election so that we put the necessary things together’

One organisation leading the campaign for women’s participation in governance is Women in Politics Forum (WIPF). In this interview with JOEL DUKU, the Forum’s founder, an ex-National Women Leader of Labour Party, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, speaks on, among other things, its challenges and successes. Excerpts:

W

HY did you set up Women in Politics Forum?

I initiated WIPF sometime in November 2011 at a programme organised by Women Democratic Network (WDM), International Republican Institute (IRI).

So far, we have participated in the Constitution review and went to the House of Representatives and the Senate. We are hopeful that some of the things we presented will be taken from what the Constitution will come out with even though we are not expecting 100% but we are sure that some key issues there will be looked at. After that, we started our mentoring program. The young women that we have gathered here are from the Northeastern part of the country and after this session, we would have empowered 600 young women across the zones. We have also had the opportunity of bringing Smith Craig who is one of

Hillary Clinton campaign strategists to Nigeria to talk to women aspirants. We have also plans with IRI to bring in an expert on fund raising from America to teach our women because we realised that funding is one of the major challenges that women face during electioneering.

We have to get somebody to teach us how to get these funds and how they were able to do it there in the United States. We have plans sometime next month. We are also looking at launching our organisation properly but so far, our primary interest is to build the capacity of women. We have conducted series of programmes with the support of UNDP-DGD, IRI, women Trust Funds, and WRAPA. We also partner with FIDA and women in business. Most of the women in business are not interested in active participation in politics but they would want to see more women participate so we

remember my mother was selling food from where the whole family eat. So, when you are well equipped with all these training programmes, you put poverty behind us.”

She the beneficiaries are usually trained in “aquaculture, snail breeding, livestock, seedlings for fish-50500, depending on member of states

involved, feeds, fibre glass tank, all free to enable them start well. In case of livestock, we also give cage for chicks 200 day old chicks and we expect them to come and give success stories when next we have another training, so they could encourage other people and benefit from the programme.

“People are advised to form themselves into groups or cooperatives.

They write to the ministry telling that they’ve seen the programme done in a state and want our group to benefit, including your certificate of incorporation to show your application is genuine. And send to the minister who gets it to the official in charge to carry it out.”

The deputy director urged the women folk “to come out, sit up and get rid of poverty and be self sufficient. For instance, when it’s time to pay school fees, mothers can do so of the husband’s are incapable. And you will be happy you can do something.

Time is gone when you say you are ignorant of this or that.”

•Mrs Ifendu are talking to them to see how they will help us to sponsor such quality and credible women into politics.

Generally, I can say that WIPF has done well within this short period and we are hoping to count our successes after the elections in 2015.

What are the feedbacks from what you have done so far?

The feedback has been very encouraging. Women are getting aware that there is an organisation like WIPF in existence. I receive calls from women across the country concerning our activities. Like the programme we are holding here, for instance, a woman aspirant called me yesterday from Niger State. I must commend the press for the visibility

they are giving us and with more pressure and achievement we are putting in the system, the feedbacks are very good and we don’t expect to stop but to put in more energy immediately after the general election.

We are looking beyond 2015. We want to start early because men have started long before us so we need to begin building our own structures to march the muscles of the men. We have to tell women who have interest in 2019 to start immediately after the 2015 election so that we put the necessary things together but I am not saying that we will not make an impact in 2015 but not as much as we would have loved to.

What did you present to the National Assembly when you visited them?

We talked about affirmative action for women. We talked about citizenship. A man that is married to a for-

eigner automatically confers on that woman a Nigerian citizenship but a Nigerian woman that is married to a foreigner cannot be in the reverse case. We talked about giving us at least one out of the three senatorial seats in the state.

You want that to be enshrined in the Constitution?

Of course, what is wrong with that?

That is the only way we can achieve what we are asking for. We are talking about affirmative action today but it may be men tomorrow talking about it. When people criticise affirmative action, I give them just one example for instance, if I write an entrance exam with somebody from the North, I must work hard because even if my grade is 70%, I might still not get admission but if the northerner scores 30% he still gets admission. That •Continued on page 32

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT •Continued on page 31 is still affirmative action because we want to help them come up for the fact that they are seen as being backward education wise if we therefore understand that women have not been participating well in politics because of male dominance and we are struggling to come up now, what is wrong to also use affirmative action to bring up women. There should be a certain percentage for women representation at the House of Representatives as well. We are looking at the situation that in future, no gender should be less than 30% representation. We also believe that independent candidacy will favour women. Most times, we have seen that it is the so called internal party politics that disenfranchise women. If you have these quality women who can stand on their own, they can as well stand as independent candidate and make an impact.

I have noticed that some of those

‘Our organisation has empowered 600 women’ things that we discussed were being touched the last time when they were mentioning the constitutional review.

We are therefore hoping that in the final amendment, some of our issues will be incorporated in the constitution.

Apart from finance, what are the other challenges that women face in trying to get elected into political position?

Apart from finance, genuine internal party democracy is very important. What you hear is that we have internal democracy but I have always challenged it because I don’t think it is existing in any political party in Nigeria today. Every political party in Nigeria is a culprit in this issue. I want to say that most times, these are the things the men use to disenfranchise women like zoning and what have you. We are not against zoning because we are talking about affirma-

tive action but what we are saying is that can we also have it in a transparent manner? You will agree with me that when some of these decisions are being taken, women are not there from the beginning. The men will just take a decision and think it will suit us and most times it does not. They can’t decide for us. If they want to take a decision, they should get us involved to make our own inputs so that if we succumb to superior argument, you won’t feel disenfranchised or short-changed at the end of the day.

We have also faced other challenges like acceptability, cultural and religious problems. But these are wrong interpretation because I have found out that women are more protected in Islam than in Christianity. Our problem here is lack of proper information and awareness. Because the women are not properly informed, they keep on toying them here and

there. I have kept on asking this question how Benazir Bhutto made it to the highest political office in Pakistan, a complete Islamic country. She got the opportunity and she did well. I am sure that the religion is not against women but it is the psyche they are putting in our understanding and we are feeling shy to come out. Again, support from family. And I think the press is also not helping us by asking women questions about her family instead of asking her questions about what she will do when she gets into the office. When the press interviews a man, they ask him questions that will bring out the best in him unlike the women that would be asked: how would your husband and your children feel? How would you cope as a mother and so on? Men are also fathers so whatever hindrances we face within the family so if you have to ask us questions concerning our so-

cial life, men should also be asked the same questions and if you are giving them the opportunity to bring the programs they have, we should also be given same opportunities.

How do you build trust across political parties in your organisation which you say is non-political?

You see, we have all tried it within our political parties and failed completely. So we decided have we can do it in another way. Women in Politics Forum is actually like a pressure group. It is not an affiliate of any political party. It’s open for not just women in politics but women interested in seeing more women participate in politics including organisations working towards that agenda which we regard as associate members of WIPF. Our role as an organization is to visit political parties and demand for more participation and positions for women.

Lawmaker’s jobs tools for constituents •Continued from page 30 The senator said, “I was inspired into this economic empowerment scheme because, I inherited two things from the predecessor, security challenges and challenges of poverty. And from day one, I made up my mind to tackle the two challenges together.

“But the happy thing in spite of the security challenges is that our efforts has paid off because we have been able to address the sources of conflict, re-unite the people and restore the needed peace. And at the same time I have been able to provide certain basic social amenities for the people of my constituency.

“So, with some efforts here and there, the spate of bloodshed has reduced significantly, people can graze their livestock and farmers can cultivate their land without any fear of attack. The next efforts are to continued to cement the prevailing cordial relationship existing among the people, so as to sustain the current peace and make it a permanent one” said Senator Pwajok.

According Mr Chuwang Davou, Chief Press Secretary to Senator Pwajok, “The senator believes that though his constituency is located within the state capital and cover areas of the Greater Jos Master Plan, the satelite communities lack some basic social infrastructures. He also believes that it is obvious government cannot cater for all needs of its citizens considering the lean reassures at its disposal, “hence I began to look at areas where I can in-

‘Communities that benefited from Primary Health Care projects includes Bisichi and Fan. The communities were provided with medical facilities at their various health centers. As for communities like Vom, Makoli, Riyom, Ugwuan Galadima, Nuku, Prison service, St. Morumba, Ondus, Bakin Kogi, Rabin Biu, Bimbop etc all benefited from hand pump borehole for their peculiar water need’

tervene with my own little resources. That was when I discovered my people’s needs are vast.

You will be scared to know the level of poverty around you.

Chuwang said, “Other innovations that have made positive impact on the people of the constituency was the construction of Ultramodern town halls installed with high capacity generators in all the six local government within his constituency for social and recreation activities, some of the halls which have the capacity of accomodating over 3000 people can even serve as examination centres and seminar venue for youths of the communities.

“Jos Township Primary school has benefited with the construction of 3-classroom blocks and VIP toilets.

That project has been completed and already been put to use by students. Then a Computer center was constructed for youths of Vwang district of Jos south LGA. Communities like Fobor in Jos East LGA, Mazah in Jos North Local Government Area, Rantiya in.

Jos North, Rahol Kanang of Jos South, Dorowa Vilkage of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area and Gyel, Agingi, Mr Ali of Bassa Local Government Area as well as Ganawuri, Ali Kazaure are some of the communities that benefited from the Installation of 300KVA transformer or 500KVA transformers as part of his rural electricity program.

Communities that benefited from Primary Health Care projects in-

•Other items donated cludes Bisichi and Fan. The communities were provided with medical facilities at their various health centers. As for communities like Vom, Makoli, Riyom, Ugwuan Galadima, Nuku, Prison service, St. Morumba, Ondus, Bakin Kogi, Rabin Biu, Bimbop etc all benefited from hand pump borehole for their peculiar water need.

Members of the Plateau North zone were full of praises and appreciation to Senator Pwajok. One of them who got a free block moulding engine to establish a block producing factory during the launching of economic empowerment scheme, Mr Markus Azi said,

•Sewing machines given to the residents

Mrs Ladi Markus from Mazah Vilkage said, To me, I ve got a life lime today, this machine, I have been looking for a loan to buy it, but the senator has provided it for me free of charge. I am going to start my business right away” Miss Lydia Choji, a physically challenged member of the zone who got a wheel Chair has this to say; “I have been praying for this, as you can see, I don’t have legs to move, I can only move about on wheel chair, the only one I got from government five years ago has parked up, I kept spending money to repare it. God knows I need a new

chair and God has provided for me through our Senator” Some young girls who got Hair Dryers to commence a hair saloon business said, “The senator gave us these equipment and the most important thing, he gave us a generator to provide us electric light to run our saloon, he has done everything for us.

The event was witnessed by local government executive of the People’s Democratic Party, state executive of the party and deputy governor of Plateau State as well as his teaming supporters and beneficiaries.

The constituency economic empowerment programme of Senator Pwajok was witnessed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark who presented some of the items to the beneficiaries.

The senate president called on people of the zone to continued to support the senator in all his political endeavors. Senator Mark said, “This is one of the youngest senator in the senate and he has spent just two years. But the contribution he has made in the senate within the spate of two years is outstanding and remarkable. He made me to belief that it is not how long you stay in the senate that counts but the impact you made within a short period.

“I will advise people of Plateau North to continue to support him because that is the kind of senator the country needs to grow our democracy,” said Senator Mark.

Senator GNS Pwajok has been endorsed by Governor Jonah Jang and other stakeholders in Plateau state to succeed Gov Jang in 2015 as governor of the state.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

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A community where idols haven’t gone out of fashion The jet age has done nothing to reduce the residents’ love for their gods. GBENGA OMOKHUNU visited Gaba community near Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and captures how the villagers treasure their traditional religion.

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T may well be the jet age, but it matters pretty little to the people of Gaba, a community near Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speakers from churches and mosques may get louder by the day; it makes no difference. The only thing that counts is the religion of their forebears, around which everything seems to revolve.

The residents believe that their gods govern their community better than anyone can. For instance, they hold fast to the notion that no true Gaba native will steal because their god will deliver instant judgement. Nor is any of them complacent about adultery, which attracts a banishment for the man and death for the woman, if she fails to confess and appease the gods.

Custom and tradition play an important role in the social life of any community. For the inhabitants of Ayenejeyi community and the entire Gaba village, on the outskirts of Bwari council, the traditional lifestyle of the people is regarded as an ancient honour code or an unwritten law for its people. Although, Ayenejeyi’s faith in their idols is believed to date back to pre-Christianity and Islamic period, they believe that their practice does not disobey basic Christianity and Islamic principles.

Our correspondent’s visit to the community which is about 15km from Bwari town, revealed that to the natives of the community, their custom and tradition govern, guide, shape their character, and discipline of their lifestyle, and they see it as an all-embracing social code which encompasses the laws, customs, traditions and ethos of their society.

The village head of Ayenejeyi community, Chief Solomon Azabo, who is also the Chief of Gaba village, explained that they derive a lot of satisfaction from maintaining their custom and tradition, which, he added, have kept them alive since the village was founded in the late 1950s.

His word: “For us to exist as one in this village, we depend solely on our custom and tradition which have different festivals associating

with different sacrifices. For instance, before farming season every year, we have shrines that we make sacrifices to at every first week of April before we commence farming.

“The truth is that we inherited this custom and tradition from our forefathers, because, when they were doing it, we saw the efficacy of the sacrifices they made and how it favoured the community during farming season and other things, that was why we vowed to stick to that practice up until today and it has been working for us.

“For us that are pagans, we indulge in sacrifices, just like Muslims and Christians when they want to start fasting according to their teachings.

They go to church and mosque to pray when they need something from God; that is the same thing for us. We also make sacrifices at our shrines as our own traditional prayers, to appeal to God for progress in farming and other aspects of our lives.”

On efforts to confirm the effectiveness of their traditional idol worship, Azabo, explained that for guidance and protection, the natives of the community rely on an idol called Zhiba, which he said protects the community whenever there is impending evil.

“For example, if something bad is about to happen to anybody in this village, Zhiba would inform us and we would prepare or keep ourselves safe. We have different masquerades, but the masquerades in charge of purifying this village are known as Akaka and Momuan. If a witch comes to this community, whenever the masquerades appear, they will perceive the witch wherever she is and expose her.

“If they catch the witch and she does not want to change, they would use their canes on her, and then she will die. These masquerades still exist till today and their power is still potent. The period they usually come out to purify our village is during November and June every year. There is another one known as Agorobe; this masquerade can only be seen by mature men.

“If somebody steals something from the farm of another person, the spirit behind the masquerade will wipe off the entire family of the thief. If it was only one person that

•Gaba community, flaunting its spiritual core

‘If something bad is about to happen to anybody in this village, Zhiba would inform us and we would prepare or keep ourselves safe. We have different Masquerades, but the Masquerades in charge of purifying this village are known as Akaka and Momuan.

If a witch comes to this community, whenever the masquerades appear, they will perceive the witch wherever she is and expose her’ stole, the entire family will use their heads to pay for it. But, if the person comes out to confess that he stole, he would be told to bring 100 measures of Guenea corn, white hen and honey for sacrifice at the shrine of Agorobe. The power of this masquerade is still potent till today,” Azabo said.

The community head who ex-

pressed feelings of excitement when explaining the potency of the community idols, said that he was bold to say that no thief exist in the community, because, everybody knows that stealing will lead to the death of an entire family.

He said: “But if somebody comes to the community to steal, that person will have himself or herself to

blame for whatever happens to their family, he would have carried wahala from this village to his village or community. Also, we do not tolerate adultery in this village, if a woman commits adultery, the man would be banished from the community, while the woman would be told to make a sacrifice with a big dog for the entire community, so that the gods would forgive her.”

Despite the firm belief in their idols as sources of survival and providence, the community is uncomfortable with its lack of some basic modern amenities.

An indigene of the community, Mohamed Ody who appreciated the community head for providing them with electricity light and health care centre, said that they are in need of potable water in the community and that they only have one borehole that supplies water for over 3000 people in the community.

“Also, the other water source we have is our stream which has grown unhygienic for domestic use. So, we are appealing for more water borehole because, since the stream water is bad, nobody wants to go there again.

“In our health centre, we do not have enough drugs in the clinic; we also appeal that the council should •Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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ABUJA REVIEW Residents buy nomination form for lawmaker Stories from Gbenga Omokhunu

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NDIGENES of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have purchased a nomination form for the senator representing the FCT, Senator Philips Tanimu Aduda to run for a second term in 2015.

The FCT Indigene and Geo-Political Leaders Forum, while presenting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to Aduda, said they did it because of his remarkable performance since assumption of office as FCT senator.

The chairman of the forum, Ambassador Ayuba Ngbako, said they jointly took the decision after due consultation with different stakeholders on who will represent them effectively and they came up with a second tenure decision for Senator Aduda as the best among others.

“This decision was not my own idea, but a collective one from all of us in the FCT. I have also seen what he has done for our people. In fact, he has made us proud, he has work with President Goodluck Jonathan for us and has brought the dividend of democracy to our door step,” Ngbako said.

He also counselled the FCT PDP executives to be fair and provide a level playing field for all aspirants that will be going for primary under the party.

However, Senator Aduda who has gotten approval from his people to run for second term in the Senate, expressed gratitude to residents of Abuja and the FCT political leaders for purchasing the nomination form for him.

FCDA bulldozers pull down Kpaduma houses

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ULLDOZERS from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Development Control have moved into Kpaduma communities, pulling down houses there.

On hand as the bulldozers moved were personnel of the FCDA alongside armed Joint Task Force team.

This was said to be in violation of a court injunction restraining the FCDA from demolishing houses in Kpaduma communities in the Asokoro district of Abuja.

Witnesses were said to have been confused and did all they could to prevent the demolition.

The residents were reportedly overpowered by the armed JTF who threatened to shoot them if they made any further move to prevent the sdemolition.

The JTF which consisted of over 15 officers of the Nigeria Army and about 16 officers of the police, were careful to remove their tags and emblems in order to forestall any identification, before they entered the community to carry out the action.

They positioned themselves in strategic areas to form a barricade against interference for the bulldozer demolishing the houses.

Secretary to the communities, Mr. Simon Baba-Yerima, who could not keep his tears from flowing freely, lamented the pains that the residents were subjected to as a result of the demolition carried out by the officials of FCDA, Development Control and the JTF personnel.

“This is really painful, provoking, disastrous and unacceptable; this is really an act of military cum civilian brutality against innocent Nigerians. Our people are thrown into unnecessary confusion because of this unannounced demoli-

‘I wonder why the FCDA officials are coming to demolish our houses, it is unfair. We do not have any more trust in the government, because, we are living in fear. The JTF had to beat up our youth and arrested over five of them, for no good reason, after they had carried out their assigned duties’ tion exercise. This is really wicked and for the fact that our case is still in court.

“The people who entered our community introduced themselves as officials of FCDA and Development Control, in company of well armed JTF as if they were going for war, just to demolish our houses.

This is unacceptable. Our matter is in court and again, they are violating the law of the land. Is it a crime that we are poor? This is our village and we have the right to have a peaceful life, just like we were before the inception of the FCT. “I wonder why the FCDA officials

Corps members’ NGO for indigent students

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O complement Federal Government’s efforts in containing illiteracy and school drop-outs, three members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Batch ‘C’, have set up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as Outside Schools Foundations (SOS) to provide grants for students

A community where idols haven’t gone out of fashion •Continued from page 33 assist our clinic with drugs, because, if we have sickness that they cannot get the drugs here, we would be asked to go to Bwari before we can get the drugs.

“We are also appealing to the government to complete the road construction that stopped midway before getting to our community, because, during rainy season, our people suffer a lot before they can

access the city centre,” he said.

Other community habitants who spoke with Abuja Review are happy with the idol and are of the view that things are working well without any negative impact on them.

Little children run around the community with excitement and joy not worried about the needed amenities.

Everyone in the community are pleading that government to extend the dividends of democracy to them.

are coming to demolish our houses, it is unfair. We do not have any more trust in the government, because, we are living in fear. The JTF had to beat up our youth and arrested over five of them, for no good reason, after they had carried out their assigned duties. This is a democratic government for God sake, not military, why are they treating us like animals?” BabaYerima lamented.

One of the affected residents, Joseph Madaki, explained how the JTF sprayed tear-gas on them and shot in the air to scare them away. “They tied up our people and told them

to face the sun, beating them up as if they were criminals. This is very painful, why is this government allowing its citizens to be maltreated this way? We are suffering.

“The way they are treating us in this FCT is not fair, this is our land, where do they want us to go to?

They want to push us out of our homeland, without making alternative provision for us. The worst part of this whole thing, is that the people doing all this things to us, have their villages in their various states and they want to remove us from our own. That is not fair,” he said.

When newsmen visited the office of Development Control to find out their role in the demolition exercise, one of the senior Staff who preferred anonymity said that the information got to him, but, that he was not aware of any instruction from superior authorities to commence the demolition of the community, knowing that the case between Kpaduma communities and the FCTA is still in court.

The youth of Kpaduma I, who were arrested by the JTF are Jerry Sarki, Yerima Fajemi, John Danlami, Kefas Tanko, Ishaya Danladi. At the time of filing this report, information about the whereabout of the youth was still unknown.

•Chief Azabo

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

who have financial difficulties in completing their education.

The facilitators of the project, Ms Hauwa Ibrahim, Ms Halima Ibrahim Abba and Ms Amina Jibrin said: ‘The Bridge Project’ was a personal group community development project deployed by three Corps members and approved by the NYSC. They stated this at the Bridge Project Inter-School Competition organised for students of Government Secondary School Jabi, and Wuse Zone 3, with the theme: “Nigeria and Us, A Social Challenge, A possible Solution.”

In her remarks, Abba said: “The Sponsor -A-Child Scheme is a programme under the SOS that provides funding for participants of the bridge project who require assistance to complete their secondary education or who are unable to further their education to tertiary institutions due to financial and social reasons.”

She noted that the programme would provide an avenue for individuals and corporate entities to

provide scholarships to brilliant students enrolled on the projects through the scheme.

“We want the programme to continue. This informed our setting up a non-governmental organisation known as ‘The SOS Foundation’ to take over the programme because we will not want a situation whereby the programme dies when we leave the NYSC.” Meanwhile, Ibrahim stressed that the Bridge Project, which was the flagship of the foundation, is a skill-building and mentoring scheme for 20 bright and motivated senior secondary school students in Government Secondary School Jabi and Wuse Zone 3 in Abuja.

The winners, Government Secondary School Wuse Zone 3, which was among the participants comprising four teams of five participants from two schools, received computer tablets and their education sponsored up to tertiary level; while the tuition fees of other participants would be paid by the foundation for a year.

•A man being immunised with meningitis vaccine during the nationwide immunisation campaign against the disease at Ihahe area of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

•Chairman, Conference of State Speakers, Hon. Samuel Ikon (left); Deputy Speaker, House •Leader, House of Reps, Mulikat Akande Adeola (right); Delta State Governor Emmanuel of Reps, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Uduaghan; Former Minister of State, FCT, Chuka Odom and Delta State Commissioner for Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, during the Transmission of the Constitution Information, Chike Ogeah at the Women Leadership Summit (Fourth Alteration) Bill 2014 to the State Assembly at National Assembly, Abuja

•Director, Ministry of Trade and investment, Mr. Jonathan Juma;(left) Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Mr. Jonah Otunla; and President/ Chairman council Association of National Accountants of Nigeria Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode, during the ANAN annual conference in Abuja

•President, Institute of Directors, Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi (middle); former Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria PLC, Mr Seni Adetu (left) and Managing Director, Mobil Oil Nigeria Mr Tunji Oyebanji during the 2014 Annual Directors conference in Abuja

•Marketing Manager of DANA Motors Limited, Mr.Peter Ayewoh; the Executive Director •Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kingsley Ibe Nwachukwu (seventh left) with his bride, North, first city Monument Bank (FCMB) Mr. Adams Nuru and the head Retail Asset Preciou. With them are police ceremonial parade troops after the wedding at the Redeemed Products Mr Oljire Awofisibe at the launch of the FCMB and DANA motor alliance on Auto Church of God, Hall of Mercy Church. loan in Abuja PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

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N Abuja-based artiste, Ojonogecha Obande-Haruna has urged Nigerian artistes to filter the content of their music, even as she regretted that artistes are ignorant of the power of music.

Ogecha who prefers to be called an inspirational artiste said people have refused to associate themselves with gospel music because of the title “gospel.”

According to her, the tag gospel restricts people from the song thereby hindering the growth of gospel music in Nigeria.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Ogecha as she is fondly called said: “I feel there is need for artistes to filter their music regardless of how much money we want to make or how much fame we desire. We should be very careful of what we are telling people.

“In terms of passing message through music, all musicians have a

Musicians warned against harmful messages From Faith Yahaya

message they want to pass across, which depends on who you feel you want to pass the message to.

“Music is a very powerful agent and some people don’t realise that.

Some sing what they don’t even believe in, some sing what they would not teach their children to do or what they would not permit their children to do.

Continuing, she said: “It is very dangerous because children are inspired by watching or listening to you and they quickly align their lives to yours maybe because what you sing about is similar to theirs. They follow what you sing without thinking. They may end up in places they don’t expect because of the kind of

music that the industry churns out to the public.

She noted that when Fela Anikulapo Kuti was alive, he influenced Nigerians and even beyond with his music because he had a message.

“For me, whatever I will not do that will affect me negatively, I will not sing and whatever I feel would have adverse effect in the lives of the people, especially the young ones, I will not sing,” she said.

On how gospel music is faring in Nigeria, she said: “I started with the tag: ‘gospel artiste’ but later on, I yanked it off. I have discovered that those who sing gospel music don’t live the kind of life expected of them.

When you use the tag gospel, you put restriction to yourself and I feel

‘Music is a very powerful agent. Some sing what they don’t even believe in, some sing about what they would not teach their children to do or what they would not permit their children to do…It is very dangerous because children are inspired by watching or listening to you and they quickly align their lives to yours maybe because what you sing about is similar to theirs’ that the message of the gospel is supposed to be delivered to everyone.

She added: “How do I deliver the message to everyone if I wear the tag everywhere I go? Some people close their doors because of the tag, gospel. My message is for everybody.

God does not discriminate and why should mankind discriminate?

“I am an inspirational artiste because I sing inspirational music. I want my music to touch and give life, I’m not out to destroy people’s lives with my music. I want people to understand that they can enjoy life within certain limits, in such a way that you will not harm and have regrets later in life,” she said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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ABUJA REVIEW

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HE cost of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential Nomination Fee and Expression of Interest Form has been fixed for N22 million.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the sole candidate of the party, realised N99.915 million from donations and pledges, bringing the cash to over 354% of the amount needed to obtain the form.

The donations, which came from individuals, associations and communities, warranted two statements to be issued last Wednesday from the office of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

The office had to update the first statement to capture the latest donations received after it was issued.

While the N22 million donations from PDP governors is expected, but the motives for donations from widows and people with disabilities who need more financial and moral supports from the society, cannot be clearly placed.

No doubt, this is just the beginning of more donations to come as the campaign begins in earnest.

But what are the real motives behind the N99.915 million donations and pledges? Are they genuinely given out of love for Mr. President or as gratitude for the past or as part of a larger plan towards future selfish gain?

Maybe the President needs to pause a little and really take a critical look at each of the donations ranging from N5,000 to N22 million in order to unveil the true motivations behind them.

Those who donated include: Mr. Kennedy Ikenna Odoeme – N5, 000, Mr Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi – N10, 000, PDP Governors – N22 Million, Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) – N22m, Ogbia LGA Stakeholders, Bayelsa state – N5m, Otuoke Community Stakeholders – N2m, Brass LGA Stakeholders, Bayelsa state – N50, 000, Bayelsa State PDP Stakeholders- N5m, Northern Youths Forum – N2m, Central Market Traders Union, Kaduna State – N1m, PDP Stakeholders, Zaria LGA – N500, 000, PDP Stakeholders, Yobe State – N500, 000.

Others are PDP Stakeholders, Kaduna State- N2m, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore – N5m, The Goodluck Support Group, Gombe State – N1m, Adamawa State PDP Stakeholders – N3m, Ebonyi State PDP Stakeholders- N2m, Kogi State PDP Stakeholders – N5m, Rivers State PDP Stakeholders – N5m, The 2015 Project – N1m, Team Goodluck, Ondo North Senatorial District – N5m, Middle Belt PDP Women Support Group for GEJ 2015 – N500, 000, King David Generation Foundation, Jos – N200, 000, Behwong Weneng Yere Duk, Jos – N200,000, Redemption 3 Youth Organization, Plateau State – N500, 000, Plateau State Indigenes Association, Abuja – N300,000, Gombe Youth United for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 2015 – N500, 000, Gombe Youth Vanguard for PDP- N500, 000, Yamahu/ Deba Goodluck Support Group – N200, 000, Coalition of Gombe Support Groups for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan – N2m, Hinna Youth Coali-

X-raying Jonathan’s form donations tion for Goodluck – N500, 000, Nigerian Women Pray for Jonathan - N1m, National Association of Widows N100, 000, National Council of Women Societies - N500, 000, Female members of the PDP Board of Trustees - N500,000, Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities - N100,000, National Association of Market Women - N500, 000, Community Awareness and Development Network – N1m.

The Presidency also got donations from Presidential View And Endorsement Platform -N200,000, Association of South East Town Unions - N300,000, Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Online Group - 250,000, The Light Network for Jonathan 2015, Lagos State – N300,000, Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos State - N200,000, Oghareki Graduate Association for Jonathan, Delta State – N500,000.

Another poser is where will the balance of the donations in excess of the cost of the form go to. Will it go to the motherless babies homes or be held back for the campaign proper.

Avoiding NFF crisis Every deliberate efforts were made last Wednesday to show the neutrality of the Presidency in the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The occasion was the presentation of the African Women Football Championship (AWC) trophy and the victorious Super Falcons to President Gooduck Jonathan before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting.

dent and the AWC trophy.

From the Villa

FCT Council of Chiefs, Area Councils endorse Bala Mohammed for longer tenure

By Augustine Ehikioya The crisis in the Nigerian football house that day had centred on the current President, Amaju Pinnick and the factional President, Chris Giwa, who had headed to a general law court, which was threatening sanctions from FIFA. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has jurisdiction over such cases.

But by Thursday, Nigeria escaped the wrath of FIFA as Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos struck out the suit filed against the NFF by Chris Giwa-led group.

Pinnick, before the court struck out the case, was among the delegation that accompanied the Super Falcons to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday and seemed not to be given proper recognition as the head of the Federation that won the AWC trophy.

He was first ommited when the master of ceremony, the Principal

Secretary to the President, Hassan Tukur was making introduction of some of the delegation that came with the team.

The NFF President or the name of Pinnick was also not mentioned among the group to present the AWC trophy to President Jonathan at the brief occasion witnessed by cabinet members.

The master of ceremony had mentioned Sports Minister, Super Falcons’ Captain and the teams’s coach as those that will present the trophy to Mr. President.

Probably because he is a native of Delta state, which is known as the ‘Big Heart’ of the nation and popularly referred to as ‘Delta no dey carry last’, Pinnick rose up and joined the group to present the trophy to President Jonathan.

He did not fail to enjoy every bit of the ceremony as he posed with others for photo shots with the Presi-

‘We’re committed to security of residents’

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HE Chairman of Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba has reiterated his commitment to the protection of lives and property of residents of the council.

Hon. Garba, who spoke through the council’s Head of Administration, Alhaji Isah Rubochi while addressing residents and stakeholders on the need to complete some dumped buildings which pose serious security challenges.

According to the council chief, although the country is currently overcoming its security challenges,

From Gbenga Omokhunu

governments, especially at the local level, will not relent in its efforts to curb crime and criminality in the country.

He further urged residents to trim overgrown trees around their houses to avoid their being used as hide outs for criminal.

Garba also used the opportunity to appeal to residents to have faith in the present administration, as efforts are being made to address various challenges confronting every community in the council.

•Women selling sugar cane in Bwari in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of Chiefs and the six area councils last Wednesday were unanimous about improving development in the capital city under the Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Paying a courtesy visit to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, they declared that they have never had it so good in the city than with Mohammed as FCT Minister under Jonathan’s administration.

The delegation, including Chairman FCT Council of Chiefs, HRH Alhaji Adamu Baba Nisa, Sarki Jiwa, HRH Idris Musa, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Bada, Robochi, Kuje Area Council, Etsu of Bwari, HRH Ibrahim Yaro, Agura of Zuba, Mohammed Umar, Sakari of Karo, Emmanuel Shota, FCT PDP Chairman, Y.Y. Suleiman, Senator Philip Aduda, Senator Jubrin Wowo, Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Hon. Ibrahim Daniel, Chairman Abaji Area Council, Hon. Yahaya Garba, among other demands begged Mr. President to continue to retain Mohammed as the Minister of the territory.

While making his remartk, Alhaji Baba Nisa said: “Mr. President, we thank you very much for sending Bala Mohammed to be our Minister. If there is anything required of us, we will support him and support you because we want him to remain in the FCT. He has done a lot for us.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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LAW PERSONALITY Mr. Benson Ngozi Iwuagwu is the Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN). He holds a post-graduate diploma in Restorative Justice from Queens University, Ontario, Canada. Between May 2011 and last December, he was the Prison Fellowship International (PFI) Envoy for Anglophone Africa. He has been involved in Prison Ministry since 1980. In this interview with Legal Editor, JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks on the Oneosmus project and how to reduce crime.

‘Why our criminal law cannot deliver peace’

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HAT Is the essence of the Prison Fellowship Interna tional?

Prison Fellowship International, with the vision of “being a community of restoration for all those involved in and affected by crime, in demonstration of the love of God through Jesus Christ”, is the global body of countries, where churches have come together under the common name - Prison Fellowship. Presently, PFI has over 127 countries as members with category 2 consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Socio Cultural Committee (UNECOSOC). Prison Fellowship Nigeria has been chartered with PFI since 1992. Our membership in PFI affords us a massive network and programme resource base around the world. We have concrete and material presence in 25 states of our country. From Borno to Delta, Adamawa to Akwa Ibom States, thousands of our volunteers daily visit the prisons to provide spiritual, medical, material, literacy and legal support to the inmates. Spouses and children of inmates are not forgotten, within our limited resources we pay rents, school fees and provide, in appropriate cases, family upkeep allowance.

What is the impact of this fellowship on inmates?

The impact of Prison Fellowship Ministry on our prison inmates, with all sense of modesty, is monumental. What an inmate wants most for stabilisation in and out of prison is psychosocial support, which we provide in structured and consistent measure on the basis of God’s love through Jesus Christ for their reformation and the peace and good of our society.

Do you have any programme to monitor the lifestyle and condition of freed inmates to stop them from doing things that are likely to return them to the prison?

The unique nature of our church based membership makes it easy to link an exiting inmate to a member church near where he or she decides to settle. This arrangement provides the very critical post release support circle for follow up and basic provisions. In appropriate cases, we assign specific mentors to exiting prison inmates, who help them in planning and implementation of their life plan, often drawn up by the inmate before release. This area has been very challenging for a number of reasonshostile social receptions for returning ex-inmates, discriminatory statutory barriers and very limited resources in the face of mounting needs. To mitigate this, we intend to launch a social engagement and participation programme, tagged: “Green Ribbon Campaign” an attitudinal change campaign to create conducive social environment for re-entry of ex-prisoners back to society. Rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-prison inmates is a social responsibility, being sanctimonious and discriminatory against returning ex-prison inmates is akin to biting the nose to spite the face.

What is this Onesimus learning programme all about?

Life Recovery Pre-release Empowerment Programme, a.k.a

“The Onesimus Project”, presently running in the medium security and female prisons in Kirikiri, is a mentoring, personality and skill enhancement programme with set curriculum primarily targeted at inmates with 6 months to completion of their sentence and continues 12 months post release. Admission is open to all inmates, regardless of beliefs, so long as the individual is able to understand some English Language and be committed to attend classes and do assignments.

How does the programme run?

“The Onesimus Project” is run in partnership with Covenant University, their professors and lecturers come all the way from Ota to hold classes, conduct psychoclinicals and counseling. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), takes care of the Business and Entrepreneurial development component of the programme. Their specialist trainers come to train the inmates.

Prison Fellowship takes care of the spiritual instructions and vocational skill component of the programme.

What is the duration of the programme?

At the end of the six months’ training, graduation holds at which successful inmates are issued certificate of completion, signed by the four partnering institutions: Nigerian Prison Service, Covenant University, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and Prison Fellowship Nigeria. The Certificate, prima facie, is a testimony of refinement and training. It makes the holder eligible for post release small business support and venture seed capital. To date, we have matriculated about 130 and graduated about 90. We are constrained by infrastructure and funding to take a limited number each session.

Do you have other collaborators?

Our major collaborators are the hundreds of churches, who provide thousands of foot soldiers and support. Covenant University, Ota, provides the very critical and vital professional competences and skills in the core and sensitive areas of human personality dysfunction, evaluation and therapy. SMEDAN comes in to equip the inmate with knowledge and skills in business and enterprise development to be their own employers. By the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the partners, each partner bears its own costs.

Graduates of “The Onesimus Project”, have shown more resilience in the face of adverse social conditions, recidivism rate among our Onesimus graduates is about 20 per cent, against the general average of 70 per cent.

What level of support and collaboration are you enjoying from the government?

We have enjoyed the basic and primary support of access to prisons and collaboration from government at the various state chapter levels, and Prison Commands.

SMEDAN is a Federal Government agency in the Presidency and a very strategic partner in the

•Uwagu

Onesimus Project. We have the understanding to replicate Onesimus Project in other prison commands in the country. We have had support from the Ministries of Health, Justice and Social Welfare during specific inmate welfare intervention programmes. A lot more however remains.

You have been on the crusade for restorative justice as an integral part of our criminal justice administration. How would it work?

Restorative justice for a while has been in the global eye as an emerging criminal justice system that more readily encapsulates the concerns and varied interests connected with the commission of crime and its aftermaths; the offender, victim and community.

The United Nations Basic Principles on the use of Restorative Justice in criminal matters, endorsed in 2002, does not define Restorative Justice, but assigns usages to the terms “Restorative Process” and “Restorative outcomes”; these are very significant and underscore the distinction of restorative justice as meeting the true ends of justice which is peace.

Whilst our extant criminal justice system views crime as a violation of law and the state, Restorative Justice views crime as a violation of persons and relationships; the former aims for punishment and deterrence and the latter for reparation and healing.

Our criminal law is adversarial, technical and impersonal without cognisance for the victim or even for the society. Its primary intent is to punish the offender as deterrence to other would be offenders.

Restorative justice on the other hand, views crime differently, aims to heal the harms and hurts caused by the offender; give him opportunity to account for his or her actions, take responsibility and in conference with the victim and community and agree on how to

make up for his or her actions.

Restorative justice is not a demonisation of our extant criminal justice system, but it does provide a viable complement and option worthy of serious engagement.

Is restorative justice system applicable to Nigeria only or is it applied by other countries of the world?

South Africa and Zimbabwe are other African countries are using the Restorative Justice options.

The horrendous overcrowding and its concomitant dehumanisation of our inmates, absolutely makes any form of reform a tall dream.

Prison governors after prison governors bemoan the impossibility of inmate reformation in the face of suffocating congestions. No amount of rejigging a wrong headed and premised criminal law will work. It is trite once the premise of an argument is wrong its conclusions cannot, but be irremediably flawed. Restorative Justice is based on human values, rights and communal safety, more reflective of the intents of the social contract upon which law and government began. Our criminal law is based on the abstract and nebulous concept of state and the king’s peace. It just cannot deliver peace. England has a well developed Restorative Justice Protocol and practice, so does Canada.

It is heartwarming that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, in its characteristic trail blazing initiatives, has entered into an understanding with Prison Fellowship Nigeria to do a Restorative Justice Pilot project in the state.

What do you think is responsible for rising crime?

At the root of crime and criminality are a conundrum of predisposing factors, basic of which is lack of provision of food, clothes and shelter for the vast

majority of our people and the perception of how our commonwealth is being managed. The average Nigerian is on his or her own, at home or abroad. The late musical icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti, we may not agree with his social life style, but most of his songs highlighted the problemshigh handedness of the ruling class, selfishness and greed, oppression of the poor. The social injustice around us is simply nauseating.

How do we address the problem of crime in the society?

To begin to truly address crime, the government must, in some way, begin to give a sense of belonging to the citizens. Yes, it is said, do not ask what your country will give you, but what you can do for your country. But you first must belong to the country!

Our ruling elite and their bourgeoisie club members, with due respects, are no better than the colonial masters- oppressive, exploitative and aloof. In pursuit of their political spoils, they arm the youths, dose, use and dump them. What do you expect? That the youths will fold their hands?

Go into any of our prisons, they are brimming with young men and women. Tell me, can you walk up to your local government or state and demand as of right as a citizen? Our political tacticians now talk of “stomach infrastructure” by which thy mock the poor, yet it’s a tool in their hands.

Poor Esau sold his birth right because of hunger. Anyhow, the thing is, the poor man has sense and may just be waiting for his opportunity. The Arab spring, a replay of the spirit of the French Revolution should be instructive to our resource managers to please, in some way give every Nigerian a bite of the cheery and thereby a reason to hope and persevere.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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LAW & SOCIETY SLP: Court hears suit against NBA today

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HE Imo State High Court in Owerri will today hear a suit by a former Com monwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) President Mrs. Boma Ozobia and Mrs. Bunmi Ibraheemm against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN) and others.

The plaintiffs are challenging the unilateral annulment of the election of council members of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (SLP)

by Alegeh.

Alegeh had announced the council’s election annulment in his inaugural speech n August 31. He said the process that produced Mrs Miannaya Essien (SAN) as the section’s chairman did not comply with NBA’s constitution.

He appointed Mr. Babajide Koku (SAN) as the interim chairman.

The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction restraining Alegeh, Koku and others from parading themselves as officers of SLP and from going on to hold its scheduled conference in Uyo, Aka Ibom State pending the determination of the substantive suit challenging the powers of Alegeh to dissolve the council.

At the last hearing, the court said it was necessary to preserve the res in order not to render the eventual decision nugatory.

The court retrained parties from “interfering with the subject matter of this suit in any manner whatsoever pending the determina-

By John Austin Unachukwu

tion of the motion on notice.”

The case was adjourned till today to enable NBA file its defence.

Essien said: “The NBA SLP is made up of lawyers, who hold tenaciously to all due and democratic processes. All I can say is that all processes and procedure relating to the elections were strictly followed and adhered to.

As a senior member of the Bar it will be inappropriate for me to say more as I am aware that the issues have been placed before the Federal High Court and the High Court in Owerri to be determined.

“I know that there were efforts to resolve the issues with the president. Let us not forget that disputes are a fact of life without which lawyers would not have worked! It may be considered unusual that they went to court, but that depends on your perspective.”

On what is the status quo to be maintained, Essien said: “ I heard an interim injunction was granted ordering parties to maintain status quo. I am informed that counsel to the defendants in that case Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, (SAN) and Nnawuchi (SAN) were in court.

Although I am not a party to the suit it is obvious that as at last August some people were elected and were in office in SLP before the purported appointment of a so-called ‘Interim Chairman’, a position unknown and alien to the NBA Constitution and the SLP

Firm faults govt’s take-over of Cross Country boss’ trial

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FIRM, AG Moeller Limited, has faulted the Federal Government’s bid to take over the trial of Cross Country Limited’s Chief Executive Officer Bube Okorodudu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Okorodudu, Cross Country and Car Link Limited with nine counts of conspiracy, stealing and forgery at the Lagos State High Court.

It accused them of stealing N82.8 million through the fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen Transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller, which they denied.

The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke (SAN) had sought to take over the trial.

The AGF’s office, in a letter to the EFCC by the Federal Director of Public Prosecution, Akin Akintewe, had demanded to takeover the case with the view to forming an opinion on what to do considering the existence of a sister case at the Federal High Court in Lagos involving Okorodudu.

Subsequently, an order was obtained during the Lagos High Court’s long vacation empowering the AGF to take over the case.

But AG Moeller’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Kemi Adeloye, in a petition to Adoke, insisted that the AGF lacked the constitutional power to take over the case filed under state laws.

Adeloye said given Adoke’s antecedents of outstanding success in the legal profession, he (the petitioner) had every reason to believe that the AGF was wrongly briefed by his officers as to the facts of the case.

By Joseph Jibueze

According to him, there had been a court decision that the charge against Okorodudu and his companies was not an abuse of court process.

Adeloye, who insisted that there is no other authority that can be superior to the courts, argued that Akintewe’s letter to EFCC demanding to take over the case was done in utter contempt of court.

To him, the Federal prosecutor arrogated to himselve the power of adjudication when reaching the conclusion that the charge is an abuse of court process, as against the subsisting ruling delivered by Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos High Court on May 26.

Adeloye alleged there is a bid to frustrate and lay a foundation for eventual failure of the case, thereby denying him justice for the alleged fraud committed against him and his company.

He added that despite two bench warrants issued by Justice Akapo, Okorodudu had allegedly refused to appear for trial, adding that it would be absurd for the AGF to be associated with an absolute illegality.

Adeloye, therefore, urged Adoke to investigate the circumstances of Akintewe’s letter to the EFCC demanding to take over the case.

He further wants the AGF to direct Akintewe to immediately cleanse himself of alleged contempt of court by retracting the September 4 letter.

Adeloye also urged Adoke to initiate the process of vacating the order empowering the AGF to take over the case because vital facts were allegedly concealed before it was made.

•Alegeh

•Essien

Bye-laws.

“It is said, you cannot resort to an abnormality to create a status quo. Therefore, the status quo in my view and based on the law is

that those who occupied those positions in August are properly there pending the resolution of the motion on notice and the dispute in court.”

Ex-worker sues oil firm for N10m over ‘unlawful’ dismissal

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FORMER employee of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Mrs Loveline Jaiyesinmi has sued the company at the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos over the alleged wrongful termination of her employment.

She is seeking N10million damages and an order compelling the firm to pay all her entitlements.

Jaiyesinmi, through her lawyer Mrs Ifeoma Obi, is claiming that she was employed as a Front Desk Officer on August 1, 2010, but the company, contrary to the terms of her contract, refused to confirm her employment after a six month probation period.

According to her, she was instead given additional duties and was surprisingly issued a reviewed letter of employment dated June 4 last year, which placed her on probation again despite the fact that her probation ended in February 2011 as contained in her first appointment letter.

She said she applied for maternity leave and was shocked to receive a termination letter on October 8 last year, the same day she was delivered of her baby.

The basis for her sack, she said, was that she was not entitled to proceed on maternity leave as she was neither confirmed nor had attained six months in the firm’s employment.

According to her, her dismissal was “unjustifiable and misconceived” because she had been in Waltersmith’s employment for over three years.

By Joseph Jibueze

“The letter of employment in June 2013 merely reviewed some terms of my employment and no more,” she said.

Jaiyesinmi said despite her protests, the company paid her N200,000 as her final entitlements, adding that all through her employment, her pension deductions were never remitted to any fund administrator.

The claimant said her former lawyer, the late Bamidele Aturu, wrote to the company, but never got a reply even Waltersmith did not pay her while she was on maternity leave nor gave her any leave allowance.

Jaiyesinmi, therefore, is praying the court to declare as illegal the termination of her employment; order the payment of her salaries (N83,306.20) from October last year till judgment is delivered; and order remittance of N5,365.24 from August 1, 2010, being monthly pension deductions, till judgment.

The claimant also claimed N115,883.6, being default fee for failing to remit the pension; N106,557.97, being her leave allowance for three years; N10million as damages for her unlawful sack, and N900,000 being cost of the action.

But the company said Jaiyesinmi was employed as a contract staff, an appointment which ended on May 30 last year. It said she was only offered a permanent employment on June 4 last year.

Waltersmith said the claimant was not entitled to leave having only just become a permanent staff, adding that she could only proceed on vacation after producing a medical certificate signed by a doctor, which the claimant allegedly did not do.

“The claimant did not meet the requisite criteria for proceeding on maternity leave neither did she obtain the required approvals,” Waltersmith said.

The case has been adjourned till December 1 for hearing.

Abuja NBA holds lecture

T •From left: Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice-President Mr. Steve Abar; Registrar Rhema University, Aba, Mr. Emmanuel Dough; Prof. Peter Akper (SAN) and Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Bem Angwe at the final burial rite for Chief Angwe Anum and the commissioning of Angwe Academy in Gboko, Benue State.

HE NIGERIA Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Branch will hold its annual lec ture in honour of the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) Justice I. M. Bukar on November 6, at the Ceremonial Hall, FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja by 9 am.

It has the theme: Electoral process and courts in Nigeria: the implication on law and democracy.

Former Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) president Mrs. Boma Ozobia will be the guest speaker.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

LEGAL OPINION Media aide of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, highlights her achievements in office.

‘How Mukhtar is tackling court delays’ •Continued from last week HE discovered that one of the reasons why it was taking long to hear and determine cases was that many judicial officers had abandoned their job. They travelled abroad at will and abandoned cases assigned to them. In the main, litigants suffered.

A story has it that shortly after Justice Mukhtar came to the seat; she met seven judges of various courts in Nigeria she could recognize including a Supreme Court justice in one of the international airports abroad.

Curiously, she had an encounter with the same Supreme Court justice on the previous day but didn’t inform her of his intention to travel abroad. Besides, he was expected to sit on some cases at the apex court within those days he was away.

The first female CJN felt the lawlessness can’t continue under her watch of the nation’s judiciary.

She therefore issued a circular directing all judges under the Federal, state and Federal Capital Territory including her colleagues at the Supreme Court to seek for approval from her office through their heads of courts to travel before undergoing any voyage.

A register was opened to monitor requests by judges to travel and once a judge’s requests have hit the

S

ceiling in a given year, subsequent request that year is denied. The penalty is a query for a judge that travel without due approval from the CJN’s office.

While receiving performance evaluation reports compiled by the= Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) on May 17, 2013, Justice Mukhtar also revealed that she had earlier directed judges wishing to travel abroad to seek for her permission through his or her head of court.

Justice Mukhtar said that she didn’t know how bad the situation was until she directed all judges to seek for CJN’s permission through their heads of courts before travelling abroad. ‘’The Nigerian Bar Association has also been complaining about the attitudes of judges to work this days. Many will leave their work and travel for days abroad. This is why I insisted they must obtain approval before travelling abroad.

Until this directive, I never thought things were all that bad, because some of the judges will be seeking for permission to travel abroad while the courts are in session, despite the six weeks holiday they are entitled to in a year’’. ‘’These are part of the reasons the NJC undertakes performance evaluation from time to time both at the trial and appellate courts to

determine productivity of the judges and their courts in the states and the Federal Capital Territory This is an administrative instrument that is available for control and instilling discipline in the system in both private and public offices in the country and in other climes The CJN believes that judges should not be allowed to roam about and galvanize the world like sheep without shepherds.

She believes that the leadership of the judiciary owes the Nigerian people a duty to make sure that judges conduct themselves in line with their oath of office and the code of conduct for judicial officers.

Judicial legitimacy is boosted by public opinion. A situation where the people believe that judges are irresponsible set of people and that the leadership of the judiciary is helpless and cannot save the situation does not augur well for the country.

Justice Mukhtar’s directive that judges must seek permission from the office of the CJN before traveling within or abroad is therefore for the interest of effective and timely dispensation of justice in the country.

•To be continued next week

•From left: Mr. Matthew Egbadon, Dr Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) and Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) at the International Law Association (ILA)(Nigerian Branch) launch and conference in Lagos.

Airline sued over ‘missing’ luggage

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JOS, Plateau State-based busi nessman, Adejo Yakubu has faulted a claim by Ethiopian Airlines that he was not entitled to compensation despite its inability to account for his luggage four years after he boarded the airline’s flight from Beijing, China to Abuja, Nigeria.

Last week, Yakubu, through his lawyer, James Attah Adokwe, put a lie to an earlier claim by the airline that what he lost was just hand luggage which weighed 10kilogramm, and for which he was only entitled to US$200 compensation.

An official of the airline, Gii Emmanuel, an Ethiopian citizen, told a Federal High Court in Abuja, while being cross-examined by Adokwe, that Yakubu actually paid for extra luggage outside the hand baggage, evidence that contradicted his company’s claim that the passenger had just his hand baggage.

Yakubu, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Photos and Accessories Nigeria Limited, flew the airline on November 4, 2010 on a return flight from Beijing after a business trip to China. On his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Abuja on November 5, his luggage, which was duly checked-in at the departure in Beijing, was discovered missing.

He complained to the airline officials, who gave him the necessary documents to endorse and give description of items contained in the missing luggage, pledged to help retrieve the missing luggage.

About 21 days later when the airline could not produce his luggage, Yakubu’s lawyer wrote the airline, who in a letter dated March 2, 2011, offered to pay US 200 as compensation, claiming that what was missing was hand baggage weighing 10kg.

In subsequent letter dated August 4, 2011 written by its lawyer, Chris Uguwnayi of the firm of Tayo Laleye and Company , the airline raised its offer to US500 claiming that it was acting on “goodwill basis,” an offer Yakubu rejected, and subsequently proceeded to court and instituted the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2012, with Ethiopian Airlines as sole defendant.

Yakubu is praying the court for among others, an order directing

Ethiopian Airline to pay him N9,584,022 in general and special damages following its inability to account for his luggage and the psychological and emotional trouble the airline action has caused him.

He also wants the court to declare that the airline “was negligent/or failed in ts duty to deliver the plaintiff’s baggage on November 5, 2010 and up to date.”

Alternatively, Yakubu wants the court to order the defendant to pay to him US6,658 as a result of its negligence, which led to the loss of his luggage.

While testifying last week before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, Emmanuel , who adopted his witness statement on oath, Emmanuel admitted that the plaintiff was on his company’s flight from Beijing between November 4 and 5, 2010.

He also admitted that the plaintiff complained about his missing luggage subsequently. He however denied knowledge of the actual content of the missing luggage.

Justice Kolwole adjourned till January 15 next year for adoption of written addresses.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Southeast roads and Jonathan’s re-election

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HE Onitsha-Enugu highway is undoubtedly the worst among the so called expressways in Nigeria today. The tar on that road was com pletely excavated across several kilometers, more than two years ago, and it has now developed craters at several points. The abandoned road has also been made worse by erosion, which is a major challenge in the Southeast. Travelling on that road last week, I was amused that Anambra State which perhaps has the highest number of high-profile supporters for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan has been treated with such ignominy by the government they want re-elected, at all cost.

In fairness to Anambra politicians, that mess called expressway, stretches all the way to Enugu State, forcing motorists to make a detour into the old Onitsha-Enugu road, starting from Awka to 9th Mile, since the Enugu State government had renovated her portion of the stretch, few years ago. Interestingly, the spate of abandonment of vital infrastructure and monuments in the south-east by the Jonathan administration, first hit me as I passed the Onitsha head bridge, where a perennial joke is played on the south-east, each time a new administration comes into power in Nigeria, in the name of an inland port. In fairness to President Jonathan, it was former President Shehu Shagari, who started that ridicule of announcing the development of a port, without dredging the waterway.

Of course in vain did I stretch my eyes in search of the new Onitsha bridge, or any tale-tale sign of it, despite the President’s promise to the people when he came asking for their votes in 2011. As I peered into that ancient and combusting center of commerce, and arguably the host of the biggest market in West Africa, I could hear the regal voice of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Ofala Okagbue, as he chided President Jonathan less than two years ago over his unkempt promises. My sense of shame, as a southeasterner, ricocheted as I passed the residence of the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, where the abandoned mausoleum in his honour, confirmed irrevocably that the Azikiwe stunt in President Jonathan’s name which paid off handsomely in the last election was not borne out of any reverence, for that grand patriarch of Nigeria’s independence and statehood.

Yet the south-east perhaps have their best chance under the current political dispensation to ensure budgetary provisions to completely repair the Onitsha-Enugu highway, among other abandoned roads in the region.

As a senior friend pointed out to me as we remonstrated over the tragedy of the politics of Ndigbo, the south-east has prominent persons in President Jonathan’s government who should be held responsible for the abandonment of critical infrastructure in the south-east. He mentioned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on works, Senator Anyogu Eze, the Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Works, Honourable Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, as the chief culprits.

We both wondered how such high profile persons could be in their privileged positions and yet were unable to ensure that adequate provisions were made in the national budget for the rehabilitation of that import artery in the south-east. We also reminisced that former Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi (Okwute) who is a strong supporter of President Jonathan, travels on that road, and yet despite the abandonment, is so vociferous in his unalloyed support for the reelection of President Jonathan, in 2015. We mentioned Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Arthur Eze, and several other high profile Peoples Democratic Party bigwigs, who are very outspoken that south-east is securely in the pocket of President Jonathan, as far as the 2015 election is concerned.

Knowing that President Jonathan travels for short distances in a Helicopter, maybe because the roads are not safe, it is possible that he will land in Onitsha or Awka for his reelection campaign and will be regaled with the falsehood that he is the best thing to have happened to Ndigbo in recent times. I can see President Jonathan in Enugu, dancing to the Atiliogwu dance towards his 2015 reelection campaign, dressed in native attires of Ndigbo, bearing falsely the name Azikiwe, and roaring kwenu, kwenu, in greetings, without knowing that those who travelled on the Onitsha-Enugu highway to attend the rally may be cursing him under their breath, unless of course they had been handsomely settled to attend the rally.

Talking of settlement, it is interesting that the best know campaign organ for the reelection of President Jonathan, the Traders Association of Nigeria (TAN), sorry, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is also founded and headed by Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who is from Anambra state.

While many will rail at me or curse me, if I begrudge the business mogul for his ‘acumen and foresight’ in founding and promoting the prime marketing company for the reelection of President Jonathan in 2015, I am worried that he might have to lie to the President should any potential voter query the state of that road, during a campaign stop in his home state. Of course, many believe that reelection campaigns have nothing to do with performance in office.

In years to come, Sociologists and Anthropologists will be required to unravel the reasons for the uncommon support south-east political leaders have extended to President Goodluck Jonathan starting from 2010 when political fortunes smiled at him, up to the present. On the part of President Jonathan, what is responsible for his shabby treatment of the infrastructure needs of the south-east, despite the harvest of unprecedented support that saved his presidency when it mattered most, may require psychoanalysis?

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LAW REPORT

Substitution of candidate complete if within stipulated time IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA ON FRIDAY THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN, J.S.C. SULEIMAN GALADIMA, J.S.C. MARY UKAEGO PETER-ODILI, J.S.C. KUMAI BAYANG AKA’AHS, J.S.C. KUDIRAT MOTONMORI OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, J.S.C SC. 255/2013 (2014) LPELR-23763(SC) Between JENKINS GIANE DUVIE GWEDE ……..…………………….………..….… Appellant AND INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) & 3 ORS ….………….……….…………….... Respondents LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY WALTER SAMUEL NKANU ONNOGHEN, J.S.C.

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HIS is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division delivered on the 22nd day of May, 2013, in which the Court set aside the decision of the trial Federal High Court that it lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter instituted after the conduct of the main election as well as the finding of that Court that Edoja Rufus Akpodiete (2nd Respondent) did not withdraw his candidature from the election conducted by INEC (1st Respondent) for Ughelli North Constituency II on 26/4/2011.

Accordingly the 2nd Respondent was returned the winner of the election and was issued with a certificate of return.

Edoja Rufus Akpodiete (2nd Respondent) together with Jenkins Giane Duvie Gwede (Appellant) who was the Plaintiff at the trial Court are members of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) (4th Respondent), a registered political party. The 2nd Respondent contested and won the primary election of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) for the election into Ugelli North Constituency II for the Delta State House of Assembly. Later on, the 2nd Respondent, by notice in writing to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) withdrew from contesting the said election, collected his de-

posit of N2 million paid to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) for the purpose of contesting the election as a result of which the Appellant was used by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to substitute the 2nd Respondent. After the substitution, the 1st Respondent, INEC published a list of candidates for the said election which list included the name of the Appellant as the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). However, without any further instruction or input from the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), INEC released another list in which the name of 2nd Respondent was put instead of that of the Appellant, as the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

On his part, the 2nd Respondent denied that he withdrew from the election and also contended that the trial Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the action, an election haven taken place as the matter is a preelection matter. The election in issue was conducted on the 26th day of April, 2011 while the action was instituted on the 29th day of April, 2011. The Appellant herein along with the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) jointly commenced a suit at the Fed-

eral High Count sitting at Asaba. At the conclusion of hearing, the trial Court not only concluded that it had no jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter but dismissed same.

Aggrieved by the judgment of the Court, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, Benin Division on seven grounds of appeal and on the 22/5/2013 the Court of Appeal delivered judgment allowing the appeal in part. The Court of Appeal found as a fact that the 2nd Respondent withdrew from contesting the election and that the Appellant was used to substitute him but after agreeing that the trial Court erred, the Court of Appeal refused to grant the reliefs claimed from the trial Court and also refused to grant the consequential orders. Not satisfied with the final conclusion of the Court of Appeal, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court on four grounds complaining against that part of the judgment of the Court of Appeal they had reservations about. All the Respondents save the 3rd respondent, Julius Oghenevwegba Bobi Cross-Appealed.

The Appellant in the main appeal generated four issues for the determination of the appeal.

Having regards to the facts of this case as found by the Court of Appeal and the applicable law on the issue of nomination and/or substitution of a candidate by a political party, the Supreme Court held the view that the Court of Appeal was in error in dismissing the suit of the Appellant at the trial Court, there being no claim before the Court challenging the validity of the nomination by substitution of the Appellant for the 2nd Respondent. The Court held that the Court of Appeal was therefore in error in regarding the substitution of the Appellant as defective or irregular. The Court stated the decision of the Supreme Court that publication of the list of candidates to contest an election by INEC is an administrative act which does not confer or take away validity from a duly nominated or substituted candidate. Nomination or substitution of a candidate is complete the moment INEC receives the necessary documents effecting same from the political party within the stipulated time.

See KUBOR VS DICKSON (2013) ALL FWLR (PT 676) 392 AT 426–427; (2012) LPELR-9817(SC).

Issues 1 and 2 were resolved in favour of the Appellant.

On the 3rd and 4th issues which learned counsel for the Appellant also argued together, the pith and substance of his submission is that the basis for substitution of a candidate at an election is as provided in Sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). That once there is evidence of withdrawal of a candidate and this followed by the act of forwarding same to INEC by the Political Party concerned the substitution is completed and effective. It was the further submission of counsel that once a candidate has withdrawn his candidature, the person who nominated him and their nomination cannot be reckoned with any more, relying on Section 32(4) of the Electoral Act, 2010, that the issue of irregularity of the nomination of the Appellant was raised suo motu by the Court of Appeal as it never arose from the decision of the trial court nor on appeal or cross appeal before the Court; that the Court of Appeal was therefore in error in using the issue so raised suo motu in deciding the matter.

Deciding issues 3 and 4, the Court agreed with the submission of counsel for the Appellant that the issue of irregularity of the nomination of the Appellant was raised suo motu by the Court of Appeal and without opportunity for the parties, particularly the Appellant to address the Court on it. The Court stated that it is settled law that a Court may raise an issue suo motu but where it decides to base its decision on the matter on the issue so raised, the Court is duty bound to invite counsel for the parties to address on it, particularly the party who would be adversely affected by the result of the exercise. The Court held that the Court of Appeal was clearly in error. These issues were resolved in favour of the Appellant.

In the final analysis, the Court held the main appeal by the Appellant as well as the crossappeal by the 4th Respondent succeeds and they were allowed while the cross-appeals of the 1st and 2nd Respondents failed and were accordingly dismissed.

•Edited by LawPavilion LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR23763(SC)

The International Law Association (Nigeria Branch) has been launched. It also held its first annual conference in Lagos, which dwelled on how to tackle terrorism, reports JOSEPH JIBUEZE.

CJN raises posers for terrorists

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Aloma Mukhtar, has inaugurated the Nigerian Branch of the International Law Association (ILA), 28 years after the first attempt to establish it in the country failed.

Founded in 1873, the ILA has 59 branches and aims to bring together scholars, lawyers, advocates and practitioners interested in public and private international law.

It was first set up in Nigeria in 1982 but existed for only four years.

The branch’s president Prof Fidelis Oditah (QC, SAN) said ILA seeks to promote “the study, clarification and development of international law, both public and private, and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law.”

According to him, the association has consultative status with a number of the United Nations (UN) specialised agencies as an international non-governmental organisation.

Oditah said: “Since 1960, Nigerian international lawyers have made significant contributions to the development of international law through publications, practice and commentaries.

“The ILA contributes to discussion of topical issues in international law through a number of vehicles, such as conferences, study groups and regional events, which branches conduct from time to time.

“We encourage all lawyers, academics, advocates, practitioners, and students who have interests in international law to join the Branch and become involved in this important work of promoting Nigeria’s international law expertise to the rest of the world.”

Oditah said non-lawyers, such as politicians and diplomats who practice international law, can register as members to understand its principles.

“We do not want to reduce the ILA into an academic legal debating society,” he said, adding the association is faced with the challenges of outreach, access and funding.

Justice Mukhtar described the launch of ILA in Nigeria as an auspicious occasion. “It marks the beginning of totally new chapter in the annals of our fledging legal system,” she said,

adding: “My joy knew no bound when a branch of the association was approved in Nigeria.”

The branch also held its first annual conference with theme: “International Investments in an era of transnational threats: Taking stock and charting international law responses for the future.”

On why the theme was chosen, Oditah said: “In the last four years, Nigeria has been under the siege of Boko Haram. The problem with terrorism, which can be either national or transnational, is that they tend to use guerilla tactics. They hit and run. They’re not subject to the laws of war or the constraints they impose.

“By creating that type of instability, they impoverish those areas. If you want to invest money in Nigeria, it unlikely you will choose that part of Borno State. The question for us is: Is there is any way international law can respond and try to protect investment in areas which have been besieged by transnational threats such as Boko Haram?”

The QC/SAN said Nigeria is obligated to protect any international investments in the crisis-prone Northeast.

“If Nigeria fails to do so, then it breaches treaty obligations, not just the bilateral investment treaties, but also its own domestic laws, such as the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Act which seeks to implement certain principles of international economic law by guaranteeing investors the safety of their investments,” Oditah said.

Justice Mukhtar said the impacts of insecurity on a country are limitless.

“Apart from economic cost, the social and psychological implications are immeasurable. Terrorism erodes inter-communal trust and destroys the reservoir of social capital that is so vital to building a harmonious society and pulling together community efforts for national development.

“The attendant proliferation of small arms and militarisation of society results in vicious cycle of violence which hampers na-

•From left: Prof. Oditah, Justice Mukhtar and Prof Mendelson

tional cohesion and stability…Development thrives in a peaceful environment.

“Consequently, all hands must be on deck to ensure peace and stamp out every form of insecurity, particularly terrorism as it is inimical to sustainable development,” she said.

According to her, insecurity will be a clog in the wheel of progress unless it is tackled.

“It is indeed evident that Nigeria has not attained its best in her quest for industrial and technological breakthrough since independence, and this has forced the nation to rely heavily on importation for a great percentage of its basic sustenance.

“As government strives to correct this trend, insecurity will definitely stand as a clog in the wheel of our progress as it is inimical to industrialisation,” the CJN said.

Justice Mukhtar raised three posers for insurgents, wondering whether terrorism is the best way to address social challenges.

“While we concede that there are ills in the society that need to be corrected as with every country in the world, may I urge the champions of the self-justified course to have in mind these three questions: “(1) Is the end sought good enough to justify the means? (2) Will the end indeed be achieved by means of terrorism? (3) Can the end not be achieved by any other way other than terrorism?”

An international law expert, Prof Maurice Mendelson (QC), who gave the keynote speech, said terrorism is sometimes caused

by simple greed, quest for power or hatred – “the thinking that others are sub-human or instruments of the devil.”

He said terrorism can be internal or transnational and requires global cooperation in the fight against it.

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Ade Ipaye, recommended more use of dialogue in the bid to end terrorism. According to him, the death penalty may do little to deter those who have already made up their minds to die for a cause.

“Attempt to crack it down has spurned more terrorism. I think the role of law should now be in the realm of negotiation, dispute resolution. I would encourage any kind of engagement. I agree it’s a crime against humanity of the worst kind, but total routing hasn’t been effective. And we have exhausted our punishment – the death penalty, because they want to die,” he said.

Also at the conference were Justice Sidi Bage of the Court of Appeal, Lagos; a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN); deputy president, Nigerian Society of International Law, Prof Yinka Omoregbe; Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN), Mrs Miannaya Essien (SAN), Mr Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN), Dr Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), former Commonwealth Lawyers Association President Mrs Boma Ozobia, among others.

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HEALTH

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E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Stroke, in medical parlance, is an emergency but an early response or prompt treatment can minimize its adverse effects on the brain. Moderate physical exercises, Dr Olufemi Fasanmade suggests, are proactive measures against its occurrence. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA met him.

Stroke, a preventable disease N

IGERIANS have been urged to engage in physical activities to prevent stroke. The advice was given by Dr Femi Fasanmade an Associate Professor and Consultant Physician/Endocrinologist, College of Medicine University of Lagos, (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

Dr Fasanmade said stroke is a cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a major cause of disability and premature death throughout the world. “The underlying pathology is atherosclerosis, which develops over many years and is usually advanced by the time symptoms occur, generally in middle age. Acute coronary events (heart attacks) and cerebrovascular events (strokes) frequently occur suddenly, and are often fatal before medical care can be given,” he said.

According to him, physical activity improves heart function and lipid profile by lowering total cholesterol. It lowers blood pressure and resting heart rate.

A source said adults who do not exercise on a regular basis have a 20 per cent higher risk of having a stroke than their more active peers, according to a study published in the latest editio of the journal, Stroke.

This research backs up earlier findings, including those from a 2010 multi-country study that identified physical inactivity as the second leading risk factor for

strokes. This current study, however, is the first to look at such a large multiracial group of both men and women.

Dr Fasanmade, a founding member of Stroke Action and Awareness Campaign, said what informed a stroke action programme in Nigeria is due to the burden of cardiovascular diseases.

He said: “If you enter a typical emergency set up or room in a place like LUTH or Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) or Federal Medical Centre (FMC) or even any General Hospital, you will find out that every single day, one patient would be brought in unconscious and many are unconscious to either a stroke or due to a heart attack. In Nigeria,

Fed Govt to support religious groups

• Dr Fasanmade

stroke is much more common than heart attacks. We have started to see these cases. If you also go to the wards, in a typical

adult medical ward, you will always find at any particular time, month or period, at least one person who is being managed or on admission for stroke. So, strokes are quite common and can be very devastating.”

Dr Fasanmade added: “Risk factor modification, such as physical exercise can reduce clinical events and premature death in people with established cardiovascular disease as well as in those who are at high cardiovascular risk due to one or more risk factors.”

The Consultant Endocrinologist said stroke is very common because of the things that lead to it saying: “25 to 30 percent adult Nigerians are hypertensive and majority of uncontrolled or untreated hypertension lead to stroke. So if we can prevent hy-

pertension you prevent stroke.

Unfortunately, hypertension don’t show signs and people may not know until they develop complications. It is either they collapse, have heart failures or kidney failure or even develop a stroke but there is none that is more dramatic than a stroke. In most instances, a lot of sudden deaths are due to stroke when people suddenly collapse and die. This tells us how stroke can be devastating.

“A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops.

Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. “Ministrokes” or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.”

He said symptoms of stroke are- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body); sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and sudden severe headache with no known cause.

“If you have any of these symptoms, you must get to a hospital quickly to begin treatment. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot or by stopping the bleeding. Poststroke rehabilitation helps individuals overcome disabilities that result from stroke damage.

Drug therapy with blood thinners is the most common treatment for stroke.”

•Church, hospital inaugurated in Kano

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HE Federal Government has pledged to collaborate with religious groups that venture into health care to improve the quality of services.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, who spoke at the inauguration of an hospital built in Sokoto by the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, said such gesture is encouraged by the government as it cannot carry the burden of health care alone.

Alhasssan said:“The government would continue to support religious organisations wishing to provide health care to the people."

The hospital, Holy Family Mother Care Clinic, was opened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, a demonstration of what Christians and Muslims can do together.

Khalirul said inter-faith collaboration “in the country has helped address some key challenges facing health, adding that such collaboration can help improve the health in-

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

dices in the country.”

He added that the hospital was “a lot relevant to the aims and objectives of the Federal Government to ensure safety and medical health of all and sundry.”

On the hospital, he said providing health care was not a prerogative of the government but a “collective responsibility,” and urged religious leaders to change the orientation of their followers so that they can become more conscious of their health.

“We all need to take care of our health and we can only do that when we regularly visit clinics,“ he said.

Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese said the hospital was open to all women and children of Sokoto, irrespective of religious background.

According to him, this is one of

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

•From left: Rev. Kukah; Alhaji Abubakar 111 and Dr Alhassan (behind the Bishop) during the inauguration of the hospital.

the efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths. The presence and accessibility of clinics is crucial to encouraging more women to give

birth in hospitals.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the inauguration, donated an ambulance to assist

clinic, urging families to insist on ante-natal care for expectant women and post-natal care after childbirth.

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BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

How shipping companies, terminal S operators milk Nigerians HIPPING companies and terminal operators are making several billions of naira yearly at the nation’s seaports from storage charges they have unilaterally imposed on importers, The Nation has learnt.

The charges are in respect of rates importers are forced to pay on weekends and public holidays that the shipping companies are not opened for business.

Speaking at the official opening of their secretariat at Tin-Can Island port, Lagos, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents’ (ANLCA) Chairman, Prince Kayode Oyinlola, berated the shipping companies and terminal operators for collecting excessive money for services not rendered.

He bemoaned the amount deducted from their container

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

deposits while their trucks are waiting to discharge empty containers because of lack of holding bays in most of the terminals.

Police, Quarantine and other agencies, he alleged, impede the government’s trade facilitation programme by blocking the release of containers through frivolous excuses.

Oyinlola said: “These issues are not exhaustive, but are enough to catalyse us into action to recue our members from unwarranted hardship.”

Investigation revealed that last year, importers paid as much as N26,500 and N48,000 on 20footh and 40footh containers respectively as Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC).

He said the shipping firms seek to justify the rates by tagging them as documentation administrative charges, urging that government should address the problem to end cargo diversion to neighbouring ports of Cotonou, Lome, Tema and Accra, because of the high tariffs charged at our home ports.

The importers also alleged that it takes terminal operators more than three days to position their

•From left: Controller of Customs at Tin-can port Zakari Jibrin and National President, ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu at stakeholders’ forum in Lagos PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

SON targets N5.7b yearly revenue on vehicles

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•ANLCA, others kick

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is set to rake in N5.7billion yearly with its planned implementation of N20,000 pre-shipment inspection levy on imported vehicles.

The amount, findings revealed, would accrue to the agency, based on the average of 250,000 vehicles imported into the country annually.

But the President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, has threatened that the association will withdraw its services if SON goes ahead with the fee.

He told The Nation that the group is against the implementation of the controversial levy because importers will equally lose the same amount in return.

“I heard that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) wants to be charging N20,000 per vehicle that is imported into the country. When we calculated the money based on an average of 250,000 vehicles imported per annum, we understood that the agency will be collecting N5.7

billion every year. The policy has not gone through the National Assembly, it has not been appropriated and this is the same agency that receives budgetary allocation every year from tax payers’ money,” he said.

He stated that SON may be allowed to collect the fees if the Federal Government through the Nigeria Customs Service, agrees to pay clearing agents 10 per cent of its total revenue collection.

“The day SON forcefully starts the collection of the money, our members will stop work.

“The negotiation is that SON can collect N20,000 but the government must be ready to give us 10 per cent of the revenue we generated to Customs. That will be the yardstick for our negotiation. We have tried to keep peace in the port for over four years, we have never gone on strike because we are a professional body but if that is the only language the government understands, we will down tools.

“The least we are asking through

Customs from the Federal Government is 10 per cent of the total collection. We are entitled to it, Cotecna, SGS and the other Service providers were contractors to the government and they were collecting one per cent FOB but when they couldn’t manage RAR and Customs came up with a superior system, and that is PAAR. The service providers couldn’t get the cheap money they were making in those days, so they went through the Ministry of Investment to get another contract with the SON so that they can be making a minimum of N5billion per annum. That is why in no distance time, we shall tell them we are life-wire of the ports. If they want us to close the ports, we shall assist them to do so,” Shittu said It would be recalled that SON had last month appointed three companies including Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited, Quality Assurance Projects Limited and Medtech Scientific Limited to verify Nigeria-bound vehicles before shipping into the country with an inspection fee of not less than N20,000 per vehicle.

containers after they have requested for them.

The spokesman for the importers, Johnson Eromosele, alleged that the terminal operators have also consistently asked them to pay storage charge even when the operators fail to position their containers for examination.

The amount they pay, Johnson said, most of the time, is inflated, adding that most of the terminals at the Lagos ports, do not have suitable examination bays, where all containers confirmed for examination by the Nigeria Customs Service can be positioned.

The importers are furious that the terminal operators cause undue delays in the clearing process, resulting in increased port charges which over time erode their gains and customer confidence.

Findings also revealed that when a consignee submits all the necessary documents to some of the terminal operators and makes request for an invoice to enable the clearing process, the invoices are sometimes delayed till the following day before they were issued.

This delay, the importers claim, gives rooms to the shipping companies and terminal operators to milk Nigerians.

“When the importer, clearing agent, or the truck driver presents a Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) to the terminal operators, most of the time, they find it difficult to locate the container, thus causing undue delay and still , they go ahead to demand for storage fees,” Johnson said.

Investigation however revealed that the terminal operators have unilaterally increased the storage charge in violation of the last approval given by the Federal Government through the Minister of Transport on May1, 2009.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Transport said in the said approval, “it was emphasised that the rates are the absolute maximum any terminal operator is allowed to charge, and under no circumstances

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shall any of the operators charge an importer any amount higher than the rates approved by the government. But the terminal operators have since embarked on progressive increases in the storage charge thus violating the government’s order.”

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the official said, has directed all shipping companies and shipping agents to ensure the refund of container deposit fees within 10 days after the empty container has been returned to the terminal.

“Failure will attract interest on the outstanding amount of deposit at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prevailing commercial rate until refund is made,” he said.

Findings revealed that more than 35 per cent of container deposits collected for shipping companies by terminal operators are not refunded despite the efforts by importers and their agents to return empty containers on time and in good condition.

To resolve the issues, the Federal Government, a source said, has ordered joint examination of the condition of containers before the truck drivers will move them out of the port and when it is returned, so that nobody will use it to exploit the importers.

The terminal operators and the shipping companies, it was learnt, also feed fat on the importers because of endemic traffic situation in Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, it was learnt, has pegged fees paid for container cleaning and maintenance to N1, 500, while the free period prior to payment of demurrage has been increased from five days to 10, in line with subregional and international practices.

Before the recent move by the government, Nigerian port had five demurrage-free days, Ghana, eight days, while Benin Republic, has 10 days.

The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), it was learnt, is not happy with the reversal in the storage charges and it has gone court to seek redress.

NIWA to penalise dredging operators violating the rules

HE management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has threatened to penalise any dredging operator in Lagos State who fails to comply with its rules and regulations.

NIWA’s Lagos Area Manager, Muazu Sambo, told The Nation that the agency will not allow dredging firms to violate the stipulated rules.

Sambo listed some of the rules and regulations that operators need to follow as: Registering with the agency, conducting Environmental Impact Assessment before operations and possessing a statutory certificate.

The Area Manager said the other rules include conducting proper survey, possessing work permit and consulting with professionals, adding that it is necessary and compulsory for dredging operators to comply with all the rules and regulations of NIWA while carrying out their dredging activities.

“NIWA will no longer tolerate non-compliance with rules and regulations by dredging operators,

and any operators found violating government rules will be sanctioned.

“Compliance with our rules and regulations will bring about effective operations on the waterways,“ he said, arguing that the rules are necessary so that government could keep record of legal operators in the state and their activities.

“The laws are to ensure that operators are doing the right thing on the waterways. The safety of operators matter to the government, therefore, rules and regulations need to be applied to ensure effective and smooth operations on the waterways, “ he said.

Sambo said that the authority would address the incidence of multiple taxation affecting the operators, stressing that, according to legislation, NIWA was the only body licensed to collect tax from operators.

He said the authority would collaborate with the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice and Nigeria Police to tackle the issue of multiple taxes.

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BUSINESS AVIATION Domestic airline pilots, over the years, have been running huge bills travelling abroad for full jet flight simulator training due to the absence of such facilities in Nigeria. If plans by the government to establish the facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for Boeing 737 series are fruitful, capital flight will be reduced, reports KELVIN OSA - OKUNBOR.

Benefits of full jet flight simulator at Lagos Airport

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IRCRAFT maintenance and crew training constitute huge expenditure for domestic carriers .

Operators, according to a rough estimate, spend about N2.5 billions yearly on such training .

Training of flight crew is smandatory for both the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Airline pilots are expected to have what experts describe as recurrency training, part of which is flight simulator for pilots.

This multi-million dollar training done offshore, has been a source of big headache for many domestic carriers.

Operators have consistently decried the failure of government to establish such facility in Nigeria.

“Nigerian airlines spend at least N2.5 billion annually in payment to foreign firms engaged in routine training of the pilots. Part of the training is full-jet flight simulator,” said a source.

Pilots’ simulator training, also called recertification training, is done once every six months by all pilots in Nigeria in accordance with the NCAA’s regulation.

Experts say this is one avenue for huge capital flight out of the country .

Its been ascertained that an airline with four aircraft spends at least $450,000 on simulator training. This means that the airline spends $112,500 on pilot training for each aircraft.

Consequently, major airlines spend $8.3m (N1. 25 billion ) every six months, and $16.7m (N2.5 billion ) every year.

Flight simulation reduces significantly, the cost of flight crew training.

The proposal by government to purchase full Jet- Flight Simulator (5000 Series B737) with complete accessories for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, has been welcomed by experts.

The simulator, with its complete accessories, would be located at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

But as lofty as the proposal appears, many domestic airlines’ pilots are reluctant to comment on the matter.

Reason: they earn allowance in foreign currency when they are sent out for training by their employers. Having such facility in Nigeria would put an end to such funds .

The simulator, which will enable students of the aviation college and already qualified pilots carry out their training locally will also serve a dual purpose of a training facility and a source of revenue generation for the country.

The Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, said the contract which has been awarded to Messrs CAE of Canada, will cost $21.459 million, stating that the project is expected to be completed within 24 months.

“The project will serve a dual purpose of a training facility for the College and a source of revenue generation for the country.

“In addition, it will be used for the initial training of students, as it will enjoy the patronage of the commercial airliners in Nigeria and the

West African coast in the recurrent training of their jet-airliner pilots in compliance with ICAO and NCAA regulations that pilots must have refresher training every six months,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation matters, Captain Usman Shehu Iyal, said it is one of the milestones in the industry in the last six years .

Iyal said government thought out the project soundly by citing it in Lagos, because it is the hub of aviation activities .

He said many domestic airlines in Lagos use Boeing 737 aircraft, the simulator type to be established, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan said the project would also generate revenue for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology .

Iyal said many domestic operators who hitherto send their pilots abroad for simulation training would now save money and deploy such funds into other key areas of their operations .

He described the facility as evidence of government’s focus on aviation infrastructure that will position the industry as a catalyst for economic development .

He said apart from the simulator in Lagos, the government is also intensifying efforts to enhance capacity with the training of helicopter pilots by the Nigeria Air Force training flying school in Enugu, which has extended its training to other members of the Armed Forces and the private sector . ”Flight simulation has made a major contribution to improved aviation safety. It also offers considerable financial saving to airlines and reduces the environmental impact of civil aviation,” he said.

“This facility will be useful for most of the commercial airline pilots in Lagos . It will save huge foreign exchange spent by operators who used to send their pilots for overseas simulation training. This is one of the many projects being embarked on by government to change the face of aviation .

“Government under the youth development programme for the Niger Delta, has trained 66 Pilots and 61 Aircraft Engineers. Some of the pilots have undergone Advanced Commercial Pilot Training on instrumental flying and already employed, while others are at various stages of advanced training,” Iyal said.

According to him, most of the engineers are rated on engine and frames and have equally been gainfully employed. “The Nigerian Air Force, in collaboration with private investors, have also initiated and set up a Pilot Training School in Enugu for both civil and military helicopter pilots,” he said.

He continued: “Also, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has a simulator in Abuja that is able to process, download and analyse flight data recorders; so that saves time and money. “ A former aircraft engineer with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Sheri Kyari, has described the facility as good for the aviation sector .

He said pilots in training will experience a seamless transition switching between fixed base and full motion flight simulators or switching from flight simulator to

• A typical full jet flight simulator, proposed for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT).

the flight deck of a real Boeing aircraft.

Besides, he said, flight simulation would reduce significantly the cost of flight crew training, adding that it can be more effective than airborne training.

The Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Securities and the former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu, described the cost of the simulator as prohibitive.

He said those that would benefit from the facility are going to be private operators who are unwilling to spend money for training and would invariably owe NCAT for the service rendered to any of the airlines’ crew members.

“Some operators are perpetual debtors to government service providers in the industry and have been enjoying financial intervention

• Chidoka

from government. The question to ask is, why bring the simulator to Lagos and not NCAT? Why seek the convenience always? On the long run it will end up to be a waste when

there would be no money to maintain or sustain its regular operations.

For me, this is a venture for private investors, not government,” Ojikutu said.

Country Manager, British Airways and Iberia (Nigeria), Mr. Kola Olayinka, hinted that having the equipment could also add as additional revenue for airlines.

He lamented the huge loss of revenue lost to capital flight annually, occasioned by offshore recurrent training.

He added airline operators would spend less in sending crews abroad for recurrent training.

His words: “This is another way of making money in the industry, but unfortunately, most of our investors are not looking in this direction.

“Every aviation investors should not think of owing airline business because there are several businesses one can go into in the sector”.

Minister urges pilots, engineers on safety

A

VIATION Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, has urged members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to continue maintaining safety standards already in place, just as he promised to sustain the tempo of airport remodelling. speaking at the seminar and national executive committee meeting of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) Chief Chidoka, who was represented by a deputy director safety and technical policy in the ministry, Clement Awogbawi, said transformation in the aviation industry has been very remarkable with the improvement of airport across the country that has remained users friendly.

Chidoka said the transformation will not be complete with-

•Akwa Ibom to complete facility out the recognition of NAAPE in aircraft maintenance and the building of aircraft maintenance hangers in the country.

He said the availability of maintenance hangar will not only reduce the high cost of aircraft maintenance carried out outside Nigeria, but also generate employment opportunities and reduce capital flights.

Chidoka noted that the quest for Nigeria to become a hub in the sub region cannot be attained without adequate aircraft maintenance hangar facilities in the country.

He highlighted the issue of security and safety to be pursued vigorously during his tenure in order to provide safety and security in the sector.

According to the Minister, in

order to realise the dream of the hangar projects, governments alone cannot do it and then called for private participation in the system to achieve the success of the project.

He praised the Akwa Ibom State government for taking a lead in this direction by building a hangar that will accommodate wide bodied aircraft.

Governor Godswill Akpabio in his speech said the second Ibom International Airport runway will soon be completed to attract international operations to the airport.

Governor Akpabio, who was represented by the state commissioner for transportation, Godwin Ntukude said the Ibom Airport was a world class airport designed to accommodate wide bodied aircraft.

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

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The demolition of a N1.5 billion building in Lagos has become a subject of controversy. While the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) claims it did not order the demolition, the property owners believe it is an illegal move by a government agency to strip them of their property through the back door, reports MUYIWA LUCAS

•The demolished building

Controversy trails N1.5 billion Lagos property W HO ordered the demolition of a N1.5 billion, five-storey building on 49 Martins Street, Lagos? This is the riddle that has remained unresolved. The building, located in the heart of the Central Business District on Lagos Island, is now a shadow of its old self.

While Alhaji Fazazi Oluwole, Alhaja Hadikat Talabi, and the late Alhaja Taibat Shitta, (all siblings) claimed ownership of the property, supporting their claims with the Land Certificate (Deed of Conveyance) obtained in 1942 as proof. The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), has since emerged to claim the property. It is this new development that has now led to the demolition of the property.

According to the spokespersons of the family, Mrs. Modinat Onimole and Mrs. Mutiat Hassan, on October 17, 2014, LASURA put up a sign post claiming ownership of the property.

This, they said, came as a surprise to the family considering that no correspondence existed between the family and LASURA. Surprised by the notice, some family members met with officials of LASURA for clarification.

“We showed them our proof of ownership to the property; after which they pretended that the matter was settled and we left,”Mrs Onimole said.

However, unknown to the family, a bigger surprise was in the offing. On October 22, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) allegedly sealed the property. Both Mrs Onimole and Mrs Hassan, told The Nation that the family had neither received nor had any form of interaction with the agency, hence, they were shocked at the action.

The family’s representatives met with the General Manager of LASBCA, Dr. Abimbola Animashaun on October 24, to make enquiries on the incident. It was while with the LASBCA GM that they were notified of the presence of the agency’s officials at the

property, who were alleged to have gone there to remove doors and windows of the building, thereby forcing the tenants to evacuate.

Although Dr. Animashaun was said to have told the family that notices had been served the property owners and the occupants of the building, and also expressed knowledge of the on-going exercise of that day, the family, according to their representatives, claimed not to have received any form of notification.

“The GM of LASBCA claimed they had sent us notices earlier, but we didn’t get any of such. We then asked her to show us a copy of the notices sent, but she couldn’t show us,” Onimole explained.

The LASBCA boss was said to have explained to the family that on a certain day while she was passing through the area, she had noticed a defect on the building, to be precise, a column in the foundation through which water was seeping out.

This, The Nation gathered, necessitated the decision by LASBCA to conduct a stress test on the building. The test, she was alleged to have said, showed that the property was distressed, hence, requiring rehabilitation and not demolition. Obviously to show the agency’s sincerity on the structural integrity of the building, Animashaun was said to have told the family to conduct their own independent test if they doubted the authenticity of the

one conducted by the agency.

Onimole told The Nation that Animashaun was emphatic that the building only needed rehabilitation and not demolition, because “there is no demolition permit for the building since such permits must be signed by the governor; as our duty is to prevent distress building.”

However, an insight into an obvious reason for the non correspondence between the family and LASBCA manifested during the meeting, when, according to Hassan, the family was told by the LASBCA boss that the building belonged to LASURA. LASBCA’s position on the demolition seems to have been corroborated by the response received by the family from the governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. Worried by the situation, Mrs Onimole said the family sent a text message to Fashola, intimating him of the incident and appealing for his intervention. In response to the family’s text, the governor, through the same means, replied “I have asked them to investigate; I am waiting to hear from them.”

But the joy the governor’s assurances brought to the family was short-lived.

This is because by the evening of October 24, unidentified people had gone to the building to start the demolition.

This was after LASBCA officials had removed doors and windows in the building earlier in the day.

Worried by the development, especially since LASBCA had said it was not demolishing the property, but only meant it to be rehabilitated, Onimole said the family reported at the Ebute-Ero police station. The Di-

visional Police Officer (DPO) at the station, Sina Olunlade, a Superintendent, in an apparent bid to prevent an outbreak of law and order, was said to have deployed his men to the property and effected their arrest. However, those arrested were later released since they could not be held beyond 24 hours by the police without the directive of a court of law.

At a meeting between the family and Olunlade on October 25, The Nation gathered that the DPO assured them that nobody will go near the property again until the outome of the family meeting with LASURA. However, with the matter now reported at the Police Area Command, Olunlade has had to step aside until he gets further directive from his superior officers.

In a telephone chat with The Nation, Olunlade explained that those arrested were labourers brought to work on the property, and had to be released because they obviously knew nothing about the matter.

Besides, he explained: “When government wants to carry out such exercise, the Police are usually informed so that adequate security can be provided, but in this case, we were not notified at all.

Nobody notified the police, or even my division, of any demolition. But we had to do our job to prevent violence; that was why we moved in when we got the report.”

He, however, added that after

‘The GM LASBCA claimed they had sent us notices earlier, but we didn’t get any of such.

We then asked her to show us a copy of the notices sent, but she couldn’t show us’

the restoration of order, his men had to back off after the Police Area Command took over the matter. Besides, he said the deployment of a large number of social miscreants “area boys”, he had to caution his men on tactics to deploy in the situation so as to avoid violence. “You know that land or property matter is a civil matter, so we have to be careful so as not to breach public peace. However, once my superior officers give me further directives, I can assure you that my men will act accordingly,” Olunlade said.

Mrs Onimole and Mrs Hassan said the model deployed for the demolition of the property clearly makes them believe that it was not ordered or sanctioned by the government.

The duo explained that given the peculiar location of the property and the advancement in the state, demolition of properties are usually controlled to ensure that such exercises do not pose danger to other citizens.

Besides, they argued that the manner of the demolition raised a lot of curiosity. In their reasoning, they both submitted that government officials on legal duty would not come in the night to carry out such exercise on weekends, and then stop on working days, only to resume on another weekend. Also, the equipment used in the exercise, Onimole insisted, clearly showed that it was an illegal demolition by some unscrupulous persons.

For now, the family said they have taken legitimate steps to address the situation by sending petitions to the state governor and other officials, including the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, in the hope that the situation will be addressed.

Several efforts to speak with LASBCA and LASURA proved abortive. Also, no clarification came from LASBCA’s media consultants when contacted. For now, the issue remains unsolved.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

54

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Govt mulls local content policy for power

T

HE Federal Government is putting in place measures to provide a local content policy for the power sector, the Special Adviser on Investments, Finance and Donor Relations to the Minister of Power, Olajuwon Olaleye, has said.

Olaleye told The Nation, that consultations have begun at various levels to make the policy work when it comes on stream, saying the decision was informed by the need to develop home-grown potentials in the sector.

He said the government is getting the desired support from the state governments that have been contacted on the issue. The state governments are urged to provide

By Akinola Ajibade

policy direction for activities undertaken by indigenous operators in the power industry.

He said: “Every state is embracing the decision to formulate and implement local content policy because they know that it is going to provide many benefits.

“They know that the policy will help in bringing developments to our communities and create jobs for their people. We are getting the desired support and the working relationship needed on the issue.’’

He said a committee, comprising the National Council on Power (NCP), and representatives of the 36 states of the federation has been constituted in Abuja by the gov-

ernment to ensure the success of the policy.

The Council, whose members include the Permanent Secretaries and Commissioners for Energy, according to him, is charged with the responsibility of embracing foreign companies that are coming to partner with the local ones in order to foster the sector’s growth.

Olaleye said the policy, which is at the verge of being consummated, will help to harness local potentials, build capacity, and foster competition among stakeholders in the electricity value chain, adding that the sector is taking after the oil and gas sector which has introduced and implemented local content initiatives that have had a far-reaching conse-

quence on the industry.

“The policy is being consummated now. We are going to see a lot of collaborations within the system. There is going to be a lot of synergies among operators.

There is no foreign company that comes to Nigeria that does not have a local company it is working with. “ The policy when ready would ensure that local companies benefit from the foreign firms for the growth of the sector. Just as the government has provided local content policy for the development of human capacity, markets, production of technologies, among other activities capable of strengthening the petroleum industry, so it is planning to do the same thing for the power sector.

“The policy will help in developing home potentials, reduce reliance on importation of technology, and help to widen the markets for the existing and future operators in the sector,” he added.

According to him, the govern-

ment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Canadian company known as Sky Power on the issue of promoting local content initiatives, adding that the partnership is being consummated.

Olaleye said the government is making efforts to improve power supply going by initiatives it has embarked upon in recent times.

The initiatives, he said, include advocating the use of renewable energy, directing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Power, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to provide modalities on how to provide gas to improve electricity generation.

He said issues affecting the sector are fundamental, adding that the government is trying to address them. It would be recalled that the government set up the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) few years ago, to provide policy direction for all local activities in the oil and gas industry.

‘80 per cent of households in Lagos rely on generators’

A

• From left: Managing Director/ CEO, NIPCO Plc, Venkataraman; Chairman, Anekwe and the company’s Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Alhajia Abdulkadir during the firm’s 10th anniversary and special recognition awards ceremony in Lagos.

‘Local Content has attracted investors’

T

HE implementation of the Nigerian Content Act has attracted a crop Nigerian investors who are determined to commit huge resources to owning hi-tech assets and facilities to be used in executing projects in the oil and gas industry rather than play second fiddle roles to expatriates, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa has said.

Nwapa spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after commissioning a work shop established by Benkline Nigeria Limited for the repair of oil and gas pumps, refurbishment and refitting of mechanical seals, gear boxes and associated equipment. He stated that many Nigerians are no longer interested in acting as agents for foreign partners, but “are investing alongside their partners, learning how to manage the business and operate complex equipment, repair and even do research and development.”

Nwapa noted that the newly developed bullish attitude of Nigerian investors validate the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan in signing the Nigerian Content Bill into law in 2010 as well as the commitment of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

supporting the implementation in a structured and sustainable manner.

He said: “we are happy that the industry has come to accept this as a way of life and we no longer have to push and pull in all directions. What is going on today is a continuous collaboration between the government and the industry, between Nigerian companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).”

He dispelled the notion that the Board was forcing OEMs to set up in Nigeria, stressing that the local oil and gas industry provided sufficient business and market to justify investments in-country.

Nwapa stated that many locations overseas where services were hitherto performed for the Nigerian oil and gas industry before the passage of the Nigerian Content Act were smaller and less equipped than most facilities being set up by Nigerians since the Act came into effect. “A few years ago, we were told that many oil and gas equipments were very intricate and if not well used can create disasters for the oil and gas industry. But valves are now being taken out from the fields, tested and maintained here and put back successfully,”

he said.

He commended Benkline for successfully partnering with OEMsFrank Mohn AS of Norway and Eurofiliases of France to deliver hitech services in the industry, adding that the Board was promoting the same policy under its Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS), as a strategy to get OEMs to work with small and medium enterprises and mentor them to manufacture some of their components.

He challenged international and indigenous operating companies to patronise Nigerian service companies who set up facilities, adding that government was committed to support every investment that is made in-country.

He reiterated that the value of new investments made by Nigerian service companies in the last four years had hit $5 billion, noting that the development pointed to massive investments that would come into the industry in the next five years.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Benkline Nigeria, Larry Osai, advised Nigerian investors to partner with persons and firms that can contribute resources and knowledge so as to grow their companies and leave legacies. He attributed the company’s growth to the government’s local content policy.

BOUT 80 per cent of households in Lagos State rely on generators for their power needs, a report from the Lagos Electricity Management Board (LEMB) has said.

The report titled: “Future Roofing Cities: The Lagos Energy Sector”, said households are spending N50 per kilowatt for diesel generation, compared with N13 per kilowatt for grid electricity.

The report with the sub-heading “Risk and Opportunities for Resilient Growth of the Lagos Energy Sector”, said poor power supply has made many people to generate electricity through generating sets without considering its socio-economic implications.

It said 40 per cent of the population cannot access power from the grid, adding that, improvement in electricity supply is needed to accelerate socio-economic growth in the state. It said individual and corporate organisations produce optimally when there is stable power. It said lack of regular power supply has resulted in the wastage of fresh produce or food in the state.

“Lack of access to power has resulted in the use of generators and hardwood fuel resulting in air quality problems and increasing risk of respiratory disease. Power will help improve food storage, hygiene, access to market, and reduce wastage,”

By Akinola Ajibade

it stated.

The report said productivity of operators in formal and informal sectors will improve when their power supply improves. “Accessibility to energy will integrate informal settlements into the city. Lagos is a sprawled city, therefore, needs electricity to overcome its challenges. Infant mortality will reduce through provision of power to hospitals; crime will reduce when there are enough streetlights; and human capital and well-being will improve when power is regular,” the report said.

The report also noted that agriculture, which is the highest employer of labour has suffered due to power problem. “Seventy per cent of rural population was employed in agriculture. Addressing energy deficit in rural economy will improve food production. Provision of power will support technological innovation and production efficiency in rural areas, it said.

In a related development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Solid Minerals, Taofiq Tijani said the state receives 930 megawatts (Mw) of electricity from the grid. He said the state has been battling to meet its energy needs, adding that the development made the government to establish independent power plants.

NIPCO celebrates workers at 10

T

HE board and management of NIPCO Plc, an integrated indigenous oil and gas operator, has described its workers as a key component in the success story of the company since it opened shop in 2004.

The company’s Chairman, Chief Bestman P. Anekwe, stated this at the 10 th anniversary and special recognition award ceremony held by the company to show gratitude to the staff for their contributions and as the key promoters of the organisation in the last 10 years.

According to the company’s Manager, Corporate Affairs, Lawal Taofeek, Anekwe said the event was the first of its kind in the history of the company adding that it’s commendable as it provided avenue to value publicly the efforts of its human capital and some founding fathers whose efforts brought about the

steady growth of the organisation.

Anekwe said the NIPCO dream, which some people had thought was mission impossible, has become a reality even in the face of some daunting challenges to the delight of numerous stakeholders.

He singled out the wonderful support of two founding fathers of the company – Alhaji Abdulkadir Aminu and Mr. Tunji Adeniji with whom he travelled across the nooks and crannies of the country soliciting the support of independent fuel marketers to key into the project.

“The trio went through lots of tribulations from the onset of the firm but our greatest joy today is that the dream of the promoters had crystallised into reality even beyond our projections especially against the background of what its peers were able to achieve within a decade,” he said .

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

55

MONEYLINK

Jonathan to unveil commemorative N100 note tomorrow

T

HE President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is to unveil the specially designed commemorative N100 banknote by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tomorrow.

In a statement, CBN Director of Director, Corporate Communications Department, Ibarahim Mu’azu, said the commemorative note is part of the bank’s contribution to the centenary celebration, which is in line with its mandate of issuing legal tender currency in Nigeria.

The choice of the N100 denomination is to mark the centenary celebration of Nigeria and is consistent with best global practices for Central Banks around the world during the celebration of national events.

Part of the features of the commemorative banknote is the in-

UBA introduces bill payment on POS

U

Stories by Collins Nweze

scription of the theme of the centenary celebration: “One Nigeria, Great Promise” as a micro-text.

While retaining the portrait of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the front, the new note features Nigerian traditional dancers at the back.

The commemorative note comes in different dominant colours.

The new note is also designed to incorporate additional security features for digital communication, protection against counterfeiting, tolerance to the tropics and ease of recognition of genuineness.

The Bank wishes to emphasize that the commemorative note is for the purpose of the centenary celebration and will circulate alongside the existing N 100 note.

Tomorrow’s unveiling ceremony will be preceded by a brief presen-

• President Jonathan tation by the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, detailing the aesthetic and security features of the note.

It will be recalled that the bank, in 2010, issued commemorative N50 polymer note to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration. The N 100 note bearing the portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was first issued in December 1999.

Stanbic unveils SME business-support initiative

S

TANBIC IBTC Bank has unveiled a nationwide campaign in which operators in the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sector will receive robust support to grow their businesses.

The support, which range from business term loans, vehicle and asset finance, to distributor finance, import and export finance, trader loans and agriculture finance, among others, have been carefully developed to ensure that they help drive the growth and profitability of SMEs. Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Obinnia Abajue,

stated, following the launch of a television commercial (TVC), that Stanbic IBTC Bank is always prepared to give loans to businesses, small, medium, or big, as long as there are prospects in the business and they are well structured.

Abajue noted that the core business of banks is to mobilize capital for investment in the economy, a key factor in Stanbic IBTC Bank’s unwavering commitment to providing financial solutions to help clients meet their business objectives.

In the TVC, which is part of an integrated marketing campaign on radio, television, advertising,

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 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.45 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,676.09 1,118.84 121.30 121.16 1,117.51 1.2241 1.2855 0.8238 1.0941

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

press, and outdoor, the lender catalogues a world of opportunities through which it can help people and businesses across the SME value chain to accomplish their goals, be they renovations, expansion, rapid growth, emergencies or working capital.

“To have access to finance for whatever needs, small and medium scale businesses only need to have a track record of proper bookkeeping and adequate data to support their claims. Sound financial management is the bedrock of any successful business. Accessing facilities isn’t as difficult as it is portrayed,” Abajue stated.

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced the introduction of Value Added Services (VAS) on its Point of Sale (POS) terminals.

With the new service on the UBA POS terminals, UBA and non-UBA cardholders will be able to make payments for services such as Airtime purchase, Cable subscription, Electricity, Water and other bill payments on UBA POS terminals.

The service has already been rolled out with selected Merchants with plans to conclude deployment

Aba Mega Mall plans e-commerce weblink for banks, others

T

HE Aba Mega Mall, a retail development embarked upon by the Abia State Government, Chief TheodoreOrji and Greenfield Assets Limited has promised to provide e-commerce weblink for banks within the mall.

Managing Director, Aba Mega Mall Limited, Ugo Umeseaka, said cinema, automated warehouse with bonded terminal, 10 megawatt 24 hours power supply and fire station, among others, will also benefit from the facility.

He explained that the first phase of the development is nearing completion. “We are almost at the commissioning stage,” he said.

When completed, Umeseaka said, the mega mall which seats on top 28 hectares of land, would enable online transactions to be executed between the businesses

GAINERS AS AT 03-11-14

and their customers.

“With a 100,000 square meters leasable space, the mall is the biggest in Africa. The concept of an ecommerce weblink for all the businesses would enable buyers to transact business anywhere around Nigeria and beyond.

We are proud of the e-commerce concept. As an online service, this is an idea that originates from a brick and mortar mall. It is a hybrid of the brick and mortar and online mall for people who, because of one reason or the other, cannot make purchases by visiting the mall,” he said.

Continuing, he said, that to make the process seamless, arrangements are made so that shoppers within and outside Aba can have the privilege of transacting with all the businesses and having their purchases delivered to their doorsteps through courier companies such as UPS and EFEX.

DATA BANK

Bid Price 167.01 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.33 1,676.09 1,118.03 120.45 120.30 1,116.70 1.2163 1.2855 0.8089 1.0941

by December 2014.

UBA has thousands of POS terminals deployed across Africa. With the new service, cardholders can now pay their bills for PHCN, Pay TV Operators, Telecoms Operators, Regulated Lottery and Gaming Companies, Utility Companies, Schools fees, Government fees, taxes and dues as well as buy airline tickets on UBA POS. This is another first from UBA and is further confirmation of its resolve to use innovation to deliver convenience to its Customers.

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 November 3, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

154.76

155.76

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves

$39b

US Dollar

2.64

0.24

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

249.6279

251.2409

4.75

5.00

0.25

21.20

22.26

1.06

Euro

197.6595

198.9367

WAPIC

0.66

0.69

0.03

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Swiss Franc

163.8365

164.8952

CONTINSURE

0.97

0.99

0.02

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Yen

1.4481

1.4575

VITAFOAM

4.21

4.29

0.08

CFA

0.2835

0.3035

AFRIPRUD

2.88

2.93

0.05

WEMABANK

0.95

0.96

0.01

230.5372

232.0268

GUARANTY

25.00

25.20

0.20

Yuan/Renminbi

25.271

25.4352

STANBIC

29.60

29.67

0.07

Riyal

41.255

41.5216

SDR

230.9483

232.4406

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

SKYEBANK

2.40

UBA ZENITHBAK

LOSERS AS AT 03-11-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

PZ

23.84

21.52

-2.32

RTBRISCOE

0.90

0.82

-0.08

CHAMPION

14.20

13.49

-0.71

1.00

0.95

-0.05

DNMEYER

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

PRESCO

30.45

28.93

-1.52

WAPCO

109.99

104.50

-5.49

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

UNILEVER

36.10

34.30

-1.80

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

CADBURY

42.78

40.65

-2.13

CCNN

12.84

12.20

-0.64

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

NNFM

21.99

20.90

-1.09

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

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

57

NEWS Number plate: Court upholds constitutionality of regulation 2012

Widows shut Onitsha Council secretariat

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•Protest ‘removal’ of chairman •’God ‘ll fight for me’

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VER 2,000 widows were in tears yesterday, as they vented their anger on those involved in the alleged maltreatment of the Onitsha South Local Government Chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke.

The widows besieged the council secretariat about 9am, carrying placards.

Some of the placards read: “Those pursuing our mummy will be pursued by God.” “No weapon fashioned against our mum and our inspiration shall prosper.” “Fighting against Ann Chukwuneke is like fighting God”, among others.

The only woman council chair in the state was said to have been impeached and an unnamed person had taken over the secretariat.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

She has been warned not to enter the secretariat.

Also, the Speaker, Mr. Fred Ezenwa, was reportedly impeached by the councillors last Thursday. Mr. Emeka Akanegbu was said to have been sworn in as his replacement.

Speaking with The Nation in Onitsha during the protest, 79-year-old Lucy Obieze said the people behind Lady Chukwuneke’s ordeal would not go unpunished.

Sixty one-year-old Margaret Chigbo and 62- year-old Rose Eke said the woman was the shining light of widows in the state.

Narrating her ordeal to reporters, 60-year-old Lady Chukwuneke said they were

•Lady Chukwuneke narrating her ordeal...yesterday against her because she was a woman.

She said: “I came to this council to correct the wrongs done. At 60, I’m no longer a young person. What I have done in this place got me an award in Abuja, which I dedicated to Governor Willie Obiano.

“Nobody has explained to me what I did, which warranted this kind of treatment.

My official vehicle is still parked at the Police Area Command in Onitsha.”

The woman, who was in tears, said she was being humiliated “because I am a woman.”

AGOS Division of the Court of Appeal held yesterday that Regulation 2012 of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) under which the new plate number directive was issued was constitutional.

The verdict of the appellate court has said aside the trial court’s decision that the said regulation was illegal and unconstitutional.

Following the FRSC directive that vehicles would be impounded from October 1, last year should their owners fail to acquire the new number plates, a lawyer, Emmanuel Ofoegbu sued the commission before Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court. ?In a verdict delivered on March 26, the trial court held that the FRSC’s introduction of mandatory new number plate was illegal and the threat to impound vehicles unconstitutional.

Tsoho had held that although the Commission had statutory powers and responsibilities, it was overreaching itself by its proposed action, since there was no penal law under which same could be executed.

The judge had held that the FRSC could not force upon Nigerians, a hastily conceived policy, without an enabling legal framework, adding that nothing had invalidated the old number plates.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the FRSC had approached the appellate court, seeking an order, upturning Tsoho’s verdict raising four issues for de-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

termination FRSC urged the appellate court to decide whether the trial court was right to hold that the National Road Traffic Regulation (NRTR) 2012 was a nastily conceived policy without legal framework, just as it queried the locus standi of the respondent to initiate the suit.

But in its judgement delivered by Justice Shagbor Ikeigh, the Appeal Court held that the respondent have rights to institute the suit being an affected party.

Although the court ruled that Regulation 2012 was unconstitutional and FRSC has powers to give directives, it however decided three of the four issues raised in favour of the respondent.

It held that by the provisions of Section 5 of the FRSC Act 2007, the National Assembly had delegated the authority to the Commission to so act.

On the issue of validity of the regulations 2012, the court held “The effect of regulations 230 (2) of the regulation 2012, preserves the NRTR 2004.

“Its effect is that all acts done under the 2004 regulation, would remain valid until the time frame expires.

“The respondent having a valid plate number before the commencement of the litigation, and with the coming into force of the regulations 2012 delayed by the appellant from August 13, 2012 to October 1, 2013, the said number plate was valid up to its expiry date on March 17, 2014.”

Police chief, other sued for ‘seizure of trucks’

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•Former chairman of the Presidential Committee on Power, Bekiribo Dagogo-Jack and governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (right), at a mega rally in Port Harcourt.

I’m the only one who can defeat Jonathan, says Okorocha

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OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said if the All Progressives Congress (APC) is serious about wresting power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it should field him as its presidential standard-bearer.

He said he could dislodge the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

Speaking yesterday at a rally organised by a northern group, the Arewa Peoples Grand Coalition, to urge him to pick the nomination and

F

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

expression of interest forms, Okorocha said of all the APC presidential aspirants, he had a better chance to defeat the PDP candidate.

He said this was because none of the aspirants had ever provided free education, stressing that he had, over the years, provided free education in parts of the country, “and I will provide it all over the nation if I become the President.”

Okorocha visited the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and inaugurated the Rochas

free secondary school education in Zaria.

The governor, who spoke in Hausa and English languages, asked the crowd whom they would vote for if he was fielded against a PDP candidate, and they shouted: “Okorocha! Okorocha! Okorocha!

He said: “There is need for a change in Nigeria. It is a must and it must happen. The change has become necessary. ”I believe that if I fly the flag of APC, I will bring victory to the party. I am the only one who can defeat PDP without struggle. No PDP candi-

date can face me in other parts of the country. We don’t have problem with PDP, our problem is how to choose the candidate who can defeat it. ”I am a leader. Leaders are never satisfied until things get better. The country is not doing well. Our problem in this country is hunger. My first four years, if elected as the President, will be years of radical transformation.

“On the day of my swearing-in as the President, we shall sing the old national anthem, which says “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”.

Kalu submits nomination form

ORMER Abia State Governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms.

HeisvyingforAbiaNorthsenatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A few weeks ago, Kalu’s

aides under the auspices of “Aides of OUK” picked the forms.

One of his aides, Mr. Ugochukwu Obialo, who submitted the forms, said: “Today marks a beginning in the history of Abia North, as an astute politician has accepted a call by his people to

run for the Senate. I hail the national leadership of the PDP for their commitment to internal democracy, as party processes remain transparent. This is the beauty of democracy.

“Considering the accomplishments of Dr. Kalu in business and politics, he is the best

man to represent the people of Abia North. I say a big thank you to our followers, supporters, loyalists, friends and colleagues for their moral, spiritual and financial support. I salute everyone.”

He assured the people that his boss would give them better representation.

HE Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Salihu Garba has been sued before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja by a firm for allegedly seizing two of its trucks.

Garba is second respondent in a suit filed by a haulage firm, Johnson Frontline Services Limited against a Netherlands agro company, Terratiga Limited before Justice Owolabi Dabiri.

Absence of the respondents and their counsel prompted the court to direct that all court processes be served on them, with the matter adjourned to November 26.

The haulage firm, in its motion on notice prayed for an interlocutory injunction directing the first respondent to immediately release the truck in its possession and an injunction directing the agro firm to authorise the Kwara State Police Command to release its truck? in the custody of Olooru Police Station.

In his affidavit in support of the motion on notice, the claimant’s managing director, Samuel Johnson alleged that on August 18, 2012, Terratiga Limited hired the claimant’s truck marked BOG685XB, to deliver 600 bags of animal feed concentrate to Dan Sarki Farm Limited in Abuja.

He said the vehicle unfortunately broke down in Oloowu which delayed the delivery of the goods.

According to him, the respondent later sent another vehicle to convey the goods back to Lagos despite the claimant’s plea that it should be taken to Abuja.

Johnson said the truck after repairs was unlawfully impounded by the Police at Olooru Police Station and has been there since September 17, 2012.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Upon request for another truck to convey the goods to Abuja, Johnson alleged that another truck was deployed to the first respondent’s premises which was also impounded.

Johnson said: “Pursuant to the respondent’s request, the claimant hired truck No. EPE 155 XB from Brand Clinic Nigeria Limited.

“Upon the arrival of the truck at the respondent’s factory, the respondent unlawfully impounded the said truck and it has remained impounded since September 17, 2012.”

According to him, the seizure of both trucks have been of great financial cost to the claimant and efforts to release them have met stiff opposition from the respondents.

But in its counter-affidavit deposed to by its Logistic Manager, Anthony Akran, the respondent said the claimant was indebted to his company to the tune of N948,300.

Akran said: “The actions of the claimant by delaying and ultimately failing to deliver the products to Dan Sarki Farms, one of the respondent’s major customers caused them a huge loss in their income from August 2012 till December 2012.”

He also denied that his company ordered the seizure of both trucks, adding that the fact of the matter was that the vehicles broke down and were yet to be retrieved by the claimant.

The respondent therefore urged the court to dismiss the claimant’s application with substantial cost in the interest of justice.

The matter has been fixed for November 26 for mention.

58

NEWS Edo lawmaker Aliu dies •Oshiomhole mourns From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE lawmaker representing Estako East in the Edo State House of Assembly, Peter Usman Aliu, is dead.

Aliu died yesterday at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UNIBENTH) of a kidney-related ailment.

A staunch member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the late Aliu played a major role under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to oust the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the leadership of the Assembly.

He became Speaker Protempore in 2010, following the impeachment of Zakawanu Garuba.

Born in Igbiode-Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area, the late Aliu attended St. Peter’s Grammar School at Agbenebode and the Federal Polytechnic in Auchi, where he studied Accountancy.

He went to England in 1976 as a federal scholar for an Accountancy professional examination. He later attended the Ambrose Alli University, where he read Law. He was called to the Bar in 2000.

Aliu, who was serving as a second term lawmaker, was said to have picked the expression of interest form to contest in next year’s general elections.

He was the Committee Chairman on Public Account, Appropriation and Project Monitoring.

Dignitaries, including impeached Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea, have visited the family at the legislators’ quarters.

Speaker Uyi Igbe refused to comment on the matter.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole described the late Aliu as a man of character and principle, whose stand on state and national issues was unwavering.

The governor spoke yesterday at a condolence visit to the widow of the late lawmaker, Mary.

Oshiomhole said: “Aliu was my brother. In moments of temptation, he showed courage and good character. When people plotted to betray us, he stood firm, remained on the side of fairness, justice and principle. When people brought money, he refused money in favour of principle.

“The last time I saw him and we had a conversation, he was more concerned about my political well-being rather than his own health...”

THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Peterside faults police chief for withdrawing Tambuwal’s security T

HE Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said the withdrawal of the security detail of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal by Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba is crass partisanship and a subversion of the constitution.

The lawmaker spoke yesterday on Kakaki, a breakfast television programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT).

Peterside, who was a guest on the programme, described the police chief’s action as an act of

impunity and an invitation to anarchy.

The member representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro in Rivers State urged Nigerians to reflect on this sad turn of events and be dispassionate in apportioning blame.

He blamed the Goodluck Jonathan administration under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of promoting impunity.

Peterside said: “Impunity is fast becoming the nature of the PDP-led Federal Government. The withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security detail has no basis in law. It is

a crass abuse of office by the IGP. We must not desecrate our high offices because of politics. It is Tambuwal today. How about tomorrow? Therefore, we must all condemn this threat, not just to our democracy but also to our stability and survival as a nation.

It is tragic that the police are an accomplice.”

The lawmaker warned Nigerians to be vigilant as another election year approaches.

He said: “Nobody is more Nigerian. We are all equal stakeholders and we must ensure

that our country survives these difficult times. That, for me, should be the focus, not the cheap politics of withdrawing security detail from such an important office.”

Peterside, who also expressed worry about the dictatorial tendencies in the PDP, cautioned against the lure of absolute power because of its consequences.

The lawmaker advised parties to be fair to every aspirant, adding that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), guaranteed a level-playing field for political office seekers.

He urged other parties to follow APC’s example.

APC raises strategy panel on Tambuwal

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From Tony Akowe, Abuja

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up a strategy committee to deal with the ongoing moves by the Presidency to unseat House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal This decision was taken a t a meeting last night between the leadership and the APC caucus in the House.

The strategic committee is to be made up members of the National Working Committee ( NWC) and the House Representatives caucus of the APC. National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the meeting deliberated on the travails of Tambuwal, especially the rough tackles the PDP-led federal government is adopting He said: “We met to deliberate on the issue of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. But the ground has been softened before the meeting by the ruling of Justice Mohammed who asked that status quo be maintained and that the House cannot reconvene until November 7 when the parties are before him.

“What we did after was to take briefings from all the members and the party in respect of our coming convention and primaries.

That is the sum total of our discussions”.

Don kicks against proliferation of varsities

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

MERITUS Professor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Isaac Oluwole Agbede has criticized the proliferation of universities across the country without accompanying facilities to improve education.

Agbede spoke to The Nation at the public presentation of a book: Law and its Leeway, written in his honour by some of the students he has taught in the course of his 49 years career.

He stated that if nothing was done to stop the ‘mushrooming’ of universities, the country’s educational standard will get worse, just as he advised the government to ensure that quality equipment-laboratories and libraries- were put in place in public institutions.

Agbede decried the current rating of universities across the world in which no university in the country was among the best 50.

“It calls for serious thinking. We need to provide the facility and competent staff for our universities. What is going on now will get worst if nothing is done to stop these mushrooming of universities without providing quality equipment in the laboratories and libraries,” he said.

Asked if he supported the call for the extension of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to private universities, he said only to nonprofit making private institutions.

“It can be extended to missionary private universities, which are established to build education not to those established for the purpose of making profit. It will look odd for government to give universities established for the purpose of making profit money, while these schools will take all their generated profit,” he said.

Agbede, who is a Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence attributed the mass failure at the Nigerian Law School was not an indictment on the universities, noting that students are accessed in the law school based on practice.

“What I think happened is that the law school is raising the Bar and trying to ensure that the level of competence and ability of people who go into practice are higher than what it has been recently.

“They are starting and things will continue to move up. You are not going to have such performance in the future. I know they are trying to produce the best for Nigeria, but I think they should have given the students notice before commencing so that the students will work harder to meet the new standard.

•Obuh (left) speaking during the visit to The Nation headquarters in Lagos...yesterday. With him are: Onishe of Ubulu, Delta PHOTO:NIYI ADENIRAN State, Chief Emma Ejiofor (right) and Chief Paul John Odhomor

Obuh: Delta’s economy ‘ll be better if diversified

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Delta State, Chief Tony Obuh, has said the state will do better if it diversifies the economy from the Oil sector to agro and industrial based sectors.

The aspirant spoke yesterday when he visited the corporate office of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation titles, in Lagos.

Obuh noted that being a technocrat, he understood the workings of the public and private sectors’ economies.

The aspirant promised to build on the foundation laid by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He said there was need to elect someone who will continue what the government had started.

Obuh said: “If, after eight years, the government of Delta State is taken over by someone who does not share in the philosophy of the present administration, it will affect the growth and development of the state.

“The state has made tremendous progress because of our philosophy: ‘Delta State Beyond Oil’. This has opened up the economy. I must say we have made remarkable progress. The present administration is really working hard to keep the philosophy alive.”

The aspirant stressed that the clamour for the control of the proceeds from the Oil sector by the region was important.

He said: “But before we can achieve the total control of what we have, we equally need to open other sources of revenue.

When other avenues are opened up, it will be better for the state and the region.”

The aspirant promised to tackle youth employment, adding that his government would provide the manpower and skills to

By Musa Odoshimokhe

translate into a robust economy. Obuh said: “They (youths) must have the basic knowledge and necessary skills that can make them productive.”

The aspirant said the claim from some quarters that he was Uduaghan’s imposed candidate was an imagination.

According to him, he is the only politician among those contesting for elective offices in the state without a political career.

Obuh said: “I am the only one who is coming from outside the political family that has been on the saddle in Delta State. I have been a technocrat, but with the prerequisite experience in public administration.

“Delta State will prefer a technocrat to a politician; the state needs someone who can serve the people. I have been a technocrat for the greater part of my working life. I have a blend with the politicians, helping them in building policies.

“From 1999, I have been dealing with them. I know how they work. I have coordinated the appointment of political appointees. I must say I am enjoying a wide support from the people in view of my public service.”

The politician noted that having made wide consultations, he was enthusiastic that his ambition enjoyed the people’s support.

He stressed that if he got the mandate, Delta residents would smile.

The aspirant said from the outcome of the PDP ward congress last Saturday, the party was more determined to work for the progress of the state.

“All the contestants expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the ward congress,” Obuh said.

My agenda for Akwa Ibom, by Akpabio’s ex-deputy Ekpotu

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FORMER Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Patrick Ekpotu, has promised to make the oil-rich state more prosperous through less dependence on oil revenue from federal allocation.

The aspirant, who served between 2007 and 2011 in the first tenure of Governor Godswill Akpabio, spoke on his plan to succeed the governor.

The chemical engineer promised to put in place a robust agroeconomy to dwarf the oil-dependent system, if given the ticket and voted into office in next year’s election.

He said his administration would implement a specially designed agricultural programme

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

to generate huge revenue to compete favourably with the lucrative crude oil revenue and improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He said: “We have to, among other things, invest in palm oil production. This is as lucrative as crude oil but neglected in the past.

I can assure you that the state will be making an average of about N5 billion per month in the first three years after take-off and N20 billion a month at optimal operation.

“I will establish Ibom Agro and Allied Industries Limited (IAAI) within three months of coming into office to drive the initiative on a competitive basis, not as a usual government outfit. Apart from the

wealth creation potential of this initiative, it will also boost job creation.”

Ekpotu also said his “government will work hard to erase the divisive lines of ethnic and politi-

O

cal dichotomies in the state, by engendering a robust inclusiveness to bring every interest group into a unified front that will focus only on the development and progress of Akwa Ibom State and its land”.

Rotary seeks end to polio

By Nneka Nwaneri

NE per cent of Nigerians are still at the risk of contracting polio virus, according to the Chairman of the National Polioplus Committee of Rotary International, Dr. Tunde Funsho.

Funsho, who spoke at the weekend at a polio awareness walk in conjunction with the Rotary international, District 9110, said the humanitarian body could boast of 99 per cent victory over polio.

He added that the organisation would not want to take chances with the remaining one per cent since its goal is 100 per cent victory.

“At the end of this year, we want Nigeria to be free of polio so that after three years, WHO can certify Nigeria polio-free. When we do that, we will be doing two major things. Firstly, we will be saving our children from having polio and secondly, we will be saving the money that would have been spent on eradication of polio on other important national matters,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

59

FOREIGN NEWS

Virgin crash: Descent system ‘deployed early’

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SAFETY device on the Virgin Galactic spacecraft that crashed on Friday killing a test pilot had been deployed early, US investigators say.

Air safety chief Christopher Hart said the “feathering” device, designed to slow the craft on re-entry, activated without a command from the pilots.

But he said it was too soon to confirm any possible cause of the crash.

Media reports had focused on the fuel tanks and the engine, but Mr Hart said both were found intact.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson accused a “handful of British newspapers” of publishing “wild accusations” over the crash.

He said initial findings

Burkina Faso: Army promises ‘transition body’

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•The wreckage of the Virgin Galactica spaceship that crashed Friday on re-entry to earth.

from US investigators had shown reports that suggested problems “Rumours and innuendo from self-proclaimed experts can be put back in their box,” he told the BBC. Sir Richard said that he would not send tourists into space until he and his family members had made the trip.

He described the accident as a “horrible setback”.

Virgin Galactic had aimed to send tourists into space early next year, and has already taken more than 700 flight bookings at $250,000 (£156,000) each.

As the air gets thicker on the descent and rushes over

the booms, the drag on the vehicle means it naturally adopts a belly-down position ready for the glide back home - just as the feathers always ensure forward-facing flight for the conical projectile used in a game of badminton.

Investigators said the fuel tanks had not been compromised The wreckage, strewn all around the Mojave desert, has been mostly found NTSB investigators have now found almost all of the parts of the crashed spacecraft as part of an inquiry they say could take many months to complete.

Turkish man ‘aims for 50 children’

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TURKISH man who has 32 children with four different wives has said he is aiming for 50, it’s reported.

Polygamy is illegal in Turkey, but Halit Tekin has unofficially married three women since tying the knot with his first wife - legally in 1982, the Hurriyet Daily News website reports. Mr Tekin, 54, who lives in Turkey’s southern Hatay province, recently welcomed a

baby boy named Ahmet with his first wife. “Today, I have 32 kids and 12 of them are boys. I love them all. If my health permits, God willing, I want to raise the number to 50,” he says. The wives all live in different houses with their children “as we cannot fit in a single house”, he says, adding that everyone gets along “quite well”. Despite being outlawed, a 2013 study by Turkey’s parliament found that

372,000 men practised polygamy in the country, the website reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regularly called for families to have at least three children when he was prime minister, in order to keep the country strong.

“One or two children mean bankruptcy... at least three children are necessary in each family, because our population risks ageing,” he said in 2013.

URKINA Faso’s military has said it will install a transitional government, days after it seized power as President Blaise Compaore resigned.

The move came after soldiers had fired shots at the state TV station and barricaded the capital’s main square as thousands of protesters demanded the military give up power.

At least one demonstrator was killed in Sunday’s clashes.

The UN has also condemned the military takeover and threatened sanctions.

Long-time leader Mr Compaore quit on Thursday, following days of antigovernment protests.

The army named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as the leader of a transitional government on Saturday.

However, thousands of protesters gathered on Sunday in the capital Ouagadougou, demonstrating against the army.

On Sunday evening, following a meeting with key

does ‘Power not interest

us, only the greater interest of the nation

’

opposition figures, a military spokesman said the army would put in place “a transition body... with all the components to be adopted by a broad consensus”.

“Power does not interest us, only the greater interest of the nation,” the military.

A protester holds up a sign in French that reads “Zida get out” during a rally at the Place de la Nation It had been necessary to disperse protesters to “restore order”, the statement said, adding that one demonstrator outside the state TV station had died.

There were chaotic scenes at the state broadcaster’s headquarters on Sunday, as

•Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida is currently acting head PHOTO: AFP of state

both opposition leader Saran Sereme and former Defence Minister Kwame Lougue turned up to a rally.

It is believed that both had gone there, separately, to announce that they could head the transition government.

However, shortly after they arrived, gunfire broke out and staff and protesters fled.

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

National television resumed broadcasting a few hours later.

Troops also cleared protesters from the capital’s main square, Place de la Nation.

UK to seek immigration changes

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Chancellor George Osborne has insisted the UK will pursue its “national interest” in Europe despite German warnings about its future in the EU. Mr Osborne said the British people wanted concerns about EU immigration and access to benefits addressed.

The German government

has insisted the right of EU nationals to live and work in other member states is sacrosanct.

Angela Merkel has reportedly said she would rather see the UK leave the EU than allow a quota system for migrants.

David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK’s continued membership

before holding an in-out referendum, if he remains in power after next year’s general election.

The prime minister, who is expected to set out his next steps on immigration before Christmas, has insisted freedom of movement of workers would be “at the very heart” of his renegotiation strategy.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

60

NEWS Niger PDP youths turn violent

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OUTHS invaded Lavun Local Government Council Secretariat in Niger State at the weekend, destroying property.

It was learnt that the youths were protesting against the refusal of an official to give them their share of the N4.5 million allegedly given to the council by a commissioner aspir-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

ing to be the deputy governor.

Sources said the commissioner gave the cash gift during his visit to the local government.

The youths accused the official of sitting on the money, which they said was meant for all wards in the council.

Kogi council sues INEC

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From James Azania, Lokoja

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been sued at the Federal High Court, Lokoja Division, for failing to obey a court order restoring Ogugu Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly.

On September 25, Justice P. Ayua ordered the restoration of Ogugu State Constituency.

INEC was served with the judgment on October 15.

Counsel to Olamaboro Local Government Council and 18 others, Alaji Onoja (esq), is urging the court to compel the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to obey the court order.

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Jigawa Varsity gets council

IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has inaugurated the 10-man Governing Council of the State University (JSU) in Kafin Hausa.

The council is chaired by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed. Dr M.D. Nasir is the secretary.

Members are JSU ViceChancellor Prof. Lawan Sani Taura; Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu; Dr. Abdulhamid Dutse; Alhaji Aliyu Sambo; Prof. Rukayyatu Rufai; Dr. Ummu Abdulwahid; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Abdullahi Hudu; and his Finance counterpart, Hajiya Habiba Dutse.

At the ceremony in his office, Lamido urged the pioneer Governing Council to be proactive.

He said education was important to all areas of human development, hence the establishment of the university.

Rasheed hailed the governor’s courage and foresight in establishing the institution.

He said the university started well by producing a detailed academic brief and with excellent structures, adding that the council would build on the “remarkable job” done by the implementation committee.

Voter card is your gun, Buhari tells Nigerians F ORMER Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), describing it as their “gun to sack incompetent leaders in 2015”.

Gen. Buhari spoke in Kaduna at a rally, where former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir el-Rufai formally declared his interest in the governorship seat.

He said: “Your card is your gun against incompetence in government and deception.

We have suffered enough.

You know what it takes to repair Nigeria, especially as regards infrastructure, security and employment. Let us get the infrastructure working; let’s get security materially, physically and morally.”

On el-Rufai, Gen. Buhari said Kaduna people would be doing themselves a great favour, if they elect the former minister as their governor.

He said: “I developed cold feet to come and present elRufai to you because of the sacrifices he wanted to make on my behalf, which I turned down. He insisted that I must contest and I told him that if I must contest he must also contest, because I believe he has the qualities required to make Kaduna State great again.

These qualities are competence, integrity and courage.

“I have seen the way el-Rufai handled Abuja and we know he loves this country.

He is endowed with the three qualities I have mentioned, so I assure you that if you vote

•El-Rufai: I won’t demolish houses, if elected

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

for el-Rufai, you won’t be doing him a favour, but would be doing yourselves a favour.

I am not being arrogant; I am just being honest.

“El-Rufai is the kind of person that will respect you if you respect yourself, and if you don’t respect yourself, he will help you go down the drain. I am here to ask for your support and understanding for el-Rufai and myself.”

El-Rufai promised not to demolish houses, if elected governor.

He said: “For those worrying about the demolitions that took place in Abuja, I assure you that Kaduna and Abuja are different in history, growth and priorities. We did what needed to be done in Abuja to make it a true national capital. In contrast, what Kaduna needs are better schools, health facilities and productive farms in an atmosphere of improved peace

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and security. That will be the focus of the APC, not the scaremongering of impending demolitions.

“We shall foster an environment of security of life and property by tackling the roots of intolerance and communal violence. We shall make a priority of transparent governance and improved service delivery by re-energising and empowering the public service. We shall rebuild and expand water supply, rural electrification and roads.

“Our government will invest in our people by improving capacity and delivery in health, education and social welfare. We shall energetically promote agriculture and food security, while implementing land reform as a basis for wealth creation and capital formation.

“The APC Kaduna Team will implement reforms that will create a transparent and responsible local government system that is proper-

•Buhari

ly funded, autonomous and technically-strengthened to be responsive and capable of delivering services at the grassroots. We are poised to take advantage of our state’s proximity to Abuja by developing new towns in locations neighbouring the FCT. “We are at a crossroads of risks and opportunities in our nation and our state. The choice we make in 2015 will determine whether our nation succeeds or fails. We believe we can make Kaduna great again. I ask for your support so that we can make it happen together.”

132 escape in Kogi jail break

HE Comptroller of Prisons, Aminu Suley, yesterday said “external forces” were behind Sunday’s attack on the Federal Medium Security Prison in Koton-Karfe, Kogi State.

On Sunday night, the attackers broke through the prison wall and vandalised the record office, freeing all the 145 inmates.

Sources said they operated unchallenged for over three hours.

“Security men came when the damage had been done,” said a source.

Twelve inmates returned

From James Azania, Lokoja

later and one died from bullet wounds.

This is the second attack on the prison in two years.

In 2011, 119 awaiting trial inmates were freed by attackers and many never returned.

Speaking when Governor Idris Wada visited the prison, Suley said 26 of the escapees were convicts and 119 were awaiting trial for “robbery, culpable homicide and other offences”.

He urged the judiciary to speed up the trial of suspects awaiting trial.

Wada said the state would continue to work with the prison service and the Federal Government to complete the new prison.

He urged the chief judge to use his prerogative of mercy to reduce the number of untried inmates.

The governor hailed security operatives for their prompt response and pledged to continue to provide a safe environment for residents.

The Koton-Karfe prison, which was inaugurated in 1938, was meant to hold only 50 inmates.

Adamawa attack: 10,496 IDPs in five camps

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BOUT 10,496 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are staying in five camps in Yola South and Fufore, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency have said.

Many IDPs are still trooping into Yola, the state capital, following attacks on their communities by the Boko Haram sect.

Five women were delivered of babies in the camps.

In a statement, NEMA’s Director-General Muhammad Sani Sidi said the agency would continue to establish more camps and provide ba-

P

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

sic needs for the displaced persons.

Sidi said: “The agency has delivered adequate relief materials to all established camps in the state and the new one would be provided with tents.

An advanced team, led by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Eugene Ezeh, has been sent to assess the situation and take action to bring succour to the displaced people.”

Governor Bala Ngilari said the government had sent out vehicles to evacuate thousands of displaced persons scattered around Mubi and in

Cameroon.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Zainab Maina sympathised with the IDPs. She said President Goodluck Jonathan assigned her to assess the situation and assured them of his continuous support until they return home.

The camps are in Dawarei, Girei, Malkwohi, Nyako Housing Estate, NYSC camp and COCIN Church. Relief materials provided at the camps include drugs, rice, clothes, mattresses, maize, buckets, mats, soap, towel, cooking oil and sanitary items.

Borno schools to reopen Nov. 17

UBLIC schools in Borno State will reopen on Nov. 17. They were closed early in the year due to security concerns.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Chairman of the 19-man committee on the resuscitation of primary education, Dr Mohammed Dongel, said: “All things being equal, public schools will reopen for classes on November 17. We have introduced perimeter fencing in public schools to ensure maximum security.

We have also increased the number of security men in schools to ensure a 24-hour surveillance. Governor Kashim Shettima has approved the

procurement of chemicals for the fumigation of schools against reptiles and other rodents ahead of the reopening.”

Explaining that secondary schools would remain closed until Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge there were relocated, Dongel said: “We plan to reopen public secondary schools soon after the primary schools. We are working on plans to relocate the IDPs to two places - the Hajj Camp and the International Conference Centre in Maiduguri - so that the schools will reopen.”

He said the committee had introduced incentives to encourage pupils to return to school.

Dongel said: “You will agree with me that most parents have been traumatised by the insurgents’ attacks on schools. Pupils are scared by incessant attacks on schools, so we need to introduce measures to encourage enrolment and retention in schools “The government has introduced free uniforms and free daily meals in public schools to entice pupils. We are trying to introduce e-learning in primary schools to transform our education system into a world-class one.”

He said the government was working with the Civilian JTF to enhance security in schools.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

NEWS

‘Why govt fell for phantom ceasefire with Boko Haram’ Continued from page 2

ernment got entangled in the “bogus ceasefire” which the leader of Jama’atul Ahlul Sunnah Lida’awati Wal Jahad, Imam Abubakar Shekau disowned on Friday in a video.

The source said: “You know the government said it would explore all venues (including negotiation) to bring the insurgency to an end and ensure the return of the abducted Chibok school girls.

“The genesis of the negotiation in Chad was that Boko Haram wrote two letters to Chadian President Idris Derby for ceasefire negotiation. On the basis of the offer, President Goodluck Jonathan went to Chad. That was the only reason he went.

“We were interested in the peace offer; we could not second guess whether it would work or not because this is the first time a foreign Head of State will be involved in such.

“We did not subject the ceasefire offer to scrutiny because of the involvement of President

Derby. The Chadian President spoke with the Nigerian Government, he also spoke with the United States which also sought some clarifications from its Embassy in Nigeria.

“If the ceasefire negotiation process was not credible, the Americans would have told us that it was not so.

“You will recall that at a point, President Barack Obama asked both sides to respect the ceasefire. What was on everybody’s mind was to secure the release of the Chibok girls.”

The source added: “The mistake we made was to announce the ceasefire before we completed the process. But with a foreign President and other nations involved, it was difficult to fault it. If we had rejected the ceasefire offer from Chad, the same powers will say we were not interested in the release of the Chibok girls.

“The ceasefire appears bogus but we are not losing hope.

There are issues around Ahmadu Danladi coordinating the

ceasefire in Chad.

“First, there was no communication intercept between him and the sect leaders. Secondly, he referred to them as Boko Haram instead of Jama’atul Ahlul Sunnah Lida’awati Wal Jahad; and thirdly he called Shekau by name instead of referring to him as Imam. He probably did not have any serious link with the sect.”

Asked of the status of the ceasefire, the source simply said: “Supposedly ongoing with Chadian officials.”

The source, however, said it was not the first time some volunteers would approach the government on how to address the insurgency and secure the release of the Chibok girls.

The source added: “Just last week, a governor brought somebody who can help free the girls.

They said we should go and meet somewhere for the sect to bring the Chibok girls.

“The offers come differently but this is the first one that involved a foreign Head of State.”

‘Stop meddling in House affairs’

Continued from page 2

to put country first and self second and do only that which is right as is our prayer every morning before sittings.

“We have taken pains to convey our position to major democracies and parliaments as this morning (yesterday). The APC Caucus in the House filed a legal action, praying, amongst other things, for a declaration that the Hose cannot be reconvened without the Speakers consent.

“We have also taken pains to communicate our position and the attempt to truncate this democracy to other major democracies and parliaments as what affects one has the potential of affecting others.

“Now the issues are in court.

Under our rules, they cannot be a subject for debate. We ask the Presidency and the PDP to leave the House well alone.”

House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumini Jibrin

(APC, Kano) said the threat of impeaching the Speaker remained a threat that would not materialise.

According to him, any attempt to begin an impeachment process against Tambuwal would lead to a floodgate of impeachments.

He claimed that the House had facts about many public officers who would not escape the impeachment gale. “We need to be careful not to overheat the polity. And what I am referring to is this issue of impeachment being bandied around.

“We don’t want a situation where the hunter will become the hunted. Already, we the APC members of the House, we are fully prepared. We are waiting for a situation like this. And we have the capacity to deal with any situation in the House.

“If you go and put some few members somewhere illegally to impeach the speaker, you’ve laid a precedence in the National Assembly. And what that means is

that a few members can also seat anywhere to impeach even a higher officer in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We all need to be careful by allowing the sleeping dog to lie.

Nigerians are watching. All the breach of the constitution that is going on, we are noting.

“All the impeachable offences that have been committed by a lot of public officers, we’ve taken records of them. In the next few days we are going to watch and see how events unfold.

Whatever happens, we will respond accordingly.”

Jibrin was, however, evasive on when APC would begin the impeachment of the offending public officers, saying: “When we get to bridge of using such impeachable offenses, we will cross it.

“We are going to reconvene on the 3rd of December. It is written in all our articles. All the offences, we are putting everything together, and by the time we reconvene, the fireworks will start,” Jibrin said.

“It was when it became an international issue that the government came out to admit that those girls were actually kidnapped. Many countries offered international assistance and support.

“But we did not hear anything from our government about how far they were working with those international partners to rescue these girls. They don’t have regular reports. I am not in government, but as a Nigerian, I believe that I am supposed to know what my government is doing to rescue those girls.

“It is a primary responsibility of any government to protect its citizens. But this is a government which has allowed a bunch of small terrorist group to operate freely for close to five years now. We fought a 30month civil war and achieved total unification and reconciliation. When the war started, it started as a police action.

“But this is an insurgency that has lasted for five years. I recall that when we in office, such an insurgency arose and it took us just a few weeks to flush out those insurgents.

“Those who did not surrender faced the music of the armed forces. Infact, people did not even know about this. But here we are with Africa’s so called best military” On what he would have done separately to address the situation, he said “I would have used a large number of the fighting force to come from that area where the insurgency is because they know the terrain better than any other Nigerian you can

think of.

“If you recall, during the civil war, when we had problem dealing with the riverine areas, we had to establish a world brigade of Marine Commandos, trained them to be able to deal with the riverine areas and it became very successful.

“A few weeks ago, a said that if I were in government , I would have recruited the civilian JTF, train them for three months and use them to flush out the terrorists. Two or three days later, the Defence Headquarters said they were going to hire them and train them as soldiers. Did it require me, a civilian to tell the defense headquarters what to do?

“You know that if you are fighting in a terrain that you don’t know very well you need local support. Why not make use of the local support? Most of the boys over running the places are from the same area.

“Those who come from Mubi tell me that these boys were part of them and were recruited by Boko Haram. Why can’t the military not do the same. Why will you bring somebody from Bayelsa to come and fight a war in Adamawa or Borno state when he has never seen a mountain in Bayelsa”.

The former Vice President urged the international community to help the nation in dealing with the insurgency, saying “I am making a special appeal to countries with sufficient knowhow and experience in tackling terrorism to increase their assistance to us.

Boko Haram in 16 councils, Atiku laments Continued from page 2

poor, secondly, they don’t make use of the local people to deal with the situation and thirdly, people have alleged that the armed forces are poorly equipped. But five years is more than enough to equip the entire military.

He explained that the insurgents are occupying 16 local government areas in the three states.

“In Yobe, only two local government areas are being occupied by Boko Haram, five in Adamawa and nine in Borno, but you can say that the entire states are not safe.

“There has never been a time the Nigeria military has retaken any area occupied. Can you imagine that a country like Nigeria with one of the best armed forces, cannot recover one single territory from the terrorists?

“How can you now convince me that this government has the capacity to recover an inch if in the last five years, they have not recovered one inch of lost territory. So we are calling on them to be very serious, stand up to their fundamental responsibility of protecting the people of this country. Otherwise, the whole of this country can be over ran”.

The former Vice President also faulted the government for “not telling us what we should know”. At the beginning when these Chibok girls were kidnapped, it took the government a while to admit that the girls were actually kidnapped.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

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NEWS PDP WARD CONGRESSES Alao-Akala, others shun Oyo PDP appeal panel From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HE intra-party crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened yesterday when former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese, boycotted the panel set up by the party’s national secretariat to hear complaints on last Saturday’s ward congress in the 33 local government areas.

The panel, led by former Minister of Health, Prof. Alphonsus Nwosu, was to hear the grievances of the governorship aspirants on the congress.

Ihedioha hijacked congress, says Anyanwu •Ihedioha: allegation untrue

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HE senator representing Imo East, Chris Anyanwu, has accused House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha of hijacking last Saturday’s Imo State congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a petition to PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, the senator urged the party’s national leadership to call Ihedioha to order. This followed his alleged manipulation of the state congress.

But Ihedioha, in a statement yesterday by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Chris Okewulonu, described the allegation as a malicious attempt to smear his reputation.

Imoke’s loyalists celebrate victory

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OYALISTS of Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, on Sunday, celebrated the outcome of last Saturday’s ward congress.

From Ogoja, in the Northern Senatorial District; Ikom in the Central and Bakassi in the Southern, the governor’s loyalists said the outcome of the congress showed Imoke’s good leadership of the party.

In Ikom, hundreds of Okada riders performed amazing feats on te Etomi Road axis in celebration of the outcome of the congress.

Some women danced round major streets, shouting: “We have won”; “Our people have done it again.”

At Presbyterian Primary School’s field in Ikom, scores of other party supporters celebrated the results of the ward congress.

It was learnt that some of Imoke’s loyalists, who were elected delegates in some wards in Ikom Local Government Area, included Samuel Abang, Ndifon Obio and Okike Nchor.

They hail from Akparabong, where Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and Chirs Agibe also hail from.

In Bakassi, the mood was the same. Imok’s supporters were said to have celebrated their victory at the poll on Saturday night.

Rivers 16 PDP governorship aspirants, others to shun appeal panel

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IXTEEN aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants and 2,100 delegateaspirants in Rivers State have said they will shun the appeal panel set up by the national headquarters of the party to examine the complaints arising from last Saturday’s ward congress.

Allegations of irregularity marred the congress in most wards.

The aggrieved aspirants alleged that the three-man appeal panel are cronies of former Min-

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

ister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who is also a PDP governorship aspirant.

They alleged that the panel members - Afam Okeke (Chairman), Ferdinand Ibezim (Secretary) and Lambert Oparah (member) - are Wike’s aides.

A governorship aspirant, Nimi Walson-Jack, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on the decision of the aggrieved aspirants, described the appeal panel as a

sham.

He said nobody would appear before it.

Walson-Jack said: “The appeal panel will listen to appeals from those who set it up. It is clear from the characters of those selected for the appeal panel that it has been compromised from the onset.

“We, the group of 16 governors acting under the coalition of governorship aspirants, do not have any iota of confidence in the so-called appeal panel. We will have nothing to do with it.

We will not and cannot give legitimacy to a sham. Let them regale themselves with the premeditated charade they have since designed for the interest of an aspirant against the collective interest and electoral fortune of our party.”

Another aspirant, Prince Tonye Princewill, told reporters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, that the “state chapter of the PDP does not have a properly constituted executive committee in all the wards and local government areas”.

Bayelsa: Senator, Rep hold parallel congresses

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HERE were indications yesterday that last Saturday’s ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State ended in protests and disagreement in some local governments.

It was learnt that some senators and House of Representatives members held parallel congresses in their wards to counter moves by the government to deny them return tickets to their seats in 2015.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, representing Bayelsa West, allegedly con-

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•Communities call for cancellation From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ducted a parallel congress in his ward headquarters at Ekeremor.

A close associate of the senator confirmed the development.

The source said the senator’s factional congress was valid, adding that it met the party’s requirements.

The source, who spoke in confidence, stressed that the plans by the senator’s detrac-

tors did not work out.

According to the source, it is not true that the result of the congress held by Lokpobiri’s group was voided by the acting chairman of PDP in the local government area, Chief Meeting Okpeke.

“Okpeke is not a member of Lokpobiri’s ward. So, he has no business there and cannot dictate how the congress should be conducted,” the source said.

Lokpobiri’s loyalists were

said to have held their congress separately from the one organised by Governor Seriake Dickson’s loyalists.

Besides Lokpobiri, the senator representing Bayelsa Central, Emmanuel Paulker, was said to have organised a separate congress in his ward’s headquarters at Opolo in Yenagoa.

Paulker, a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, reportedly brought the materials for the congress from Abuja and conducted the exercise separately from the one

by Dickson’s loyalists.

‘Taraba PDP congress may be falsified’ yet to be told. Where you see

HE senator representing Southern Taraba, Emmanuel Bwacha, has said there were attempts in Jalingo, the state capital, to falsify the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ward congresses.

Bwacha, who is seeking a re-election into the Senate, addressed reporters yesterday in Jalingo after submitting his PDP nomination form at the party’s secretariat.

He said many things were

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

wrong in Taraba State.

It was learnt that House of Representatives Chief Whip Ishaka Bawa was slapped by a member of the House of Assembly, resulting in a fight at the Jalingo Motel, venue of the collation of the ward congresses results.

The House of Representatives member representing Mbang, Abel Peter Diah, was allegedly beaten up by a sus-

pected thug at the collation centre.

Bwacha said: “The ward congresses have been conducted. In some places, they were free and fair, but in others, the Returning Officers were coerced to fill the delegates’ names in the Government House where (Acting Governor) Garba Umar is holding fort.

“Whether this is a new process of conducting congresses or primaries, we are

a Chief Whip of the House of Representatives being harassed by forces promoted by the so-called establishment in the state is quite unfortunate.

“Clearly, a lot of things have gone wrong. I am aware of a Returning Officer who was taken to the Government House and told to fill the delegates’ names. He refused and insisted to go and conduct the congress in the local government area.”

Ondo PDP Rep, others threaten defection

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MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Albert Akintoye, has threatened to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged manipulation of last Saturday’s state congress.

Also, several aggrieved members of the PDP in the

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

state have threatened to dump the party for the APC for what they called glaring victimisation by Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s camp.

Akintoye alleged that he and other top PDP members were shut out of the congress, to pave the way for the governor’s loyalists who joined the party from

the Labour Party (LP) few weeks ago.

The lawmaker described the congress as a charade.

Akintoye, who was the only Rep member elected on the platform of the PDP in 2011, said he would join the APC, if the leadership of the PDP failed to intervene.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Akintoye said: “As I am talking to you

now, these are the worst times for our great party, the PDP; some leaders have cornered the party, in connivance with the governor, who just returned to the party.”

The lawmaker also accused the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, of sidelining him and other old members of the party.

Tension in Anambra PDP over congresses From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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EVERAL members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have kicked against the conduct of last Saturday’s ward congress of the party.

The conduct was led by Ejike Oguebego and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But another one was conducted on Sunday at the Finotel Hotels in Awka, the state capital.

Security operatives dispersed the handlers with tear gas.

Some chieftains of the party held a meeting at the Marble Arch Hotels in Awka on Saturday. But it ended in fracas.

The Senator Ibrahim Mantuled caretaker committee on the congress relocated to a second hotel (Finotel) when the fracas was getting out of hands.

It was learnt that the caretaker committee set up by the national PDP to oversee the party in Anambra, led by Gen. Karma (retd) and Alkibu Dalhatu as Secretary, was rejected by the PDP members.

Etiebet, others seek cancellation of Akwa Ibom congress From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo OME elders of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the party’s National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to cancel last Saturday’s ward congress in the state.

They alleged that it was fraught with fraud.

Former Petroleum Minister and member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Don Etiebet, spoke yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, on behalf of the party’s elders.

Etiebet alleged that some people in the government had filled the forms to entrench their anointed governorship aspirant.

The former minister said the ward congress was a fraud to democracy.

He urged the party’s national headquarters to intervene to forestall a crisis in the party.

Etiebet said: “I want to tell you that I am not satisfied with the conduct of the ward congress in the state on Saturday. It was a farce; there was no congress conducted in the state...”

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From right: Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Boboye Oyeyemi; FRSC Head of Section Sports Bisi Kazeem and Brig.Gen Francis Olalekan Akanji during the capacity building and training at the FRSC Academy Udi- Enugu State...at the weekend.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

NO. 3,021

‘We must be clear in all of this: the reason the nation is at this very point is the apparent loss of capacity by the Nigerian state under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

URVEYING the road to the 2015 general elections this past week, I have found myself thinking again about what sociologists call The Matthew Effect.

The phenomenon takes its name from the Parable of the Five Talents in St. Matthew’s Gospel 25:14-30, where Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to the fate of the servants who were given various sums of money to look after by their master on the eve of a long journey.

Those who had been given the most substantial sums had invested and multiplied them. The one who had the least amount had simply buried it and returned to his master exactly what he had been given. No value added.

The master, a hard, usurious fellow, angrily took away what he had given to the slothful servant and handed it to the servant who had multiplied his own endowment.

Lesson: To those who have much, more will be given. From those who have little, even that little will be taken away and given to those who have much.

In its own way, The Matthew Effect accounts for how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, or how, according to the contemporary sociologist Daniel Rigney, advantage begets further advantage.

The Biblical parable is about faith and the spiritual realm, but The Matthew Effect, a coinage attributed to the Columbia sociologist Robert K. Merton, applies strikingly to the material realm, and even to the realm of knowledge.

On the material plane, it explains the iniquitous distribution of public resources in Nigeria – how, to cite a notorious example, the office messenger in Aso Rock has to fend his family from his meagre earnings, whereas President Goodluck Jonathan, even allowing for the prohibitive cost of that incomparable executive delicacy, cassava bread, can appropriate close to a billion naira in public funds as culinary expenses.

The Matthew Effect also helps explain why the janitors who clean the halls and offices of the National Assembly are responsible for clothing themselves, whereas the legislators receive from the public purse more than three times the monthly wage of a janitor as “wardrobe allowance” for every month assuming the stipend has not been raised to keep pace with inflation.

And it explains why those same legislators get a hefty monthly “hardship allowance” for the unspeakably dangerous work of rubberstamping proposals from the Executive Branch and staging endless hearings, and whereas there is no such perk for their drivers who live in the God-forsaken parts of town and battle their way to work early and close only when it pleases the master for a little more than the minimum wage, if that.

Much of the jockeying for 2015 and the

RIPPLES

KESHI’S RETURN IS CONFUSING –Babangida

In fact all Nigerians are still CONFUSED... they say it’s RIGGING!

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Nigerian politics and The Matthew Effect ‘

•Mark

•Dr. Ifowodo

likely outcome is easily explained by The Matthew Effect. Now, governors who have reached the term limit are now being importuned by “their people” to retire into the Senate and live happily and prosperously ever after. Where the people are not moving quickly enough to beseech them to take opulent retirement, the governors are positioning themselves for the transition.

And as sure as Nigeria is Nigeria, advantage will beget more advantage.

And as the re-election campaign fortunes of Dr Jonathan and Senate President David Mark show eloquently, those who already possess a great deal will be given much more.

Take David Mark first.

Since the end of the civil war when he was appointed “Abandoned Properties” czar in the old Rivers State, his has been a steady march from one gold mine to another – military governor of the old Niger State, minister of Communications, in which capacity he declared that telephones were not for the poor – never mind his denial some 20 years later – and president of the Senate since 2007. He reputedly owns two swanky courses in the U.K.,

The kind of help being heaped on Dr Jonathan and Senator Mark who do not need it and, it has to be said to their credit, have not asked for it, should be going to the Ifowodos, to insulate them from the pernicious Matthew Effect

’

and perhaps another one or two elsewhere.

If he has any problem with money at all, it is how to spend it. By one account, he has made enough money to last him and his progeny till the end of time.

And yet, the grateful people of Benue South Senatorial District could not leave it to him to purchase the PDP’s nomination form for reelection. Nine local government chairmen, drawing no doubt on their federal handouts, plonked down an unspecified sum to get him the document, which he humbly accepted at his Otukpo country home, tears of gratitude streaking down his face.

Mark rose magnificently to the occasion, assuring his visitors and the crowd that had gathered outside his home, in a speech prepared for the moment, that he would be willing to lay down his life for the sustenance and stability of democracy and for the creation of Apa state if they asked him to do so.

Ah, the nobility of sacrifice!

The usual suspects will no doubt be scoffing that this was sheer grandstanding, an empty and therefore meaningless gesture.

We will never know, since “his people,” much

HARDBALL

T

HE pan-Nigeria Baba and Arch-Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) on Nigeria’s political health, the incomparable and inimitable President (Gen.) Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ebora Owu and Civil War hero, appears to have got more than he bargained for from another far-less-known Baba, Pa Deji Fasuan, who a news report by The Nation introduced as the Jagunmolu of Ado-Ekiti. What an insult!

Baba Obasanjo, who should know (infact who knows everything) has given his final verdict on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s well publicised indifference to Muslim-Muslim ticket, even if the whole thing was taken out of the context of an interview. What Buhari said was that having picked two Igbo Roman Catholics as running mates at his earlier attempts at the Nigerian presidency, with no positive effect, he really did not know what Nigerians wanted.

But Baba, the oracle, has told Buhari to quickly perish the idea — Muslim-Muslim ticket? Nigeria of today will have none of such nonsense! The propriety of the self-acclaimed father of modern Nigeria involving himself in a religious controversy aside, Chief Fasuan, the Jagunmolu, was not at all impressed.

Hear the old man blaze: “Olusegun Obasanjo has mounted the rostrum again, climbing the pulpit. The pontiff has again foisted on the nation

SANYA ONI

to their disappointment, chose not to put Mark to the test.

This is obviously a different David Mark from the one who had during the “June 12” crisis of 1993, vowed to personally shoot President-elect Moshood Abiold to death if Abiola was allowed to take office.

Not even the passage of more than 20 years can fully explain how, in the one instance Mark threatened to liquidate the winner of a democratic election rather than allow him take office, and in the other he declared that he was prepared to lay down his life for the sustenance and stability of democracy.

Nor has there even been in the Mark camp the appearance of a road-to-Damascus conversion.

With the vast resources of Nigeria under his control, to say nothing of his official remuneration that, however large – it is apparently a state secret – is dwarfed by all manner of allowances and discretionary spending, Dr Jonathan may not be the sixth wealthiest African head of state. But he would have to be the most improvident African head of state if he cannot come up with N22 million to purchase his campaign reelection form.

His teeming admirers, ranging from halfstarved youth corpers to shadowy organisations founded and funded by the so-called Presidency, would not even let him rummage his bedroom or cocktail bar for some pocket change to cover the transaction. At the last toting up, they had raised nearly five times the amount needed for the form. PDP governors and Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, widely believed to be a proxy of the Jonathan Administration, contributed N22 million apiece.

Compare and contrast the electioneering fortunes of Dr Jonathan and Senator Mark with that Texas State University-based-poet, writer and public intellectual, Ogaga Ifowodo, seeking to represent the Isoko Nation in the National Assembly. He reckons that he needs some N57 million for the entire campaign – from seeking the nomination to mounting and running a focused race right up to polling day, and has said that much in a letter addressed to the Nigerian public.

Dr Ifowodo is driven by an overarching commitment to public service rare among the younger generation, a belief that he can make a difference and a desire to pursue it.

But his problem is how to find the money, whereas if Dr Jonathan and Senator Mark have any problem at all with money, it is how to spend it.

The kind of help being heaped on Dr Jonathan and Senator Mark who do not need it and, it has to be said to their credit, have not asked for it, should be going to the Ifowodos, to insulate them from the pernicious Matthew Effect.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

War as Jagunmolu confronts Ebora Owu his well-known political theology!” Hot — and irreverent, if Pa Fasuan himself was not an old man!

And a bit of piquant history: “Obasanjo has forgotten his role in picking leaders and foisting governments on our nation. In retrospect, his actions were informed by malice, favouritism and self-interest. In Nigerian interest,” the old man further roared, “it is difficult to distinguish self-serving admonitions from those of national interest and fidelity. We have many problems facing our nation for anyone to bother about his neighbour’s religion.”

Well, some bitter and punching truth, if laced with the romantic wish that people don’t bother about their neighbours’ faith. Maybe in the Southwest, but even then, with the latest Jonathanian divisive religious onslaught, even that cannot be taken as given.

But the Jagunmolu is not done yet: “Let no leader,” he warned, “however self-serving and self-conscious he is, direct us to any dug-in positions. We have heard a lot of pontificating from yesteryear people (ouch, that hurts! Ebora

Owu, yesteryear people?), who have, by their action or inaction in office, put us where we are today.”

Now, that was awesome! Is Baba Iyabo diving for cover?

Then, the Jagumolu’s wish and hope: “What this country needs is competence, commitment, integrity and capability (ironically buzz words that would tumble out of the mouth of the “pontificating” Obasanjo!). If these attributes are found in the present leadership, let it continue.

On the other hand, if the electorate can trust a Buhari/Fashola ticket, let it be.”

The Jagunmolu has rested his case! But that is hardly the last word on the matter.

At the end of the day, it could well be a sharp disagreement in opinions between two senior citizens — one a former military ruler and twoterm elected president, the other a distinguished Nigerian patriot and proud son of Ekiti.

Still it is a fitting battle of elders, when the Jagunmolu squares up with the Ebora Owu, on hot political stuff!

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