The Nation November 25, 2014

APC slams DSS over Lagos data centre invasion NEWS Page 4

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Woman, 44, delivered of quadruplets From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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N 18-YEAR desperate search for a child has ended in a bountiful way for a 44-year-old woman.

Mrs Clara Dominique was delivered of quadruplets last Saturday at Graceland Medical Centre in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The three girls and a boy are said to be doing well.

“I am happy that my husband and I were able to stay together till this day to witness the blessings of the Lord. My husband has been encouraging me that God would do it for us. My husband never contemplated driving me away,” Mrs. Dominique, who got married in 1996, said.

She went on: “I was happy when the scan showed it was four. Sometimes I thought of

•Two of the babies...yesterday

‘

I was the one dedicating children at our church every last Sunday of the month. I was the first to visit anybody that gave how I would carry the four of them. I have not birth so that I could seen somebody else who was delivered of four babies. It was not easy for me to carry the preggive them what I nancy. At a time, the weight was much for me. had. I am not the “I was the one dedicating children at our church every last Sunday of the month. I was envious type Continued on page 4

’

•Mrs. Dominique...yesterday

•A nurse attending to two of the babies...yesterday.

Boko Haram gunmen kill scores in attack on market Sect takes another town in Borno Jonathan meets Chadian President From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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NOTHER Borno State town has been taken by the Boko Haram sect.

An unknown number of people were killed when the sect’s fighters invaded Damasak at dawn yesterday.

Damasak is an isolated town on the border with Niger Republic. It is 116 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

According to Senator Maina Lawan, eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived with improvised explosive devices and petrol bombs in a con-

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

voy of Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles.

No fewer than 300 soldiers guarding the town were said to have retreated.

Continued on page 4

•CHEERS: Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (centre) with some jubilant home owners, who were beneficiaries of the new batch of 5000 Certificates of Occupancy and Building Approvals presented by the governor under the state government’s Homeowners’ Charter Programme at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday

•POLITICS P18 •TRANSPORTATION P16 •SPORTS P24 •PROPERTY P48 •ENERGY P48

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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NEWS

More knocks trai •NBA , Olanipekun, Ngige, Akume, Keyamo condemn invasion

M

• Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second right) presenting a cheque to Chairperson, Modakeke-Ife Area Office, Olorunsogo Textile Dealers' Association Mrs. Elizabeth Odelola (right), during the disbursement of N2 billion accessed by the state under the Central Bank’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo. With them are: Special Adviser to Governor of Central Bank on Development Finance Mr. Paul Nduka (second left) and Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment Mr. Ismaila Alagbada (left)...yesterday.

•Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Jake Rily Ltd. Mrs Funmi Ogbue (left); Chief Executive, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and Chairman, Businesses Assessment Committee, Mr. Jim Obazee and Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, during a media briefing and partial rolling out of names of 100 businesses in Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Trustee and Project Administrator, DAME Mr. Lanre Idowu; Lifetime Achievement Awardees, Prof. Idowu Sobowale; Chairman Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo and Chairman, DAME Board of Trustees, Mr. Moses Ihonde, at the 23rd DAME Awards at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island...last Sunday.

•From left: Marketing Director for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser Oguzhan Silivrili; Council Manager, Lagos Island Local Government, representing Commissioner for Local Government, Olaide Atunrase; Sanitation Officer, representing Commissioner for Rural Development, Lagos State, Akinwunmi Babatunde and the Marketing Manager, Home Care for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, at 2014 Harpic World Toilet Day Celebration in Lagos...yesterday.

ORE reactions have assailed the police invasion of the National Assembly last Thursday.

They came from Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, the association’s former President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Senate Minority Leader Senator George Akume and activist lawyer Festus Keyamo.

The reactions agreed that the invasion was aimed at preventing the House of Representatives from sitting to perform its legitimate and constitutional duties.

The NBA, in a statement in Lagos yesterday by its chairman, Yinka Farounbi, advised the police to put an end to their excesses and embrace professionalism.

The association counselled the security agency to desist from being used for selfish and unpatriotic political ends. ”This criminal and unconstitutional act of the police is, to say the least, barbaric, provocative and a great danger to our democracy”, it stated.

The NBA noted that same day, the police also provided security cover for seven of the 26 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly “to conduct a curious, questionable and disturbing impeachment of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House.”

It added that earlier this month, the police, usurping both the legislative and judicial powers of the state, declared the seat of the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, vacant and withdrew his security aides despite a subsisting court order.

The statement also reads: “The Ikeja Bar is seriously disturbed at these sad developments and the likely terrible consequences of same. Of all the security agencies of the state, the police are the closest to the protection of democracy and sustenance of law and order in the society.

“It is, therefore, unimaginable and unacceptable that the very agency most responsible for the protection of democracy is the same agency that is directly threatening its existence.”

The NBA said in less than three months, the nation will go for the general elections, adding that the police owe a crucial responsibility and a pivotal role to play in ensuring the success of the exercise.

In discharging this responsibility, the association advised the police to be fair, firm and above board.

It said: “Unfortunately as at today, our police are partisan, compromised and breaking the laws recklessly to support the agenda of the ruling party.”

Olanipekun, in his reaction, said the Federal Government was heating up the polity by its actions, warning: “They should not take us back to what we have forgotten”.

His words: “It beats my imagination that such a horrendous act would happen. It is inauspicious that the lawmakers chose that sober day to discuss important issue as it concerned the Northeast Nigeria to be a day for them to struggle on who should be Speaker.

“Whatever might have been their political disagreement should have been buried and everybody allowed to enter the National Assembly instead of their primordial interest of who will be the Speaker or not.”

The former NBA chairman blamed few political elites for the crisis, adding: “They are so selfish that they are not thinking of what will happen to the entire country.

“Where will these actions leave us?

•Akume

By Adebisi Onanuga, Joseph Jibueze and Precious Igbonwelundu

They are sowing wild wind; what would they harvest? They should ask themselves where they would berth”.

To Ngige (SAN), the siege was “a big dent on Nigeria’s democratic credentials.”

“It is a confirmation that what indeed we are practising is not democracy, but a mere civilian rule.

“We are returning to the events of 1966 that led to the fall of the First Republic. Our politicians have learnt nothing from the failure of the First and Second Republics. We are witnessing intolerance to opposing political views. Opposition politicians are being treated by members of the socalled ruling party as if they are nonNigerians. They forget that Nigeria belongs to all of us. Nobody has greater stake than another,” he said.

According to him, what happened was an impeachable offence committed by the President, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, including the Nigerian Police.

Ngige also described the police partisan in the siege as a show of shame, noting that “it once more demonstrates the need to put capable people, not minions, in our sensitive public offices.”

His words: “We now know that the new Inspector-General of Police is a man who lacks respect for the rule of law and to constituted authority. The new IG has shown that the NPF under his watch will be used by the powers that be to subvert the will of the people in the 2015 general elections.

Look at what the Police is doing in Ekiti State; aiding Governor Fayose to subvert the Constitution.”

Akume said the siege marked the latest addition to Jonathan’s long litany of assaults on democracy.

The Senate Minority Leader said: “The deployment of thousands of police and security personnel to barricade the gates of the National Assembly in their desperate attempt to prevent Speaker Tambuwal’s access to the House of Representatives over which he presides, is sacrilegious.

“Mercilessly tear-gassing the Speaker, his colleagues, members of staff and visitors in and out of their hallowed chambers amounts to travesty of the sanctity and brazen desecration of the hallowed nature of the parliamentary institution.

“As a critical part of the tripod upon which constitutional democracy rests, the President’s assault on the Parliament amounts to gross misconduct and constitutional breach of the sac-

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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NEWS

ks trail police invasion of National Assembly

• Olanipekun

rosanct doctrine of the separation of powers.

“Mr. President’s insistence on the unlawful removal of Speaker Tambuwal in spite of the court’s order for maintenance of status quo, is further violation of an extant, valid and subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

“It is particularly sad that whereas, the Speaker patriotically responded to

• Ngige

the President’s call to national duty by summoning his colleagues from recess to consider an executive request for an extension of emergency rule in the Northeast of Nigeria, the President had as his primary but private objective: the removal of Mr. Speaker by subterfuge and deceit.”

He added: “This is yet another proof that combating the Boko Haram insurgency was not, has not been, is not and

• Keyamo

will likely never be President Jonathan’s priority. This is in spite of his government’s primary duty to secure the Nigerian State.

“Mr. President’s only priority is to retain the title of Commander-in-Chief without doing the job the title entails!

Is it any wonder that Mr. President declared a unilateral cease-fire and pulled out our military, only for the insurgents to capture more territory

and slaughter more of our defenseless compatriots? Is it any wonder that when our local hunters chased out the insurgents out of Mubi, the Nigerian security agents arrested the leader of the hunter for daring to blow open PDP’s grand design to allow Boko Haram seize more territory and make holding elections impossible in the Northeast, where opinion polls reveal the President’s outright rejection.”

He described the police excuse on their siege to the National Assembly on alleged security report of an imminent invasion of the National Assembly by thugs as “a laughable tissue of lie.”

“The fact remains that by allowing Deputy Speaker Hon. Emeka Ihedioha access to the chambers and preventing Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the police wanted to give the Speaker the Ekiti treatment, where seven members of the House were selectively allowed to go into the Chambers and impeach the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,” Akume said.

Keyamo said House of Representatives members, who scaled the fence into the House of Assembly last Thursday, did not commit any crime.

He said there was no law, which prohibits someone from gaining access to his office or home by any means he chooses.

To him, the lawmakers have a constitutional right to enter the National Assembly Chambers, having been elected to so do by Nigerians.

“To prevent them from gaining entrance, without a court order, or any legislative order suspending any member or members from the precincts of the National Assembly (whoever the person or authority is) amounts to illegality.

“The police in this case, engaged in pure illegality by barricading the gates of the National Assembly, even if they did so on the orders of the InspectorGeneral of Police.

“The orders of the IGP do not amount to law and he is not a demigod to decide who enters any premises or not,” Keyamo said.

The Nation celebrates its special ones

I

T has been a wonderful year for The Nation: eight awards – the highest by any newspaper - at the November 9 Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in Owerri, the Imo State capital and seven – also the highest - at Sunday’s Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in Lagos.

This newspaper was also named Newspaper of the Year and Editor Gbenga Omotoso as Editor of the Year.

The men, who brought the laurels, lined up yesterday to receive accolades from the management. They were invited to the weekly Editors’ Meeting to shake hands with Managing Director Victor Ifijeh, Executive Director (Finance and Administration) Ade Odunewu, General Editor Ade Ade-Adeleye, General Manager Soji Omotunde and others.

It was time for some rib cracking, hand popping and back patting inside the board room at the company’s Lagos headquarters.

All smiles, Ifijeh said the DAME awards confirmed this newspaper’s feats at the NMMA. “You’ve made us proud,” he told the awardees.

The honours, he said, are for “all our reporters everywhere and for our perceptive writers and our sub-editors who ensure standard as well as our non-editorial colleagues who provide the logistics”.

Ifijeh recalled that in the citation, The Nation was described as one of the giants. “We want to be the giant,” he said, adding: “We must continue to press on – as defined in our Vision – to be the first paper of choice for discerning readers. We will get there. We will be the undisputed champion. In fact, with eight awards from NMMA and seven from DAME- with 15 nominations - we are the champion.”

•Ifijeh (middle), Omotoso (fourth right); Odunewu (third left); Omatseye (third right); with winners of the 2014 Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and the PHOTO: BIODUN ADEYEWA Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME)...yesterday.

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Edictor

The managing director told the awardees that the management would reward their enterprise. “You’re special and we will treat you as so,” he said. The audience clapped excitedly.

Odunewu, who Ifijeh conferred with “the honorary membership of the Board of Editors”, described the awardees as “our strikers” who deserve to be encouraged as they strive to do better.

To him, Ifijeh deserves commendation because “if an organisation is doing well, it is the head”.

Mr. Ade-Adeleye described the awardees as the next generation of the company’s leaders, saying “it is a privilege for them”.

Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere popped the champagne. Glasses were filled and Odunewu proposed the toast – to the health of the company and its leadership. More handshakes, more jokes and a photo session.

Gbenga Omotoso emerged the Editor of the Year. Editorial Board Chair-

man Sam Omatseye won the Informed Commentary Prize.

Serial award winner and Associate Editor Olatunji Ololade, who less than a month ago won the CNN African Journalist of the Year in the Medical and Health Reporting category, got the Peninsula Resort Prize for Health Reporting. His winning entry is “Blind Medicine”, published on April 6, 2013.

Ololade was also runner-up in the Child-Friendly and Development Reporting categories.

Star reporter and multiple awardwinner Seun Akioye won the Development Reporting Prize with his entry “Even the rich envy us the way we live”, published in The Nation on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Assistant Editor Joke Kujenya was runner-up in this category. This is the third prize the story has won this year. The expose on Dustbin Estate in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State has won the N1 million Golden Pen Reporter of the Year organised by the Nigerian Breweries Plc and the NMMA Environment Reporting

prize.

Akioye was also a runner-up in the Investigative Reporting category, which was won by The Nation’s Head of Investigative Desk Adekunle Yusuf for his story “How addiction to corruption is killing the drug agency”.

The report was done for Tell Communications Ltd, his former employer.

Akioye and Chief Correspondent Kunle Akinrinade were runners-up in this category. Yusuf was also runnerup in the Business Reporting category, which was won by Gbenga Salau of The Guardian.

Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu won the Anthony Enahoro Prize for Political Reporting with his entry “Census: Can Nigeria get it right?” published on September 24, 2013.

Senior Correspondent (Judiciary) Joseph Jibueze got the Judicial Reporting prize, with his entry “Rape: Why most suspects escape justice”, published on June 17, 2013.

The organisers said: “In emerging The Newspaper of the Year for the first

time at DAME, The Nation put up an impressive fight, elbowing out The Punch in a close finish. The Nation won five DAMEs in Informed Commentary, Development Reporting, Health Reporting, Political Reporting and Judicial Reporting. She also came second in six categories, namely Informed Commentary, Development Reporting, Child Friendly Reporting, Business Reporting, Editorial Writing and Press Investigative Reporter of the Year.

“Finally, she also recorded two third place positions in Press Investigative Reporter of the Year award and Development Reporting. Established in 2006, The Nation has gradually emerged as a paper of record, parading some of the most enterprising reporters and columnists in the land.

Guided by its Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director Victor Ifijeh, the Editor, Gbenga Omotoso, Sam Omatseye, its chairman of the Editorial Board and a host of other key officers, The Nation is truly one of Nigeria’s leading newspaper giants.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS APC lambasts SSS for justifying raid on data centre

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as plainly implausible and a witless afterthought the reasons given by the DSS for invading the Data Centre of the party in Lagos on Saturday.

It described the security service as a shameless apologist of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At a news conference in Lagos yesterday APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the party wondered why a self-respecting intelligence gathering service will rely on “beer parlour gossips” in carrying out its onerous responsibility, especially in a politically-charged environment like what prevails in the country at present. ‘’The spokesperson for the DSS said the organisation had put the building housing the Data Centre under surveillance,

F

By Musa Odoshimokhe

and that it only acted after it was convinced that ‘unwholesome activities’ were taking place.

What hogwash! If indeed they put the place under surveillance, would they not have been able to establish that it is an APC Data Centre? Even if they were not sure, what prevented them from obtaining a court order permitting them to enter and search the building instead of carrying out a Gestapo-like operation? Are security agencies above the law? ‘’To highlight their crudity and lack of professionalism, they had to go and arrest one of the staffers who was not on duty just to get the password to the servers they vandalised and took away.

This speaks volumes about the limitation of the DSS’ intelligence gathering ability. If they had broken into the Boko Haram computer, would they have

•Mohammed...yesterday

•Another section of the office...yesterday

gone to arrest Abubakar Shekau or any of his commanders to give them the password to it?

Nigerians can now see why no progress has been made in using intelligence gathering to root out the evil Boko Haram,’’ it said.

APC said far from the lies concocted by the DSS, which has now become one of the enforcement arms of the PDP, the real reasons the service broke into the offices of the party were to deprive it of its membership data base so it can no longer contact

Buhari sad about insecurity

ORMER Head of State and All progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant General Muhammadu Buhari spoke yesterday about last week’s scene at the National Assembly.

He said preventing some members of the House of Representatives from entering the chamber was “a rape of the constitution”.

He said it was unfortunate that total insecurity has been allowed to prevail in the country.

The General, who spoke with reporters after submitting his nomination form to APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie Oyegun, said: “It is a distressing situation where those

who are supposed to protect the constitution are those who are undermining it. The House of Representatives and the Senate are sacred places.

“The law enforcement agencies shouldn’t go there, fire tear gas and harass them. As far as I am concerned, they are undermining the constitution. If they are undermining the constitution, who is going to correct things when they go bad? My position is that total insecurity in Nigeria is on the march. May God help us.”

He told the party leaders that

having collected the form and complied with the party’s demands, he was returning it in the hope that this will lead him to becoming the president in 2015.

He said: “We have collected the form according to the due process we are pursuing. We have dutifully gone through the processes and have filled the form and attached the documents and the receipts of the demand we have to subject ourselves to if we want to be part of the exercise.

Speaking after receiving the form, the APC chairman said that the submission was a sign that Gen. Buhari is serious about

T

•Gen. Buhari

the race. “If you pick a form and you don’t return it, we are not sure yet whether you mean busiContinued on page 61

Boko Haram gunmen kill scores Continued from page 1

A military source said the insurgents attacked the town on Friday but failed, losing some men.

They, however, returned on Monday.

The source said: “When they attacked on Friday, we were able to fight them back forcing them to retreat. We were also able to capture one of their buffalo vehicles as they did not know what hit them.”

The situation is ongoing and the picture confusing, the source added.

Other witnesses told French News Agency (AFP) that the militants entered the town, disguised as soldiers before attacking traders in the market.

Government official Mohammed Damasak said the group concealed their weapons in containers before opening fire.

“They pretended to be traders but sadly inflicted horror,” said Damasak. “Many traders escaped with bullet wounds while many are lying dead at the market.”

According to Reuters, the militants continued to prowl the town hours after the initial attack, despite the fact government soldiers have now reached the scene.

A witness, Bukar Aji, told Reuters from the village: “The insurgents came at about 9.00 am and fired shots into houses to force people out. They are still there up till now and still firing shots. Many people may have died. I am talking to you now from the bush.”

The attack on Damasak is the third in under a week in Borno.

Last Thursday, the sect’s members ambushed 48 fishermen and killed them by tying them up and throwing them into Lake

Chad.

Some of the towns in the hands of Boko Haram are: Gujba, Buni Yadi, Marte, Kukawa, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Bama, Magadali, Damboa.

EU condemns attacks

The European Union (EU) and Spain have condemned the attacks.

A statement issued by EU regional group spokesperson Michael Mann said the EU hope to further reinforce the Nigerian efforts in the fight against the sect.

Mr. Mann said: “Deadly attacks on innocent villagers have become daily routine in north eastern Nigeria. It is appalling to see that Azaya Kura in Borno State has been targeted already for the second time this year. In the latest attack, at least 45 people were killed and more than 50 injured. We express our condolences to the families of those killed and our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

“The European Union stands with the Nigerian government and its people in their fight against terrorism. The Ministerial dialogue between Nigeria and the EU, to be held next week in Abuja, will give us the opportunity to discuss how further to reinforce the Nigerian efforts to bring peace, security and development to the areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency”.

Spain condemned the massacre, stating that it is with Nigeria’s authority in its fight against terrorism.

Jonathan visits Deby For the second time in two months, President Goodluck Jonathan met yesterday with President Idris Deby of Chad on how to tackle the Boko Haram

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being welcomed by President Idris Deby of Chad, during his visit to N’Djamena …yesterday.

menace.

The talks came barely few days after a political associate of Chadian President was arrested along Chadian-Sudan border, allegedly with 19 SAM2 missiles meant for Boko Haram.

The Presidency described Jonathan’s meeting with Deby as “bilateral”, but The Nation gathered that the session might have to do with the botched ceasefire deal with the sect for the release of the abducted 219 Chibok girls.

According to sources, the President’s trip was connected with the ongoing regional collaboration to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The trip was rated as bilateral but it was not unconnected with Boko Haram and the negotiation with the sect

scuttle the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards there and, during the elections, to also deprive such areas of voting materials.

The APC added that it had Continued on page 61

Write Boko Haram to end attacks, Oritsejafor urges Sultan

•APC presidential aspirant submits form From Tony Akowe, Abuja

its members, and also to aid and abet the rigging of the 2015 elections by the PDP. ‘’With the membership data base now in their possession, it has become easy for them to collude with INEC to know which areas we are strong so they can

for freedom for the abducted Chibok girls.

“The truth is that everyone has come to realise that Chad is vital to any solution to the insurgency in the Northeast because Boko Haram is said to have a solid base in that country.

“Nigerian President went to Chad to review the insurgency, compare notes and weigh the status of the ongoing ceasefire negotiation with the sect.”

A security source said Nigeria was working on a tentative timeline to end the insurgency by December and it might require a total declaration of war against the insurgents.

The source said: “With the December target, the Federal Government may have no choice than to move decisively Continued on page 61

HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar (III) and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor yesterday decried past inter-religious meetings that have failed to implement resolutions.

They maintained that greater peace and harmony would have been achieved among the various religions if lip-service had not been paid to the various resolutions of such meetings.

The duo spoke at a meeting with Special Advisers on religious affairs from the 36 states and the FCT held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

Pastor Oritsejafor said: “But if we would come together, there must be sincerity, equality, fear of God and genuine love for one another. The problem with gatherings like this is that if we are not careful it becomes an occasion for good photographs, we shake hands, we talk very nicely, we are all politically correct.

We don’t want to offend each other. Please let’s offend each other; we need to. Because if we don’t offend each other, we will not tell each other the truth and that is part of Nigeria’s problem.

“If you come out to say certain things there are those who feel you are rocking the boat, but God is in the boat; the boat will not sink. Let us talk to each other; let’s tell the truth to each other; let’s not sweep it under the carpet. When we finish the opening ceremony and you go into the close door session, lay all the cards in the table.”

He added: “It is true your Eminence that Christianity and Islam have no problem, but I’m glad you said, there could be problem between Christians and Muslims and the reason is because probably we are not going deep enough.”

Likening Nigeria to the boat in the Holy Bible that wanted to sink with Jesus Christ on board but did not sink, Pastor Oritsejafor noted that many things

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

have happened in Nigeria that have rocked the boat, but has remained standing.

He said: “Some are religious, political, tribal, but different things have happened that have rocked the boat. But let me still thank the Lord that the boat is still floating.”

Querying why a church in the North in the last 30 years have not been able to get Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for land, he said that any mosque or church should be able to get C of O anywhere in the country.

He urged the Sultan to also write a letter to Boko Haram to stop their attacks and not just the letter to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

He said: “His Eminence said he wrote a letter to ISIS. I have to truly congratulate you for that because that was a very good move. I didn’t know about it until today and I am so glad it happened. But I want to appeal that you also write to Boko Haram because Boko Haram is worst than ISIS. They have killed more people than ISIS; they have caused more atrocities than ISIS, they need to be written to as well; it is very important; it will help.”

The Sultan of Sokoto noted that the fact that they had gathered to talk on the issue is a very important step to have peace and harmony in the country.

According to him, there is no problem between Christians and Muslims, except lack of education on the religions.

He said: “If we don’t tell our leaders the truth, they won’t know the problems. If we hear something here and go back to do something different, then we have failed.”

“We must tell our leaders the right thing and not what they want to hear. Muslims and Christians at all levels must sit together and discuss and we must implement what we disContinued on page 61

Woman, 44, delivered of quadruplets Continued from page 1

the first to visit anybody that gave birth so that I could give them what I had. I am not the envious type.

“My husband’s cousins tried to take up the matter but he silenced them. My parents were also there to encourage us. That was what kept us together because the family pressure was not there. They knew we were Christians and nobody could between my husband and me.”

A doctor at the hospital, Oni Samson, said the babies were

delivered through a Caesarean section.

She said: “You don’t expect a woman that is having multiple births to do that through the normal birth. This is the first time we had a set of quadruplets in this hospital. They are okay. The ante-natal was okay. They (babies) are still under care to be stabilised.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS Court strikes out charges against suspected mastermind of Nyanya blast

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USTICE Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a charge filed by the Federal Government against the alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast in Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche.

Ogwuche, who was recently extradited from Sudan, where he allegedly escaped to after the blast at a bus station in Nyanya, Abuja, is being accused of being the brain behind the blast.

Yesterday, Justice Ademola, in a ruling, struck out the charge filed by the police, for “want of diligent prosecution.”

The Federal Government could not proceed with the charge in view of the disagreement with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) over which agency should handle the prosecution.

Justice Adeniyi struck out

‘NYSC one of Gowon’s best legacies’ From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the charge due to the absence of the IGP and the prosecution counsel.

The judge held: “This criminal charge is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution by the complainant, Inspector General of Police and his prosecutor.”

Also, Justice Ademola yesterday granted an oral application by Ogwuche’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), for the court to allow the accused’s family access to him.

DSS’ lawyer, Clifford Osagie and the counsel to the AGF, Taiwo Abidogun, did not object.

The court ordered that three lawyers from Ahmed Raji’s chambers and two members of Ogwuche’s family be allowed access to the suspect,who is being held by the DSS. “Three lawyers from the complainant’s counsel as well

•Ogwuche (middle) at the Federal High Court in Abuja...yesterday.

as the complainant’s wife and another family member be given access to the applicant.

“The applicant should be given medical care in the respondent’s custody and referred to the National Hospital, Abuja if need be”, the judge said.

Ogwuche was produced in court yesterday by the DSS in compliance with an earlier order by the judge to that effect.

The judge adjourned till December 5 hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement

application filed by Raji, in which he is praying the court to admit Ogwuche to bail.

He accused the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS, listed as respondents, of breaching his client’s rights by holding him endlessly against the provision of the law.

Raji contended that when a suspect is arrested by security agents, (the respondents), the suspect should be charged before a competent court within the time allowed by law and

should be allowed access to his family and lawyers.

He argued that the applicant is presumed innocent and that his right to liberty should not be infringed upon.

In an affidavit in support of the application, Raji said the 29year-old applicant was trying to further his education, and did not know anything about the offences for which he was being held.

He said the respondents should release the applicant if nothing was found against him.

Kano spends N12b on foreign scholarships, says Kwankwaso

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HE Kano State Government spent about N12 billion to sponsor 2,600 students within three years on overseas studies, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has said.

He spoke yesterday at the Government House in Kano at a send-off for 566 students who will attend foreign universities for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

The study programme is under his administration’s special overseas scholarship scheme.

Kwankwaso said he was not certain if the Federal Government had sponsored up to 2,000 students on overseas studies in the last three years.

The governor noted that

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

even other states had not been able to spend so much on students’ foreign studies as his administration had done.

The presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said each state could follow his administration’s step, if it could prudently manage its financial resources like Kano.

He stressed that his administration achieved so much in education and other key sectors because of careful planning.

On the 566 foreign students, Kwankwaso said N1,820,789,550 billion was for their tuition fees, accommoda-

tion and allowances.

The governor explained that of the 566 students going for further studies under the “Batch 505” of the government’s scholarship, 181 would attend the International University of East Africa in Uganda for degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology.

According to him, 135 students would attend Al-Mansurah University in Egypt for degree programmes in Anesthetic Nursing and Operative Nursing, while 250 would go for Master’s degrees at other foreign universities.

Kwankwaso reassured Kano students on foreign scholarships that their school fees and

PDP backs raid of APC’s data centre

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NDICATIONS emerged yesterday that Saturday’s raid on the Lagos data office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Department of State Security (DSS) must have been carried out in cahoots with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In what many described as an after thought, the DSS, through its spokesperson, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, on Sunday said the security operatives raided the data office, following a petition that the outfit was being used to clone the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) voter cards.

In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, the ruling party said the “discovery” was a clear confirmation of its stand and fears by well-meaning Nigerians of APC’s “criminal desperation, lust for power, plot to cause confusion and trun-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

cate our democracy”.

The statement said: “At the weekend, the Directorate of State Security (DSS) made a shocking discovery to the effect that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has been engaged in the cloning of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and utilising technologies to hack into INEC’s data base to compromise the 2015 general elections.

“Indeed, Nigerians now know on what strength the APC, a party that clearly lacks genuine followership among the citizens, has been boasting that they will emerge victorious in the 2015 general elections and threatening to form a parallel government if they lose.

“Since its formation, the APC has been accusing everyone, including INEC and security agencies, of working to rig the 2015 elections in favour

of the PDP. Little did Nigerians realise that such were smokescreens designed to divert attention from their heinous and unpatriotic plots.

“We believe that the APC, in its desperate attempt to grab power by all means, has already established cloning and hacking centres in all the 36 states of the federation to actualise their dubious machination to subvert the will of the people.

“We insist that the cloning of INEC PVCs is criminal and strikes at the very heart of our electoral process. We share the fear of a majority of Nigerians that the APC may have already started cloning ballot papers and other election documents.

“It is in this regard that we call on all Nigerians and lovers of democracy across the world to note the desperation of the APC. Our citizens must therefore remain vigilant and resist any attempt by the APC to steal their mandate.”

CJN announces chief registrar for Supreme Court

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has effected first major appointment since assuming office on Novemeber 20.

He appointed a replacement yesterday for the outgo-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ing Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sunday Olorundahunsi.

Olorundahunsi, who has been appointed a judge of the Ondo State High Court, said Justice Mohammed has ap-

pointed Ahmed Gambo Saleh to replace him.

Saleh, who until his appointment was one of the four deputy chief registrars of the court, is by the appointment the acting chief registrar of the Supreme Court.

personal entitlements would be settled before the expiration of his tenure.

The governor said the fiveyear course fees of 82 medical students and four-year bills for Pharmacy students in India were paid to avoid interruption in their studies.

He urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Kano and the “Kwankwasiyya Movement”.

Kwankwaso said he was proud that no Kano student overseas had been accused of misdemeanour.

The governor added that one of the students being trained as a pilot in Jordan had set an exceptional record in the final examinations.

He said over 50 others at the International University of East Africa in Kampala, Uganda, got first class.

IGER State Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said yesterday that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was one of the best legacies of the Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration.

Aliyu, who spoke at the end of the orientation for NYSC Batch ‘C’, said the scheme had reduced stereotypes, built bridges across ethnic and religious cleavages and promoted unity and progress.

He said it had helped Nigerians, especially youths, to rise above discrimination and stereotypes created by uninformed Nigerians.

The governor said: “I have always believed that the NYSC programme remains one of the best legacies bequeathed to youths by its founding father - General Yakubu Gowon. This is a valuable scheme that has been the source of unity, integration and understanding among our people.”

Kogi health workers shelve strike From James Azania, Lokoja

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HE Kogi State chapter of the Joint Health Sector Unions of Nigeria has called off its planned strike.

The action was to begin tomorrow.

The union’s state Chairman of the Joint Health Sectors Union, Comrade Onuh Edoka, said the union shelved the action following the appeal by Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi.

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THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS

Oyinlola, Goje, Ngige, others to head APC governorship screening committees T HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday that the party was ready to prove to the world that it was ready to take over government at all levels, by conducting its exercises without rancour and litigations.

Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke in Abuja while inaugurating six committees to screen governorship aspirants, told the committees to enter into a dialogue with the aspirants and make them understand that only one of them would become the aspirant at the end of the exercise.

He urged them to engage the aspirants and draw their attention to the need to be transparent, friendly and cautious while seeking votes from their constituents.

The committees are to screen the aspirants at their zonal headquarters or any location of their CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, MARK JOY, MARK JOY AYO and MARK AYO JOY refers to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. WAEC BOARD and general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE UPONI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Uponi Ifeoma Deborah now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onwubiko Ifeoma Deborah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

choice that would be accessible to the aspirants in the states under the zone.

The chairmen and secretaries of the zonal screening committees that were inaugurated by the chairman are: Northcentral- Prince Olagunsolye Oyinlola (Chairman), Hadiza Bala Usman (Secretary); Northeast, Senator Chris Ngige (Chairman), Engr. Tunji Obawule (Secretary); NorthwestMallam Bolaji Abdullahi (Chairman), Hon. Hamid Suleiman (Secretary); Southeast- Chief Timipriye Silva (Chairman), Hon. Dino Melaye (Secretary); SouthsouthAlhaji Tijani Gwarzo (Chairman), Prince Nelson Ezegbueyi(Secretary); SouthwestSenator Danjuma Goje (Chair-

man), Barrister Ismail Ahmed (Secretary).

The APC chairman said: “Last week, I had the privilege of inaugurating the Presidential Screening Committee and the Presidential Primaries Committee. Today. It is the turn of the next tier of government, the governors. I had the opportunity of emphasising how important the rules are in the present state of things. Little did I know that the critical nature of your assignment will even be more accentuated with the events that have been occurring in the last one week.

“We are a party of change. It is the reason we have decided to bring out the type of quality persons as members of these zonal committees. Quality in terms of the fact that we virtually had to plead that you take time off from your other duties to perform this assignment.

“Given its nature, it is some-

thing that requires that those who form the membership should be beyond reproach and people whose words will be taken as true and should be people when those they are going to interact with see them, they will have the confidence that they are going to be fairly and transparently treated.

“So, I want to thank you very much for agreeing to undertake this assignment, which is being given to you at critical times. This is why your performance must be transparent and above board because the public is today watching us.

“We are the main structure or organisation so to speak in the entire polity today that the public is looking out for from the point of view of the APC being the party they have been waiting for. The APC is the agent of change which we have been waiting for. The question on their mind is will the

APC meet the aspirations of Nigerians?

“Why they are focusing on us so intensely at this particular time is because of the things that are happening in the polity. I have tried in my quiet moments to find out any sane reason for the occurrences of the last few days.

“Why would the security agencies invade the National Assembly to stop a session which is being convoked at the instance of the presidency to deal with matters which are critical as far as the presidency is concerned? How does it come that the same assembly was locked so to speak and only few members were to be allowed into the assembly?

“How come that the same Speaker who recovered a letter from Mr. President to call back the House on an emergency basis was being deprived entering the Assembly for the seating. What were the motives? I must tell you that I have been unable to find a sane reason for the event of that day.”

Impunity invitation to anarchy, says Oni

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HE Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, has expressed worry about the increasing impunity being experienced

by Nigerians under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration.

He said the willful subversion of the constitution, the rule of law, attacks on sacred legislative and judicial institutions and infringements on the rights of Nigerians could trigger a revolution similar to the ones witnessed in North Africa a few years ago.

Speaking with reporters at his Ifaki-Ekiti country home last Friday, Oni, who noted that “power by conquest” would not work, said the disturbing trends in the polity were not witnessed during the military era.

His words: “I wonder why democracy is being assaulted by

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

a supposedly civilian government.”

The former Ekiti State governor accused the Federal Government of double standard in attempting to remove the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for defecting to the APC. Oni said the same President Goodluck Jonathan administration never saw anything wrong in the defection of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Speaker of the House of Assembly Jumoke Akindele, federal and state lawmakers from the state, whose seats were not declared vacant for moving to the PDP from the Labour Party (LP).

He lambasted the police, whom he accused of colluding with the executive to undermine

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From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

and widespread sense of injustice among the people, adding that governance had been characterised by inefficient, yet authoritarian centralisation, a culture of impunity and demoralised climate of unaccountability dating back to military rule.

Aina said the combination of aggrieved injustice and the social misery of the majority, if unchecked, risked producing disillu-

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filed. With the winding up of the failed banks, more charges were filed on various dates, but trial started on the 10 charges on November, 23 2012.

Iyayi was detained in 1996 for almost three years without trial and regained freedom after the death of the maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha.

After the prosecution concluded its evidence, counsel to the accused, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), who led Abubakar Shamsudeen, Grant Onwuka and Miss Abolanle Agbola, filed a comprehensive ‘no case’ submission challenging the legal status of the exhibits, breach of the natural justice and lack of evidence of the police.

Two issues were raised for determination. They are: Whether from the evidence adduced by the pros-

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HE National Assembly Service Commission has appointed Senate Clerk Ben Efeturi as the deputy clerk to the National Assembly.

A statement by the Acting Secretary to the commission, Olusanya Ajakaiye, said Efeturi’s appointment was in recognition of his hard work and competence.

The statement titled: “Appointment as deputy clerk to the National Assembly”, reads: “I write to communicate to you the decision of the commission at its 403rd meeting on November 21, approving your appointment as the deputy clerk to the National Assembly.

“This is in exercise of its power as provided in Section 6(b) of the National Assembly Service Act 2014. The appointment takes effect from November 21.”

The commission urged Efeturi to uphold the confidence reposed in him.

With the appointment, he becomes the next in line to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa.

By Adebisi Onanuga

•Oni

the judiciary and the legislature, warning the police to remember that they were maintained and funded through tax payers’ money and should not “run errands for a temporary office holder.”

The APC chief said Nigerians were tired of the PDP-led Federal Government, adding that its administration was bereft of ideas on providing solution to the socio-economic problems afflicting the country, but was interested in holding on to power by all means.

sionment with democracy and threatened the stability of the political order.

On the invasion and vandalising of the All Progressives Congress (APC) office in Lagos by soldiers and DSS, he said although security agencies had a tendency to overreact to information, individuals or establishments must be protected against an abusive or illegitimate use of the information collected about them.

Court clears ex-bank chief of theft HE ex-Managing Director of the defunct Pinnacle Commercial Bank Ltd, Mr. Macaulay Iyayi, has been cleared by the Federal High Court, Lagos of fraudulent charges.

This occurred 17 years after he was arraigned for the theft of over N1.7billion.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia upheld the ‘no case submission’ argument put forward by his lawyer on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link him with the offences.

The second accused, the Zonal Accountant of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Mr. Koffi Agbarra, also enjoyed the same clearance.

The prosecution began the legal action on August 15, 1997. On January 19, 1998, other charges were

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

Civil rule: Falana warns of collapse

Ex-Amnesty International boss slams soldiers for invading APC office HE ex-Chairman of the Amnesty International, Nigeria chapter, Dr. Simeon Abiodun Aina, has urged the judiciary to redouble its commitment to save the country from the injustices unleashed on the masses by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

In an interview with our correspondent in Oyo town, Oyo State, he said oligarchy-driven insecurity and instability generated a strong

National Assembly gets deputy clerk

ecution, the essential elements of the offences for which the accused were charged have been established, thus, requiring them to open their defence and whether they were not entitled to be discharged and acquitted of the counts brought against them in all circumstance of the case.

Iyayi’s counsel, among others, in his 43-page submission argued that the prosecution “has a heavy duty of proving the counts and satisfying or establishing the elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt. “It is therefore the duty of the prosecution to rebut the presumption of innocence constitutionally guaranteed to the accused. The burden of proving a crime rests on the prosecution.”

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia discharged and acquitted Iyayi and Ogbarra on all counts.

AGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday took a cursory look at events and warned of imminent collapse of the civil rule.

Saying “time is no longer on our side”, he urged forces of democracy to return to the trenches to halt what he described as the imposition of fascism on the nation by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

“Despite the threat of terrorists and other nihilist groups to balkanise the country, I believe the rickety democratic process can still be salvaged by democratic forces who led Nigerians to fight against military rule and who also defeated the cabal that attempted to take advantage of President Umaru Yar’adua’s ill-health to seize power from the then Acting President, Dr. Jonathan,” Falana noted.

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CAC honours outgoing scribe From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide has held a send-off service for its General Secretary, Pastor Gideon Okegwemeh, at All Saints’ Chapel Auditorium, Basorun, Ibadan.

The President of CAC, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, said the cleric rendered selfless services compared to those of the biblical King David.

According to him, “the qualities of David, such as obedience to God, humility, forgiven spirit, faithfulness and love are replicated in Pastor Okegwemeh.

“He is a bundle of intelligence.

People have learnt a lot from him.”

Saying it can be seen from his voluntary retirement that it is borne out of love to ensure smooth running of the church. Also the General Evangelist of the church, Prophet Samuel Abiara described the outgoing General Secretary as paragon of virtues who is faithful in all that he is entrusted with and who has served the ministry with all his might, a reason his send-off service attracted all and sundry from all walks of life to witness the occasion.

THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

7

NEWS

Oyo PDP ward congress marred by violence ALLOT box snatching, attacks on supporters again marred yesterday’s ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.

The congress had been held on November 1 but the result was cancelled last Thursday after some major stakeholders alleged rigging.

Yesterday’s congress held in the 351 wards left bad memories for many members, supporters and observers as some participants were assaulted.

Suspected political thugs invaded the party secretariat at Danadaru, Mokola, Ibadan, destroying several cars.

It was gathered that trouble started after the national officials supervising the congress and members of the State Executive had distributed election materials to the chairmen and secretaries from the 33 lo-

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•Scores injured, vehicles vandalised From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

cal governments.

As soon as the distribution was concluded, some hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman, Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a Tokyo), stormed the secretariat and began to snatch the materials from them.

“Some of them had their dresses torn and their trousers removed by the thugs,” a source said.

It was learnt that Tokyo spent about half an hour at the venue, dishing out instructions to the thugs.

Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and the state chairman were said to have confronted him.

But Tokyo denied the claims, saying he came to the secretariat as a member and Director of Organisation. He added that he came to ensure that nobody fomented trouble.

He said: “I was at the secretariat to monitor how the exercise was being carried out.

And as one of the party leaders, I think I am not doing anything wrong by being here.

“Alao-Akala confronted me and asked why I was at the secretariat. I told him I am a bona fide member of the party and have the right to be at the secretariat.

“When I was leaving the place my car was damaged after it was stoned by some thugs loyal to the former governor.

“I have reported the matter

to the police commissioner and my lawyer is working on the matter as well.”

A governorship aspirant, who hails from Oluyole Local Government, Kehinde Olaosebikan, said: “Collation forms for Oluyole were snatched at gun point from PDP Chairman, Balogun Ayuba, in front of Challenge- Orita Police Station at 4pm.

“The four-man gang was led by one “Omo Alhaja,” “working” for Teslim Folarin.

Other local governments affected were Ibadan North West, Ibadan South West, Oyo East, Oyo West, Atiba, Orelope, Irepodun and Ibarapa Central.

Police spokesperson Mrs Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor said four hoodlums were arrested at the party secretariat.

She said reports from across the state stated that the congress was peaceful.

Our safety not guaranteed, say Ekiti APC lawmakers

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HE Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin and 18 All Progressives Congress (APC) members have vowed not to return to the House, “unless Governor Ayodele Fayose and the police can guarantee our safety and security”.

Speaking on the phone with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Omirin urged stakeholders and indigenes to appeal to Fayose to enable them return.

The Speaker said the lawmakers who returned to the

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

state, including the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, last week, were pursued by gunmen.

Omirin’s words: “It is Ekiti people who should beg the governor to allow us to return.

“We are ready to work. The Assembly is under siege.

Nobody is going to risk his life by going there now.

“The coast is not clear. We are ready to return to the Assembly and perform our constitutional duty. But the government does not want us

to come back.

“As soon as the governor guarantees our security we shall return to the state. I’m a peace loving person, I don’t want crisis.”

On the need for the APC members to meet the minimum of 181 days sitting as required by the Standing Order of the House, Omirin said the House had the latitude to adjust rules, if exigencies compelled such.

The factional speaker, Dele Olugbemi, said the forum of Speakers of State Assemblies had no power over issues of

constituent state assemblies.

He said: “The so-called speakers forum is a committee of friends, a speaker anywhere in the country cannot dictate to us in Ekiti Assembly who to elect as the speaker.

“They have to recognise me, if they don’t recognise me, I will stop the money that go from here to the forum.

Anyway, we are not aware that they said so.”

Police commissioner Taiwo Lakanu said he has directed the Divisional Police Officer to investigate Omirin’s allegation.

Four die in Ekiti bank robbery From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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OUR persons were killed yesterday in a bank robbery at Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The victims are two policemen, a female corps member and an unidentified man who were said to be using Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the bank.

A source said 10 robbers came at 5pm and attacked a police station close to the bank at Kajola, where they shot a policeman and a policewoman.

The source said: “They came at 4:45 pm when the banks were closed. The robbers first attacked a police station close to the bank. People ran everywhere.

“Soon, soldiers arrived and there were an exchange of gunfire and the robbers escaped into the town, shooting sporadically.”

Jonathan greets HID Awolowo at 99

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan congratulated yesterday Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Dideolu Awolowo on her 99th birthday.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, prayed God to grant Mrs. Awolowo many more years of worthy service as the matriarch and moral

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

compass of the great Awolowo political dynasty.

“President Jonathan looks forward to participating in the celebration of Mrs. Awolowo’s 100th birthday next year to honour the spouse of one of Nigeria’s famous founding fathers.”

9ice vows to unseat House Leader From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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OPULAR musician Abolore Akande, known as 9ice, has vowed to unseat the leader of the House of Representatives, Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

Akande and over 1,000 of his supporters stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat, Yemetu, Ibadan to submit his nomination form for the Ogbomosho North, South and Orire Federal Constituency seat.

“I am contesting because the people of my constituency have been neglected and they have not gained anything from democracy.

“My people are ready to witness change in Ogbomosho.

There is no constitution that forbids a musician from contesting.

“The numbers of my followers who came with me from Ogbomosho will show that I am well accepted and loved by my people because I know what they need,” he said.

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Ekiti State is in the news for the wrong reasons. A contrived crisis is rocking the House of Assembly, making it to lose the peace it has enjoyed in the last three-and-half years. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the background to the crisis and the “tyranny of the minority against the majority”.

•The 19 legislators at a press conference in Lagos.

Rumble in Ekiti House of Assembly W

HEN the Fourth Ekiti State House of Assembly was proclaimed into exist ence by Governor Kayode Fayemi, on 6th June, 2011, nobody envisaged that it would be plunged into a deep factional and leadership crisis, barely five months to the end of its tenure.

The lawmakers were elected into office at the April 2011 election after rigorous campaigns in 26 state constituencies.

At the end of the polls, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which has since been subsumed into the All Progressives Congress (APC), won 24 seats, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got the remaining two seats.

On the day the Fourth Assembly was proclaimed into existence, Adewale Omirin, a medical doctor and the lawmaker representing Gbonyin Constituency, was elected Speaker. Adetunji Orisalade, a lawyer, representing Ido/Osi two emerged Deputy Speaker.

The House had at least four lawyers, former state chairmen of respected bodies ruch as Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as members.

The two PDP members from the inception are Mr. Samuel Ajibola (Ekiti East 2) and Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo (Ido/Osi 1). Mrs. Oriniowo defected to the APC in the run-up to the June 21 governorship election while Ajibola was the last man standing for his party before change of government on October 16, 2014.

The House commenced serious legislative business on the day it was inaugurated when, Fayemi, presented six executive bills for passage into laws. The lawmakers began work shortly after their swearing-in.

The House is reputed to be one of the most productive in Nigeria, considering the number of bills it had passed, since it commenced legislative business in 2011.

In fact, the House passed some landmark bills into laws. They include the Freedom of Information Law (Ekiti made history as the first state in Nigeria to domesticate the Law); Social Security Law (first of its kind in West Africa, which made possible for 25,000 registered elderly citizens to receive monthly stipend), Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law, Equal Opportunities Law. It has passed a total number of 75 bills into law which has added value to the standard of living of the people of the state.

In spite of party differences, the lawmakers worked together in harmony and no serious crisis was recorded as misunderstandings are amicably resolved without snowballing into deep feuds.

But, the change of government is believed

to be the remote cause of the latest crisis.

On the day of Fayose’s swearing-in, six lawmakers of the APC decided to swap the “broom” for the “umbrella” when they joined the new governor on the podium to announce their defection into the PDP. The six are Dele Olugbemi (Ikole 2), Adeyinka Adeloye (Ikole 1), Alexander Adeojo (Ekiti Southwest 2), Olowo Ajiboye (Oye 2), Mrs. Abeni Olayinka (Ado 2) and Mrs. Ayo Olajide-Fatunbi (Moba 2) who now joined Ajibola on the PDP side of the divide in the legislative chamber.

The APC-19 are: Omirin, Orisalade, Churchill Adedipe (Irepodun/Ifelodun 1), Ayodeji Odu (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2), Gbenga Odebunmi (Ekiti West 1), Kayode Fasakin (Ekiti West 2), Olaniyi Olajide (Moba 1), Segun Erinle (Ilejemeje), Ade Ajayi (Oye 1), Seyi Shittu (Ado 1), Yomi Daramola (Ikere 1), Sunday Adu (Ikere 2), Kehinde Boluwade (Emure), Idowu Alabi (Ise/Orun), Tope Agidi (Ekiti Southwest 1), Mrs. Omowumi Ogunlola (Ijero), Gabriel Ogundele (Efon), Olasehinde Ogunrinde (Ekiti East 1) and Mrs. Oriniowo.

Feeling uncomfortable with having an opposition party controlling the legislature, Fayose never hid his desire to have his party control the House to push his agenda.

A PDP sympathiser said that leave allowing an opposition party to control the legislature is like “keeping a snake in the ceiling of the house, which could make the sleeping of the house owner dangerous” hence the need to have a change of leadership by whatever means”.

Shortly after Fayose mounted the saddle, there were exchange of words between him and Omirin over perceived differences. The altercation reached a climax when a petrol station, which is owned by a company Omirin is believed to have interest was shut down by the new administration.

The relationship between the executive and the legislature was further strained by unsubstantiated allegations by some interest groups believed to be having links with the PDP-led administration accusing the 19 APC lawmakers of being bribed to the tune of over N800 million to impeach Fayose barely two weeks after coming to power.

Apart from denying the allegation, Omirin and other APC lawmakers wondered what offence Fayose could have committed within two weeks of coming to power to be unhorsed from power. The accussed the governor of blackmailing them and whipping up public sentiments against them.

The relationship between the executive and the legislature collapsed when the account of the House was frozen, the staff in the Speaker’s office posted to the Office of Establishment, the political aides of the principal officers sacked and the office of the Speaker sealed off.

On November 11, the governor forwarded a letter to the lawmakers seeking the nod of the House to screen and clear three commissioner-nominees, empower him to constitute caretaker committees for 16 local government councils and appoint 12 special advisers.

After Omirin read the letter, the matter was put to debate and the majority APC Assemblymen had their way in arguing for the postponement of further debate to the next legislative sitting in which they would be obliged the resumes of the nominees and a date given for them to appear for screening before their nomination receives legislative imprimatur.

On the issue of the caretaker committee, APC legislators overrode their PDP counterparts on the ground that the immediate past caretaker committees removed by Fayose had gone to court to challenge their dissolution.

The APC members insisted that considering such request would amount to subjudice since the House Standing Order forbid the lawmakers from discussing a matter already before a court of law.

The stand of the APC lawmakers did not go down well with the PDP administration, which saw the action of as ploy to frustrate a government that was just settling down and at the same time “dancing to the tune of their paymasters still aggrieved by the electoral loss of June 21”.

A reliable source revealed that the governor was miffed by the refusal of the APC lawmakers to “play ball”.

The source revealed that the Fayose had finalised plans to obtain an agriculture loan of N2 billion from the Central Bank and the signatures of the Attorney General and Com-

‘The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature collapsed irretrievably when the account of the House was frozen, the staff in the Speaker’s office posted to the Office of Establishment, the political aides of the principal officers sacked and the office of the Speaker sealed off’

missioner for Justice and Commissioner for Finance are needed to make the loan a reality.

The source also disclosed that the Commissioner for Works must be in place to facilitate the signing of contracts for construction and rehabilitation of some roads in the state.

The need to “take care” of party leaders and members at the local government level who wanted to be appointed as caretaker committee chairmen and members also informed the urgency in forwarding the list to the House for “speedy passage”.

Fayose had planned to swear in the commissioners and local government caretaker chairmen that Monday (November 17) hence the need to ensure the PDP caucus and by extension, the state government had their way to ensure that the “sitting” took place.

Since the requests could not sail through, owing to the insistence of the APC members to abide by the provisions of the Standing Order, the PDP began strategizing on what could be done to take over the House.

Monday, November 17 was just like any other day and no legislative business was expected since the House was on recess. But, it was a day the PDP caucus fully backed with the paraphernalia of coercion decided to spring a surprise on the APC caucus.

The APC-19 at the time of the “sitting” were featuring on a live programme on ADABA 88.9 FM, a private radio station based in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where they were giving their own side of the simmering crisis in the Assembly.

The PDP-7 who were provided with full compliments of security stormed the House few minutes before 10.00 am for a “sitting” to “clear” and “confirm” the three commissioner-nominees, “ratify” the list of caretakers and special advisers.

The “sitting” was curious in many ways in that the number of the PDP lawmakers physically present and identifiable in the hallowed chambers did not form a quorum of nine lawmakers needed to sit and the “sitting” was held on Monday which is not meant for plenary sittings but parliamentary meetings.

The PDP caucus is being accused of resorting to the use of the “mystery trio” in a bid to ensure that the number of those who “sat” to perform legislative duties met and even surpassed the quorum of nine.

The “sitting” was not held at the instance of the Speaker and neither was a communication to that effect sent by the Clerk to all members as the House Standing Order stipulates.

It was a “sitting” never witnessed before; after •Continued on page 9

THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

9

RACE TO 2015

‘

The Ekiti Assembly comprises of 26 members which makes the two-third majority to be not less than 18 members

‘

Ekiti: When seven is ‘greater’ than 19 •Continued from page 8

storming the office of the Clerk, which they forced to surrender the mace, they made for the hallowed chambers for the “business” of the day.

The “sitting” was also novel in the sense that television cameras were not allowed in by security operatives believed to be acting under instruction while few reporters were allowed access.

The reporters who were privileged to witness the “sitting” were confronted with the sight of 10 persons on the legislative seats. Only seven PDP lawmakers identifiable while the “mysterious three” were unknown.

The sight of the three impostors generated curiosity and heated debate in the press gallery, with journalists struggling to identify them throughout the time the “sitting” lasted.

Reporters, who were determined to unmask the identity of the three “mystery legislators,” laid siege to the main door of the hallowed chambers, but they were disappointed as nobody knew where and how the impostors disappeared into the crowd outside the House.

In states like Plateau, Anambra and Oyo where legislators who fell short of the constitutionally required number went ahead and carried out “impeachments,” in the cases of former Governors Joshua Dariye, Peter Obi and Rashidi Ladoja, the use of “fake legislators” did not rear its head.

The issue of “unknown legislators syndrome” which was the turning point of the latest Ekiti impeachment saga has been added to the Nigerian political lexicon by the emerging drama in the hallowed chambers of the 18-year-old state.

At the November 17 “sitting”, the PDP-7 “elected” Olugbemi as Speaker Protempore to preside and the three commissioner-nominees - Mr. Owoseni Ajayi (Justice), Mr. Kayode Oso (Works) and Mr. Toyin Ojo (Finance), were ushered into the chambers and were “confirmed” as commissioners.

Besides, Fayose’s request to appoint 12 special advisers and constitute caretaker committees was “approved”.

Minority Leader Ajibola who spoke with reporters after the “sitting” maintained 10 members sat but refused to disclose the identity of the unknown individuals who joined them.

He claimed that the APC lawmakers had absconded from duty and there was need to clear the nominees and constitute the caretaker committees to ensure that the business of governance at state and local levels go unhindered.

As the “sitting” was going on, a Toyota Coaster bus with registration number EKGH 111 which brought the nominees was waiting outside and with the deed done, the lawmakers and the nominees were driven to the Government House in a convoy that also had many police vehicles including armored personnel carriers.

The commissioner-nominees and the caretaker chairmen were sworn in

by Fayose shortly after their “clearance” by the 7 PDP lawmakers and 3 unknown individuals posing as honourable members.

With the dust raised by the Monday’s sitting was yet to settle, the PDP lawmakers and the “mystery trio” followed up with another “sitting” on Thursday, November 20 where they “impeached” Omirin, his deputy, Orisalade; Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe and other principal officers.

Before the PDP caucus stormed the House, in a dramatic fashion for the second time within four days, the entire Assembly complex had been taken over by party thugs holding weapons

• Fayose

• Fayemi

and smoking Indian hemp.

On Wednesday, one of the APC House members who defected to the PDP, Mrs. Olayinka was attacked by suspected thugs who mistook her for one of the APC female members.

The thugs swarmed on her as she alighted from her official car, shortly after arriving the Assembly complex.

Her plea that she is now a PDP lawmaker fell on deaf ears as she was manhandled by the thugs, who damaged her car and wounded her driver.

They “elected” Olugbemi as new “Speaker”, Mrs. Olayinka as the “Deputy Speaker” and Ajibola as the “Leader of Government Business”.

The “impeachment” violates relevant provisions of the House Standing Order and the 1999 Constitution, which prescribe a two-third majority of Assembly members before a valid impeachment could take place.

The Ekiti Assembly comprises of 26 members which makes the two-third majority to be not less than 18 members.

In his speech, shortly after his “election”, Olugbemi said: “The event that brought me into office is historic. Whatever that might have transpired is democracy at play.“There is a change in the leadership at the executive level so the only thing that is constant is change.

My emergence as Speaker is a prerogative of the lawmakers so my emergence has no executive influence.

“As critical stakeholders in Ekiti project, we must fight hard to enure that we return Ekiti to the path of glory. We will work closely with Governor Ayodele Fayose to achieve this for our people by making laws that will serve as frameworks for good governance.

“The era when the executive and the legislative arms used to engage in fight is over. We have been adjudged as the best and the most productive in the country and we will not deviate from this”, Olugbemi said.

Some he decisions taken by the PDP caucus after Olugbemi’s emergence as “Speaker” included the repeal of the law establishing the State Peace Corps which they described as a “burden on the state

finances as the reversal of the Ekiti sobriquet from “ Land of Honour” back to “Fountain of Knowledge”.

Fayose was defiant and unapologetic as he welcomed the development with an assurance that he was prepared to work with Olugbemi and the PDP caucus because”they appeared as the only ones who are ready to work.”

The governor, who spoke with reporters shortly after the legislative revolt accused the APC-19 of colluding with external forces to destabilize the state and frustrate his administration which, according to him, is in a hurry to develop Ekiti.

Fayose said: “I have just been communicated on the change of leadership in the House of Assembly and I want to say with utmost sense of responsibility that we are ready to work with him (Olugbemi).

“I want to advise his (APC) colleagues who are in Lagos to come back home and work with him because we will not allow external forces to destabilize Ekiti State.

“Whether they are in Lagos or in anybody’s house, we don’t care, that is their own problem. I stand to be corrected, nobody can frustrate the development of Ekiti State for selfish reasons.

“This state belongs to all of us and Ekiti is bigger than anybody, this people have served for four years and they have contributed to plunging the state not debt. I am the governor of Ekiti State and Ekiti affairs are if paramount concern to me”.

This was followed by a government statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dupe Alade, which congratulated Olugbemi and declared the readiness of the administration to work with the new House leadership.

The statement urged Omirin to return all government property in his custody “without further delay” and appealed to the APC-19 to come back home and perform the function for which they were elected The government also urged security agencies to provide security to the “new Speaker” and his deputy in accordance with their new “status”.

But Omirin maintained that he

‘The reporters who were privileged to witness the “sitting” were confronted with the sight of 10 persons on the legislative seats with only seven PDP lawmakers identifiable while the “mysterious three” were unknown’

still remains the Speaker describing the purported impeachment as “the greatest joke of the year” maintaining that he can only be removed by 18 members which is the twothird majority.

He denied that the APC lawmakers are dancing to the tune of their political leaders out of the state to frustrate Fayose saying what Fayose wanted the Assembly to do violates the Standing Order and the Constitution.

Omirin said: “My purported impeachment by seven PDP members is the greatest joke of the year. I was elected on June 6, 2011 by 25 members and I can only be removed from that position by 18 members which is the two-third majority.

“That means that 17 and half honourable members cannot impeach me. So, whatever they are saying is a figment if their imagination and the sitting they had today (Thursday) is null and void because they are just seven.

“So, they could not even for a quorum in the first instance so how can a sitting that could not even form a quorum remove the Speaker? So they are just jokers of the century.

“On the issue of approving commissioners and the constitution of caretaker committees, our rules are very clear. There was a letter from the governor and it was read in the floor of the House.

“Our rules say, once such a letter is mentioned, that issue shall be considered on a future date. If we had gone ahead to complete the whole process on the same day, we would have violated our own rules.

“On the issue of caretaker committees, Order 54 Line 5 bans us from discussing court proceedings and that issue is in court and we are also a party to that suit. So, our roles forbid us from making reference to it and we had to comply with that order”.

The Speaker also said that in the eye of the law, the PDP has only two House members as five other defectors from the APC have not formalized their defection describing them as “mere PDP sympathizers”.

“The defectors have been sued because the law stipulates that there must be a crisis in the party before defection can occur but there is no crisis in our party, so there was no reason for them to leave.

“Also, the House rules stipulate that defection can only be done on the floor of the House or through a letter addressed to the Speaker but what they did was to defect in public during Fayose’s inauguration so at best, they are PDP sympathizers”, he explained further.

The festering Ekiti Assembly crisis is throwing up more questions from observers who are concerned about what the debacle portends for the future of the state and future of democracy in Nigeria.

There are puzzles will the lawmakers on both sides remain united again before the end of their tenure? Won’t the electorate who elected them be shortchanged by the current stand-off?

What happens to the commissioners, special advisers and caretakers cleared by the Assembly? Will the National Assembly intervene in the crisis? Will the development of the state not be arrested by the current crisis?

The whole nation is waiting with bated breath on where the Assembly crisis will lead Ekiti and the earlier it is resolved, the better for the state.

Kano PDP in dilemma over consensus candidate From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

K

ANO S t a t e P e o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP) is worried bythe growing number of governorship aspirants.

To avoid post-primary-crisis the party is opting for a consensus candidate, which is expected to be picked from the eight aspirants lobbying for nomination.

Following the intervention of the leadership of the party, the aspirants have opted for a consensus arrangement to decide who would fly the party’s flag.

A source said that the eight aspirants - Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Alhaji Sagir Takai, Mohammed Abacha, Abba Risqua, Engineer Bello Sani Gwarzo, Mansir Ahmad and Senator Bashir Garba Ladohave been meeting on the issue.

The chairman of the party, Alhaji Rabiu Dansharu, stressed the need for unity at a meeting recently held with the aspirants in Kano.

He explained that the party opted for consensus candidate to maintain harmony.

However, following the consensus arrangement, one of the contestants, Senator Lado, who represents Kano Central District, has backed out from the governorship race and now aspiring for the Senate.

PDP to trim governorship aspirants in Kebbi From Khadijat Saidu Birnin, Kebbi

A

S the governorship race in Kebbi State gathers momen tum, the 14 man-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Harmonisation Committee headed by former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru, has resolved to trim down the number of governorship aspirants to ensure a hitch free primary elections.

The resolution was adopted at a meeting of stakeholders held at the Government House,Birnin Kebbi, presided over by former Minister of Sports Bala Bawa Kaoje.The meeting is part of the continuous consultations among towards pruning down the number of contestants through an amicable understanding.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Ibrahim Mausa Argungu, said that stakeholders of PDP will reconvene at a later date to take a decision.

It was gathered that 14 aspirants are justling for the governorship ticket and 12 have submitted their forms.

10

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS

Omirin: blame Fayose for any mayhem

S

PEAKER of Ekiti State House of Assembly Dr. Adewale Omirin has refuted the government’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers will invade the state and unleash terror.

Omirin’s comment followed a report on the state media, alleging that the 19 APC lawmakers planned to storm the state yesterday with thugs.

The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Wole Olujobi, said the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration was a ploy to implicate the APC lawmakers and set the people against them.

Omirin said the accusation smacked of dishonesty, stressing that the governor should be blamed for any breakdown of law and order.

He said the PDP-led government’s style was to accuse its opponents of what it was planning to do, urging the people to ignore the allegation.

•Deputy Speaker alleges threat to life From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

His words: “We would not have reacted to the lie if not that Ekiti people do not know how the PDP-led government operates.

“Close observers of PDP’s politics know that when its leaders want to cause trouble and implicate the opponents in the process, they would accuse the opponents of exactly what they intend to do and on the day they would carry out the plan, they will travel out of town and use aides to carry out the plan while the aides in turn plead alibi for their leaders.

“Can Ekiti people remember Idowu Adelusi’s statement on August 12, 2006 when he said a security report indicated that a popular politician would be killed to implicate his party?

What happened to a popular politician on August 14, 2006 in IjanEkiti?

“Of course, Dr. Ayo Daramola, who was contesting the governorship election with his boss, was killed. He was on a familiar terrain. This was the same way Adelusi “got a security report” today that Omirin was bringing thugs to Ekiti to cause mayhem.

“This is the same Adelusi who said the 19 APC lawmakers are Osun and Lagos lawmakers, who impersonated Ekiti lawmakers. What will Adelusi not do in his brinkmanship?

“No one is deceived by this old trick of blaming opponents for the offence they know nothing about. We know that the government is planning exactly what it is accusing Omirin of.

“It smacks of dishonesty and lack of integrity in governance process when you set a process in motion to punish a man for an offence he did not commit.

“How can you ask people to join you in moving the state forward and you are at the same

time setting traps and erecting roadblocks on their way?

“We know exactly what the government is planning. It wants to instigate a crisis that will lead to the closure of the House of Assembly. The plan is to import thugs into the state like the government did last Monday to demonstrate against the Speaker.”

The Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, said there was an invasion of his house in IlogboEkiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

Orisalade, in a text message to our reporter, alleged that eight persons stormed his house in Ilogbo-Ekiti at 8.37pm looking for him.

The text reads: “Eight men in black suits were at my house in Ilogbo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, at 8.37 pm to look for me.

“They questioned and threatened my farm assistant about my whereabouts.”

Robbery suspects paraded in Oyo From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

HE police in Oyo State have arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in a robbery at an agricultural company in Challenge, Ibadan.

Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo said they were arrested on November 4 after investigations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The suspects are Adamas Yinus, Ojo Olawale, Lukman Raimi, Surajudeen Dauda and Ike Anabi.

“When they raided the company, they dispossessed the company’s clients of large amounts of money and phones; the managing director was also injured.

“When they were arrested, they confessed and admitted that they killed a police sergeant at Agugu and stole his rifle. It was the rifle they used for the operation,” he said.

An inter-state shop breaker, Akanji Babatunde Femi (35), was also paraded with stolen goods worth millions.

A

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has called for a three-day prayer and fasting in preparation for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s inauguration on Thurs-

day.

In a statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo yesterday, the APC said the event would climax an epic period in the nation’s political history, when the will of the people prevailed.

“Osun needs all the divine protection it can get against the machinations of people sworn to evil and brewed in violence, so that everything goes well.

“We, therefore, cannot afford to be complacent in a situation where lawlessness, impunity and reckless misuse of power appear to be the order of the day in a country that is precariously sliding into evil, darkness and man’s inhumanity to man only for political, selfish and irresponsible desperation for power.”

‘No gang-up against Lagos aspirants’

S

PEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji has said there was no gang-up against any of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants.

He said a report that some of the aspirants met to conspire against an aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode, was incorrect.

The Speaker said the meeting was called by one of the aspirants, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

“We came together. We did not discuss about anyone stepping down for anybody.

That was not discussed.

“Two weeks ago, when we had a meeting with our national leader, he implored us to remain friends in the interest of the party.

“Two weeks after, people are worried about the situation of things. We still do not have the

directives and modalities for the party’s primaries in December.

“And we felt that at this particular point in time, we should be patriotic, we should all come together in the interest of the party because if care is not taken, we may play into the hands of our political enemies, who we know don’t really wish this state or the nation well.

“We may find ourselves in a situation whereby we will not be able to present any candidate, or someone may go to court to invalidate our primaries. Those were the things that we discussed and when the meeting was called, notice went to all aspirants.

“Those who could not make it sent their apologies. They were six aspirants at the meeting. Former Commissioner for Environment Muiz Banire did not attend the meeting.”

Police arrest seven for robbery From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE police in Ondo State have arrested seven suspects for last Thursday’s bullion van robbery on Ondo-Akure Expressway in Elemoso, Ondo East Local Government Area.

The suspects are the four police officers, who escorted the bullion van, the two drivers and the bank’s cash officer, who followed the bullion van.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the suspects were helping the command with the investigation.

“Four of our men who escorted the bullion van, the cash officer and the two drivers of the van are helping with our investigation.

“We will do everything possible to get to the root of the matter and as I am talking to you, the officer in charge of the Anti Robbery Squad has gone to Bolorunduro, where the incident happened.”

Ogodo said the arrested officers were found wanting because they went on illegal duty by following the bullion van without formal booking.

Ajimobi: we’ll arrest perpetrators •The suspects…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Court stops re-arrest of Ekiti APC leaders FEDERAL High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has restrained the police from re-arresting the Ekiti State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe, and

Fasting and prayers in Osun

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

four party members for the alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Also granted reliefs were Faboro Ojo John, Aniramu

Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu.

In a motion before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, the plaintiffs urged the court to declare as unconstitutional the planned arrest.

The plaintiffs argued that

their alleged offence had been dismissed by a court.

Other reliefs sought included an order of the court compelling and/or restraining the respondents jointly or severally from arresting, detaining and prosecuting them for the offence.

Ruling on the exparte motion, Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted the reliefs, pending the determination of the originating motion on notice before the court.

He ordered that the motion be served on the respondents not less than seven days before the hearing of the Originating Motion on Notice and adjourned the matter till December 3.

APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun praised the ruling, saying the judiciary remained the last hope of the people.

He said this ruling would have been unnecessary, if not because of the state of siege the country had found itself.

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has warned that he will not allow anyone to jeopardise the peace in the state.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, the governor said the trend of orchestrated violence in the state pointed to desperation by some politicians to destroy the government’s performance.

He said Friday violence, where a policeman was shot and some others injured in Oke Ado, was a calculated attempt to “pol-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

lute the river of peace” in the state.

He said the violence at Popoyemoja two days later where some thugs unleashed mayhem on residents could not be divorced from the bitter politics of the past and an attempt to destroy the image of the government.

“Our people are not fooled.

We have received information that this sporadic violence was not an accident.”

Amosun gives 500 C-of-Os From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

T

HERE was excitement among home owners yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as Governor Ibikunle Amosun presented them with 500 Certificates of Occupancy.

Distributing the title documents to the second batch of 500 beneficiaries under the Homeowners’ Charter Scheme, Amosun said the exercise proved traducers and critics wrong as they had said the scheme won’t succeed.

Amosun said: “We designed this programme to enable our people acquire genuine titles to their landed properties, amongst other benefits, which will invariably enhance the development of our dear state.

“We considerably reduced the amount payable from about N500,000 to N95,000 and remove all those restrictive bottlenecks.

“I have directed the team to issue 500 title documents weekly.

Let me, assure all other applicants who are yet to get theirs, to be patient..”

10

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS

Omirin: blame Fayose for any mayhem

S

PEAKER of Ekiti State House of Assembly Dr. Adewale Omirin has refuted the government’s claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers will invade the state and unleash terror.

Omirin’s comment followed a report on the state media, alleging that the 19 APC lawmakers planned to storm the state yesterday with thugs.

The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Wole Olujobi, said the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration was a ploy to implicate the APC lawmakers and set the people against them.

Omirin said the accusation smacked of dishonesty, stressing that the governor should be blamed for any breakdown of law and order.

He said the PDP-led government’s style was to accuse its opponents of what it was planning to do, urging the people to ignore the allegation.

•Deputy Speaker alleges threat to life From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

His words: “We would not have reacted to the lie if not that Ekiti people do not know how the PDP-led government operates.

“Close observers of PDP’s politics know that when its leaders want to cause trouble and implicate the opponents in the process, they would accuse the opponents of exactly what they intend to do and on the day they would carry out the plan, they will travel out of town and use aides to carry out the plan while the aides in turn plead alibi for their leaders.

“Can Ekiti people remember Idowu Adelusi’s statement on August 12, 2006 when he said a security report indicated that a popular politician would be killed to implicate his party?

What happened to a popular politician on August 14, 2006 in IjanEkiti?

“Of course, Dr. Ayo Daramola, who was contesting the governorship election with his boss, was killed. He was on a familiar terrain. This was the same way Adelusi “got a security report” today that Omirin was bringing thugs to Ekiti to cause mayhem.

“This is the same Adelusi who said the 19 APC lawmakers are Osun and Lagos lawmakers, who impersonated Ekiti lawmakers. What will Adelusi not do in his brinkmanship?

“No one is deceived by this old trick of blaming opponents for the offence they know nothing about. We know that the government is planning exactly what it is accusing Omirin of.

“It smacks of dishonesty and lack of integrity in governance process when you set a process in motion to punish a man for an offence he did not commit.

“How can you ask people to join you in moving the state forward and you are at the same

time setting traps and erecting roadblocks on their way?

“We know exactly what the government is planning. It wants to instigate a crisis that will lead to the closure of the House of Assembly. The plan is to import thugs into the state like the government did last Monday to demonstrate against the Speaker.”

The Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, said there was an invasion of his house in IlogboEkiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

Orisalade, in a text message to our reporter, alleged that eight persons stormed his house in Ilogbo-Ekiti at 8.37pm looking for him.

The text reads: “Eight men in black suits were at my house in Ilogbo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, at 8.37 pm to look for me.

“They questioned and threatened my farm assistant about my whereabouts.”

Robbery suspects paraded in Oyo From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

HE police in Oyo State have arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in a robbery at an agricultural company in Challenge, Ibadan.

Commissioner of Police Kola Sodipo said they were arrested on November 4 after investigations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The suspects are Adamas Yinus, Ojo Olawale, Lukman Raimi, Surajudeen Dauda and Ike Anabi.

“When they raided the company, they dispossessed the company’s clients of large amounts of money and phones; the managing director was also injured.

“When they were arrested, they confessed and admitted that they killed a police sergeant at Agugu and stole his rifle. It was the rifle they used for the operation,” he said.

An inter-state shop breaker, Akanji Babatunde Femi (35), was also paraded with stolen goods worth millions.

A

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has called for a three-day prayer and fasting in preparation for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s inauguration on Thurs-

day.

In a statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo yesterday, the APC said the event would climax an epic period in the nation’s political history, when the will of the people prevailed.

“Osun needs all the divine protection it can get against the machinations of people sworn to evil and brewed in violence, so that everything goes well.

“We, therefore, cannot afford to be complacent in a situation where lawlessness, impunity and reckless misuse of power appear to be the order of the day in a country that is precariously sliding into evil, darkness and man’s inhumanity to man only for political, selfish and irresponsible desperation for power.”

‘No gang-up against Lagos aspirants’

S

PEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji has said there was no gang-up against any of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants.

He said a report that some of the aspirants met to conspire against an aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode, was incorrect.

The Speaker said the meeting was called by one of the aspirants, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

“We came together. We did not discuss about anyone stepping down for anybody.

That was not discussed.

“Two weeks ago, when we had a meeting with our national leader, he implored us to remain friends in the interest of the party.

“Two weeks after, people are worried about the situation of things. We still do not have the

directives and modalities for the party’s primaries in December.

“And we felt that at this particular point in time, we should be patriotic, we should all come together in the interest of the party because if care is not taken, we may play into the hands of our political enemies, who we know don’t really wish this state or the nation well.

“We may find ourselves in a situation whereby we will not be able to present any candidate, or someone may go to court to invalidate our primaries. Those were the things that we discussed and when the meeting was called, notice went to all aspirants.

“Those who could not make it sent their apologies. They were six aspirants at the meeting. Former Commissioner for Environment Muiz Banire did not attend the meeting.”

Free medical care for 510 patients

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•The suspects…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Court stops re-arrest of Ekiti APC leaders FEDERAL High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has restrained the police from re-arresting the Ekiti State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe, and

Fasting and prayers in Osun

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

four party members for the alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Also granted reliefs were Faboro Ojo John, Aniramu

Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu.

In a motion before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, the plaintiffs urged the court to declare as unconstitutional the planned arrest.

The plaintiffs argued that

their alleged offence had been dismissed by a court.

Other reliefs sought included an order of the court compelling and/or restraining the respondents jointly or severally from arresting, detaining and prosecuting them for the offence.

Ruling on the exparte motion, Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted the reliefs, pending the determination of the originating motion on notice before the court.

He ordered that the motion be served on the respondents not less than seven days before the hearing of the Originating Motion on Notice and adjourned the matter till December 3.

APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun praised the ruling, saying the judiciary remained the last hope of the people.

He said this ruling would have been unnecessary, if not because of the state of siege the country had found itself.

HE Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe at the weekend organised free medical care for 510 patients.

The medical outreach was carried out at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Comprehensive Health Centre in Zamko Langtang North Local Government.

Nine general surgeries were carried out successfully, while 304 patients were attended to by general consultants, with additional 53 Laboratory tests conducted on patients.

The minister, in a statement in Abuja by Boade Akinola, said the project was the fourth edition following similar exercises in Zaron, Barkin Ladi Local Government, Heipang State Polytechnic, and Pankshin Local Government of Plateau State.

Mrs. Ochekpe said that she decided to extend the medical outreach to Langtang North and South because of the successes it recorded in the three local governments she had earlier performed the medical exercise in the state.

According to the minster, taking the free medical outreach to the local people will

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

help complement President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort in the health sector.

She said: “I am conscious of the fact that many people in our rural areas do not have access to good medical care and are also not able to access it principally due to lack of finance or the inability to go to places to access the medical care, so we are bringing the free medical care in order to get closer to the grass root where they most needed it.”

In her goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Joyce Lohya praised Mrs. Ochekpe for taking the free medical care to the people of Plateau State.

“You have not only delivered on your responsibility in ensuring improvement in water sector which is your Ministry’s mandate, but you have gone beyond that by providing free medical care to our people knowing full well that as water is life so also good heath is wealth.

“We say thank you and your medical team; we are very grateful and proud of you as our own mother,” she stated.

Amosun gives 500 C-of-Os From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HERE was excitement among home owners yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as Governor Ibikunle Amosun presented them with 500 Certificates of Occupancy.

Distributing the title documents to the second batch of 500 beneficiaries under the Homeowners’ Charter Scheme, Amosun said the exercise proved traducers and critics wrong as they had said the scheme won’t succeed.

Amosun said: “We designed this programme to enable our people acquire genuine titles to their landed properties, amongst other benefits, which will invariably enhance the development of our dear state.

“We considerably reduced the amount payable from about N500,000 to N95,000 and remove all those restrictive bottlenecks.

“I have directed the team to issue 500 title documents weekly.

Let me, assure all other applicants who are yet to get theirs, to be patient..”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

Fed Govt partnering NERC to reduce MSMEs electricity tariff

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HE Minister of Indus try, Trade and Invest ment, Olusegun Aganga said yesterday that the Federal Government is working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) to reduce the high cost of doing business for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) through the reduction of electricity tariff.

Aganga who spoke at the opening ceremony of

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

MSMEs Summit in Abuja, said the government has also reduced the cost of business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for MSMEs by 60 per cent.

He said: “(Small, Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria) SMEDAN has increased its footprint from 13 states to being present in all the

states in Nigeria in just five months. This has ensured that we are able to reach all Nigerians in each local government area in the country.

“Additionally, SMEDAN has decentralised its operations to ensure 80 per cent of its staff are domiciled in the states and only 20 per cent in the headquarters.

This measure has also ensured that our services are spread across the country.

We have identified and supporting at least one product in the 774 local government areas of competitive and comparative advantage.

“To this effect, we have formed over 55,000 MSMEs cooperative society in Nigeria, and registered them with the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC in order to assist thousands of MSMEs have better access to finance and access to busi-

ness support services.

“The 2010 MSMEs collaborative survey revealed that the majority of MSMEs particularly the micro enterprises only sell their products within their local government area. “Through NEDEP, we are intervening to broaden market access for Nigerian MSMEs.” The Director General, SMEDAN, Bature Umar Masari said the need to access the contribution of

MSME subsector to the Nigerian economy partially instigated the National MSME survey jointly conducted by SMEDAN and the NBS in 2010.

The report clearly shows tgat there are over 17million MSMEs operating within the length and breath of the country. The survey also evidenced showed that the 17million MSMEs had a cumulative employment of over 32 million.

‘Lagos airport cargo shed stays shut’

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•Fashola presenting the budget to Speaker Ikuforiji ...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES.

Fashola presents N489.69b budget to Assembly

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AGOS State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday presented a budget proposal of N489.69 billion for 2015 fiscal year to the House of Assembly for approval.

The budget, which is the last to be presented by the governor is the same as that of last year, which stood at N489.69 billion. The budget is made up of Capital Expenditure of N249.232 billion, which is 51 per cent and a Recurrent Expenditure of N239.948 billion, which is 49 per cent.

Fashola said the budget still retains its zero deficit to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit. The Capital to Recurrent ratio of 51:49 for 2015 is the same as last year’s budget.

Economic Affairs has the highest allocation of N146.305 billion, followed by General Service, N107.69 billion, Housing and Community Amenities, Education, N82.14 billion; N49.033 billion, Health, N44.619 billion and Environmental Protection, N34.953 billion.

Others are: Public Safety and

By Oziegbe Okoeki and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Order, N15.547 billion; Recreation, Culture and Religion, N3.118 billion; Social Protection, N1.589 billion, Planning Reserve, N2.26 billion and Contigency, N2.448 billion.

Fashola said: “As you will observe, we have retained essentially the same budget size as 2014. This is for many reasons. One reason is that we have kept a zero deficit in order to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit. This will give them room to start off very quickly when their programmes begin to crystalise and they may need to raise funds in order to start off.

“Another reason is that our budgets, like all good budgets are not only defined by plans and expectations, they make more sense if they are defined by resources. Our resources have been severely adversely affected by the management and lack of transparency of the Federal Government and her agencies of the nation’s oil proceeds.”

The governor said the Federal Government is still owing the state N51billion certified and unpaid, out of N59billion expended on Federal Government roads in the state.

He said: “They are also owing pension obligations of N673.67 billion which they have not paid. And as all of us are aware, oil prices have dropped from $100 per barrel and above to just around $80 per barrel at the time we finalised the budget.

“Our monthly receipts from FAAC have fallen below our usually conservative expectations for the first time in seven years. And lately, we are noticing that reduced patronage of the tourism and entertainment facilities has occurred in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak. This has translated to reduced consumption and consequently reduced incomes in the Consumption Tax sub-head of our Internally Generated Revenue.

“Because we will not implement this budget fully by ourselves, we have thought it fit to moderate expectations in

order to avoid disappointments. I remain optimistic however that our workers’ successful and courageous containment of the Ebola infection is the strongest statement of who we are and in no time I expect that activities in those tourist facilities will pick up because the confidence in our government is very high out there.”

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji said there is a dire need to create more opportunities for the people because many still live in abject poverty.

He said: “As the head of an institution that is closest to the grassroots, I must confess, some of our people still live in abject poverty. In treating this budget, we will not forget that we are trustees for the people; a lot has been done in the area of job creation and economic empowerment of Lagosians, but there is a dire need to create more opportunities for our people; more jobs will lead to greater economic growth.”

HE Federal Govern ment said yesterday that the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos will remain shut until terminal operators comply with new operational procedures that would not threaten national security and revenue collection.

Operators say hundreds of millions of naira have been lost as revenue to cargo handling companies, the Federal Government through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), importers, clearing agents and freight forwarders.

The revenue loss keeps increasing as a detachment of heavily armed security personnel have taken over the entire cargo complex carrying out search on vehicles and persons moving in and out of the area.

The cargo shed was shut last week following violation of procedures by clearing agents at restricted sections of the terminal, which officials of NCS said constituted grave danger to security of the airports and the fiscal policies of government.

Customs Area Comptroller in charge of the command, Mr Taju Olarenwaju who spoke with reporters said government has directed officials to identify and allow passage for perishable goods, medical

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

goods and diplomatic goods , which have remained trapped due to the crisis.

Olarenwaju said through the command’s internal check measures, goods that fall into the specialised category of perishable, medical and diplomatic would be isolated for facilitation, such that the importers do not suffer from the infraction caused by clearing agents, who are not ready to comply with operational procedures.

He warned that the NCS has the capacity to contain any breach from saboteurs and terrorists that are set to threaten national security and the collection of revenue for government.

He said government’s respect for international trade regulations would not make it close cargo warehouses at the airport, adding that it is constrained to take the decision because clearing agents have demonstrated that they are not ready to comply with regulations.

He said previous agreements signed with the agents in the past have failed as they have consistently violated rules of engagement and procedures at the cargo terminal which restricts access to some part of the cargo terminal.

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THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Coastal rail line: Govt signs $11.97b contract with China •May link Lagos to Abuja by rail next year

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HE planned 1,402 km coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar got underway last week, with the signing of $11.97 billion contract between the Federal Government and China.

The deputy chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation-China-Africa Construction Limited, Cao Baogang, signed the deal with the Transport Minister, Senator Idris Audu Umar, in Abuja.

The railway will run through 10 states of the Southeast and the Southsouth’s Niger Delta, terminating at Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The trains for the route will travel at 120km/h and stop at 22 stations.

The construction of the rail line will create an estimated 50,000 jobs directly and an additional 150,000 indirectly, while it will generate, after completion, between 20,000 to 30,000 jobs.

The project will contribute nearly $4 billion of Chinese construction equipment, rolling stock, steel and electro-mechanical equipment exports, said Meng Fengchao, chairman and party secretary of China Railway Construction Corporation.

Meanwhile, Nigerians will begin to enjoy a new train service from the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), from next year, a top official of the corporation has said.

The source, who craved

•More fast, comfortable trains coming Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

anonymity, said in his office last week, that passengers would be able to connect the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja from Lagos before December next year. He said passengers would make Abuja from Lagos in three hours, same for a return trip.

He said the project, which would be the flagship of the transformed train service, would be made possible by the standard gauge tracks being built by the Federal

Expert decries increase in road accidents

A

ROAD safety expert has described the rise in accident statistics worldwide as worrisome. He challenged motorists to use the roads more responsibly.

The Executive Director of Safety Without Borders, Mr Adenusi Patrick, who spoke on the World’s Day of Remembrance of Accident Victims, described as frightening, the yearly statistics of the deaths, the injured and the maimed, resulting from road accidents.

According to him, the world might be going through an undeclared third world war with the rate of casualties from road crash.

He said: “According to the United Nations, 1.3 million people die on world roads yearly and between 20-25 million people are injured and another five million sustained permanent disabilities.

“Never has the world been so threatened by any scourge, and never did any epidemic has the capacity to incur so heavy human casualty,” he said.

Attempts to reduce this scary rate, he said, led to the declaration of a decade of action against road crashes in 2011 by the United Nations, which would end in 2020.

Adenusi, who noted that road safety is everybody’s business, urged drivers to stop endangering their lives and those of their passengers due to lack of appropriate road etiquette.

The safety chief, who noted that the “Ember” month is characterised by more long distance travels, asked motorists embarking on such to sleep

well before their departure and avoid eating heavy foods that could make them drowsy when on wheels.

He urged learners not to embark on long distance driving, but to limit their activites to within the metropolis, until they can gain more road confidence.

“No one embarking on long travel should eat heavy starchy foods as this could lead to drowsiness. They should also flee from alcohol, which impairs their sense of judgment and avoid over speeding. Kill your speed before it kills you. Avoid close range overtaking, don’t overtake on a slope, a bend, or a hill and don’t undermine the speed of the driver driving opposite you,” he warned.

He recommended that long distance drivers should observe a minimum of 15 minutes rest at regular intervals on the roads to avoid weariness.

According to Adenusi, driver should ensure that their vehicles are road worthy and have all appropriate documents before putting them on the road. .

“You should ensure you change your tyres, and ensure that only unexpired tyres are used. Ensure your braking system is working perfectly and work on the light system to ensure they are in perfect condition.

“Mend all cracks on your wind shield, change the wipers or wash them to avoid blurring your vision and clean your radiator to ensure effective cooling of your vehicle’s engines,” Adenusi said.

Government.

It would complement the Eastern line running from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri, the first phase of which would come on stream next month.

He said government began the phased construction of the standard gauge few years ago, adding that while some have been completed, others are at advanced stage. Some of them, he said, have just taken off to be completed before the third quarter of next year.

He said: “The Federal Government

is building a new rail corridor for this initiative and it is being embarked upon in phases because it is capital intensive.

“As we speak, Ajaokuta to Warri through Itakpe line has been completed. Abuja to Kaduna would be delivered by December, and work has already started on the Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge line.”

The source said the standard gauge line, which has the capacity for modern, fast moving locomotives, would replace the existing narrow

gauge and its attendant slow moving trains.

He said the 3,500 kilometre long narrow gauge, which is 3.6 feet wide, is the oldest rail track system in the world and has been in operation in Nigeria since 1898, when it was constructed by the British colonial masters.

He added that the existing narrow gauge and single track network no longer meets the nation’s rapidly growing development with over 70 per cent of transportation and 90 percent of the country’s social and economic activity relying on roads’ mode of transportation.

He said: “For 116 years, we have served Nigerians through this line and our flagship, Western line Lagos to Kano, is narrow gauge.”

He said train service is being invigorated in the country because it has the solution to the mass transit challenges facing the nation.

The President-General of the National Union of Railway Workers (NUR), Comrade Raphael Okoro, said the new standard gauge, would on the long run, decongest the cities, making housing cheaper, and reduce cost of foodstuffs. “It would also create hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly. Most workers in advanced countries live in the interlands and connect the cities to their places of work by rail,” he said.

Okoro praised the government for the attention being focused on the sub-sector, saying the train is globally acknowledged as the safest, most reliable and affordable means of transportation.

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps, Ota, Itori and Ifo Unit Commands have protested the poor attitude of some drivers on the Ogun State axis.

The exercise, tagged: “Demonstration of public enlightenment,” was part of the special intervention programme for December.

The Regular Marshals attached to the concerned commands displayed various placards some of which read: “Say no to overloading”; “no to excessive speeding”; “drive to save lives”; “road safety is a shared responsibility”; “one way constitutes dangerous driving and dangers to pedestrians”.

Other placards had messages such as: “obey traffic rules”; “no to reckless driving”; “no to worn-out tyres”; “no to underaged drivers” and “driving without drivers’ licence is prohibited.

The Ota Unit Commander, Mr. Sunday Omafu, said the exercise was organised following the inhuman attitude of some motorists who kill people like the Boko Haram insurgents on the roads.

He recalled that a Mazda bus with registration number AGL139XF, is still on the Corps’ wanted list for hitting a Special Marshal on patrol at Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State, while trying to escape arrest; while another policeman was knocked down while crossing the expressway, at Dalemo Bus Stop in Ota Local Government Area of the state by a driver of a yellow mini bus who drove against traffic.

Omafu, appealed to drivers, okada operators and tricyclists to always see FRSC and other traffic management agencies as partners.

•Omafu (right), with Oriyomi Salvage (left) and Folake Olowe at the Corps’ enlightenment PHOTO: OLALEKAN AYENI protest.

FRSC protests drivers’ bad road habits

By Olalekan Ayeni

He urged them to be disciplined and eschew attitudes that could warrant their arrest.

He said preventing an accident is better than being sorry and sober after the act.

He spoke against over speeding, saying, it thrills, but kills. “Keep a rein on your speed, so that you’ll be in control of the vehicle,” he said.

He urged motorists to always obey traffic rules , which he said were designed with safety in mind.

He advised motorists to al-

ways maintain good lane, obey recommended distance between vehicles and consider the pedestrians’ safety while driving.

“It is important to display appropriate indicators or signals especially, while changing lanes or before a turn.

Having respect for other drivers on the road is sacrosanct to road safety,” he said.

He enjoined motorists to always wear seat belts, saying it is life saving. Due preference, he pleaded, should be given to pedestrians and children crossing the road, urging road users to be cognisant of caution signs to enable them reduce their

speed. Vehicles, he advised, must be in good working condition before embarking on a journey to avoid any compromise on quality.

According to him, it is imperative to inflate tyres with the right air pressure to avoid tyre bursts on the road.

He warned against other habits such asdrugs and alcohol injection driving and falling asleep behind the wheel, which he said had led too many to the grave.

“Lack of adequate rest leaves adverse effect on mental alertness, slow down reflexes, and even causes momentary sleepiness behind the wheel,” he added.

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BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

Rumble at port over storage charges T

HE move by the Nigeria Ship pers Council (NSC) to force terminal operators to return port charges to the pre-2009 arrangement suffered a temporary setback last week, despite that the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar has waded into the matter, it was learnt.

The pre-2009 port charges were approved by the government but the terminal operators have since engaged in what they called prograssive increase in port chages.

However, the NSC as the port regulator, said the terminal operators must revert to the old rate because the increase in the charges was illegal.

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

This has caused a disagreement among the NSC, freight forwarders and the terminal operators in the last few weeks; and the role of the NSC as the commercial regulator of the port system, sources close to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) said, has been put to test.

The minister, it was gathered, has summoned a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to address the issues raised in a petition by the freight forwarders’ group against terminal operators for imposing arbitrary charges. But the meeting, it was learnt, could not resolve the matter.

A source close to the meeting said while the representatives of the freight forwarding group and others said their position, the representative of the terminal operators, maintained an unusual silence because of the litigation their umbrella body, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), has instituted against NSC at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos on the matter.

The plea by the Minister that stakeholders should be open in their discussions on the port charges, it was learnt, was ignored by the aggresssors who cited their case at the court.

The role of the NSC as the com-

mercial regulator of the port system, sources close to the meeting said, had been put to test based on its inability to enforce the advertised new charges and the alleged inability of the minister to resolve the matter before the meeting ended.

Also, the inability of the Executive Secretary of NSC Mr Hassan Bello who chaired the meeting after the minister left, to resolve the issue, findings revealed, did not go down well with the freight forwarders because of the unpleasant practices in the ports system.

But the Director, Media and Publicity to the National President of ANLCA Joe Sanni said the pricing mechanism of services in the ports, should be established by the government to attract businesses to the port.

“Progressive storage charges have no known legal basis, neither is it practised anywhere in the world. Therefore, it must be dropped forthwith. That’s the crux of illegal charges. A standing committee of critical stakeholders must be established to meet every month to brainstorm on the brought-up operational challenges in the ports, for discussions.

“Decisions arrived at, at such meetings should be passed on to the Nigeria Shippers Council, to engage relevant stakeholders, before implementation. Key Performance Indicators-KPI also needs to be introduced to monitor the performances of ports operators

“A robust auditing of the major stakeholders in the port system has to be introduced and continuously sustained to serve as guiding rules to raising cargo through put in the maritime industry,” he said.

In a statement by STOAN’s spokesman, Mr Bolaji Akinola, the APM Terminals attended the meeting despite the suit filed against it by STOAN at the Federal High Court.

“APM Terminals’ representatives made it clear that they were at the meeting without prejudice to an ongoing court case on progressive storage charges and did not say anything at the meeting.

“While various persons expressed different opinions at the meeting, it would be very wrong to imply that an agreement was reached on reversal of storage charges or on the powers of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. These matters are sub-judice. It is therefore wrong to make comments or pass judgment on a matter that is pending before a court of competent jurisdiction,” Akinola said.

Those at the meeting included the officials of NSC, BPE, Maritime Workers Union (MAWUN), APM Terminals, National Presidents Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and the Association of Registered of Freight Forwarders, Nigeria (AREFFN).

Customs moves against smugglers

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•From left: Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta and Director-General NIMASA Patrick Akpobolokemi during the 6th Strategic Admiralty Law seminar for judges in Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Establish more dry ports, govt advised T HE Federal Government has been advised to establish more dry docks to create jobs and boost the shipping business as the sea ports now attract over 5,000 vessels yearly.

The Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (PCC), Chief Kunle Folarin, made the call in Lagos.

He said dry docks were necessary to improve on ship maintenance and seaworthiness, considering the number of vessels received at the sea ports.

He said more cargoes would be attracted to the ports and trade within the sub-region would be improved if more dry docks were established.

Folarin said the floating docks and the dry docks should be completed with the materials for seaworthiness of vessels.

“A ship cannot sail without be-

ing seaworthy and a ship is supposed to be dry-docked within a time-frame. Then you need dry docks to perform such compliance requirements.

“We probably have one (dry dock), and we are talking of Nigerian ports attracting over 5,400 vessels,” he said.

Folarin said the ship owners could use the dry docks for compliance with sea-worthiness certification; for repairs, and for trans-shipment of cargo to other areas within West and Central African regions.

He suggested that the marine environment should be well-utilised through infrastructure development for optimal gain.

“In the context of Nigeria, we

know that we have massive maritime potential.

“Nigeria has all the potential to become a key player. If we have fully utilised the opportunities provided by our maritime domain; we would have seeing ship-building yards in Nigeria.

“Certainly, our ports would have been the preferred port and hub for trans-shipment. We would have established competitive port costs that would attract more traffic to the ports.

He suggested that a manpowerbuilding programme should be set up by the government and its agencies.

He said more gains would come from developing skill-acquisition in terms of nautical science, survey, foundry, ship-building skills as complementary to other manpower development programmes.

HE Nigeria Customs Serv ice (NCS) Federal Opera tions Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A‘ Ikeja, Lagos has intensified its anti-smuggling war against those importing prohibited goods into the country.

Its Public Relations Officer Mr Uche Ejesieme said the campaign against smuggling in Oyo State became more necessary as December is fast approaching.

According to him, the unit has been able to reduce the activities of smugglers in Lagos and Ogun states based on the structure put in place by its Acting Area Controller Usman Turaki.

Officers and men of the unit, he said, seized goods worth over N100 million last month and goods worth over N130 million in September.

He said most of the seizures were made in Lusada, Atan and Igbesa in Ogun State.

The unit, he said, also recorded some seized goods in Oyo axis.

The image maker, however, attributed the seizure to the proactive measures put in place by the service and Turaki.

“If you look at the amount and quantity of the seizures, particularly in September and October, you will notice that there is a huge difference. This is so because the area controller has put in place some proactive measures to displace the smugglers and end their antics.

“These are places that before now, no team has ever tried to extend their activities to those areas but because of the renewed vigour and determination, coupled with the courage of the new controller, we’ve been able to break all their rank and file and discovered most of the secret routes they use in perpetrating their illicit trade,” he said.

Guidelines on ANCLA’s election out

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HE Electoral Committee of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has issued guidelines on its forthcoming election billed for Port Harcourt Area Chapters.

The rules require voters to produce receipts for payments for special levies and dues, possession of form C-30 of Customs’authorisation for the voter to operate this year. They added that the presentation of the original copy of letter indicating the company the voter is

representing, among others, is necessary.

The Chairman of the electoral body, Alhaji Mukaila Babatunde Abdulazeez, told his members not to engage in multiple authorisations.

“Members are warned against multiple nomination letters because they would be rejected and seen as a deliberate attempt to subvert the electoral process.“ The sanction for such illegality, he said, was disenfranchisement.

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THE NATION TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 25, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Nigeria in austerity

Security agencies and 2015 •The vandalisation of APC data centre is an indication of crooked plans for forthcoming elections OST of the actions taken by the Federal Government and the security agencies in the past six months have shown that the 2015 elections may be marred by violence. The attack last Saturday on the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) Ikeja, Lagos Data Centre is another pointer to the government’s disregard for the rule of law. The mode of operation of the security men who invaded the centre bore marks of hoodlums who lacked training and decorum. The three private security men on duty were arrested along with data analysts, even as the invaders carted away documents and computers.

In a bid to gain access, the gate was said to have been pulled down, computers van-

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‘Last week’s show of shame by the police at the National Assembly, the recent withdrawal of security aides of the Speaker of the House of Representatives by the Inspector-General of Police and now the invasion of an APC office are all indications that, desperate to hold on to power, those in power could resort to acts subversive of the good order’

dalised and the server disconnected.

The Nigerian Navy’s denial of involvement is a redeeming feature in the saga as it would be unfortunate if a force trained and empowered to secure the territorial waters could be involved in a clearly partisan operation on land. It is also reassuring the Navy is not denying the possibility of some of its personnel having been procured for the action. We hope that a thorough investigation would be carried out and whoever might have been directly or indirectly implicated punished as some of those who joined in the raid allegedly wore the Navy camouflage.

On the other hand, the Department of State Security (DSS) might have confirmed a deep seated orientation of its operatives to work against the interest of the Nigerian state and people. Its spokeswoman, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, who confirmed the raid agreed that it was tipped off to carry out the raid by an anonymous petition. She also claimed that the DSS had watched the office for two weeks before moving against it. However, she showed the department’s lack of competence by admitting that despite having the petition and watching the facility for that long, it was unable to determine the owners and nature of activities going on there.

How could the DSS funded to gather intelligence and nip crimes against the state in the bud claim it acted because there was no signpost to indicate that the facility belongs to the APC? Is she suggesting that it is illegal to keep an

office as private as possible? It is appalling that Ms. Ogar does not know that a data centre is not a public place to which attention need be drawn. It is neither a general office nor a registration centre.

It would not be the first time Ms. Ogar would betray the political inclination.

During the Osun State governorship election when the agency deployed men in unusual uniform and was used to pick up chieftains of one of the participating parties, it was the DSS spokeswoman who spoke in a manner suggesting that the men were obeying lawful orders. She alleged that the APC had tried to bribe DSS officials but failed to supply any proof. No one was arrested for the crime of bribery.

We are concerned that, by the action of the security operatives, democracy is being imperilled in the country. Democracy is known to stand on the Rule of Law and thrives on defined processes and procedures. But, when the government in power chooses to disregard the law and acts whimsically, the opposition and citizenry are encouraged to respond accordingly, thus provoking the break down of law and order. Last week’s show of shame by the police at the National Assembly, the recent withdrawal of security aides of the Speaker of the House of Representatives by the Inspector-General of Police and now the invasion of an APC office are all indications that, desperate to hold on to power, those in power could resort to acts subversive of the good order.

This impunity must stop now.

Mockery of the judiciary •The Lawan and Emenalo case indicates how mischievous delays and rigmarole subvert justice

P

RACTITIONERS of our criminal justice system make a mockery of the country, when criminal trials last for years; and officials of state must gear up to stop it. We consider it a travesty that politically exposed persons indicted for crimes, see it as a leisure walk, without any consequences. The result is that impunity reigns supreme. Shockingly, most times the pattern is the same, with undue delays in the trial, sabotage by state officials, and blackmail of judicial officials by accused persons, as the prime route to the mockery of our criminal justice system.

The latest of such inanities called criminal trial is that of Farouk Lawan and Boniface Emenalo who allegedly collected $620,000 as bribe from Femi Otedola, in order to remove the name of his company from those indicted by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, for allegedly defrauding the country. Interestingly, there was an alleged video evidence of the bribery, in what the federal authorities claimed was a ‘sting operation’, which in any sane society would have made the trial fairly straightforward, so as to establish the culpability or innocence of the accused persons.

But what is simple and straightforward in other climes assumes conspiratorial complications in Nigeria, particularly under the present administrators of our criminal justice system. We recall the trials of other politically exposed persons, like some of the former state governors,

which have been stalled for one reason or another. While criminally orchestrated delays may top the list, among the commonest abuses of our court process, the levelling of unfounded allegations against judges, which turn out to be mere smokescreen to buy time or seek a more pliable judge, is one tactics that is so nauseating.

The trial of Lawan and Emenalo which started under Justice Mudasiru Oniyangi, was aborted and started afresh, following the elevation of the judge to the Court of Appeal. Now, again after the loss of several months, Justice Adebukola Banjoko of an Abuja High Court has withdrawn from the trial to stem an unfounded allegation that sought to impugn the judge’s integrity. It is strange that the accused persons can write a petition alleging bias against the judge, only to withdraw it after the harm has been done, yet there is no punishment for such recklessness.

Also worrying is that judges fall for such tricks without exercising their powers to punish for contemptuous conduct committed before a judge. Many accused persons, without any iota of proof, resort to this tactics, of accusing the judges of bias. And when the heat raised by such serious allegation is in the public domain, the accused or their lawyer simply apologises, while the judge most times timidly withdraws from the trial, which is what the accused merely wanted to achieve.

We detest this use of blackmail to derail criminal trials, and urge the judges to be

bold and strong in the face of such intimidation, and go ahead and punish for contempt in facia curia.

We also condemn the seeming indifference of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to this criminal abuse of our judicial system. While the Federal Government is clearly complicit in some of the abuses suffered by the criminal justice system, at other times the AGF merely stands aloof, and watches our common humiliation, as a modern state, which is what those conducts amount to.

As the legal precept posits, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’; and in this instance, both an accused and the state deserve to have a speedy and transparent trial at all times.

‘Also worrying is that judges fall for such tricks without exercising their powers to punish for contemptuous conduct committed before a judge. Many accused persons, without any iota of proof, resort to this tactics, of accusing the judges of bias. And when the heat raised by such serious allegation is in the public domain, the accused or their lawyer simply apologises, while the judge most times timidly withdraws from the trial, which is what the accused merely wanted to achieve’

S

IR: In the affairs of men, leadership is everything.

In the family, church, mosque, non-government organisation, the corporate world and even sociocultural association, progress depends largely on the right leadership. But by far the most critical part of human existence where leadership failing could be catastrophic even to the future generation is in public service.

Nigeria is today in austerity. Austerity is a condition characterised by harsh policies of government. Naturally, the people suffer under such inclement conditions but the federal government is struggling to justify this emerging reality. The coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the decision to trim down revenue projection was part of measures to maintain economic stability, boost oil revenues, reduce waste and plug loopholes. So, the government will introduce luxury good tax and restrict foreign travels and training for civil servants, among other measures. Therefore from official quarters, this new austerity measures are meant to insulate the economy from the falling crude oil prices which is a global issue.

In the open, particularly among players in the financial sector, these measures are suspicious and panicky. There is strong belief that bad times lie ahead and it is important for people to make preparations, after all no government sounds alarm bells directly. There are also those that say the Central Bank Nigeria is very weak and that it does not have the wherewithal to defend the naira, so our nation’s currency will continue to fall.

The sad truth is that no Nigerian leader since independence ever made any effort to diversify the economy by looking beyond oil. To be fair, this obvious lack of vision predates the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. What is happening is the cumulative effect of leadership failure and lack of creativity. However, without a doubt, this lack of vision also got worse under the present administration. There is a total disconnect between economic statistics and the quality of life of our people, and between planning and execution on the other hand.

Once upon a time, Nigeria ran an agro-based economy, then petrol dollar came and everybody forgot cocoa, palm produce, rubber, groundnut, hides and skin, sugar cane and kola nut. Today, these agro-allied products are history and Nigeria is paying dearly for her intransigence.

But the question is: how can a country be so rich in both human and natural resources and yet imposes harsh economic conditions on its people. Nigeria is also a country blessed with abundant solid minerals that are unfortunately, largely unaccounted for. The tragic part of our story is that almost all the lessons are lost. Rather than face our challenges, we delight in emotions, flat thinking and fixed notions.

Again, the citizens are requested to make more sacrifice but for what and for how long? Austerity if I remember very well entered our lexicon under the President Shehu Shagari-led Second Republic many years ago. I doubt very strongly if the lessons of that era ever came to the attention of our leaders, that is, if there were lessons in the first instance. The truth however is that ordinary Nigerians can no longer continue to subsidise glaring leadership deficits of their leaders. This is why some people are placing this new problem at the doorsteps of past and present leaders. They argue that it would be criminal for anybody to speak of austerity measures when private jets litter our skies, expenditure is uncontrolled and corruption is walking with two legs.

Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates is modern spectacle. This Arab city is a product of good thinking and creativity driven by innovative and forward-thinking leadership. In the early 1980s, their leaders came to terms with the fact that if it did not refocus its economy from oil, it may not survive the emerging world of competition and strife. So it invested heavily in industries, real estate, airlines and ports. Today, the region is better for it. The power of vision is a critical building block of an economy albeit a country that will endure.

There are other examples of countries that have made progress on account of solid leadership and power of vision. Some of these countries in developing world are standing tall even as others like Nigeria groan under avoidable uncertainties and harsh economic conditions.

But there could not have been a better time to reflect on the myriad of challenges facing our country, not just on the economy but on every sphere.

• Dr. Dakuku Peterside Member, House of Representatives

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The Nigerian police have taken a lot of flak for their humiliation of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. A consensus of outrage has formed around that National Assembly siege. The spread of angst was caused by the real time transmission of that violation, with all the horrendous details. Absent the transparency, the particulars of that vandalism would have suffered the doomed fate of controversy. That incident would have been reconstructed, in conjecture and fiction, and the kernel of its veracity would have gone extinct with conflicted telling and remembering.

So we participated as a live audience. But the excitation of our com-

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Police, Tambuwal and the rest of us mon temper had less to do with our reading of the section of the constitution that pertains to cross carpeting. Also, it had little bearing with love for the victim. Instead, the widespread solidarity arose largely from narcissism.

Tambuwal’s humiliation reflected our own vulnerability to police aggression. That instance of brutality

projected the similitude of our everyday experience. It effectively tallied all the episodes of our vexed police encounters and flung them onto a vast attention-grabbing canvas.

The police treated Speaker Tambuwal like us. Except that this turned into a scandal because the police dared to use the (yard)stick

Why Salvation Rally must be sustained

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IR: A Yoruba adage says when a baby’s head is wrongly positioned in the market; it is the duty of any old person to put the situation right. It is in this context that I viewed the rally embarked upon the opposition APC in Abuja on Wednesday, November 20. By and large, all the demands of the eminent people that led the rally were genuine. The President and the ruling PDP should not feel threatened by the marchers’ demand. After all, the nation belongs to all, and the well-being of the tree is the wellbeing of the bird so says an adage.

End to insurgency and killings, end to impunity and massive corruption and poverty, free and fair elections next year are all legitimate demands for the betterment of this nation and its citizenry.

What actually piqued me were the ages of the leaders of the rally. Most of them as shown by the newspapers were over 70 years of age. The question that comes to mind is where are our youths? Don’t they feel concerned about the state of the nation particularly as touching the

grievances mentioned above and their own future? This is a testimonial to the elders in this nation that their inactions in the past have produced a docile and collaborative youths. This is why our youths see nothing bad in what is going on.

Even our once proactive and militant “Greatest Nigerian Students” have been crippled by chop-I-chop politics that our ‘lucky elites’ foisted on the nation. Nevertheless, one appreciates the concern of the opposition party that organized the rally; it has been able to send a signal to the PDP that Nigeria would no longer condone maladministration.

Nigerians are advised to imbibe or develop the culture of questioning our leaders at all levels. Those who have the opportunities to speak out should not shirk their responsibility. After all, Nigeria belongs to all of us and our leaders are just overseers of the commonwealth and there is nothing bad in giving a piece of advice or letting them know when they are off the track. As Prof. Jide Osuntokun

noted recently: “if we keep quiet in the face of tyranny and bad government, we would have died many times before our death.” Our history is replete with the exploits of nationalists in the pre-independence period and that of pro-democracy and of civil rights groups during military era etc. However, once their grievances were seemingly addressed, they went to sleep. This habit has been condemned by former Consular General of the United States to Nigeria, writer and columnist, Brian Browne when he said, “he who quickly sleeps after attaining the prize will lose more in brief slumber than he gained through years of strife and toil”.

This is the correct assessment of our civil movements and pro-democracy groups. If not, 15 years after attainment of democratic rule, septuagenarians would not be marching on the streets of Abuja demanding free and fair elections of all grievances. This is why this rally must be sustained.

• Adewuyi Adegbite Apake, Ogbomoso

meant for us on Tambuwal, the number four citizen. We picked offence because what was tolerable for us could not be good for him.

The policemen stationed at the gate were indifferent to Speaker Tambuwal. They did not answer him when he called out to them. When he introduced himself, they ignored him; just like they are wont to ignore nobodies. They tear-gassed Speaker Tambuwal the selfsame way they make responsible football fans choke each time they have to access the stadium to watch the Super Eagles play. The police lied that Tambuwal had tried to invade the National Assembly with a band of miscreants; the same way they casually hatch frame-ups and make scapegoats.

The police was persuaded that Tambuwal, by the virtue of his defection, had forfeited his number four position in the gratuitous citizen ranking. They believed that the switch had automatically downgraded him. He had slumped to the pool of anonymous folk, unworthy of courtesy because they have yet to earn the state’s elitist citizen number.

Obviously, the policemen who attacked him had a clear brief: to update the blissfully ignorant Tambuwal, in the most practical terms, that his entitlement to politeness and dignity had expired. It was some sort of baptism into the humdrum susceptibility of the low caste.

In a manner of speaking, the police were on a Red Cross charitygrade mission to give the butterfly who fancied himself a bird a beneficial reality check. Tambuwal missed

sighting this barely concealed good intention. It could well be that smelling teargas made him less discerning.

To be clear, the Nigerian police gave Tambuwal the normal treatment. The only real surprise in this case is that we permitted ourselves the leisure of pretending that that harassment was alien to their character. But we know better. Very few of us can boast of having accumulated a preponderance of positive romance with the Nigerian police.

If you venture to check, you will harvest an overwhelming population scarred by a police that they have now come to dread.

The average Nigerian policeman tends to be perennially angry and belligerent. It is often suggested that most of them labour under very poor job conditions. But that is no justification for taking out your frustration on your countrymen, many of who are in no better station in life.

The fact that the policeman and the average citizen are actively negotiating survival with the same harsh environment should transform into a kindred bond. The policeman who discovers that the condition under which he is compelled to function prohibits decency need not progress as a bitter officer. He may opt for another legitimate means of livelihood instead of pushing a career in vengefulness and extortion.

We could go on swimming in the partisan politics that created the ugly Tambuwal scenario. But that would cost us a wonderful opportunity to interrogate the relationship between the Nigerian police and the Nigerian citizen. Instead of establishing discriminatory standards, we should rather pivot to demanding a police that respects every citizen; a well resourced police that knows its place; a professional police that is not amenable to the abuse of a vendetta errand.

• Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu, emmanuelugwu2002@yahoo.com.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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COMMENTS HE irony was clearly lost: it was November 20, the birthday of President Goodluck Jonathan — and so much executive banditry from his side!

Was that happenstance? Or, as in the technique of creative prose, the true character of the Jonathan presidency, under pressure, unravelling?

“His Excellency, the Brigand”, was conceived as response to the antics of that tragic figure, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti; lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) and, in the ensuing pattern of the Jonathan presidency planting the dregs in Yorubaland, a fitting presidential viceroy.

Mr. Fayose’s adult delinquency once ruined him. With his zestful self-destruct moves, that nemesis may yet unhorse That clearly explains why the Police eased in Ihedioha, and him, perhaps dooming him to an even briefer term. attempted to keep out Tambuwal.

But the presidential rascality from Abuja, with the Police The parliamentary coup failed because the Tambuwal side invading the National Assembly and tear-gassing legislators, resisted the security bullies of IGP Abba, who appears un-bashful all in futile bid to block Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining at making the Police the partisan rod of the president, rather access, just shows Fayose’s executive brigandage is no standthan the dutiful security arm of the Nigerian state. alone accident. Suleiman Abba’s Police is, after all, fully On Tambuwal, IGP Abba has gone ga-ga: summarily involved in the high constitutional crimes, at both Abuja and withdrawing his security details on a mischievous interpretation Ado! of the law, unleashing his Police to rain teargas on the Speaker Indeed, a fish rots from nowhere but the head! and his fellow legislators, and now, a threatened arrest! This But make no mistake: the parliamentary desecration that the constitutional abomination must not go unpunished.

Jonathan Presidency put up on November 20 and the For once, Doyin Okupe, unfazed presidential bulldog, gubernatorial banditry that Fayose inspired in the Ekiti somewhat lost his bark. In one breath, he disowned Mr. Abba, legislature from November 17, did not just start. They had their claiming the policeman was only doing his job, without any roots in the “simple minority” pseudo-impeachments of the presidential prompting. In another, he denied Mr. Abba invaded Olusegun Obasanjo years. the National Assembly. In this yet another Okupe-istic cant, only If President Obasanjo had been impeached on the basis of this Okupe believes Okupe! high crime against the Constitution, the presidential rascality But just as well the Reps are threatening presidential of the Obasanjo years would not today come back as tragic impeachment. For this democracy to cease being a joke, there farce, threatening a Jonathan fascism. must be zero tolerance for the executive arm as unrepentant In Jonathan vis-a-vis the Obasanjo years however, the conclave of constitutional criminals. If on this basis alone child, as the poet famously quipped, has become the father of Jonathan is scapegoat to atone for past rascals and deter future the man! culprits, so be it!

Whereas Obasanjo would limit his power abuse to muscling As for Mr. Fayose, his gubernatorial banditry is not without and blackmailing state legislatures for suspect anti-corruption push from Abuja. Since that virtual election eve incident, when crusades, Jonathan, in reckless disregard of the separation of the local Mopol commander “dethroned” Governor Kayode power doctrine, is committing the ultimate infamy of invading Fayemi, claiming that with Vice President Namadi Sambo in the National Assembly; and tear-gassing the same legislatures town he recognised no governor, Ekiti’s path to constitutional he had requested to approve for him renewed emergency in banditry was fully paved.

Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

From that spot, Fayose had swaggered from one outrage to The trick was clear, though Jonathan and henchmen another — and, like the tortoise that swore never to return home would hide behind a finger: shut out Speaker Tambuwal because until he was fully disgraced, Fayose will not cease until he exits of the defection saga, let in Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; in a dust of odium. and on the basis of that exclusion, proceed to unleash a criminal What abomination has Fayose not committed, less than two “impeachment” ala Obasanjo’s notorious “simple minority”! months in office, despite playing pseudo-David in ridiculous religiosity, by throwing himself flat on the floor at a Deeper Life Church service in Ado Ekiti?

‘Executive brigandage is the manifest To stop a pre-election eligibility case, Fayose, with thugs in tow and Abba’s Police looking elsewhere, marched to sack the danger from Abuja and Ado-Ekiti. It must courts and mug judges. As at the last count, the judge who be resisted, with all legal resolve, by every assumed jurisdiction on the case has been harassed off it. Before Nigerian patriot’ Fayose and thugs, the courts must bow and tremble!

Then, to procure fake parliamentary endorsement for rogue commissioners, the allconquering Fayose thugs and all-colluding Abba Police again came in handy — with seven rogue legislators sacking 19!

Again, before Fayose’s concert of thugs and colluding Police, the Ekiti parliament must dive for cover!

The piquant irony: one of the “approved” commissioners is “Justice and Attorney-General”!

Ah, the English, Geoffery Chaucer, would scream from his grave: if gold rusts, what would iron do?! What lawyer worth his training would take himself through such farce?

But again, a self-destruct Fayose special, in reckless constitutional criminality: procurement of ghost legislators!

If the Ekiti legislature numbers 26, split 19 (APC) and seven (PDP), where did the three ghost legislators emerge, to form a phantom quorum: not only to “elect” a phantom temporary Speaker, but also to “sack” the lawful Speaker?

These are the open political graves the excitable Fayose merrily digs for himself. In no time, he would be buried in them, and vanish without trace!

Ironically, the first act Fayose’s illicit parliament did was to pare itself naked. It abrogated the Ile Uyi, Ile Eye (Land of Honour) branding of the Kayode Fayemi ancien regime — and just as well: for honour and (un)parliamentary knavery are parallel lines that never meet — and declared itself the Fountain of Knowledge.

But if there is any knowledge in Ekiti’s emerging jungle, it must be absolutely without character!

Very early in his first term, Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, spoke of the infrastructure of the mind. Eight years later, the result is there for everyone to see.

Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, signalled his second coming, with stomach infrastructure. Four years down the line, Ekiti-Kete will feel the full impact.

In Abuja and Ado, the wages of bad electoral choices loom large.

After the fraud of voting the southern shoeless boy in 2011, not a few spewed the nonsense of “voting for Goodluck but not PDP”.

Well, the truly tragic result is a vindictive president as wilful undertaker.

At the June gubernatorial polls, Ekiti-Kete hated former Governor Fayemi so much that they would appear to have hated themselves even more! Hence, the wilful self-infliction of the tragic Fayose.

The result is expressway to the Stone Age, despite Ekiti’s avowed brain power.

How ever good or bad a government turns out is a function of democratic choice and consequences. But never must the executive chamber become the bastion of constitutional bandits who, with their Samson’s complex, don’t give a damn, even if they crash the polity.

That is the manifest danger from Abuja and Ado-Ekiti. It must be resisted, with all legal resolve, by every Nigerian patriot.

I

country over the potential losses from falling oil prices, which at the moment comes to some 20 percent, is hardly one that demands that citizens put on sackcloth and ashes. For sure, the forces can be mitigated by clear-headed policies. The problem here is that those in charge, as yet, do not appear to have any profound understanding of the looming emergency let alone the talk of fashioning an appropriate robust, strategic response. For much as there can be no understating the opportunity cost of the decade of missed opportunities, which the Jonathan administration must see itself as no less complicit, the mundane thinking going on at the highest levels of government, something that The Nation’s perceptive columnist Idowu Akinlotan once described as extravagant lack of ambition, can only further compound the nation’s development dilemma.

Where do we go? Most certainly, the choice cannot be any clearer today than it was a decade or two ago. A thousand austerity measures, to be sure, offers no guarantee of future prosperity; if anything, it might even compound the problems. The challenge therefore seems as simple as finding the formula to unleash the nation’s potentials in manufacturing, in services and in all sectors.

It is all about building the capacity of the economy – boosting the skills pool and investment in vital infrastructure. An economic orthodoxy which seeks to lock away the nation’s wealth in foreign shores in the guise of saving for the rainy day seems hardly the best bet in the circumstance.

T

R

epublican ipples

Olakunle Abimbola

His Excellency, the Brigand

F you needed evidence of how utterly unimaginative those in charge of the management of the nation’s economy are, one needed to look no further than the placebo rolled out by finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last week in response to the latest cycle of falling oil prices. Having the nation live under the throes of “industrial scale theft” under which more than 20 percent of projected earnings from oil are either stolen or unrealisable from month to month, the denial of the emergency could not have come as a surprise to anyone.

Little wonder the assurance by our internationalist finance minister, that the ill-winds winds will soon blow over; hence her cocktail of measures more astounding by their sheer ordinariness. As panacea, the 2015 Budget oil price benchmark is pegged at $73 per barrel as against $78 earlier proposed; now foreign travels by civil servants are axed unless for those deemed as absolutely necessary; the same goes for foreign training programmes except those with foreign sponsorship. To complement the measures is a renewed push to significantly increasing non-oil revenue via an aggressive tax administration under which owners of private jets, yachts and lovers of Champagne and other luxury goods pay more tax.

Nigerians obviously know where all of these are going.

Already, the word is out: Nigerians should be prepared to further tighten their belts. For sure, a number of projects with potentials to renew the economy will be put on hold in the next fiscal year. Already, the crunch has created the first victim in the naira. Last weekend, the national currency hit the nadir at N180 to the United States dollars in the parallel market. By the way, with our Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) taking to the hyper-hustling to sell their man, there would be enough time to explain the sudden appetite for the greenback; suffice to say however that the development can only be anything but good news in a nation which relies wholesale on imports all manners of manufacturers.

And just in case anyone is tempted to imagine that the falling oil prices would bring some respite to motorists currently living under the threat of subsidy removal, the truth is that there can be no such thing: whatever differentials that might have existed by the fact of the falling prices have been gobbled in the event of the free fall of the naira! That shouldn’t be hard to understand: it is an in-built logic of Nigeria’s macro-economy.

To go back to the basic point, if Nigerians are any troubled at the remedy proposed, it must be not only from the lack of sensitivity to the issues which informed the belt-tightening in the first place, notably, the wave of

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Our thinking problem! exogenous forces which have seen oil fortunes plummet in the global market place. One refers here to the shale oil revolution and the improved fuel-efficiency standards particularly in the United States which have eventuated in the cutback, or as it seems increasingly likely, raises the prospects of elimination of demand by the country for Nigeria’s oil. Add that to the global oversupply by nearly 10 percent of current demands; the picture that emerges is one of a long dark night for oil producers.

This is where the astounding lack of creativity in the design of what is supposed to be the therapy comes as troubling. For while it was sufficient for the authors and finishers of the transformation agenda to mount the high road of cant in their familiar therapy of kicking problems down the road, it was also an instance in which the typically bored but overpaid policy wonks would show their true colours in seeking to present the problem as a fiscal or better still- a budget problem as against what is fundamentally a thinking problem.

No doubt, the slump in the price of oil presents enormous challenges particularly at this time. Never mind that the nation has had to endure the more destabilising phenomenon of oil theft now acclaimed to have attained industrial scale for more than three years running – something an administration less prone to abdication could have brought under control. The assumption here is that the administration sees the former as a greater threat than the former. I guess it is entitled to its delusions.

Howbeit, the choice at this time, is neither one between crying over split milk nor one of endless lamentation over what could have been. To be sure, the choice facing the

‘For while it was sufficient for the authors and finishers of the transformation agenda to mount the high road of cant in their familiar therapy of kicking problems down the road, it was also an instance in which the typically bored but overpaid policy wonks would show their true colours in seeking to present the problem as a fiscal or better still- a budget problem as against what is fundamentally a thinking problem’

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

COMMENTS

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ACKLING insecurity in Nigeria has become like a relentless migraine headache to both the Federal Government and the security services. The more we are told that the security forces will soon defeat the Boko Haram insurgents, the more grounds and territory the sect takes with trails of tears and blood. To put things in the right perspective, it is pertinent to ask ourselves some basic fundamental questions.

Are we truly winning the war against the Boko Haram insurgents? It does not seem so. The security forces from evidence have lost more grounds and equipment to the group in the recent past than any other time and have turned the weapons so seized against the military. Do we have the capacity to fight the war? Perhaps yes; but the military has not shown any appetite and commitment as troops are reported to be abandoning and fleeing their locations at the rumoured or real approach of the Boko Haram. Do we have the political will? No evidence. All we have is the political class playing politics with not just insecurity but every other thing that matters in the life of the masses of people and the nation at large.

Do we have the right leadership? What we have across board and political divides do not reflect right leadership.

We have the misfortune of a leadership that is in power and government but not in charge and control of anything. Leaders that cannot put their ministers and Special Advisers (SAs) in check even when they cross the red line of law and morality. We have leaders who are incapable of fighting the monster called corruption but rather perceived attacks on official corruption as a personal attack on them and their offices by the opposition. Indeed, under the present dis-

‘How did we get to this level of total and complete loss of sense of commitment to our land? The fractious nature of our army today and reversal of fortune in gallantry is due mainly to meddlesomeness by the political class who prefer to promote ethno-religious sentiments to serve their interest’

T

Panadol for another person’s headache!

By Mike Kebonkwu pensation, corruption has become a lifestyle just as the anti graft agencies have become comatose and dazed. The fugitives who were cleared of corruption charges by the judiciary in Nigeria perhaps on the evidence available to them have been convicted in Europe on the same allegations with copious evidence. The police till date and indeed the authorities concerned are still not able to prosecute the bribe taking members of the National Assembly in the Femi Otedola petroleum subsidy scandal. What we see is unnecessary inter-agencies rivalry and competition for attention on the tube and print media giving mere impressions of performance to justify their budgetary allocation.

This is why till date, the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bomb blast has not be arraigned, no thanks to the conflict between the Directorate of State Security and the Police on who should undertake the prosecution.

Is the situation hopeless? Methinks with the right mentality and patriotic fervour, we could change the tide and create new consciousness and new value system that will make us begin to appreciate democratic ethos and respect for law and order as well as the rule of law. For now, we are mired in a state of anomie and sinking deeper in despondency as security of life and property are slipping out of the hands of the state while the Boko Haram insurgents inch closer to a statehood. Rather than confront the problem and fight the cause with patriotic zeal to regain our national pride and territorial integrity, we are blaming our so-called ‘international partners.” Why would the United States or Britain for that matter take Panadol for our own headache?

It does not make any common sense that our leaders could find it convenient to tell the whole world that we are losing the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists because America refuses to sell arms to us or provide intelligence to our security forces in our soil and territory. Our grouse against the so-called international partners for not

HE war against insurgency in Nigeria has sadly been reduced to Jonathan’s war. Those who could command public opinion to weigh in against the spread of the Boko Haram sect and terrorism in northern Nigeria have ostensibly kept mute or talking in a manner deriding President Goodluck Jonathan and his government; some are even out-rightly making encouraging remarks to create inertia of social forces that have continued to reinforce the insurgency in the parts of the country. This explains the growing lack of synergy amongst the political class in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria. Rather than pull together to defeat insurgency in the land, some sections are directly and indirectly promoting it for political gains.

Many political actors in the current dispensation come across as mere cartoon characters. They live under the illusion that once President Jonathan is forced out, Boko Haram insurgents would leave the Sambisa Forest and climb down from the Adamawa mountains and embrace peace and reintegrate into the society, like the Niger Delta militants. While this assumption remains to be seen and most unlikely, it is safer to treat Boko Haram as a terrorist organization that it is.

Insurgencies all over the world follow a pattern that can no longer be subjected to normal logic. The psychology of terrorism is clear: those who go through its tutelage and brainwashing, are radicalized to give up normal life and form a subculture, which can no longer mesh with the mainstream it left. This basic truth vitiates the thinking of those who believe the coming to power of somebody other than President Jonathan (perhaps a Muslim northerner) would stop insurgency. This is an empty dream if the antisocial and anarchistic nature of terrorism is fully considered.

Also, from the deep divisions in the fighting ranks of the Nigerian military, it does appear some selfish politicians have reached out to their contacts in the military and convinced many of them not to fight and to sabotage the operations of the Nigerian military. This has led to too many desertions and cowardly actions, which have paved the way for the Boko Haram to make frightful progress to the point of establishing caliphates here and there. The sect just renamed Gwoza in Borno State, which it captured in July to Darul Hikma or “House of Wisdom”. Mubi is now Nadinatul Islam, which means the City of Islam and peace. One wonders what is wise or peaceful about their violent take-over of Gwoza and Mubi or the sorrow, tears and blood they have left in their trails all over northern Nigeria.

One question is pertinent here: is President Jonathan the problem as some politicians want the world to believe? Let us recall that Boko Haram was incubated long before President Jonathan came to power at the centre. What triggered the current escalation of the terrorist conflict - the

coming to our aid in the fight against insurgency is a misguided display of infantile reasoning akin to a lazy workman blaming his tool for his failure. What kind of people are we that we appear so sedated and dazed as not to know how to use our head and common sense in the face of challenges? It is not now that we should be talking about equipping our military? What has happened to the huge budgetary allocations to the Defence Ministry over the years?

Look at the show of shame in the premises of the National Assembly where the Nigerian Police and other security agents refused the Speaker entry into the National Assembly Complex. It is a despicable act of unparallel dimension and a gross violation of the sanctity of any known democratic norm. It has become obvious from the theatre of absurd that we have watched in the past five or so years that our political leaders of today under whatever guise or disguise and under whatever political apparition and platform have chosen to revel on the grave and misfortune of the Nigerian people. We should not be looking for enemies from outside, these crop of politicians are working towards breaking up the country from their actions and inactions, from what they have done and what they have failed to do.

In less than 24 hours after the Nyanya bomb blast, we saw our leaders and politicians celebrating at a political rally in Kano.

In less than 24 hours after the killing of over 45 students in Potiskum, our politicians in their blind quest for power gathered at the Eagle Square Abuja in a political carnival subjecting residents of Abuja and environs to a most harrowing and gruesome torture flocking virtually every road that leads to the FCT. Just as we are worrying about the unrelenting insecurity in the North-east and the expiration of the state of emergency and what next to do, our politicians are at it again scheming to impeach the Speaker of the House of Representatives who has defected to the opposition party. Look at the imbecility displayed by the Nigerian Police and

Boko Haram and call for President’s resignation

By Law Mefor extrajudicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf, its leader - also happened before Jonathan.

What this points out is that Boko Haram was not precipitated by the Jonathan Presidency. This does not however mean that he should allow it to fester. The presidential will to combat Boko Haram insurgencies and defeat it is evidently there also; the military is being equipped and reinforced in manpower and otherwise, to adequately rise to the occasion. If the Nigerian military, once reputed as one of the greatest in Africa, has fallen short of expectations in this all-important fight, it is not because President Jonathan has denied them any vital political will or cover.

The reason the fight against insurgency in Nigeria is witnessing all manner of surprises and reversals is the said sabotage, which may have been inspired by those who want the insurgency to persist as a proof that Jonathan is incapable of managing the affairs of Nigeria. Such actors have made quite some impression on the international community, where vested interests may be denying the President the assistance he naturally deserves to pull the country out of the dilemma.

Curiously, the US of all nations are officially not selling arms to Nigeria and the US Ambassador gave the reason to be that Nigeria’s military has an awful record of human rights abuses. This has forced Nigeria to purchase arms even from black market out of frustration and desperation. More curious is America’s insistence on dialogue with Boko Haram, a brutal sect it has officially criminalized and designated a terrorist organization, even after that country, as a matter of policy, has refused to negotiate with Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.

Those who are orchestrating insurgency in Nigeria therefore do not understand some of the violent dynamics of terrorism, which does not reverse once on course. Fact is: no matter who is in power in Nigeria, even if it is the Sultan

some other security agencies. Which court orders were they enforcing? What has happened to those who had defected to other parties in the past; what kind of puerile selective justice are we applying in this country? In all this, we want America and Britain to come and carry our cross. Every public analyst and even our revered clerics that you would ascribe some modicum of knowledge of morality have sunk into that infantile logic that we are not able to defeat insurgency because America has refused to give us weapons and supply us with intelligence. It is a shame indeed that this could be the defence of our government even through diplomatic channel of our envoy to America.

It is a truism that the Nigerian military has been battle tested at home and abroad in International Peacekeeping engagements to the admiration and pride of every Nigerian and our international partners. However, the story coming from the theatre of operation in containing the insurgency about local hunters reclaiming towns and cities abandoned by fleeing soldiers should be a source of worry to any Nigerian that has the interest of the nation at heart. How did we get to this level of total and complete loss of sense of commitment to our land? The fractious nature of our army today and reversal of fortune in gallantry is due mainly to meddlesomeness by the political class who prefer to promote ethno-religious sentiments to serve their interest. In addition, there appears to be a paucity of critical leadership at the top echelon of Military High Command who care little about quality of personnel.

If at all we have a sensible leadership, it should occur to us that America is not the only known market for arms and weaponry.

Syria today, does not rely on the weapons from America and Britain and the country has held out against formidable foes. Sudan has held out against rebel groups in Darfur and the Republic of South Sudan not with the weapons from America and Britain. Lately, Egypt has decided to look elsewhere for weapons and armament when threatened by America and Britain on charges of human rights abuses. We should stop chasing shadows and face our problems as a nation; nobody takes panadol for someone else’s headache; Americans have their own problem.

• Kebonkwu Esq writes from Abuja

of Sokoto, the insurgency will not disappear. It may even get worse. The reason is also simple: even though Boko Haram claims to be Islamic, it does not share the same ideology with the mainstream Islam and unless the Muslim in power kowtows to their warped ideology, he will receive the same treatment as a Christian President Jonathan.

The solution does not lie in asking President Jonathan to resign. Boko Haram is simply an insurrectionary and social anarchism rooted in an Islamic ideology gone awry. Most religions do have them, the difference being only in their goals and mode of operation. Reverend Jim Jones of Guyana Tragedy fame, the Church of Ten Commandments in Uganda, Reverend King of Nigeria, to mention a few, all led many to their early graves and yet claimed to be practicing Christianity and have done so in history and contemporary times.

No serious country plays politics with national security.

In matters of security, politics takes a backseat. This explains why a Democrat’s President Barack Obama had to appoint an erstwhile top Republican Senator, Chuck Hegel, as the US Secretary of Defence. National Security is so allencompassing and at the heart of the nation and her survival.

And unless the nation survives, there will be neither politics nor politicians and this is point lost on the Nigerian politicians.

There is nothing a President should do in such war that President Jonathan has not done. What is lacking is synergy and the lack of it is made so by those who are now screaming that President Jonathan should resign for not standing up to Boko Haram. Mad dogs cannot be treated; they are destroyed the world over and so shall be Boko Haram.

• Mefor, Forensic Psychologist and Journalist, writes from Abuja

‘In matters of security, politics takes a backseat. This explains why a Democrat’s President Barack Obama had to appoint an erstwhile top Republican Senator, Chuck Hegel, as the US Secretary of Defence.

National Security is so allencompassing and at the heart of the nation and her survival’

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

23

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

26

LAW COVER CONT’D

A

KIN to a scene in a war movie, scores of armed security operatives (Police and SSS) last week invaded the National Assembly (NASS) complex and cordoned-off the premises to ‘screen’ entrants into the building.

The exercise, which had the security agents screening lawmakers and others seeking to enter the premises, was, according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, orchestrated by an ‘intelligence report’, which showed that some ‘criminals and hoodlums’ wanted to wreak havoc on the NASS premises.

Though on recess till December 3, the lawmakers had announced an emergency session for Thursday because of President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of emergency rule in troubled Northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

While the security forces were carrying out the screening, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, approached the gate with some of his supporters and colleagues, but they were denied access into the premises.

Angered by the action of the police, some of the lawmakers tried to pull down the gate while others scaled the high perimeter fence to open the gate for the Speaker and others to enter.

What ensued after they successfully broke the police’s cordon was a barrage of tear gas canisters thrown recklessly towards the advancing lawmakers. Tambuwal, whose colleagues formed a defensive wall around, was seen covering his nostrils and mouth with a white handkerchief to cushion the effect of the tear-gas.

The assault, which many have described as an orchestrated plan to prevent Tambuwal from entering the Green Chamber to perform his role as Speaker, is the second attack on him by the Abba-led police since his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The first was the withdrawal of his security details 24 hours after he announced his exit from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Tambuwal challenged the action at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

However, the NASS could not carry on with the business of the day as the Senate President, David Mark, while shutting down the complex, described the onslaught as barbaric and an application of maximum force.

Mark, who was said to have been thoroughly teargased, was quoted in a statement by his Press Secretary, Paul Mummeh thus: “This (shutting down of the NASS till today) followed the invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives who thoroughly teargased Senators, members of the House of Representatives, staff and journalists.

“An embarrassed Senator Mark, who had rushed out to the House of Representatives’ Chamber ostensibly to address the situation on hearing the development, was thoroughly teargased along with his colleagues while returning to his office after conferring with the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha. ”After due consultation with his colleagues in both chambers of National Assembly on this ugly development, it was agreed that today’s (Thursday’s) session be suspended forthwith.

The Senate President condemned the application of maximum force on parliamentarians and civil servants, who were in their respective offices to do their duties.”

Coming at a time when seven PDP lawmakers in Ekiti State, acting under heavy security presence, ‘impeached’ the House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Ominrin, and his deputy, Adedeji Orisalade; as well as the current hullabaloo playing out at the Edo State House of Assembly, observers have expressed dismay on the partisan role of security agencies.

Although some faulted the lawmakers for resorting to self-help by conducting themselves disorderly and scaling the fence thereby, flaunting the very laws they made; many have described their actions as an act of defiance, which should be commended.

Analysts insisted that the IGP should avail his men with the provisions of the Constitution to avoid obvious ‘partisanship’ and disregard for other arms of the government. But to lawyers, the IGP has to be sacked with immediate effect to allow for the appointment of a police boss who will be apolitical.

George Oguntade (SAN) said the IGP must be called to order to avoid anarchy.

He said: ‘‘It is crucial that Nigerians call the IG to order immediately, particularly in the light of the impending general elections. If this is not done, there is the possibility of a total breakdown of law and order. ‘‘The IG needs to take a second look at the Constitution, which clearly spells out the role of the Nigeria Police (NP). He cannot act outside the scope of the constitutional provisions. ‘‘The conduct of the NP led by the IG is clearly unacceptable and constitutes a clear and present

•Adekoya

•Agbaje

Tambuwal: Lawyers fault police invasion of National Assembly danger to our nascent democracy. As at today, Tambuwal remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives having not been impeached by his colleagues or removed by a judicial order. ‘‘The IG cannot constitute himself into a judge as well as executioner. He had already shown his hand and where his loyalties lie when he ordered the removal of the security details of the Speaker.”

Renowned lawyer, Funke Adekoya (SAN), said the presence of the police at the NASS complex was an affront on the principles of separation of power and a bad idea.

She said: ‘‘Whether authorised or not, the intervention by the police was a bad idea. Even if there was a security report as to the breakdown of law and order, they should not have stopped the legislators from entering. ‘‘It is that action that has given rise to speculations as to the true intent of their presence; being to stop the Speaker from presiding. If there was a breakdown of law and order in the chambers during the sitting, the officials could legitimately call for police intervention. ‘‘Their presence and actions are a clear executive interference with the legislative arm of government and should be roundly condemned by all, who uphold the principle of separation of power as a key underpinning of the democratic process.’’

Former Edo State Attorney-General Dr. Osagie Obayuwana said the action of the police was evidence of their disregard for constituted authority. He saluted the lawmakers for resisting the police, which tried to deny them access into their place of work.

Obayuwana said the police’s action showed crudity, lack of discernment and un-professionalism. ‘‘I salute the lawmakers for exhibiting the spirit of defiance. The reason stated by the police for the blockade was an afterthought and not tenable. Is the police now ascribing the status of hoodlums to the Speaker and other lawmakers? ‘‘From the attitude of the police, they see only the executive arm as constituting government that is why they have no regard for other arms of government. It is not only the legislature that has suffered such embarrassment. Some justices of the Supreme Court have been subjected to humiliation. ‘‘Can the police prevent the President from going to his office because of intelligence report? Instead of blocking the gate they should have applied discernment to know who to keep

‘

off. It is because of lack of professionalism that people hesitate to go to the police. ‘’This is another disgrace the people of Nigeria remember this era for. It typifies the crudity and total lack of discernment of government agencies. ‘‘Are the police not supposed to do its investigation discreetly in order to fish out the criminal elements, if truly there was any? Why should they throw away the baby and the bath water?

Linking it up with the APC protesters of the previous day further showed the partisan nature of the police,’’ said Obayuwana.

The former Commissioner further argued that Abba’s refusal to honour the house committee’s summons showed that his loyalty lies solely with the executive.

He said: ‘‘See how their (police) indiscretion held the nation to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court could not function that day because the chaos occurred at the three-arm zone. Do you know how long people whose cases were adjourned would have to wait? ‘‘People will be pushed to extreme measures if the police continue to display partisanship.

We are not in a state of anarchy yet but near. The current situation is an example of the fact that our institutions are not functioning as they should. ‘‘The lawmakers only exhibited the spirit of defiance against undemocratic tendencies and not anarchy. How can you keep a state official from his place of work? What happened to the police department that uses sophisticated weapons to carryout investigation? Why was such tactics not deployed in this circumstance? That is why I said their defence was an afterthought.”

A Constitutional lawyer, Fred Agbaje, described the blockade as primitive and an aberration to the principle of separation of power, calling for the removal of the IGP. He said: ‘‘The gratuitous attack on the National Assembly by security agents, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, is not only violative and primitive of the cherished principles of separation of power upon which our present democratic experience revolves, but an unpalatable threat to our democracy and the rule of law. ‘‘The sanctity of our hallowed parliament cannot and must not, under any guise, be provocatively desecrated by overzealous security agents in such a barbaric and crude manner as done on Thursday. ‘‘Hence, the heads of the security/police must be sacked immediately to allow for a smooth

Can the police prevent the President from going to his office because of intelligence report? Instead of blocking the gate they should have applied discernment to know who to keep off

‘

democratic growth/rule of law in Nigeria.

Those who detest democracy must never be allowed to come near it as epitomised by the overzealous state security officials, the new Hitlers of our time.”

Civil rights lawyer, Emeka Nwadioke, condemned the role of the police in attempting to prevent House of Representatives’ members from holding a plenary session to discuss the request by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the emergency rule in three Northeast states. He described the police’s role as worrisome, condemnable as well as a threat to the nascent democracy.

Nwadioke said: “Since the defection of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), the role of the Nigeria Police in the debacle has left much to be desired.

“The Nigeria Police have increasingly constituted themselves into the judge and jury in the matter, contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which vests the duty of interpretation of the Constitution on the Judiciary.”

He called on President Jonathan to wade into the crisis to protect the Nigerian Constitution and “stave off a major constitutional crisis” while strengthening the doctrine of separation of powers, which underpins the Constitution.

“It is unhelpful that attempts by the Presidency to wash its hands off the debacle have largely been punctured. While Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe asserted that the police were merely enforcing court judgments on defection, police spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, claimed that the assault on the Representatives and the hallowed precincts of the National Assembly was to prevent a planned invasion of the Assembly premises by hoodlums in line with an intelligence report.

“Nigerians and civil society organisations in particular must join their voices to ensure that this democracy is not truncated. It is also expected that, like his predecessor, the new Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba, must show courage and a healthy level of assertiveness in resisting attempts to deploy his high office towards unconstitutional ends.”

For Theophilus Akanwa, the police acted out of place, reprehensibly, illegally and with impunity. ‘‘The powers of the National Assembly as it affects the need for the protection of its activities resides with the Senate and the House of Representatives as provided in the Constitution not the IGP. ‘‘The IGP needs to take orders from these two chambers vis a vis the Senate President and the Speaker of the House for the sitting of the two houses. If there were any reasons why the House should not have convened, the IGP should have intimated the Speaker and not to ambush him. ‘‘It is out of place that a person, who has been elected to occupy the seat of the Speaker, will now seek orders from the police before the House could convene. It has never happened and must not start now because the Speaker defected to the opposition party APC, especially when he has made his plans of gunning for Sokoto State governorship known. ‘‘He is the Speaker of the House of Representatives and not PDP speaker and ways of removing him has been provided in the Constitution. ‘Can the IGP tell the world what he has done in Ondo State where the Governor and Speaker defected from the party that elected them to office to PDP? The independence of the legislative arm of government must be allowed to thrive without interference from the executive or the police. I call on the President to immediately remove the IGP for these lapses.”

Another lawyer, Ikechukwu Ofuokwu, said the police’s action was the climax of executive lawlessness and political insecurity on the part of the PDP. ‘‘The conduct of the Nigerian Police on that fateful Thursday, in trying to prevent the Speaker of the House from gaining access into the parliament, is the climax of executive lawlessness and political insecurity on the part of the ruling party. Never mind that the conduct of the legislators on that day, which could be likened to legislative terrorism, was shameful and a reproach to democracy. Executive interference in legislative affairs at all levels of government is an abnormality and an abuse of the doctrine of separation of power. The conduct of the police on that day I will describe simply as rascally. ‘‘What transpired on that day, which is a pointer to what to expect during the 2015 general elections, portends a great danger to our democracy and the rule of law. It is an invitation to anarchy. It is the prerogative of the House to choose its leaders. It is not about calling the police to order; it is about the executive knowing the limit to its powers and stop meddling in the affairs of other organs of government,’’ he said.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

LAW COVER CONT’D

The man Justice Mahmud Mohammed T

HE new Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has been de scribed as a gentleman and an intelligent man, who understands the law, applies it as it is and not given to emotions.

Born on November 10, 1946 in Jalingo, Jalingo Local Government, Taraba State, to Malam Mamman Maikato Bakin Kasuwa Jalinggo (a sawyer/timber dealer) and Aishatu Mamman of Garrkin Dogo Village, Lau Local Government, Justice Mohammed attended Malam Kasimu Koranic School, Jalingo (1950 -53), Junior Primary School, Jaling (1953-56), Senior Primary School, Jalingo (1957-59). He later proceeded to Secondary Technical School/Government College, Kaduna (1960-1964), where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate (WASC), Government College/Rumfa College, Kano ((1965-66) for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Justice Mohammed studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University (1967-70); Nigerian Law School (1970-71); Commonwealth Institute of Legislative Drafting (1976); National Institute of Public Management, Washington, United States (US) (1980); Institute of Judicial Administration, University of New York, US (1982) and Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, United Kingdom (UK) (1983).

He began his career in public service with the Ministries of Justice of the defunct Northeastern State, and Gongola State, and the judiciary of the Defunct Gongola State. In 1991, he was appointed the Acting Chief Judge of Taraba State, and was later confirmed as the Substantive Chief Judge of the state the same year.

Prior to being appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2005, he was Justice of the Court of Appeal, and then Presiding Justice. In addition to his legal qualifications, he holds a certificate in Legislative Drafting (from the Commonwealth Institute of Legislative Drafting); a certificate in Human Rresources Planning and Management (from the National Institute of Public Management, Washington, US); a certificate of administration of justice in a presidential system of government (from the Institute of Judicial Administration, University of New York US); and a certificate in government legal advisers course (from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, the United Kingdom (UK).

He is a life bencher, whose hobbies include swimming, reading, farming, animal husbandry and photography.

Stepping in as the 15th CJN, Justice Mohammed has made history as the first indigenouslytrained lawyer to rise to peak of the judiciary.

His predecessors were trained outside the country.

With impressive achievements by his immediate predecessor, all eyes are now on Justice Mohammed, who assumed office on November 20, to either sustain, improve upon or neglect the various reform initiatives deployed by her immediate predecessor, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, to reshape the Judiciary.

While in office, Justice Mukhtar emphasised discipline among judicial officers, which saw many being prematurely retired. Some were suspended, some hurriedly resigned on knowing that they were being investigated.

She also fought to ensure that the Judiciary, both at the state and federal levels, is independent and free from being manipulated by the Executive. She also fought for its fiscal autonomy, which most governors are reluctant to abide with.

Justice Mohammed has been described as a blunt individual, who says things as they are

•Nwobike

and is not afraid to take unpopular positions on issues once he is convinced that his position is right. He demonstrated this sometime in 2010.

In a ruling on the Sokoto governorship dispute, that latter resulted to an embarrassing end for the Judiciary, he distanced himself from the crowd by giving a dissenting opinion.

The ruling, in the case marked: SC.32/2010 with Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dungyadi and Democratic People’s Party (as appellants) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako (as respondents), was delivered on June 4, 2010. While the majority decision of the fiveman panel that heard the case then was that the Supreme Court could not, at that time, entertain governorship election matters and proceeded to grant an order stopping the Court of Appeal, Sokoto division, from giving judgment on a case which it had concluded hearing and adjourned for judgment, Justice Mohammed dissented.

He held, in his minority decision, that: “Yes, this court being one of the superior courts of record created by the Constitution and invested with defined jurisdiction under Sections 232 and 233, thereof prescribing original and appellate jurisdiction of this court, it is the same Constitution in the combine effects of the provisions of Sections 246(1) and (3) and 285 thereof, that the jurisdiction of this court in matters arising from the decisions of Election Tribunals other than the decision of the Court of Appeal in Presidential Election Petition had been ousted. See Awuse v. Odili (2003) 18 N.W.L.R. (Pt. 851) 116 and Onuaguluchi v. Ndu (2001) 7 N.W.L.R. (Pt. 712) 309.

“In the instant application, therefore, since this court has no jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs of stay of proceedings in the Court of Appeal Sokoto, the relief is hereby struck out. Application for stay of proceedings in the Court of Appeal Sokoto in appeal No. CA/S/EP/GOV/10/ 09 is struck-out as this court has no jurisdiction to grant the same,” he said.

Agenda for new CJN

Lawyers, who see him as a good replacement for Justice Mukhtar, are of the view that the only way to help the Judiciary is for Justice Mohammed to, not only inherit the reform measures initiated by his predecessor, but to seek ways of improving on them.

Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Professor Julius Chukwuma, and the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, urged Justice Mohammed to sustain the tempo of reforms introduced by his predecessor.

Nwobike said the new CJN is “a very disciplined, straightforward and intelligent judicial officer with considerable experience spanning several decades. He has served as the AttorneyGeneral in his state. He was a judge of the High Court, Court of Appeal before getting to the Supreme Court.

“One striking feature of the new CJN is that he is a fearless judge, and he is a deep judge in the sense that he listens and does not act on emotions. I expect that, within his vision about the Nigerian Judiciary, he is going to consolidate the gains, which had been recorded under the immediate past CJN. In addition to that, I believe he is going to open up new frontiers that will enhance the overall administration of justice in Nigeria. I expect that there will be innovations. And that the next two years will also witness some level of judicial activism.

“He should emphasise discipline among judicial officers, but such measure must have a human face. It should not be arbitrary because, if

•Magaji

•Justice Mohammed

you noticed, some disciplinary measures under the immediate past CJN appeared to be arbitrary. He should try to ensure that the disciplinary process is fair and those accused of breaching judicial code of ethics are given sufficient opportunity to defend themselves.

“He should take a second look at the current Law School education system. And through the Body of Benchers, make certain imputs in order to enhance the quality of lawyers being produced from the Nigerian Law School. The problems will never end. I believe he will have his own ideas as to what to do,” Nwobike said.

Magaji said: “We pray he will be able to sustain the tempo of reformation started by the immediate past CJN. We expect that he will pursue the line of rule of law, so that the independence of the Judiciary will be enhanced. This is because we are living in a terrible period in this country. He is assuming the head of the Judiciary at a trying period when everything seems to be falling apart.

Chukwuma noted that “already Justice Mukhtar’s courageous posture has incited the ire of many, who did not take her counsel well.

There is no doubt that at the expiration of her tenure, people who do not want her, will return to business as usual. And thereby rubbish the

•Nwankwo

gains obtained from her ethical, professional management of the nation’s justice delivery system.

“The new CJN must ensure that preventive measures are taken to reduce corrutpion and unethical conduct to the barest minimum. In this regard, there should be proper re-orientation of all the core staff, especially employees claiming ignorance of the code of conduct for Judiciary staff. This is to enable them understand the importance of their role as public servants.”

Nwankwo said: “We expect the new CJN to reassert the importance of the independence of the Judiciary and non-partisanship of judges. We are in an election era and we have seen a couple of decisions from judges that question their unbiasness in the political process and we believe that the CJN needs to continually deliver the message of the importance of judges to restrain themselves from partisanship in this political era.

“We also think it is important that the Judiciary goes back to its role of being the custodian and protector of citizens’ human rights. We have not seen the Judiciary play a lot of that role in the recent past, and we need to see the Judiciary come back to some level of activism that helps to protect the rights of some citizens in the country,” Nwankwo said.

‘The new CJN must ensure that preventive measures are taken to reduce corrutpion and unethical conduct to the barest minimum. In this regard, there should be proper re-orientation of all the core staff, especially employees claiming ignorance of the code of conduct for Judiciary staff’

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

28

NATIONAL BAR

When Olanipekun feted colleagues, others C

OURTROOM gladiators – from both the Bar and the Bench – dropped their cus tomary jackets and gowns for the event.

Their wigs and bibs were off-duty. It was no moment to splutter legalistic authorities to either defend or “kill” a case. It was an event where clinking of wine glasses replaced unnerving sounds of the gavel.

The event was not a court session. The rendezvous was the serene premises of the Premier Hotel in the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The hilly hotel gathered learned souls and leading lights of the legal profession to celebrate another evidence of God’s Grace in the life of an outstanding legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun.

To them, having a reception in honour of Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and a serviceable President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who added another feather to his cap as a Doctor of Law (LL.D), courtesy of Nigeria’s Premier institution, the University of Ibadan, at the institution’s 66th Founder’s Day, worth the while.

The honour was bestowed on him earlier in the day alongside other notable achievers, who have also distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. They are: The Emeritus Professor of Literature and the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who bagged Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.); Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi, Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Emeritus Professor Tekena Tamuno, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.).

Amid rapturous applause, Olanipekun and his co-awardees were praised in superlative terms for using their endowments in selfless service to their fatherland.

Also last Sunday, the President of Ibadan Business School (IBS), Chief Yinka Fasuyi, treated Olanipekun, his family and well-wishers to a lavish “pre-award” reception at his palatial home in Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.

Explaining the outing, Fasuyi said it was the school’s “token identification with the “laudable honour bestowed on Chief Olanipekun, our Vice Chairman”.

The reception at the Premier Hotel perhaps exemplified Olanipekun’s value in the eyes of his colleagues, friends, associate and kinsmen.

Gleefully, they thronged the venue in their best bib and tucker.

Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Dele Adesina(SAN), Prof Taiwo Oshipitan(SAN), Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) all stepped out to be counted. So was Eyitayo Jegede, Ondo State Attorney-General.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, were

By John Austin Unachukwu and Dada Aladelokun.

represented by Oba Kole Ojutalayo and Oba Olayiwola Adereti; High Chief Kayode Ogunleye represented the Ewi of Ado Ekiti.

The Regent of Ikere-Ekiti, Princess Ayooye Adegboye-Oyinlola was there with some of his chiefs. Also present were Prof Kolawole Jayeola; the Vice Chancelor, Ajayi Crowder University, Oyo, Prof Dele Olowokudejo; former presidential aspirant Dr Olapade Agoro; Dr Festus Akindunni, Managing Director, Geomatics Nigeria Limited; Ibadan-based lawyer, Ola Alonge and other frontline indigenes of Ikere Ekiti.

Sumptuous foods and assorted drinks were there for everyone. It was merriment all through as Dele Galaxy Entertainment Band, led by Bamidele Ogunsola, kept all wriggling their waists to his songs – well blended with pulsating drum beats.

Olanipekun, his delectable wife, Princess Omolara; their children and some of their inlaws were practically pleading with everyone to dine and wine to satisfaction.

On the lips of most of Olanipekun’s guests was his exemplary humility despite his legendary accomplishments at the “young” age of 63.

The Chairman of IJUNT Construzion Limited, Yusuf Adeoye, who said he had done some works for Olanipekun said described him as a unique giver. “His kindness is rare,” he said.

The dancer in Olanipekun and his better half came to the fore – though to the pleasant surprise of many a guest – when they took to the dance floor. Not a few suspended their meals to catch a glimpse of his well-calculated dance steps amid cheers.

In batches, guests joined the awardee at the cake-cutting session after which the dancing continued.

Akindunni described Olanipekun’s honour as robustly deserved, adding: “He is the most humble, intelligent and hardworking professional. He is a gift to Nigeria and humanity as a whole.”

To Agoro, “Wole is an embodiment of loyalty, industry, and humility. He is a rare human being with golden touch.”

Asked how he felt about the award, Olanipekun said: “Coming at a time it came and given the caliber of eminent few, who also got awards same day from the same institution, and in a country where merit is not recognised, I see great honour in the honour. It is an encouragement for one to continue to do what one believes is good.”

•Chief Olanipekun (SAN) (left) and Prof. Wole Soyinka.

•From left: Chairman, Governing Council University of Ibadan (UI), Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and UI’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. I. F. Adewole.

•Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN) and former NBA President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

•From left: Chief Olanipekun’s wife, Princess Omolara; former General Secretary NBA, Dele Adesina (SAN) and Mr. Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN).

•Dr. Dapo Olanipekun, Miss Winifred Olanipekun and Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN).

•From left: Chairman NBA Ikere-Ekiti Branch, Hon. Bunmi Olugbade, Chairman NBA Ibadan Branch, KGB Gbadamosi and Mr. Kunle Adetuwubo.

•Olufemi Ojumu (left) and former Chairman NBA Abeokuta Branch, Chief Adebayo Ayodele.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

PAGE 29

•The dispaced at the Kwaburu camp

Their escape must be a combination of factors. One was the fear of what might happen if they stayed with the terrorists; the other, the courage to flee. Two Adamawa State women captured by Boko Haram insurgents narrate how, against all odds, they evaded their captors, GRACE OBIKE reports

I

‘I escaped when our Boko Haram guards were sleeping’

N Kwabaru camp, Karu, Nasarawa State, where people displaced by insurgency are sheltering, you will find Mrs Mariamu Yakubu and Mrs Mariamu Musa. There is much more to them than their common names. Married with children, they stood face to face with young, bloodthirsty fighters of the Boko Haram sect. One ended up with other women in a dark, dread-

Ahmed’s wife helps the needy •PAGE 30

ful cave surrounded by thorns, outside of which none of them were permitted to go, not even to answer the call of nature. The other, alongside her 10 children, was made to lie face

down and asked to produce the key of another person’s car. They escaped but their ordeal will probably live in their minds forever.

Kwaburu camp has about nine

Inside Kaduna master fabricators’ home •PAGE 31

makeshift rooms in which hundreds of displaced persons are quartered.

Most of them are women and children but there are also a few men who escaped from the invading in-

surgents. Due to space constraints, the women and children sleep in the rooms while the men and boys from age 13 and above sleep outside on straw mats in the sand in the open air near the toilet.

Thirty-five-year-old Mariamu Yakubu, now safe with her 10 children in the dreary conditions of the

Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges •PAGE 33

•Continued on page 30

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

‘I escaped when our Boko Haram guards were sleeping’ •Continued from page 29 camp, relived her ordeal, her last child strapped to her back.

She said that although she had always heard of the insurgents kidnapping young and unmarried girls, she never thought she would ever be a victim. One reason for this was because she was already married and had children. But she was wrong as she indeed became a victim.

She said she came face to face with the insurgents on her way from the farm when two boys, who had already kidnapped two other women, confronted her, pointing a gun to her head and ordering her to follow them. Mariamu mustered the courage to ask where she was being taken, pledging that she be allowed first to return home and prepare dinner for her children.

Their reply shocked her. They told her they were going to provide her with a more spiritual husband who will give her better children than those she had.

“They told me that they will provide me with a more spiritual husband and that I will be able to have better children,” she said. “So, they tied up my hands and dragged me along with the other women and took us to a cave surrounded by a thick bush with thorns. They made us sit in the cave and warned us against trying to escape.

“When we complained of hunger, they brought us corn and asked us to cook it and eat, but we refused. As if to prove to us that they meant business, they refused to allow us outside even to urinate. We had to urinate, defeacate and sleep in the same place for three days.

“On the third day, I waited until it was dark and everyone, including the boys keeping vigil outside with their guns were fast asleep before sneaking out of the cave and ran into the bush. I ran inside the bush till I got home. I had injuries all over my body by the time I got home because of the thorns in the thick bush”.

Her story is slightly different from that of her namesake, Mariamu Musa who had to flee her home with her children and grandchild in the wake of the attack on Gwoza by the insurgents. She was unaware of the whereabouts of her husband and could not abandon her children to their fate.

Her biggest shock, however, was when she discovered that the same Okada rider who normally took them to and from the market was the same person who led the insurgents to her residence. Narrating her ordeal, Mariamu Musa said before the attack on the community, she had given up hope of living and was ready to die. According to her, she felt she was too old and lacked the strength to run away from the only home she knew after her husband who was an old solider had since run away when the terror increased, leaving her alone with the children.

But after she and her family were subjected to a horrible ordeal by the young Boko Haram boys who were well known to them, she knew it was time for her to seek refuge in a much safer place. The boys had made them lie with their faces to the ground demanding the keys to the car parked outside the house. But when they could not provide the key since the owner had escaped with it, they became very angry and started shooting sporadically into the air. Having survived that ordeal, she took her children and left Gwoza to an

•Mariamu Yakubu

•Mariamu Musa

•Little Reuben at the camp

unknown destination, walking several days and sleeping in caves and bushes, not knowing exactly where she was heading. Mariamu was lucky that the battery of her daughter’s cell phone did not run out and with it, they were able to contact a relative who directed them to the Kwubaru camp where she eventually found her husband. Before rejoining him at the Kwabaru camp, they had spent a few days at a similar camp in Adamawa State.

She said, “The atrocities that I witnessed in Gwoza are more than I can tell you. They invaded our village in August, shooting sporadically and everybody ran away scared. They killed our children, especially the boys. When they see a boy of about ten, they will just kill or kidnap him.

We the women ran into the forest and hid behind the rocks in order to avoid them. But they will still come after us shooting. We lived in the mountains for three days; then they sent a message to us that they are not killing women and that we should return home. But when we returned home, they started going from house to house attacking women. In my compound, we were 23, with two of us being older women and some young girls who had small children. One day, two young Boko Haram boys entered our house and asked us to give them the key to the car parked outside.

We told them that the owner was not around and that he went out with his keys. They threatened to shoot us if we didn’t give them the keys.

So, I knelt down and started crying, begging them not to kill us. But they shot inside the room several times to scare us. They asked one of the young girls to carry her baby on her back and follow them but we all cried and pleaded with them before they went outside and scattered the car before leaving”.

She said further: “One of the boys that attacked us was a boy that I

‘I told them I was married with children but they told me they told me that they will provide me with a more spiritual husband and that I will be able to have better children. So, they tied up my hands and dragged me along with the other women and took us to a cave surrounded by a thick bush with thorns. They made us sit in the cave and warned us against trying to escape.

When we complained of hunger, they brought us corn and asked us to cook it and eat, but we refused. As if to prove to us that they meant business, they refused to allow us outside even to urinate. We had to urinate, defeacate and sleep in the same place for three days’ knew very well. He was the small okada boy that was always carrying me to and from the market almost every day before they began to at-

tack us. I cried and said God so it is our own children inside this same Gwoza that are killing us like this?

They asked us if we were Christians

or Muslims and when we told them that we were Christians, they told

Ahmed’s wife helps the needy

H

UNDREDS of widows, women and cooperative groups across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State have started benefiting from the empowerment programme initiated by Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The empowerment programme which started in Asa local government area penultimate Saturday has spread to Edu, Ilorin and Oke-Ero local government areas of the state. The exercise is expected to go round the remaining councils in the next two weeks, it was gathered.

Items distributed at the events included grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dryers and high pressure cookers while clay pot makers, garri fryers and women farmers cooperative societies got monetary grants to boost their trade.

Other items shared at each of the events include clothing materials and food.

The carnival-like events have been punctuated with political sloganeering with the name of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling party renting the air at all the venues.

Mrs. Ahmed who doubles as the founder Leah Charity Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has equally spared a thought for politics.

At each of the events, the governor’s wife urged •Continued on page 32

•The items Mrs Ahmed donated

•Continued on page 34

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

31

THE NORTH REPORT

•The fabricators, the products and processes

N

Inside Kaduna master fabricators’ home

AME what you want and they will fabricate it within minutes. Their raw materials are usually disused items: discarded soft drink cans, wires and anything aluminum-based. Such is their proficiency that many say they are second only to the famous technologists of Aba, Abia State. In the North, however, everyone agrees

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

that the fabricators of Panteka Market have no rival.

Its popularity in Kaduna State and across the North is based on nothing else but the fabricators’ phenomenal use of local technology to produce a variety of products and

turning waste to wealth.

When our reporter visited the market, the technology of their displayed products was striking, especially because the craftsmen never to school.

A 30-year-old man told the reporter that it takes him less than 10 minutes to produce four big aluminum pots.

Ahmed Modibbo, leader of the aluminum pots fabricators took the reporter through the process of aluminum pot production. The first step, he said, is collecting aluminum material, like cans, deodorant containers and wires, among others, and melting them into liquid.

According to him, “it is compulsory to subject the aluminum to constant heat. So, we have a fanning system made with bike wheel, which is connected with a pipe to the melting pot. When the fire gets to the highest degree, the aluminum will start melting into liquid and dripping into a container kept under the pot through a hole.

“After that, the liquid is collected and poured into another pot where it is further subjected to heat. Inside the workshop as you can see here, clay sand is moulded round a sample of the pot, with required inscriptions on the sand.”

North Report’s crew was still at the ‘mini factory’ when the highly heated aluminum liquid was poured into the four carved sand to solidify. Amazingly, within five minutes, four big pots were ready for use. But it requires finishing, which is giving to another section to file and make the pot shine.

Modibbo who said he inherited

the trade from his father, said he and his team produce minimum of eight big aluminum pots a day, depending on the availability of aluminum material at their disposal. He also disclosed that, each of the big pots is sold for N10,000.

However, Modibbo said the greatest challenge they face in the job lack of support from government, arguing that, countries like Singapore, China and Japan are industrial giants today, because of efforts of craftsmen like us. But, unfortunately our own government lays emphasis on paper qualification and not productivity.

His plea to the government is to create an enabling environment for craftsmen to strive in their creative world and support them through provision of working tools and protective wears, which would help reduce accidents in their work.

According to him, “as you can see, this work is dangerous and risky. Sometimes, we have accident, if one is not careful, some of the insecticide or deodorant cans we put in fire do explode and injure us. But, if we get protective jackets and industrial wears from government, the accident will certainly reduce.

So, with government’s support, there is nothing we cannot produce in this market”.

Modibbo’s claim was later confirmed by North Report, when it visited another section of the market, where ‘Ice block’ making freezer is fabricated. This section is equally very busy with highly skilled, but apparently not educated craftsmen at work.

One of the leading craftsmen who identified himself as Ashimu Baba, but popularly called ‘Engineer’ among his colleagues said, everything used in constructing the freezer is sourced from within Panteka market. The materials used include iron sheet, aluminium sheet, compressors and cooling pipes among others.

Baba explained that, though the freezers are locally made, they produce ice blocks faster than the imported ones. And the freezers sell for between N100,000 to N700,000, depending on the size, number of compressors and quality of materials used in producing them.

Panteka can become the industrial haven of Northern Nigeria, considering the variety products being produced in the market.

From household materials like candle, candle stand, kerosene lamp, cooking stove, utensils to industrial materials like shovel, rake, digger and working tools are produced in the market. It was also gathered that, automobile parts are produced in the market.

Panteka is an untapped goldmine for Nigeria. Federal Government and its relevant agencies need to put necessary machinery in motion to reap the benefits of this unique market.

In the interim, the government needs to wade in to ensure that standard and safety are complied with to reduce hazards associated with the wonderful inventions taking place in Panteka Market.

Be that, that as it may, Panteka will continue to remain the ‘China Market’ of Northern Nigeria.

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NORTH REPORT

•A primary school built by the Yero administration

T

HE ugly face of schools in Kaduna State is giving way, thanks to the Mukthar Ramalan Yero administration. The policy of fixing the schools, according the Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Ahmed Maiyaki, is to tackle deficiencies in such key areas as manpower, infrastructure and construction. The institutions are being equipped and stocked with books and scholarship awarded to graduate and post-graduate students.

As part of this effort, the government recently approved post-graduate scholarship worth about N800 million in foreign universities. Concerned about the delay in the completion of the Kaduna State University Teaching Hospital to offer clinical training for students of the state owned university, the government, according to Maiyaki, has entered into partnership with the International University in Kampala, Uganda where 29 students from the state University are currently undergoing their clinical training.

He said, “29 medical students from the state university have already enrolled at the prestigious International University in Kampala, Uganda for their clinical studies as part of the MBBS programme. The second sets of beneficiaries have emerged and would be sent to reputable universities across the World to acquire additional qualifications for the purpose of improving the human capital of the state”.

Maiyaki told The Nation that following the sack of some unqualified teachers in the state and the directive to others to upgrade their qualifications or leave the service, the government was concerned about the gap being created in the the teaching ser-

•ICT centre at the Kaduna State University completed by the administration

Yero retools schools From Tony Akowe

vice in the state and made move to fill those gaps.

He said, “I am sure that you are aware that the last administration carried out a verification of teachers and discovered that some of the teachers in the state were not qualified. Some of those teachers were asked to go and upgrade themselves while those who could not be redeemed were asked to go. The exit of those teachers created a vacuum which needed to be filled. So, in order to fill that vacuum, the government, in the last few months, employed over 1,800 teachers while providing training and retraining for teachers in the core science subjects.

“The State Government has entered into collaboration with the National Teachers Institute (NTI) for the training and retraining of its workforce in the areas of science based subjects, diploma qualification and regular Teacher’s Summit in partnership with other development partners annually.

This was aimed at improving the atmosphere of teaching and learning.

This is already yielding results with improvement in results of candidates that sat for major examinations in the State.

“In 2014, Kaduna State emerged third best in the country on the list of States with the highest number of students that passed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) organised Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Students from the state also per-

formed to the pride of the entire nation at the International Quiz Competition held at Bangkok, Thailand and other international and local debates and quiz competitions”.

The state university, he said, has enjoyed a lot of attention from the present administration in the state. He explained that the law setting up the university made it a dual campus institution, stressing that this made the development of the Kafanchan campus of the university as important as the main campus.

He dismissed claims that the government was not interested in developing the Kafanchan campus, adding that the Yero administration has committed a lot of resources to the campus which houses the Faculties of Environmental Studies and Agriculture as well as the School of Basic Studies. Other projects already completed in the university include the development of Kafanchan Campus for take-off of Environmental Sciences and Agriculture programmes, rehabilitation of various classroom blocks, conversion of existing hostel blocks to academic office buildings, rehabilitation of residential quarters, construction of Multi-purpose complex, construction of Convocation Square, construction of various model twin lecture halls. development of Faculty of Science Phase II, development of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, development of university library, development of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences building, development of Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Pharmaceutical

•A block of lecture rooms and offices completed by the administration at the state university

Sciences complex, Faculty of Arts building complex and 500 sitting capacity Lecture Hall and Entrepreneurship Centre.

He said that the government was determined to fully develop the education sector in the state and has began the construction four new science secondary schools in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The schools to be located in Koreye in Sabon Gari Local government, Manchok in Kaura Local GovernmentAarea, New Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area and Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area will cost about $17.2 million. When completed, the schools are expected to train students from the state in science and technical subjects. In addition, the government, he said has built two more Tsangaya schools in Jere and Birnin Gwari area of the state as part of efforts to take almajirai out if the streets.

These schools are expected to compliment the first Tsangaya school established by the government in Sabon Barki Local Government Area and named after the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

He said further that “Governor Yero also approved N90m for the purchase of computer science equipment for senior secondary schools, which was distributed in March. Government also plans to increase students’ bursary and a committee has been constituted to assess and improve allowances of students. The government, through the Universal Basic Education (UBE) expended over N1.2 billion on Whole School Development Strategy in 46 primary schools across the state renovating and constructing classrooms, toilets and offices for primary schools as well as junior and senior secondary schools across the state”.

Ahmed’s wife helps the needy •Continued from page 30 women to participate actively in the forthcoming general elections.

She said: “Election is around the corner, women should come out. Let us speak with one voice. We are also good managers. We have a lot of educated and intelligent women, who can contribute positively to our economy and our system. I just want to encourage us to come out. Let us participate. Let us speak with our votes and make sure that we elect the right persons.”

Speaking on the driving force behind the empowerment, Mrs. Ahmed said: “One thing I have learnt about Kwara women is that they are very industrious. And I realised that what we lack is opportunity. What I have been doing is trying within the confines of little resources available to me, to make opportunities available for our women because when you empower a woman, you have empowered the whole family.

“Our dependence on government’s jobs has to reduce and that is what we are trying to do by this empowerment. We have brought some young chaps together who have learnt tailoring. In two weeks time’s we will

be graduating some students that finished from the Kwara state ministry of women affairs vocational training institute.

“We will be empowering them. We are self-sustainable our dependence on government will be greatly reduced.

“Therefore, I am calling on private organizations to partner with the government to combat unemployment in the country, as government cannot employ everybody and I know that private establishments partner with government through their corporate social responsibility to empower our youths.

“This is because the number of our youths that is unemployed is quite alarming. That is what we are trying to do to make sure our dependence on white collar jobs will be greatly reduced.

“I am a woman who is speaking for the women. I am not talking about partisan politics. The empowerment of today is not based on party affiliation. We are talking about Kwara women being self-sustainable and sufficient.”

Also speaking, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed on political matters, Alhaji Bibire Ajape extolled the vir-

•From left: Vice Chairman, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaja Risikat Opakunle; Wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Ramat Adeshina-Abaya during an empowerment programme for Kwara women and youths by Ahmed and Adeshina-Abaya

tues of women, urging them to play active roles in politics.

Ajape said women are more reliable and trustworthy, adding that they should come out enmasse in the 2015 general elections.

In a remark during the exercise in Afon, Asa local government area, the Vice Chairman of the council, Hajis Risikat Opakunle said the hailed the timeliness of the event as another year

of election is around the corner.

“It is timely because it will go a long way in enlightening our women on their roles and importance during elections,” she added.

Hajia Opakunle added that “in essence the benefit of democracy is what we all are gathered here to share; for those who are committed to the true game of politicking.

“Let me use this medium to appeal

to all women here present to double their support for our late great leader, Dr Olusola Saraki and the legacy he left behind by rallying round his son, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and our great party, APC in all elections come 2015.

“On our part as representatives of our people at this tier of government we will not rest on our oars to ensure better life for our women.

D

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

A

B

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

C

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

Page 33

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

•Many prefer to dash across the road

Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges A S it was in the old days, so it is now. After the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) committed huge resources to build pedestrian bridges across its major roads and prevent people from being knocked over, little seems to have changed.

Many road users shun the bridges and still make the dash across the busy roads in spite of the obvious dangers. This is a worry for the authorities and safety campaigners.

Frequent deaths and injuries triggered calls for the overhead bridges in the first place. Almost every week, there were casualties either in the morning or evening and the drivers often sped off.

The FCT has one of the best road networks in the country. Some of them are in Area 1, Area 3, Mabushi and Lugbe-Airport Road, among others. But they soon became death scenes as careless users were hit.

The number of deaths arising from these incidents became unbearable. Social campaigners and interest groups flooded the media, especially the radio, to make the case for bridges. The authorities heeded the call and started building. But months after the bridges were completed and flagged off, a good chunk of the public still prefer the old order. They have been jettisoning the bridges. They brace for it, look this way and that and make the dash.

There have been deaths, though not as much as there used to be before the pedestrian bridges. The FCTA has taken action to discourage pedestrians from risking the dash. One action the authorities took was to block the roadsides near the bridges with a mesh.

This has had little effect. In the course of gathering this report Abuja

From Olugbenga Adanikin

Review discovered that pedestrians have attacked the mesh, seeing them as obstacles that must be removed.

This was peculiar to some of the expressways where the obstruction could be found. It became so alarming that even if the trimmed part got fixed by the relevant authority, before dawn, two other sections of the iron net would be trimmed down. These things happen every day, much to the worry of the Authority. Some concerned individuals went as far as counseling the public on phone-in radio programmes to avoid the awful act and use the bridges.

Recently, a police team was sighted at Area 3 waiting patiently to nab defiant pedestrians. Abuja Review noticed the police were so careful in their approach. Their vision was clear. First to arrest offenders who chose to cross

R

the expressway rather than use the pedestrian bridge and secondly, to ensure the offenders were not chased to the expressway such that theywon’t be knocked down by coming vehicles.

A taxi operator, Mr. Paul Obi told our correspondent what led to the incident. Being a commercial driver, he was always plying some of these roads.

He said, though, the overhead bridges were too far from the spots the pedestrians used. He observed that scavengers popularly known as Babanbola, often in the night, cut down the barricades. He narrated his experience, saying, ‘do you know last week Saturday, one of these Mai’baro wanted to help convey a woman’s goods across the road, but the next thing he did was to just use his barrow to draw the net and push his wheelbarrow through. These are the things people do and push the blame

on the government.”

A commuter, Enobong Macanson expressed worry why residents in the territory could be so stubborn. He said it was the same residents that clamoured for the construction of overhead bridges, certainly for their safety but have refused to use it.

On the other hand, a number of reasons have been identified why members of the public would always prefer the conventional way. While some attributed robbery on the bridge as a major cause, others complained of health issues.

“Some people have issues probably with their legs and cannot climb the stairs and the contractors do not make provision for those on wheelchair”, Phoebian Oludamilola said. For Adio Titilayo, some individuals see the road crossing as faster and easier but dangerous.

Macanson told our correspondent that some people have a phobia for heights. So, for that singular reason, they will always go for the normal road crossing.

Gift Chapi stressed that some of the pedestrian bridges were built far away from the park.

“I think it is because some of them has height phobia so they will prefer to use the road. Aside, there are no proper orientation to change that mind set of the people because it’s more of a culture. Some of the pedestrian bridges were even built far away from usual spot so people will rather prefer to cross rather than walk the distance.”

Bushrah Yusuf also emphasised some of the bridges were not situated •Continued on page 32

Karu General Hospital takes off

ESPITE has come the way of residents of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs as the muchawaited Karu General Hospital has taken off.

The development will save people seeking health care the stress of having to travel to places like Nyanya, Asokoro, Maitama and Wuse to access services.

The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya made this known when he paid a visit to the hospital.

Onakomaiya said that the hospital took off on October 2, 2014 with the commencement of clinical services at the Behavioural Medicine

From Gbenga Omokhunu

Unit.

He noted that the development marked the commencement of services to patients with psychological and behavioural challenges and to date, a total of 69 patients have been diagnosed and treated.

The Secretary added that the era of referring patients with psychological and behavioural challenges to Kaduna Psychiatric Hospital was over as the Karu Specialist Hospital has both human and material resources to diagnose and treat different forms of psychological and behavioral challenges.

According to a statement issued by

Head, Public Relation Unit, HHSS, Badaru Yakasai, Onakomaiya said the Hospital has a dedicated building for behavioral medicine and is the only one of its kind in the whole of the Middle Belt of Nigeria.

He added that the Behavioral Medicine Unit of the Hospital is equipped with the state of the art equipment including Electro Encephalon Grain (EEG) Machine, Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) Machine and Laboratory Equipment in addition to good satellite Pharmacy that is stocked with specialized drugs and has a number of specialists including four Consultants, one Senior Registrar, senior Medical Officers and other support staff.

Onakomaiya further added that behavioral services in FCT Administration’s hospitals have now been centralised as the Units formerly rendering such services in Asokoro, Kubwa and Wuse Hospitals have been closed down, except that Wuse still provides out-patient clinics two days in a week.

This, according to him, will create more room for other services in those sister hospitals.

The Secretary assured residents of the FCT that the FCT Administration under the leadership of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed will do everything possible to ensure that other Departments of the Hospital commence Clinical services soon.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

34

ABUJA REVIEW

It is possible to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV in our lifetime, reports OYEYEMI GBENGAMUSTAPHA

I

T was as much for mother and child as it was for the entire humanity. The venue was the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. The event was organised to prevent the needless transmission of HIV to children. It was basically to show government’s commitment to the elimination of HIV from mother to child, and to tell Nigerians that effective interventions can be introduced to achieve that.

It was termed the Presidential Launch of the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016. The event featured a roll call of who is who. The President, Goodluck Jonathan was represented by the Vice President Mohammed Namadi. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus N. Awute, and Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Muhammad, were all there.

Representatives of traders, religious leaders and many organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS were part of history to end Mother to child transmission of HIV, which is characterised by infection of an infant with HIV during pregnancy, birth or when breastfeeding.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), up to 90 per cent of all infants and children with HIV are infected through vertical transmission. In the absence of any interventions to prevent the transmission, between 15 to 45 per cent of infants will be infected with the virus, and currently more than half of these infants who do not receive treatment die before their second birthday. Scaling up an effective elimination of mother to child transmission, or EMTCT, approach globally can reduce rates of transmission to less than five per cent annually, and avert more than one million new HIV infections among children by 2015, while at the same time improving overall maternal and family health.

Taking this cue, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) worked out a two-year plan on how Nigeria can achieve the eMTCT goal.

According to the Director General NACA, Prof John Idoko, global focus has shifted from the prevention of mother to child transmission, to elimination. Activities are now centered on eliminating all new infections of HIV

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus N. Awute; National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Prof. John Idoko; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Vice President Namadi Sambo, and Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina.

‘Now, babies can be spared of HIV’

transmitted from mother to child by 2015. ‘To achieve this objective, eMTCT activities focus on specifically strengthening activities to prevent HIV infection among women and their partners, and to expand efforts to reach men and to reduce the stigma of the disease in both rural and urban communities. It is also important to ensure access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatments for every HIV-infected woman and her partner. EMTCT activities will also strengthen linkages that support safer motherhood and reduction of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV/AIDS. Finally, EMTCT activities will continue to test ways to expand antenatal and postnatal care services, referrals and ways to maximize each contact with clients, and expand capacity-building efforts to enhance the quality of service delivery,” he explained.

The President said his government

Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges •Continued from page 33 at the designated bus stops. So, most commuters saw it as a stressful exercise walking down the distance to the bridge. “Some complain of the stress of climbing especially the old people who speak of leg pains whenever they climb the bridge.” Moreover, aside from the listed reasons, Adetola Jensimi basically attributed laziness and impatience as major contributing factor.

She said it was more attitudinal. “We are all guilty as charged but one thing I have come to notice about we Nigerians is that we always look for fast means. I think the reason is not far fetched from the fact that many see the pedestrian bridge as quiet stressful and tiring to climb….”

However, a commercial driver, Mr. Ifeanyi Igbokwe came up with a different story. To him, the blame was to careless drivers who have accident, hitting the fragile barrier. He said reckless drivers often hit the barricade, destroying the grid. Igbokwe asked government to ensure the projects are supervised and maintained for at least one year. This, according him, would enable easy fixing of the damaged barricades.

“At times, it is mostly caused by motor accidents. Most timeS, when I want to drop people by the bridge around the evening, they will resist and prefer I drop them by the normal spot people are used to.”

Miss Etta Chidinma also narrated how a colleague was attacked in the evening around 7 pm on her way back from the office. She said the lady went through the overhead bridge but got robbed of her personal belongings.

Based on her experience, she said it would have been better if the FCTA could put in place adequate security measures to protect pedestrians. She suggested that the authorities could partner the Department of State Security (DSS) who are mostly in mufti to arrest culprits.

“The moment it is 7:30 pm, people are no longer safe using the bridge. As she was coming down from the bridge, the bad boys just came from nowhere, snatched her bag and pushed her away. Some even use knives.”

Some have called on the FCTA to increase awareness and sensitisation campaigns, apart from the existing measures to encourage commuters to adopt the overpass. The gesture, they said, will go a long way in reducing road carnage in the territory and instil a new culture in the residents.

took active interest in the eMTCT because it desired that no Nigerian child should be born with HIV nor live with HIV acquired from its mother, for the 2010 National Sentinel Survey for pregnant women attending antenatal care in Nigeria recorded a HIV prevalence of 4.1 per cent, while the population survey carried out in 2012 observed an HIV prevalence of 3.4 per cent. “Nigeria records an estimated six million births annually and out of this number, a huge percentage of deliveries are outside health facility settings. The unfortunate implication of this is the high birth of HIV positive babies in Nigeria, which according to the United Nations, accounts for over 25 percent of the global burden of HIV positive births. Without treatment, 20 per cent of these children will die before their first birthday and 80 per cent will not live to see their fifth birthday.

“This is unacceptable to the government of Nigeria which recognises that the lives of all mothers and their babies can be saved through a combination of HIV testing and counseling; access to effective antiretroviral prophylaxis and treatment; safer delivery practices; family planning; and safe

breast feeding practices,” stated the President.

Recalling previous efforts, the President who spoke through his vice said: “In June 2011, the Government of Nigeria with other world leaders launched the ‘Global Plan towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive.’ This plan aims to reduce the number of new infections among children by 90 per cent and to reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths by 50 percent. Following this and other resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Government of Nigeria hosted the Abuja+12 Special Summit of African Union Heads of States and Government on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which resolved to implement a Post-2015 strategy to accelerate the eradication of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa by 2030.

“As part of the overall commitment of the Government of Nigeria to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I launched the President’s Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS and Other Related Infections (PCRP) in 2013. The Government of Nigeria has since

recognised that the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) is intricately linked with and directly contributes to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals that have to do with gender equality, reduction of child mortality, improvements of maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS.” He said since 2011, the Nigerian Government through the collaborative and supportive efforts of her International Partners has achieved significant progress towards the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. President Jonathan said the number of HIV counseling and testing sites increased from 1,357 in 2011 to 7,075 in 2013. During the last three years a cumulative total of 8,202,124 people have been tested for HIV and know their status. The number of PMTCT sites increased from 959 in 2011 to 5,622 in 2013, while the number of pregnant women counseled and tested for HIV and received their results increased from 900, 000 in 2010 to 1.7 million in 2013. The PMTCT program coverage •Continued on page 35

‘I escaped when our Boko Haram guards were sleeping’ •Continued from page 30 us that they were going to kill us because we were the ones that they were looking for. I began to cry and beg them not to harm us. We were afraid of what will happen next and so, we stayed inside that room for ten days without going outside, without any food or water. The children were crying because they were hungry. One the 11th day, we escaped from the house and ran into the bush and walked for three days on foot inside the bush from Gwoza to Mazaghalli and then continued till we arrived Michika. After we left, they broke into our houses, stealing our properties. Eventually, it was someone who knew this place that brought us here because my daughter went to school and has a handset. so she was able to use it to call people that helped us. If not for the help, of people, we would have starved, they are always contributing to us, this one will bring seasoning, and this one will bring corn, this one yam to feed us here, that is how we have been surviving so far.”

Interestingly, inside the IDP camp where these two women live with hundreds of others lives little Reuben, grand son of Mariamu Musa. During this encounter, lit was obvious that the one and half year old child was

‘On the third day, I waited until it was dark and everyone, including the boys keeping vigil outside with their guns, was fast asleep before sneaking out of the cave and ran into the bush. I ran inside the bush till I got home. I had injuries all over my body by the time I got home because of the thorns in the thick bush’ unaware of where he was or what was happening around him. Even though he, along his relations lost their homes to the insurgents, he appears happy laying with his rubber band. It is also evident that several of the kids in the camp have developed serious distrust for visitors having gone through so much in their life time than most adults outside their region will ever experience and have escaped death on several occasions with the parents and family they trust.

35

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

ABUJA REVIEW

•From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Newly Sworn-in Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and President Goodluck Jonathan at the swearing-in at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman(right); Chief Executive Officer, First Entertainment Concept, Ernest Akhikpemelo and Public Relations Officer, Association of Nigeria Motorcycle Clubs, Utibe Nkana at the flag-off of Rediscover Nigeria in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESES

•President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); his mother Eunice; First Lady Patience; Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and others cutting the President’s 57th birthday cake in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.*

•President, International Road Safety Organisation, Joop Goos decorating the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka with the Service Medal in recognition of his contributions in road safety

‘Now, babies can be spared of HIV’ •Continued from page 34

increased to 30 percent in 2013 resulting in a 20 per cent decline in new HIV infections among children. “In addition to these, the Federal Government through the Subsidy Re-investment Program (SURE-P) and other programmes has initiated health systems strengthening projects that are critical to achieving the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in various communities.

Despite the genuine and commendable progress made in combating HIV/AIDS, Nigeria is faced with several gaps because of her huge population. There are huge coverage and access gaps in Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV. Only about 61 per cent of pregnant women attended antenatal care in 2013 and only 36 per cent delivered in health facilities. Government is aware that support from international partners has flattened in the last three years and government has been informed by some International Partners of a gradual withdraw of funding support for some aspects of HIV services in the country.

The President said in response to these challenges, the will continue to provide the needed level of commitment to ensure progress in combating HIV. “To this end, the Government of Nigeria is committed to the implementation of the plan to eliminate of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV by 2016. The Government wishes to inform Nigerians that it has begun the release of fund for the implementation of the Presidents Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS (PCRP). Government recognises that a huge amount of resources would be required to effectively combat the HIV epidemic which poses significant threats to the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20/20/20. I therefore call on Govern-

ment at all levels, the Private sector and civil society organisations to support Government in sustaining a robust response to HIV in Nigeria.”

He used the opportunity to profoundly thank International Partners who have stood by the country all these years and continue to be a formidable ally in the quest to eliminate Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. “The Government of Nigeria is particularly grateful to the United States Government PEPFAR program, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the Global Fund, the European Union, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations System to mention a few. I appeal to our International Partners to be patient with the Government of Nigeria as it strives to provide more resources to the many challenges confronting the nation. No Nigerian child should be born with HIV. Together we shall end the AIDS epidemic among children,” stated the President.

Giving further insight into the reasons for government’s commitment to eMTCT, Senator Anyim said: “HIV in Africa is deepening its hold on our vulnerable population. The effect of HIV on women, young people and babies born HIV positive has turned up unacceptable figures especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is indeed clear that the fight against HIV would hasten the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable development. One of the most devastating consequences of the HIV epidemic is the Transmission of HIV from Mother to Child (MTCT).

This route of transmission accounts for a significant percentage of the HIV burden globally. The potential impact of Mother to Child Transmission on the achievement of the MDGs is becoming increasingly clearer. HIV has been recognised as a major contributor to the persistently high Maternal

Mortality in Nigeria.”

Senator Pius said: “Nigeria contributes about 25 percent of the global burden of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. The elimination of Mother to Child Transmission is therefore a priority health issue in Nigeria. Some of the challenges being addressed are access to quality and comprehensive Reproductive Health services and low uptake of antenatal services especially in rural areas. This has become very important due to the fact that a 61 percent of women access antenatal care but majority of these women deliver outside medical supervision or by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). There are still gaps in integrating Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services into existing reproductive health programs at various service delivery points. All these have necessitated the need to accelerate the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission in Nigeria, hence, the launch of the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Plan 2015-2016.”

He reassured that the government is fully committed to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as part of the overall Transformation Agenda. “The robust management of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which received commendation from the International Community is a further demonstration of Mr. President’s commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians. The President’s Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS (PCRP) which was launched by Mr. President in 2013 is currently being implemented. I assure you all that the Government of Nigeria will fully support the implementation of the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016,” said Senator Anyim.

There and then, the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016 was launched..

•Senator Bala Mohammed

Minister to resolve resettlement issues

T

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is set to resolve issues arising from resettlement of villages, one of which is encroachment on the right-of-way in the f ace of road construction.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed this, saying that his administration is committed to resolving such encroachment on the Right of Way that impedes on-going roads construction in such districts.

According to a statement issued by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the development, the Minister said would enable the contractors handling the provision of infrastructure complete their jobs.

He reiterated that all the stakeholders would be carried along in the process to ensure that all parties are satisfied and given a sense of belonging in line with the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

According to him, the affected districts include Guzape I and II Districts (that is, Guzape and Kuruduma villages); Idu District (Paipe village) as well as Karmo District (Karmo village).

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

36

ABUJA REVIEW

‘Goodluck Nigeria’ book hits the rocks W

HO approved the printing of a book hidden under a green paperback with the words ‘Goodluck Nigeria’ circulated during the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) programme at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja last Monday?

The author of the white and yellow book was probably hoping to cash in on President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to run for a second term in the 2015 election.

However, the writer of the strange book, who is one of the past winners of You-Win programme, was also the writer of the original copy of the green coloured ‘Goodluck Nigeria’.

Was the strange book brought to the State House with anticipatory approval or meant to ambush the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?

These were some of the issues raised just before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan on Wednesday.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s strict and no-nonsence stance was clear before the FEC meeting

P

From the Villa as she was visibly angry over the circulation of the strange book.

From her discussion with

some top government officials, it was clear that the circulation of the book, which she saw just

before the You-Win function last Monday, did not follow due process.

The Minister did not only bare her mind on the ‘strange’ book, but ordered the stoppage of its circulation in the Council Chamber.

She noted that the circulation of the book was not the first time such a fraud was carried out in her name.

She said: “A lot of atrocities are being committed in my name.

CME this, CME that. I don’t know anything about this book.”

Ordering the aides to stop its distribution to cabinet members, she said: “Please withdraw it.”

served, were not spared the shameful act carried out by security agencies of the government under the pretence of keeping thugs away from the complex.

The contradiction of the gentle nature of the President and the seemingly wicked moves carried out under his administration has remained irreconcilable to many political observers over the years.

Some of them have attributed the faulty moves by the administration to sycophants and bad advisers surrounding the President.

The Presidency itself is no longer in doubt of the presence of sycophants misleading the President.

During an early morning prayer for Jonathan’s 57th birthday, a prayer point

was raised against sycophants surrounding and misleading the President.

Leading the prayer session, Pastor Omale of the Aso Villa Chapel, said: “All the sycophants, Judas’ in the camp of Jesus Christ you will expose and uproot them in the name of Jesus.”

Also praying for the first family and the nation, he said: “As he steps into the year that many people have predicted one wicked and malicious thing, indeed if you are the God that created Nigeria, and we know you created Nigeria, every evil wish against Nigeria, every plan to distablise Nigeria, every gangup, every conspiracy, you said surely they will gather but not by me, as many that gather against you for your sake they shall be scattered, for the sake of Nigeria, any connection, any conspiracy

to destabilise Nigeria, keep Nigeria unrest, give those people their trouble in the name of Jesus. Cause that Nigeria will come out stronger in 2015 and beyond.”

“For your son keep him, protect him and guard him, be with our mother the first lady, uphold and energise her, that she will give necessary support to your son. Every member of the family it shall be well with them, those loyal leuitenants you have raised for him, serving with him in one form or the other you will keep them in Jesus Name. Amen.” He prayed Nigerians, no doubt, are saying a loud Amen in their closets for the sycophants misleading the President to be exposed and shown the way out for the betterment of the nation.

By Augustine Ehikioya

Praying away Jonathan’s sycophants

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan in many quarters has been described in the past as a good, gentle, easy-going and peace-loving person.

But other persons have also noted that the President’s apparent simplicity has not tallied with some steps and measures taken by his administration.

A recent case they pointed out is the blockage of the National Assembly gate and tear-gassing of elected federal lawmakers and representatives of the people.

The number three and four citizens of the country, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, respectively, they ob-

Jonation, old CJN, new CJN

N

OVEMBER 20 was special for President Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, and her successor Mahmud Mohammed.

The trio will not forget it in a hurry.

The day was the 57th birthday of the President while it was the 70th birthday of the immediate past CJN, Mukhtar, who is the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The date was important to the new CJN, Mohammed, because it was the day he was conferred with the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), officially took over from Mukhtar and also sworn in as the14th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who served as Master of Ceremony at the occaion highlighted the three celebrations and declared that the day was a special day.

Minister to resolve resettlement issues •Continued from page 35

•Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Emmanuel Buacha; Zonal Manager, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Bisi Ajayi; Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Chairman, Honeywell Group of Companies, Dr. Oba Otudeko during the handing over of Equipment to Master Bankers by the Ministry in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Mohammed stated that other affected districts include the Abuja Technology Village (Aleita, Pyakassa and Chika villages); Kagini district (Kagini, Kaba, Guida and Saburi Vilages); Jahi district (Jahi I & II, Kado Kuchia) and relocation of tipper garages.

He revealed that at the Mbora district, the issue would also be addressed at EFAB Estate and Tzango village; while at the Maitama Extension District, the issue of Barack fence would also be resolved.

The Minister said that the government recently achieved the reconstruction of the failed portion of old Karmo road, which is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of residents, particularly motorists along that route.

He announced that his Administration has completed the outstanding engineering infrastructure to Gudu District Phase II, final design of Interceptor Sewer Schedule V, final engineering design of bridges for Dakwa District as well as final engineering design for Arterial Road S30, Collectors A and B and other Access Road to Phase II of Federal Capital City, Abuja.

His words: “The FCT Administration in tune with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has completed the Subsoil and Geophysical Investigation of Daki-Biyu, Jahi, Duboyi Districts in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

37

LAW PERSONALITY FOR the first time, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Maryam Mukhtar told the story of her life in public. Justice Mukhtar, the nation’s first female CJN, narrated the story of how providence steered the course of her life from being a nurse to becoming an outstanding jurist. She spoke at a well-attended valedictory court session held in her honour. She retired on November 20 as the 14th CJN. ERIC IKHILAE reports.

Justice Mukhtar: I wanted to be a nurse The beginning WAS born into the family of Muktari and Hadiza 70 years ago in the City of Lagos. I am the second child of my father, (the first died at a very tender age) and the first of my mother. My father was born in Wuro Sambe in the present Adamawa State to an itinerary trader father, who traversed the length and breath of Nigeria selling wares, from his Village of Janguza in the present Dawakin Tofa Local Government of Kano State. My mother was an indigene of Misau, in the present Misau Local Government of Bauchi State. Her forefathers migrated from Borno and lived in Misau until their death. They were called Fulata Borno i.e a mixture of Fulani and Kanuri, not Hausa. So you can say I am Hausa and the above two put together.

Early life I started growing up in Lagos among the Yoruba, the Yoruba language being my first often spoken language. I will at this juncture state that contrary to what many people believe, I am not Yoruba. No doubt, I speak Yoruba fluently (sometimes better than the Yoruba themselves as some people say) even better than my native Hausa language. This is so with all my siblings as they also speak perfect Yoruba. As a matter of fact, there is one who can never converse in hausa without alternating with Yoruba words.

Loss of parents My mother died on August 29, 1991, and my father on August 30, 1992, exactly one year and one day after the other. It was a devasting period for me, for they were both very loving parents, who spared nothing to ensure I achieved the goal I set for myself. They were very patient with me, and I would say without them and God I wouldn’t have reached where I am today. My upliftment by the Almighty Allah was made possible through them, and I can never thank all of them enough. I pray daily that “subuhana wata’ala” is keeping the souls of Hadiza and Muktari in perfect peace in Aljannah firdausi.

Choice to study abroad My father followed the footsteps of his father, who traveled extensively not only within Nigeria, but also along the West Coast of Africa, like Ivory Coast etc, and eventually lived and died in Freetown Sierra Leone. My father joined my grandfather in Freetown and remained there (leaving three of his elder children in Nigeria) until 1960 when he returned to Nigeria after his father’s death. On his return I told him of my desire to travel to Britain to further my education, having completed my Primary School and a part of post Primary education. He was agreeable and thought it was a splendid idea, in view of my past performance. A passport was secured for me after I had gained admission to Rossholme School for girls in the county of Somerset, England.

Being the only black in all white school/community It was a time when black people were, but a few in the United Kingdom (UK) and in particular, in the villages. In fact, I was the first black person to reside in East Brent, and it was the most harrowing experience initially, because I was always inundated with most ridiculous questions, like whether people lived on trees in Africa, and if it was true that Africans had tails like monkeys. Some months after my admission into the school another Nigerian joined me, and I became relieved as their inquisitions were transferred to her, and with the two of us in that community they became more accommodating.

Schooling in England I settled down to my studies and took my G.C.E. ‘O’ level Examinations in 1962 and was successful in the subjects I took and scored the highest grade in History. As a matter of fact before the results were out I had been awarded the prize for the best history student in the school. After my Ordinary Level Examinations, I applied for the Northern Nigeria Govern-

I

ment Scholarship, which I got to start the G.C.E. Advanced level programme. I was admitted to Reading Technical College to study Economics, Economic History and the British Constitution. The first year virtually covered the whole syllabuses, and we were told we could attempt the Examinations if we wished. Many of the students expressed their interest, so I also saw no harm in giving it a shot in preparation for the Examination after completing the two-year programme. It was in this wise that I did not fill the UKAS form for admission to any University. Alas! to my utter dismay I passed two of the three subjects with good grades. Armed with two ‘A’ level subjects I went to the Northern Students Affairs Officer Alhaji Usman Suka in the Agent General’s office in the Nigerian High Commission. The late Mallam Usman Suka looked at the result and in his excitement said, if I could attain this result after only one year he was certain I would pass the three subjects with flying colours after the second year. I asked him what he meant by that, and he replied that I should go back to Reading to complete the course and take the Examinations again. I told him with my two ‘A’ levels I can secure admission to any college for any professional programme.

Ditching Nursing for Law I toyed with the idea of being a librarian or a Radiographer at different times during that period. That was after jettisoning my long time dream of adorning myself with the white Nursing Sister uniform and its cap when I was growing up. Prior to that there were three gentlemen, who were studying law in Chapel Street, and who had always teased me about studying law too. I say teased because I never thought I would be able to sit for lengthy hours reading books, the way I see them do. When I showed them my results and told them the dilemma I was in, not wanting to go back to Reading for the completion of the ‘A’ level programe one of them suggested that I enroll in the Inns of Court to read law. I again asked the question do you think I can do it, they all in chorused that I could.

The three gentlemen were Moshood and Muazu Abdulmalik (of blessed memory) and Lameen Metteden. I heeded their advice and headed to the High Commission to meet with Malam Suka again on what the next course of action on my studies would be. As soon as I entered his office, he looked at me with frustration in his eyes and asked if I had made up my mind about going back to Reading. He had a dream for me to further my education up to a Masters Degree level in the University. At that time my view was that a minimum qualification would suffice for any woman, and I conveyed this to him. He gave me a stern look and said “yarinya nan kina da taurin kai” meaning I was a stubborn girl. I am afraid this description followed me!! Anyway, he agreed to process an admission for me into one of the Inns of Court to see if I could become a lawyer as I had earlier told him I wanted to try. He succeeded in enrolling me into the Middle Temple and also into the Gibson and Weldon School of Law on Chancery Lane London. May Allah keep him in Aljanah. I wish he was alive to see that stubborn girl today!!

Beginning of Law training I started the Bar programme with Roman Law and another subject, and yet another subject of learning to glue myself to the chair in the library, for at that time I was restless and liked to be on the move all the time. It was like a punishment initially, but with time and practice I got used to it and became properly focused. In early 1966 I was ready to attempt my part II English Bar Examinations and I took it with some of my Northern Student mates. At that time, it was difficult to pass the final Bar Examinations at the first attempt, most especially because of the most ever difficult subject called ‘Equity’. I will digress a little bit at this juncture to narrate a joke associated with the subject. Two women met at the popular Shep-

•Justice Mukhtar (rtd.) herds Bush Market in London and one after the usual greetings said to the other “Mama Tokunbo o ma to ojo meta, mo se bi eti pada lo si ile ni” to which the other answered, “Equity ni o je ka ti lo o” meaning ‘Mama Tokunbo it’s a long time, I thought you had gone back home, to which the other retorted that the subject of Equity had prevented their return, as her husband had been battling with it without success.

Now, back to the first attempt at the final Bar Examination. I took the Examination and to my surprise I got a conditional pass, which left me with a failure in Common law and not the almighty Equity as is the fear of every law student. I was beside myself with joy as it was as though I had already become a Barrister at law. The fact that I still had a subject to sit again was inconsequential because it was the easiest subject, having done its components in the first part of the Bar Examinations. In fact, that must have led to the failure in that subject because I took it for granted, and so did not revise the different components very well. On reading the result, I quickly proceeded to Mallam Suka’s office. I entered his office with such excitement that he stared at me with consternation. I broke the good news to him that I had a conditional pass at the first attempt.

Having been the Student Affairs Officer for some years, he appreciated my excitement and joy for he was experienced in the intricacies of the Bar Examinations. He congratulated me.

I told him my plans, which were to work towards sitting for the Common law subjects, which I failed and the booking of my journey back to Nigeria immediately after the Examination.

He did not understand the sequence of events as tabled before him, so he told me to carefully layout what I was contemplating to do in detail. I told him I would take the Examination in July and then proceed to Nigeria in August to await my resumption at the Nigeria Law School in the 1966/67 session. I would apply for provisional admission pending the outcome of the result. He couldn’t believe what he heard.

He shouted that I would be taking a big risk in the circumstance as I may fail the subject. I told him I can’t fail, for it was an easy subject, which I failed because I was careless, and that if I failed I could always come back to repeat it, as I was tired of England. In his characteristic way, he looked at me with disbelief, shook his head and reiterated my stubborn tendencies. He tried to convince me to change my mind, but I refused, so he recorded my requests to pay for the resist Examination and book my passage

on the ship, MV Apapa to return to Nigeria; and also to apply for provisional admission in the Law School for me.

Back to Nigeria In September, 1966 I set out on MV APAPA from Liverpool, England for a two-week journey by sea to Apapa, Lagos. On arrival, I proceeded to the Nigerian Law School at Igbosere Street at the earliest opportunity. I met with the Administrative Officer, who gave me some forms to fill and informed me of my provisional admission that would be confirmed as soon as the result of my common law is out. I already knew when the result would be out, so on that day I went to Kingsway Stores along the Marina, to buy a copy of the London Times Newspaper in which the Bar results are usually published. As soon as I saw my name under the reference list of the results, I proceeded to the Law School to show the Secretary, who had in fact, already seen it and had already prepared all papers necessary for me to commence the one year programme. On November 22, 1966, during the Michaelsma Term, I was called to the English Bar at the Middle Temple in absentia. In absentia meant I was not present at the call. The library in the Law School became my favourite room in the building because of the coolness from the air condition, and on the pretext that I was studying I would bury my face on the table even when I was sleeping! At the Law School everything went on smoothly as I enjoyed the company of many of my mates with whom it was jokes and laughter galore. The saying that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy was indeed, our watchword. We had what we called made in Nigeria lawyers, and made in England lawyers!! We were called to the bar in June, 1967.

There were only eight females in that set, and only three of us became Judges. Some became successful Private Practitioners, and one became a business woman.

Beginning of career in public service As it was the practice during that period, letters of appointment were already waiting for all of us on Scholarship. I proceeded to Kaduna to obtain my letter of employment as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice. A few months later, I was seconded to the legal drafting department of the Interim Common Services Agency as a legal draftsman under an English man called Mr. King. I think he is late now because even at that time he was well over fifty years old. I must say at this juncture, that it •Continued on page 38

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

38

LAW PERSONALITY

Justice Mukhtar: I wanted to be a nurse •Continued from page 37 was at that point that I started imbibing the discipline that has helped me throughout my career. I learnt to be punctual to the office and to remain in the office unless it became absolutely necessary to leave. At that time reporting time for work was 7.30 a.m., and if at anytime I was a few minutes late, Mr. King would stand at the door, waiting for me. As soon as he sights my car he will herald my arrival with the words ‘Here comes Her Majesty.’ The late Mr. Adesiyun, who later became the Chief Judge of Benue State with whom I shared the same office, would always inform me of this. On such occasions, I would sit down uncomfortably waiting for Mr. King to chide me. Sometimes, he would and sometimes he would simply ignore me, and the latter always bothered me more.

Life on the bench In 1971 the state was short of Magistrates and there was a backlog of cases especially in Maiduguri. The late Alhaji Buba Ardo, (bless his soul), after pondering the situation invited me to his chambers to discuss the problem with me. He wanted me to become a Magistrate. I was disturbed and it was palpable, for he immediately added that it would be temporary until they are able to recruit lawyers from outside the state. I did not like the proposition as I was happy with what I was doing then and did not want to leave my colleagues. He gave me an undertaking that it would be for only six months after which I would return to the Ministry. I became the first woman to be appointed a Magistrate in the Northern States of Nigeria. Of course, I never returned to the Ministry.

In January 1977, I was sworn in as a Judge of Kano State, thus becoming the first female to be appointed a Judge in the Northern States of our beloved country, and the third in the country as a whole. The first female Judge in the person of the late Mrs. Modupe Omo-Ebo, was appointed in November 1969, and the second one Elsie Oguntoye, a Briton married to a Nigerian, was appointed just a few months before me, and so an era of Women Judges in a terrain that was hitherto, dominated by the males began. At the time I became a Judge, I was only 32 years old, which made me the youngest Judge in the Country. As a pioneer in the North and virtually one in the country, I was determined to acquit myself and justify the confidence reposed on me by the members of the then Advisory Judicial Council, who found me worthy of the position. I was also determined to carve a niche for myself with a reputation that was unparallel, so I applied myself to the work, because I knew that if I was to excel I had to work thrice harder than the men.

Things eased out to the advantage of women over the years and they were encouraged after exhibiting their intelligence and honesty to all. After my appointment and the appointment of another three females in quick successions, only six women Judges existed in the country for

many years, until the floodgate was opened for them to join the Higher Bench of the Judiciary.

To God be the glory, today there are 277 Women Judges presently in the country as against the 749 male Judges. For this, I implore my sisters to be humble in all they do, for he that is humble will forever have God to be his guide.

Initial disappointment I rose to be number two in the hierarchy of the Kano State Judiciary, and was to remain number two for years to come until I was elevated to the Court of Appeal. In 1982, the then Chief Judge, (an expatriate) retired, and a Judge, who came on board a few years after my appointment as a Judge, was made the Chief Judge. When an exercise for appointments to the Court of Appeal commenced the new Chief Judge asked if I was interested, I answered in the negative, because in spite of the situation on the ground, I had no desire to be moving from state to state as the office demands. In 1985, the incumbent Chief Judge left for the Court of Appeal, again history repeated itself, for again I was superceded by the then number four or five in the hierarchy of the court, after acting as the Chief Judge for sometime, becoming the first woman in the country to discharge the function albeit temporarily. I took it in my stride and continued to work as though I was meant to be number (2) forever!! To me, Allah wished it that way, and if he had said ‘no’ nobody could have commanded it to be ‘yes’.

Indeed, it was as though I had full knowledge of what he had in store for me in future. People were always surprised at my attitude towards these developments. Some wondered aloud how I could still continue to work and apply myself the way I had done, but I always explained to them that if I changed my modus operandi, it is the citizens and the lowly that would suffer, and not those responsible for the situation. The people, however, always appreciated my imputs, and the fact that my hard work had impacted on the society at large encouraged me the more.

Elevation to the Court of Appeal And so it was that in September, 1987, I was elevated to the Court of Appeal, courtesy of the then Government at the Centre. Again I was the only woman in the midst of 28 of the President’s Men, thus making me the first female to be so appointed, and that feat remained so until six years later, when another woman in the person of Late Hon. Justice Atinuke Ige, was appointed. Today, there are over 20 women in the Court of Appeal, a development which nobody envisaged would happen in 1979 when the Court was established. Incidentally, I never envisaged that any woman would climb up the ladder to that level. So, to be candid, I never aspired to get there. To me, the High Court was the ultimate and was enough for me. Indeed, as I watched one of my seniors being sworn-in on the television one evening, I said to myself this is for men only, not any woman. Little did I know that even with my pessimism, I was destined to head the Judiciary of Nigeria. At that stage I did

not even think of the Supreme Court, not to talk of the position of the Chief Justice. Wherever I found myself I was always contented and full of gratitude to Almighty Allah, the most merciful and the most gracious, who can make and undo.

I knew Allah would make my sojourn in the Court of Appeal a success, and it was with this in mind that I reported at the Jos Division of the Court, where I worked for 5 years before I was transferred to the Ibadan Division of the Court.

I lived in Ibadan from 1992 to 2000 and became the Presiding Justice of the Division. There I was able to further polish my Yoruba Language, and it was there the revered nomenclature of ‘Mama’ (which has up till today followed me) was given to me. I became a Bencher there and always attended meetings at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, from 1993. In the year 2000, I was transferred back to Jos, this time as the Presiding Justice of the Division. I have always liked the Tin City because of the weather and its serene environment, coupled with the fact that the workload was less tasking.

Elevation to the Supreme Court By 2005, God moved in his usual mysterious way to facilitate my movement from Jos to Abuja by way of making my elevation to the Supreme Court possible. Again this achievement did not come easy. My gratitude goes to those who conceived the idea and brought it to fruition. On June 8, 2005, I was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria together with three others. Yes, God performed His miracle on me again in His merciful and benevolent way, by making it possible for me to sit on the Highest Judicial Bench in the land.

My faith in Him continued to wax stronger and never in any situation faltered. Having reached the Court of Appeal, I had no doubt in my mind that it would one day come to pass in spite of all the intervening travails. That was in fact, why I folded my arms and waited on Him. It was not out of pride or arrogance that I refused to solicit anybody’s assistance. It was my faith and confidence firmly anchored on God’s mercies that guided me. When I am accused of staying aloof and refusing to pursue the actions that may accelerate the growth of my career, I always answered that God sees the work I put in to justify my wages and position as He implores us to do in the two holy books, and also watches my attitude to the work He has entrusted me to do.

Moreover, I was convinced that I discharged my judicial functions the way Allah orders us, Judges, to do. I focused on the teachings of the Holy Quaran in Chapter IV Verse 58.

Appointment as CJN Again, I left everything to Him, who has always been there for me. For I was confident He would choose what was right for me, and prayed that it was whatever he thought would uplift me in His eyes that He should make possible. On

Community urges court to jail IGP over alleged disobedience of order

R

ESIDENTS of Atimporome (Phase II) and Araromi Ale communities, Oriade Local Government of Lagos State, have prayed the court to jail the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone II Command, and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, for flagrant abuse of court order.

The trio are the 6th, 7th and 8th defendants in a case the communities are pursuing.

The residents were granted “an order of court committing the 6th and 8th defendants, their servants, privies and or any persons or persons found working on the land in dispute to prison for their continued flagrant disobedience of the court order made on June 9, this year.

Other defendants in the suit are: Lagos State governor; the state Attorney-General; his counterpart in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; the state Commissioner for Rural Development and the Surveyor-General in the state.

The applicants are: Chief Adu Edeha Charles; Messrs Oluseyi Odeleye; Olukoya Afolabi; Iwueze Patrick and Ashimolowo Sharafadeen.

Others are Elder Joseph Onwuka; Mrs Rukayat Ogungbesan; Alhaji Isiaka Obabiyi; Messrs.

Remilekun Agoro; Ahmed Alade; Samuel Ekoh and Charles Eneanya.

The claimants are: Pa Moses Ileniyi Ojo; Mr Oyerinde Talabi; Mr Idowu Abati; Mrs Racheal Afolabi; Mr Joseph Ajibawo; Mrs Ajimo Abati; Micheal Tanimowo; Isaac Tanimowo and Mr Taminu Tanpinu, among others.

In a supporting affidavit, the Chairman,

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Atinporome Phase II/Araromi Ale Community, Chief Charles Edeha Adu, said their request, if granted, would serve as a deterrent to others especially, custodians of the law, that no one is above the law.

Adu lamented that prior to the court order, the court had made several oral admonitions to all parties to stay action on the disputed land, adding that failure of the 6th and 8th defendants to respect the appeal necessitated the court order.

“That I pray the honourable court to commit the 6th and 8th defendants to prison to serve as deterrent to others, who are contemplating disobeying court orders in the future,” Adu said, adding: “That the continued presence of 6th and 8th defendants is capable of eroding our confidence and faith in the ability of the honourable court to commit the 6th and 8th defendants to prison to serve as a deterrent to others, who are contemplating disobeying court order in the future.”

Adu recalled that in August, he, in company of some principal officers of the said communities, visited police officers on site and intimated them about the subsisting court order, but were shocked when the officers ignored them. He noted that the continued presence of the officers on the land in dispute on instruction of the 6th and 8th defendants, is giving his members who are majorly artisans, farmers and traders a sense of hopelessness.

•Justice Mukhtar (rtd.)

July 16, 2012, I was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That was the ultimate for me and I was extremely happy to be the first woman to be so sworn-in. On that day I was also conferred with the National Award of GCON (the second highest honour in the land) by His Excellency, a feat which no woman had ever achieved in this great country of ours. Early this year, I was pleasantly surprised when I was honoured during the Centenary Celebration of Nigeria with the Outstanding Contemporary Public Servant award. That was another great day for me. For all these, I am very grateful to his Excellency. I also appreciate his support and co-operation in respect of my reforms, his attitude towards me, and the respect that goes with it.

Challenges as female CJN As the first woman Chief Justice of Nigeria, I knew I had lots of challenges before me. First, a challenge to show the nation that given the opportunity, a woman can perform the function of the Chief Justice as effectively and efficiently as any man. Secondly, a challenge to reform a Judiciary that was always a subject of attack and ridicule to one that is worthy of commendation.

Thirdly, a challenge to transform the system of Judicial appointments to be based on competence, coupled with good character rather than nepotism and influence. With the co-operation of the National Judicial Council I was able to achieve my objective, but not without some challenges. I will stress here that (contrary to complaints and allegations) every Judge investigated and sanctioned was given a fair hearing with defence lawyers in attendance. I have been in the Apex Court for over nine years, over two years of which I have spent as the Head of the Nigerian Judiciary.

I owe this feat also to Nigerians, who have put their trust and faith in me. I am sometimes amazed at the amount of confidence Nigerians have reposed in me right from my elevation to this court.

Their faith in me has never faltered inspite of the machinations of a few. I hope I have not disappointed them. It is their fervent prayers that have continued to sustain me Final note This year is the 47th year since I joined the Government Service of Nigeria, and looking back to all these years I can confidently say I have been fulfilled. Yes, they have been fulfilling years filled with thrills, happiness, sadness and blessings of God. For this, I praise and thank God. I thank Him for being my strength in times of tribulations. I thank Him for making it possible for me to have unshaken faith in Him. I thank Him for being my pillar in the face of adversities. All is well that ends well, as it is indeed, very much applicable to me. To all my well-wishers and non well-wishers alike, I say thank you for making all these possible.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

LEGAL OPINION

Lawyers seek review of mortgage laws L

AWYERS have called for a new legal framework to enhance the mortgage system for more tenants to become landlords.

According to them, the existing arrangement does not encourage financial institutions to grant mortgage loans.

They spoke in Lagos at the Legal Business Summit organised by the law firm of Olisa Agbakoba and Associates and BusinessDay newspaper.

The theme of the summit is: “Waking up dead capital: the intersection between Law and Economic Development.”

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Managing Director, Mr Mustapha Chike-Obi, who gave the keynote address, said if the government shouldered some losses in mortgage payment default, more financial institutions would get involved.

He said most mortgage institutions were faced with the challenge of enforcing or foreclosing a contract.

Chike-Obi suggested that the government should guarantee to bear about 80 per cent of the mortgage sum in the event of a default, while the banks and insurance companies bear 10 per cent each.

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said there must be a conducive legal and institutional framework for the economy to growth.

According to him, there can be housing for all if the laws provide

By Medinat Kanabe

for its affordability, with the government guaranteeing it.

To him, if most Nigerians can afford to pay their rent, then they should be able to finance a mortgage loan.

“The only difference is that as a tenant, you will continue being one, but in a mortgage, you are a tenant, but you become an owner,” he said.

Agbakoba said the laws should be made to allow more people access to mortgages.

“This seminar is looking for ways to push the barrier away so that we can unlock the dead capital. If the dead capital comes up, it will be distributed with guarantees that you can pay.

“It is part of government responsibility to guarantee mortgage for the people. I want to hear what the political parties will be saying in 2015 about how they intend to unlock dead capital.

“A government that needs your vote should be able to guarantee you access to a mortgage facility and hope you don’t default,” he said.

A discussant, Mr Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), said the courts could also deal with the issue of foreclosure by pre-emptive remedies.

He added: “If non performing assets are sold out as bad debts, then I think it is also appropriate to set up an institution to purchase performing assets in a bid to expand the coun-

try’s economy.”

Eghobamien called for a legal framework that will encourage a bank to give individuals mortgage loans.

The Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), he noted, is a secondary mortgage liquidity facility that lends to primary mortgage institutions, who then lend to the borrower.

“They don’t lend and they do not interact with the borrowers on the street. What we are trying to achieve now is if you are paying a rent, at a point that property should be yours.

“If everything is put in place including the law, why would anyone pay rent for that long and the property is not converted to his?”

Osaro asked.

A participant, Rufus Olanrewaju, said if the laws are reviewed to address the mortgage challenges, more people would be able to own houses.

The Delta State University Business Law lecturer also said land should be liberalised so that everyone can have access.

Other speakers included NMRC director, Mr Sonnie Ayere; Africapitalism Institute director, Mr David Rice; Access Bank Plc Group Managing Director, Mr Herbert Wigwe and Special Assistant on Taxation and Revenue to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Mr Shola Banjo.

•From left: Former President NBA Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN),GMD Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Director, Africapitalism Institute, Mr. David A. Rice.

Traditional rulers sued over land dispute

A

N Ogun State High Court, sit ting in Shagamu, has adjourned till January 12, next year, the trial of two traditional rulers in Mowe, Ogun State over a disputed land in Alahun, Shagamu.

The court, presided by Justice E.A. Osinuga, ordered the defendants, the Baale of Mowe, Chief Babatunde Ojelade and his counterpart at Imedu-Nla, Chief Jimoh Adebayo and other parties, “the named and the un-named”, to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed against them by the claimant,.

In an application filed before the court by his counsel, Yemi Omodele, the claimant, Chief Olorunjuwonlo Bankole Otasanya and the traditional ruler of the disputed land, sought injunctive reliefs against the defendants.

He asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from trespassing on the disputed land.

He asked for an order of the court to declare that the defendants, their servants, agents and/or privies do

By Adebisi Onanuga

not have any portion of the land covered by survey plan no. AP1245 dated 12/08/1985, the land being at Alahun Village Sagamu Local Government Area (LGA).

He averred that the defendants have caused a lot of confusion in Mowe and its environs by turning to land speculators.

He alleged that the defendants facilitated his being charged to the Magistrates’ Court in Sagamu on a frivolous charge that their family, Otasanya Bankole, as the owner of the land in dispute from time immemorial, He claimed that the defendants were chased from Abeokuta and came to his community to disturb him.

The defendants, in their statement of defence, claimed to be agents of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

They averred that the church has bought the land in dispute from the claimant and his family.

According to them, the RCCG paid money to the claimant in respect of the land.

They said, in view of this, the claimant do not have land in the place, having sold same to the church and that they have the authority and consent of the RCCG to enter the land.

In his reply to the defendants’ statement of defence, the claimant alleged that the traditional rulers have turned their stools to land speculating avenue and do not respect their offices .

He alleged that they have been duping people, who wanted to buy land in the area.

The claimant also maintained that the defendants do not have any land in the disputed area and do not have any authority/ or consent from the RCCG to send him away from his father’s land.

He stated that he was deceived to sign an undated MoU, which was attached to the defendants’ counter affidavit and their statement of defence.

The RCCG, he stated, did not sign the document, but that the defendants brought it to him to cajole him, claiming that he collected money from the church.

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Elevation of Justices Mohammed and Nweze

T

HE recent stirring in the Supreme Court takes precedence for this column above the disgraceful conduct of the executive and the legislative arms of government, in the past week. With utmost respect, I refer to the recent appointment of my Lord, Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the elevation of my Lord, Justice Chima Centus Nweze, of the Court of Appeal, to the Supreme Court. While I had looked forward to celebrate the cerebral acuity and professorial fecundity of Nweze, JSC, the epochal appointment of our home groomed Chief Justice of Nigeria, shows that the legal profession in Nigeria, has come of age.

Justice Mahmud Mohammed CJN So, I join other Nigerians to celebrate the first Chief Justice that is reportedly trained in Nigeria up to the Nigeria Law School, as different from his predecessors who were first trained in the Inns of the English Bar. It is my earnest hope that this development will manifest in a reformist judiciary, which will pursue a more philosophical blend of the best of the inherited English legal system with the best of our traditional and cultural precepts, to drive and promote a more compassionate social justice system, and less of anarchical technicalities, for the progress of our dear country. In my humble view, this will require a radical reformation of our adversarial system of justice, the imputation of mediatory role by Judges during trials, and less dependence on rigorous technicalities, particularly with respect to the enforcement of fundamental human rights.

I will therefore most humbly re-submit my humble exaltations, under this column in 2012, when my Lord, retired Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, was appointed the Chief Justice of Nigeria, to wit: “In my humble view, I will advise her (his) Lordship to examine the judicial impact made by the world renowned Jurist, and former Chief Justice of India, Justice P. N. Bhagwati and his ageless pronouncements and revolution in India with regards to public interest litigation. If she (he) wants to be positively remembered, then she (he) has to seek out the guiding principles of the radical sides of such eminent Supreme Court Justices like Chukwudifu Oputa, Kayode Esho, Muhammed Uwais, Nnaemeka-Agu, and a few older colleagues and make a feast of them”.

Justice Chima Centus Nweze JSC The recent elevation of Justice Chima Centus Nweze to the Supreme Court is salutary, for anyone who has followed his trajectory. His Lordship’s profile is an intimidating combination of sagacious intellectualism and judicial activism. Over the years, my Law Lord has adroitly combined his judicial work, as a brilliant Judge, with outstanding academic excellence, which ranks him among very distinguished legal scholars and university Professors.

From 1995 to 2007, Justice Nweze served as a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Enugu state, and during that period, he was from January to April, 1999, a member of the Ondo state local government election petition tribunal; and from April to June 1999, he served as the Chairman Ogun state governorship and legislative houses election petition tribunal. He also served as the Administrative Judge, Nsukka Judicial Division, from 2001 to 2003. Twelve years after he became a Judge, Justice Nweze was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2007, and was sworn in 2008. From the Court of Appeal, My Lord has now been elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In academics, Justice Nweze has manifested great intellectual prowess.

With a Masters Degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy, in Law, from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Justice Nweze’s academic exploits ranks among putative University Professors. While serving as a Judge, Justice Nweze was at a time a distinguished scholar (pro bono) at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. He was also a visiting Associate Professor of Law, Ebonyi State University, a visiting Human Rights Scholar, Faculty of Law and Convener/Coordinator, International Human Rights Law Program, University of Nigeria. No doubt, Dr. Nweze, the learned Justice of the Supreme Court, has a ringing reputation as a legal scholar, and distinguished book reviewer.

Before now, Justice Nweze showed his uncanny legal profundity in his years at the Court of Appeal. A few of his prodigious judicial pronouncements will show this other side of this legal luminary. For instance, in Udotim and Ors vs Idiong and Ors (2013) LPELR 22132 (CA) 13-14, F-D, Justice Nweze JCA (as he then was) on the meaning and nature of discretion, profoundly held: “Discretion, according to settled authorities, is not an indulgence of a judicial whim, it is the exercise of judicial judgment based on facts and guided by the law of equitable decisions, UBA Ltd v Staliau GMBH and Co. K. G. (1989) LPELR-3400(SC). It is the court’s epistemological tool for winnowing solid truth from windy falsehood; for dichotomizing between shadow and substance and distilling equity from colourable glosses and pretences. By its very character, judicial discretion does not brook any capricious exercise of power according to private fancies and affections. We find support for this opinion in Rook’s case (1598) 5 Co. Rep. 996, cited in Ayantuyi v Governor of Ondo (2005) 14 WRN 67, 91.”

From the foregoing it is safe to conclude that the recent elevation of Justice Nweze to the supreme sanctuary of our national judiciary, otherwise known as the Supreme Court, is a plus to the apex court and the entire legal community. Also, the new CJN no doubt assumes the leadership of the apex court, at a very difficult time in the life of our country, considering the unscrupulous context for power, between contestants for the executive and legislature positions, in the run down, to the 2015 general elections.

My prayer is that the heavenly Lord, will guide my Law Lords, in their onerous task, as impartial arbiters.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

LAW REPORT

Successful plea of the defence of provocation reduces offence of murder to manslaughter IN THE COURT OF APPEAL AKURE JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT AKURE ON FRIDAY THE 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2014 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS MOJEED ADEKUNLE OWOADE, J.C.A. MOHAMMED A. DANJUMA, J.C.A. JAMES SHEHU ABIRIYI, J.C.A. CA/B/102C/2014 (2014) LPELR-23982(CA) Between RASHEED AMINU ……..………..……………….………..….… APPELLANT And THE STATE ……..…..….………….……….……….………….... RESPONDENT LEAD JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY MOJEED ADEKUNLE OWOADE, J.C.A.

T

HE Appellant was charged with mur der contrary to Section 316 (2) of the Criminal Code cap 30 Vol. 11 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 1978 before the High Court of Ondo State sitting at Ikare Akoko.

The case of the prosecution against the Appellant was that on or about the 9th day of July 1999 at Agbaluku Arigidi Akoko in Ikare Judicial Division the Appellant killed one Sadiq Jimoh by hitting him on the head with an axe. The late Sadiq Jimoh was hired by the daughter of PW1 one Fausatu Kolade as a labourer in the farm leased from PW2.

When PW1 heard that the hut in her daughter’s farm had collapsed, she went to look for the deceased in the house. When PW1 got to the house of the deceased, she was told that the deceased went to her daughter’s farm and had not returned. On getting to the farm, PW1 saw the Appellant (a stranger) and on inquiring about the deceased, the Appellant denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the deceased. PW1 went to the house of PW2 to report that she did not see the deceased. PW1 and PW2 went to the farm to search for the deceased but did not see the deceased. Later that day, some people informed PW1 and PW2 that they saw the Appellant bleeding from severe matchet cuts on his body on the road. PW1 and PW2 went there to meet the Appellant. PW2 took the Appellant to his house, gave him food and delegated people to watch over him.

Further searches of the farm revealed the dead body of the deceased in a decomposing state under some leaves. The local police were invited. They took photographs and then took the body to a morgue. PW3, IPO

from Ikare Police Station obtained a statement from the Appellant - Exhibit A. In Exhibit A, the Appellant denied killing the deceased. However, he made a confessional statement to the police at Akure - Exhibit C. The Appellant retracted the confessional statement at the trial but the defence nevertheless rested their defence on Exhibit C. That the Appellant gave a graphic account of what happened in Exhibit C that he had just been released from prison and some people gave him N200.00 for transportation. He was dropped at an unexpected junction and had to trek for about 5 kilometers for a whole day without getting to his destination. He became weak and tired. He went into a hut in a farm, did not see anyone but noticed that corn was being boiled.

He went in took some of the corn and started eating it. When the deceased came, he attacked him with matchet cuts to his head and all parts of his body. He reached out for an axe in the hut and used it to cut the deceased. The deceased sauntered off from the hut and died. PW2, PW3 and PW4 also testified that the Appellant had matchet cuts on his body and PW4 said there was evidence of a struggle between the deceased and the Appellant as even the wooden bed in the hut was stained with blood.

The prosecution called four (4) witnesses and tendered three (3) Exhibits and three (3) photographs as identification. The Appellant did not call any witness but testified in his own defence. The learned trial judge relied on exhibit C and other circum-

stantial evidence as proof of the killing of the deceased by the Appellant. He considered the defences of self-defence and provocation but could not find any of the defences in favour of the Appellant. He found the Appellant guilty as charged for the offence of murder and sentenced him to death accordingly. Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal. Learned Counsel for the Appellant nominated two (2) issues for determination.

They are:1. Whether on the evidence which the trial court accepted the defence of self-defence and provocation were available to the Appellant.

2. Whether the findings of the trial court were not perverse.

The Learned Counsel for the Respondent adopted the two issues formulated by the Appellant.

Learned Counsel for the Appellant submitted that in the instant case, the Court can only rely on the story of the Appellant and that in looking at the relative conditions of the parties, after the event, it is obvious that the Appellant was severely injured by the deceased. In relation to the test of proportionality, Counsel submitted that the response with an axe for deadly matchet blows is an appropriate response. He argued that both are weapons capable of causing death or grievous harm. And that in any event, the Court should not be looking at the weapon when the objective of the defence is to save one’s life from imminent death. He referred to the cases of Uwaekweghinya V The State (2005) LPELR-3442(SC) and Laoye V The State (1985) 2 NWLR (pt. 10) 832 at 843; (1985) LPELR-1754(SC). Counsel submitted that from the facts elicited in evidence it is clear that the deceased was the first to attack the Appellant by giving him a matchet cut on the head and all over his body. That, when a man attacks another man with a matchet cut to the head and body, any reasonable person would definitely be under the apprehension that the attacker intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.

Learned Counsel conceded that there is no evidence of retreat by the Appellant but that the prosecution did not prove that the Appellant could retreat. Counsel submitted that all we know from the evidence is that the hut was partly collapsed. We do not know whether it had multiple exits.

Learned Counsel for the Respondent submitted that the defence of self-defence cannot avail the Appellant. That the position of the law is that an accused person can properly claim the defence of self defence only

where he admits that he did the act which caused the death of the deceased but was justified in doing so to protect his own life and would have been killed or was in such fear when he committed the act.

The Court noted that the concern of the Appellant in his issue 1 is for a re-consideration of the availability of the defences of self-defence and provocation to his case. The Court further noted that for the defence of self-defence to avail an accused person he or she must show that his life was so much endangered by the act of the deceased, that the only option that was open to him to save his life was to kill the deceased. That the defence of self defence will only fail if the prosecution shows beyond reasonable doubt that what the accused did was not done by way of self-defence. In the instant case, the Court agreed with the conclusion of the learned trial judge that in the circumstance the defence of self-defence could not avail the Appellant.

On the other hand, the Court did not agree with the learned trial judge that the defence of provocation would also not avail the Appellant in all the circumstances of this case.

The Court agreed with the Learned Counsel for the Appellant that if the content of Exhibit C was true, the provocation of the Appellant was grave and sudden. And, that a reasonable man in the station of the Appellant would have lost self control. The Court held that the Appellant was sufficiently provoked by the reaction of the deceased who matcheted him (the Appellant) on the head and other parts of his body merely for coming into his hut and eating his corn. The Court held that the defence of provocation is available to the Appellant in this case.

Having resolved the two (2) issues in this appeal in favour of the Appellant, the Court held that the appeal was meritorious and it was accordingly allowed. The Court further held that the effect of a successful plea of the defence of provocation is to reduce the offence of murder to the lesser offence of manslaughter. Ajunwa V State (1988) 4 NWLR (pt.89) 380; (1988) LPELR-308(SC). Accordingly, the conviction and sentence of the Appellant for the offence of murder on the 14th day of May 2008 by the Honourable Justice P.I. Odunwo in suit No. HIK/1C/2004 was set aside. Instead, the Appellant was convicted for the offence of manslaughter and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment.

•Edited by LawPavilion LawPavilion Citation: (2014) LPELR-23982(CA)

•River State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi (second left) Mr. Charles Essien (left), former President Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Boma Ozobia (second right) and Mia Essien (SAN) at the Sterling Partnership Law Firm end of year interraction hosted by the Brtitish Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

HEALTH

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

45

THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Laparascopy is a type of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS). Unlike open surgery, it has less injuries. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA, who was at the Lagos Univeristy Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, reports on the MIS training for medics and budding doctors by Dr Olujimi Coker, a Nigerian, who has just returned from the United Kingdom after 25 years.

Hope rises for patients

•As LUTH trains doctors on Laparascopic surgery

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HEN Mr Isiaka Omolewa (not real names), 52m a staff member of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, had acute appendicitis, he was told he would need to undergo appendectomy, preferably Laparoscopic appendectomy.

According to the surgeon attending to him, the Laparoscopic appendectomy will afford Omolewa the opportunity to quickly recover and go back to duty, among other benefits.

Omolewa disproved this recommendation and opted for the traditional operation, that is open surgery. He told the surgeon that the period of recovery, of about two months or more, would make him ‘escape’ from duty and equally get kith and kin to assist him financially.

The Chief of Surgery and Group Clinical Adviser, Lagoon Hospitals, Dr Olujimi Coker, found this bizarre. According to Coker, Omolewa is cheating himself because Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), such as laparascopy, has many benefits to offer. He did not blame Omolewa, but recognised that a link was missing, which was the need for practitioners and patients to scale up on information on global novel trends in surgery and health.

Hence, the tertiary hospital which recently introduced the medical procedure decided to do a continuous medical education (CME) on it for its doctors and other senior staff members.

Last Thursday, the training room at LUTH was filled with resident doctors, top management staff and interested members of the hospital community.

Coker said the patient would have benefited from Laparoscopic appendectomy, which would have resulted in a decrease in average length of hospital stay for an acute appendicitis patient if he and others in his environment had adequate information on its benefits.

Laparoscopic is a specialised technique for surgery.

Coker explained: “The difference between Laparoscopic or MIS and open procedure is that open surgery involves the surgeon creating a long incision to open the abdomen and operate with ‘traditional’ instruments. Laparoscopic or MIS is an approach that allows the surgeon to perform the same procedure using several small incisions, a fibre-optic camera, video monitor, and long-handed instruments, which are introduced into the abdomen through the incisions.

“The decision to perform minimally invasive or open surgery is usually made by a surgeon before the operation. For some patients, the laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, technique cannot be used due to dense scar tissue from prior abdominal surgery. Also, the in-

ability to see organs and/or bleeding during the operation can cause your surgeon to switch from minimally invasive to open surgery during an operation.”

He said: “Groin hernias (otherwise known as inguinal hernias) can be approached either through a regular open incision or through laparoscopic techniques.

The benefits of decreased postoperative pain and faster return to work are scientifically proven for laparoscopic repair for situations when the hernia is recurrent (meaning it was fixed previously with an open technique) or for a bilateral repair. A bilateral repair means that if you have hernias present on both sides of your groin and the surgeon plans to fix both at the same time. The question of whether or not to repair a one-sided hernia with a laparoscopic repair versus an open technique depends largely on surgeon preference. There are a number of situations which are specific to medical conditions that favor one approach rather than another.

According to Coker: “But generally, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery include increased safety. With smaller incisions, there’s less trauma to the body and far less blood loss. Decreased scarring, as most incisions just take a stitch or two to close.

Faster recovery, whereas recovery from traditional surgeries typically takes six to eight weeks, patients who have undergone minimally invasive procedures usually recover in only two days. Decreased length of hospital stay since most MIS procedures are associated with a 23-hour discharge or scheduled outpatient surgery.

“I am here at LUTH to help with the practice of a minimally invasive surgery. I understand a dedi-

•Prof Chris

cated minimally invasive surgery (MIS) programme was established at this large university hospital. A few changes are still needed, including improvement and standardisation of equipment and instruments; patient care protocols, standardised orders, and staff education. The aim of this class was to integrate the impacts of this programm on an academic surgery practice and put them through on the practice,” said Dr Coker.

Dr Coker said: “There are data nationwide and internationally that implementation of a dedicated MIS program resulted in a significant increase in the number of MIS cases and percentage of general surgery cases performed by MIS. This increase in the utilisation of MIS resulted in reduced length of stay and cost and has been accompanied by improvements in operating room efficiency. Changes in practice associated with development of an MIS programme have had measurable institutional benefits.

“Non-invasive surgery is defined as a surgical procedure that does not require penetration into the body by cutting or piercing the skin. There are many benefits to non-invasive treatments, as men-

•Dr Coker

tioned before. But the key benefits include minimal discomfort and trauma; short recovery time; no hospitalisation; one session, drugsparing and no incisions, scars, post-operative complications or long-term sequelae.

“Non-invasive surgery can be used for numerous medical issues, including: Uterine fibroids; bone metastases; brain disorders, including essential tremor and tumors; prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Gall stones. The gall stone operation is making a large hole to get to a small organ, but with laparascopy, it is small hole to get to a small organ. Virtually, all types of key holes operation can be done through laparascopy, except Ceaserean section (CS). It is also useful in sickle cell treatment.

“This procedure can only be limited by the skill of the surgeon, the set up, the availability and reliability of the equipment and power outage (we rely on power generator for the one hour operation).”

Dr Coker said a patient suitability for the MIS is important when deciding on the procedure, “Not all patients will be suitable for minimally invasive procedures. For example, raised body mass index, previous abdominal surgery leading

to adhesions or other underlying medical conditions may affect the decision on whether to proceed towards more invasive surgery,” he said.

He told the audience that they could do it, “which is part of the reason I came back home- to impact on the health being of Nigerians and improve the expertise of professionals like you. The only way I can reach to and impact more Nigerians is to train professionals colleagues, the training will have ripple effects by cascading in the right directions,” he stated.

The Acting Chief Medical Director (Ag CMD), Dr Bode Chris, said the apparatus put in place will determine to a large extent the success of the procedure, rather than where it is situated. “LUTH has all those in place; it is an effort to reduce medical tourism,” he said.

And true to his word, Dr Coker demonstrated the technique and skill involved in Laparascopy to the admiration of the doctors, who viewed same at the demonstration room.

Since the hospital introduced the procedure last February, this year it has recorded 20 successful cases of laparascopy.

Fed Govt urged to tackle women’s health, rights T HE Federal Government has been urged to address women’s health and rights.

This, according to the Executive Director, Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), Olayide Akanni, is necessary to ensure that women have access to reproductive and sexual healthcare products, such as contraceptives.

She spoke at a three-day workshop titled: “Mainstreaming gender into HIV and sexual health and rights (SHR) interventions,” organised by JAAIDS Nigeria and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).

She said women are denied some rights which affect their health.

Akanni said getting funds to access healthcare is a major problem because of lack of support from families and the society.

“The issues of women’s health and rights in relation to access

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and Wale Adepoju

care in some facilities, decision making in planning family options must be addressed,” she said.

Akanni urged the Federal and state governments and the society to invest in maternal health to prevent maternal and infant mortality.

Her words: “The government need to ensure that those services are relatively affordable for people. In some cases, they will say delivery for expectant women is free but when a woman in labour gets there, at the point of delivery, she is asked to pay. This often make expectant mothers patronise the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), which is cheaper, rather than waiting longer hours in the government facility before

they can be attended to.

“Also, the community and people need to understand that a woman health and the decision regarding her health have to be understood in the context and husbands should be able to support their wives for ante-natal care.”

The Executive Director, Centre for Rights and Development (CERAD), Josephine Odikpo in February, this year called on the legislators to look at the provisions of the country’s laws and change the ones that are not gender sensitive or the ones that promote gender sensitivity.

The human rights activist said more needed to be done to promote maternal health.

Nigerian women, she said, are experiencing discrimination at home and work.

Besides, they go through a lot of domestic violence, which often affects their health.

•Miss Akanni

She said: “It’s basically by legislative amendment, some of these laws were probably during the military era, some of the laws are outdated, they are examples of the brutal government we have in those days.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

HEALTH

Hospital, Sanofi partner on diabetes management

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•Fidson encourages on healthy diet

OPE has been rekindled for diabetes patients following the partnership between two international medical institutions, Apollo Hospitals and Sanofi.

According to the partners, the expansion of Apollo Sugar Clinics, an integrated diabetes care programme in India, would cater for local and international patients.

Apollo Hospitals Group is one of Asia’s largest integrated healthcare organisations with over 8,500 beds across 50 hospitals, while Sanofi is an integrated global healthcare leader.

Through the collaboration, Apollo and Sanofi plan to leverage their expertise in diabetes to provide patients with access to comprehensive educational resources, treatment and care programmes that would help patients better manage their diabetes. The first phase of this deal will focus on the establishment of 50 Apollo Sugar Clinics. This will be replicated in Ngeria, after the flag off in India.

Describing the collaboration as a good start towards improving the diabetes facility in India, Dr Prathap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group, said the vision of the two health institutions would create a new approach to diabetes care that would benefit patients across the world.

Reddy said: “Over the years, Apollo Hospitals has benchmarked global best practices in quality healthcare delivery with stringent alignment to approved standards and protocols.

With the increasing burden of diabetes in our society, we need to act quickly and with a sense of purpose to arrest the disease from claiming more lives. I am confident that through Apollo Sugar Clinics we will be able to offer patients advanced care and counselling that will help them better manage their condition.”

Christopher Viehbacher, Sanofi’s Chief Executive Officer, said the collaboration with Apollo

•From left: Reddy, Viehbacher; Dr Reddy, Renowned Global Spiritual Guru, Dr Deepak Chopra and CEO, Apollo Sugar, Gagan Bhalla at the launch of the Apollo Hospitals-Sanofi partnership.

•Enaholo

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Hospitals demonstrated Samofi’s commitment to delivering superior patient experience that offered support at various stages of the diabetes journey. “Sanofi has a heritage of nearly 100 years in developing treatments for diabetes and understands the impact that local expertise and innovative care models can have for patients who are managing their diabetes,” he said.

The main objective of the Apollo Sugar Clinics, according to the partners, is to make diabetes ‘disease-free’ by offering easy access to an integrated diabetes care solution within a clinical infrastructure.

This facility will promote early detection and treatment of diabetes and associated complications, strengthened by lifestyle management and behaviour change programmes.

Sangita Reddy, Chairperson, Apollo Sugar and Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said: “We understand that a diagnosis of diabetes and the pursuit of necessary lifestyle changes can be daunting for patients. So our aim is to help patients get access to the

right treatment and counselling for them to know that diabetes can be managed. At Apollo Sugar Clinics, a patient with diabetes has access to information, co-morbidities management, counselling, care and treatment. This really makes the transition much easier. We are keen to take Apollo’s comprehensive offering to many more parts of India “Many people with diabetes are either unaware of their condition, or have it poorly controlled. They require better awareness about the disease, its complications, management and must also have access to the latest treatment options.”

Apollo Sugar will be a part of Apollo Health and Lifestyle, the division that drives its rapid growth in primary and secondary healthcare.

Meanwhile, concerned over the increasing rate of diabetes in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc has joined the International Diabetes Federation, World Health Organization (WHO) and other global organisations in encouraging healthy diet and lifestyle for the prevention of diabetes.

The company has advised Nigerians to stop unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle that could increase their chances of developing disease.

This is in view of recent statistics

from World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) which reported a global estimate of 347 million people living with Diabetes, with 19.8 million people from Africa. According to IDF last year report, Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes in Africa, with 3.9 million cases and 4.9 per cent national prevalence rate.

Buttressing the IDF and WHO reports, Marketing Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Friday Enaholo said the rate of diabetes globally was worrisome and should be a major concern for Nigerians, urgingl stakeholders to join hands and support the government in making concerted effort at reducing diabetes through public enlightenment on the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle as a preventive measure. ”We cannot fold our hands and watch diabetes ravage the health of Nigerians. The health of the people is the health of the nation. We therefore need to prevent this impending menace by educating Nigerians on the danger of diabetes and how they can prevent it through healthy eating and living”, he said Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to an abnormally high level

Firm promotes clean toilets

A

S the World marked the World Toilet Day (WTD) last Wednesday, Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Harpic, a stain removal liquid, has restated its commitment to ensuring clean and safe toilets in homes and other places.

The company made this known as it celebrated the first WTD in Nigeria at Oke-Arin Provision Market on Lagos Island.

With the theme Clean toilets, healthy homes, this year’s WTD put on the frontburner the importance of having access to a clean toilet and the potential health implications, especially to women and children.

With the theme: Clean hygienic toilets with Harpic, it inspired action and underscored the urgent need to maintain sanitary hygiene. It was also a gathering of policy makers in the health sector as well as market leaders to give voice to the call for the pro-

•From left: Sanitation Officer, representing Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development Akinwunmi Babatunde; Marketing Manager, Home Care for West Africa Reckitt Benckiser, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola; Alhaja Osho, Silivrili and Council Manager, Lagos Island Local Government, representing Commissioner for Local Government, Olaide Atunrase, at the event.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

vision of hygienic toilets nationwide.

According to the General Manager, Mr. Rahul Murgai Silivrili, Harpic is leading the initiative in sustenance of sanitary hygiene and increasing Nigerians’ access to safe, clean toilets with the aim

of preventing diseases and reducing vulnerability and exposure of women to harm and danger in the search for privacy and access to good toilets.

“The awareness campaign becomes necessary following the United Nations figure that 2.5 billion people globally do not have access to proper sanitation, in-

cluding toilets or latrines, with dramatic consequences on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development. In Nigeria, about 34 million people do not have access to clean toilets,” he stated.

Marketing Director, West Africa Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, said:

of glucose in the blood (hyperglycaemi). Hyperglycaemia or raised blood sugar is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels, leading to irreversible blindness, stroke, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, limb amputation etc.

Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes) is characterised by a lack of insulin production; while Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes) is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity. Gestational diabetes is hyperglycaemia that is first recognised during pregnancy.

Reports from WHO show that more than 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middleincome countries and that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.

Enaholo advised that living a healthy lifestyle through eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, engaging in regular physical exercise, reducing salt intake, maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding smoking, amongst other factors, can prevent diabetes.

“Harpic Experience Moments’ is a set of activities that began with reaching one million homes across 16 cities within the country to educate consumers about how to keep a clean and hygienic toilet.

“This world toilet day marks the kick off of the Harpic Mobile Toilet Experience Train that would be rolled out to increase access to clean toilet especially in public places where toilets are dilapidated or nonexistent. The Harpic train would kick off in Lagos State which has only 45 per cent access to flush toilets in the following communities: Lagos Island, Mushin, Agege and Ikotun where residents will be sensitised on the need to maintain clean toilets. During these Harpic Experience Moments, Consumers – especially women - would be taught the simple methods of keeping their toilets clean using Harpic.”

The Iyaloja of Oke-Arin Provision Market, Alhaja Kuburat Osho, enjoined women to focus on taking very good care of this very important part of their home as the toilet and kitchen are essential parts of a healthy family.

She applauded Harpic for bringing the initiative to them and also by going to the grassroots with sensitisation exercises of this nature which she noted would impact positively on the populace.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

How to regulate cargo handling agents, by expert

A

N Aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd ), has canvassed the mandatory registration of Customs licensed clearing and forwarding agents by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for them to come under regulatory purview.

His call is coming on the heels of the continued closure of a section of the Cargo Terminal at the Lagos Airport over a clash between clearing agents and Nigeria Customs Service officials over operational procedure.

Ojikutu, the Chief Executive Officer, Centurion Securities Limited, said until the regulatory authorities carried out oversight duties on the operations of such agents, frequent clashes with security agents at the airport would remain. He added that part of the oversight duties should include clearly defined operational procedure.

Ojikutu told The Nation that the operations of clearing and forwarding agents around the airport has

E

Stories by Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

remained unchecked, thereby giving room for the agents to violate aviation rules and regulations, stating that in other climes, agents are regulated by the relevant agencies in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) Annex 9, which prescribes rules governing cargo facilitation. ”Customs licensed clearing and forwarding agents must be registered, not only by the Nigeria Customs Services, but their company names and accredited staff lists must be domiciled and registered too with the NCAA and FAAN. “This is one of the ways their operations within the airports are regulated. The relevant agency should carry out oversight functions over their operations in line with the relevant section of Annex 9, of ICAO, which deals on facilitation,” warning that failure to regulate the activities of agents could trigger insecurity around the airport.

“After the registration of the agents and their companies have been carried out by NCAA and FAAN,

Ethiopian Airlines gets $41.4m ING loan

THIOPIAN Airlines has secured a USD 41.4 million from ING Capital LLC for the acquisition of two Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, its Chief Financial Officer , Mr Nega Mekonnen has said.

The debt , according to Mekonnen, is supported by Ex-Im Bank and was provided by another financial institution with ING as their co-arranger.

ING Capital LLC is a financial services firm offering a full array of wholesale financial lending products and advisory services to its corporate and institutional clients.

The lender, he said, would benefit from a second priority interest in the security package which secures both the Ex-Im Bank and junior loan financing.

Ethiopian Airlines utilises the loan facility to finance a portion of the net purchase price of the aircraft which is not supported by Ex-Im Bank.

ING Capital was the sole arranger and lender of the loan financing and will also act as the agent throughout the term of the transaction.

The financing closed concurrently with the delivery of the first aircraft last month.

The second aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Addis Ababa this

week.

Ethiopian Airlines successfully secured the loan financing based on the strong relationship and thorough understanding of the airline’s financing requirements on the part of ING Capital LLC. Nega Mekonnen, Chief Financial Officer said “ The financial support for our acquisition of the two B777 Freighter aircraft is critical to Ethiopian Airlines as we aim to sustain our position as the largest cargo operator in Africa.

These aircraft will help us increase our capacity and service quality for the ever growing perishable cargo market.”

Terina Golfinos, Managing Director and Head of ING Capital’s Structured Export Finance team in New York, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to close this important financing for Ethiopian Airlines and contribute in some small measure to their ongoing success as the regional carrier of choice. ING has had a lending relationship with Ethiopian Airlines since 2007, and we are pleased to support them with the expansion of their cargo division, which is crucial for Ethiopia’s growing export sector.”

Arik offers miles on Dubai route

A

RIK Air has rolled out mouth-watering incentives for its loyal guests on the Lagos-Abuja-Dubai route.

Tagged, “connecting you to higher rewards,” the offer, according to the Managing Director, Chris Ndulue, is specifically tied to the airline’s Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP), Arik Affinity Wings.

The offer, Ndulue said, would enable guests travelling in the Premier Business Class on the Dubai route to earn double miles while those travelling in the Economy class will earn 50 per cent more miles.

Ndulue said about the offer: ” Guests who buy four Business Class return tickets to Dubai will get upgraded to Affinity Wings’ exclusive Gold membership level. The Gold membership is the highest membership level in the Affinity Wings loyalty programme which offers the most programme benefits for guests who have acquired 600 points and above, by flying with Arik Air. “Guests who buy two Business

Class return tickets to Dubai will get upgraded to the exclusive Silver membership level. The Silver membership is the second highest membership level for guests who have acquired up to 300 points through their travels with Arik Air and also enjoy some of the exclusive programme benefits.

“Loyalty just got better with Arik Affinity Wings and our guests on the Dubai route are specially welcome to the world of more smiles as they enjoy bonus Affinity Miles. The more you fly Arik Air to Dubai, the more miles you accumulate to enjoy special treats and discounts on future travels.’’ ‘’ Every trip on Arik Air to Dubai puts extra smiles on the faces of our guests as they not only enjoy double miles but also take advantage of our generous baggage allowance coupled with our traditional African hospitality and global safety standards.This is in line with our promise to ensure we constantly strive to enhance the service we offer our guests.”

only such agents should the regulated cargo handling companies, including Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited ( SAHCOL ) should be dealing with. This is in the overall interest of safety and security around the airport.

He said their number must be curtailed and their staff list too must be proportionate to the volume and frequency of each company’s yearly cargo in terms of export and import.

Meanwhile, the bulk breaking section of the cargo terminal in Lagos remains closed on the orders of government.

Security has been beefed up around the cargo wing of the Lagos Airport, as heavily armed officials of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Unit are stationed at the entrance into the terminal.

The Chairman of the Lagos Airport branch of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA), Alloy Emeka Igwe, described the continued closure of the cargo terminal by customs as insensitive.

He decried the deployment of mili-

tary personnel to the cargo section of the airport who manhandled clearing agents by shooting sporadically into the air.

Igwe said many clearing agents sustained injuries from sporadic gun shots carried out by officers from the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service.

He denied attack on the Customs Area Comptroller of the of the Lagos Airport Command by licensed clearing agents, saying some miscreants could have taken advantage of the crisis between them and Customs personnel to break law and order.

The Chairman said the major challenge around the cargo terminal is access control into the cargo area, which is handled by security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN).

Igwe said: ”What happened last week at the cargo terminal was a clear case of professional disagreement between the agents and Customs which was not handled well.

“The situation could not have degenerated into the militarisation and sporadic shooting carried on our agents by officials of the Fed-

eral Operations Unit, which deployed armed personnel carrier to the airport.

“We have good working relationship with the Customs management.

The comptroller should know that the crisis is a family matter, that could be easily resolved.”

He further said: “The agents did not go beyond the bulk breaking areas. They only stayed at the examination place.”

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to open the cargo terminal .”

In a related development, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO), Plc has called for truce in the face off between Customs and the agents.

The cargo handling firm in a statement by its Assistant General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr Ahmed Gulma said resolution of the crisis had become imperative because both parties are very important in cargo processing.

He said NAHCO was doing all it could to resolve the problem.

He said: “We are determined to put measures in place to forestall future occurrence of the ugly incident.”

•From left: Managing Director of Sky logistics Limited, Mr Femi Adefope, Country Manager for East and West Africa, Delta Airlines, Mr Bobby Bryan and Station Manager, Lagos Airport, Mr Salami Omeiza, at the seventh anniversary of Delta's flight operations into Nigeria in Lagos.

Why we stopped flights into Abuja, by Delta Airlines

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ELTA Airlines has said it stopped flights into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, because the passenger traffic did not grow as much as the airline projected.

The airline’s Commercial Manager for East and West Africa, Mr Bobby Bryan, disclosed this.

He said Delta Airlines last year discontinued its flights from Abuja to Houston in the United States, because it realised that the market in Abuja was not as big as the airline projected.

He said other factors that occasioned the stoppage include slow growth of flight operations.

Bryan said: “Though, we consider Nigeria as a huge market for Delta Airlines, but we had to last year stop flights into Abuja because we found out that the market was not as big as we projected.

“We also noticed that the operations did not grow as fast as we envisaged .

We thought the best thing to do was to stop the Abuja flights.

But, we have not closed our offices there, we still sell tickets

through the Abuja office.

We do not intend resume operations there very soon.”

Meanwhile, Delta Airlines has marked its seventh anniversary of daily non-stop service between Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport and HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport.

Bryan said Delta remains the only U.S. carrier to operate daily year round service between Nigeria and the United States offering hundreds of onward connecting opportunities via Delta’s Atlanta hub.

Speaking in Lagos, Bryan, said: Delta’s flight between Lagos and Atlanta has remained solid, and we have been seeing load factors averaging around 80 per cent.

The top U.S. destinations that our customers from Nigeria have been travelling to include Houston, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas and New York and this year alone we have carried some 100,000 passengers. ”Since our first service to the U.S in 2007, Delta has flown over

770,000 passengers. It’s incredible to think that is equivalent to the population of the city of Abuja.”

He said Delta Airlines had signed a joint ventures agreement with Air France / KLM and Virgin Atlantic Airways, which would offer its passengers and frequent flyers combined and triangular fares.

He said the joint ventures would also offer its passengers more markets and choices.

Bryan said the airline had opened an energy and power desk to assist the power sector with specific needs in Nigeria, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

He further said:”The Nigeria market is unbelievably strong, with its attendant challenges like any growing market.

We welcome competition and we are not threatened by it.

There should be free market access . It is for this reason that think multiple entry point is good for the airline industry, so that airlines should not have limited access. “

48

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Stakeholders at the just concluded African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, fashioned out strategies to tackle inadequate habitable shelter on the continent. Nigeria pledged to partner the continental body for effective eradication of impediments to decent shelter in the continent, MUYIWA LUCAS writes.

F

OR participants at the just concluded African Union for Housing Finance Conference (AUHF), which held in Cape Town, South Africa, the choice of the theme: “Alternative Building Technologies for Affordable housing construction”, could not have been more apt.

This is because it could be seen as a second part of the this year’s World Habitat Day theme: “Voices from the Slums.”

This is because of the need to ensure greater access to home ownership in the African countries through the adoption of new building systems.

Experts at the conference did not fail to emphasise the importance of having a sustainable strategy to curbing the hydra-headed problems of housing on the continent, especially in view of the need to address the effects of rapid urbanisation on the continent and the acute shortage in the housing needs of the low-income and medium income segments who constitute the vast majority of the national population of each country in Africa.

But irrespective of the fact that the African has continued to suffer from poor housing finance, Nigeria’s Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has assured of the country’s readi-

•Housing schemes such as this is the target of AUHF to eradicate accommodation problem in Africa

Nigeria to partner AU for housing finance ness to continue to partner with the AUHF. This, she said, was with a view to addressing the challenges constraining the building and construction industry from serving as a key driver of growth in virtually all African countries.

Eyakenyi, Union for, reiterated that events around the continent has underscored the importance of enhanced access to affordable housing in the building of strong, healthy and equitable societies.

These realisation, she further noted, should stimulate ingenious strategies and innovative solutions for ensuring housing delivery not only at the right scale and cost but also we3ith the right methods that can be harnessed in individual countries, while also serving as a bolster to each country’s respective efforts across the continent. This, she said, would effectively reposition the housing and urban

development sector as a true engine of growth and sustainable development.

And perhaps trying to chart a path for other African countries to follow, the Minister disclosed that her country is conscious of the need to deliver affordable homes both at a reduced cost and on the right scale. The government, she explained, had to develop the national housing and urban development policies for the realisation of this strategic national imperative. These two policies have been further consolidated with the development of a 30-year Roadmap for the housing and urban development sector which is aimed at addressing all the ramifications of the challenges presently facing the sector. Some of these challenges include inadequate finance for mass housing delivery, low capital base of primary and secondary mortgage banks, inaccessibility to land with secure titles, improper balance between the use of conventional method for housing construction and new

However, Eyakenyi said the dearth of funds on the demand side had been addressed with the recapitalisation of the primary mortgage banks (PMIs) and the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) while efforts are being intensified to address the supply side through the provision of a window for construction finance.

“The key to delivering on a massive scale to reduce the national housing deficit is the adoption of alternative building technologies, hence, our present efforts in facilitating a private sector-led delivery of mass housing process through various on-going new housing development schemes across the country,” Eyakenyi said.

She praised the AUHF for its foresight in serving as a key point of reference in housing finance matters in Africa, and charged the body to continue to play a more decisive role in en-

suring financial inclusiveness in Africa in the important area of housing finance for the promotion of growth with equity.

The AUHF is a gathering of individual and corporate members comprising mortgage banks, building societies, housing corporations and mobilisers of funds for housing development on the continent.

The AUHF conference looked at sustainable housing and new green technologies, rapid construction methodologies that address scale, and affordable construction technologies that realise housing affordability for lower income earners. Mechanisms to finance these approaches were considered on the second day, which ended with a 30th anniversary celebration of the AUHF’s founding in 1984.

The conference was held with an exhibition of alternative building technology providers, and raised the profile of this key issue for demand among policy makers and practitioners across the continent.

SON, moulders agree on strength of blocks

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HE Standards Organi-sation of Nigeria and the Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria have agreed that only 24 blocks should be produced from a 50kg bag of cement and not 42 as presently being done.

Also, they are to use the prescribed 42.5 grade of cement for moulding blocks, and 32.5 grade for plastering.

They also arrived at a particular mix in ratio of other additives which would produce 24 blocks from a 50kg bag of cement, stating that the 42 blocks being produced from the same quantity of cement are substandard.

The moulders, who are members of National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, arrived at this conclusion at the end of an extensive training session organised for them

by SON on the rudiments for correct mixes needed to achieve particular strength of blocks for the construction of buildings in the country. The implication of this is that the price of a block will move up from between N120 and N130 to between N200 and N250.

“I sell a block for N220 and the

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

strength is exactly what we agreed upon with SON,” said the President of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Adewale.

SON, Adewale said, has been gracious enough to embark on free training of block moulders across the country. “In the Lagos area, we have had trainings twice in the last one year. We know similar trainings have held in various geopolitical zones. So what is the basis of the allegation that SON wants to destroy the industry and send thousands out of employment?” he asked rhetorically, adding that standards improve all the time based on new findings or research being done. Therefore, he further said, when a standard improves, what was standard may become substandard; hence, the standards used in moulding blocks years ago have gone through some changes.

He is of the opinion that block moulders and cement users in Nigeria must be grateful for the conflict for supremacy among the manufacturers, which in the last few weeks, has led to unbelievable crash in the price of cement, which for years now has been a subject of debate between the association and other stakeholders.

Adewale said that block moulders are happy at the availability of cement at reduced price. “We are happier with the drop in prices. We are also happy with the fact that Nigerian can now export cement. We are not interested in brands. Our interest and duty are to obey the orders of the regulator. The regulator says the 32.5 mpa should be limited to plastering works while the 42.5 and 52.5 mpa should be used for block moulding and other reinforcement works. The association accepts. Anyone who does not want to obey is free. That is something between him and the regulator. He and others with him should not drag the asso-

ciation into their opposition,” he said. For him, it is mischief to say that using 42.5 cement grade would jeopardise block moulding business, explaining that the 32.5 and the 42.5 grades sell at almost the same price but that there was no doubt about the superior strength of the 42.5 grade.

The block moulders said nobody has a right to challenge standards set by SON because the organisation is the arm of government responsible for enforcing standards. Therefore, they reasoned, what concerns them is the 42.5 grade approved by SON in accordance with Nigeria Industrial Standards, explaining that in the past every grade of cement was used to produce blocks and that because of the national embarrassment building collapse causes, SON saw the need to provide standards in the block industry.

They lauded SON for the

•Dr. Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

mentorship, saying “we appreciate what the SON is doing for the block moulders to ensure we produce quality blocks. SON has said anybody who does not belong to the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria will not be allowed to mould blocks.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

49

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

FHA to assist FRSC on housing scheme

T

HE Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is to assist the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the implementation of its “One-Man-One House” policy for its staff.

This is the outcome of a meeting between the Acting Managing Director of the FHA, David Kpue and his FRSC counterpart, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, in Abuja.

Kpue, while on a visit to the FRSC headquarters, said the FHA was open to exploring ways of partnering with the Corps towards providing affordable housing for its staff. He said that the FHA had developed a Public-Public Partnership housing delivery model to assist ministries, departments and agencies

Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

of government to execute their staff housing programmes.

The FHA helmsman said the Authority had noticed with concern that many MDA’s, without the requisite skills and competence, were dissipating their time, energy and resources on the execution of housing projects which he said had become an avoidable distraction to them. According to Kpue, the FHA had over the past three decades perfected its machinery for cost effective housing delivery and was willing to make it available to other government establishments.

Apart from housing schemes which could be designed to meet

the peculiar needs of FRSC staff, he said the Authority had completed housing estates in Lagos, Calabar, Yenagoa, Kaduna, Makurdi, Awka and Gombe from which the FRSC could acquire houses for its staff.

The Corps Marshal, Mr. Oyeyemi said the FRSC’s vision was for every member of staff to have his own house before retirement in order to keep them focused on their primary duties. He said the visit by the FHA chief executive was timely as the Corps would in 2015 embark on an aggressive property acquisition drive to reduce the heavy burden of rent on its budget.

Oyeyemi said the Corps would be happy to acquire property in FHA housing estates nationwide for its personnel.

Nigerite wins award

N

IGERITE Limited, has won the “Best Kept Industrial Premises Award” for maintaining friendly environmental practises at its workplace. Nigerite was given this recognition during the MAN (Ikeja Chapter) AGM & award ceremony in Lagos.

According to the MAN, the exercise revealed that member – companies are complying more on environmental-related issues as they have increased investment on identified grey areas in their factories to ensure best practices in Environmental Safety and inculcation of greening culture.

While presenting the award, the National President of MAN, Dr. Frank Jacobs, who was represented by the National Treasurer, Reverend Isaac Agoye, said the recognition was to boost the morale of their members that they will continue to maintain a very clean environment despite their challenges.

“It is also a wake up call to erring manufacturing companies to rise up to the challenge,” Jacobs said.

The Ikeja branch Chairman of MAN, Prince Oba Okojie disclosed that some of the qualities that confirmed Nigerite’s leadership position on environmental issues in the

sector in this edition were cleanliness, horticultural beauty, functional drainages, worker’s compliance to industry dress codes and so on.

“I want to commend Nigerite for maintaining this distinctive track record over the years in meeting global environmental friendliness standard in its work place. I also want to charge them to continue with the high level of cleanliness in order to maintain this position next year because it is not an easy feat. For you to keep the trophy, you need to work harder.

Nigerite’s Quality, Safety, Health and Environment Manager, Mr John Bamigboye, said that it was a great achievement that would encourage the company to continue to do more, not only in the area of environment, but in all areas of its operations.

“We have been able to demonstrate that our company is a very responsible corporate organization, which takes safety, and environment seriously. We also believe in sustainability both in the present and in the future,” he said.

Property asking prices fall in UK

H

•Down Town Dubai...to be replicated in the Centenary City, Abuja

Emaar Group enters Abuja Centenary City

T

HE Address Hotels + Resorts, the five star premium hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of Dubai-based global property developer Emaar Properties, is set to mark its entry into the Nigerian market as part of its international expansion strategy at the Abuja Centenary City.

Touted as an ambitious city of the future, which ushers in a new era of economic prosperity to the country, the Abuja Centenary City is believed to be a fitting tribute to the country on its 100th year of formation. Envisaged as a spectacular city hub, the 1,300 hectare master-planned community is the largest of its kind in Africa, and is developed by Eagle Hills, a private investment and real estate development company as part of a joint venture agreement with the federal government Emaar Properties is the developer of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest and most-visited retail and entertainment destination which welcomed 75 million visitors last year and over 58 million visitors in the first nine months of 2014.

The pioneer of integrated master-planned communities in Dubai, Emaar has successfully taken its development model to key international markets in the Middle East, North Africa, PanAsia, Europe and North America. Creating significant value to local economies through

its path-breaking developments, Emaar has also proven its competencies in hospitality & leisure and shopping malls & retail.

A highlight of Emaar’s approach to developing integrated lifestyle destinations is Downtown Dubai, the 500-acre, US$20 billion flagship development described as ‘The Centre of Now’ and featuring global icons including: Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain, the tallest performing fountain. Emaar has launched several prestigious residential projects in Dubai which have received strong investor interest from international investors including from Nigeria.

Highlighting the expansion plans of The Address Hotels + Resorts, the chief operating officer of the Group, Mr. Philippe Zuber, said: “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing markets in Africa and serves as a perfect fit to complement our international expansion strategy. Abuja Centenary City offers an ideal and high-growth environment for us to establish our credentials as a premium hotel op-

erator in the country.”

“We see a strong growth opportunity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja Centenary City, to introduce our hotel brand that is defined by the philosophy of ‘Where Life Happens,’” said Mr. Zuber, adding that it signposts a focus on providing a more personal and approachable experience to guests, whether business, leisure or group travellers, in a vibrant lifestyle environment.

He explained that the firm’s goal is to set a new benchmark in the hospitality sector in the country through its unique ‘one-size-fitsone’ approach of creating exceptional lifestyle destination in Abuja Centenary City.

With five prestigious properties in Dubai that are preferred by business and leisure visitors from Nigeria, The Address Hotels + Resorts has marked its global expansion with management contracts to operate The Address Marassi Golf Resort & Spa in Egypt. Additionally, the brand will operate The Address Masai Mara in Kenya, a retreat highlighted by the natural beauty of Kenya.

‘We see a strong growth opportunity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja Centenary City, to introduce our hotel brand that is defined by the philosophy of ‘Where Life Happens’

OMEOWNERS keen to attract buyers in the quieter winter months are asking less for the properties than those that came onto the market in October, as high prices and new mortgage lending rules have put a temporary brake on the “mini-boom” in the housing market, Rightmove said on Monday.

Figures from the property website showed that asking prices for homes coming onto the market in November were down 1.7 per cent on October, while the number of homes for sale dropped to a seasonal low. Sellers typically drop asking prices in the lead up to Christmas but this year’s November asking price drop, which shaves £4,542 off the average property price bringing it to £267,127, is the smallest in five years. The annual rate of house price growth to November this year is still up at 8.5 per cent after eight out of the last 12 months showed property price increases.

“Selling is more difficult than it was earlier in the year, though the mini-boom experienced by much of the country has hit the pause rather than the stop button,” said Miles Shipside, Rightmove direc-

tor and housing market. “Underlying demand remains strong but has been muted by higher prices stretching affordability at the same time as the ability to borrow more to fund those higher prices has been curtailed by tighter mortgage lending criteria.”

However, buyers looking for a new home are not exactly spoilt for choice. The average number of properties per estate agency branch is at historically low levels with an average of 60 properties for sale. This is the lowest number ever recorded at this time of year, according to Rightmove. Lack of property choice has helped fuel this year’s upwards price pressure and the website said supply shortages in some parts of the country could push prices up again in 2015. This month new listings on the property portal were down one per cent on the same period last year and 15 per cent on last month.

The situation is unlikely to improve before the year end as sellers wait until after Christmas to market their home.

Value of private UK housing passes £5tr

C

OLLECTIVE worth of privately owned homes increases by £1.83tn, with a third of that being added in last year, report finds Houses in London, where the value of private homes has more than doubled over the past decade to £1.14tn.

The total value of the UK’s private housing stock has passed the £5tn mark this year as the property market recovery has taken off, a report has found.

The collective worth of privately owned homes across the country has increased by £1.83tn over the past decade – and around a third of this extra value has been added in the past year, Halifax found.

Almost half of the value of the country’s £5.06tn worth of homes comes from London and the southeast. In London the value of owneroccupied and privately rented homes has more than doubled over the past 10 years, from £545bn in 2004 to £1.14tn in 2014.

Halifax estimates that, on average, Londoners are sitting on £313,466 of equity in their home.

Houses in the south-east are now worth £950bn collectively, marking a 55% increase over the past decade.

Over the past year the value of UK housing stock has surged by £630bn, or 14%, the fastest annual growth since a 22% yearon-year rise was recorded in 2002.

After London, Scotland has seen the fastest growth in the value of private housing stock over the past decade, with a 96% increase taking its total worth to £333bn.

The West Midlands and the north-east have seen the smallest growth in collective values over the last decade, at 32% and 33%.

Martin Ellis, a housing economist at Halifax, said: “An increase in average property values combined with a rise in the number of private new builds has contributed to the increase in the value of housing stock across all UK regions, although the growth is stronger in London and the south-east.”

50

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

How to cushion effect of declining oil price, by Dangote

B

USINESS mogul Aliko Dangote has suggested ways out of the woods amid declining oil prices.

Speaking during the International Conference & Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos, the President, Dangote Group cited some causes of the continued fall in oil price, and suggested how the Federal Government would best deploy proceeds from oil sales in sustainable development.

He said increasing exploitation of shale oil by oil consumer countries, such as the United States, increased exploration and production of oil following high price of crude fuelled by emerging economies in Asia, discoveries of oil in new climes and power play in the global oil business, among others, were responsible for the continued drop in price of oil.

The Dangote chief, however, said proper investment of oil proceeds by the government would cushion the effect of adverse situations, such as periods of poor pricing of crude, which is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

Primary among the options is the diversification of the economy and exiting the mono-economy.

He mentioned some vital decisions to make the petroleum industry have a marked impact on the economy.

They include giving attention to the reform of the oil and gas policy and regulatory environment and ensuring that the much anticipated and long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed into law.

Dangota said: “This affects the source of the bulk of national foreign exchange earnings. This is critical to the transformation of the sector and its repositioning to play an effective role in the new economy.

“The second critical imperative is the removal of petroleum fuel subsidy. In reality, this subsidy of gaso-

• From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Tijani: Immediate past president, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Adedoja Ojelabi; President, Chikwendu Edoziem; Alhaji Dangote; and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu at the conference in Lagos.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

line fuel benefits the more affluent, but small minority of the population.

It has social governance as well as economic development ramifications. The subsidy diverts resources to the well off, while starving much needed funding from the sorely needed infrastructure developments.

“The third policy imperative has to do with Nigeria’s inability to monetise its enormous natural gas resources. This has been a major policy failure in view of the great potential of gas to accelerate economic growth. The huge deficit in

our energy consumption especially electricity, which has constrained our economic growth can be easily eliminated. The key is to adopt a pricing regime for gas that will encourage investment in gas infrastructure.

Whilst the gas policy and Gas Master Plan have been developed, progress has been limited by inability or unwillingness to implement.

“A fourth imperative is the growing incidence of sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, with Nigeria reportedly being the home of most of the pirates.

The Gulf of Guinea cannot evolve into a substantial Intercontinental Petroleum Trading Centre, with the threat

Shell, community trade blames over oil spillage

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ACK of consensus over the volume of oil spills, among other issues, has pitched Shell against one of its host communities in Ogoniland, Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in a statement in Lagos, said an estimated 4,114 barrels of crude oil was spilled in Bodo, but the community put the volume at over 70,000 barrels.

The Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Bodo Community, Mene Sylvester Kogbara, said the volume of oil spill was huge, in view of the fact that the days the oil spillage occurred were over 100 days.

Kogbara said between 2008 and 2009, the spills were occurring regularly; therefore, the spillage would be over 70,000 barrels. He said: “There is disconnect between the quantity of oil spilled as quoted

by Shell and that of the community. Oil spills took place in 2008 and 2009. The first spill ravaged the community for over 90 days while the second spill was 45 days. Given this, the community reckoned that over 70,000 barrels of oil was spilled in the community, as against 4,114 barrels of oil given

by Shell.”

The Amnesty International corroborated the allegation that Shell under-reported the volume of oil spills in the Niger Delta. The body said Shell had known for years that “its pipelines in the Niger Delta were old and faulty, a development which buttressed the claims that large volumes of oil spilled into the community.” Amnesty Inter-

By Akinola Ajibade

national said the total amount of oil spilt exceeded 100,000 barrels.

Relying on an independent assessment carried out by a United States firm, Accufacts Incorporation, Amnesty International said the figure is far higher than 4,000 barrels as mentioned by Shell.

“For years, Shell has dictated the assessment of volume spilled and damage caused in spill investigation reports, now these reports aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. These spill investigation reports have cheated whole communities out of proper compensation,” Amnesty Director for Global issues, Audrey Gaughran, said.

The Community and Shell are yet to reach an agreement on the issue of compensation of victims of the oil spillage. The problem came to the fore when Shell’s spokesman, Precious Okolobo, told reporters that the company want to compensate those who have been genuinely affected by the spills. Shell based its action on a joint investigation its officials, relevant government agencies, and members of Bodo Community carried out to ascertain the level of destruction in the community, which showed an estimated 4, 114 barrels.

Shell said satellite remote sensing experts, hydrologists, and experts in mangrove ecology were used to assess the volume of spills and the extent of damage to Bodo waterways and mangroves. However, the outcome of the investigation was opposed by the community on grounds of irregularities.

According to Kogbara, everybody in the community was affected by the oil spills, given the fact that the inhabitants of the village are farmers and fishermen who rely on the waters and the land as their sources of livelihood.

He said the multiplier effect of the environmental degradation caused by the spills were huge, because people were directly or indirectly affected. “ The 65,000 people in Bodo sleep, eat, and drink hydrocarbon. This is one of the environmental damages caused by the oil spillage. Bodo is a riverine area and its people are predominantly fishermen. Virtually, everybody takes to fishing as part of efforts to maximise the opportunities offered by nature. However, some are into farming. Those ones breed crops in large quantities to feed their families. Considering this, it would be unfair to compensate some and leave others. This is the reason the statement by Shell that it would compensate only those that were genuinely affected by the spills did not go down well with the community,” he added.

On compensation, Kogbara said the community was yet to arrive at an amount. He said the chiefs, and other villagers were still meeting on the issue. The issue has dragged for years, he said, adding that the physical, emotional and physiological impacts of environmental degradation suffered by the communities in the Niger Delta region would be difficult to quantify. He said many of the victims had died, while others were in one problem or the other.

of piracy looming largely over tankers plying the Gulf on petroleum trading voyages. Nigeria, being the largest trading partner on the Gulf and having the largest Navy must take decisive action to stamp out piracy completely.

“Lastly, indigenous participation in all areas and sectors of the oil and gas industry must continue to attract focused attention and encouragement from the government.”

He said Dangote Group intends to contribute to the economic value chain in the petroleum industry through a Joint Venture (JV) partnership with First Exploration & Production (E&P) in a vehicle called West African E&P (WAEP), which will focus in upstream assets to provide feedstock to the midstream and downstream businesses.

In the downstream, the Dangote Group plans to build 500,000 barrels per day oil refinery, largest in subSaharan Africa; 750,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) polypropylene petrochemical complex; fertiliser plant; and 2.8 million tons per annum (mtpa)

Urea and Ammonia plant. The company plans to build gas infrastructure to support the Federal Government’s Gas Revolution and supplement the Gas Master Plan that delivers gas to the domestic market.

“The Dangote Group and its partners are committed to delivering these projects before the end of this decade.

Our decision to embark on these investments is motivated by a strong desire to help transform the industry into a veritable driver of national economic growth and industrialisation.

We are confident that public policy will continue to move in the direction that will expand the space for private sector to assume leadership in the economic development arena. Nigeria will be uniquely positioned to begin to exert geopolitical influence in global energy policies and power play if it can strengthen its internal governance structure, carry out long delayed policy and regulatory reforms, address social iniquities, and create a conducive environment for the private sector to play a lead role in our economic transformation journey,” he added.

Capital flight on equipment import to hit $800m

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IGERIA’S capital flight of $400 million due to importation of oil and gas equipment may double in the next few years if the importation continues, the Managing Director, Royal Niger Emerging Technologies, Anthony Okeke, has said.

He said the country imports most of its oil and gas equipment and recorded over $400 million capital flight between 2008 and 20014 due to dependence on oil and gas technologies coming from the developed economies such as the United States and Germany.

He said Nigeria’s failure to domesticate the production of equipment used in exploration and production would further increase its capital flight.

Okeke said: “Over the years, the country has depended on foreignmade technologies to grow its petroleum industry. The development made local and foreign oil companies to import equipment estimated to be over $400 million within six years (2008 to 2014). This money should be used for jobs’ creation, and accelerating of socio-economic activities.

“Most of the local manufacturers are not ready to engage in production of

By Akinola Ajibade

key oil and gas equipment due to one reason or the other. When the majority of machinery are produced locally, the standards in the industry would be raised, and jobs would be created.

Also, the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would increase as a result of the initiative.”

He noted that Nigeria has been involved in what it described as ‘technology transfer,’ an idea, he noted, would not bring the much-needed growth to the industry and the economy.

“We need to see how to make operating environment conducive for bigger companies planning to come to do business in the country. When this is done, the local operators, would study and get the required knowledge from companies with better expertise and facilities,” he said.

The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is planning to establish eight industrial parks.

The parks, billed to be sited in Edo, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa states, among others, would produce tools that would be use in the oil and gas sector.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

ENERGY

Operators decry lack of data on local content O

PERATORS in the exploration and production arm of the oil industry and those in the services sector have criticised lack of data on local content that will be accessed as one stop portal to determine capabilities, capacities and other achievements.

According to the operators, such data will help new and existing firms to easily find all information they need on any indigenous firm in terms of capabilities and capacities.

The operators spoke during a panel session at the just concluded fourth annual Practical Nigerian Content Forum held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The President of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Emeka Ene who spoke to The Nation, said that lack of such data poses serious chalenge to the operators, urging the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to create reliable robust and comprehensive data on local content activities and achievements for operators to access.

He said: “Regarding the issue of data; data is a challenge in Nigeria; it is a real bid challenge, not just the availability of data, but the application of data to create change. There was a speaker asked if there is any one place, we can look at the work that is available in a particular area for the next five years in this indus-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

try. Let me contrast it with Brazil.

What Brazil did when they approached local content, was that they looked at all the work for the next 20 years; they looked all the way to 2022 or 2025; they counted the number of rigs; number of jackets; number of flow-stations. They listed them, and asked how can we create the local industry that can provide all these overtime? So, they started building the shipyards required to fix the structures.

“The NCDMB has done a lot in trying to kick off this process. They have created the Joint Qualification System (JQS), an e-market place, but the reality is that there is still disconnect between what the NCDMB is doing and what the NIPEX group is doing. In trying to integrate it on one electronic platform in such a place that we can access data, I think that we should also try to deepen the type of data we are acquiring; to distinguish between in-country investment versus representative investment, that is, agency representation because agency representation may have the same quantum in terms of spend but may not actually reflect the true local content in terms of Nigerians deployed on such projects. So, data has to be integrated to be affective. So, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), NCDMB, interna-

tional oil companies (IOCs), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NipeX), should be on one interrelated platform to be effective.”

On how the Nigerian Content Fund has helped indigenous operators to access funds, Ene said: “Funding is actually a challenge. The bottom line is that for Nigerian companies to be competitive, they need to access long term, low cost funding without hiccups. They have to access technology acquisition funding. This is how other countries have done it. So, if a company has been in business for 20 years, it is trying to grow capacity, it is trying to manufacture hardware and it needs to acquire some technology and buy a blueprint for which it can manufacture components here in Nigeria, it should get direct support. It is not something the company can work with twoyear contract to fund equipment that requires at least 10 years to recover. Many companies have crashed because of that disconnect. I did not say that the Nigerian Content Fund has not helped but what I mean is that we need to go beyond just funding contract. Right now, NCDMB has picked up quite rightly in funding short-term contracts; we need to go beyond that and begin to fund long term capacity growth in this industry.”

‘Look beyond national barriers in addressing power challenges’

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COUNCIL member, ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority, Ghana, Mrs. Ifey Ikeonu, has advised stakeholders in the power sector to look beyond the country for solutions to the sector’s problems.

Mrs Ikeonu gave the advice in a presentation titled: ‘Improving regulatory governance through benchmarking’ at the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) in Lagos.

She said the biggest challenge in the region remains bridging the gap between electricity supply and demand with average access rate of electricity in the region being about 30 per cent.

She said: “This is a very huge gap that requires a lot of proactive and innovative solutions if we are to meet the sustainable energy for all goal of providing universal access to electricity by the year 2030. The region is blessed with an abundance of natural and renewable resources and we must try to articulate the right strategies that will attract the required financial resources needed to put in place power infrastructure across board. We should leverage on the resources within the region, to rapidly improve access to electricity.”

As Ikeonu observed that West Africa leader’s vision for the electricity industry should be sustainable and integrated as well as reliable and affordable. She said such integrated electricity would serve as the bedrock for economic and social development and growth of the region.

“My advice will be to emphasise that stakeholders begin to look beyond national barriers in addressing the electricity sector challenges in the various countries of West Africa. We must learn to rely on our joint resources be it natural, human or financial in tackling these challenges.

“Furthermore, we need to pay attention on the governance of the sector because a sustainable power sector can only be built based on a clear, predictable and transparent regulatory framework,” Mrs Ikeonu added.

Mrs Ikeonu said to ensure the smooth operation of the regional market, member-states were mandated to establish an independent regulatory authority where none exist, adding that there was need to protect the independence of the regulatory authority.

Mrs Ikeonu said member-states should ensure that the regulatory authority had legal personality, budgetary autonomy, adequate human and financial resources to carry out its duties. Ikeonu said that the Council was faced with challenges of absence of information technology and communications infrastructure to facilitate integration.

“Importance of benchmarking in the power sector cannot be overemphasised, benefits includes, establishment of credible targets for performance improvement. Enables best practices from the industry to be incorporated into the benchmarked functions and stimulates competitive behaviour and encourages innovation,” she said.

Mrs Ikeonu said the Council is building blocks for the takeoff of the ECOWAS regional electricity markets, adding that the council had finalised the regional market rules and would be adopted by the Council following the conclusion of the methodology for the regional transmission tariffs.

“We are also working on the development of the contractual templates for cross-border electricity trading in the region. The adoption of all of these regulatory tools will signal the commencement of the first phase of the regional market and I am eager to see this in place as soon as possible,” she said.

Nigeria, others to face long-term budgetary problems, says EIA

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•From left: Treasurer, Council for Renewable Energy in Nigeria (CREN), Mr. Ganda Yusuf; Secretary -General, CREN, Mr. Rotimi Oladimeji; President CRENl, Mrs. Anita Okuribido; Chairman Electric Power Foundation, Mr. Otis Anyaeji; and Public Relations Officer, CREN, Mr. Sam Nwosu, at the inauguration of (CREN) Executive Management Committee & Advisory Board during the SLARCON in Lagos.

HE possibility of Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Angola, and other oil producing nations facing budgetary hiccups is high, following the persistent fall in the international prices of crude oil, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

The United States -based energy watchdog, in its October report, said it was unlikely that prices of crude oil would rebound soon implying that Nigeria, which depends largely on oil revenues to service 85 per cent of its budget, has to contend with budgetary

Fed Govt urged to improve on renewable energy policies

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HE Federal Government has been advised to improve on policies that will address trade, production, distribution, consumption and investment in renewable energy and also energy efficiency.

Prof Titilayo Kuku of the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife, gave the advice at the Nigeria Photovoltaic Energy conference held in Lagos.

He said that the country is currently facing energy crisis and noted that the government should put in place market and fiscal policies that would promote green/renewable energy as well as promote open energy markets to remove legislative and commercial barriers to entry and engender transparent competition.

According to him, with the current generated capacity of about 4,000 megawatts (MW) for a population of about 170 million, with energy per capita of 30 watts, the country is in dire state regarding energy sufficiency with the attendant consequences on

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

all developmental indicators of employment, growth, production, cost of production, security, general wellbeing, among others.

He stressed the need to explore alternative sources of power generation to close the wide gap between demand and supply of energy in Nigeria. He said that energy poverty in the country is acute with only 47 per cent of the populace having access to inadequate electricity and about 10 per cent of the population not connected to the grid.

He noted that the majority of the people in the rural areas do not have access to electricity making most of them to use traditional biomass as source of energy. Even in urban areas, 56 per cent of the population still uses firewood while 27 percent use kerosene as household energy.

He said problems associated with current poor power supply include lack of investment in the energy sector by successive governments in the past, low level awareness of alterna-

tive options such as renewable energy solutions, and lack of access to finance. Also, lack of support by financial institutions to invest in clean energy options, low incentives and inadequate government policies to promote the development of renewable energy at the same level as conventional sources of electricity generation and oil and gas production, continuous subsidy of conventional fossil fuel by government as well as poor business environment for renewable energy, he said.

He advised that before involving the private sector to provide energy services, strong polices, legislation and institutions should be put in place to regulate their activities Head of Renewables, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Imamuddeen Talba, said that key policies to drive the development of solar energy are being put in place. He said that the country is effectively harnessing solar energy resources to integrate them with other energy resources. The

Commission is also promoting the use of efficient solar energy conversion technologies such as use of photovoltaic and concentrated solar panels for power generation. The nation is promoting solar energy generation for productive use and intensifying efforts to increase the percentage of solar energy in the present energy mix. He agreed that the country has enormous solar energy potential that is not currently exploited According to him, a number of challenges militate against gridconnected power sources, which include high cost of installation and wiring provided by utilities are high as well as large land area required for the projects. Connecting small, isolated villages to a grid can be expensive because of the necessary investment in transmission lines, poles, transformers, and other infrastructure adding that solar power come in relatively small size and are best connected to low voltage lines.

By Akinola Ajibade

problems for some time.

The agency, which typically refrains from predicting oil prices, said that prices could fall further in 2015, after declining to their lowest levels since 2010. “While there has been some speculations that the high cost of unconventional oil production might set a new equilibrium for Brent prices in the $80 to $90 range, supply/ demand balances suggest that the price rout has yet to run its course,’’ the IEA said.

The body said barring any new supply disruptions, downward price pressures could build further in the first half of 2015. “Oil prices have fallen 30 per cent since peaking in June, pressured by a strong US dollar and rising US light oil output while largely ignoring the impact of Libyan supply disruptions,” it added.

According to the agency, its forecast of global oil demand growth remains unchanged at 1.13million from a five year annual low of 680,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the year in view of the happenings in the global oil market.

Price of crude oil has fallen from $115 per barrel to below $80 per barrel in the past three months on account of crisis in the Middle East, surge in the production of U.S shale oil among other issues. The development made the Federal Government to try and introduce austerity measures to cushion the effect of the falling oil price on the economy.

Also, the government is planning to withdraw $2 billion from excess crude account (ECA) for financing of capital projects and also

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THE NATION, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorses the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following numbers on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

176TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO. Digitalization and general incorporation/utilization of Information Communication Technology (ICT) enhances the delivery of services by the Government in line with International best practices, which is currently undertaken in the State with the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. All Government activities are transparently executed while relevant decisions taken by the Kano State Executive Council at its sittings are placed on the Internet (on line) via the publicly open and updated official Kano State Website, Twitter, Facebook, Kwankwasiyya online etc. kano.gov.ng – Any interested person across the entire world can browse, keep track and assess the general performance, its quality and superlative speed of execution. Again, careful recapitulation on and following subsequent publications weekly in the Print and Broadcast Media from inception to date would certainly keep one abreast with the commendable performance of the present administration.

Continuing with the impeccable developmental trend across all sectors inherent in quality services delivered by organs enshrined in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is the main focus of the present administration. Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE is on the verge of completing the delivery of all the promised resolutions to transform the State for the better.

Meanwhile, the good work was progressively continued as Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE presided over the one hundred and seventy sixth (176th) sitting of the Kano State Executive Council on Thursday 20th November, 2014 (27th Muharram, 1435 AH). Nine (9) MDAs submitted thirty eight (38) memoranda for deliberation of which Council approved sixteen (16) cutting across five (5) sectors for execution with an expenditure of Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Naira (N229,484,270.00) covering eleven (11) projects while the remaining five (5) are on policy issues.

Thus; 1. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR Importantly, emphasis is placed on the empowerment of the citizenry across all segments of the society by the Government in the State under the leadership of the present administration unlike any other. In this regards, Government acknowledges the vital requirement to empower the entire society towards self actualization to ensure self reliance where the youth, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, the underprivileged women, the physically challenged, the civil servants etc. are the main targets of the policy, programmes, schemes, projects already executed and sustained.

Prominent examples are as follows; • Provision of access to professional/academic education locally and broad –over 5,000 beneficiaries.

• Provision of access to viable skills acquisition training –over twenty four (24) Institutes established which have graduated an impressive number of beneficiaries.

• Provision of training for employable skills and take –off capital to women, butchers, traditional barbers, etc.

• Establishment of and sustaining the “LafiyaJari Scheme”, etc.

Essentially, no Government in Nigeria generally and particularly at State level performs as creditably as what obtains in the State under the present administration. The Empowerment Sector continues to be accorded priority attention among several others as State Executive Council approved the execution of six (6) more memoranda related to the Empowerment Sector as follows; a) Provision of Access to Education/Professional Training:i.

Request for Funds to Procure One Way Tickets in Respect of Eighty Nine (89) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Eighteen (18) Months Training on Aircraft Piloting at Mid East Aviation Academy, Jordan to Enable their Return Home on Completing their Course by End of December, 2014:The administration of Gov Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso drafted and implemented an elaborate empowerment program for the good people of Kano state especially young men and women. This plan recognizes the need to expose our teeming youth to partake in all economic sectors particularly areas hitherto dominated by elites. In this respect 100 youth male and female young graduates were sponsored for commercial piloting course in Mideast Aviation Academy MAA in Amman, Jordan. The Government Spent the sum of N10,170,000.00 on each Pilot on Tuition, Feeding and Accommodation bringing the total amount spent on the pilots including other expenses to over One billion four hundred million Naira only. Equally 25 young men and women have been sponsored for Marine Engineering course at Tyneside in United Kingdom at a total cost of over 350 million Naira only.

By now every Nigerian knows the importance Gov Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso attaches to Education being the first, second and third priority of his administration. This trend begin to manifest itself in the gradual increase in performance of our students at both internal and external exams. In fact the ratio of students in school to those outside has improved tremendously as a result of the abolishing of Almajiri and street begging. This has ballooned the population of pupils in primary schools from a little over one million in 2011 when he take over as the State's cheif executive officer to over Three million now. While in 2010-2011 external exam students was at 6%, in 2013-14 the state has recorded 38% score a clear indication that all the investment made to revive this sector did not go to waste. This was achieved through improving the infrastructure, quality and quantity of teachers, staff training and retraining, construction of over 3000 brand new classrooms, over 800 staff offices, laboratories fully equipped, workshops, School Buses and many more. All abandoned public buildings which were allowed to waste some for the last 30 years were completed, rehabilitated and modified into schools. Considering Education as a very potent and powerful tool fir empowerment, His Excellency in his ingenious approach established 44 Technical Colleges and 44 School for Islamic Studies one each in all the Local Governments of the state.

The pilots have already completed their course and are due to return back, consequently, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government submitted this request for consideration by Council.

Details were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N11,125,000.00for the stated purpose.

Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy to provide access to professional/academic training by the present administration, Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N11,125,000.00for the purchase of one way tickets in respect of eighty nine (89) Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for the stated course in order to enable their return home on completing their course. ii. Presentation of the Analyzed Results of Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Studies at Crescent University, Abeokuta; Bells University, Otta and Igbinedion University, Okada:The present administration in Kano State sponsored over 1,080No. Eligible/qualified indigenous students for undergraduate courses at various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria irrespective of whether they are public or privately owned provided they are properly accredited and considered appropriate for effective/qualitative learning. In fact the Government secured admission in all tertiary institutions for our students including private universities. 200 Students each have been sponsored to read various undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology and science related courses, at BELLS and CRESCENT Universities all in Otta, Ogun State. Another 250 Students have been sponsored to Igbenedion University in Benin, 400 at Al Kalam University in Katsina and 25 At ABTI universityYola. At the moment, 100No. Students are being screened for admission to Bells University for the commencement of their studies.

However the state Government continues to monitor their progress while in school. In order to ensure proper monitoring, a Committee set up by the Council visited the authorities the three (3) privately owned Universities and submitted the analyzed results of the Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for studies with them. The details submitted were summarized and presented to Council for perusal as follows; Crescent University, Abeokuta: First (1st) Batch

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso First Class 2

Second Class Upper 6

Second Class Lower 18

Third Class 25

Pass

Probation

17

5

Second Class Lower 28

Third Class 19

Pass

Probation

5

5

Second Class Lower 19

Third Class 36

Pass

Probation

14

12

Second Class Lower 36

Third Class 26

Pass

Probation

5

1

Third Class 77

Pass

Probation

8

1

Total 73

SECOND (2nd) Batch First Class 5

Second Class Upper 28

Total 90

Bells University, Otta: First (1st) Batch First Class 0

Second Class Upper 11

Total 92

SECOND (2nd) Batch First Class 3

Second Class Upper 29

Total 100

Igbinedion University, Okada First Class 1

Second Class Upper 53

Second Class Lower 103

Total 243

Accordingly, Council acknowledged the presentation of the report with appreciation and promised to settle all the outstanding school fess and allowances in respect of the students.

Presentation of Report and Request for Permission to Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Nigerian Turkish International College Foundation (NTIC) and the Kano State Government:This presentation was delivered to Council for consideration as endorsed by the Kano State Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments.

Essentially, the two (2) parties are respectively committed to responsibilities that were summarized as follows; • The Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) Committed to.

• Arrangement and distribution of one hundred (100)packages of stationery to needy students in public schools across the State.

• Construction of four (4) Hand Pumps Water Boreholes in selected public schools in the State.

• Arrangement and distribution of two hundred (200) packages of meat during each of the two (2) Eid (Sallah) Celebrations.

• Performing ten (10) operations on eye cataract free of charge in the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital.

• Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) to provide funds for the execution of the four (4) issues under its commitment.

• Kano State Government Responsibilities.

• Selection of public schools to benefit the distribution of one hundred (100) packages of stationery from Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC).

• Choose relevant/proper sites for location of four (4) hand pump water boreholes.

• Arrange/select relevant locations for the distribution of the two hundred (200) packages of meat during the Ed (Sallah) Celebrations.

• Identifying, screening and transporting/conveying the ten (10) cataract patients for surgery at the Nigerian Turkish Nizanmiye Hospital (NTMH).

Accordingly, Council acknowledged the presentation with appreciation and approved for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (M o U).

Access to Capacity Building for Efficient Service Delivery:Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Furniture Allowance to the Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request as the statutory entitlement of the appointed Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks and presented it to Council for consideration.

Details were presented along with the request for Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N3,750,000.00as furniture allowance to the Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Conduct the Second (2 nd ) Batch 2014 Civil Service Examination (CSE) for Three Hundred (300) Staff at the Kano State Polytechnic:The Office of the State Head of Civil Service endorsed the cited request and presented it to Council for consideration on behalf of the authorities at the Kano State Polytechnic.

Reportedly, the first (1 st ) Batch of the same examination was conducted in the month of May, 2014 commensurate with the existing rules and regulations as mandatory to ensure timely progression for all cadres of staffs in the State Civil Service.

In this respect, details of three hundred (300) staff of ten (10) cadres serving at the Kano State Polytechnic due for the second (2 nd ) Batch 2014 Civil Servants Examination (CSE) was presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N1,855,000.00to cater for the four (4) items required to enable effective conduct of the stated examination.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Accrued Allowances to Additional Midwives and Community Health Environmental Work Superintendents (CHEW) Deployed to Kano State:This request was originally submitted from the State Ministry of Health but was endorsed by the State Head of Civil Service and presented to Council for consideration.

The genesis and details that prompted the submission of the request were presented along with financial implications which resulted in forwarding two (2) categorical prayers on the issue for consideration as follows; • Council to consider and approve the immediate release of the sum of N27,170,000.00to enable payment of accrued/outstanding allowances/arrears to the newly deployed/omitted personnel according to the details presented.

• Council to consider and approve continuous payment of monthly allowances at the rate of

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THE NATION, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 N20,000.00to the midwives and N15,000.00 to the Community Health Environmental Works Superintendents (CHEW).

Relevance of this request to empowering the required staff to professionally dispense the services required at the State Ministry of Health prompted Council to approve the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded on the issue.

• Renovation of numerous major roads and expansion of many others in the Metropolis.

• Construction of flyovers; conduit drainage/road; pedestrian overhead bridges; laying of interlock

THE EDUCATION SECTOR This all encompassing sector is the most prominent of considerations among others. Track records indelibly kept confirm this. The series of approvals granted for the execution of projects, programmes, schemes and policies related to the Education Sector transcends the expectations/aspirations of the people of the State, the Nigerian Federation and the entire world. The positive developmental trend under the education sector is celebrated by the declaration and sustenance of the delivery of education at all levels free of charge. The good thing is that all the requirements are provided be them physical/ infrastructural; material/consumables; personnel; etc. within Government financial capacity.

This way, two (2) memoranda related to the Education Sector were approved for execution at the sitting as follows; Request for Funds to Enable the Flag –Off/Commencement of the 2014/2015 Annual School Census (ASC):The Kano State Ministry of Education originally submitted this request which was endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

Council was assured that conformity with the requirements from the Nigerian Education Information System Process prompted submission of this request. The process maps out, summarizes and designs activities to be performed monthly according to the details presented.

Related to this, the Kano State Ministry of Education requested for the release of the sum of N8,714,210.00by Council to enable the flag –off of the Annual Schools Census (ASC) for the year 2014/ 2015. Details were presented on the ten (10) items required.

Relevance and credibility of the request to planning and strategic approach in handling educational issues prompted Council to consider and approve as requested.

Presentation on the Rationale of Affiliation of Sixteen (16) of the Newly Established Institutes in Kano State to the Two (2) Universities owned by the Kano State Government:Offices of the two (2) Vice Chancellors (i.e. that of Northwest University and that of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil) respectively made a submission for consideration by Council as presented by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government as follows; • Office of the Vice Chancellor KUST proposed the transfer of eight (8) of the Institutes to utilize the KUST for their sustainability. They include; • Kano State Informatics Institute, Kura.

• Kano State Livestock Institute Bagauda.

• Kano State Irrigation Institute Kadawa.

• Kano State Poultry Training Institute Tukwui.

• Kano State Fisheries Training Institute Bagauda.

• Kano State Hospitality and Tourism Institute.

• Kano State Sports Institute Karfi.

• Kano State Corporate Security Training Institute Gabasawa.

• Office of the Vice Chancellor Northwest University presented the rationale to affiliated four (4) of the Institutes to the Northwest University, Kano. They include; • Kano Entrepreneurship Development Institute Dawakin Tofa.

• Qur’anic and Western Education Institute Bompai.

• Kano Development Journalism Institute Hotoro.

• Kano Reformatory Institute Kiru.

Further details presented prompted Council to approve execution of the two (2) respective proposals so as to ensure proper sustenance of the programmes/curricula offered in all the concerned twelve (12) Tertiary Institutes owned by the Kano State Government.

•

THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR Transparency and dissemination of correct information to the public especially on Government activities is a principal guiding policy of the present administration. This Sector is the main custodian in the execution of the policy. The banner was carried along as the State Executive Council approved the execution of three (3) memoranda under the Information/Communication Sector as follows; Request for Funds for the Production of Fifty (50) Roller Banners to Publicize the Achievements of the Present Administration:Cognizant of the transparency policy of the present administration in the State, the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture submitted this request for consideration by Council. Details on the proposed fifty (50) Roller Banners to be produced were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N3,750,000.00for the purpose. The banners are to showcase achievements of the present administration in areas of potable water supply, health care delivery, education, physical/infrastructural development and maintenance, etc.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable the Establishment of “Kano State Consultative Committee on Statistics”:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request and presented it to Council for consideration.

Council was appreciatively informed, through contents of this memorandum that, section 18 of the Law establishing the Kano State Bureau of Statistics emphasizes that Government is to set –up a Consultative Committee on Statistics under the Chairmanship of the State Statistician General with membership from Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics of 14 sectors of the State Development Plan; Directors of Planning Research and Statistics of the 44 Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) and representatives of Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian Customs Service, Development Partners and three other persons with relevant background in Statistics representing various interest groups. Already, preparations are underway cognizant to which two (2) prayers were forwarded to Council for consideration. Viz; • Council to consider and approve the establishment of the State Consultative Committee on Statistics in line with the provisions of section 18 of the Agency Law No. 2 of 2014.

• Council to approve the appointment and rotational meetings of the members of the State Consultative Committee on Statistics as specified in the provisions of section 20 of the Agency’s Law. Council acknowledged the presentation and approved as requested.

Request for Funds to Enable Purchase/Production of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day 53,292 Emblems of Two (2) Categories:The Office of the Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments submitted this request for consideration by Council.

Details on the genesis and reasons that prompted submission of the request for consideration by Council were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N10,663,400.00 to provide for two (2) items as follows;

SN Categories i.

General Executive Emblems ii. New General Emblems

Number 100 53,292

Rate (N) 500.00 200.00

Total (N) 5,000.00 10,658,400.00

Council noted, considered, appraised and approved the release of the of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 as Government kind gesture for the production of emblems.

THE FINANCE/ECONOMIC SECTOR This sector is the main power house that provides the fuel/blood that energizes the performance of the present administration across all sectors by systematically and prudently supplying/providing the necessary funding approved for the execution of all projects, programmes, schemes and policies in accordance with provisions of the approved budget for any particular year. In this vein, Council approved the execution of one (1) memorandum under the Finance/Economic Sector. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Commencement of the Preparation of the Kano State Government Budget for the Year 2015:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum, of its approval granted for the commencement of the preparation for the year 2015 Budget.

In line with the above, the State Ministry of Planning and Budget submitted the request which was endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

Details on the ten (10) items required estimated to cost the sum of N12,799,500.00which was requested for release by Council for the stated purpose were presented for consideration.

Accordingly, Council noted, appraised the request and approved for the release of the trimmed sum of N6,000,000.00for the undertaking.

THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENANCE SECTOR Typical of the present administration, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of yet another set of four (4) memoranda under the infrastructural development/maintenance sector.

This is in continuation with the laudable feat in the effort to provide the people of the State with qualitative infrastructure for use to ease conduct of their daily activities and ensure their socio – economic wellbeing. The list of the commendable achievements recorded under this sector by the present administration in the State is impressively lengthy of which only the following few can be itemized as examples; • Construction of numerous new roads across the State (the municipality and rural surroundings inclusive).

•

• • • •

tiles along pedestrian walkways of numerous major roads in the Municipality; installation of street lighting along streets in all nooks and corners of the metropolis.

Construction of 5KM dual carriage ways with street lighting in the 44 Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) of the State.

Provision of steady potable water supply to greater urban Kano and the regional water supply schemes.

Establishment of the Independent Hydroelectricity Projects owned by the Kano State Government at Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams.

Renovation of several public buildings/facilities across all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) including the Government House; Deputy Governor’s Office; the Cabinet Office; the GidanMurtala and AuduBako Secretariats, etc.

Provision of the physical infrastructure required and renovation of several others in the Health Sector, Education Sector, etc.

Construction/establishment of affordable residential housing at Kwankwasiyya, Bandirawo and Amana Cities, etc. the list can continue forever without being exhausted.

Relentlessly, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of four (4) memoranda under the Infrastructural Development/Maintenance Sector at the sitting as follows; Presentation on the Activities of Growth and Employment in States (GEMS 3) Project:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted this presentation for consideration by Council.

Essentially, Council was informed, through contents of this memorandum, of the support provided to Kano State by the Department for International Development (DFID) through the Growth and Employment in States (GEMS 3) project. The project is a reform programme that implements interventions in three (3) areas Land, Tax and Investment. The emphasis of this memorandum is on Land as related to its titling and registration (STLR). The main aim is to make land registration/ transaction less cumbersome, cheaper, faster, and transparent so as to enable the State to have a comprehensive data base. In fact, the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) and GEMS 3 initiated the implementation of SLTR projects in two (2) States of the Federation which include Kano and Ondo. In Kano State, Fagge and Ungogo Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) were selected as pilot Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) with the intention of providing each of them with 5,000 titles.

Importantly, GEMS 3 collaborated with Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) to provide support for the successful take –off of Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS).

Details were presented to Council for perusal. Again, a summary of the achievements recorded from the intervention provided by the SLTR were summarized and presented to Council for consideration. Viz;

Activities Parcels demarcated Parcels records gathered Parcels ready for C of O Certificates printed

Total to Date Ungogo 3,308 3,308 400 100

Total to Date Fagge 2,898 2,898 787 10

Overall 6,206 6,206 1,187 200

In the same vein, Council was presented with five (5) notations for consideration on the issue most important among which States that Council should note the collaboration between GEMS 3 and PTCLR provided support that contributed to the successful take –off of KANGIS. Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and its positive implications to the infrastructural development/maintenance sector regarding Land Titling.

Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty (20) Items/Structures Affected by the Construction of Kofar Nassarawa Road:The content of this memorandum is recalling the Council on the ongoing effort of the present administration in the provision of the solid infrastructures in the State which is aimed towards uplifting the living standard of the populace.

The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted the valuation exercise of the twenty (20) affected structures for compensation to the tune of N29,824,800.00.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty Five (25) Items/Properties Affected by the Establishment of a Mosque, Hisbah Office, Police Station and Playground at Kurna Asabe Quarters:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning is notifying the Council on the ongoing effort of the current administration towards institutionalizing community development projects that will assist the citizenry in providing comfort and security.

In this respect, the valuation exercise report of the of the twenty five (25) affected structures due for compensation in the sum of N22,753,620.00is submitted to Council for consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty Eight (28) Items/Properties Affected by the Re –Adjustment of Ibrahim Taiwo Road in the Course of the Construction of Overhead Bridge at the Site:The content of this memorandum is inviting the Council to recall the laudable objectives of the present administration in the provision of basic infrastructures to the teeming citizenry at various locations in the State most especially in the construction of flyover bridges.

The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the twenty eight (28) structures affected and submitted a valuation report exercise in the sum of N104,843,640.00 for compensation to Council for consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 176TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH BILL GATES AND ALIKO DANGOTE Council noted the successful video conference held between the DeputyGovernor as the State Government representative, Bill Gates and AlikoDangote towards reviewing the Tripartite agreement reached by the Trio to improve the routine immunization exercise in the State. The parties appreciatively acknowledged the Kano State Government’s commendable leadership and commitment to ensure total eradication of Polio in the State. Accordingly, Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE commended the relentless efforts by Bill Gates and AlikoDangote and calls upon well meaning Nigerians and Organizations to partner with the State Government to ensure a Polio free society, while the parties agreed for an extension of the Polio exercise by another one (1) year.

2014 NATIONAL SCHOOLS SPORTS FESTIVAL IN BENUE Council noted the successful completion of the sports competition among Secondary Schools in the National Secondary Schools Sports Festival ‘2014’ held at Benue State. Accordingly, Council appreciated/commended the State contingent from various Secondary Schools that made the state emerged the Seventh (7th) position in the Country by winning the following prizes; Gold = twelve (12) Silver = twenty three (23) Bronze = twenty one (21) Bronze.

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION BY SEVEN (7) DAYS FOR THE ON –GOING NEW VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN THE STATE Council acknowledged the problems faced in the execution of voter registration exercise in the State related to which the State Government requested for an extension by additional seven (7) days. This is to ensure that all eligible voters get their permanent voters card (PVC). The State Deputy Governor as Chairman of the Executive Committee on the issue observed certain shortcomings related to the conduct of the exercise which includes the following; The number of computers provided were inadequate and many of the available were obsolete causing delays that resulted in the registration only few voters per day.

That the exercise starts late across most of the registration centers and efforts to extend the closing time beyond 4:00pm proved difficult.

That some of the ad-hoc staff employed by INEC are not sufficiently competent computer operators which caused the delay in the registration process.

Other logistics problems ranging from lack of efficient transportation for the ad –hoc staff, obsolete printers, computer batteries and poor arrangement of electricity generating sets tampered with the successful execution of the exercise.

Accordingly, the State Government assures the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its readiness to continue providing support in the discharge of their duties to ensure maximum registration of eligible voters.

SIGNED: HON. COMMISSIONER, INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTH, SPORTS & CULTURE, KANO STATE

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

MONEYLINK

MPC may raise CRR today A NALYSTS at FBN Capital have advised banks and investors to watch out for changes in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concludes its meeting today.

The analysts insist that given market turmoil, the depletion of official reserves by $1.5 billion month-to-date and the surge of the dollar globally, the committee does not have the option of leaving its stance unchanged.

Head, Equity Research, FBN Capital, Olubunmi Asaolu, said: “We dwell on the CBN’s focus on excessive liquidity in the banking system which led to substantial utilisation of its standing deposit facility (SDF) for the attractive 10 per cent rate paid. “Its circular dated 6 November limited interest-earning placements within the facility to N7.5 billion.”

He said there are official fears

T

Stories by Collins Nweze

too that the excess undermines the pursuit of price stability and creates pressure on the exchange rate, the implication being that the Deposit Money Banks can become “speculators”.

Asaolu said the most likely step to be taken by the MPC this week is therefore an increase in banks’ CRR for private-sector deposits from the current 15 per cent to 18 per cent or higher.

He recalled that at the previous meeting of the committee in midSeptember, five of the 12 members present voted for an increase, although without specifying a new rate.

“One member argued last time for a hike in the CRR for public-sector deposits from 75 per cent to 100 per cent so as to bring a functioning Treasury Single Account and make the CBN the sole banker to

Naira hits record low

HE naira yesterday hit a record low on concerns that a recent slide in global oil prices could undermine the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) efforts to keep defending the currency, dealers said.

While the naira recouped some losses later in the day, one economist said an eventual devaluation was creeping closer for the country.

The CBN is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold when it ends a two-day meeting today, despite pressure for an increase to support the naira which has fallen almost nine per cent against the dollar this year.

Even though the bank has spent billions of dollars from its reserves

to prop up the naira this year, the currency opened yesterday at a fresh low of N178.25 to the dollar, down 0.45 per cent from its previous close.

A steady slide over the past two months in the price of oil, has compounded worries about the government’s finances and political stability.

Importers have brought forward purchases of dollars while foreign investors’ appetite for Nigerian financial assets has collapsed; investors pulled $584 million out of the local stock market in October.

“While we think devaluation of the official exchange rate would be a last resort, and only follow additional monetary policy tightening to try and defend the currency, at current

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 1.2147 1.2858 0.7802 1.0972

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

SYMBOL O/PRICE UAC-PROP 10.52 OANDO 20.39 OKOMUOIL 26.80 UBCAP 1.61 RTBRISCOE 0.81 TRANSCORP 3.88 CONTINSURFE 0.89 NAHCO 4.69 WEMABANK 0.92 LEARNAFRCA 1.36

C/PRICE 11.40 21.41 28.14 1.69 0.85 4.07 0.93 4.90 0.96 1.41

CHANGE 0.88 1.02 1.34 0.08 0.04 0.19 0.04 0.21 0.04 0.05

LOSERS AS AT 24-11-14

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

ACADEMY

1.00

0.95

-0.05

UPL

4.13

3.93

-0.20

AFRIPRUD

3.00

2.88

-0.12

JPMUF;PIR

3.28

3.15

-0.13

CUTIX

oil prices and at the present pace of reserves depletion, it appears devaluation looms nearer by the day,” David Faulkner, economist at HSBC Securities, said.

•Adeola

B

ARELY three months after it was conferred with an Award as the Best Bank in Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), Sterling Bank last weekend, bagged yet another award in the agriculture sector as it received the “Agric Bank of the Year 2014 in Nigeria” award.

The award which was powered by the Agriculture Policy Research Network (APRNet) and AgroNigeria Limited was presented to the lender at a dinner and conferment ceremony where the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan also received the award of the Grand Transformer of Nigerian Agriculture.

According to a member of the organising committee for the awards, Richard-Mark Mbaram, the

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), will hold its 48th Annual Bankers Dinner next month in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event has been re-scheduled to enable the principal actors, key operators in the banking industry and other distinguished guests attend December

5th event.

The Special Guest of Honour, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, will deliver a keynote address to review and project into the future of the Nigerian financial sector landscape and other sectors of the economy.

The dinner which is organised

by the CIBN, will attract captains of industry, top government officials, members of the diplomatic community, as well as major stakeholders in the public and organised private sectors of the economy. President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Mrs. Debola Osibogun will be the chief host at the event.

DATA BANK RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 17/11/2014 10/11/2014 06/11/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) Money Supply (M2)

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$37.6b

US Dollar

157.41

158.41

$79.98

Pounds Sterling

246.567

248.1334

Euro

195.7236

196.967

Swiss Franc

162,7481

163.7821

Yen

1.3347

1.3431

CFA

0.2784

0.2984

227.5106

228.9559

25.697

25.8612

Riyal

41.9525

42.219

SDR

230.1334

231.5954

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

11-11-14 Rate (%)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Currency

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES November 21, 2014

Rate (%) 12-11-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

1M

11.94

12.18

3M

13.08

13.33

6M

14.03

14.17

FOREX RATES

1.53

1.47

-0.06

29.00

28.00

-1.00

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

WAPIC

0.69

0.67

-0.02

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

UBN

8.35

8.15

-0.20

FIDELITYBK

1.70

1.66

-0.04

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

NEIMETH

0.92

0.90

-0.02

INTBREW

lender was recognised based on its critical role in the dispensing of financial services to actors in the Nigerian agricultural value chain.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of the bank, Yemi Adeola thanked the organisers for recognising the various contributions of the bank to the continuous growth of the agriculture sector in the country.

Represented at the event by the bank’s Group Head, Agriculture Finance, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya, he said: “Sterling Bank is particularly delighted to receive this Award as the Best Agric Bank in Nigeria in recognition of its commitment to the growth of the Agric Sector. Let me assure all that the Bank will continue to support the sector to ensure that it takes its pride of place in the nation’s economy.”

The commitment of Sterling Bank, a leading commercial bank in Nigeria and one of the country’s fastest growing banks to the growth of agriculture is legendary.

CIBN holds bankers’ dinner

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 1.2072 1.2858 0.7666 1.0972

GAINERS AS AT 24-11-14

SYMBOL

government. This is a possibility,” he said.

He said a tightening of the committee’s stance was probable and would be surprised by a rise in the 12 per cent monetary policy rate. “The impact on lending rates to the real economy is marginal, as has often been noted, on account of the disconnect,” he said.

Speaking further, he said there is also loose talk in the market about devaluation.

“The CBN has restricted access to its foreign exchange auctions and so reduced its drawings on reserves. It thereby transferred demand to the interbank market, where the naira depreciation has gathered momentum and where it has had increasingly to intervene (with its reserves). “It can be said therefore the CBN allows some flexibility in its objective of exchange-rate stability,” he said.

Sterling bags Agric Bank of the Year award

WAUA Yuan/Renminbi

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Nov. 12, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

9.85

T-bills - 182

9.98

T-bills - 364

10

Bond - 3yrs

12.61

Bond - 5yrs

12.77

Bond - 7yrs

12.73

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

55

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2014

57

NEWS

Ward Congress: Rowdy situation at Lagos PDP Secretariat

T

HERE was a rowdy situation at the Lagos State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday as ward officials came to pick up materials for the rescheduled ward congresses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that problems, which occurred during the distribution of materials at the secretariat, led to delays in starting the congress in many parts of the 245 wards in state.

Some party members and ward officials who had been at the secretariat as early as 9.00a.m gradually became restless when they had yet to receive materials as at 2.00p.m.

Some members became restive and disorderly and the police had to resort to the use of tear gas to restore order..

NAN reports that a group of young men, also overwhelmed the security at the entrance and stormed, into the secretariat, causing commotion.

The security men, however, reinforced and brought the situation under control.

NAN reports that the materials for the congresses were finally distributed to party leaders at the wards (ward chairmen and secretaries) to go and conduct the congress.

The distribution of materials ended at about 4.00p.m. when the last ward received materials and left.

Alhaji Adamu Waziri, the Chairman of the PDP reconstituted three- man panel for Lagos State Ward Congresses,

spoke with newsmen at the end of the distribution of materials.

He said that the panel would ensure that the errors that led to the cancellation of the initial ward congress were not repeated.

“We may have kicked off late, but no election the world over starts and ends at specified time.

“We needed to put in place a practical process whereby the iniquities identified in the former congress are not repeated.

“The ward leaderships conducting the congresses have till tomorrow to send in their reports , even if they had to do it all night to get it right,” he said.

State Chairman of the Party, Mr Tunji Shelle, attributed the rowdy scene at the secretariat to the fact that the party was a “beautiful bride’’.

“The PDP is the beautiful bride of the 2015 elections in Lagos. We have bright chances and everyone wants to be a part of it.

“But, we will ensure fair play and hope that one day, fights will end in Nigerian politics,” Shelle said.

Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, said the party had identified some of those involved in the fights as non card carrying members.

“They were sent by our detractors to unleash terror on members and cause confusion.

“We foresaw it which was why we tried to fortify the secretariat with heavily armed

policemen, but unfortunately they overwhelmed the security.

“We have learnt our lessons and will put in place measures to forestall future occurrence,” Gani said.

Meanwhile, the delay in receiving materials led to a long wait by many party members in different wards in the state.

In Somolu Local Government Area, Johnson Araoyinbo, a party member, told NAN at one of the wards visited that they were still waiting for the electoral officers as at 3.10p.m.

Araoyinbo said that the delay was because the electoral officers had gone to the state secretariat to pick up materials to be used for the elections.

He said that once they arrived, the congress would commence and the ward delegates would be elected according to the rules.

NAN observed that some members were also waiting around for the exercise to kick off.

The situation was the same in some areas visited in Alimosho Local Government Area.

Members from six of the wards in the local government gathered at the Abesan Estate to conduct their election.

NAN reports that accreditation, however, began at about 3.00p.m and the election began thereafter as members lined up behind contestants of their choice to elect the delegates.

Ebonyi PDP crisis deepens

T

HE crisis rocking the Ebonyi State All Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as Governor Martins Elechi and his supporters stormed the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to protest his alleged maltreatment by the state chapter.

The aggrieved governor was accompanied by his associates and aides, who were hurriedly mobilised for the protest.

Party sources said the governor has been having a running battle with top leaders, following his unilateral endorsement of a former minister as his successor.

At the recent delegate congress, the governor complained about the emasculation of his camp, saying that the congress was not properly held.

Party leaders have queried the governor’s move to project a particular aspirant without wide consultation on succession.

•Governor, aides protest at Abuja secretariat

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Prominent PDP leaders from Ebonyi State include Secretary to Federal Government Senator Anyim Pius Ayim, former Governor Sam Egwu, who is a senatorial aspirant, and former Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Elechi, who is in his seventies, has come under criticisms by major stakeholders for alleged high handedness.

Also, his senatorial ambition has polarised the party as some chieftains are at loggerheads with him. In fact, some chieftains have dissected his administration in the last seven and half years. saying that he could have performed better.

A pro-Jonathan rally organised by the governor in Abakaliki, the state capital, at the weekend was boycotted by major stakeholders. The podium was only occupied by the

governor , his wife,Josephine, and Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, an enginer, who presided over the rally.

A source said, although Elechi had directed all local government chairmen and other loyalists to mobilise people for the rally, his directive was not carried out, fuelling the suspicion that stakeholders have started perceiving the out-going governor as a lame duck chief executive.

At the rally, Elechi poured venom on his opponents, instead of drumming support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

The relations between the governor and the House of Assembly has also gone awry, following the decision of the legislators to reject his move to obtain a N15 billion loan.

The lawmakers said the governor should first account for the N16 billion the administration had earlier borrowed.

PDP crisis: Enugu judge alleges threat to life HE leadership tussle in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State took a twist yesterday, as an Enugu HIgh Court Judge withdrew in a suit challenging the claim by Deputy Chairman David Ajah to the party chairmanship, citing threats to his life.

Justice Raymond Ozomena said he could no longer go on with the case following “persistent threats to my life” and ordered that the matter be transferred to the court registry for reassignment.

The Judge had restrained Ajah from parading himself

T

•Court upholds Enugu PDP ward congresses From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

as acting chairman of the state PDP, following the resignation of ex-Chairman Vita Abba pending the appointment of a chairman from Enugu North where Vita Abba hailed from.

Asogwa as the Acting Chairman.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday upheld the November 1 ward congresses by the Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Filed by the Plaintiffs, Mr.

Orji Chinenye Godwin, Chiefs Cletus C. Akalusi and Orji C. Orji on behalf of themselves and delegates elected in the ward congress with the PDP, the national chairman and the national organising secretary as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

The plaintiffs had, among others, sought the declaration by the court that the list of delegates is valid for the PDP delegates for primaries in the state.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

59

NEWS Police foil attempt to bomb Cross River PDP’s secretariat

Kogi Varsity lecturer assassinated

A

SENIOR lecturer at the Kogi State University, Anyigba, Dr. Austin Otitolaye, has been killed by suspected assassins.

Otitoloye, a former Director of the Centre for Pre-degree and Diploma of the institution, was allegedly abducted near Stadium Road, adjacent to the campus, last Friday night at 9pm when he was going to a supermarket.

His assailants were said to have shot into the air to scare away the people in the area before taking the lecturer to an unknown destination.

•400-level student also killed From James Azania, Lokoja

His body was found the following day at Ejule, about eight kilometres from the university.

The lecturer’s body, which was said to have been riddled with bullets, has been deposited at the university’s teaching hospital.

Some lecturers and students expressed shock over the incident, adding that Otitoloye was an easy going man.

They decried the incessant

killings at the institution and urged the management to prevent a recurrence.

A 400-level Mathematics Science student of the school, Jimoh Faruk, has also been reportedly killed.

The student, according to a source, was killed near the same Stadium Road on Saturday night.

Efforts to get police to comment on the development were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report last night.

Reinstated Taraba deputy governor is Acting Governor

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HE Taraba State House of Assembly yesterday empowered Deputy Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi, who was reinstated last Friday by the Supreme Court, to act as governor.

The Assembly, which also swore in a new Speaker, Mark Useni, said the earlier empowerment of the sacked Acting Governor Garba Umar on November 14, 2012, reverted to Danladi, following the Supreme Court’s verdict.

•Assembly gets new Speaker From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

It said Danladi remained the deputy governor.

Majority Leader Joseph Albasu, who moved the motion, said since Governor Danbaba Suntai was still recuperating from the injury he sustained in a plane crash on October 25, 2012, Danladi should be declared the acting governor.

Also, former Taraba State

House of Assembly Speaker Josiah Sabo Kente has resigned.

Kente, in his resignation letter, which was read on the floor of the House, said he bowed out on “personal grounds”.

The Assembly nominated and swore in the member representing Takum II, Mark Useni, as the new Speaker.

All other Assembly leaders maintained their positions.

Benue: Ortom to dump PDP for APC

A

FORMER Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom, is set to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.

Ortom has reportedly started discussions with the state APC leaders on when to publicly declare for the party.

The former minister’s decision to dump the PDP was taken at last Sunday’s meeting with his supporters.

Over 250 major stakeholders were said to have resolved, at the meeting, that the Ortom Governorship Organisation set up a committee to explore an alternative platform for him to realise his governorship aspiration.

They included former na-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

tional and state assembly members, state executive council members, council chairmen, party chieftains, women and youths.

At the meeting, which was held at Smile View Hotel in Makurdi, Ortom’s campaign directors, advisers, elders, local government coordinators and secretaries reportedly advised him to explore alternative platforms to realise his governorship aspiration.

His campaign organisation’s Director-General, Mr Tsenongo Abancha, and Adviser, Mr Terwase Orbunde, said there were ominous signs in the PDP. They noted that the inability of the party’s leaders to resolve the complaints arising from the November 1 ward

sity of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UNILORINTH) have died since the beginning of the strike by the Joint Health Staff Union (JOHESU).

It was gathered that other patients at the hospital were abandoned.

Health workers nationwide, under the aegis of JOHESU, went on an indefi-

•Spokesman: only one dead

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

nite strike over Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands.

They listed the demands as: non-skipping of consolidated health salary scale, CONHESS 10, call shift and

•Ortom

congresses in the state showed the PDP was in a crisis.

Ortom’s supporters said they were reliable informed that there was a deliberate plan to exclude the aspirant from PDP’s governorship primaries, hence the need to explore an alternative platform.

But UITH spokesperson Oba Kadiri said only one person had died.

He said the death could not be linked to the strike because the patient was on admission before the strike started.

Kadiri added that although JOHESU was on strike, the deceased was well attended while on his hospital bed.

UNIJOS shifts exams over students’ protest

T

HE management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has shifted the institution’s second semester examination, following the students’ protest.

It was learnt that the students protested the payment of the development levy and admission acceptance fees.

In a statement yesterday by the Registrar, Jilly-Dandam, the university said: “The

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

management has shifted the second semester examination from November 24 to December 1, for obvious reasons.

“A seven-man committee has also been constituted to look into the students’ complaints with a view to making recommendations to management for consideration.

•Duke

T

HE Cross River State Police Command said yesterday some hoodlums threw an explosive device into the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the Murtala Muhammed Highway.

A statement by police spokesman, Hogan Bassey, said nobody died in the incident, which occurred early yesterday.

The statement reads: “Early today, November 24, 2014, at 05.35 hours, hoodlums who were unable to penetrate the heavily fortified secretariat by officers and men of the command, threw an explosive device from behind the premises into the building.

The explosion only shattered some louvers on the ground floor. No life was lost; nobody sustained injury.”

The police said normalcy was restored at the secretariat with the distribution of materials for the congresses.

Some prominent indigenes of the state, including the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, and a leading governorship aspirant, Lego Idagbo, have hailed the peaceful conduct of the rescheduled delegates’ election.

But they condemned the at-

tack on the party’s secretariat.

Duke described the congresses as peaceful, free and fair.

He urged PDP members to maintain the peace and shun acts that were at variance with the people.

Idagbo hailed the conduct of the congresses, saying: “It was transparent, rancourfree, free and fair.”

He said the attack on the party’s secretariat was the handiwork of desperate politicians who planned to capture power at all cost.

He added: “Only politicians who do not have the support of the people resort to clandestine activities such as this.”

Also, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed yesterday a suit filed by Jones Tangban on the November 1 delegates’ election for lack of jurisdiction.

Ex-Akwa Ibom SSG Umana dumps PDP for APC

A

FTER months of speculation, a leading governorship aspirant and former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Umana Okon Umana, will defect from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement yesterday by the Akwa Ibom State APC Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, said Umana’s defection from the PDP to APC would be followed by a mass movement of other political leaders and their supporters.

Attai explained that a crossover rally to receive Umana

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

into the APC and formalise his membership of the party will hold at Asan Ibibio Grounds in Uyo, the state capital, on November 27.

Dignitaries expected at the rally, the APC chairman said, include APC governors, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the party’s presidential aspirants.

The statement reads: “Mr. Umana, a former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government and leading governorship aspirant is to join the APC. Umana’s switch from

the PDP to APC will be followed by a mass movement of other political leaders and their supporters across the state.

“Umana, who started the campaign to actualise his aspiration to lead the state as governor on the platform of the PDP, said he is dumping PDP following his illegal and unconstitutional exclusion from the party’s governorship primary on the ground that he is from Uyo Senatorial District, a clear breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, which forbids discrimination against a Nigerian citizen on the basis of his place of birth.”

One killed as hoodlums invade Edo community

Health workers’ strike claims three lives HREE patients on adprofessional allowin Kwara other mission at the Univerances, among others.

T

•Duke, Idagbo hail delegates’ election

“Students are hereby advised to remain calm and continue with their revision.

The management solicits the cooperation and support of all stakeholders to resolve the contending issues.”

The students, early yesterday, blocked the gates to the university’s main campus, locking out their lecturers and non-academic workers.

They vowed to continually

A

T least, one person was reportedly killed and 15 others seriously injured when over 40 armed hoodlums invaded Aruogba community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

Several buildings, vehicles and other property were also destroyed during the clash.

The police said they had arrested a suspect over the incident.

The invaders allegedly carried pump action and double barrel guns when they stormed the community on November 22.

•15 injured, property destroyed From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

They were said to have shot indiscriminately as they prowled the area for their targets.

When our correspondent, in company of some policemen, visited the area after the attack, relics and rubble of the destroyed property littered everywhere.

Shops and homes were under lock and key.

Five homes and six cars were burnt and the windscreens of

Rivers Chief Registrar kidnapped •Two suspects arrested •NBA calls for his release

T

HE Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High court, Leonard Adoki, has been abducted by gunmen.

Adoki was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday afternoon at his home town in Abua/Odual Local Government Area.

Police spokesman Ahmad K. Mohammad, confirmed the abduction.

He said two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested by community members who tried to stop the abductors from taking away the High Court chief but to no avail.

Mohammed said: "I do not know his status in the society; all I know is that somebody was kidnapped at Abua/Odual Local Government Area and was moved to an unknown place.

"Two members of the kidnap gang were apprehended by community members and handed over to the police.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Community members tried to stop them from taking him (chief registrar) away. Yet, he was whisked away to an unknown destination.

"Our men, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area, are in the bush search to look for him. We have not been able to reach any of them (kidnappers) on phone since then. But efforts are being intensified to ensure he is released unhurt."

The abductors had not contacted Adoki's family at press time last night.

The state chapter of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) condemned yesterday the abduction of lawyers and judiciary officers.

It called for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted chief registrar.

seven other vehicles were smashed by the thugs.

Investigation showed that the worst hit property was a luxury two-flat bungalow with corrugated roofing sheets. It was surrounded by over six feet wall fence. It was razed with the four cars were parked on the premises.

The property was said to belong to the chairman of Aruogba Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue.

It was gathered that the invasion followed the protracted leadership tussle rocking the CDA. Aiyamenkhue accused Okoro Ogbaretin of leading the hoodlums to attack the community over a High Court’s decision that he (Aiyamenkhue) should lead the CDA for four years.

He alleged that since the court’s verdict, Ogbaretin had allegedly been terrorising the community.

Aiyamenkhue also alleged that he was recently at Aruogba when he sighted Ogbaretin leading over 40 armed youths to his home.

The CDA chairman said he quickly escaped before the hoodlums got to his house.

The chairman of the community’s youths, Mr. Usinefo Omoregi corroborated Aiyemenkhue’s allegations.

But Ogbaretin, who said he was in Lagos when our reporter called his mobile, denied complicity in the attack.

He said one of his aides died in the attack.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Agony of an embattled widow E

VEN before she opened her mouth to mutter a word, from her entire mien, it was crystal clear that Mrs. Chioma Stephanie Okeke, a widow is in dire straits.

“My brother, I am in real hell here on earth; welcome to my world of sorrow,” she said in tears as she welcomed this reporter into her Lagos hideout early on Sunday.

Graveyard silence ruled the whole compound; so it was in the sitting room, where her moving encounter with the reporter lasted about 27 minutes. All through, she tried, but failed to stop her tears.

As the 33-year-old mother of two seethed with rage, her bloodshot eyeballs revealed one fact: That she had lost sleep for a couple of days after the devil came hard on her family on October 8. The bad day, as she put it, was when her 54-year-old businessman husband, Njikoka, Anambra State-born Chukwudi Emmanuel Okeke, died in inscrutable circumstances.

Mrs Okeke was born to a Nigerian father from Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State by a Russian mother; they both currently live in the United Kingdom. She is now in the lurch with her two girls - Samanta Nnenne Okeke (2) and Hazel Nkem Okeke (8).

Shaking her head in selfpity, Mrs. Okeke painfully recalled how her marital life with her late husband was initially fraught with challenges, adding that they only made some headway about a year ago.

•Seeks police protection to pay final respect to husband

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

“He had nothing when we met about eight years ago. I suffered with Chuky (as she fondly called her late husband). There was a period we could not pay rent. We once lived in a hotel; we were eventually ejected. It was so hard to the extent that we only sealed our wedding at the Magistrate’s Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on June 25. It is just about a year ago that we made some money, especially from our poultry business. Now, he did not live to enjoy the fruits of his hard labour,” she said in tears.

But why could such a “young” man die suddenly?

The reporter asked. “I hate to remember it; it is harrowing.

Up till now, I have kept the sad news from our children,” she said, still fighting tears.

She recalled that on September 26, the late Chukwudi reportedly took ill after attending the traditional and white wedding ceremonies of his sister’s daughter at Ogidi in Anambra State and Enugu respectively.

“In fact, I was opposed to his journey home on the wedding day, but he insisted on going. I was told that he took ill immediately after the wedding. It lingered till he was rushed to the hospital by his friend. I rushed down to Enugu from Lagos on October 6. I drove to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, where he was admitted. I was with him till he finally gave up.

‘

Now, they have taken over most of his belongings. I now live in fear.

They should allow me to bury my husband in peace.

That is what matters to me now, not property. My kids have lost their father. It is very sad. They should allow me to mourn my husband

’

Sadly, it was on his birthday - October 8,” the widow said. As she grapples with the agony of losing her “best friend,” she is face with a more traumatic battle with her husband’s siblings following their discovery that she was his next-of-kin.

“The whole trouble began at the UNTH. My husband’s relations spent over eight hours arguing on who should be his next-of-kin. After breathing his last about 1.30 am, his body could not get to the mortuary until 4 pm that day! His corpse was lying in front of the mortuary while the argument lasted. Later, I knew I was in for more trouble when I was denied access to some of my husband’s belongings at his GRA, Enugu home,” she recalled in tears.

Mrs. Okeke was later embroiled in confrontations at their GRA residence. She was “harassed and threatened.”

“They connived with the police in Enugu to lock me up twice under very inhuman conditions, claiming that I was not his wife. I was dumbfounded because I personally drove the car my husband bought for his sister when we went to present it to her. Now, they have taken over most of his belongings.

I now live in fear. They should allow me to bury my husband in peace. That is what matters to me now, not property. My kids have lost their father. It is very sad. They should allow me to mourn my husband,’’ she appealed.

Saying that she had been warned not to attend the burial of her late husband slated for Saturday in the village, the distraught woman has cried out to the acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Mohammed Abubakar, to save her life.

She petitioned the police chief through her lawyer, Festus Keyamo.

“These culprits have been threatening to eliminate our client if she fails to steer clear of her late husband’s property. Some of them were even bold enough to tell her that what happened to her late husband may happen to her.

The meaning of this is that they may eliminate her at anytime in order to fully inherit all that she has with her late

•Mrs Okeke

husband, who is yet to be buried.

“Information reaching our client is to the effect that these individuals are planning to secretly bury her husband and have equally mapped out plans to arrest our client and if possible eliminate her to actualise their grand design. If they succeed in so doing, our client will live with trauma (if at all she survives it) for the rest of her life. It is very ob-

vious to our client that plans to eliminate and stop her from attending her husband’s burial are so real and that these people are capable of actualising their evil plans,” the petition stated.

Keyamo, therefore, urged the police IG to “launch full-scale investigation into the cause of the death of our client’s husband and provide her with full police protection to bury her husband.”

FOREIGN NEWS

Tunisia presidential vote heads into run-off A

U.S. defence secretary Chuck Hagel ‘to step down’

C

HUCK Hagel will resign as US defence secretary after less than two years in the top US military post, US media report.

Mr Hagel, 68, a Vietnam war veteran and former senator, became defence secretary in 2013.

He is reportedly stepping down amid a shift in US military strategy to fight Islamic State (IS), the New York Times first reported.

He is expected to stay on as secretary until his successor is confirmed.

Mr Obama announced his resignation yesterday.

An unnamed official told the Associated Press news

agency Mr Hagel and Mr Obama both “determined that it was time for new leadership in the Pentagon” and had been discussing the move for weeks.

The New York Times reported Mr Obama had asked Mr Hagel to step down after Mr Hagel opened up discussions of his leaving.

Mr Hagel, who served as Republican senator for his home state of Nebraska for 12 years, became critical of US involvement in Iraq despite voting to authorise the war.

He replaced Leon Panetta as defence secretary in Mr Obama’s second term, taking

•Hagel

on the task of winding down the Afghanistan war and making a military shift towards Asia.

But the future of US military policy has changed amid air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria.

Mr Obama is not expected to announce a nominee to replace Mr Hagel on Monday. One named, the nominee would have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Iran nuclear talks deadline extended

M

ONDAY’S talks were the final day of a lengthy session in Vienna The deadline for an Iran nuclear deal has been extended to the end of June after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said good progress had been made, but

it was “not possible to get an agreement by the [original] deadline”.

Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.

Tehran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but wants atomic energy.

The six countries - the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany - have been in

negotiations with Iran to finalise a preliminary deal reached last year in Geneva.

Speaking after the Vienna talks had ended, Mr Hammond said that negotiations would resume in December, and would be extended until 30 June 2015.

Iran would be allowed to continue accessing $700m (£450m) per month in frozen assets during that period.

N official under former hardline ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali appears set for a close run-off in Tunisian presidential polls with a rival who says he represents the 2011 “Arab Spring” uprising that toppled him.

Preliminary results in the country’s first presidential ballot since the uprising are expected later on Monday. But the parties of two frontrunners said initial tallies showed they would face off in next month’s second round.

The presidential poll is a step in Tunisia’s sometimes rocky transition since its uprising prompted the over-

throw of long-ruling leaders in Yemen, Libya, Egypt and Syria. Tunisia’s progress and political compromise between rival Islamist and secular rivals contrasts with warring factions in Libya and the army overthrow of an elected Islamist president in Egypt.

One frontrunner, Beji Caid Essebsi, who was parliament chief under Ben Ali, has cast himself as a veteran technocrat. He will face off with Moncef Marzouki, the current president who has warned against return of “one-party era” figures like Essebsi.

The run-off will likely be tough with both candidates hunting for backing from the

Oil price slide and sanctions hurt Russia

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HE falling oil price is costing Russia up to $100bn a year, while Western sanctions have hit the country by $40bn, its finance minister has said.

Anton Siluanov made the comments on Monday at an international financial and economic forum in Moscow.

Reports on Monday suggested Russia could cut its oil production by about 300,000 barrels a day in an

attempt to support the oil price.

Opec members meet in Vienna this week where falling prices will be discussed.

Vladimir Putin has said that Russia could suffer “catastrophic consequences” from sanctions, the falling oil price and the sliding rouble, while claiming they would have knock-on effects for other countries.

liberal, left-wing and Islamist parties that emerged after the end of Ben Ali’s one-party rule in one of the Arab world’s most secular nations.

Essebsi and other former Ben Ali officials say they are not tainted by the abuses of the past administration.

He says he will be looking to consolidate his secular Nidaa Tounes party’s win in last month’s parliament elections when they beat Islamist Ennahda party into second place.

Ennahda won the first election after the 2011 revolt.

“This confirms our win in the parliamentary vote, and that gives us more confidence about the second round,” Lazhar Akremi, a Nidaa leader. “It’s too early to say who will side with us, but we are reaching out to all Tunisians.”

Marzouki, a former rights activist, has called the election a race to stop the return of the old regime. On Sunday after the poll he challenged Essebsi to a televised debate as part of his campaign to “beat the old regime machine”.

Votes of Ennahda supporters will play a key role in the second round as the Islamist party positions itself for a part in the new government formation or as the main opposition. It has so far backed no presidential candidate.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

NEWS Write Boko Haram to end attacks, Oritsejafor urges Sultan Continued from page 4

cuss. We must work with our Holy scriptures.”

He also disclosed to the gathering that he had written a letter to those pushing for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on why their action is against Islam.

Stressing that those carrying out bombings in Nigeria are not doing it for God, the Sultan warned that the bombings and attacks may not end in the Northeast if the right things are not done now.

On the allegation that the office of Secretary to the Government of The Federation (SGF) was starving the Nigerian InterReligious Council of funds, he

said: “The best platform we have used is the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council. We have not met in one and half years because the fund was not released to us by the SGF and this needs to be cleared to clear the doubts that we do not want to meet.”

Declaring the meeting open, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, noted that the meeting will deepen the understanding of Nigeria’s common values.

According to him, development cannot be achieved without peace and security.

He said: “This kind of interface is imperative in the sense that it

will deepen understanding our common values as well as serve as a stepping-stone in overcoming our challenges.” ”This is the first of its kind in the history of our dear country, as we deem it fit to accord the two major religious their rightful place at the highest level of government.”

The chairman of the occasion, former Head of Service of the Federation and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed urged participants to speak devoid of pretences, urging them to work together as brothers and sisters.

“We will account to God for whatever we do either in pretences or in all sincerity.”

Buhari sad about insecurity Continued from page 4

ness,” he said, adding: “But I am glad that the form is here and you are one of the aspirants that has confirmed his continuation in the presidential race. So, I greet you and wish you the very best.

“I loved what you said when you came in that there were so many people that you could hardly find a place to park your car. That is the sign of a vibrant party, a party that is growing and I want to assure you that half the crowd you saw are PDP members seeking registration to join us and seeking waiver to pick our ticket for the various offices to be contested.

“So, we are busy working and preparing the ground for our eventual takeover. I thank you for your forthrightness, simplicity and, by God’s grace, one of you in the APC will be the president of this nation in the next few months.”

Odigie-Oyegun expressed sadness about what he described as difficult and challenging times for the nation, but was

quick to add that “this is a time when the good Lord is beginning to reveal all the evil that has been going on in this nation and that is still being planned in this nation.

“In the last few days alone, reports in the international and local media have it that a close aide of of President Idris Debby of Chad who has a document with him that allows him access into any facility without any special permission, was arrested with rockets meant to be supplied to Boko Haram.

“This is the same government and nation that we are relying on to broker a deal between us and Boko Haram. This is the same country and the same President that our President visited with fanfare in company of a man internationally and nationwide known as the sponsor of Boko Haram.

“I leave it to the imagination of the Nigerian public to see the kind of vicious circle that we are being plunged into. To see the kind of clique that are creating the kind of blood that is being

spilled in the North eastern part of this country.

“The kind of person behind the deaths that we are experiencing everyday. Just two days ago, about 50 persons lost their lives again. The kind of conspiracy that is responsible for the abduction of our mothers, daughters and sisters and the slaughter in a very dastardly way, of students in our secondary schools.

“The point I am trying to make is that God is taking a hand in ensuring that there is peace in this nation by ensuring the gradual revelation and unravailing of all those forces that are responsible for the travails this nation has been going through in the last few months.

“We are glad that you are one of those Nigerians who have offered themselves on the platform of the APC with the vision and passion for change and the time has come when business has to be transacted differently in this country. Genuine concern for the people of this nation should become the number one priority of any government in this nation”.

Boko Haram gunmen kill scores in attack on market Continued from page 4

against the insurgents. This involves putting all Nigerian neighbours, such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger on the alert.

“There is no way Nigerian military will not chase these insurgents to some of these neighbouring countries.

“The government has been pushed to the wall. Imagine the dastardly killing of 48 fish traders and blockade of a route linking Nigeria with Chad near Doron Baga in Borno State.

“The government is now desperate to deal with the situation in the Northeast before it spreads to other states.”

The President told reporters that Boko Haram had a lot of external influence from outside Africa and it had become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.

“If you look at the economies

of Nigeria and Chad both are linked. The Boko haram people don’t take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.

“If the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide.

“So we must work together and we are discussing along that line,’’ President Jonathan told reporters.

He said that discussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing and expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology will help greatly to address economic and security challenges in the region.

President Jonathan who was accompanied on the one-day official visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Director-General the National Intelligence Agen-

cy, Ambassador Ayodele Oke. The Borno-Yobe Peoples Forum yesterday said it was opposed to the extension of emergency rule in the two states.

Instead, the Forum said it would prefer homespun self-defence mechanisms to tackle Boko Haram.

The Forum made its position known in a communiqué at the end of its session in Abuja.

Though the session was held on Sunday, the communiqué was released yesterday.

It reads in part: “On the issue of the extension of emergency rule, the Forum resolves to support the efforts of some of its Senators and House of Representatives members to resist the extension, saying that more towns and cities have fallen into the hands of the insurgents, more lives have been lost, more territories have been annexed and many more people have been internally displaced under the emergency rule than ever before.

APC lambasts DSS for justifying raid on data centre Continued from page 4 been forced to suspend its membership registration following the damage done to the equipment at its Data Centre. ‘’The viciousness and barbarism of the attack on the Data Centre and the arrest of 26 innocent workers, which put a lie to the DSS claim, have disrupted and corrupted the continuous offline and online membership registration across the country. ‘’The over 50 security men who invaded our offices not only vandalised the offices, they pulled out and carted away the Server and computer systems. Their activities have therefore affected the process of online/offline registration and data capture of APC members across the country, hence we are left with no choice than to suspend the process,’’ the party said.

It reiterated its earlier call for

an independent inquiry into the invasion, which has taken the impunity of the Jonathan Administration to its worst level yet, with a view to determining the identity of those who sent the invading force and meting out the necessary punishment to them, irrespective of their political status. ‘’It is important to get to the bottom of this unprecedented action in the political history of our nation, especially because it may have compromised the 2015 general elections,’’ the APC said, calling on all Nigerians and the country’s international partners to condemn the primitive action.

The APC spokesman who conducted reporters round the APC premises, said the action was an infringement on the rights of the APC members and to destroy valuable data on the party activities.

“You can see the scale and

scope of the illegality that had been done here. Now that they have in their possession our data base, it is easy for them to rig elections.

“It is a matter of knowing where our strength lies and then deprive us the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). They will ensure that on the election day, electoral materials do not arrive early enough to the areas they consider have strengths.

“And of course their action is a further evidence of desperation by this government, that it is not ready to conduct a free and fair elections.”

According to him, if the APC office could be invaded by the government and cart away it computers and other valuable documents of the membership, how could the government guarantee level playing ground for the parties in the 2015 election.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

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CONCERNED IGBO YOUTH STAKEHOLDERS (AFFILIATED TO OHANAEZE NDIGBO YOUTH COUNCIL) 30A COLLEGE ROAD, OGUI NEWLAYOUT, ENUGU

RE-INSANITY IN ABIA STATE LEADERSHIP VACUUM

I

n times like this any one and any group can emerge from nowhere and make verbose and fictiious claims and lies simply to score a cheap publicity and justify the shenanigans of their paymasters.

The obviously and patently fictitious name Okwadike Ikpeazu is the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Fifth columnists that do not see anything good in their state are now at work with the increasing political momentum in the country. Their written diarrhea is not only laughable but also a comic relief.

We should not have bothered to reply the fake writer but silence over their gibberish would have sent a wrong signal to gullible minds, hence the need to at least let the world know the reality on ground.

The reality on ground is that Chief T.A. Orji took over the reins of leadership in Abia State when the state was in quandary precipitated by his predecessor. Nothing was working then and Abians were in terrible melancholy. Everybody including Governor T.A. Orji was in bondage of Mamacracy and a family cabal. As a man with great regards and feelings for his people, Governor Orji took the bull by the horns and even at a risk to his life liberated Abia State from the strangle hold of Mamacracy and a dangerous cabal.

He put a stop to the raping of the state which had gone on for long unchallenged. After the liberation of the state from these vampires, he began to methodically to revive the collapsed infrastructures in the state hence the visible legacy projects scattered all over the state today.

More importantly, he restored confidence in the state by flushing out criminals and kidnappers that terrorised Abia State since 1999. This attracted him the honour as the best Governor on security in Nigeria.

Today, there is no sector in Abia State that has not felt the impact of the visionary leadership of Chief T.A. Orji even with the little resources at his disposal. It is only a blind person that will gloss over the monumental but hitherto under-reported achievements of Chief T.A. Orji in Abia State.

The fake writer went on to dabble into the politics of zoning of gubernatorial office in Abia State in 2015.It is very clear even in our constitution that provisions are made to give all sectors of the country fair representation in the National arena. In a multi-ethnic and multi-interest society, there should be equitable and fair manner of distributing the accoutrements of power so as to engender peace and tranquility in that polity. This is what Abia stakeholders and Governor T.A. Orji did by zoning the governorship of Abia State come 2015 to Abia South zone.

If Igbos are clamouring to produce a Nigerian President and blaming other parts of the country for dominating power for long, why should similar thing be allowed in our domain. Our concern and that of the fake writer should be on the credibility of the persons that vie for the position from Abia South and their capacity to carry all Abians as their constituency. We need a person that will build and sustain the legacy programmes of Ochendo to emerge from Abia South senatorial zone.

Abia State does not need a sectionalist or a zealous micro-nationalist as their Governor.

THE NATION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

63

The fake write also accused Ochendo of trying to handpick his successor. What is their problem on that. Which leader all over the World is not interested in the capacity of who succeeds him.

Where in the whole wide world does that happen. Even then, if even Ochendo handpicks his successor is it not Abians that will do the voting. Has Ochendo not only one vote as other Abians.

Pitiably the false writer went on to abuse the elders and revered leaders of Abia State, an anathema in Igboland. It is on record that peace and tranquility have been reigning in the state today as a result of the ability of Ochendo to rapport and carry along all stakeholders in the state. Does this fake writer want Abia elder statesmen who are at peace with Governor Orji’s style of leadership to raise dust where there should be none. The fake writer should apologise to our distinguished elder statesmen for that uncouth insult against them.

Finally, the jaundiced writer sought to create a hoopla by thinking that he can hoodwink Mr. President or put him in jittery over the vote of Abians for him in 2015. The writer has failed woefully in that trajectory as Mr. President knows fully who his backbone in Abia State and the South-east is. Mr. President is very much aware of the battles Governor Orji is facing to return Abia State to the path of sanity after the locust years.

If the rented writer thinks they can create face-off between Mr. President and Ochendo, they have blatantly failed. Abians will massively vote for Mr. President in 2015 as the Governor has directed.

Not a single vote will escape Mr. President’s kitty in Abia State come 2015.

On the issue of the state of federal roads in Abia State, it is to be noted that the Federal Government has awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway courtesy of Governor Orji’s untiring effort and bridge building mechanism. Work is going on that road right now. Governor Orji has not relented in his interface with the Federal Government to address other federal roads and infrastructure in the state. He is also relentlessly putting pressures for increased federal presence in Abia State especially on the industrial sector so that our teeming graduates will have jobs.

As a champion of youth empowerment, Governor Orji has brought profound succor to thousands of Abia youths and even youths from other parts of Igboland, a situation that attracted to him the honour as the best Governor in Education and Youth Empowerment by the BusinessDay newspaper.

All these were achieved in the midst of the limited resources available to Abia State.

It is very unfortunate for some people to stay in their houses or offices to manufacture lies simply because we are in political dispensation or because they want to hijack power for their selfish reasons at all cost too.

Well. we call on Governor Orji not to be deterred by the antics of this fictitious writer and other political desperadoes. He should remain focused on his quality service to Abians till the last days of his tenure.

To the so-called Okwadike Ikpeazu (the human ghost), we entreat to seek for forgiveness for unnecessary tantrum.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

NO. 3043

‘For while it was sufficient for the authors and finishers of the transformation agenda to mount the high road of cant in their familiar therapy of kicking problems down the road, it was also an instance in which the typically bored but overpaid policy wonks...’

SANYA ONI

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

O

NE year and five days ago (November 19, 2013), my column, “The road to a police state,” appeared in this space.

“Just to be absolutely certain that I wasn’t missing something,” the column began, I inspected President Jonathan Goodluck’s Transformation – or is it Transformative?— Agenda before writing this piece.

“The Agenda, I can report with the highest confidence, does not include turning Nigeria into a police state.

“Yet, that is what has been happening lately, sometimes brazenly and sometimes insidiously.

“With each passing day, Nigeria bears closer resemblance to a state in which the activities of the people are strictly controlled with the help of a police force or “security agents,” in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of government based on publicly known legal procedure.

“That is the definition of a police state.”

At that time, Mbu Joseph Mbu, then Rivers State Police Commissioner, was at every opportunity countermanding Governor Chibuike Amaechi and carrying on for all practical purposes as if he was leader of a disloyal Opposition.

The police had brusquely terminated a meeting that seven governors and officials who broke away from the PDP were holding in a private house in Abuja Kitted as for battle, the police had sealed off the conference room of the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, where the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project had planned to discuss Nigeria’s freedom of information law, with scheduled speakers from Europe, the United States and Nigeria.

The courts had ordered the re-instatement of former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as PDP national secretary, finding that his purported removal from that office was ultra vires.

But no sooner had Oyinlola served notice that he was set to resume work at the PDP’s Wadata Plaza national headquarters in Abuja than battle tanks and police armed for combat blockaded the place. It was almost as if Boko Haram’s high command had just served notice that its men had landed in the neighbourhood.

In the run-up to the gubernatorial election in Anambra, the police command in Imo State announced with breathless excitement the arrest of 180 “thugs” and “hoodlums” and “bandits” from Osun on their way to Anambra for the purpose — what else – of rigging the poll.

The police claimed to have recovered from them voter ID cards and other election documents, not forgetting “other dangerous

RIPPLES

NIGERIAN POLITICIANS HAVE CONSPIRED AGAINST PEOPLE OF NIGERIA–Activist

•••Since INDEPENDENCE

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

The making of a police state

‘

Today, a year later, those developments seem almost benevolent compared with some of the things that have happened lately. The constitutional state is in full retreat, supplanted by the police state of Dr. Jonathan’s design •Abba

•Ogar

weapons.” A far more credible source insists that the 180 were accredited election monitors belonging to the Justice and Equity Organisation.

In another manifestation of the drift toward a police state, agents of the secret police subjected APC chieftain Nasir El Rufai to false imprisonment. His crime? He was in the Anambra State capital, Awka, to monitor the poll.

In all this, not a word of caution, much less disapproval, came one way or another from Dr. Jonathan, or the so-called Presidency.

Today, a year later, those developments seem almost benevolent compared with some of the things that have happened lately. The constitutional state is in full retreat, supplanted by the police state of Dr. Jonathan’s design.

It is no longer the case that Nigeria is well on the way to becoming a police state. Nigeria is a de facto police state.

Even before taking office as governor of Ekiti on the platform of the PDP, Ayo Fayose led a band of thugs to the precincts of the High Court in Ado Ekiti to beat up judges and tear up court documents, the better to prevent the

’

court from entertaining a law suit challenging his eligibility for the contest. The assailing mob was given safe escort by the police.

President Jonathan and the country’s chief law officer, Bello Adoke, saw nothing, heard nothing, said nothing, and did nothing. It suited them perfectly.

Next, Fayose purported to convene a meeting of the state Assembly, at which seven of the 26 elected members of the legislature purported to have impeached the Speaker in his absence, and to have cleared some nominees for executive positions at state and local levels.

That kangaroo session was facilitated by the police.

President Jonathan, to whom the police are answerable in the final analysis, heard nothing, saw nothing, said nothing, and did nothing. Neither did the chief law officer in his administration. How could they when it redounded to the advantage of the PDP? How else can one characterise the situation in which the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, presumes to determine that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, fourth in the order of hierarchy among

HARDBALL

Y

OU can, with flat contempt, dismiss former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comment on President Goodluck Jonathan: that the president’s performance was below average; and that he won’t take responsibility for Jonathan’s failures, since everyone (perhaps, every invalid is the more correct expression!) that lands Aso Rock needed some help.

On the first point, though, the judgment of the godfather on the godson is spot on: Jonathan’s has been the most disheartening and uninspiring, if not outright catastrophic tenure, if not in Nigerian history, then certainly in this democracy. Indeed, in Hardball’s view, “below average” is too mild for his brilliant failure — brilliant because it is a grand failure that swaggers around with grand self-delusion.

But, the second point, on not taking responsibility, is the usual Obasanjo holierthan-thou bluff and bluster; that tries to extricate him from the dire consequences of bumbling failures he selfishly heaps on the polity.

It is the classic Obasanjo sense of privilege without responsibility. It is not only cheap, it is rude, it is crude and it is extremely annoying. It easily insults the intelligence of the rest of us.

In Yar’adua and Jonathan, Obasanjo sold

From godfather and godson: purgatory Nigerians a disaster, pure and simple. Umaru Yar’adua (Allah bless his departed soul!) was a noble soul and Fulani aristocrat. But his failed health delivered his presidency dead on arrival — though Baba would claim ignorance of that open secret. Jonathan is a childish mind encased in an adult’s body: hence his child-like simplicity and happy lack of rigour.

Yar’adua and Jonathan are an accident too many — and could not only have just happened: after a failed third term bid, Baba wanted to call the shots from the sidelines.

Both frail Yar’adua and simplistic Jonathan would need Baba as spine. But the plan backfired big time!

Still, you must visit the Jonathan response — of claiming to be the best Nigerian leader ever — with the most concentrated contempt you could muster.

Now, Goodluck Jonathan as a private citizen deserves the respect of all, as fellow citizens under the law. But Goodluck Jonathan as a failed president, who nevertheless crows about some mythical

elected officials forfeited official protection when he defected from the riling PDP to the APC? Even by Nigeria’s standards, it is ominous indeed when the police take it upon themselves to pronounce on constitutional matters and then proceed to act on the basis of that pronouncement.

Neither President Jonathan nor the chief law officer of his administration is perturbed by this development. They probably instigated it anyway, jointly or severally.

National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki felt obliged to deny through a spokesperson, that he had ordered Tambuwal’s arrest. He would have been more reassuring if he had asserted when he should have asserted that, under the constitution, he has no power to order anyone’s arrest without the due process of law.

Any hope that the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security detail was just another aberration evaporated when the police invaded the precincts of the National Assembly, their object being to prevent Tambuwal from attending a meeting of the House that Dr. Jonathan and the PDP were staging for the purpose of impeaching him.

A scandalised public was still wondering what the country had been turned into when the secret police broke into the APC’s Data Centre in Opebi, Lagos smashed up stuff, arrested some staffers, carted off a server, computers hard disks, and a truckload of documents,. State Security spokesperson Marilyn Ogar said that the facility was being used for cloning permanent voter registration cards and other “unwholesome activities.”

The invaders had gone there not to investigate an allegation but to inflict injury on the Opposition, to cripple its preparations for the general elections. Only President Jonathan and the PDP stand to profit from the heist, a reckless abuse of state power on a scale almost beyond belief.

As usual, the President and the chief law officer of his administration saw nothing, heard nothing, did nothing, and said nothing.

Watching many legislators, distinguished and merely honourable, negotiate the wrought-iron perimeter fence of the National Assembly with the nimbleness and agility one thought were the preserve of professional athletes in their prime was about the only redeeming grace to the execrable events I have detailed here.

I gather that not a few of them have since learned what politicians of the First Republic learned the hard way: Never wear a threepiece traditional ensemble to a political event.

Leave the agbada at home, in the car, or fold it neatly and tuck it under the arm.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above achievements, deserves the flak of all.

Yet, Doyin Okupe claims Jonathan is Nigeria’s best president ever. Seriously?

Sure, he is the best in incompetence, in the basic chore of security: he met Nigeria whole, and he risks leaving it in permanent tatters, given his clueless response to the Boko Haram insurgency.

He is the best as presidential simpleton: that is why he would discuss Boko Haram ceasefire with Chad’s Idris Debby who, weeks later, would allegedly pay an aide to buy arms for Boko Haram, according to news reports.

He is the best in failure to conceptualise even the simplest of terms: that is why he would declare that “they call ordinary stealing corruption”!

He is the best in destroying state institutions: that is why he smashed the Nigeria Governors Forum because his man lost the election; and is turning the Police and DSS into private harassment organs — because he cannot appreciate that without the law that made him president, Goodluck Jonathan has no power, even over the most modest of his neighbours.

Conscience-stricken godfather and godson should keep their empty purgatory to themselves. Both have done enough harm already.

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